Thursday 30 September 2010

Speedy

Just a quick post to share my layouts from Scrapaholix last week. The kit was papers from Basic Grey Origins. I loved this grid paper and had to use it as a background. I thought a photo from our recent day at Castle Coombe would be perfect.
Kim cut me these fab trees out on her Cricut which I grunged up a little by flicking some mists over. Plus, I got the opportunity to use my bargain TK Maxx AC stamps...see the chequered border and three little racing cars?
Hope your week is going well xx

Tuesday 28 September 2010

In Tatters

I was really happy, after a while on a waiting list, to finally get my hands on a Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Florals die. I knew it would just be a really useful tool to have and one that I'd use a lot so when it arrived I had to have a little play straight away!

I used some scraps of Sassafrass Indie Girl to make these little embellies. I have recently discovered Matte Mod Podge which is really useful for this kind of thing as it doesn't make it all shiny but gives it a good texture and protects it a bit more from wear and tear.
Ages ago I bought a little polystyrene ball as I had seen something that had inspired me but as it often goes, I never got round to doing that so instead I cut lots of flowers, scrunched and inked them and made this.
I think it'll make a sweet little pressie for someone.
TFL xx

Sunday 26 September 2010

Flowers or clouds?

This week has been very taxing on the brain so it was welcome relief to find myself with a little crafty time. I am loving the Gogo kit this month the colours are so me!

The greens and blues were just right for this photo of Ted on the Moor.....
I hadn't found a photo that went with the papers but was girly enough to use these canvas flowers so when I saw Lorraine's idea to cut them in half and use them as clouds I had to try it myself.
I thought of this photo as soon as I saw the die cut paper covered in numbers. I was helping Max with his homework and took 4 20p's out of my purse because his homework was about money but it just looked like I was bribing him to do his homework!
I've got loads to do today as tomorrow and Tuesday I am based in the centre of Bath working on the second week of a two week project, it feels like a field trip, I'm going on the train and everything!! So I need to suss out what I need to take and make sure I am all read up and clear on what we are doing. It's also GP day so I plan to spend the afternoon in Singapore!!
And I'm gonna be a good blogger and not neglect you this week....some scheduled posts will be popping up during the week.
Have a good one! xx

Friday 17 September 2010

Well I Survived Week One!

Well I can now officially, finally, say that I am a student teacher. Well, actually, I'm supposed to refer to myself as a 'Bath Spa Teacher' but whichever way I say it, it still makes me want to burst because after three years of illness and a long struggle to get on the course, it is really happening!

I started on Monday and had three days of induction, lectures and English Booster sessions. It was a tough few days that really wore me out but it was fun and I've already made lots of new friends. I found out that there were over a hundred applicants for just 31 part time places so it is a big achievement to get there. In total there were 1200 applicants for just over 300 places so any time I find myself in doubt I will remember that there were three other people who wanted my place but I was the one who got it so I'd best make the most of it!

There's been sooooo much info to take in and it felt like we were given about a hundred forms, handbooks and information sheets to read/fill in. And then there's the acronyms, if I'm not sick of TDA, GTC, QTS, PLPPs, NQTs, and EYFS now I soon will be!!! But despite all that I have already learnt so much and am loving every minute, I haven't felt this good (or slept so well!) in years.

One of our first lectures was on the importance of eating, sleeping, socialising and treating ourselves, so I thought it was really important that I made time for crafting, even if it wasn't enough time to do a whole layout, making a start on one would give me that fix, and stop me from resenting having to study instead. So here are a couple of layouts....

One that I did last week before I started.....
Using Girls Paperie and a photo of the kids playing at the Christening.
I was inspired by the pattern and colours in Coco's dress so I stamped and cut out these flowers and added pearls and MS doilies and some running stitches with dinky little bows.
When I finished Uni on Tuesday I arrived home to find the most beautiful Gogo kit waiting for me. The colours are fab and the textures are amazing.
I love that there are two different alphabets...
A rather longer post than I had intended but if you are still with me thank you!! I'm off to Silverstone for the day tomorrow to watch the Renault World Series, am hoping I can get some good photos cos for the first time ever I am gonna see a real life Formula One car......so excited!!!!
TFL xxx

Saturday 11 September 2010

Old, New, Borrowed and Blue

As you may know I am very excited about being Maid of Honour for my best friend next May. I want to make some little pressies to give to her on her big day and this one happened a little by chance.

I went to Hobbycraft to buy a couple of alterables to make Christening presents for my cousins when I spotted this musical box that was half price and thought it would be lovely for Mollie. When I got home I realised that the tune, which I couldn't make out properly in the busy shop, was actually the wedding march!!! I was going to take it back but then I had the idea of giving it to Emma with her old, new, borrowed and blue in.

