Bargain hunt...

I love going shopping,especially when I come home with a little haul of bargains! I headed off to Stevenage this afternoon in search of something to wear for a wedding this weekend...nothing more depressing than clothes shopping when you can't find anything you like :( But despite drawing a blank for me, I picked up some fab bits for the girls.The coolest of all has to be a black hat for Holly with pink glittery skulls on, complete with matching black and pink stripey scarf,for a tiny £1.25 ! I will take a photo tomorrow :) I also got both girls really nice baker boy style hats in pale pink for £1.75,top & leggings for Holly for £2.85,cardigan for Em for £4 and a Holly's fave pink jumper in the next size up for half price too :)Got to love Tesco's kids clothes!

I seem to be all behind and out of synch with everything at the moment,lots of tidying to be done,rooms to be sorted ,a heap of ironing ...and then I have scrappy stuff on my mind too :) Looking forward to the retreat in April and also trying to get prepared too! I doubt I will get much scrapping done somehow!
My Pencil Lines layout is done for this week, though I am toying with the idea of chucking something else on it! Why can I never just leave them alone?! It just needs a little bit of jouranlling added but I'm tempted to add more!
I'll leave you with the layout I did at the retreat on Sunday :) The paper is by Making Memories,Lace cardstock by KI Memories and the brown flowers are hand cut and doodled on .This will be going up on the wall in a box frame hence no title :)Photo very kindly taken by Anna last April...probably the last time we had a decent family photo taken (apart from the one she took in October!!)

Cropping,packing and wii-ing

...and not a chocolate brownie in sight...*sulk* !!

The cold is finally on it's way out -amen!!- and my eye has cleared up a lot though still looks pretty yuk!

Yesterday afternoon I went over to the Great Ashby crop with Anna as she was teaching a class there.I also managed to do a little bit of shopping while we were there ;)

We then headed back to Anna's as we were supposed to spend the evening pricing up all her odd bits of shop stock.In reality we sat and went through all her DT stash, sorted it, listed it and put it all away again! I was treated to a fab tea of spaghetti carbonara and garlic bread - yum! I was also entertained by Lily wiggling her bum and Izzy giving us all a lesson about World War 2!! After falling into bed at some late hour I was awake bright and early this morning.Anna came downstairs to find me playing tennis on the Wii with Izzy,still in our pyjamas!

Then we went off to the Buckden crop where I got my traditional one layout done :) The rest of the time was spent munching biscuits, chatting,packing up next months kit and pricing up all the stock.

Two layouts to share today :) The first is one I did for the Scrapping Angels monthly kit,using Scenic Route papers.I have loads left so I have a couple of other things planned to make with it .I also used KI Memories stamps,MM stamps and Scenic Route stickers. The flowers made using the hearts cut out and curled and then mounted on 3D foam pads.

Second layout is this weeks Pencil Lines layout.

I used

Heidi Swapp block alphas

Basic Grey Blush & Lucky papers

Creative Cafe velvet trim

Various buttons

Heidi Swapp ghost heart

Doodlebug rub ons

Don't forget to go and see the other DT's layouts and the sketch :)

Am off to bed to prepare for another week of school and tidying the house!

Bleurgh

I didn't realise it was that long since I'd blogged..but I do have an excuse,I am struck down by the lurgy.My nose and head have been totally bunged up for two days now:( I think I got about two hours sleep last night...and although I am shattered here I am wide awake at almost 1am .I think this is mainly due to nthe fact that as well as the cold I have now have the dreaded conjunctivitis...great :( So tomorrow I will keeping my distance from everyone and making a Dr's appt for the morning .Depending on how quickly it clears up I'm guessing this could also mess up my weekend plans of cropping and staying over at Anna's - pooh :(


Today I have literally done just what had to be done and then flopped on the sofa with a bar of Galaxy hazelnut (just a small one!) and a girly chick flick for company.I love this film, more each time I watch it :)
I am off to see if I can cram in a few hours sleep....

