Finishing up ...

... I think I'm done with Shimelle's online crop weekend challenges. I did 7 out of 16 and am pretty pleased with that.

This challenge was to scrap the same photo twice. I took the opportunity to scrap about how I'm feeling at the moment. I'm not a winter girl and probably suffer from SAD, but as spring starts to emerge I definitely start to feel better about myself.

The little alphas had an argument with the sewing machine, but hey ho!

Keeping it going ...

... work got in the way this week (plus running out of printer ink) but I had a couple more LOs mapped out in my head.

This one was to scrap 4 unique squares on LO. I think it's a bit plain, but fit for purpose!

This challenge was a great one for me having recently had a fabulous weekend away. It was to use an envelope/pocket to hold memorablia etc. I've used the envelope that the hotel gave us with our door key cards in.

On a roll ....

...this challenge was to mix two contrasting papers to make a background.

The challenges are open all week, so I'm hoping to get some more done.

I'm back ...

I wasn't able to play along with Shimelle's weekend challenges yesterday as we went to the MIL for the day. I kept my eye on what was going on though and I knew I wanted to do this challenge today - scrap with yellow, grey and a colour of your choice. I do love yellow and grey and often use them, think they're very easy colours to scrap with. I chose to team up with aqua, as I had quite a few choices from the recent Scrapbook Circle kits.
I used a sketch from Issue 1 Scrap 365 Mag based on Lisa's page, a sketch I had been wanting to use for ages.

oops, I forgot to dot my 'I', have rectified that now!

Oops I did it again ...

... keeping it going.

Challenge 2 was to use at paper from at least 3 different collections. I've used Lily Bee, Echo Park, Bazzil Basics and October Afternoon.

The beauty of getting a kit is having different papers that co-ordinate, however for this challenge I did pull paper out of three different kits.

The journalling is about Lily and Eve (daughter and sister for those who don't know). They're the only blonde/blue eyes in the family and are very alike. Lily particularly likes to dress like Eve and 4 years on they're still doing it!

Don't faint...

... I scrapped!

I've had so little mojo since January, I haven't wanted to do anything - scrap, sew, crochet or just craft. It was starting to get to me, especially when I counted that I have 5 untouched Scrapbook Circle kits :(

So earlier today I spotted that Shimelle was having an online craft weekend and I thought that might just get be back into it. So here's my first LO based on this challenge.
I may just do some more!

Don't scrap when you're poorly ...

... I have not feel well for a few days now, the start of a cold and real lack of energy. But having itchy hands yesterday I thought I'd do this week's Starting Point.

It started out OK (haven't followed the exact design this week)

but then I start making silly mistakes - the flower in the corner is covering up a smudged painted butterfly; there's a spot of brown paint in the top middle splattered from were I was trying to correct smudged butterfly; and I also kept creasing the paper as I was scrapping on the edge of my desk.

Hey Ho, think it came out OK in the end!

A quick card for you also - I've used a great printable from SJ, I'm always struggling with how to do sentiments on cards, so these are perfect.

Whilst making it I commented to Mia on how much I loved the corduroy brad in the flower to which she replied 'Why are you giving it away then?'!

Mia @ 7 ...

... it's been a couple of weeks since I scrapped what with life's highs and lows, so I needed a quick boost. I went for the Scrapbook Circle Number challenge and Shimelle's starting points.

Using Scrapbbok Circle's The Good Life Kit.

Have got the PTA's AGM in a few minutes and I'm really hoping that we're able to elect a new Chair to replace me. I'm happy to continue to support the committee but after 2 years I feel that it's time for someone new to take over - wish me luck!

Starting blocks ...

... this is a new series that Shimelle has started - a bit like a real life sketch. So copying her blocks, this ...

... became this.

I found this preschool picture of the girls on their first day back to achool yesterday and can't believe how time flies. In the photos they were 4 and 3 and now they are 8 and nearly 7. I miss my little babies!

Jungle parc ...

.. I'm just back from a lovely week in a cottage in Somerset. Had such a lovely relaxing time and as we were close to East Devon and West Dorset we got to the beach a few times, something I really miss where we live!

I meant to post this whilst we were away but being in the middle of the countryside meant that the internet wasn't that good. Anyway it was for Shimelle's sketch of the week last week.

Learn Something New Every Day started yesterday so I shall start catching up with my pages later or tomorrow. Luckily I got my supplies together before I left so hopefully it won't be long before I get up to date.

Right, the washing machine is calling!

And finally ...

... this is the last of my challenge entries for last weekend's crop- to scrap with a grid of photos. Shimelle also posted some further challenges during the course of week and one of those was to scrap within a 7x7" box. So I've combined the two (hope that was alright!)

The current Scrapbook Circle challenge is to remember Summer (well it does seem to be pretty much over here!!) I've combined various ideas from the LO Gallery for this one.

