Saturday, June 13, 2009

More gogo goodness




Here are two layouts from one class and a wallhanging we made with Mary Anne. Love these two classes. The class kits are generous and there are still leftovers from both kits. There is also another small frame from MA's class which is as yet unfinished.

Free - we all like that word don't we??

If you didn't try the free hybrid class for National Scrapbooking Day and I know you passed that up, try this class. I love the videos that you watch whilst doing what you're told and which you can stop whilst you find the tool you need. It's free so have a go, you might like it. And no I'm not trying to convert you to digital scrapbooking, I know my photos could be improved with a bit of tweaking - could yours?

Mark your calendar for June 22. That's the day registration opens for the FREE instructor-led class of 2009 - Photo Editing: Frame-ups & Special Effects! In celebration of our SECOND BIRTHDAY, JessicaSprague.com will host an incredible photo editing class you don't want to miss! You’ll even receive a stunning FREE KIT by our friends at Houseof3.com!

Curious how to use the digital goodies you’ve collected? Or how about creating scuffy, worn edges or rounded corners on your photos? Dying to know to add swirly borders to your pictures like you see in magazines and advertisements? I'll show you how easy it is to add beautiful accents to enhance your digital photos, as well as how to add special photography effects using Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

This FREE two-week class begins on July 6, 2009!



In this brand-new class, Jessica will show you dozens of awesome techniques you can use to add effects to your photos, including:

Brushes
Frames
Masks
Textures
Blending modes
Filters
and more!
You will love learning how to add beautiful frames, brushes, and edges to your photos, and giving them specific looks: dreamy, vintage, cross-processed, soft light, and LOTS MORE. You're in for the educational experience that only JessicaSprague.com has to offer: screencast video, a private gallery to post your work, a forum to answer your questions, daily emails from Jessica, and a GORGEOUS free kit courtesy of our friends at House of 3.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

That wasn't too bad

I've just watched the airing of the Weakest Link in which I appeared. I could have made it through to the final if I hadn't made a mess of the final voting. I hadn't seen the final round and I do think Stuart's questions were easier than Cat's.

I'm glad though that I can say that I'm thinner now than I was when that was taped three months ago.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Scrapagogo slide show

If you'd like to see some photos from our Scrapagogo weekend, have a look here. http://www.feelgoodphotos.com/blog/ And shockingly both Liz and I had photoshoots at the weekend so some new photos to scrap.

A sketch and a make and take

Friday of gogogetaway has make & takes and started at 6.30pm. Next year they are going to add an extra class to the Friday night. I think at least half of the attendees were there by 4 so we socialised and caught up with friends from the previous event whilst waiting for the crop room to open.

The make and takes were:
A card from the hybrid products which are a kit extra. Still not convinced by the products but I could see me doing some more hybrid in the future.
Well after I'd gone to bed, there was a demo of how to use some hand drawn frames printed on kraft cardstock. There were three examples on show and this is what I did with mine.



We were given three sketches and a product related to each sketch which will gain us tickets to a draw for a goody bag. we have a month to do as many or as few layouts as we want. This layout uses the featured product - Scenic Route.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Back from Scrapagogo

Liz and I are back. We had a great time. I have booked for the 2010 event which will be in March. It's a shame Liz won't be going too as we make good travelling companions. Watch this space though for news about another Scrapagogo event in the autumn which may be a little closer to home.

First up are some more cruise layouts. Just three more layouts and I'm finished. All the other layouts are in an album with spaces for the missing layouts. I have just realised that I titled one layout 2007 and of course it's 2008. It will be changed but not photographed!!

My front page with the wrong date. This uses a challenge sketch from the weekend with the featured product - Swiss dot Bazzill, which I had taken with me.


Layout of Martinique:



Last page of album:

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Finished


I picked up the packet of photos for antigua together with the cardstock and patterned paper I'd sorted at the start of my cruise album, add some vinyl and my favourite QK alpha and it went together quickly.

Tomorrow I will start getting ready for next weekend and probably some of the mass of ironing that's here.

Dragging my feet

So very tired at the moment. Can't seem to stay asleep past 5am and I need all my beauty sleep. LOAD finishes today and I just need to do one more layout to complete the month but just can't seem to find the enthusiasm. We had afternoon tea for the family here to belatedly celebrate Fiona's 9th birthday.

Has anyone spotted my new purchase in my last four layouts? Loving it!!

