Proud Wednesday (WOYWW)

I am a proud Mummy today as Alex came home with his first ever 'interim school report card' and he got Satisfactory/Good or Good on nearly everything.  Not bad for a little boy who has struggled to settle at school.  His teachers are learning what makes him tick and how to work with him to help him do his best, so I am thrilled! This is how he insisted on reading his school book to me yesterday evening - LOL!

At school they are learning about Jungle and African animals and his current favourite is the Cheetah, so he drew this...I like the cheetah's face with the eyes and smile!

Well most of you probably popped by as part of WOYWW and so here is my desk in a state of chaos while I am in the midst of making my sister-in-law's Birthday card.  You can see my empty mug of tea (I need a top up!), my craft mat hiding under the card, ribbon, scraps of patterned mulberry paper, DST, scissors and craft knife, and to the left you have a random pile of papers, card, ink pads and stickers.  Even my computer hasn't escaped with my ruler resting across it.

Finally, here is the finished card.  In case you hadn't guessed, my sister-in-law is into Salsa dancing in a big way, hence the theme of the card. This card followed the sketch from PTW, and is also being entered into the Anything goes challenges from The Crazy challenge, Simon says stamp, The Pixie cottage and All Sorts, as well as the 'Happy' challenge from Aud Sentiments.  That is all from me for now. Have a great rest of the week.
Love,
Caro
x

Sunny February weekend!

This weekend has been filled with beautiful weather, warmer than normal for this time of year and brilliant sunshine, giving us the chance to go out to the park both days.  Yesterday we met up with a work colleague and went to a park that was new for us where Alex had a great time on the slide.

Today we went to Endcliff park and met up with Alex's best friend from nursery, Theo.  The two boys had a great time scooting together, eating ice cream, climbing, sliding and generally having fun!

Crafting wise I have been busy too!  I made my first ever Z-fold card for this weeks Quirky Crafts challenge (well as a DT member I had too!) and I must say I am pleased with it.  I used the Daffodil digital image from our sponsor, The Stamping Boutique, and turned the card into a Mother's Day card for my mum (she grows, sells and lectures about daffodils!).

I am also entering this card into The Crazy Challenge 'die cut/punch', Crafty Creations 'Fancy folds', Simon Says Stamp 'three different papers', Gingersnaps 'two colours' (yellow and green) and paperplay 'for a mother'.

I can't let a weekend go by without entering into less is more!  This week the challenge is to use your scraps and like many of you I have several drawers full of scraps, mostly from scrapbooking! I think that these three papers were K&Co, but wouldn't swear to it!  I am also entering this into  Delightful challenges 'patterned paper', Sew many cards '2DP and 4 or more gemstones' and CCT 'winged things.

Finally I made this tag of Marie Antoinette for the DCM challenge this week. As she is French, I set her on a tag with a very highly patterned paper reminiscent of her time period, and added the Eiffel tower (yes I know it came later- LOL!), the paris postal stamp mark, and the saying that was probably not hers, but has been associated with her over the years 'Let them eat cake'.  With the finishing touches of distress inks, a fluer de lys stamp, lace and pearls you have a suitably French feeling tag!  I am also entering this into SSSS 'Paris, London or New York', MTTC 'bring on the cake', All sorts 'Anything goes', Speedy Fox & friends 'lace' and DYSU 'distressing'.  That is all from me for now.  I hope you all have a great week. 
Love,
Caro
x

Still coughing and WOYWW time!

I can't believe how long this cold has lingered...the cough is beginning to drive me mad!  It wouldn't be so irritating except that I have very little voice and I have had to lecture to nearly 300 students this week already.  The fact that I can't sleep at night doesn't help either.  Hey Ho...enough moaning...it is time to show you my desk as part of WOYWW. As you can see I am partway through scrapbooking.  I have got past the really messy stage where all my papers are scattered around the desk while I choose the ones I want...in this photo the layout is almost ready to be stuck down and the spare, unused papers have been tidied away. In fact apart from the pile of things to the left of my notebook and my mug of tea (nice and hot), almost everything on my desk is actually being used for the layout (ribbon, buttons, craft,at. craft knife, DST and pencil). I have been asked before about my use of pencil on my scrapbook layouts...I cut everything to size and lay them out how I want them to go, then mark the corners of everything on the background card with pencil before I stick DST on the backs and then attach them.  In that way I know that everything will be as I want it to!

