Everythings rosey.....

Blogging has slightly taken a back seat this week - in favour of, well, life I guess!?

First up - we have a moving date - so it's all go here now :-(

Boxes everywhere. Chaos that is irritating but a must.

In a quick does of normality - Finlay was given a beautiful puppet theatre this weekend by my sister - I love it! He concentrates very hard on making sure the curtains are "perfect" before he pulls out the puppets. He was a bit sad that he didn't have a dinosaur puppet - so I quickly made one from felt (hurrah for felt) and he seems placated for now.

It has an adorable chalk board at the front for show times :-)

He has been playing with it all day - and It makes me smile to hear him put on funny voices and say "Hello my name is mr Saur"

*heart boom boom*

Talking of heart boom booming things - check out these roses I managed to find!

STUNNING right?

When Christine Middlecamp blogged this cute mini the other day, I fell in love with the rose embellishment on the front (and the book of course) But Oh that rose!

So when I found these, I was over the moon at I could add into my craft stash some in my usual red/black/white/green love.

Hmmmmmmmmm love love!

Some of them have holes in like beads - some are cabochons and are without holes. Perfect for hot gluing to the front of mini books, headbands, bags, albums etc etc

endless list of pretty thoughts running through my mind!

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Friday Freebie Digital Stamp "Hollie2"

Hello! Another Friday comes around - which means it's time for another musing!

This week we are seeing Hollie again.

She loves the Christmas lime light so much that she had to make another appearance!

You already know her cheeky festive personality - so lets get down to the good stuff...

And when I say good stuff - I mean, check out the projects Lisa and Caroline made for you this week! Lisa told me that this is her fav musing yet - can you tell?

Project1: Snowglobe.

First of all - WOW. Cute huh!?

her 2nd project is this adorable gift tag: Isn't it beautiful? I love the colour combo so much, it actually makes me look forward to Christmas! *I know I know... shush!*

And this fab card to match - so pretty!

And Caroline has paired up Noel to his Girlie here and made a stunning combo-card.

I love it when people put musings together on projects - and this is no exception.

The cute snowflakes on this make me want to hang decorations!

Don't worry - for all the Christmas haters out there - next week returns to normal musing posting - with a funky bold character to keep you in the summery mood!

DOWNLOAD HOLLIE2 NOW

Fabric flower headband....

When I blogged the bib necklace - I had no idea how much response I would get - I was overwhelmed by the comments I received on my blog from you guys - you rock - thank you for them, they made my day - and so many of you gave me huge compliments, which gave me in tern a real confidence boost!

I am now though, slightly addicted lol.

I made this today - and timed myself from start to finish. 25 mins.

so - I think those who loved the necklace should give these fabric swirls a go!

I used 2" satin ribbon, rolled and sewn onto a felt circle.

I then sandwiched it onto a headband, and hot glued a matching felt circle on the other side (attaching it forever to the headband)

Try it! So cool!

Check out Ben's mum - her red hair complimented the blue of the headband so much I couldn't resist using her as a model for this photo. (That jacket is gorgeous too!)

LSNED 2010

Shimelle's Learn Something New Every Day class

is coming up fast - starting 1st of September.

I did the class last year, but only got to day 19 - so I am determined this time to finish it this year! It's in my top favourites of Shimelle's classes, and recommend it totally! (one of the reasons is the forum, it is really fun to join in and see what other people learn every day!)

Plus, you get access to the class for life. Awesome.

Because I am obviously excited - I couldn't actually wait to get started - so I made my front cover today. I am using a ring bound book with dividers inside.

October afternoon has some perfect paper in the thrift shop line (or fly a kite - one of them lol!)

- with the quotes on - like:

"We do not remember days, we remember moments"

etc.

Which is pretty ideal for this class theme.

I used a "Wise owl" and various other stickers to create the cover.

September is going to be a busy month - for many reasons... including my besties wedding -aka "Wedding of the year"

on a sad note for Sept... we are moving back to the flat.

It's kinda funny, because, last September I moved out from my flat and based a lot of the LSNED around that - and this year, I will be moving back into the flat I left - weird.

