Kazan's Sketch 12

This week is the last week for the Fall Design Team at 2 Sketches 4 You to submit their card. The past three months have gone really quick, but it's been tremendously enjoyable. The last sketch to make a card for is by Kazan:



Kazan asked us to make a Halloween card, or otherwise a Fall card. As I don't have any Halloween papers, I chose to make a Fall one:



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs - Anna Griffin, Creative Café and Basic Grey, chipboard - Maya Road, journaling spot - Scenic Route, rub-on - Melissa Frances, ribbon - ?, marker.

I hope you enjoyed my cards for the 2S4Y design team as much as I enjoyed making them. I would like to thank Laura and Kazan for this great opportunity and inspiration. Good luck with your amazing sketches and the new design team.

Laura's Sketch 11 & My Bonus Sketch

Although I haven't shown you anything in the past week, I have been creating a couple of cards together with Ingrid, while she was visiting. One of those, was our card for 2 Sketches 4 You. The sketch was as usual, but we were asked to make it on a pop-up card from DeNami Designs, whom is this week's sponsor.

Even though I was a bit apprehensive about making the card, I'm surprisingly pleased with the outcome. Here's Laura's sketch:



And this is how my card turned out. I used the three-tiered pop-up card:





Supplies used: cardstock - Scenic Route, PPs - Scenic Route, ribbon - ?, pearls - KaiserCraft, border punch - Fiskars,  corner rounder punch - Woodware, clear stamps - Basic Grey & Melissa Frances.

Go and check out 2S4Y to see all the amazing creations by the design team.

Also, this week it was my turn to provide the bonus sketch and card:

Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill Basics, PPs - Making Memories, Sassafras Lass & Scenic Route, ribbon - local haberdashery, bling sentiment - Heidi Swapp, butterfly punch - Martha Stewart, clear stamp - Hero Arts, pearls - KaiserCraft, flower - Prima Marketing.

To be card of the week, you don't have to make a card along my sketch, but if you do decide to make a card along my sketch, please leave me a link in the comments, as I'm curious to see what you've created.

And lastly, in case you are interested to be part of the Winter Design Team of 2S4Y, you can apply here. I must say it's been fabulous to work with Laura and Kazan over the past three months and definitely worthwhile investing your time into.

Until next time.

Kazan's Sketch 11

Since Saturday, my brother, Eric and Ingrid and the girls have been staying with us. Ingrid brought some of her scrap goodies along, so we've been busy making cards together. It's nice to create with someone else. Today's card I already made last week, which is along Kazan's latest sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You. Here's what her sketch looks like:



And this is the card I made:



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs - Scenic Route, clear stamps - 7Gypsies and Autumn Leaves, ribbon - Vandoros, button - ?

Go and check-out the 2S4Y blog and see the other amazing creations by the other design team members. This week's sponsor is giving away some yummy Basic Grey goodies for the card of the week.

Enjoy your Monday.

Week in the Life - Sunday

Yesterday was already the last day of recording a week of my life. It's gone so fast, but it was fun to do. Here are my notes from Sunday:

• To my surprise I woke slightly later at 8.10 a.m.
• I was the first to be downstairs, so I decided to start typing the address labels for the moving notice, but didn't get to finish them
• We all had breakfast, for me the usual. I was fun with 10 people in the house.
• I got dressed around 10.00 a.m.
• Ingrid and I ordered some Sizzix dies
  
• Beth and I started making a cheesecake again, after last week's turned out so well.
• The kids had pyjama day and played on the trampoline most of the day
• I had porridge for lunch and some leftover salad from yesterday
• In the afternoon I took some more pictures of my brother and Ingrid
• Beth made a chocolate cake
• We had fruit salad
• David played Boutique Monopoly with Fleur and Rebecca
• Eric and the kids played Mario Cart
• I edited some of the pictures I took
• We had spinach pie for dinner
• After dinner it was bath time and hair wash for all the children
• They were all finally in bed at 8.30 p.m.
• Ingrid and I spent the evening making cards
• I went to bed at midnight

And here are my pictures for today:



This concludes one week in my life. I hop you enjoyed it, and possibly be inspired to something along these lines. For more ideas and tips I recommend visiting Ali's blog, who started all this.

Week in the Life - Saturday

Today surely has been a busy day again...:

• On the weekends the alarm is not set, however I still wake around 7.30 a.m. I didn't get up until 8.15 a.m.
• The children and Beth were already downstairs.
• Rebecca and Ruben were playing Quidditch on the PS2 and Renee was playing with Play-Doh.
• I had my usual breakfast. This must be one of the most consistent things in my life.
• After breakfast Beth and started on making caramel slick in mini cupcake shapes.
• David got up around 9.15 a.m. and got straight in the shower.
• Soon after Beth and I got dressed too.
• David took Ruben and Rebecca to their swimming lessons.
• Renee and I danced to Blame it on the Boogie.
  
