21

Today is Beth's big day. It's her 21st birthday. At the moment she is in New York with her mum. I hope you're having the time of your life. Congratulations, girl! As she's far away from home at the moment, she will not have received her card and present yet. No peaking on my blog before you get home, okay?!

For her card and present I used very old patterned papers from ScrapWorks. These were one of the first papers I bought and I've never used them, but also I could never part with them. Since pink is Beth's favourite colour, I thought this was the perfect occasion to use them.



Supplies: Bazzil Basics Cardstock Lily White | ScrapWorks Patterned paper | Doodlebug Aplhabet Glitter stickers | Prima Marketing flowers | KaiserCraft pearls | ribbon unknown | Tools: Silhouette Digitial Craft Cutter | Quickutz Scallop cirlce nesting die | Marvy Uchida Scalloped circle| Ellison Design Big Shot die cutting machine | Cuttlebug embossing folder Houndstooth

Beth's quite a cook... When she was staying with us last year, I promised I would make her a recipe book to put all her favourite recipes in. 

Supplies: Creative Imaginations raw chipboard album | ScrapWorks Patterned Papers | KaiserCraft pearls | Inkadinko clear stamps | Woodware flower punches | Prima Marketing flowers | Doodlebug paper frills and glitter alphabet stickers | ribbons various | Spellbinder nestabilities labels one | Martha Stewart border punch | Catslife press rubber stamp | Staz'On ink Jet Black | Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Adobe Photoshop to create tabs and recipe cards | Marvy Uchida scalloped circle punch

When I asked her last year what sub categories she wanted she said, Sweet, Sweeter and Sweetest along with Chocolate... I divided it into Entree, Soups, Mains, Vegetarian and Desserts. I guess the dessert section will be very full. Hopefully she's happy with it and will fill it with many delicious recipes for years to come.

I created the circle tabs and recipe cards in Adobe Photoshop.

Thanks for stopping by.

Featured Layout on Two Peas

I know I said in my previous post, that it was all for today, but I just discovered this as I was curiously reading the responses on my card I created this morning on Two Peas and noticed a few congratulations, not realising that my card was picked as Featured Layout by Kristina. Well, I guess my playtime was successful... LOL.

CPS 104

I felt like playing today, so I decided to pick a sketch and have fun. For this card I chose Card Positioning Systems' sketch 104.



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock lily white | Basic Grey PPs Euphoria | Autumn Leaves clear stamp 'butterfly'| Prima Marketing flowers | KaiserCraft rhinestones | Amy Butler clear stamp 'hello' | ribbon local haberdashery | Tools: Staz'On ink Jet Black | Woodware corner rounder punch | Martha Stewart border punch.

That's all for today. Happy Monday!

Catching Up

Last Saturday, some of my cards were featured on this blog. In case you want your creations to be shown here, you need to mention that you used their products on your blog as they do a random search on Google for their products and see what they find.

The past week, the children had their half term break off school, hence my lack of blogging. Tomorrow Renee will be back, but Ruben and Rebecca have yet another day off.

Today, Ella, the youngest daughter of my friend Claire is celebrating her 4th birthday. Happy Birthday, Ella! I hope you'll have a lovely day. I made this card for her:



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Imaginisce PPs | ribbon unknown | Hero Arts Clear Stamp and rubber background stamp | VersaColor ink | Staz'On ink | Martha Stewart border punch.

Earlier this week, my good friend Gill her husband was celebrating his birthday. I knew he was home alone, as Gill went to visit her mum with the children. To cheer him up, I made him a bright card:



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft| October Afternoon PPs, alphabet stickers and die cut border | American Crafts ribbon | Hero Arts clear and rubber stamp | Fiskars star and circle punch | Staz'On ink black | VersaMark ink | buttons spotlight.

As is was also half term in Holland, friend's of ours, who used to live just round the corner, and now live in Holland were over for a long weekend to see her dad and sister. Before traveling back on Tuesday they came to visit us too. I had the opportunity to take a lovely picture of the children while they were here. It was great seeing them again and we're hoping to see them again when we visit Holland in the Summer.

Last but not least, a couple of weeks I made a lay-out that I haven't shared with you yet...

The journaling is in Dutch and reads:

 It is still always a special moment when all seven of us are together. It only happens once every five years, as two of us don't live in Holland any more. Meanwhile our friendship goes back 17 years, when we first met each other. And despite the fact that we don't see each other regularly, our connection is indestructible.

