Following a recent post on Kimmy's blog about LOs made using kits...these are some of my favourite LOs made using the ScrapRoom kit

Letters from America!

My gorgeous Scraproom kit arrived this morning...isn't it fab. This is the first one I have had for a while as I have skipped the last two or maybe even three months now.


I also HAD to place an order at A Million Little Things when I saw that the new Junkitz papers had arrived. i have been waiting (im)patiently for these ever since I saw photos of them from CHA. I also thought the Rhonna Farrer journalling panels would work well with them. Paid for Airmail so hopefully they should be here within a week or so!

I love these papers...so bright and full of life.
But I also think these boy ones are fab too. I have noticed (as the mother of a 10 y/o boy) that the manufacturers seem to be bringing out a lot more stylish boyish ranges recently so yaaay!!!
Hmm what else...oh yes my first issue of Papercraft should be arriving soon(ish) as I subbed about a month ago.

And hopefully my new crocs should be here later this week as well. I have ordered this style (Nile) in black.

And these ones for me as well...
And these ones for Kirsten...


Roz if you are reading this stop laughing...I know I said they were horrible before but a girl is allowed to change her mind LOL

A walk up the hill...

Well that is the Easter holidays almost over - only a few more days to go. They have really flown by. We have just pottered about most days...haven't been out of Largs since I was last at work last Wednesday! We have had a craft day. Kirsten painted a bird house that her Auntie Alison bought her for Easter. We took advantage of the sunshine to do this out in the back garden. Then we also made some bracelets and a collage or two!!!


The artist at work...


The finished product...


Kirsten and I also went for another walk up the hills. We went a bit further past the sun dial this time - Kirsten added another stone to this cairn en route.
We also had to cross a boggy bit and Kirsten's trainer got sucked off as she tried to makeher way across - guess who had to go and rescue it!!! Well at least I know my hiking boots really are watertight. I think we will try to get over and climb Goat Fell soon...that is the highest point on Arran... which is the hazy island in the photo below.



Just a gratuitous picture of Kirsten, which reminds me I must upload some stuff to snapfish to print off in time for the UKS cyber crop.

You Tube

Ha - I do love You Tube (now that we have got sound back on our PC) click the first link on the right for some Boreanaz gorgeousness!!! LOL

Gosh it so long since I blogged - not been the best of times recently but managing to think more positively about things now.

I made another star book - this time for my friend's son's christening
I even managed to finish a LO...shock horror!!!

{picture now removed from blog as it's been accepted for a future issue of Scrapbook Inspirations :) }

I can't believe that is the first week of the school holidays gone already.

We went for a walk up the hill last Sunday and couldn't believe how warm it was!!!That hill is MUCH steeper then it looks in the photo...I was shattered by the time we got to the top...mind you the view is worth it... see the piccie on my blog header taken last year :)


So far the kids have been out for lunch twice, bowling once and have been to Millport as well.

Kenneth is insisting on growing his hair long (insert rolling eyes and a big sigh here!!)...and no I don't know why he is attacking his dad with his cutlery (I was at work when this was taken)
Mind you Robert did buy Kirsten a giant gobstopper ...quite an effective technique when you are looking after 3 kids for the day LOL
They spent the day down the front doing that proverbial Largs summer favourite...throwing stones in the sea...like there aren't enough in there already!!!



And then yesterday we had an Easter egg hunt too. this is just some of the gang. I think we ended up with 12 kids all together

Anyway off to watch Bones now. Missed it as I was out for a girlie night out last night and DH taped House for me... why is it that the only 2 shows I want to watch are both on Thursday at 9pm!!!

Bits & pieces

This is the LO I made for the Angel Crafts design team this month. Loved these papers...

and the extra bits came in v handy for makingg a birthday card for a party Kenneth was going to later that day :D
However this was the one I was most chuffed with...pity the picture is so rubbish. I tried to get a decent photo inside, then scanning it and stitching it together. I ended up sticking it on to the shed door outside in order to get some light on it. It is much better in real life...honest. You will all just have to pop round to see it LOL.

