The Wright card for the right occasion!

Layout and Birthday Cards

2012-02-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

Not really done much this work bar go to work but I've made a 8.5 x 11 layout and 2 birthday cards.

This is a very simple page but I wanted to record Darcy's hand prints with a nice poem.

These hand prints were made with diluted lilac ink and thankfully it didn't stain anything and wiped straight off with a baby wipe.

I used 3 separate rub-ons to make the simple title.

Standard size card with fold along the top on Kraft Card. I used DCWV- Nanna Nursery paper and some scraps of pink and green for the matting. I am not the worlds best at colouring/shading but I tried my best, this was a free image I got with a craft magazine.

Same style card with same papers and card for the second one and added a little cupcake embellishment which I got in a pack of 8 from 'Dunelm' which is a homeware store which has a little craft section.

Thanks all for taking the time to look :-)

Sam x

Recent Scrapbook Layouts

2012-01-21T16:26:00.000-08:00

Hey All

I seem to of got my mojo back this weekend .. yipee!!

Free font by ShabbyPrincess - Sweet Sprinkles

Paper by pinkpetticoat

Free font from Canon Creative Park

Thanks for stopping by xx

Start and don't finish

2012-01-15T05:57:00.000-08:00

One of my really bad habits is starting something and not finishing! I think I get this from my dad hehe don't tell him. My mam calls him "Half Job Harry" Even though he is called Steve and she is referring to D.I.Y jobs all over my parents house which have been like that for years. Come to think of it its same in mine - Opps!

Well I was referring to my December daily, I got so far as day 4 then stopped. I don't know if it was a mixture of being at work and not doing anything so exciting to write about or the fact this year to me it didn't really feel like Christmas - got all the presents, tree was up, but I am really counting down the days to my holiday in Feb.

Didn't have a holiday last year (2011) so I am definitely ready for one now!!

I haven't been crafting at all lately I think I made one page in-between Christmas and New Year but that was about it. I've lost my mojo and I keep seeing photos or something which makes me think all I do this and that with it and never do!

Another reason which I haven't been in craft mode is I have started reading loads of books lately and cant put them down. Reading big novels in 4 days which I think is a record for me. A friend of my mam got me thinking a few weeks back when we were talking about books and Kindles (I want the new Kindle Fire!) she said why don't you write your own novel. Which got me thinking and boom I've started it!! I have all my characters down on paper, the full plot, I've wrote my Prologue and started Chapter One. I have quite a few favourite authors but some of the ones I have been reading are set in Sunderland and these books are all set in 1800-1900 Catherine Cookson style (which I love).As I live in Sunderland, seeing street names in the book was dead exciting for me so my book will also be set in Sunderland. I've been to the Library and got some books out and I am currently researching as I write which you can imagine is going slowly as its me :-P

Only issue I am having is the speech as I want it to be local dialect. I know I am a Mackem and know most of the slang but I don't know if this is the same as in 1900. A bit more research needed I think! I also need to set myself a target of how many pages I will write a week. My writing sits dormant for days on end even though I have millions ideas in my head I write them down as soon as I can but with work I am so tired when I get in.

Books Read July - Dec 2011

*** On a side note we are trying to buy a new house and still looking into adopt Darcy and Gypsy who my mam are currently fostering.

Hope everyone is well.

Love Sam

December Daily - Day 1, 2 & 3

2011-12-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

Sorry I know I said I would make videos of me making the pages but my camera is acting up and they are mega simple so no need to bore you watching me glue paper to my pages and writing my journalling out.

Here is some close up pictures and a quick YouTube video of the pages from my laptop (so not great quality!)

Hope everyone is well
Love Sam x

December Daily - Tags

2011-11-22T14:08:00.000-08:00

Last year when I was in America I saw the DCWV Advent Calendar Kit as per below photos as soon as I saw it I wanted it! But not to make an Advent calendar I wanted to make a December Daily like I have saw loads of people do on YouTube.

I made a 6x6 album from a cheap Click-Ring folder which I cut down and covered in it in the Chipboard from the pack. I also used some vintage red card and the white scalp boarder which is cut from the packaging.

I made the tags almost to as directed in the instructions but I altered a few of them as there was either too much embellishment for one little tag or I wanted to keep the embellishment for another project :-)

I will start the inside pages from the 1st December which I may video if I have time. I will be using a mixture of recycled cardboard, envelopes and cardboard packaging which I will cover with patterned paper for the pages all with a variation on size.

Made a video of me making some of the tags and of the completed album cover. Sorry you will have to ignore my ramblings :-)

Thanks for looking
Sam x

My scrapbook story and progression over the years

2011-11-22T13:29:00.000-08:00

My parents have fostered since I was 5 and for as long as I can remember we have made each child a scrapbook to take with them when they left us. It started off a big multi coloured sketch pad which me and my Mam would sit and cut out the photos I would stick them in and Mam would write a little journaling by each one. My Mam said I took over full time when I was about 13-14 when I was a dab hand on the computer and would type all journaling up, add clipart, print out and glue on the photos on A4 paper and put in wallets in a clip ring binder. I don't think I got into proper scrapbooking with patterned paper and embellishments till a few years ago. I don't really remember how it started I think it was when we first visited Florida and I discovered Michael's!
I must admit looking back on some of the pages I've made which I hate and really want to re-do just dunno if its a good idea as it shows my progression in getting better, well I think getting better :-)

Here are some of my old pages from 1997 and 2002:

I made a quick video below.

Thanks for watching
Sam x

New Arrival - Ava Francesca Wright.

2011-11-13T02:47:00.000-08:00

I am an Aunt once again.

My brother has just let me know that Claire my sister-in-law had a little girl 7lb7 at 7:23 this morning.

Ava Francesca Wright.

She is the double of Amelia when she was born :-) So I have a new Album to start for this little lady.

Take Care All

Sam

Memorial/Remembrance Scrapbook page

2011-11-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

Hi All

Memorial/Remembrance Day today.

Made a quick page tonight with a paper poppy.

I think it turned out ok

Mixture of papers K&Company - Urban and unknown paper from local craft store.

Elements are from K&Company Life's Journey - Torn Envelopes and Rebecca Sower Nostalgiques - Postal Pieces.

Hope I've done them proud!
Love and Support to all the Service Men and Women Past and Present!!

Sam x

Scrapbook 12x12 Page Swap and my TakeOne

2011-11-09T10:26:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys

Hope your all well

Quick video below of some pages I have done.

Kerry Denyer on Youtube asked if I would do a 12x12 Christmas swap this is the page she has made for me - I love it!!

I used the TAKEONE from SJ and used an idea from one of my old pages to incorporate into my new page for Kerry. Hope she likes it :-)

Papers are by DCWV - Holiday Collection - The Christmas Stack

Papers used:
K&Company - Urban
Some scraps from Smirk 2x12 Love and Friendship and Naughty but Nice (for cupcakes)

Paper used:
Pink Petticoat Vintage Rose Collection

I also wanted to share an altered project Ive made but already gave away.
I used one of my dads size 12 shoe boxes to make a memory box.

Thanks for taking the time to view :-)

Love Sam

Things Ive been working on.

2011-10-16T03:19:00.000-07:00

Hi All

Just wanted to share a few things Ive been working on this week.

First of is a card I made for my Mams birthday which was on the 10th (She got the greatest birthday present 27 years ago lol she was in hospital having me but I didnt come out till 12:01am so im the 11th!)

Papers used were from the RAK I got from Cheri which is K&CO Urbon Rhapsody.
I also used some of my flowers from my Haul from Wild Orchid crafts. The image was a free one I got with a magazine which I coloured in with my markers.

I was baking on Friday night trying out some of my new Halloween cookie cutters only only one of my ghosts survived and all of the cats died lol the cats legs and tails kept burning with them being alot thinner than the rest of the cookie. So i just ate the bodies hehe. The icing was white with black food gel but it looked like a baby blue instead of Grey and Navy instead of black!!

Ingredients
175 g plain flour
1tsp Almond flavouring
110 g soft butter
50 g sugar

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/ gas 4.
2. Put the flour and almond flavouring into a mixing bowl and rub in the soft butter.
3. Add the caster sugar and bring the whole mixture together to form a stiff dough. Do not add any water, however tempting.
4. Roll out the dough to about ½ cm thickness and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter.
5. Place carefully on a baking tray and cook in the oven for 6-10 minutes until pale golden.
6. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

Last night I wanted to scrap but I no longer have a crafting place in the kitchen as we got a new double fridge freezer which goes where my bench was :-( and I am still waiting for Adam to decorate the utility for my craft room and get a radiator put in there as its freezing in there during winter!
So I sat in the front room tv on and the big foot stool I have with my craft mat on top and created the below was quite content but my back was killing leaning over!

Baby Blue paint was a tester pot from Homebase (not sure if its acid free tho) Plain white card stock for the background.

I used alot of my miscellaneous bits and pieces to fill in the clusters. Stickers were from a baby boy sticker pad I got in Wall-mart a few years ago. The White leaf stickers were from Lakeland but doesn't look if they have a craft line anymore - I've had them stickers for about 5 years!

I think this page turned out ok. Still think there is alot of white space tho.
Quick video on youtube of the page sorry i sound terrible im so tired!!!

Thanks all for looking
Sam xx

Christening Keepsake

2011-10-06T02:41:00.000-07:00

Hi All

Wanted to share a Christening Bookatrix Keepsake I have made for Laura's little girl (both living with my parents)

Paper used:
Cream Card stock
Papermania Silk Screen Pink Floral Metalic
Pink textured card stock
Scrap chipboard (for a sturdy base)

Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts
Also used silver rope and silver cross peal-off sticker

I used The Glitter Girls - Bookatrix embossing board

I used the Forever Friends Christening stamp

The boxes are from ebay but doesnt look like you can get them anymore there are some better ones with windows now which I think I might get.

The Prayer reads:
'A Christening Prayer for a Special Girl.
Lord, surround this child with goodness, lead her in Your light each day; Help her walk the path You've chosen, guide her steps along the way - Teach her, Lord, to trust Your wisdom with a faith from up above; Keep her from all harm, and bless her always with Your grace and love.' I am not sure who this is by so can not give credit sorry.