Funny/sad?

We will see!

Anyway - For now, bye!

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Airgrace photography

I interrupt normal crafty blog posting to bring you a post about photography;

A particular photographer to be exact:

Angie Gregory from Airgrace Photography.

Airgrace photography works with a difference, and that difference is that when you use their services, Angie donates a proportion of the fee to a charity called

Camille's Appeal

So not only do you get beautiful relaxed natural photography - you will also be making a difference to the lives of young children who are suffering.

I love Angie's style - She has four galleries on the website and all the photos are relaxed and friendly - capturing the moments that make a day special.

I have taken the images blogged today from her website.. but I hope I will soon be blogging my own from a photo shoot that I want to have done of me, Ben and Finlay by her.

I've never had a professional shoot - but am desperate too whilst Finlay is still young and adorably innocent. I also want some family shots that are not self timed!

If you are local to Fareham - or can cover her travel costs *within reasonable distance* I recommend her totally! (I happen to know she is a lovely person too)

Angie Gregory:

And before I forget

Angie mentioned to me that she is running an offer at the moment

25% off all bookings taking place in September and October. Slots are going fast!

She only has a few slots left.. so book now!

Fabric "bib" necklace

I have been really pondering what to wear with the dress I have bought for Laura's hen do.

(please ignore my pasty "need tan now" legs and scraped up "need a wash now" hair!)

When you are plus size, it becomes more a case of "does it fit" over "do I like it" - So when I do find something I really like, I am over the moon.

I think it's important to have the right jewellery or accessories to go with fancy day outfits - and have recently been in awe of all the flower fabric/bib necklaces that I have seen around on Etsy.

So inspired that I gathered together some various supplies (some of which I ended up not using)

and I spent an hour watching You Tube "how to make fabric flowers" videos.

And made this:

Considering I had never attempted a fabric rosette flower before - nore a fabric yoyo etc - I think I did ok! (is it vain to love your own project?)

I have numbered the flowers in order to tell you how they were made etc:

1: Metal PM flower brad - with a pearl bead sew in, and sewn onto a organza bow.

2: A ribbon flower made from folding scalloped ribbon and sewing as you go - with a glass button in the centre.

3: my FAVOURITE flower of the necklace - a satin rosette made from 2" wide ribbon, twisted and sewn into shape - sewn onto a felt circle. A pearl bead sew into the centre.

4: A rosette flower - following the same method as before, but using organza.

(see below for 5&6)

7: an Organza Yoyo flower - with a button sewn into the centre.

8: A felt flower made using 5 circles, folded and sewn onto another larger felt circle - with a button sewn into the centre.

9: A swirl of pearls made by folding a string of pearl beads round and round - sewing every other bead to a felt circle to keep secure.

10: A chiffon flower - made like a yoyo - but petals created by sewing - a glass button sewn into the centre.

The following two were not made by me:

5: A flower taken from a hair slide from Claire's accessories (old!)

6: An American crafts crochet flower with a pearl bead added into the centre.

Then I attached two small D-rings onto each end - ribbon and pearls and covered the whole back in a crescent moon shaped piece of felt to secure it all together!

What do you think?

Friday Freebie Digital Stamp "NOEL" August 20th

Morning all. I am a bit late this morning putting the freebie up - I was allowed a lay in *bliss*

Anyway - today we have NOEL for you. It is Hollie's boyfriend.

She knitted him that scarf and hat - can you tell?

Noel is a quiet boy - he likes collecting fossils and reading spy novels.

He met Hollie at the shopping mall where she was handing out tickets to see Santa in his grotto, she handed him one, and he was so taken by her beauty that he ended up on Santa's lap not quite knowing what to do next. Luckily instead of a "boy gift" from Santa's sack, Hollie gave him her telephone number. Cute.

Download link at end of blog post

The CT came up with a couple of cuties for you today:

Caroline used some gorgeous festive embellishments - I adore the ribbon charm!! So pretty!

She coloured "Noel" without the hat - and I love what she did with him. He looks totally gorgeous - her shading is always so beautifully done.

