Busy, busy...

I'm still very busy with work, Creative Life DT stuff and my Stampin'Up! workshops, so I really haven't got any pages to share with you at the mo. By the end of this week though I should be up-to-date and then I can start scrapping for myself. I haven't touched my Studio Calico kit yet and I'm desperate too! I'll probably have run out of inspiration by the time I get to use it - ha!

I had my first Stampin' Up workshop yesterday with my BFF Karen, Louise and Linz. I've not demonstrated anything before so I was quite nervous even though it was infront of friends. They were excellent though and really helped me with what I should say. Thanks girls! x Tomorrow I have a HUGE party at my MIL's of 14 people! Know that's one hell of a jump so I hope I can hold it together and demostrate well without shaking. It's no good trying to stamp with a shaky hand - think I need to dig out the Calms. Still it should be informative and hopefully I will get a couple of bookings from it. Most of my MIL's friends have really got into scrapbooking so although I'm not going to be demoing any LO's, I hope I can entice them with their own workshop purely based on scrapping. I know I can do it - I just need to believe in myself. The SU! scrapbooking products are very lovely actually. The patterend papers are all double sided and very good quality. It just needs for me to do a few pages and I'm sure I'll be well on my way. If you want to know more about Stampin'Up! products or you'd like a workshop, then pop over to Stampin 'n Stuff and have a look what I've made. Just send me an email if you want to know more and I promise I won't give you the hard sell. The products really are great!

I'm also considering holding a crafting group. Whether it be cards or scrapbooking I'm sure it would be fun. I'd like to have a go but I've really got to get everything up to date around the house and work wise before I can go any further - I only wish I could find some more hours in each day. *sigh*

Right, my painted chipboard letters are now dry so I'll love you and leave you for now.

Have a great week!

Jo :)

A little cuteness

My little chap saying his school prayer. Aaaah bless!

My boys

So many photo's it's difficult to choose which one's to show you. Here's a couple ...

Not much Scrapping going on

I haven't done any scrapping since last weekend and I only wish I could. I've got loads of things to do for the new mag, Creativity Life! and I need another ten hours in each day at the moment.

I did buy some of the new Cosmo Cricket range from Craft Obsessions today. I had a little giggle to myself as I read the back of the packaging....."Acid Free, Lignin Free, Fat Free, Sugar Free, High in Fiber" he he! Now that's just what I want to hear as I've decided I need to get back on the healthier lifestyle. Check out Cosmo Cricket's website too as it's full of inspiration. I've added their blog to Google Reader so I can keep up-to-date with their posts. If you visit the blog, read the article on Potty Training, it's very funny.

My Studio Calico kit arrived yesterday. I've stroked it 3 times now and I so want to play - perhaps I will stay up all night tonight....

So onward with the boring work of VAT for now - yuuuk!

Introducing......

..Charley!!!

Our new little Jack Russell pup, and isn't he a cutie?? We picked him up at 9am this morning and I cant believe how settled he is. In the truck on the way home he was fine in Paul's arms - he didn't shake and sat quite calmly looking out the window. When we got home he was a bit hesitant - all for about 30 seconds and he doesn't even mind his crate. He's got very sharp teeth, like little needles, and has spent most of the day hanging off my jeans or slippers. I can't walk anywhere without him being attached to me. He loves his cuddles and will fall asleep on my lap, in my arms, on my foot or anywhere as long as he is touching me. Just love 'im the nipper - even if my hands are shredded and pouring with blood! :) Jake loves him but is a little afraid that he will bite him but I'm sure it won't be long before they're the best of friends. Oh and one last thing - don't puppies have such smelly bums?!?!?!?! Poooooooh!!!!!

Easter Holidays

Well the kids have broken up from school for two weeks. How wonderful *sigh*. At least it means a bit of a lie in - yaay! This term Jake has been studying mini beasts and as it was their last day today, I've got the pleasure of all his creations - and here they are!

I especially love the blue caterpilla, and how crafty is he with the easter card and a chick inside - ahhh bless. There are other creations too, ladybirds and spiders, but I didn't want to bore you too much. Now the question is, what do I do with them all????

Basic Grey Archiac

The new Archiac range from Basic Grey is so lovely and boyish and I've been lucky enough to nab one of these packs thanks to Design Objectives (aka DoCrafts). So here's what I've produced. Most of the elements on this page are DO stash e.g. brads & buttons and I've also used the brush markers which I really love using a the mo.



