Sunday 28 February 2010

Tuneful

Wow, I don't know where this week has gone and can't believe it is March tomorrow!! I have had a lovely week. On Wednesday I started something new inspired by something I saw on TV, I joined a new community choir, after watching Unsung Town a while back I had really wanted to join one and when I heard that one was starting I went along. It was great fun and we sounded good for our first time so I can't wait to go again!

Anyway, I have had some crafty time, as well as working on some commissioned stuff, I had a go at the ATDML challenge, here are some sneak peeks......


On Wednesday morning Mum and I went to our local fabric shop, after vowing not to buy any ribbons until I had run my collection down several months ago, I finally allowed myself to start building it back up again so I bought these, the colours are so yummy!
I also got inspired to try a larger knitting project so am giving this a go. I choose this fab wool which is Fair Isle effect and is the cleverest thing I just can't work out how it knits into such a fab pattern but it does! I love the colours there is teal/peacock/grey/cream and sky blue, it's knitting up really nicely, I have finished the back and almost done one side of the front.
I spent most of Friday with the proud owner of this lil sparkler!!
We had a fab time, trawling through glossy wedding mags, looking at Bridal websites, watching the Sex and the City Movie (well, it has got a wedding in it!) and ended our day (at 3am) collecting a drunken groom to be and his two Best Men from a night on the town (I'm sure I didn't read that in a list of Maid of Honour duties!!)

Yesterday I had to spend a lot of time recovering from such a late night but had a wander round Hobbycraft and found these...
Aren't they gorgeous?? They were only £1.29 each and I can't wait to do something lovely with them.
Hope you had a good weekend xxxx

Wednesday 24 February 2010

Tag Along

I just remembered that I hadn't shared with you the things I made at Scrapaholix on Saturday. The kit was really pretty, very classy and in gorgeous shades of cream and purple.

I thought the papers were really nice for this photo of my neice and cousins at my birthday meal.
The kit also had some transfer paper in to make your own rub ons so that is where the black motif came from. I was particularly pleased with the crepe paper flower I made.
I also made a few tags, I am still really into these, you get a nice quick result but you can be playful and pack lots of techniques onto each one. I also love that they use up scraps and the small pieces of ribbon and trim that wouldn't really be useable on anything else.
TFL xx

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Busy Busy

I couldn't wait any longer to do start my Feb page for my Gogo year book. I could only do one side as I need to get a photo of Em's engagement ring to do the other half.

It's felt like a busy month (nice busy) so I thought I would use lots of Pogo pics showing some of the things that have happened....
I had to be creative with the Thickers I had left for the title and of course had to add some liquid pearl hearts. Love the pearls and bling too, Prima eLine are great, you don't feel to precious about using them as they are such good value.
I was inspired by one of the journalling cards to write a list of things that had happened. I didn't feel I had room for it on the page so I hid it under one of the pics....
And finally I will leave you with a sneak of my first Spring Butterfly Crafts DT layout.....
Night xxx

Monday 22 February 2010

Brooch Back Mountain

Firstly I wanted to say a huge Thank you, both for your messages of congratulations on my two DT places and your get well messages. I've had quite a creative day but not scrapping. Firstly I had this idea to tart up these boring magnets I had on my white board....

I used these fabric flowers I made last night and the paper ones I made last week...
And now my white board looks like this......
Remember those roses I made the other week? Well my friend Kim showed me how to take them on a stage and make them into these.....
They have pink mini eggs in the centres. I am going to make some for my friends birthday on thursday...


Then to round the evening off I made a couple more fabric flowers which I added little brooch pins to....
Off to finish this very mixed media day with a spot of knitting!!! xxx

Sunday 21 February 2010

OMG

Check this out! xx

Saturday 20 February 2010

A Flock? A Herd? A Shoal?

I am having a cosy saturday evening, snuggle up with these guys...
My (wait... what is a collective of penguins?....I googled it..) ok so I am snuggled with my HUDDLE of heatable penguins. I am having what I prefer to call pain management issues (makes me feel more in control) so until I can get to the docs my huddle is my best option.

I have been at Scrapaholix today so have made a LO and a couple of tags which I will share soon but for now I just wanted to share some news. I have been selected for a second time for the Butterfly Crafts DT so will be doing a term with the Spring team. I am really happy about this, not only because I was disappointed when my last term finished, but I was also really flattered about being chosen by Karen for a second time. So I am looking forward to my first challenge and hope lots of you will manage to play along.

B xx

Ooh La La

My gogo kit arrived this week, I can't believe that I have been subbing for a whole year! I haven't regretted it for a second and have loved every single kit. This month I wasn't sure if I would like the kit, it was very Valentinesy and I am Bridget Jones so didn't know if I could find a way of using it but I have proved myself wrong by doing 4 layouts straight off!

The first two are using academy prompts. This one was to use a title that flows straight into the
journalling. My academy album has turned out to be almost (not completely) a book of me with slightly more 'deep' (for want of a better word) layouts than I would usually do so I thought I should keep this up until the end. As it is obviously gonna be a big part of 2010 for me I wanted to scrap how I felt about being asked to be Emma's maid of honour.
I added a couple of my own flowers but I completely adore those red rose buds.
I had two attempts at the other prompt which was to use a lyric for a title. I did this one first, there was a kind of installation/project where piano's were put around Bristol and you were free to play them. I used a lyric from the old classic 'I am the music man.'
I was especially pleased with the little bows and stitching around the edge.
This one is my second attempt at it, not that I wasn't happy with the first one but bearing in mind what I said before about my academy album I thought it should be a little more topical so I did this layout about the exciting things I have to look forward to this year.
I love how I can get so many different looks from one kit, the rich red and brown, then the stylish blues and browns and the much more funky bright pinks.
I have made a start (I am determined to be organised) on Em and David's wedding album, it's gonna be my gift to them so I want to include all the preparations and lots of details that they will enjoy looking back on. I will share it as I go!
Have a great weekend xx

Friday 19 February 2010

Home Sweet Home

I'm back home, I've had a lovely week housesitting, even though I have done lots of nice things this week I have had a lot more time to just relax so am feeling nicely rested. I've been very crafty (but not so much that I am crafted out!)

