A Scrappy Messy Mumble

New layouts to share

2012-02-02T04:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Thursday!

Nearly the weekend ... hurrah!

Well the weather is getting colder and colder and I'm starting to think that snow might be on it's way :(

I have a few more layouts to share today

Here's the first;

This photograph was taken on my 40th birthday last year and I used an old kit from Sarah's cards, a bit on hambly overlay & some JB alphas.

This one used up scraps leftover from Lou's class at the 2011 retreat... Love that I could use these bits!

An finally this one;

This one hasn't photographed very well... I've used more of the Random kit from Sarah's cards. I think I made 3 layouts and 3 double spreads for my PL album and I still have some left!! Thats value!

I'm off now to photograph week 4 of my PL which I finished last weekend, I am soooo into this project, I'm actually noticing much more about the way we live and the little things all of us say and do.

Thanks for popping by, have a lovely day xxxx

Project Life weeks 1 -3 & some layouts!

2012-01-25T06:22:00.000-08:00

Hello!!

Well I finally got round to uploading some photos of my work ... and finally I'm blogging them!

I apologise in advance for what will be a pretty photo heavy post!

Here are my title pages and weeks 1 to 3 for my project life; I really am loving doing this!

Title page:

And the left hand side of week 1:

right hand side:

I got each of us to write down our new year's resolutions for week one, I love that we can all get involved in this project.

Week 2 left side:

Tiegan made me the little green card; she just made it and put it into my folder where I am keeping all my stash I've picked out do do the first few weeks... it reads"I love my Mummy"

And the right hand side;

And finally week 3... left hand side;

there is a close-up of the little letter that Madison wrote me further down;

Here's the right hand side;

This letter Madison wrote me is so cute! She wrote it in my notebook and so I had to cut it out & use it for one of my inserts...

It reads "my Mummy is the best mummy in the "hole" world and I love her a lot. Love my mummy Madison xxx" Be still my heart!!!!

Most of the stash I have used is from a Sarah's Cards kit (Random by Crate - lush lush lush!!!) - I plan to try to use up more of my old kits on the project as I go along.

Here's a couple of layouts I've done lately, the first is of Tigs playing in the leaves in the park, and I just love this photograph of her;

Papers are from Prima and I just loved all of the fussy cutting to put the page together.

Here's one of Madison, its a phot she took of herself!

More Crate random and a transparency from Prima... pretty!

Told you it was a photo heavy post! I have some more layouts to share this week and hopefully by the weekend I will have put together week 4 of PL :)

Thanks for popping by, have a fab week
Hugs Claire xxx

PROJECT LIFE (Photos to come!)

2012-01-20T09:01:00.000-08:00

Hello!!

Anyone else doing project life?

I thought about it last year & decided I didn't have the time to commit - I thought I'd give it a go & I'm absolutely LOVING IT!!!!

OK so I have to restrain myself from making mini-layouts in the inserts, otherwise I really wont have the time, but I just love how it captures, normal everyday things, like things the girls say & do, me brushing their hair, my work etc etc etc

I'm keeping a notebook in my handbag, in the car and in my briefcase so that I dont miss jotting things down & I'm using both my camera my iphone to take pix.

I promise I will try to upload some photos of the first 3 weeks as well as some layouts over the weekend....

Have a fab weekend
Lots of love xxx

I don't get it....

2012-01-12T04:43:00.000-08:00

Ok so here's the thing.... I just dont get it....

How could anyone turn their back on these two little girls?

Be their father for 4 years, do what you did, be punished ( if the justice system believes thats what it was) for it, then make a new life for yourself and just vanish from theirs. Its been almost 6 months since you spoke to them - that's a twelfth of their lives... Christmas came & went without a word....

My heart aches for my children when I leave them to go to work .... I would walk barefoot over broken glass to get to them... nothing would keep me from them, no matter how hard it was or what obstacles I faced.

I am their mother, they are my life and I adore them... they need me and I need them. They are my total reason for living, my everything.

We are now so happy and settled, they have forgotten sitting screaming under the dining table, terrified of what happened to them... what you did to them that day.... they are content.

Their friends no longer tease them in the playground about their Daddy not loving them because he drove them home from school too drunk to stand up..... They have almost forgotten... but never totally... they still scream if I reverse out of the drive & I am not wearing a seatbelt.....

You did that to them.... and yet I gave you a chance to prove you could be a father to them.... you dipped in & out for a while, but you didn't want them, you wanted your old comfortable life back, ......now you have found a new life and they are forgotten....

How could you?

I want you to know this.......... they no longer need you, I tried to bring you together for 18 months because I believed it was best for them to have you in their lives.... I was wrong, they are better off without you.

They deserve better.... they are beautiful, loving, funny children who deserve stability and love in their lives.... and finally I realise, they have all the love and stability that they need ... in me.

And in the new life that we now have.

You see, I can't replace you ... I wouldn't want to because the father that you were isn't one that they need.... they now have all that they need and finally I can close the door on that chapter of my life and start really enjoying the one I am living now.

But you should also know this.... having finally made this decision and been through so many chances to try to bring you together, know now that if you ever come to your senses and realise what it is you have lost.... it will be too late.

I will never let you hurt my darling babies again.... I will stop at nothing to prevent you hurting them (however slight) again. And I am not alone.... those little girls are now surrounded by more love then they have ever known..... they are happy and content and so my heart is full.

I know you won't read this and to those that do, I am sorry for my rant.... this to me finally represents closure on the events of the last 2 years. I feel lighter already!!!!

Long time.....

2012-01-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

A belated Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas break, I can't believe we are now into 2012!
2011 ended up being a great year for me & my girls, we are happy and settled at last... I've finally started scrapping again & am really enjoying being creative once again.

This Christmas saw the arrival of our "elf on the shelf" - Santa wrote a letter to Mads & Tigs telling them that he would be sending them an elf to keep an eye on them in the run up to christmas, all they needed to do was name him & sprinkle magic dust on him & he would come to life when they were asleep... the letter did warn them that elves can be very naughty.

3 days later, the elf appeared on our doorstep... he was sprinkled with magic dust and named..... Fred !!
Fred??? Really???

Actually after a few days the name seemed to "suit him" - and so Fred became part of the family, every mornng the girls loved finding him in different places, where he had been up to no good. He was found in the bath, in the fridge, laying on my bed watching tv etc etc.

The girls were a little sad that he left with Santa on Christmas Eve, although he did leave them a note with their presents to say that he hoped he might be able to come back next year....

Here's Fred in the fridge...

I took lots of pictures of Fred... so I have lots to scrap!

I spent the whole of December making my own wreath... it took forever, but I'm really pleased with the results! I used a polestyrene base from hobbycraft, lots of plain copier paper and some gems, and thats about it really, other than lots of blood, sweat & tears!!!

I also made our crackers this year - hobbycraft do a fab kit to make them, you just add a little decoration & your own presents. I got the girls a lipgloss keyring each and Paul some cufflinks, he got my a necklace & put it in my cracker before I tied them up. The decoration was so simple, a journalling stamp, little flower embellishment and a thicker for each of our initials.

I also got on with my mini-book to journal December, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with the December Daily project like I had the year before, so I just made the mini-book and printed off my photos at regular intervals... I just need a couple of hours to print off my journalling now to put it all together; bit of a blurry shot, but you get the idea...

A fab photo opportunity arose on new year's eve; my brother had a fancy dress party...

the girls looked fabulous;

I cant believe that I managed to get Maddy's hair to go like that with a bit of backcombing & some coloured spray!

