This months Book List!!!

Not mentioned for a while about the good books I have read so I thought they deserved a whole post on their own.

I have read three books in the last month each of them a brilliant summer read...now I am no book critic but if I like what I read I either pass the book on to someone who I think will appreciate it (I never keep fiction books I would end up papering the walls with them I read that much) or tell people how good the book is...which is what I am gonna do now!

The first book I read was called Marshmallows for Breakfast...how cool is that title...it is written by Dorothy Koomson who also wrote my Best Friends Girl (which I read and loved and passed onto several people who loved it too)...A beautiful storyline...thirtysomething rents studio flat from single dad of two...she soon becomes involved in the childrens lives...as well as the dads and his ex-wife...fab book could not put this down...I have a copy if anyone is interested.

Second book was called Little Face written by Sophie Hannah...this is the first time I have read a book by this Author and I was impressed...delves into the intimacy of post natal depression and mental abuse in a sensitive but forthcoming manner...I was hooked from the first page.




And the final book I have read this month is Beautiful Child by Torey Hayden...now I was recommended this author by a work colleague and I was not disapointed. The story is of a special needs teacher and the children she has in her class, primarily a little girl called Venus who refuses to communicate in any way...beautiful story...I was that impressed I am currently reading another book by the same author.



If you have read any of these books and have read others that you think I may be interested in please let me know.

If anybody would like my copy of Marshmallows for Breakfast please leave a comment

Re scrapping!!!

Have you ever looked back on your scrap book pages and thought I could do so much better now...I did just that last week and tore apart several pages and came up with these...I have been scrapping for about 8 years and products have advanced so much since I first started...I look back on some of my first pages and literally cringe...but I am not going to wreck them all...honestly because I know it will be interesting to see how much I have progressed over the years in years to come...I am seriously going through an inking and doddling phase at the moment and I wonder in five years time if I will look back on some of my pages and cringe at those:)

This is Ella and Mia in 2005...fully colour co ordinating with those Basic grey Phoebe papers even then!!!

This is also the example I have used for a challenge I set over on just Bex...Tropical Turquoise and Pretty Pink.

This was originally a double page layout that was very bare...so condensed it...Mia in 2005...just look at that fringe;).

This is also an example for a challenge I set over on Just Bex titled word play...play around with a word, I changed unique into You-nique!

Last one...this is Ella also in 2005...I loved the top she was wearing so much, in fact I loved it that much I kept it!

Another example from a challenge I set on Just Bex...titled All stitched up...I finally got round to buying myself a pricking tool so I could hand stitch on my pages and cards...A lot slower than machine stitching but more precise.

Aren`t my girlies gorgeous!!!

It is Official

I like pink :)

What`s Your Color? Pink Wow, you're a true Diva , you are everything a girl wishes to become Click Here to Take This Quiz

Quizzes and Personality Tests

Studio S Template Challenge

I have been at those new Papermania Christmas papers...again...they are just so adorable and funky.

This card is based on a challenge sketch over at Studio S



Patterned paper is all Papermania, card is Bazzill, grosgrain ribbon is Dovecraft, holly is a QK die, button is Papermania, white doodled stitching and inking.

The lettering has been cut from the Cuttlebug Hippie chick alphabet using greyboard, painted with red acrylic paint, coated with Anitas 3D dimensional glaze and dipped in red ultrafine glitter...very messy but very effective:)

Sketch this Challenge 22

This little card is based on Sketch this challenge number 22 and I have gone for another Christmas card...I have never started making Christmas cards this early before at this rate I may even be organised this year!!!

Patterned paper and buttons are Papermania, card is Bazzill, stamp is a new Dovecraft unmounted and actually says"we wish you a merry christmas...", grosgrain ribbon is Dovecraft, embroidery thread, inking and doodled stitching to finish.

CPS 26

Finally managed to complete the CPS sketch 26...A new home card because I got hold of one of the new Cuttlebug house dies and I have been having a play with it...I have been at those basic grey papers agin too;)

Patterned Paper is all by Basic Grey, Cuttlebug House die, prima and silk bloom, grosgrain ribbon, ric rac, inking and doodling to finish.

Bead-a-Liscious

I have been having a play today with some gorgeous new beads I picked up in Hobbycraft. I bought a new top last week from Jane Norman and wanted some bodaliscious jewelery to set it off as it is quite plain but in a beautiful shade of turquoise.

So here is my latest jewelery design, I think I used about 100 jump rings!!! The whole basis of the design is jump rings.

