The Crafty Ladybird

Back At Last!!!

2010-05-02T20:31:00.011+01:00

I just can't believe I have left it very nearly a year since I last Blogged. Well hopefully this is me back! one and two things have happened since I last Blogged I am now a Weight Watchers leader so that is taking up quite a bit of my time in an evening, but I'm loving it and its keeping me on track and focused.

So let move on to the scrapbooking, I have been to Sarah's Cards crop in Warrington today, I do love going to the monthly crop and meeting up with my friends I probably do more chatting then scrapping tho.Anyway today I did a LO using the April Sketch Challenge designed by Rachel Ward from the Sarah's Cards Blog The stash I used was all from Sarah's cards May kit which I have to say is really lovely, I have never really followed a sketch before it really made me think out of the box although I must admit I am try to do that a little bit more, It's so easy to get stuck in the same scrapping style.

Thanks

2009-05-31T16:33:00.016+01:00

A big thanks for all the lovely messages re my thumb. Its loads better and if you where to see it you would say " is that it...What was all the fuss about" lol. The Dr at A&E told me that thumbs do bleed an awful lot (your not kidding), but heal really well Apparently.

I have been busy scrapping this weekend in between gardening before I return to work tomorrow (I do think it should be law that if the weather is lovely and sunny no one should have to work anyway back to reality) lol
Here are two LOs I have finished.

"Beautiful Big Eyes"
Another LO of Evie G using this months kit from Sarah's Cards.

"Knitted Character"

If you are a fan of Harry Hills TV Burp then you will recognise Knitted Character from the show
This was a must purchase for my friend Tracy's birthday, as she just loved it every time KC appeared on TV Burp.

Used some more of this months kit from Sarah's Cards.

Blood, Layouts and Cards!

2009-05-29T14:03:00.005+01:00

Well I have been a bit of a plonker...Two weeks ago I came home from work and because I just couldn't be bother to make mash potato for a cottage pie I decided to just put sliced potatoes on top of the mince. Well I got out my mandoline slicer and managed to slice half my thumb off. this happened at about 4.30pm and when it got to 9pm and it still hadn't stop bleeding I thought it may be a good idea to go to the local A&E! as there was nothing there to stick they just had to pad it up and I had to keep it elevated in a sling for 48hrs. The mandoline slicer has now been put in the bin.
From the pic below you can see it carried on bleeding till around 11am the next day.

So I've not been able to do much crafting over the last two weeks, so I will share some LOs I did before the plonker incident...lol. These two I did at the May Warrington crop on the 10th. I love going to the crop I get so much wonderful inspiration and have made some great friends.

Smile

Central Park

The craft I have managed to do in the last week or so is three card that just had to be done. Making your own cards is so rewarding I love it when friends really appreciate the time and love you have taken to make them and its a great way to use up the bits of those fantastic papers I have used on my LOs.

This Card was for a family friend

My friend at work was 50 yesterday so this one I did for her.

And finally it's my best friend Tracy's birthday today so this one is for her.

Scrapbook Trends UK

2009-05-09T13:06:00.003+01:00

I'm sure that by now you will all have heard and even purchased you copy of Scrapbook Trends which has now been launched in the UK. I had heard of the US magazine via UK Scrappers, but had never seen a copy of it, so had no idea what to expect. So after reading all the excitement on UKS off I went to WH Smiths and bought a copy....I have to say it was the best £6 I have spent for a long time. What a fantastic little magazine so much inspiration with out pages and pages of adverts, just fantastic pages full of great layouts. I hope the UK scrapbooking magazines take note and learn from this treasure from the US. Also if you pop over to their web site you can download a free i-mag on mini books, its def worth a look.

I will leave you with a selection of LOs I did last weekend. As is the norm these days you can find all the supplies I have used over at Sarah's Cards shop and I'm sure I will have some more of the lovely papers she has in stock after tomorrows Warrington Crop.

Cupcake!

Cutie Pie

Evie G

1st Birthday

International Scrapbooking Day

2009-05-03T14:14:00.010+01:00

Well yesterday was International scrapbooking day so to celebrate I went and bought myself a new photo printer for my craft room/bedroom. I normally have to print my pics out downstairs so do them in a job lot which ends up wasting loads of ink and paper, I can now print off photos as I need them and to go with my papers.
So yes back to ISD after installing my printer I eventually managed to do 2 LOs. Both are of my two dogs having a run by the river where I live. The papers where bought spacial for the photos from Sarah's Cards.

"1, 2, 3 Jump"
Archie loves to run up the bank and then jumping off.

"Top Dog"
Bryn is a little more wary, but likes to be up on the bank looking down on you.
He thinks he is top dog, but Archie and I know diffrent!

The other week my monthly kit arrived from Sarah's Cards It was so nice I just loved the colours and papers and knew the perfect photos for them. I have done the photos before you my remember, but they where digi Los. Im really pleased with how they have turned out. The LOs are off my friend Tracy's graduation last July.