I chose Sassafrass Indie Girl as I thought it had a lovely vintagey style and blue seemed like an appropriate colour.
I told you there would be more of these flowers!

Inside on the little heart I put her initial on one side and his on the other.
I also made this tag for when I gift wrap it.
Now all I need to do is make sure I find things small enough to fit inside! I already have a 'new' in mind and that is tiny so we should be ok!

TFL xxx

Thursday 9 September 2010

Up To Date

It was difficult to decide what to put on my August pages cos I seemed to have so much to choose from! August was a packed month with Housesitting, going away, my nephews GCSE results and lots of other school holiday fun, so I chose a couple of the stand out events.
Choosing my new clothes for uni, being in school most of the time I won't be able to dress like a student, and getting ready for uni in general. I've had to do a lot of preparation, reading, online tests, filling out about a million forms and making sure I have everything I need.
My other faves were going to Bath to see the Pride of Lions, I just chose my favourite one for my page, the Cath Kidston one, and spending Bank Holiday Monday watching the racing at Castle Coombe. It was brilliant fun and has made me really excited about my trip to Silverstone for the Renault World Series next week.
I had fun creating lots of texture in the background.
TFL xxx

Wednesday 8 September 2010

The New Do


Evening Blogland, just a quickie post cos a couple of peeps have asked to see my new hair cut. First time I've had a fringe in years and the first time I've ever had my hair cut by a man! Hope this post works ok cos I've never used this app before! Night xxx

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Back To School

I've just got back from my first day back in school. I won't normally be going in on a Tuesday because I'll be at uni but I had had enough of the summer holidays and wanted something to keep me busy until I start next week. The first group of receptions started today, they were the younger half of the class so some are literally only just 4. It's amazing how in a year you can forget how tiny they are when they start as they seem to grow so quickly. I have already managed to pick out a few of the little characters!! I'm going in again on Friday to help with the other half, I have met them before but it'll be nice to start getting to know them properly. It was just so lovely to be back and see the children and my friends. It's incredible after just one morning back you can feel like you've never been away!!

Anyway here's a little crafty fix to leave you with. I made this tag to hang on the door of my craft room using the scraps of Pixielicious. The flower is from a tutorial on Cosmo Cricket...you may see a few more of these!!
Back soon xx

Monday 6 September 2010

Pixies Do Exist

I have been having some fun with Pixielicious. I absolutely love the juicy, zingy, quite unusual colour combination and have put it to good use on a range of different projects.

Firstly a layout, if you are a fan of Kath and Kim you will get this, if not google them and you will see the resemblance is uncanny! Me and my sis at our neices 21st!!
When I saw this giant clothes peg I had to have it and had great fun jazzing it up pixielicious style! Can't wait to put it to good use in my craft room.
Then I decided I needed a bit of a quickie project cos I was having a short attention span day..come on, admit it, we all have them! I dragged out these frames that I must have bought at Ikea 10 years ago!
A quick spray of Shimmer Mist and the teeny tiniest bit of paper, a dribble of Glossy Accents and a drop of liquid pearls and how cute??


Think they will look so cute in a row on a little girls bedroom wall, am gonna hang onto them and wait for a suitable birthday to come along.

What have you done with your Pixielicious? xx

Sunday 5 September 2010

Hop Winners

Head on over to the Frog Blog for the result of the Blog Hop. Congrats to the winner and huge thanks to everyone who entered xxxx

Saturday 4 September 2010

Keeping Up

As I'm about to make a start on my August pages I thought I'd better share my July Yearbook pages.

Once again it was a month that was all about the birthdays!
I will make no apologies for over use of bunting in my yearbook, at least it will be a record of what was in fashion in 2010!
Had to document my new found love for Krispy Kremes too!
Back soon with Augusts xx

Thursday 2 September 2010

Left Overs

So I mentioned the other day that I had been doing some layouts entirely from my scraps box. I found it a rewarding experience as I produced some layouts that I was happy with and felt like a better person for using scraps!!!!

This one is from my trip to Weston when I actually got a hole in one at crazy golf....
Like my little flag??
I know I've used this photo in a mini book already but I love it so thought I'd dedicate a page to it.
Am still loving these MM tiny tags and am sad cos now I only have one left. Making Memories need to make these in other colours and I will be a happy bunny!
Lots of red white and blue detail but in kind of a subtle way so as not to over egg the pudding.
Lots of crafty goings on here, making the most of my last week with no school or uni so watch this space for more crafty posts.
TFL xx

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Giveaway Update

Just a quickie post to say Thank you to everyone who popped by during the Banana Frog Blog Hop. I have now picked a winner so keep your eyes peeled on the FrogBlog towards the end of this month to find out who the lucky one is!

Back later with some layouts xx