Something to Share

I do, today I have something to share.
First off is our lovely new sketch from Sketchy Thursdays.
I love this weeks and will be using it over and over.
I created this using some Crate loveliness.
(click to enlarge)


I feel so happy to have been asked to stay on at Sketchy Thursdays again.
I love this family so much. I think I must be into my second year with them now.
Their sketches never disappoint and Heidi and Diana are two of the sweetest girls ever.
Thank you for having me again.
You can join in this week here. We are sponsored this week by 'Your Memories here'.
Who have donated some Tim Holtz limited addition Distress Inks.
The new Sketchy Thursdays Team was announced yesterday. Congratulations to our new girls. Looking forward to playing along side you x Really pleased to see The Green Horned Unicorn lady joining us again : ) I just love Antonia's blog. Her style is so different to mine. Really clean. But I'm so drawn in and find her so inspirational. They say opposites attract eh?!!


So, back to my LO. I've sidetracked.
I have these cute photos of Hollie and our neice Millie taken last month. We all went strawberry picking whilst Dad was over. Hollie and Millie were sitting in the field, all alone and Hollie fed Millie strawberries. (Much to Louis' disapprovable as they were obvioulsy stolen) It is normal to test a few when you PYO though isn't it?!! Louis really struggles with this.

My photos were too green for the green Crate background, so I plastered on some moulding paste and splodged some Yellow Ranger Acrylic Paint in with it too for contrast. Once dry I misted over a Maya Road wooden heart to get that look above.
Punched some daisies from cardstock that was in the bin and added some teeny Fancy Pants buttons.
I recently found my uberlong stapler (so chuffed) so can now staple wherever I want again.


Now I do also have something rather exciting and rather big to share.
But I have to keep that to myself until after 6pm. So pop back then : ) (if you want to that is!!)
And in the meantime I shall work a little, have another latte, start a CD LO, finish a project I've started, collect kids from school and look after a friends two aswell.
I kind of wanted to bake a pear upside down cake for after school, but I think that's pushing it a little too far seeing as I have to go to school in 1hr30.

Back later xxx

A Scrappy Day

Today is officially a scrappy day!!

Steph is coming over for the day and we plan to scrap and chat til it's time to collect the kids from school.
I have so many assignments to get done.
My October Cocoa Daisy kit arrived yesterday and I have so many other projects on my to-do list aswell.
I worked until midnight last night and then started again at 6am this morning, so I feel like I can scrap guilt free today.

LESSology have the second challenge going now.
The book challenge was a great sucess. So many beautiful entries.
But I love these boxes made by the other team.



You can see them here.
I love those book boxes that Laurel picked up from a garage sale. They were a stunning find but she transformed them so beautifully.
And take a look at the flowers Kirsty made out of book pages.
I need to give that a go. Amazing!

This challenge is sponsored by Market Street Stamps who have kindly donated a really good prize.
If you fancy tarting up an old box, then join in here : )

Happy Scrapping xxx

'Challenge'

Hello and Welcome to my happy blog today : )
I hope you had a lovely weekend.

Today I have a word inspired challenge for you over at Cocoa Daisy.
The word to be inspired by is 'CHALLENGE'.
What does this word mean to you?



For me the thought that comes to mind is what a challenge Louis was as a toddler.
The tears I shed over the years over his behaviour. He was such hard work.
We got there in the end though and since starting school he's the other end of the scale altogether. Personality, behaviour, so caring of other people's feelings, loving, very academic and just lovely : )


I used the new Fancy Pants line 'off to school' on this LO.
The glitter cuts, papers and stickers. Along with a couple of Crafters Workshop templates too.


If you would like to join in with this challenge, pop on over to Cocoa Daisy to play along. You don't have to receive the kits to play. You have until Sunday 25th Sept - 10pm EST to upload.
And a lucky winner will receive a Cocoa Daisy Stamp here.

Enjoy your day : )
xxx

Bad Grandad!!