"What a hoot"

This is my favourite picture of Tracy's Graduation with her pulling a silly face, because it just sums her up.

"Wise Owl"

Finally I thought I would share the page class from last months Warrington Crop. I had decided not to do it at the crop as it was going to be Evie G's 1st birthday the following weekend. I just knew the colours and papers would look so good on a little girl LO.

"First Birthday"
The writing on the side says...

"Evie Grace you where born on the 15th April '08. On the 18th April '09 your family and friends came to celebrate your 1st birthday with you". It was a lovely sunny day and we all had a lovely afternoon with you”.

New boiler and the Warrington Crop

2009-04-09T11:17:00.010+01:00

At last I have found the time to catch up with my Blog. Life seems to have been a little hectic I don't really know why its just one of those things. We have had no heating or hot water for the last three weeks, but today is new boiler day and I have bagsied the first bath when its all done...Oh don't get me wrong I haven't gone three wks without a wash or shower thanks to the shower at work. The men are here as I type I can hardly contain my excitement at having hot water and central heating again...Goodbye thick blankets and over sized hand knitted cardigans hello and welcome back shorts and T Shirts.
I'm doing catch up on last mths and this mths scrapping which has all taken place at the monthly Warrington crop as I just haven't had chance to do any at home, in fact when I went to the crop this mth I didn't even have to pack my bags as they where still packed from last month...Terrible I know!

The Crop is organised by Sarah and Lianne from Sarah's Cards and they do a wonderful job of looking after us, they also put together a LO kit each month which you can choose to buy at the crop. All the papers and embellishments I have used are from Sarah some where purchased at the crop or are from Sarah's fab monthly kits which are such good value for money.

These First 2 Los where done using the Crop LO kit

LO of my friends great niece. I used the papers from this month Kit

Thanks Cal for title for this one

These Last 3 LOs or for my friends son's 18th album
There are done in A4 format

My other very exciting news is that I have booked to go on the Sarah's Cards retreat in March 2010 I'm so looking forward to it I have never been on a scrapping retreat before the lure of a 4 star hotel is just as exciting as a weekend of scrapping. So roll on next March (-:
Hope u all have good Easter break.

How time flies

2009-03-20T11:19:00.003Z

I'm letting this Blogging slip again, I really need to pull my finger out.

I have some lovely things to share with you, but haven't photographed them yet. I will spend some time tonight taking pics and I will upload them over the weekend.

Haven't done much crafting over the last few weeks as my weekends seem to have been taken up with other stuff.

Last Friday I attended a reunion for the school where I used to work it was a great night and so lovely to meet up with staff and students I haven't seen for many years. Unfortunately I had a little to much to drink and had to spend Saturday in bed and I had such good intentions for the Saturday...Oh well...Never again!

2009-02-22T22:11:00.006Z

I have been away for the last few days staying at my Mums and on my return there was a large brown box waiting for me... It was the lovely monthly kit from Sarah's Cards. Its just so yummy and if a kit isn't for you Sarah has some lovely papers for you to check out.

I have stated a new challenge today. It started in Jan so I'm a little behind but not to much.
it is: "His Holy Name challenge" that I found on Triple Scraps Blog totally by accident while I was Blog hopping. I'm doing it for my Mum, she is a committed Christian and will appreciate the work and sentiment on each 6x6 LO . Click on the link above are the on the right hand side to find out more.
Here are the first three LOs I have done.

For the Holy LO I used some of the lush papers, alphas and embellishments that came in my Sarah's Cards kit.

Some of my UKS Murder Mystery Mayhem Cybercrop layouts

2009-02-19T14:27:00.010Z

Thought I would share some of my LOs from the UKS CC. There where some fantastic classes and some great LO challenges.
Here are just three off the classes/challenges I did...

FBI challenge
Digi LO

The Da Vinci Code Class
Really enjoyed this class. LO 11x8.5

The Mouse Trap Class
Digi Version of a fantastic class

Thanks to all the wonderful peeps over at UKS for putting yet another great CC together. Special thanks must go to... Everyone who put a class together, Scrappybunny Team leaders especially my team leader Cal and all the folks behind the scenes. Thanks everyone.

Great time had by all at the UKS CC

2009-02-17T16:23:00.007Z

What a fantastic time I had the other weekend at the UK Scrappers Cyber Crop. there was some fantastic classes with a good mix of sponsors classes and non-sponsor classes.

I didn't order as many kits for this CC as in the past, but I did order a mystery kit.I love the mystery kit challenge and have always had great kits. This times kit was lovely I really liked the colour scheme. There where loads of fabulous entries with some great ideas. Go over to have a look in the UKS CC gallery. J-Bug Got the most votes for my teams Mystery kit challenge for her fantastic entry.

Here are some pics of my mystery kit entry.

