Do Something...MAD

I recently been thinking about starting my own meme.

There are a fair few that I join in with, some weekly but mostly on a monthly basis.

I got thinking on a recent trip to Manchester and being a sucker for a

homeless person with a dog.

This is not the guy that I chatted to but exactly how him and his dog were sitting...

"We look after each other" he told me.

Now, after a previous experience, I always carry some dog treats in my bag

as I don't like to just give money.

I asked him if I could get him a hot drink and he requested a hot chocolate.

Quickly dashing around the corner into Pizza Hut and explaining to the lovely young girl at the counter,

she made the drink in the biggest cup she could find and sent me on my way after refusing payment.

What a lovely gesture!

The guy gratefully took his hot chocolate and the extra money I now had from not paying for his drink.

So, here's my meme..

Do something ...MAD

just once a month and

Make A Difference

however big or small, just do what you can to make someone smile or lift their spirits.

Link back here if/when you do and let's see if we can make a difference in

someone's life.

Thank you :)

One Lucky Mummy!

Here in the UK we are celebrating Mothering Sunday.

I am very lucky to have such a kind, caring and wonderful daughter that puts

so much thought into everything she does and today she hasn't disappointed.

A thoughtful, homemade card and a beautiful poem along with my favourite chocolate

were all presented to me before going for a lovely walk in the warm

sunshine.

What a lovely start to my day...

Here's a layout of that girl that I created to enter into the 

Scrap365 April Sketch Challenge

 I found a version of this quote on Pinterest, it fits that girl to a "t"

 The sketch challenge is open until April 11th so why not join in?

Whatever you are doing today, whether you're a mummy or not,

have a fabulous day!

Why So Sad?

Do you have a favourite animal?

I have a few including elephants, dogs and donkeys

and, is it just me, or do all those animals always look sad?

 The

The Memory Nest

have a sketch up on their blog and, at first, I wasn't sure whether to play or not.

I'm glad I did though as I used up plenty of scraps 

and my donkey photo fit in just perfectly!

So does anyone know why they always look so sad?

I always feel so sorry for them but they actually could

be really happy - any scrapbooking animal psychologist out there???

Sending a Note...

Today I'm Sending A Note (as per Big Picture Classes) and I hope that little note will make a small difference in someone's life.

This idea has prompted a new meme which I will be telling you all about on Monday, March 31st.

Will you come back and see what it is?

I hope you will as I would love you to join in with me and

Do Something...MAD!

Life Paper Scrapbook have a sketch challenge up on their blog...

I love the simplicity of this sketch

so got to work on my creation!

And finally for today, why not pop over to  Skyline Paperie and wish Stephanie (a fellow Master Forger)
a Happy Birthday as she is celebrating her first blog anniversary.
Happy Birthday Skyline Paperie!!

If you follow the "rules" on the blog post you could be in with a chance of winning her blog candy 

but you only have until the 31st of March to enter so you need to be quick!

She also has some lovely items in her shop.

Just Beachy!

SJCrafts have a great challenge up on their blog using the following collage for inspiration.

I had the perfect photos for a "beachy" inspired layout.

I love a challenge that inspires me to use photos that I don't know what to with and 

this was one of them.

I have had these photos out so many times but this challenge gave me the required kick up the proverbial to actually get on and do it!

I adore these Theresa Collins papers and used the zigzag design as waves.

I recently bought a very cheap laser printer and I love being able to print my journalling onto vellum etc

(far neater than my own handwriting)

I was lucky enough to win last month's challenge and received a fabulous prize from Jemma which was presented beautifully all wrapped up in tissue paper.

(Can't believe I didn't take a photo)

To be in with a chance of winning a prize from the other new DT Member, Annie, you need to link up by midnight on the 31st of March

Lifting 2012

One of the challenges over at The Studio Challenges Blog is...

Scrap lift yourself 

take a layout that you loved that's at least a year old and scrap lift yourself!

I have been looking back through my blog and chose this one from April 2012

(wow that was a huge blog post!) 

 That's me in that photo in 1976!!!

The height of innocence.

Fast forward to 2014 and I think the innocence is long gone BUT

I've had a great time losing it!!!

In my lift I've used much bright colours to highlight colours in the photo.

The 3 of us enjoying milkshakes at "Robert is Here" on our Florida Road Trip last year.

An amazing place and wonderful success story, we spent an hour or two

drinking our shakes in the sunshine before wandering around the petting farm at the back.

There's plenty of time to join in and link up with the team.

I was runner up in February - go ME!

M is for...?

Another challenge has been added over at The Studio Challenges 

M for March - make a layout using the letter M! 