Scrapping in threes ...

... I'm still working on the challenges from Shimelle's online crop last weekend. This one was to include a group of three in an embellishment. So I've done three lots of embellishments each with 2 circles and a brad.



It's photographed a bit weird, I think it's because one edge has curled up from the misting.



And speaking of mists I have always struggled with these but bought some non-glimmer ones from Art From the Heart and they work much better for me. So expect to see more misting in the future.

Half page and signature accent ...

... fortunately challenges don't need to be completed until 21st August so it means that I can carry on with them this week (although I want to get Explore finished before Learn Something New Everyday starts on Sept 1st).

This one was to only fill half the page. I'm quite comfortable with this sort of LO rarely filling a whole page and decided to scraplift Shimelle's page.

I can't remember the last time I used flowers like this on a page, but they reminded me of water lilies!

The next was to scrap with your signature accent - I would say mine was white space, butterflies and a little embellishment cluster at the top of a page. So here's mine, again using a similiar design to the above.

Colour challenge and I love ...

... here's today's efforts. The first was a red, white and aqua colour challenge and I've used this PencilLines sketch.

The next was to use 'I Love' or 'I Heart' as the title and I decided to do things I love right now. I like doing these LOs every now again to capture a snapshot in time. I was inspired by Diane Payne's LO on the Scrpabook Circle Ideas Gallery.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend and making the most of the tiny bit of sunshine we're having!!

A starting point and chop your paper ...

... are the next two challenges.

The first to layout your paper in a certain way as a starting point (should have taken a picture of that but you can see Shimelle's here) and then add to it.

The girls had such great fun at this park in Majorca, I'm trying to find one locally in the UK that isn't a minimum age of 10.

The next challenge was to use one or two pieces of paper and cut out elements of it to use as embellishments. This paper was perfect for that:

I think the little list is a good one to life your life by.

Scrapping this weekend ....

... a new batch of photos from Photobox, a new Scrapbook Cirle kit and an online crop with Shimelle - I plan to make the most of that this weekend!

The crop started yesterday and the first challenge was to include some printables designed by Mary Anne Walters - on my LO these include the journalling block and the circles. She designed them to co-ordinate with the My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose range so as I had a few bits of this I used that as my starting block. I've also used the latest Sketchy Thursday sketch.

The next challenge was to use stickers from more than one range. This is the balcony shot that I always take of Steve and the girls when we go to Majorca. It's such a great way of seeing the changes in them. I've used old an old Scarlet Lime kit that I've used for a lot of my previous Majorca LOs. The stickers are all Making Memories and include Passport, The Great Escape and Circle Ledger.

Nourish ...

.. my friend has been seeing an acupuncturist who told her that she needs to 'nourish' herself more and I knew straight away what she meant. For a while now I have felt unbalanced in my life and that I wasn't looking after myself as much as others. Hence the lack of creativity.

So a couple of weeks ago I took a major life decision and resigned from my part-time from home work. The reasons are many and varied but I am so looking forward to spending the summer with the girls. My days will then be spent removating and organising the house so that come the weekends we can spend time together as a family. I will of course be allowing myself creative time outs!

I've found myself with some time this weekend as Lily has gone to Brownie Camp. It's her first time away from me and home (apart from having a few Grannie stays), I hope she's coping OK, the house is very quiet with just Mia. So a little bit of crafting was in order.

Firstly I've made a little bird for my stepmum as a post-op present. She's becoming a bit of a bird collector!


This is for Shimelle's Sketch of the Week which I've rotated.

Have a very busy couple of weeks coming up with the end of term approaching, final PTA events to organise and a family wedding. Then there's our summer holiday to look forward to - yipee!

The story behind the photo ...

... so the other challenge for NSD on Shimelle's blog that caught my eye was to find something that has more story than what you first see, and get explaining!

I take loads of photos of the girls for no other reason than I think they're beautiful. However there are only so many LOs you can make about their beauty! So I took this opportunity to journal about the orthodontic work that Lily is undergoing at the moment to correct her teeth and bite. Not glamorous but a story that needs telling nonetheless!

Happy belated NSD ...

... I don't tend to pay much attention to National Scrapbooking Day, but there were a couple of challenges on Shimelle's blog that caught my eye. This one was to scrap with a border between photos. I do tend to only scrap with one photo on a LO but at the moment I seem to have more, so this was a good challenge for me!

A couple of sketches ...

... using the March Scrapbook Circle kit.

Shimelle's sketch of the week. Painting canvases has made me a bit braver with paint on LOs.

(Photo edited for privacy).

Sketchy Thursday - the sketch was a double LO, but I changed it into a single.

Have taken time off work to spend with the girls, which has given me a bit of crafty time - yeah!