*sigh*

These photos won't upload in the order I want...sigh...the above photo should be after the photo that ended up at the bottom but should be at the top...sigh...okay, so above is the close up of my weekly challenge layout that I thought I'd add as I love how misting with Mr Huey's goes all pointalism.
And here's the layout that should have been on an end (I was aiming for bottom but wouldn't have minded top) yet somehow ended up in the middle...hmm...this is an answer to a mojo prompt from my teamie Emma - to bunch everything up in one corner. I was going to add more but I love the photo so much I didn't really want to distract from it.
Ah ha! And here's my answer to this weeks challenge on UKS. Summer photo (sun worshipping baby penguin), hand made embellie, blue and a journal spot. Full points for Magpies!
FYI my hand made embellie is in the bottom corner of photo - ruffled up some fabrips and stuck a button in the middle to make a sort of rosette. Cute but fiddly, may not be doing it again! Though the sticky back of the fabrips helped.
Hope everyone is having a lovely day!
xxx

Wordless Wednesday 11

UKS Week 3 challenge

Okay, let's see if I can remember the rules for this week...
1) 2 photos check
2) paper scraps check
3) a stamped image check twice and
4)...ooh, bunting! check!
That'll be full points for the Crafty Magpies please!

I'm not sure why I'm so inspired to scrap lately. I think it might partly be my lovely subjects, partly the yummy supplies and also maybe the photos themselves?
I've been trying since the beginning of the year one of my resolutions to take photos mostly with my 'big' camera. The difference in the 'quality' of the shots is so noticable. Of course I'm taking pictures I don't like who doesn't but the ones I do like I don't just like, I *love*. Which, of course, makes me want to 'show them off' so to speak. I want them on a page or in a frame. I love looking at them and the colours/scene/memories.
When I made the resolution to try to take better pictures, to learn my camera more, I never would have thought it would help in another resolution - scrap your memories more and quicker! So many photos that I've had developed that I wanted to scrap at the time but didn't really get round to it and now I'm not inspired to scrap them at all. I really need to do something about that.
Maybe one stage at a time.
I found a bunch of pics from our first holiday down to Pagham a few years back. Some were from the day we went to Brighton pier. I should note down that memory as I doubt I'll be going back there any time soon - dad spent the whole time moaning about the traffic and how different it was from when he was there last. yeah, 30+ years ago...funny that...
Hmm, okay, all I was going to do was upload my layout. Ah well.
Hope you are having a lovely day!
xxx

Well, my head says yes

but my body's saying, 'no, no. You go to sleep now. Night night'
*sigh*
Ah well. Must always listen to what your body tells you otherwise who knows where you'll end up. Wish I could go carry on with my final page for Feb though.
I *loved* making the one above. Not just the yummy pictures (oh so yummy) but just the putting it together. Used March's SC kit for the most part. Added a stamp from an add-on, title sticker from Metropolitan kit and the orange background paper from my stash as it seemed to match so nicely (nicer than the pic shows anyway).
Also used one of my new SC stamps - the camera fitted perfectly into the squares *and* I got to use one of my fave inks - Versa in split pea. It comes out as this soft lemon/lime colour. So fresh and pretty.
I'm really looking forward to the new season. If only for different outfit options - bring on shorter sleeves and cotton!
xxx

busy busy busy

Well, I say that...not exactly busy in anyone elses sense of the word, but in mine? Yup.
Managed to get part of my Doc. 2011 pages for Feb done. As you can see above. Why can't I get blogger to let me type above the photos anymore? Can anyone give me any clues?!

I haven't *quite* finished 2 of the squares (the empty ones...of course) But that's only because I don't know what to do with them! Though I did get a gorgeous bee stamp with this months SC kit so maybe I'll use that somehow...hmm...

Putting this together is soo much easier now I'm getting a kit. I think that's why I was getting stuck in a rut with the last one (that I still haven't finished). I'm thinking I'll be able to finish off what's left (sept - dec) with the add on kits I have. Okay, now I kinda want to go see if I can...