• Meanwhile Beth, Renee and I went to Sainsbury's to do some serious grocery shopping.
• When we got back, Eric, Ingrid, Fleur and Sanne had already arrived from Holland.
• The kids were all jumping on the trampoline.
• Eric and Ingrid had even more shopping for us.
• After a cup of tea/coffee we all had lunch.
• David got struck by a migraine and had to go lie down.
• We moved Renee into Ruben's room, and set-up Fleur and Sanne's beds in Renee's room.
• Around 3.00 p.m. we went to the park and took the opportunity to take some pictures.
• Back home we had fruit and greek yoghurt.
• Ingrid and I had to go back to Sainsbury's as we forgot to get burger buns for the hamburgers that David was cooking on the BBQ.
• Renee hurt her head as the dance mat fell on top of her.
  
• After dinner Beth gave Ruben and Renee a bath and Rebecca had a shower.
• David was slowly recovering from his migraine.
• At 8.00 p.m. six of his mates came round for poker night.
• We watched part of Mission Impossible: 3 and Little Britain.
  
• I uploaded my pictures onto Flickr.

Lots of pictures for today:



That's all for today. Have a nice weekend.

Week in the Life - Friday

The fact that it's Friday today feels good, I'm definitely ready for the weekend. Here's what happened today:

• I felt very tired this morning when the alarm went off
• I didn't have to wake Renee this morning
• The carpenter and tiler turned up early this morning. However, the tiler only came for a short while. Very disappointing.
  
• David's working from home, as he'll be picking up Beth in the afternoon from the airport.
  
• Before leaving for school I quickly put the washing machine on.
  
• Renee was wearing her pink princess hairband to school.
• After dropping the kids of at school, I joined a few other mums at Café Nero for coffee. Before hand I quickly went into Next an bought a bright pink knitted sweater.
• Before going home again, I went to the haberdashery to buy some more ribbons... polka dots, organza and sheer.
• At home I continued the washing. The weather has been so kind, that I can dry the washing outside.
• The contractor stopped by again.
• Made the beds.
• Started tidying up the whole house, mainly upstairs.
  
• Cleaned Rebecca's bathroom and changed the sheets, as Eric and Ingrid will be sleeping there during their stay.
• David made coffee.
• Had porridge for lunch again and spoke to my mum on Skype.
• David left around 1.00 p.m. for Heathrow.
• After lunch I cleaned the other bathroom, and made the beds.
• At 3.00 p.m. Beth and David got home. Just in time to go and pick-up Rebecca from school.
• I picked up Renee.
• Back home: time for fruit and Renee had cinnamon toast.
• Beth also picked up Ruben after football.
• I took Renee to her swimming lesson. She did really well.
• When we got home, Beth had already started cooking dinner. Green beans, turkey goujons and roasted new potatoes. We sat at the dining room table tonight.
• Beth brought back presents for everyone from France.
  
• Friday nights is bath free night.
• Rebecca is already sleeping Beth's room.
• I did some more washing and ironing. Six loads today, way too much.
• Uploading my pictures to Flickr
• Enjoyed a cup of pepermint tea.
• I felt I didn't take enough pictures today, I might go back and take a few more.

Here are my pictures for today:




I wish everyone a very enjoyable weekend.

For Cecilie

Today, my Norwegian friend, Cecilie is celebrating her birthday. They used to just live around the corner from us, but shortly after we moved to Australia, they moved to Holland and have been there since. Happy Birthday, Cecilie, I hope you have a fantastic day.



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs and die-cuts - Crate Paper, clear stamp - Heidi Swapp, ribbon - Vandoros, rubber stamp - Stampin'Up, ink - VersaColor and VersaMark, edge punch - Fiskars, embossing powder - StampWorld, corner rounder punch - EK Success.

I'll be back a little bit later with a Week in the Life for today.