Paul & I also joined in, not sure what I was meant to be but he looked rather debonair!!

And I actually got some layouts done!! I haven't uploaded the photos yet so will share later this week...

My new year's resolution is to scrap more & blog more!!!

Life is good at the moment, just great... my heart feels full and I feel happy. I feel very, very blessed.
Thanks for popping by
Claire xxx

New layouts

2011-11-08T01:52:00.000-08:00

So I finally got down to some scrapping over the weekend! I did some crafting with Tiegan which is always fun as she's actually pretty good when she accepts that everythign doesn't have to be perfect!

This first layout is a photo that I've wanted to scrap for ages, and I used papers that I've been holding onto for ages, not wanting to cut into them for some reason!! The papers are Websters and I've also used a Prima mask, a prima vine, and of course the obligatory mists & distress ink; The photograph is of my brother and nephew with my new baby neice when she was just a day old. The look of wonder in Daniel's little face is just lovely.

The next is a layout using an old kit from Sarah's Cards - I thought I would try a different style, with cleaner lines & less inking & distressing. I really dont like how it turned out!!! I guess its a lesson learnt, but its another layout for the album & another memory captured!

See? Not one of my best at all!!! But its good to be scrapping again, I still havent solved the storage issue or whether to scrap upstairs or downstairs so I'm kind of doing both!!

Thanks for popping by xxx

51 sleeps... really?

2011-11-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

Is it really only 51 sleeps till Christmas? Where on earth has this year gone?!!

I'm feeling very envious of all the ladies off on the Sarah's Cards retreat this weekend.... I soooo enjoyed myself in March, but I promised the girls a firework party this weekend... ho hum! Still, I consoled myself by ordering some lovely stash online, cant wait till my pizza boxes arrive!

I ve been finding lots of craftign time lately, and seem to have several projects on the go, so very little completed as yet; a holiday mini-book, a christmas wreath, some paper shoes, 3 circle journals, a layout that is taking forever with tons of fussy cutting, but I'm loving it... so lots to share soon.

A few bits I can share now; the photographs are really bad for some reason?

The first is an old layout I did for SBM of Maddy in the snow last year; love these prima blooms, yummy!

This one is another old LO for SBM, I was provided with these papers, and decided to amke a collage of photographs of a holiday in Kefalonia;

And finally a birthday card I made for Mum using an older kit from Sarah's Cards, as you can tell, I'm really not a cardmaker!!!

Well thats it for me, I'm off to buy fireworks and yummy food for tomorrow night and a well deserved bottle of red, it is the end of the week afterall! happy bonfire night all xxx

Long time no blog.............

2011-10-20T04:26:00.000-07:00

Wow its been ages.... I haven't blogged, haven't scrapped or been on any online forums for soooo long.

Its for good reasons though mostly, life has kind of taken over again & the girls and I are happy and settled in our "new" life. We've finally moved on & put the past behind us & been able to forget all the horrible things that the last year threw at us. The past rears its ugly head now & then but we are able to stamp on it when it does!!

So I've now started to get back into my scrapping, I've done a few layouts & am halfway through a minibook about our holiday... so I will post some pictures later this week, but I thought I would summarise the last few months with some iPhone photos;

Tiegan in her high heeled boots; she really is a diva in the making!!

The girls on the way to our holiday.... are we nearly there yet?!!!

Oh dear Tigs had an accident running around with a yoghurt drink in her hand.... oops!

Maddy joined a football team, team shot after the first match - yes she is the only girl!!!

I got my tattoo done finally ! Ouch - 4 hours of hurt!

I celebrated 5 months with my Mr M - he buys me my favourite pink roses every month to celebrate ... sweet eh?!

I took the girls to see their first pop concert; Katy Perry at the o2;

So its been a busy few months, yes I plan to try to blog more, and now things are settled I plan to craft more.... here I face a dilemma; do I leave my craft things upstairs in the spare room... this means I dont so as much as I am there on my own while Mr M & the girls are downstairs.... or do I move it all into the corner of the dining room which will mean I do a lot more, but will then be moaning that the hosue looks untidy?!!! hmmm!

Thanks for dropping by, have a fab day xxxx

One sleep to go .....

2011-08-05T02:42:00.000-07:00

Just one sleep left then we're off on our holidays!! Woop woop!!
For the first time in over 20 years, I'm not having a holiday abroad... we are off to Woolacombe Bay tomorrow & the forecast for next week looks awful!!!

I'm not stressing about it, there are lots of lovely things to see and do and I sooooo need a break from work & the mundane things at home.

I've scrapped lots lately - I had planned to submit an entry into the design team call at Sarah's Cards, but I didnt quite have everything ready by the deadline so never mind. I need to photograph my layouts & share them; this is one I've done;

The stamped title hasn't photographed very well, its an Ali Edwards phrase - "loving life with you by my side." Papers are all Prima Pastiche collection, yummy scrummy!!!

This is my Mr M, the reason I've been taking a back seat from my scrapping, blogging & forums etc. I'm happy, the girls are happy & life is generally pretty good just now. A week of girliness in Devon may have him running for the hills though!!! We'll see!

So I may be back this evening with more layouts to share or it may be after a rainsoaked holiday in Devon!!

Thanks for popping by! xxx

You Two .....

2011-07-21T03:23:00.000-07:00

How many ways can a Mother love their children? How can you possibly ever describe how much you love your children? Its not possible is it?

You two:

Are my world...

Tiggy; you are;

A total poser!

Very short tempered;

Have your own (strange) sense of style!

Look beautiful when you laugh;

And when you smile, your eyes sparkle;

I love you more than words could possibly say;

Madison, you are;

Football crazy!

Such a brave little girl after you had your tonsils out;

Grandad's girl!

Addicted to taking your picture on my iPhone! Such a crazy chick!

Give me a lump in my throat when I look at your pretty little face & dimples;

Are just soooo cute!

I love you more than words could possibly say;

If I had to choose between loving you and breathing, I would use my last breath to tell you that I love you...
Love you both always
Mama xxx

Manic Monday

2011-07-18T03:07:00.000-07:00

Where do the weekends go?!

It seems five minutes ago that I was excited about it being Friday & now here we are at the start of another week!!!

The July kit from Sarah's Cards came on Saturday & I am a very happy scrapper... lots of lush girly papers & embellies that I cant wait to start playing with!

A couple of bits I havent shared yet; the first is my name badge from the retreat earlier this year;

loads of Websters on here, I just love their papers as there is so much to cut into ... yummy!

Here is a LO I did for Scrapbook magazine, the theme was scrapping punk style;

It was quite a challenge as its totally out of my comfort zone, I enjoyed making a mess with the pink acrylic paint though!!!

Now I have something quite exciting to share... my Mum (Scrappyjan you may know her as) has been selected for the DT for Scrapgirlz, an American site for digital scrappers and her kits are now on sale on the site!!

Here's a peek at the first couple;

Scrummy arent they? Take a look at Mum's new blog to see her work, she's very clever! http://scrappyjanstudio.blogspot.com/

If I manage a who LO with the lush July kit I will be back to share tomorrow :)

Happy Monday everyone!
xxx

About time....

2011-07-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

Another long gap inbetween posts.... life has been crazily hectic! My baby girls turned 6! Where has that time gone? Plus the never ending birthday parties & things going on at weekends has meant I've had no time to scrap or blog, or actually do anything!!!

I will upload a couple of LO's later, but for now I wanted to share a cute pic & their friend ready to go the the ugly bug ball at school .... how cute are they?!!