The next BG range to create with is 'Cupcake' - yum!

A Birthday Present

For my MIL's b'day on Friday we bought her the Creating Memories page frame. I took some photos of it today but they are pretty pants in terms of quality. The light was very bad but you can get the gist. The papers I used were Basic Grey Sultry which is soooo beautiful. I also used loads of the papermania 3D embellishments from DoCrafts which go so well with these papers, and at a very reasonable price too. I'd liken them to K&Co and the quality is just as good. A bargain at £1.99 a pack! Oh and of course the fabulous papermania gem stones - a girl can never have enough bling.






The ensuite is still on going - Loss Adjuster is coming on Wednesday even though everything will have been done by then, but I've taken loads of photos. We flooded overnight again and it was so bad it reached into the garage at 2am this morning. I was not a happy bunny having to clean up the mess this morning. The pump we fitted is doing it's job but just can't cope with the amount of rain. It was going from 7pm last night till 3pm today. That means it's pumped 40k litres of water from our garden in 20hrs - and probably more as it's been cascading out the back gate at a fair rate too. Not quite sure what to do now. Maybe more holes and another pump will do the trick? Please don't rain again tonight!! :(

Teenagers!

Not much to report really, only that I hate teenagers. Big one's at that. But that's another story.

Did a bit of retail therapy to cheer myself up though and I've bought a few nice things to wear. One item being some really comfy jeans. I tend to go for Bootcut everytime but today I tried on a pair of Boyfriend jeans and I haven't taken them off since I got home - they are sooo comfy! Gone along time ago are the days when I used to wear suits to work - since Jake it's jeans everyday. I miss the smartness I used to have. Oh well, can't have everything.

It's my MIL's birthday tomorrow and I'm making a page to go in a Creative Memories Frame. The frame is gorgeous and all sorted so quickly thanks to Linda and Lisa - thanks ladies! :) So onward with some scrapping.

Catch ya later!

DO Crafts Blog

Goodness me I'm everywhere these days *blush, blush*. I tell you they have some very exciting things happening over at DO Crafts and it's well worth looking on their blog here . The DT is awesome with Kirsty Wiseman, and Marieke Vermuelen to name but a few (oh and then there's little old me). Can't wait to be inspired by their creations. Another great blog to keep your eye on is Becks Fagg - a very talented writer, scrapper and she has sooo much enthusiasm for promoting Scrapbooking in the UK. There are some very interesting tit bits on her blog too that are definately worth checking out - including one at the mo for a DT spot. Go have a look!

Disaster!

Whilst decorating the downstairs loo the other week, I found a water stain in the ceiling from the ensuite above. On further investigation it appeared some of the grouting in the shower had come out and was obviously letting water in. This morning we had someone have a look at the damage and what was going to be a re-grouting repair has now turned into a full scale demolition!

Yikes! Turns out the seepage had been manifesting for quite awhile and the plasterboard behind the tiles was sodden and has resulted in a VERY bad case of black mould. Could this be the reason I've had a cough for 6months I ask myself?? Anway, no bodgits anymore in this house - it's all come out for re-plastering, re-tiling and re-decorating. Looks like the shower is out of action for a few weeks and I haven't had a bath in years! lol Tomorrow I'm off to the tile shop to choose some new ones but not having had time to think about changing them I'm in a bit of a quandry as to what I want. On the positive side though I was going to re-decorate in there anyway and have bought the new blind and paint ready to go. My colour scheme is going to be.... cream and black - oh so very sophisticated for a mere ensuite. Thankfully I'm not doing the tiling, leaving that to the experts - phew!


Oh and I nearly forgot to mention... we flooded again today. Yep! But we now have the industrial pump installed correctly in the garden, finished on Friday to my relief. It's been pumping since the early hours of this morning to clear the garden at the rate of 2000 litres per hour - and that's alot! The garden didn't clear until 5pm and the water hadn't got into the garage which was my main concern. I think we could be investing in another pump soon to be on the safe side - surely that's got to fix our BIG problem of flooding??

Crop Creations

So at last I'm able to upload the pages I did at the crop on Saturday.

