That Friday feeling.

I am really loving the idea of learning to sew better. I love what I have been seeing recently with people making their own summer dresses, kids clothes, and cute-beyond-words quilts! I have managed to book myself a couple of beginners lessons starting the 27th (Patchworking) and I am seriously foreseeing a fabric addiction. I LOVE what these two designers have made... Amy Butler fabric is obviously very pretty, hence the reasons these work so well together...

How cute is that throw!? I could picture myself in a large sun-soaked bedroom, painted in delicate hues of white and green, lounging on a bed surrounded by this beauty!.. and then there is this one... which would serve its purpose in the sitting room maybe to snuggle under if it got chilly... or wrapped round my shoulders as I sit on my porch swing watching the sun go down.

Wow. The power of dreams! Instead no doubt I will make one, and Finlay will cover it in mashed up biscuit and it will become a crusty mess shoved in the corner of the sofa...

Still, it's nice to be creative... *insert sigh*
talking of fabric, I bought these little fat 1/4's today.. these will be my first mini project.. I would quite like to make a cushion cover for our sofa, or at least, get them sewn in a straight line! I have been confusing myself today with online tutorials.. I wish someone would start one with "Right,.. get some scissors..." instead of "start by making your normal 9 square sets".. um.. what now? Anyway.. no doubt it will all become clearer as my new love develops.

And this selection of 10x10 squares is winging its way to me as we speak! Its by a fabric house called MODA. And they are so cute it makes me weep. I love the fact that nearly everything I love is printed in one range!!! Craft (scissors) butterflies, flowers, tress and polka dots!
IMMENSE.
And the colours are gorgeous! When these arrive it will be a happy day in my household!

So, the last thing I have for you guys today, is more printing! I have fallen for the canvas paper well and truly. I love it. A LOT. I used a free butterfly font and covered a A4 sheet with various sizes and colours and printed onto the canvas paper.. and cut out. These will adorn many things of mine soon, maybe even a patchwork or two!! (oooooooo pretty!!!) But as they are canvas, imagine them blinged up with some seed beads and attached to you bag, or on a layout. Cute.
Right - I have been typing for longer than my wine slurred mind cares for. So I will bid you good night.. Oh one last thing, I saw Harry Potter last night - it was epic. I laughed, I cried and came out enriched and keeny Mckeen for the next one!!!!!

These things......

These are the things that surround me today.. Today is a good day, in the respect that I am going to see Mr H Potter & Co later! Whoop! So I have had to keep my mind busy otherwise I might go boom.
I have made some really cute Vinyl wall butterflies, by using a butterfly design, repeated over an A4 page, and running some sticky backed vinyl through the printer, so the butterflies are printed onto the paper side. Then cut out, and volia! Decorate various corners of your house, till your husband grabs your scissors and throws them to timbucktu.
(Sorry Ben!! - but really.. its sooooo pretty, embrace that!!!)

Also, these mini canvas pictures and easels. They came precovered with some sort of "nod to the rainforest" style photos, so using some inkject canvas paper, I soon sorted them out by printing 3"x3" pictures that I {heart} and recovering them. They are about 2.5 x 2.5" and sit on my scrapping desk. Finlay thinks they are "cute" - his new word {beam}

And the postman bought me cuttlebug joy today! The new stars folder! *swoon* This is so cool, I love it alot alot! And also distressed lines. Which... if used in part, will look like woodgrain. *awesome*

Blueberry Buns! Topped with vanilla icing and a blueberry for good measure!
I gotta say, these have worked out SOOOO well, and are ridiculously delicious. I used a basic 4oz 2gg recipe, but substitued one egg for a dash of good olive oil, (Jamie Oliver would be proud) and it worked a treat, the sponge was SOOO light and fluffy, the blueberrys melted into blueberry goo and most of all, Finlay loves them. And Ben does..... and me too....

The last thing that filled my morn, was Finlay's new bath toy. We have been having shocking times with Finlay and water, he recently developed a phobia of it, so we have been enduring screams and panic attacks at bath time. Well, today was a good day. Mum and Dad bought him this cool mechanical penguin slide, where the penguins are drawn up the ski slope and then pop down the slide into the water. I took Finlay into the bathroom, and let him *see* it.. he got so excited and actually tried to climb in the bath! He even let me sponge off his hair. Now... I know this might not seem like blog worthy news, but for my family who read this, it really is!!!!

Anyway - in 1 and 3/4 hours, I am off to the movies to see the potter in action! woooooooo!

