Last Friday the Mojo Holder team scraplifted a LO by the very talented Elizabeth Carney. Elizabeth is on the Piggy Tales design team and has been published in several magazines. Elizabeth's LO was beautiful and I loved scraplifting it. On my LO I used some photographs of Steven taken on French Day at school last year. He really looked the part. LOL

Last weekend this little book that I had ordered was delivered. I had pre-ordered it from Amazon but when the publication date came and went and the book was still not available I cancelled it and bought it elsewhere. Not the first time Amazon have let me down! Have to admit the book was somewhat smaller than I had imagined (only about 6" x 4") but what it lacks in size it makes up for in entertainment. I am rationing myself and only reading a little bit from it each night to make it last. It's a great book - you can download a pdf excerpt from the book here . I paid £6.45 + p&p and it's well worth it.

Finally, Vicki one of my fellow 365's gave me an award earlier this week.

I'm really not sure I deserve it 'cos Vicki takes gorgeous photos without any encouragement from me, but thanks anyway Vicki. I am supposed to nominate 5 other people for the award too but have to admit that being the sad person I am I don't know 5 other bloggers well enough. :( 1 or 2 maybe, but that's all really. I know a lot of people who encourage me but they don't have blogs :( So I am going to display my award, thank Vicki once again for being so very kind and if I think of 5 people I'll nominate them later.

I guess it was only a matter of time before I scrapped some of the snowy photos and the LO I did for tonight MojoHolder challenge #98 gave me the opportunity. The team lifted a LO by Tone Jenson. The photograph of my LO doesn't really show just how much the layout sparkles. I used loads of Doodlebug sugar coating glitter on the layout. In an attempt to try and get the best photo possible I took the layout outside to photograph it in natural light. I thought it would be fun to have a snowy background so I plonked my mini easel in the snow and took the photo there. Here's Tone's LO followed by mine.

Snow, snow and even more snow.

Th last 7 days have been very, very snowy. This week bought the heaviest snowfall to hit the UK in 18 years and brought a large part of the country to a standstill. The boys school were closed for most of the week (Lara's stayed open all bar Friday) and even Wayne was unable to get into work on Thursday. It reminded me of winters when I was a little girl when we seemed to get far more snow than we do now.

I took LOADS of photos! Here are a few.

Monday, we woke to what we thought was a lot of snow - little did we know what was yet to come! Lara and I built a snowman and she and Steven had a snowball fight.

Tuesday, no more snowfall and we thought it was going to melt away. Steven built a snow creature - I thought it looked like a Moomin!

Wednesday, The schools were all open and we thought that would be the end of the snow.

Thursday, was the worse day! More heavy snow! Wayne and the boys built a huge snowman.

More snow fell Thursday night/Friday morning and it did so for most of the day. More opportunities for the children to play in the snow.

Saturday was, in Lara and Steven's words, 'the best day ever!'. We went sledging on the hill that I used to sledge on when I was a little girl. We all (apart from Christopher who choose to stay in bed!) had a go - even Nana. We all had a great time.

So far today we've had no snow, the sun has been shining and the snow is finally starting to melt. But, the forecasts says we may get more snow tomorrow or Tuesday! Its been lovely but I think now we would be happy to get back to some sort of normality.

Last night Mojo Holder scraplifted a LO by Mara May . Mara designs for Pink Paislee, American Crafts and Sassafras Lass. I used a real mix of papers on my LO - 7gypsies, Rusty Pickle, GinX and CherryArte. I love creating LOs using a combination of papers from different manufacturers especially when they have been languishing in my pile of papers for a long time. That said, I did also use some animal print ribbon that I bought just last week. Here's Mara's LO and mine.

Where did January go?????

Can you believe it's 31st January already? Where did that month go? We didn't do anything out of the ordinary during January but despite that the time just flew by.

Last night Mojo Challenge #96 went live. We lifted a gorgeous LO by Sharon Laakkonen. Sharon is on the Prima design team and her LOs really are lovely. My version of Sharon's LO looked nothing like the original. I used one big photo of Christopher and my Mum playing in the snow plus two smaller ones. I used papers from BasicGrey.

Tomorrow I am off to the Stamperama Papercraft & Stamping Show at Stevenage. It is quite a small show compared to the shows at Ally Pally or the NEC but I like that. I usually get there fairly early and then get to look around at leisure before it gets too busy. I have a little shopping list to take with me but no doubt things will be bought that don't appear on the list!

Last weeks two-hour premiere of Season 5 of LOST didn't disappoint. A few questions where answered and a few more asked. Episode 3 is tomorrow night and I can't wait.

Todays Mojo Holder challenge was a scraplist of a lovely LO by Jasmine Brahim. Jasmine's style of scrapping is gorgeous! Here's Jasmine's LO followed by mine.





Please do go and check out the rest of the Mojo Holder teams LOs.