Thanks for taking the time to look.

Sam x

Scrapbook Swap Page, RAK and me rambling!

2011-10-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hey All

I was going to make a post of what I have been up to and thought it would be much easier and quicker if I just made a video.

Please excuse me rambling and lack of make-up!!

Swap Partner - Scrappinnwrappin

Thanks all
Sam

New Baby Layout

2011-09-16T16:20:00.000-07:00

8.5 x 11 layout using Nanna Nursery Baby Girl papers.

Inspiration for this layout came from Jana Eubanks

I love how this layout turned out and I have been doing alot of clustering on my layouts lately.

Thanks for taking the time to look
Sam

Double Beach Layout

2011-09-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hi All

I have made another double layout for another friend of mine Shannon. Her blog is EnjoyingLifeWith4Kids.

Inspiration for this layout came from Scrapbook Generations

I really hope she likes it.
I have also made her a card and will send her some goodies once I've been shopping.

Thanks for taking the time to look.
Sam

2 Page Christening Scrapbook for Candy (Bonbonscraps)

2011-09-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone

Hope your all well.

I had a days holiday today and since wind was really bad with the back lash of the Hurricane which is heading for the UK I decided to stay in. Had of a bit of an embarrising morning the wind decided to blow my terracotta pot with my conifer across the front garden so had to run out in dressing gown to try and save my tree. Me and the dogs got blown all over and wind was that bad my dressing gown was nearly blown over my head..hahaha luckily I had undies on underneath!!

Decided to do some scrapbooking today and I have been planning to make my friend Candy (Bonbonscraps) a scrapbook page for ages.

I used papers from S.E.I Penelope's Potpourri

Photos:-
1 - 5.5x7.5 photo
3 - 4x6

Inspiration for this Layout came from Scrapbook Generations - June 2011 Debbie Sanders Sketch layout

Thanks so much for taking the time to take a look.

Sam xx

Halloween Cards

2011-09-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone is well

I made a few Halloween cards today

Image for this card is from Sarah Jane Wright its a paper doll which I printed smaller and coloured in for my card. I dont have a Halloween sentiment so had to write Halloween by hand.

Papers for both of these cards are by DCWV 12''x12'' Doodlin' Around - For all Year Round. Pumpkin stamp is by Imaginisce Snag 'em Clear Stamp - Pumpkin.

The image on this card is a sticker from Me and My Big Ideas.

Thanks for looking :-)

Halloween Scrapbook Swap

2011-09-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone hope your well.

Well Autumn has officially started in the UK weather has turned colder, I've noticed its still dark on a morning when I get up for work and the sun is definitely going to bed earlier - cant say the same for myself!

I entered a Halloween Scrapbook swap which BonBonScraps is hosting on YouTube this month. We had to create a 12x12 Halloween layout and a Halloween card.

I had to create mine for Tenny (Santoso10ny)

I got the Layout idea from Shannon Hager she made a little monsters page a few years ago - hope she doesnt mind me scraplifting it!!

Free Image from Little Musings

Free Paper from Canon Creative Park

I hope Tenny likes them.

Thanks for looking
Sam

Latest Creations

2011-09-04T05:16:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone hope your all well and looking forward to the Fall - I defo am OMG I love it!!

I have made a few Thanks-Giving cards for family in Canada. This year, Canadian Thanksgiving falls on Monday, Oct 10, 2011. My mams birthday and mine is the 11th. Yes my mam was in hospital on her birthday having me and if i wasnt so stubbon we would of had the same birthday but it was 12.01am I was born!

Anyways back to the cards!

Paper and greeting labels for both cards are from DCWV 12''x12'' Doodlin' Around - For all Year Round.

Back ground is Brown and Kraft card stock used for layering. I also used some felt pumpkins which I got from Michaels last October.

The little girl my mam fosters started Nursery (AKA Pre-School in USA) in July and she loves it. So I made her a page for her scrapbook.

Paper are a mixture of DCWV (no sure of stack) and the black and white paper is printed from but I can not find the digital kit I got it from so no idea who its by.

The little girl was a Free back-to-school embroidery pattern from Sarah Jane (doesn't look as if its on her site any more) Sarah Jane Wright is am amazing illustrator/designer!! no relation to me I don't think! Although we have some artists in our family :-)

The chalk board is from "Schoolin' Freebie from Kate Teague on Two Peas in a bucket" which doesn't seem to be on the site any more so cant provide link - Sorry!
I wrote with a white gel pen to look like chalk.

I have joined a Halloween swap on You tube so will post that as soon as I am finished.

Take Care All
Sam

Scrapbook Frame

2011-08-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hey all sorry I have been absent lately

Lost my craft mojo and have been busy decorating and dealing with the paperwork for the adoption (which for anyone interested we have decided not to go ahead with it!)

I have been doing alot of reading as well lately sharing a few different books with my mam. So all my spare time I have had my head in the books reading my new fav author Catherine King.

I have had this idea in my head for ages but never got round to making it so tonight I decided to make an effort.
Apologies for the video quality as taken on my mobile.

I took the glass out of a 10x8 (20x25cm) frame and made a scrapbook page for my nan. I tried to stain the wood frame with some wood dye I had from staining the wood floor some years ago but only to find out this is not proper wood LOL!!

I used a selection of old buttons and chipboard clocks, I didn't want to use flowers as this is a masculine page about my Grandad.

Papers used are DCWV and Joanna Sheen and distressed and inked the edges with Tim Holtz Old Paper and Colorbox Chestnut Roan.

Used a chipboard title with a lovely family saying on and some gold photo corners to finish of the photo.

Really hope my nan likes it. I think I will make her another one of my niece so she can put one on either side of her clock on the fireplace.

Hope everyone is well
Sam xx

Latest Haul

2011-07-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hey All

Apologies for my lack of posting been really busy with paperwork for adoption and we have been viewing a few houses (possibly moving in the very near future so trying to get our house sorted for selling!) Also seem to have a craft mental block going on :-(

This is a quick video of a Haul from yesterdays shop didnt get much and really sorry the video quality isnt up to much as my Sony Bloggie is dead and needs to be charged.

Hope everyone is well.
And I will try and get back into the swing of things soon.

Love Sam

Blog Award from Oana!!! Thank You!

2011-07-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

Hi All

I have never received a blog award so feel mega honoured and happy to receive this from Oana!! Once you've checked out my blog pop over and check out her blog as she makes some beautiful cards and altered art!!

So I have to pass it to 8 wonderful blogger :

1. Suzie - SuzieBoo
2. Veronica - Treasured Moments
3. Michelle - Everyday Me
4. Dodici's Papercraft Projects
5. Jane's Lovely Cards
6. Cathy - Empty Nest Crafter
7. Arlene - Butterfly Kisses
8. Sarah - Woo's crafting Corner

8 Random Facts about me

1. I have a mega sweet tooth! Chocolate, cakes, sweets you name it I love it!
2. Me and Adam have started the paperwork and long process to adopt!
3. I cant drive but I want to learn.
4. I love to read love novels but don't get enough time nowadays - I need to make time!
5. Yellow, Blue, Brown and Cream are my favourite colours.
6. I cry every time I see a animal rescue advert on TV!
7. I am off work sick at the minute and have been bed ridden for about a week :-(
8. I'm hungry think I will see if Adam will bring me some weetabix and strawberries!

Thank you again Oana! Please visit these wonderful ladies. They are super talented...

Saturday Scrapbooking with Sam - 9

2011-07-09T00:48:00.000-07:00

Hi All

Hope everyone had a fab 4th July!!
Living in the UK we dont celebrate the Independance day but this year our local council decided to hold a festival to celebrate the close links between UK and US. Well for me personally US is my home from home as I have family over there and we visit every year so I wanted to join in and celebrate :-)

This a 12x12 layout which I have started for myself.

Papers:
Free download from ShabbyPrincess - Celebrating

Free download from 4shared.com

Blue,white and red card from stack I got from Lidel.

I dont think it needs a title as the word paper pretty much says it all!

Thanks for stopping by.
Sam xx

My Layout for MissCrafterella's swap - July 2011

2011-07-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

Hi All

This is my layout for the swap which MissCrafterella on Youtube is holding this month.

My page is for Erin - scrappyhour09 I hope she likes it.

Papers are by DCWV - The Whimsy Collection

Prima Swirl with some additional tear drop gems added.

Alpha glitter chipboard is by Colorbox

Chipboard bird is from Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Retro Rose collection

The glitter butterflies I got at a craft fair this weekend and didnt have a brand name on.

Little card I also made for Erin same papers as layout and a free Digi-Stamp from Little Musings

Thanks for calling past xx
Sam

Saturday Scrapbooking with Sam - 8

2011-07-02T16:50:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!
Hope your well.
Another 8.5 x 11 Scrapbook page.

The pink polka dot paper is a free download from Jennifer Pebbles from the Pink October Free Kit by 2 Peas in a Bucket.

The font is from Betsy Tuma's Cupid collection on 2 Peas in a Bucket.

I used the pink trim which was sent to me in a RAK quite a while ago. The flowers are from the Prima E Line.

Thanks for taking the time to view this post xx

Sam x

Saturday Scrabooking with Sam - 7

2011-06-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

Hi All

Sorry I wasnt able to make a video on Saturday so here is a belated tutorial.

8.5 x 11 Hybrid layout again for you.

Papers are from the Epson America website and are Free all good :-) there are alot of different theme downloads on this site so check it out.

Embelishments are from Paperbilities.

Was a quick and easy layout any questions let me known :-)
Hope everyone is well.

No Scrapbook tutorial today

2011-06-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

Hi All
Hope your well, just a quick post from my mams laptop.

Sorry but there will be no scrapbook tutorial today I have been out for a meal with family and just catching up with parents so wont be in till late.

I will try and make a video tomorrow sometime as I still have quite a few more pages in mind that I want to make.

Take Care
Sam x

Good/Bad News

2011-06-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

Hi All

I have 2 updates one good and one bad!!

