Design Recollections

Do you like roller-coasters? I am not a fan myself but I have been on a hypothetical one these last few weeks and now as the last few days of school approaches I am preparing to take my on holiday to the biggest theme park in the world with the biggest roller-coasters around! Nuts eh?

A blogging break was and is still in order. I am taking these next few weeks off from everything except having fun and chilling with the people I love and the man I trust more than anyone to give me honest answers and support.

There have been a couple of up moments, this week I attended an awards ceremony where my daughter received a certificate of endeavour, no small feet for this kid and we could not be more proud of her.

Its hard to believe that the frightened little girl who entered High School last year is the same kid that stands before me now, what a difference a year makes.

Also this week I shed a tear at the ‘Graduation’ of my littlest boy as he moves onto school proper after the summer. We were treated to a delightful performance of songs from all the children and how happy they all looked.

This little chap has blossomed at nursery and has enjoyed every minute. He biggest wish this year however was to meet a certain mouse with big black ears and in just a few days we are making that dream come true. 

The 3 older kids have been to Disney before and met the main mouse so our journey across the Atlantic is for this little chap really although the rest of us will enjoy every second of the magic that it all is. There is more to see and do than there was 6 years ago when we last visited, its going to be great! ( And I am armed with local craft shop info LOL) 

In the midst of the chaos that has been my life this last few weeks I have still being scrapping so when I get back I need to get up to date with my blog posts and projects and hopefully I will have made decisions on what to do with my future now that this little boy will be in school next term. Much to’ing and fro’ing has already been done but no final decisions as yet. One thing is for sure. I am here and here I am staying, although this scrapping world raises all kinds of issues and problems I can do without the one thing I can’t do without is this hobby, I just have to figure out how to get a batter balance of work and play.

So with that I bid you farewell, for now and will be back in a few weeks with lots of great pictures to keep me scrapping for a long time to come.

Take care

Until later xx…. 

Last weekend I did a few classes at Scrap A Ganza in Stratford. After reading all the reports on the issues at Holland the week before I did wonder what I had let myself in for? After the weekend I could safely say that although there were issues, they were no where near as bad as the Holland reports.

I stayed Friday and Saturday night with a lovely friend Angela who lived not to far away. I was treated so very well and was really grateful for all the kindness both Angela and her lovely husband David showed me. Thank you

The highlight for me was meeting and taking classes by Donna Downey. I can honestly say that I am not a great follower of celebrity scrappers but Donna has always been a favourite. She is a lovely person as well as mega talented!! (Such a gorgeous family too) 

I really enjoyed the 2 classes she taught. In one there was an issue over paint, not enough of it to be precise, and it meant that the most we could really do was prepare of books to finish at home. Not Donna’s fault and she still made it a fab fab class, just wait until you see the finished book

The ‘Year in my Life’ class was 4 1/2 hours over 3 sessions and the most I managed was Jan - June, not bad for me I thought ha! Not the greatest of kits again not her fault but delivered with great style and humour and as an extra bonus a few of us were treated to a masterclass in ’skinny’ photo posing hahaha!

Much more to come on SAG and of course me new mate Lance Anderson, none other that Mr Rusty Pickle himself (Loved his classes both at SAG and the ScrapGenie Training Day on the Monday following SAG) 

I have many things to finish and in a week that was way busier than I planned it to be meant I have not touched a single project since, not like me at all but this weekend I am going to have a go at finishing at least one thing. 

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity and drama, I pray for a clamer time ahead as I am surely going to run out of steam very soon.

Until later xx

Just really snowed under!

Will be back with updates from the saga that was SAG (Scrap-A-Ganza) tomorrow, just had to quickly say Hi to reassure my friends all is well, it is, I promise

Take care

Until later xx…..

Its getting tougher and tougher to update this blog right now, my apologies, I am whizzing through time like a woman possessed and any moment now I feel I might fall of the edge of the planet!!

This week I have a lot of appointments to attend too and its Health Week at the primary school which means 2 sports day’s to attend and my little ones has his pre school booster appointment at the doctors (what joy) on top of everything else. The girls have Guiding activities and Andrew is away at work all week.

I leave on Friday for Scrap-A-Ganza and have not one thing ready or photo chosen, think the no photo option might be my path here. 

I have to find time to work in my day every day and its proving difficult with so much on so I am removing the pressure of blogging and not scrapping either so I have nothing to show’n'tell. 

I look forward to next week when some kind of daily normality returns so I shall see you back here then.

Have a good week

Until later xx …

This week is passing in a blur with so much on the calendar and so much on my to do list, can hardly believe its Friday already!!!

I have projects unfinished and untouched and this weekend will see a concerted effort to get some of that done and out the way. Next week its knuckle down time too as I am off to Scrap-A-Ganza in Stafford on the 13th until the 15th and then across to another hotel on the Sunday for a dinner meeting on Sunday and the Teacher/Educators workshop with Lance Anderson, Mr Rusty Pickle himself on the Monday with ScrapGenie. I am tired just thinking about that

The digital layout above is May’s collab kit ‘A3′ from the three Amy’s over at the Lilypad and uses that photograph of Nicholas asleep on the playroom floor that brought a tear to me eye. A paper layout using this picture is destined to be done in the near future too. 

