Having 'fun'

Got some layouts up on the SBS blog at the mo, so can pop them on here now:

Also finished my SLYMI week 11 - scrap with fabric, which scared me a bit. Didn't think I was that interested in fabric on a layout, but found some bits I like the look of and (not very imaginatively) used it like paper. Like the effect, and the richness of fabrics so would def do again.

Took Oliver to the Rainbow Fun House yesterday with a friend, which turned out to be a massive indoor soft play area in a converted church - it was a bit surreal, but what a fab idea. Surely God would approve..?

Oliver has been 'off colour' this week and after a day of stuffing sweets (bought by my friend incidentally) and running around, he was writhing in agony clutching his stomach making me panic a bit and rush him up to A&E where it was established he did NOT have the onset of peritonitis, but trapped wind. He is so his mother's son.

No, really - Masterchef I am NOT

Are you all bonkers? I am NOT going to take my application any further for Masterchef even if they beg me on bended knee. Which they won't when they find out I can't cook. Ha ha - well, I can cook, just not to a level which may involve wrapping proscuitto ham around baby turnips to produce 'flavours that dance around the tastebuds'. In fact, if I did go on I could have a go at Gregg Wallace for his bollocks recipe 'Imam Bayildi' - a veggie dish involving spices, lentils and such things which I attempted some months ago in a fit of creativity only to find that his quantities are WRONG - that's WRONG Gregg, since there was not enough moisture in the pan to coat my spoon, much less 'allow to simmer gently for 20 minutes.' Had I 'allowed' it to do so, all the smoke alarms in the street would have gone off and my saucepan would have had a fine coating of perma-lentils. Needless to say, the whole dish was a bit shite and bought forward much mutterings from Mark. I could go on about Mark's mealtime mutterings (largely unjustified I feel) for a long time, but let's treat ourselves to that another day.

Anyway, back to scrapping - done my week 9 SLYMI, scrap with punches. I have used my heart-shaped punch here.

And a couple more snaps of DT projects (sent off to the SBS today).

Masterchef I am not....

Have not blogged for a wee while - graphics card in the computer had a meltdown. Don't even know what it is but it has been replaced and we are all systems go.

Have done a fair bit of scrapping - some DT projects which I am pleased with - lovely bright layouts with the lovely bright 'stuff' I had. Nearly ready to send them off now. Some little lookies:

What else.... had leave from work which was very lovely, but the novelty wore off pretty quickly - working gives my day a structure it seems to otherwise lack, due to home-teaching etc. So, back tonight to the old routine....

Caught up with the SLYMI - here are weeks 6 - scrap with ribbon, 7 - scrap an old photo & 8 - cut a photo:

I have, in a moment of utter dimwittedness, applied to go on Masterchef. As previously explained to people who now seem to expect me to actually go through with this bloody stupid half-baked idea - I could not rustle up a caramelised beetroot tuille basket if my life depended on it. And I don't like fish much so there will be no pan fried skate wing with wilted red chard. I like tinned tuna though. Love to see the look on John and Gregg's faces as I tell them THAT one. Clearly I was having a mini mid-life crisis at the time of applying online. I cannot even claim I was under the influence - well, I was under Oliver's influence who seems to have perfected the art of bullying me by simultaneously flattering my ego and playing the hard-done-by son. I am so proud of him....

CC over & new challenges

So, the cyber crop is over & I won the pre-crop challenge for the Interpol team with my 'Think Pink' layout! That's good news & seemingly I will win a ribbon kit! Also I noticed (whilst browsing sat on the loo!) that I have a 'letter' in this months SI mag. Actually I had emailed in with a couple of 'my favourite layouts' but didn't intend for it to show up on the letters page. I think that I sound like an absolute tit because of it, but will receive a small 'goody bag' so I've done OK this week for freebies!

I did these layouts from challenges during the cyber crop:

This challenge was from Christy Tomlinson (of Scarlet Lime) and it was to use bright colours and a 'non scrapping' item. I used my Sarahs Cards December kit (Luxe Designs) and my non-scrapping thing was a used Christmas postage stamp on the 'letter' to Santa.

This challenge was from Shimelle, and was a kit. I loved the colours of this - some colours seem to work particularly well with 'boy' layouts, and blues and oranges are great. This is one of my favourites I have done lately.

I also made a mini notebook for a friend who lost her father unexpectedly last year. The sticker on the front reads: 'However long the night, the dawn will break'. I thought it apt as she does have her 'down' days.

There is the SLYMI challenge still to do - the next one is out tomorrow, but this weeks was to scrap with ribbon, and I didn't fancy it. I did do a layout with ribbon, but after virtually finishing it, decided I hated it and now it has become the first entry in my new scrap book album: 'Crapbook projects'.

Also, nice surprise this - had a pack of goodies from the Scrapbook Sisters to work with. Love these rich hues & some bits in here are flocked - very touchy feely. Got some photos converted to B&W yesterday, so not too many distracting clashes.

a culinary adventure

Tonight for tea I cooked rabbit. A whole rabbit. Sans fur, head and tail of course, but I was quite disturbed to see that after I had removed all the packaging, the meaty corpse I was left with looked just like - a rabbit. Sans fur, head and tail. Not sure why I expected it to look like anything else, but it was a shock none the less.

Anyway, Oliver liked it and it looks and tastes just like chicken. Only cheaper. And smaller. And drier. And more like a rabbit.....

Finished my week 5 SLYMI, and I am pleased with this one. I love these papers, and I love this photo.

I see that the Scrapbook Sisters have loaded up the DT layouts onto slideshows on their blog - it all looks great. I'm feeling pleased with the work I have done with their kits - you kind of forget what the layouts look like, not seeing them all the time, so a pleasant surprise to see them showcased like this.

