Enthusiasm PTII

A couple of days ago I told you how I wasn't keen on the June 12 Pledges Kit - Enthusiam when I first received it as it was not something that I would normally buy

BUT

first impression can be deceiving and I found myself creating this layout which worked perfectly with my photo.

The background paper is all about water and water birds (perfect) and my layout tells the story of when this little family of swans found its way into out back garden.

The cygnets were too small to jump up the decking and Mum wasn't too keen on my helping them but we eventually got them safely out the back where they waddled off to the pond on the golf course.

Trying to come up with a title was the next hurdle until I came across

"I Swan" meaning "What a surprise!"

(I never knew that!)

So, a perfect kit and a perfect title - perfect!!!

More inspiration with Jen and Virginia can be found by clicking on the links.

ONE!

Our Beautiful World 

celebrates it's first birthday tomorrow

and therefore the prompt is 

Baby You are ONE!

where we are asked to post a photograph of when we were one!

I knew exactly which photo I needed to dig out...

To celebrate their first birthday, Our Beautiful World are also holding a blog hop

with a few prizes along the way so why not dig out that photo and join in?

Enthusiasm PtI

Yesterday saw the release of the June 12 Pledges Kit - Enthusiasm over at Wearcrafts.

For a measly fiver you get a fair few goodies and this month I have created 3 layouts and a card.

These kits sell out extremely quickly so grab one while you can.

You can see what my fellow DTeamie Virginia created over on her blog HERE and Jen has created some fabulous delights (even if she did fussy cut) to show off on the Wearcrafts Facebook page.

Now then I have to be truthful and this wasn't really something I would buy BUT

it did work for me and I enjoyed being taken out of my comfort zone to play.

This kit worked perfectly for this photo of the child taken last year enjoying the sunshine at her Aunty Shaz's house - I think she was supposed to be helping!

Finish the title at your pleasure.

No prizes though!

I'll be back in couple of days with more...

Card in a Box

With great thanks to Monica for her amazing and easy to follow tutorial

I have made this card in under an hour.

My Mum asked me to make a 70th birthday card for one of her dearest friends and I wanted it to be different. I think we can safely say that it is different to your ordinary card and I hope my Mum and the recipient will like it. I have never made one of these before so it was a good experiment.

I have linked this one up with Scrapology.

I had a lovely email last night - remember the male card I made a couple of days ago?

The recipient sent an email to the sender...

Thank you very much for your wonderful, thoughtful and beautifully crafted card. It is very much appreciated.

I love feedback!!!

Edit:
The lovely Jen from Wearcrafts has just informed me that Woodware are asking us to link up our Card in a Box project so that's what I'm a gonna do.

I get all my Woodware products from that lovely lady up there in that Durham you know!!!

This Week's Scavenging

Whilst trying to sort out a faulty camera in Asda last week I noticed lots of these gnomes hanging around the store.

With a price tag of £25 I wouldn't buy one myself (in fact I wouldn't take one for free) but I did get a shot of it for

Rinda's 2014 Photography Scavenger Hunt

2. A garden gnome

Not making the list but an alternative to find if you struggle with one on the list is

Alternative B: A bird house

 and I couldn't resist a shot of this bird house in Chester. 

It stands in a car park for the pigeons and every day you will see and old woman feeding them.

Whilst in Chester I took a shot of this narrow street which I think complies with...

 6. An urban street scene

So that's this weeks photos, what will next week bring?

Mails

Week 52 prompt over at

Our Beautiful World 

is

Mails

and here is what our Mail Male brought me this week...

oh the possibilities!!!

Male Card Nightmares!!!

I don't know about you but I really struggle with male cards - they really aren't the easiest and I must create a Pinterest Male Card Board for future reference!!

A couple of weeks ago a friend asked if I would make a card depicting a man on a motorbike going from one uni to another.

I say yes to everything and then worry afterwards.

I delivered the card today and she seemed really impressed so what do you think...?