I seem to be having trouble with blogger lately, I am unable to comment as me on other blogs, I come up as anonymous! Very frustrating!!!

Hope to post more later, have a fab week! xxx

I'm back!!!

2011-06-06T05:59:00.000-07:00

Wow - I have been totally lost without my laptop - it froze on me totally & so it had to go to laptop hospital to be fixed!!! But I'm back now without very much to share actually as I haven't done much scrapping at all lately.

I took a week off with the girls over half term & we've had lots of lovely days out which have provided me with loads of good scrapping fotos so watch this space!

Isn't it lovely when someone does something really kind for absolutely no reason other than they are a genuinely kind person. In my last post I posted a layout with some cogs that I had handcut from chipboard. As you can imagine, it took forever, so imagine how touched I was when I received an envelope full of them that Virginia had kindly sent to me after reading my blogpost. Virginia, thankyou, that was such a kind thought and I was really touched, I shall certainly make very good use of them! xxxx

A couple of nice fotos from the week just gone;

How cute are these plaits?!

This next one is of Tigs - she insists on choosing her own clothes now, often she gets it right - the other day really wasn't one of her most stylish.... but she insisted it was "funky"

Finally a foto that captures the fun the girls had on the rides at Southend.... it really wont be long before they're begging me to take them to Thorpe Park!

Thats it for today, need to photograph some layouts so that I can share them!
Have a good day!
xxx

This might be a long one!!

2011-05-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

Wow I cant believe its been so long since I blogged! Life taking over and all that... but here I am with LOADS to share!!!

Its been a long few weeks with ups & downs but the Ralph girls always bounce back!!

Ok so here's what I have to share;
- some layouts; finally!!!

- some cute pics

- the story of our family circle journal craft club!!!

So layouts first.....

This is one I've wanted to do for ages; 2 very special people no longer with us & missed every single day...., this layout took me days & days!!!

not a great photo for some reason, a couple of closeups;

And another layout; this is using the lush new BoBunny papers;

I just love this photo of Tig, she looks so naturally happy :) and love all the bits on these papers that I can chop into!!! Pretty colours too!!! I added some Prima lace, prima flower & some A line flowers sprayed with teal mica mist.

Couple of close ups:

a third layout....

I'm really pleased with this one.... it took ages!!! I used Tim Holtz masks, lots of mists, made the cogs from cardboard (using the masks as a template); I inked them with Rangers distress inks... I did try to use UTEE but think my embossing pad must be a bit dry as when I heated the UTEE with my heat gun it blew all over the kitchen worktop & melted there instead of on the cogs!!!

I think I will be using these papers a lot...Bobunny timepiece.... LUSH!!!!!

couple more closeups:

So many layouts!!! Well for me 3 is a lot!!!

Here are a couple of cute pics Ive taken lately;

3 little girls very excited and tired after an afternoon crafting!!!

Maddy is an odd child.... she found some of my old pop socks.... yes i have some i'm afraid!!! |& wore them as stockings on the trampoline!!! Not sure if I think this is horrid or cute but funny all the same!!!

Finally we started a family circle journal yesterday Mads, Tigs, Mum, my gorgeous niece Alisha & I.... but its more than a CJ... its a family saturday crop... a time for the girls to spend time together... a time for me to craft with mum (a massive rarity!!!) and a time for Alisha to have some girly time away from her two stinky (just kidding boys :) I love you both!!! ) brothers !!!

We made our covers & the girls did their front pages..... I really did have the best time & hope the girls did too! Here's our efforts...

Mum's as always was fab but I think Tiggy might pose some competition as she get older... check this out... she did this on her own & she is FIVE!!!!

Cool eh?

It was Alisha's first attempt at scrapping & I think she loved it!!! Bring on more family crafting!!!

There you have it.... told you this was a long one....

Hope you've had a fab weekend

C xxxx

Rocking My World on Friday

2011-03-18T02:12:00.000-07:00

I too cant believe its Friday again already ... the week's gone past in such a blur, I need to dig around to think about whats rocked my week this week... here goes;

My friend Jo for being a great friend & the good laugh we had last Saturday & plan to have again this saturday taking the kids out;

Chris Moyles & Comedy Dave for making me laugh out loud when watching on the red button & for raising so much money for comic relief;

The celebs that trekked across the desert to raise money for comic relief & the documentary on it last night... I think I have a crush on Olly Murs...shame I'm old enough to be his mother!

The beautiful photographs that I have now ordered from Venture... they are stunning and made me sob when I saw them; here's a sneaky photo I took on my iPhone;

stunning eh?

And finally for the fact that I booked a holiday... woop woop! Devon here we come (well, in August anyway!)

Whats rocking your world today?

I havent kept up with my list as I would have liked to but here's whats going on in my head today:

LISTENING: To silence!
EATING: A cheese scone
DRINKING: Coffee
WEARING: Trousers that are feeling a little too tight.... better put the scone down!
FEELING: Happy its nearly the weekend
WEATHER: Miserable... what happened to Spring?!
WANTING: Chocolate
NEEDING: To do some housework this weekend
THINKING: Nearly the weekend!!!
ENJOYING: Being creative, I'm doing so much scrapping lately!
WONDERING: if the weather will be nice enough for us to take the kids to the country park tomorrow

There, thats my 2 lists for today!!!

Lots of layouts to upload tomorrow!

Have a fab weekend everyone
Claire xxxx

Happy Tuesday!

2011-03-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

Hello !

Yes I know I havent yet uploaded the rest of my LO's from the retreat & will do once I can get them onto this laptop, but for mow I have some others to share:

This is one using the new Sasafrass dear Elsie papers, love all the sweet colours in these papers!

A couple of close ups:

The next is using one of my big pile of unused Sarah's Cards kits, I'm now getting through these, although some of them are so lovely, I dont want to use them!!!

I finally got round to using the KaiserKraft papers from one of the monthly Sarah's cards kit. Love this photo of Tig :)

The quote at the top left hasnt photographed well but its lovely:

And finally one using the January Sarah's Cards kit;

More close ups;

Apologies about the hob in the background, I get the best light there!!

One more:

Pretty, pretty papers, want to make lots more with these.

So thats it for today! Hope everyone's having a good week.
Thanks for stopping by
Claire xx

Rocking my World

2011-03-11T01:16:00.000-08:00

Well its been a strange week, having only worked 3 and a half days... I'm so grateful for the weekend break I had last week, its made me more able to deal with things as they come along. I can just take a deep breath & take it on the chin. So thankyou Mum & Dad for having the girls for the weekend, I love you both lots.

I'm grateful for the inspiration given at the retreat last weekend from the talented DT at Sarah's Cards, its kick-started my mojo & I just can't stop scrapping at the moment & what's more, I'm loving what I'm creating.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to make new friends, I met some of the loveliest and kindest people last weekend, not to mention some of the funniest. Only a true scrapbooker would grab their camera to take a photo of a bowl of tartare sauce....

Making pancakes with the children was a highlight ; they even managed to toss them (with a little help)... they were delicious too!

Its wonderful that it finally feels like Spring is on its way - Mads & Tigs wore their summer dresses to school today (albeit with vests underneath!) and were happy to do so :)

Finally I'm just grateful for everything that I have, life isn't always easy but having had a weekend away from the girls & the house last week, when I came back, I really appreciated all that I have.... I feel very, very blessed.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone
Claire xxx

Nearly Friday !!

2011-03-10T09:02:00.000-08:00

Firstly a huge thankyou to Kirsteen for sorting my header for me, doesn't it look fab?!