Made this tag using up some scraps, I think Cosmo Early Bird was my fave range of 2009. I absolutely love how well the heat embossed butterfly turned out.
Just before I went away I recieved an order from Sarah's Cards of the fab new Cosmo collection 'Material Girl.' I've been wanting to scrap this photo of my Dad for a while cos I just find it so funny and I thought that these papers had a cool retro feel to them that would suit it just right. I used the Sarahs Cards sketch for this one....
My Dad is the one with the big beard and perm, he has considerably less hair these days! I added little blobs of glossy accents on top of the JB letter stickers for a bit of texture.
I knew as soon as the papers arrived that I had to do a LO about my cousin Chloe's sense of style! She is only 2 but always knows exactly what she wants to wear, she has been known to wear a skirt over pajamas to bed and her twin brothers fleecy trousers under a dress!!
I went to a charity shop and picked up an old pattern to cut up and use cos I think there is something so tactile about the tissue paper that they cut patterns from. It was a little embarrassing buying it as it was a pattern for a vest, pants, bra and nightie!!!
Last weekend was my cousin Mollie's 2nd bday party, I took loads of photos but 2 year olds don't tend to stand still for long enough so they weren't that great but I printed them on my pogo and used lots on one layout....
I stamped and embossed with my Polka Dot background to do a resist technique using my paint sprays.
I have a few more things to show you but didn't wanna overload you so will be back soon!
TFL xx
ps. Thanks so much for your lovely comments on my paper flowers xx

Tuesday 16 February 2010

Maid Up!

I was just doing a bit of blog hopping when I discovered that my friend Angie had given me this blog award. So I have to tell you 7 things about me and then pass the award on to 7 people.
1. My brother is gonna be 44 tomorrow.
2. I go to a pub quiz at least once a week.
3. I have a thing for bags of Scampi Fries.
4. I think every member of Take That is gorgeous but Gary is my fave.
5. I drive a VW Golf, called Colin and I love him.
6. If I could change anything about myself I would be a little bit taller.
7. One of my very best friends asked me today to be her Maid of Honour!!!!!

The last one is the reason I came online and Angie's award gave me the perfect excuse! I am so so happy for them. Exciting times ahead....

Anyway, onto the business of passing this badboy on..... Kirsty, Clare, Rachel, Helen, Anna, Ally Sarah

TFL xxx

Sunday 14 February 2010

Blooming Lovely

I have had a great time this week experimenting with some different types of paper flowers. Every now and again I get a bit of an urge to do something a bit more 3d than you could get away with on a layout. It always seems like a great opportunity to really get your fingers inky!!

I have made some of these before and some are new ones that I picked up from various videos on the web......





I love them and will be finding as many opportunities to use them as possible!!!
Hope you like!
Happy Valentines Dayxx

Saturday 13 February 2010

Happy Birthday Everyone!!

Well another week has whizzed by! I started the week not feeling too great and needing lots of rest so I didn't feel like doing much but by the end of the week I was feeling much better so have crammed a fair bit into the last couple of days.

I have been feeling crafty but knowing that next week I will have quite a lot of time to myself for crafting (I am housesitting and will be a 45 minute drive from home) I didn't wanna burn myself out.

It's become a tradition that every year I send my 4 nephews a Valentines Card. I didn't feel like making cards so I thought I'd make a little gift instead. The eldest is 21 and is probably getting completely fed up of me doing it but I may only be 5 years older than him but I am still his aunty and I am allowed to embarass him!!
It is officially birthday month, between family and friends we have 7 birthdays in 11 days (and looking increasingly likely we will have another family member before the month is out!) so I have been gift wrapping like it's Christmas. Lucky I prepared some cards, gift bags and tags!!
Tomorrow I am off for my (almost) week away so I have a lot of packing to do. Not that I will be taking too many clothes but I will be taking as much stash as I can fit in my car. I was at the house today sneakily eyeing up the dining room and judging it's suitability as a temporary craft room!!
Enjoy the rest of the weekend xx

Monday 8 February 2010

Upsy Daisy

I've had a creative couple of days, I promised earlier that I would share 2 layouts with you but now I have 3 and some cards!

The photo of this one doesn't really do the layout justice....roll on spring with some better light!! I had this really cute photo of my cousin Mollie so I decided to print it off 3 times using my pogo for better effect.
I am still completely in love with these MME papers, they are suitable for so many things.
Next is a layout using my prize stash. These Making Memories goodies are just gorgeous, so fresh and pretty.
I thought it really suited this photo of me and my neice, Hannah. You can just about see the clear embossed Butterflies that I stamped in the background.
This layout is another one from my january gogo kit. It is going miles this month! I have managed to do 2 academy layouts, 2 other layouts, a cover and pages for my yearbook, a CJ entry and still have tons left! I couldn't resist using this pic of Mum and Dad with the cute pear paper........
I just had to use my green UTEE with that funky chipboard pear.....
And finally I spent this evening making some cards for a friend. I made her a box of cards as a gift last summer and she has used them all up so asked me to make more for her. She wanted quite a few new baby and wedding cards so I actually ended up making slightly more generic 'Congrats' cards so she can choose which she uses for each occasion.
All very quick and simple....

There are actually 10 of them but most of them are quite similar so I won't bore you!!!
I am exhausted so am off to bed.
TFL xx