As seen - White Bluebell

Tonight I am too tired to write much.
Just a brief synopsis of my day.

• I tried to do a layout but it isn't going right.
• Went into town got some photos printed for a friend
• Bought a new case for my camera
• Decided to get Slimming world magazine (I have put on too much weight)
• Met up with Neil in Costas
• Open the box of chocolates that Neil left on the doorstep on Sunday. Mistake I've eaten too many of them.
• On the way home I saw the little clump of bluebells that grow at the end of the lane, there are more and more white ones each year.

• Alli brought over the A4 set of drawer that she no longer uses filled already but it does mean I now have a small set empty, but for how long.
• Vegged in front of the box
• Done my blog and going to bed. Good night

As Seen - work space

I am really pleased with myself today. I have worked hard and managed to really bring order and space to my craft conservatory. I can see the floor, I don't have to step over things to get to what I need. I have all stash put in sensible places away in drawer but accessible the storage drawer unit I bought yesterday does take all my papers and card stock though the off cuts I've had to put in the other drawers, but these are now out in the conservatory where I do all my crafting so I don't have to keep going backwards and forwards.

I even managed to tidy up the lounge though I still need to dust and hoover in there.

This evening I did the layout that has been sitting on my desk all day waiting to be put together. It is another of the w/e challenges from Shimelle Put it in a pocket.
I was glad to use up these two papers as they have been in my stash for so long I'm not very good at using such busy patterns and the colours are not really my choice but they seemed to be perfect for our colourful apparel and the photos have a natural dark frame which helps them to stand out from the papers.


the pocket contains a few more photos and names of the retreaters plus details of the venue
It would actually meet another of the challenges to use two contrasting pattered papers but as I seldom do pockets but often use two papers I thought I'd use it for this one.

Today I am grateful for the energy to keep going, several times I felt like stopping but I didn't.

Shimelle's Scrapping weekend

I've done another of the challenges from Shimelle's scrapping weekend this time we were to take inspiration from this layout by Wilna Furstenberg

I love the idea of a panaramic photo but the first thing that caught my eye was the line of circles and half circles. Looking closer at the page I noticed the scattered butterflies so used the scattering idea on my page but with buttons
Having a large area of wall in the photo seemed a good place to add the title so did that on the computer before printing the photo. I used 3rd Man font


I'll be back later with how my day has gone.

As seen - Storage

I've been out all day, church first of all then out with my neighbours to Costco. I got myself a 10 drawer 12"x12" unit, the drawers aren't really deep enough for all my papers but ideal for all the boxes of bits I have around I think next time I get another if they are still there. So my storage problem is gradually being resolved.
My picture for today has to be the storage unit

Today I am grateful for such lovely neighbours
for being able to afford to indulge my hobby without feeling the pinch
and enough to give away when I feel it is right to do so.
and the discovery of a box of chocolates on the doorstep when I came home (from my lovely son)

Shimelle's Scrapping weekend

I'm still playing along with the Scrapping weekend organised by Shimelle and it is not too late if you would like to join in as the deadline is next Saturday.
Here is my page for the 4th challenge which is to use Grey & Yellow with one other colour I chose to use green

this page was roughly based on sketch #196 by Nicole Nowosad of Creative Scrappers do check them out they have some super sketches and amazing examples

I'll be back with more later

As seen - Golden

this morning I was at a scrapping crop. This afternoon at a 50th wedding anniversary do at the church. The couple celebrating their golden are two of the longest serving members of our church, and it was lovely to see all their friends and ours that have been part of our church in the past and now gone on to other churches.
my photo for today is the cake

and while I was at the church I took the photo that I should have taken Thursday so here is Thursday's picture as well

I have done another page tonight but it is too dark to get a decent photo so will show it tomorrow.

today has been a busy but enjoyable day so I am grateful for that
also good to be in company all day. Thank you Lord for old friends and new.

Shimelle's Scrapping weekend

challenge No. 2 to use papers and embellishments from different sources.

Well that was not difficult for me as that is what I am always doing. The difficult part was finding the names and as most of the papers I used were scraps I didn't have many, in fact just the two the stripy one is from New Leaf by Mindy Terasawa and the first paper at the top of the page is by Autumn Leaves the rest are old and I don't have any names but I do know that they are from different sources.

btw the page isn't creased at the bottom it is a shadow. :(

As seen - Thyme

I went food shopping today, and outside Asda they had racks and racks of plants, I bought a thyme (apart from rosemary, which I have already, that was the only herb they had) I got it as far as the bed I want to plant it in but it is still in its pot not sure when I'll get round to digging a hole for it still it's a start.

