Butterfly Crafts ...

... doesn't time fly, the new challenge is live here. I took my inspiration from the title 'cherie' and the font.
I didn't have enough 's' though and had to improvise!!

Butterfly Crafts June Challenge ...

... it's a sketch this month - go and take part!

Butterfly Crafts May Challenge ...

... this month's challenge is to use this ad as inspiration and I have to admit when I first looked at it I was quite stumped!

So first off I concentrated on the colours and then the design emerged from the triangular shape made from the model's flowers in her hair and her chin.
If you want a chance to win a guest DT spot you can enter here.

Butterfly Crafts April Challenge ...

... the new challenge is live which is to create a LO using at least 2 of these colours: The journalling is on a tag behind the photo as I had quite a bit to say on this LO. I’m having great trouble leaving Mia at school in the morning, she clings to me like a limpet and sometimes has be velcro’d off me so I can leave the classroom. It’s been going on since the Autumn term and is very distressing for both of us and her teacher. We have been trying all sorts of strategies and I’m hoping that it’s something she will grow out of and not that we are missing a bigger issue. She’s become less confident and lacks self-esteem as she’s got older and she struggles to find the words to tell us what she’s feeling. I so hope it’s a phase.

Butterfly Crafts ...

..remember you've got until the 10th April to take part in this month's challenge and have chance to win a guest DT spot. Here's a sneak peek of the next challenge.

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.

Woo hoo ...

... look here.



Just what I needed for some good motivation each month. I loved being on the team previously and am looking forward to the new challenges.

First one goes live on March 15th, so check back then

Butterfly Crafts March Challenges ...

... there's been a change to the style of challenges over at Butterfly Crafts. Each month there will be a visual and a written challenge.

The visual this month posted on the 1st was a sketch and so here's my take.
The written challenge, posted on the 15th, was to use at least 1 of the following items:

Polka dots
Orange
Gingham Ribbon
Butterfly
Scalloped edge
Turquoise
Cherries
Pins
Felt
Bling

The latest Scarlet Lime kit arrived this morning and was perfect for this - I've managed 6 from the list!

I also made use of a PencilLines sketch.

Normal service has resumed ...

... I hadn't intended to take a blog break but on top of the madness of Christmas preparations DD2 got quite poorly with flu. Her temperature went over 40 degrees at one point so I called NHS Direct which led to being redirected to the Pandemic Flu line resulting in a prescription of Tamiflu for her. Fortunately she was a bit better the next day so we decided not to give her the medicine. It does annoy me that Tamiflu is prescribed for a 5 year old without a proper diagnosis being made and now DD2 is a 'Swine Flu statistic'. Anyway she recovered over the next few days and was able to fully enjoy the Christmas festivities.

So I have done very little crafting, nothing on my Xmas Journal - I may well continue with it, I shall at least put all the photos I took into one album.

I did manage a DT LO for Butterfly Crafts which went live on 1st January.

For the 1st of Jan 2010 challenge they have decided to do something a bit different and create a sketch for you to use instead of giving a challenge topic. So you just need to use the sketch for your lay-out and it can be on any topic you like

I sprayed a mask of glimmer mist for the circle which hasn't shown up well on the photo.

As you can see I've decided to take up a new hobby for 2010 - crocheting. I used to do other crafts until scrapbooking completely took over my life, so inspired by all the lovely hats, brooches and blankets I see on the internet I have invested in some hooks and wool! I started a skinny scarf over the holidays and just need to complete the edging, so quite pleased with myself.

Other plans for 2010? Well simply to keep the weight off that I have lost and to think twice before starting a scrapbooking class or project - I still have soooo many unfinished!

Happy New Year to you all!

Butterfly Crafts Challenge 24 ...

... new challenge is up.

'What's your beauty regime?' Has it changed over the years, has it been influenced by anyone (mum, gran), do you have to have the latest products? Or are you a soap and water girl?

Here's my DT submission. I had recently bought some new make up so decided to journal about that. I've also used some glimmer mist on a LO for the first time. Doesn't show up too well here as it's a similar colour to the cardstock.


I've used a sketch from a competition that Sarah's Cards are holding on their blog.

Hope you'll play along too.

Combo LO ...

... finally felt ready to scrap again after the mad weekend of The Studio's charity crop. I've used 3 challenges for this one!!

Butterfly Crafts - make a LO about what makes you happy
The Studio - to use a number in your title, to journal in a list and to use eyelets (didn't manage that one
Lotus Paperie - sketch

There's still a couple of days left to win a Studio Calico kit from Butterfly Crafts. Simply complete one of this month's challenges by 30th November to be in with a chance of wining.

First DT assignment ...

... challenge 22 has gone live over on Butterfly Crafts so I can share with you my first DT LO.