It was really easy to make - just one sheet of cardstock cut in to 3 pieces 4" x 12" then joined together. The strip down the side with the centimetres marked on it was printed out on the computer, then I added photos of Kenneth when he was a baby to the present day.

Still stalking the scrapaganza site looking for the AMM class to be announced. I had thought I might be pushing it a bit with 11 classes but then the fab organisers agreed to put some extra classes on, on the Friday afternoon so I managed to swap, leaving me some free time on Saturday to add another class...or even two!

LOL - well Kirsten's Crocs arrived safe and sound and as predicted I don't think she has had them off her feet since - she has proclaimed them the comfiest shoes EVER!

I have even managed to get some scrapping done this week and managed to finish these two LOs and a card.
The first one took ages to do and the second one (below) took about 10 minutes as I decided to stick everything down as I went along :D


Then as I was in a scrapping mood I made a card for my Mum (who would've guessed!) for Mother's Day - how organised am I?!!!


RoZ has come up with the most fantastic idea for a LO - see here
So that is now added to my ever increasing list of things to do.

Plastic shoes!!!

Oh good grief. After deciding not to get them when we were in the States last October, Kirsten has now decided she NEEDS these...right NOW!!
So we have duly ordered one pair from Fitfeet
Kirsten also ordered some Disney Jibbitz to go with them....oh well that is the last of her Christmas money gone now :)

Kirsten seemed so grown up tonight - she went on a trip to the theatre in Greenock (about 15 miles away) this evening with her drama group to see Charlie & the Chocolate factory. She was quite the young lady with her black dress worn over black trousers and her pink bag (containing a carton of juice and some pringles for the interval!!!)

After she got back we all sat outside on the front garden wall with our hot chocolate to watch the lunar eclipse. Kenneth managed to explain to Kirsten much better than I could how it happens! Mind you he has seen a lunar eclipse already - we were lucky enough to catch one when we were at Downtown Disney in October 2004. It was quite magical how everyone stopped what they were doing to watch the night sky for a while!

I even managed to get some scrapping done today and finished my first design team projects for the Angel Crafts design team - can't post any photos yet but I will add them ince Angela has put them up in the Angel Crafts gallery.

I have also decided to do the Open University digital photography course that is starting in May. I love that you can pay using your Tesco vouchers! I only have a little point & shoot at the moment, but my dad has an all singing, all dancing digital SLR so I will be pinching that for my course work.

Design Team Idea

I have just had a great idea for my second Angel Crafts design team project this month... but I can't tell you what it is yet. It will be different though :)

Well it has been a tough old week or two and it has taken me this long to be able to put (cyber) pen to paper. The results of my Mum's biopsy weren't good and she was told that the cyst that was removed during her surgery was malignant. However her consultant is 90% certain that all the cancerous tissue was removed during surgery. To be safe though he is recommending that she has chemo as well...poor mum.

As a result we decided to cancel our trip to Disneyland Paris this weekend. Much as we love Disney neither Robert nor myself felt up to 2 days trekking round the parks. I think we have both averaged about 3-4 hours sleep a night for the last week or so, so we are both shattered...physically & emotionally! Luckily it was a surprise trip for the kids so they have not been disappointed. We will just have to wait and go again next year.

Anyhow on to happier news - I received my first design team kit from Angel Crafts and amazingly I have already managed to complete one LO and what's more I have an idea for my second project too :)

Scrapaganza website went live today and I managed to restict myself to "ONLY" 11 classes! Yikes!
They all just looked so good. Here are my choices so far (but almost certain to change as more classes come out):