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Day 30


And this double layouts makes 30 pages so far this month. AND still I haven't finished my cruise album. Once LOAD May is finished (tomorrow), I will be getting ready for Gogogetaway next weekend.

Other than the classes, I am planning to work on:
* Mini book for Elizabeth's headmistress. I found one I started in an online class. I have replaced the bookrings with a coil binding. The papers are already with the book so I just need to print some photos and see if Elizabeth can take some photos of all the girls at school. Last time I did it in groups of three which worked well.
* The last few cruise layouts. I have a couple ready printed out in packets but I need to print off the dolphin photos from the DVD I purchased next

I also need photos for the four classes too. You can see what Liz and I accomplish by coming to the crop on 13th June when we will bring our projects with us. I have recently finished two of the three layouts from the last event and the mini book will soon be split up and reutilised as it's not up cup of tea.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Back from London


And I'm absolutely shattered from all the walking and shopping!! I came home to a call from the BBC confirming that the Weakest link show I appeared in will be shown on Thursday 11 June at 5.15pm on BBC1.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

some 40 year old photos



The challenge of myscrapbook nook was to create a layout with no adhesive. So I've used stitching, brads, photo corners and stickers to complete this. Quite difficult trying to arrange it without some herma to keep things in place.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

I'm keeping up


Just. Here is day 24 and day 26's layout. Still more cruise layouts to come. If I don't finish them next week I will take them to Gogogetaway to complete.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Check out the fantatstic raffle next week

You know I'll be there.

Day 25


Here is a layout I started about 4 years ago. I found some extra photos to go with the subject and only kept the background paper the same. Another from my drawer finished. What inspired me was Kristina Werner's colour challenge for the week. The colours were perfect.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Day 23 and still going strong


Another layout using a Becky Fleck sketch for myscrapbook nook challenge. You also had to include a butterfly and the theme was an attribute.

Friday, May 22, 2009

A quilt today


I made this simple quilt for a Beaulieu teacher who finished work today. I have the same design in pinks and turquoises but don't know whether this baby is a girl or boy, so am hoping for a girl!!

More cruise layouts


You would have thought that I'd done all my cruise photos by now, but I've only done about half. However I have now sorted the photos by island and date and three more islands have been printed off ready to scrap, if not this week, then at the Gogogetaway.

I also want to do a mini book for Elizabeth's headmistress so I need to organise that too before going to Gogo. I found a mini album which I considered using, but I think I'll use my Bind it All to make my own book so it's easier for the girls to write on the pages.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Grazing

I've read in a couple of places about snack boxes which are delivered to your door. I received my first box (for free) today. I was worried that as I was out, I would have to collect it from the PO, but fortunately it's letter box sized. You get to rate what you receive and say what you don't like (eg goji berries). My box pictured below included fresh pineapple, apple strudel dried fruit mix conisting of Dried apple, naturally dried apricots & dried cranberries and bbq cashews. The box also has the full details of calories per portion.

If you fancy trying a box out use this special promotion code to get a free graze box and another half price…



free box code: 8N5PYQHE
they enter at: www.graze.com

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Day 19 and 20


Back to cruise layouts. I have started sorting digital photos by island / activity and then I need to print off what I need to finish the album. Though I think the first job is to locate an album and file what is already done, which is about 6 layouts.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Day 18


and I'm not sure which is more difficult, trying to diet or trying to do a layout a day. This one is done for myscrapbooknook challenge 2, to make your own shaped paper. definitely out of my comfort zone with this one.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Scrap off


Ching pointed me in the direction of Myscrapbooknook's scrap off last week. Today's challenge was to produce a layout on a colour challenge. Here is my layout with some more of my baby photos.

Catch up.




This is what I've been doing for the last few days, including making two baby quilts which are still in progress. However Elizabeth wants to give one to her teacher who leaves at half term on Friday and I'd also like to take it to show and tell and Caesarea Quilters, which is tomorrow. No pressure!!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Day 13


I'm really pleased with this layout, which uses even more of the Basic Bitter Sweet collection.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Day 12


and still keeping up. Here is a layout I did for a challenge at Scrapbook Nook. Some older Sweetwater paper, more Swiss Dot Bazill, Prima felt ribbon and some gems. Not forgetting my favourite Making Memories mini stickers.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Recovery Sunday


Today the weather's not as nice as yesterday, so time to put away and tidy up. I'm pleased with this layout for several reasons:
1. This is a class kit from Scenic Route which has been in my drawer for about two years
2. I used some cork for the title from Joanne's scrap file
3. I wanted to attach the tag with a yellow brad from Joanne's box and couldn't find one, so went with a yellow safety pin and the layout was finished.