The weekend is here!!!

My LO today has been inspired by the lovely Olivia.
Olivia is a sweet lady who I've known at Cocoa Daisy for a few years now.
Olivia has been receiving the monthly kits from the start, so I thought seeing as we are celebrating 5 years of Cocoa Daisy this month it would be fun to scraplift one of Olivia's LO'S as one of our September challenges.

Here is my page and you can see Olivia's LO here.

(click to enlarge)

Olivia likes to tell a story when scrapbooking so this challenge at Cocoa Daisy right now is not only to scraplift Olivia's LO but to tell a story too.
I chose the story about my Dad.
He's so bad at times.
Funny as he was ultra strict as a Dad.
But he gets the kids to do stuff they wouldn't usually be allowed to do.
Such as when I was trying to take this photo. Instead of saying 'cheese' he kept saying 'ship' but making it not quite sound like that and was trying to get the kids to say it too, but they were nervous about joining in.
Told you he's bad.

I used an older CD kit from the summer.
And stuck some book pages on to the bazzill first and spread some moulding paste over befores misting.
If you want to play along, the challenge runs until 30th Sept and the prize is a crafters workshop template. You can see the challenge here.

After a very manic week I'm playing catch up today.
Washing, scrapping, working and I want to start a paper mache project this afternoon with the kids. A little idea I have had : )

See you soon xxx

She Loved that Goat!

Yes she did.
A little too much for my actual liking.
I like goats, but I wouldn't kiss them and cuddle them like she did.
She's an odd one my sister.

(click the photo to see my sis smooching with the goats)

It was really good to just scrap.
Just scrap a page using random papers and bits and pieces.
I've used Studio Calico paper, wooden heart and mists. Cosmo Cricket flowers and butterflies along with Sassfras and Basicgrey alphas.


And the sketch I used was from Sketchy Thursdays : )
Fab eh?!!


Lots of DT inspiration this week for the fun sketch and we are sponsored this week by Burlap & Buttercups who have kindly offered their Sept Kit as a prize for one lucky winner.
If you want to play along, please visit us here to link up.

Sketchy Thursdays has a DT call right now.
I love this team.
One of the friendliest teams you'll ever find. Promise.
See here for more details.

And the October Guest Designer Challenge is still up until Sept 17th.
Click here to enter.

My crazy week is still continuing.
I attended a wedding event at a local hotel yesterday. I forgot how much they make your feet ache.
But my table looked pretty. I can't find the camera right now so will show you another time.
I now need to sort my stuff out. I left all the boxes in the car last night and I have 2 wedding magazine deadlines to work to now.
I'm so tired : )
Thanks for stopping by.
Hope you've had a good week xxx

Fancy This???

Today I'm over at Fancy Pants with this gardening gift.
I have step by step instructions on how I made this using the new Fancy Pants line 'Saint Nick'.
You can view it here.



See you soon : )

The Weekend

I hope you are having a good weekend.
I had hoped for a slightly more relaxed one but it feels like I haven't stopped.

I have finished this LO over the weekend though inspired by the My Minds Eye sketch on their blog here. Circles and journaling strips are on the sketch, so I had to use it. My favourite things right now : )
And here's my LO.
(click to enlarge)



I love these Lime Twist papers from MME.
Orange and green is a fave combo of mine.
I've teamed them up with a MME Jornal tag, sticker and some twine too.
All these bits and pieces can be bought from Papermaze.


I have so much on this week, my tummy is already tied in knots.
Work is busy, plus I have in total 4 magazine deadlines. Work being collected tomorrow, a wedding fair to attend on Thursday and I have nothing prepared. Plus I have 2 school meetings, our dentist appointments and Hollie's opticans on Tuesday.
I don't like that feeling from rushing from one thing to the next and somethings overlapping.
The menu is prepared for the week, thank goodness for the crockpot.
And Hollie and I have been baking lots today so lunchboxes are organised.
It's all about the organisation, isn't it?!! Lots of lists this week.

Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs xxx

Up for a Challenge????

Cocoa Daisy is celebrating a year with Christine this month and 5 whole years as a kit club this month. So we have lots going on to celebrate.

Cocoa Daisy is now on Twitter. You can follow us here.

We are now also on Facebook here.

Ronda put a beautiful sketch together this month here for this months sketch/scraplift contest.
I love her sketches.
Here's my page.


I've used bits from our older kits along with some Fancy Pants 'Baby Mine' and a new 'Saint Nick' doilee.


And a couple of older stamps. With scrunched and painted tissue paper. Love that texture.



My second weekly challenge this month is to scrap any kind of celebration.
You can play along here to win a $10 voucher to spend in the online store.
I have chosen Hollie's 12th birthday.



She wanted to make her own cake this year. I left her to it and she made this red velvet cake.
Have I mentioned that she wants to be a desert chef when she's older?


And I used the summer 'Cherry Soda' kit on this page.
So many fun bits and pieces. I love those Lilybee stickers.

It's Friday already.
It feels like it's been a long week.
Seems strange to think that Dad was here at the beginning of the week. Seems so long ago now.
Everything is back to normal.
School routine, work, house organised and eating. We do tend to eat takeways and eat out alot when Dad's over. He misses the English breakfasts, fish and chips, kebabs and we also have lots of other treats. Can you believe I've shed 6lb since the beginning of the week??? I was rather chuffed when I got on the scales this morning. I happended to weigh myself on Monday when he was weighing he checkin bag and was shocked. But I've lost all I put on and a lb extra too. Just by eating how I would usually eat. No crap!! Good homemade grub : )

I got lots of scrapping done yesterday and need to finish some more now too.
I have quite a few things up my sleeve right now which for the time being need to remain there. But I can't wait to tell more soon.

We plan to take the kids swimming after school today and finish at the healthclub after for the £2 special burger and fries in the bar : )

Enjoy your Friday xxx

My Art Journal

As I mentioned yesterday, this week at Lessology we are altering books.
We have come up with many different ideas between us.
Today is my day along with Amy.
Here's what I've made.

An art journal.
This art journal has a little story which you can read about here.
And see more piccies too.






Thank you for all the sweet messages this week.
Life is getting back to normal again.
A serious scrap day is in need today. I have so much to do.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a lovely day. xxx

Altered Book Challenge

So the altered book challenge continues over at Lessology this week.



Take a look here at Angi's and Julie's today.
And feel free to play along yourself.

My turn tomorrow to see what I did with my book.
Here's a sneak for now : )



And for the US girls, have you seen the Fancy Pants challenge?
Take a look here.

Have a lovely day xxx

My Girl

Hi,

This month we are celebrating 5 years at Cocoa Daisy.
To add to the celebrations we are having 2 weekly challenges throughout September.

Here's the first:

Gimme 5!!

This first celebratory challenge is all about the number 5.

To play along please create a LO with at least 5 layers, with at least 5 different patterned papers and 5 of something on your page.


I've used papers from the last 2 Cocoa Daisy Kits. All pretty Basicgrey papers.


I took this photo of Hollie last week.
We were having some attitude issues with her towards the end of the school year and I'm so thankful to say that she's been an absolute gem all summer long.


I made these 5 flowers by cutting the circles out the Basicgrey pp, crumpling and attaching with a pretty bg brad.

If you want to join in, play along here.
There's a lovely Crafters Workshop template up for grabs.

The first Lessology challenge is now now live here.
Go and take a look and see what Audrey, Kirsty and Yvonne have made.
I love what they've done : )

My Dad went back to the states today, so I'm feeling really tearful and sad.
We've been doing this since I was 18 and I still can't get used to it. I swear it gets harder each year.
I'll be back tomorrow with a happy face.
Lots of love xxx

Printers Drawer Part 2

Hiya,

More from this months new Cocoa Daisy kit today.



