It finally came....

I have been waiting for this stamp from America since November...it wasn't quite what I thought, there was a feature included (which I am sure was advertised) when I ordered it and now it isn't..mystery. I have gone back to all the websites but all of them are the same and I have got the 'correct' one......Am i going mad did I imagine it or have they changed the design (who knows!!!)

Anyway it is a Justrite Round Monogram Stamper. You can add your own borders, change the writing in the middle and I thought you could put text around the edge ie an address (a scrapbooker would think of more than just an address) The one I have does everything except put text around the edge, which was the main reason I ordered it!!! Never mind I can still have fun...this is what I have done so far...

.......Found this cute little tin while I was in Waitrose, in the Easter section (had chocolate eggs in as well!!) So I thought I would put my little stamp bits in... yey!...made me feel better!

Artists Workshop

Wow!! A friend of mine asked me if I would give her daughter (5) some art lessons for her christmas present. She had got some pastels from Santa...so we did a pastel lesson. My children (except Jamie) joined in. One of the things we did was to look at an apple and try to pick out all the colours we could see. Just look at what they produced......so proud of them!!

Lucia Aged 18months

'Apple' By Ewan aged 3

'Crazy Apple' by Maddy aged 5

'Apple' by Phoebe aged 6

If you have children why not give them some *proper* art materials, explain how to look after it and then let them 'make some art'. As you can see little children can do the most amazing things if we give them the chance. (I am going to see if I can get Jamie to do one)

Or why don't you have a go...dust off the pastels and make some art.

Odiham Class 10th Feb

Been working on the Odiham class today...I haven't finished the title which will go onthe front. (I was going to use a friends Craft Robo but she has the flu...which I don't want!!)

It is a mini album made with clear pages and it looks so gorgeous. I'm really please with how it has come out.

If you want to do the class (at Odiham) please post here or e-mail me. I will bring spares but you will need the photos with you to do it properly.

The title is 'I Love You Because' .... You can choose whatever topic you want...patner, children, parent, friend, pet...etc..I have used the new 'Blush' paper from Basic Grey which will tone with pink or deep red but if you would like a different colour please let me know by the end of this week. I have only a few of this pattern of Blush from Basic Grey but the rest of the kits will use others from the Blush range all in a 'Valentines' theme.

You will need 4 pictures which are/or can be cropped to 7.5 cm wide to between 8cm and 11cm long. If you have photos which tou are not sure will go why not change them to black and white?It is a portrait not landscape album.

Bring along for your album any rub-ons and flat embellishments you think might go with your theme.

If you don't go to the Odiham crop but would like a kit please contact me and I will give you details of prices and posting.

These are the pictures I used:

caught in the act!!!

I was getting something done upstairs when I noticed that both children were downstairs...mmm always spells trouble!! I went down to find Ewan on the countertop raiding the cupboard (again!) Everything they had opened they had eaten half of!! He was very kindly 'sharing' with Lucia. As you can see he was not at all sorry for what he had done..even though it meant a spell on the strairs.
I will post some more scrapping related stuff soon...I've been doing boring admin this week , like tax returns and end of year accounts, advertising and web page stuff. (unfortunately i don't think the tax office would appreciate a 12x12 embellished tax return,...shame it would make it SO much more interesting! )
I do have all my classes listed now if you are in my locality and would like to find out more go to Three Little Monkeys

happy ewan...sleepy lucia

Before christmas Ewan was very sad because his beloved Ferrari coat went missing. We searched high and low but it never turned up. So we sent an SOS to Uncle Mike and Aunty Jo (who had bought it for him in the first place) to see if they could buy a new one...

Well today a parcel arrived with a new coat and now there is a VERY happy Ewan!!!

Also don't you just love his little bear!!!

I wanted to take a picture of Lucia sleeping bc she looked so adorable but she woke up...but I think the pictures of her all tousled are equally cute..

mmm....need to get some more photo paper so I can scrap these photos. I seem to have a lot of ewan and lucia but they are around during the day by the time the others get home it is dark.

*it snowed*

Look at what happened last night!! I tell you what it gets the children out of bed quickly! We were outside playing in the snow at 8am this morning and a good thing too as it is all gone now :(

I met a scrapping friend on the way to school this morning and we were laughing about how our first reaction was outside with the camera bc we have got to get some photos to scrap!!! Well it worked....

my essentials...

If had to go back to basics what would be the things I would need to scrap the way I like?

(Challege set by Ali here) excluding basic tools which would be cutter, adhesives and scissors I need:

1. Plain textured bazzil cardstock because the effect on the texture can be so cool. (I ran out of photo paper this week and printed my photo on white burlap texture and it looked so good)

2. Corner rounder...I can't seem to stop using it. I use Creative Memories becuase it is so sturdy.

3. Paint..I'm into paint big time as it is so versatile and such fun to experiment with.

4. Stamps..love Rhonna Farrer clear stamps, Justrite phrases and alphabet stamps

5. Pen..I use my black and brown pen all the time now, which has meant more lo's have been finished instead of waiting for the journalling.

6. Rub -ons especially MM words they just seem to go with everything and plain word sitckers

7. Buttons..I have a collection of old buttons and new ones. I just love their colour but simplicity.

8. Patterned paper...basic grey, cosmo cricket, KI memories, chatterbox, Daisy D's...anything with a really good design and lovely colours. I used to buy lots and use none..now I am trying to use just a little on my pages.

