Cushions, Muffins and a LO

Another week.
I've got off to a good start.
I did the hoovering after the kids went to bed last night and packed up the lunches.
Ade cleaned the bathrooms yesterday and I had a good tidy.
Up at 5am today to start work and mopped all downstairs on way out to school.
Did the weeks groceries before heading home and made a pasta sauce ready for tea tonight and the best best muffins. All cleared away and done by 10am. Very proud of myself. I'll tell you about the muffins in a bit.

Here's a LO I did at the weekend.
I've always wondered how Louis gets a grubby mark on that one side of his mouth. Seeing this photo, I then realised how. Grubby thing thing!



It's actually larger than a 12x12. I've based it onto greyboard and will put it on the wall on my studio. Just a bit too bulky for an album this one.



I also managed to give my cushions a mini face lift whilst watching Dr Who on Saturday (I can never sit still and just do nothing). I bought these last year. 3 of them. So I've taken off all the tassles and added buttons.
We are finally nearly finished doing our room and en-suite. Everything is white with tiny touches of deep red/orange and turquoise, just like these buttons.
It's looking rather nice now. I'm working on some canvases too to go on the wall.



Back to the muffins. I'm so so happy with how these have turned out.
It's a recipe that I've adapted using cream cheese in the mixture and folding in fresh raspberries and white chocolate at the last minute. I've used the mega muffin cases I bought in Florida. The biggest cases I've ever seen.
The are totally LUSH!! Muffin Heaven. I feel a second LO coming on now for my recipe album.


Hollie is Starting her SATS today. I said I would bake something scrummy everyday for her. Yesterday we did butterscotch cookies.

Better get working now : )
Lots of love xxx

Pumpkin Cake and a mini 'know-how'

I quite like it when it's a grey rainy day. I've been home alone this morning and that just makes perfect for a gulit free scrap time.

I decided recently that I was going to start an album just for my favourite recipes. I just love cooking and baking so much, so combining that with scrapping seems to make sense. I have a spare A4 D ring A.C. album, so I'm off to a good start.
My most favourite thing to bake (and eat) is this Pumpkin Cake.
I found this recipe last year on another scrappers blog (I can't remember who's though) and have adapted it to my taste. There were quite a few other spices added, which I've removed, but I have upped the amount of ginger.

Here's the sketch that got me started:
Twisted Sketches. This weeks twist being 'Handmade'.





Here are the ingredients if you want to give it a go.
Pumpkin (tinned) by the way can be bought in Waitrose in the tinned fruit section(in the UK). But it does only come in at Halloween. I tend to buy up in bulk when it comes in. - Click the photos for a close up to read better.



And how to make:
Ultra easy and ultra quick.



I wanted to show how I make my coffee ring stains too. I love this little look. I know you can buy stamps for this effect, but making your own is so much more fun.

Grab some instant and add a small amount of water (cold will do) and mix. The more diluted the coffee is,the paler it will be. Place your mug into the mixture.



And then set onto your page where you would like the coffee ring to show.
And then leave to dry.
Don't make it too wet otherwise your page will warp. Be warned of this if using thin papers.



Now should I carry on scrapping or should I work?????

Today .....

...I am very tired.
I've really enjoyed all this politics talk lately, for the first time really.
We had a lovely wander down to the church after tea last night, the 4 of us and Poppy dog. No queuing for us, I think there were just 4 or 5 more people in the hall.
Ade and myself then camped in the lounge until about 3am. Snacking and watching the alternative election show. It was a fun evening.
We then went up to bed and carried on watching. I gave in just after 4am and Ade stayed awake.

I want to share this latest sketch from Butterfly Crafts.
The sponsor this month is Nikki Sivils. There's a fab prize to be won.



I did this LO yesterday. It sat and sat and I just wanted to add something else. So I made that arrow last night and glued in place. I wish I hadn't now and why did I glue it, it won't even come off. So I've stitched it today, but I don't think that's made me feel much better. Oh well.



This really is the best playarea ever. It's in Jurassic Park at Island of Adventures. I'm not one for playareas, but I love this one. Lots of rope tunnels and bridges, slides, water sprays. It's the best.
I've used mostly Cocoa Daisy bits again.



Then I started this one last night.
The Studio's challenge this week is to scrap something that makes you laugh.
I've been thinking about this one all week. I didn't want to scrap another photo of the kids. I wanted to scrap something abit different.
It's got to be my sis and brother-in-law to be. When the 4 of us together we just laugh the whole time. I love all the sillyness.
So, that's what I've scrapped.



I pulled out an older Cocoa Daisy kit for this one. The colours went well with the dodgy photos taken in their local working men's club.
Really not the kind of place that we would usually hang out, but my sis is abit scummy and doesn't really care : )
We've spent the last 2 New Year's there as they open up a hall just for families and have a kiddie disco. Drinks are cheap, you take your own food, kids are happy and it's just 2mins walk from their house. Doesn't get much better. Everyone's happy.
This was 2 yrs ago now.