Cyber Crop next weekend! Have bought kits for a couple of classes and find that the first one is conveniently timed to take place smack bang in the middle of previously arranged activities, quelle surprise. Still, I do enjoy it and it gives Mark plenty more opportunities for excessive eye-rolling which is to be expected....

Confessions of a sporadic blogger

Blimey, I am getting really crap at updating this blog. Anyway, I received a blog award! Got it from the Scrapbook Sisters. Surely very undeservingly, but hey, an award is an award....!

This award states that: This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY- nearness in space, time and relationships.These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends, they are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.

Anyway, what news? Well, not much scrapping going on at the mo, got a nice kit from
Sarah's cards which I've just subscribed to, and still waiting for my Scrapbook Sisters kit (hint hint!) which usually kicks my ass into gear. I have signed up for a couple of swaps on UKS which I have bimbled around with for weeks, and now am under pressure to finish this week. One of them is the Advent Swap - basically you get allocated a swappee, get to 'know' them by means of viewing the polls completed by the people taking part and by surreptitious 'Secret Santa' messages to find out more info about your person, and then you buy/make gifts to go into a parcel for them - one pressie for every day in December until Christmas Day! It can be a little expensive, you are meant to work to approx £1 per pressie, but some have cost me considerably more, and some I 'got' for free. I have about 5 more pressies to sort, I think, and it must be with her by this Saturday...... Anyway, I will be getting a parcel too and have the joy of a little pressie every day! The Christmas Tree is going up on Sunday (I like to get full value out of Chrismas by starting it as early as humanely possible).

Yesterday I was suffering with a Corneal Erosion, which I have not had since April. Bloody painful and knocks a whole day into touch - I literally am grounded - it is too painful to contemplate doing anything. As it happened, this one has been the least painful/severe of the several I have had, but still needed a couple of codeine before bedtime. I am, however, always hugely impressed with the way the eye (being such an important 'organ' I suppose), starts to heal itself immediately. Going to bed last night in extreme pain I was able to comfort myself with the knowledge that by morning, I would be largely pain-free. And so I am. A little tender and puffy but - better. Good old eyeball.

happy scrapping

Peeks of my latest Scrapbook Sisters projects:

A little bit of scrapping

I managed to do a little bit of scrapping whilst away. I don't normally take anything with me, but squished a couple of small projects and all my 'necessary' stash into a vanity bag, newly purchased for the purpose, and spent a few nights scrap-happy. It is a SBS project, here's a little look:

Fancy Pants

I refer to the scrapbook range of papers of course, and not to exotic undies...... had the 'About A Boy' range to work with from the Scrapbook Sisters which are GORGEOUS. (The papers, not the SBS. Though, I'm sure they are probably lovely too lol...) Due to it's arrival just prior to my departure to Cornwall (boo) I have only had this week to crack on with layouts. I have completed 2 layouts, both of which I am pleased with - the colours are nice and bright. The Fancy Pants rub-ons & papers are one of my favourite ranges. Here are a couple of peeks:

And this one:

I also had in my box Versa Colour inks in green and orange, a bright blue acrylic dabber, a fab unmounted cycling stamp (TQDD) which I have plans to do some sort of tag book with and the Sandylion Camping Collection papers. All too, too lovely!! Oh - and RUB-ONs! Love rub-ons, one of my favourite embellishments- they really can lift a layout.

Anyway, will dispatch these off at the weekend, and get back on it when I get back from HOLIDAY!!! Very exciting. AND I will be 40..... next week......

The start of summer......

Find the start of summer a horrible shock. I know most will think I'm mad/ungrateful/stupid, but I can't handle the pressure of feeling I should be outside in the sun. I find dull days, cold days far easier to manage the burden of guilt! AND there's all that sweating, slathering on factor zillion before you dare open the front door, and you can't touch anything especially the furniture all sticky and greased up. Ugh. Have decided this year to get on with it - don't shower in the morning, slap on the slop and get outside, then the sweating doesn't bother me so as I know I will have a lovely clean up when I've finished doing my duty 'enjoying' myself.

Have finished my projects for the Scrapbook Sisters now. Here are peeks of the last two - a layout and a photoframe -

Hope they will be liked!

Getting thinner

I have lost around 10 lbs in weight now, which I am very pleased with. Don't think I look particularly thinner, but I certainly feel lighter, and exercising is toning up some of the flabby bits. Got a weekend away coming up soon, where we will be in a hotel with help yourself meals laid on, so imagine some of the lost pounds will find their way home again... Is there anything more blissful than being able to load your plate up with nice food you have neither had to buy nor cook and that you don't have to clear away afterwards? I think not.

On the scrapfront, have done 3 layouts for the Scrapbook Sisters this weekend, and am working on a card for a change. Here are some sneaky peeks:

Today is Mark's sister's birthday, so we have been invited out to theirs for a barbecue later on today, which I am looking forward to. Good food, good company and a good couple of glasses of the grape. An excellent Bank Holiday.

Kits & bits

Been working on my mystery kit for the cyber crop. Can't say too much as it's a mystery..... but I'm liking how it's shaping up. Also got another kit from the Scrapbook Sisters. Very bright & partyish with gorgeous Basic Grey papers. Here it is:

Got a few ideas for this - am looking for a photo I had taken at one of my birthday parties where I had a major tit-on about something rubbish & you can spot me a mile off in the line-up. Brilliant. Will post it if I can find it...

Very rainy day here. Just been to the University to watch Mark play in a badminton tournament. It's the end of season one which used to be the highlight of the year - I used to play too & this one was the one everyone took part in. However, the sport seems to be dwindling and it's a shame.

Probably off to the Range this afternoon for a bimble and to stock up on things for the cyber crop. Wow, we live life in the fast lane!