When Jessica emailed us in January that she was coming over for a week, I didn't hesitate and booked a flight as well. Laughing until your cheeks and tummy hurt. We can savour this moment for the next few years. Of course this noteworthy occasion had to be recorded.

To read the journaling in Dutch, click on the picture to enlarge it.

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | 7Gypsies PPs | American Crafts felt flowers | ribbon unknown | Making Memories glitter alpha stickers and die cut shapes | lace unknown | Heidi Swapp date stamp | Martha Stewart border punch | Prima Marketing brad | SEI buttons.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. And thank you for stopping by and all your lovely comments.

Happy Valentine's Day

In honour of Valentine's Day I had a little play with some digi goodies yesterday and created this LO using some old pictures, one of them being my eye candy:

Supplies: Mindy Terasawa Sweet Love kit, Ali Edwards Love Circles, fonts: Briquet, CK KOTM1, brushes: MST_Round_Brush2.png, MCO_Definitions_Family, Katie Pertiet Overlay.

Wishing you all a great Valentine's Day.

For my Dad + 2S4Y

I was on a mission this afternoon. After tackling an immense pile of ironing this morning, including all bed sheets and hubby's bag full of washing after a long weekend golf in Spain, I had half an hour to spare before I had to get on the school run I started creating a card for my dad, who was undergoing an operation today.

A few years ago he had a fall off a ladder and broke his elbow. He's already had several operations, but he was still unable to twist his wrist because the two bones in his forearm have grown together. Today, they were going to separate them. So, this one's for you dad, I hope the operation went as planned.

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Scenic Route PP Ashville | buttons various | Vandoros ribbon | Basic Grey alphabet chipboard stickers | Tools: Ellison Design die cut machine | Spellbinder Nestabilities Labels Two | VersaColor ink Pinecone.

I wasn't quite finished with the card by the time I left on the school run, so it was a race against the clock on the way home to have enough daylight to take a picture. I just made it.

Next, I played along with 2S4Y, Laura's sketch #19. I'd already made a card two nights ago, but that wasn't something to be proud of. I tried something new, but it definitely wasn't me. Than yesterday, I saw Ingrid quarter turned the sketch, which inspired me.

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Collage Press PP, die cut label, letter stickers | Prima Marketing flowers | KaiserCraft bling | organza ribbon unknown | Tools: Martha Stewart punch leaf, border punch dots.

And then for the eye candy... I think the picture speaks for itself:

Yum!

Another Birthday Card

Yesterday it was my SIL's birthday, today it's her daughter's birthday. Annalise, we are wishing you a wonderful birthday. This is the card I made for her:



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Collage Press PP, alphabet stickers | ribbon unknown | KaiserCraft pearls | Heidi Swapp bling circles | Tools: Cuttlebug embossing folder Swiss Dot | Martha Stewart border punch dots, butterfly punch | black marker

Until next time!

P.S. Meanwhile my album made it to the #1 spot in 2Ps Top 10, yippee! I don't know if everyone could view the video that I posted on my blog about the snow last week, but you can view it here too.

Sketches Galore

Right now there is a lot out there to challenge us by creating cards along sketches. I had plans to play along with quite a few, but so far I've only managed to create two cards. The first one is for this card sketch challenge blog:

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock white | Making Memories PP, pin, ticket | Doodlebug Designs Paperfrill | ribbon local haberdashery | Tools: Spellbinder Nestabilities Labels One die | Ellison Big Shot die cutting machine | Sizzix Hearts die.

The next card I created was along Ingrid's Valentine's Card Sketch Challenge:

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Little Yellow Bicycle PP and flocked die cuts | Making Memories PP, brad | Vandoros ribbon | Papertrey Ink clear stamp Heart Prints | Fancy Pants pin | Tools: Woodware corner rounder punch, Staz'On black ink

Last but not least... my SIL is celebrating her birthday today. More than likely not the best one of all, as she just received news that doctor's discovered a tumor on her mum's kidney. She'll have an operation in two weeks to find out whether it's benign or not. Hopefully this card will have brightened her day a little. My thoughts are with you and your mum, Lisa Ann.

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Collage Press PP | Lil' Davis chipboard letters | Papertrey clear stamp Mixed Messages | PaperMania bling | tag newsagent | Tools: Martha Stewart border punch dots, punch butterfly | Cuttlebug embossing folder Swiss Dots | Ellison Design die cutting machine | Woodware corner rounder punch

Thank you very much for all your lovely comments regarding my snow album... look where it is right now:



Enjoy what's left of your Tuesday. I'll be back with another card tomorrow.