Bird House

I photographed the bird house with the diamond glaze to give some idea of the size of the project

Oh my word

2009-01-21T12:10:00.005Z

How long is it since I came on here and wrote? Things have been a little hectic around here you know what it can be like.

sorry no crafty things to show you at the moment, but a few thing to tell you.

first thank you all for the lovely comments you gave me regarding my JYC book I'm so far behind with it, but hoping to find the time soon to catch up and finish it.

secondly I have put together a new blog to follow my weight loss. Yes I'm on a diet I joined Weight Watchers the other wk. You can follow the story of my weight loss here..."The Dieting Ladybird" I would love for you to take a look and may be follow it to help keep me going it is going to me a long journey but I WILL DO IT.

and now for the very exciting news....Oh what fun...Yes its cyber crop(CC) time over at UK Scrappers. I really love CC, I love the build up with the fun and games and then the fast mad weekend with all those great classes. If you have never done a CC over at UKS come and join the fun and best of all its free. This CC is a The Whodunnit Cybercrop and I have been put in the Interpol team with Hysteri-CAL as our leader.

The dates of this CC are Friday evening 6th till Sunday 8th of Feb. with tons of fun and chat already up and running with plenty of help for any new CCers

JYC Days 5 to 13

2008-12-15T12:53:00.005Z

Well I have spent the weekend catching up on my JYC LOs and apart from yesterday and today's entries I'm now up to-date. So here are the last 9 days.

If you click on the picture it will enlarge enough for you to read the journaling.

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Inside the parcel of day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

I haven't given up JYC

2008-12-12T11:13:00.004Z

Just a quick note to say I haven't given up on JYC and I will post the pics this weekend. I am playing catch up as I got two days behind last weekend as I was at my Mum's. So by Saturday I will be up to date again and will have time to photo this weeks LOs.

As I'm here I thought you may like to see My Christmas tree. (sorry about the photo quality.)

JYC Day 4

2008-12-05T11:06:00.004Z

The prompt for to day was perfect What is your perfect Christmas?
This Lo was done on the PC as I was going for the perfect magazine look to go with the title. I added a few little extras when I put into the album. The photo isn't very clear so I have also added the pic of the of it before a glued it into my album.

The words on it say...

Perfect
As long as I can spend my Christmas with my Mum and with close friends it will be perfect, but a few other little things can add that extra special perfection. Like a lovely tree, beautiful decorations, roast chestnuts, a Starbucks gingerbread latté and snow would be nice.

JYC Day 3

2008-12-04T12:49:00.006Z

Here is my LO for JYC 3rd of December. Today's prompt was about Christmas cards. Inside the card I have written...

I don’t send a lot of cards and none of them have to be posted. I have a couple of friends that live away off, but we send each other E-cards.
For the last two years I have made an effect to make my own Christmas cards. I really enjoy doing this and love seeing friends and families faces when they see my creations. I was very organised this year and all my cards where done my the end of November although I still need to print out all the inserts with a Christmas greeting on. This makes writing them easy as the laborious bit is done on the PC and I just have to do the To and From bit not forgetting the XXXX.

JYC days 1 and 2 and advent box

2008-12-02T22:31:00.006Z

Yesterday was the 1st December which meant the start of Shimelle's journal your Christmas (JYC). The 1st was my manifesto of why I'm doing this and what I hope to achieve by doing it. I wonted to take some snaps of Christmas decs to go with the journaling but thought I was out of luck until in the afternoon work put up a few real trees around the building so managed to get some close ups of the bubbles. Today was to do with the weather over the holiday period. My page is about snow as it is my wish for snow over Christmas, I know not likely, but as we have had some small snow flurries other the last few day I live in hope. This page isn't finished as I still need a pic and my journaling will be hidden under the pic.

Here is the yesterdays entries

Today's entry

And Finaly before I go here is the last of the Advent boxs I made this for a friend at work.

Getting in the mood

2008-11-28T13:08:00.006Z

One of the girls on the JYC forum found this and posted a link, so of course I just had to have a go....Go on you know you want a go as well. and if you do they dance for you aswell http://www.elfyourself.com/ haha

Its nearly time to start

2008-11-26T13:11:00.002Z

As I have already told you all I'm about to set off on what I hope will be a wonderful and rewarding journey with lots of other peeps and Shimelle, journaling our Christmas. As I have said before I have never attempted anything like this and I'm not a confident writer, but after seeing the wonderful Journals that people have done over the past years I feel just so inspired and can't wait to start. I have decided to do a mix of hand and computer journaling...So watch this space from the 1st Dec and I will post the pages as I do them.

If you fancy joining us then please come on over to Shimelle's "Journal your Christmas" and join the fun.

Here's the last lot

2008-11-23T12:04:00.005Z

Of Christmas cards, yes they are all finished apart from printing out the inserts and sending them. I am more of a scrapbooker then a card maker I don't know why but I always seem to find making cards hard and struggle for inspiration, but I have to say I have really enjoyed making my Christmas card this year. So I thought I would share the last five cards I have made with you.

