Simply Scored ...

I am so glad I ordered the Simply Scored Tool and the diagonal plate to go with it. It is so easy to make a beautiful envelope to match your card with the diagonal plate. Some instructions are provided with the plate to get you started. The plate can also be used to create an embossed background as I did in these examples. Here I scored at 1 Inch intervals to create the " diamond " background.
 

 

Products : Baja Breeze Cardstock, Mocha Morning Speciality Paper, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Oval All Stamps

Products : Whisper Cardstock, Mocha Morning Speciality Paper, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Oval All Stamps

From the Heart Challenge ....

The next challenge I participated in is From the Heart Challenge . Here we had to create a layout with I Love.... or I heart in the title.. 

I used my Studio Calico kit Boardwalk here. 

Starting Point Challenge

This weekend Shimelle ran an Online Scrapbooking Weekend , the challenges are all open till next weekend so go an have a look.

This is my entry for the Starting Point Challenge. I used my Studio Calico Kit Mind the Gap for this one.
Here we had to create a layout starting from the design using a large box of paper in the background, a wide vertical strip, plus a narrow stripe and a horizontal block.

Latest ....

I have been starting to think that I will never scrapbook again, because I have done nothing for months now! Each month my Studio Calico Kit arrives, I get excited, open the box, and then pack it away. Sad I know , but what does a girl do when you working long days, leaving at 7 am in the morning and getting home at 8.30 pm in the evening. 

Crazy ideas have even crossed my mind, like selling my stuff, because its only just accumulating dust in my garage. But I know, this makes me happy! Paper, photo's inks make me happy, I do enjoy it so much, just wish I had more time, oh and of course I wish I had my own space so I don't have to pack up all the time. 

I have been on leave this week, its been WONDERFUL, just being able to breathe for a bit, not being rushed off my feet, not having to think about work, not having to commute into LONDON. Being able to lie on my bed and read a book, its been fabulous. 

I scrapped a  bit too.... 

I did this page for the Sunday Sketch over at Studio Calico

This page just depicts Aidan so well ! He is getting so big, but at 12, he is still my little boy that loves life, loves playing. 

I also did the sketch over at The Scrappiest, I do love this sketch site and really need to participate more ! 

Here is the sketch : 

This is my take on it :

Once again this is a page done of Aidan , he is so at that stage where I cannot get him to look at the lens of a camera. This one resulted in me having to bribe him, and still he did not SMILE :) 

Snapshot in time..

When I look at these photo's taken at my friends house 4 years ago, just a day or so before we left South Africa for the United Kingdom, I smile. This is a snapshot of a period in our lives, that I often reflect on, and think how we managed to sell up everything and move countries in less than 2 months from the time I got the job offer.

These photos where taken at my friend Valerie's where we were staying as we no longer had a home, it was all packed up, in a box , a container no bigger that 20 feet long destined for far away shores. We had no idea what awaited us, we were leaving family, friends, our animals and everything we were used to behind. People wished us well but were very sceptical and told us it would be difficult to integrate and live in the UK coming from a beautiful sunny climate, big houses and open spaces. I think towards the end I was operating on just pure adrenaline , I didn't think , I didn't want to think, all I  knew was that this was an opportunity that didn't come around often and we had to make the best of it because there was no going back.

These photo's remind me of just how small the kids were, and that makes me smile too, they were so brave, they even spent a night at Johannesburg Intl airport when our plane had mechanical problems, we couldn't go home at 1 am in the morning, we hand no home, so we slept at the airport.

4 years on, here we are, the UK our home now, and photo's just memories of a time, a place in our lives.

Sketch # 118

I am a bit late in posting my take on the sketch over at the Scrappiest .  I tend to scrap my kids more than any subject and thought a change would be good so I did a page of my late father in law. TFL

This week my son started at the Local secondary school in the area. The 3 year wait is finally over. Can you believe it, its been 3 years that we have been on the waiting list for this school and out of the blue I got a call 3 weeks ago to say they have a place for him. Its going to be quiet an adjustment for him going back into uniform because the school he was at was very casual. I think he looks really smart :) ! He was not impressed that I stood taking photo's before he left for school.

Sketches.. Inspiration... What can I say

If your Mojo is floundering there is nothing better than to kick start it by doing a sketch or two.
For some reason I woke up at the crack of dawn today, so I decided to haul all my scrapbooking stuff out and be a little creative for a change.
When I am not scrapping, which is most days lately, I blog hop, normally with a cup of coffee in the hands. So this morning , during my usual routine of trying to find some inspiration, I came across this lovely blog with a sketch and a chance to win some stash.
Here is the sketch



Here is my take on it... I used my studio calico kit Singing in the Rain, I used Stampin Up 'En Francais' stamp to stamp script on the right side of the page.I do like the way it turned out even though I found the paper a little busy.