July Blog Hop

Welcome to July's Banana Frog Blog Hop. This month's theme is 'Summer' and even though we haven't had much of it this month, I thought I'd bring you a sunny project!

As you may have realised by now, my very favourite Banana Frog Stamp set is 'Fireworks'. I had them before I joined the DT and they are the ones I easily use the most as they are so very versatile. This time I thought I'd turn them into a sun and make some journalling blocks for summery layouts or maybe to be included inside a travel journal.......
I simply stamped a large firework in yellow and a smaller one in orange to create a 'sun', then I stamped a title using 'Steelfish Outline'. I then handstitched a running stitch or back stitch around the edge in blue for a striking contrast.

These can easily be popped into a suitcase so you can journal as you go and add them to a holiday album on your return!

Thanks for visiting and you can now move on to fellow froglet Francine's blog.

Don't forget to leave comments as you go and be in with a chance of winning a set of stamps.

TFL xxx

Document 2011 June

Up until May I kept up with this album really well but with the last term of the school year came a lot of work and it wasn't until the school holidays started that I was able to catch up with my June pages.

As expected I had to be pretty creative with this month as I was so busy with uni that I was too tired to do much socialising, a not a lot really happened. I did find though that this gave me an opportunity to include some more everyday things that I might not have included on a more exciting month!

First of all the pocket page, not much in it!!
I was very proud when my nephew won Resource Base Sports Personality of the year. He plays Boccia and Table Top Cricket, for which he visited Lord's to play in the National Finals!

My focus page and pocket pages have been done using my June SC kit. A trip to Weston, and presents from Florida.

Spending time with family, some details about other things I did but didn't photograph and a place to showcase the fab hand stitched tag that came in my kit!

You'll be pleased to know that July has been MUCH more exciting already and I have made a start on the pages....watch this space!

Tomorrow morning I am taking my skills tests required for Qualified Teacher Status, I am a little nervous although my friends who have already taken them have reassured me that they are not too bad! Will just be glad to get them done and be ready to start my final year without having them on my mind! Will let you know how I get on!

TFL xxx

Keeping A Secret

Sometimes the reason I love scrapbooking the most is because it can allow you to document a memory that you don't necessarily have a decent photo of. This was definitely one of those times.

Last November I had an evening out planned to celebrate my birthday with a few friends. I drove to my best friends house where I was going to stay the night. She wasn't home from work yet so I had a drink with her partner, I had a feeling he wasn't quite himself but he shocked me somewhat with the revelation that he was planning a proposal. This meant I was left with a massive secret (for, at that point, an unknown amount of time, turned out to be 6 weeks!) to keep from the very person that I tell all my secrets to! I tried to make myself forget all about it and act like normal....it was tough. That evening someone took a photo of my and Laurence and I thought, I'm gonna have to scrap that! I then came across a quote that was just spot on, 'he who wishes to keep a secret must act like he doesn't have one'.

Anyway, enough rambling, here it is........
I used Cosmo Cricket Upcycle and did the journalling on a card which I hid behind the photo.

TFL xxx

Dry Spell

Finally I am back with some layouts to share with you! As I expected, not being able to scrap for ages caused a huge lack of inspiration once I did find time to scrap. I spent hours the last week or two pushing paper around and coming up with things I was nowhere near happy with. To try and kick start things I went off around blogland to see if something would give me a bit of inspiration.

On the October Afternoon blog, I came across a beautiful layout using 5&Dime papers which I just happened to have in my stash so had a go at lifting it. This is the result....
Although I'm still beating myself up about the fact that it wasn't my idea, it wasn't an exact copy and I am actually really happy with the look of it. Another wedding layout but this one is gonna be for my own album (although I think I might do something similar for the official album!)

I love the paper bow and I think I will be using a few more on future pages. Anyway, you will be pleased to know that the drought appears to be ending and there have been much better, and more original layouts that have happened since.

Back with those soon xxx

Love CHA Time

I always enjoy the time of year when you start to see the CHA releases appearing. (For the non crafty peeps following that's the Craft and Hobby Association!)

As you know Crate Paper is a firm favourite of mine but I think this one may be a contender for all time favourite (until the next time!!)
And I think this one is gonna appear on some Christmas cards!

Look how adorable this is......

What are your faves so far? xx

Like These....

That's all! xx

Progress

After finishing my placement last Thursday I was in a celebratory mood. So it was a very good job that it also happened to be the weekend that I had tickets to go and see this fab five.....
I went with my sis (on the right, as if you couldn't tell) and my friend Jenny (who I know will be reading this!!) to Wembley Stadium.

It was so AWESOME! I sang and danced until I had no voice and could barely stand a moment longer, and drooled, especially over this one.......

The robot was unbelieveable, as was the atmosphere (and the price of a pint!!!)

I had an absolutely fab time and am gutted that it's all over, but I do have some fab photos to scrap (thanks Jenny, at least one of us remembered to charge our camera.....bad scrapbooker!!)

Hopefully back soon with some layouts!

xxxx

Short and Sweet

I'm back with a couple more wedding layouts.......

Firstly the one that's going to go at the front of the album. This was one of my favourite photos...
Behind the photo is a tag for them to write a bit about how they met and the proposal. Used a real mixture of scraps on this one.

A bit of a fun one......

I used the most recent SC kit for this one, the one and only LO I've done with it so far!

This confetti shot is gorgeous so I wanted to keep the page simple but pretty.

Used my Big Bite to punch random holes and stuck little bits of paper behind.

TFL xx