I wish I could sew - I wish I could sit and nimbly knock up Finlay a little pair of dungers for the summer, or a little hat, or bag for me, (mmmm!) Or a dress, apron, curtains.. ENDLESS!
But I really don't know where to start - nore do I know where Ben has hidden my sewing machine! (loft of spiders??) I torture myself by looking at fabric online, Etsy is the worst.. Its sooooo pretty and would look soooooo nice just folded up in a little white canvas lined basket...
*sigh*
I promise myself, that one day I will allow myself to buy some, and also learn how to sew. I would LOVE to make a little quilt out of some of the non poo stained newborn baby gros of Finlay's, that would be so cute!
Anyway... reality calls my name....

Lazin' on a Sunday afternoon......

I scrapped yesterday - I have deadlines to meet, so I really REALLY should have done those first - but my parents gave me this picture yesterday, and I loved it so much that I had to scrap it, for his album. Its Finlay in his posh "Autograph" linen suit, which his Great Gran purchased for him as a gift this year. He wore it to my parents Ruby wedding anniversary party, which was back in April. I hadn't seen this photo before, my aunt and uncle gave it to mum and dad, who in turn gave to me. I love how much he looks like a "Mini Man" - I know that sounds strange.. but to me, his little creased up suit, make him look like he has just come home from a rough day at the office. I used YUMMY cosmo cricket and bazzill, and thickers and stitching. I spent about 2 hours on it, which is twice my usual time on a layout, but for some reason, it became a labour of love. One that I am really pleased with...

And then I was asked by Gran to make a card for her to give to her retiring daughter. I got another chance to play with the Cosmo, so I was happy. Its amazing how words can start to look wrong, the word RETIRED began to look alien to me, so much so I had to go spell check it!!
Anyway - these are the two crafty things I have for you today.. I hope you like!
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August Greetings kit from GoGo is my favourite greetings kit to date - the holey card stock and cute cupcake die-cuts go together really well - and look so sweet on the cards.
I embraced my corner rounder for this month - and have decided (for a little while) that I love round corners again. Its funny how your tastes go in cycles with scrapping, I was standing in a craft aisle yesterday, and was ever so slightly tempted by some paper flowers! But then I realised I do actually dislike paper flowers and that it was probably just the air conditioning or something, clouding my judgement.. so I hastily moved on!
So.. back to the topic in hand! August Greetings! - here are a few of my card designs.....

Other news from GOGO this month, which is exciting, is that from now on, if you are a subber, you will automatically be given the Hybrid PDF digital kit for free!!! Very cool. Here is a digi layout I did with the July Elements. They print well too, who doesn't love butterflies right?
And whats cooler, is that as part of GOGO's Birthday celebrations, the July Hybrid kit is free here!
IF you want to win prizes-a-plenty - then the current BIRTHDAY BASH challenge is a sketch challenge and can be seen HERE
It would be great to see you at GoGo if you want to take part!
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Thanks for stopping by!

Um.. bags anyone?

Ok- I know my blog is fast becoming a bag ware house - but seriously.. these are TOO lush for words, and I figured if I like them, some of you might too!!
They are called "Lavish"
They are cute beyond words, and feature swallows, butterflies and birdcages.
Um.. yup. GORGEOUS!
********************************
So.. to start we have:
A cute purse in purpl with butterfly design.
I have two of these, normally £19.99(!!! for a purse !!!) but I am selling these for £5 each. If you want it, email me with the subject line BUTTERFLY PURSE

The second bag is a purple butterfly overnight holdall. Its hard to see from the photo, but it has a really pretty embroidered frame design on the velvet pocket. The back of the bag has a soft distressed leather look. Normally £54.99 (!!) But I am selling it for £15.00 (I only have one of these) If you want it - email me with subject like BUTTERFLY HOLDALL

closeup.

The third bag is a cute cute handbag - with funky clasp. I love this one best, and I have kept one for me because its so pretty! The detail on this one is a butterfly and embroidered frame. The back of the bag is soft distressed leather style.
I only have one of these for sale. Normally £41.99 (!!!) I am selling it for £12.00
If you want it email me with the subject line BUTTERFLY HANDBAG

The fourth is a clutch bag. It comes with a removable strap - which is perfect for less formal evenings, or take the strap off for a gorgeous hand held clutch. I have two of these, normally £29.99(!) but I am selling them for £10.00 each.
if you want one email me with subject line BUTTERFLY CLUTCH

Now we are onto the Grey Bird range. mmmmmm pretty!
The fifth bag is a cute purse. Normally £19.99 but I have ONE for £5.oo
If you want it - email with subject line GREY PURSE

The sixth bag is a gorgeous grey and pink overnight holdall with bird and birdcage design. Its hard to see from the photo, but it has a really pretty embroidered birdcage design on the velvet pocket. The back of the bag has a soft distressed leather look. Normally £54.99 (!!) But I am selling it for £15.00 (I only have one of these)

if you want this beauty, email with subject line BIRDCAGE HOLDALL

close up of holdall.

