Half-term fun and even a little sun!

Well it is Friday and time for Annie's smiles and rocking your world Friday.  Alex has been on half-term this week and although I have had to work all week, I did have a day off last Friday and took him to SpyZone and NerfZone in Matlock.  NerfZone is very much like laser quest, but with Nerf guns (they fire little darts of foam),

and spy zone had us crawling through various tunnels and attempting to crack codes using a variety of gadgets.  He thought it was the best thing ever and now wants spy equipment for his birthday.

We also went out for a bicycle ride on Saturday to get him used to his new big bike.

Once we got over a minor incident with a pothole, he had a good time and was fascinated by the dam.  To finish the weekend we went to the Lego movie, which we both thought was fantastic (mind you that theme song is stuck in my head!). That is all from me for now.  Keep smiling, and have a great weekend.
Love
Caro
x 

What happened! (WOYWW)

Ooops!  I have been missing in action again and can’t believe I missed over a week and it is Wednesday again.  Where does the time go?  I haven’t managed to find a new routine to blogging since getting more involved at church.  I was asked a few weeks if my journal pages based on the current sermon series on discipleship could go on display on the church website and on the screens at church which was a huge surprise. As a result I am trying to keep pace with the sermon series in terms of my artwork, as well as other commitments (birthday cards, church home group etc), which along with full time work doesn’t seem to leave a lot of time for blogging.  I will do my best to continue, but it will be a case of when I can!  Anyway, enough wittering…this is my desk for WOYWW this week.  It is looking remarkably empty because I was working from home yesterday.  In fact, all you can see on it is Alex’s drawing as part of his half-term homework

Close up here -who can tell me which book cover it is? and my journal with a few lines sketched on it as I plan my next page.

This journal page was based on the subject of giving and uses acrylic paints, drawing, writing and stencilling for the texture.

The next one I really struggled with as service is very similar in many ways to giving.  This time I used masking with distress inks and stamping for the sunburst coming out from the cross and acrylic paints and pens for the rest. The white word on the cross is made from Doodlebug alphabet stickers.
That is all I have to show you for now.  Have a great week everyone.
Love
Caro
x

Valentines smiles!

Well it is Friday, and Valentines Day so lots to smile about for my entry to Annie's smiles!  These were my presents from Tim for Valentine's Day, a wrap around bracelet in black leather and silver. and some Ferrero Rocher chocolates.

I was also given a very unusual bunch of flowers (no roses) that will last and give me pleasure for at least a week, as well as a delicious meal out.

We also like to give Alex a card and present, as for us Valentines Day isn't about celebrating romantic love, but love in all its forms and that includes our love for him.  

He also made a card for his little girlfriend Chloe using my stamps, and then give it to her at school this morning.  What a little sweet heart.  That is all from me for now.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone...stay safe in all the weather we are having here.
Love
Caro
x

Empty (WOYWW)!

An empty desk? For WOYWW? Well yes, mostly.  At the left you can see my bible (in a fun cover), my little book of sermon notes (the purple notebook), a few random scraps of card and a party invitation for the science party that Alex is going to this weekend.  The reason my desk is so tidy today is that after Alex’s crafting session yesterday I needed to tidy up in order to have space to craft myself.

Here is the little crafter in action, just before school yesterday morning!

I haven’t managed to do a great deal of crafting this week as time ran away with me, but I did finish the journal page I started last week.

I also made this birthday card for my nephew who is 4.  I thought that the Dr Seuss phrase was so appropriate.  This was coloured with promarker pens and mounted on funky card stock (Nana’s kids – I think!).  That is all from me for now.  Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Climbing smiles!

Where did this week go?  I seem to have blinked and it is Friday already. As a result it is time to join in with Annie's Friday smiles.  My smiles this week come from discovering a climbing centre near us that is suitable for Alex. He very much enjoyed himself although his fear of heights meant that he refused to climb very far up any of the walls.

There was also a lowish boulder (my head height approximately) that he could climb up on top of and then slide down the middle which he really loved. 

And finally here is my proud Beaver showing off all his badges! Have a great weekend everyone and stay safe.
Love
Caro
x

First WOYWW of 2014

I can't believe it has taken me so long to get back into blogging and into WOYWW!  This is my first post since before Christmas, and I have missed it.  My excuse is I have been extremely busy (work, home & church) which meant that even if I did manage to post I would have failed to comment on anyone's...lame I know!  Anyway, enough drivelling...here is my desk in the midst of a journaling session.  You can see the journal with the start of the next page on it, ink pads, pens, pencils, rubber, inspiration and a notepad with the sermon notes from last Sunday - this page is going to be based on that sermon.

On that note I have been doing several journal pages based on sermons as part of a discipleship series and these are the most recent two for you to see.  The first one is on belonging...something I find really challenging.  For this I used dylusion inks in the background and inktense pencils for the figures.  I used a mixture of stencilling with water, stamping and drawing to create the overall effect with gold peel offs for the key lettering.

The second one speaks for itself and is on the theme of prayer.  The hands, and three stranded cord are in acrylic paint whereas the background is in water colour paint with stamps on the top. That is all from me for now...I will endeavour to comment on as many of you as I can, but please bear with me it will take a little time!  Have a great week everyone.
Love
Caro
x