As promised

2008-11-20T14:20:00.003Z

The other week, here is the other advent box I have made for my Mum. As you probably can see it still needs numbers on the draws. I went for a classy approach with this one so I didn't use Christmas papers, but went for green and cream with a creamy poinsettia on the top and a small amount of stickles glitter glue to add some sparkle.

Now for those of you who are not to sure whether your allowed to be Christmasy yet...

I took a group of students to the Trafford Centre this morning to go bowling and on the big screen they showed the Coke cola advert so that means that YES you are allowed to be Christmasy...lol

Whats your Christmas advert?

I'm on a roll at the moment,

2008-11-16T22:13:00.007Z

Which is just so good. Instead of sitting there thinking about doing something craft I have had another productive weekend. I have finished making my album for the Shimelles Journal your Christmas class its 12x6 which is a size I have never done before, but I'm really liking it. I just wont the class to start now.

Also if you are interested inspirational craft blog are looking for new team members just click on the link and if you are interested you just have to leave a comment and a link to your blog and the winners will be announced on the 30th Nov.

Up to my armpits in Bl**dy matches!!

2008-11-12T13:09:00.006Z

I'm now in the middle of making another advent box and then went and got some more boxes of matches again today. I am surprised that Asda haven't reported me as a potential pyromaniac. When you go through the self check out at Asda it asks for a supervisor to check the purchase on items not to be sold to anyone under 18 and not once have they asked me my age I just don't think its right I could be an older looking 12 year old...lol.
As soon as they are done I will post some pics.

Below is a picture of the Christmas card I have made for my Mum. I really hope she likes it.

A Crafty Weekend

2008-11-10T20:19:00.005Z

Yes I have been crafting away this weekend, there is nothing like getting covered in paint and glue to get the old inspiration going. Having seen all those lovely advent boxes about especial the ones on Ladybird Ladybird's Blog and Misteejay's Blog I thought I would have a go. Not having checked out the pics of them first mine turned out a little different as I did four rows of six boxes instead of eight groups of three (if you check out the above blogs you will see what I mean) But I'm still very pleased with the out come. I also had a little trouble with some of my draws sticking so after a little contemplation I came up with the idea to rub a candle long the sides and bottom of each draw, this worked perfectly. I just need to find some more match boxes preferable the wider boxes so I can make one for my Mum. Oh and what do you do with all the matches??? haha

I have also joined Shimelles Journal your Christmas class which I'm itching to start. I have never done anything like this before the only online classes I have done have been cyber crops on UKS. The fact that its a journal is daunting and a little scary. As I told you all when I started this blog writing is not my strong point as Im dyslexic. writing on the PC isn't to bad, but by hand...argggggg, Oh well in for a penny in for a pound!

Here is a pic of the lovely Christmasy stash I have bought to do the journal with.

24hr pink booby crop

2008-10-31T09:51:00.011Z

At the beginning of October I attended the Goldbourn 24hr pink booby crop and although I ended up not staying for the full 24hrs I had a great time. I managed to do some digi scraping and also making the the album below to hold the DVD of all the digi pages I have done of Katie and Damian's wedding which hopefully will make a lovely gift for them.

The gorges stash I used was from one of Sarah's Cards kits which are just fabulous and well worth every penny. If you are looking to subscribe to a kit then over all the kits out there I heartily recommend you check out Sarah's kits.

2008-10-29T20:40:00.005Z

I'm spending the 1/2 term hols staying at my Mums till Friday we have had a day out to a lovely garden center near where she lives. It was full of the most lush Christmas stuff it made me wont to come back and put up the tree! No I didn't do it I know it's still October lol
Still on the subject of Christmas as promised here is a small collection of some of the Christmas cards I have made to date. I'm still in the middle of doing them so more to follow.

Its half term holidays

2008-10-27T20:20:00.009Z

At last!!
last week on the Thursday before I broke up for a very long awaited holiday I did a craft day with a group of the college students. I was teaching them how to make memory (exploding) boxes, which as you can imagine is not easy working in inches with a group of teenagers who think inches are something that cave men used...lol. Anyway I decided I would have to change the measurements to cm. So after some experiments I did it and it is so much easier then working in inches. I can now make boxes in a variety of sizes.
Bellow is a box I made from A4 card to use as an example for the student.

Here are the instructions and measurements for a box using A4 and 12x12 card stock. From these measurements you can see just how easy it is to scale it down more.

Big Box

You will need 4 sheets of 12inch x 12inch card stock 3 sheets for the box and one for the lid. First sheet measures 30cm x 30cm then divide into 3 x 10cms vertically and horizontally.
Then cut the 4 corner squares away. Second sheet measures 28.5 x 28.5 then divide into 3 x 9.5cms vertically and horizontally. Then cut the 4 corner squares away. Third sheet measures 27 x27cms then divide into 3 x 9 cms vertically and horizontally. Then cut the 4 corner squares away. Fourth sheet is the lid measure 17.5 x17.5 square.
Then score all 4 sides in 3.5cm in. TURN YOUR CARD OVER and score from the tip of each corner, diagonally, until you meet your scored “corner” lines. You can decorate as you wish.

