On a roll.......

Having finished today's first layout, I thought I'd try and see what I could do with the same papers. They came from a coordinated page kit that I had put together some time (along with about 20 others - must get to those).

For the sketch, I picked a page at random from Ali Edwards' book "Designer's Eye 2", which I recently 'rediscovered' when doing a major tidy-up of my study.

I think the title says it all really. Also, I find it so hard to believe that there are 16 years between the two photos I used today........

Possibly the most special photo ever......

Today's first layout features a very special photo of Mr A and myself. I'm not sure I've told the story if how we met on here before, but we met at Uni in the late 80's and were actually best friends for over 10 years before we actually got together as a couple.

Those were the days when digital cameras / mobile phones were still quite far off in the distance - which goes part of the way to explaining why this is the ONLY photo I have of the two us from that time.

So here we are - dressed up in all our finery for the 1991 Midsummer Ball. This photo triggers so many memories / emotions:

1. It was a great night, enhanced by the fact that we all knew it was the last time we'd all be together in this way

2. Mr. A had just found out he'd missed getting a First class degree by a ludicrously small amount....I would still have to wait another 3 weeks for my results (but at least the exams were over!)

3. I was wearing my first 'designer' outfit - a luscious, strapless dress by Valentino in black velvet with a wide, emerald green satin sash that was tied in a bow. The dress was bought specially for the occasion from an awesome shop in Brighton's Lanes, courtesy of my wonderful Daddy. And if any of you wonder about my dress sense, remember this was the tag-end of the 80s when a lot of fashion faux-pas were made.....

Anyone for Thickers?

If I had to choose my favourite 'bit' of scrapbooking stash, it would have to be letters. You name it: rub-ons, die-cuts, stickers - any kind of alphabet and it has to be mine! And my particular favourite has to be the Thickers ranges from American Crafts. Unfortunately, they are not exactly cheap.....

So, imagine my delight when I found a seller on eBay who was selling off her stash of Thickers - there were all kinds and even though some of them were part-used, at £4 for a set of 8-10 sheets, they were an amazing bargain. I had to fight off some fairly stiff competition, but nothing much was going to stop me!

This morning, I went to the Post Office, and picked up a HUGE box which contained this gorgeous lot of scrummyness:


Yep, 42 sheets of Thickers! Guess who's a happy girl today?

Even better, I've already made use of some of them:

Sketch of the week

Every Wednesday, Shimelle posts a sketch of the week - a good way of getting the creative juices going - even if the final result turns out quite differently

This was the sketch for this week:



Which Shimelle turned into this:



And here's my take - a full double layout :-)



A few details:



Even Mr. A likes it!

Catching up

Scrapbooking and I have been rather distant friends this year - when I think how many layouts I completed last year, I am waaaay behind this year. I'm not too sure why this is, but my mojo went missing for quite a while and other crafts have also taken the lead recently.

Last week I decided to have a proper tidy-up / clear-out of my study. As a result, I came across a whole load of bits and pieces that I had been saving for various projects, as well as a whole pile of page kits that I had made up late last year. So, this week, I decided to put these kits to use, as well as try and catch up with the Scrap Like You Mean It challenges

Week 15 - Living on the Edge

This challenge was to enhance the edges of your layout, either by inking them, using die-cut papers, punches - you name it. I used various bits and pieces from a Chatterbox mini album kit. These papers are from the Villa range - all soft peaches, pinks and olive greens. I inked all the bits of paper and mounted a picture of my parents on their honeymoon. Nice and simple - but I like it!

Week 26 - Scrap with Stickers

I actually did this last week - but didn't get the chance to post it. Daisy D and Basic Grey papers, using a picture and stickers from the Barnados Big Toddle that Little Miss A recently took part in through her nursery. I used green felt Thickers for the title, so this also counts as the layout for Week 24 (Scrap with Felt). This was the picture we used on her fund-raising web page - would you believe she raised £250 all on her own - and got a special mention in the newsletter! Very proud parents (we've got great friends haven't we??!!)

