Finding Fun with Carolyn Phillips

My lovely friend, Carolyn Phillips, is starting a FREE craft series called Finding Fun. It begins TOMORROW, and looks like great fun. Check out her blog - bookmark it or add it to your blog reader - and join us for the fun and games.

Photo Of The Day - 1st April

Been a while since I posted one of these too!

I love this photo I took of John & Laura at church this morning - I think candid shots are often more meaningful than posed ones.

Tittivation was done on www.picmonkey.com - very similar to Picnik which is no longer available, so it looks like this will become my new photo editor of choice (at least for basic stuff).

Falling a bit behind!

I can't BELIEVE it's really 1st April already! The past couple of months have been really hectic - hence no crafting :-( I've fallen behind with all my projects, so today I'm hoping to re-activate my crafting mojo ... even if it only goes as far as filling in my Log Your Memory diary (not added anything since January!)

The decorating of the living room is taking a lot longer than we had hoped - not helped by a couple of months of me being a bit low healthwise. My crafting kit is pretty much packed away in boxes still - not that this is any excuse for NOT filling in my diary! All that needs is a pen! So, I'll be printing off April's sheets tonight/tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I'm currently sitting here with the kids watching the Kids' Choice Awards and getting VERY concerned about how much I'm screaming lol. I must spend FAR too much time watching the kids channels.

In my defense, the celebrities aren't ALL under 21! Robert Downey Jnr is coming up soon!

Wedding Album

Last February I made a Wedding Album for Ian's cousin - and it's just occured to me that I never got round to sharing it with you all!

So, here it is .... better later than never, as they say!

Pictures are a bit blue - I really do need to get the hang of the White Balance lol.

Doodles Unleashed Week One

So, as we move into week two of the Doodles Unleashed workshop at Strathmore Artists Studio I've finally got around to having a play with the week one technique. Not entirely sure this genre is for me, but I did have fun.

The page is going into my Scrapbook*Life*Journal as a reminder of my One Little Word for 2012.

I'd love to know what you think - honest views welcome as I'm not sure if this is an artform I want to continue working on or not ... to me it looks like something my kids would paint.

Ten on the Tenth - January

So, it's the 10th of January ALREADY! How did that happen???

Reading through other blogs I came across posts about Ten on the Tenth - something I think Shimelle started. What a great idea! So, my 10 for January is a list of tools I'd like to own by the end of 2012:-

1) Sizzix Big Shot Pro Machine - I just love the idea of being able to die cut up to 12x12!

2) We R Memory Keepers Sew Ribbon Sets - what a great way to add ribbon borders to projects!

3) We R Memory Keepers Lucky 8 Punches to add a bit of pizazz to my layouts

4) We R Memory Keepers Corner Chompers - I'm sure there was only one last time I looked!

5) We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile III - Main Squeeze - I love corners and tabs.

6) We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile II - Big Bite I use my Crop-A-Dile to set all my eyelets, but it would be great to be able to get into the centre of a 12x12 layout.

7) The Imaginisce I-Rock - I find adhesive gems slide out of place on cards so it would be great to fix them on more permanently.

8) Completing my Promarker collection - there are still a fair few colours to get and I LOVE THEM!

9) Ultra-Fine Nibs for each of my Promarkers to make them even more versatile

10) MDF Stands for my Promarkers - these on Ebay look fab!

There are lots of other tools I'd like ... but 10 will do for a start!

Another Early Birthday Present

I've been such a lucky girl this year for early birthday presents - only problem is I don't think there is anyone left to give me a present on my actual birthday lol.

This birthday pressie was from Ian - and I got it on New Year's Eve! Stephanie Ackerman over at Homegrown Hospitality is running a year long class called Scrapbook*Life*Journal (details are towards the end of the post) - so far there are over 200 of us all over the globe taking part and having a ball. Registration has been extended through to the 31st January, so there is still time for you to join us (I know some of my readers are already taking part!)

Each month has a different theme throughout the year - January is Being Honest With Yourself - and includes a monthly doodle page to colour and embelish, journalling prompts, calendar page, verses, techniques and loads more.

Below are some of my January pages - I'm having SO much fun on this class and using up long hoarded stash in the process (much to Ian's delight!). I'm also spending time on ME - although this month is hard as it's all about being HONEST. You'll see from my Honesty page why that is hard for me!

So .... on with the pages so far:-

6 days in and ......

the photo a day project has fallen apart! Well, actually that happened on the forth, but hey!

