WOYWW (26 September 2012)

Can't believe how quick this last week has gone.  This past week just seems to have speed by, yet I seem to have achieved very little.  this week my photo has been taken from a different angle; I got Liam to stand on my chair to take the photo.

 

I have my LSNED file which I have updated with my notes and some alphas that I used on a LO for Child's Play Challenge site where LO was in the top 3 for August and I am joining the DT as a guest during October.  The challenges are very suited to me.  The LO's came together really easily without having to think too hard about what to do, the best kind of LO. My desk as you can see is still covered in paint and ink which I have been having a right old game with trying to remove it all. 

 

Since being in hospital last week I have got a little lost with my LSNED.  I was so on top of things but then it all went wrong.  I have notes for every day but I need to scrap the pages.  I really want to complete this project as I have far too many projects similar to this that are not quite finished; time just keeps running away!

 

If you want to have a look at some other crafty spaces pop on over to Julia and there will be links to plenty of crafty spaces all over the world.

Tuesday Tallies (25 September 2012)

This week has been one of those with lots of ups and downs.  Just one of those weeks.  I have not had much chance to crochet this week but I did manage to get 12 light squares made:

 

 

Can't believe how cold the weather has turned and how wet it was this past weekend.  I am a little annoyed with it as there were things that we needed to do on the house outside and were unable to do which has meant that we have had to put the builder off  and he now can't come for 2 weeks.  I think these house renovations will never get done.

 

Pop on over to Carole to see some other one a day projects and I'm quite sure other will show you much more progress than me.

WIPW (19 September 2012)

Good morning my yarny friends.  This week as well as my mini granny square blanket and cross stitch I have also been working on this blanket:

 

 

My Kool Kotton blanket.  This blanket was started 2 1/2 years ago.  I frogged the blanket as it was just too large, it was evn too large for a king size bed.  It is now the size of a lap blanket so much easier to handle.  I think it was because of the size that I wasn't working on it.

 

Not much progress due to the me ending up in hospital this week but every bit of progress helps.  Pop on over to Tami to see a host of other WIPs this fine Wednesday.

WOYWW (19 September 2012)

Another week has passed and here we all are showing off our crafting spaces to the world.  After last weeks mega tidy of Studio Calico kits, I rewarded myself with lots of scrapping; I have made 8 LO's over the past week plus got up to date with Shimelle's LSNED album apart from the photos which are somewhere in the post on their way to me.  

And the top of the expedit now all those boxes have gone and have been replaced by cropper hoppers look fantastic.  Just need to order some more so I can then tackle Sarah's Cards and Scrapagogo kits.

Next thought I would tackle my cross stitch stash.  Oh my are there lots of WIPs and plenty of FO waiting to be framed.  Of course you can't sort and not have a play, can you? 

I spent Sunday morning cross stitching and I thoroughly enjoyed it until I ended up in hospital in the afternoon which is where I am still.

Then Monday morning came.  How I forgot what lots of cross stitch does to my carpel tunnel!  When you are in that much pain you can't fasten your trouser button you know you have over done things.  This meant a very painful day but I am happy to say I am on the mend and have learnt my lesson.  Small amounts each day from now on.

This my crafty space today:

Pop on over to Julia to take a look at some other craft workspaces.

Tuesday Tallies (18 September 2012)

Where oh where is this month going?  It only seems like yesterday the summer holidays were over and already we are over half way through the month.  My list of to do this month has not really been impacted and there are deadlines to meet if our future plans are to be sorted by next summer.  well I have found some time to crochet and have completed 12 squares this week.  This makes a total of 150 teeny squares, about 1/3 done.

I have got 2 colours to start and then I will sew them first batch all together.  The blanket is 11/12 squares across and I have made at least 12 of each colour, 5 colours have enough for 2 rows made.  I really want to get this blanket finished as I have so many others on the go that need my attention.  I need to sit down and work out whether I have enough yarn for some of the projects I have started as some of the colours are discontinued (Rowan Cashmerino DK, for example) and I would hate to not have enough to finish these projects.  That is off to the top of my to do list right now; how I then pay for the yarn is another question!

Pop on over to Caraole to see some other one a day projects.

Reach For The Stars

This is the third LO made using my CKC kit, Take Note.  I have used mostly October Afternoon papers and embellishments with paint, ink splashes and stamping; a combination I rarely use.  Alphas by American Crafts and Authentique.



I am entering this LO in to the current challenge from Scrap 365 magazine on their challenge blog, Scrapbook 365 which is to use this sketch.

Good Times Together

Another photo and LO from our trip to Wenlock during the summer holidays.  This time a LO for Liam's album.

 

 

 

Made using September's CKC kit Take Note.  I am entering this in to the current challenge from Child 's Play Challenge site where the inspiration is pencils.  I have used paper rolls to represent the shape of the pencils plus a pencil sticker.  How I am going to store this in a page protector I'm not quite sure as the paper rolls are quite bulky.  Was really happy to discover last week that I had been part of their top 3 for August and I'm really looking forward to being a guest on the DT in October.

