Pumpkin and Getaway

Well,... Its that time of year again! wooo! Pumpkin at the doorstep time! I had grand ambitions this year, of creating a really arty pumpkin, with that stained glass effect of not cutting right through, however, as you can see, It didn't happen! I tried! I really tried! But the Cheshire cat proved too much for me and my £1.49 carving set from Tesco (Aka the worst £1.49 I ever did spend!) So, instead I have a plain and highly simple moon and stars motif, decorated with paint (as usual) I don't think the residents of my road were ready for a arty pumpkin anyway.. it is Bexhill after all!

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Can I just say - a quick message to Sharon who sent me the robot napkins- Thank you! I have moved house, and lost your email (Its on the PC that's not connected!) I found them again today in my drawer and felt awful that I hadn't emailed you sooner! Moving proved too much to take for my day to day mind! But Thank you - so cute and perfect for Finlay's birthday! Email me please so I can send you a little something in return :-D

Hooter

I made this little decoration for someone today, she told me she had a thing for owls yesterday... Can you guess who you are?......


-- Posted from my iPhone.... How very 2009 of me!!!

Well, as you can see, I had a go at making one! I used mainly Cosmo papers, with a little Bo Bunny thrown in for good measure. I was lucky enough to be freecycled a wreath wire frame from a local florist, but you could easily buy one of these from a florist if they have any in stock. No harm in asking! I wrapped the frame in florist tape (but wish I had used masking tape now, or even better, the tape you buy in a picture frames, kraft coloured... anyway) I cut a million leaves out - and stuck them in sequence (ish) round the frame. I cut out far too many, I have enough left over to make something else.. but what? I then decorated with paper flowers made from the patterned papers. Cute huh? I love it, its hanging from a hall cupboard at the moment. I intend to spray in matte varnish and hang in the porch. It only took about an hour and a half to put together, I think being "un precious" about it helped add to its "charm". What do you think?

Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg - Garden Planner '09-'10

As promised, pictures of the project I made for Ben this weekend. It is a garden planner. Since moving in, we have taken on a good size garden, with room at the back for a large veggie plot. This has been our little dream for a long time, and Ben is thriving on it. He has become quite the garden centre enthusiast! We also have a compost bin, which, part of me is all "felicity kendal" about (Felicity Kendal for those who don't receive BBC channels was a lead character in a Brit sitcom in the dark ages about a couple who lived off their land) But part of me is like "mmmm, that better not smell of death in the summer!!!" I think I might plant a lavender bush by the outdoor compost bin, that might help with any dubious odours that waft in the direction of my sun lounger! I am all for the "good life" but also have a phobia of those little mini beasts that may inhabit the veggies.. Oh, its a catch 22, but one I am willing to see out :-)

Anyway - back to the topic on hand (wow... I sure do know how to ramble off topic)

Ok - Bens present. A garden planner featuring the new range of Cosmo Cricket papers "Nutmeg" from the mini deck. I love the mini decks from cosmo A L O T. They are divine and perfect for smaller projects where you only need an accent of pattern. I love the 12x12's too of course, but there is something very exciting about using 4-5 patterns from one range without actually cutting up a 12x12! I think Mini Decks will be the way forward for me with card making too. cute. Right, So, I took one of the plain kraft A5 folders from Paperchase, and covered it in my favourite non scrap product of all time, sticky backed woodgrain vinyl from our local large DIY store. Using nut meg papers, and MM cork letter stickers, I decorated the front. I used an old Elsie chipboard frame that I have loved for ages but never got round to using. The sticker strips are Cosmo Cricket Earth Love (apt for this project!)

I made a little index card for the front page, slipped into a paperchase A5 page protector

Each section has a divider page, using a punched cosmo tab, and various matching papers and cardstocks.This is my fav page - It has a chipboard peashell that I have been saving for years for the "right" project!

