Blogging from my phone

Just having a practice blogging from my phone

MCS Sketch Challenge 3

Didn't think I would have time to finish this months sketch challenge over on the MCS Sketch blog I've used the October LE kit gorgeous Websters pages. The photo is my granddaughter taken on her 11the birthday at the beginning of December. There's lots of hidden journalling about what she is like at 11 ( a lovely caring young girl)

I love my MCS kits as I buy very little else in the way of stash now as they are so packed with goodies

Have a lovely Christmas everyone and take lots of lovely photos for scrapping

XXX

12 Days of Christmas

I'm currently doing Cheryl's 12 Days of Christmas photography course. Talk about having a lot to learn but I am determined never to use my camera on Auto again.
The first is a collage where we had to try out White balance and wow what a difference it makes. All the shots were taken indoors during daylight hours. I think the best is the cloudy one (2nd down on the left cos I've done the writing too small)

The self portrait below was actually the first assignment, I nearly gave up before I started. I hate being in photographs. Thanks to my daughters friend Dawn on this one who was trying to point me towards taking a low key photograph. It didn't really work but the outcome wasn't as bad as I expected.



Next was to spell it out. For this I have used a Scrapbooking title and Christmas decorations on top of the fire

Finally it was a festive photo walk. As it was my husbands works night out I thought I would have ample opportunity to take some of the lovely lights I thought would be around where we were eating. How wrong I was there were no outside lights so I had to resort to the back garden the following morning

This is one of my chickens who did not take kindly to being disturbed by a mad woman with a camera and holly while she was in the nesting box

Today's assignment was fun party type photo booth shots. Difficult when everyone is out and hubby refuses to play. Will have to think again tomorrow

MCS Sketch Challenge 2

Here is my take on this months sketch challenge over at My Creative Sketches Blog


The photograph is of my two sons in 1990 when the teenage mutant ninja turtles were all the rage. My mother spent hours making them these costumes even down to the green shirt and pants underneath. The boys still have fond memories of them and the hours of fun they had even though they are 29 and 25 now. I used October MCS main and creative kits which work well together

MCS Sketch Challenge

Here is my LO for the MCS Sketch Challenge - a little last minute bu tI have just returned home from a fab weekend away with some scrappy friends

Circle Challenge

Over at My Creative Scrapbook this months challenge was to create a LO using circles.

I've used mainly the September LE kit.

I stitched and looped the pink ribbon circle, misted the doily then sewed on the ribbon and cut out the centre. The photo is matted on a frame cut from the Elegant Edges cartridge. The flowers are all layered and attached with Pinflair to create dimension.

I had started this yesterday but due to a power cut couldnt finish. Its amazing how much we rely on our mobile phones now. I needed my to report the fault, receive updates on the progress of the repair, the flashlight to see, texting my friend ( who kept me updated with the happenings on Strictly Come Dancing), music to lessen the intense quitness through the house and games to play on as I couldnt see to do anything else. Happily normality was restored in 3 hours, although apparently its a temporary repair and there is more work to do

Lesley

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Scrapstars and Sketch and Scrap

I've had a day finishing off LO's today. This one is for Sketch and Scrap on UKS. I marvel every month when I see every ones take on the sketch. This is me and my daughter and granddaughter after a lovely hack in the Lake District. We only ride together once a year and I think I'm getting too old for it now :lol:

These two LO's are from last weekends Scrapstars retreat in Leeds. It was a fab event, really well organised and with fantastic teachers. I will definitely be going again.

This one is me and my sister and is from a class taught by the very talented Rachael Elliot


This one is from a class taught by Emma Trout another very talented lady. This one was using lots of paint and mists and is of my lovely granddaughter Abby

I've still got lots more to finish as there were a total of 8 classes over the weekend

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Scrapology: Winner of the August Scraplift Challenge

Scrapology: Winner of the August Scraplift Challenge: Ingrid G had picked a winner ............................. ......... she said ................ ......"I really loved looking at all ...


