"Using Numbers" January 2014 YTLH©

Hey all
Hope everyone is well.

If you go over to You tube you can follow along with the YouTube Layout Hop.

Here are the pages I have made:

It is a bit like a December Daily/Project Life

Theme for this month is "Using Numbers". Hope you guys like each and every video and please leave a comment on every video to be eligible to WIN a prize from our Sponsors.

Sponsors for January: Nancy Morin
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Scrapping601Designs

There is a FAN page on Facebook please try to promote and post the fan page link on your Facebook to help spread the word. Ask people to "like" the page. Here is the link.

Line up for January:

1. Sam - http://www.youtube.com/samwri1984
2. Beatriz- http://www.youtube.com/beatrizs1974
3. An'Jenic - http://www.youtube.com/ScrapbookingAJCards
4. Christine - www.youtube.com/serenityinhim
5.  Stephanie - www.youtube.com/herroyalprincess
6. Nancy-http://www.youtube.com/user/Scrapping601
7. Susan - http://www.youtube.com/shiles728
8.  Kim - http:/www.youtube.com/kimscrapper
9. Cheryle-http:/www.youtube.com/craftymomma05

Sam's Scrapbook Process : Cupcake Queen

Happy New Years Eve Eve! WOW it is nearly 2014!!! Where has this year gone?

I am quite behind in my scrapbooking I really haven't scrapped as much this year as I did last year so that is one of my new years resolutions to get caught up! I think I said that last year as well lol!

I have decided to go back to my roots of scrapbooking - back to my good old 8x8 layouts well this is more like 8.5x8.5 but that is because I picked up wrong size page protectors!

This is just a quick and simple layout using squares of paper to fill the space.

Used: 
Paper - Colorbök - Hopscotch Collection

American Crafts Everyday Set 1 Letter Stickers

Thickers - Lullaby 

Jennifer Ellory Design Chipboard pieces

Teal Marker

Thanks so much to taking the time to view and comment its much appreciated
Sam xxx

Start and don't finish

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

Bathroom Remodel - update

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 :-)

Updates

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

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

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!

More Christmas Cards

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

New Years Resolution #3

Number 3 of my New Years resolution is to be more organised.
As you saw in one of my posts in December I was very late in starting my Christmas Cards.

So I thought I'd make a start now while all my Christmas craft stuff is still out on my desk.

I saw this spinner card on another crafting idol of mine (Debbie Olson) and thought it was really cute. I gave it a go but my tunnel for my spinner isn't cut straight as I cut with craft knife and I didn't use a ruler so my own fault really. If you would like to follow the same tutorial i used please click on here .

I tried with a gingerbread man I had but he was too heavy and just kept flopping to the side. So I used a little bag of gingerbread. I got this embellishment from a multi pack I got from the £Shop (bargin!!)

Paper is used are from DCWV Holiday Collection - The Christmas Stack 2009 and Kraft Card stock.
I used white peal off stickers for the "Sweet"
I stamped the wishes and used white embossing powder.

I also made a Santa themed one using My Minds Eye Sweet Dreams - Holiday Collection.
I really wish I had a Santa themed sentiment for this one but I don't so had to use " Have a Merry One" (by StudioG)

Finished both with faux white stitching as something was missing and I don't have a sewing machine to do the real stitching like Debbie did in hers.

2 cards down I don't know how many to go :-)
My next mission is to master the Easel Card and Slider card for my next Christmas cards.

Take Care All x

New Year Resolutions

Happy New Year All!! OMG it is 2010!

My New Year Resolutions
#1 Weight Loss
#2 Get Pregnant
#3 Be more Organised
#4 Start to plan Wedding - aiming for Summer 2011

What are yours??

So I started my diet today :-( not good as I didn't get any sleep last night either and I am horrible without either (so my work colleagues tell me). I mention diet and they all say "Oh No! keep away from Sam" and they just throw random bits a fruit at me hehe!

Seriously thou I am haha, I love my food but I really want a baby more!! This is my new years resolution to loose weight so the Doctors will give me IVF (I've got PCOS - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). Me and my fiance have been trying on and off for about 5 years with no luck!

I have started seeing a dietitian and get weighed each month and she has put me on Xenical (Orlistat) weight loss tablets the side affects aren't the best but they seem to be working. I lost a little bit before Christmas started and then tins of Roses and Quality Streets started to work their way into my office. Major sucker for Chocolate or anything with Sugar in!

Anyone know where I can buy some will power?

So I got out of bed 6am this morning even though I hadn't been asleep walked the dog for half an hour then went to work. I work in an office on computers (HP) I never really take a break so I don't leave my desk for 7.5 ish hours. I really need to get a step counter thing and walk about the office a bit more. Humm I might do that! Finished work walked the dog again for another half hour came in and did 50 sit ups LOL!! I haven't done sit ups in ages and my stomach is killing me! I might try and do another 50 before bed.

I bought a Cross Trainer last year I used it like 5 times - its now in the cupboard. I think I will ask Adam to get it out for me and I will alternate between sit ups and 20 mins on there each night until I can gradually do more.

Today I weight 15 Stone = 210lbs
My BMI is 33.9 the Doctor will not treat me until my BMI is under 30!

My aim is to cut out as much "Crap" as I can and eat alot more fruit/veg

Wish me luck!!