If you could be any character in any TV show or film, who would you be and why? Would you choose someone who's character you relate to or someone who is a total opposite to yourself?

Journalling reads: Like all of them I believe I am a kind and caring friend, loyal and honest. Like Lynette I try to keep all the balls in the air; like Bree a good organiser; like Susan a bit forgetful; like Gabi I love glamour!

Hope you play along too!

My that's bright!

... not my usual colour palette, but the papers seemed to work well with my iPod case! Have done this LO for Butterfly Crafts Challenge 19 - to scrap your favourite song. Thought it would be a good idea to get iTunes to tell me what I listen to most and have made a Top 10 List from that. Have also used Stuck?! Sketches - Sept 1st sketch

Still cybercropping ...

... whilst waiting for my new Scarlet Lime kit to turn up I've managed another LO for the Butterfly Crafts crop. This challenge was set by Lou - to use a sketch (which I've rotated) and a Harry Potter inspired title. Having never read or watched Harry Potter I wasn't sure about the title so kept it simple with a 'magic' theme.

A couple more ...

... didn't manage much scrapping yesterday as had lots of housework to catch up on! So catching up today. The first LO is a challenge set by Leanne based on her favourite film Hairspray - which is to document a hair style, use bright colours and ribbon. I had these photos of DD2 in my 'waiting to be scrapped' pile and have journalled about her obsession with having her hair straighten! LO based on one by Michelle Swartzinski in Sept Scrapbook Trends. This one's a combination of weekly challenge 18 to scrap about friendships and Jocelyn's challenge based on ET (friendships, 'I'll be right here' etc). It suited a photo of me and my stepmum as she's an amazing lady and has played a major part in my life since I was 14. ET was also the first film she took me to see - so very apt!

(That's a shadow in the top left hand corner!)

Cybercropping ...

... the weekend crop which is movie-themed started over at Butterfly Crafts yesterday. I've played along with a couple of the challenges so far.

The first was set by Tara to use a song title from Grease and I picked Beauty School Dropout to go with this picture of DD2 and her smudged painted face!

I've also used Challenge 10 over on Twisted Sketches for this LO - sketch and use tags.
The next was set by Karen and is Twilight inspired - to use black and red and either an apple, a feather, red ribbon or a game piece. I've used Jenni Bowlin red crepe ribbon and made it into the flower embellie.
Has been great going through some old stash and I hope to play along some more today.

Have finally scrapped ...

... managed to squeeze this in today after creating a bit of space on my craft desk! The room is far from being sorted, but I am slowly getting there.
This is for the latest Butterfly Crafts challenge to create a LO about a favourite food or drink. I thought I'd take the opportunity to scrap about what I have been missing whilst doing Weight Watchers, hence "I am mostly missing cheese". I love cheese but the high fat content has meant that I have had to ditch my favs of brie, goats cheese and stilton for the time being. The picture is of my WW folder!

Have used an old Scarlet Lime kit, got August's out to use but it just didn't go with the picture.

3 in 1 ...

... what with the end of the school year and the beginning of the summer holidays, I've really struggled to find time to scrap. Determined to crack on with my new Scarlet Lime kit I scoured all the links I had saved and found 3 challenges that I wanted to have a go at:

Mojoholder Challenge 119 - a sketch that I used (apart from the cut out shape on theirs)
Butterfly Crafts Challenge 16 - to scrap your quirks
Scrap Mojo Challenge 35 - to use the words 'I'm a little bit _______ and a little bit ______'

So this is what I came up with - 'A little bit shy, a little bit emotional'.

The journalling reads "I have always been nervous when meeting new people and I keep the circle of friends I have quite small, I guess I'm a bit introverted! I am also extremely emotional - sad thoughts make me cry - I can't put on a brave face like others!"

Butterfly Crafts Challenge 15....

... is a travel inspired LO. Seeing as though I'm doing my travel album, it was a great opportunity to do another LO! I'e also used the current PencilLines sketch.

I had these cork flowers as part of a Xmas Advent swap and haven't used them up til now, but thought they were perfect for this.
A couple more LOs that I did last week - very simple.This one is the reverse of the other, I scrapped straight onto the back of it!

Eye for design - color creative ...

... this class started yesterday. It's being taught by Christy Tomlinson from Scarlet Lime. Ever since I've been getting these kits, I've admired Christy's ability to put paper from different manufacturers together, so I thought it would be great to get some inside tips.

The first class/challenge was to take inspiration from magazines, pick out the colour palette and then use it for a LO.

Here's the article I chose -
And my resulting LO. I've used a grey, black, yellow and white palette.

I've also used the latest Butterfly Crafts challenge 11, which was to use a Disney Character as inspiration - mine being Sleeping Beauty and a 'True Love's Kiss'.