Wednesday 26 January 2011

Another Sketch & My Favourite Quote

With Mum-In-Laws arrival imminent, I know my scrapping time is going to be almost non existent over the next week, so I’m squeezing in as much as I can & out of necessity have combined a couple of challenges in to this next one!!

Creative_Scrappers_133 Firstly the current challenge at ‘These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things’ is ‘My Favourite Quote’…

… & then another Sketch challenge at ‘Dixie Pieces’…this time from Leah.

She chose a sketch from her favourite source, Creative Scrappers.

So with both of these challenges in mind I put my LO together…

 

#28 DP Sketch & Fave Quote LO

The quote…”Stop Living Life For What’s Around The Corner & Start Enjoying The Walk Down The Street” Grant L Miller…is one I discovered recently on the home page at Soul Scrappers & it really struck a chord!  So much so I now have it set in my blog sidebar as a daily reminder!  I am so guilty of putting things off ‘until I lose weight’…it may sound a small & silly thing but life doesn’t stand still & in spite of all my good intentions & determination, my track record on the weight loss front means I stand to miss out on a lot!  No more!!!

The photo’s I’ve used are two of my favourites taken in Chicago last year…Karen & I walking through the rain in a lovely neighbourhood street, taken by Hilary & my impromptu attempt at pole dancing in a branch of Paper Source, later that same morning, taken by Karen.

I bought these Prima PP’s in 2008! Intended for a Christmas LO that never materialised, so it was nice to put them to use! I managed to follow the sketch quite accurately, but did get a bit carried away with the flowers!!!

Right, I’m off to blitz bathrooms & yes Karen, the bed is now clear, freshly made up & there’s not one iota of evidence as to how I spend my days in total relaxation….yeah right!! I wish!!! LOL!!

Thanks for stopping by & Happy Wednesday!! : )

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Pressing Evidence!!…

#19 Empty

OK Karen…this one’s for you!!!


TWO EMPTY IRONING BASKETS!!!

 
This is what I achieved on Saturday!! My boys wardrobes are now neatly stacked with neatly folded T-shirts & school shirts all hung in a row!!

 

#20 Folded!#22 Hung-Up!#21 Folded 2!

 
My wardrobe & closet are also full to busting with stuff that has been languishing in the basket since before Christmas!! I’m spoiled for choice with what to wear now…cheaper & more satisfying than a shopping spree!!

I’m now on a mission to get every room cleaned & up to standard for Mum-In-Laws visit, & Christmas part two, this coming weekend!  I’m up to speed with downstairs & have no stress with our bedroom & preparing Pat’s room….BUT…I look at the boys bedrooms & the main bathroom & shudder…I’m going in & I may be sometime!!!!

This weeks film was ‘Love & Other Drugs’ Starring Jake Gyllenhaal & Anne Hathaway…

Love-and-Other-Drugs-Poster

A word to the wise….take tissues!!!

Jake Gyllenhaal is too gorgeous & should carry a health warning for women of a certain age…& Anne Hathaway is just such a pretty girl!

Lots of nudity, steamy sex scenes that elicited plenty of shuffling in seats throughout the theatre, but all relevant to the storyline!

A very difficult topic (early onset Parkinson's Disease) sensitively covered & beautifully acted.

I shed more than a few tears & there were even a few laughs to be had…my only criticism would be that I left wanting to know what happened next…how the story panned out?  But that’s typical of me…I like a start/middle/end to my stories!!! 

Right…I’m off to do the school run now!! Thanks for stopping by & come back soon!! :)

Saturday 22 January 2011

A Sketchy Few Days…

After my seriously scrappy evening on Tuesday, I’ve been able to keep the ball rolling! I was able to submit my LO for the February challenge over at ‘From Screen To Scrap’ which I will share with you in…well…February! I also did some work on my ‘Catch-Up’ resolution, but I’ll wait to share that with you when the project is complete!