I did lots of cutting out & doodling whilst watching the election stuff last night.
You can usually tell the ones that are done infront of the tv.

Now I'm hungry. We are planning on a proper English Breakfast at the pub in a bit. Ade's off today, so I'm liking that idea lots.
I think early night tonight then.

Thanks for looking xx

ps... I've just noticed that photo is wonky, but I'm too tired to change it. Sorry x

It's a Sketchy Thursday

Doesn't Thursday come around fast?
Almost weekend again, how did that happen??

Here's the new Sketchy Thursdays sketch:



I've used another Florida Photo. My album is now full, but I keep squeezing in extra pages.
I've used mostly older Cocoa Daisy bits with this month little stamp too.



We are sponsored this month by: {Ippity} stamps by Bonnie Rose. She kindly sent us each a stamp. I received this lovely 'Family' stamp which I love and can see me using lots. Thank you Bonnie xx
Here is Bonnie's blog. It's well worth a visit. Beautiful creations and scrummy stamps.



Happy Thursday xx

Teeny Weeny bit Rude this one!

I'm having another rush rush rush day, where my to-do list exceeds the amount of hours in the day. Things are slowly being ticked off though.

My baby sis is off to Turkey to get married on Sunday. I love her so much, but we sadly can't go. We already had booked our trip to Florida when they told us last November and also it's the week of Hollie's SATS, so was a definite 'NO' from the start. I'm going to feel so sad on the 13th, I bet she will look beautiful.

I have a little package to send off to her today. She's asked for a few things to burrow to take and a couple of cards to be made to take with her too.

I used this card sketch from Twisted Sketches to make her and Ben a wedding card to open on their day.






Very tasteful.
My sister has the filthiest mind I have ever known in a person. It really is being like a kid when we get together,the 4 of us just laugh all the time.
She is about become a Fletcher, so I've written a lovely sentimental message inside wishing them lots of love for all their years together as 'Mr & Mrs Feltcher'.
It keeps making me giggle every time I think about it.

I found out something cool this morning.
This LO below won over on Twisted Sketches. Yay! So I have a little guest spot coming up. Rather chuffed with that : )
I also got a couple of other mentions for recent LO's.




Better get my sister's package packed up and off to the postie.
xx

3 Day Weekends are the Best

We should have more of them. I love that feeling on a Sunday that there's still another day home tomorrow. Not that I ever go anywhere else other than home, but I like it best when we are all home together with no plans.
It's definitely been a chilled one.
We popped to Sainsburys yesterday morning and then had a lovely lunch when we got home of hot rotisserie chicken, salads and fresh bread (and wine)
I baked pineapple and strawberry muffins and then peanutbutter/choccie chip cookies. We then watched a film in the afternoon.
So chilled!

I fotgot to show this one from last week. Another Cocoa Daisy challenge.
Christine gave us this sketch.



And I scrapped about the prank I pulled on Dad recently.


He loves pranks, so we had fun with this one.




Lots of work for me to catch up on today. Louis is starting Street Dance after school today and Hollie is walking to MIL, so I get an extra 1hr20mins today. Sounds lovely, but I did feel sad when Louis ran into the playground this morning and it feels so odd not collecting Hollie. It's the first time. Three times now she's walked ahead of me to MIL. Louis always gets let out late, so it gives her a slight bit of freedom and MIL just lives 5 mins from school and most of the walk is within the school grounds. She only has a tiny road to cross to get to MIL's house. It's a good compromise with her now wanting some freedom.

Have a lovely day and hope you get time for some srappiness in your day xx

Lazy Sunday

We were hoping it would rain today. An excuse to stay in. So 11.50am, in slouchy clothes and no make up with latte no2 in hand. This is a lazy Sunday.

Did I mention already that The Studio has been moved elsewhere?
I think I did. If you didn't take a look, here is where it is now:

The Studio

I've joined in with this weeks challenge by scrapping an event that I didn't have a photo for. So I've scrapped Hollie's first feed and used her hospital cot label.
(click photo for story)




Off to watch yesterday Dr Who now.

Happy Sunday xx

A Canvas for a Change

Horray for Fridays!
Horray for 3 day weekends!!
And Horray for 'wine o'clock!!!

Just got in from swimming, chilli is on the stove, table laid and wine poured.
Family games night to follow. Hopefully a great start to this weekend. (just praying there will be no arguments later when the games start. Hollie and Ade are so competitive)

I finished this 12x12 canvas this week to go on the front of Hollie's bedroom door.
She says it too pink, but I like it.



Lots of layered up flowers. Some primas, some inked primas and some are silky dunelms blooms that I've pulled apart and transformed.



