Retreat time again.

Yes it was the weekend for the Forest Hills retreat again. This twice a year event comes round very quickly. I am posting 3 of the layouts I did and keeping the rest for another photo heavy post using round 2 of the RKG class which I am re-doing-watch this space. The first layout was for the 2nd challenge that we were set which incorporated three circles. I interpreted it my own way and used three vases of flowers instead.

the next one is of a very rainy day last summer in Malaga. Rain in Málaga who would have thought it? this is a Kaisercraft lift using their latest range.

Lastly a Like Forever inspired layout using one of their earliest kits.

I am so glad to be going away next week as I am desperately short of photos. Hopefully I'll capture some gooduns so I can KEEP SCRAPPING!!!!!!

New class.(Photo heavy)

I've just completed a new online class involving 15 sketches complete with 30 videos as well as extra versions of the layouts. It's fun to follow a sketch but change it so it fits in with your own ideas. Im feeling very virtuous because I've managed to use so much stash-even finishing some kits and have done them all within 2 weeks. I actually quite like most of them too. Not sure about the mixed media one tho'. It didn't come out quite as I'd imagined it. Here are my 15 -yes 15 layouts before I start again.

2nd post in as many days!!!!!!!

Following on from the other day when mojo was present, I forgot to post this one inspired by  the Like Forever Kit layouts and using the first kit I got from them. I added some die cuts from my stash for the title.

Hello poor neglected blog.

So easy to get distracted by life and not by the fun things. It was crop day yesterday and as always I got fired up and produced more when I got home. I'm following an online class at the moment involving using all those pesky die-cuts that we normally end up throwing away. When completed I will put them all on here but in the meantime here is what I did at home in the evening:
The first one was a quality time lunch with my eldest in Manchester. Loverly.

The second one is also of Michael and was taken on christmas day at my sister in law's house where we had a great time.

This third one is of hubby's niece who is just the nicest young lady-love her to bits. The idea for this one came from somewhere but I can't remember where so can't credit.

Hope you likey. Thanks for looking and see you soon.

I remember

a few weeks ago now before I became newly obsessed with knitting. My husband says it happens every few years and when he saw my knitting needles out asked me how long I would be knitting for this time? Several scarfs, shawls and cards later I decide today to scrap a photo of son no.1. 
Admittedly it felt a bit strange to get the ol' sprays out but it was fun to do so.

more wedding

Clive's nephew got married in the summer and I managed to catch this photo of the bride and groom with Michael having a good time. It looks like they are singing along to Bruce as this is their normal Bruce stance.
I saw this layout whilst blog surfing and knew I wanted to lift it-the colours cry out to me-adding some die cuts around the photo itself.

weird and wonderful

So, you know I love weird and wonderful arty things and what better than this great ape or the reflection of a car wheel in a puddle, both begging to be photographed.

Not so weird but most definitely wonderful is a rare lunch with No.1 son.

Cropping.

Yesterday was our girly crop day and we all managed to produce something. Here's mine:
I've mentioned before that whenever we go away and wherever we go, we always come across a wedding. Marbella was no exception and here is the wedding car.

The ideal thing about cut files is that you can use all the scraps that you have left over from whole sheets and thats what I did here for this photo of Steven. Yes, another photo of Steven, primarily because Michael won't let me take pictures of him.

The last one is of Whitstable-again. It was so lovely to see children crabbing in October when you think we should be huddled up by a cosy fire. I even managed to use some dies that I never thought I would.

My hommage

...to Paris. As a francophile who once lived there and feels strong ties to this beautiful city of light, I knew I had to pay homage in some small way. What else but to create something and write a little bit about my feelings.
I'd had the chipboard tower for about 15 years and never used it despite taking photos of the eiffel tower every timeI'm in Paris. I'd obviously been saving it for some unknown reason that suddenly became clear after the events of last week. I am so used to hearing about daily bombings and terrorist attempts but when it happens in Europe so close to home it is shocking in the true sense of the word. 

....and finally

the last round from the retreat. this is a picture of the road leading to the university campus. the autumnal colours in the bright sunshine were beautiful:

      

Change of subject. Steven and Sarah..again. Just how many did I take?

Well not as many as I took just of Sarah obviously.