I have created a layout about Music and my daughter's love for it.

Now she has violin lessons and plays the odd tune on the keyboard but she loves nothing more than strumming on her favourite guitar.

This guitar has a lot of meaning behind it as she bought it with the compensation

money awarded to her after being physically assaulted last year.

The hidden journalling tells the story.

You have until April 13th to join in...

Simple Texture!

Welcome to stop#6 on the

March Counterfeit Kit Blog Hop.

Elaine, our Guest Designer for the month of March was Stop#5 

and I'm sure she will have wowed AND put me to shame!
I decided to join in with 
Challenge#3 - Adding Texture to Your Background

There are many ways to add texture to a layout and I've chosen a very simple one.

Using a strip of paper, randomly folded and pinned.

 There are of course other parts to my layout that create texture and height including the flair,

the gems and the buttons...

I did want to get my gesso out but as I only had about a month's notice I just didn't get round to it.

(Hangs head in shame and makes a mental note "must do better")

Stephanie is Stop#7 so keep hopping and being inspired.

Don't forget that YOU can join in with our hop next month.

 Email us at counterfeitkitchallenge@yahoo.com by the 18th of next month to let us know and remember that you can join in with the hop using any of April's challenges which go live on the 4th, 12th and 16th of next month

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

Lisa    http://lisahausmann.blogspot.de

Tina    http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com

Leslie    http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com

Margie    http://scrappinmargie.blogspot.com

Elaine    http://chidkids26.blogspot.co.uk

Lesley    http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk

Stephanie    http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.de

Milissa    http://millermall.blogspot.com

Julie    http://jsquaredscrapspot.wordpress.com

Julene    http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com.au

Cindy    http://www.cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com/

Jemma     http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk

You NEED to be Quick...

Good Morning!

What a strange weather day we're having here in the Northwest of England.

Hail, rain, glorious sunshine...

How's your day so far???

On Friday I shared a layout using the fabulous

March 12 Pledges Kit

from Wearcrafts.

As usual and due to Jen's brilliant and clever choices of kit content, it is very nearly sold out.

I have absolutely LOVED playing with this kit, such pretty colours

and designs don't you think.

Another thing I love about MME papers is the coordinating strip at the bottom.

Do you throw it away?

I ALWAYS use it as you can see on both my layouts below...

 Before my retreat last week, the attendees were have a conversation about photo editing

software. I have always used Picassa and get along with it really well.

But, Pauline mentioned fotor.com so off I went to have a play before I ordered my photos.

I love how this one turned out and just had to use it straight away.

There are so many different collages to use or you can even generate your own.

Do you ever start a layout and think "oh dear, that's just not going anywhere"?

That's how this one started and I very nearly discarded it to start again

I'm glad I persevered as I love how it turned out.

For more inspiration head over to Jen's and Virginia's blogs and if you want to get your hands on what's left of this gorgeous kit, be very quick!!!

" ALL the subscriber kits have been claimed and the Heavy Add On has gone. However, there are a couple of Light Add On kits left (£10) and a couple of Main kits left (£5). So for 15 you can get yourself SIX sheets of Bazzill, TWELVE sheets of doublesided MME Dorothy, TWO sticker sheets, and a scatter of embellishments to coordinate beautifully. Add the washi tape bundle (£2.50) and the wooden words (£2.00) and you have yourself a grand bundle for less than twenty quid! Now that can't be bad, can it? Have a peep here and see what you think..."

Keep Calm and...

...Challenge YOURself
to use the fabulous new
12 Pledges kit from
Wearcrafts

I love the Challenge YOURself blog as, like most, I hardly ever scrap ME!

Challenge YOURself provides challenges where the whole object

of the game is to include a photo of yourself as well

as play along with the main focus of the challenge.

This Challenge #4 (and you have until April 4th to join in) 

asks us to use the quote "Keep Calm and..." but NOT scrapbook related.

Having just had some new photos printed I have used my success at Slimming World

as the topic of my layout showing how the incentive of Farley's Rusks

got me to target.

I love Farley's (I lived on cornflakes and Farley's until I was about 15!)

and every so often I will treat myself to a box.

My layout uses the new MME Dorothy papers supplied by Wearcrafts

and are available from today as a kit for £5, yes, £5!

I have created 3 more layouts from this kit and I'll be back in a couple of days

with the those.

Tomorrow however, Virginia will be showing what she has created

with the kit too so why not hop over there and take a look...

There is also an add on kit with coordinating embellishments and a full kit for £15

These kits, in previous months have flown out of Jen's door 

as though there were no tomorrow so grab one quick

if you're interested.

