An interesting challenge

There is a challenge going on over on UKs where we show a random selection of layouts and at the moment it's the last page in your first album.

I made a scrapbook for Adam's 18th birthday in 2005 - I had no experience of scrapbooking and no supplies as such but I was a card maker so had stamps to hand and coloured card.

The page below is actually the last page in the album but not the last page I made for the album.

That's here - I used it as the first page.

The photo flipped open to reveal some journalling.

I didn't do any more scrapbooking until I joined the Bijoux Belles in 2007 (I think that's when it was).

A boy and a book

I can't believe this boy is 25 and getting married in two and a half months!

I made this page for the weekly challenge over on UKs which was to use a primary colour, washi tape or ribbon and 3 clusters of embellishments (which I didn't manage).

Adam has always loved books and from very early on would read the most obscure books-  I remember when he was about 5 he had one of his Grandad's engineering books as bedtime reading!

What's on your workdesk? Wednesday 199

Wednesday again so it's time to check out the craft desks throughout the land.   Why don't you join in too?  Hop over to Julia's blog for all the details.

I've been making bags this week so my desk is reasonably tidy for me.

I'm currently making another horsey bag for my friend Maria.  She liked the first one I made her and this one is going to be a gift to her friend who owns horses.
Starting at the left hand side, the papers are the measurements for my bags/iPad/phone covers.  Behind that, on the easel is a bag I made as a trial run and have just completed one in this style for my MIL to use at my son's wedding in June.  Back to the front of the desk is the outside of the horse bag and next to that is the lining (wrong way out so it's showing the wadding) and leaning on the lamp is some new stash that came today.  I'll show you a picture of that in a mo.  Next to that are the bag handles then all the usual paraphernalia that is always on my desk.

My new stash, some Mr Huey's mists, some masks and 2 paper pads all from Create and Craft.  I haven't bought from them for years but they had the mists on offer so I took advantage:)

Above is my best purchase of the week though - an ironing board from Ikea costing a mere £4.   It is light and fits on top of my desk so I can iron my sewing projects without having to go in to the kitchen and put up the proper ironing board.  

Even my sewing desk is quite tidy:)

Finally, some of the finished bags - the small one is the one for my MIL.

That's it for this week, I hope to see you next week.

Beat the Christmas Rush

How's everyone getting on with their Christmas cards?  Are you managing to make a few each month?

I'm sticking with quick and easy (but oh it so goes against the grain), one using a couple of dies and the other using buttons for baubles.

If I were to make the cards above again I would probably cut another row, colour the houses in and attached with sticky fixers to give some dimension.  

I've done two of these so a total of 7 this month:)  While I was away on the BBs retreat, a couple of the girls helped me make this pile

of Christmas cards from a kit I bought off QVC about a hundred years ago and never made because they just weren't me.  I'm going to give them to a charity to sell. 

My favourite from our entries for February are these from Lindsay.

If you fancy joining in with this challenge, head over to Creative Craft World for more details.

Who lives in a house like this?

Last week we went to Thriplow Daffodil Festival so over the coming few weeks I will probably be scrapping my photos of our weekend away.

The village is closed to traffic over the weekend making it safe for all the visitors to see how the 450 residents transform this rural village for a weekend of celebrating spring.

Heavy horses give dray rides, there is a working Smithy on the Green, sheepdog  demonstrations, Morris dancing, craft barns, a Taste of Thriplow farmers market and lots of other stalls, open gardens, music, children's entertainment, vintage vehicles, a steam engine, arts marquee, music recitals and a choir.

Food such as hog roast, tea and home made cakes were served in various locations too.

Right, now I've given you all that useless information I am going to show you my page for the weekly challenge on UKs which was:

Scrap a building, place or object 10pts

Use at least 3 photos, at least one of which must be at least 4x6 size (if you scrap smaller that 12x12, the photos can be in proportion, but the photos must be the main feature of the page!) 10pts

Do something creative with your title, rather than using stickers! Why not try covering or painting chipboard letters? hand cutting a title? stamping? hand writing/doodling? stitching? 10pts

These are some of the houses we saw whilst walking around the village and what really made us sit up and take notice was the house in the bottom picture that had a tank on the front drive!

I only managed 2 of the 3 items - I completely forgot about the creative title.  Never mind.

WOYWW 198

Another week has gone by at lightening speed and it's time to have a snoop around desks from every part of the globe.  If you're interested in joining in with this phenomenon check out Julia's blog.

This week I am making Christmas cards - yes you heard me right, Christmas cards!  I am taking part in Creative Craft Worlds Beat the Christmas Rush and endeavouring to make 5 cards a month so that when December arrives, I will have a nice stack ready to write and post out.

