Wet & Windy (WOYWW)

I think I almost prefer the snow...it is much more fun to sledge and play in the snow than to run from one building to another getting soaked in the process...I have been soaked every day this week and looked like a complete drowned rat on Monday!  Anyway, enough moaning about the weather...here is Alex on his traditional Tuesday morning play at Mummy's desk; this time he was playing with my cuttlebug.

For my entry to WOYWW here is my desk as it was on Tuesday evening in the midst of a smash book session. All the things from Alex's session have been put away, except I seem to have gained a snowglobe on the back of my desk!  Beside the snowglobe is a lovely little crafting present from JoZart (see below). Apart from that you can see my half made smashbook page, the photos I will be using to finish it off, some nestabilities, and cuttlebug dies, DST, pritt stick and other glue (it is rubbish and I wont be using it again), some snowflake stamps and silver ink, scissors, knife and the smashbook pen.

Here is the final page featuring all the fun and games in the snow.  I cut round most of the images of sledging and turned them into a mini scene with the description round them.  The other photos were in a panel at the bottom, except the two snow scenes which I cut out in circles and mounted in the middle of die cut snowflakes.  I then finished the page off with lots of blingy snowflakes in the form of various glittery and silvery stickers.  As a result I am entering this page into Kaboodle Doodles 'winter' and Tuesday Throwdown 'bling it on'. Sorry, it didn't photograph well.

I made this layout following the sketch on Page maps blog of our Christmas Day walk in 2011.  It was a somewhat muddy walk hence the combination of browns, greens & Christmas embellishments, including lots of little gold stars. I drew the three circles using promarker pens around the edge of a dinner plate! This layout is being entered into SSSS 'stars', Fussy & Fancy 'circles' and Speedy Fox 'doodle a frame' (I hope that the circles count as they frame the whole layout).

Finally to finish, I received this lovely crafting gift from JoZart. It is a cross made of ribbon which, along with the poem 'a cross in my pocket' were inside the lovely little pocket shown on the left of the picture.  It is such a thoughtful gesture and will definitely be added to my Faith Book at some point soon. That is all from me for now.  Have a lovely rest of the week.
Love,
Caro
x

Snowballs!

We had ANOTHER 5 inches of snow overnight on Friday meaning that we couldn't go anywhere on Saturday. As a result Alex and I had a rip roaring snowball fight, with Alex challenging himself to pick up the biggest snowballs he could manage to throw at me.

Just look at that cheeky expression on his face!  Fortunately it all melted in the rain last night and so this morning he was able to go to his first ever street dance exam.  It apparently went OK, but we wont get the results for about another month.

Crafting wise I have started a scrapbook layout (I will show it when it is finished) and made this card following this weeks Less is More sketch.  I made it by using lots of masking (lines, hills & moon), layers of distress inks (pine needles, dusty concord and faded jeans), then  lots of different Lavinia stamps in versafine onyx black to make up the scene.  I am therefore entering this into CCC 'make a scene', CCT 'out of this world' (this is a fantasty scene with a dragon & fantasy style castle), All Sorts 'masculine' and DCM 'setting the scene'. That is all from me for now.  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Smiles!

It is Friday and time for Annie's Friday smiles. If you look back through my last couple of posts you will see that there have been lots of snowy related smiles this week, but here are a couple that I haven't shared with you yet....Alex trick sledging (face first on his front),

and one of him walking up the slope from school - I have been pulling him on the sledge most days, but he has to walk up the hills - I'm not that strong!

I have even included a little video, if it works, of Alex doing a solo run down the little slope near school.

This is how the snow looked over the valleys today on my way to work...we still have a lot, but it is getting icy and rather nasty so I hope that the temperature warms up to melt the icy patches.

And to finish, I did manage to do a little crafting yesterday, to make a leaving card for my PhD student who has finished in the lab, but still has to write up - hence the pile of books featured on the card and the Good Luck sentiment. The stamp is from Whiff of Joy, coloured with promarkers, cut out and mounted on the background.  I am entering this card into Ooh La La 'Wheels', CCC 'girly', PTW 'bow', Crafty creations 'use 2 of the same item' (2 gems in the top right hand corner), and Stamping for the weekend 'something girly'.  That is all from me and I hope I made you smile.  Have a great weekend everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Snow much fun! (WOYWW)

Sorry about the pun in the title, it just had to be done, not least because we had 6 inches of snow here when we woke up on Monday morning.

This didn't mean a complete day off in the snow for us though, as Alex's school opened at 10am and closed at usual time.  However, it did mean that the walk to school was on the sledge (for the downhill stretches).

And a great time sledging down the really steep pathway after school.

Today the snow was still there, so it was more sledging after school (this should be a video if it works),

as well as a reasonable snowman being built in the slightly more sticky melting snow.

This morning before our walk to school Alex decided that he wanted to (a) dress up as a skeleton (don't ask me why) and (b) make a cardboard ipad - he loves my new toy! So here he is having stencilled the apple symbol on the back of his ipad.