Thank you Kirsteen!!

Now no more felt animal monstrosities to share today, Mads want a kangaroo next... ha ha watch this space!

I hope to post the rest of my retreat layouts this evening but for now;

LISTENING: To the traffic outside
EATING: nothing, tea time soon
DRINKING: Tea
WEARING: Black top & skirt
FEELING: tired..... I didnt stop after an hour & a half last night
WEATHER: Cloudy & windy
WANTING: to finish last nights LO
NEEDING: To sort huge pile of washing
THINKING: Nearly the weekend!!!
ENJOYING: Being single... I can do what I want when I want (kids permitting of course)

WONDERING: what to cook for tea tonight

Thanks for stopping by & have a good evening
Claire x

Lots to share!

2011-03-09T12:26:00.000-08:00

So as promised, I wanted to share some of my LO's from the wonderful Sarahs Cards retreat this weekend.

The first is from a class by Vanessa; I was horrified to hear that we had to punch holes in our photos...... HOLES IN PHOTOS!!!! I started to get very nervous about doing this, but actually its a fab technique that I have already used again, so thankyou Vanessa!!!

The colours were also a little out of my comfort zone as I tend to be a bit "pink" and rarely use primary colours, but I'm pleased with the end result & its so nice to try new things;

The Second class was Nat's and this really pushed me as I had to do lots of sewing (yes I really did sew!). I havent finished it yet so will blog it later once I have. However, it did involve making a cute little felt owl, which was bagged by my DD Tigs as soon as she saw it, as she is in Owl class at school. Mads then proceeded to have a huge tantrum as she wanted a hedgehog as she's in hedgehog class.

So I had a go and was told they had to be stuffed toys.... omg!!!

Tigs was over the moon with hers:

Mads however, looked at the sorry excuse for a hedgehog & said "oh well at least you tried Mummy"!!

Ha ha! you can see her point!!! THIS is why I do not sew!

On the Friday evening we could all participate in a sketch challenge and this is my effort:

(for some reason these havent photographed very well?)

Note that I actually used brand new stash that I bought from the shop; lush Sassafrass papers & blooms etc, very unlike me not to save & stroke!

On Sunday I was delighted to find out that the lovely DT voted me runner up!!! I won some gorgeous MME Lush goodies:

Thank you lovely ladies, I'm very flattered & very happy!!!

Next was a gorgeous class by Claire, using some of my favourite papers from Websters & misting, another of my faves :)

I just loved this class, the intricate cutting is soooo up my street!!!

Then we had a class with the lovely Liane which used some really pretty papers; Dear Lizzie from AC & some lovely paper lace, again it was different for me, I was desperate to distress more & ink!!!

Finally a LO of my own that I did during the cropping time on Saturday (in between several games of bingo; Tracy was the caller & had us all in stitches when she kept getting fits of the giggles!)

I stayed up till 3.15 finishing this & I wasnt the last to bed!!! Another of my purchases used here; more Sassafrass. I also used an Inkadinkadoo stamp & the little picket fence is a digi download from Websters that I think I will be using lots more of!

I'll blog the other LO's when I've finished the one from Nat's class later this week, but for now:

LISTENING: To the girls wriggling around in their beds & the dog snoring!
EATING: nothing, I ate far too much at lunchtime!
DRINKING: Aero hot chocolate mmmmm!
WEARING: Pink flowery PJ's
FEELING: chilled out
WEATHER: dark !!!
WANTING: to scrap but...
NEEDING: an early night & I know if I start a page I'll be up late!
THINKING: This post has taken ages!!!
ENJOYING: feeling comfy in my pj's
WONDERING: if I can just start a page & stop after an hour & a half? .....

Thanks for stopping by, Nanite all
Claire xxx

Wish I could wind back a week!

2011-03-08T02:31:00.000-08:00

I know I still havent sorted the fotos for the header!

Wow what a weekend I had at the Sarah's Cards retreat. The organisation behind the scenes & the classses were just fabulous, amazing goody bags, lush shop, & lovely, lovely people.

I haven't laughed so much in a long time and it was so nice to make new friends and meet people that I have spoken to online.

Very tempted to book for November!

I will upload some LO's once I've photographed them.

But for now:

listening - to nothing, its very quiet today
eating - a bag of salt & vinegar square crisps, yum!
drinking - coffee
wearing - black skirt & white blouse

feeling - a little tired from staying up too late to finish a LO
weather - sunny but cold
wanting - to be back on the retreat

needing - to put an enormous pile of washing away

thinking - I wish I was back on the retreat
enjoying - the sun coming through my window

wondering - how to get acrylic paint out of the carpet & Tiggy's hair

Yes my DD's decided last night to do some painting in the spare room & covered each other & the carpet in a multitude of colours of acrylic paint! This time last week I'd have lost the plot with them, but having had some "me" time this weekend, I can take a deep breath & close the bedroom door!!

Back later to upload some LO's :)

Thanks for stopping by & have a great day!

Claire x

Hmmm...

2011-03-01T06:18:00.000-08:00

Hmmm is how I'm feeling today, this is a funny week for me for personal reasons which is why I didnt blog what was rocking my world last week bcause nothing is!!!!

Its a blip and it will be over soon but for now:

listening - Someone in the office upstairs being noisy on the telephone
eating - a chicken tikka slice - soooo many calories!
drinking - a cold cup of coffee
wearing - black skirt & red blouse
feeling - yuk! We all have a horrible cold!
weather - Freezing!!! This has to be the longest winter ever!!
wanting - it to be the weekend

needing - to clean out Squeak the guinea pig this evening
thinking - could Squeak's cage wait just one more day?
enjoying - the early nights Ive been having this week
wondering - what to cook for tea this evening

So there you go, just a quick post today, I will be back & I will be happier!!!
Have a fab day xxx

Thursday....

2011-02-24T02:37:00.000-08:00

Yes I am playing around with the layout of my blog... I need to figure out how to add photos into the header, if anyone has any tips they would be most welcome!!!

One of my favourite days of the week, I work a half day on a Thursday and its nearly the weekend...

Mads & Tigs have been full of excitement this week as they went to the Natural Hostory Museum on Tuesday with kids club, the fact they had so much fun makes me feel much less guilty for not being with them over the half term...

A layout to share...

One of the layouts I did for SBM article this month on making your own paper lace. Love these Hampton Court Cupcake papers, lovely soft muted colours.

Ok so I decided to join a few other bloggers in recording whats going on, doubt I'll be able to do this daily but here goes...

listening - to traffic outside
eating - nothing!! am sooooo hungry, silly not to have had breakfast
drinking - my 3rd coffee of the day
wearing - leggings, top & boots
feeling - tired
weather - overcast
wanting - it to be the weekend
needing - to do dome housework, the house is a tip!
thinking - this year is flying past
enjoying - the Plan B album downloaded this week
wondering - whether to go & buy these shoes later today.......

Not sure I have the willpower to resist!!!

Have a good day xxx

Two In One Week?

2011-02-18T09:26:00.000-08:00

Well I certainly seem to have the blog buzz back again... 2 posts in a week?!

I love reading Virginia's Blog - celtic house, the idea of whats Rocking your world is so fab & her blog always makes me smile, so hoping she wont mind, I shall say whats rocking my world today...

Family; I am incredibly close to my brother and Mum and couldn't have managed the past ten months or so without them, they have been constantly supportive, patient when I feel like a good cry over the phone & generally always there.

My baby girls; although no longer babies at 5 and a half, my whole world revolves around them, always has and always will

First birthday pics

We've all changed a little bit!