I'm doing very simple cards - using a couple of dies to cut out the houses and snowflake border, a spray of Mr Huey's mist in white on to some purpley blue cardstock and then mounting it on to a square white card.

At the left of my pen is a "to do" list - I'm a list person and like to be able to tick off my jobs as I complete them.  I feel as though I get more done that way LOL!  On the right is some owl fabric which I bought the other day to make some buttons with.  That's the next job after the cards.

Hope to see you next week:)

The first time

Adam and Lucy completed their first half marathon for charity on Sunday despite the freezing cold weather.  They managed it in 2 hours 10 minutes which was about 10 minutes quicker than expected!  I couldn't run half a mile, never mind half a marathon so we were very proud of them.

Here they are with their medals:)

I decided to use a couple of pictures of them running for the weekly challenge on UKs.

I used the sketch given and the other criteria was ribbon, buttons and stamping.  The flower was made from ribbon and the strip down the left of the picture is also ribbon although it doesn't much look like it.  Enjoy the journey is stamped and so is the wording at the bottom right of the photos which says "What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it".

The buttons and flower

The journalling

What's on your workdesk? Wednesday 197

I can't believe how quickly my retreat week went and how soon I get back to utter chaos in my craftroom!  This desk was clear on Friday.

I'm in the process of doing the weekly challenge over on UKs but that's all I've done since I got home.  Who puts all this stuff on my desk?  I'm sure it can't be me LOL!

Here you can see my layout - I'm just about to sew on the buttons and add a title and it will be done.  The book at the bottom right of the photo is one I made at the retreat.  I haven't decorated the cover yet but I am thrilled with it.  My friend Sue showed us how to make it and I will show you the finished article once it is actually finished!

If you'd like to check out other craft spaces, pop over to Julia's Stamping Ground and you will find details on how to join in.

I hope to see you next week:)

A few layouts

A few pages I made at the retreat.  I took quite a lot of old papers and wanted to try and use them rather than letting them go to waste and although I achieved this to a certain degree, I still have more stuff than I will ever use.

It was Chris birthday on Sunday and I made him this card/box and filled it with his favourite sweets - drumstick lollies:)

A room with a view

My photo for this months Lucky Snapping challenge isn't from my kitchen window but from where I was staying with my Bijoux Belles teamies on our annual retreat.

I chose to take the picture out of the bathroom widow to try and capture the gorgeous garden.

The snowdrops were absolutely stunning although you can't tell from my picture.  If you click on it, they may show up better.

This picture was taken from outside the back door

and here are some of the stunning snowdrops

 and crocus.

I love my tractor

Well, I'm back from my retreat and I had the most amazing time but I feel absolutely shattered now - too many late nights I think.

I only managed 10 layouts and a mini book and am well on the way with Adam and Lucy's wedding stuff.  The Order of Service cards and the place name cards are pretty much finished.

I will upload my pages over the next few days and today I am starting with this one of Adam when he was 2.

I just used washi tape to get the strips and borrowed some of Jen's Mr Huey red paint to get the splatters.  Sue gave me some twine for the buttons (also made out of washi tape) and the tractor alphas were Sue's too.

What's on your workdesk? Wednesday

Today, I'm away from my usual desk and on retreat with some of my best girl friends in the world and we are having an absolute blast.

These are 4 of the girls, Karen on the left in the white, Sue behind her, Maria on the right in the white dressing gown and Jen and the front, also in her dressing gown.  Laura has gone to bed as she is heavily pregnant and making the most of a peaceful nights sleep.  I am writing this on Tuesday evening and it's nearly 11.30 p.m. just in case you think the girls spend all day in their pjs:)

This is my bit of the table - if you're wondering why my purse is out I am trying to work out the shopping bill.  We have a menu and I have been in charge of ordering and buying the food.
In the centre of the picture is a card I am making for my husband's birthday which is on Sunday.

I have extended my desk to incorporate the radiator, the worktop behind me and the floor!

This the a layout I finished earlier - I'm one of the slower scrappers here.  I've managed 7 layouts and a mini book but Laura for example, has done 22 layouts!

Anyone wondering why I am writing about my desk, pop over to Julia's Stamping Ground and you will see what I am talking about and have the opportunity to look at lots of interesting looking craft spaces.

Saturday scrap map - The twins @ 50

An outstanding sketch this month from the very talented Sue - one of your finest my dear:)

The photo was taken at Wetherspoons (I think) where we went for a meal to celebrate my husband and his sister's 50th birthday.  I haven't done the journalling yet because I want to make sure that's where we actually went and am waiting on my SIL to get back to me.

Pop over to Creative Craft World for further details of the scrap map challenge and how YOU could win a prize.

It's another blog hop this month too, so if you're here from Sue's blog you now need to head towards Trish's blog.