Here is my desk as it was on Tuesday evening for my entry to WOYWW (it is currently empty as I am being good about putting things away after use - mostly because I need an empty desk for Alex to craft at!). At the back and to the left you can see my new ipad, and to the right of it my trusty mug of tea. The rest of the desk is covered with my smash book, with pictures laid out on it while I try and work out the layout of the pages, and various other smash book related items, including tags and washi tape.

This is the finished smash book page all about my new ipad - this smash book is my diary for the year and I am trying to document at least one thing that happens each week - I figured that the arrival of a longed for ipad warranted a double page spread!  I am entering this page into CCCB 'hearts' as there are numerous hearts on this page, and SSSS 'what are you known for' as I am mostly known for keeping a journal and photographing anything that stays still long enough!

My other crafting endeavour of this week was to scrapbook some Christmas photos, so this layout is being entered into Lasting Memories 'Christmas 2012' challenge. However, I have to confess that as my scrapbook is over 12 months out of date, this layout is actually from Christmas 2011 - I hope that they don't mind! I actually used the righthand side of Sketch #248 from 'Nuts about sketches' for this layout and used Bo Bunny and Bazzil papers, and K&Co stickers. Apologies for the flash glare...I just couldn't get a decent photo in this light.
That is all from me for now.  Have a great rest of the week everyone and stay safe.
Love,
Caro
x

Sledging weekend!

Although it snowed most of Friday afternoon, we didn't actually have that much snow here in Sheffield because the flakes were so tiny. This meant that I was able to get the car out on Saturday to take Alex to his street dance lesson and do the weekly Tesco shop in an almost empty shop (everyone had been panic buying on Thursday and Friday).  However, there was still plenty of snow available for playing, even if it was too powdery to build a decent snowman - here was our best attempt, a rather measly effort!

Most importantly for Alex there was enough good snow for sledging.  We went to a nearby farmer's field (he kindly gives permission for us to use two of his fields for sledging) where there is a fantastic slope.  Where the snow was deeper (3-4 inches) it didn't work well for sledging, but where everyone else had packed the snow down, it was excellent, despite the tufts of grass showing through.

Alex even did a few solo runs, which he loved...shrieks of delight all the way down.

This morning we went to church and then back to the slopes this afternoon, where Alex tried out his skid pan

and I got to do a solo run or two...much more comfortable than being squashed!

If this works...this should be a video of one of our runs from yesterday, complete with Alex's commentary.

I haven't had a great deal of time for crafting recently, although it was my turn to set the Quirky Crafts challenge this week, and I chose 'Rainbow Bright' as the theme (rainbows or all the colours of a rainbow).  We have 2 great sponsors so please go and join in the fun. My birthday card, for my nephew uses Stained Snail from Stitchy Bear digital stamps (one of our sponsors) coloured all the colours of the rainbow, and then layered onto different coloured card, finally finished off with stickers and peel offs. I am entering this into Unscripted sketches, as it loosely follows their latest sketch (I hope it is close enough!).

I also made this one layer card for this weeks Less is More 'friendship' theme.  The stamps are both from Crafty Individuals.  I made a similar card about 18 months ago and a friend liked it so much she asked me to make one for her to send to one of her friends.
That is all from me for now. Have a great week everyone and stay safe in the snow.
Love,
Caro
x

A Friday snowy smile!

An on-line friend of mine, Annie, suggested that I share a Friday smile with you all. She has started doing this on her blog, so feel free to link up your smiles HERE.  This is what made me smile today...sledging in the snowstorm, in the dark with Alex.

The greatest of fun was had by both of us, even if it was rather cold!  I will be back on Sunday with some crafting, and possibly some more snow photos!  Have a nice weekend everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

scrapping and smashing! (WOYWW)

Like much of the country we have had snow here this week, albeit only a little.  Alex was understandably mega excited about it and pleased that there was just enough to have a snowball fight with me on our way to school on Monday.

It did look beautiful in the brief sunshine

and on the red berries, but most of it has gone now leaving an inconvenient icy residue.

Crafting wise Alex has been busy again this week making a necklace for Ella.

Here he is modelling the necklace...JoZarty may recognise some of the beads as they came from her little box of goodies.

As it is Wednesday it is time for WOYWW and for me to show you my desk.  I have actually managed to keep it tidy which is amazing.  The shelves are still immaculate as well, despite crafting lots this week.  This was taken last night after I finished doodling and writing in my smash book so all that is there is my smash book, the pen and at the very back, tucked away between the two wooden containers, a pile of small photographs ready for my next scrapbook layout. My mug of tea is missing as it has been taken downstairs for washing!

Here is the completed smash book page: A diary of last week, which gives details of our weekly routine, including our getting up time, Alex's morning junk modelling and crafting at my desk, work, school, scooting to school, swimming lessons, creation (Alex's church group), Street dance lessons, the weekly shop, church on Sundays and playing with friends.  It is a nice record for the future as to how our routine is now, as I know it will change as Alex gets older.  This smash book is an ongoing work in progress of my year with different things being added to it each week.  As a result I am entering it into the 'Month in review' challenge.