So pleased to have won this months challenge pop over to Scrapology and look at Septembers and have a go

Lesley
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Scrapology August R is for Ribbon

Here is my LO for the August Scrapology Challenge - R is for ribbon. The photo is of me and my mum when I was one I used MME Lost and Found ( Union Square ) for the background and some Websters Pages Country Estate (Restful Retreat and Serenity ) for the handcutting, photo mat and inside the ribbon circle. Lots of prima blooms, a swirl, some pearls and of course the ribbon

The ribbon round the circle is done by stitching at various intervals as described in the tutorial on the Scrapology Blog

This is the beautiful LO by Ingrid that was scraplifted

and finally the sketch I worked from

Thanks for looking

Prima Packaging

This LO was done for the weekly challenge on UKS from a Pagemaps Sketch. The rest of the criteria was that the LO had to be about holidays and have blooms or butterflys on. The photo of me was taken on the Rialto bridge in Venice on a recent cruise and the other was taken from the ship as we were leaving Venice I've used lots of Prima packaging on this LO as photo mats and also the strip going across the centre. The little words on the photo are also cut from the plastic backing that comes in some of their flower packing. Its all too nice to throw away. Its finished with some Prima Lace and blooms.

Lake District LO

After a fantastic week in the Lake District with my daughter and granddaughter I now have loads of lovely photos to scrap. Apart form one day of rain we had good weather and managed to do lots of walking and horse riding. Daughter and granddaughter did Go Ape which I may make a mini book of as I have so many photos.

This LO is of Abby and her dog Tana whilst we were walking up Wansfell Pike, the views over Windermere and Ambleside were fantastic - not sure my legs were happy about it.
I've used Websters Pages from the July My Creative Scrapbook kit

and added a trim, cameo and acetate

The title is cut on the Cricut (Jasmine) and mounted on a handcut element from one of the patterned papers. This is raised up using Pinflair glue to add dimension

The photo is framed with lots of handcut flowers from more of the patterned papers

Thanks for looking

Lesley

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My Creative Scrapbook and Sketch and Scrap LO's

My first LO is for Sketch and Scrap on UKS, a lovely little group where we all take turns to choose a sketch. The photos here are from a recent cruise hubby and I went on. The papers are Basic Grey Curio, edges are inked, the corner was stamped and cut out and the title was cut on the Cricut and then coated in perfect pearls

This is my first LO from My Creative Scrapbook Ltd edition Kit. Its done from a video tutorial by one of the design team Delaina on her blog http://delainas.blogspot.com/ Papers are MME and Websters pages and there was lots of hand cutting, inking and layering. I love the effect

Finally this one is from the July Sarah's Cards Kit. The photo mat was cut with a Martha Stewart punch. All the flowers leaves and branches were cut in white card on the Cricut (Picturesque Cartridge ) and coloured to match. Photos are of my granddaughter wearing my sons police helmet

Lesley

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A quiet house

I've a lovely quiet week ahead of me, hubby is away in Bristol for the week and son is in Spain. So hopefully I will get some scrapping done

This one is for the weekly challenge on UKS - Inspiration was to be taken from a lovely bright sunny picture of a sunflower, a celebration, ribbon and tag. This is my sons fiance and my granddaughter at their engagement party. Abby asked if Helen was now her Aunty Helen. Papers are from the Sarah's Cards July kit - pebbles happy go lucky
This one I started at Holystone Crop on Saturday. Papers are Bo Bunny Gabrielle



I inked all the edges and used some of the noteworthy journal pages to go behind the photo. The swirl and some of the butterflys are from the Noteworthy packaging. The title is cut from the Paisley Cricut cartridge with glossy accents on and the flowers are from the Mothers Day Bouquet cartridge. Its finished off with a few dots of stickles around

I now need to start playing with my new kit from My Creative Scrapbook. Its packed with lovely papers and embellies and I just don't know where to start

Challenge LO's

I've yet again not blogged for a while but its the usual life gets in the way -- and I've had a fab holiday.
This LO was for last weeks challenge on UKS which I didn't manage to get uploaded in time. I'm concentrating on getting some of my oldest sons photos scrapped. He has always had gorgeous eyes and has been a flirt since he was born - nothings changed. I used June's Sarah's Cards kit for this one
This is my sketch and scrap LO and I think I used Mays kit. I was a bit of a rush job as I didn't have long to the deadline after coming back from holidays. Of course if I'd been more organised I would have done it before I went away. I'm determined not to leave it so late again and have already started this months

This is for this weeks challenge on UKS. I used a MS border punch around the edges, distressed the edges of the smaller papers and got the old embossing powders out for the flowers. I used the sketch from the DT booklet and inspiration from Claire's LO

