* A Sketch and a Summer Weekend *

Hi Bloggers ... Monday morning again!! How did that come around so fast?!

Yesterday was very hot down here on the south coast so we spent most of the day out in the garden but I had to come inside for an hour in the afternoon as it just got too hot for me. I had already chosen a photo and some papers ready for a layout based on Shimelle's Sketch of the week so decided to make good use of my hour in the shade and finished off the page.

The photo is from our family holiday to Ibiza last October, taken on a day trip to Ibiza Town where we spent the afternoon wondering around the Old Town, taking in the sights and views!! I have used Kraft cardstock (again!) and papers are mainly Stella And Rose (MME), Thickers letters and a K & Co tag and chipboard buttons. I used a white acrylic paint dabber to apply paint with a brush to the edges and also splattered a little across the page by flicking the brush gently. It's the first time I've done this as I've also been a little apprehensive that the paint would go everywhere and make a mess but I quite like the effect!

I hope you had a lovely weekend. We were in the garden most of the day. D mowed the lawn, I did a little weeding and H played on her swing and in the sandpit. It was nice just to relax and spend time together.

And even had out first barbecue of the summer!!!


Have a great week!!

* I made cards this morning! *

What's a girl to do on a rainy, dull morning??

Shopping? (Maybe!).... Housework? (NOOooooo not if i can help it!) .... Craft? .... Yeahhhh, of course!!

So, this morning I have been making cards with one of the gorgeous MME LimeTwist 6" X 6" Paper Pads

This first one is very simple. Background paper is from the Lime Twist Life of the party pad and some kraft cardstock (I use kraft loads and I'm almost completely out of it so must remember to get some more!). I have inked the kraft with distress ink. The cute butterflys are punched with my Martha Stewart Punch and attached with a spot of Glossy Accents so that their wings are left free and a stamped greeting, Craftwork Cards candi and gems to finish.

The second card is pink bazzill for the background, to which I've mounted a piece of green spotty paper to the top half and flower paper to the lower half (both from the Lime Twist Life of the party pad ) with all the corners rounded and the edges inked with distress ink. I cut a strip of brown Lime Twist paper and punched the edge with my Fiskars border punch and added it across the join. I tied a piece of grosgrain ribbon before attaching the whole piece to a white scalloped card blank and embellishing with a chipboard flower and finishing with craftwork cards candi and a greeting attached with 3d foam tape.

I haven't made cards in ages but I really enjoyed making these two. I really should make cards more often but when I sit down to craft I tend to always reach for my photos and scrapbook!!

Right, I'm off to watch "The Apprentice" on TV .... have a great evening!

* Anniversary *

Just over 15 years ago I was at University. One evening a friend introduced a friend of theirs ... we chatted ... he bought me a drink. We met a few days later ... a date I suppose you could say!! lol!

So, we "dated" for a few years and then we took the very grown up step of buying a house together ... one evening whilst out for dinner he proposed, it was not particularly romantic and was definately very spontaneous but his proposal came from the heart. I, of course said "Yes"!!!

And this week we are celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary!!

I feel so lucky to have met and married the most kind, funny and amazing man. He is my best friend and my "rock" and we have had 10 wonderful years!!

I have spent a very happy hour or so today browsing through my wedding album, reading our guest book and generally remembering our special day.


Our official photographer had an assistant who took loads of gorgeous black & white shots, catching guests (and us) unaware and captured some lovely detail and moments.



Back then, digital cameras were rare and so the only photos I have are the originals which are mainly in albums (both the official ones and those taken by friends and family) or in frames but today I have taken photos of photos so that I can get them printed and scrap them. It's amazing to think I have no layouts of my wedding so I need to change that!

Do you have lots of wedding photos? Have you made any wedding layouts? I'd love to see them!!!

* Grab Boxes now on the website!! *

Hi everyone

I just wanted to tell you that I have put two GRAB BOXES on the website. These are boxes full of 50 sheets of 12" X 12" papers. Grab Box 1 is just £5 and Box 2 is £6.50!! Although these are older papers they are still beautiful and perfect for scrapbooking or card making. Bargain!!!


