My Year - January 31st - Silver or Gold

Today's theme is something either silver or gold.

I have been inspired by Enola05's avatar on UKS - it is a picture of the Endless Troll bead. This is one of my favourite beads so I have copied the idea for my photo for today.

Scrap Like You Mean It 2009 - Week 5

This week Shimelle has challenged us to scrap in Black and White.

The photo is one of Zoe a couple of weeks ago when she had fallen asleep in the car on the way home from nursery. I used it as one of my Photo A Day photos and made it black and white for that so it fitted well for this challenge.

I have used Thickers letters, grosgrain ribbon (which I have knotted over the photo) and various black and white flowers and I think the paper is from Crate Paper.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #33

This week we have been challenged to "Frame It". The card has to feature a frame.

My stamped image is Lazy Days and I have coloured it using Pro Markers. The papers are from DCWV Nana's Kids. I have made the frames by using my Nestabilities to make the inner and then cut the outer on my paper trimmer. I have used a Bazzill flower and some ribbon.

My Year - January 30th - What am I reading?

I used to read all the time but I tend to either do a Soduku puzzle or listen to my iPod before I go to sleep now. I got this book for Christmas and am only about half way through it. I love Dawn French - she is so funny!!!!

Friday Sketchers # 37

This week's sketch was a lovely simple one.

I have used my new fabby Greetings Farm Anya stamp and coloured her in using Pro Markers. The papers are from the Butterflies and Floral paper stack from DCWV and I have added some gems, ribbon and Prima flowers.

My Year - January 29th - A Card I Have Made

At the weekend, it is a friend's little boy's 4th birthday and he is mad on dinosaurs. So I ahve bought lots of dinosaur stash only to be really disappointed with it all when it came yesterday. But I set to work and spent a good 2 hours last night and then have been up since 5.30am this morning trying to make something. I really do not like it at all - I don't think I have ever spent so long on a card and been so unpleased with the final result. .


The papers are all Basic Grey Archaic and the top half of the card is stamped randomly with a Bampop Dinosaur stamp (disappointment number 1). The dinosaurs images are chipboard cut outs that I have covered in paper and inked the edges in gold (disappointment number 2). I have used some ribbon, liquid pearls in gold and some buttons to brighten the card up.
I am almost too ashamed to give this card, but it has taken me over 3 hours to make and the recipient is only 4 so what does he know :-)

I have also bought some Anya stamps which are fab and I have just coloured my first one in, in Magenta Pink, Cyan, Sky Blue, Yellow and Lime Green - took 5 minutes and looks fabberoonie!!!! Out to the cinema tonight but will definitely being playing with these new stamps tomorrow.

My Year - January 28th - Pretty

This has to be my orchid. I am hopeless with orchids and they never seem to reflower. I have had this for about a year and it lost all it flowers in October time but it has sprouted some more shoots and hey presto this is the first flower of the year - hopefully more will follow!!!

My Year - January 27th - A Scrapbook layout

This is my theme for today. I included it as a theme as I thought it would encourage me to scrap a bit more but as it turns out I am doing so many projects that I am scapping plenty!!!

This is the first layout for A Snapshot of Zoe's Life.

Scrap Your Day - January layout

Well only 3 more months left of this project (including January) - where has that time gone?

This month we were challenged to take take movement photos - I have none apart from me washing up;-) and then we had a sketch for the layout and challenged to tear photos - I haven't torn any or stuck to the sketch - WHAT A REBEL!!!!!

Anyway here are my pages

As a dlo:

Page 1:

Page 2:

A Snapshot of Zoe 2009 - January

Firstly I am doing the album in 8.5 x 11 which I have never done before but it great. 12 x12 can be so big somtimes and 8x8 can be a little restricting - so this size is a great compromise.

I have done a front page which uses the lovely quote that Anna put up on one of the days and has one of my current favourite photos of Zoe.

Then I did my layout for January which is all about routine. I have done one page of photos and the other page is all the journalling about Zoe's routine. As I have already mentioned all the papers from Trimcaft's new Smirk range.

My Year - January 26th - Yellow

Meet Jefferey and his family. These strange little people belong to a friend at work. She got Jefferey as a free gift and she shredded a treasury tag to give him hair and she dresses him according to the season/time of year. For instance when Wimbedon was on, he had a tennis racket. As time has gone on, he got a wife and then along came the children.

Sketch Saturday # 35

This week is a great sketch - really good to do.

The image is a Sugar Nellie coloured in Pro Markers cut and emsbossed using the Labels 2 Nestability. The paper is from K & Company. The scalloped edge is a Bazzill Just The Edge. The flowers are Prima Quick Pick Hydrangeas. And then lots and lots of gems.

A Snapshot of Zoe 2009 - The Album

This is Anna Bowkis's project for 2009 and it is actually called A Snapshot of My Life but I have decided to do it from Zoe's point of view.

The first week's theme is Routine. This is what made me decide to do the whole project about Zoe. I think it will be interesting to look back at the routine of a 3 year old.

I still need some more photos yet as Anna has given us a sketch for the layout with 7 photos on - so I want a photo of each routine. Just need one of her going to nursery tomorrow.

Today I have decorated the album in preparation.

It started off as a chipboard Making Memories 8.5 x11 album with scalloped edges. I painted in metallic cerise acrylic paint on Friday night.