What I can share are the four projects completed for the January sketch challenges over at ‘Dixie Pieces’…there are seven in all, plus an extra challenge to recycle Christmas cards in a LO or project…I’m hoping to complete that one too before the deadline of  January 31st…do pop over & check them out for yourself!

#15A Sketch


First up is a sketch for a LO, posted by Kim aka Scrapeekim, who is the design team coordinator over at ‘Dixie Pieces’.

 

 

And here is what I did with it…

 

#15 DP Sketch Challenge...Kim 1
I have had these ‘Cogs-mo Cricket’ PP’s in my stash for months, & this sketch was just perfect, I felt!! The photo’s are also long overdue for scrapping…Lee & boys in 2005. messing about with some chocolate eyeballs, left over from Halloween!! I do love a bit of fussy cutting!!

#16 DP Sketch challenge...Tammy 2

 

Next was a card sketch from Tammy, a fellow design team member, which for some strange reason I cannot get to ‘insert’ here!  So I’ll just show you what I did with it…

 

 

I don’t make many cards these days, so it makes a nice change to work on something that can be completed so quickly!!



#17A Sketch

 

And another card sketch, this time from Kim…

 

 

 

#17 DP Sketch Challenge...Kim 2…which, as I need a card for Nathans birthday in February, I made using masculine PP’s & a scooter embellishment I’ve been saving for just this occasion!!

Hope he’ll like it!!

 

#18A Sketch

 

Finally, a Layout sketch from Tammy, a very simple sketch open to all sorts of interpretation!

 

 

 

And here is my Layout…

#18 DP Sketch Challenge...Tammy 1
The photo is from 2008 & is of myself & some scrappy friends at ‘Ally Pally’ for the Big Stamp & Scrapbook Show…I think the title says it all!!

That’s it for now…I’m off now to tackle the ironing (yes Karen, you read it right!!) When I told Lee this morning that I was going to try & make a big dent in my ironing backlog today, do you know what he said?…he said “ Why…are you going to sit on it?” Hmmmm!! Don’t you dare laugh, remember who’s side you're on!!!! LOL!!

Thanks for dropping by & I wish you all a great weekend!! : )

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Good Day Sunshine…

What a difference a bit of sunshine makes!!  After all the dull, grey & very wet weather we’ve had recently it was so lovely to soak up some warmth today!

#12 Marmite Mug I came back from the morning school run, made myself a coffee in my lovely new mug (a late Christmas gift from a friend at work!) & settled onto the sofa to watch Sundays episode of ‘Larkrise to Candleford’!  The sun was streaming in through the French windows & as the programme came to an end I thought  ‘I really should be getting on with the housework!’…& did I?  Sorry Karen…but no I didn’t! 

 

I plugged in my laptop & spent a lovely couple of hours sitting in the sun, blog hopping & generally browsing! Absolute bliss!! I could have stayed there all day (I was definitely a cat in an earlier life!!) but my conscience pricked me at noon & I set about multitasking to cover my indulgent tracks & then headed off to Tesco!! Playing hooky never felt so good!!


#13 Shazza RAK When I got back I had another ray of sunshine waiting for me…an envelope from the lovely Shazza in Australia. I had completely forgotten that my DT LO for December over at ‘From Screen To Scrap’ had won the vote from my fellow DT members & there was a RAK on its way!! I am so looking forward to using these lovely felt frames, chip circles & gorgeous embellishments very soon!  Thanks Shazza!!

Don’t forget that you still have time to take part in January’s ‘9 to 5’ challenge over at ‘From Screen To Scrap’ there are some fabulous submissions coming in & some awesome prizes up for grabs too!

Finally for today, my weekly film review!!! We managed to see Jack Black in ‘Gullivers Travels 3D’ this week, before it came to a close!