I really do love this kit!!


And a frame I picked up.
The flowers are from Basicgrey papers in the kit and I've stitched the flower stem.

And lastly today, this LO got picked in the Sassafras top 10. See here.
How happy am I???!!! : )



Another busy few days after today. Spending it with all teh family until Dad goes back : (

Have a lovely weekend xxx

Introducing Printers Drawer

What a busy few days!!!
With all the family staying it's been loud, tiring, busy, manic but very fun.
We went to my sisters for a couple of days too and got back later last night and go back again either tomorrow late or Saturday early. We haven't decided yet.

I still need to show my September LO's from the new September Cocoa Daisy Kit called 'Printers Drawer'. I heart this kit so much.
(click on enlarge)


This kit is so perfect for layering.
And I love the mix of type, greens, pinks.






We had a sleepover night a couple of weeks ago.
The boys camped out in sleepbags in the lounge and watched Iron Man.
The girls camped out in Hollie's room and watched Twilight.



I love the mist addons that are available each month now.
It's Maya Road Mists this month. See here.


And I used the ink splat stamp from one of our kits earlier this year.


See, I told you it was a great kit : )
Take a look here. The main kit has already sold out but there are still addons.
We will be having extra kits for sale next month if you are interested in subbing.

Thanks for visiting.
I need to make a start on my to-do list now.
A whole mix of work and scrappy 'must-do's.
Thankfully I kept on top of the housework whilst everyone was here, so that side of things is fine.
And today we need good food. Dad's been treating us a little too much : )

One last things, there is a vote at Lessology right now for the new DT member.
Pick your fave here.

Have a lovely day xxx

Off to School

I was given the job (along with 2 other Fancy Pants girls) to showcase the fab chipboard elements and banners from the 'Off to School' collection.
And here's what I did.



I made Louis this chalkboard to help him stay oragnised in the morning.
He's forever running back in the house in the mornings as he's forgotten something or asking what's on after school. So hopefully this will help.

This whole off to school collection is so fun. I'm now working on my next project using it.




We are having a mad day today, all in preparation for Dad. Tidying, cleaning, shopping, baking etc...and I'm still trying to work too so I can take time off next week. I can't believe I actually get to hug him tonight. It's been so long.
Thank you for all the well wishes : )

Have a lovely weekend.
Love xxx

Together

Ready for another Sketchy Thursdays???


I just love this weeks sketch.
Rather partial to the odd circle here and there : )
(click to enlarge)



I've used this months Cocoa Daisy kit.

A great prize is up for grabs this weeks if you fancy playing along with Sketchy Thursdays.

It's already dark at 8.30pm now : (
I miss the long evenings already.
Dad arrives tomorrow and so does the rest of the family.
It's going to be pretty manic around here for the next couple of weeks.
Not sure how much I'm going to be around.

Lots of love xxx

Smurftastic!!

I'm keeping this one short.
Ade and I have a date in a sec. The sofa, a box of Graze and 'Black Swan'.

I wanted to share this LO that I shared over on Papermaze the other day.
(click to enlarge)

My Louis and my nephew Charlie.
Using lots of My Minds Eye - Lime Twist. I love this collection so much!!
Those stickers are so fun to use.


You can view the blog post here with step by step details of how I made it.



And today you can see me over on the new 'Lessology' blog : ) here.
The new design team is being announced this week so come and see.

It's rained all day here. But that was fine as I worked from 4.30am til 1.30pm and then we took the kids to see The Smurfs. It was so so much better than I expected. I LOVED it sooooooo smurfin' much.

I'm sorry that I've been an awful blog visitor lately. I'm really struggling with work and the kids being at home and all the family coming on Friday. All will be back to normal again in a couple of weeks.
Tomorrow we are going to Chessington for the day. So should be fun. Rain Rain now go away!!

Hugs xxx