Week in the Life - Thursday

It always seems to be a relieve that it's Thursday, it just feels I can touch the weekend, because let's face it, Friday is really already weekend, right? So far today:

• David got up and showered just before me as he had a 7.00 a.m. phone call.
• My morning routine was as normal. Wearing my new bra this morning. I'd have forgotten what it feels like to wear a bra that actually fits.
• No builders have turned up yet today, so I might have a quiet day
• David left just before 8.00 a.m.
• Rebecca entertained us this morning by playing Do-Re-Mi from the Sound of Music on her recorder.
• Outside was crisp and sunny. It was only 6 degrees Celsius when we left home.
• After I dropped Renee off at school I quickly went to Sainsbury's as we'd run out of eggs and I was playing to do some baking today.
• Back home: I made the beds, caught up on reading my favourite blogs and put the washing on.
• Time for coffee
• As I was just sitting down to make my cards for today, the decorator came to assess when he can start painting and when.
• I did manage to make two cards, one for next week's 2S4Y sketch and one for baby 'Faith'. Just need to find out where to send it to.
• Toasted sandwich with ham, goat's cheese, tomato and rocket for lunch.
• Went to my local craft store to buy some more cardstock. Home again within half an hour.
• Had another coffee
• Started printing my pictures for my album: Week in the Life.
• After picking up Renee from school, she said in the car that I needed to buy 'hagelslag'. Just in time to add to my shopping list for Eric.
• Rebecca was having after school Arts & Crafts club. Ruben, Renee and I went to the park next to school to wait for her.
• I didn't recognise my friend, Gill as she had her hair dyed.
• At home Ruben played Harry Potter on PS2, Rebecca played with her Bratz.
• Renee helped me to make home-made pizza. It was delicious.
• After dinner the girls danced to 'Blame it on the Boogie'.
• While getting ready for the bath, I discovered a huge spider on my towel hangin over the banister. It made my toes curl. Before I could do anything else, I had to kill it.
• David came home from work at 8.00 p.m.
  
• Talked to Ingrid on Skype this evening.
• Emailed my card to Kazan for 2S4Y.
• Posted my 'Faith' card.

And here are today's pictures:

Time for bed I think. Until tomorrow.

Carla's Bonus Sketch

As I mentioned in Monday's blogspot, I would have a go at Carla's bonus sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You this week to make a card for baby 'Faith'. This is what it looks like:






I used all paper craps for this card.

Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs - American Crafts, Basic Grey, Stampin'Up, felt flower - Quickutz Die, ribbon - local haberdashery, foam letter stickers - American Crafts, bling - Prima Marketing, paper frill - Doodlebug, punches - Marvy Uchida, EK Success and Martha Stewart, button - ?, rubber stamp - Stampin'Up, ink - VersaColor.

Psst, don't tell anyone, but it's Friday tomorrow... so close to the weekend. I'll be back in a short while with Thursday's observations and tomorrow I'll be back with another card too. Thanks for all your sweet comments.

Week in the Life - Wednesday

Wednesday already, I really struggle at the moment to see time move so fast and I haven't even got to work. So far this morning:

• Up at usual weekday time. The pun of the day was to with a woman who had a cake on her wedding day made out of cheese. One of them was 'For Feta and Worse'. Quite a good giggle this early in the morning.
• It's a beautiful sunny day today. Even Renee came down the stairs and said it's really bright and sunny, Mummy.
  
• David got up after me and left at 7.30 a.m. for work.
  
• I had to wake Renee up again.
• I forgot to put the kids sandwich boxes in the dishwasher last night, so had to wash them up this morning.
• The internet is down this morning.
  
• The kids were very noisy this morning and were singing Jolly Phonics songs.
• I had to remind Rebecca three times to do her hair, to put her lunch box in her schoolbag and to put her shoes on.
• I couldn't use my camera this morning as the battery needed charging. Instead I used my iPhone for a couple of pictures.
  
• After I dropped the kids off to school, I went to Banstead to have a look at the lingerie shop. I was quite early and the shop wasn't open yet. I strolled down the High Street to have a look at some of the shops. It's actually quite an nice place, and should really go there more often.
• In the lingerie shop they helped me to get fitted for the right size bra. I've gone full circle and am now back in the size that I was before having children, 34D.
  
• Before going back home I stopped at Sainsbury's to do some grocery shopping.
• I was home just before 11.00 a.m.
• After I unpacked the shopping I made a cup of coffee and enjoyed it with two slices of raisin toast, while I was checking my email now that the internet connection is back up.
• Typing up my notes.
• Time to make the beds.
• Spent another hour ironing. I seem to be ironing forever this week and am getting fed up with it.
• Wanted to have a jacket potato with tuna and cheese for lunch, but discovered I didn't have any tuna, so ended up only having cheese with some vegies and hommus.
• Did the dishes.
• Tidied up around the house.
• 2.50 p.m. Person arrived to fit our new Luxaflex blinds, which we ordered end of August.
• I had to head out and pick-up the kids.
• Back home we had fruit. For everyone something else. Still grateful for being able to buy strawberries for as long as it lasts.
• Renee has her first reading book with words. She could read them all, what a big girl!
  