By the way, if you read, this please leave me a comment. I am so curious to know who visits my blog and it would be lovely to find out who some of the visitors shown on the traffic feed are. :)

Bad Blogger

What a bad blogger I am! It's been nearly two weeks since I last posted on this blog. I've been posting daily on my 365 blog and completely forgot to post on this one!

I am so enjoying taking part in the 365 challenge and look forward to trying to come up with a new subject and something different to photograph each day. Because it gets dark in the evenings so early at the moment I am conscious that I need to try and take my photos fairly early in the day if I want to take advantage of the natural light. It will be much easier when the lighter nights are here because I know a lot of people are struggling to take photos 'cos they go to work in the dark and come home in the dark too.

I am really looking forward to this Sunday because ............... LOST season 5 starts!!! Boy has it been a long time since season 4 ended. I have to confess that I have already been on the internet and read the episode guides to episodes 1 & 2 (both being shown on Sunday) and all I can say is ....... huh! It looks like season 5 is going to be as crazy as ever! I love it and have booked the TV controls on Sunday evenings for the next few months.

Since I last blogged another challenge has gone live on Mojo Holder. Challenge #94 saw the team lifting a LO by Sarah Klemish. Sarah is a Garden Girl at Two Peas in a Bucket and a Creative Team Member for BHG Scrapbooks etc. Sarah's LO was so clean - just the type of LO I love. Not sure I did her LO justice but I got to use the gorgeous All Fall papers by Fancy Pants.

Here are the LOs - Sarah's first then mine:

There will be another great challenge on Mojo Holder tomorrow so remember to check it out.

And I promise to try and not leave it so long before I post on this blog again.

Thank you Mother Nature - We had snow!

Just a few days into January and we had snow! Last year we had to wait until March (Easter Sunday to be precise) for our first snow of the year but this year on January 5th Mother Nature obliged and when we awoke we had a nice covering of snow. It couldn't have been timed better as it was the children's last day of the Christmas break so they were able to play in the snow and enjoy it while it lasted.

Introducing .......... Snow Bear!

Who lives in the garden all covered in snow? SPONGEBOB CARROT NOSE. SPONGEBOB POT EYES. SPONGEBOB .......... CARROT NOSE!!!!!!!!!!!! (created by Steven)

Tonight after a break, a new challenge went live on MojoHolder. Challenge #93 was to scraplift a LO by Becky Novacek. Becky designs for, among others, Autumn Leaves, Fiskars and Melissa Frances. Her work is amazing. In my version of her LO (which actually bore no resemblance to Becky's LO) I used a photo from our recent snowy day.



Finally, I am taking part in the '365 - a photo a day for a year' challenge. I have a separate 365 blog which I'm uploading my daily photos to so if your interest pop along and have a look.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here we are at the start of another year. Where did 2008 go? It wasn't a bad year and hopefully 2009 will be just as good.

Just realised I've not blogged about Christmas. I'd better put that right!

Christmas this year was so much better than the previous one. In 2007 our Christmas Day was a wash-out because we were all ill at some point. This year ........ we were all fit and well ........ yipee! The children were thrilled with their presents - Chris has a new PC monitor and Xbox Game, Steven a gaming chair and gaming keyboard and Lara had 'Dancing Stage' Hottest Party dance mat for the Wii plus a jungle-in-my-pocket play set. They all had lots of little bits and pieces too in their stockings (which in our house are actually gigantic sacks!) from Santa. It's funny though how the smallest, least expensive gifts are the ones which go down best. Steven and Lara had these animal balloons from Santa and they loved them. Lara was also particularly taken with a small cuddly toy dog - no surprise there!


But the biggest hit was a Powerball that Wayne received. For anyone who has not come across a Powerball, Wikipedia describe them as "A gyroscopic exercise tool device used to exercise the wrist or to build hand and finger strength." It's basically a gyroscope inside a tennis ball sized plastic shell which you rotate by moving your wrist in a circular motion and it helps to build up muscles and rehabilitate pains. Sounds easy, but boy it isn't!

There was no scrapping during December so nothing crafty to show you, but once the children are back at school I'm hoping to get crafting again. My Christmas Day gift from the UKS Advent Swap was some gorgeous MME Laundry Line Papers and rub-ons from the Coastal range and I can't wait to use them.

On New Years Day we went for a walk at the RSPB Nature Reserve at Sandy. It was so chilly but nice to get out in the fresh air. The weather forecast for the coming week is even more cold weather and possibly some snow/sleet. I think staying inside beside a nice roaring fire will be in order.

Lastly, I've decided to take part in the 365 'a photo a day' project. I have set up another blog to showcase my daily photos and if you are interested you can check it out here.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is finally here and every one is getting very excited. Every thing is more of less done. Presents have all been wrapped with the exception of one which because of it's size and weight is going to have to be wrapped last thing tonight and put straight under the tree. I wonder which lucky boy or girl is going to received that???? Christopher and Lara made the mince pies yesterday and this morning I made the reindeer food. The bag toppers were free from Kate Hadfield (Thanks Jakey for the heads up about this). When it gets dark we will be scattering the food on the back lawn to make sure that Rudolf and Co know where to land. A glass of Santa's favourite tipple (this year wine!) plus a mince pie and a carrot will of course also be left by the fireplace.