I am really pleased with this design as I had it planned in my head and it turned out exactly as I wanted it to...how often does that happen! The picture is not that hot but it is getting dark will try to get some better ones in daylight tomorrow.

Sunday...The day of rest!!!

When I got up this morning I had every intention of not doing an awful lot today...Sunday after all is the day of rest!!!

Then I had this hairbrained idea of sorting out all my craft stuff as I have bought quite a bit of new stuff lately and finding homes for everything is getting impossible, plus it takes me ages to find anything and I have that..."I know I have got it but I am not sure where I put it" syndrome!

Anyway I started at 11.30 this morning and finally finished at 5.30pm...and I still have not done it all!!!

I think I am on a spending ban at the moment because I did find an awful lot of stuff that I had forgotton I had and some projects that are only half finished.

Anyway I have listed some of my bits on Ebay...thought that I may as well try and make a bit of money from all my hard work:)...may even make enough for some new bits!!!

I am off now for a rest...I am worn out...Day of rest!!!

Beate Weekend Sketch

Had my new papers out last night so made this little card using the latset weekend sketch over on Beate`s site

Patterned paper is by Papermaina, Stamp is by Studio G, grosgrain ribbon is by Dovecraft, holly and photo anchors are QK dies, button is Papermania, Inking and doddled stitching to finish.

Dolly Mama

I won this fabulous Dolly Mama stamp off ebay this week and just had to have a play with her so I have created a Christmas card to coincide with a challenge over on Bex`s forum titles button it...had to use buttons on a card, and the latest sketch over at Cartes Maniak

Dolly Mama Stamp, Papermania patterned paper, Dovecraft grosgrain ribbon, QK holly leaf, Studio G sentiment stamp, Papermani button, green embroidery thread and inking, hand and doddled stitching to finish.

Cartes Maniak card sketch

Just one more for today...think I have been on a bit of a roll...lets hope it lasts!!!
This card is using a card sketch from Cartes Maniak






Patterned Paper is all Basic Grey, big bloom from EauNaturelle, stamped sentiment is by Studio G, prima blooms, making memories brads, Papermania button, ribbon, lace and embroidery thread from local market, inking to finish.

Beate weekend Sketch Challenge

Another card from me this time for a little boy`s birthday using a fab card sketch by Beate which you can find here

Gave me an excuse to use my little card Cuttlebug die again...I love this little die it is so cute.

Patterned papers are all Making Memories, "Birthday" is a rub on, "BOY" has been cut with the Hippie Chick Cuttlebug alphabet, bit of inking and doodling to finish.

Great sketch Beate...thanks will definately use this one again.

Three cards and a layout

Been a busy little crafty bee today and have caught up with the challenges over at Just Bex

First was a Sue special scrapbook template, Piccies are of Mia last year

PP Basic Grey, Prima blooms, Bazzill cardstock and Buttons, machine stitching, embroidery thread, ribbon from stash, "5 "Hippie chick alphabet, journalling, doodling and inking to finish.

Second was set by Lis and titled "Touchy Feely" and had to incorporate something strokable...just about all of my paper stash fits into this category *winks*

New stamp *winks* by Penny Black, watercoloured with pencils, ribbon from stash, QK felt flowers, doodled stitching and inking to finish.

Third was set by Bex herself and was "Use something you haven`t used before"...Luckily I bought a new cuttlebug embossing folder on Friday *he he he*

PP Basic Grey, Prima bloom, chipboard accents from Pound Shop, gingham ribbon and clip Making Memories, bit of lace, hand drawn skull, hand stitching and inking to finish.

And the final one also set by Lis was titled "Sugar and Spice" and had to feature something edible...I went with the majority and used a cupcake

Patterned card blank and card by Papermania, cupcake QK die, chipboard accent from pound shop, gingham ribbon from Market, Prima bloom, "swirls" are Hippie chick Cuttlebug alphabet "S" doodled stitching and inking to finish.

Phew I am off for a Lie down now*winks*

Challenge sketch Flower card

Susie has set a fab sketch challenge this week that incorporates a circle card...hmmm tricky one but then I remembered a card that I had seen on Beatriz Jennings gorgeous blog, you can view her card here. I have been wanting to have a go at this for a while and it fitted perfectly with this challenge. I have been at those Basic Grey Papers again (wink).

Patterned paper is all Basic Grey, Prima Blooms, Studio G sentiment stamp, Bazzill Button, embroidery thread, machine stitching and a little inking and doodling to finish.