Here is the finished layout which was made following this weeks sketch on Lasting Memories and also fits in with their ribbon challenge.  All the papers on this layout are from Doodlebug Design, and the title was printed on the computer (using Arial Rounded MT Bold font). The helter skelter chipboard embellishment was from a free pack that came with Cardmaking and papercraft sometime last year. This also fits with Pollycraft 'Ribbon & buttons', SSDS 'More than two layers', All Sorts 'Anything goes' and Delightful challenges 'use your scraps' (I have used parts of both the patterned papers previously). Thanks for looking.  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Family Sunday!

Despite still suffering with our coughs and colds we have had a lovely weekend.  Yesterday Alex and I had a forshortened trip to the park when the heavens opened and it hailed on us so we beat a hasty retreat home!  Today we went to Tim's brother's house in Kennilworth where we had a wonderful time with the whole family. Alex had a great time playing on the keyboard,

then out in the garden with his cousin Tom,

whilst the rest of the family lazed around after a yummy lunch!

Of course, no family visit would be complete without a bit of wrestling and general rough and tumble...especially with Grandpa Pete!

Crafting wise I made these two cards following the CCCB challenge of 2 identicle cards, one in lilacs and the other in blues.  These also fit with this weeks Less is More 'punches or die cuts' (in my case 2 different flower punches, and a leaf punch), SCSC 'Bingo' (Swirls, flowers, pearls), CCT 'Flower power'.

I also made this tag, just to experiment with some distress inks and masking techniques.  I am entering this one into CCC 'entwined',TioT 'tag with hearts & flowers', TT 'entwined', Flutterby Wednesday 'Anything with wings', SSS 'Tag it' and All sorts 'Anything goes'.  That is all from me for now.  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Friday musings!

Well my voice is still holding out - just - and I am feeling a little more like normal, which is a huge relief.  I just wish my nose would stop dripping and that I would stop coughing so I can sleep at nights. Such are the joys of winter colds. Anyway, enough moaning... its time to show you my latest scrapbook layout which is based on this weeks sketch (#200) from Nuts About Sketches.  I used Tim Holtz papers for this one, embellished with a ticket/tag and various metal charms and buttons, and a crafty individuals music stamp.  The title is 'We love music' and the journalling reads 'Alex and Daniel were fascinated by the way that blowing a raspberry into the mouth piece resulted in such a loud note from the other end. They thought it was the greatest of fun and produced some surprisingly good notes'. I am also entering this into Lasting Memories 'love', Simon Says Stamp & Show 'Anything goes', Stampavie 'love', The Pixie Cottage 'Anything but a card', Penny's challenge 'anything goes', and DYSU 'layers'. That is all from me for now.  Have a great weekend everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Achy Valentines! (WOYWW)

My stinking cold still has not gone and sadly the rest of the family has come down with it too, so much so that poor Alex came home early from holiday club on Monday having been coughing so much he was retching. However, despite that he was keen to go yesterday, and when I dropped him off, he ran straight over to a friend and they started playing badminton together.  This meant that I had a day at home yesterday with Tim to celebrate Valentines Day.  I was given some new Lavinia stamps and the rare opportunity of time to play with them and experiment with inking techniques etc.  As you can see from my desk (being shown as part of WOYWW) I got all my Adirondack inks out and attempted to do some brayering and scene building with the Lavinia stamps, whilst being fortified by mugs of tea. 

Well all I can say is what a mess I made!  Several hours later, 10 aborted attempts in the bin, and following a lovely romantic Chinese meal at our favourite restaurant, I eventually came out with two scenes that sort of worked!  The first one used two of my new stamps (trees & carriage), and a brayered background in Adirondack sailboat blue and egg plant.

The second one used a brayer to do a mirror image/reflection of the horse & carriage stamp, as well as a brayered background using sailboat blue & eggplant again.  There are three things wrong with this one to my critical eye; a thumb print, the line marking the reflection point is too heavy, and there are too many lines in the water. I guess it is called a learning experience, and I have got better at the brayering as a result of all my inky fingers...you should have seen the state of them! 

The photo doesn't quite do the shear scale of the ink stain justice, but gives you the general idea...my right hand was even worse!