Smiles

This post is all about newly discovered scrap challenge sites.  Love that they are UK based and the inspirational DT work is fantastic, well done Ladies.  The first new challenge blog is Happy Scrappers.  This month they have set a challenge to use buttons and bows. 

I have also discovered a further three craft challenge sites.  The first is Whoopsiedaisy which I am entering this LO in to as it also challenges you to use buttons and bows this week.  The second site, My Mum's Craft Shop which also challenging you to use button.  The final challenge blog is Jelly Park Friends where there Friday challenge was all about the children.  This photo was taken at Christmas which to me is really for the children and my personal excitement for went many years ago.  My button stash is huge so these challenges have helped to make a dent.


I am typing this on my blackberry and can't link to the sites above, however as soon as I can get on my laptop I'll put the links up.

LO made using my CKC September kit Take Note.  Mostly picked American Crafts papers with some MME with twine bows and lots of buttons.

{Heart}

This month for the challenge over at Sarah's Cards I have used their February 2011 kit which contained Glitz papers.  Its hard to believe that I had this kit 18 months ago and this is the first LO I have made using it. 

 



 

Another LO for Liam's album which I am concentrating on at the moment as I really have so many gaps compared to Freya's albums.  The LO came together very quickly with this lovely sketch and the DT have made some stunning LO's.

Lego Pals

Last month Lisa Jane did a series about her love of 6 x 6 pads.  There were some lovely ideas and at the end of the series she set a challenge to scrap with 6 x 6 pads.  This is my LO:

 

 

Picture taken over 2 years ago when we had a short break in Legoland for Freya's birthday.  I have scrapped lots of photos for Freya but very few for Liam's album.  I have sure American Crafts Shoreline which I have both the 12 x 12 and the 6 x 6 pad.  Just love these bright colours which go wonderful with the lego models. 

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Over the summer we wnt to Snowdon.  The weather was fantastic and I thought, finally I will get to be at the top of Snowdon without any cloud.  Lets face it, I've been to the top 12 times, surely no. 13 will be the lucky one!  Well it wasn't to be this time, five minutes from the top the cloud came down heavily.  The pictures used on this LO are actually a postcard that I have cut up and done in a photo strip style.

 



 

Made using MME Miss Caroline.  I am entering this LO in to the challenge at The Colour Room where the challenge was to use sea green, red, kraft and a cheveron.  I have made my own chevron with Mister Huey's, a studio calico chevron mask and kraft card.  I have used this sketch. 

WOYWW (12 August 2012)

I know after last weeks desk shame I should hang my head very very low.  However, it got far far worse.

I am in the process of down sizing stash.  Yes, its got to be done.  First phase is empty all the monthly kits out of the boxes.  This week I have tackled Studio Calico kits and have put them all in 12 x 12 bags, then filed in hopper croppers.  Instead of my expedit and wardrobe covered in boxes they now fit on half of the expedit.  Looks so much better already.

As a reward I have done some scrapping.  I started on my LSNED 2012 album by making some of the pages as I am waiting for my photos. 

 

This is how my desk now looks after all those boxes have been thrown away:

Pop on over to Julia to take a look at some other crafty spaces.

Tuesday Tallies (11 September 2012)

I haven't been that productive this week.  I was so looking forward to the kids going back to school but I just seemed to crash.  I had shingles 4 weeks ago and I am still struggling with the fatigue which is why I have not got as much as I would have liked done.  This week I managed 12 squares:

 

Pop on over to Carole for some other one a day progress posts.

10 Things On The 10th (September 2012)

This month my 10 things are a list of very personal things. Things concerning my future and the future of my two beautiful children. Things have not been great the last few years and I have come to some big decisions and there are going to be some very major changes to our lives over the next 12 months.  These changes are based on my health and happiness which i have always put to the back of the queue. Instead i have concentrated on the happiness of others, usually the wrong peoples happiness and usually to my detriment. Something which must change.

I need to take 'little' steps to achieve our goal. There are lots of 'little' steps needed but they will be done over the next 6 months.  This is an additional list of goals to the ones in my 'This Year I Will' post and there are many others to be achieved too.  These are the ones which i will concentrate on this month:

1.  Deal with the issues linked with my employment.  Its not going to be a pleasant experience but I now know the decision is the right one for my future happiness and also my health.  The one thing I have been fighting for over the last 18 months seems so insignificant and now I am letting go the weight on my shoulders seemed to disappear overnight.  Its strange what we think is important. I have come to realise personal health and happiness along with the love of your family is all that really matters.

2.  Deal with all the paperwork needed to achieve financial stability for us.  Only so much of this can be done before point 1 is finalised but i need to get everything in place to make sure things run smoothly.

