Back To Business

Right now back to what you come to this blog for...Scrapping! I was a very busy bunny while I was away, mostly working on my DT stuff, which is still top secret, but I did get properly stuck into my OA papers. I did this LO....
The journalling tells the story of when my neices and I were little, they had a set of tapes and scripts to act out Jack and The Beanstalk, so we were forever acting it out in the garden in the summer. Kerrie was tiny but she always ended up as the giant!

I used mainly Cherry Hill, a little scrap of Sassafrass, OA journalling stickers, an array of Thickers, various snippets of ribbon and bits. I added some stitching with the Bazzill stitching template from the June Bellaboo kit, which afterwards I did think I should have had running vertically like a beanstalk!

Secondly, I scrapped this photo of my cousin Hollie on her Mum's wedding day last august. She is very photogenic and I just adore this photo. It goes so perfectly with these papers.

I used some copper wire and buttons to make a little heart embellishment.

I will let you see some sneaks of my DT work later, the kit goes on sale tomorrow, for £20 it is such a bargain. You will be able to find it here.

TFL xx

Happy Birthday to You

So finally blogger decides to work! I have some photos of my holiday to share but will do that later in the week. First I'm gonna share what I've done with this lovely weekend! I arrived home on Friday and unpacked and then packed again. My best friends Sarah and Laurence had invited me to stay with them where they were house/pet sitting for Sarah's relatives. I have stayed there many times, it's a HUGE and very beautiful house, out in the countryside and is at it's very best in the sunshine. We spent the evening eating al fresco, then watching Britains Got Talent, drinking wine and having a laugh.

I woke up bright and early on saturday morning and spent the morning pottering around, helping Sarah with a few jobs and sitting reading by the pond (thats when I burnt my legs!) with these lovely boys......
Harry

Zack

And lovely little Frank. We had breakfast outside and enjoyed the lovely weather. And couldn't resist a little photo shoot in this.......

Nice huh?! I soooo wanted to have a go! In the afternoon, we packed up ready to enjoy a bit of this......

For this handsome boy's birthday...

My nephew Wes's 21st. We had great fun but by the time we got out my legs were completely burning, not fun! We went to my Sis's for a bbq and more BGT.

So today I am suffering but hopefully not for long cos there are more celebrations planned for later as it's my lovely Dad's birthday today. I will, however, be sat in the shade!

Happy birthday Dad and Wes!

Back with some layouts later xxx

Grrrrrrrrr

Hi all, I'm home. I was a silly girl yesterday and have managed to burn my legs really badly so I am in bed exhausted from not sleeping and in a lot of pain. I was even more silly and got burnt wearing strappy sandals so now have what my nephew, Danny, described as hot cross feet! I actually came online to do the most photo heavy post ever but blogger is not playing ball, so I will try again later.

Happy Sunday xx

Under a Cloud

Just a quickie post today, I am in McDonalds just outside of Plymouth using their WiFi Cloud. I hadn't been able to post for a few days before we left as our internet was down (Aghhhhhh) so I thought I'd say a quick hello. Didn't get much scrapping done this week as I was so busy packing, catching up with friends and (what felt like) a million other things.

There will be plenty to show you next time I log on though. On Thursday I went to Cleo's to pick up my first Bellaboo kit. It was fab meeting Cleo, we could have chatted all day and I had to stop myself sneaking a kitten into my bag! I was so excited to see the kit and I wasn't dissappointed, there is soooo much stuff in it, and it is gorgeous, I have loads of ideas for it and have already done a layout and a bit! If I were you I'd get on over there on the 1st of June and bag yourself one, at £20 they are a complete bargain.

Anyway I don't want to spend my whole holiday inside the scottish restaurant so I'm off
B xxx

Sketchy

I decided this evening that I wanted to do a bit of scrapping but something nice and quick so I could spend the rest of the evening with my feet up. I usually give the sketch challenge a go over on the Gogo clubhouse, so I thought this would be perfect for my quick fix as some of the thinking is done for me. I already had decided that I wanted to use this photo of Jakie at the airshow because of that cute airplane paper so when I saw that the theme was transport I knew it was perfect.

