No Time to Play With Paper

Today, we've had a lovely day out in Elvis, our campervan.

We decided to go to Benllech, where I grew up, walk along the beach, heat up some soup for lunch then surprise Mum and Dad. They were indeed surprised to see us.

Quite a long day and the sea air just takes it out of me so instead of playing with real paper, why not play with some digi kits that I have stored on my computer.

The kit used is mostly from DoodleDays with a couple of elements from Oh Snap 

and my desk remains tidy!!!!

Hope you haven't eaten too much chocolate this weekend!!! 

I'm off for a nibble now...

All Set!!

A quick look at what I've made for the child for Easter. 

She's loves Lindt Lindor chocolate so when I came across of box of them in Costco I just knew what I wanted to do.

(I'll let you know if she's sick tomorrow!!!!)

A Winner

I can't actually believe that I've seen the sun today!!!
Having been out and about most of the day today, I don't really have much to share although yesterday I did use up the rest of my paper from my March CKCB Kit to make a Project Life style page. I'm seriously getting quite bored of my holiday photos now so finishing them off like this should be quick and easy (she hopes!)

As part of the CKCB blog hop on March 25th I had offered a stamp set as a small prize.

As you can see the number generator chose number 7 which converts to....

         Brenda who said...

Love the colours on this LO and the use of bead-headed pins.

25 March 2013 14:17

Thank you all for your comments, I love reading them. Brenda, please let me have your address so I can post the stamp set to you :)

Tickets Please!

My daughter has a habit of putting in requests for items handmade by Mum.

The latest was a book to keep all her concert tickets in. Can't believe I was a concert virgin until I was about 24, she's 14 and has just as many tickets to put in the newly requested book!!

Anyway, the book...

Nothing special but it will hopefully keep the little darling happy :)

 

It has loads of little pockets for storing the tickets and I've used book rings for ease of adding more pages as required...

 

Too Busy to Scrap!!!

Well today has been very exciting so no time for scrapping/crafting today but for those of you who know why I've been busy, I hope you're excited too....

Back to crafting tomorrow :)

Don't Stick Your Tongue Out at Me!!

Who can resist this cutie pie. Admittedly he can be a pain in the doodah but generally Olly is a good boy.

Using up the last few papers of my CKCB Kit for March (I've got loads of embellishments etc left but they'll just have to go into another kit another time)

Off to check out a retreat hotel tomorrow - exciting!!!

Blogger Didn't Blog!!!!

If you're hopping for CKCB scroll down or click HERE

Well, how annoying that yesterday's post didn't post!!!

(Note to self - check it has worked before going to bed)

So here is yesterday's post...

A quick birthday card to share today made using my March Counterfeit Kit.

A friend's husband is celebrating his birthday today and I hadn't made a card so luckily in my kit I had banners!! This card took 5 minutes to make!!

This photograph was taken on my way home from Crewe this morning.

and shows how how icicles have been formed just from cars driving through a puddle on the side of the road.

Brrrr, it must be cold!

Hope everyone is staying warm on this cold Sunday.

A Hoppy Giveaway!!!

Thank you so much for hopping by to have a look at my creation for the  March Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Member Blog Hop.

Hopefully you have already see what Jemma and Angela have created this month.

This month finds me grinning with joy at the challenge

to create a project with only photos and no journalling

Perfect!!!! 

My kind of page but I have been trying lately to overcome my fear of journalling on the front of a page.

Using a new mask and some acrylic paint I created my background.

I'm trying to use up old bits of stash too so the bubble words and phrases which I had added to my kit this month were used to tell the story without journalling.

Thank you again for stopping by, I would love it if you would leave me a comment before hopping off to see what Melissa has for you.

Why not join in next month?

And now for my very first giveaway!!!
Having missed my year anniversary of starting my blog I thought "why not have a 13 month anniversary instead?"
So, leave me a comment (you don't have to follow but feel free to do so!) by 12 noon (GMT) on Friday and I will randomly choose someone to win the following stamp set from American Crafts.
Good Luck!

(Be sure to leave me some way of contacting you)

CKCB http://www.counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/

Jemma http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk/
Angela http://colestoucan.blogspot.co.uk
You are here >>>>>>>>Lesley G http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk<<<<<<You are here
Milissa http://millermall.blogspot.com
Julie H http://spendlesscraftmore.blogspot.com.au
Molly http://www.42shadesofpink.com/
Rebecca http://howiburb.blogspot.com
Corina www.craftycorina.blogspot.com
Lisa H http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com

Just a Few Bits....