• Mopped the floors downstairs, while the kids played on the Playstation.
• Cooked pasta Bolognese for dinner.
• A quick cuddle on the sofa before having a bath
• Wednesday nights we wash hair
• Dried everyone's hair
• Read another page in Renee's Letterland book
• David home at 8.00 p.m. He's had a bad day at work
• I've just printed Monday's notes onto cardstock. It looks good
• Time to upload today's pictures

Well, that would be all for today. Until tomorrow.

Week in the Life - Tuesday

I must say it is quite intensive to record every little thing, but quite fun at the same time.
Here are my pictures for today:



And my notes:

• David got up at 6.00 a.m. and left at 6.30 a.m. for a round of golf near Uxbridge.
• I woke-up at the same time as yesterday and got dressed
• Renee wanted to do her own buttons on her shirt this morning.
• Shaun turns up ata 8.00 a.m. to start finishing to walls, ready to be decorated.
• It's drizzling rain when we are leaving for school.
  
• Ruben gets upset in the car because he just lost the elite Pokémon battle on his DS.
• Renee notices that the billboards have changed on our way to school.
• I took a slightly different route to school this morning, as Tuesday morning the rubbish is collected in the street I normally drive through. Wise choice, as the other roads are clear.
• Renee has her daily run on the green at school with her friends before she goes in.
• After I dropped Renee at school I went to International Tiles to pick-up tiles for two of our bathrooms, as well as edging trim for the downstairs cloakroom.
• Back home: time for coffee
• Checked out new sketch for 2S4Y. Looks really good.
• Made the beds
• Rung Bathroom Affair that the recessed profiles didn't turn up last week.
• Chatted on Skype with my brother, Eric asking me what shopping he needs to bring when him and Ingrid are visiting on Saturday for 5 days. Tea, breakfast cake, licorice, pancake mix, apple sauce, etc. Now that we are close to home again, I can indulge a bit in Dutch treats again.
• Peter the contractor stopped by at 12.00 p.m. to discuss the work flow. We discovered that the water closet is leaking again upstairs. It appear the system is faulty.
• Meanwhile I was very hungry For lunch I had porridge and a banana.
• I put the washing machine on again.
• I had planned to go to Banstead in the afternoon to a lingerie shop, but I'd run out of time. Instead I tidied the living room. While putting away the wooden road the bottom fell out of the basket. What a noise.
• Purchased Ali's templates from Designer Digitals to use for this project as her looks so good. I'm going to be a copycat, I've decided.
• David got home from golf around 2.30 p.m.
  
• Ruben played Sonic on the Playstation.
• Rebecca played with her MyScene dolls.
  
• Searched online for the baseball card protectors, but couldn't find them. I asked my friend, Jessica in Portland to get them for me.
• Searched IKEA's website for a new table for the kids to do arts and crafts.
• Renee watched some Tom & Jerry before dinner.
  
• David made pancakes for dinner, while I did some more ironing.
  
• Renee practised her wordsheet for school.
• Rebecca sent a text to Beth, who's in France and the moment and will be back on Friday.
  
• For bedtime Renee chose to read Letterland.
• Her three songs before sleep time, she's picking Dutch songs at the moment and wants to learn them. Tonight I sang: Berend Botje, Op een klein stationetje and Witte Zwanen, Zwarte Zwanen.
• Ruben and Rebecca read to one and other for bedtime.
• Put the covers of the throw cushions in the washing machine as they look manky.
• This evening I've updated my daily blog and listened to Coyote Ugly in the background.

I'm planning to already start putting the album together tomorrow.

Week in the Life: +1 - Monday

Last week, Ali Edwards invited everyone to join her in recording a Week in the Life. I really wanted to join in, but last week wasn't the right week for me. I was tired, I had a cold, my tummy was playing up and I could not put myself to recording anything, I just wished the days would pass quietly.

But it's Monday again, and I'm feeling much better, so I thought why not just start it a week later. So, here are my pictures for Monday:



And my notes:

• 6.28 hrs alarm goes off
• 6.30 hrs listen to the news on CapitalFM and the pun of the day from a newspaper article.
• 6.40 hrs got up to have a shower.
• Weighed myself, 64.4kg. I've done this every Monday morning for many years now, and have started again after the scales were delivered in the shipment three weeks ago.
  
