Autumn changes

We haven't been on here for ages - the summer has been quite busy and we don't tend to craft so much in the warmer weather - especially with the lighter evenings.
But, here we are again with the evenings drawing in so I expect there will be more crafting to be done during the next few months.

Both Mel and I have taken up photogrpahy in a big way and are getting to grips with our DSLR cameras - and loving it!
This is a selection of autumnal pics from me on this glorious 27 degree September day!

Birthday Weekend

This weekend marks my mothers 63rd and and grandmother's 93rd birthdays so I thought I should get on and make some cards and pop them on my blog!

I found all kinds of scraps to use in my boz and the ideas came together quite quickly.

I hope they like them!

Long Time - No See

its been ages since I blogged - I forgot to photograph my most recent "make" which was for the July Tag Swap on UKS and I havent really done anything else over the past month.

Casey is currently in Tanzania and only as a week before she comes home. We've missed her so much but hope shes had an amazing time!

I thought I would just post a few recent photos so that I dont forget how to do it!

What don't you understand - but want to?

My sewing machine!

this LO is about me wanting to understand more about my sewing machine and how to fathom patterns to make dresses and soft furnishings! I am in awe of those who get it!!! I wish we had learnt at school!

The flowers were handmade by cutting out cicles from fabrics, slicing into them and melting the edges with a tea light. No sewing machine required then!
I have used some little corset templates with lace to make dresses and have even used an old "Next tag".

How Would You Be Kinder To Yourself?

Another Layout for my 52 questions - this time - How would you be kinder to yourself?

I decided that I could do with more fun in my life and occasionally forget about the cleaning, cooking and other chores that need doing around the house. Having "More Fun" would be really nice.

I have used a photo of me having fun with my gorgeous baby niece "Eva". My sister took some photos of us a few weeks ago and I was really pleased with the result - we do look like we are having a lovely time together!

Have a great week!

Which Direction?

Which Direction am I going?
I decided it was onwards!
Things are uncertain at work at the moment and I'm looking for another job. This has bought up all kind of emotions and even thinking of moving makes me feel a bit upset!
It tells of my concerns about getting an interview and it being the first one in over 7 years and of missing my colleagues if I do finally leave!

The LO is very simple - I have used Basic Grey patterned paper and some journalling. The photo was one I took in the winter whilst watching all the passengers disembark the train at MK station.

June Tag Swap

The tags this month were based on Purple (or Alexandrite?), Royality and Two of something.
I decided to use two colours - purple and white and make a royal wedding type tag, complete with bodice, veil, flower and crown.




I have embossed the bodice and the background in white and put tiny purple sequins on the bodice trim. I have also used some lovely ribbon/lace and tied it up with purple flowers.

Hoping the ladies in the swap like them!

What would you do?

Another question to answer:
If you had a day with no restrictions - what would you do?



No restrictions eh! What, none at all?
It would be a rather selfish day and extremely busy. IN fact, my day would be totally impossible - which is the point right?

My day would start with breakfast - as usual - but alfresco, with my Nanna in the sunshine before jetting off to New York for some shopping and a photographic lesson with David Bailey.
A beach BBQ lunch would be waiting in Haiti for all my family and friends. We would go snorkling and sunbathing.
Malc and I would then drive Route 66 while singing along to a specially compiled CD before taking a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.
Pre-dinner cocktails would be taken onboard a cruise liner listening to Gary Barlow and Sting. We would then take a champagne hot air balloon trip over the Masi Mara while the sun sets before dinner at Papa's Hot Wok in Madrid. After this the whole family would be treated to a personal, live performace by Take That.
I would click my heels together 3 times and would back in very soft comfortable bed at home!

A day with no "Rest-rictions"!

What is my latest obsession?

Another nice easy question to answer - but this time the LO was sent on a plate too!
I have scraplifted this from the Scrapbook Magazine by Louise Collins. AS soon as I saw it I knew it would be perfect!

My latest obsession is photography - since my husband, kids and mother in law bought me a DSLR camera for Christmas! I love it and have been learning so much.
The photo on the LO was taken by my son Daniel whilst on a weekend trip to Edinburgh in April to celebrate my husbands birthday. I think he did a pretty good job!
I really liked the playfulness of Louise Collins layout and the papers and embelishments were all free with the magazine!

52 Questions - What Gives You Hope?

What gives You Hope?

Easy - my kids!
The layout is simple too with some lovely photos of Casey and Daniel.
My journalling just says what lovely people they are: sensitive, empathic, honest, sympathetic and able to see how their own actions impact on other people. I am so proud of them both and know I dont tell them enough.
I am so lucky to have such great and morally upstanding children!

52 Questions ....Whats on your to do list this week?

I'm still wading my way through the 52 Questions on UKS and really enjoying it. Its great to be given a brief to design to and tell your own story!

This Question was all about your to do list. I chose to list my home list as opposed to my work list because its a little bit more interesting!
I have used K&Co papers and kept it really simple. It felt a bit odd not using a photo but I'm quite pleased with how it turned out!

Phoenix Rising

One of my colleagues is leaving work today to become a writer!
its something that she has always wanted to do and thought she would have to leave it until retirement but she's only gone and done it 15+ years early!!!

Sandy wants to write a trilogy of novels based on stories from Ireland (her home country) starting with the potato famine.
She has spoken about Dublin and Phoenix Park in the past and these stories will be entwined within her books so I decided to make a little farewell gift based on the Phoenix.

She's really pleased with it and loved the poem on the back - I didnt write it unfortunately but it is rather fabulous!

I'll let you know when she's been published!

May Tag Swap -Emerald, Mystical & Eye

I've been busy making tags for the UKS monthly tag swap.

This month the theme was Emerald, Mystical and the tag had to include an eye. I am so much happier with this months tags than last months - which were truly rubbish and I apologise to those who received one!!!!

I got really stuck into the glitter glue and snipping with scissors this month and also gave the wax art iron an airing which was fun.

Qu 17 What is Your Super Power?

What a question! I had toyed with the idea of changing it to "What would you like your super power to be" but instead I opted for a super-power that everyone has and should use more - their smiles!

I came across this great little poem to include on my LO:

Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today
I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realised
I'd passed it onto him!

I thought about that smile,
then I realised its worth.
A single smile just like mine
could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,
don't leave it undetected.
Lets start an epidemic quick!
And get the world infected!

Qu 14 What was the last book you read?

An easier question but it still took a while to get round to it!