So, it looks like POTD is going to be Project Life .... photos of the important things, everyday things, and even the mundane .... just not every day. I'll still end up with a great record of 2012, and it will give me a chance to add more photos of the important things, rather than just trying to pick out one.

On a more positive note, Scrapbook Life 2012 is still on a roll. I've not got anything ready to post yet, but I have been playing with my doodles, prompts and calendar pages, and am going to Staples after work to get a binder, pockets and a few other bits. Then I'm going to spend some time over the weekend playing with papers and getting the binder filled. Piccies will follow next week ;-)

But most importantly, I'm enjoying doing the creative bits I have managed to do .... and even getting out of my box a bit!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge - January 2012

Reading through my blogs recently, I came across a post mentioning the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog (sorry, I can't remember who's blog I read about it on, but if you've blogged about it recently - THANK YOU!!).

On the 5th of each month, the team challenge you to take inspiration for specific kits from one of the many suppliers out there, and compile your own kit made up from stash you already have. Well, anyone who knows me will know I have TONS of stash from when I owned Craft Magic UK - and now I think I've finally found a way to use some of it up!

Throughout the month, the team will also be challenging us to actually USE the stuff in our kits - shock, horror!! You mean I can't just sit and stroke it all???

Now, a lot of my stash is quite old, so the kits won't be as up to date as some .... so here goes with 'January 2012's Counterfeit Kit' Kit based around the Amber Snowflake Kit from Cocoa Daisy

1) Paper Loft - SC312
2) Paper Loft - SC336
3) Paper Loft - GO127
4) Paper Loft - SC306
5) Paper Loft - SC302
6) Paper Loft - SC305
7) Pixie Press - Romance Letter Collage
8) Jenni Bowlin - Live Laugh
9) Paper Loft - Geometric Bubble Caps Alphabet Stickers
10) Pixie Press - Canvas Emotion Stickers - Joy Emotions
11) Sarabinders Small Envelopes
12) Creative Impressions Twill - 'Live, Love, Laugh' & 'Create, Believe, Imagine'
13) Assorted Blooms from the Duck Pond Crafts 'For The Boys' Kit
14) Buttons from 'For The Boys'
15) Ribbon from 'For The Boys'
16) Making Memories Shaped Clips
17) Debbi Moore Stamp - magic moments ...
18) Large Flowers from 'For The Boys'

I can't wait now to see what we are challenged to do with our kit!

Wow - what a day!

I think the weather will be featuring in pretty much everyone's posts today. The weathermen certainly got today right.

At least the school run wasn't too bad, and today's pupil cancelled so I didn't have to try and fight my way through the Dartford Tunnel (which was down to one tunnel as the bridge was closed due to the high winds and so the other tunnel was coming southbound).

This was the view from my front door later in the morning - WOW! We've not had puddles like that for ages, but it didn't slow the cars down! I'm SO pleased I wasn't walking down the road.

A couple of hours later ..... brilliant sunshine! You can always rely on the british weather to keep you on your toes lol.

I'm now sitting down catching up on Eastenders with a box of tissues at the ready - funny how you can get so attached to a soap character.

I love Tim Holtz!

Just watched this video on Tim's blog for his Idea-ology Storage Systems ... I SOOOOO need these! (ok, need may be a bit strong, but aren't they gorgeous!)

I'm now wondering if it would be possible to customise my silver storage box the boys bought me for Christmas - it's one of those mechanic-type boxes with ridged metal sides, but it might work .......

Happy 2012!

And so begins a new year .... welcome to 2012!

Today is the start of another chapter in my life - a new year, new projects, new hopes, new plans, new .... who know's what?

My first photo of 2012 is a little bit of a cheat - I wasn't actually IN London .... the photo was taken of the TV screen, but it's still my photo lol. One down, 365 to go!

I had a great night last night, spending time with Mum & Dad, Ian and the boys - and of course, Parker who tried to get his nose into everything .... including Mum's Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Vol-au-vent! Good food, a cocktail or five & Trivial Persuit on the Wii all led up to the 'bongs' of Big Ben and fireworks.

Today has been quite subdued (and it's not just the after effects of the cocktails!) ... everywhere is closed, the weather has been pants and Ian's hand stopped us doing much in the way of decorating or gardening. So, a quiet day of colouring and watching TV - you can't beat a bit of 'Carry On Camping' followed by 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince' for New Years Day entertainment.

All I need now is to round off the day with a nice bubbly bath!

BTW - you can find my January 1st POTD HERE!