WOYWW

As I have finally managed to start crafting again thought I would post something for Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday. As it is the last week of school (hurrah) I had to make some Thank You cards for the teachers. I used some scrap paper, added some flowers and a gem in the middle.

Andrew is leaving Primary School this year and starting the Academy after the holidays, so I have been working on a mini-book for him. I have done a page for each school year with a school photo and some things he could remember about each year, like his teacher, what his topics were, what trips he went on. Tomorrow is his closing church service and then they have a BBQ in the afternoon, then on Friday they go round and get everyone to sign their school polo shirts.

It feels a bit sad as it is the end of an era - that is my parental involvement finished with primary school after this week. Where did the years go???

Canvas

The last class that I did for the UKS cybercrop was this canvas one by Sharon Sim. First I painted the canvas with a few different colours, then stamped the flourishes using Distriss Inks. Paper used is Basic Grey Aged and Confused. The swirl at the top left was cut from Grungeboard using a diecut machine and then painted. The photo is of 'The dark hedges' in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, the trees are around 300 years old and form an ark over the road, they are supposedly haunted by a 'grey lady'.

Bit different!

This is another class from the weekends cybercrop - and it is a bit different for me! The class was by Angela Matheson, it was a hearts and kisses chipboard wreath from Tando Creative. I different Crate Paper to cover the hearts and kisses and then added flowers, ribbons and a bit of bling. This will look great hanging in my kitchen.

Classes

I managed to do a few of the classes over the weekend for the CC at UK Scrappers. This one was a class by Sarah Youde, the technique was to use stitching. The papers are My Minds Eye  Bloom & Grow. I have to admit that the stitching around the sides is not really stitching, just pen marks - so I didn't get full marks for this one! Photos are from our trip to Rome, my album is getting full!

This next class was by Beckie Dreyer. I had to adapt the class slightly to fit my frame, which was a slightly different size. This was my first time using glimmer mists! Still not too sure about them, they seemed to splodge and drip a lot. Anyone got any tips? Anyway I have a nice framed layout to hang on the wall for a change instead of just putting into an album.

It's a Mystery!

We all love a good mystery - don't we! We the cybercrop is no different. One of the fun challenges at every CC is the Mystery Kit challenge. Each team has a different kit from a different sponsor which you can buy and then create something with - but the catch is that obviously you do not know what is going to be in the kit and you are only allowed to add white or black card if you want! Well I was weak-willed this time and sent for one and here is what I made:

The paper is by American Crafts. I weaved the bit on the right hand side and covered the chipboard heart with the yellow ribbon. I had never seen the flowers before - they are sort of puffy and soft! The photo is of the arrangement I did for our Church's Flower Festival last August and represents Children and Young People. I still have masses of stuff leftover from the kit as well.

Monopoly Cybercrop

It's cybercrop time again - this time over at UK Scrappers. The theme this time is Monopoly and I am in the Ships team - so hopefully will get some scrapping done again this weekend.

I've been busy this week with a friend who came to visit. We went out for a great lunch on Tuesday, then for a shopping day on Wednesday. Yesterday was spent tidying and cleaning and today I am off to the gym!! 

Walk by the Sea

I am so lucky to be able to live near the sea and have some great beaches for walking along near by. This photo was taken last month when we all went for a walk (and then some tea and cake!). I really liked the way the boys were leaving their footprints in the sand behind them as they walked! This layout was for another of Shimelle's challenges - to do a layout about your neighbourhood. The paper is Basic Grey Oh Boy! I really like Basic Grey paper and have quite a collection of it.

More Cake!

We seem to like cake a lot in this family! This photo was taken on holiday in Yorkshire in 2007. We were staying in a lovely little village and we found a shop that did yummy homemade cakes. So after a walk through the park we thought we deserved a little treat - so we bought some to take home.

This LO was for another of Shimelle's challenges - challenge this time was to use 4 different patterned papers. I have also managed to use up some buttons!

Woodgrain

Another of Shimelle's challenges was to use a sketch and to try and use woodgrain in your LO somewhere. I really like using sketches, even if I change them slightly, it gives me a starting point. How do you feel about sketches? I have even managed to use woodgrain on my LO - the brown bit at the bottom with the white flowers is a bit of wood veneer from a pack of wood veneers for use in cardmaking that I got in a recent swap. The photo is from our holiday to Rome in April 2007. After taking lots of photos with just one of us in them, we were very brave and asked this couple next to us if they would take a photo of us - and then we took one of them!

What does a party need?

cakes of course!

Shimelle's first challenge was to do something with cupcakes - which are definately one of her favourite things. Would I do a LO - did not have any cupcake paper. The boys thought I should just bake some, they would decorate them, so they could have cakes for tea. So I did and here is a photo of them - and they taste delicious.

It has been such a warm and sunny day here that I could not stay in and scrapbook, I just had to get out. We went for a run and a walk along the beach - but forgort my camera - oops! Then went to the garden centre to get some seeds to plant for the garden - will definately remember to take photos of them once I plant them.

