Want to be my Lab Partner? + a TOOT!

I know the title suggest otherwise, but I'll start with the TOOT! (It just sounded better the other way round). I was chosen as card of the week over at Card Patterns yesterday for sketch #7. I'll be guest designer for sketch #9. I received the sketch yesterday, and I can tell you it's different. The new sketch will go live on Saturday, so stay tuned.

Hybrid scrapbooking. Ever considered to use your computer to make a layout, and still use your traditional scrapbooking supplies as well? Is not knowing 'how to' one of the reason you haven't gone down this path, or you just wish you knew a little more about it. Well now's your chance.

Yesterday Jessica Sprague opened her new self-paced classes called Scrapbook Alchemy. This class combines digital techniques with traditional scrapbooking. I signed up for the first episode yesterday, and have almost finished my layout. As part of purchasing Episode 1 of Scrapbook Alchemy you get a free gift code to share with a someone else, a lab partner.



I've decided to give my free gift code away to one of my blog readers. Just leave a comment on this blog post by Sunday, and I'll pick a winner on Monday. No need to have any digital experience, but you do need to have either Photoshop Elements or Photoshop CS.

I've still got to add my last embellishment on my LO, which is drying as I type this, but I'll leave you with a sneak. I'll post the whole LO when it's finished.



Finally, I would like to thank all of you for your comments. I'm seeing quite a few new names popping up in there. It's good to be able to put some faces to my blog readers and to return the favour and visit your blogs in return.

edited: If you really would like to try this class and you haven't got Photoshop, you could always download a free 30 day trial from Adobe's website here to see if it's something for you.

Happy Birthday James

Today, by friend Gill's eldest, James is celebrating his 10th birthday. James is in the same class as Rebecca, so we personally gave him his card this morning. It's a real no fuss, clean card. Have a look yourself:



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Basic Grey patterned paper Granola | American Crafts thickers | Fiskars border punch Upper Crest | Papertrey Ink clear stamp Birthday Basics | Staz'On ink Timber Brown | Fiskars punch star | Spotlight button.

The week has started off sunny and crisp, building up to some warmer weather later this week. Happy Monday!

Caardvarks + Card Patterns #8

Last night David was out playing poker with his mates, so I decided to retreat to my craft room and create some cards. I would love to show you all five cards I created, but I can only show you two at the moment. The others I'll submit for publication.

The first one I made is for the latest Caardvarks challenge. The sketch is provided by the super talented Heidi. I loved seeing all the butterflies on the design teams cards, so I decided to use one too. Since I was using the new gorgeous papers from SEI, Bridgeport I didn't use a butterfly stamp, but instead I cut out a butterfly from one of the patterned papers.



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock Lily White | SEI patterned papers + die cut Bridgeport | Spellbinder Nestabilities dies circles + scallop circles | Fiskars border punch Apron Lace | Papertrey Ink clear stamp Damask Designs | Woodware corner rounder.

The second card I made along the sketch #8 over at Card Patterns. I used the same papers again. I think I'm in love with these papers, lol.



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock Lily White | SEI patterned papers + die cuts Bridgeport | Fiskars border punch Apron Lace | Papertrey Ink clear stamp Damask Designs | ribbon local haberdashery | 7Gypsies clear stamp Nottinghill | Versamark ink | Crystal Clear embossing crystals.

Even though I cannot show you the other cards, I can however reveal I used the same yummy papers on all of them.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Party Bags

Tomorrow Ruben will be having his go-kart party with 6 school friends, and his two sisters of course. Today I made some quick and easy party bags, using my Silhouette digital cutter. The only downside using the Silhouette is the limited size, but it just worked for what we intended to put in them. I embellished the cartons with a stamp, a star using the same papers as on the invitations, and a button.

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Scenic Route Grafton patterned paper | Basic Grey, My Mind's Eye and SEI buttons | Ellison Design die Start #2 | Big Shot die cutting machine | Silhouette digital craft cutter | Autumn Leaves clear stamp Telling in Circles 2 | Staz'On ink Timber Brown | VersaColor ink Pinecone.