Don't forget my little competition, there's still time to join in!!!

Small is Beautiful

Here we are again, 24th of the month and once again I'm asking myself, where has the month gone?

Even my 15 year old is asking this question now, does that mean she's getting old which means I'm getting even older!!!?

Did you start at the beginning of our "small is beautiful" hop?

If so you will have been sent here by Margie.

If not, why not hop back to the beginning to see what our lovely members have been creating.

I am joining in with CH#1 which is to create a tone on tone project.

I have used a patterned background and most of everything else is either raised up off the page or embossed to create that tone on tone.

The photo you will have seen before, a (not bad) selfie of the three of us taken back in February on a visit to Clitheroe.

Don't forget you still have time to enter my 500th post competition HERE - there is a sweet little prize to be won.

Next on our hop is the lovely Virginia and fellow DT member over at Wearcrafts.

Go on, keep hopping....

CKCB    http://www.counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com
Jemma  http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk
Tina       http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com
Margie   http://scrappinmargie.blogspot.com
Lesley   http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk
Virginia  http://celtichouse.blogspot.co.uk
Cindy    http://www.cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com
Lisa       http://lisahausmann.blogspot.de

Improvising

The prompt for this week over at

Our Beautiful World

is

By The Seashore

Not living anywhere near the seashore I have had to improvise and when I saw this little creature in one of the back gardens at Coronation Street I snapped away...

 ...but as you can see, he wasn't on the beach but next to a pond!

What have you improvised on lately?

Don't forget to enter my 500th blog post giveaway!

Remembered to Rock

Last week I forgot (again) to join in with Virginia's 

Rocking Your World Friday

so when I realised I got started early and planned my post out and tried to add to it everyday...

So what have I been grateful for this week?




My Dad.
I am so very aware that many of my friends no longer have their Daddy to share their lives with and don't ever want to think of a Father's Day without mine.
He is truly the best daddy that a girl could wish for.

A great night at Crewe Lyceum on Sunday.

A good few laughs, great food and even greater friends.

(The food didn't turn out quite as expected but it didn't take away from the great night had by all)

Wednesday saw me and Lyn walking the Corrie Cobbles...

It was a great tour and I would recommend it to any Corrie fan, young or old.

This is also where I took my second photo for Rinda's 2014 Summer Scavenger Hunt...

17. A lamp post

So, as the first one (although the nicest) isn't actually a post I took the second one in the ginnel and then decided on a third on the Street itself

So there we have it, which one will I tick off next?

I've had a lovely week with friends and family,
enjoy those little moments because one day they could be gone.
Just one more thing before I go, I am so very thankful that a dear friend is doing well and will be back with a vengeance very soon!
Have a great weekend!

Killing It

Remember those paper forgeries from my kit this month?

This gorgeous doodled paper courtesy of the child was one of those I didn't want to use but just knew it had to be done. There were so many bits of it I didn't want to hide/cover up so I careful chose the bits that went with my photo and took it from there...

Next was the chalked paper (sealed with hairspray) and an up close photo of the child.

I love how this one has turned out.

I have one layout left to share for the blog hop on the the 24th but apart from that

there goes my June kit, done and dusted, I know one person who killed hers and has been adding to it during the month to join in with the challenges!

Have you killed yours?

I Made It!!!

Today marks my 500th blog post so I'm celebrating

with a little giveaway.

To take part, answer the following questions

(all the answers are "somewhere" on my blog)

and send them all in one hit to me no later than 

June 30th 2359pm BST 

via the 

Contact Form

at the very bottom of my blog.

1. Which sport has the child recently given up?
2. What is our favourite recipe?
3. How many miles did we travel when we drove the Pacific Highway?
4. What is my One Little Word for 2014?
5. Who made the child's birthday cake this year?

If there is a tie I will use the number generator (i.e. the child)

to randomly select a winner.

Good luck!

Line Up

Challenge #3:  Line up your embellishments

over at the Counterfeit Blog worked well for me this month as I had a pack of tags in my kit.