New Momiji :)

Forgot to say that I got a new Momiji doll from Geoff for Valentine's Day...here she is! And if you see them going for a bomb on ebay,don't be tempted...go to your local John Lewis instead,they sell them there :) I cannot believe that a Momiji Snowglobe has just sold for ,wait for it...£65 on ebay!! I'm keeping hold of mine!

Good news on the Pc front :) Peter dropped off Anna's spare one today and Geoff has managed to put our hard drive in it and everything is still there .Everything has now been transferred safely over to the external hard drive.I just need to spend tomorrow checking my old emails for anything I might need and getting stuff like my MSN ID written down! I might also put a load of photos on a disc so that I can get some printed for scrapping as I'm cropping this weekend and if I don't go organised I will get nothing done!

Still kaput...

Still without the main PC...which has it good and bad points! Good that I'm not spending anywhere near as much time as usual on the PC ,bad in that I can't get to most of my photos,my fave sites (unless I can remember them or find someone else with a link!) or anybody's email addresses! The photo thing is my biggest downer though! Am going to try add some to this post though that I've taken this week :)*added photo of the girls with their tree warden badges from Tuesday :)

So, half term is done and dusted and it's been a pretty good one :) The weather has been gorgeously sunny for the most part, if not a little chilly the last few days! On Friday Anna,Izzy and Lilly came over.Being full of cold Anna was not in the mood to venture outside for our usual trip to the lakes so the girls made do with bouncing about on the trampoline whilst we stayed inside in the warm!

Yesterday morning Em and I went to see Stardust as well as popping into the library to collect a book she had ordered.

This morning the girls and I went for a walk down to the lakes as Geoff was working.I tried to perfect the art of taking a photo of us all holding the camera at arms length...in the end a very nice passer by offered to take one of us together :) She must have heard the peals of laughter at my attempts! We had a quick go in the playground and a traditional game of Pooh Sticks at the bridge before returning home to warm up.

Although it was cold today, I managed to get all the washing dry and having emptied the ironing basket, I promptly filled it again! Did manage to get it empty again though whilst the girls amused themselves in the garden :) I also finished off a layout that I started last night ,whilst watching them from the kitchen window.So all in all a pretty productive day :)

Our guest DT over at Pencil Lines this week is Sarah Youde ,and we were sponsored with kits by Scrapmuse.I am just using photos that I have already printed off at the moment,and this layout uses photos that are nearly two years old :)Everything I used is from the kits, except for the American Crafts foam thickers.

And here's a little sneak of what I've done with this months Scrapping Angels kit

Sun filled two days :)

So I'm guessing summer has come early again this year?!
Yetsreday our road had a street party to celebrate the planting of new trees.The sun shone,the kids had a fab day playing out and they helped plant the trees too :)The road was closed off to traffic and taken over by kids on scooters, a game of volleyball,Twister..you name it, it was out there! Holly did her own take on grafiti...writing 'I love Mummy,I love Daddy, I love Emma' on the pavement...finished off with 'I love everyone' wriiten on our doorstep!!I have loads of photos but can't upload them whilst on the laptop :(
Today the girls and I went to Whipsnade Zoo with my Mum & Dad.Yet more sunshine and by the end of the day a very sleepy Holly! I love going there, it has so many memories from when I was a child and went there with my Mum & Dad and sister (back in the days when we wore identical outfits!)Lots more photos taken...I am going to bore you rigid once we are back to 'PC normal' !!
Tomorrow will be spent tidying,ironing and cleaning in preperation for a visit from the Bowkis clan on Friday :) I am predicting a fair bit of dancing, laughter ,High School Musical and Hairspray will prevail amongst the kids!! And if Anna remembers her memory card...it'll be a miracle!!

Kaput....

..is what the PC has gone...:( Don't think we will lose everything from it,apparently the mother board has gone and can be put into another PC.I hold my hands up and admit to not having a clue how these things work so I just trust what Geoff says!
So I am typing this from the laptop...which I hate! I'm also not happy because I did a layout for Anna using the Feb Scrapping Angels kit last night...and I can't send it to her - grrrr!And of course I can't remember anyone's email addresses either...doh!
So if I am quiet for the next few days, you know why! I did get lots of cleaning and tidying though today instead of surfing...who knows my house could be spotless by the time we get another PC sorted....anyone seen a pig flying over recently?!