The seventh is the grey/pink version of the clutch bag. It comes with a removable strap - which is perfect for less formal evenings, or take the strap off for a gorgeous hand held clutch. I have one of these, normally £29.99(!) but I am selling it for £10.00
if you want one email me with subject line BIRDCAGE CLUTCH

Close up

Last but by no means least (cos I love this one too LOTS and have kept one for me mmmmm!) Is the STUNNING birdcage handbag. I seriously cannot sing this bags praises enough, if you are into this sort of thing you will see why lol!
Normally a staggering £41.99 But..if like me, you want this in your hands for £12.00 then email me with subject line BIRDCAGE HANDBAG.

SOLD PENDING PAYMENT

check out the cute embroidered birdcage! mmmmm cute cute!

Ok - so nothing craft related today. I feel a bit like Delboy from "Only fools and Horses" But its worth it - cos these are just too cute not to share!
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inky ink.

Hi! I am all sore today, as I got "inked" at my local tattoo shop "Black Pearl" in Bexhill. I have been planning to get the terrible symbol that I had on my shoulder covered with something pretty for AGES. Well, today marked the day. Literally marked. lol. And I chose a butterfly design with some little blossoms. I gotta say, It hurt A L O T and at some points my eyes almost watered, but I remained dry eyed and despite my legs going into random spasmodic cramp, I was still and patient. It hurt, did I mention that? I guess when you go for something six times bigger than what you already had, you gotta prepare yourself for six times the pain.

Yup. Yowza and Ouch! But pretty!

I now feel like I have sunburn.

Monkeys and Scrappin'

I have come to a bold conclusion.

My life seems better when it has been picasa collaged.
I love the freedom of including all of those moments you wouldn't normally scrap about.
Yesterday Laura and I took Finlay to Drusillas.
The sun was HOT and we all turned pink, but it was worth it to see the Lemurs (not to be confused with Llamas) and the monkeys, and the flamingos and donkeys and Llamas (not to be confused with Lemurs)... So, here is a montage of those collective moments that made yesterday one of the nicest days i've had in AGES. oh.. and Finlay loved it too!
Monkeys, just monkeying around.

And then I came home, and felt inclined to scrap! Woo! I LOVE the cosmo early bird papers - they literally are my favourite line of 2009 by FAR. I love the colours and how amazing they look on yellow and kraft. Also loving the mini foam thickers. I don't normally use as many on a page - thicker rationing is one of my bad habits - so I felt the need to free myself and do a whole title in them. The photo was taken at the getaway with the Nikon remote! woo.
so, I made a Picasa collage of the layout too. For no reason at all, and TBH, amazingly pointless but fun.

Today is meant to be the hottest day of the year. So me and Finlay are going to be wise little owls and stay in this morning till its cooled down a bit - and then we may venture out to the park to blow some bubbles and have a run about.
xxxx

Random stuffs...

I have no real purpose to today's blog - but I need to keep my mind busy so I decided to blog a little of whats in my daily life right now, things I can see around me when I am pottering uneventfully round my little home.
First up is Finlay's artwork on my actual living room wall. In BIRO. In fact - I have a feeling its actually Precision marker 0.3 which is even more irritating, especially being that AC Precision 0.3 is my favourite of journalling pens. It may not look much in this photo, but trust me. It literally is. lol. When he sees it he says "CAT" = which means he firmly believes he is scribing me a beautiful mural to adorn our home. Um. no.

Oh well! At least I have tidy(ish) hall. If you could have seen this "before" you would be amazed!
I was too ashamed to actually photograph it - but it was a PILE of crap!! So.. in order to create order.. we bought this awesome extending table and borrowed the unit which sits underneath. I am so happy with it - the unit below contains everything that was randomly laying about - and I have a huge drawer for paint - punches and alphabets! woo! My tote parks up in front along with the bin and a giant tennis ball it seems... um.. thanks Finlay! How I didn't notice that till now is beyond me...

This lil munchkin makes me smile, and also makes me realise just how lucky I am.. whenever I am feeling a bit down, I just sit on the floor and he will smother me in books and hugs and thats therapy enough for me. We used to have this H U G E highchair in our lounge, which in essence is ok if you don't mind clutter - but I am seriously trying to embrace the minimal look. So, when we found this clamp on chair, we were delighted - It is tiny, and yet so effective. And because you can walk all round it and move freely under it etc, it feels like it has given us a huge amount of space back. Not only that - but Finlay can now sit directly with us when we eat. Which is really lovely. *FYI* = The photo below shows him holding a glass, it was a prop only. lol.