I then have covered the album with the Trimcraft's new range of papers called Smirk and I am using the Naughty or Nice range. I love these papers as they are metallic and glittery. Perfect for a little girl. I have added some pink gingham ribbon so the album can be tied.

I have used a strip for the side which says Angel.I have used Papermania pink letters but they are too pale to show up properly so I have some Thickers in cerise pink on order. I have cut up one of the papers and mounted the panels on chipboard to make the embellishments which I then punched holes into them to tie a ribbon on each one.

This is the back where I have some tags from the same range.

My Year - My Journal

Well since starting this project I have changed my mind a bit how I was going to do it. My original plan was to just to post my pictures on a daily basis on here and then scrap each theme at the end of the year. But now I have made a journal which I put 2 photos on each page. The date stamp is the Bo Bunny Circle the Date one and I stamp the top and bottom of each page in a colour that reflects in the photo. I then circle the relevant date and month.

The journalling tag was made in Word and I use the Kristen ITC font.

I have decorated the book using K&Company papers and some flowers and the letters are American Crafts Thickers. I will add some ribbons to the binding in matching colours.

My Year - January 25th - What makes me smile

These little Gogos Crazy Bones Evos make me smile. I saw them on someone else's blog and apparently they are really popular. Had to buy a couple of packets when I saw them in town yesterday. Not sure what they are or how they came about but they are kinda cute.

My Year - January 24th - Blue

Today we have been out shopping and went to Dunelm Mill to get some new pillows and sheets. As I was wandering around, I found the towel display. I was very embarrassed taking the picture and and in hind sight, I should have tidied the display before taking the photo.

Friday Sketchers # 36

This week's sketch:

I have used a Whiff of Joy Henry Celebrating Mouse stamp which I have coloured in using Promarkers. I have used circular Nestabilities to cut the circle and scalloped mats. The paper is from the DCWV Nanas Kid stack. The flowers are Prima Quick Pick Hydrangeas and I have added some buttons and ribbon.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #15

I haven't done this challenge in ages so I thought I would give it a go. The theme is Hearts.

The stamped image is the Whiff of Joy's Melinda Blowing Kisses coloured in using Pro Markers and a Sakura glitter pen. The paper is from the Papermania Love ?Collossal Paper Pack that I got half price in Hobbycraft. I used some American Crafts chipboard hearts which I covered with the same paper and attached a brad on each one. The sentiment is a Scrappy Cats one which I stamped on to another chipboard shape.

My Year - January 23rd - Animal or Bird

Luckily the weather has held on long enough for me to nip out to the local pond to get this photo. One single lonely swan. Crikey it was cold!!!

Scrap Like You Mean It 2009 - Week 4

This week Shimelle has given us a sketch to follow. Just had to scrap the photos of Zoe's chicken pox.

My Year - January 22nd - Daddy and Zoe

This is a photo of the first time Zoe played Scalextrik with Daddy. At first the cars would fly off the track but she soon figured out how much pressure to apply to the controller. Note how she holds it upside down - just like she holds her scissors

How lovely is Shirley?

My lovely friend Shirley from the 365'ers sent Zoe a little present as she had chicken pox. How thoughtful is that? Zoe is absolutely mad on Peppa Pig, so this present was PERFECT!!!

Thanks Shirley and Zoe sends you a great big hug and a kiss xxx

My Year - January 21st - It is midday, what can I see?

Well today's theme is to take a photo at midday of whatever I can see.

Today I sneaked into The Range in my lunch break so this is what I saw.

I bought lots of Bazzill and some various bits from the new Smirk range. This range of stuff is going to be perfect for the Anna Bowkis project that I am doing.

My Year - January 20th - Pink

Struggled with this one a bit but then realised that I had my favourite pink jumper on this morning - DH took my photo at 8am this morning so the light isn't great - mind you judging by the look on my face - the subject isn't too great either!!!

My Year - January 19th - What is Zoe playing with?

My ex-sister-in-law bought Zoe a Peppa Pig helicopter for her birthday and inside it there are a Peppa Pig and Miss Rabbit figurine. Zoe is mad on Peppa Pig.

Sugar Bowl Challenge 2 - Three

Sorry if this turns out to be a long post and please excuse my photography location but it is best light in the house in the evenings ;-)

The challenge this week was to use 3 different papers and 3 different embellishments. If you managed to use 3 Sugar Nellie stamps that you get entered into the draw twice.

I have put 5 Leanne Ellis images on my card but only 3 different images. I have used a mini book template which is basically 3 squares folded and stuck together. I have used 5 different papers all from the Butterflies and Floral paper stack from DCWV and have used ribbon, blossoms, gems and brads as my embellishments. There are various other stamped images and greetings. So I have met all the criteria but the difficult bit was to photograph it.

This is it closed and tied: A closer picture of the front of the card:
As you open it:

And it unfolds: And a bit more:
The second half of the card:

And a close up of the first half:

And now the second:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #32

This week's challenge was to get dotty! I lurve spots - plus Zoe is covered in them ;-)

I have used Ecarte, Splits and Pirouettes Penny Black stamp coloured in using Pro Markers. I am not sure what the paper is as it was an odd piece I had in my stash and I have used some lilac Swiss Dots Bazzill.