Just now ...

...inspire by Lisa's LO from yesterday, I really enjoy doing these sorts of LOs every now and again. I got the idea for the flowers from the October Afternoon blog, I've seen a few around but think the machine stitched centres are a great addition. I didn't have an up to date photo of myself so I took this very hurried self portrait (well when there's an urge to create you just have to get on with it!) If you click on the picture you should be able to read the journalling, although it's slightly blurry.

I've mentioned about my handwriting, well I recently bought a manual typewriter which came in very handy for this LO. I don't intend to use it all the time, just when I think the design will be spoilt by my scrawl!!! The girl's have had such fun using it, they think it's great to be able to punch a key and see the printout straight away!

Edit - It helps if I can get my numbers the right way up, thanks Emma!

Back in the saddle ...

... I save lots of sketches and challenge ideas in my Google Reader thinking that I will come back to them, but more often than not I don't. So when I saw this week's Pencilines sketch I knew I wanted to have a go asap! Just my sort of sketch! I've always been quite comfortable handwriting my journalling, but of late I have been less so. If I had another of those tags I would rip it out and write it again, but I like the tag so I think I'll have to put up with my scrawl.

Stuck Sketches...

... due to the timing of my Scrapbook Circle sub I got 2 kits sent at the same time, so I really need to crack on with some scrapping.

One of this month's Stuck? Sketches.
There's far less embellies in the Scrapbook Circle kit compared to Scarlet Lime, but when I look at all the unopened packs I have, that's probably a good thing. It also means you get to make your own and view the papers differently.

Steve brought me this necklace for our 10th Wedding Anniversary to remind me of when we celebrated my 30th Birthday in New York. He had forgotten that I bought myself the exact same necklace on that trip! Nevermind, it means that I have 2 to hand down to the girls at some point (they are like vultures near my jewellery box!)

Sad dog ....

... Modbury was castrated last week and we've had a few hiccups. The collar they put on him wasn't big enough to stop him licking a rash he had near the wound, so it got infected and he ended up on antibotics and a bigger collar.

Two days later I found him licking again. So time for the next size collar up which is huge!!! I have to help him eat and drink and I think he's thoroughly depressed! He can't get in his crate to sleep at night and is very restless, so I've taken to sleeping with him on the futon downstairs.

Roll on Monday when the stitches come out!

Weekend warm-up....

...yes, I know it's not the weekend LOL, but that was the name of the challenge set over at Scrapbook Circle which was to scrap with mixed alphas.

Did I tell you that I had starting subbing to Scrapbook Circle?? I really missed my monthly new stash fix (even if I wasn't doing anything with them) and think that their kits suit me perfectly!

So although I should be saving for the girls' university funds ...... I made this with the March kit - Vintage Market.

Butterfly Crafts challenge ....

... the March sketch challenge is live here, check out the rest of the DT's fabulous work and play along for a chance to be April's Guest Designer.

This was the sketch we were asked to used:

I don't often scrap DH and he was not at all keen about it ending up on the internet!!! He really struggled with turning 40 and I thought that needed capturing, so here it is anyway!

I made the pinwheels myself - my first time making them.

de-light ...

... so here's a companion canvas of my own design using what I had learnt from the first canvas.

And here the are together. The paint colours don't match exactly as I has to mix them up again (does that matter? Should I care?)

Just need to find a home for them now, think they're going to go in the kitchen.

And now for something completely different .....

... I have been really intrigued by the She Art pieces of work I have been spotting around the internet. So whilst I was looking on the Scarlet Lime blog I came across a tutorial that Christy had done for a mixed media canvas and I realised that I had the Frugal kit she used. So with a purchase of Mod Podge and a canvas I made this, it's called Spring Is In The Air.



I have never made anything like this before so I won't apologise for copying Christy's work completely (although my canvas is slightly smaller)!!


I love it and already have plans for a companion piece of my own invention!