3.  Downsize craft supplies and reduce my hoarding until stash just fills my expedit unit.

4.  Purchase some more D Ring scrap albums and store my LOs prior to 2008. The later ones are sorted in matching albums but I want the earlier ones transferred from the different post bound albums. They will look so much better and can then all be stored together.

5.  Sort out my clothes.  I have lost just over 2 stone over the past 15 months and i have so many clothes that don't fit it is unbelieveable. Work clothes need to be gone through with a realistic mind, what I don't need must go.  I am also adamant the weight is not going back on therefore the larger clothes can go.

6. Purchase the 3 canvas prints I would like.  We had the photo shoot back in February and I've never got round to ordering them.

7.  Downsize the contents of the kitchen. Way too much stuff and lots of it doesn't get used. I have come to the conclusion I don't need a gadget to dry mushrooms that I inherited from my Mother. There are lots of similar things lurking in the back of the cupboards.

8.  Downsize the kids toys and other contents of their bedrooms and every other room of the house where they have left their belongings. Have some new house rules to impose which I know they are not going to like.

9.  Finish all the scrapping classes I have started.  I am taking Shimelle's LSNED class again this year but can you believe I still have pages left in my album from 2 years ago. I also have gaps in my Journal Your Christmas alums for the past 2 years plus 4 months of Document 2011 not completed.  Lots of unfinished classes that I need to complete.

10. Take time to review and improve my lifestyle choices. Because of health issues there are certain things that will never be perfect but at times there are other choices I could choose. I need to put my health and happiness higher on my agenda and put me first, something which I have always struggled with.

Some of these 10 things are a little vague but until certain things have been finalised I cant reveal the full details of my master plan.  But the one thing I am certain of is I will celebrate that big birthday next year and life will begin at 40 and this will become our daily view:

 

 

Summer 2012 CHA Releases; Being Thrifty & Selective

Lots of new releases from CHA have started to hit stores and I am loving some of them more than I should.  I really do have an overload of supplies and I don't think I will ever scrap at least half of what I have.  Yet as new CHA I buy up loads.  This year like a lot of people the purse strings are getting tight.  I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do the social scene like a lot of other people and alot of other things that so many families do; my kids do not have all the latest gadgets and to ensure they are grounded they never will and then there is the fact that it is only me. 

Well, summing that all up money is limited and like a lot of families purses are being tightened.  This year this is my NEED list:

MME Sweetest Thing - Tangerine, Honey, Bluebell and Lavender*

MME Indie Chic - Citroen, Ginger, Nutmeg* and Saffron*

ECHO PARK Everyday Eclectic

ECHO PARK - For The Record 2 Documented

ECHO PARK - For The Record 2 Tailored

October Afternoon - Woodland Park

Bella Blvd - Birthday Book (Liam's Papers)*

Bella Blvd - Birthday Girl (Freya's Paper)*

Bella Blvd - Thankful

* just the ones with asterisks to buy now and I really think that will be it for this CHA releases.

There are a few other ranges that I have seen but to be honest they are just not jumping out at me.  I blame it on the fact I have so much paper and I really am thinking about costs.  Paper sat on a shelf doing nothing really is of no help to anybody.  It looks pretty but I will never use all of it.

What are you needing from these releases and are you at the point when you know this hobby has taken over your life and you can not buy any more supplies?

As every post needs a photo, here's some of the 1.200 photos I need to go through from our 3 weeks in Wales this Summer.



Thanks for looking.

Bromsgrove Crop

Considering I was at the crop last Saturday for 5 hours I was not really that productive.  All I created was this 1 LO:

 

Made using Basic Grey J & PB range with fabric brads and Studio Calico wood veneers.  It was nice to make a page that was so different from the pages I have made using the CKC Summer Lovin' kit.

Counterfeit Kit Challenge September 2012

When I put the Summer Lovin' kit together last month as part of the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Site, I wanted to make 10 LO's with it.  I have made another 2 LO's which I have not shown you which will bring the count to 10 and there are plenty more supplies to make more. I will show you the last two next week.



This months inspiration kit is from Birds Of A Feather.  The kit has a sheet of Studio Calico's Noteworthy which I have in my stash and I have taken this as my inspiration and basis for this months kit. 



The kit has quite a bright green included but I wanted to shy away from bright colours this month as August's kit was so bright.  I have taken the mustard, peachy red and turquoise as my main colours.  I found that alot of the papers I was chosing had a grey/beige background so I used that as my base colour.

Papers, mix of Jellibean Soup, American Crafts, My Minds Eye, October Afternoon and Echo Park.  Only a few full sheets and lots of part used, although you can't tell this from how I have layered them up:

Cardstock:

Paper embellishments

Washi tape:

Brads, buttons, twine, pearls:

Stickers:

Alpha's



Here is the kit I have made which I am going to call Take Note as it is September and time for back to school.

Some close ups:

All waiting and ready to go:



Again this month I would like to make 10 LO's.  Pop on over to the blog to take a look at the Design Teams kits.