Fun weekend and WOYWW

I have been off-line for a week as I have been down to my parents in Somerset for a long weekend. We had a great time with treasure hunts and mini-Olympics in the garden.

Walks down to the mill to feed the pigs

and a lovely long walk up to Wellington Monument

including scrambling along the top of an over grown hedge through the very large trees (something I did as a child!).

As it is Wednesday it is now time for another WOYWW.  My desk is somewhat empty due to having been away...there is a post it note pad with various current challenges written on it, my kindle (in its bright red cover), my wallet waiting to be put away and a box of stamps that I am currently raiding in order to make a card. To the very left of the desk is a pile of photos waiting to be scrapbooked.  My mug of tea is missing as Tim is currently boiling the kettle for me!

Over at Quirky Crafts challenge site it is my turn to set the challenge and I set 'recycling on the farm' - you have to include at least one recycled element on your creation and anything Farm related.  Digital Delights are sponsoring us and so I used used both Hallie the Horse and Farmer Giles to decorate this recycled cloth bag for storing plastic farm animals in (my iron isn't working hence all the creases!). I used tapestry stamps round the edge and then mounted the horse (coloured with promarker) in the centre. The tag was made with recycled string and cardboard (with one side torn off to reveal the corrugations) with green distress ink for the edges and then Farmer Giles was coloured with promarkers and mounted on it. I am also entering this into All sorts 'gift' (this along with the plastic animals is a gift for my godson), and OCC 'recycle with green'.

Drowning in theses! (WOYWW)

It really does feel like I am drowning in theses at the moment...I have 8 heses to read, mark and examine and 2 to edit. So far I have managed to mark only two of them. All this goes to explain why, on my crafting desk, which I am showing you as part of WOYWW, there is the black cover of a thesis in the left hand corner of the photo. This also explains why my desk looks relatively tidy...I have had the thesis open on it and had to put things away so that I didn't get distracted.  Also on my desk are various tapestry stamps and versa color ink pads which are being used for a project I will show you at a later date.  The little farmer stamp and the cardboard, which I am tearing to reveal the corrugated part are also for the same project. Of course it wouldn't  be my desk without my trusty mug of tea, sadly in need of a refill at the moment.

Crafting wise I have finished my holiday mini album.  The next page is of our trip to fantasy island theme park...we all loved the rides here! I am entering this into The crazy challenge 'anything goes' challenge.

The next page uses Lavinia stamps, and tapestry stamps with distress inks and is of a steam train ride. I am entering this into SCSC 'circles' challenge.

The next page is of our trip to Lincoln using Purple Onion stamps (round the edge and fleur de lys) and the Lavinia stamp of a horse and carriage to represent our horse and cart ride round Lincoln. As this feels fairly vintagey I am entering it into SSSS 'no rules - anything goes' challenge.

Finally I used Lavinia stamps stars for the final day of our holiday when we went boating on the lake next to the sea and then out for ice-cream.  As all these photos are from the seaside I am entering this page into Crafty cardmakers 'seaside' challenge.
Well that is all from me for now.  Have a fantastic week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Park-life!

We have spent much of this weekend in the park...I took the stabilisers off Alex's bike to see how he got on without them.  The answer was not great...I have to be his balance while running like mad and holding onto the back of the seat.  I am sure he will get it eventually but in the meantime my back hurts! 

The other thing we have been doing is playing with Alex's new gymnastics ribbon.  He has been using them at Kings camp this week and really wanted his own, so for working hard we went out and got him one.  It is a bit long for him, but he loves it!  It was such fun to see him playing with it, making shapes and then getting tangled up in it.

I have had some time for crafting as well this weekend and made this card to fit with the Less is More challenge of 'tearing'.  I tore three layers of coredinations card in varying shades of pink, and stamped the litte girls in black directly onto the top layer.  The patterning of the card means that the stamp doesn't leave an even impression adding to the vintage feel.  To finish it off I edged the creamy tan coloured card with some pink distress ink and the vintage friendship stamp.  I am also entering this card into Kaboodle Doodles 'all about friendship', Pixie Dust 'Pink', Freshly brewed 'rubber stamps only' and Speedy Fox 'friendship'.  That is all from me for now. Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Holiday memories (WOYWW)

Well having been missing from WOYWW for two weeks (one week for holiday and one for holiday hang over and the Olympics!) I am back, and in a state of chaos as I make a mini book holiday diary!  On my desk is the circular book, distress inks, craft mat, cutting mat, craft knife, ruler and scissors, a box of small stamps I took on holiday with me and barely used (they need relocating into their proper homes again), and various leaflets and postcards from the holiday with which to make my mini book. Of course, it wouldn't be my desk without my lovely hot mug of tea on it! 