I only used 4 out of the 24 but it's a start!

This photo was taken the day the child started her D of E training with the Fire Cadets and last weekend she got her Bronze Award.

My fellow Master Forger, Jemma, will (hopefully) be so proud of me for journalling on the front of my page which I really do have to start doing more often.

Is there something you rarely do to you layouts for one reason or another?

Join in with us and link up so we can all see your line ups!

Challenged!

I haven't done a lot of scrapping since the sleepover crop mainly because I've been tidying my room (again!)

I got a brand new box of goodies from Jen on Friday and I WILL be playing with the contents tomorrow!!!

You really don't want to miss the next few kits they are something else!!!

I really hate not being able to reveal the goodies BUT I do love a secret and being in the know!

Anyway, until I can, here is one of those layouts completed last weekend - I think it was for a challenge but I have no idea which one!

So your challenge is to tell me where to enter it!

I'm hoping the child takes her Daddy to the pub for a pint of Trooper (him not her)
so I'll feel less guilty about locking myself away with some paper and glue!

Olly!

The My Beautiful World prompt for Week 50 is animals

so how could I resist not using this cute photo

of Olly when he jumped up for a huggles with the child!

I was going to use a photo of Claus (our tortoise) but he/she has decided to go back into hibernation after stuffing his face for two weeks!

Scavenging is Back!!!

And what a great list Rinda has produced again this year.

Why not take a look at her blog

Gallo Organico

and join in for yourself.
There are some really tricky ones on the list year but I will endeavour to get them ALL.
Last year's collection can be seen HERE and I will post this year's HERE

I am kicking off my collection this year with...

1. A sign welcoming people to your home town (or a nearby town)

Now I don't often agree with how council's waste money but as I drove to my crop on Saturday morning, I noticed that Cheshire East Council have erected new signs to welcome people to the town of Crewe. What a thoughtful gesture don't you think?

Next on the list....

2. A garden gnome

3. Birds on a wire

4. A group of tourists

5. A rack of post cards

6. An urban street scene

7. A rural landscape

8. A tattoo on a person

9. A bakery

10. A photo bomb (someone found lurking in the background of photo; the lurker may have intended to disrupt the picture or may be doing it unintentionally, but the background lurker is a surprise to the photographer)

11. A horn

12. A mascot

13. A sunrise

14. A parade

15. A juggler

16. A sign in a language other than English

17. A lamp post

18. A water fall

19. A public garden

20. A bus (not a car, truck, lorry, camper or RV) with a picture painted on its sides.

21. A photograph of you with something representing the season (recognizing that the season will be Winter for our friends in the southern hemisphere). Note: you may not use a substitute for this item.

If you find something on the list too difficult, you may substitute one of the following items for anything on the list, except for Item #21:

Alternative A: A kite, hot air balloon or blimp

Alternative B: A bird house

An Odd One!

When I saw my assigned challenged for the Counterfeit Kit Team this month I was a little concerned at how I would go about it.

Now I'd already seen Jemma's beautiful creation because it was a birthday card for ME!

What will you create using this sketch?

At our sleepover crop over the weekend I got a little frustrated with it and nearly threw my toys out of my pram

BUT

I persevered and I'm glad that I did as I really love the result...

Don't forget to link up and show us what you create!

Joining in with Jennifer (again!)

I have already joined in with Jennifer Grace's challenge, 

Create Something Clean & Simple 

but decided that this card I made for my sister's birthday fit the bill too so I'm joining in again.

The Refresh Your Craft & Soul Blog Event hosted by Jennifer was full of great ideas and inspiration so why not click on the link and join in with the challenges? They are open until June 15th.

(P.S. She is my only sister!)

1P&20W

It's that time of the month again when we all link up with 

Abi

over at 

Creating Paper Dreams

and join in with her monthly meme

One Photo and Twenty Words

100 bites and torrential rain

didn't stop this girl

getting her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Still smiling, proud Mummy!

