I've got such a wonderful DH!

He let me loose with his card in the Sizzix Sale so I could buy what I actually WANTED for my birthday present :D (don't worry, he's not totally insane ..... he did give me a limit LOL).

So, here's what I got in my pressie today!




Looking forward to having a play now :)

The First FSUK Challenge .....

will be going live THIS FRIDAY (29th January). Our Design Team has been working feverishly behind the scenes getting ready for our challenges .... all we need now is YOU!

Come and join us on the FSUK Challenge Blog EVERY FRIDAY for a new challenge. In the meantime, why not pop on over to the forum and join in all the regular fun and crafting :)

Studio Tangie CT Challenge

There's a new challenge over at the Studio Tangie Creative Team Loft. They are running a series of four challenges with a Fresh Start theme. I missed the first two, but here is my submission for Challenge 3 - Professional Life.

The clock face and hands comes from Tangie Baxter's Kit - Art Journal Caravan Provisions {Parcel 02}. The rest of the elements come from her Art Journal Caravan Provisions {Parcel 04} Kit.

My fresh start is to focus on my two businesses (PartyLite UK Consultant and Utility Warehouse Discount Club Distributor) and to get my work life, as well as my personal life, organised.

Oooooh - CHA 2010!

Just having a quick sprint through blogland while I'm eating my lunch, and came across a CHA Sneek Peek at the new Tim Holtz stamps on the ScrapShed Blog. I AM LOVING THESE!!!!!

Also found a tutorial for some REALLY cute paper flowers, which I've got to have a go at, on the Couture Cardstock blog

This weekend I'm going to make a start on my Junque Journal a-la Tangie Baxter. There is a fab tutorial on her YouTube Channel for making these journals, and I think it will be really theraputic to sit down in the evenings this weekend scrunching and inking pages.

Have a great weekend, whatever you're up to :)

Art Journal Caravan - Itinerary #2

I had a spare half hour while I drank my coffee (actually, I could have unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, but what the hey!!!), so I thought I'd have a play with Parcel #2 from the Art Journal Caravan over at scrapbookgraphics.com! I LOVE this one - the colours are gorgeous, and I just fell head over heals for the bird.

So, I've had a play with ACCEPT - something I do struggle with. Thanks for the inspiration, Tangie - I'm going to print this one out and stick it to my wall as a permanent reminder that I don't have to be perfect ... I just have to accept it and get on with life!



Now ....... back to the dishwasher LOL

I am IN LOVE!!!

I've just watched a video on the Imaginesce Blog with Tim Holtz! OK - yes, I'm in love with Tim, but that's old news LOL.

My new love is the iTool!

It looks really straighforward to use, but I've posted a link to their video just so I can drool over Tim ;D

All I need to do now is work on DH :D

The Art Journal Caravan has left the station!

Well, I did say I wanted to learn something new in 2010! I've joined the Art Journal Caravan over at ScrapbookGraphics.com. I've always been fascinated by Art Journals I've seen online, but never really had the time to make one. When I found this year long course, I couldn't wait to sign up - I just had to work on DH :) He caved in ..... and I signed up yesterday.

Here are my front cover, and the first prompt - my word for 2010. I'm pretty chuffed with them :)

FSUK Design Team Call

Quick reminder that there are only SIX DAYS left, if you'd like to apply to be part of the FaithScrappers UK Design Team.

For more details, check out my earlier blog

Closing date is Sunday 24th January at 8pm (GMT).

Random Acts of Creativity!

Thought I'd upload some of my older layouts .... just to prove I really can do paper scrapping as well as digi LOL

Life is like a box of chocolates .....

Prompt 3 in ScrapDolly's 52in10 Challenge has brought mixed feelings. The first part of the challenge was to go back in time and give some advice to a younger you. Well, I went back 15 years to a day which in hindsight was filled with mixed emotions, when my life could have turned out so differently.

