Bitten by the Bug

I just can't stop scrappin' again. After a busy summer with not much time for 'me' I've definitely got the bug again and find myself with a couple of LO's on the go constantly.

I had a lovely surprise on Friday when my Scarletlime kit arrived. It's never come this early in the month before. Naturally I cut straight into it and made the LO above.
It's the new challenge from Butterfly Crafts. 3 of my fave scrappy friends made the DT last month, Claire, Fay and Elina, so I can see myself doing more of these challenges now to support them.
The challenge is to scrap your life changing moment. I've scrapped my time just before I married Ade.


And here are 2 of the LO's that I made whilst on my scrappy weekend with the girls at the beggining of the month using last months Scarletlime kit.

Hollie is wanting more and more indepence these days. Silly little things like when we went to a packed Mcdonalds back in the May half term with my sis and her lot, we found a table for 2 at the window and let the 2 girls eat there whilst the rest of us sat on the ground outside. Now we were right there by them with the window between us, but this made them feel very grown up
: )


The novelty still hasn't worn off with my two being at the same school. I love it. Life feels so much easier now. No rushing from school to school, no more sitting in traffic, no more desperatley trying to find a non existing parking space, no more pinking Hollie up late from school everyday as Louis was let out late and it was impossible to get to Hollie in 5mins, no more 1 hr long stressed out school run....life is bliss. We are walking most days and it feels good : )
Here they are on their first day together.


It's been quite a peaceful weekend. Managed to get lots of sorting out done going through all my old kits. The kids thought they were in craft heaven. They were like little vulchers taking bits of papers, ribbons etc and ended up making some LO's themselves yesterday.

My Dad's arriving on Saturday from USA. It's been over a year since I last saw him, so lots of organising and preparing this week. I'm going to have my little brother, sister, her hubby and their 3 kids all staying with us for the week....am I crazy : )

A Nothingy Week

I can't seem to type above my photos anymore. Not sure why, but it's really annoying me.

Anyway, today is the 16th of the month, so this sees the 2nd challenge launch of the month at
The Studio. Being sponsored by Niki Sivils this month we used her papers again for this challenge.

Amanda has decided to make things easier for everyone to join in with. This is what she says:

We’ve made a little change to the rules so that it is easier for those of you with limited scrappy time to join in! We usually ask that you use all 3 parts of the challenge in your layout to enter, but we decided that some of you simply don’t have time for that! So from now on you can use as many (or as few) as you’d like. We’d love it if you use all 3, but you don’t have to!

and here is this months challenge:

1. You must use (at least) 1 new and 1 old sheet of patterned paper on your layout.
2. Use glimmer mist or a technique to get a similar effect on your layout.
3. The subject of your layout must be YOU!

I've used a piece of October Afternoon that I've had left over from an old kit and a piece of Niki's paper cut up. Lots of shimmer mists and the rest is self explanatory.



I managed to get the new colorcombo down yesterday. This weeks colours are the orangey yellow, pale blue, red and white.




Not much to tell this week. Nothing very interesting has happened.
I tell you what though, my dog stinks today. She's driving me mad. I always have oils burning in the kitchen anyway but the little madam has just come in here and now it stinks in here too. I have no idea whats with her today, but she's about to be kicked outside.

Have a lovely weekend. Lots of love xx

October LO's so far....

I am loving last months Cocoa Daisy kit just so so much. In fact, I could possibly be IN LOVE with it. I just adore it.
So this is what I made with it last week.
The above LO was using this weeks color combo challenge. A little message to Ade about what a good Dad he is. I love that photo taken on Ade's birthday in August, walking up to Windsor Castle.

And here we have another LO using the same kit. Louis and his 2 fave things, his DS and David his fox : ) This was inspired by the new challenge on The Creative Type which is to mask. Something I'm really enjoying doing lately. My collection of spray mists is growing nicely : )

And here is Louis and his cousin Charlie messing around when we went to Oxford for the day back in May. They are like a little double act.
I just love that viney stamp. I got sent it as a freebie from Unity Stamp co last week. I was well chuffed.

Just one more thing before I go, if you haven't heard. The Studio is holding a huge charity event starting November 13th for the whole weekend. Amanda has some huge names involved as sponsors and as designers all taking part in raising money for Water. This is a charity that Cathy Zielske is now involved in and it's really worth supporting. Come on over to see who's joining in and find out more at The Studio . As well as it being a great cause, it'll be a fun weekend and there are so many prizes up for grabs too.

TFL xx

Stretching the Stash

Todays LO's are all about stretching the Stash. I've done these for Papermaze.
Using papers, die cuts and mini alphas from the My Little Shoe Box collection. I love these colourful papers : )



And a card too.

For full info on how to stretch that stash visit the Scrap, Paper, Scissors blog.
I'm running out of time here. The sun is shining so I'm going to walk to school, but I've just noticed the time and I had a cheese and onion toastie for lunch, so much go brush my teeth before I head out.
See ya xx

Autumn has arrived

This was my car just before I left for the scrap weekend on Friday. I told Ade if I ever left home, this would be how the car would look. Scrap stuff and nothing else : )

Here's a piccie of our little group happily scrapping away. Lovely space to scrap isn't it?