Today I am grateful for a lovely page to scraplift
and the fact that it is only Friday and not Saturday as I kept thinking

Scrapping weekend

There is a scrapping weekend over at Shimelle's place not a frantic must get done in a given time, but a nice relaxed one and we have till not weekend to upload to her site.
The first challenge set by Jaime Warren and is a scraplift challenge of this lovely page

here is my page


I used several different papers from different sources so that would do for the second challenge as well, but I will do another page for that challenge
the bkgd pp is Laundry Line by My Minds Eye (also the chipboard bracket)
Semi circle pp is Pink Paislee's Autumn blossom Amber Road collection
the photo mat pp is Campo by 7 Gypsies
butterflies are from a sheet by BoBunny Gabrielle collection
Title alpha is Cosmo Cricket.
few gems and a few flowers to finish it off

I also want to share the layout I was fiddling with last night, this morning it came together quite quickly so walking away from it yesterday and reviewing it afresh today did the trick


I'll be back later with my picture for today (and yes I have taken one)

As Seen - Not seen

Oh dear, what has happened I forgot to take any photos, not a single one.
The sale went OK this morning though it seemed very quiet we did still take over £100. Not many people in and not many to help pack up, but it all went back into our tiny room satisfactory. (perhaps I'll get a photo of that room sometime and it will be today's photo.)
I slept this afternoon as I was so tired again
didn't feel like cooking and I did fancy a curry from the takeaway across the road so that was my dinner.
I have made a start on another layout, this time of my Son's son. Grandson No.2 but it isn't finished yet.
And that was my Thursday.

Today I am grateful for having a very local takeaway

As seen - Ribbons ribbons and more ribbons

I've had a day of sorting, mainly ribbons the boxes I bought yesterday are what I want to keep all my ribbons in, but if I am to keep them all in these boxes then I need another set most of the boxes are crammed full and could do with splitting up a bit, so I might have to get two more set but I will have to do that a bit at a time.
so my photo for today is Ribbons

ribbons and more ribbons

I'll also share the layout I did yesterday.
My daughter told me that Danny rode his bicycle to school and back again the other day and declared it Pedaltastic so of course I just had to use that for the title

I wonder how long it will be before Ben want a bike too. Apparently he sat on it after they had dropped Dan off at school and wanted to be pushed back home on it. It must have been a bit backbreaking for Helen

today I am grateful for having got a bit more sorting done

As Seen - Prawn Salad

Today I had to have my blood pressure taken again as it was rather high when I went to see the doctor two weeks ago. Luckily it has come down a lot so nothing to worry about.
I went straight from there into town and out again to Hobby craft, spend spend spend. I bought a lovely Martha Stewart punch

some stamps a set of little Really Useful Boxes for my ribbons, and one or two other things. A snack in Dunelm then back to town on the bus as I needed to get some more ink cartridges for the printer.
I remembered just before I was going to come home, that I needed a 7x5 print of a photo so into Jessops which meant a wait of an hour. by now it was lunch time and I fancied a M&S salad

I think this should really be an 'AS EATEN' it was very delicious.
Home again and I've been scrapping, using one of the stamps I bought today. Too late by the time I had finished to get a decent photo so I'll share it tomorrow.

Today I am grateful for a little retail therapy
for M&S as they do make exceedingly good salads
for inspiration to scrap

10 on the 10th - My John

Today is the 10th anniversary of my dear husband's death so it is a befitting day to do 10 of my favourite photos of him. It was hard to choose which ones to use but I managed it. It isn't a sad day it is a celebration of a life, of love, of remembrance of the good times.

pictures are, reading from left to right from top to bottom

1. Our engagement
2. Laughing at a joke (John didn't often laugh out loud, so this is a great photo)
3. When we were first courting, he told me he was shy
4. We had been married only a short while, photo taken in Epping Forest
5. Our 1st wedding Anniversary, at a dance
6. The last photo I have of John taken Christmas 2001
7. Sitting in a field while camping doing his very first cross stitch picture, a hobby that was to delight him for the rest of his life
8.  Waiting at the church on our wedding day
9. One of our wedding photos
10. Towards the end of his life at a friend's 60th birthday party

Thank you for looking if you want to see more 10 on the 10th head over to Shimelle's blog and join in the fun

As seen - Rain

It has been pretty miserable weather wise today so I've had a lazy day and done some scrapping.
This is the page I did yesterday, though I did add a little bit more this morning.