Thanks for looking

Hello

Dont know whether anyone else has had continuing problems with blogger but for some reason I havent been able to access the sign on or dashboard until tonight. So having a catch up on blog reading and then hopefully a little crafting
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Meet the Girlies

My last day at work was fine though very emotional. A presentation had been arranged in front of over 100 people. I had said that I would be getting some chickens so apart from them making a works magazine of my career in the force the rest was rather chicken themed. Anyway purchased on Saturday with some of my leaving present money here are the girls. They did have me picking names out of a hat during the presentation but the only one I've kept from those is Chuckles. This was suggested by an old boss of mine who said - ' Chuckles ' a) it sounds a bit like chick b) it sounds a bit like chuckie egg c) Most importantly it reminds me of Lesley and her lovely laugh Well after that it had had to be one of the names The brown one at the front is a Columbian Black Tail and is called Feathers Fandango, next to her the white one is a Coral Nick and she is called Angel. At the back on the left is Miss Snoots and she is a Copper Black and on the right is Chuckles and she is a Rhode Rock

and the first egg laid by the lovely Chuckles the day after I got them - I was expecting to wait a couple of weeks

Here is Feathers Fandango making her way up to the hen house

And finally Jen with Chuckles at Durham Hens where we bought them. What a lovely place it was

And finally both Chuckles and Angel have laid and egg today

Last Day at Work - tomorrow

I'm going into work for the last time tomorrow and I know there is a presentation and other things organised for me. Whilst it was my decision to take voluntary redundancy for many reasons, I know I will find it difficult to say goodbye to everyone. I have worked there for 20 years working my way up from being a temporary member of staff to being a member of the Senior Management Team. I wont miss the stresses of the job but I will miss my team of dedicated support staff who have always been very loyal and supportive. I've got a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes already - get a grip girl !!!

Title or No Title

Today has been one of those days where nothing has gone to plan in fact I have felt a little bit let down - never mind tomorrow is another day.

I have managed to do some finishing off of LO's I started at yesterdays crop and the one a couple of weeks ago

Title or no title - I always put a title on LO's - well until now. I couldn't think of a title for it and the more I looked at it the more I thought it looks OK without.
What do you think? Its of my Granddaughter and husband climbing above the falls at Aira Force in the Lake District

Favourite LO's

After going through my gallery on UKS to have a clear out and me being a poor blogger last year I decided to post some of my favourites from the last couple of months.

I love this photo of my daughter as walking behind her it really did look as though she was carrying someone in her rucksack (even though the boots are on the wrong feet). This was quite a graphic simple LO for me as I'm usually into lots of detail and inking



This one is of my granddaughter horse riding and was for the sketch and scrap group I am part of. Title was cut on the Cricut and the glossy accented. MS border punch and lace and a Prima twig

Back to the inking and distressing with this one and as you can see changed the photo to sepia to fit in with the papers. This is granddaughter again with her dog Tana

And now my lovely husband who is quite particular about the photos I use of him ( just as well he doesnt see them all )

Lots of inking and distressing again. This is from a Sarahs cards kit

Crop LO's and a Happy Birthday

I had a lovely day at the Frozen North crop yesterday and managed to finish two LO's probably something of a record as I probably spend too much time chatting

The first is my dad and although he is now in a care home becoming increasingly frail with Alzheimer's he has a real love of chocolate and each piece gets the look of delight shown in the photo.


This one is for weekly challenge set my the Dizzy Dots on UKS. A lovely challenge thank you.
Part of the challenge was to include a group of something. I chose the cupcakes my sons fiance made for their engagement party last weekend and they were delicious as well as very pretty


And finally Happy Birthday to Heather my friend and team leader on the Rik Rak Ravers. Have a lovely day Heather .

This is the card I made for her and my first attempt at an easel card.

Recipe Tag Swap and a couple of cards

Well I've finally finished the recipe tags for the Rik Rak Ravers Recipe Swap that Heather has kindly organised. I'm really looking forward to to seeing what everyone has done and getting some nice recipes to try. I did a quite healthy Warm Chicken Salad


Ive also been doing a couple of cards today. The first is a tag card and its taken me nearly all day to do. Problem being that I played around far too much and kept going on UKS and chatting and then there was the Gottacraft Sale and I had to have a little spend - far too many distractions

The final card is for my friend Heather whose birthday is on Sunday. Its my first attempt at an easel card and I was quite pleased with it. I will post a picture on Sunday.