Late night scrapping!!!

Makes you poorly... fact!

Last night I decided to scrap and managed 2 whole LOs in one evening... hhhhhmmmmmm, so how come I only manage to do the same in a whole day at the crop?!?!?! must be Jen and Helen's bad influences. Anyhoo, I went to bed feeling a ok but woke up with a sore throat which as the day has gone on has been joined by ear ache, stinging eyes and a stiff neck!!! Oh joy!!!

It was my turn to take Oliver to gymnastics tonight, but I just couldn't face sitting on a school gym bench for an hour listening to all the kids, and trying to stop Harry from throwing himself into the sponge pit. So off Rob has gone, bless him. Oliver asked today if he would be as good as Spellbound when he is 8 if he keeps going to gymnastics. Well.... if he masters the head stand, and stays up in a handstand for more than 1.5 seconds then I'm sure there's a chance.... lol!!!

Anyway, enough waffle... all this typing is hurting my throat ;)

Here are the LOs.

This one uses the Lily Bee Hello sunshine range and a little piece of American Craft (the orange spotty paper). Lots of layering of bits and pieces, a couple of punched borders, an old Hambly overlay, a bit of machine stitching and the good old dymo.

After playing around in Photoshop I created an aged look with my photos. I prefer this finish as the colours in the original photos were really bright and in your face. The backing paper is from Cosmo Material Girl range, and the rest are October Afternoon Thrift Shop. I used a sheet of acetate to create a see through window between the backing paper and the Kraft.... I really like this, although getting a good photo of it isn't easy. The flower embellishment was made by twisting a strip of paper around and stapling it into place on a circle base. A couple more coiled strips were added to underline to photos... have to say, I really like how it turned out. I really need to buy a poky tool though... punching through card and acetate to sew round the pp really hurt :(

Right off to go and change thing 3 into his pjs, and I might even have to get in mine too.

Walking on sunshine, splashing in puddles!

Well what a gorgeous week we've had here. Rob has had a week off work and the sun has shined all week. And today it is raining, just so that he doesn't feel bad about going back to work tomorrow... how thoughtful.

This week we have spent a lot of time over in the little park across from our house with another childminder and her children. It's great because we can walk over with all the play vehicles/blanket/parasol etc and we are pretty much set up for the afternoon. And we are just a dash across the road for any toilet needs (although to be honest the boys prefer the novelty of peeing in the bushes).

Drew really loves playing with the big kids, and on this day Harry was being a lovely big brother and pushed him round the park in his fire engine.

On Thursday we went to Chester Zoo for the day. We took Freya with us too, and I have to say all kids were amazingly well behaved. Considering how hot it was, it could have easily gone the other way. Of course a trip to the zoo wouldn't be complete without photos on the shiny backed Garratt elephant ;)
Last Sunday was Warrington crop day... I only got two LOs done, but I was pleased with both of them so that's all that matters. One is for an upcoming challenge over at the Sarahscards blog, but here is a little preview.

This one is to record the fact that Drew, who is a complete mummy's boy, absolutely adores Grandad.He will only go to myself or Grandad... much to the annoyance of Mama, and I just loved these photos taken over the Easter weekend. The papers are October Afternoon Thrift Shop, which I am so loving right now. I think this is a range that could be used for so many different topics.... it's just yummy! I had a moment of weakness in the shop too and bought this fabulous EK Success border punch. It punches and embosses, and it is small and compact so stores really easily. There are so many new punches in at the moment... I'm fearing a falling out with Rob over how many I NEED... lol!!!

This was perhaps the fastest LO I have ever done... ever!!! Mainly because th photos are on an A4 sheet and I just didn't want to cut them up. I loved all of these pics and I really like the new templates I have found on Windows 7... so all I added was 3 sheets of coordinating papers, et voila... done!!!

I can also share with you the 3 LOs I did using the May kit. Not my usual colours/patterns, but I do love the 2 LOs I am keeping, and the wedding one was given to the bride and she loves it... so all is good.

Yesterday I went to Argos to buy new rechargeable batteries for my DSLR, and came out with.... a water play table and a couple of bags of play sand! I can't be the only one who does this kind of thing.... Rob just expects it now when I go to get anything, he doesn't really say much he just shakes his head or rolls his eyes. Even he has to admit though that this was a fab buy for £20. Drew stood at it all afternoon and loves it. He was top to toe wet but only whinged when we had to drag him away from it for his tea. After his bath he kept trying to escape back into the garden for more playtime... it seems we have another outdoorsy child, none of mine really like to be indoors much. Of course the water play was enjoyed by Things 1 and 2 also... although Bear is not one for getting his clothes wet.... as the neighbours will be able to testify with the noise he made after getting full on splashed by Dink!!!

So that brings us back to today... raining and miserable... a perfect day for housework.... Yeah right!!! Today I plan to play with paper, and scrap some of the photos from yesterday!