Glorious Sunshine

The weather here has been beautiful today :) This morning I popped into town to stock up on vapour rub, cough medicine and Nurofen for Em.She is bunged up with a sore throat and very little voice poor girl.I also had a wander round John Lewis and fell in love with most of their Easter decorations! I think I may pop back soon and buy the girls the felt egg baskets and a few other bits :)
After lunch Holly and I went for a walk down to the lakes whilst Em had a long soak to bath to perk herself up a bit (don't worry,Geoff was here,I didn't abandon her!).It was so warm, though not quite warm enough for shorts and a bikini top like one person we saw!Is it my imagination or do some people go a little bit mad at the first sign of sunshine ?!Anyway, the camera came too and Holly was happy to pose,smile and jump!It was just nice to be out in the fresh air!

It's Sunday so that means a new sketch is live over at Pencil Lines.
After a change of plan (no change there!)I used
Autumn Leaves French Twist papers
Ki Memories gel stickers
Doodlebug sugar coated heart
Heidi Swapp ghost butterfly & bling
MM stamps
Creative Cafe felt trim
Doodlebug Simply Sweet letter stickers
MM Noteworthy Journalling pad

We also have a little competition running until the end of February.If you fancy joining us as a Guest Designer one week, check out the details here

The girls are on half term hols now so tomorrow they are off to my mum & dad's for the morning.I'm hoping I'll have time to get my Monday house clean done before they come home! Fingers crossed that the good weather holds for the rest of the week!

One I prepared earlier...

It's been a lovely sunny day here for the most part, there were no 'urgent' jobs to be done around the house...so I got my stash out ,spread it all over the floor and eventually made this layout.Now if your thinking it looks a bit Anna-ish..you're probably right!The good thing about having a scrapping friend is that you get to share stash...so Anna has half of my brown Queen & Co felt and I have half of her Maya Road felt birdies!So excuse us if you see the same stash appearing on our layouts!
I know I said I would do my tags ,but it will have to wait again as I've spent too long gabbing on MSN and I need to go to bed!

Meet Bubbles..

...this is Bubbles , my new paper puppy as made by Holly yesterday! Bless her ,she spent ages yesterday sticking and gluing and made us all our very own paper dog!Her imagination and some of the things she comes up with never fail to amaze me...or make me smile!
Here is my Pencil Lines layout for this week...which I did like until I saw everyone else's stunners! Oh well!

I used
Scenic Route background paper
Heidi Swapp bling
Love Elsie ribbon
Creative Cafe scalloped velvet ribbon
Bazzill spotty brad
American Crafts Daquiri Thickers
Scenic Route papers

I have a couple of tags to do thanks to Sandie, Lyzzy and Beth so I will try and get them done tomorrow as I have a thumping head at the mo (See Anna, I am trying to cut down on my Diet Coke and look what happens,my head hurts!;) )
Half term is fast approaching and hopefully I have enough planned to keep the girls occupied! So far we have planned a visit from Anna and her girls,a trip to the zoo (weather permitting),a street party to celebrate new trees being planted plus a couple of mornings at Nan & Grandads - phew!
Right, I am off to rest my head!

Still here!

Haven't been snowed in or blown away...I just kind of forgot to blog! Not that much interesting has been going on anyway!

Yesterday was one of those days the mums at school dread...dressing up ,this time for National Reading Day.The kids were given guidelines that they should dress as characters from traditional fairy tales ,nursey rhymes,myths & legends or stories passsed down by generations...hmm, since when Spiderman became any those I really don't know ,but there were plenty there! Em's was a last minute choice after I deemed most her of her ideas as pretty unsuitable for the weather at this time of year! She settled on the witch from Sleeping Beauty...and dressed in black! Holly was slightly easier after a friend lent her a red cape and she went as Little Red Riding Hood,complete with basket of plastic cakes. Apparently they have to dress up again in about a month for World Book Day...I guess I'd better start thinking up ideas now :) Holly likes the idea of Lola..so I'll be on the look out for Lola style pinafores!