Smaller Box (INSTRUCTIONS SAME AS ABOVE)

First sheet measures 21cm x 21cm then divide into 3 x 7cms.
Second sheet measures 19.5 x 19.5 then divide into 3 x 6.5cms. Third sheet measures 18 x 18cms then divide into 3 x 6 cms. Fourth sheet is the lid measure 15 x 15 square. Then score all 4 sides 3.5cm in.

Don't give up on me

2008-10-20T20:09:00.003+01:00

No please don't I will return very soon with some crafty projects. I haven't really done much for a few weeks, but I have started doing my Christmas cards so when I get chance I will take some pics and blog them.

I have manged to do some more digi LOs for Katie and Damian's One is still on my laptop so I can only show you this one for now.

New PC and Boobs!

2008-09-29T12:47:00.005+01:00

Yes I have got a new PC, its not actual new it belonged to my Mum, but it is newer then mine. So I'm in the proses of swapping stuff over and sorting through my Photos and what a task that is!
Why do I not archive my stuff on to discs? why I'm I so disorganised? Is it something to do with I only seem to have twinkly things, brads, patterned paper etc... floating around my head...lol

Anyway I might be off line at home for a short time and then I will be trying to work out Vista (oh what joy), But I will return soon...(fingers crossed)

Oh before I go don't forget Oct is breast cancer awareness month there or loads of challenges out there to scrap your boobs...Think I will need a wide angled lens to capture mine lol

click on the pic to get to the web site

Time at last!

2008-09-20T20:49:00.005+01:00

Yes I have at last found the time and energy to Blog and do some digi scraping.

Oh how I wish I could get home from work and have some energy and some inspiration to sit on here and write, but alas I still seem to be suffering from that back to work feeling, and how come as soon as you return to work after the summer brake you pick up every bug possible? I have had a cold and now a real chesty cough. Oh the joys of working in a College full of germ ridden students and air conditioning.

I have also managed to do a couple of digi LOs of Katie and Damian's beautiful little girl Evie. I have loved sitting here today and scrapping I just need to tidy my scrap space and I might even then get chance to do some paper scrapping, I'm starting to feeling the need to get glued up and covered in ink!

Evie Grace having fun and looking so beautiful.

Daddy's Super Hero

2008-08-25T18:48:00.005+01:00

Yesterday I went to a fund raising event at our local pub. It was to help raise money for the Ronald McDonald house at Alder Hey children's hospital Liverpool .

6 wks ago our next door neighbors little boy Connor aged 2 was rushed from Manchester to Alder Hey with Meningitis and septicemia for those 6 wks his Mum was able to stay very close by in the Ronald McDonald house which was a god send for Laura. The house is a charity, click on the link to learn more on how these marvelous houses work.

Connor Came home last Tuesday and everyone that knows him are so pleased to have him back. I have done a LO of him dressed as Bob the Builder at the fun day yesterday. The small pic of him is one I did for him on photoshop by putting his head on top of a picture of the real Bob. This picture was taken before Connor was ill.

Our local News station Channel M have been round to film Connor with his Mum and Dad to help warn other people about the signs and dangers of meningitis. You can see the news article HERE

Award

2008-08-25T18:19:00.004+01:00

The my fellow ladybird Lover Paige has gifted me with this Blog Award .

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog

2. Link the person you received the award from

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs

4. Put links of those blogs on yours

5. Leave a message on the girls blogs you have nominated

The Blogs that I am gifting this Award to are

The other Blogs I would like are you, so if you like to visit my Blog then please help yourself to this award, but let me know so I can visit you Thanks.

New Header!

2008-08-23T21:11:00.002+01:00

I have spent the afternoon redesigning a new header and I'm really pleased with the way is turned out.
Well my 6 weeks holidays or nearly over, its back to work on Tuesday. It will be nice to catch up with all my friends at work and see what they have been up to over the hols, but I will so miss all my free time.

"Best of Britsh"

2008-08-22T12:25:00.005+01:00

I have not Blogged for a few days as I have been trying to put some digi LOs together for the "best of British" scrapbooking competition. I eventually managed to email my entry at 11.45 last night. I'm not holding my breath as there are so many good scrappers out there and I really don't know what the judges will think of an only digi scrapbooking entry, although it did say you could enter digi or hybrid LOs and you haven't a chance if you don't enter. Good luck to everyone else who has entered.

I have also been doing some more digi LOs of Katie and Damian's wedding. I have only ever used free digi stash to do my LOs, but I have for the first time put my hand in my pocket, bought and downloaded some stash which I have used on these three LOs.

Time to scrap at last

2008-08-17T21:08:00.004+01:00

I have at last found the time to do some digi scrapping so thought before I turn the comp off for the eve I would share the digi LO's I have managed to do.