I've just looked and realised that you can't see properly from this photo that the dot in the sky is a jet plane!

I ordered some of the Cosmic Shimmer Mists that came today so I used them to create some depth in the background. I think it helps to make it a bit more grungey and boyish.

I don't think I'm gonna get a lot of chance to scrap this week, I have a lot on before I go away as well as preparing to go away, but I do plan to take lots of stash away with me and scrap the week away! I'm hoping I will be able to take my DT work away with me too!

Off for my Gok fix

TFL xxx

Memory

Just a quickie with my week 1 layout for the Gogo academy. Had fun with this, thinking about all my fave memories from my childhood....

The journalling is spread across 4 tags and reads: 'I have so many great memories from my childhood. Terrible fashion, quality tv and so much more.... Rainbow, Button Moon, The Shoe people, Raggy Dolls and Trap door... Dance routines, the wombles records, Raleigh Apple bike, homemade clothes and Cabbage Patch Dolls.... 75p pocket money, Fast Forward magazine, Jason Donovan posters, Magic key shoes and Birthday parties'

I was really brave and I used glitter!! It wasn't as bad as I thought but I don't think I'll be rushing out to buy other colours!!

TFL xx

Amongst Butterflies

I've been busy creating today. I have finally finished last months Gogo project kit, this mini book about our sports day at Easter...

I really liked the Maya Road chipboard book, it was really nice to work with and I managed to use up loads of scraps from my April kit.

The postman brought me this, this morning...

Possibly the most beautifully put together kit I've ever seen. It's the Scrap Like You Mean It Week 21 kit from Scrapagogo. I just couldn't wait another 2 weeks to use it so I got stuck straight in! I knew the challenge was to scrap with a song title so these photos from the zoo sprang to mind along with the title of one of my (many) fave Paul Weller songs....
I just loved the big bow on Nicola's example LO so I had a go at making one myself...

And I was really pleased with this stamped and embossed detail that I added (hope you can see it)

If I were you I'd get on over and bag yourself a kit, they are really good value for money and absolutely stunning.

You wouldn't believe how many times I've checked my emails today just to make sure the news was true and it is, I really am part of a design team. I am a little bit excited, can you tell?

Off to get ready for a girly night at my friend Emma's.

TFL xxx

Boo

OMG I am soooooo excited. Woke up this morning and found an email that snapped me out of my post quiz night hangover, I am on the brand new, sparkly pink, Bellaboo Design Team!! After being published being a DT member was the next aim on my list and I am amazed to see my name along side 5 really talented scrappers.

Scrapaholix has been cancelled today so I plan to stay in and enjoy the wet weather from the comfort of my cosy warm craft room.

More later xx

100

Wow my 100th blog post, good job I have a lot to share cos this post should be good! My lovely Gogo kit arrived yesterday, I just love how it challenges me to use products I wouldn't usually choose or brands that I haven't got round to exploring. I love the colours in this kit and how different the kits are every month.
With that funky plane paper in the kit, my first layout just had to be an airshow photo. We go every year with my nephews and they love it, I have had this photo ready to scrap for years!

I used lots of bits from the kit plus the bunting stamp from my own design stamps. I also finished a rare double layout that I've been working on for about three days (slowing down!!)....

Amy and me decided on holiday that we would take an arms length shot of ourselves each day, we were only allowed to take one, hence my funny expression on the last pic!

I used the gorgeous Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday papers, OA label stickers and some various ribbons and chipboard. I cut the title from funky foam on the sizzix.

I am really pleased with it as I don't often do DLO's, infact this is probably only my second ever. so I love how it looks in the album.

My parents are away for the weekend so I am planning a lovely relaxing scrapping weekend with lots of trashy films and nice treats to eat. I will try and share my layouts as I go. I'm rather hoping the Gogo academy modules go live soon so I can work on those.