As it is Monday UKScrapper weekly challenge goes live, this week the criteria is to scrap an animal photo, use a nursery rhyme or fairy tale as the title and to use lots of different papers.
Well I just had to do one of the kittens now didn't I? these two photos are of Muffin and I have used nothing but paper.

the larger flowers were punched from a shimmer paper with a little ball of tissue paper in the centre, the smaller ones are punched from Mulberry paper and the leaves from black glitter paper.

finally my picture for today just had to be my rain soaked garden

Today I am grateful for the comfort of my own home.
for not having to get dressed properly
and for the challenge of another Layout.

Easter Sunday

It's Easter Sunday and I'm feeling sorry for myself. I could have gone over to my son's but they weren't doing anything particular and it would have meant a taxi as there are no buses running today.
I did go to church in the morning and the service was good, but somehow I felt distant from it all.
the flower display was very good and I took a photo of them. This was going to be my picture for the day

I did my usual roast for dinner and Easter always has to be lamb, shoulder fillet this year, followed by

I always make a small Pudding which I have later in the year and Easter seemed just the right time to indulge.

I did another heritage page. This I'll share in Monday's post.

Today I am grateful to the lovely song we sang in church this morning that has been with me all day.

As seen -sorting

I don't usually food shop on a Saturday, but as yesterday was Good Friday it had to be done today. It's a good job I don't mind crowds.
No scrapping today, I have been sorting out a set of drawers that were overflowing and stuffed with papers higgledy piggledy the only place big enough to sort them was the floor in the lounge, I'm getting a bit to old and to do this for too long, my poor bones were really aching by the time it was all done.

The finished tidy drawers make it worthwhile though

today I am grateful for being a little bit nearer to being sorted.
for a lazy day not having to go or do anything particular

Counterfeit Kit Challenge - April

I got very confused with the kit we are to counterfeit this month and rather a lot of pink in it

I don't really have any papers like these so I have gone for a much more subtle colour scheme

I've split it into three smaller kits too adding a few embellishments which I will probably add to as the month progresses

2 patterned papers from My Minds Eye Lost & Found
1 paper My Minds Eye Sopie
Cream & Brown card stock

2 My Minds Eye Lost & Found patterned papers
1 Crate Paper Lilian collection Gathering
Blue & Cream card stock

3 patterned papers from First Edition Paper
shaped paper is K & co Mira Citrus Botanical
cream & pale olive card stock

I have done the first layout with the kit and this is also for the monthly challenge on UKScrappers using this sketch

This morning I saw that I have a lovely little Narcissus among the few flowers I have in my garden and as the sun was shining brightly I took a photo of it and this is my picture for today.

I was very disappointed that I couldn't take part in the walk of witness this year. It would have been too far for me to walk a good half hour to get there then all the way back. If the service had been just at one church I might have gone to that but it wasn't it started at the assembly point and was continued at two other churches. Still I am glad I spent all day at church yesterday and took part in the Read through the Bible.

today I am grateful for the Sunshine

Yesterday Maundy Thursday

I didn't blog yesterday, I was just too tired after a long long day. Started at 8 with the sale at church. In the afternoon we had the last of the Read through the Bible and I wanted to stay for it all. I knew if I went home after the sale I wouldn't have the energy to come back so I got myself some lunch and stayed at church. Immediately after the final reading we had communion then a fellowship meal cooked by our lovely catering team. Thank you ladies.
The only photo on my camera for Yesterday was one that my friend took of me. So, by default, this has to be my picture for the day

As seen - Woody

I had a few things I needed to do in town today but first of all I wanted to finish the layout I started last night. It was another UKS challenge this time we had a pallet of green, yellow, red and pale pink and we were to use twine/wool or thread and stickers.
I went through my patterned papers and pulled out lots of scraps so this page has no full sheet used in it but has come out rather well I think.

close up of the embellishments


on the way home from town I heard the wood pecker and actually saw him this year took a photo then realised that the camera was on indoor setting grrrrrrrrrr by this time he had disappeared but I was able to more or less correct it on the computer. So my photo for today is of course Woody

I've made a couple of minibooks but I haven't filled them or decorated them yet so won't share until I have.

Today I am thankful for a browse in my favourite haberdashery shop
and for the rain keeping off until I was home again.