I have managed to do some other crafting, including this leaving card for a clinician who has been doing a PhD in my lab, but will be going back to the clinic at the end of the month.  I used the image from the graphic fairy for the focus and stamps from the darkroom door for the background. The cogs were stamped in versamark ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder and then the card covered with teabag and vintage photo distress ink before adding the word stamps (explorer, inventor, scientist & clinician).  I am entering this into SSSS 'Anything goes', Creative Card crew 'masculine', and stampin for the weekend 'cream, brown & blue' challenges.

I also made a clean and simple scrapbook layout using scraps of papers I have had for ages, as well as embellishments I have had for at least 3 years.  This layout features my nephews and Alex playing with a tractor and trailor at my parents house. I am entering this into Kaboodle Doodles 'where the boys are' and All sorts 'free & easy' challenges.  That is all from me for now. Have a lovely rest of the week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Nursing a cold!

Well I have been full of a fluey cold since Thursday so haven't felt up to doing much - I even missed church this morning as my nose and throat were so bad that I didn't think that it would be fair to everyone else especially as half the congregation are over 70.  The upside of this was that I had a lovely long time to play with Alex today so we set out to make a habitat for his dinosaurs by decorating the inside of a box.

Here is the completed box with the dinosaurs inside...not a bad effort for a nearly 5 year old (with a little help from Mum). More detail may be added later when more of the paint has dried - patience not being Alex's strong point!

He also decided he wanted to make a pattern from glitter glue and felt-tip pens. I just love the look of concentration on his face!  We did venture out to an indoor playarea, and while my head did not like it one bit, Alex had a great time running, climbing, sliding and generally letting off steam!

Crafting wise it has been a successful few days, once I got past the lack of Mojo caused by a bad headcold!  It is Cazzy's turn to set the challenge over at Quirky Crafts and she has chosen a Quirky Love Story with a recipe (Valentines/love with ribbon and a dangling charm). We have a sponsor, Robyn's fetish, who provided the DT with some fun Digital images. Mine was the very cute 'Bearly Luv' and I decided to decorate a white chocolate bar for Tim.  I first stamped lots of different hearts (I have a set of clear hearts, not sure where from though, sorry) in distress ink (fired brick) onto parchment patterned paper, then wrapped the ribbon round, attached the charm with jump rings to make it dangle, and finished it off with the Bearly Luv image coloured in promarker pens. I am also entering this into PTW 'Anything goes with a heart', Simon says stamp 'love is in the air', Delightful challenges 'love' and Delicious Doodles 'All loved up',

I also made Tim's valentines card this week using Crafty Individuals Heart stamp (gold embossed) and script stamp (in tea bag distress ink) and inkadinkado swirl stamps (in fired brick distress ink), stamped onto cream card, then mounted onto gold and then finally red card, and finished off with gems. I am entering this into Try it on Tuesday 'Cards for a true love', Tuesday Throwdown 'Be my valentine', Crafty Creations 'Swirly Whirly', Stampavie 'love', The Pixie Cottage 'red', DYSU 'love', Paperplay 'love letters' and Fussy & Fancy 'With all my heart'.

I couldn't let a weekend go by without joining in with Less is More!  This challenge was one layer card with Stripes.  What a challenge!!! I don't have anything remotely stripey so  I tried all sorts of things that looked awful and ended up in the bin before coming up with this. I masked the strip across the middle and used shabby shutters distress ink with cut and dry foam to colour it in relatively evenly.  I then used the edge of the distress ink pad to make my stripes before stamping the Lavinia Poppy stamp and the Hero arts bird stamp and colouring them with promarker pens. I hope that this is striped enough to count! I am also entering this into Fluorishes Timeless Tuesday 'fly away with me', Pixie Dust '2 or more images', Sew many challenges 'Birthday'.  That's all from me for me now. Hopefully we will be a lurgy free household soon!  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Snow still here - just!

Well having missed the best of the snow by being away for the weekend, Alex and I have been making up for it by having snowball fights on the way to school, although the snow yesterday morning was a little too hard for that game! He loved running down the paths to school though as you can see.  The snow is still here this morning, although the roads are now completely clear, however, I expect it will be gone by this evening.