The weather forecast doesn't look too promising here, but nonetheless I wish everyone a fabulous weekend.

Eight

Friends of ours, their boy is celebrating his eighth birthday today. I missed the post yesterday, but David went round and dropped of the card last night. Louie, we hope you'll have an amazing birthday. Inspired by Ingrid's card she made for Ruben, I made this card:



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Cosmo Cricket patterned paper | American Crafts Thickers | Spotlight buttons | Martha Stewart tag punch | Papertrey Ink clear stamps Birthday Basics | Staz'On ink black | Fiskars border punch | baker's twine from supermarket.

Thank you for stopping by.

Sketch This: 82 + Got Sketch? 77

Yesterday Sketch This' new sketch went up. My hands have been itching for days to make a LO, but haven't been able to push myself to actually making any. Sketch 82 is just what I needed. Here's what I created using the sketch:



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft and blue | October Afternoon patterned paper, alphabet stickers, and die cuts, Ellison #2 Stars die | Big Shot die cutting marchine | Stampin'Up border punch | Fiskars border punch | black marker.

At the beginning of this month I sent an email to Got Sketch? regarding their contributor interest. Just days later I received an email asking is I wanted to create a card along sketch 77. I made two cards using the same sketch.



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Pebbles Inc. patterned paper and die cuts | Kaisercraft pearls | Prima Marketing Inc. flower | Martha Stewart border punch dots | Woodware corner rounder | EK Success corner rounder | Papertrey Ink clear stamp birthday basics | Staz'On Ink Timber Brown.



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock white | Pebbles Inc. patterned paper and die cuts | buttons unknown | Ribbon local haberdashery | Martha Stewart border punch | Woodware corner rounder | EK Success corner rounder | Melissa Frances clear stamp | Inkandinkado clear stamp | Staz'On Ink Timber Brown | Tag newsagent | Fancy Pants pin.

On the Got Sketch? blog you can find the sketch and the gorgeous creations for the other contributors.

That's all for now. Until later.

Happy (UK) Mother's Day + Card Patterns #7

Today the UK celebrates Mother's Day. We decided not to celebrate it today, as my mum will be with us when it's Mother's Day in the rest of the world and we thought it would be better to celebrate it then. Even so, David did get me a beautiful bunch a flowers, which were delivered yesterday.

Also, the kids each made a Mother's Day card for me. Ruben and Renee made one and school and Rebecca made one yesterday at home:

This is Rebecca's beautiful card: 

Ruben did some very creative quilling: 

And Renee made this gorgeous creation:

Besides us not celebrating Mother's Day for me, it is of course also Mother's Day for David's mum. I came across a cute little project a few months ago on Kaisercraft's website. It's quick, simple and easy, which was just what I was looking for. The star book can hold 6 pictures of 2.5"x4.5". Over the past couple of days I've been taking new photographs of the kids, added my favourite to the book and the other three frames were for them to fill with their own art. Here's how it ended up:






















This morning I ended up making a card, matching the mini star book along Card Patterns #7 sketch.



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock white | Basic Grey patterned paper + die cut + alpha stickers Porcelain | Making Memories velvet trim | Kaisercraft Pearls | Spellbinder Nestbilities scalloped oval + circle.

Instead of a bouquet of flowers I choose to buy something different this time for my MIL:



I got this heart wreath here

This afternoon we went to visit her, and to give her her presents. I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday. Until next time.

Boys Party

This afternoon Renee had a party of two boys in her year. I made the same style money pocket cards for them and also made them a birthday card each. The first one I made on the same day as I made Ruben's card.



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Scenic Route patterned paper | Spotlight felt brown | Tools: Ellison Design Big Shot, Spellbinder Nestabilities pinking circles | machine stitching



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Sassafras Lass patterned paper and die cuts | Papertrey Clear Stamp Birthday Basics | Buttons unknown | Tools: Silhouette Digital Craft Cutter



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Sassafras Lass patterned paper and die cuts | Papertrey Clear Stamp Birthday Basics | American Crafts Thickers lullaby charcoal | tag office supply store.

And here's a sneak of a mini project I'll be sharing tomorrow:



Happy Saturday.