Layout 1

It’s been out since Boxing Day & I’d heard mixed reviews from friends but wanted to judge it for myself. It has a great cast with Billy Connelly, James Corden, Catherine Tate among the support for Jack Black, so I had expected quite a lot from them. But they had disappointingly small parts! (ooh err missus!!) Jack Black was his usual highly entertaining self & the special effects were very good. All in all it lived up to a good interpretation of the old ‘Gulliver’ story I remember from childhood, but I won’t be rushing out to buy the DVD!!

I’m hoping for a some serious scrap time this evening as Tuesday nights are always ‘Boys Night’ on the TV! 

Thanks for dropping by & I wish you all a bit of sunshine in your life this week too!! : )  

Saturday 15 January 2011

Now I can tell you!

I am absolutely thrilled to tell you that I am one of the new DT members for Dixie Pieces

dpLogoPaypal 

I am so excited…Dixie Pieces is somewhere that I’m a regular visitor…there are so many wonderfully talented & just plain lovely people to be met there…there is so much inspiration in the Gallery…some fabulous prizes up for grabs with the monthly challenges & regular contests & of course some lively chat in the forum on a daily basis!  I do hope you’ll pop on over & check it all out for yourself!

There are some fabulous ‘sketch’ challenges up for January & you have until the end of the month to upload your entries…so why not kick-start your scrappy mojo & join in?!!

I have listed my fellow DT members blog links in the sidebar, so do drop by & say Hi!!

I would also like to say a big Thank You to Christine over at Practical Scrappers who had also invited me to join the DT there. This is another wonderful place to visit for inspiration, but I felt that I should not take on too many commitments, for fear that it would take the pleasure out of my scrapping!  I was so grateful to be offered the opportunity though & will continue to submit LO’s for the publication calls.

That’s it for today…we’re having a grand loft clearout & it’s taking forever!! I just had time to log on while I drank a cup of coffee & now I must ‘return once more unto the fray’…I may be gone some time!!

Thanks for stopping by & I hope you’re all enjoying a peaceful weekend!!

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Getting Off To A Good Start!

It is my intention to tie up my scrappy loose ends as soon as possible in 2011 & I can now tick one off my list! Cast your mind back to a post in mid November & a project from a workshop with the lovely Marie! Well, I’m pleased to say that, that project is now complete!!…& here is the photographic evidence!!

Pages 1 – 9…

oo 2 
A Day At The Zoo 1…& pages 10 – 14 …& the cover (yes, I know it should have been at the start, but try as I might I couldn’t get Picassa to put it there!!)

It’s been lovely to get  long overdue documenting of a great day out done & dusted & the fact that I made the book from scratch myself makes it all the more gratifying!

How cute Alex & Nathan look at age 5 & 3!! It was lovely to see London Zoo & all it’s amazing animals through their eyes…nine years ago & it only seems like yesterday!


thumbnail 
Talking of yesterday…literally!  I was in TV heaven…a new series of ‘Larkrise to Candleford’ started on Sunday & Lee had Sky+’d it for me…I sat & watched it while I ate my lunch yesterday  & enjoyed every minute of it!


thumbnailCAASCKRG

 

 

 

 
Then last night the new series of Glee started…that’s me sorted for the next six weeks!!




I am also pleased to report that the film we caught on Sunday evening was just wonderful! So, if you’ve not yet been to see ‘The Kings Speech’…get ye to the cinema at your earliest convenience!!

The Kings Speech It was an absolute delight on so many levels, not least for the insight into the life of the royals leading up to the second world war. I knew that King George VI had a stammer & had been (cruelly in my view) nicknamed by his brother B-B-B-Bertie, but hadn’t realised how much it had affected his life.

Colin Firth plays the role to perfection & deserves every single Oscar he’s been nominated for & then some!

Oh!…& Helena Bonham-Carter is totally convincing as the young Queen Mum!


Scrap Credit CardsToday I got an email advertising this scheme…Visa credit cards that earn reward points to be spent on scrapbooking supplies!  What a great idea, I thought & even if I wasn’t going to use it, I’d love to have one of those scrappy designed cards sitting prettily on my wallet!!  I clicked the link…only to read the first line ‘Only available to US residents’!!!  So why send me the information? 

