Seeing Double!!

Just wanted to share my story with you from yesterday...

Happily sitting in front of my computer keeping up with "behind the scenes" on the UKS blog hop, hopping around a few blogs that I follow when, on Creative Craft World's blog I noticed a word scroll across the top of the page

"if you have entered and of our challenges, click on the challenge winners tab at the top of the page"

Ok, so I had entered a few sketch challenges and was delighted to see that I'd won February's Scrap Map challenge with the following layout

I quickly typed of my email to claim my prize and chuffed to bits that I'd won!!!

When DD arrived home from school, I was desperate to show her that I'd won, she was happy for me too.

We both squealed when I scrolled down a bit further to see previous winners and there, staring at me from my computer screen was another familiar layout - well I suppose I had to recognise my own daughter

So I hastily typed off another email. I am so looking forward to receiving my prizes and I've already placed an order using the very generous shop discount too!!!

Killing Two Birds...

...not literally, obviously!

A new challenge popped up today from the Counterfeit Challenge Blog and with the UKS Spring Blog Hop over and done with, I decided to play with a paper bag.

Challenge#3

Use a paper bag (whole or part) somewhere on your project

Having a few spare in my cupboard, should I make a mini book? 

Turning the bag this way and that, I decided to use it as a plain old hinge for my photo which would also double up as a pocket to write a few personal things to my daughter for her to read in years to come...

Everything I've used on this layout, apart from the wooden heart, is from my April CKCB.

Paper Issues are also asking their followers to link up Instagram style projects to their blog.

 Now I know it's not front of the page, but it's there so surely it counts, doesn't it???

 

UKS Hoppity Hop...

Today I'm lucky to be joining in with the UKScrappers Blog Hop where you will find plenty of inspiration to get your mojo flowing.
There are prizes along the way with a very generous prize from UKS to an overall random commenter
(please start from the beginning if you want to be in with a chance)

Hopefully you will have hopped from butterbee to find me.

I've never done a tutorial before so I do hope you will be able to follow my instructions to make this cute little pop up box.

You will need...

• 12x12 double sided paper cut down to A4 (unless you have an A3 printer)
• craft knife/scissors
• glue (I used glossy accents)
• 2 lengths of ribbon (20cm each)
• Template
• scorer

First of all you will need to download the template and print this onto your paper.

After cutting it out you should end up with something like this....

Decide which side of your paper you want to see more of and follow the guide below to score and crease in the right directions. (Mine is showing the inside of my box)

Before assembling your box you will need to fold back the top strip (left)

  and thread each piece of
your ribbon through the
holes and knot on the
 inside of your box (right)

This is now the outside of your box...

to assemble your box, add a bit of glossy accents to the two tabs and stick.

(I did mine one at a time as it is a bit fiddly holding both together)

With the box upside down, the photos show how to assemble the bottom as trying to explain it has proved far to tricky!

Turning your box the right way up, you should have something like this. 

Fill it with a small gift, sweets etc push the top down and tie the ribbon.
(My ribbon was a bit too short to tie a nice big bow but I'm sure yours will be just right)

I would love to see your boxes (if you decide to make one)

Please leave me a comment before hopping over to  

Efemera's blog 

to see what wonderful inspiration she has for you... 

Here's the full hop list...

http://alisondj.blogspot.com/
http://beautifullilysramblings.blogspot.com/
http://scrapsofsarah.blogspot.com/   

YOU ARE HERE >>>>>>http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk/ <<<<<<YOU ARE HERE

http://efemera-ink.blogspot.com/
http://www.iveartinmysoul.blogspot.com/
http://scrapbooksandcookbooks.blogspot.com/
http://heartfullyyours.blogspot.com/
http://ifazainon.blogspot.com/
http://www.just-jimjams.blogspot.com/
http://kathyisshopping.blogspot.com/
http://www.craftaholicleanie.co.uk/
http://miniowner.blogspot.com/
http://molescreations.blogspot.com/
http://notesonpaper.blogspot.com/
http://papercollecteranon.blogspot.com/
http://niknakschat.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.thehouseofbears.blogspot.co.uk/
http://somethingmaybenothing.blogspot.co.uk/
http://dollysdreamings.typepad.com/dollys_dreamings/
http://scribblesstickingstitchingstroking.blogspot.com/
http://sue-paperinkandglue.blogspot.com/
http://suzycad.blogspot.com/
http://scrappystickyinkymess.wordpress.com/
http://scrappyjens.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.scrappingmojo.blogspot.com/

Stickers Galore

Yesterday I forgot to blog :(

OK so it's only about the 3rd or 4th time this year that I haven't so I think I'm doing quite well.

At the beginning of the year I posted "Pay it Forward" on Facebook.

Only four of my places were taken so if you would like to be the 5th then please comment below saying you would like to take part.

(basically, sometime this year, you will receive from me a small handmade gift. In return, you will need to offer "Pay it Forward" for 5 people who you will make handmade gifts for too and so it continues...)


Today, after not a great deal of scrapbooking lately, I wanted to take part in

Nothing But Stickers
a challenge created by the CKCB team

Use NOTHING but stickers as embellishments on your project!!!

I've used one piece of 12x12 from my April Kit and I've added loads more stickers along the way as there weren't many in my kit this month.

I couldn't quite believe how many stickers are in my stash. I may be taking up this challenge another 20 times!!!!

And Relax!!!!!

Another hugely busy day.

I've been using Imogen's room as a store room since she went away last Friday and knowing she is returning home today it has been a mad rush to tidy and clean before her arrival.

Luckily, things all went to plan and she is arriving home later rather than what I thought would be mid afternoon.

With a bit of time to myself I turned my hand to flower arranging as a little thank you to her friend's parents for taking her away and looking after her for a week.

Don't think I'll get a chance to scrap tomorrow but Sunday I really do need to do my UKS blog hop post...

(A little explanation for those who commented on yesterday's post. We owned a small cottage in France for a few years for which were required to have a French bank account - when we sold up, we didn't need the account anymore, still fighting the water and electricity)

Nearly There...

After a few days of hard work I'm happy to report that I am nearly there. A quick tidy up tomorrow and I'm done!

Today, another coat of paint and assembling a double ottoman bed which wasn't easy on my own. Things got quite personal but I won in the end!

I won a battle today. Back in November 2011 I asked for my French bank account to be closed. 18 months later, my mum suggested writing to my MEP. OK, so what harm can it do? Result! Today they have refunded 18 months of fees and waived the transfer fee. The war continues with the water and electricity bills but I have no intention of losing...and with a little extra in the bank I think those gorgeous bedside tables might be in order :)

I also had a lovely little parcel arrive from Paper Issues this morning. It was wrapped so sweetly and I love the contents...can't wait to try out that stamp set.

Yum!

With Nick back at work and the carpet fitters due, getting up at the crack of dawn was the plan for today so I could al least paint the bedroom ceiling before the carpet went down.

As I type this part of my post, it is 0928 and I've given the ceiling two coats and the walls one coat, I've resealed around the bath and stuck on a bit of skirting in the hall that somehow came loose when we ripped the floor up.

If I knew the carpet fitters wouldn't be here for another hour, I would paint the walls again but think maybe that will have to wait....

Ok, so the carpets are fitted the ceiling has had another coat and the walls another two but I still think the walls need another coat tomorrow.
A confirmation email arrived to say the bed will be here tomorrow so by the end of the Thursday, I should be done - fingers crossed!
Once again, knackered but I've just had a lovely surprise from my wonderful friend Gillian. She nipped round to pick up a card and brought me a HUGE bar of my new favourite chocolate. Thank you, Gillian, the perfect tonic, just what I needed :)