Here is the outside of the mini book which was sanded down, then painted with tan acrylic paint, before I then stamped and stippled distress inks onto it and finally added the numbers. As this uses one of my favourite techniques, stippling distress inks through sequin waste, I am entering this into the SSSS 'favourite techniques' challenge.

The next page states where we went and the dates and the images were taken from the postcard.  The little scallop shell stamped round the edge was from stamps away. I am entering this into PaperPlay 'shaped card'.

The next page also used images from the postcard, distress ink, a free bunting stamp from Crafty Stamper magazine (to represent the kite that Alex flew) and another shell stamp from Stamps Away.

The circus page used images from the circus gift offer we were given at the end of the show, distress inks and inkadinkado swirl and spot stamps. I am entering this page into Speedy Fox's 'dots' challenge.

The seal sanctuary page used the free swirl stamp from Crafty Stamper magazine and distress inks.  I have another four pages to complete and will show you them on Sunday (all being well!). I am entering this page into Stamping for the weekend's 'monochrome' and All sorts 'going round in circles' challenges.

I can't resist also showing you a few photos from our wonderful beach holiday.

Alex and I had a wonderful time messing round on the beach - being buried was probably his all time favourite thing to do, with donkey riding a close second.

We took Alex to the circus for the first time and he loved it.  He was laughing his head off at the antics of the clown, and amazed by the acrobats and fire breather.

Fantasy Island was easily my favourite theme park ever and we all had a wonderful time taking Alex on the Millenium Rollercoaster (three complete inversions), his first big rollercoaster. He loved it and I felt sick!  We also went on dragon mountain (a water version of the bob sleigh run - we were soaked as you can see, but it was the greatest of fun), log flumes, and various other rollercoasters, all within a short distance of each other and no queueing!

A steam train ride has become a bit of a family holiday tradition, thanks to the steam train nut of the family aka me! Alex thought it was cool that he got to go in the engine cab.

We also went to Lincoln where we explored the castle and cathedral.

Finally no summer holiday would be complete without ice cream, and there was a lovely farm making their own ice cream nearby.  This was yummy indeed. 

I had the best holiday and really want to go back! It was a shock to the system to come back home and go into work.  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Back home!

Apologies for not updating my blog in so long, but I have been away on holiday, and then had a ton of things to catch up on (including the Olympics!).  I am finally getting under control so have had time to actually write a blog post! 

Our week at the beach was a great success...lots of sun, sea, sand and fun!

I promise more photos on Wednesday when I will have more time to update.

This weekend we went to catch up with my in-laws and had great fun with a junior Olympic games in the garden (long jump, high jump, wrestling and javelin) - Tom was the winner in both jumps despite having the shortest legs!

Crafting wise it is time for a new Quirky Crafts challenge.  This time it is Diane who has set the challenge of 'schools out for summer' - she basically wanted images of kids doing fun things on your creation.  Now, I know that reading is considered work, but as a child (and also as an adult) I was a bookworm and for me reading was fun.  Alex isn't quite there yet, but he does enjoy looking through books...I came in one evening to find him reading to himself, but upside down in bed!  I couldn't resist scrapbooking this photo...the digi image in the corner is from our sponsor this week 'Robyn's Fetish'.  To make this layout I followed this weeks Nuts About Sketches sketch, and it also fits with PTW 'anything goes',  and Crafty Creations 'Olympic colours' (there are yellow, green, blue, red and black all featured on this layout'.

Finally I made a card for this weeks Less is More challenge which is a one layer card featuring fur or feathers.  In my case it is the fur on the giraffe. I put two stamps together to create this little scene which was stamped and coloured through a mask.  The giraffe was from Stamps Away and the tree from Lavinia stamps.  I am also entering this into DYSU 'four legged friends'.  That is all from me for now.  I will back as usual on Wednesday.  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x