I hope you have a good weekend and the sun shines, its June so its raining here!

Until later xx ….

Home again after a very busy time at the ScrapGenie warehouse sale. It was a loooong drive down and longer coming back. 

Not a lot of sleep was had and a lot of hours of my feet but it was good in lots of ways and I really enjoyed meeting so many nice customers and putting faces to names. The queues were long Friday and Saturday and customers were very patient and I hope felt rewarded with some fantastic bargains. 

Debbie and I also had the best hostess looking after us and for that I was very grateful. Thank You Eve xx

Our only time out was grabbed on Saturday night after leaving the warehouse, we ran into Cambridge and saw the Sex in the City movie. I thought it was great, I laughed and I cried alternately throughout. So that was it really, lots of work, many hours but a few laughs in there too.

Now to get back to some kind of routine, not easy as Mum is back in hospital and we have a few more issues to deal with regarding our troublesome teen. My husband had a lot to handle with while I was gone and I felt for him, I know at first hand how hard it is when you are home alone coping with endless crisis’s, not fun. He did a great job and I am more grateful to him than anyone xx

Until later xx ….

Today I head south to the warehouse and home of ScrapGenie as the week long mega warehouse sale starts tomorrow and its all hands on deck. This weekend is expected to be a very busy, I hope so. If you can travel and are a craft retailer there are some fantastic bargains to be had so do come along.

So I have to wish everyone and good weekend now and will be back as normal come Monday.

Until later xx ….

 On the morning’s of family birthday’s after all the build up and eternal countdown’s we all awake and launch into rounds of singing and gifts even if our eyelids can barely remain half open! There I sit, camera in hand, taking pictures of the surprised and delighted faces of my young ones, in their pajamas!! 

This leaves the awful job of trying to scrap these pictures later. PJ’s and dressing gowns/robes in my house are an array of bright colours and patterns.  I remember thinking exactly the same at Christmas when I had fantastic pictures of Nicholas dressed up as ‘Sporticus’ wearing a pair of black and orange Halloween PJ’s underneath DOH!

So there I was stuck once again with pictures of Chelsea in April this year receiving her much coveted DS on her 13th birthday. Yes I know that I can use pictures taken later in the day but its not the same in my mind.

  Moving forward to the recent crop at Angel Crafts and a sketch challenge provided by Angela during the crop. Add to that my first proper look at some new Sassafrass papers, how mad and colourful they are. Among my folder of photographs to hand were these pictures of Chelsea in her PJ’s and gown and it was a recipe for a mad ‘in your face’ layout hahahah! I went a bit mad……..dontcha think you just have to some days? Good, bad or down right ugly, here it stands and what fun it was Thanks to Linda for the ‘Thickers’ just what I needed and lacked in my stash on the day.

Now what are the chances of getting kids dressed before gift opening in future? I think a BIG FAT ZERO!

Until later xx ….

 These new Chatterbox papers are just gorgeous, I love the colour combo. When I saw the papers I knew that it was time to use one (or two) of Nicholas’s ‘Official’ nursery school photographs. He has been the coolest of dudes all the way through his time at nursery. He has quietly got on with it and been a model pupil throughout. He was so quiet at first it was a worry but as he is not quiet at home (I wish) I knew it was just his way. He has loved it and as we approach these last few weeks before the summer holiday’s kick in I can’t help but reflect on how he has changed and grown.

He is ready for big school, no doubt about that, the worry is still there that he may slip back to silence for a time but he has been for a visit already and met his teacher and class mates and did not seem phased one bit! He is  a bright and happy boy so I don’t know why I worry, tis a Mothers curse eh?

This is my DT piece for Angel Crafts this month. All the papers are Chatterbox ‘Botanico’. I cut out the frame and bracket mat and doodled all the boarders. The circles were cut from one of the sheets of paper too. The chipboard letters are an assortment of styles and manufacturers. Wish I could remember where from Anyway, the new Chatterbox is fun and I have another set of the new papers I bought ready to play with, just to find the time, you know, that old chestnut!

Until later xx …..

 Well I needed to be out and about over the weekend and I needed to be free to be by myself, no kids, no husband, don’t know why, just had an itch that needed scratching. I was tired and frustrated after a week of ups and downs so I headed off to the Papercrafts Studio, owned by the lovely Fee,  in its new location in Alexandria, Dumbartonshire. 

Fee has a new unit at Lomond Industrial Estate and its HUGE. The new place has enough room for the shop, 2 classrooms and a massive crop room upstairs, its brilliant!

The ouber talented card makers Kerry and Karen ran make’n'take card classes over the weekend and what gorgeous cards they were, not once did I manage to do one of them haha but such is life. Saturday was very busy and I really enjoyed being there so I went back Sunday.