This is my latest scrapbooking layout. For this I made my own background using paint splatters, dabs of glitter glue and random spraying of gold glimmer mist (a product I have had for years and only used about twice!). I framed the two photos in yellow card, then added a frilly ribbon (again something I have had for ages), and a string of beads (a gift from JoZarty just before Christmas), the alphabet stickers (Christmas present) and the stamp with the journalling, which I die cut using a nestability die. I am entering this into CCC 'Anything but a card',  Tuesday Throwdown 'frame it', DCM 'Frill', and Lasting Memories 'something old, something new' challenges.
That is all from me for now.  Stay safe in the cold weather.
Love,
Caro
x

Scrapbooking again!

At the end of our first week back, I think I can say that we are now all back into the swing of things. Saturday mornings sees Alex having his street dance lesson at City Limits, which he loves, followed by us fighting our way round Tesco to do the weekly shop.

This Saturday afternoon Alex and I went round to see one of his friends, and the two boys had a great time being very silly together as you can see.

I also managed to do some scrapbooking this week which I am both pleased with and excited about!  I am over a year behind in my scrapbooking so it is nice to have the mojo to do some again.  This  layout followed Sketch #242 from Creative Scrappers and features Alex on various dressing up occassions at school.  I am entering this into CCC 'January Blues', Penny's challenge 'Anything goes', CCT 'beat the blues', Delightful challenges 'Add hearts', Delicious Doodles 'Anything goes using your favourite colours' (blue is one of my favourite colours), and All sorts 'dies and punches'. That is all from me for now as the other layout is still drying!  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Back into the swing of things (WOYWW)

Well we are back into the swing of things here now.  School, work and crafting on Mummy's desk in the morning are all happening again.  Yet again, Alex is making presents for his girlfriend, Ella.  I would love to know what Ella makes of all the random cards and presents Alex makes for her each week! 

For my entry to WOYWW here is my desk as it is was yesterday...in the process of making a scrapbook layout (it is completely empty now). As you can see my desk is remarkably tidy (a result of being too ill to craft and not being able to sleep either) so there is only my trusty mug of tea, some PVA glue, a spellbinders die, a stamp, DST, stickers and a tab that I was using for the layout.

The crafting tidy didn't only extend to my desk surface, but the back of the desk

and my shelves as well.

Here is the finished layout of Tim's birthday in 2011 (I am that far behind with my scrapbooking and seriously need to catch up) which followed one of the Pagemap sketches for January 2013. This used BoBunny background cardstock, then some Basic Gray scraps left over from previous projects, Doodlebug design alphabet stickers and Tim Holtz embellishments. I am entering this into Ooh La La 'Happy Birthday' (it was Tim's birthday layout after all), Kaboodle Doodles 'vintage challenge' (as the papers, embellishments and colour scheme are vintage in feel), SimonSaysStampAndShow 'Embrace the old' (this layout uses mostly old stash, especially the stripey basicGray Archaic paper which is no longer produced I understand)

This is another page in my smash book...with my New Year's resolutions in it. These are to (inevitably) lose weight, get fit, stay positive, keep smiling, spend more time with God, and to be more courageous in my crafting. I am entering this into Flourishes Timeless Tuesday 'Happy New Year' and PTW 'Happy New...' challenges.

With the last resolution in mind my next double page spread of the New Year's day walk round Sheffield, took the form of a hand doodled fairy scene (partly because there were fairies and their dwellings in the Winter gardens) over the top of a patterned background generated using paint, stippling, sequin waste and stamping. This is experimental for me as I never draw anything!  I am therefore entering this into craftycardmakers 'create a fairytale scene' (the fairy and his castle are in two of the pictures) and Tuesday Throwdown 'use your new stuff' (The smash book and associated pens are new).
That is all from me for now.  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Outdoors weekend!

Well in some ways this has been an outdoors weekend as we are getting back into the swing of things following Christmas, New Year and a long bout of illness.  The weather has been surprisingly mild so Alex and I went to a different park each day to run off some energy and have some fun.  Yesterday afternoon was spent chasing a cheeky monkey round Endcliffe Park,

whereas today we went to Spider park for some clambering, football and games of chase.

This weekend it is also time for the first QUIRKY CRAFTS challenge of the year.  The theme was chosen by Lyn of  Something New with pink. We have two sponsors this week, Bugaboo and Doodle Dragon.  I was given a cute little image called 'Peapod Boo' to work with so I used her on a New Baby tag.  I inked all around her with distress ink, then stamped swirls with an inkadinkado stamp.  I added the word 'Dream' using a crafty individuals stamp and then added various embellishments from my stash (lace, flowers, star and butterfly).  I am entering this into MTTC 'All about the new', Flutterby Wednesday 'In with the new', Simon Says Stamp 'new something', and Cute card Thursday 'something new'.

I also made a birthday card for my father-in-law using Darkroom Door steampunk and crafty individual stamps and distress inks.  I am entering this into Crafty Creations 'Anything goes', Fresh Brewed 'Anything goes' and Stampin for the weekend 'Anything goes'.  That is all from me.  I am back to work tomorrow, and Alex is back to school.  Have a great week.
Love,
Caro
x