1 June' 07 7:00 PM,	#( 1 )	Sing a Song named Life (1)
2 June' 07 9:30 AM,	#( 2 )	Sing a Song named Life (2)
2 June' 07 11:00 AM,	#( 3 )	Sing a Song named Life (3)
2 June' 07 2:30 PM,	#( 17 )	Weather comes to mind (1)
2 June' 07 4:00 PM,	#( 18 )	Weather comes to mind (2)
2 June' 07 7:00 PM,	#( 29 )	Chinoca Moments
2 June' 07 8:30 PM,	#( 10 )	Material Girl
3 June' 07 9:30 AM,	#( 16 )	X-Static Process
3 June' 07 11:00 AM,	#( 4 )	Sing a Song named Life (4)
3 June' 07 2:00 PM,	#( 9 )	Coffee,Sugar & Cream (1)
3 June' 07 3:30 PM,	#( 37 )	Coffee,Sugar & Cream (2)

Eeeeeeeeee! How can I wait until June. I want to go right now!!! :)

I also saw a really good idea on a thread started by Pam over on UK scrappers. The idea is to make a mini book/or bigger album with your top 10 list under each of these headings

• My roles
• Things you didn’t know about me
• Words that describe me
• My weaknesses
• My strengths
• Pet peeves that make me scowl
• The simple pleasures in life
• Smells and sounds that I love
• To relax I …
• Quick words of wisdom
• Goals & aspirations
• Favorite flicks
• The soundtrack to my life
• Bookworm bits
• The best shows & concerts
• Playing on my ‘puter (ie top 10 software programmes I use)
• Websites of the moment
• Favourite places I’ve been
• Places I dream of going
• I like to wear …
• Around the house I treasure …
• Favourite nibbles and tipples
• My dream home would have
• The legacy I’d like to leave

Mind you I might have to swap some of the topic around...after all I don't see a topic on Top Ten Buffy episodes or Top Ten David Boreanaz TV moments LOL

A day of ups and downs....

Well we are back from our couple of days away in Edinburgh- we had a great time and did tons of stuff - I feel as if we were away for ages. We visited all of the following:

*Museum of Childhood,

* saw Greyfriar's Bobby's statue, visisted the graveyard where the dog and his master are buried (Kirsten is very in to Greyfriar's Bobby at the moment after seeing the film at Christmas)

* Museum of Scotland

* Mary King's Close - part of the old houses from the 17th Century survive underneath the present day buildings - this was great fun and really educational, but interesting at the same time - the kids loved it

* National Gallery

* Scottish Parliament including a visit to the debating chamber

Then I even managed to arrange a detour to Macarthur Glen outlet mall to visit the paper Mill Shop on our way home. We also stopped off at the Fort just outside Glasgow for tea at Nando's so that we would miss the rush hour traffic through the centre of Glasgow.

Today has been a day of ups and downs though. On the downside my mum was admitted to hospital yesterday and had surgery at 1pm today. Latest reports are that thankfully everything has gone OK. My dad and my aunt have gone to visit tonight and I will go and see mum tomorrow night.

We also had some sad news as my brother-in-laws father died yesterday. He was 91 and it was not entirely unexpected but it is still very sad especially for my niece (who was on her way back from holiday today) and my nephews.

On the up side I am on the design team for Angel Crafts and I can't wait to have a play with whatever goodies Angela sends to me.

I have used my CJ to kickstart my scrapping again. :)

Here are a couple of sneaky pics of my Buffy/Angel CJ - I got the idea to make a bag-shaped journal from a promo picture for the crate avenue paper I saw on Lifetime Moments.



Then I made a star book for my Mum to take into hospital with her next week. I hadn't made one of these before and I was surprised at just how easy and yet effective it turned out to be.

The paper is all Basic Grey Blush and the background cardstock is just from Paper Mill




We all popped in to see my Mum this morning and she seems OK but just a bit tired. We also took her some muffins that Kenny and I had baked last night - Lemon ones and Double Chocolate ones.

The "bhoys" are off to watch the football today so Kirsten and I are just about to settle down and watch a DVD Ella Enchanted
...now that I have managed to get Kirsten away from Club Penguin on the computer - as if Runescape wasn't bad enough!!! LOL

Some photos of a few items I am selling over on the marketplace at UKS

Oooh I have been tagged by Jane

well here goes...

1. available?..... Yes to coffee with the girls, evening out with DH, and scrapping anytime, anyplace.