Yesterday Jemma and I went to the NEC Hobbycraft Show in Birmingham.

I was a little worried after seeing the weather forecast but needn't have worried at all. The most snow I saw was in Crewe. The show was the quietest I've ever seen in, no pushing or shoving - just lovely!!!

Although, with it being quiet I could get to things and buy them (not so good!)

So here's what I bought....

Love this set of polaroid die cuts and the hexagons too.

The background stamp sets from Bo Bunny are gorgeous. I bought one set then went back to buy two more!!

Jemma found our best bargain, a box of punches all at just £2 each!!

I bought two postage stamps punches in different sizes and two scalloped squares

Imogen's Animal Tracking at Chester Zoo is cancelled so it's a PJ scrapbooking day for me.

Two layouts with a bit of flair (not much as I don't really own any) so I can link up to Paper Issues
I Need to See More Flair
I've kind of created my own flair to suit my layouts.

Imogen's 14th birthday back in January. It saddens me when I see how quickly the years are flying by but then the sadness turns to joy when I realise that she is a fabulous girl (I know I'm slightly biased but a mother can be, right?)

As I said, she is growing far too quickly, it only seems like yesterday that I was taking these photos whilst on a camping trip to France. Being their only grandchild, my parents absolutely adore this girl and these pictures just tell that story perfectly.

Brum, Brum...

A very quick post from me today as I'm off to the Hobbycraft Show at the NEC with Jemma.

Jemma won tickets to the show with Scrap365 and I invited myself along to keep her company!!!

Thank you, Jemma for accepting my invite!!!

Yesterday was a very good friend's birthday - I won't tell you how old (or should I say young!)

Here's the card I made for her...

The Extra Ones

Yesterday I posted all the class layouts from the retreat at the weekend so what better to follow that the extras I made using leftovers kits...

The first came about when we heard the news that there would be no more retreats (for now)
We were all sat absolutely gobsmacked.
I altered this photo last year after the retreat and never got around to scrapping it.
It seemed quite appropriate to do so now and used up the leftovers from Helen's class.

 

This Project Life type page was created on the back of Jen's class using the leftover pages and is the story of Imogen meeting her idol.

I've created an 8.5x11 here to use up papers from an old Sarah's Cards Kit

This layout uses the very last bits from Jen's class and shows how our Olly loves to sit "halfway up the stairs" just like Kermit's nephew Robin (hence the title)

The leftovers from Tracy's class were used to create "Hippie Chick".

A happy day at High Street. Who'd have thought that a few days later I would resign!

I think this is the remains of Ifa's kit.

My new favourite drink, Raspberry and Orange Cooler but it doesn't half give me brain freeze!!

Decluttering My Life!

Getting rid of things that have been in your life for such a long time has been quite refreshing this morning.

All the work I have put in over the many years has come to an end and to be honest I feel quite refreshed and relieved. I have room on my shelves and hard drive and the clutter in the dining room will be gone tomorrow.

I will have more time on my hands for things that I want to do and I will enjoy every minute of my new found freedom.

Today, I wanted to tidy my stash and finish the classes from the weekend.

The first class on Friday evening was a Project Life page by Jen Naulls.
Jen's page was very summery so I changed my papers around a little to suit my Snow Day pictures.

Saturday brought three classes two of which I could attend due to my flippin' back.
I managed to catch up later during cop time though.

The first was from Helen Eddie. A gorgeous layout apart from the sewing (argh!!)
As you can see, my token effort to sew was 6 little kisses.

A washi tape hinge hides the photo of a rather emotional Imogen after meeting her idol!

Lou's class (my first missed class) came next and we all got doodling which I really enjoyed. I don't think my flower turned out quite right but hey, there's no fun it everyone being the same is there?

Next was Ifa's class, very different to the layouts I've seen of hers in the past.
My photo here isn't very good but stamping onto vellum and heat embossing 3 doily shapes and making a badge were all part of this gorgeous layout. Ally, (bless her) very kindly did doilies for me AND cut them out.
Ifa was very kind and helped me to make my badge a bit later.
Thanks Ifa!!