I love the fact that we now have the weekend ahead of us & I will hopefully have some scrapping time!!!

Even better is that I have a babysitter on saturday and so am very excited about going for a chinese & then to the cinema - must not let that guilt creep in!!

Loving the layout that I finished this week of 2 special people, Ive been scared to scrap it incase I couldnt do it justice... sorry dont have pics on this laptop - hey I might actually post twice in one day!!!

Im also excited that its not quite as dark as it has been when I leave work in the evenings which means that although it's still cold, spring is definitely on its way!!!

Ok so bring on the weekend! Thanks for stopping by & hope you have a lovely weekend xxx

Is it really over 4 months?

2011-02-16T06:20:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged in over 4 months!! I must make more of an effort!

I need to change the layout of my blog ... its looking a little boring and I'm no longer thirty something, having "celebrated" my 40th in January. I've actually done quite a bit of scrapping lately & made a few cards, so I do have some things to share at last!

Firstly this is a LO that I did several months ago for SBM designer gallery using Lost & Found papers from MME, love this range, there's so much cutting to be done!

Ive scrapped this photo several times before, but its one of my favourites, so I'm sure it wont be the last time I scrap it.

The next one is using an old kit from Sarah's Cards, if I remember rightly it was the Bayberry Cottage range, the photo is of Maddy sitting on top of a climbing frame on holiday in Egypt, I couldnt get her down, she just loved being up in the tree!

The picture isn't very clear unfortunately. I used the luscious Prima build a swirl stamps for all of the embellies & gorgeous teal mica mist on the background.

Another LO of Maddy now, using another kit from Sarah's cards, this was using the Crate Restoration range; I really must start using the kits for more than one LO!!!

I'm using these 7 Gypsies alpha stamps lots for LO titles lately, I just love that theyre so versatile. The photo was of Maddy at sports day, just love the happy look on her face, she didnt even know the photo was being taken.

This next LO is of my nephew Joshua, he's such a cute little fella, and I love this picture taken by Mum & edited in Photoshop so that just his eyes are blue.

Lots of Sasafrass Lass papers here, and again that lush teal mica mist.

Speaking of misting, the new Prima at the CHA looks gorgeous, I'm especially liking their new masks, I seem to use misting on all of my layouts so I might just NEED to buy them :)

Finally as I'm feeling guilty that I haven't blogged any layouts of Tigs, this is a photo I took of her when she was asleep last night. She has a wet flannel on her head for some strange reason!

Odd child!

Thats all for now, I will try hard not to leave it anther 4 months as I have lots more LO's to share!

Thanks for stopping by

Claire xxx

Catch up!

2010-10-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Oh life is so hectic lately!

I can finally post some LO's that Ive done, as they were for SBM I havent been able to upload them till now!
The first was using a photo given to me by Linds & the LO was for the article "get the cover look", what a gorgeous little girl!

The papers were pink paislee from the June kit by Sarah's cards, I loved making the leaves on the lo using plain white paper, covered with distrss inks & crackle glaze! And of course it wouldn't be one of my LO's if it had no cosmic shimmerz, not that its an addiction or anything....

Next one was for the DT gallery on the theme of going back to school

I did this so long ago that I cant remember what products I used! I think the pp's were Jenni Bowlin ^ Sassafrass, AC jewellry box thickers; K&Co mini alphas, prima flowers & lava red cosmic shimmerz.

I did have a third LO to upload, but for some reason, it wont upload here, will have to give it another go over the weekend.

Thanks for popping by to have a look and have a fab weekend xxx

Long time no post.....

2010-09-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

Well I've certainly had a long break from the land of blogging!
Life just seems to have taken over lately.... My poor little Nanna lost her battle a while ago & the girls and I have been on a well earned break to Tunisia, I had absolutely the best tme there & met some amazing people, lovely families who I truly hope to stay in touch with.

As for scrapping, I seem to be doing lots of stuff that I have to do for cj's & SBM etc & no time on my own scrapping - so I'm setting aside the weekend to play with the gorgeous stash I cought from Sarah's Cards lately as well as some of the monthly kits that have started piling up!

I had a little disaster on holiday in that my beloved camera was stolen... I then spent the next morning driving around Hammamet in a taxi trying to buy another one, I managed to do so, but it broke a day later!!!! So I'm currently cameraless!

Then i dropped my blackberyy into a cup of tea... not a wise move! Its irrepairable so I bought an iPhone4 - fantastic except its broken & I cant make calls on it.... aaargh! I now have to take that back to the Apple shop to get it replaced. Technology and I aren't the best of friends lately, clearly!

Owing to the current chaos, I have no layouts to share but watch this space after the weekend!

Claire xxx

Another long gap!

2010-07-30T06:02:00.000-07:00

I know its been ages again but life just gets in the way sometimes & it certainly is at the moment.

Anyway I have a couple of LO's to share both from SBM

Dreadful pic I know but I took it on my Blackberry - this was for the 4 ways kit challenge. It certainly was a challenge, having 2 little girls, I never scrap boys so to receive a kit full of planes, traines & automobile related stash made me cry "eek" !!! The pics are of my nephew Daniel quite a few years ago & I was actaully quite pleased with the result although it stretched my creativity comfort zone a little!

Another bad pic (again blame the blackberry or my inability to use the camera on it properly!) - this was for the DT gallery where the theme was to scrap Summer holiday LO's. This is Maddy on holiday in Fuerteventura at 11 months. Just love these Sassafras papers as there's so much to cut into!

Thats it from me today, life is frantic at the moment but only 9 sleeps to go till we go on holiday!!!

Finally to a special person, you are the bravest little lady I know, I love you with all my heart, hang in there & show those Docs what you're made of xxxxx

A very scrappy weekend!

2010-07-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

Wow !! I have had so much time to scrap lately its been fabulous! The girls are growing up so quickly and play together nicely (most of the time!) and so sometimes I feel like a spare part. I deliberately tried to get most of my housework done during the week so I had spare time this weekend... lovely!

So finally I have some LO's to share; The first is using the gorgeous Roadshow papers again in Sarah's May kit, really love the girly feel of these papers! Ive added a Prima butterfly & some swirls cut on the craft robo which Ive coloured with sakura pens. The flowers were basic e-line flowers sprayed with glimmer mist & circles which I distressed & inked then added some raja centres.

A couple of close-ups ;

The second is from the same kit!

I really enjoyed this one as it came together so quickly, Ive added a little prima packaging & felt under the title, Ive also used cosmic shimmers on the background & on the blooms which came with the kit, plus a little added bling & some punched butterflies. A few close ups again:

So it seems I am finally getting some of my mojo back! I'm also working on a mini-book about our June including my "project independence", the girls first sports day, their birthday etc so watch this space!

One more thing, I gave in today & let the girls have their ears pierced, now I know some of you probably think that I'm crazy them being only 5, but it was a moment of weakness & I'd heard so many "but Mum, Chloe, Carmen, Ellie etc etc etc has" that I gave in! So here we are today with them showing off their earrings!

Thanks for looking everyone, & have a fantastic Sunday!

Claire xxx

Hooray its Friday!

2010-07-16T02:52:00.000-07:00

It seems to have been such a long week... working 5 days instead of 4 and a half seems so much longer! But the weekend is finally (almost) here!