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Great crop


What a great day. My thanks must go to Elaine for getting Dean to open up this morning which saved my bacon as I forgot to collect the keys yesterday. I will book July with Elaine as agreed today.

Also thanks to Liz for demoing the Slice. There were loads of great layouts on display. At the June crop, Liz and I will bring our layouts and projects from Gogogetaway. First I have to finish several of the projects from last year's event!!

Please bring your own tea bags next month as there has been a change to the previous agreement apparently. As a non tea drinker don't rely on me to bring any!!

Friday, May 08, 2009

Not ready at all


I have loads of my baby photos printed out, no cruise photos and that's as far as I've got. Will do the hybrid prep early tomorrow morning. Still keeping up with a Layout a Day.

Elizabeth is at a school disco this evening. Armed with a camera and shoes that she has borrowed from a friend which are about two sizes too big for her. I did her make up for her with silver eye shadow and eye liner with a bit of mascara, then she added some lip gloss. The current year 7s were also there and they look so much bigger than our girls.

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Ready for the crop?


I'm pleased that I sent out the details for the crop challenges this morning. One more item off my to do list. Now I need to find some photos for the hybrid layout challenge using Jessica Sprague's free NSD class here. I need to print some more cruise photos tomorrow too as I'm about half way through our Christmas cruise photos.

I love how our scrpabooking group work together. For the hybrid page, it specifies two sizes of circle punch (neither of which I own) and between my ladies they have sorted out one person to bring one punch and someone else to bring the other. Fantastic, thanks Jenny and Lorraine.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Day 6


Another quick 8" layout.

Are you surprised that I haven't printed out any photos for the crop yet. No? Neither am I. I do have the files and had a look at them last night. The ones of my grandparent and my uncle brought tears to me eyes. There aren't many good photos but there'll be enough to scrap for some time and those few photos are therefore more precious. I did notice that there are more photos after my brother was born!!

I was also surprised how red my birth mark was in the photos. I only ever remember it being pale and Nick didn't realise I had one, which shows how faint it is now.

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Day 5


Just remembered to do a layout today. Fortunately this was sat on my table, waiting for a title. Got out my new Lyrical Letters cartridge a sheet of vinyl and I'm done.

Monday, May 04, 2009

Day 4


And another 8 by 8. I'm pleased that I managed to use up some of my felt letters, but only one of them isn't cut down from other letters, so I think I'm getting to the end of that set's useful life. But I can't throw away a part used sheet, can you?

Tomorrow I need to print some photos for Saturday's crop.

NSD giveaways continue

Go to http://bellablvd.typepad.com/bella_blvd/2009/05/awesome-giveaways.html#comments to win some goodies from Bella Boulevard. Say I send you and we both win!! Giveaway closes Monday night.

Sunday, May 03, 2009

LOAD May day 3



A very quick layout for day 3 of the Layout a Day challenge for May. For Gogogetaway 2008 I had sorted out photos on the theme of holidays for a class and never used them so now I am putting together an 8" album with one photo of each holiday from photos already printed.

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Cretaing Keepsakes front cover


Don't I wish LOL. This is a bit of National Scrapbook Day fun over on the CK blog. I scrap 12 by 12 so it's a square layout altered - elongated to become 8 by 11. Those girls have such long legs now. LOL They've also got three useful fonts for you to download for FREE.

LOAD


Sunday, April 26, 2009

Giveaway for Europeans only

A lovely giveaway is being hosted at just perspective blog I particularly love the die cut paper

Saturday, April 18, 2009

An oldie



I have a pile of layouts which need finishing or are from classes and need photos added, one of the challenges on the Back Porch Memories crop is to finish one. So all this one needed was a title and journalling. Matthew had fun reminiscing about it whilst, I wrote the journalling from what he told me. He was surprised to see he'd taken his teddy with him!!

If you go down to the woods today


Not today exactly but earlier in the month, I took this photo in St Catherine's Woods as Fiona was with us to go to the cinema and we had an hour spare. I made the flowers in the top left and hand cut those at bottom right.