Our Advent Candle will be burnt for the last time tonight although the doors on the children's advent calendars will continue to be opened until the New Year. I have just one gift left in my box of Advent Swap Presents. I opened more lovely presents this week and it won't be the same when I get up each morning when I have opened the last gift tomorrow and I have no more left to open.

No time for scrapping this week but I found this LO which I created earlier in the year but never uploaded so I'm uploading that now.

Anyway I'll sign off now and whatever you are doing this Christmas, I wish you a lovely time, and a healthy, happy and prosperous new year.

Karen x x

6 sleeps until Christmas

19th December and just 6 more sleeps until Christmas Day. The children have now finished school and it is all getting very excited.

Tuesday was Lara's actual birthday and was also the day of her school's Christmas performance. So, after scoffing far too much Chocolate birthday cake (yes we did have a second birthday cake!) we all assembled at the parish church. There were two performances - a traditional nativity play accompanied by some very uptempo singing from the children followed by a musical performance by the 'school band'. Lara had the honour of being Mary in the nativity play which included her singing a solo. Considering she was singing in front of 100+ parents plus all the school children and teachers she did really well.

Wednesday evening was Lara's last 'Rainbow' session before Christmas. They had a Christmas party and at the end of the party a number of the girls, including Lara, made their promises. It was so sweet to watch and considering their age they did really well at reciting their promises.

Since my last post I've opened loads more advent swap presents. All have been lovely and will be really useful especially since I have decided from January 1st to go an a stash diet. I have so much stash and really DO NOT need any thing else. So today I ordered a pack of BasicGrey Bittersweet papers and they will be the last I buy for some time apart from adhesive and the odd sheet of card stock which I will need. I just hope that BasicGrey, Scenic Route and Fancy Pants don't tempt me at Winter CHA!

Hopefully I will be back again before Christmas Day to show you the last few gifts I received in the advent swap.

So until then good luck with any last minute shopping, wrapping, partying, and preparing.

13 sleeps until Christmas

12th December - 13 sleeps until Christmas and I am actually feeling fairly festive. Letters to Santa have been written and posted and the Christmas tree and decorations went up yesterday . The majority of the cards have been written and posted (although I have a few still to make) and the presents have all been bought. The children have just one more week at school and then we will be on the final countdown to the big day. I can't wait. Since I last posted I have opened another 6 advent gifts. I was sad to learn just after my last post that this advent swap will be the last one on UKScrappers. I had said that I was unsure whether I would take part again and now the decision has been made for me. It won't be the same next year without my little gift each December morning, but it was good while it lasted.

Lara's birthday party last weekend was a huge success and the cake was a real hit. I'm glad I decided to make her cake - she was really pleased. I was disappointed with the photos I took at the party, but these two weren't too bad and hopefully with a little editing they will be better.



Yesterday I was looking through some LOs and came across some which I created back in April whilst away on a scrapping weekend with some friends. I loved making this one of Lara. It was pure luck that the photo captured the snowflakes on her eyelashes and I felt I had to scrap it. I've not had time to scrap this week so I'll leave you with this LO.

19 sleeps until Christmas.

6th December - 19 sleeps until Christmas. Not long until the 25th and the days seem to be flying by.

I have now opened 6 of the gifts in my UKScrappers Advent Swap box and have been thrilled with them all. (apologies for the awful photo) Every year some of the people who take part in the swap seem disappointed (to put it mildly) with what they received but I can honestly say that during the 4-5 years that I have taken part I have never once been unhappy with the gifts I have received. Judging by some of the comments people make, it seems I have been very lucky! OK, occasionally a gift isn't quite to my taste but it can usually be used in someway or another or altered to make it fit in more with my style. I've never had anyone say they haven't liked the gifts I have sent them either and I really look forward to the swap. But, that said I am beginning to wonder whether in view of all the negative comments that have been posted on forums this year about the swap whether I will join in next year.

Last night was MojoHolder night. I wasn't able to join in this week. Tomorrow is Lara's 6th birthday party and I have been so busy preparing for that that scrapping has had to take a back seat. 24 little guests are coming to the party and yesterday and today I made the cake. After the stress last year of making the cake I vowed never to make another, but I relented and this year I made a 'Spongebob Square Pants' cake. Considering how difficult it was last year to make the cake this year seemed a dream. Last year I used a bag of catering cake mix, struggled with the quantities and when it was made it tasted foul! This year I just used a tried and tested recipe for a Victoria Sandwich , doubled up the quantity I would use for a standard 7" cake and the 'trimmings' which I tasted were really yummy. Spongebob has now been iced, looks fab and is ready in his box to take to the party tomorrow. I'll report back hopefully next week on how the party went and hope to have some photos too.