Bad Blogger.....

Yup I've neglected to Blog again for a bit!! Bad me.

On the other hand I've not had much to show off as I'm having an "off" period....and I've nothing very interesting to say either!

So anyways if anyone bothers to come here anymore HAPPY CHRISTMAS......and hopefully I'll be around a bit more often in the new year.

A few links to some cool French Blogs.

I've been having a look at some French Blogs today. I usually look at English language blogs, but I was looking for something a bit "different" and came across these:

http://caroline62.canalblog.com/

http://brinsdefilsetdepapiers.over-blog.net/


http://www.clairelisescrap.canalblog.com/


these are just three but there are loads. Off for another browse!!

twice in one morning!!

Well here I am again!

Two recent project.... one from last week and one from this week. Both with a similar colour theme, but both to my view very different. A very "busy" LO of Greg and a more restrained one of me. Which style do you prefer?

Some more from the SNS Cyber Crop

Another couple of the projects I finished for the Cyber Crop last weekend at SNS.Cardstock Only Card Challenge. A christmas card for Ross to give, he also helped make it.Lots of cards Challenge. The challenge was to use a tutorial to make 9 cards frop 3 sheets of cardstock & two sheets of patterened papers. I used various cardstock and frances meyer papers.
Blurry Photo Challenge. really old photos of Ross. Frances meyer Papers and various embellies.
Clear card Challenge . I made this using the packaging from some felt swirls I bought. Insert and 3d flowers made from K&Co papers

I have done 1 LO since last weekend but still have to take photos in decent light! As can be seen from the above (especially the "lots of cards" when I use the Flash in this place everything gets distorted!!

Buzzy bee.... or Busy anyway!!

I've been off work this week and did'nt get any scrapping done..... BUT...... this weekend is another story!

Well I have to admit It's mainly been cards again but at least I've been creative. It was the Cyber crop weekend over at Sugar-N-Spice and I've been playing along. So far I've made 13 (yes 13!) cards, 4 altered bottles and 1 LO! I've not taken good photos of everything yet, but here are the first few:

Wow it's been a while!

I did'nt realise it has been so long snce I updated my blog! Basically it's been a crazy few weeks, so somehow the time has been going really fast. The one good point is that I'm on vacation this week, so loads of time to get some things done ahead of Christmas.

I really need to work on my hand made cards (not everyone will be getting these this year as I just don't have the time), and I'll hopefully get loads of "on line" time as even if Ross wants the PC I can use Greg's lappy and Ross can have the desktop.

As far as creative stuff the last few weeks it has been restricted to cards for immediate use, so nothing to share! Who knows I may actually scrap at some point this week, especially if it keeps raining like this morning!

So what did you do yesterday??

Well I did this:

and this:

and this:

and these!!

Happy Card Making Day everyone.

Two new LOs

I was off work today so had time to "play". The first LO was originally meant to be for a magazine call, but I realised i was too late to submit! Oh well I like the LO anyway and as it's for my BOM it goes perfectly with one of my recent themes..... ie trying to include myself in my scrapping a bit more!

I think the title asys it all.... BRING IT ON... 40! yup next year I hit 40, like my journaling says it's just a bit "scary"!! I'm not sure why whenever I take photos of my LOs indoors they look so uneven in colour! In real life this does not seem so "off"!

The second are just a few of the photos we took yesterday. I saw this idea first a few moths ago, then again recently on Charries photography blog (thanks hun your gorgeous photos gave me the reminder that I wanted to try this). Apologies for the "flash" and the slightly off colours I had to take this photo way after the light was gone!!


Well back to work tomorrow so I don't think I'll get to be having this kind of fun again!!

A lot of fun

Worldle..... go try it it's hillarious what you can

come up with!!

Wordle.net

Been creative again.

I've been having a bit of fun this weekend trawling the blogs and sites.....

I kept finding myself looking at LOs and cards which have loads of embellies "layered" on top of each other. I love the controled clutter look that some folks seem to be able to pull off. I gave it a try but it ends up being very similar to what I usually do! I just can't seem to bring myself to keep adding extra layers and/or never have the right bits to go together with my LO.

Here is my attempt anyway.
I also started making some cards which I plan to give as a christmas gift. I'm going to make a decorated box to put the in too. (assuming I like them when I'm fiished.....the jury is still out on this idea).

Am I the only one??

Who gets the creeps every time they look at Magnolia and Sugar Nellie (and the like) stamped images?? I mean podgy, cutesy kids with no mouth....what is that all about?? Sorry but I just find them plain creepy, no matter how "cute" the overall effect may be.

OK so I'm weird, sorry if I offend anyone!

The proof!

Well here is the proof that I did actually scrap! oh and make a card too.

Well I Scrapped!

So it finally happened today, I scrapped....and mad a couple of cards. I've not taken pictures of them yet, but I'm pretty happy with how I've managed to "break my Duck"!