And this is the Card that Leanne Sent me - paper snowflake!

I was addicted to these last year for my JYC Shimelle class - and it made me smile to see one again. For more snowflake fun - go HERE but come back for the freebie lol!

IF you want NOEL to reunite with Hollie

DOWNLOAD HIM HERE

I found my mojo.

Remember at the end of this post - when I said "I have forgotten how to scrap!"

Well. I think, I have found my mojo.

I started off by looking through my recent albums - at the pages I loved and mentally noted why I loved them - or rather - what made them "my style"

I gathered those thoughts, sat down at a clear and tidy desk and started to scrap.

With one change - the size.

I am trying 8.5x11 again.

I forgot how much I love this size!

Ok - so on my mental check list were:

* KRAFT - or plain card stock.

(I have tried to embrace and love patterned paper, but for me, all my fav LO's start on a plain background)

* Doodled borders

* Inking and splodges - be it paint or alcohol ink

* Buttons sew on with bakers twine

*Scallops

*Asterisk stickers

*Smaller photos

I applied all those factors and made a Layout:

I really like it.

It feels "me" - something that a fair few of my recent LO's have lacked!

Now all I need is a AC portrait 8.5x11 album and I am away!

What do you think?

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OTHER STUFF.

So. I mentioned that I popped to London with Ben last Monday - but I didn't show you what very naughty lovelies I picked up:

First up - and most pointless of all is this travel card holder.

I know, I know - those who know me will be like "Err... what! Why!?" BUT in my defence.. the one that Oyster cards normally come in is a yellow Ikea one which is less pretty.

And - if anything, this will make train journeys even more fun :-D

*ok.. moving on.

STICKERS! Surely a good buy right?

More pretty letter stationary.

I don't know what I love more about this?

The weird halos that suggest the passing of the animals depicted on this paper - or the fact that there are some that actually look dead? OR the fact that it says "HEY EVERYBODY! ARE YOU READY TONIGHT" on it.. Ready for what? ...... to die? Eeeeeeek

This cute little shopper was a delight to our eyes.. esp when we read the wording...

Much less scary "death party" and more "uber cute love!"

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Badges. I have a fair few paper chase badges- and have been known to wrench their pin backs off with pliers in favour of adding them to layouts, but normally they are monster style.

I fell in love with this range in paper chase - I have a mad love of illustration - always have, always will - and I love everything about these...

I picked up a couple of postcards too.

These ones have a 60's vibe to them - which I adore.

I love arty stuff.

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What have you done this weekend so far?

my whole family are away - so me and this little chap have spent our afternoon mostly moping around - doing some colouring here and there, watching Peppa Pig and Ben & Holly (Does anyone else who is forced to watch this show notice the mad sexual tension between Nanny Plum and the wise-old-Elf??) Anyway...

We have eaten some of the home made Jam that Ben made.

*and I decorated*

We have picked apples for an apple crumble.....

we have measured and admired the pumpkins!

I was very very very excited to see this patch of Orange! I really want them to ripen before September 31st. Because, we are moving again. :-( The flat that I have mentioned periodically over the last year, that we are selling, hasn't sold.

And we have exhausted the finances that were enabling us to both rent and pay mortgage on the empty flat, and there for have no choice but to pack up - and move back, "home" ?

We have learned some harsh life lessons.

We have learned what we do and don't want from a rental property.

We have learned to garden and grow and be happy with eating home grown produce.

We have learned that sometimes shared spaces come with complex feelings.

We have learned that leaping into the un-known doesn't always work.

We know now that we would be happy move out the area for the right rental property. Where we are now, we could only afford a garden 'flat' but - if we moved even 1 mile around, we could afford a house - so, for once it isn't all about location location location!

It has to be a quiet house. This is the most important thing we have learned.

Shared spaces are great in some respects - but for us as a family unit with a 2 year - not so-practical. But - we did have a lovely Summer here... and I know we will get to grow veggies again, one day!

Freebie Friday - Digital stamp - 13th Aug - Hollie

Happy Friday 13th!