Bad first:
My laptop has decided it would get a virus which has spread to all of my files on my computer so Adam is going to wipe and rebuild it for me but I am going to loose all of my photos, digital kits and any downloaded images so I am totally gutted about that and have no idea how long I am going to be without my laptop.
Any longer than a day you will find me a rocking mess in the corner as I cant live without my laptop :-(
Yes my names Sam and I am adicted to my laptop is there a group for this like the AA? haha

Good news - woohoo!!
2 of my scrapbook pages were posted on PeppermintCreative's Blog OMG I am so chuffed!!!
Mint-spirational Monday – Spotlighting the BEST Digital Pages and Projects of the Week.

I am so happy about this as Ive never had any of my work sort of published any where apart from my own blog. It was the Hair Cut and the Cowboy hybrid pages I recently made.

Thanks all for looking and hopefully I will not be laptopless for long!

Take Care xx

Saturday Scrabooking with Sam - 6

2011-06-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

I was feeling very creative today so I decided to do another tutorial.

Again I used another digital kit from PeppermintCreative - 'Little Buckaroo' Even tho I don't have kids I wanted to use this kit and I remember we had some pics where me and Adam got some photos done back in 2008 dressed in Western Theme so I thought this kit was ideal!!

This is an 8.5 x 11 page which I mega distressed I even went to the extremes of using a cold wet tea bag to get the colour I wanted as the Tim Holtz Old Paper was dark enough. I crumbled, and burnt the edges with a lighter - CAUTION be careful if you do this as I burnt my fingers a few times doing this!!

I cut a stencil out to make the title look like a Wanted poster and It worked pretty good I was mega chuffed with this! I have kept the stencil incase I need to do another similar page.

I cut all the elements out again all papers/elements back the backing paper is photo paper.

Hehe I loved these photos and it was great fun getting dressed up. I think we will have to do it again. If anyone is in the Florida near Old Town that's where we got them done. I think next year when we go we will get the Gangster Theme done as we have already had the Western and Victorian!!

I have another Hybrid page in mind but I need to get the right photo then I will make another hybrid layout.

Thanks so much for looking. Ive been busy today.

Sam xx

Vintage Birthday Card

2011-06-18T04:36:00.000-07:00

This was a quick card I made last night for Adams Nan's Birthday which annoyingly he told me the wrong date and it was actually the day before so I sent it anyway late card is better than none I suppose!

I used:
Kraft Card
I am not 100% sure but I think this cherry and red paper is Websters
Olive Ribbon
Vintage cream lace
Red Buttons
Mini music paper rub-on

I pretty much inked and roughed up the edges of everything on this card to make it look old. I used Chestnut Roan and Tim Holtz Old Paper Distressing ink.

I stamped a little Birthday greeting in the bottom of the photo in Chestnut Roan chalk ink.

Inside of the card I had a few scraps left so I put them on the inside I normally only put a white insert but this looks so much better!

Here is the image if anyone was wanting a copy.

Thanks all for taking the time to have a look.
Sam

Saturday Scrabooking with Sam - 5

2011-06-18T03:52:00.000-07:00

Today I have made a 8.5 x 11 hybrid scrapbook page using New 'Do' digital kit from PeppermintCreative this is a temporary free download the link to the site is to the right of this page.

There are some gorgeous kits on the site and can be used for digital or hybrid kits. I am not very good at digital but its just as easy to print and cut out. Yes I will admit some of the elements on this page were very very tricky to cut out but I got there in the end.

I didn't do any journaling on this page but it is pretty self explanatory. Darcy getting her hair cut by our family hairdresser who is a friend my mam child-minds for. Its so easier than going to the hairdressers :-)

The scissors and the comb were a nightmare to cut out but I was persistent and eventually got them cut out.

On this little mirror for a little added interest and to make it a tat more realistic I cut out the printed glass and put a piece of mirror card behind and it looks cute!!

Absolutely love the colour pallet used to create this paper kit and there are some cute title spots and cute saying!
Pop over and check out PeppermintCreative site its free to register and there are some great kits for a great price!! There is also a gallery/forum there to share your ideas with other people and I've had some great feedback from some lovely people!

Thanks all
Sam

Saturday Scrabooking with Sam - 4

2011-06-11T00:47:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys another tutorial for you all

This is an 8x8 for Amelia's Scrapbook luckily I have 1 more page to do then I am up-to-date.

The chipboard number 2 is from a big tin I have had for a while which I got from Wal-Mart many moons ago. The little title spots are from a free sheet of paper which I got from a magazine many years ago.

Striped paper is from a 6x6 Christmas stack not sure of the name - goes to show how versitile it is as it was just striped paper!

The Cake and Unicorn were printed from google as I didnt have any purple embelishments so printed them on photo paper and mounted up on pop-dots.

I used my Fiskars Treading Water punch again on this to give it a softer edge. Seems to be getting used alot lately. I need to get some more edge punches when I go on holiday next year.

Thanks so much for take the time to have a look :-)
Hope everyone is well.
Sam x

10 every{day} HAPPY things...

2011-06-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

Here is my list :
1. Had a lovely week and half off from work .. back on Monday but thats ok as Ive missed my friends at work.

2. Got to spend some quality time with our new dog and got him settled in the house I think :-)

3. Seeing Buster and Barney play fighting last night and I swear it almost looked like Barney was smiling in between his panting and pouncing on Buster which makes me happy that he loves his new home with us :-)

4. I have the weekend off with Adam I feel like we never see each other and we have been rather happier the past few month - no reasons that I can think of.

5. Seeing my old cat Hooch who is terrified of everyone but me stand up for himself and give Barney a good old telling when he was Barking at him.

6. How much crafting I have done this past week has been fabulous I have 1 page left then my nieces album it up to date - woohoo!

7. Showers both dogs today so they are all smelling lovely!

8. Adam has decided to start to empty the utility which is a junk room and get it sorted for my craftroom.. needs the ceiling pulling down so need to sweet talk the future-FIL to come plaster it. Ive only been waiting like 3 years for a finished craftroom dont want to wait another 3 as I am sitting in the kitchen at the minute!

9. Taking my niece to the park yesterday with mam and the dogs feel I havent saw her for ages! She is turning into a right little maddem lol which is funny as I see so much of me in her!

10. Holiday for Feb 2012 is booked woohoo. Going to Las Vegas for 3 nights - Florida for 11 nights then Boston for 3 nights then home - I cant wait its my yearly haul for craft things haha. Only problem is hoping about with a heavy suitcase and we have alot of flights as typically we cant get direct flights between the different stops!! so I am thinking if I get anything heavey like paper packs to ship them home to the UK I will probabily be home before them :-)

Sorry my list a bit long winded hehe I got carried away with being all happy :-)

Barney and Buster (my Beagles)

Favourite Autumn Things Scrapbook Page

2011-06-08T16:48:00.000-07:00

I know I am totally in the wrong season but I absolutely love Autumn and I have had the Jolee's 'Autumn' title for about 5 years now!!
I found it today while having a tidy up and knew I had to do a layout I wanted it to be a layout for myself and not for my niece or one of the foster kids albums. I have never made a layout for myself before so this was a first!!

Along with the Jolee's Autumn I stamped Favourite Things from K&Co Marcella Occasions Clear Stamps in dark brown chalk ink. I have no idea who the patterned paper is by as this came out of my scraps file but there are some nice ones on the link below by Shabby Princess. Also used Kraft, Cream and Brown cardstock.

The labels are a free Fall Words Overlay download from Shabby Princess - Shabby Fall Collection I printed them on cream paper and cut out the words I wanted for my layout and even cut some out to spell words I wanted like Spice and Apple Pie as this wasn't on the list.

I am not 100% on the note paper with my hand writing on as I hate my writing even tho my mam loves it - strange woman hehe! I think I need a little acorn or something art the bottom of the note paper there next to the apple pie label as it looks little empty. Or maybe I could paper piece a little apple pie - how cute would that be - I'm going to google now see if I can find template for one!!

I used my Friskars Treading water punch also as the edge of my patterned paper needed softening up.
The photos of the spice and the pumpkin are just from google and obviously the pic of my Buster out in the park last Autumn. I have never scrapped my furry babies before either - terrible mother I hear you all saying :-) yes I must be but I have an idea for a page of my two boys which I will be doing soon.

I am sooooo chuffed with this layout for it being a first personal one I think I may make a page for each season listing my fav things about them too. I will see if I can get some more titles from Jolee's or whoever which are similar.

Thanks so much for looking
Sam xx

First Attempt at Ribbon Flowers

2011-06-07T15:35:00.000-07:00

Hi All

Here are a few Ribbon Flowers I made today

This is my fav it wasnt actually ribbon its a white new shoe lace and ive used a vintage button and some lace trim.

Do they look right?

4th July Card

2011-06-06T16:25:00.000-07:00

As you know I am from the UK so do not celebrate 4th July but my Great Aunt lives in Wisconsin so this card is for her.

Papers:
Free download from ShabbyPrincess - Celebrating

Stamps:
Papertrey - Friendship Jar
Papertry - Friendship Jar Holiday Fillers
Studio G - Not sure of the name.

Thanks for looking
Sam

Fathers Day Card

2011-06-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

Father'd Day this year in the UK is Sunday, June 19th.

My dad has been doing alot of DIY the past few months and helping me around my house so I have made him a DIY themed Father's Day Card.

I used some free downloadable papers from Crafts Beautiful Sep07 there are lots of free papers, templates and embelishments on this site so have a look - there is something for everyone from recipies, knitting patterns and verses/fonts.

I had some spare felt 3d alpha stickers lying around which I spelt 'Dad' in the top corner as it was looking a tad bare.

I free cut the apron by hand but there are many templates available if you google it.
The Screw heads, nails, pencil and Caution tape are cut from Karen Foster Design - Construction Zone stickers. I used my micro mini alpha stamps for the greeting.

Hope he likes it.
Thanks for looking
Sam x

Saturday Scrabooking with Sam - 3

2011-06-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys its that time of the week again for another layout.

I am off work for a week and half from work so all my days seem to be merging together so almost forgot it was Saturday today!

Today's layout is from Jeanette Lynton's inspiration book it is not one of the pages which is broken down this is on the title page and doesn't give directions so I just had to make up as I go along so it is not totally identical but pretty close.

This is an 8 x 8 layout using papers from the Basic Grey ' Blush' collection also used plain pink and brown card stock. Pink stickers from Remarks Love Letter and white peal offs from local craft store.