Funky Punky

Another month and another funky challenge over at Punky Scraps.

As well as taking inspiration from this mood board,
 a song title either in your journalling or as your title also has to be used.

so I have created...

and I bet you're now screaming at me for giving you this ear worm!!!
The colours haven't really shown through very well on the photograph, they are a lot brighter IRL.

One of Jennifer Grace's challenges during her Refresh Your Craft & Soul Blog Event was to
Create Something Clean & Simple
and I think this qualifies so I'm linking up.

Just Sketchy

This weekend was our annual sleepover crop and I managed 11 layouts and a card.
Two of the layouts were for sketch challenges and
this month I've actually created my layout for Scrap365 Sketch Challenge
 in time for the deadline (June 15th)!

This is also the sketch we are using for our Sketchy Scrappers Facebook Group 

(maybe that's why I got it done in time!)

 and just to prove I've used flowers for the Sketchy Scrappers side of it...

The other sketch by Sue
over at Me&Mine
(You have until June 30th to join in with Sue's sketch challenge)

got me scrapping about a story whilst I was in the Navy.
The background paper is all about little moments and the story behind my picture is about one of those "moments" in my life.
The Naval Squadron I served with was heavily involved in the Falklands War so when (years later) one of their planes and two pilots visited us, it was quite a significant (and thankfully, friendly) event and I was given the task of looking after the plane.
I am the mechanic standing on the ladder ensuring the pilot is strapped in safely for his onward journey.

Tutorial Time!

On my Counterfeit Kit reveal at the beginning of the month, I promised

to be back with tutorials for 3 of the items in this month's kit.

The first item,  Heidi Swapp Dreamy Dreams Come True was quite easy to forge using a stencil or two from my growing collection!

 Heidi Swapp Favourite Things Rainbow Rounds was created by stamping different colours

using a cut up wrapping paper tube.

I didn't have the patience to do the straight lines so just randomly stamped across the paper.

 Alison Kreft Hello World Photo Corners

and while you're here, remember this...

that the child created for me well it inspired her to create a fabulous birthday card for me too...

so proud of my Mini Master Forger!!!

I hope I've helped to show you how easy it is to forge certain items.

Will you forge something this month?

Show us if you do by linking up!!!

2Gether Moments

Until quite recently you would find it difficult for find photos of me and layouts with me included were few and far between.
A few things have happened to change that recently including...

1. the husband has his own camera AND has started imitating David Bailey
2. I used to hate being photographed but I'm now trying to get over my phobia
3. the child takes photos without being asked
4. and I stumbled across Challenge YOURself, a great blog that encourages us to scrap oursleves.

A few weeks ago I applied to be on their DT and today is my debut!

OK, so I'm not facing the camera BUT it's a start.

Like all couples (I think) we have our moments but on the whole I do enjoy being with this guy

and my heart will still flutter when he takes my hand.

So come on, get YOURself on a layout and join in with us at Challenge YOURself
this month.
A man in your like must be included too, maybe your Dad or even a pet.
Don't forget to link up so we can comment and adore your creations.

A Fitting Photograph

The prompt this week over at

Our Beautiful World

is texture.

On Sunday, I visited my Godparents where I photographed

this lonely but beautifully textured poppy in their back garden.

Such a fitting photograph for this week as we remember and show gratitude

to all those brave men who gave their lives

in WW1 one hundred years ago, the Normandy Landings 70 years ago 

and not forgetting those men and women lost in more recent conflicts.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them".

This week I am also grateful to lovely friends who took me out for a lovely lunch on Wednesday,
to family and friends for all the lovely cards and gifts I received for my birthday,
for all the birthday wishes on Facebook,
for two hours of complete massage bliss,
for finally being up to date,
for my wonderful parents and my fabulous daughter for always thinking outside the box and making me smile,

and most of all for just being here.
Have a great week and if you feel like sharing your positive, why not head over to
Rockin Your World Friday
and share with Virginia.