Katie's Hen Night.

This is the first set of digi Lo's I am planning to do of Katie and Damian's Wedding

wedding fever!

2008-08-15T13:14:00.023+01:00

Yesterday I talked about my Holiday in Wales, but I also would like to tell you about another two events that I have attended. The first happened the day before I went away. I was a guessed at the lovely wedding of my friend Tracy's niece Katie to Damian. it was a wonderful day and the weather stayed nice which was a great bonus.

Katie looked stunning and very much like a Roman Goddess In a beautiful handmade wedding dress. Damian definitely looked like he was the cat that got the cream.

Katie and Damian have got the most gorgeous baby daughter, Evie who spent most of the wedding service outside the church with me as she didn't seem to like it inside especially the singing!!

It was a great fun day enjoyed by all family and friends, but especially by both Damian and Katie.

Congratulations to you Both xx

A week after attending Katie and Damian's Wedding and helping them celebrate there new married life together,

I was was off down to Winchester with my Mum to help celebrate my Auntie Pat and Uncle Georges Gold Wedding Anniversary. 50 years of marred life together, how fantastic.

It was another sunny day and we all had a great time with fantastic food and the most excellent company. the lunch was held at Winchester Cathedral. what a wonderful backdrop to have. after the lunch we went back to their house before returning back to our hotel. It was so nice to catch up with Auntie Pat and Uncle George and my two cousins Sarah and Emma who is a fabulous photographer if you get chance check out her site.

Congratulation on 50 wonderful years

Pat and George xxx

So as you can see I have attended two lovely celebrations. Attending such wonderful events agave me a chance to make two cards for each special event. For each of the cards I used the Open Hearts and Tall Stories. embossing boards by the Glitter Girls I also made the gift boxes for each of the cards

Katie and Damian's Wedding card

darker colour was to coordinate with the bridesmaids dresses.

Pat and Georges Golden wedding anniversary card

Where is the sun?

2008-08-14T10:14:00.007+01:00

I'm sure when I was a child that we had far more sun in the summer then we get now, or does it just seem like that? while I was away last week on my holidays in Anglesey, North Wales I spent time on the beach it wasn't necessarily hot and sunny in fact the nicest day we had was the Monday and we spent it at Treaddur Bay where I caught quite a bit of sun and was re-named beetruth lol. Anyway I noticed that all the children on the beaches over the week really didn't care if it was dull, cold or even the odd showers they all seemed happy to dig sandcastles and swim in the sea and that I'm sure is what they will all remember as adults of their childhood holidays. So back to the question did the sun shine more when we were children or does it just seem like it when we remember happy summer holidays?

Trearddur Bay, Anglesey, North Wales

On the Wednesday of our holidays the weather was really wet and miserable so a decision was made to go to the cinema in Holyhead to watch the Dark Knight. It was like stepping back in time and a really fun experience for the younger ones with us who's only knowledge of the cinema is a large multi complex. Seen as there were seven of us going I phone call to the cinema was made and the tickets where put under the counter for us to pay for when we arrived, yes that's right no paying by card in advance over the phone to a computerised voice our seats where also saved with card laid on the top of them saying reserved. It reminded me so much of my visits to our local cinema (which became a supermarket) when I was a child. There was even an interval while they changed the film reel half way through. The big thing was the cost it was so much cheaper then if we had all gone to the multi complex cinema at the Trafford center and a far more personal experience.

The Empire Cinema, Holyhead

A map of Anglesey. We stayed at Llanfwrog

Off on my holidays...Yerrrrrr

2008-07-31T19:29:00.007+01:00

Yes I'm off on my Hols on Saturday and I'm at a wedding tomorrow so wont be about for the next week and a bit, but this should give me lots of opportunities to take some fab photos to scrap. So I will catch up with you all soon.

Before I go I thought I would share this fun digi LO I did of a fancy dress party I went to the other Friday. It was a 60's, 70's and 80's theme. Everyone made such a great effort to get all dressed up and we all had the best night.

Ribbon Oasis

2008-07-27T15:03:00.015+01:00

The other week I received a lovely design team package from Bea at Ribbon Oasis check out her shop she has loads of lovely ribbon.

doesn't it look all so lovely?

It was great getting the baby girl ribbons as I already had a few projects in mind as a few friends have just had little girls.

New Baby Card & Maze Book

With the darker ribbons I used them to embellish a 6x6 album for Nathans prom pics I also including the
two digi LOs I blogged the other wk inside it.

6x6 Handmade Mini Book

I also did another digi LO of my friends Graduation yesterday

Gold Card......Thanks Ladybug :)

2008-07-26T14:36:00.002+01:00

I received This on my blog from Ladybug

So there are rules attached to :
1. Only 5 people allowed.
2. 4 have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. One has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world
.4. You must link back to whoever gave you the award.

So here are my 5 people...