TFL xxx

Outstanding

Sorry I've been a lazy blogger again, I usually leave blogging til the end of the day and the last few days I've just been too tired. I have been busy though. I did this layout......
Using the beautiful Cherry Hill collection.

Sorry the photos aren't great, apparently early morning light is not the best for photographing layouts. I got a parcel yesterday with my fab new label stickers. I can see myself getting through a fair few of these, which at £1.95 is no problem, what a bargain!

I went into school yesterday morning, it's going really well, the teacher was out last week so she was really grateful when she came back and saw what we'd done to the classroom, she thinks if we got Ofsted inspected now we would get outstanding!

Today should be GoGo kit day, can't wait, it's always so exciting. I'm not gonna have much time to play with it today but I have all day tomorrow to myself and Mum and Dad are going away for the weekend so I'm gonna have lots of scrapping time to myself.

I'd better sign off there, must get up, a busy day ahead!

B xx

More Haste Less Speed

I've had a busy week with school and Mum's birthday but as always I've fitted in my scrapping time. All the new papers I'd bought recently have really given me the inspiration I needed. I made a decision recently though that I should try and make an effort to slow down when scrapping. Everyone always comments on how fast I work, which is good sometimes but I figure it's better to spend a bit longer and have more detailed better quality work than churning out loads of quick layouts. So, with this in mind I did these three layouts this week, I set myself the challenge of taking at least 2 hours on each and taking a break from them and going back to them. I think this has worked for the best. I did this one inspired by something Max said to me at the zoo....

Apologies for not cropping the photos! I used Prima My Mommy and Me paper. I wanted to build up lots of detail and texture....

I also did this layout of Frank...

I used the cute, Cosmo Cricket Mr Campy papers and stickers. To get in lots of detail I used hand and machine stitching, stamping, glossy accents, pom poms and scallops. This morning I did the very first layout with the new OA collections, I used both the Cherry Hill and Ducks in a Row collection mixed together....
Along with this funky chunky button I bought the other day...

So thats what I've been up to this weekend, I have more planned for tomorrow so there should be plenty to share.

TFL xxx

FINALLY

I've done it! I've ordered my new October Afternoon papers, yay!! Days of stalking Lyn at Craft Emporium has paid off! I'll stop going on about it now.

Here is the layout I did the other day. I was really pleased with it cos I thought the papers looked like Cafe curtains...
Went to Cabot Circus this aft for a bit of a wander. Had heard the hype on UKS about Scrapbook Trends magazine coming to the UK. Having never been to the States I didn't know anything about it but thought I'd pop into Smith's for a nosey and, wow, was I impressed, it's more like a book! Then I came home and found out I can get it delivered with my GoGo kit, it just gets better!

TFL x

Stalker Alert

Hey everyone, just a quickie to say I am back and eventually back online after the internet being down for what felt like forever. I have managed to do some scrapping since I got back but no chance to photograph it yet so I'll share tomorrow.

Part of the reason it was such torture being without broadband was that I am still waiting for news of the safe arrival of the new OA collections!! The money is seriously burning a hole in my pocket now so fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Anyway that's it for now, am watching Born to Be Different which I LOVE even though it always makes me cry.

Night xxx

It's A Jungle Out There

I had a really productive morning at school today. With my neck feeling a bit better I was raring to go and spent the morning transforming the classroom into a rainforest. I made this sign for the book corner that says 'We Are Bananas About Books.'
I also made this sign that says 'NO MONKEYING AROUND.'

I put up this sign above the classroom door and hung streamers everywhere to look like vines.

It looks really cool. The children were painting monkeys and bananas for me to add to the book corner next week.

When I came home parcel number three had arrived. I ordered it on wednesday from A Trip Down Memory Lane, I was so impressed with how quickly it came. The 4th one still hasn't arrived even though it was the first one I ordered over a week ago!

There was more in this parcel but some of it was a present. I'm getting excited as I've heard on the grapevine that the new October Afternoon collections have hit our shores, not quite online yet but very exciting!!!

Getting ready for my weekend away but hoping to fit an hour in the craft room this eve so I may be back with photos later

TFL xx