Snowed In + I Got Tagged

Don't you love it when you can start and finish a mini album in one day. I hesitated to start my mini-album yesterday, but then just decided to go for it. The snow is still on the ground, but right now it's raining. Are you ready for lots of pictures...

Supplies: PaperMania clear album | Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Hero Arts block stamp snowflakes | My Mind's Eye PP and die cuts | Remarks alphabet stickers | Creative Café journaling spots | Vandoros ribbon red stripe | blue ribbon from local garden centre | Autumn Leaves ribbon green| Staz'On ink white | Making Memories snowflakes | PaperMania bling | Spellbinder Nestabilities dies scalloped squares and large pinking circles | EK Success photo corner punch | Ellison Big Shot die cut machine | sewing machine | Sakura marker

I also got tagged by Sheree and Hanneke. The rules are:

1. Go to the folder where you save your pictures.
   
2. Go to the 6th folder and take the 6th pictures.
   
3. Put this picture on your blog and tell the story behind the picture.
   
4. Tag 6 others and leave a comment on their blog that you chose them.

When Sheree tagged me, I only had two pictures in my 6th folder. This is the 2nd picture:

This is Renee sleeping with Sid the Cat who travels round the class room and gets taken care off by the children. They are supposed to write in Sid's diary what he's been up to. Renee asked me if I could take a picture of her sleeping with Sid, so she could put a picture in his diary.

Then when Hanneke tagged me, I'd moved my first folder down, which meant I had a different 6th folder. Very boring pictures in the one:

This picture I took to send to the NHBC to file a claim as numerous tiles in our kitchen are cracked, which more than likely happened because they didn't let the screed dry well enough before laying the tiles when the house was first built 8 years ago. If they approve it, it means that they will pay for a new floor. We are currently awaiting their response.

I'm being a spoil sport and not paying this tag forward.

Happy Monday!

Twins Party

Today straight after the children's swimming lesson this morning, Renee had a party of twins in her year group. I'd organised a collection again and played with some old Pink Paislee papers to make envelopes and cards. Here are the results:







Can you tell I ran out of 'h' on this one.



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Pink Paislee PP | Spellinder Nestabilities Labels One | American Crafts chipboard and foam alpha stickers and dotted ribbon| Making Memories ribbon | Prima rhinestone swirls | Doodlebug Designs paper frills | Martha Stewart border punches | Marvy Uchida scallop circle punch jumbo and mega | Fancy Pants crochet flowers and clear stamp|Papermania bling | Versacolor ink.

I also attempted to give my blog a fresh look. I used this Blog in a Box kit by Zoe Pearn. I must say not the easiest thing to do and without Ingrid's help I wouldn't have been able to do it. Thank you, Ingrid. Something tells me I won't be doing it again anytime soon.

I hope you're all having a great weekend. Enjoy the rest of it!

Five, friends and snow

Last week, Renee's Aussie friend turned 5. I meant to post already last week, but didn't get round to. Here's the card I made for Aden:



Supplies: Cardstock, die-cut journaling and PP Scenic Route | Paperfrill Doodlebug Designs | Chipboard number Maya Road | ribbon unknown | buttons My Mind's Eye | ink VersaColor pinecone | photo corner punch EK Success | clear stamp Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday.

On Friday I went to Holland for the weekend to reunite with my Nike friends. It's very rare for all seven of us to be there at the same time as Jess and I both live abroad. When she sent us an email early January that she was in Holland for a week and whether I could be there too, I didn't hesitate. Of course we had to record this special occasion. Here's one of the many pictures we took:



As you can see we had a blast. On Saturday my mum and I went shopping in Utrecht, which was really nice. We were invited for dinner at my brother's house. Ingrid prepared a delicious lasagna dish. It was lovely to see everyone again.

I flew back yesterday morning, which was good timing, as snow hit the UK last night and left everything outside under a massive white blanket. This meant that all the schools were closed. We went for a walk around the estate and took some pictures. I did have to go out and get some milk. It took me an hour and a half to walk to the nearest shop that had milk in stock. The snow continued to fall during the day, which means that the schools will still be closed tomorrow.

Here's a little video of the snow using my new iLife'09:



Have a great Monday.