*Mmmwooooaahahhahahah*

(that was meant to be scary laughter)

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Welcome to the Freebie Friday post - For you today, I have another festive lady.

(don't worry - there is a BOY next week!)

Meet Hollie-

She is very happy-go-lucky. She LOVES Christmas carols. She sings them all year round - especially in August.

She only owns stripy socks - and doesn't believe in people who don't believe in Santa.

My CT came up with two cards this week:

Lisa used this bauble design in the background to her card - and used the coloured version of Hollie to make this cute Christmas card. - love the polkas!

And Caroline came up with this gorgeous card using the line version of Hollie, colouring her in to match her card colours. I love the candy stripe socks and the little tulle bow - divine.

And if that has you inspired...

DOWNLOAD HOLLIE

HERE

Shimelle Summer Crop

In the mood for a weekend of crafty fun?

Keep popping by HERE for more info!

a life post

I am truly sorry for my recent lack of blogging. I don't want my blog to just become a freebie blog - it was a creative/life blog for the past three years and I need to get back into the routine of "life posts" as well as freebie posts!

So - this is a quick catch up post.

Friday I dyed my hair.

"Scarlet red"

.

.

.

YEAH RIGHT. I hardly call that scarlet red do you!?!?

It's black with red roots (awesome... fail)

Can you see that my fringe needs a major trim again? my hair literally grows for England. If it were an Olympic sport - I'd win hands down.

It's so bad today that I've had to pin it up! My hairdresser is away for 3 weeks - so I might have to bite the bullet and book in elsewhere *shudder*

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What else is new?

Well - Saturday marked the day of reckoning for Laura's wedding to-do list.

We kicked serious to-do list ass! I will not blog pictures - after all, it is her special day and I don't want to hijack it! -However, if you want to read about the wedding-of-the-year-to-be, then you can do that here :-D

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What came next?

Ah yes.... mmmmmmmmmmmmm

It was a lovely day Sunday weather wise - so we decided to go fruit picking - half way there my friend Nat text and said "Watcha doing?" Turned out we were both headed for the fruit picking place funnily enough - so we met up and picked strawberries - and raspberries, we nursed stinging nettle stings (poor Finlay - he ran straight through a whole bush - his legs were 99% welt! - speaking of which - does anyone know any good sting relief ideas?? Preferably that I can pop in my bag in case of such situations?)

Ben intends to jam make again- whilst I watch in awe of the patience it takes to get jam right.

And at the farm - Finlay fell in love with this girlie here:

she is a few months older than Fin - but - true

love knows no bounds.

He is all over her - playing chase (half of that game is actually Elisha trying to run away though.. which is sweet and funny)

I kid you not - he didn't eat ONE strawberry in that field before paying - what an angel!

they had PYO Sunflowers too!!!!! How cool is that?!

Monday brought some London fun.

Me and Ben had planned to go to London around our anniversary for lunch and sight seeing.

But stuff kept getting in the way - but Monday finally saw us board our cheap day return train to London town where we went to the Natural History museum to see some weird stuff in jars "Aka the deep sea exhibit"

You see the bottom left picture...

SEA FLEAS.

true - story.

*Blurgh!* they are HUGE too - about 20cm (the largest)

After that we went to see some dinosaur bones...

which obviously put us in the mood for cake.

mmmmmmmmmmmm *stuffed*

We then wandered round London for little while - after spending an HOUR in the new Apple store *Europe's largest* only to be told my iphone on/off switch was definitely broken *doh obviously*

BUT it would cost £130 to fix

*um.. ok... I think I can cope with it broken!!*

-

In sad news - I have lost the ability to scrapbook lol.

I need to find it again quick. Which I know will come from actually scrapping - but when I do - I really don't like what I am making.

Example a:

I like parts of it - but the whole thing is a no no. I don't know what it is that I am lacking right now.. but I think the solution is to actually look through my albums - find my fav layouts and remember what I love about them etc.

I think I might change up my scrap size too - do some 8x11 scrapping for a change. I loved that size, and think it could suit me right now for a quick change of scene!

Anyway - if you are still reading this - thank you. That, for now, is my current life!

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