Hoping to get some scrapping done this evening as the rest of the challenges look good too. If you haven't checked them out yet you should pop over to Shimelle's at http://www.shimelle.com/

Online Party

If you are anything like me you love a party - and especially an online Crop Party. Well Shimelle is holding her first online crop this weekend, 16-18th April. You can find details about it here. Hoping to get lots of scrapping done this weekend - although hubbie thinks we should go and make a start on the garden!!!

Easter Pages

Feeling pleased with myself as I have just finished a LO using photos taken this Easter - although I may also reuse some of the photos for my Document 2010 April pages later on in the month. I saw this Easter paper, by The Paper Company, Spring Easter Sentiment when I was shopping last week and couldn't resist. A few other things also managed to fall into my basket as well, but shhh! don't tell anyone!

Quick pages

Manged to do these two pages at the weekend for the March 2010. I realised I had taken almost no photos last month, so decided to use my Mothers Day cards and Anniversary card for one of the pages. Also decided not to use the middle photo protector page this month - will also do this some other month as the pack I bought only had 10 pages and it will save me buying more!!

Spend some time last week visiting in-laws. We managed to go and see a couple of films with the boys. Clash of the Titans which was good and How to train your Dragon which was also good. The second film was in 3D which was interesting and took a bit of getting used to, but certainly some of the effects were very good. I just hate wearing the glasses as I do wear glasses and find them awkward over my own glasses!

Back to normal this week, boys went back to school today and I have lots of studying to do this week, with another assignment due next Monday.

Brads

The first Something from Nothing challenge from Shimelle was to use metal. I really liked the idea of making a frame using brads, so I found one or two brads! and made this LO. The photo was taken on our holiday to Legoland in October 2008. Funny I still seem to have a couple of brads left!!!

Spring must be in the air this week - I have been busy tidying and cleaning. The bathroom, especially the shower, got a really good clean on Monday and I finished off the kitchen today. I really wish I had nice smooth things without all the odd little fiddly bits that are soo difficult to clean.

Not actually done any studying this week though so had better get cracking.

Lots of stash!

The first challenge from Shimelle's class, Something from almost nothing, is to talk about and show photos of your stash - just to prove that I really don't have that much (honest!!) here are some of my photos.

Boxes contain ribbons, buttons, bits and bobs - but it looks tidy!

Cupboard has paints, alcohol inks, embossing powders and my Big Shot.

This neat bag has eyelets and brads.

My tote, which sits under my desk, has a few! kits, mainly unused!

Another tote bag contains other patterned paper, card is in a separate folder(s).

Stamps are in this great box.

OK a few more ribbons - but they are tidy!

I will admit to having a few more bits of stash lurking in drawers and under the bed, but on the whole the room is fairly tidy. The room I use doubles as a guest room, so really has to be kept reasonably tidy. I had a major tidy out last year and to be honest have difficulty finding stuff now. So hopefully this class will help me rediscover what I have - and then use it! Then I can go buy more...

February pages

At last I have finished my February pages for Document 2010.

All done!

Yes, the essay is finally done and sent off to my tutor. Now on to block 2, sweatshops!!

I also managed to fit in finishing some challenges from the recent cybercrop at Faithscrappers UK. The challenges were all about different things we pray for.
I have used 6x4 cards which I am now going to put onto a DLO.

The first card is Confession

Card 2 is Adoration

Card 3 is Intercession, praying for others.

Card 4 is waiting, meditating

Card 5 is thanksgiving

Card 6 is Consecration

The mess after the fun!

The family reckon I should show you all the mess that I make when crafting. This is what my craft room looked like on Sunday night after the cybercrop - I don't think it looks that bad - I have seen it worse!!

What have I been up to today - well studying, my first assignment for my OU course is due next weekend. I hate making a start on these essays and always find it difficult to get started - I have now got an outline plan so hopefully will get down to start writing it tomorrow.

And it was snowing again this morning - thankfully not much and there is none left, but really getting a bit fed up with it all now.

More fun

This is another LO I prepared for a class at the cybercrop at FaithscrappersUK. This one was called Prayer Help and the verse is from Romans 8: 26-27 'In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.'

This LO was from a class by Carolyn and is based on the Lords Prayer. I have used the tags with various images and words on them to represent ideas from the Lords Prayer.

It has been a really good weekend, with lots of fun and sharing together - chat rooms can be great places. There are still some challenges that I am working on and will complete this week.

I am working tomorrow - which is the first time since June that I have been called in - I only work on supply. It is quite a thought at the moment!!

Progress so far

This is from my class - Pray Continually, from the cybercrop. When I thought about praying I thought about circles - how we pray to God, he answers, we are encouraged to pray more. The verse is 1 Thess5: 17 'Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.!

The first challenge at the weekend was by Naomi. Naomi reminded us that God wants us to be specific about prayer, so the LO is about our prayers for this year. The verse on mine is from Mark 11:24 'Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.'