And here's one of the mini books I made at the crop. It was a class that Audrey did with us. Really pleased with it and will definately make more.




I really think Autumn is here now. I'm actually loving the coziness of it even if the weather has been wet these last couple of days. It's my fave time of year and I quite like snuggling up in the evenings with the curtains drawn.
Not so looking forward to winter though.

TFL XX

A Full on Scrappy Weekend

I've just had the best scrappy weekend. A big barn out in the country, surrounded by scrap stuff, 5 fab and funny scrap girlies and yummy food. Can it really get any better????
I can't wait for us all to do it again now. Looks like it'll be next spring.
I managed 5 LO's and 3 mini books. I haven't photographed any yet, so will show later in the week.
I'll leave this recent LO with you for now.
A few girls got an email requesting a 2009 LO for Scrapbook Inspirations to go in a 2010 issue.
Mine didn't get picked, but I'm really pleased with it anyway. A nice one to go in the back of my 2009 album. Most of the supplies are from the latest Cocoa Daisy Kit.

I started giving the house a really good clean this morning, but after the lovely weekend, I can just think scrap : )
I think I'll carry on with the cleaning now though and maybe scrap later.

Bye xx

Ready for another Challenge????

It's challenge time again over at The Studio. Come and take a look at what we've all made and join in too.
The DT were kindly send some papers from this months sponsor Nikki Sivils. So we all got to play with them for this months challenges.
So Here I have used her Victoria Street range. Not one I would have picked out myself to be honest. I generally steer away from themed and large patterned papers, but I really enjoyed using them and the quality of the card is great, I was really impressed.

This challenge goes like this :

1. Your layout can ONLY use hand cutting. No trimmers, punches or die-cutters allowed!
2. Use at least 3 different patterned papers on your page
3. You must make a card and a handmade embellishment with the leftover supplies from your layout.

This is mine and Ade's favorite getaway. Brandshatch Place. We just love it here.

And I made a layered flower which I added to my card with some of the leftovers.


I'm going away on a scrappy retreat tomorrow.
I'm meeting up with Audrey, Claire, Fay, Emma and Steph. We are renting a big converted barn in Wiltshire for the weekend to scrap, scrap and scrap : )
So have a lovely weekend and watch this space next week for all my new creations xx

Sketchy Thursday and Yummy Stew

I've had a pretty scraptastic weekend. I've managed 3 LO's, finished 2 and made a card.
I'm am loving the latest Cocoa Daisy kit. It's just perfect in every way and form.

These two LO's are using the kit and I've used the latest Sketchy Thursday sketch for both of these LO's. If you haven't seen this challenge blog, it's new. Go take a look.

Louis on Charmouth Beach

And I just love this photo of Ade and Louis. This was teaching Louis how to tie his tie on his first day at juniors.


I feel so full. Mum came over for Sunday lunch yesterday so I tried out a Jamie Oliver stew recipe. I made it on Saturday as I prefer things like stews, curries, soups a day later. It was just so yummy. Probably the best stew I've ever had. And I've just had the leftovers for lunch : )
Now I feel too full to move.
TFL and have a happy Monday xx

Another Color Combo

From me today. I really enjoy the colorcombo challenges. I love looking at the colours of the week and then picking out PP and bellies to go with them.

I found these 3 photos under my diary on my desk last week. They are from last summer. I'd printed off aload of mini pics for the kids when my niece and nephew were visting in the holidays for them to make their own mini books and I must've missed these. So decided to use them all in the one LO.

Not so sure of the orange ribbon afterall, might remove it.

Feeling really tired today. I feel like watching Come Dine with Me. I think I'm addicted to it. xx

Being a Big Sister

I found some old photos under my desk a couple of days ago. So using the recent colorcombo (#132). I came up with this.

I've used some Scenic Route PP and cut out the flowers, Scenic Route letter stickers and Adornit mini alphas. My page has been spray misted and the butterfly has been too to make it a darker pink.

I like being the oldest of 3. We have big age gaps. My sister is 5 yrs younger than me and my brother 12 yrs. This was us when we lived in Germany in the late 80's. The photo really isn't great quailty but I really like it. I don't have many of where we lived out there and it was so nice. I was really chuffed as I noticed our dog Bonnie in the right hand corner of the photo too. Again, I don't really have any photos of her and I miss her still so much.

Life was so fun back then. (not that it isn't now of course) Happy Memories : )

Have a fun and happy day xx

Mini Books

It's all about mini books over at The Studio. If you fancy winning a Kaiser Craft mini wooden album then come take a look.
It's really easy to enter, you don't even have to make a new mini book just simply show us your favourite mini book you've made and link back. A winner will then be picked at random on 5th October. So visit The Studio to enter.
I made a new mini book on Friday. I love it's bright colours and simplicity.