Now that the decorating etc is done, I seem to have much more time to scrap which is fab as I have quite a few commissions to get done. But this week I have been playing with some of the recent Sarah's Cards kits, just need to get them uploaded & I can show :)

Oh I went to see the fabulous Eclipse last week... wow its brilliant, I want to go again! Ive always been a huge Edward fan up till now but have to say Jacob is buff ! Yes I know I'm old enough to be his mother, but believe me there were plenty of women in the cinema my age or older who looked as flushed as I did whenever he came on screen! m looking forward to it being released on dvd so that I can watch it over again.

Soem cute pics now of the girls when I took them out for lunch last week:

Definitely ones for scrapping!

I shall upload some crafty ones over the weekend!

Have a fab weekend everyone xxx

at last!

2010-07-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

At last I have had some scrapping time after my efforts over the last month! I managed one whole layout last night!

This is one of my favourite photos of Maddy, although I cant take the credit for taking it, thanks Mum!

I used the lush May kit from Sarah's cards containing the absolutely beautiful Roadshow papers, I HAVE to get some more of these, just love them;

One thing I'm not happy is that the title looks like it says "my own beauty" !!! the "little" in tiny alphas doesn't really show!

And now a moment to show off what I've been working so hard on for the last month:

Here are a few shots of what I've achieved !

This is one of the "before" shots that I took not a great pic of the girls but check out the magnolia!!!

And here is my new hall:

And my new dining room:

and my lovely lounge! Just waiting for new settee to come tomorrow now!

I'm so proud that I did this!! Silly I know but really important to me ... now I have to clear the garden of carpets, rubbish & cut the grass that's fast becoming a jungle!!!

Finally a gorgeous pic of Tiggy (silly how I feel guilty if I only post a pic of one of my girls!)

This one is crying out to be scrapped..... watch this space!

Thanks for looking, have a great weekend everyone

Claire xxxx

Oh the stress!!!!

2010-06-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

I really cannot wait until this week is over.... project independence is almost complete "ish"....

the party almost didnt happen on |Saturday when the keyholder of the hall decided to go to Herne Bay for the day - with the key!

Fortunately one of the mums arriving with the children knew the caretaker of the Scout Hut so we shipped everyone (including the disco) there & started a bit later than planned. I was so glad when it was all over but the girls had a wonderful time, they also enjoyed opening the mountain of presents!

This is a photo of the mountain once they'd opened them all, needless to say they then got another huge pile the next day from me!

For their actual birthday I treated them to an ice cream sundae :)

Little monkeys! Still no work to share, but will do very soon :) If I ever get time to scrap for me again!

Enjoy the sunshine! Claire xxx

Its been a while....

2010-06-22T06:29:00.000-07:00

I have my reasons for not blogging for a while.... my life is chaos!!!!

I seem to get myself involved in rpojects that are just bigger than I anticipated them to be!

Currently in hand is "Project Independence" - this is basically me proving to myself that I can do things myself - er like decorate the entire house?!!!!

I have wooden flooring being laid at the end of next week and so I have to get the painting finished beforehand. 2 rooms done, 2 to go.....

On top of this I have several projects for SBM to get finished before a deadline

PLUS (!!!) its Madison & Tiegan's brothday on Sunday & so I have a party to prepare for. I was planning on a 50% invite acceptance rate.... BIG mistake! 8 children have declined out of almost 50, lots of party bags to make up tonight!

I havent any LO's to share as yet although I will do soon, watch this space!

Workd cup fever has struck in our house, the girls aren't totally understanding the concept though as they keep asking when Man Utd are playing...

Here they are dressed up in anticipation of the first game:

They then decided that the England dresses and deely boppers weren't enough and so Mummy's facepainting skills were called for:

Tiegan seems totally over her tonsil op now, she even ate toast for breakfast this week, which she's avoided for a fortnight, getting her back to school seemed to help her get over it quicker. She no longer has her husky little voice but has gone all squeaky! She got to bring home Mr Panda last week for being such a good girl in class!

Thats all for now, hope everyone is enjoying the lovely weather!

Claire xxx

A week in the life....

2010-05-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

I've tried not to be a bad blogger but have had no internet connection at home for a week, turns out in my spell of being an independent woman last week & moving furniture around, I managed to unplug the wireless connection.. I did say a while ago that Claire + technology = disaster!

All fixed now so lots to catch up on. The girls met one of their heroes last week when Mr Maker opened the fete at Hempstead village. They look a little in awe!

Mum took the most gorgeous photos of the girls on a roundabout that are just crying out to be scrapped... watch this space!...

A long weekend this weekend and typical bank holiday weather, I borrowed a convertible car from a client to pose in which has been a total waste of time, I'm really not petite enought to climb into the back of a coupe to do up booster seats and the girls were frightened that the wind (in the five minutes I've had the roof down) was going to sweep them away.... stick to my car then....

I finally collected my May kit from Sarah's Cards up from the post office - it is possibly the best I've had yet, so lush! then gave the girls some money to spend in the pound shop around the corner. They chose some crafty bits and here is what they made. How funny are these?....

And I have finally finished some Lo's Ive been working on for a while. I managed to finish two using the April kit from Sarah's cards and another using leftover bits from the kit class in the UKS cybercrop challenge;

this one is of Tigs leafing through my albums once again!

and finally one ive been unhappy with & so loathe to finish but as the girls are five in a couple of weeks, thought it was about time!

Speaking of which, I now have a birthday party to plan! I think I'm more excited than the girls are, what worries me is that they are in separate classes at school and we seem unable to narrow down the invites to less than 50!!!
How scary is that?!!!!
Hope everyone has had a fab bank holiday weekend xxx

Bloggers Block!

2010-05-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am again....

Those of you that know me know that I am having a pretty rough time of things lately. My world has just about fallen apart & I'm having to rebuild it bit by bit...

But life works in mysterious ways or so I am told & so I can only become a stronger person & most importantly a better mother because of it !

Enough of my woes, I seem to have lost my mojo a little & have only managed a couple of LO's in the last 3 weeks, the first is pic od Tigs when Mum, the girls & I were waiting fo rthe train to take us to London to watch Mama Mia. I used loads of gorgeous Prima here, pp's are from the Pastiche collection... it hurt to cut up so many pages!

The second is a little more personal , taken a little while ago, but sums up how I felt when I scrapped the

foto. I used the luscious kit from Sarah's Cards... just love this kit but unable to do it justice at the moment! For once I may have stacked pizza boxes as the next one is due very soon!

Another weekend bites the dust but my bloggers block is broken!!

Have a good week all xxxxx

Too many things to do!

2010-04-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Why is it that despite the best will in the world, there is never enough time to get all the things done than you commit to?

I've been busy with projects for SBM & generally busy at home so have had NO time to get anything done for the UKS cyber crop this weekend. The pre-cro challenge needs to be submitted by Thursday and the Mystery kit challenge by friday - I havent done either yet! Thats without thinking about eh photos & supplies needed for the crop challenges - oh well I may not be scoring many points for my team this time!

Tigs has her appointment for her tonsillectomy next Thursday so things are a little anxious at home at the moment, she is a worrier at the best of times - this is obviously a very big thing for her.

We saw the paediatric nurse yesterday who explained all about the magic mask containing fairy dust & special butterfly that sticks onto her hand with a plaster.... poor little chicken :(

At least shee gets to eat lots of ice cream and of course I'll have to taste all of the flavours for her to make sure she will like them!

I am determined to get at least the MK challenge done tonight so watch this space....

Claire x

I am clearly a technophobe!

2010-04-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

OK ao I thought I was fairly IT literate.... wrong!!!
I have recently purchased a new laptop & bought photoshop elements, thinking it would take my photography to dizzy new heights... I would finally be able to use all the frames & brushes that I have ... wrong! I just cannot get to grips with anythign other than basic editing... If I disappear for a few days; I have locked myself in a room to work this flaming thing out!!!

