I need more money!!!

To buy all the gorgeous new stash that Sarahscards has coming in on an almost daily basis!!! We've had a couple of unexpected, hefty bills this month so I'm really having to be restrained on what I can buy. I did have a little shop the other day and a couple of bottles of the 'That Special Touch mica mists' fell into the basket. They are just so gorgeous and pretty... I really will be investing in the rest of the colours.Last night I had a play with the Teal and the Pewter, misting some Pink Paislee grid paper for my background. I used some random alpha stickers on a another piece grid paper from a different manufacturer, but not sure which. After misting this piece I carefully peeled off the stickers and outlined the title with black pen adding shadows too. The gorgeous coffee stain stamp got used again... now I've found it, I think it'll get used a lot! The pp is by Cosmo... a really old range with cogs and stuff on. I used an Autumn Leaves stamp on scraps of American Crafts Halloween spotty paper, added a new Jenni Bowlin boy ticket, before journaling and then getting busy with a stapler. I'm sure I probably say this about most of my LOs... but this one is my favourite in the new size. I think it's very me!
The black eye was the result of Oliver being thrown into Harry by his friend Adam!!! Sounds very dramatic, but anyone with boys will totally understand that they cannot simply play... they always end up play fighting!!! And they had been told so many times to stop/be careful etc etc, but of course it all ended in tears! But to his credit, not many tears... he only whimpered a bit, and it wasn't until he came in for his tea that I realised he actually had a black eye! I think he is secretly very pleased with his tough new look... it's certainly getting a few comments when we go out!

I can share a few more LOs with you now. These were done using the Sarahscards July kit. I had a bit of a panic when I first opened the box and saw all the swirls as it all screamed 'girly'. But once I got playing I actually had fun and was pleased with the results. This next group of LOs were created using the Fancy Pants Like Father Like Son range. The colours and patterns were lovely to work with, and even though it is like the title suggests aimed at the menfolk in your life, it can be used to create a more feminine feel... like I did on this LO by making the flowers. They are really easy to make and there is a tutorial up on the Sarahscards blog as to how I did it.
I also got to play with some American Crafts Zing embossing powder. I've had embossing powders before and they've been ok for cards, but I've never really like the results enough to use it on a LO. Until now! The quality of the Zing powders is brilliant. The colours are rich and vibrant, and it melts so easily and evenly leaving a perfect result every time. Check out the colours available.

This LO was created for a challenge on The Twilight Addicts forum on UKS. I worked out how to make these cute butterflies one night while watching the tv. It was kind of an accidental find... I was fiddling with a number 8 I had made to use on a LO, which I then decided I didn't like. I folded it up whilst watching something or other and when I had folded it all up, realised it looked like a butterfly! I wrote an illustrated tutorial for these too and this can also be seen over on the Sarahscards blog. I'd love to see how you use these butterflies on your work :)

Right I seriously need to go and get dressed!!! This blog update has taken an age!!! Why can't blogger be good and just upload photos to where you want them to go without having to do the mad rearranging thing?!?!?

Just a quickie

Literally a quickie post while the kiddos are eating their breakfast. Busy week ahead with a new little girl starting, one leaving on Friday, and then a mix of kids inbetween and the start of a new school year!Last night I did this LO... not for any DT, not for any sketch challenge, just for me. And I have to say I really love this one. A mix of Basic Grey and October Afternoon papers, kraft, of course... everything looks good on kraft, Jenni Bowlin memo book page, and the gorgeous new stamps from My Minds Eye.

Have a great day everyone

x

Bank Holiday chilling.

I love Bank Holidays... we're not doing anything today, but it is just really nice to not have to do anything or be anywhere. And of course Rob is off so I don't have to put up with ginge, whinge and whine on my own... lol!!!

Yesterday we went to an amazing Christening and 3rd birthday party. It was such a great day being with friends and meeting lots of lovely people. The kids loved it too as there was non stop entertainment from start to end. Harry loved the pony rides, even though he was a little disappointed that there were only girl ponies! The bouncy castle was a hit with Oliver and Harry, as was the magician. Drew loved stroking the pony but wouldn't go on one and was mainly just happy to walk round with his balloon and dance to Michael Jackson! Oh and wander into the kitchen and give me a heart attack when we couldn't find him!!!

This was the amazing birthday cake... from the minute we walked in Harry had his eye on it, and even though he was disappointed he couldn't have the big one he ate 4 throughout the afternoon!!! I was very disciplined and stayed away from all cake and deserts, but did have to lick some of the frosting off my fingers and it really did taste as good as it looks!!! Here is a picture of the birthday girl, Grace, blowing out the candles... she's going to be in Harry's nursery class when they start next Monday.

I wore some fab new shoes, which are very high and very gorgeous... and now I am suffering with blisters that have blisters... do we ever learn when it comes to shoes... lol!