Two in one!!!

Have managed to put away my Basic Grey papers and combine two challenges in one card...the first challenge is a card sketch over on scrap dribbles and the second is the monogram challenge over on sketch this

Here is my card:

Patterned paper is all making Memories, Prima blooms, assorted buttons, embroidery thread, gingham ribbon, bit of lace, circle punched and embellished with a big "B" (for baby) cut with the Cuttlebug Hippie Chick alphabet, bit of inking to finish.

Caardvarks Challenge

Have managed to complete another challenge and yep have been at those Basic Grey papers...again.
The first challenge is the Caardvarks latest challenge:

Create a card using 1 embellishment, 2 patterned papers, and 3 flowers.
Here is my wonky scanned card:

Patterned papers are Basic Grey (2 of them), mini Prima blooms (3 of them), circle embellishment (1 of) is punched with a rub on sentiment and a bit of pink satin ribbon, machine stitching, inking and Making Memories brads

Tag Card

Over on Jen`s blog she has set a challenge to make a tag card...another Christmas one from me!!!
Must be all this sun going to my head that makes me christmas craft!
Here is my little tag card:



Patterned paper is by American Crafts, red and green card is Papermania, poinsettia is a QK die, "Noel" cut from QK stilletto alphabet, green satin ribbon, gold brads, Bit of inking, chalking and doodling to finish.

First Christmas card!!!

Found a fabby little happy blog by Tracy who has set a christmas card challenge!!! Oh well at least I can say I have made a start now can`t I!

Here is what I came up with, the card had to consist of a stamp so I used one of my brand spanking new ones that I have bought to do my Christmas cards with.

Patterned paper is by Basic Grey, organza ribbon, ironically was left over from Christmas last year, stamp is by Inkadinkadoo, Prima bloom and crystal brad, bit of inking and doodled stitching to finish.

The photo challenge over at her space my space today is Earing

This is one that I have made and is hanging on my Honeysuckle in my back garden.

Jens challenge sketch

So while I had the Basic Grey paper out I thought I would make another card this time for the latest sketch over on Jens blog...which is gorgeous

Patterned paper again is all Basic Grey Blush Collection, gingham ribbon, Bazzill Button, embroidery thread, bit of lacem Sentiment rub on, Machine stitching and inking to finish.

CPS 25

Had a go at the latest CPS sketch this morning with my lush new Basic grey papers




Patterned papers are all Basic Grey Blush Collection, Prima blooms, Bazzill Buttons, embroidery thread, Making Memories brads, Studion G stamp, Brown satin ribbon, machine stitching and inking to finish

Yeah...Her space my space is back

I have missed the first few photo challenges but had to add this one of the kids in Liverpool in June. Fab city that I love to visit as often as possible...

Sparkly gem card Challenge

Have made this little card tonight using my brand spanking new Penny Black stamp which I fell in love with and just had to have!

The challenge set over on Bex forum was to use gems on a card or layout...this stamp just screams for bling to be added to it. This card is destined for my bestest friend who`s birthday is next Week...So shhh!!!

Gingham sparkly card is by Kanban, pink card by Papermania, Penny Black Stamp, Studio G sentiment stamp, gingham ribbon from local market, gems from stash, bit of inking and doodled stitching to finish.

DCM Friday Dare...Time

Completed a quick little card , for a male friend, incorporating the Time challenge set over on the DCM site.


The little hat is a Studio G stamp, I stamped this twice, once on the red card and once on the striped card then cut out the bits and layered them...It looks far better in "real life"
"Party" and the tiny little "Time" are also Studio G stamps...which BTW are fab...I love them at the moment and there seems to be a stamp for every occasion.

Patterned paper is all by Making Memories, bit of red ribbon and some doodled stitching and a bit of inking.

Pencil Lines Sketch 44

I took loads of photos of Mia last week wearing her new dress, I have already scrapped some of the smaller ones but printed this one out in black and white ready to scrap and the latest Pencil lines sketch was ideal for this one photo layout.

So here is my Baby Girl:

The journaling reads:

My baby is 6 years old! Where has the time gone? What happened to that little tiny baby? However old you are Mia you will always be my Baby Girl!

Patterned paper is by K and Co and Basic Grey, Selection of Prima blooms, Papermania pearl brads, Title cut with Hippie chick Cuttlebug alphabet, The "swirls" are the letter "S".