Sunday's first class was brought to us by Tracy Gough and I think it's actually my favourite layout.
I love the boldness and striking colours. I have a fair bit of the kit left over too.

The final came from Claire Wheatley with her lovely assistant Tracie Oakes and involved origami bows. As I had used the wrong photos on a different layout, I couldn't finish the page in class but have today using some photos of my daughter aged nearly 4 years old. Claire's page used two 4"x4" photos in the two gaps.
I also had failed to make number 2 bow. Thinking I had the lovely little booklet with the instructions in I decided to finish that too. Hmm, where's the booklet? I am so impressed with myself that I could remember how to make it without instructions. Clever little me!!!

 

I am so sad that this was the final (never say never) Sarah's Cards Retreat.

Having made some wonderful friends over the years, I will cherish the memories and I hope we can all meet again.

Until the next time....

Have I...?

...blogged this layout before?

I don't think I have.

I created my background from throwing an old Christmas decoration onto my 12x12 and spraying to recreate our walk around the stars. Obviously I wanted everything to be starry and I think I've managed that!!!

Must get back into it tomorrow, I've two days off!!

Home!

After a rather entertaining breakfast I set off home but not before finding a little present under my windscreen wiper. Gemma had won a packet of number paperclips on the raffle and knew how much I liked them. Thank you Gemma for thinking of me :)
Arriving home I was mortified to realise I had left my teddy at the hotel. It's a little monkey that Imogen gave me years ago and I only take away when she's not with me. Luckily I'm only 20 minutes down the road so having said I would never go back, I did.
The door to my room was open and the bed stripped but my monkey was sitting next to the tv - phew.
After a lovely hot bath my bed was was far too inviting to say no and a little snooze was just what the doctor ordered.
It was lovely to see Imogen after school and the smile on her face made my day. I think it will be an early night....

All Over :(

Well, that's it! Sarah's Cards Retreat is over and we don't know if there will ever be another.
Sarah hasn't said "never" and I hope that is the case.

I've had a lovely time, laughed and cried but most of all had a fabulous time with friends new and old.

Now let's get this party started....

She Was Parked!

You know who you are!

After going to bed at 3am and getting up at 0645, I thought I would've been in bed a long time ago but I'm still here to bore you to death.

So, I've had my room broken into today. Needing a bath earlier today, I returned to my room to find the handle sitting on the floor with some tools. After a while, maintenance turned up and started jemmying the door open. Fixed at last and I soaked in a nice hot bath.

Tea was very nice tonight, the hotel are finally listening, however, going back to my room again tonight and once again the lock will not work. I managed to get in but daren't close it again.

I am totally gutted that Sarah isn't doing a retreat next year but the silver lining is that I don't have to come back here.

PARKLIFE!!!!

Day 1

It's retreat time and Sarah dropped the bombshell that there will be no more retreats.
Gutted just doesn't come close, what will I do next year?
Lets enjoy the weekend, then worry about that later but we've already decided we'll be having a Haslington Crop Retreat! You coming Jemma?

So Ally's first will be Ally's last, red nose and all and maybe Gillian will stop injuring herself!

Starting As I Mean To Go On....

Leaving home at 0930 for a little retail therapy before going to the retreat hotel I suddenly realised I'd left my right arm at home (my iPad).
How can I blog without my iPad?
Knowing I had to pick a magazine up for DH, I decided I would pretend I love him so much and take it back for him before going to the hotel. He knows me too well and asked what I'd forgotten!
A few pounds later after a successful shop in Homesense I popped into Chester to buy a little surprise for Imogen too. I've since had a text from her and she loves her little pressie.
Anyway, a leisurely lunch was enjoyed and the hotel is OK.
Having a catchup with some friends and a few glasses of red, looking forward to seeing more friends tomorrow.

Not Much...

...but at least I've blogged!!!

Today, I've been trying to get ready for Sarah's Cards Retreat. It is not 8pm and I still haven't done anything.

Hubby has been so busy today planting 75 Laurels so we can grow a hedge to hide our neighbours!!!

I've just been "guiding" him!!!

Anyway, having just got in from having a Mexican meal via a Groupon voucher and with not much crafting to share, here is the card I made for my lovely Mummy for Mother's Day...

and another I made for a friend who was moving house

I will hopefully continue to blog using the blogger app over the weekend...