A New Challenge!

Pink Gem Designs have started their very own challenge blog called 'A Gem of a Challenge'. I have recently purchased three gorgeous stamps from them in their January Sale. The First Monthly Challenge is to be posted on the 8th February, and the winner will be able to choose 2 stamps from the Pink Gem Designs Website. I can't wait to take part, am in love with the stamps I bought from them (Winter Hoot, Spring Mimi and Denny in Love).

Cleo Crafts Jan Kit and housey stuff!

Well I finally plucked up the courage to cut in to my gorgeous Cleo Crafts January Kit which contains these lovely Webster's Storytellars papers. This is my offical photograph from my graduation in November. I found it quite difficult to add anything to the page as I didn't want to cover any of the beautiful pictures on the paper. Therefore I went for simplicity. I am absolutely loving their kits every month. Wasn't sure I was going to like these papers after looking at them online but when I saw them in the flesh they are gorgeous!

Well although I still live at home with my parents my boyfriend and I have started to buy housey stuff, especially kitchen things. So far we have 2 cutlery sets (1 posh, 1 everyday), a carvery knife set, various dishes, various utensils, numerous glasses and various silicon and non stick baking trays.
This is our latest purchase:

I dragged him to morrisons to look at the slate placemats and as we were walking out we saw this gorgeous dinner service. As it was on offer we bought 2 sets which gives us 8 place settings. Yey! However, we are quickly running out of space to store things.

I can't wait to get Cleo Crafts February Kit, the papers look gorgeous!

The snow mini book has landed

Well after all the beautiful snow we have had and the lovely pictures I managed to take I thought it was only right to put them all together in a mini book. I used my December Cleo crafts kit with a few added extras from my stash. Apologies for the quality of some of the photos the light was really bad.

The page on the left above has a flap created by the photo and the ribbon as a hinge to hide my journalling.

To make the frames I measured the photo then drew it on to chipboard and cut it out with a craft knife. I then painted it with purple acrylic paint and stamped snowflakes on to it with silver ink when dry.

I used a watermark ink pad and a fern stamp to add some texture to the background although you can't tell very well on the photos. The definition was created by stamping on glossy card with archival ink and then using alcohol inks to make a pattern over the top. I wasn't completely happy with it as the colours can out abit too vivid for what I had wanted.

The final page shows a big contrast in the weather between Jan 2010 and Jan 2009. The photos were taken from almost the same spot at the same time of year.

Sale time! Well a little clear out.

Well I'm selling a few items over on UKS so here are the photos. All are new and unused. The Rusty Pickle Class Kit - K85 "Lucky" is £6.00 inc P&P.

The ellison design embossing folders are £2 each incl P&P.

The Sizzix embossing folders are £2.50 incl P&P.

Baby its cold outside!

I can't believe how cold it is! Although the snow is actually thawing her it feels absolutely bitter. At work this afternoon/evening so thought I had better update now.

Heres another page for my JYC, its been almost done for a while, was just waiting for a title, planned to wait until my sizzix sale order comes but am still waiting so I used webster storyteller alphabet stickers that I go as an add on to Cleo crafts Jan kit.

I was really pleased with the aged effect I managed to give the song sheet. I crunched it up and then applied distress ink lightly over the top to show up the creases.

I finally managed to finish this project which has been sat on my desk since the summer minibook even on UKS. I made the book and added the papers the day it was launched but then never got round to printing the photos off for the book. The papers are another kit from Cleo Crafts which I absolutely love.

Innovate is almost like a guiding conference weekend for girls aged 16-25 years old. Girls travel from all over the UK to coem together and discuss the development of girlguiding UK. Its not all hard work there is a lot of fun involved too.

I am looking forward to going to the Centenary Innovate which is at Wyboston in February.

Pink Gem Blog Candy!

Pink Gem are giving an amazing candy away on their blog, go and visit it now to be in with a chance. It ends on the 18th January. Good Luck everyone!

2 posts in 1 day!

Here is my actual book for my 'Journal your Christmas'. I have used a 7 gypsies D ring 6x6 album. I wanted to keep the front quite rustic looking so decided to use the brown kraft background and just add a title and co-ordinating papers. I tried to use lots of different scraps of paper that I had already used on pages inside the journal.

I am quite behind with my journal you christmas, especially with the scrapping side of things. I have got about 9 pages either completed or just waiting for a titles ( I am waiting for an order of alphabet dies coming from Sizzix).

I am just sorting out more photos and bits of journalling to complete more pages over the weekend. Really want to get this finished as soon so I can do lots more scrapping.









22nd December - Today is my 'To Do list', I have to admit that I was quite pleased that by this point in December I didn't have much left to do.

Walking in a winter wonderland!

Today as I was off work my boyfriend and I decided to take his dogs for a walk to Rother Valley Country Park, which is about a 10 minute walk away from his home. The scenery was stunning, the sun was shining and glistening off the snow which covered the ground. It was absolutely freezing but we really enjoyed walking round and exploring in the snow with the dogs.







I have never seen the lakes frozen over as we don't tend to have weather this cold for any period of time. I am looking forward to making a minibook of all these photos. Will be back later with a crafting post.

