Awarded a hug!!!

I have been awarded with this hug from 2 of my fellow crafters over on the Crafts Beautiful Forum, thank you both so much Margaret and Denyze

Arty Girlz Challenge #70

Here is an ATC I created for the Arty Girlz 70th challenge!

Lots of inking, paint effects and different efemera going on in this one.

I used a kit that my good friend Sarah sent me, that she called 'Miss Havisham Remembered' as a trial set. She is planning to sell ATC kits soon. I can tell you that there is enough scrumptious stuff in these kits to make at least 5 ATCs, so are going to be great value. Come on Sarah, get these kits out there, I want some more LOL

2nd Edition

Check out the latest edition of the Craft's Shop Mag.... You know the one that on the right hand side of my blog? ....Yeah that one....click on it and have a read.

Guess what, I am in there too...yeah with my paper beads ;)

If you would like to be included in future editions than simply contact Claire over on the Secret Corridor blog and she will liase with you from there.

Oh and that cute little love birds heart key ring, it's been made by the lovely Juliet and it's up for grabs. If you would like the opportunity to win it, then head on over to Juliets blog to find out how ;)

Photo Challenge...love this one!

I have been challenged by Jules to a photo challenge and this is what I have to do:

1) Go to the 6th photo folder saved on my PC (or not if you file them in a different way)

2) Choose the 6th photo stored and upload to to your blog

3) Write something about the picture.

4) Then challenge 6 new people to join this challenge....

Anyways, it just so happens, that I have been busy recently scanning in loads & loads of vintage family photos, in preparation to having them printed off to use in my scrapbooks!

My photo of my dearest grandfather Charlie Cook, when he was a younger man, funny, I never knew my grandad with hair or a moustache, so it was quite a surprise to find this photo. He resembles one of my uncles in this snap! I loved my grandad, but I knew him with glasses and white hair, always in a crew cut style. I remember I used to love to sit on his knee and rub his head, because his hair kind of prickled and tickled my hand LOL ....

He was one of the founder members of the Chippenham Wheelers in Wiltshire, along with my grandmother and 2 mutual friends I believe. They used to cycle all over the country and my grandad could still be seen out cycling approaching his 90th birthday, when he finally took heed and conceeded that he really wasn't safe anymore.

Sadly, he is no longer with us, but I have no doubt that he is sat, watching his family in a celestial armchair somewhere in a better place, with his 'Sweetheart' my grandma, by his side!

So without further ado, I am passing this challenge on to

June

Sally

Mandi

Jackie

Sarah

Chris

Come girls play along, and let me know if you do so that I can come and see your photos ;)

GoGo Gossip

Due to overwhelming demand ScrapaGoGo are pleased to announce
GoGo Colour Me Happy too!This event includes all the materials you need to complete 4 classes, in fact the products alone total in excess of £35 so this is a great value event with the usual GoGo appeal
definately not one to be missed!
The event will be held on
Sunday July 12th 9.30am - 5.30pm.

At
Whittle Hall Community Centre
Lonsdale Close
Great Sankey
Warrington
WA5 3UA

I will be there, will you?

***************

While I'm on the subject of ScrapaGoGo

Have you thought of subscribing to a kit?

If you have, then now is a fantastic time to join up, and this is why!

WIN a 6 months FREE Create, Stamp & Go~2~Pieces Subscription!!!
Email and request a 'March Start Subscription' before Wednesday 21st January and you will be entered into a draw to win a 6 months Create, Stamp & Go~2~Pieces Subscription, this prize is worth £203.94!!! The winner will be picked from the 'hat' on March Despatch day, on or around 12th March 2009, the winner will be notified by email and published on our Blog at that time. For further details please email the office and we will be happy to help. (Limited Numbers of Subscriptions Available and Our usual Terms and Conditions for Cancellations will apply). 'Wanderlust' (March Kit) featuring Collage Press 'Jackson Lodge'; Collage Press 'Camden'; Making Memories 'Paperie'; Bella Blvd 'Family Tree'; Bella Blvd 'Pack Your Bags' and Creative Imaginations 'Creative Cafe'. Calm and tranquil combinations of blue, green and brown with a dash of orange make for a classy combo that is sure to put a spring in your step and have you reaching for your scissors in anticipation of creating sophisticated and fresh designs, so Spring Clean your crafting area and mind in readiness for GoGo March!