 I spent time with all the girls, Izzy, Sandra, and the new Gran to gorgeous baby Jack, Val. Congratulations to Lauren and Raymond on the safe arrival of their son. I wish you all much health and happiness.

How nice it was to spend time with them. I met the lovely Sharon who was helping Fee too and all round had a lovely time and managed to be a little help. I came home Sunday night feeling more like myself and ready for the week, I call that a result.

The shop is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the time being with card classes all ready scheduled and Scrapbook kit classes planned and almost ready to roll. Check http://www.thepapercraftcompany.co.uk for details. 

There was a gorgeous range of ‘Fancy Pants’ chipboard, stamps, overlay’s and papers on display in the studio shop and as I completed this layout last week using some of those fab glitter overlays from ‘Fancy Pants’ and my ‘Garden’ range of acrylic stamps, It seemed appropriate to share that one now. This photograph was taken almost a year ago as Chelsea went to her first ‘proper’ school dance at the end of her primary school years and headed for high school. Its been an amazing year for her, she has done so well. (She is in the red dress and black lace shawl) I have many pictures of her on her own and this one needed to be added to her album as it is all the P7 ‘Glamour Girls’. 

Hope you enjoyed the bank holiday weekend too.

Until later xx ….

 This bright and funky kit from Natalie Braxton is released today and I have to say I love it, I created a mad traditional layout in these colours last weekend at the Angel Crafts crop for the sketch challenge from Angela and I love the colours (also featuring in a ribbon kit available soon!) 

 Also released today are these fab weather doodles from Kate Hadfield. Unfortunately these do reflect more on our Scottish summers and today here in my part of the world its raining! Ok its been great for weeks and weeks but that is not the point. I make a card featuring rain and wellies and its raining now hummmmmm!

Singing along in your best Billy Connolly accent is required when viewing this card ;) 

 Kate has another set realeased today ‘Phunky Peculiars’, cardstock and felt flowers. The 3 Lilypad ‘Amy’s have a collab also released today, A3, wow! Its stunning.

Add to that some gorgeous layered edges and Amy Wolff’s half of one of my all time favourite kits ‘Garden of Whimsey’ , this was only available previously for a very short time, I absolutely love it and so pleased to see Amy’s elements and papers back on the shelf as I used these pieces often and can now direct the traffic to the kit once again. This gift bag below was made from this kit elements. 

Well its bank holiday Friday, its raining and the kids are off School, what a fun day this is going to be eh? Good job I have lush kits to play with between the spells of madness!

Have a good weekend

Until later xx ….

    Today I am sharing my stash shopping. Don’t do nearly as much stash shopping as I would like but I just stumbled across these gorgeous looking papers from Making Memories ‘Noteworthy 2′ and had to have some. This is the first time I placed an order from Two Peas and I have to say it arrived well packaged and having placed the order in the 12th May, it made good time across the ocean.

They arrived the day before yesterday and they are better in real life, I am really loving shaped paper and card stock right now and this range has quite a few lovely shaped sheets. A few cut out and glittery bits too, nicely done MM. Flowers, ribbon and great pad of journaling notes and I was a happy bunny. Now just to find the time to play with it all and turn out something as pretty as the range haha!

For now its work time so I must go….

Until later xx ….

That is where yesterday’s blog post is? No idea what happened to it, not a bang or smoke trail in sight, how rude!

Anyway, I shall save that one for another day, today I have a sneak peek of a 7 Gypsies ‘Notting Hill’ project that I have on the ScrapDreamie blog today. This is a most unusual shapped album but home to my favourite photographs from a trip to Rome a few years back. Seems I am not the only one who loved their pictures of Rome, check out what Ann did on the blog today too hahah! There was no colluding I promise you ;) 

I loved that trip on many levels and one day I am going to return, just as I am returning to Paris this year but armed with my Nikon D80 and I can’t wait! If I managed the shots in this album with a little compact digital then what could I get this time around? Exciting prospect indeed.

Just 6 weeks left of School and its holiday time, bring it on!

Until later xx..

What heaven it was having 12 hours off on Saturday at the Angel Crafts Crop *sigh* Good company, lots of laughs, great shopping and a little scrapping. I bought some new Chatterbox and have a Chatterbox DT kit too, lovely! Picked up my gorgeous ribbon kits for May (Pink) and June which is a really bright and funky mix of orange, blue and pink, lush! Its not quite ready on the site for sale as yet but worth grabbing when it is. There are a few Pink May kits left with some stunning ribbons, pink gems and a beautiful Pink Paislee Crown Stamp.

I completed one mad bright layout with some gorgeous Sassafrass and my DT layout for ScrapDreamie which uses the new 7 Gypsies ‘Notting Hill’ papers. I have a sneak peak here but the full layout is over at the ScrapDreamie blog.

So its Monday, back to the grind we all go, I shall just have to feed off the weekend to keep me going this week. Thanks to all the lovely ladies who were present on Saturday and made it a great away day.

Until later xx…