Thanks for stopping by and let me know if  manage to get your hands on a kit!

What a Weekend!!!

I am thrilled to report that my first ever retreat went far better

than I had ever imagined.

Don't get me wrong, I've been on organised retreats before but I had organised this one

from start to finish.

After Sarah's Cards retreats finished last year I felt at a bit of a loose end so when Gillian said

"why don't you organise one"

it didn't take long before I was looking at venues and booking the dates!

I have shared so many laughs over the weekend with some fabulous friends, old and new, that my sides hurt. I have been honoured with the most beautiful "thankyou" bouquet 

and I've had tears in my eyes reading the fabulous comments on my feedback forms.

These girls have been amazing...

Spot the difference...

The fancy dress costumes were awesome...

The challenge entries were spectacular...

The food was delicious...

and the pannacotta, well, say no more ;)

A truly brilliant weekend, thank you ALL for coming and I'm so glad that you all want to do it all again,

let the preparations commence... 

She IS Rockin'

This Friday I am dedicationg my

Rocking Your World Friday post to this girl...

At 1634 on Tuesday the 11th of March,

she got the call.

Remember my post last week about how she's had an interview to go to

Nepal with Fire Cadets next year?

She's going!!!

(Thank you to all of you who sent her good luck and kept your fingers crossed for her)

I am so proud of her, if not a little scared, and now the fundraising starts...

As my post goes live this morning, I will be getting ready to leave home to spend a 

(hopefully) great weekend with some fabulous ladies.

I have organised my first ever retreat!

Have a great weekend and week to come.

We're on cloud 9 here.

Do You Look...

...for inspiration?

If so

Challenge #2: Let's get inspired by JENNIFER! 

is up over at the Counterfeit Kit Blog 
and maybe just what you're looking for To be honest, I really don't really go looking for inspiration 
from other people because my scrapbooking is mine 
and I really want it to stay that way.
Of course I will join in with Sketch Challenges and scraplifts 
but I still like to make things my own.
When I saw this challenge it really didn't fill with much gusto 
as I didn't want to just copy somebody else's work. 
On looking through Jennifer's blog, I saw one of her layouts 
using the MME frames (of which I have a few in my kit).

Don't forget to link up if you join in with our challenge

or email  counterfeitkitchallenge@yahoo.com

if you care to join in with our end of the month hop

using any of the 3 monthly challenges

Proud Mummy Layout

Another beautiful morning here in sunny Cheshire.

Isn't it lovely when the sun shines, people smile and say hello

instead of looking at you as though you've gone mad.

I would also like to welcome Jess as my 51st follower,

Only three sleeps until I go off to set up for

my very first retreat.

I am so excited and yet quite nervous but looking forward to seeing

all the lovely ladies who are joining me for a weekend of fun, chatting,

eating, drinking, relaxing and maybe a bit of paper sticking!

Today I'm sharing a proud Mummy moment.

I was delighted when DD was chosen to represent her Fire Cadet unit and

lay the wreath for Remembrance last year.

Being ex-forces, these things are dear to my heart

and I've always brought her up to "remember" and understand.

I had been on the search for this paper for a while and Wearcrafts Jen came up trumps

by sending her two last sheets for me to play with.

Behind You!

The March challenge is up over at Punky Scraps Blog.
This month we have been asked to use a Kraft background
and in honour of our Alpha Leader's birthday
the mood board has a little alcohol to inspire you!

 This mood board just shouts Spring doesn't it?
With this beautiful sunshine showing its face (at last)
here in the UK I got sunshine inspired...

You can't really see from my photo but sitting on a wall in
the Florida sunshine last year, DD posed for a photo
well aware that an alligator had its beady eyes upon her.
The things she does for a scrappable photo!

1P&20W

I love the 9th of the month when Abi posts her meme over at

 Creating Paper Dreams

I love to see and read how her followers interpret their own pictures

Recently discovered on Sky.

What have I been missing?

Can't get enough of Mr McDreamy!

Had to have the boxset.

Not Really...

...tutorials as such but today I thought I would share

the printables that I came up with for my March Counterfeit Kit.

All these were created just by playing around in Craft Artist

apart from the tags which I don't think need much explaining!

I really don't do needle and thread but loved the look of

PL style cards so decided to try to recreate a printable or two.

 I quite liked the little tags too...

 Now I think this would be hard to print but I may just use this as a digi

background at some point.

The "love" stamp was next and I just couldn't resist recreating it

to print at my leisure

Please feel free to right click, save and print any of these 

but please leave me some love if you do.

I enjoy creating and it is nice to know if/when people use them.