The colours were inspired by another of the Cocoa Daisy challenges from last weekend.
Strawberries and Cream with the name of the challenge. Need I say more?

Off to dish up.
Have a lovely weekend xxx

Hand in Hand

That's what I chose to call this LO.
Hollie and Louis ran off to the edge of the sea, she grabbed his hand, they slowed down and walked on hand in hand. So sweet : ) Melts my heart.

Here is the new Sketchy Thursday Sketch.
Do you like it? If so, go on over and join in.



I love these Bo Bonny papers. I ordered a lovely selection.





That's it from me today.
I've managed to do another couple of LO's for the Cocoa Daisy crop.
I'll share those tomorrow.
xxx

The Studio Update

The Studio has been moved to here.
Come and visit and see the new place and the new challenge.

Amanda was having some technical difficulties for a short while, but everything is now sorted.
I made this LO for a previous challenge. Scrap a boys LO without using blue.
You can view this challenge here.


I can never get enough of watching my kid's faces during the disney parades.

And this weeks challenge is here.
Scrap an event you have no photos for.

I know exactly what I want to scrap. Just need a couple of hours to do it.
xx

And still more Cocoa Daisy

Good Morning.

I'm still sharing Cocoa Daisy LO's.

I'm really pleased with this one.
Christine offered a variety of stationery ideas as inspiration. I took a white thank you card which had yellow circles lined in the centre and made this.



Lots more hand stitching.



And this was another 1hr challenge (sundays)
We had to come up with a sketch first (I won that part of the challenge)
And this is my LO that followed.



Lunch boxes to make and a school run to do.
Have a good day xx

More from Cocoa Daisy

It's been a great weekend over at Cocoa Daisy. I've had such a laugh with the girls and got quite abit of scrapping down too. I think there was possibly more talk and giggles rather than scrapping though : )

I took part in this challenge that Vee hosted.
She showed us this rug as a starter point.
Here's what I came up with -
24/7



I used the muted colours and circles on my LO.



This next one was the 1hr challenge Saturday night.
To use 10 of whatever you use (excluding photo)



And I was the winner : )
Although Laura did come up with a cracker too.

Will show more from the crop later x

Challenge 3 - Raindrops on Roses

Anna's challenge is to use 3d glaze. I really should use my glossy accents alot more. I love the look they give.

I used this photo taken at the zoo last year showing my brother, sis, myself and our kids.



I used the glossy accents on this big prima after inking it up abit and then sprinkled on some glitter. I made the leaves and used the glossy accents on those too.
I used a prima linen family tag and made a little string of beads as it looked abit empty there.



I then finished up with adding glossy accents to the paper showing off the circles in the patterned paper.

CD. Challenge 2 - Laundry Line

Challenge 2 last night, brought by the lovely Ronda.
Here's the sketch.



I wanted to make something slightly different using something other than pegs or the popular bunting right now. Fortunately the Cocoa Daisy kit arrived yesterday morning and these pin things and twine that looks like threads of my hair were included. Perfect!!



I've scrapped these really awful photos I had taken last month. I'd got the kids off to school and rushed into town to have these photos done as my driving license was expiring that weekend and I still hadn't sent off the form. It was raining and I had no brolly, so I arrived looking rather unmade up and abit frazzled. Loverly!!



It has been eventful these last 5 years. Divorce, wedding, 2 trips to Florida, romantic trip to Barcelona, a puppy dog, 3 trips to Center Parcs, started camping and have had 3 trips down to Charmouth, Dorset.
Not bad!

C.D CROP - Butterflies are Free

I have a scrappy hangover. I scrapped along on Cocoa Daisy and went to bed around 2.30am to be up again at 7am. I am so tired and really do feel hungover today.
I may have to have a snooze before this evening.

The first challenge was launched at 8pm last night, to scrap a LO with Butterflies, but nothing to do with Spring.



I scrapped about Hollie. How I'd always wanted to have a daughter and convinced myself she was going to be a boy as I never thought I'b be so lucky to have a girl.



I've used last months cocoa daisy kit.



I do feel very lucky to have her : )

Sketchy Thursday Time

I think I'm going to go to bed soon.
The Cocoa Daisy Crop is underway. Pop in and say 'Hi' if you are around and have scrappy time this weekend.
I've managed 2 LO's so far tonight. Will photograph tomorrow now.

Have you seen the latest sketch on the Sketchy Thursday blog? Here you go:



I lined my 3 photos in a row. These were taken on our walk in the woods on Mothers Day. This LO was inspired by my friend Laura. She has such a way with Patterned papers, I love her work.
Thanks Laura xx



I used last months Cocoa Daisy kit and a loo roll : )
If you choose to join in, don't for get to link up and you may well win a prize.



I'm going to prep a LO and then I think it's bedtime x