I've spent ages today stalking my favourite blogs..... Thankfully Hubby & Ross were too busy watching films to bother about it.

So a couple of links to my favourites from today:

Crafters Kitchen
Check out the "candy" and the stupendous christmas cards, oh to have half that talent!

Just give me stamps
I love the variety on this Blog.

Beates Verden
I could pour over the tiny details of these LOs for hours.

Well that's a taste of my Saturday. Hope I get some more time tomorrow as I am sooooo in a crafting mood now.

Pintless Question No 2....

I'm in a rut and Can't seem to get inspired by anything (at least not enough to kick my rear into action)...... I know most folks look at on line galleries, challenge bolgs, competitions etc to get them started again.

So what is the question I hear you asking??

Other than traditional Scrapping and Card places where else do you find new inspiration?

I've found myself looking at paintings and other are sold on Etsy and going back to my Art History books.


Other stuff.....

Scrapping : ZERO
Family: LOADS
Homework: TOO MUCH (come on guys he's been back to school one week, and he's only 6.... give us all a break!).
Housework: WHO THE H--- ARE YOU KIDDING??..... ZIP ZILCH!

A couple of really cool Blogs....

http://crazyadventuresinparenting.blogspot.com/

and for a nice laugh....

http://www.beingfive.blogspot.com/

You should follow some of the links on the Being Five Blog, they are sooooooo hillarious!

Enjoy.

So some photos......

We did'nt take many photos while in the UK this year, but the day after we got home i went a bit camera crazy at Disney!! Here are just a couple.
Yah gotta love Winnie......


I do believe he's grown again since he's been in Scotland for the Summer!The castle...... of course.....
Getting "arty" in the Bazzar.

Hopefully I'll get around to editing and printing some of the photos soon, not wait a year like last time!!

So another month wizzes past..... does anyone read this thing?

OK so another month has passed (more or less), since my last post..... pretty much what I predicted.

Had a great time in Scotland, even despite the weather.... collected Ross and we are now safely back in France.

On the crafting front I've done absolutely nothing! Not a card or a thoughht to a LO. I did however get 300 photographs printed from last year....possibly that may spur me on to doing something with some of them.

I've decided to start a little experiment.... a weekly question to which I would love some folks input. A bit of fun which may or may not be craft related!

Why do I do daft, pointless things? (This weeks most pointless act you may ask??.... actually it's a bad habbit I have and am desperate to stop.... I put two coats of Nail varnish on my nails..... only to spend the rest of the day picking it off) HELP I'M WEIRD...(but it does stop me biting the nails!).

So the 1st Question is...... What "pointless" habbits do you have? and any remedies for mine??

Back with some more news and hopefully a couple of photos later.

Well look at that.... a month of nothing!

Where did this month go?? Who stole it away?????

I took Ross to Scotland at the beginning of the Month and it seemed like I would not see him for an age, now I'll be going back in less than 2 weeks to collect him!

I've managed a couple of crafty projects this month, but not many.... a LO and a few cards. I did however buy my cuttlebug, Ohhhhhhhhhh what a lovely machine.

Well Hopefully I'll get back on the blogging bandwagon after my vacation in August, I really don't see myself getting anything done before I go back to Scotland on the 9th....... but who know stranger things have happened!

Two posts in the same week...wow!!!

Just a quick one to show off my latest LO. I did this one for the Scrapping the Music challenge, but did'nt get it mailed to them in time!. Ah well I like it anyway, even if it is very different from my normal LOs. It's "Girly" , It's got PINK on it..... and worse still it's got ME on it!
TFL.

Busy, Busy, Busy....

Yup thats me. I can't believe the end of the school year is here already. In just 5 days Ross will be going to Scotland for the summer! So end of year means endless summer fairs, exhibitions, plays etc, etc.... No time for scrapping at all! (But loads of new photographs so I guess thats the bonus).

The only "crafty" stuff I have done is a few cards, so not much to show I'm afraid. On a totally "up" note I have treated myself to a cuttlebug, so no more embossing using a rolling pin! It should be at my mums when I arrive on Friday, yippeeeee.I kind of went Red& Black mad! Card 1 is made using some lovely flowers which were demoed on the "inspirational" blog, card 2 is using up some of my enormous stach of ATCs from swaps, Card 3 is some stamped images covered in "Stickles", oh I love that stuff!, and Card 4 is another ATC used as a centerpiece.

TFL, have a great week.

I'm on a roll...

Another day another LO!! I did this one for the "Scrapping the Music" challenge this week. I love the song and have wanted for so long to participate in these challenges (somehow I never get around to doing the LOs on time!!).

I took these photos by chance this week, they were basically snapshots of DH sitting in a shaft of sunlight one morning this week, by some miracle I love the way they came out, and this one just seemed so perfect for the challenge.The white flowers and frame were stamped onto a transparencie which I then heat embossed (yes I did manage to singe my fingers as the transparency got much hotter than I imagined it would!). The gold flowers were made using Stickles which I let dry and cut around. I finally used this paper which has been in my stash for ever. Someday I'll get to the bottom of the paper mountain!!

