BIG Title

I don't know about you but I don't do a lot of journalling so a big title works well for me and hopefully tells the story without too much added effort of extra journalling.
The Counterfeit Kit Blog has a new challenge up today which is therefore quite perfect for me!

Challenge #3: Big Titles!  
Use a BIG TITLE (or sentiment) on your project

I love this photo of my husband.

If you're a follower of my blog, you will know that he always plays the fool when the camera is out

so I never usually get a nice photo of him.

This one was captured in February as we were out walking trying to get a 3G signal so I could upload a layout to the LOAD gallery.

I love the backgroud paper as it needed no work whatsoever.

I coloured my wooden circle as the plain look just didn't do it for me.

All the layers can't really be seen in the photo but there are plenty.

Vellum seems to be back in fashion and I am loving that I have loads in my kit tio use this month.

My fellow Master Forger Jemma had some great ideas in her post HERE.

I've used a few buttons, a bit of twine and gems to highlight my homemade flair.

 Will you have a go at challenge#3 this month?

Maybe you could join in with our blog hop on the 24th?

Just email

  counterfeitkitchallenge@yahoo.com

 by the 18th to let us know that you want to take part and don't forget you can join in with any one of our challenges from this month. 

Feeling is Better! (Part One)

On my recent visit to Durham, I landed on Jen's doorstep and got the most fabulous of welcomes.

We chatted and drank coffee and then I had the pleasure of getting my paws on some fabulous stash from her Wearcrafts shop.

It's amazing how things look so much different (and often better) in real life.

Over the next few days I hope to show you what can be done with just a few of the items I got my hands on and that I probably would not have bought if I hadn't been so lucky to see them in my own hands.

This is the first item that I wanted to play with and it's available HERE is you fancy it yourself.

It's a pocket pad by Leeza Gibbons and has two of each of twelve designs inside. 

Having just seen the April Sketch Challenge over at

Life Paper Scrapbook...

I decided that the pockets would fit perfectly if I flipped the sketch 90 degrees clockwise.

I love this photo of the three of us.
Each of the tags will be used for each of us to write something about the photograph
and stored away for future generations to read.
(If she has kids that is!)

You have until April 28th if you fancy joining in with the LPS Sketch Challenge.

1P&20W

Today I'm joining in with Abi's Meme

One Photo and Twenty Words

Find out more and join in HERE

A beautiful and stunning chandelier, wasted!

It hangs but no light eminates.

What a waste! Torch anyone?

Failed Forger

Sorry, sorry and many more humble apologies.

Halfway home from Durham this morning I had one of those heart stopping moments when I realised it was April 12th and I hadn't scheduled my post.

Luckily for me, our wonderful Guest Designer Maggie had made the effort and her post is up and running.

I can't quite believe that I have been in such a time warp lately.
It's actually my sister's wedding anniversary today too so how could I forget it was the 12th of the month!?

Anyway, onto my take on Challenge#2 for the Counterfiet Kit Blog

Pocket Page Inspiration

I don'y know about you but I have hundreds of the pocket page 3x4 cards and I'm always keen to use them but NOT on PL style pages.

The one I have used here is a bigger size.

The colour, in my opinion, was a bit bold so I use a piece of vellum from my kit to tone it down slightly.

 

You can't realy see from the photo but I punched a star through the vellum so the sun could be seen shining brighter.

Anyway, as I type, I am down on bended knee begging forgiveness from all you forgers out there for being so remiss and promise to do better next time.

I hope you will join in with our hop on April 24th.

Don't forget since the rules changed, you can use ANY of the challenges to join in.

A Rockin Good Week!

What a week!

A fabulous few days in our capital city was enjoyed by us all.

From the train journey to the hotel and the lovely walks to the fabulous food and the Lion King, we had some great family time with only a slight bit of bickering!

After a bit of a nightmare with iPhones and a huge thanks to the Apple Store in Manchester, we were able to have another superb night with Elbow. This is the 7th time we have seen them and not once have they disappointed.

Arriving home, we discovered the boiler was defunct, the house freezing and no hot water.

DD and I decided to leave home early for our little trip North and this is the reason why...

I've been so looking forward to meeting this lovely lady and what a welcome she gave us. The lovely Jen, owner of Wearcrafts is indeed lovely. I was even allowed to enter her fabulous little shop and ooh and ahh over the delights she has in that little Aladdin's Cave of hers. I can't wait to start playing with my new bag of stash but, ssshhhh, don't tell DH! 

Jen even came out to see us last night and we sat and chatted over coffee (well that was Jen's tipple anyway!) like we'd known each other for years! I'm so looking forward to meeting her lovely croppers tonight at her weekly crop. Exciting times!!!

Being Ruthless!

Being ruthless is not in my nature but, boy has it made me feel cleansed!

I have been so busy these last couple of days having a really good craftroom clearout that I have completely forgotten to blog or scrap for that matter!

It's Friday again and Rocking Your World Friday has passed me by as has

CH#1 over at the Counterfeit Kit Blog.

This clearout of mine has been brutal and I now know execatly what I've got AND where it is.

The huge pile of layouts that have been gathering dust are now in albums and

all my "for sale" items have been advertised.

I have such a busy week ahead of me that there won't be much time to blog, 

Here's a layout I created a couple of weeks ago of me and my Daddy.

I love this photo (although my daughter pointed out I look like a tortoise!)

 and it's not the first time I've scrapped it.

I also love the quote (found on Pinterest) which is so true.

My journalling is hidden under the PL style card in the middle of the layout.

Don't foget my new meme Do Something...MAD, I would love for you to join in and link up.

Go on, make a difference, make someone smile!

April Kit with a Twist

It's April 1st!!

Have you played a trick on anyone this morning?

Or have you been tricked?

We are playing a bit of trick this month by having a bit of a change and by playing a little game.

If you came here from my namesake Leslie and her magic blue box, 

then you know that already right?

If not, and you've just stumbled here by mistake, then why not head back to the start and join in?

Maggie, our Guest Designer starts the hop this month and will delight us all month

with fabulous layouts and beautiful sunny photographs from her home in France.

So, this month, we haven't been given a kit to forge.

Instead Case File No112 from CSI

has been chosen to inspire us to design our own kit.

I had great fun looking through all those drawers and cupboards that rarely get opened to find some bits and bobs that would fit perfectly into he "evidence" part of my kit and of course following

"the scheme" for the colours.

You will see over the course of the month how I have incorporated

"the testimony" into my layouts.

There are delicate leaves and fancy lace, lovely vellums and delicate materials all included

in this month's kit which I have aptly named...

 "April Fancy" 
 to reflect all the prettiness that has been

included ...

Now, look at my 3 facts and guess which one is NOT true to be in with a chance of winning...

Post your guess in the comments of THIS post before April 16th.  

Only one guess per person will be counted.

1. I own, at least, 100 pairs of shoes.

2.  I can speak 5 different languages.

3.  My middle name is Jane

Before hopping over to Julene in Oz,
don't forget to let me know in the comments box which YOU think is NOT true about me

Guest Designer Maggie: http://maggiebscrapblog.blogspot.fr

Bethany: http://inspiredscrapper-bethany.blogspot.com

Stephanie:  http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.ca

Lynnette: http://www.sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com

Lisa: http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com

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

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

Julene: http://julenebydesign.blogspot.co.uk

Jemma: http://just-jimjams.blogspot.com

Angela: http://colestoucan.blogspot.co.uk