The Peonies are blooming to reveal stunning centres. They smell gorgeous too, I literally want peonies in my life forever more.

mmmmmmmmm so pretty!

So... it appears that is the end of my bloggeroo post. I will leave you for now and meander a while... speak soon lovely bloglanders.
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mini how to...

Ok - so normally, I don't feel I have much to share "how to" wise with you guys - but today, by accident, I came across a cool thing.. if you already do this please ignore, but for those who scrap 8.5x11 and fancy something different, then this may be right up your proverbial street.

So, I needed an image of note book paper for something digital recently, so I scanned in a sheet from a note book - and just so happened to have a A4 sheet of kraft in the printer to grab and use as a background. Well, long story short... I accidentally hit the COPY button with my giant toe whilst fumbling around the desk today - and it started printing what was in the scanner bed.
I had a stack of kraft in the actual printer from printing "little Musings" for folksy.. so at first I was like "Oh geez.. a perfectly good bit of kraft wasted" but out the printer emerged a cool replica of the note book paper on the kraft!
Cool huh!
I scrapped a layout on it.. but its a bit "mopey" so I won't put you through it lol! But seriously, go and get some cool stuff to copy right now! I am thinking... butterflies, keys, a page from a novel, etc etc etc...... Enjoy!

For mine you will need 2 x A4 kraft and one sheet of note book paper...

and a scanner which can copy - one of those all in ones...

So put the note paper in the flatbed scanner, with a kraft sheet on top to act as background. ... and then just hit "COPY"....Trim the edges off.. and you have a cool sheet of "almost" 8.5x11 to scrap! If you are religious about scrapping the correct size, then just mount it onto some white cardstock when you are done. xx

Layouts

This layout is featured in SI this month, along with the wedding one below in an embossing article. I love the "little steps" one, feels like AGES ago that I scrapped this, paint on kraft is one of my favourite things to do.. I can hear you all now saying "wow SJ.. we never noticed" LOL, but seriously I love the effect.

The below layout is my first wedding one... I am SERIOUSLY slacking with the wedding album.. I really want and need to get planning on this, after all.. it will be a year soon!
Geez!!

So, apart from that.. I really don't have a whole-lotta to say!
So I will bid you all goodnight!

xx

Grotty Snot bags.

or thats how I feel today anyway!

Ever have one of those days when you could quite happily go live in a cave like a recluse!?

Ben picked up on my mood and bought me these stunning blooms!

I love Peonies -(Peonys?) And these are soooo pretty they make me smile a lot. So delicate, so many layers.. kinda like the soul.

Another thing to make me smile today is this: I finally put the bird garland up, and the "HOME" letters that have wanted a proper placement in the flat for a long long time!

Cute huh! I am pleased with it anyway.

So. Thats all I have to say about that.

xxx
As always - thank you for stopping by!

So.. Got some Sunday Spends???!!!

Alot of people emailed me about the Bag I blogged for my Birthday, I apologise that I didn't answer you all personally, I feel bad about that :( But....... this may make up for it...........
I have two for sale! woo! AND a "Its Darling" Fawn handbag <---- adorable!
The two monkey ones are by a company called Hotch Potch - and are so cute it freaks me out.
They retail at £29.99 - (see here and here for proof lol!)
But I can offer them for sale to you today for........
£10 each + postage

You can email me via the link on the right of my blog if you are interested!

Hotch Potch Bag Pink SOLD

Hotch Potch Bag - Red/Brown STILL AVAILABLE

Its Darling Fawn Handbag SOLD

CUTE huh!

And yours at the click of a button. Woo!
Sunday pretties are the best type of pretties!

SHOP UPDATES!

New in..
Embossed Circles and Butterflies!
Butterfly Lists!
and
Cupcake Circles!

The embossed circles are CUTE! I love how they look and feel, especially the one in the next picture, they are 2" and scallopy and would like a loving home!New - butterfly lists - just like the kraft lists I have on sale normally, but this time they are a tribute to the beauty of butterflies. In textured cream and white, and smooth kraft.

And my personal favourite - Embossed butterflies.
These are divine. 2.5" at their widest, these look amazing on cards and layouts.
I love how they look and feel when embossed. So pretty!!!
4 x embossed and 2 x smooth in each pack.

Cuppies! Who doesn't love a nice cupcake? Well, now you can get them on a polka circle for added cuteness. 12 in each pack! on White or Cream textured card.

Like what you see? Well, the shop has just been updated..... :-)

Digital, Scrapping and Cardmaking!!!!

I am doing a 100% craft related post this morning.
Its that time of the month again where I get to create with the gorgeous Scrapagogo kit!
July kit is full of vintage style papers - which at first, scared me a bit - but as soon as I started working with them, they came together really naturally.