Buttons were just from my collection with a little chiffon ribbon threaded threw.

Thanks for checking out my blog :-)

Saturday Scrapbooking with Sam - 2

2011-05-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

Second tutorial sorry this is super quick as it is almost 12am and I am super tired today and have a huge head ache :-(

8.5 x 11 page again.

Forgot to add the number two on my Youtube video just traced a chipboard number on some scrap pink paper I had.

Papers Used:
DCWV - Spring Stack
DCWV - Doodlin' Around Stack - For all Year Round
My Minds Eye - Magnolia

Thanks for checking out my blog xx

Give Away Winner and New Addition

2011-05-28T05:33:00.000-07:00

Hi

Apologies for not carrying out the draw for my giveaway yesterday had a few busy days since getting our new addition Barney! Had to look after my neighbours sick little girl yesterday so should could pop out and then had to baby sit my niece all last night so not had a chance to get online.

Barney on the long drive home

Our first pit stop Barney (new additon) at the front he is so much skinnier than our Buster. The woman at the rescue centre was saying Barney was the correct wegith for a Beagle but I would beg to differ I mean buster is our only first Beagle but he is not fat like she kept say - wasnt happy about that!!

Barney has settled in quite well apart from he is scaring the life out of the cats as he is not used to them. He keeps chasing after them and barking like mad!! I am having to keep my 15 year old cat upstairs as I don't think his little ticker can take it.

Using random.org the winner of my give away is Viviane (walgode13)

Thanks so much to all who entered I will be having another giveaway if I can get my youtube scubs to 100.

Saturday Scrapbooking with Sam - 1

2011-05-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone

So I was bored tonight and decided to do a scrapbook tutorial - you will have to bare with me as I really have no idea why but I get really nervous when I do these so I blab hehe!!

Inspiration was taken by a layout in Jeanette Lynton's inspiration book. Which I altered to a single 8.5 x 11 page instead of a double 12x12.

Papers are a mixture of DCWV and scraps of olive and cream card stock.

Quick reminder you have till Friday if you would like to be entered for my giveaway just leave a comment on my give away post.

Relaxing weekend!

2011-05-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend. I have been doing over time all this week and I think I work 53 hours in total normally only do 37.5 so I have been very tired and ratty and mostly taking it out on Adam - opps!
So was defo glad when the weekend was here and boo its Sunday night I am back at work at 7.30 tomorrow. So wish I could win the lottery then never work again and sit and craft all day :-) How totally awesome would that be!!! Never gonna happen but I can dream!!

Last night I was up till the early hours of the morning scrapbooking. I duno why I do it do nothing all day then it comes to 7/8 pm then I get a sudden burst of inspiration and I am there crafting till easily 2.30am! Anyone else a night owl when it comes to crafting?

I made 4 8x8 scrapbook pages and some yummie cookies

All the pages were for Amelia's scrapbook as I am trying to finish this one off so I can start her new one.

Red Polka Dot and a Ledger Paper from a DCWV paper stack not sure of the name but my friend Andrea across the road gave me them - Thanks Hun :-) its great having a fellow crafter in my street not only do I pinch sugar, her cake mixer (when mine died) she also lets me raid her craft stash when I babysit for her - Best Friend eva!!

No idea what the photo sizes are they were 4 x 6" photos and cut into a square (I think they may have been 10 x 10 cms). The "Girl" Chipboard is the Audrey collection by Mia Road and coloured Black.
Chipboard arrow and lips are from a huge chipboard can I got from WallMart like 4/5 years ago. I did alot of hand writing on this page but wasnt sure it really made sence as it was late and I couldnt really think straight.

My brother build Amelia a big sandbox and a play area in their backgarden for her birthday and these are of her sitting in it! Shame with UK Weather its never really warm and her birthday was in March so she had to have her coat on hehe!

I was soo pleased with this embelishment I made it was a sandcastle using actual sand paper.

Template for this and the inspiration is here only difference I gave my castle two towers - only the best castle for my baby niece :-) There are lots of different templates if you google sandcastle template. I just thought this would be the easiest to cut out of the sandpaper - it was alot easier than I thought sharpened my scissors too but wasnt very good for my rotorary trimmer.
Couldnt find a decent template for the bucket and spade so they are printed from clip art and cut out.

This Easter page was inspired by a page Kristina Werner did on the Basic Inspiration Class No. 1

Papers used are First Edition - Hideaway 6x6 which I got a sample pack from Ebay for only £1.99 I think I might start and do this get the 6x6 sample pack from ebay as some are only £1 and if I like them I can buy the big pads. Chipard letters are Basic Grey not sure of the name of this pack as I lost the insert to box.

This is patterned paper which I printed from google as I wanted it to look like paint splats.
Used plain coloured paper to double mount the photo up.

Absoultley loved this sentiment "I am not messy, I am creative" I just added the last line as it is true :-)

Finally... sorry ive bored you but look at how yummie these cookies are!!

Cornflake cookies recipe.
INGREDIENTS

125g butter, chopped, at room temperature
½ cup caster sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup self-raising flour, sifted
2 cups cornflakes, Crushed (I used crunchy Nut)

METHOD

Preheat oven to moderate, 180°C. Lightly grease and line 2 large oven trays.
In a bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla, then fold flour in.
Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls and roll into crushed cornflakes. Arrange on trays about 4cm apart.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden. Cool on tray for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Love to all
Hope you have a great week x

Hybrid Scrapbook Page

2011-05-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hi All

Just want to share a quick hybrid scrapbook layout I created using a free download of Correen Silke's Another Tea Party I am not sure if this is still available and sorry I can not remember where I downloaded it from :-(

Papers are super cute but I really dont think my printer did the paper justice as its acting up. But luckily Adam just bought me a new one - YEY!

I went for more of a vintage theme with the layout.

I created this photo arrange ment just in MS Word and printed it out so not actually sure of the measurements. I never normally measure just cut and size by eye!

This is a 8.5 x 11 layout for Darcy's book. The flowers are printed on photo paper to give them a bit more stability and I was able to curl the corners a little to give them more dimention. It took me ages to cut them all out!!

I still need to add a title or journalling here but not too sure what to write just yet. Something to do with Spring I think.

Thanks for looking.
Sam

Give Away for my followers

2011-05-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

Hi All

I am doing a big give away for my Blog Followers. Everyone is welcome to join as long as you follow my blog and leave a comment on this post and I will enter you into the draw.

To have your name entered twice please promote this give way on you blog or youtube and send me the link.

There is too much stuff to list so you can watch the video on my YouTube channel.

I will do the draw on Friday 28th May 3pm UK Time using Random.org.

Good Luck All and thanks so much for following my blog
:-)

Engagement Card and Decorating Update

2011-05-08T07:34:00.000-07:00

Hi All

Hope everyone is well.

Yesterday I had a very lazy day and sat around most of the day in my PJ's crafting and I made some cakes too but were eaten before I thought about taking a picture - sorry about that :-)

My friends Andrea across the road from me is also a fellow crafter and she has just got engaged so I made her a card.

I saw this idea for a card on Flickr by Lucy Abrams and I really hope Lucy doesn't mind me copying her idea. Clearly her card is much better than mine. I dont have a hear punch so had to cut these by hand and cut the circles at 1:14 with my Martha Stewart circle cutter. I also used my cuttlebug dots background and the heart postage stamp which I cut the heart out.

I have it to her last night and she loved it she has only received 2 cards which I think is shocking!!

Another update my new flooring is down and I love it!!! Harvest Oak Wood its soo pretty I dont want to walk on it.

Its the cooking channel in case anyone is wondering I think they are mixing something...lol!

We have left the french door off between the front room and kitchen for the minute as it opens it up lovely!! I dont think we are binning the doors just put them in loft and put them back on in the winter as I love being in front room with fire on and doors closed its soo cosey!

Who has a Silhouette SD Cutters? I am thinking of getting one as I still dont really like my Cricut plus the cartridges are really expensive. Any ideas where you buy the files from? Adam said I can get one which is good and he has gone shopping today to buy my a new printer which is great!!

I think tonight I will finish some scrapbooking and have early night as I am on 7.30am - 6pm for this weekn and i said I would for the rest of the month - I must be mad!! Just thinking of the pay packet with all this overtime!

Take Care all

Love Sam

Friday's 10 Happy Things

2011-04-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

First off I would like to congratulate Prince William and Kate on their marrage! (not that they are going to read this post but never mind)

Michelle from Everyday Scrapbook shared with us her 10 Happy Things from Friday. So I thought I would join in.

Here's my 10 happy things for this week...

1. Seeing the first scan of my soon to be niece or nephew

2. Light early mornings taking dog for walk at 5.30am before work and listening to bird cheap :-)

3. Only having a 3 day working week
4. News from the insurance company they were replacing all downstairs wood flooring due to a leak we had (which will be fitted on Tuesday)

5. Lovely warm and sunny days we have been having

6. Putting away my big winter coat

7. Ordered some new clothes and they have arrived today

8. My holiday for Feb 2012 all booked!

9. Going to Christening of a child my parents used to look after

10. Watching the royal wedding.

The only thing I created this week in the middle of painting was a Christening Scrapbook for Layla's Book which I had finished and handed over at her Christening which was a family Christening - Layla, her baby brother and her mother were all Christened at the same time which was lovely!

Hope everyone is well

Hope all from UK have lovely Bank Holiday and all International crafters have a great weekend!!

Love Sam x

Pot O' Gold

2011-04-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

There are a few new addition to my parents household Darcy and a young mother and her baby Laura and Lacey-Mae.

Laura has decided to do her own photo album for Lacey so I just have to start a scrapbook for Darcy.

For a change I decided to do a 8.5 x 11 album.

Darcy is the same age as Amelia give a week or two so I feel sorry for my mam on days when she has both!!

I have been in visioning this Layout in my head for months and quite pleased with way it turned out.

Papers are just blue and green A4 letter paper.

The photos are 1 - 4x6" and 2 - 3x4"

I am not so happy with the embellishments as I had to print then from the Internet so they are not fantastic! I don't have a cricut cartridge which does St.Patrick's day theme which would of been better.

These photos are not from St.Patricks day but with the rainbow on her t-shirt, being taken in March and how I wanted to express how special she was it just came into my head "Pot 'o Gold".