I just loved the colours in this piece of Wirksworth art and when you've got papers that match so perfectly what's a girl to do but scrap?

 So there you have it. My creations from the latest retreat. Although I can only see 16 and know I did 17 so where the last one is is anyone's guess. Probably behind me heh Michele? 

 Next time everything I've done since then, when I get the bug, I get the bug.

....and round 3

I thought I'd better put a few more on than just 3 otherwise this will take forever. Yes, it was a very productive retreat for all of us. Not wanting to subscribe to a regular kit, I had decided for the retreat, that I would look at various kits and then I bought the items from stores in UK. Much cheaper way of doing things I'm afraid. So first up is a photo of Steven and me on our way from Canterbury to Whitstable on the bus. What an experience.. Over-reliant on my car, I had no idea what to ask for. Back in my public transport days I'd ask for a 25p ticket or 'two stops please'. I now have no idea what to do. These days you can get a return and there appears to be one price. Who knew? Back in the day you could smoke on the upper deck-not these days (thank goodness). I've never known what difference a set of stairs make to one's health. Anyway here we are, a selfie on the bus:

It was a beautiful day, just right for sitting by the sea 

and day dreaming. Well Steven did anyway. I just took the opportunity to take photos of him:

Eventually even Steven had to admit that it was too hot to wear his beloved coat:

Round 4 next time. Yes, there are more to come. Just how many photos can you take?!!!!!

...and round 2.

Just before the sky clouded over and submerged the house in a veil of darkness I managed to take some photos of a few more of the layouts I did over the weekend.
Steven and Sarah are always silly when they get together. Not sure whether I did this for him or for her- you lose track after a while!

Having said that, Steven can be very silly even when he is not with Sarah. Not sure why he felt the need to balance a teaspoon on his nose but he did. I lifted this from Hey Little Magpie blog as I loved the papers.

At the beginning of the year the Crafty Gals all did a sewing workshop together in Poynton-remember the Paris bags I made? At the retreat one of the girls was about to throw out the remnants of a sticker sheet with lots of sewing words. I couldn't let her do that so used them on this layout. Here we all are showing our bags:

I love this photo that a cousin took of me and Steven at a recent family wedding. Speaks for itself really.

thats all for now. Back with more soon. TFL

and we are off-round 1

I spent last weekend with a group of girlies at a retreat in Frodsham. It was great-great food, great company, great chat.
I thought I'd better split the products of the weekend into several posts to avoid a picture heavy loooooooong post. So first up are the challenges we were set. This first one had to use a white piece of card, the camera and the two pins as well as a gold polka-dot straw which you can just see tucked behind the photo and the camera. The photo is one of many of Son no.2 and my niece. I have had to scrap them all twice- one for each album.

This next one was also a challenge. We had to use the mannequin die cuts. It seemed very fitting to use them on a layout of Sarah.

 The third layout was also a challenge. This was a sketch challenge made by some of the girls being blindfolded and sticking various elements to a board making up a sketch. Clever idea but difficult sketch to follow. I rotated it and used a photo of a steel water ball taken at the Art and Architecture Festival at Wirksworth.

Will load some more in the next couple of days.

good morning.

Every time I come down the stairs I am greeted by Jemima  perched on the arm of the couch looking at me from the lounge. It never ceases to make me smile. Today a visitor told me how lovely it was to catch sight of her and I agree. I saw the kit at Event City and knew straight away that she had to be mine even though I really have no affinity or bond to geese and actually don't like most birds very much at all. She didn't take me long to make-blanket stitch learned in primary school, and I'm so pleased I gave into temptation.

with permission

from Veera I lifted this layout from her blog. It is one of my 'go-to' places when lacking in inspiration. I love her clean style that is so soft and feminine. I could probably lift every layout that she produces. They are so lovely. Do go and visit.
The photo was taken on the Thursday evening that was preview night of Scrap Version. It seems a long time ago now but it was so exciting, as a first timer, to see the sign.

what do you get....

when you mix PP bella rouge with cedar lane, hello sunshine, a pinch of simple stories, BG prism, Studio Calico and a sheet of Bazzill CS? Answer = a couple of very C&S layouts.

Same ranges-different looks. Hope you likey.