2. best friend.... Have to say DH (corny I know!)

3. Cake or pie?...... Definitely KeyLime pie – specially the one from Publix…Yumm!

4. Drink of choice..... Zinfandel, Southern Comfort & lemonade or Vodka & diet coke

5. Essential item you use everyday..... My toothbrush

6. Favourite Colour.... pale pink

7. Gummy bears or worms.... Have to go with bears but not that keen on either – I like the little red love hearts you get in the Haribo packs though

8. Hometown.... Largs

9. Indulgence.... Kipling Bags & TV Series on DVD (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Doctor Who, 4400 etc etc)

10. January or February?..... FEBRUARY definitely when the madness of filing tax returns is over for another year!

11. Kids and Names..... Kenneth & Kirsten – no particular reason, just liked them (though DH maintains Kenny is named after Kenny Dalgleish)

12. Life is incomplete without... Books to read (oh yeah and I suppose Dh, the kids, my parents etc )

13. Marriage date.....25^th September 1992 (though we have been together since July 1986)

14. Siblings.. None whatsoever. Always wanted a big brother but Mum said that was too difficult - kind of get her point :D

15. Oranges or apples.... Apples (Gala or Pink Lady) – don’t like the white pithy bits on Oranges (like freshly squeezed OJ though)

16. Phobias or fears..... Spiders – shudder!!!

17. Fave quote... God! What is your childhood trauma?!'

18. Reason to smile.... When Kenny & Kirsten say “I Love You” to me (or when Kenny said I was the best Mum in the world on Christmas Day cos we got him a Wii )

19. Season.... black pepper on everything :D

20. Tag people... Kirsty

21. Unknown fact about me.... I made front page news on the Sun many years ago (its not really that exciting but it sounds good eh!)

22. veggie you dont like.... artichoke & celery bleeurgh!!!

23. Worst habit…Procrastination

24. X rays... Hmm – think I had my wrist X-rayed once…oh and my teeth at the dentists but that’s about it

25. Favourite food... Lemon sole mornay, followed by Key Lime Pie (see above )

Thanks Jane that was fun - at least it made me blog.

Now for some scrapping news - I have been asked to be on the design team for Angel crafts
I was so thrilled to be asked and cant wait to see what lush supplies I get in my first kit.

I have also managed to scrap 3 LOs this week (will put photos up tomorrow when I get some decent light to take the photos) and the covers for my CJ so that is something.

I have also had lots of deliveries (the last of my Christmas money) over the last couple of days.

I got my flavour of the month kit and I just adore all four kits this month, plus the yummy Crate Avenue papers, Basic Grey Blush pack, some chalk ink pads and some gorgeous ArtWarehouse rub-ons & Little Davis stamps from A Million Little Things

At least I have a day off tomorrow but back in to the office on Saturday unfortunately :(

Same old, same old...

Not had a particulary exciting week this week. The weather has been rubbish to say the least - wet, VERY windy and wet again!

To cheer myself up I have been busy booking some breaks for us over the next few months. So far I have lined up:

2 nights in Edinburgh over the February mid term (Travelodge £15 rooms :)
3 nights at caravan in Nairn at the May bank holiday weekend
4 nights at caravan in Filey in July

Plus we are away to Disneyland Paris the first weekend in March (such a pity I will miss the Luxurious Angel's retreat again!!!

Then mum & dad are taking Kenneth & Kirsten to Lanzarote in the middle of July

...so that should keep us busy and give us lots to look forward to for some time to come.

Oh yes and I forgot about my little trip to Scrapaganza in June...possibly :D

I can across some lovely papers from Crate the other day. I know they have been out for a wee while now but I havents been scrapping much (at all!!!) recently. I was browsing the new products at Lifetime Moments when I saw the Avenue paper line. I have such a great idea for my Buffy/angel CJ after seeing this photo and had to order some papers straight away
I also ordered a new storage unit from the sale from Vertbaudet for some of my stash collection.
I ordered 2 of the smaller units in pink for a total of £29 incl delivery which I thought was pretty good.