Why Choose ScrapaGoGo?

The Marie Antoinette award, known as the Real Person award and was given to me by my good friend Dawn, it's lovely receiving awards, but I need to pass it on to 7 more blogs.
So here goes with the rules:
1. Link to the person who gave you the award
2. Nominate 7 more persons
3. Link the nominees and let them know about this award
4. Post the award on your blog
Sarah
Leona
MT
Pips
Natalie
Sarah
Suz

Aquae Sulis...aka Bath, has to be one of my top 10 places in the whole of the United Kingdom to visit. I was lucky enough to have been born & bred within 12 miles from this amazing georgian city. The architecture is fantastic, attracting tourists worldwide, which to be honest can be a pain, when all you want to do is pop into M & S quickly or just have a quiet few hours in pleasant surroundings. I also frequent the famous Royal Mineral Hospital there too, years ago peaople with Arthritic and Rheumatic conditions used to go there to bathe in the mineral waters. The same work and care is given at the hospital, but today there is a hydro pool with cleaner water! In this LO you can see a couple photos taken in Bath
The bridge in the top photo is Pulteney Bridge & the weir. The bridge is one of only four bridges in the world with shops across the full span on both sides. Two of the others, can be seen in Florence and Venice.
The shops on the bridge include a flower shop, antique map shop, and juice bar.
The other photo is the world famous Roman Baths, this one is known as the Great Bath. The Romans believed that bathing in the waters were healthy, because of the minerals. Not something that I would have wanted to try, it tastes disgusting and smelt even worse.
The water remains warm as it bubbles up fromhot springs, because the city of Bath is built on an extinct volcano!

Sorry, but I did say I loved the place :)

The next LO is of my grandaughter Chloe, it was taken as her first official school photo!

I am also entering this LO as my Arty Girlz make, where we were asked to use a button!

Both of these LOs have been made using January's ScrapaGoGo Kit

Here are a couple of cards I made using the January ScrapaGoGo Greetings kit

The little monsters and cogs on the patterned paper are just so cute, I will be sending this card down to my eldest and youngest grandsons {3 brothers} to wish them a good 2009


This cute little fellow will be going into my card keep box, for a birthday later in the year!

Sneeky peeks from January

I will reveal the complete Los in a few days time and tell you more about them then too!

GoGo Colour Me Happy!

It has been announced today that ScrapaGoGo are coming to Warrington!
When?July 11th 2009
How Much?£50
Whats Included?5 Classes, which includes all the products needed for each class

If you want the atmosphere of a Retreat, but just can't manage the time or the cost involved, then this is one event you do not want to miss!!

Need to be quick though, as the places are filling up fast!

Want to know more? then just click HERE for the booking form and more information

Opps Sorry this event is now SOLD OUT

Index Card Box

This box started out as a Washing Powder Box, but it was so strong and when you close it, it just stays that way without popping open again.....far to good to throw away, as I knew one day it would come in handy for something!

I am a complete airhead when it comes to remembering birthdays, even within my own family. So this year I am determined to not forget a single one, so I created this box to hold index cards, one for each member of the family or friend.
I also made dividers, one for each month of the year. Will it work? honestly,
I just don't know, but it's certainly got to be worth a try!

Over on the ScrapaGoGo Clubhouse, one of my fellow design team members Nicola has challenge all GoGo Kit subscribers to use up our old /past kits. On this box I used papers from January 2008 kit, from Making Memories 'Noteworthy Range'. I chose not to embellish the box any further, because it going to sit on my desk and I really don't want it to have to much on it that collects dust...not fond of dusting me!
It also fits the requirements for this weeks Arty Girlz challenge, which is "anything but a card" just nicely.
1) I began by carefully stripping of the advertising paper from the box, leaving a blank chpboard base to work with. I choose to strip some of it right back to expose the corrogated card, to give it a distressed look. This is of coarse optional...
2) I then painted my box with acrylic paint and set aside to dry
3) I cut out panels of patterned paper for each of the sides, I left the bottom simply painted.
4) Glue the panels in place, I chose to make them slightly shorter, to allow the paint to show at the edges.
5) I then glazed the whole box with matt glaze {gesso} tinted with a little paint and allowed to dry completely, which did lift the paper a little...but I like that look, again it is just preference.
6) Finally, I rubbed a little gold leaf wax embossing paste on areas that I wanted it, when dry I then buffed it up!