I don't want this blog to become all about the shop as I have a separate blog for the shop but I didn't want you to miss out as they are already going fast and I only have limited numbers!!

I'll be back later, hopefully with some finished layouts to show you!

* Ten Things *

Never wanting to be left out, I just had to join in the fun over at Shimelle's blog with her great idea of "10 things on the tenth!"

So, 10 things making me happy today:

~ It's almost the weekend!

~ The beautiful flowers in my garden. I love seeing them from my craft table!

~ Blue skies and sunshine today!

~ Simply Made Magazine. I bought issue 4 yesterday and I'm lovin' it!

~ Memories of my wedding day are making me smile today.

~ I am very happy that in a few days time I will be celebrating being married to my wonderful man for 10 amazing years.

~ My daughter's happy face this morning when she realised it was Friday which meant "Golden Time" at school today (which she looks forward to all week long!) and that it was almost the weekend. When she's happy, I'm happy!

~ Today I'm happy that I have made a start on decluttering and sorting our box room. How does it get so full of so much stuff?! Once it is cleared out I'm going to paint it a lovely bright, fresh new colour!

~ Treating myself to coffee out this morning at our local garden centre, followed by a wander around the craft shop where I bumped into a crafty friend and enjoyed a chat and catch up.

~ Blogging! Being a part of this wonderful on line community makes me happy!

I am trying to get around to as many of the blogs that have taken part as I can and have discovered some lovely new blogs to read, be inspired by and add to my blog list. If you are participating in 10 things on the tenth please do leave me a comment so I can pop by your blog too!

* Beach Babe *

So, as I'm still working my way through my pile of photos labelled * Photos to scrap from when H was younger * for this layout I chose one of my favourite photographs from 2008.

I have lots (and lots) of pics from when she was this age (about 4/5 years old) as she was more than happy for me to snap away whilst she just carried on with whatever she was busy doing. It wasn't long after this age that she became more aware of the camera and would do daft poses which although very sweet, didn't quite give me the natural photos that I wanted.

This photo was one of many taken during a holiday in Sussex. It was a windy day, and not really typical beach weather but I remember H had so much fun playing in the sand, rolling up her jeans to run in and out of the waves and collecting shells that it didn't matter that the weather wasn't great.

I followed a sketch in issue 55 of Scrapbook Magazine and used papers from Crate Paper Doll, and Fancy Pants Rusted Sun. The letters are Thickers and Making Memories, journalling card is Echo Park, Crate journalling sticker, Girls Paperie flower (mounted onto a chipboard circle which I covered with paper & inked the edges). I think the chipboard star is Making Memories and the buttons and ric rac ribbon are from my "Button Box" and "Ribbon Box"!! lol! My Fiskars Bracket punch put in an appearance again to punch the border! Love that punch so much!

Looking at it again, I wish I'd inked the edges of the journalling card but it's too late now! Also, if you look closely you may notice the ric rac has come away slightly ..... I've now fixed that!!

Well, we have beautiful sunshine down here today so I'm going to have a quick cuppa in the garden before I have to go and do the school run!

* My New Website *

Hello!

Are you loving this glorious weather? I certainly am!

A few weeks ago I mentioned on this post about starting up my business again and that my new website was almost ready. Well, I thought i would pop on here quickly in between uploading goodies as fast as I can to let you know that the S J Crafts On Line Shop is NOW OPEN!!!! Yay!!!

If you want to go have a look just click on this link sjpapercrafts.co.uk

I still have quite a lot of stock left from when I had my bricks and mortar shop and most of that is in the Clearance Section at bargain prices. I need to make room for new stock coming over the next few weeks!

Also, to celebrate the opening P & P is FREE when you spend £10 or more, just type in the code OPENMAY in the discount code box. This offer will close 10pm Sunday 12th June!

I have set up a new blog for the shop HERE where there will be giveaways, news, offers and inspiration and I have a Facebook Page HERE!!

A huge thankyou to everyone who has sent me lovely messages of support and good luck wishes and/or purchased already. I am very excited to be sharing this new venture with you and can't wait to share with you the lovely new stock that should be arriving soon!!

Have a lovely (crafty) evening!