As it is Wednesday it is time to show you my desk as part of WOYWW. Today it is in the midst of a scrapbooking session so you can see the papers I decided not to use on the lefthand side, the layout slowly coming together in the middle with some potential stamps for use on it in the background, as well as ink pads, a pencil for marking up the layout and my trusty mug of tea.

Here is the completed layout about celebrating my 10th Wedding Anniversary last year, which follows the sketch from this weeks Lasting Memories.  As it also includes a digital element (the journalling and black heart were done on a computer) it fits with the rest of their challenge. Apologies for the dodgy photo...artificial light really doesn't do the colours justice. As the flowers are a mixture of pink and red (all right, there is only a little pink on this layout, but it is there I promise!) I am also entering it into CCC 'pink & red' and DCM 'pink & red' challenges, as well as the Stamp with fun 'Love', PTW 'Anything goes + a heart', Aud Sentiments 'Anything but a card + a sentiment' (Together forever), Delightful challenges 'punches and dies' (a Martha stewart fern frond punch and Cuttlebug hearts die),  Delicious Doodles 'All loved up' and SSDS 'Die cut or punches'. That is all from me for now. Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

A family celebration!

As expected I am late posting this week as I have been away for the weekend to my parents in Somerset, only getting yesterday evening.  It was a weekend when we celebrated their 40 years of marriage with a large family lunchtime dinner party.

The boys (aged 2-4) had their lunch before everyone arrived and were left to play as they wished while all 18 adults, chosen because they were family or had known my parents for their entire marriage, had a delicious meal.

It was so lovely to see everyone, especially as we don't all meet that often any more.  The dining room table was stretched to its fullest extent and everyone had a wonderful time.

Having frozen on Friday night and most of Saturday, the temperature shot from -12oC to 5oC during the course of the day so on Sunday morning we were able to have a treasure hunt in the garden,

followed by a mud walk before lunch (no snow in Somerset!) and travelling back home.

Alex was most excited by the snow at the service station and at home so we had to have a brief, but fierce snowball fight in both places!

Needless to say crafting has been at a minimum but I did manage to make this new home card for a friend who has been living with her parents for the past 3 months having sold her house, but had problems in buying the new one.  She is finally into the new home and everyone is breathing a sigh of relief!  This card was made to enter into Less is More 'Aqua' challenge and used the only two aqua inks I have, a versacolour pad and a promarker pen.  I also used the free stamp from this months Crafty Stamper and the sentiment stamp from Crafty Individuals. This card also fits with Crafty Creations 'Home Sweet Home', The Pixie Cottage 'Clean and simple', Paperplay 'get in shape', and DYSU 'Anything goes'.  That is all from me.  I will be back as usual on Wednesday.  Have a great week,
Love,
Caro
x

Preparations!

We are going down to Somerset this weekend to celebrate my parents Ruby Wedding anniversary so Alex and I have been preparing for it by making cards for them.  This is Alex's Anniversary card featuring Grandad (on the left) and Grandma (on the right) inside a heart and surrounded by hearts and kisses. He even wrote a message inside for them. His writing is really improving when he concentrates on it.

As it is Wednesday here is my desk as of yesterday early evening for WOYWW.  I was working from home yesterday so my desk had to be cleared for that, although it doesn't look like it in this picture. The pile on the lefthand side, hidden under the craft mat, is my work ready to be packed away. As usual you can see my lovely large mug of tea, the card I am working on (see below for the finished version), some stamps that need putting away, my fried brick distress ink, some random pieces of ribbon and some die cuts ready to use on the card.

Here is the finished card which loosely follows the PTW sketch.  I used an image of my parents from their wedding day printed on card and then mounted it on red card. The main card was red, with a layer of white card with Crafty Individuals corner stamps in fried brick distress ink and highlighted with red gems. On top of that there are two doilies (recycled from a Christmas party!), some ribbon (from a chocolate box) and then embellished with gold die cut hearts, a red prima flower and a pearl. I am entering this card into CCC 'recycle', Pollycraft 'favourite things' (gems & my parents!), The Crazy challenge 'flowers', All sorts 'one of more hearts', Crazy4challenges 'lots and lots of layers and embellishments' and Speedy Fox and friends 'at least 4 layers'.  That is all from me for now. I wont be blogging again until Monday after all the celebrations.  Have a great rest of the week everyone.
Love,
Caro
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