When we got home last night everybody was shattered so it was an early night for the kids, Drew went to bed still holding his balloon, and Harry and Oliver with their magic wands. I squeezed in a little scrapping time and did this LO of Drew in the lido at Butlins. Not sure I'm really loving it, but it's done and didn't take long so it'll get filed away in my new kraft files.

I went to bed early to watch Eclipse... again!!! I love that film so much, and what better way to fall asleep thinking about tasty vamps, although I have to say I quite like Billy Burke at the moment ;)

Right, off to take advantage of the bit of sunshine we have today. Have a great BH Monday.

Edited to add this LO I whipped up this afternoon. I used this weeks Twisted sketch, the twist being 'tree'. A bit of a mix of papers from my scraps box, and I used the fab Queen Kat coffee stain stamp after being reminded I had it when Jen used it on a LO.

TTFN

New starts!!!

It seems I get worse at blogging when I make statements about blogging more often... I was going to give up on the whole blog thing for a number of reasons. Firstly Facebook... so many people use it and it is easier to upload and share photos on there, Secondly, I don't actually think many people read my blog, so it feels like I am just writing to myself.... which isn't really a problem as I often talk to myself! And lastly, time. I never seem to have enough time to get round to blogging, but then again if I din't lurk around boards I no longer post on I would have more time to blog... lol!

So this is a last attempt to maintain a 'fairly' regularly updated blog. If I fail this time I'm not going to beat myself up about it, c'est la vie!!!

So new start number 1 = update blog (Iwill get round to changing the appearance later)

Sadly the Warrington crop run by Sarah and Lianne from Sarahscards has closed down. All because some people can't help themselves and have to maon and whinge about how things were run. This brings me to new start number 2 = meet up with friends to chat and scrap once a month.

Sunday was the first of these mini crop meetings and it was great to catch up with Jen, Helen, and Vanessa. Unfortunately Sarah and Lianne were busy that day, but they will be coming to play aswell.

New start number 3 came from Helen, Jen and Vanessa's influence on Sunday. I have decided to give A4 scrapping a go. I really love 12x12, so can't imagine that I am going to give it up entirely. But with the amount of LOs I have laying around waiting to be filed in albums, and the cost of 12x12 albums in comparison to A4 filing solutions... A4 seems the way to go.

I did this LO on Sunday which is not at all my usual style. I really like it, but it is very 'tidy' and organised with the photos being set ut the way they are... I like it but I bet I'm back to iggledy piggledy soon ;)

I also did this LO on Sunday... it started off as a 12x12, but just wasn't working. After being pulled apart and resized I have to say I am really loving it.

I did this LO very quickly this morning for this Twisted sketch, the twist being 'rough'. The edges were all distressed, and the 2p prints turned out very roughly, so I think that box has been ticked!

Righty ho, the dvd that is entertaining the kids while it tips it down outside (again) is coming to an end so I better go and be the entertainer myself!!!

Hopefully back again soon... I've started on another Twisted sketch, so will come back to share.

TTFN

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!

Missing in action... again *rolls eyes*

No more apologies... life gets in the way and blogging has to go on a back burner... hey ho! So what's been going on in the Stevenson household since I last blogged? Well life has been pretty much the same old... school, looked after children, Beavers, gymnastics... you get the idea. We have has some good weather though so we have spent a lot of time outside which is always a good thing.

Drew is almost walking... he can stand unaided (when the mood takes him), and I think it will be only a matter of time before he is off.... and then boy will I know it!!! I had a scare with him on Thursday when he started to choke. I did the whole patting on the back thing but it didn't work and he ended up going blue, passing out and stopped breathing. Emergency first aid training kicked in and after a couple of hard slaps on the back a screw came flying out!!! yes a screw!!! He'd been playing under the dining chairs and had somehow got a screw out and obviously though it looked tasty!!! Very scary, but all turned out ok.

I've been doing bits and bobs on the crafting front. I'm getting quite into wool again, and have a couple of projects under way... not sure how they are going to turn out yet, but we'll keep going with them and hope for the best!

I've done a bit of scrapping too... Here are some Sarah's cards May kit sneak peeks. Not my usual colours for scrapping with, but a very pretty and delicate kit.

I also got to play with the gorgeous Jillibeans New England 'Clam Chowder' papers... so up my street and a lot of fun to use.

And don't forget to play along with the challenges over at the Sarahscards blog. This month the challenge is to use paint on a LO. There are some fab examples from the DT.

This is my LO, and is probably the first LO I have done with no patterned paper in, well... ages!!! I really like how it turned out. I created the splatters by squirting paint dabbers with a water mister, then stamping them down on to the card. VERY messy, but great fun... and the kids like doing it too. I also used the dabbers on acrylic stamps for the title and the whirly circle embellishments.

Have a go and leave a link to your work... you may win a prize and as they say, you've got to be in it to win it!