1. Hysteri-CAL

2. Tracy Gough

3. Edwina

4. Leo

and for my 5th I have picken Voodoo Vixen as a new person to my blog and she is moving to Saudi Arabia for about a year.

I would like to dedicate todays blog post to...

2008-07-24T13:51:00.005+01:00

My best friend Tracy Bailey, Who graduated this month with a Cert Ed in post 16 Teaching.

digi LO of Tracy's graduation I have removed the background of the photo using photoshop then used free papers and elements to create this

We are all so proud of you Tracy.

Like myself Tracy has been a TA and while working at the special school where I met her she has led many sessions including... art, media and staff and student BSL signing.

five days after her graduation she interviewed, was offered and excepted her first official teaching post at a college for students with hearing and communication difficulties.

Congratulations Tracy, you have worked so hard to achieve your goals and although it is a sad time leaving one place to go somewhere new we all know you will do an excellent job and make a wonderful teacher.

Congratulations card I made for getting the job

Yes that's more like you mad as a hatter and always there with a quick comment that will never cease to make people laugh...lol

this is a quote that a friend put in one of Tracys cards...

"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for" Grace Murray Hopper

Circles and Proms

2008-07-05T16:21:00.010+01:00

Well as promised here is the digi circle LO I think the overall effect is pretty good.

I definitely need a bit more practice. I will have to nip over to my Friend Hysteri-CAL's UKS gallery for some inspiration as she as produced some wonderful paper circle LOs

Last night was my friend Tracy's sons high school prom. He and his friends all look so grown up, Nathan looked so dapper in his DJ and unusually shiny shoes. They all met up in the local pub car park then went off to the prom in a swish stretch limo.

I so wish I was that age and I could get all dressed up and go to a school prom. We had nothing like it when I was at school you just left and that was it. I definitely think is a one of the nice Americanisms which we have adopted.

Anyway I have done two digi LO of him on his big night I will do paper ones eventually to go in an album I'm slowly doing ready for his 18th.

The Crown on top of Nathans head is a new techniques I have just learnt today...How to make your own digi elements using photoshop.

2008-07-02T19:50:00.002+01:00

I have had a hard day today as I have been to a funeral so I'm feeling a little flat. Then I have managed to do a circle LO and Blogger wont let me upload the pic so you will have to wait to see that.

But the other day I got get an award (see down right hand side) from Ruth's weirdcat cards 'n' stuff blog
I have some rules to follow:
The rules for this award:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the boys/girls you've nominated
My nominations go to

1.Tracy
2.Edwina
3.Leo
4.Ladybug
5.Misteejay
My 6. & 7. have already been given the award.

I have learnt a new digi technique

2008-07-01T22:43:00.009+01:00

I have spent a long and frustrating evening playing in photoshop. What I really wonted to do was create a digi circle LO, but could I do...NO.

I messed around for ages, every time I went into the marquee tool it only offered be the rectangle. I was about to give up and scream, when I decided to Google my problem and found these great instruction on how to find my marquee tools....

Unless you're entirely new to Photoshop, you probably have some familiarity with the marquee selection tools. It's difficult to do much of anything in Photoshop without them. These include the rectangular marquee, the elliptical marquee, the single row horizontal, and single row vertical marquee tools. As you learned in a previous lesson, the shortcut key for the marquee tools is M and Shift M toggles the rectangular and elliptical marquee tools.

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshop/l/bllps504a.htm

Then I found this on a forum...

Use the circle marquee tool to make your circle, hit Ctrl+Shift+I to invert the selection, then hit backspace. If the image is a Background layer you will need to promote it to a layer (hold down Alt and double click on the layer in the layer palette, just to the right of the name) otherwise when you hit Backspace you will be left with the background colour and not the checkerboard.
http://www.photoshop-forums.pslover.com/post-8457.html&sid=af427ee78c22b2076477194b33456f85

From these instructions I eventually managed this...

Now I know what your thinking "is that it" Yes that's it, but if all goes to plan I will tomorrow create my first digi circle LO.

Reading Glasses

2008-06-29T20:53:00.004+01:00

Well I just can't believe its Sunday already, where does the weekend go?

I had such good intentions yesterday to settle down and do some paper scrapping and that's as far as it got...So today I have spent a few hours playing with my digi stash again and done another me LO. This Lo is using some more photos my friend Tracy took, but this time wearing my new reading glasses. I asked her to take these pics as I also plan to use one of them in my A-Z book of me. Again I have used different free elements from the Shabby Princess site.

Digi scrapping

2008-06-26T20:58:00.006+01:00

I have a had rather a stressful week and thought I needed to do something to help relax other then watching the TV I just hadn't the energy to go up stairs and start going through my stash. I always find paper scrapping hard at night when I come home from work. I love it at weekends when I have time to spread out my stuff and know I have a full day to play.