Today we went for walk over to the library followed by a visit to Costa Coffee for hot chocolate :) The weather has been lovely, bright and crisp but with no sign of snow...:( Whilst the girls ate lunch I finished off my Pencil Lines layout for tomorrow .I wasn't sure about it when I started it last night but it's grown on me now it's finished :) I'll leave you with a little peak (mainly because I have nothing else to show you!)

A Little Bit of Loveland...

...yes, my adoration of Scenic Route continues with Loveland!

This is the layout I did at the crop yesterday ,featuring Holly wearing her two favourite Christmas presents- her Minnie Mouse ears and the pink jumper from Izzy & Lilly :)

The black background is the table runner as mentioned in yesterday's post - thanks again Louise! And thanks to Kerry too for the title help! See, I am no good at this lark...I have to get other people to help me! The close up shows the Heidi Swapp giant ghost heart which doesn't show up much in the big photo.I didn't realise when I ordered these that you get an 'outline' as well as the solid heart,fab added bonus! Papers are Scenic Route and Making Memories Noteworthy,and I added a pile of Angel Kiss blooms,various brads and Scenic Route letter stickers for the title.I did sit and push a couple of other photos around on various bits of paper yesterday but they haven't materialised into layouts yet!

Sandie, I haven't forgotten your tag, will try and do it tomorrow!

Been cropping....

...twice!!And I still didn't get much done! Am coming to the conclusion that I am rubbish at crops ! I can't take the whole house as I travel by train to Anna's so I end up half doing things because I 'know I have something at home' that will go with it! Every time I tell myself that next time I will go prepared and organised..I never quite manage it! It was lovely to see everyone though and huge huge thanks to Louise for that gorgeous table runner! And guess who forgot the memory card for her camera ...again !! So if she forgets to credit me, the photos of Anna's Pencil Lines layout this week were taken by me ;)!! On Friday I went cropping with Lyzzy & co, and mananged to do my Pencil Lines layout...and spend money in the shop!


Talking of Pencil Lines, new sketch is now live! And a very rare occurence, I actually did a double layout...only the second one I've ever done I think!

I used the Scrapping Angels January kit plus Autumn leaves Journalling stamps,Queen & Co stamps, AC Thickers and Heidi Swapp bling and photos of the big snowfall we had last year.
I am off to unpack my scrapping bags!

Ta Da!

Woohoo, I scrapped! And not only that ...I scrapped without a sketch and manged to cram 10 photos onto one layout :) I feel much better now...I've seem to have got so used to using a sketch that I find it difficult trying to scrap without one! Anyway, this is a layout I have been meaning to do for ages ,before I forgot the whole 'feeling' of the day. Once I had all the photos down, the journalling came quite easily...something else that hasn't happened in a while! I am really pleased with how it turned out...I wasn't keen halfway through doing it but by the end I was more than happy! So this is my little tribute to Anna and her amazing race last September...

Click on the picture to see it bigger!

Just mooching...

Yep, we have spent the weekend just mooching about due to the rubbish weather here at the moment!
I was treated to my breakfast in bed by the girls this morning though as Geoff had gone into work!Em also decided that she was going to 'do everything around the house' today...she did do her and Holly's tea anyway!
Holly was hoping to go for a walk down to the lakes this afternoon 'to walk in the mud' but it was raining again by then so we gave it a miss! Probably just as well as I'm sure one of us would have ended up on our bottoms in it!So instead the girls did some painting whist I waded through the ironing! And I suddenly realised how they are growing up too fast...Holly used to churn out loads of 'big handed' people paintings...today she did just two paintings ,but took ages over all the little details on them.But at least I didn't have to spread them all over the floor waiting for them to dry out!
Pencil Lines is live with a new sketch! Our GDT this week is Sasha who is an amazing scrapper and a regular contributor to the readers gallery:)
I had a set idea in my head of what I was going to scrap this week, but all the photos turned out pants so I had to change ideas yet again!I still plan on doing my original idea at some point,just need for wait for better weather !