As seen - a change of colour

I scrapped again this morning, I liked the sketch from yesterday so much and the challenge was perfect for these photos of my youngest grandson so I just had to do this layout


I was rather pleased that I was able to use the contents page from the Basic Grey Archaic pack that I have nearly finished. This has been a super pack for boys and most of the paper are no more but of course the contents sheet shows them all in miniature which just fits in with the sketch so well.
I also love the large letter 'J', I've had these some while now and have only used a few. The 'r' in joker being on its side was an accident but a happy one as it seems very fitting


this afternoon I had my hair done, I usually have it dyed a reddish colour but today I wanted a change and have gone more chestnut. So I decided that I would be my picture for today.

(I know, I know, I shouldn't have the dried herbs growing out of the side of my head, but this was the best photo of me of all the ones I took) :D

Today I am grateful to my hairdresser who always makes me feel comfortable
for my cats who welcome me home even if I have only been out for a short while
and for an improvised dinner tonight curried left over on a bed of rice, yummy

My day and as seen

Today I woke after a good nights sleep, still felt giddy but it soon passed
did some scrapping, in fact I did the weekly challenge, was able to adapt what I had already started which was good because it could have been difficult with a sketch
the challenge was to use the sketch provided. This sketch is the one for CCW Scrap Map challenge for April so entering my page there too.
something to make us smile or laugh and buttons
here is what I did


I decided to walk to Asda area and go into Starbucks for lunch, I enjoyed the walk and saw that the frog spawn had hatch and tadpoles were swimming in the muddy hole but it was definitely getting smaller just hope the develop quickly before the water disappears again.
I picked up another Maureen Lee book at the library before going into Starbucks. So I enjoyed my meal with a book to read.
Starbucks have new mugs much nicer than the old ones don't need to use a straw any longer they are thin enough to feel comfortable. quite stylish in fact.

I then decided to go clothes shopping, found nothing that suited me in George unfortunately but M&S was a different matter.
doing my usual I took photos in the fitting room so I think this is my picture for today.

but Oh dear I really have put on a lot of weight, I ought to go on a diet, but I don't wont to (pout pout stamp stamp)

today I am grateful for the nice spring weather enjoying it while it lasts
finding clothes that I like I think I am becoming a Per Una Lady
another good book to read

Not don't much since I came back home except read. this is becoming quite a habit.

As seen - car wash

1st April, April fools day, and I think technology play the game too. I was all set to do the multimedia at church today, first of all I couldn't get the computer to open the programme I needed, secondly once I did get it open it wouldn't speak to the projector, closing the whole thing down again the computer spoke to the projector but refused to accept that it was kept coming up with a default file missing or something. I never did get it to work so we had to give out books. I am supposed to be doing it again next Sunday but feel very apprehensive about it.
On a more positive note I took lots of photos of my neighbour washing his daughter's car. He had been washing cars all afternoon, first his work car, then his daughter's friends, then his own and finally his daughter's, I should have gone out earlier with my camera but I did manage to get some good shots so this is my picture for today.

It's a pity he couldn't charge anyone for the work as he really went to town making a good job of it. I think secretly he was enjoying himself after all we all like playing with water especially when it come out with such force.



today I am grateful for an understanding Pastor
and for meeting up with Trefor, a good friend who I haven't seen for a while

Story telling Sunday - April fool & the spider

Story telling Sunday is brought to you by our lovely blog friend Sian please pop over to her place and see some of the other stories that we have to share

my story starts as all good stories should with ......
Once upon a time when I was about 10 or 11 and it was April 1st I screamed down to my daddy from my bedroom ' help daddy there is an enormous spider in my room come and take it away please' (I really was frightened of spiders, but of course this was an April fool joke) I didn't realise that my daddy didn't like them either, but Mum had overheard me plotting this joke with my brother, so she told him to come and of course he did APRIL FOOL I shouted and was well pleased.
Many many years later when my son was an adult I found out that my fear of spiders had been passed to him. He wouldn't go into a shed because it was sure to have them. But he did go to see Arachnophobia, something I definitely wasn't going to do.
I realised then that it was so very silly to be afraid of such a tiny creature and I cured myself by studying them. They are fascinating to watch, with beautiful markings. Now I will handle them if necessary and quite happily capture the large ones and put them outside.
Because I knew that I was no longer afraid of them I was determined to prove it for all times and handle a tarantula

Turn away now all those of you who are still afraid of the big bad spider.........

or scroll down very quickly to leave me a comment :D