Lapland


Last year I got out loads of holiday photos to use in a mini album at Gogogetaway. I didn't like the mini album we made, so have cut up scraps of cardstock into 8" squares and am making a one page layout with these spare holiday photos. Perfect for crops and challenges.


This layout is for a challenge for backporchmemories.com Spring Fling cyber crop. Do join in the fun. One of the challenges is to finish a layout from your pile. I can definitely participate in that one.

Friday, April 17, 2009

SU card


Just received some new punches and stamps. Elizabeth made this card for a party on Monday.


SU products: Chocolate chip ink, oval punch, oval scallopped punch, stamp



Sunday, April 05, 2009

St Lucia


Another cruise layout. Using up my felt borders. I saw Joanne using some at the crop which inspired me to use some from my basket. I added some gems to the ribbon

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Simnel muffins

Weren't Astra's simnel muffins delicious and filling. I have ordered more muffins for next month's National Scrapbooking Day crop.
Here are two layouts I finished at the crop today. One more needs some journalling so is ready in the lounge for me to do whilst watching TV tonight.



Another cruise layout, only about 10 more to print photos for and complete. Using up lots of turquoise scraps on a sand background.



March was the last of 12 months in which we have been taking photos on 25th of each month since April 2008. I now need to go back and locate photos for June, July and November!! How I wish I'd kept up to date.

Wild about you


I made this card for the sketch challenge over at http://www.stampwithus.blogspot.com/


Thank you to Lorraine for the loan of the stamp set. I think this is one I might have to buy for myself as I've borrowed it twice already. thanks also to Jenny for the blue ink and Joanne for the punch. Other than that it's all my own work. LOL
The stamping up products are:
cardstock- summer sun and pumpkin pie
stamps- wild at heart
punches - scallop edge and spiral
ink - chocolate chip

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Just for the record

Checkpoint 6 - 18 miles at 2pm - 6 hours
Almost at checkpoint 7 at 2.36pm feet are hurting and he may stop at 24 miles.
Only just got to checkpoint 7 at 15.10. Nick has offered him a lift home if gets to Le Hocq where his office is. However I think if he gets that far - 31 miles, he would want to finish the lot as it's only five miles more.
Just left check point 8 at 16.19 and he's walking on. Doesn't want us to meet up with him.

Matthew decided to finish at 27 miles at 5pm. So we treated him to a healthy fish and chip supper from the Gorey Fish & Chip Shop.

Well done Matthew

15 miles in 4 hours 45


Going down hill into Greve De L'Ecq means Matthew's caught up some time but going up hill to checkpoint 6 is going to be hard.


I've finished my hybrid layout and I'm really pleased with it. Jessica Sprague's instructions are second to none as her videos take you through step by step and shows you her computer screen. You can stop the video as you repeat the steps and rewind when you don't quite get it right!! Jessica suggested matte photo paper. I opted for Jessops satin and I really like the texture. However I need to buy some more printer ink.

Next I'm going to try the challenge at http://www.stampwithus.blogspot.com/ whilst waiting for the next call. Matthew asked me if I knew where his friend Douglas is ???? And how would I know? Telepathy?

9 miles in 3 hours 15 minutes


Matthew is checking in at every checkpoint on the walk by ringing me on his mobile. He's done 9 miles so far and is at Jersey Pearl. He is behind the 52 minutes per 3 miles needed to get the plaque for doing it in less than 10 hours 15 minutes, but he's happy so far.


Whilst waiting for his call to go and walk with him - hopefully not until the 24 mile point, I've photographed my Weakest Link layout and I'm working on a hybrid layout. Hark at me. Watch this space, I should finish it today.

Spring is here

Love the new spring kit from http://www.houseof3.com/ And if you're quick it's now free to download. We're all up early today. Matthew is doing the De la Salle walk today. Last year he did a creditable 12 miles as we were leaving to go to Egypt the following day. This year he initially hoped to do 24 and according to Elizabeth he wants to do 36. I can see us having to walk with him later!! It's all very well run and has been going for many decades. When I was 17 I did 18 miles and then participated in a table tennis tournament in the evening. Wish Matthew luck.

I have a layout done of my Weakest Link appearance which I will photograph when it's light. I just need to re-adhere an element. I also bought a lovely wire photo display yesterday from the Gooseberry Bush which I hope Nick will hang soon but I will share with you later.