It's been good to actually put my thoughts down on paper, even if they are hidden ... they are far too personal to blog. Although I've done this layout digi, it will actually be printed as two parts. Underneath the photo on the main page is a journalling block containing a letter I've written to myself - I doubt I would have listened even to me .... I didn't listen to anyone else LOL. The photo is of a beautiful sunset I took last year, as I didn't want the subject of my letter to be obvious. When it's printed, the photo and hinges will be stuck over the journalling to form a flap (hope that makes sense).

The second part of the challenge was to use a quote ..... thanks ScrapDolly - I've been waiting to use that one for AGES!!

Well, here it is :-

My Lifetime Story 2010

I've just finished my Title Page for Week 1's "My Lifetime Story" Faithbooking Challenge over at FaithSisters.com

The elements came from Susan Godfrey's "Jan Marie" Kit, and the tag template was from Audra's Freebie Tag Sampler. I'm learning so much about PSE (I've only had it about 8 years LOL). I've avoided digi-scrapping, thinking that it wouldn't be as much fun as paper scrapping ..... boy was I wrong. I still love to get the paper and glue out, and get messy, but we are trying to get the house straight so getting my stash out is not really an option at the moment.

Let me know what you think :)

52in10 Page 2 - Goals 2010

I've managed to get my second page done tonight, less than 24 hours since the prompt was posted LOL. I get the feeling I'm being lulled into a false sense of security ..... they can't all be this easy but I bet they will all be this much fun.

2010 has started fairly well - we now have a proper floor in our kitchen! Just the skirting boards and painting to do and that will finally be finished after 5 years :)

I can also see my living room floor - well, half of it anyway. I'm slowly getting my life organised, but the biggest achievement is that I've finally accepted that it's not something that is going to happen overnight. I need to take baby steps - it didn't get messy overnight, so it's not going to get tidy overnight!

My weight has always been a battle, but I really do think I'm in a place now where I CAN and WILL win that battle. Again, it's baby steps, and I'm so pleased to have lost my first stone. I've kinda set my goal weight, although it's in liquid cement rather than stone - if I get to a weight where I'm happy, and it's not my goal, I know I can move that goal. I want to look good and be healthy - not a stick insect :D

Well, enough waffle from me for tonight - here's the layout!



I'm still a very new digi-scrapper, so would love to hear your comments!

The supplies all came from FaithSisters - the paper and flowers from the Consider The Lillies Kit, the frame from the Fun & Funky Frames Kit and the title is made using the Alpha: Invisible 3 Kit. The text is Papyrus.

Member Get Member Month

Well, what a surprise ..... it's snowing again! Still, it's giving me lots of time to work on the facelift for the FaithScrappers UK Website.

FSUK is an online community for Christian Crafters in the UK and beyond, and is THE place to be for fun, fellowship and crafting! We've got LOADS of new features coming over the next few weeks - starting with our Member Get Member Month.

Come on over to the website - click on FELLOWSHIP on the home page, and you can register for membership. Once your registration has been accepted, you can join in with all the fun! PLUS, if you bring your friends over to the forums as well, you could be in with the chance of winning my RAK. Just tell your friends to put your user name in the Referred By box on registration - the member who refers the most ACTIVE members (ie must have a minimum of 10 posts) by the 10th February will win a selection of crafting goodies from my stash.

So, come on over to our place!!!

Calling All Budding Designers!

OK, I said yesterday that there'd be some announcements coming about FaithScrappers UK - well here's the first.

I'm in the middle of updating the website and forum - well, actually it's more of a complete makeover! So, we are looking to expand our Design Team.

That's where you come in! We are looking for three new members - details below. This call is open to everyone - you don't have to live in the UK, but do bear in mind that the forum does focus on the UK when it comes to retreats, sponsors (when I get some) etc.

I'm looking forward to seeing lots of gorgeous projects :)

Watch This Space!