So I did my other favorite scrapping... Digital I really enjoy digi scrapping its great knowing you can never run out of your favourite paper and all those embellishments that cant disappear off your desk and lay hidden in the carpet till you don't need them, at which point they seem to always end up stuck in your foot.

all my digi stash is free downloads mainly from Shabby Princess. Most off the stash on this layout is from the PROMISE collection which is Shabby Princesses newest free download.
The Photo is the same one I have used as my blog profile pic, its one that my friend took using my new digi SLR camera and one of the very few pics of me I really like.

I have been tagged!

2008-06-19T12:39:00.003+01:00

by the lovely Tracy - thanks Tracy.
The "rules" of the game: Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

Ten years ago: I was Doing the same job (supporting students with severe learning difficulties) but in a different educational establishment. Oh and hating the fact I was 31 (so old lol.)

Five things in today's 'to do list':
1. Put petrol in my car
2. Pack stuff to go to my Mum's tonight
3. Make sure Heroes is going to be recorded
4. check weather as I'm off to Blackpool Pleasure Beach Tomorrow with work (Im going from my Mums as she lives close)
5. Put windscreen wash in my car.

Snacks I enjoy: Meat flavoured crisps, Olives and houmous .

Things I would do if I was a millionaire: Buy a loft space in New York, Buy a house with room for a very large scraproom fully kitted out and go on lots of Hols.

Places I have lived: I was born in Bury Lancs and lived there till I was 2/3ish and have lived in Manchester since, but in 3 different areas and I could say I have lived in 3 counties... Lancashire, Greater Manchester and at the moment Cheshire.

Now i will tag, Cal, Toni and Edwina. sorry there's only Three, as I'm quite new to this Blogging I haven't really established a blog network.

Tattoos!

2008-06-18T16:29:00.007+01:00

Well last night my friends son had a tribal tattoo done on the top of his arm and this got me thinking...

Tattoos come in some fantastic patterns especial the tribal and celtic ones and you can find hundreds of designs in Google images.

As well as having them on your skin wouldn't they make great templates for doodling? When you are stuck and fed up with doodling the same thing, they could be a great source of inspiration.

You could draw them free hand on to your LOs or they would make fantastic overlays by tracing them on to acetate with a permanent marker or putting the image into a word doc and printing on to acetate. I'm definitely going to use this idea for a mini album I'm going to start in the next few weeks. If you have already tried it or you have ago after reading this then I would love to see it.

No pics just waffle today!!

2008-06-17T15:26:00.000+01:00

Well I know it's only Tuesday, but this week seems to be dragging. I think its because I'm counting down to the end of term and the end of another academic year. The thought of having all that free time to scrap or at least think about scrapping.

I spent last night doing a DLO in a circle journal that will soon be finishing. cant wait to share with you my "fairies album" when it returns home in 2mths.

I haven't any pics to show you, to brake up my monotones waffle. So think I should leave it there for today.

A scrappy weekend.

2008-06-15T20:48:00.000+01:00

Well I have done some scrapping this weekend. I started the mini books last Sunday at the Northwest Warrington crop. We always have such a good time at the crop and its great to catch up with everyone and even get some scrapbooking done!

I was asked to make this 6x6 album for a work colleague who is going to be 50. It is blank inside so we can all wright a quote or a memory of him. I have tried to create an aged masculine look and think I have managed, even with the ribbons I added to the binding wire.
I discovered the wonders of crack glaze while doing this album I have used it on the letters and I think it looks really effective and helps to create that aged look. I bought it from Sarah's Cards, she also does a fantastic flat varnish that leaves no brush marks or shine. Just perfect for protecting my work.

Here is a close up of one of the crackle glaze letters

I have also finished the covers for an A-Z album of ME. It is a gate fold design that came to me one night while I was trying to get to sleep. The right hand side is 8x4 and will have the a LO for each letter, the left side is 3x4 and will have each letter on it working my way through A to Z. I have started my list of things to do with me each starting with a consecutive letter of the alphabet. So I'm almost ready to start doing the LO's.

I have found a scrapping essential!!!!

2008-06-13T20:12:00.000+01:00

today I thought I would share with you the most wonderful scrapping essential I have found to-date... I don't mean paper, glue, card, tools or shiny things.

No today I discovered the delights of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Oh yes they are delish and fresh and heavenly and would keep every crafter happy. So took a photo of them with my phone and plan to scrap it very soon, but you can have a quick drool over them first.

Dont they look yummy?

Oh well here goes!!!!

2008-06-12T12:26:00.000+01:00

I really felt I needed to get myself sorted and give this blogging thing ago, so I have spent the last few days making my Blog look nice mainly to avoid having to write anything!! As this blog develops you may notice that writing is not my strong point, so please forgive me the grammar and any spelling mistakes I make.

Well my crafting is at a stand still till the weekend as my scrap space is undefinable at the moment due to all the stuff piled on the desk and on the floor around it. It should look a little like this.

I wouldn't even put you through the shock of how it looks at the moment.
I do have a couple of projects on the go and will hopefully be able to give you more details and pics soon.

Well thanks for reading my first post I hope you will come back again.