9. Computer and printer to organize and print my photos and surf the net for ideas!!!

10. My little fujifilm camera. I would love a digital SLR but not mine at the moment, *sigh* however for a simple camera I think it does a fantastic job! and it is little :)

11. Ribbons..I love going into a haberdashery shop and choosing new ribbons especially gingham or velvet in colours like purple!

12. Scraps..these are my collections of bits and bobs like tickets, labels, images from magazines, bits of work by the children...anything which looks like I could use it!!

13. My ideas notebook which goes around in my purse.

14. My family for being such a fun source of inspiration!!

sad day for mr happy...

Colin's favourite mug got accidentally broken yesterday...which was very sad. When we thought about it we *think* I gave him the mug in the first few years of marriage, when we were in our old house, so that would make it about 10 years old!!

Having a quiet day as Ewan and Lucia have got really bad colds and are feeling sorry for themselves...Ewan is on the sofa with his Thomas the Tank Enginge duvet watching Wallace and Grommit...how nice it would be to have nothing to do and chill out on the sofa :) *sigh* Better go sort the house out.

...oh I made it to the post office in time and they let me add the one piece of paper I had missed out of my parcel.... *phew* that was close!!!

back to reality with a bump!!!!

Today has been so hectic. I had a deadline for something I was doing (which I should have finished on friday but you know me!!) Then Colin had a doctors appointment for him and Jamie...just routine but it was around 10. This threw my whole morning out of sync...funny how something so small can affect you. Anyway I got my job done and posted and this evening I finished my tax return yeh!! Two massive jobs out of the way...I feel *so* much better!!

Only slightly worriying thing I forgot one piece of rather important paper in my parcel...the lady at the post office said the parcel would not be collected until 12 noon tomorrow so I am going to go down and see if I can add the *one* bit of paper...how annoying..at least I remembered in time!!!

The week end was really fun. I was with a group of people who are so great to scrap with. One of my friends won the prize for the best layout..you go Jeannette (only been scrapping for a year!.. she was on my first beginners course...i feel so happy for her :)

I did some lo's for the challenge and played around with some materials...here are a few of my lo's. On the one with the girls I used the new basic grey Blush range. so so lovely... but I did not have a piece which went with it...so I made my own...not difficult..why not have a go!

Get some cardstock..acrylic paint and your favourite stamps. Just print a repeating pattern all over the paper , cut it up and use it with another patterned paper. If it loks too bright, when it has dried put a wash of diluted paint over the whole design.

.

Having Fun

A big thank you to Ross and Jules for such a fantastic party. I had so much fun...the band were really good..venue fantastic. You two are so special.. I hope you had a lovely evening because we did. (only thing I forgot to do was to get someone to take a photo of me and Colin and one of Ross and Jules...I had the camera..just forgot...never mind!!)

Having a great time at the Rotherwick Crop Weekend... I am keeping up with Liz and have done five layouts....back tommorrow for more!

what a week...

I feel as if this week has been a bit of a blur. So many things have happened but they have all been people related. I have not achieved much this week BUT I have got a scrapping weekend this weekend. I am missing the first night because we are going to Ross's birthday party at Pennyhill Park...so looking forward to it.

Couldn't decide what to wear because it was smart casual...until I found these great shoes!! They go really nicley with a top I got for Christmas.

So hopefully monday I will have some scrapping things to show!! Have a good weekend!

Found this funny...

HOW TO CLEAN THE HOUSE
1. Open a new file in your PC.
2. Name it "Housework."
3. Send it to the RECYCLE BIN.
4. Empty the RECYCLE BIN.
5. Your PC will ask you, "Are you sure you want to delete Housework permanently ?"
6. Calmly answer, "Yes," and press the mouse button firmly.
7. Feel better ? Works for me !

Ewan's Kisses

Ewan was into kissing today. He keeps saying 'kiss me' and then pulls funny faces.

Ewan made this cute penguin at pre-school...thought you might like to see especially grandad as he likes penguins.

I was playing around with feathers and glitter today in my art session...not sure all the glitter was really me but I had fun.

What Can I Say!!

Absolutely AWESOME tribute band...all the way through the audience were joining in and at the end everyone was on their feet singing and totally going for it!! Lead singer was an amazing guitarist. A definite must see..look here for tour dates

Fantastic...

Had a fantastic time at the Odiham Crop. It was just nice to see everyone after the Christmas break...you are a lovely group to spend a Saturday afternoon with...and Katie I'm so excited by your news...lots of baby photos coming soon!! :) Glad you all enjoyed the class...when you have filled it in show me as I am always interested to see the layouts completed. No pressure to do the whole year!!
Completely forgot I'm off out tonight with some friends to see a 'Queen' tribute band GaGa...should be good.....
What a nice Saturday :)

just found out...

...that Amsterdam, the band Kath (my sister-in-law's) boyfriend, Paul Hagan is in, is on wikipedia. We went to see them at the Matthew Street Festival in Liverpool in the summer. Phoebe and Jamie loved seeing Paul on the stage performing...we call them Paul's groupies!!

Amazing band you should check their website out and get their album The Journey. They have had awsome reviews from big names in music. Let me know what you think...

Paul Hagan

Jamie behind the barrier waiting....

Phoebe watching from Colin's shoulders.