Well, I've had a busy day today working on stuff for FaithScrappers UK - but can't reveal anything just yet :) ...... all I can say is WATCH THIS SPACE!

52 in 10 - Prompt 1

The boys went back to school today, so I've spent the morning working on my first layout for my 52 in 10 Album. I tried to keep the page fairly simply, as there was a LOT of journalling. I didn't realise that so much had happened in ten years - and these are just the highlights! It was good spending some time looking back over the past decade and seeing how it has shaped my life.

I'm now looking forward to the next prompt arriving on Sunday!






Now I've had my bit of fun for the day, I guess I'd better get back to reality ..... and the washing machine!

52 in 10

I've decided it's about time I did some scrapping about ME - and what better way than by joining ScrapDolly in her "52 in 10" Project.

I'm not entirely sure what I'm letting myself in for - I get the feeling there may be some deep soul-searching at times, but maybe that's what I need to build my confidence and "organise" my soul! Hmmm - now where have I heard that word before LOL.

First decision ...... format. Hmmmmm - size is not a problem! That'll be 8x8" so that I can print out any layouts which I do digi, which as I seem to be well and truly bitten by the digi-bug, is looking likely to be most of the album LOL. I've made my front and back covers, which I've put side-by-side for this piccie to make it easier. I'll see how things go but I'm hoping I'll be able to put all the layouts into one album and bind it with my BIA, but it will depend how thick it gets. Might add in a few embellishments as I go, so in reality it's likely to be a hybrid album.

I'm quite excited about this .... first prompt will be arriving later today, and then every Sunday throughout 2010. If you fancy joining us, pop over to Dolly's blog and check it out :)

Been playing with my blog :)

After a hard morning in the garden, I'm totally knackered LOL. So I decided to reward myself with a little time playing with my blog.

If you've visited before, you'll notice the addition of a Guest Map to the left - I'd love to know where my readers are coming from! Please click on the button and add your pin to my map!

Think I need a little nap now, while DH takes the dog to the vets for his booster jabs.

Pencil Lines Sketch 167

OK - so here is my first Challenge for 2010, based on the Pencil Lines Sketch #167.

I'm still very new at digi-scrapping, but I LOVED having a go at this one. Of course, it helps to have a great photo - this one of Laura was a natural choice!



The elements for this layout all came from the Live Designs Spraground Sun Fun Collection at JessicaSprague.com (this was a freebie I downloaded last year, but I can't see it on the site anymore - sorry!)

Nancy Drew Challenge!

Crikey - two posts in one day LOL.

I was reading someone's blog (sorry, I cleared my reader before noting down who's it was) when I spied THIS:-



I read EVERY Nancy Drew book I could get my hands on as a child/teen and LOVED them. This challenge really is up my alley - and I'm always up for a challenge.

If you fancy joining me, and quite a few other ND lovers out there in blogland, you can sign up for the challenge HERE. Although the challenge doesn't require a book review, I'm planning on writing one for each book so I can put together my own digi-album of Nancy Drew Mysteries!

Ooooh - I'm SOOOOO excited LOL,

Happy New Year!!!

I have had THE most fantastic day of the year!

OK, so it's only the 1st January but it's been a great day LOL. A long lay in ..... waking up to beautiful blue skies ..... hot bacon in freshly baked rolls for brunch ..... then the afternoon spent clearing the garden and pruning our out-of-control apple tree!

It was hard to believe that we were in the middle of winter - today has felt like a beautiful early spring day. Even the trees are starting to come out in bud. So, we wanted to make the most of the gorgeous weather. Chain Saw at the ready, Ian disappeared up the huge apple tree. A few hours later, and the whole garden looks lighter and even bigger. I took lots of piccies - just need to find the lead now to get them off the camera!

Praying now that the good weather holds for the weekend so we can get the rest of the garden cleared, and prune the second apple tree.

I'm now exhausted ..... but oh so pleased with our efforts!