*********DIGITAL**********
GoGo's Digital Elements this month are my favourite to date, they would make cool hybrid elements if you printed them. Scrapagogo sell them pre-printed also, on the most beautiful smooth cardstock ever, well worth thinking about!
I did three layouts with the movable png files.
1: Ever After

2: Park Life

3: Memories

************ GoGo July Greetings kit*********
I love the Greetings kit - especially the gate fold cards you get, they really rock my little card making world. I just think they are un-usual and effective, especially when teemed with the cute die-cuts you get this month. Cute! AND masculine, which means I have a couple of cards I can stash away in my card drawer for those "I need a card for a man" moments.

I am also a fan of the gold sheen card this month - it is so pretty, and when used with the cosmo papers, very feminine and delicate.

************ July Create & G2P Layouts ************

My first layout is a LONG story one, which I don't know if I have the energy to type, but its about a butterfly and a strange story surrounding its appearance at my wedding.

This one is for my wedding album, nearly a year down the line and we still haven't even got our photos in a wedding album! Let alone the scrapbook version. I love this picture.
This is Finlay on the "fake phone" to his grandad (aka gan-gah *pronounced Gan Ga*

This scallop diecut paper rocks, I cut the edge of mine to use on the polkadot paper in the kit. This is me and Laura at the getaway this year.

Mum, Dad and Finlay in the woods with the bluebells.
I love them.

The edge of the scallop paper as previously said - looks friggin awesome on the polkadot paper!!

That concludes GoGo scrapping for July!!

********** Cardmaking for mum ************
I have also been a busy bee with the bigshot and making cards for my mums shoppeee.
I love the emboss folders more than I love chips. And thats a LOT folks.
I especially {Heart} the bird emboss folder. If I could fit my walls in the bigshot, my entire home would be bird embossed.

We found these pins at a local wholesalers we go to, which mainly sells floristry stuff, but also blank boxes that we paint up and decorate. They are destined normally for wedding bouquets - but obviously look way fab on cards/layouts etc!

Mmmmmmmmmmmm mini butterfly punch - I do love you.

Cuttlebug Butterfly cut and emboss system - how did I live without you? You filled a place in my soul I never knew was empty. We will be friends for life.

I made my own gate fold from a normal card, but cutting the front in half and attaching it back to the side with a kraft scalloped fold. Cute huh!

Pretty Pretty Pretty diamond headed pins - you make me drool and sing inside.
I have a whole box of you - and for that I love life.

Well well well. Thats really it, no more to show you for now..
I will be blogging cool Folksy shop updates later - new ranges, including, BUTTERFLIES! woot!
For now, I need to go outside in the sun with Finlay, some bubbles and a camera.
xxxxxx

Race For Life

Today was spent mostly in pink tutu's, with crazy hair and a number pinned to my front!
Race for life - Hastings, took part at 11am this morning. It was REALLY good fun! I loved doing it - and next year, I have made a promise to myself to run it.
Alexandra park is gorgeous - and HUGE as we did the full 5k just in the actual perimeter of the park itself! Its full of mini gardens, sculptures and water features/ponds etc.
Afterwards, we all had a picnic in the shade before taking some group photos.

Me and Ben after the race in the shade.

Finlay was an angel all morning -loving all the ladies! Some lady walked past with a HUGE bag of toys which she was taking to the donate tent - and she handed him this little fake mobile - which, if you know Finlay, he loved!!!!!

Ben mum and step dad Barry.

This is me starting off...

And me finishing...

Diana had Tutu's made for us all, which were cute, and B R I G H T

And this is me with my MOONFACE holding the medal they give out. Cute medal, shame about the "hit in the face with a frying pan still full of chips" look.

I wonder what I will look like next year? Cool, I can do a comparison!

Birthday!!

Today was an awesome day. I woke to my men making a huge fuss of me, with cards and gifts, I got so much today that I feel giddy! We always eat croissants for Birthday breakfasts, its a tradition me and Ben have started for each other, and I love it. We then went to Brighton (yay) for lunch, where I spent my birthday money from mum and dad, I have always wanted a star necklace, but I have never really found one I LOVED before, till I saw this.
It is handmade with a pearl and in my eyes, divine. I love it.
It wasn't cheap, but that's the whole idea of Birthday money right? Spend it on something you "wish" for rather than you "need". Anyway - so it now belongs to me. Yay.

Ben's mum Diana bought me a watch and this blummin funky necklace, which I wore to Brighton, its HUGE and I takes a bit of getting used to, after a while in the heat and busy environment I found it too much, so took it off, however - Its a real statement piece and something I think teamed with a simple dress etc would look awesome.