This first one I used the cosmic Cosmo Cricket or Cogsmic I think it's called.

And the one in the post below I'm very lucky to have is the very, VERY new Basic Grey - Boxer. Really classy papers these - love them sooo much. This is all coming very soon through outlets of DoCrafts. I have more BG to play with and I'll show more soon... keep an eye out for those dinosaurs I mentioned before ;)

Blogger's not playing

Silly blogger is not playing ball today. It won't let me upload any pics. :( I'll post as soon as I can and I've some other real life stuff to report too. Not that exciting but a bit of a pain - Hmph!

Crop Day

I went to the all day crop yesterday with Sandie, Anita and Sue. Laugh - I nearly fell off my chair! Just LOVE being with those girls and hate having to pack up and go home.

I was a bit of a slow starter with my scrapping yesterday and only did two pages. My own fault though for deciding to do lots of cutting out. I haven't taken any photo's of them today, but I'll post tomorrow what I did.


Anway, have you seen all the fabulous new things arriving from the US since CHA? Robots and Dinosaurs are very 'in' and I'm sooo pleased. Little boys (and big ones) don't always appreciate flowers on their pages but now we have real BOYS things - hooray! Look at these lovelies.....



...Fancy Pants felt! I NEEEEED it NOW!!!!

Having a Ball!

Here's one of my projects I've made recently for the DoCrafts website. Check it out here!

It's been awhile

I haven't blogged for a few days now as I've been a bit busy with commision work. I should have it wrapped up tomorrow and onto some new stuff for the very new DO Scrapbook magazine which I'm very excited and honoured to be a part of. I'm not really sure what I can or can't say but I met the very gorgeous and lovely Becks Fagg tonight at the Scrapping Frenzy crop - or should she be re-named Wonder Women? How does she do it all? With four "beautiful" children as well. Becks I need some tips please. I only did one page but at least I got to play with some scrummy BG. I now have a mountain of it to play with - and I can't wait! It's L.U.S.H!!! Don't you just hate it when you know you have to finish one thing before you can start another - that's how I feel now. My eyes keep diverting to the pile of it on my desk. I'd stay up all night if I could but my bed is calling.... or is that Paul snoring??

Special Bond

After my previous post I decided to use the photo for the challenge over on the Scrapping Frenzy Blog

I've used the deliciously scrumptious Two Scoops from Basic Grey. All can be had very soon through Design Objectives who are venturing into the here and now of Scrapbooking - Hooray! I've scanned this for a change and it looks pretty pants really. I may take a photo later and replace it as it looks tons better in real life.

I'm stuffed!

So we went for our carvery today and as usual I pigged myself. The surroundings were very nice, food was delicious and all three of us Mums had a lovely day. Jake was a charmer and apart from being a bit loud, (squaking like a chicken with over excitement) he was generally a very good boy. Back to the MIL's for afternoon tea & homemade cakes and then home to lie flat. Back on the diet tomorrow -boo hoo :(

I've got a ton of stuff to be done pdq, so must get on. I will leave you with a beautiful picture of my MIL and Jake today - he loves his Nanna soooo much and sure knows how to pose for the camera!

(still not had time to do any SU! stuff yet but I'm itching to get started! Keep checking back to http://www.stampin-n-stuff.blogspot.com/ - I will update very soon ;))

Strange Day

From the moment I woke up this morning I felt lousy. I really haven't been able to concentrate on anything but we made it out for the afternoon - just a bit of shoppin for Paul and Jake, and we had a drink down the club. I was glad to get home though and went straight to bed a 6pm. I've slept until 10pm and now caught up on some emails and stuff but off to bed again. But then so i should as it's nearly 1am. I just don't know where the time goes when I'm on the 'puter! Still it's Mothers Day tomorrow and we're off out at lunchtime for a yummy cavery. My Mum and Paul's Mum (and the dads) will be there too so it should be a very nice relaxing day. Scott's not coming though. Football's more important to him than spending time with him Mum - ungrateful child! At least I have my Jakey who will love me and spoil me with hugs and kisses. Actually I don't really fancy the hugs and kisses from Scott. He's a 6' plus, smelly teenager and the last time I gave him a hug he picked me up off the floor! Yuk!

So night, night everyone and have a fabulous Mothers Day! Hope you all get spoilt rotten - we deserve it!

:)