Week 27 - Scrap a Happy Story

One Monday back in early June, I re-discovered this little outfit in Little Miss A's wardrobe. I had actually bought it last year, but it was too big. It now fits perfectly, but makes her look sooo grown up.....she's definitely not a baby any more! I actually bought new stash for the first time in ages, specially for this - the new Doodlebug papers and cherry Braddies were just crying out to go with these photos. I added a strip of Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper and a piece of random green gingham paper that I had in my stash. I'm really pleased with this layout - the Glitter Queen is back!

Week 28 - Scrap with a Needle & Thread

I can't believe I've actually done the current week's challenge on time! I combined this challenge with the one from Week 22 (which was a sketch) as I thought it all went perfectly with this photo - how time flies, the photos in this and the last layout were almost exactly a year apart! Used the same Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper as before, plus some green cross stitch on the edges, and some white Thickers for the title. Again, nice and simple - but I think it works really well....

Too cool for Skool?

Just had to share this picture. What are they like? I know the sunny, warmer days seem to have finally arrived for good (touch wood) but this is ridiculous! And yes, Miss A is still insisting on Mr A carrying her most of the way to nursery each morning......

Updated 30 June to show the layout I made with this picture, and using the wonderful kit I got in the Kit Swap on UKScrappers

Naughty blogger........

Yes, I have been a naughty blogger.....it's been far too long since I have posted on here. In my defence, real life has got in the way recently (as has my knitting obsession!). I will spare you the details, but it looks very likely that things will be changing dramatically soon, and I will have a lot more time on my hands - which means lots more scrapping! There is a silver lining to every cloud after all.....

As I said, I really haven't done very much scrapping so far this year. I'm involved in a circle journal on UKS, but of course, I can't show pictures of that. I managed a brief flurry of activity during the recent Cyber Crop, when I did these:



My little sis looking stunning on her wedding day in June 2007


















the uncanny resemblance between Mr A and little Miss A (both aged approx six months) - long may she keep those gorgeous curls!!!

And then, this morning, the need to scrap suddenly grabbed hold of me again - oh what bliss! I have had the idea for this layout in my head for some time, and it also seemed to work really well with the Scrap Like You Mean it topic for week eight (I'm still catching up on these, and not necessarily doing them in the precise chronological order!). Quite different from my usual style, and cutting up the photos was a bit nerve-wracking at first, but I'm very pleased with how it came out.




I'm such a lucky girl to see all these beautiful historical buildings (St Paul's, the Old Bailey, St. Bride's church) every day - Mr Wren, I salute you!

Festive Fun & Frolics

No, I haven't gone AWOL.....! Christmas was fun and relaxed, with Little Miss A being totally spoiled by Father Christmas and family & friends. Top pressies were a dolly pushchair and 'learn to dress' dolly for the little one, a Nintendo DS for me (with the Brain Training cartridge - ha ha ha!) and the Top Gear book for Mr A.
Of course, it was also a little exhausting with a very inquisitive and energetic toddler to look after.....boy, were Mr A and I glad when the nursery opened again on 2nd January! I've also been laid low by the dreaded lurgy - Mum had it on Christmas Day (poor thing), and then Mr A and I came down with it for New Year's Eve. We thought we were better, and were planning to go back to work as planned on Monday - but when the time came, Mr A couldn't even lift his head off the pillow. I did make it into work, but felt so dreadful, I ended up coming home at lunchtime and spent the next two days in bed. I am thankfully starting to feel more human now, and have even managed some scrapping!
So, I have come up with some 'Scrapolutions' for 2009. These are:

- do one Layout per week (I pretty much managed this last year, so should be able to do it comfortably!)

- abandon all efforts on Scrap Your Day (I haven't done anything on this since September, and have completely lost interest.....!)

- use up at least HALF of my current stash before I buy anything new (it's ok - I got a couple of treats just before Christmas, which should keep me going)

- make more of an effort to use up my scraps on cards - and if they are smaller than 5x5cm - chuck them!