• Got dressed
• 7.20 hrs Ruben's walks into our bedroom to have his tie tied.
• 7.30 hrs Made sure Rebecca was getting out of bed and woke-up Renee.
• 7.40 hrs Let Keith on of the builder's into the house to continue work on our downstairs cloakroom.
• Had the usual: muesli, strawberries, raspberries and yoghurt and OJ for breakfast
• Renee started with cheerios, but wanted butter toast instead.
• Ruben and Rebecca had their usual: cheerios and juice.
• All three were playing on their DS at the breakfast table.
• Rebecca did her hair.
• I did the dishes.
• 8.30 hrs left to go to school.
• 8.32 hrs dropped off Ruben and Rebecca at their school.
• 8.44 hrs arrived at Renee's school. Traffic was okay this morning.
• David is working from home today, having phone calls most of the day.
• Back home I checked email and 2Ps Top 10 List and spoke to my mum on Skype.
• Had coffee and cheesecake (which was leftover from Saturday).
• Treated builders to coffee and cheesecake too.
• 11.15 hrs Did the ironing and watched P.S. I love you for the second time to attempt to watch it to the end this time. Stopped it again, as I don't seem to get myself into the movie.
• 12.40 hrs Stripped our bed to be washed and made the children's bed. Opened some windows for some fresh fall air.
• 13.15 hrs Had toasted ham, cheese, tomato and rocket sandwich, carrots and cucumber for lunch.
• David's got half an hour break off the phone and is re-installing the washing machine which had to be pulled out this morning for the carpenter to fit new skirtings.
• Typing up my notes for today while eating my lunch.
• Put away the ironing. Intentionally did a few things at a time to give myself some more exercise going up and down the stairs.
• Added some friends on Facebook.
• David made another coffee.
• 15.02 hrs Left on school run. Traffic was light. Picked up Renee first, then Ruben and Rebecca.
• Back home Keith had finished for the day.
• Fruit for everyone.
• Renee made her own warm milk.
• Renee teary as she wanted to know what channel to put on the tele.
• Ruben and Rebecca back on their DSs.
• 16.30 hrs Put clean sheets on our bed.
• 17.00 hrs Cooked dinner with a new recipe from GoodFood Magazine. It was rather disappointing and not worth repeating.
• Tiler turned up to grout the tiles he laid in cloakroom yesterday.
  
• 18.45 hrs Uploaded 2S4Y card to blog.
• Renee played with her kitchen after dinner.
• 18.55 hrs bathtime.
• 19.15 hrs story and song time.
• 19.30 hrs snuggled down.
• 20.30 hrs my first yoga class in years and in fact my first activity since moving back to the UK. I felt really good.
• 22.15 hrs Enjoying a cup of tea before going to bed at 22.45 hrs.
  

I shall be back tomorrow with pictures and notes from today.

Laura's Sketch 10

Hello Monday! Clean & Simple are Laura's words for this week's sketch and card. Her card is absolutely gorgeous. Besides Laura's sketch this week there is also a bonus sketch by my fellow design team member Carla. This is what Laura's sketch looks like:



I kept my card quiet clean & simple too:



Supplies: carstock - Bazzill Basics, PPs - October Afternoon, charm - October Afternoon, bling - Prima Marketing, button - Basic Grey, ribbon - local haberdashery, twine - ?, flower punch - Woodware, corner rounder punch - EK Success.

Let's see what your can create along Laura's and/or Carla's sketch. I think I'll have a go at Carla's sketch later this week to make a card for our niece, Charlotte who's just given birth to a baby girl, Faith.

I might be back later this evening with another post, or otherwise tomorrow.

Poppy

Last year, when we were still in Australia, my friend Gill gave birth to Poppy. Gill and I met during our pre-natal classes while we were both pregnant with our third child in 2003. She went on to have four. Today, Poppy is already celebrating her first birthday.

I was so late making Poppy's card, that I made it this morning and dropped it round personally on the actual day.


Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs - Collage Press, Making Memories, Basic Grey, ribbon - ?, glitter alpha stickers - Making Memories, twine - ?, butterfly punch - Martha Stewart, button - ?, flower punch - Woodware and Crafts Too.

I made two more cards, but will reveal these at a later stage. Enjoy what's left of your weekend and I'll be back with the new sketch and card for 2 Sketches 4 You tomorrow.

World Card Making Day

Today is World Card Making Day. To celebrate this yearly event, 2S4Y has teamed up with Scrapbook News & Review with a challenge. To find out how to be part of the challenge, please read all about it over at 2S4Y. My part was to create a card along Laura's sketch, which looks like this:



And this is the card I created:



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill Basics, PPs, die cut jounaling tag, charm - October afternoon, ribbon - local haberdashery, bling - Prima Marketing.

There are some great prizes to be won, so why not celebrate WCMD with us and make a card too.