Me and Adam have became very close to Darcy and she absolutely adores Adam, she even has a look of him we are thinking of adopting her if she does not go back to her mother. As some of you know I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and we have been trying for a baby for about 6 years now! The Doctors are useless and just keep saying loose weight and come back with PCOS its a vicious circle as it so hard to loose weight as you body is always producing more sugar than it should which turns to fat! I am sick of making myself miserable trying to loose weight!

Sorry for the rant on there and so many pictures I was just chuffed with the LO :-)

Happy Easter everyone.

Birthday Blingy Scrapbook Layout

2011-04-23T04:59:00.000-07:00

Another catch up layout I dont seem to do them in order I just do a page that I have an idea for so end up leaving a few empty sleaves with a post-it note of what needs to go there - Anyone else do that?

We had Amelia's 2nd birthday last month and checked her book and I havent even scrapped her first birthday - Im a terrible Aunt I know!!!

I had these Basic Grey Blush collection papers for ages and I was hording them beause I think they are so pretty!! But when I printed the photos off of her party the colours worked with this paper.

This Layout is a smaller version of the Birthday one I did for Layla's album back in August.

You wont see me very often on my own scrapbook layouts as its normally me taking the photos!

I had cut this banner and stamped the individual letters on.

I used a cuttlebug flower the only one I have :-( I am going to buy more when I go to Florida again in Feb 2012 - seems like ages away!!

I used a whole pack of Prima bling on thi as it looked quite flat when I had finished and needed a little sparkle for her first birthday. I free cut this number 1 out. I need to put some journalling on some where but dont want to spoil it. Suppose I could put it on the back - has anyone else journalled on back of LO so not to spoil the front?

Thanks for looking.

Sam x

Playing Mam's Layout

2011-04-22T15:55:00.000-07:00

Amelia is getting to the age now where she wants to play with dolls and it is super cute watching her push her little buggy around the house with her little bags when she's off to the shops (which is in the passage!) hehe!!

I managed to snap a few shots on my phone the other day when I was at my mams house and Amelia was playing mammy's with the new addition Darsy.

Inspiration for this photo arrangement came from a video wich I saw on YouTube but for some reason I cant find the video to link! Sorry. Software used was Google Picasa 3 which you can download for free just google it or click on the link.

Papers are from a little paper collection I got many years ago and no idea who makes it. Both lots of font stickers are Remark Alphas which I got in Florida's Haul in October. The little doll is just printed from the internet.

I free cut the pram and added some ribbon trim and brads to girly it up a little.
I think this layout turned out pretty cute :-)

Thanks for looking
Sam x

Christmas Scrapbook Catch Up

2011-04-22T15:10:00.000-07:00

Good Friday today so I am off work and should of been painting the kitchen but I really didnt have the energy to do that so I pulled some scrapbook papers out and thought I'd catch up on some scraping.

So I have almost got caught up with Amelia's scrapbook bar a few pages which I was waiting for some photos from mam.

I never really do alot of journalling as I never know what to write, but after having a quick message with Nichol Magouirk at Two Peas in a Bucket and she said:

"@samwri1984 Yes, I do struggle with journaling at times. I look back at my layouts from 7-8 yrs. ago that have next to no journaling and cringe at the lack of details. At the time I thought I would never forget but over time I have. :( I have made a conscious effort the last couple of years to approach journaling with the idea I am reading it 10 - 20 years later and think to myself, "what will I want to remember about this?" "what are the important details?" Nichol."

What Nichol said really got me thinking and I set away writing a paragrah about our Family Christmas Traditions and new ones we were going to do. So when Amelia is old enough she can read this herself.

Papers are from DCWV Christmas Stack cut to 8 x 8

No idea how big the photos are I just cut to fit.

Very quick and simple Layout and the journalling was the thing which took the longest and I had that pre-typed up on computer I just had to print!

Thanks for Looking.

Sam x

Baby Sitting Scrap Night

2011-03-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

I was baby sitting at my fellowcrafters across the road last night and I took some scrap packs with me as I have alot of cards and catch up work in scrapbooks. The time flew, before I knew it 2 cards and 3 scrapbook pages they were home!

This card is a little similar to my Matryoshka Dolls Card but this time it is only one doll.

I found this template on the Paprcraft Inspirations Website

I used the free Russian doll papers from Quick Cards craft magazine (Feb Addition)

There was alot of paper piecing on this card.

Birthday card for my little sister who was 14 today.

I used:

Kraft Cardstock

Pink, Blue and White card

Tredding water boarder punch

Dovecraft - PIECE OF CAKE-CUPCAKE GLITTER STICKERS

White Gel Pen

Recycled sentiment from old birthday card.

Quick and simple scrapbook page as the title says the top says it all :-) (I'm a little angel)

Not sure who the papers are by as they are no name brands from local craft shop.

I used some textures yellow paper for the chicken and used template

For the attempted daffodil look alike flowers :-) I cut circles and sun shape from my cricut (George and basics cartridge).

Thanks for stopping by x

DigiWrap

2011-03-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

Hi all, A little off my usual subject but thought I'd share the link to my brothers website hit the like button on his site if you have facebook www.facebook.com/digiwrap or http://www.digiwrapltd.co.uk/. He offers a huge range of digital printing services from stag & hen tshirt printing to full colour digital Magnetic signs if you would like to advertise locally on your car/van. He also does custom stickers for my cards when I need something different and unique. Oh and He did a fab Banner with old photos for my dads 60th birthday it was even better watching him out in the rain/gale force wind putting it up haha

Cake Journal PDF tutorials

2011-03-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

Hi All

As you have seen from previous posts I have attempted to make cakes and cookies before just wanted to share a great opportunity to all other cake/cookie makers out there who are still newbies like me.

I have been following Louise and her great blog for about 4/5 months I think and she is defo one of the best decorators I have seen. Her blog has awesome ideas for all occasions and she is offering the chance to followers to have a selection of her tutorials on PDF for free all you need to do is go to her blog below and follow the instructions.

Please go and have a look at her site and get some super inspiration don't for get Easter and mothers day is coming up!

Mini Haul

2011-03-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

My mam and dad are great and since they no I love to scrap and I make all the scrapbooks for the foster kids they look after they treat me to some new stash.

So my mam bought me from Amazon the "Imagine: Fun, Fabulous Layouts for Every Scrapbooker" by Jeanette R. Lynton I have wanted one of her books for such a long time :-) Thanks mam xx

My dad didnt pic the items but he let me put them on his card :-) Hes fab!!

I got from Thats Crafty:
6x6 Maya Road chipboard mini album
4 boxes of Maya Road Chipboard letters (different fonts)
a mini bottle of glossy accents (as I wanted to try it)
Imaginisce Snag 'em Clear Stamp - Apple Cider - Apples
Imaginisce Snag 'em Clear Stamp - Polar Expressions - Hot Chocolate

Cant wait to use them!!

Matryoshka Dolls Card

2011-03-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

Adam bought me the Quick Cards craft magazine last week and it had a template in for Matryoshka Dolls.

There is also a free templete (slightly different design) Template1 or Template2

Since it was coming up to my niece's 2nd birthday party today and her little tea party at my parents was yesterday I made this card for her.

It was a little time consuming cutting out the little pieces to paper piece this together but for my first attempt it turned out pretty cute.

Papers used were from a free Garden Rose 6x6 paper pad a got free with a different magazine a month or two ago but I cant remember the name of the pad.Ill check and update this post tomorrow when I find where I put it.

I wasnt very good at drawing in the faces and the blush on the cheeks I stamped a rubber from the top of my pencil in and stamped them on faces , I should of really thought about it before I did that as the little doll has huge rosey cheeks!! I also put a number 2 mini peal off just above the trim on the big doll after I took this picture.

This is them all layed flat. Only problem as I used a 6x6 pad I had to cut the dresses separate so I didnt waste alot of paper I just traced the bottom half of the body so I only ended up using one 6x6 piece but I noticed as I folded them the paper on the hinge started to curl - argh!! Good job Amelia is only 2 and she wont really notice this :-)

Thanks for looking x

Bathroom Remodel - update

2011-03-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

So this is what I have been upto!!

We gutted our bathroom and took out the bath as we only ever use the shower (which was over the bath).

Stupid me forgot to take a before photo!! But from the above picture you can sort of make out where the bath and toilet were.

And sink was were the new shower tray is. The back wall is new as it used to have huge window which we have blocked up as there is matching one on the other side. Yes you can see the lovely Blackpool beach yellow stripe paint i did!! LOL it was great as when in shower before when sun was shining in window it was lovely and bright but no one liked it but me :-)

New toilet was put where the old one was as was too big of job to be moving the soil pipe. Shower and towel radiator put on new wall. Creamy/beige tiles with mosaic boarder and tiled floor it looks lovely and modern.

This will be my new vanity when its finished and it will have mirror on wall behind sink and doors on cupboard. I think we are going to cut down worktop as you can rest elbow on when your on the loo and I dont really want that. And the pipes to side of the cupboard are being boxed in with a little tile shelf to hide them. Will take picture when its all finished which will be hopefully before the end of the week.

Thanks for looking :-)

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T15:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day all.

I was very busy this weekend and being as nice as I am I made lots of cupcakes and cookies for my work colleagues.

These are mini Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting and mini chocolate hearts on top. I made about 50!! Yes this is a huge egg tray they are in they fit perfect and I put the lid on and it was perfect to transport them too work.

I had never tasted Red Velvet Cupcakes before and they were all over when I was in America in Nov but for some reason I never tried them. I bought a box of the cake mix and the tub of cream cheese frosting from wallmart as they were sealed Duncan Haines. Since I have only been on my new account for 2 months and not many people know me they were a bit wary of trying them!! (which upset me alittle as Id spent all weekend cooking! But my new manager had quite a few and told the rest of the team how nice they were and that I'm not going to poison them - long and short of it they didn't last much longer after that)

I also made some sugar heart cookies with marshmallow fondant on the top they were delicious!!!

Hope everyone is happy and feeling loved today even if your single :-)

Love Sam

Anniversary Card and Cake

2011-02-14T15:06:00.000-08:00

30 years ago today my parents were married.