I also have some knitting resolutions - check my other blog for that bit of madness.

I will leave you with my last LO for 2008


















and my first one for 2009:



















this was for the UKS Weekly challenge - we had to include a celebration, twelve of something, and buttons. I went for a patchwork-inspired layout, using up the bits and pieces of Christmassy paper I still had lying around........!

Still scrapping!

I bet some of you have been wondering if I've managed any scrapping recently.....well yes, I have!

Little Miss A has recently discovered apples (or abbles as she calls them!) - Mr A and I are very happy about this, as not only are they healthy, nutritious and good for her teeth, one apple keeps her occupied for aaaages!!!!

This, combined by the fact that she is starting to smile really nicely for the camera, inspired this DLO:


Papers are Rhona Farrer and American Crafts, with some Doodlebug stickers and AC Ginger rub-ons for the title. Zigzag machine stitching in red thread around the edge. I seem to have a bit of a thing for French titles on my LOs these days - this one translates almost exactly into 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'. HUGE thanks to Paige (Ladybird) for the red buttons and spotty ribbon - and the little ladybird!!!

Has it really been that long?

Well, yes, I know I haven't posted in a while, but that's not really what the title of this post is about........I've seen quite a few Graduation layouts on UKS recently, and it got me thinking it was time I scrapped mine. Which in turn led me to realise that it was SEVENTEEN years ago (eeek!). This thought then led me to realise that this means Mr A and I will have known each other for TWENTY years next October (double eeek!). I can still remember that time so clearly, it really does not seem that long ago.............

So here is the famous LO - papers are from Bo Bunny and Sizzix, and for once, I've included a lot of journalling, with comments about my Dad being behind the camera (and therefore not in the picture - as always!), a bit of info about my outfit (a black & white polka dot Jackie O style dress, with a turquoise boxy-style jacket, all made for me by Mum - I loved it, but it was so very 80's!), as well as a note commenting on the fact that while Mr A also graduated that day, all photographic evidence of this fact has mysteriously disappeared!!!!


















On a slightly nostalgic note, I suddenly noticed that the wonderful old West Pier in Brighton is standing behind the smaller picture of me - it was still relatively intact in those days.........

Scallops and edges

Well, I so enjoyed doing the Scrummy Stash Cafe challenge earlier this week, I just had to have another go! This is a revamped LO - I never like the original - and features little ol' me, aged between 4 and 6 months (I think!). I had a wonderful time making this, as yesterday was what can only be called a truly icky day (I'll spare you the details, but suffice it to say that this LO was great therapy).


















Patterned papers: Cherry Arte & Sassafrass Lass; Rob & Bob 'Girl' epoxy sticker; hijacked earring (the little pink crystal flower top right); vintage cream lace; spotty grosgrain ribbon; Fancy Pants chipboard swirl (covered in Pink Stickles); Doodlebug heart and flourish stickers (the latter haven't really come out in the photo); Paperchase, Prima and Kaiser gems; the spotty border is Magenta Stickles and Pastel Raspberry Liquid Pearls, and last but not least, a heart die-cut from Sue (Mini Owner) and Sizzix letters from Cheryl (CW18).

Next, thanks to the amazingly creative EllePiggo, I stumbled across this amazing challenge blog today - Daring Cardmakers. This week's challenge is to include scallops on your cards. Well, I have quite a few birthday and anniversary cards to make this weekend, so this was just perfect timing. Here are this evening's efforts, all made using scraps and freebie papers that I've never found inspiration for until now:

2nd Weekend update

Just realised that I forgot to include piccys of my latest LOs in the last post - I would seriously leave my head on the bus if it wasn't screwed on!