I did go to paperchase, but I came out very light handed. I just didn't "feel" it today.. I was preoccupied in my mind with finding "the perfect star" - but I did buy this diary - which I have needed for a good few months now.... and a fold away bag (photo is not in the right place for that one sorry!)

The Lanes in Brighton have some gorgeous boutique style shops, and in one I found these pretty birdie pegs.

And a pretty Bird peg garland.

My Birthday balloon......

here is the paper chase bag!
Ok - I just noticed, Blogger has taken upon itself to turn all my landscape photos portrait for NO reason at all. So, don't hurt your necks straining to see properly!

This is my new bag from Ben! CUTE! I will get a better picture for you soon.

And these are cute Embossing folders for my main present, a Big Shot! whoop!
We have a big shot at work, but because I have a new found love of swiss dot and all that embosses, I really wanted my own that I could use at a moments notice, and not a 20 minute car drive. so, yay!

AND its pink and black. With flowers on. And Diamantes. *sigh a cute sigh*

This photo is bad portrait lol, but it shows the Angel wing cutter mum bought me to go with the big shot. It's Hello Kitty! Sweet stuff! These will look good as intended (angel wings) but also adorable if turned on one side, as you can use them as clouds!

So - that pretty much concludes Birthday blogging, I am full of Chinese food, wine and Sun and need a proper sit down..
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(oh and a good old play on the big shot lol!)

Carpet and Birthday.....

So, this is the room without carpet. I was a bad blogger and forgot to take a before shot of the rank stained affair that once "graced" our floorboards... so, this is midway through "new carpet day"........

And then WOOOOO new carpet down!! yay!

I love how in some lights it as a silvery tone.
So, that concludes the boring part of todays 3 part blog entry...
Birtdhay coming next!

13th June

Its my birthday!
wooo!

I have been spoiled - and am off to Brighton for:

• Lunch
• Paperchase
• A silver star (on my wish list) Pendant
• did I mention paperchase?
• Oh and finally paperchase.

xxx
I will of course - blog the carpet - the birthday goodness and more later today! whoop!

So...

Yup! How cool!

Since I moved in, we have endured rank cream stained carpet in the lounge- and over the last 4 years it has got worse with clumsy acts of drink spillage, Finlay doing the obligatory poo splurge as a tiny baby, followed with "Nappy off wees!", wine knocking over when playing an over enthusiastic game of Articulate, or scrabble or cranium etc etc... basically, a grey/brown/dirty version of what used to be. Till now. For today, we get new carpet! A pretty shade of sage'esque green to compliment the walls we painted recently (which, FYI I noticed today has some Pencil marks on... Finlay... great) - But not even that can knock me down, as I have wanted carpet that doesn't want to make me pull out my eyes for a loooooooooong time!
YAY!
As soon as its done, I will upload a picture for you ... um... ok, so you can stop yawning now, it really will be pretty!!

The Getaway Layouts

Firstly, and most cooly - I was asked to design a 12x12 for the make and take at the getaway - so I designed some cool little frames which were printed onto kraft - I cannot tell you how much I love them, the quality of them is gorgeous, and I just adored what people did with them! The task was to use them on a layout - with no embellishing! Harder than it sounds, but effective.
I used paint to decorate the page and frames, and then just some journalling and some word strips made from the kraft offcut.
As examples, I did two 12x6 layouts and one 12x12

here are the frames. I have started to colour one in to show you how cool the paint looks on the kraft. Pink looks super cute too.

Onto my layouts = Hambly circles = HEART.
Shame I mucked up the layout by trying to sew a border, without attaching the Hambly properly first - its all bubbled and rucked in one corner. Geez.

Cute Scenic route paper here, I love non-heavy patterns...

Mmmmmmmmmmm check out the hambly!! LOVING the hambly butterfly goodness! Mounted on to American Crafts (also a fav!!)
I could happily cut these out and mount them all over my bedroom wall, but Ben might have a few words of resistance for this.... *brain starts ticking*

and this one called "Oh Geez" is about how Ben couldn't smile as the sun was in his eyes lol.. I think I must have supersonic burn-resistant retinas... I am not to sure about this one, and kinda lament the loss of that sheet of Cosmo to a layout that doesn't sit right with me yet...

So that concludes my personal layouts - although, I am certain I am missing one.. I will check that out in a minute.
As for Classes.....
This is the first class from Fiona that I did, I don't normally use patterned paper, but her class was so flexible and well designed that it didn't matter which combination of the card/paper you used, it worked each way. I went for black backing - as the black and white photos looked best on it - I have had the cute yellow gingham paper in my own collection for ages and never used it - so when I found it in the class kit also, I was pleased that I could finally use it on a layout. The sticker with "curiosity" on it is a flap - which I will write journalling under before I put it away.
I also did her Sunday class, but don't seem to have a picture of that - so I will take it when the sun comes out. I will also get photos of my Shimelle class book.