I have managed to uppload a couple of layouts I did with the lush March kit from Sarah's Cards;

Here's the first, its a layout about the girls learning to read & write, the journalling (in those cute little Jenni Bowlin letters) says "it seems only five minutes ago you were born, now you are learning to read & write" - I then got Tigs to write her name & age on the bottom

The second is about the girls living their life, being who they want to be & living it to the max!

Why is it that no matter how much you tidy & clean before you go on holiday, when you come home the house looks like a bomb (or twin 4 year olds) has hit it?

We have a busy week this week, Tigs has an appointment at the ENT consultant on Thursday about hving her tonsils removed :( she seems too tiny!

Then on Friday we are off to see Mama Mia - I can't wait - the girls have watched the film about 50 times & know all of the song lyrics so they should love the show - we plan to keep it a secret until we get there!

Well, that it for today... I WILL work out photoshop soon!
Claire x

Home Again

2010-04-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Oh well that week went sooooo quickly! We had a fabby time in Sharm, the weather was lush, hotel was lovely, I ate too much & drank too much & now definitely need to start a "healthy eating plan" Hmm I'm sure my jeans were looser on the outbound flight than on the way home ....

We took advantage of the hotel laundry service & stuffed a sack full with washing before we left - it all came back beautifully clean & ironed for £20, they must have shrunk those jeans though.....

I took some gorgeous photos of the girls and the scenery etc so loads of scrapping material, I've decided to make a mini-album of the holiday but am going to print off all of the decent photos to put in it even if they dont all get scrapped I will use them somehow so watch this space!

I have some layouts to upload this evening so will post again either later or tomorrow.

Oh and the bookmarks I received in the swap on UKS were stunning :)

Have a good week xxx

5 more days to go woop woop!!!!!

2010-03-29T04:34:00.000-07:00

Yessssss! Only 5 more sleeps until we go on holiday! I think I'm more excited than the girls are...
I sooooo need a break.

The holiday reviews I've read sound great & the weather forecast for Sharm el Sheikh is fantastic for the next fortnight, so we're all set :)

I have no layouts to share today, having bought a new laptop, I need to install the software for my camera before I can upload piccies, but Ive done a couple of layouts, one for the Butterfly Crafts DT April challenge, which I cant share yet, but Ive also been playing with the gorgeous March kit from Sarah's Cards... yummy blooming retro papers from Prima.

I also managed to bag a couple of the bargain boxes before they all sold out again, & had a huge stash delivery on saturday when it all arrived. As usual the girls were desperate for me to "share" my new stash... not on your nelly girls!!!!

Tigs has been a little bit of a struggle lately... tantrums galore over the silliest of things..... get this, last night she had an enormous tantrum over missing the weather forecast. ??? I've warned her that if she is naughty this week she won't be coming on holiday, but will have to stay in the kennels with Chester, evil mother eh?

Hopefully some pics tomorrow, Happy Monday! x

Lots to post finally!

2010-03-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

OK so this may be a long post....

I finally got round to uploading some photos I've taken recently.

It was world book say at school today so Mads & Tigs both dressed up as Mariposa Barbie (whoever she is... I really must keep up!)

These are the last couple of layouts I've done

this one was inspired by the latest prompt from the Shimelle class & I used up so much stash! Including the last few papers from february's kit from Sarah's cards.

Here are my Mothers' day cards & pictures from my babies. I cried when I read "my Mummy is pretty & kind" and "my Mummy is happy"...... isn't that just the nicest feeling?

check out the glasses on Maddy's pic & the co-ordinating lippy, bag & shoes in Tigs' she's a girl after my own heart!

Another LO using my fave papers ... lush Sassafrass..

Not as long a post as I thought... I'm tired!.........but long enough :)

Have a good weekend!

C xxx

Spring is on its way!

2010-03-16T02:48:00.000-07:00

Finally it seems that winter is over & Spring is on its way... I love this time of the year when we have the summer to look forward to. Doors & windows open, the children can play in the garden & lots of barbeques & family days out etc.... yessss!!!!

Its been a long week, Mads & Tigs were off from school last weel with a nasty sickess bug, I don't think I've washed as many sheets & towels etc in a long time! Now would also definitely be a good time to replace our cream carpets with wooden flooring.... yuk!!!!

All better now though & back at school, unfortunately Tigs is still having unsettled sleep as she keeps waking in the night with a nosebleed. A trip to the docs today should hopefully start getting it sorted. It means that we're all really tired and in desperate need of a holiday... luckily we're off in just over two weeks - woop woop!!!

I can now share the LO I made for Butterfly crafts March challenge;

The written challenge is up on the blog here, there's a great prize up for grabs from scrapagogo.

I selected to use orange, turquoise, scallopped edges, butterflies, bling & pins from the list of "ingredients".

Ive been playing with the Shimelle prompts too this week & will have a couple more layouts to upload tomorrow. I've also almost used up all of the February kit form Sarah's Cards, just looking forward to getting the March one now, especially as I ordered some add-ons.

Oh and some good news (kind of!) my BIL is home from the states at the end of next month.... I feel a shopping spree on two peas on its way!!!!!....

Have a good day x

Something out of nothing....

2010-03-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

Well I'm almost up to date with all of the things that I had to do for DT challenges & layouts etc, still cant upload them as yet but watch this space!.....

So Ive now signed up to Shimelle's latest class - make something out of (almost) nothing. The first challenge is to blog why we have so much stash ... contrary to many others, I actually like the word stash! Its mine all mine and I really will NOT share it!

I think I have lots of stash that I bought when I first started scrapping that I really dont like anymore... the type of papers that I now look at & think urgh what am I going to use that for? This is dwindling now as the girls are starting to scrap and aren't nearly as fussy as me so they're happy to have some of my older patterned papers & die-cut shapes like shoes & handbags etc (really, what was I thinking?!!!)

Then I have what I call my lush stash - these are the patterned papers that I'm really frightened to cut into & the blooms & bling that I'm saving for even better fotos than those in the pile I have waiting to be scrapped. I'm really never going to be David Bailey, so the fotos aren't going to get that much better & if I didn't like the fotos, why have I printed them & put them in my "to scrap" pile?

So I have a huge drawer full of my favourite papers and boxes of bling & blooms that I just cant bear to use! I have sets of alphas that I dont want to use because a title might use up all of the "e"s for example & then I might not get another title form the set.

There ... thats honesty thats the secrets behind my stash, I may even upload a foto or two before the class starts, and so I am now going to organise my stash & tidy my craft space in readiness for the beginning of the classes tomorrow... anyone who wants to join in can here ......

My next challenge to myself is to finish the last book in the Twilight saga that I started last night.... I am totally hooked on the books, despite not being something I would ever normally choose to read... I just decided to see what the fuss is all about & why they are so popular - they are fantastic!!!! Plus I have to admit to having the tiniest crush on Edward... not the Edward in the films, but the Edward in my imagination as I read the book before I watched Twilight.

Therein lies the struggle ... scrap or read? Well I think I shall tidy scrap stuff in prep for class prompts tomorrow & then read before bed!

Have a good evening x

Bad Blogger!!!

2010-03-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

Okay so I know I'm a bad blogger as I haven't posted for ages but Ive been really busy working on projects that I can't share just yet.

This is just a quickie, check out the Prima site, they have a secret up their sleeve & a freebie giveaway; check it out here; here - looks exciting, and everyone knows I just love Prima LOL.