Both LOs were done for challenges on the Scrummy Stash Cafe blog:



This one was for Rachael's lovely class last week - I used Acrylic paint on sequin mesh; lots of Stickles and gems, MME & Bo Bunny papers (plus journalling spot turned into tag); Bo Bunny and Fancy Pants chipboard, Arctic Frog rub-ons and stickers, Carolee's mini alpha stickers. The little pink flower is actually one of a pair of earrings that I bought solely with the purpose of scrapping.......!

This one is for this week's challenge to do a multilingual LO (the title means Hand in Hand):



Bazzill cardstock (all scallops hand-drawn and cut), lots of Prima flowers layered up (and Stickled!) and Sizzix die-cut letters and MM rub-ons for the title, plus some buttons from my stash.

Staycation Day 3 & 4

Well, after much cursing and gnashing of teeth (I think Mr A feared for his life at one point!), a silly number of chocolate digestives, and far too much wasted paper, the memory box is finished! This has been a real labour of love - stopped at midnight last night and was at it again at 8am this morning......I bought two of these boxes last summer, and decorated one of them for my sister's wedding - now I remember why I didn't immediately start on making the one for DD......what a faff! The biggest problem was that the box measures exactly 30x30cm so I could get a strip of paper to go over the edges - I had to cut lots of smaller pieces to cover the 'lips' on the sides.

Anyway, enough wingeing - on to the details: I have managed to make a serious dent in all my pink papers - they are mainly HOTP, but there's also some American Crafts in there. For the embellishments, I've kept them to a minimum as the box is probably going to get wrapped up to protect it for the future. We have Pink Paislee and Doodlebug letter stickers, some Bazzill, Aunty Sarah and Prima blossoms and some Kaiser gems.

Here's the front flap (held together with velcro)



Here are the two sides




And finally, the top (featuring a log cabin design inspired my my Mum's patchwork quilts)


I am reasonably happy with the end result and at least I can finally cross it off my project list!

I also had so many scraps of the various papers left that I whipped up this LO - yes, that's me, at the tender age of seven-and-a-half giving my little sister her first bottle after she came home from hospital..........how time flies!



Off now to wash all the ink of my fingers and have a massive tidy-up! Don't think I'll be doing anything in pink for a wee while now......

Specially for Grandad!

Some of you may have already seen this LO over on UKS, but I wanted to put it up here coz I just love it sooo much! Have just realised that the photo in this layout was taken exactly one year before the ones in the 'strawberry patch' LO - how quickly time flies. So, June last year - my Dad hadn't seen DD since she was about 5 days old - and they seem equally impressed with each other! It was sheer fluke that they were wearing matching outfits - it just had to be scrapped really! The title is made up various die-cut letters kindly provided to me by my SAD teamie Cheryl - she sent me a HUGE boxful and I'm slowly working my way through them........

Some scrapping at last!

YEEEEESSSS! I have finally managed to do some scrapping!!! :-)) It seems like ages (in fact, it's over a month - my goodness!). I didn't just do on layout either - I did two!


First up is a layout left-over from the cyber-crop on UKS which I have finally got around to finishing. Made with the scrummy Bella Girl kit from Scrummy Stash (and I still have loads left over!).

Yes - that is me! I'm not totally certain when this photo was taken, but I think I would have been about three (as that particular house was sold when I was four).

Another challenge

Well, after the last challenge, I thought I would set myself another one! I had these lovely Blonde Moments papers which were free in SB Magazine some time ago but which I really couldn't see myself using on a layout. So, I thought I would see how many cards I could make with them! 5 A4 sheets of paper, a handful of foam flowers, some bright cardstock and a pinch of brads and eyelets and - hey presto! Six cards!!!

Busy, busy, busy!

My mojo is running very high at the moment - here are the TWO LOs I completed yesterday (plus the Scrap Your Day for May - see below). Just wish I had more than one day a week to devote to crafty stuff!

Scrap your Day (part II)

My halo is feeling very shiny today - I've actually managed to scrap my pictures from the 25th of May before the end of the month!

It was such a gorgeous day - and full of fun & mischief! Made it all the easier to follow the album prompt