Missing again...

Well I've been missing as it's been a bit busy here lately.
Amongst all the activity I have however managed a few projects.

1. Greg ran a 3kilometer race a few weeks ago...

2. Mothers day was also recently celebrated....

3. I bought some cuttlebug embossing folders and did some 3d work which I've not done in a while. I should probably buy the cuttlebug machine it may make using the folders easier LOL.

And to top it all off last night we had a little visitor...Ross found a bat in his bedroom. I've no idea how long he was in the house but I spent hours researching on the web for how to help him. At 1am this morning I was hanging out of the bedroom window trying to get him to drink! Thank goodness no-one was watching, it must have looked really odd. By this morning he seems to have recoverd enough to re-join his friends. I took a couple of photos but the are not great as we did not want to use the flash in case it freightened him.

What a great week

I got to meet Tina from Scrapitudes.... we had a blast!

Work wise it was same old same old.... busy, frustrating and occasionally maddening!

Here are a couple of projects from this week, firstly just for fun a pickie of Tina which I took when we had lunch on Friday! I just could not help myself from creating a digital LO to post at Scrapitudes. (this was a pre made page, I must try to find it again to give proper credit to the creator).

Second Tina gave me the most amazing bag of goodies when we met. In it was a lovely domed box, which became my new ATC box yesterday!
Box covered in Rust Pickle paper, various Ribbon and lace from my stash and a selection of Flowers and buttons. The entire thing was then covered with a high gloss glaze to give it a "wet look" and a sealed exterior.

I think I may be enjoying altering a little too much.... DH is starting to ask what I will be sticking flowers on next!

Busy Weekend.

It's been a very busy, but also productive weekend.

Greg and I have done loads of "family" stuff, as well as Greg running a 3km road race this morning... needless to say he's now soaking in the bath!! Can't wait to print and scrap the photos, I'm sooooooo proud of him.

I received a wonderful box of goodies from the Altered item/kit swap on Scrapitude... and could not wait to make something (I'm sooooooooo impatient sometimes!!). So here is my first Altered item. (photos are a bit "washed out" as i had to use a flash..)

Front and Back views
Full vue and Close Up of the hat.

The second thing (a pencil tin), is done but I've still to take photos. thanks sooo much all the ladies who participated in this swap, I love organising them and everyone seems to put loads of thought into them. I really appreciate tat our smaller community is so full of really nice ladies who participate to the fullest in these things (Thanks as always to Kimmy for letting us play at "her place").

Quick Post to say Yehhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

I won the competition at Scrapitude that I entered... Yehhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Thanks so much to Kimmy and the ladies on the sita as they always seem to inspire me to my best work.

Missing me.

Yup I've been missing again! Things just seem to be sooooooo busy at the moment and I never seem to get much "me" time. The stupid part of it is that May is full of Public holidays, but somehow I just don't seem to get around to doing anything for myself!

For National Scrapbooking day they held some challenges/classes over at Scrapitudes so I did actually do some scrapping and card making. Here a my favourite LO and card from that weekend:


Sorry about the bad photo of the LO, the light was fading fast when I took the photo, and I never got around to re taking it in better light!

Can't beleive it's May already!

Well April was a bust scrapping wise! Three LOs total... I like them all but they were just a bit thin on the ground!

Hopefully may will be better... I can say it's starting well. Kimmy over at Scrapitude is having a crop to celebrate National Scrapbooking day on Saturday... So far I've half finished her pre-crop challenge. Hopefully I'll get it done today.

Busy week.

Well after the unexpected days off things were madly busy when I got back to work (as i suspected).

I have however managed to do two more LOs this week, which is a major amount of scrapping for me in a single week.

The first one is a total departure for me.... pink, hearts..... but still a photo of Ross. Greg hates it so I have taken it to work. It was a great excuse to renew some of my photos on my desk. I really must do something new for my desk "sous main" ..... for the life of me I can't remember what you call this in English...how sad is that! It's the large thing that covers my desk top.... Anyway the one i have now is nearing 5 years old and was made when i was just starting scrapbooking.... basically it's a large sheet of red paper with different shaped windows for photos and some stickers...yeuck!

The second LO is a photo I took on our weekend in Quend. Just a jug filled with dried flowers but somehow it was really atmospheric and a great reminder of our cottage.

What a day!

Got to school to be told there was no teacher! So coma home made arrangements with work... then the telephone goes.... they have got a supply teacher can I take Ross in after Lunch?? No chance! To top it all off they also have the cheek to be on strike tomorrow so i have to be off work then too.

So I scrapped!

This is for a challenge on SCRAPITUDE. No patterned paper allowed, so only cardstock and embellies. I had a lot of fun doing this one.
well off to tidy up before Hubby gets home to find scrapping stuff all over the lounge. LOL.