Tuesday 26 June 2012

Weekly Challenge - June Week 4

Started some pages yesterday to document February and didn't know where to start so I had a look at the challenge over on UKS.  This week it was to...

Use weather related paper and/or embellishments
Use zesty, zingy, happy colours
Tell a story with photos and journalling looking back or forward over 6 months.

I ended uppdoing two layouts on a similar theme - half term in February and some things we did - but don't think that counts for the 6 months piece so only claiming 20 points.

So here is One day out in Liverpool...

And Climbing the walls...


I also did some extra photos in a divided photo protector page to add some other details about our month...




I just need to finish the other side and that is February done.  (I'm just a tad behind with this year lol!)


TFL



Sunday 24 June 2012

Giveaways!

Just came across this fabulous blog for Erin Blegen who has set up on her own and is offering lots of goodies if you become a follower!

Got to be worth a look ladies!

Keeping it short and sweet as off to work now -not enjoying these double weekends in!  But off Monday and Tuesday so hopefully time to play with some sketches and challenges I have piling up on my desk!

Sunday 17 June 2012

Zipping across the canal!


So yesterday I got dressed up like this....





Went to the top of a 30 metre tower and looked at this view (and said a few things I can't repeat on here!!)...






And then I did this...






I then had a nice man who applied the brake and unhooked me...




And had a photo with my lovely brownies (and Alex & Josh) who came to watch  me :)





Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everyone that sponsored me. I have raised just over £600 for the British Sjogrens Syndrome Association and had a fab experience in the process!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday 15 June 2012

52 card challenge - week 24

More like 5 card challenge as I've not played along for ages however I needed to make a 60th card for a party I am going to tomorrow of a friend at work so I turned to Nat's challenge for this week.

The challenge was from the prompt jar; peach, layers and flowers. I pulled out some old websters pages papers left over from a retreat and added some bling and a peach Prima flower.



Quite pleased with the result and it only took 20 minutes.

I may have my mojo back!! Check out Natty's blog for more challenges http://koolkittymusings.typepad.com/kool_kitty_musings/2012/06/52-cards-challenge-week-24.htm

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday 11 June 2012

10 things on the 10th - June

I've been away the past few days in sunnier climes and whilst I've not been in a scrapping mood at home the fact that I can't even see my stash has definitely been a case of "absence makes the heart grow fonder"!

It got me thinking to how I could scrap more on the go and so I've come up with ten top tips for myself to put into practice whether I'm scrapping in the garden, away at my parents' house or in the Med!  Maybe these might help you too if you are struggling with the same dilemma...

1. Page kits - I'm currently doing Shimelle's latest class, Cover To Cover, and this has given me real inspiration to plan more page kits for specific pages in albums. I'm definitely going to crack on with this as soon as I get home.

2. My Smash book - I made my own version of a smash book by covering some chipboard and cutting up some old papers for the pages. I just need to do an load of punching for some home made die cuts and then I can pack this with a pen, some stickers and a roll of washi and I'm good to go! I have loads of little bits to stick in it and it would be ideal to stick in my suitcase if flying somewhere.




3. Take a prepared mini album - I did this for Florida with a paper bag album and at the end of the holiday it stored all our tickets and maps. It also had two tags for every day which each of the kids wrote their favourite memory of the day on. I think I may make something similar for my girlie weekend to Edinburgh in the Autumn. Whilst there isn't a lot of down time (see below) there is the train journey home and I will get all my friends to contribute to the album at this point. Now none of these girls scrap. Some think what I do is amazing but they could never do it, some think I've lost the plot. So this will certainly be an interesting exercise! But these ladies are a big part of my life and so having their thoughts in my album is very important to me.

4. Find the down time - and use it! Thinking of scrapping while away at first made me think I would miss out on something but there is always some point of the trip when I can grab 20 minutes. It may be the time I use to read or whilst I am chatting to my mum. Or on the train as already mentioned. But I will find the time!

5. Keep my tool bag ready - all this mulling over scrapping on the go also got me thinking about at home. Often I don't scrap because I want to be with the rest of the family watching something on tv or I don't want to miss the lovely weather in the garden, so having my tool bag at the ready (and the page kit I will have prepared earlier!) with a couple of punches thrown in it, I will now be able to scrap wherever and whenever I want :)



6. Use a monthly kit - Once when I travelled to my parents in the school holidays for a short stay I took a monthly kit that had just arrived and some basic tools.  Imanaged 4 pages while I was there without even thinking!  I still have a fair few kits to use up but I may treat myself to one next time I head off to Berkshire ;-)  Gotta Craft have some lovely ones as do Bellaboo

7. Take a journal - I know there I things that I miss when I am away or things that we do that I can't remember when I get back in full detail. I need to take a journal with me to make notes of these things so I can tell the story when I return.

8. Work on a mini album - I have one of these in mind for a special Christmas present for a relative so maybe now is the time to get planning and sorting so that I can just grab it and go when I want to scrap somewhere else other than my desk.

9. Preparation is key!  A lot mentioned above involves time to prepare.  Whether it be packing page kits, ensuring my tote is all packed or getting photos printed.  But I know that if I get this bit right I will be able to scrap on the go much more than I do.

10. Don't sweat the small stuff! - So I make a page and I don't have the perfect embellishment to complete it.  I will NOT panic!  I can just leave it until I get home, when I have access to everything I need.  The main thing is I will have completed the majority of yet another page and recorded yet another memory :)


Hope you've enjoyed my ten things on the tenth.  If you want to read more then hop over to Shimelle's blog to see what everyone else has posted about this month....


Tuesday 5 June 2012

My month in numbers - May

May was an important month for Josh having to take not only SATS level 5 but also level 6! He took it all in his stride though.  On the Thursday at the end of the first lot we took 8 boys off to a skate park nearby to let off some steam.  We followed this with some well deserved sausage and chips served with curry sauce and gravy!


Later on in May Tony and I went off to see Newton Faulkner perform at the Academy 2.  It was the second time we had seen him perform and he didn't disappoint!  The venue holds a maximum 1,000 people so was fairly intimate.


The following day Tony and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. We headed off to Alma de Cuba in Manchester which is a bar/restaurant in an old church conversion...The church was opened in 1788 and served as a Catholic building for 188 years until 1976, after which it served the Polish community for a short time until closing in 1978.


At the end of the month I headed off with KS2 on a day out to see the Olympic Torch on Day 13 of it's journey around the UK.  The torch was brought into a big park by Emily, a 12 year old student.  It was a special moment for sure, especially having spent over 4 hours in constant drizzle waiting for it!


Josh passed his grading in ju jitsu, gaining a blue belt, his 4th belt since he started.  He also achieved his highest scores in a grading so far with 76 points.


Alex spent the night at the Victoria Baths in Manchester with hundreds of other Guides.  The baths opened in 1903 and were closed in 1993.  The building then won the BBC Resoration programme in  2003 and £3.8m has been spent on extensive repairs.  The eventual aim is to get at least one pool re-opened for use.  She had a great time making things and watching a movie before settling down to sleep at the bottom of the pool!


This month I also signed up to do a 250 metre zip wire for charity.  Not just any old zip wire though, this one runs across the ship canal in Manchester!  So far I have raised just over £375 for the British Sjogrens Syndrome Association and it's still rising!  If anyone wants to donate the link is here....
Updates to follow on how I get on next month!!



If you want to see some more "Month in numbers" then head on over to Julie's blog for some interesting, numerical style reading :)