I made them the canvas which I posted last time I also made them a card and a cake (my first attempt at making and decorating a cake!)

This is the card I made for them using papers from Joanna Sheen Backing Paper Pad Victorian Calligraphy and a vintage decoupage picture by Search Press. I used some vintage cream lace, silk ribbon roses misted with Bronze Cosmic Shimmer Mist. I made some hat pins with plain white seamstress pins and glued pearls on and added white peal off numbers.

I made some roses and leaves from marshmallow fondant which I made by melting some marshmallows with a little water in the microwave and mixed with icing sugar until it forms a ball of fondant. You have to be very careful when melting the marshmallows and watch them like a hawk while they are in microwave (as I discovered! I was talking to my brother and forgot about them and they bubbled up and exploded in the microwave making it huge gluey mess!!!!)
I tried to make the roses like Ive saw the paper ones with a 5 petal flower cookie cutter but this didn't really work as the fondant gets too sticky the more you handle it. So i used the flower cutter and used one of the petals to cut out 8 or 9 individual petals and shaped them into a rose. it was very fiddly and time consuming but for my first attempt they turned out ok. For the leaves I used a round pastry cutter with the jagged edge and cut a half circle then cut it again to form a leave then used the back of a knife for the veins.

The cake was very lumpy and hard to cover with the rolled icing. I have been watching alot of "Cake Boss" on TV and I love the cakes they make. I am only a beginner when it comes to cake decorating but my mam was so pleased Id made the effort and it was a surprise. The cake was make from 2x 8" round cakes stacked with Jam and butter cream in each layer. I covered the full cake with cutter cream them covered the cake in rolled icing. It was very hard to get the icing to roll to the size of the cake so I did a bit of a bodge job and icied in panels. The pink trim is the marshmallow fondant. I used the left over butter cream with some red food die to to the shell border and the writing as you can tell I dont have a very steady hand.

All in all the cake was pretty tastey even tho it wasnt a master peice :-)

Updates

2011-01-17T15:44:00.000-08:00

I have managed to get quite a few things ticked off on my to-do list below:

1 Start Weight Watchers - Im doing quite well I have lost about 4-5 pounds
2 Take down xmas stuff
3 Tidy front and backgarden
4 Finish Layla and Lindons Scrapbooks
5 Finish Charlize Ablum and May's pregs card - making scrapbook instead of card
6 Decorate Bedroom
7 Remodel Bathroom/Downstairs loo - Money permitting! Plumber coming out tomorrow to give us a price quote.
8 Decorate Craftroom
9 Decoarte Little Adams Bedroom
10 Decorate Passage/Loft hatch
11 Start Manila Approval Training at work
12 Start wedding organising - way me and Adam are at the minute this is on hold!!
13 Finish decoarting Kitchen
14 Finish NVQ course at work - Cancelled as work not willing to pay funding!!
15 Do grandads memorial Canvas for nan
16 Make a effort to get done up and go out with Adam
17 Make something special for mam and dads 30th wedding anniversary - will also be making them a cake nearer the time.
18 Get blog updated
19 Complete Family Tree Scrapbook
20 Keep on top of housework
21 Finish Birthday/Anniversary Card book
22 Exercise more
23 Bath Dog
24 Make 4 Birthday Cards for Feb
25 Get to Dentist

Pictures from decorating at the weekend:

Dad laying carpet in bedroom for me :-)

Buster taking to the new bedding already - I think he approves!!

I love the new carpet and bedding. I need to varnish the headboard to match the bedside tables and I dont know if I like the brown paint I think I will change this to a Mocha - what do you think?

Love to all x

Canvas Project & 31 Goal updates

2011-01-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone is well.

I have been off work for a week on sick. Ive not been sleeping so wandering around like a zombie, having a few panic attacks and me and Adam are going through a bit of a rough patch.

I have taken all the Christmas stuff down, I went and ordered the carpet for my bedroom that comes on Monday, Adams dad is coming over tomorrow to plaster around the new loft hatch so we can paint. I spoke to the plumber about my bathroom today and he is going to give me a ring when he is free to come give me an estimate on how much its going to cost - probably not cheap :-(

Last night I was up till about 4am making a canvas for my mam and dads wedding anniversary.

I have also been sticking to my weight watchers and walking the dog more. I got weighed at the dietitian on Thursday and I have lost 2 pounds.

Hope everyone is well

Sam x

New Year Challenges

2011-01-03T15:09:00.000-08:00

Hey All and Happy New Year!!

Marion Smith - APieceofCraftdotcom created a 31 days, 31 videos, 31 goals Challenge on YouTube I was mega tempted to take part but I am just too busy and dont have the time to make a video everyday - pathetic excuse I hear you all saying :-)

I will be challenging myself to get some things done but I dont think I would be able to get 31 done.

I started my list on New Years Eve and made a video yesterday but for some reason it wont upload and I am already 3 days behind everyone else I was supposed to start on the first so maybe next time.

1 Start Weight Watchers
2 Take down xmas stuff
3 Tidy front and backgarden
4 Finish Layla and Lindons Scrapbooks
5 Finish Charlize Ablum and May's pregs card
6 Decorate Bedroom
7 Remodel Bathroom/Downstairs loo - Money permitting!
8 Decorate Craftroom
9 Decoarte Little Adams Bedroom
10 Decorate Passage/Loft hatch
11 Start Manila Approval Training at work
12 Start wedding organising
13 Finish decoarting Kitchen
14 Finish NVQ course at work
15 Do grandads memorial Canvas for nan
16 Make a effort to get done up and go out with Adam
17 Make something special for mam and dads 30th wedding anniversary
18 Get blog updated
19 Complete Family Tree Scrapbook
20 Keep on top of housework
21 Finish Birthday/Anniversary Card book
22 Exercise more
23 Bath Dog
24 Make 4 Birthday Cards for Feb
25 Get to Dentist

The ones in red I have done the tree down is the next task as its doing my head in the cats keep climbing it! I started Weight Watchers with old books I had from a few years back I am just going to do it myself as its too expensive for me at the minute to be going to the classes. So far I hate it lol because I love food and cant stand weighing out food! BUT I must do it this year!! Wish me luck!

New designer finds!

2010-12-29T15:57:00.000-08:00

So I was introduced to two awesome designers today :

They both are awesome I found some fantastic bags which Amy has designed on her website and she has some brill free download templates for fabric and paper craft!!

I mean how cute is this bag please?? I love the fabric and design but it would also be cute in Cath Kidston's rose fabric!!

I so want to try and make this!!

Anyone else think these are fabulous!! Sorry ill shut up now.

Take Care

Sam x

8x8 Layouts

2010-12-28T17:04:00.000-08:00

I have made a few more pages for Lindon's scrapbook tonight.

I have 3 more pages then I should be able to hand it over to his gran in January when he goes.

I used paper from DCWV - Linen Closet, Kraft, White and Blue Card stock.

I typed my journalling up on the computer and printed it out and cut the papers the same size.

The house images are from Pink Petticoat 'HOME SWEET HOME' IMAGE STAMPS'

I edited these in paint and put them in a row as Lindon went to stay at another foster carers house while we were on holiday. I printed these twice and lifted some of the houses, trees and clouds up on 3D foam.

The second page is of Lindon in his Christmas Pudding baby onesie opening his presents and in front of Christmas Tree. Haha dad was trying to stay out of the pictures so he just held him out in front of the tree and Lindon was giggling and screaming while my mam was trying to take the pictures. He is a right little character we love him to bits! Will be sad in January at least he will be happy and be with biological family members.

Papers used are no name red card stock, and 2 strips of paper from DCWV Christmas Stack.

I paper pieced the Christmas Pudding which is found on the lovely Valita's Designs & Fresh Folds website Check out her site she has some awesome ideas and templates!!

I altered the template slightly for my use I used my hole punch to do smaller berries and also add the raisens to the acual pudding. I tried to write pudding in my white gel pen but it never wirtes as smooth as Kristina Werners does in her videos :-(

Thanks for stopping by

Sam x

8x8 Pirate Scrapbook Page

2010-12-24T16:33:00.000-08:00

My mam and dad have a new addition to the house - little Lindon he is only 7months adorable.

He will shortly be going to live with his gran so I am have a few pages to finish before he goes in January.

Paper used is from the DCWV - All about Boys Stack and a strip of black paper.

I used a digital frame from the Berry Days Free Kit from Two Peas in a Bucket.

I used two stamps from K&Co Marcella Occasions Clear Stamps - I was going to write little Treasure in chipboard to go with the pirate theme but it looked too crowded on the page then I found this stamp in my collection and it was perfect!

Thanks for stopping by.

Sam x

Dome Shaker Christmas Card

2010-12-24T16:14:00.000-08:00

Its Christmas Eve and I was bored waiting for Santa :-) so I decided to make a card.

I got a Christmas mug/sweet set from a friend at work and it had a circle dome in the top to sit the bag of sweets on and as soon as I saw it dome shaker cards sprang to mind.

I recycled an image from an old Christmas card and a bow which was on a tag. So the only new things used is the cream and red card stock and the patterned holly paper which was in my scraps.

I had a bit of trouble getting the bow to stick had to hold it in place for a good 5mins for the glue to set - should of really got the hot glue out but I couldnt be bothered.

For the shakers inside I used fine glittered embossing powder, light silver glitter and chunky clear embossing crystals. The dome is rather 3D as you can see from the side picture above and this is never going to fit into an envelope and I even tried some card boxes I bought for decoupaged card and it still too big for that - ths would have to be a hand delivered card!!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Christmas everyone!!!

More Christmas Cooking

2010-12-18T17:15:00.000-08:00

Another batch of Christmas cooking as I was feeling under the weather today and didn't feel creative enough to make any cards.

I made using a Betty Crocker Strawberry Supreme cake mix some mini and standard cupcakes and what was left over I made an 8" cake but once I had finished decorating the cupcakes I didn't have much icing left!!

The mini cupcake cases have gingerbread men printed all over them and I bought the mini gingerbread men sugar toppers in America. I also had a few plastic holly toppers from a bought Christmas Chocolate log we bought the other day.

The 8" looks a little sad with little icing but I put butter cream and strawberry jam inside and used the rest of the gingerbread men to finish the top off.

