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.

It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas.

Tomorrow is December 1st and it's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas. I have started my Christmas Shopping and earlier this week a gorgeous box of goodies arrived from the UKScrappers Advent Swap. 25 presents all wrapped up in black papers with gold tags each bearing a clue to the contents of the presents. My Secret Santa hasn't revealed their identity yet but the postmark on the box was a clue (I think) and I therefore have my suspicions. I've been comparing the writing on the tags to the handwritten journaling on LOs posted in my suspects UKScrappers gallery and I think they are a close match. Time will tell is I have the right person.


I hope the person I have sent gifts to hasn't guessed my identity yet - it's nice to keep them guessing.


Friday night was Mojo Holder Challenge Night and challenge #92 was to scrap lift the awesome Betsy Veldman. I loved Betsy's LO - so bright and cheerful. I scrapped a photo of Lara and used BasicGrey Euphoria and Scenic Route papers.

Not much time for scrapping

I've not had much time lately for scrapping and have only managed to complete my weekly Mojo Holder LOs.

On November 14th (which also happened to be my brother's birthday as well as that of HRH Prince Charles) challenge #90 was to scraplift a LO by Norwegian scrapper Ingvild Bolme. Her LO had a real romantic/vintage feel - mine didn't! I used some of that really challenging kraft patterned paper from the Sonoma line by Scenic Route and some photos of the children taken last year of them hiding amongst the plants at the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Dorset. Here are the two LOs.

On November 21st, Challenge #91 was a lift of a LO by Nichol Magourik. Nichol's LO inspired me to scrap some photos of Lara taken when she was just 10mths old. Here are the two LOs.

Apart from those two LOs and some bits and pieces I've made for the advent swap on UKScrappers, I've not done any other crafting and with Christmas fast approaching I doubt the situation will improve much until the New Year.

Oh one last thing. Do you remember my exploits last year whilst making a doggy shaped birthday cake for Lara's birthday? Well ..... I know I said 'never again', but ..... I have bought another shaped cake tin and this year I will be attempting a cake in the shape of ..... Sponge Bob Square Pants!!! Am I mad?? We will see!

Last week on Mojoholder we scraplifted the fantastic Molly Peckham (another scrapper whose work I had not come across before). Her LO was beautiful - lovely colours, lovely composition, lovely photos. It was a pleasure to scraplift. I used photos taken just last month on Halloween, of Steven carving his pumpkin. The concentration on his face was priceless.

Here are the LOs:



Tonight we're lifting an extremely talented Norwegian scrapbooker. Make sure you check it out.

Half Term Holiday

Last week was the school half term holiday so we took our usual autumn trip to the coast. For the last few years we've gone to Norfolk but this year we had a change and went over the border into Suffolk. The weather wasn't great but we had a good time and came back refreshed and relaxed.

We went out and about a lot whilst we were away. We visited three English Heritage properties - Leiston Abbey, Framlingham Castle and Orford Castle. Believe me, we aren't on a mission to try and visit every English Heritage property in the UK, nor are we on a mission to bore the children (LOL), but as they were all fairly close to where we were stying we thought we may as well take advantage of our membership.

We also had some long but chilly walks on the beach, a shopping trip to Ipswich and a day at Jimmy's Farm. We had followed the goings on at Jimmy's Farm on TV so it was nice to go and see the place for real. It wasn't as big as we thought it would be but the children enjoyed seeing all the animals as well as exploring the Woodland Walk (with den building) and the adventure playground.

Whilst we were away it was Halloween. The children were initially quite disappointed to find that they wouldn't be at home for Halloween and wouldn't be able to go trick or treating with their friends, but we promised them that we would have our own little Halloween party while we were away. So we took Halloween costumes with us and on Friday night we carved pumpkins, bobbed for apples, watched 'Winnie The Pooh - Pooh's Heffalump Halloween' DVD ( LOL - as scary as we dare go for Lara! ) and gave the children bags of halloween novelties and sweets. They were more than happy. The apple bobbing went down particularly well!

While we were away 2 challenges went live on Mojo Holder. Challenge #87 on October 24th was to lift a LO by the wonderful Janna Wilson. Her LO was gorgeous! I scrapped photos of Wayne on his Driving Day in June.

October 31st, Challenge #88 was a scraplift of Teresa Collins.

There are some lovely scrap lifts coming up in November so do make sure to stop by Mojo Holder.

One last thing, while I was away I bought this book. It's by Robert Llewellyn of Red Dwarf and Scrapheap Challenge fame. I had seen him plugging the book on TV and thought it sounded interesting. I'm half way through reading it and it certainly is very thought provoking and also at times funny. It is about how after a long and painful Christmas shopping expedition, Robert Llewellyn had a revelation. He realised he had enough stuff; he'd had enough of rampant consumerism; he would simply stop shopping for a whole year. Hmmm, now I wonder if I could manage that ??? .......... Nah, but it's a good read anyway.