Have fun xxx

Quiet at Home

I am missing my baby girl. It's felt like a long week but she's home tomorrow tea time. In some ways is been very easy. Just Louis at home it feels very simple. It's quiet. Hollie's always the one that keeps coming downstairs after lights out, so come 7.30pm there's been nothing.....no little visitors : ) but the house feels so different.
I've just used a sketch from here for the first time:
Sketchy Thursdays
and finally broke into my Sept Cocoa Daisy kit.
TFL xx

The Studio Challenge #5

The next challenge has just been revealed at The Studio today
Here's how it goes:

1.Your layout should have a long title (4 or more words)
2. Your layout should have a summer theme
– a great excuse to scrap some of those summer photos!
3. Your layout must be an unusual shape – no 12×12 squares allowed!

So I decided to do something abit different rather than reaching for the lovely 12x12 die cut shapes. This project is actually quite small. The height is about 6inches. I really enjoyed making this. Felt good making something to hang up rather than another LO landing in the 'to file' pile which just grows and grows.
I've used a couple of Unity Stamps as I still hadn't broken into last months set.

Fancy taking a look at what the other DT members made then visit here. There's some amazing projects.
xx

Oh for the Love of Paint

Anyone who knows me well, knows what a paint addict I am. Nothing makes me happier that being covered in paint : )
So naturally when I got asked to do a tutorial on something over at The Studio it was going to be on paint.

I made these LO's in the summer holidays. This first one was our trip to Richmond Park.
We were so lucky considering all the rain we had that the week Ade took off work it was really sunny.

This next one is an older photo from a Farm trip. I get really mixed feelings about this place. I've been there quite a few times including a trip with the preschool group, but the first ever outing that Ade came with myself and the kids when we first started seeing each other was here. I also had my niece with me. So a 3yr old, 4yr old and 5yr old. There was a large bang when we were having lunch and suddenly there was fire in the field next to us. It was so scary. The combine in the next field had struck a cable. This is the first time I've been close to fire it was just shocking how it spread and the sound of it too. It was complete caos, people & kids everywhere. The fire engine couldn't get through. Thankfully everything ended well. But no one from the farm was there to assist.
So when we went back the following year the kids were a little nervous. But we went with friends and had a lovely time.


If you want to see the tutorial (with step by step pics) take a peek here.

The Studio

TFL xxx

Oragami for beginners

Hiya,

Back into the school routine now. Didn't get so emotional this morning : )
After a busy weekend of work and house cleaning and sorting, I didn't manage to scrap at all. I have so many lovely kits waiting to be played with but ZERO scrappy time right now. I find the less I scrap the harder it is to do so.

However, my first tutorial has gone up on the papermaze blog today.
Scrap, Paper, Scissors
The LO is above. All details are on the papermaze blog if you fancy a nose along with all supply details.

It's beavers tonight, so early tea. All the rushing and clock watching is something I really REALLY don't miss in the holidays.

Scrap soon xx

It's oh so quiet

Beacause those two little monkies have gone back to school today.
For the first time they now go to the same school, but just for the one year as my big girl goes off to comp next year.
I did sob when I got home. I miss them so much : (

So, I came home and made this.
It the latest Colorcombo challenge.



And here's a couple of pages I made in my 'Book of Me' whilst we were camping.


TFL and have a lovely weekend xx

The Studio Challenge #3

I can't believe it's already 1st September, what happened to the summer????
Did I blink and miss it?

Anyway 1st of the month means a new challenge is launched over at The Studio. I am seriously loving the challenges at this place. We have one hot Guest Designer this month too.
Céline Navarro
I just love the art this lady creates.

The challenge this time is :

1. Focus your layout on something from your daily routine.
This can be a whole day, or just one item you use or someone you see every day.
2. You can journal as much or as little as you like,
but you should answer the following questions within it:
“who or what?”; “when?”; “where?”; and “why?”.
3. You can use no “bought” patterned paper –
you must make your own patterned paper!
Paint it, stamp it, or do something else creative!

I have had so much fun with this one.
I've torn strips from the daily newspaper and stuck onto a base piece of cardstock and then painted gesso over top. Once dried I've painted over with coffee. Once that has dried I've added coffee mug rings. Anyone who knows me, knows what a latte junkie I am. It's the first thing I think of when I wake up every morning. So the whole thing pieces together.



Now for a little bit about our camping escapades. This was our first ever camping trip. We went down to Charmouth again near Lyme Regis where we had a fab Easter, blue skies, warm weather and that's exactly what greated us this time too. We felt so lucky with all the bad weather we've had recently.
Then that first evening the wind picked up and it rained and rained.
It continued to rain the next day but we ventured out when it cleared a little.

It carried on raining on and off and then cleared on our last day. We finally got the kids on the beach and despite the winds, they had great fun.

Then once we decided to pack up the sun came back out again and it was a lovely sunny evening : )