I love the seed section, I used paperchase A5 photo page protectors, 4x6, into which I slipped kraft envelopes for seed storage. I was over the moon with how it looked, the photos don't really do it justice, its a fun section of the planner!There is a section for plans of the garden and notes... to do lists etc
Then there is a Month by Month section, where Ben can write in what needs to be done.
On the back of the folder, I have taped in a bag for his seed markers.

A little close up of the front.

I truly loved making this planner, in fact, I think I would go as far as to say that It is my favourite personal project this year. Ben loved it, and started filling it in the same day (which is unusual for him!)I really hope you like it too!

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Autumn Sunday

Today I am carving my giant pumpkin. I have narrowed it down to one billion designs... just gotta pick!

Yay for the clocks going back (not so yay that Finlay woke determined to get up at 6am!) when we were dressed, we went out for a walk to the park for Finlay - it was really quiet everywhere and I was like "wow... quiet for half ten!" Then it dawned on us it was half nine and in fact most people were quite sensibly still in their PJ's. Still, it was nice to get out as the weather was warm and Finlay appreciated the run around.

I am feeling overwhelmingly autumnal. I really want to do all sorts of autumny things. Its at this point of the year that I LONG to live in a big white wooden house in America, with a veranda that runs round the whole house and a porch swing. Each year I would decorate the front with pumpkins and squash (do you Americans call them gourds?) anyway - I would also have a cute wreath on the door, like this Martha Stewart one,

Or this awesome paper rose one. I mean, check it out! How stunning is that!??!

Oh mai, I think I might literally HAVE to make one to placate myself! That votive Jar next to the wreath is a bit pretty too,.... Oh geeze, why do I do this to myself!?

Anyway. I need to reign in my crazy crafty notions before I explode.
Onto something random - the little scrapping weekend I went on last week featured the normal photo sessions, Shimelle brilliantly brought her Polaroid and a box of film, which we all had a photo with, and then held up in front of our faces... I just realised that I haven't downloaded them yet lol.. I have this one though, cute.

She also took these - which, I love a million. I really dislike my photo being taken of me these days, weight gain and general worries about being the largest out of the girls and the frumpiest etc bother me NO end. So - when I was like "oooo I need a new avatar style photo" we did the classic crouch and look up photo - which helps lumpy ladies such as moi look "normal" I love these photos lots! And that, is all I have to say today *I think?* Ooo.. Actually, craft related, I made Ben a Garden planner - I love it, I will get some photos and show you in my next post!

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sad

Wow, I could not be more saddened about the news today - that Scrapbook Inspirations will be no more. I really do think that the UK scrapbookers will be worse off for its closure, regardless of what some people say. I thought that the recent changes to the magazine were brilliant, with a fresh new look at the way it was presented, new features, new faces and more. I wish that Future had given the magazine time to prove itself after the changes :-( It catered for all, beginners, those who have been scrapping a while and those who were confident with their scrapbooking. Its a shame that such a good all rounder will be missing from the shelves of my local newsie, and in fact from my door mat once a month. I was lucky enough to be commissioned a few times for layouts (that little aqua and pink one on the front cover at the bottom is mine *sob*) So on a personal level, I will miss seeing my work in print. Some may say "hey, its only paper and glue" but for me scrapping has opened up many more doors, I have found more than a love for patterned paper with this hobby. I have found a new way of capturing my memories, a new found love of photography, a way of releasing creative energy, and also, most importantly, I have found friends. I loved opening SI once a month and spotting my friends work. So today, I am sad for the UK, and for everyone who got published in the magazine, and for those who read and loved the magazine.

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Colour lovers

Colour is a huge part of my life, and probably yours, as crafters, colour is a giant part of what makes us tick. We surround ourselves with colour, our homes, clothes etc, it's a direct reflection of "us". I think we go through colour phases too, for instance, I used to love purple, and I mean LOVE it, but now if someone asked me to scrap in it, i'd be hard pushed! I was thinking about my albums, and how when i am in a "colour phase" I tend to limit myself. So, I decided to download a colour app for my phone, and when I see myself reaching for the green 'again' I will open the app, choose a palette and stick to it for that page.