So I used
Scenic Route papers (yet again!)
American Crafts felt Thickers
Doodlebug Simply Sweet & Loopy Lou stickers
Heidi Swapp block alpha stickers
Angel Kiss blooms
Bazzill/Imaginesce rub-on
The photos are of Holly last year during one of our many trips to the small park near us :)

Huge thanks to Annie for the little package of scrapping goodness that arrived on Saturday - thanks hun!
I have just ages resizing and printing lots of photos for a layout so hopefully I will be scrapping tomorrow night!At last we have sussed out how to print different size photos out at the same time on one sheet of paper!

bang bang thud

Yes, that would be the sound of me hitting my head against a brick wall whilst trying to get the council to sort out the never-ending problem of my garden shed.I am sick of nothing being done unless I ring up and chase them and now just as it was getting close to being sorted we have gone three steps back again.Yes, I know there are worse things going on in the world but I am still allowed to get annoyed about it. Thank you and good night.

Make your own sunshine....

This is the sight that greeted me this morning when I came downstairs,Holly 'sunbathing' under the 'parasols' with Mickey...love her imagination.And I love her Charlie & Lola pyjamas :) She makes me smile on miserable rainy days like today !
And it's just as well I'm not superstitious about umbrellas being open indoors isn't it?!

Cool feet....

Are these cool wellies or what?!These are Holly's new boots...a snip at £3! Yes Lyzzy, we do still need wellies...what do you mean summer is round the corner, have you seen the weather forecast for this week?!
The trip to the Orthodontist went well and Em is brace free for the next four months so that they can see if there is any movement - she is one happy girl!
Other than that, not much to report here!

Oh...my...ears!!

So this afternoon Geoff discovered an 'on demand' karaoke channel on the TV....ouch!! Now I love my children to bits, but they really don't have the best voices sometimes! Anyway, much wailing and dancing followed this discovery...so I took myself off into the kitchen to prepare the roast for tea and start on a CJ!!

Bit of a quiet day here...I'm sure I won't sleep tonight as I've not even stepped out of the door today! I still seem to be lacking any get up & go...I'm not ill...just feel ..flat for want of another word!I think I just need some sunshine...shame there doesn't seem to be any on the horizon!

Tomorrow I have to take Em for an Orthodontist check up to see how her brace is getting on,and whilst over there I need to go wellie shopping or Holly!

Let's have another go at showing my layouts...!! There's no point in showing the sneak of my Pencil Lines as it's now live! The layout was done using a sponsored kit from Fresh Pages...so I have a good reason for using Scenice Route again this week - I had to!The photos are of Holly a couple years agao after she'd been told off (I have no idea what for!).I love them because she has her'summer hair' - it dries really wavy when she gets it wet in the paddling pool!

It's the weekend!

Well, okay it's almost halfway through now as I'm posting this so late!
I have been so bored this week and grumpy,it was nice not to have to do the schoool/work routine today.And the added bonus was that it didn't rain...well not while it was daylight anyway!
Today we went out for a walk to the lakes...lets just say it was ....muddy! Luckily no-one slipped over but I'm pretty sure one of Holly's wellies has a hole in it somewhere...
We've almost spent a bit of time of the Wii :) The girls (well Holly mainly, she adores this game!) have unlocked all the extras (Ithink!) on the Olympics game so we have been doing a bit of skydiving along with some dream fencing!
Yesterday when the sun made another brief appearance I scrapped...I forced myself! *no photo as Blogger won't let me upload !*I always take ages finding photos so I just pulled out one from some spares I had printed out at Christmas.I used Scenic Route Loveland papers...I am so in love with Scenic Route at the moment (does it show?!) and end up buying mot of them twice so I can use both sides! The only other thing I used was some pink Heidi Swapp bling.I couldn't think of a title but I like it without one.And if I do think of one,there's still plenty of space!
I also got my pencil Lines layout done last night too :)
This morning I picked up two CJ's from the PO depot.They are both absolutely gorgeous so I hope I do them justice!