Well I ended up staying a work last night. I was on a late shift (13.30 - 21.30) then an early shift (07.00 - 15.00) so I decided it really wasn't worth struggling home with the weather just to sleep and then have to get up early to go back. It was definately the right thing to do but as it was a sofa bed it wasn't the most comfortable nights sleep. I had a very busy day at work as some staff couldn't get in because of the snow. Therefore, I'm very tired tonight, but I have had a quick snooze and am getting ready to go out to the pub!

I have ordered an ATG Gun and 10 rolls of DST with my christmas money. I can't wait to get it, everyone on UKS seem to swear by it. Look forward to receiving it and playing!

SNOW Again!

Well good morning! I woke to find this outside my house. We have about 4 inches of snow in places. Apparently it has only been snowing for 3 hours and it is showing no sign of stopping. Oh dear! Going to take an overnight bag with me to work just incase I get there but not able to get back.

I'm a little worried how I am going to manage to drive the 7 miles to work. Well at least I will have some nice photos to do some scrapping with. I think these continued snow showers may result in a winter themed minibook.

Big Cat Diaries!

Here is the double layout that I have been working on for the last couple of days. Found it quite challenging as I had 7 photographs that I wanted to use. I took inspiration from my mum's pagemaps book and managed to make this layout whhich I am very pleased with. I love the Bo Bunny 'Fluttery Buttery' Papers and stickers that I used. They actually came in a recent Cleo Crafts kit.

The photos are some taken at Ranthanbore National Park, India. We spent 3 days at the park and were very fortunate to see tigers on 3 out of 5 jeep safaris. There are about 40 tigers in the park but they are still rarely seen. National Geographic was actually filming this tiger when we arrived at its location.

Keep an eye out for further India and Tiger related pages over the next few weeks/months.

Wicked CC - Just a little late!

Well finally I have remembered to upload my LOs from the Wicked CC in November 2009. It was the week before I went away on holiday so they were uploaded to the UKS gallery but not on my blog. Am really pleased with how they turned out.

Mystery kit - We just so happened to have Wizard of Oz as our theme on brownie pack holiday so I new exactly which photos to use for this. I cut out and decopaged some of the flowers.

I really enjoyed doing the 'Over the Rainbow' class and am really pleased with the results.

This is my pre-crop challenge LO which is the first time I have ever done an 8x8 page. I found it quite daunting at first as I was a little worried about putting too much on.

Tin Man Challenge - I was really pleased with this LO, the photo is of me and my boyfriend before we went to the Rugby Club end of season dinner dance.

Another great class, I had had these photos a while but couldn't think how to use them as they aren't the best (but then its not easy to take photos while balancing in a canoe!). Lol.

I am starting to scrap my trip to India so watch this space for more LOs in the near future. Also I intend to make all my own cards this year aswell.

Christmas cards!

These are a couple of my christmas cards I made this year, I didn't want to show them before christmas as some of my friends keep an eye on my blog. I was really pleased how they turned out. Next years plan is to start using copic markers as I have some really cute christmas stamps which I would like to use.



I have also bought 2 Tim Holtz stamps, 'Christmas Miracle' and 'Reindeer games'. I'm looking forward to making cards and tags with those. My neighbours really like to send handmade cards so they have offered to buy some from me if I make enough. I actually really enjoyed making the cards this year even if it was a little stressful!

JYC update!

Proof that I have actually been taking part in Shimelle's JYC 2009. I have actually got round to making some pages. Am really pleased with the ones so far. I managed to get hold of one of Shimelle's kits so am trying to limit myself to just using her kit as abit of a challenge.

Look what Santa brought me!

My boyfriend bought me a Big Bite for xmas which I was so pleased with. He had also bought me absolutely loads of gromlets in different sizes and different colours. Won't need to buy any for a long time. Just need to find some time to play with it!

Pagemaps end of year sketch challenge!

This is the sketch over on Becky's pagemap blog for the end of the year. There is a great prize donated by Michelle Roudebush.I really enjoyed using this sketch as I had a collection of 3 activities from my last holiday to use for it. I decided to use a Basic Grey 'Marrakech' papers, Tim Holtz tags and flat back gems.

I apologise for the quality of the photo as it was dark so had to use my flash. This LO documents the preparation required for the Maharastrian dinner when we were away at the Guide World Centre in Pune, India.

New Years Resolutions!!!

To be honest I don't normally do new years resolutions because I am usually rubbish at sticking to things. But this year is going to be very different:

There are various different areas of my life which I intend to change, some much simpler than others as you will see, I have split it in to categories.

Crafting:

• Get organised!
• Start to make christmas cards much earlier, so they are not last minute (ie. August).
• Make some homemade birthday/christmas presents.
• Try to use each Cleo Crafts Kit every month so I don't get a stock pile.
• Finish my Gambia, India and Scotland Albums.

Guiding:

• Take part in as many Centenary celebrations as possible.
• Make a Centenary minibook keepsake.

General:

• Think more positively!
• Clear my debts and save for a house deposit.
• Update my blog more regularly.