Cute and inspiring. As long as it's not purple that is lol!!! The colour schemes are made up by other app users, hence the odd names. I like "veggies man"...

November at GoGo

Oh my! I was just going over my blog posts - and found a "Draft" post for November GoGo!!
I thought I had posted this AGES ago!
Right - so here I am rectifying that! (unless I did post it - in which case... sorry! Its a cute kit though and worthy of seeing twice LOL)
My cards for this month are here:

and my layouts here:

Cabin of scrap.

I have just spent the weekend with the girls above. It has become a bi-annual thing for us now, and I thoroughly look forward to the weekends in the cabin. I love the dynamic of the group and I just loved the weekend. It was full of paper, glue, scissors, wine, crisps, chocolate, fizzy laces, diet coke, pop up pirate, the early learning centre memory game (AMAZING) super noodles, wooden bunting, Polaroids (Thank you Shim!) Ipod Doc Musicals! (Thank you Clo and Laura!) me snoring (sorry girls! I have a cold!) warm socks, GIANT veggie burgers, lost and found keys, spiders, bear hats, pajamas and laughter,thank you ladies! Now, normally I scrap around 10 layouts - but my scrapping has "slowed" down recently, I used to scrap a page in an hour, but these days, I seem to spend a good evening on one layout at home. I noticed this at the cabin too, I found my considered pace and stuck to it. I made the following 6 layouts........

I hope you like, the last one you see here has a title some of you may find strange. If you do, I suggest you watch Juno or listen to the soundtrack - cute!!

I had a seriously fun time, and there will be some funny photos uploaded soon!

Cabin

This weekend I am in the cabin in the woods, it's amazing and I am having a fabulous time, despite the spiders!!! Here is a sneaky peek at some of my layouts.....



-- Posted from my iPhone.... How very 2009 of me!!!

blog abandonned?

No, but I can see why you might think that. I have been INSANE busy. I warn you now, this is going to be one of those posts that have no rhyme or reason. It will be mere glimpses of things that I have happened to take photos of. I have had a weird week, one I am not too fussed to repeat anytime soon. The move has gone well, we haven't our old flat yet, and that terrifies me to the point of disturbed sleep, I keep wondering if we have actually made the right decision, but whenever I see Finlay running around his new bedroom, it makes me realise it was the ONLY choice we had. He loves it here, he runs round all the rooms, and causes havoc in them all. We have set to sorting the garden out, and once the pond is drained and filled he will have the run of the secure garden as well, which is brilliant. I try and block the thought of the empty flat *or albatross hanging from my subconscious neck* from my day to day life as much as possible.
This weekend I am away with the girls to the cabin in the woods again. I am soooo looking forward to a weekend away you have no idea. A whole weekend away with hopefully no worries!

So, onto the randomish things I mentioned.

Apart from pumpkin joy -I have also been LOVING this seasonal soup by Covent Garden Food Co, It is delicious, and a real must have for the soup lovers. I am normally a soup hater, unless it comes with giant croutons or french bread, but this soup is divine on its own, as it has rice in it.

Mmmmmmmmm... pumpkin soup yummorama. Plus, the packaging comes with a cute Quentin Blake cartoon, who in my eyes was half the magic of Roald Dahl.

Then there are these two cuties that have found their way into my new pad :-D

And Squash Cupcakes *like pumpkin, but milder in flavour, very similar to carrot cake*

Decorated with Cinnamon Cream cheese frosting - DIVINE and a must do!

And finally, my new pram tote - Its always handy to have a bag that you keep on the pram for those "nip to tesco" moments - and this is it! C U T E huh!?

Thats all I have to say about that,...
HALLOWEEN SOON! woo!