The cake mix went a long way I was very surprised how much it actually made out of one box!!

It made an 8" cake, 6 standard cupcakes and 10 mini (2 of the minis had to be eaten while they were warm LOL!)

They are delicious I wanted to make a big one with cream and fresh strawberries but I couldn't wait to buy the cream and strawberries. I also have a Lemon cake box and a Betty Crocker cookie mix there so I will be making more soon.

Take Care All

Christmas Cooking

2010-12-16T15:41:00.000-08:00

This is what I have been up to tonight!!

I decided to make some cookies for my team at work as a little thank you for all the hard work they have been doing.

These are Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:
3 cups (390 grams) all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda.
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 to 4 minutes). Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Add the flour mixture and beat until you have a smooth dough.

Divide the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about one hour or until firm enough to roll.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Remove one half of the chilled dough from the refrigerator and, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch (1 cm). (Keep turning the dough as you roll, making sure the dough does not stick to the counter.) Cut out desired shapes using a lightly floured cookie cutter and transfer cookies to the prepared baking sheet. Place the baking sheets with the unbaked cookies in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes to chill the dough which prevents the cookies from spreading and losing their shape while baking.

Note: If you are not going to frost the baked cookies, you may want to sprinkle the unbaked cookies with crystal or sparkling sugar.

Bake cookies for about 8-10 minutes (depending on size) or until the edges are just starting to brown. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling. Frost with royal icing, if desired. Be sure to let the royal icing dry completely before storing. (This may take several hours.)

Frosted cookies will keep several days in an airtight container. Store between layers of parchment paper or wax paper.

Makes about 36 - 4 inch (10 cm) cookies.

You can cover with Royal Icing sugar but I don't like Icing on cookies so I melted some white chocolate and added green food gel and using a piping bag and small nozzle tip piped a border around then filled in.

This is the first time I have made cookies and big Adam has ate 4 before I decorated as he's not a fan of white chocolate. He likes them and he is still alive!!

I had a bit of an incident when I was making them I slipped on some flour on the floor and pulled the bottom cupboard door off and hurt my hand. Adams response - "you've broke the door!!" not are you ok!!! Typical bloke.

Guess what? I still haven't finished my Christmas cards!! I was going to do them tomorrow night after work but I am going to see a psychic with my mam and nan so that should be interesting!

Take Care All

Sam x

More Christmas Cards

2010-12-14T12:57:00.000-08:00

I still have loads more to make and post out so much for one of my new years resolutions I made for this year I am so not organised!!! Argh!!!

Quick few shots of 2 Christmas Cards I made last night.

First is another circle card using my Martha Stewart punch. These papers were printed Papercraft Inspirations Magazine website goo check them out there is lots of free papers and templates and plenty of inspiration.

I used my snowman stamp again from my mini Studio G clear stamps and coloured with fluid chalk inks. The snowman looks grey more than blue :-(

Seond card I used Kraft Card stock, Gold Holy Embossed card, Brown and Amber Card Stock.

I also had some velem which has gold Christmas writing all over. A mini floural pick from my local craft shop and two tags from K&Co.

I inked ad crumplted the tags for a bit added interest and I thought they needed a bit more of a vintage look.

Hope you link them.

Thanks Sam x

Rak and Card

2010-12-14T12:44:00.000-08:00

Hey all the lovely Sarah from Woo's Crafting Corner sent me an awesome Christmas RAK bless her she is lovely. I would of made a video but my vid camera is acting up so havent been able to make a video in a few days.

She sent me some great stuff and a lovely mini and a beautiful Christmas cards - eek I have checked with Royal Mail and I have missed the deadline to post to my family in Canada and US - Ill have to begrudginly send them an E-Card. Boo hoo!

I used the Dovecraft mini doors to create a Christmas door but it didnt work out as good as I hoped as I didnt have the right colour card stock.

I think it looks a little too dark what do you think?

Opps just noticed the Holy hand punch Sarah sent isnt in the picture it must be in bottom of envelope.

Thanks again Sarah your far too kind!! Guys hed over and check out her blog! Woo's Crafting Corner.

Sam x

Mini Haul

2010-12-12T18:01:00.000-08:00

Quick post with pick of a mini haul

I got from Thats Crafty!

4x4 Chipboard Covers
4x4 Zutter papers
Chipboard Tag album
Some metal rings in differnt sizes
Chestnut Roan and Dark Brown Colorbox Chalk Cats Eye Ink
Maya Road White Rubons
Basic Grey Alpha Chipboard letters
Imaginese Pumpkin Stamp
Prima Lace board stamps

Sam x

Christmas Cards

2010-12-12T17:56:00.000-08:00

I have been mega busy today as I need to get these Christmas cards finished and posted out.

This card was inspired by Kristina Werner's Holiday Card Series 2010 - Day 18 with the stacked presents with the little bird on top.

I used papers from DCWV Christmas Stack

This card I used my Martha Stewart circle cutter to make a circle card.

Papers also from DCWV Christmas Stack

I used a Penny Black stamp and coloured with my water colour markers.

Red organser ribbon and Red metallic alpha stickers from Target.

This card is a special one for Amelia with the word Niece on the front - I got a card a few year ago from my aunt and it was so pretty I kept it but I thought Id recycle it and take the topper off for this card.

Papers are from K&Co not sure of name of collection as it was a single sheet I bought from my craft store.

I have also made a few Easel cards
Papers also from DCWV Christmas Stack
Toppers are the Christmas Stocking badges I got from Wallmart when I was in Florida

These last 3 mini 4x4 cards are for my neighbours so I made them similar the theme is from our house to yours but I didnt have a stamp which said that so it just says "Wishing you a merry Christmas"

Papers also from DCWV Christmas Stack I sat and cut the little houses,trees, cars and roads out of the 12x12 paper and glued them to this card I used the blue paper to make little hills.

Happy Holidays everyone dont spend too much on the Christmas shopping - Its the thought which counts!

Sam xx

Forever Friends Birthday Card

2010-12-12T17:35:00.000-08:00

It is my soon to be mother-in-laws Birthday on Thursday and I have to get the card posted to her tomorrow so had to knock up a quick card as to be honest I totally forgot!!

Papers used are Nanna Nursery - Baby Girl
I used Kraft Card stock and a stamped image from the Forever Friends collection which I coloured with my water colour markers.

I used my Fiskars Tredding water punch for the sentiment.

Just a quick and simple card.

Take Care all x

Almost Christmas Time

2010-12-06T16:08:00.000-08:00

19 Days and counting....

I normally put my tree and decorations up on the first as per family tradition but I have been so busy!!

So today I decided I should hurry up or I would be putting the tree up on Christmas Eve the way I was going.

My little brother fighting the boxes out of the loft - bless him!!

Here's my little tree I like to keep it simple, only 2 sets of yellow lights and lots of ornaments.

I'm not a fan of tinsel or beads - probably cos I could never get them to hang right on the tree!

I have my tree up, simple garland on fireplace and wreath on door - if Adam had got his way there would be no decorations up at all - Bar humbug he is lol!

I just need to get a set of lights and 2 huge red candles for the fireplace and some candy canes for the tree and that's me done.

I just hope its still standing in the morning as the cats have been eye balling it for a climbing frame!!

Still no where near finishing my cards which I will have to hurry as I have to post a few to family in Canada and the States.

I will also be making cookies for work colleagues for the week leading up to Christmas and my friend across the road, and my dad wants a Cherry and Almond cake making!! I am also planning a December daily which is mostly going to be December traditions which we do instead of each day of December this year as I seem to be doing everything backwards this year :-(

Hope everyone is more organised than I am xx

Hello Baby Card

2010-12-02T16:53:00.000-08:00

A colleague at work his wife just had a baby boy so I thought I'd make them a little card.

I used:
White Card stock
DCWV - Nanna's Nursery Baby Boy stack
White Maya Road rub-ons
Little Felt embelishment

Thanks for stopping by
Hope all in UK are keeping warm in this horrible weather!

Sam x

Office Pressies

2010-12-02T16:24:00.000-08:00

So I work for HP and there is only me and a few other girls in the office so I thought i would make Calendar/Post-it Note Stands for Andrea, Elizabeth and Tracey.

I saw this idea on YouTube on Chic 'n Scratch's channel today.

So one side has the 2011 Calendar on and the other has post-it notes as we always need them at work for taking down case refs or phone numbers :-)

As you can see from the above pic I got a little ink on the calendar so I will have to put a new one on there when I get more - my little brother is going to venture to town tomorrow in the horrible snow for me to get some and more post-it notes.

As per the above picture each one will have the persons inital charm hanging from the ribbon and I will add the calendars and post-it notes tomorrow.

I think they turned out good.

Papers used:

DCWV - Nanna's Nursery - Baby Girl

DCWV - Whimsey Stack

Thanks Sam x

Vintage Christmas Card

2010-12-02T16:11:00.000-08:00

I sat and wrote a list of all the cards I have to make for Christmas and I have to make 30!! OMG!!

I only have 9 made so far.

So I made another one today but this was inbetween making the dinner too so didnt have time to video this one so this is just a short post.

I used:

DCWV Christmas Stack

Kraft Card Stock

Red and Green Card Stock

Joy to the world sticker

Tim Holtz Old paper ink

Red, Green, Brown, & Skin Tone markers which I used as water colours

Pearl stickles by Tim Holtz

Free image from Digital Doodling

I think it turned out pretty cute.

Sam x

Snowed In

2010-11-29T09:23:00.000-08:00

Hi All

So today I am snowed in and could not go to work - Yipee!!

If my boss is reading - BooHoo :-p

I decided to keep myself busy I would make a start on some more Christmas cards. I was even a bit brave and made 2 videos for YouTube - For some reason my camera is videoing upside down and I do not know how to rotate the video!!

First card was inspired by one of Debbie Olsen's cards

I used:

DCWV - The Holidays Christmas Stack

The Papermill - White Hamered Card Stock

I also used the Shabby Princess Seasonal SamplerWinter Graphic Circle

Second Card was insipred by Kristina Werner's Holiday Card Series 2010 - Day 19

I didnt make a video of this one as I started it last night when it was late.