I cut the title and swirls from greyboard and painted them with a handmixed green acrylic paint

Studio S template challenge

Okay I have completed another challenge card this afternoon, this time for the template challenge set by Susie

Here is my take on the template which I tweaked just a little bit!!!

Patterned Paper is by K and Co, lace and ribbon from local market, "Hello" is a Studio G stamp, chipboard frame is from a set I bought today in my local Pound Shop, Prima blooms and a brad from a set from Argos!!!

CPS Sketch 24

Not done took part in this sketch challenge for a couple of weeks so I thought it was about time I did!

Heres my take on the latest CPS sketch (24)

Patterned paper is Making Memories and Basic Grey, Gingham ribbon and lace are from local market, button is by Papermania, chipboard embellishment is from a set I bought from the pound shop, clip is Making Memories.

Beate Sketch 13

Also managed to complete this sketch this afternoon, Beate has posted a fabby card design on her blog that you can see here

This is what I came up with:

Patterned Paper is scummy Basic Grey Phoebe...I am exhausting my stash of this:(

Ribbon I found this morning whilst having a tidy up:)

Stamped sentiments are Studio G unmounted stamps

Prima blooms

Lace, button and thread

Inking to finish

I am going to start photographing my cards from now on because the scanned images seem to come out blurry.

Monster Sunday

Today OH and I took the girls out for a pub lunch Sunday Dinner, the boys were off doing their own thing, so we treated them to these Monster Sundaes for dessert. Needless to say after their dinner they only managed to eat half of this...will make great scrapbook pages though...Mum has her camera ready all the time!!!

Check out the "Scrumptious Dessert" menu in the background...I can`t believe I got this in shot Purely a fluke!

Here are a couple of shots I took with scrapbook layouts in mind.....

Mummy and the girlies

Daddy and the girlies

Heaven must be missing an Angel...

...Is exactly what I thought when I uploaded these photos of Mia, she really is so very beautiful, but I am bound to be biased!!!

Fitted these photos into this weeks Pencil Lines sketch

So the title for this page is "Heaven" and the journaling reads "must be missing an Angel"

The Journaling block reads:

"Mia spotted this dress whilst we were out shopping one Saturday. "Please can I have it Mummy?" How could I refuse knowing how gorgeous she would look wearing it and how I could create a scrapbook page with the photographs!"

The extra journaling around the page reads:

"You are so Beautiful...just like an Angel in this lovely dress...I can see this being your favourite dress this year"



Patterned paper is all Basic Grey Phoebe, Prima flowers, buttons, brads and ribbon, Making Memories clip, title cut with Cuttlebug Hippie Chick, machine stitching, inking and doodling

Have completed two challenges tonight for the Just Bex Challenge Site using my new cuttlebug die...the police car...adapted slightly by removing the "flashing light" on the top.

The first challenge was to use something that helps you find your way for example maps. signs. compass.....................we are SURE you can think of LOADS more...I thought Arrows and had to make a congratulations on passing your driving test card so here it is:




Patterned paper is all Making Memories Cheeky collection, card is also Making Memories, arrows and car are Cuttlebug dies, gingham ribbon, handwritten sentiment and inking and doodling to finish.

The Second challenge was set by the very talented Lis:

As they say less can sometimes be more. Please make either a card or a LO prooving this is right. Lets see all your minimalistic work.

This was harder than I thought it would be because I So wanted to use some patterned paper and more embellishments but here is my card:



Making memories card, cuttlebug die, tiny bit of gingham ribbon, handwritten sentiment and a litle bit of inking and doodling.

Ogres, Princesses, Dragons, a donkey and a cat!!!

Can only be Shrek!!!

Cracking film if you have not taken the kids to see it yet you must...loved it

My Baby is growing up

Gorgeous or what my little girl, Mia is six years old but will always be the baby being the youngest of four. I took her to see Shrek 3 at the Cinema today and she loved it was funny listening to her laugh in all the right places and generally having a good time. It was a proper mother daughter day today as all the others were off out doing their own thing. She has decided that the picture she drew this afternoon must be sent into art attack!!!Kids aren`t they sweet

DCM Check Challenge

Finally got around to completing the DCM challenge from Last week...just in time! Simple little card ideal for a man:




Cardstock is all from papermania, not sure who makes the glossy black card but bought it at my LCS, all embossed with Cuttlebug Happy Birthday embossing folder, Star is a cuttlebug Die, Gingham ribbon is from local market stall and inking and doodling to finish