11 Jan 2011 002 I mentioned before Christmas that I was knitting a snood as a gift for a friend…it was a huge success, she loved it!  Sadly I forgot to photograph it before I wrapped it up & sent it off, so…here’s another in the making!  It’s a really fluffy mohair yarn & knits up really quickly…I love knitting on a circular needle too, as you can just keep going without having to turn at the end of each row!!  I should have this one done by the weekend & then I’m intending to knit a jacket for myself!!

I have so much yarn, accumulated over the years in sales at Liberty’s & John Lewis, who always have such worthwhile reductions on reputable yarns such as Rowan & Jaeger!  I used to be a prolific knitter when the boys were small, but they don’t want hand-knits now…it’s not considered cool!!

Before I go I must mention that I will have some news to share next time…I’ve been deliberating on a couple of invitations that came my way between Christmas & New Year (trying to maintain BALANCE!) & all should be share-able by the weekend!

Thanks so much for stopping by & I wish you all a warm & healthy week! : )  

Monday 3 January 2011

Normal service is resumed…well nearly!!

little_fockers_ver2 Yesterday I was back at work, followed by the cinema with a friend….the norm for me on a Sunday.  (we saw ‘The Little Fockers’ & may I say that it did not disappoint! Very often sequels don’t live up to expectation, but this was every bit as laugh-out-loud funny as the first two!!) Tomorrow Lee goes back to University…as is norm for him on a Tuesday & on Wednesday both boys are back to school & I will be in the pool by 8.30am!!  Life will be back to normal!!

The Christmas decorations are half packed away…all that remains is the tree, which I will dismantle tomorrow & I’m looking forward to that ‘bare’ look the house will have while we adjust to all the greenery, lights & sparkle not being there! I normally wait till twelfth night, but this year I’m keen to Spring clean & de-clutter!!

gleebutton3 I’ve started off my scrapping year by taking part in the ‘Glee Club’ contest being held over at ‘Soul Scrappers’…it all kicks off properly on January 22 with six challenges over twelve weeks, but there are all kinds of games, quizzes & other opportunities right now to earn some ‘Early Bird’ points & with $500 dollars worth of prizes up for grabs, every point counts!!  Why not pop over there & check it out for yourself…tell them I sent you & I’ll look out for you in the forum!!

The first challenge of the year is up at ‘From Screen 2 Scrap’ & January’s Movie Poster for inspiration is ‘9 to 5’…

FS2S 2011 challenge #1
The added criteria was to use 1. A clock 2. A red title & 3. a photo from the eighties!  The eighties were my favourite decade so I delved into the old photo albums in search of a starting point…Lee joined me & we spent ages flicking through them all, laughing at our younger selves…the boys in hysterics at Dads hair, moustache & huge glasses. I was amazed at how many photo’s I’d actually forgotten about & how slim I looked, when at the time I hated my curves & felt HUGE!! Wish I was that ‘fat’ right now!!

So with my chosen photo, I came up with my LO…I think the title says it all!!!

IfICouldTurnBackTime 
Why not join us & submit your interpretation of the ‘9 to 5’ poster too, you have until Saturday 29 January & there are some lovely prizes on offer! There have already been some fabulously diverse LO’s posted for you to check out!

I’m looking forward to getting back into a routine with the two local crops I attend too, & catching up with my scrappy friends who I feel as if I haven’t seen in ages…you know who you are!!

My scrappy plans for the coming weeks are to work on finishing up the FIVE projects I have that aren’t quite completed…or in one specific case, barely started!!  I’m not usually one to start a new project while I have another in progress but somehow in 2010 things just got away from me & I know I’ll feel much happier.…& more in BALANCE….when I can declare them all finished!

So, that’s me for now…thanks for stopping by & I hope you’re finding life is settling back to normal too!

Blessings!  Sandi : )