Hope everyone is having a lovely day, I hope I will too!
xxx

Wordless Wednesday 10

Meet Curly
and Fred.

(named after a pair of toy clowns my mum made me when I was about 3.)

Again with the butterflies

I may be developing an obsession with this punch. Perhaps I should challenge myself to not use it on the next layout? Hmm...

Above is my version of this weeks challenge - (...I've forgotten already what the rules were...) Oh, Bling...umm...1 or 2 pics...and....umm...oh yeah, 'white' space. I hope I didn't fail the last one - I think there's enough blank-ness to be classed as 'white' space there?
Pic is of my friends little girl. She is so cute! She has this look a lot of the time that seems lost or about to cry then she'll turn to you and bam! Sunniest smile ever. You can't fail to smile right back. Love her xxx

In other news - loving this actual in the sky sunshine we've been having, hope it lasts!
xxx

Someone likes her new butterfly punch

And yes, that someone would be me.
Here's the opening page for January (doc. 2011). Thought I'd better mention my new lens somewhere and seeing as that was probably the most exciting thing to happen to me that month (woop woop) here we are. A whole bunch of my favourite things went into this layout -
*New butterfly punch
*New alpha stamps
*Studio Calicos Dec. Metropolitan Kit.
*Mister Huey spray inks/paints.
*KI Calendar paper.
*Layering up said calendar paper onto an old piece I didn't really care for much.

I think I may have enjoyed the layering thing the most (probably sad to admit). A good way of getting rid of a piece that wasn't as nice as I'd imagined (curse of no LSS - darn online shopping). I think the bit of colour you can see round the edges matches the colours from the kit nicely though.
Next-
Okay, this is this weeks challenge over on UKScrappers. Another layout for the retreat us Magpies went on in Nov. 09 (yes, only a little bit behind...). For some reason I can never get the colours right - the butterflies are punch woodgrain and yellow swirly paper.
The rules were - Season in your title. Squares. Splash of yellow. And...well...see, I forgot all about the last one until I'd finished it and I loved the finished product so much (trust me, it looks sooo much better in 'real life' imoho) I didn't really want to add a handmade scrunched up flower so I'm 10 points down. Sorry Magpies!
Lastly -
I hate buttons. I really do. On clothing yes, a wonderful thing but on scrap pages? Argh! Thing is they look so good on other peoples pages that I keep picking them, trying them out and no. Don't like them. Another layout for the Magpie 09 retreat collection. I had a pack of autumn foof-a-loofa (or whatever the heck they're called) buttons sitting on my desk for-ever and I happened to notice they matched the colours in the splodgey AC paper. What a wonderful co-incidence. I added some other pink ones et voila! Randomly I actually liked how this turned out. Even with the buttons. Hmm.
I think I've scrapped one of these pics before for a weekly challenge but it was bigger and had journalling on a tag behind about our first (almost complete) meeting - great fun! Looking forward to this year as I missed out on the last one!

So many crafty ideas in my head. Really need to finish Doc. 2010 and get rid of that albatross round my neck (I think that's the saying!?) Luckily my health (such as it is) seems to be co-operating at the moment so better enjoy it while it lasts!
Enjoy this sunshine at the moment too - if only it was a bit warmer with it...
xxx

Wordless Wednesday 9

WOYWDNW*

*What's on your workdesk not wednesday.

So I'm currently running a bunch of scans and whatsits on my comp as it's playing up. Again. Sigh. Still all this sudden free time I have (instead of being sucked into the world of the interweb) has led me to some crafting.
Started my Doc 2011 (a focal page above). And so far I'm loving it! I figure as long as January's pages look good it's incentive to keep the good going (so to speak...).

In other news, the other day I was picking...something...can't remember what...and it doesn't really matter...I was picking stuff off the floor, went to get up and my bad ankle clicked/cracked. Quite loudly. Now, I've been having problems with this ankle ever since my fall last...May/June. Since the click/crack? Nothing. No problems. I'm healed! *does a little dance* Oh I hope it lasts...

Wordless Wednesday 7+8