My First Publication!

I know that the latest issue of Cards Only magazine has been out a couple of weeks already, but I still hadn't seen it. Last November I received an email from the magazine asking me whether I would be interested to create some cards for them. I was happy to oblige. It still felt a bit surreal that I was published for the first time. This morning a copy turned up, so now I have proof. Seven cards of mine are published in this issue. Unfortunately I cannot show any of them yet. Will have to wait until the next issue comes out.



Have a good weekend everyone.

Reminiscing

Today Ruben is celebrating his 9th birthday. While he was at school I was reminiscing and thought it would be fun to put some pictures together of every year since he was born. The first four years of his life was pre-digital, so I had to dig a little, but I found them all (note to self: put those pictures in order again!). Here's a collage from 2000 until 2008.

Isn't it amazing how much he's changed since his hair got longer.

And this is Ruben today. He didn't want to after school club this afternoon, so I told him he could come home as long as I could some pictures of him, as I noticed looking through the past 8 years, that I haven't really got any nice pictures on his actual birthday. He's proudly carrying his new set of golf clubs we gave him today.

Finally, this is the card I made for him:

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Sassafras Lass patterned paper and die cut stickers | Doodelbug Designs button | baker's twine | Tools: Silhouette Digital Craft Cutter

Enjoy the rest of your Thursday.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today my dad is celebrating his birthday. Unfortunately I'm not able to congratulate him in person, but I did speak to him on the phone first thing this morning. The recovery on his arm is slow after his operation a few weeks ago, but there is some improvement. He'll be having physiotherapy for quite a while to improve the rotation of his wrist. Congratulations, papa! I hope you'll have a wonderful day.



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Pebbles Inc. Downtown Patterned Papers and die-cuts | button unknown | Vandoros ribbon | Papertrey clear stamp Birthday Basics | Staz'On ink Timber Brown | VersaColor ink Turquoise | 7Gypsies clear stamp | Zig Marker

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

I did it again!

I seem to have racked up a reputation for my cards to always arrive on the day. Now, I can tell you that's not always the case, but I do give it some thought as to when I post cards, as certain days seem to be more favourable to get there quicker than others. Having lived abroad for almost 10 years now, I'm starting to know how long things will take to get to their destination.

For this particular card and present, which were for Lauren, Rebecca's best friend in Australia, who turned (the day's almost finished in Oz) 11 today, I left it really late. I intended to post it on Tuesday, but that didn't happen as I had to pick-up Renee early from school with a fever. Wednesday she was home all day as well, which meant I didn't get a chance either. So, Thursday I finally posted them. I tend to send the card separately, as that normally gets there quicker.

This morning I spoke to Beth, Lauren's mum, and guess what... they both turned up on the day. I did it again. Unfortunately Lauren won't be able to open it until Friday as she left on her school camp yesterday. Congratulations, Lauren. Hopefully you've had a nice day with all your school friends.

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Making Memories Patterned Paper, transparency and brad | Doodlebug Designs paper frill | ribbon from local garden centre | Martha Stewart border punch dots | Papertrey Ink clear stamp Birthday Basics | Staz'On ink jet black | Spellbinder Nestabilities circles.

Right now I need to get onto another card, otherwise that one won't be on time either.

Party Invitations

In 9 days time, Ruben will be turning 9. Another 9 days later, he'll be having a small party with 6 of his school friends. They are going go-karting. I thought of making invitations with a race car on it, but as I don't have anything I reverted to simplicity and used stars. On the back I stamped each of their names with clear stamps from Studio Calico.



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock | Scenic Route Patterned Paper | Basic Grey, Fancy Pants and Autumn Leaves buttons | Sizzix Stars #2 die | Fiskars star punch | Woodware corner rounder | Adobe Photoshop for text | Nadiya clear stamps from Studio Calico.

They were very easy and quick to make. Ruben liked them a lot, and I guess that's what counts. I'll be back tomorrow with another card, see you then.

Party of Four

This afternoon Renee is having another birthday party. This time of four of her friends in her school year. As I volunteered to take over the collections this term, I made these tiny little pocket cards, with each of the girl's initial on the front earlier this week.







Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock yellow | Making Memories patterned paper Flower Patch, brads, felt trim | ribbon local haberdashery | felt from Spotlight | Spellbinder Nestabilities scalloped squares | sewing machine | Cuttlebug embossing folder cirlces.

Besides the money envelopes I also made a card for each girl that Renee could right in. Initially I wanted to make four the same cards, but then decided not to. The creative juices weren't flowing freely, but I managed to finish them all yesterday.









Supplies all: Bazzill Basics Cardstock white | Basic Grey patterned paper Euphoria | Spellbinder Butterfly die | Martha Stewart border punch dots | Papermania bling | Spellbinder Nestabilities circle die | ribbon various | Hero Arts clear stamp sentiment. Card 2: American Crafts Remarks alphabet stickers. Card 3 + 4: Spellbinder Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Cirlces die. Card 4: Papertrey clear stamp Birthday Basics.

At the moment it's nice and sunny outside. Let's hope Spring will be here soon. Enjoy our Sunday.

Pebbles Inc. + Award

This season I've purchased papers from Pebbles Inc. for the first time. I'm not sure how long they've been around, but they'd never caught my eye before. This time however, I got all four lines and love the bright fresh look of the papers. Especially the Downtown collection is very versatile, as you can use it for both male and female cards. Yesterday I made a card using those papers for a male card. This one's for Mike... who's celebrating his birthday today. Congratulations!



Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Pebbles Inc. patterned papers Downtown | ribbon unknown | Doodlebug Designs paperfrill | Basic Grey button | Papertrey clear stamps Background Stamps Retro Basics, Birthday Basics | DMC Floss | VersaMark ink | Staz'On ink Timber Brown 

Also, I received a award from Hanneke yesterday. Thank you Hanneke, I appreciate it very much. However, I'm going to be a spoil sport once again and not pass it on.

Have a great Saturday.

My First Pair

This week has just flown by. I just wanted to thank you for casting your vote whether or not to sort my patterned paper by colour or not. So far it seems the 'Stacy Julian' way is not the route to go and I must say, I think I agree. For those few occasions that I'm looking for a colour coordinating paper, I'll just have to rummage through my scrap drawer as I'm trying to keep that sorted by colour.

 

Yesterday was a big day for Ruben. He needed two teeth to be extracted due to crowding. Honestly, I think I was more scared than he was. He was a really brave boy and wasn't faced by it at all. Okay, he didn't feel so great with all the local anaesthesia in his mouth. Everything felt numb, including his nose, but he did eat something last night and felt good enough to go to school today. It was a little bit of history repeating itself, as I had the exact same teeth pulled when I was 9. 

This morning I went to John Lewis to buy curtain rings for Rebecca's new curtains to be hung. While I was there, I also bought my first pair of shoes... since we've been back in the UK. We've been back 8 months! Ruben thought they were 'really cute' and Rebecca's strutting her stuff in them right now. Won't be long before she will fit into them, as I've got really small feet.

Aren't they cute? The best thing, John Lewis was doing a price match at the moment and they were 20% off.

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend!

40 + Poll

Last Saturday we went out for dinner with a large group of David's friends, as his best mate was turning 40 on Sunday. It had been quite some time that all of us had been together. We had a great time. This is the card I made for him:

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock kraft | Sassafrass Lass patterned paper & die cut shapes | VersaColor Ink pinecone | SEI button | Papertrey clear stamp 'birthday wishes' | Martha Stewart tag punch | twine | Fiskars star punch.

This morning I went running for the first time, since we've been back in the UK. I only set myself a goal of 3k, which I achieved relatively easily, but afterwards I needed quite some time to recover. It does feel very good however. Now that Spring is approaching I want to set myself a few goals again and start running 3 times a week again.

During the past couple of months I've been busy trying to reorganise my scrapbooking supplies. I haven't finished yet, but I'm making good progress. One thing I'm debating is whether or not to sort my patterned paper by colour or not. Right now I've got them sorted by manufacturer, but sometimes I feel it limits me. What do you think? I've added a poll to the right hand side, let me know your vote.

Until next time.