I free cut the snowflake out using a print out so it looked exactly the same as Kristinas and I used different colours and buttons instead of the flower. Clearly Kristina's is better than mine but for my first attempt I think it turned out ok.

Third and Final card for tonight - I think depends how I feel later one.

This video is in a few parts as I kept getting interupted and I am having issues uploading this one so i will upload as soon as i fix it.

Hope you like the cards and the videos are viewable lol

Thanks Sam

Mixed Bag!

2010-11-22T02:50:00.000-08:00

Until Adam sorts my craft room all my craft stuff is dumped here and there and some boxed up in the wardrobe. So if I want to make anything I have to sit at the breakfast bar in the kitchen and this is what the end of my kitchen looks like!!

Its a bit of a pain as my stuff is getting all squished!! I cant wait till I have my room done out and I can have a proper desk/chair and storage!!

I have been back a week from my holidays and hadnt even played with my new stash!! Terrible I know I am a bad mother to my hobby, hehe.

This is what I made over the weekend:

A little 4x4 card for my Great Aunt Amy.

I used 2 paper stacks from DCWV - Linen Closet and Nanna Nursery (Baby boy), a selection of left over flowers, mini button, vintage cream lace and the sentiment was cut from one of my birthday cards as I couldnt find a birthday stamp. I inked edges of papers in Colorbox Sea Breese Fluid Chalk ink.

I also decided to finish a few of Amelias pages from our holiday last year before starting this years lol

Sorry the photo is little blury!

I am not too happy with the layout of this page the only thing I love is the Micky Mouse Santa head I made.

I saw the idea on a cookie and decided to try it on this page as it was about Micky's Very Merry Christmas Party :-)

How cute is this please!!!

Thanks for stopping by xx

I'm Back!

2010-11-14T15:23:00.000-08:00

I'm back from my hols and all my craft stuff got home safe and sound :-)

I will be making some scrapbook pages and Christmas cards as soon as I have finished unpacking and tidying up the house as my 18 year old brother has been house sitting and the house is a tip.

I cant wait to start crafting again but we are also going to re model our bathroom and the kitchen, stairwell/passage and bedrooms need painting so its going to be tricky to find time. I have also asked Adam if for Christmas I can have the utility back for my craft room. He has sold his motor bike and it is empty but the bath has been leaking into the utility and the ceiling will need to be pulled down so that's going to be a big job so I will keep you posted on that!! I cant wait :-)

Hope everyone is well :-)

Holiday Hauls So Far!!

2010-11-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

Hi All

I am still in Florida and I have been to a few crafting shops and my bank card is going to melt I think hehe!!

From a local cheap craft store I got:

DCWV - Whimsey Stack 12x12
DCWV - Linen Closet 5x7
Red Fabric Thickers
2 Alpha Stamp Sets
EK Success Boarder punch
Friskars - Notebook border punch
Black Alpha Letters
Flower, Bubble and Butterfly - Border Stamps

From Wallmart:

Craft Magazines
Chipboard Toppers are supposed to be for attaching to Christmas stockings but I will take the pins off the back and use them for card toppers.

From Ross (Shop for less):

My Minds Eye - Penny Lane 12x12
My Minds Eye - Magnolia 12x12
Remark Alpha and Journal Stickers

From Target :

Scalloped Chipboard Album
Glittered Alphas
Glittered Candy Cane Toppers
Metallic Red Alphas
Christmas Stickers

From Dollar Tree:

Lunch Bags - to make a mini paper bags album
Composition Books to cover and use for notes
Cellophane Bags for my Christmas Cooking.

And Finally Michaels:

Martha Stewart Circle Cutter
Cuttlebug 5x7 Polka Dot Embossing Folder
Selection of Halloween and Christmas Emeblishments
Circle, Square, Tree and Tag Chipboard Albums
3 Spools of patterned Ribbon
Santa, HoHoHo and Snowflake gem stickers

I also got a selection of stamps from the $1 bins :-)

Hope your all well I should be buying more before I go home next Friday.

Sam x

Latest Layouts

2010-10-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

So its 1:29am I have just finished making a few layouts to complete Amelia's first scrapbook.

From the photos you will be able to see they are very old photos as Amelia is year and half now! Doesnt time fly!!

First Layout - Such a Rose

I absolutly adored her baby bouncer as the material was so beautiful so I used a similar patterned paper to match the photo.

Materials used:

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen - 6x6 Retro Rose
Baby Blue card stock
Marcella by K - Classic Alphabet Clear Stamps
SIFCON International Cream Lace Ribbon £1 from local craft store
SIFCON Interntional Pink Craft Roses
Tim Holtz - Old Paper Distress Ink
Colorbox Pink Fluid Chalk Ink
White Gel Pen

I stamped the word "rose" in Colorbox Pink Fluid Chalk Ink and cut them out as the chipboard letters I have looked far too big for the page.

I free wrote the words "such a" in my white gel pen I had to check the spelling of such haha as it didnt look correct after I wrote it!

Second Layout - Daddys Little Girl

Materials used:

Papermania Double Sided Printed Diaonal Dots Paper - 99p from local craft shop
S.E.I Aunt Gerti's Garden - Sun Kissed Pink Card
Rub on baby face - sheet from £Shop
Colorbok - Sticky Alpha Stax
Colorbox Pink Fluid Chalk Ink
Friskars - Tredding water border punch

I got the idea for the title from whimsicalwendy from a video she did on YouTube not so long ago.

I printed the letters out and cut them into little strips.

I coloured the letters in Colorbox Pink Fluid Chalk Ink but as the card stock was a slighty different colour on the letters the colour turned out slightly brighter on the r and l.

I think they turned out pretty well and I am now mega tired so night night all x

Christmas Cards

2010-10-11T14:28:00.000-07:00

Its my birthday today and I was off work so I thought since I wasnt doing anything I would start making my christmas cards.

The first card I made was a decoupage easil card.

I used:
Cream Card Stock
Christmas Green Card Stock
Vintage 3D Decoupage Holly Paper by Search Press
A piece of scrap Gold embossed paper
Gold "Merry Christmas" E-Z Rub on Transfer
"Wishing you a Merry Christmas" Studio G Clear Stamps
Plastic Dress it up Holly button.

The holly was very tricky to cut out I havent used decoupage for a while and I forgot how fiddly it was not sure if I will be making another one like this unless its simpler to cut out or a pre cut sheet!!

The card turned out all ok apart from I put the sheet on the green a little wonkey!

The 2nd Card I made I used a Paper Piecing Technique which I saw on Scrapbooks etc website

Mine card is pretty much the same apart from I used a different shape card and different coloured card.

The only problem with this card is all the weight is on one side so when it stands up it wants to roll the side because all the weight is on the birds side.

I used alot of paper scraps on this card.

Baby blue polka dot paper

Christmas Green Card

White Card Stock

Cream Card Stock

Kraft Card Stock

Red Buttons

Olive Silk Ribbon

Bronze Brad

Recollections - "Happy Holidays" Rubber Stamp

Black and Brown Ink

The Paper-Piecing Pattern and many many more here

2 Weeks till I go to Florida I cant wait my suitcase is almost empty so I have extra room for bringing craft stuff home :-) I cant wait I am also hoping to get a flip cam while I am there so I will be adding videos to my YouTube account of the Haulls I will be doing over there!!

Take Care all

Love me x

Engagement Card

2010-10-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

Two of my friends are getting engaged so I made them both the same card

I got the idea from a card Kristina Werners MACM – Congrats she made in August 24, 2009

Materials used:

Cuttlebug die - man and woman sign

Kraft Card Stock

White Card Stock

Pink Card Stock

White Gel Pen

Congratulations Stamp

White Embossing Powder

Quick and simple card

Golden Wedding Anniversary Card

2010-09-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

Just another quick post with a Golden Wedding Anniversary Card I have made for my Great Aunt and Uncle

They have been married for 50 Years and still a loving couple.

Not much really to this card, I did alot of mat and layering as each layer always looked liked it needed a darker edge and I tried inking it just didnt look right.

Materials Used

Gold Heart Vellum made by Search Press

Gold Hammered card

Cream Linnen card stock

Brown Card

Gold Horse Shoe Dies - Bought on Ebay years ago.

Cream Vintage Lace

Gold Rub-ons - No sure of Brand

Mullbery Flower from local craft store - coloured with gold Twinkling H2O's (I dont have gold Cosmic Shimmer yet)

Sorry no photos of inside I did another mat of gold then cream.

Thanks Sam

12x12 Best Buds Layout

2010-09-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

Hi All

Quick post to share a 12x12 layout I have just finished for Laylas scrapbook.

Materials used
Pink, white and black cardstock - No Brand
Penelope's Potpourri - Glamourous Garland and also used tag from that collection
K&Company - Bright Flowers adhesive chipboard
No brand chipboard for title.

I just think this pictures of Layla and Amelia kissing each other is just super cute they really do love each other and play together all day.

Thanks for stopping by

Sam

Few 8x8 LO's

2010-09-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

These are a few layouts I made last weekend but didn't get round to posting.

These are some of the pictures which were taken on our holiday in Florida last year.

This was Ameila's first time swimming and she loved it, plus my brother is a right clown!! hehe.

I don't really know what size the photos are cut at as I just cut them to fit.

Paper used is from the DCWV - All about Boys Stack
Embellishments -

Sticko Jolee's Boutique Title Waves Splash (I dismantled the title as I didn't like it as it was)

A few epoxy circles and silver brads

My second page

Papers I used

Brown - no brand

Brown polka dot - free sample from craft magazine so not sure of brand

Pink polka dot - DCWV Nanna's Nursery Baby Girl

I used brown ink to ink the edges of everything as I didn't mount my pictures.

This is a corner flourish Say it in Pearls Prima in Burgundy with some mulberry flowers the bottom layer was sprayed with my Cosmic Shimmer - Mallow Blush.

These were just quick layouts but turned out pretty cute.

Thanks for stopping by

Sam

Winner of Giveaway

2010-09-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry cant make video as really busy at work

So this is quick post to reveal who the winner is.

I used http://www.random.org/

I numbers the comments 1-8 from the date a received

Winner is : TheWoowoogirl

Congrats Girl - I'll send you email for your delivery details. Thanks all for your comments.