Oh - thanks for reading two posts in one day!!
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Getaway Gang

It was AWESOME. I have never been to a getaway before, or in fact, a proper hotel style cropping event, so it was all new to me. I was firstly like a child in a sweet shop with my hotel room, as much as I love my actual life, it was really nice to say goodbye to snoring and Finlay waking at 3am for two nights!! I love the hotel bed feeling -the freedom to lay diagonally across the bed without guilt lol.
The hotel was lovely - and the grounds were gorgeous, like a proper old English manor house (which it was I guess...) So photo potential was high (in between rain clouds)
The GOGO team certainly know how to put on an event!
I love being a gogo girl anyway - but loved it even more this weekend in our little green aprons :-D Thanks Janice, Lorraine & Co for a spectacular time!

The crop room was mahoosive. And amazingly we managed to cram ourselves all in, with totes on top and scrap the weekend away.

This was taken from the tree house - shame it rained so hard, as the tree house was wet most of the time :-( and we didn't get to do the hybrid hideaway as much as we had planned.

As usual - we got some group shots of the girlies, whom I adore.
I love this one best.

Nikon Remote = I {heart} You

I stayed up late late both nights - seeing 3.30am each time, and then seeing 8am both mornings *rubs sore eyes*
But thats the whole point right?
It was so nice seeing friends again, as well as meeting people I have only met "online" in forums before.
Its funny how people don't look like their avatar in real life, (including me in a big old way lol!) You get chatting and then it clicks. So that was cool.
I hope to be going to October too, which rocks my little socks off!
As for classes and layouts - I didn't get as much done as I had first thought, in fact, compared to Laura who did 12+ I feel pretty lame at only doing about 5!!! Mind you - I did make two (empty) mini books and finished Shim's class book, so I am not toooo disapointed. :-)
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I am going to do a separate post for the layouts I did this weekend.. as i have already laid the photos out for this entry, and if you use blogger, you know what an irritating task it is to add photos once you have typed!!!

SJL's

So. This is a bit late I know, but these are the two layouts I did at the Wyvestone Crop last weekend, the first one is not my normal style, but I really like it, I am enjoying black card stock again. I went through a "oh geez that's dark" phase, but I can embrace it again (for a while)

And then this one, is obviously my normal style.

So, there you have it. And in other news............

Look! oooo cute huh!?

These cute Journal tags are the "June GoGo Simply Little Jotters" and can be found and purchased here .
Ok, so I know I designed them, so I am a bit biased to their cuteness, but seriously, the print quality on them is fab - really smooth and gorgeous to work with. I love the colours and theme of June GoGo, which these match perfectly to.

I made two layouts with them on. The one below has two of the lovely Moo cards that come in the SLJ's and also the Remember this journal card.

And this one features the cute orange scallop circle.

Talking of GoGo. Tomorrow is the GOGO GETAWAY! I am soooooooooooooo looking forward to it! I am a bit stressed out over the million photos I have not printed out yet - and the lack of photo paper and printer ink. But apart from that I am raring to go!! woo!
Talking of which - what am I blogging for!? I have tons to do! BYE!
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Oh and ps: I bought a Remote for my Nikon D40X and I am in remote control heaven! We went to the park for a picnic lunch today, and tried it out.
AWESOME.
If you have a Nikon - get one!! they are like £5 on ebay!!!
(available at other reputable stores of course)

I am alive ........

OK, Rach messaged me last night and was like "er.. blog.. hello!?" And I logged on today and realised I have been a slacker indeed! But I have good reason - I am literally the busiest bee ever! I was away this weekend teaching at the fabulous GoGo Crop at Wyvestone. Me, Laura and Leanne all travelled up to the crop, and there I taught this mini book class, Made with tags and scraps. It was an amazing weekend, 12 hours of scrapping and I only managed two layouts! But the chatting, laughing and company more than made up for it!!!!!!

Saturday night we spent at Janice's house, chatting till 3.3oam, which meant sleep was short, but welcome!
Here are a few random photos from our time in Suffolk.
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The cute sign outside the crop room.

My Box of buttons.And Laura, who is as mad as a box of buttons...
Sunday we drove home fairly early (considering it was a Sunday) Laura came back and we spent the afternoon in the park and on the sea front. The weather this weekend has been phenomenal -which was the perfect compliment to the events.

Oh and this... this is just one of the sights that greeted us on Bexhill Seafront.
Laura - this one is for you.
mmmmm... tiny shorts man... may he haunt your dreams!!!