Where did February go? Its incredible that its March already, but the lovely thing is that we're starting to see the first little glimpses of Spring - being able to go out at lunchtime today without a coat was bliss!!!

Right off again now, I will post later when I have something interesting to share / say!

Claire x

Fab Weekend!!!

2010-02-21T08:20:00.000-08:00

Wow what a great weekend! I had a couple of days off with my girls & went to see the Princess & the Frog - a really funny great disney film!

Someone thinks I have a beautiful heart - aaaw thanks Virginia :)

On Saturday I went to a crop with my Mum & had a really good time, with some great company, I guess that includes you Mum ;)

Managed to put together most of my circle journal & do a layout with some beautiful graphic 45 papers its here:

Just loved using these papers, they're very easy to cut into & are lovely weight.

Then I had some fantastic news - that I'd been chose for the Butterfly Crafts Design Team, I'm delighted, flattered & really excited about the challenges ahead!

So, as I said a fantabulous weekend.... back to work tomorrow!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2010-02-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone got the cards, chocolates & flowers they were hoping for!

Mads & Tigs got a heart on a stick from "their boyfriend" Miller... they share a boyfriend at 4 !!!!

There may be trouble ahead.....

I've spent the last 3 nights finally cutting into my new stash, my latest LO is below:

Just loved doing this, Maddy was tickling my feet when I took these photos & they are just so natural & capture her sunny disposition... I guess this is why I scrap... to capture the tiny moments of my miracles' lives. & I don't just get to look at the fotos for five minutes, I get to create with them... & using papers & pens is just sooooo lovely!. Well, its monday tomorrow, short week for me as Ive taken holiday Thursday & Friday to enjoy half term with the girls.... bring on " the princess & the frog" !!!!

Have a good week everyone xxx

Is crying over a gift a good thing?!

2010-02-10T05:02:00.000-08:00

Phew! MIL loved the album - fortunately the tears were happy ones not sad ones....
We all went out for a lovely greek meal and ate far too much... no change there then those of you who know me might say!

DH has "manflu" today and so my girls night out this evening may well need to be cancelled :(

My next target is to make DH an anniversary card and a valentine's day card (which are both the same day - think I could get away with one card like he usually does?!) Dare I cut into those scrummy prima papers that have just arrived? .... Hmmm I think not, not just yet!

I have two very tired little girls this week after a late night on Monday so they are having early nights which should, in theory, leave me lots of time to scrap - but I cant get motivated at the moment!!!!

I have 2 circle journals to finish as well as the cards to make, and all of my fotos taken since christmas to scrap, also have a LO to do for the 4 ways challenge for Scrapbook Magazine.... its a real tricky one too as the kits is nothing like my usual style, but pushing the boundaries is good I guess!

Will have a crack at the valentines card tonight & upload tomorrow!

Happy Wednesday! xxx

So little time so much to do!

2010-02-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

Goodness me, January was a busy time & February is proving to be even busier!
I've been frantically working on an album for my MIL's 60th birthday - her birthday is today & its finally finished (at around 8pm last night!!!)
Once she has it I will upload some pics...

I'm feeling like an evil mother this morning, having subjected Mads & Tigs to typhoid & Hep A jabs in advance of our holiday to Egypt... hopefully it will all be forgotten by the time they come home from school!

I thought I would post a few older layouts today, now that Ive got the birthday album done I can get down to scrapping some of "my" stuff with the gorgeous papers & primas that BIL brought home for me fromt he States... watch this space!

This was taken of Mads on holiday in Spain - her sitting still is such a rarity it had to be scrapped!

I love this photo of Tigs & J - used the gorgeous November kit from Sarah's Cards

I'm out for a yummy Greek meal this evening - the girls are addicted to olives (strange I know!) so it should go down well with them!

xxx

January is nearly over!

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Thank goodness its nearly the end of January - a crazy time at work for me, it seems to get worse every year! Hence the reason for lack of blog entries, working in the evenings to make sure it all gets done!

I finally finished my layouts with December kit from Sarah's cards and got round to scrapping a page of the girls all dolled up & ready to party.

This was Gary the first night we had the heavy snow!

Madison was desperate to get out & play & make a snow angel

This last LO is of my party girls!

The CHA sneek previews that I've seen look gorgeous, especially the Prima stuff, so have ordered lots of goodies from an American site! Lots and lots of Prima - yay!!!

I'm becoming a little concerned about Madison - she came home from school the other night & told me that she had kissed a boy called Josh at school. Of course Gary gave her the inevitable fatherly chat about not kissing boys, I was telling a friend this in the playground on Thursday & a lady overheard. She said "my son came home the other night & told me he'd had a kiss from Madison" when I said "oh you must be Josh's mum" , she said "No I'm Harry's mum" - how many other boys has she been kissing I wonder? It doesn't come from me I can assure you!

Have a good week & those of you who have tax returns to file, think about your accountant and get it done PLEASE !!!!

Oh one other thing to mention, I am becoming increasingly concerned that our boy guinea pigs may in fact be a boy and a girl...... watch this space....

Thank crunchie it's Friday!

2010-01-15T06:15:00.000-08:00

This seems to have been such a long week, maybe because its my first week of working 5 days, I dont know, but I'm so glad the weekend is almost here.

My circle journal for UKS is finally completed & ready to go off on its travels around the country, I'm really excited about seeing what my teammates have done & looking forward to seeing mine completed in about 10 months time.

Just got a birthday album to put together now & then I'll be free to scrap whatever I want!

I'm hoping for some brighter weather this weekend to get out on the fresh air with the kids & Chester - at the moment ot just feels like we're either at work / school or locked in at home! Roll on summertime when we can have the doors & windows open & it isnt dark at 4.30 so you feel like its bedtime driving home from work.

Happy Weekend!!!!

New Additions!

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We have 2 new additions to the Ralph household - Bubble & Squeak, our new guinea pigs.
I hope they last longer than the hamster - the set up cost a fortune & they have the biggest cage ever! I'm sure its bigger than the dog's cage!

Here is Bubble with Tigs:

And here is Squeak with Mads:

Both very cute, but also a bit stinky - guess who gets to clean them out?!

Exciting week this week - we booked a holiday yay! We're off to the Holiday Village in the Red Sea. Well hopefully not actually IN the Red Sea, beside it would be nice :)

We go at Easter and I cant wait - I so need a holiday!

Finally my circle journal is nearly complete, just got a layout to do then its off on its travels around the country! havent done one before so its quite exciting. I'll post some pics of my CJ here once its complete.

Happy Tuesday ! x

My first post!!!

2010-01-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

Well I finally succumbed today & joined the land of bloggers! I'm not sure I'll have the energy or enthusiasm to keep it up, but will certainly give it a go for now.
I'm keeping everything crossed that we have no more snow this evening before we all get home safely, I couldn't bear another journey like the 3 hour one we had on Wednesday. Bring on the snow to pay in with the kids at the wekend, but let it all be gone by Monday morning I say!

Am going to have a go at uploading a couple of layouts Ive done lately that I'm pleased with:

I love this photo of Tiegan. Had lots of fun cutting, inking & distressing the sassafras lass papers & stamping around the edges.

This is the next one:

I did this layout about the last Thursday I had off with the girls. They are now at school full time on a Thursday and so I'm now back to working full-time. Sad really, I will miss my day with them & having our girly time. I was taking the photo myself and we just kept giggling, some of the other shots are really funny of us pulling funny faces - they have to be scrapped!

Nearly the weekend - yay!