I Spy Fun

Here are photos of the kit supplies that the lucky Scrapagogo kit subscribers are eagerly waiting for right now, they are due to be delivered very soon.
I however, have already used my kits and I will start showing you sneek peeks very soon!

The above is the Create Kit Stamp and is really versatile, just wait until you see some of the fantastic designs using it!

The above picture is the Greetings Kit and I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.

Above is the Go2Pieces kit, which is optional, but compliments the main kit so well

Some of the embellishments that will be found within the Scrapagogo's statement Yellow Box

Stickers, felt ric rac, alphas, journal cards it's all in the kit.......

And we mustn't forget all those amazing papers and cardstock that is always in the kit too

The colours of this kit is so refreshing and just the thing to start off 2009!
Being on the Design Team, I am lucky enough to have an insight for the next couple of months kits, and believe me when I say they are yummy, I mean it.

In fact I am expecting the Royal Mail to be delivering my DT kit for February tomorrow, it's that good I am drooling at the thought of it now!

If you are considering subscribing to a kit during 2009, now is the perfect time to sign up with Scrapagogo, because Lorraine and Janice are off to the USA at the end of January to book kits, directly from the suppliers at CHA.

LOOK HERE for further information

Launch of a Jewellery challenge blog

Do you love beading or fancied having a try?
Are you up for a challenge

If the answer to these questions are Yes?

then you might be interested in heading over to
the Jewellery Challenge blog

It's launched it's very first challenge just a few days ago.

Now where did I put my bead box, findings and tools?

Oh dear, not the best start to a new year of blogging. I have been pootling about in my craft area, but not anything to show you yet. I have a project still in the making, but the glazes are taking an age to dry, plus I have some DT work, that I'm not able to reveal yet.

I have also been busy scanning loads of vintage family photographs, no way could I bring myself to use the originals on my scrapbook pages, even though I do try to be as acid & lignin free as possible.

Not feeling up to going to the Shropshires group today, sorry Suz, hopefully make it next week

Its deadly outside today because the snow is still laying on the ground, but it also rained in the night. Of coarse this has now put a sheet of ice on top of the snow, even with my walking stick I would be taking a huge chance of not slipping up, but I desperately need to go to the post office. I guess I will wait til later in the day to see if the conditions improve.

Snowman Soup

Just look at this special little gift was sent to me by my good friend, fellow GoGo Girl & personal UK Stampin Up consultant Sally for Christmas.
I love it so much & thought it was such a yummy & thoughtful gift!

This is what it says on the back of the package handmade & beautifully embellished package

" Was told you've been real good this year.
Always glad to hear it!
With freezing weather drawing near,

You'll need to warm the spirit.
So here's a little snowman soup, complete with stirring stick.

Add hot water, sip it slow.

It's sure to do the trick!!!

Well. it did do the trick, warming & was very yummy too :)

Thanks Sally

xXx

I have been very lucky in the Christmas Blog Candy stakes for 2008
Just have a look what I have won over on Jennies blog and I was lucky enough to win twice. First time on the 27th December {the daisy stamp} and again on Christmas Day {a huge £40 worth of craft goodies}

Jennie is also the owner of 'The Artistic Stamper shop' where you will find oodles of wonderful goodies to purchase. I know that having fallen in love with lots of the products she sells, that i will be a regular customer from now on.
She is one busy lady, as she runs the

'Object D'Art' challenge blog too!!

Thank you so much Jennie, I promise to share what I make....

{I will upload the pictures just as soon as Blogger will play the game, I have given up trying this evening {and almost the will to live too LOL} after 45mins of long trying}