GoGo Greetings - June

So, just as I previously said, June kits rock my world. Literally. And the Greetings kit is no different. I love the colours, and how they go so well together.
I made four cards this month - but could easily make a whole load more.
"Anniversary"

"Thank You"

"Live for the moment"

"Just to say"

I am excited as 2morrow I am off to Thorpe park!!! Wooooooooo!
And thats all I have to say about that......

Monday Musings

NEW to little musings.
I have created a mini book set, it is called "Our Love Story" and its made for you to journal about your "love" - how you got together - your first date etc etc etc...
I love it for many reasons, but one being...*And imagine the scene* That when you are old and dusty and perhaps even gone from this earthly plane, and your children are routing through your old "keepsake" box and they come accross this. Bless.
I would love to think I could leave something like this behind for Finlay to find one day.
Its almost like time capsule scrapping, and after all, thats what scrapping is all about right?
Anyway - these mini book sets are going to pop up from time to time, but will probably always be a bit different - so if you like this one, you know what you gotta do!

Sunday Sunday.....

Here again. We rocked up to do a boot fair today, lazy start one (not meant to start till 11am) But at 9.45am when we arrive to set up - all stalls taken and boot fair in full swing!!! *big sigh* so we walked round it instead, which was not so money making productive.
In other lovely news, I have been working with the AMAZING june gogo kit, I LOVE it so much, sadly all subs are sold out - so If you are lucky enough to get your hands on June GoGo Create, here is a sneak of what you will find!

More layouts and cards coming soon.

Shop update:

Oh Hai! - I just wanted to whisper to you all, that I have updated my shoppeee today, with new Polka dot circles, and relists of the "lists" that have proved so popular (including a small small selection of Coloured Lists - if they sell before you get a chance and you want some, email me!)

All can be found in my Folky Shop "LITTLE MUSINGS"

I am in the process of working on something new and cool for the shop, so all being well, you will know more soon!
I have more to blog - but can't do it yet - come back 2morrow for more.
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dreams.......

Whilst failing to keep up with the PUMP IT UP work out DVD today, I allowed my mind to wander off to pastures past. I LOVED being a size 10. I NEVER thought I would be when I started weight watchers back in 2003, but when I bought size 10 holiday clothes in May 2004 my dream had come true.
So why is it that I let all that weight creep back on!?
I sometimes look back and am shocked at what I remember, to excuse my "gain" to people who haven't seen me for a while, I always say "Well, that's divorce, finding new love and having a baby for you!" But in truth, I had a very amicable divorce, with no nastiness at all, and when when I was pregnant, I lost 22Ibs in the first 6 months from sickness, so In fact, didn't actually gain a single Ib! In fact - two weeks after labour, I weighed 1.5Ibs less than the morning I did my pregnancy test!!!!
So, whats left? "new love?" - There it is. At the start of my friendship with Ben, I didn't realise that we would end up so close, and I was still "smarting" over my marriage failure. We preferred to chill out at home at his, apposed to going out and "bumping" into people who would ask questions about me, us, life in general... so we watched DVDs - with Doritos, large galaxy bars, chips, Chinese, Indians, ice cream, pasta etc etc etc - everything I had spent 2 years cutting out was suddenly "let back in" with gusto and such force that my body didn't stand a chance.
I waved goodbye with ease for some reason.
I wish I hadn't done that, I wish I could have known that happiness would never be found at the end of a slightly salted Dorito covered in sour cream dip. But back then it seemed comfy and safe, and that's what my soul craved.
So, I am really pleased that the "inner me" has found her voice, and said "look, enough enough"
Its weigh in 2morrow, and I have stayed the same *(if not gained 1/2 a Ib!!)* But, look at last week, I can see why, when you have such a big "loss" your body can sometimes "halt" proceedings and go into a panic mode. I have not been over my points at all this week, in fact I have been under again every day. so I guess I will see some results of this next week?
Next week I will be dusting off my size 7 Salomon's, oiling the ball bearings and roller-blading up the seafront with Finlay in his pram.
I will see size 10-12 again if its the last thing I do!!!
Every now and again I like to "online shop for the thinner me" and today, this is what my warbrobe would contain!

I have nothing much to say, apart from, quite vainly, I am enjoying having less of a chin these days! And, my eyes are becoming less "piggied" and I am finding that also fun.
I also tried on a dress that hasn't fit since 2006 and hey presto, it does!
whooooo!
So, nothing craft related - or even worthy of reading, I am just in a happy mood!!!
lalalala!
Oh and a song that I am LOVING right now is below - its a bit sad which is in contrast to my mood, but its beautiful and thats enough.
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