Embellish your World

I may be some time

...this arrived in the post today and was the most perfect of post to receive when you are in bed recovering from a tummy bug.

 

LOVER UNLEASHED
by J.R. Ward
March 29, 2011

Few authors give readers such a “powerful rush”* as #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward does in her phenomenal books of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Now she returns to that fiercely intoxicating world in a new novel of a woman’s journey from terrifying enslavement to an erotic rapture that proves equally dangerous…

need I say more?

Also booked myself on an arty e-course starting April 11th. Course covers layering, inking, painting, texture, different mediums, doodling and more...can't wait!

So I didn't make it to Weightwatchers today due to the tummy bug but with two days barely eating I should hope that the scales next week are a little kinder than the "stayed the same" stunt they pulled last week.   Having spent time last weekend with two friends who have lost in excess of 5 stone each I am darn sure I won't be giving up anytime soon, and I am loving the gym at the moment and know that eventually that will pay off, and is making me feel great in the meantime - even if the scales disagree.

 

Show and tell

Plenty of images to share of this weekends craftyness. I would have shared earlier but tummy bug stopped play today :( 
First up is my layout from my first class which was a Fancy Pants "It's the Little Things" multi-photo class taught by Mel, the co-owner of ATDML.

 
I scrapped photos of our youngest cat Roxy for this class which included a cute set of rub-ons as well as the yummy papers and border strips.

Next up, my second class, also taught by Mel featuring an embossed clear resist technique class. Please forgive the hearts over the faces of the little one featured on this page with my son which I don't have permission to share on line.

 
I loved this class which took me a little out of my comfort zone with the inking but I love my finished page and will most definately be using the technique again. I added my Verve stamp "Twinkle twinkle little star, do you know how loved you are" as well as stamped branches (also from Verve).

I taught a make and take Sunday morning and then took a minibook class with Annie Hafermann where I finally (after almost 20 years) scrapped my graduation photos!

 
 

Because I wanted to complete this project (I only have journalling left) I didn't start my second Annie class which was a linear double page layout with a foldable journalling sections. I will do this in my own time and maybe change up the papers a little too which, whilst very nice, were a tad cutesie (spl?) for me.

I also played with my April ATDML kit some more but can't share just yet. The papers we are working with this time are the latest Bo Bunny releases which are SCRUMPTIOUS!! Here is a sneak of a page I did using the timeless die-cut (which wasn't in my DT kit but I bought it anyway cos it was so nice!!)

 
 
My final class was with Debbie and I just need to add a title and complete my stitching on that page and then I will be able to share!

The Created by ATDML blog is featuring retreat news and plenty of inspiration all week so be sure to pop over and drool!

Such a great weekend.

What a fab weekend away I had scrapping and teaching with the ATDML ladies.   More details and images are over on the blog but I have plenty  to share here, but maybe after some sleep!! 

 

Having a ball

Well I'm blogging from my lovely hotel room in Stoke-by-Nayland where I have joined the ATDML crew at their Spring 2011 retreat. I've checked it at home and hubby, kids and pets are all good so it's time to kick-back and RELAX!!

I taught a prima class first thing this morning which the delegates seemed to really enjoy, and now, apart from my make and take tomorrow morning, I have the weekend to scrap away to my hearts delight!  It is always such a pleasure spending time in like minded company where you are not alone in "ooohhhing and aaahhhhing" over patterned paper, on sharing in the memories which photos help to recall. Therapy is a scrapping retreat, of that I am convinced!

 

 

 

Back to the crop room I go but before I do I just wanted to add don't forget to pop over to ChickenSoup and take a look-see at this weeks inspiration and be in with a chance to win a guest DT spot during May. Here is my page for this week!

 

One more sleep!!

Tis that time again, off to the Spring ATDML Scrapbooking retreat I go in just one more sleep!(although that will be a very lovely sleep thanks to our new super duper mattress!! - why did we wait so long to replace the old one??!!)

So I have (some!!) photos sorted and stumbled across some fab golden oldies whilst I searched - some bring tears of laughter, other tears of sadness seeing passed loved ones full of smiles and wishing they were still here to share them.  I'm hoping to get a few of these older photos onto layouts this weekend and will of course share, but I do struggle with older photos, is that just me?

Anyhoo, I am rambling on and I have a tonne more preparation to do, but before I shoot off and get myself organised - a sneak of my layout for tomorrow's ChickenSoup challenge.

 
I'll be taking my laptop this weekend just incase, hey I may even manage to SKYPE with my daughter! so I'll catch you soon x

For the first time

 

Forgot to mention, though I have no idea HOW!! that I saw my favourite Irish Boys "The Script" last week, on St Patricks Day, singing their hearts out at the NEC in Birmingham! Totally awesome and they even sang my favourite song from the first album "I'm Yours" which I ADORE, but I do love this track from their second album too.

Just a quick blog post from me as I am off to the gym and then to catch a film. Stayed the same at WeightWatchers today which was a bit of a disappointment as I had really expected a bigger loss than last week, but I WILL NOT GIVE UP! I've even checked that the hotel this weekend allows guests to use the gym as well as the pool and will be packing my gear accordingly!!

Want a quick sneak peak of my layout for this weeks ChickenSoup? I'll share tomorrow! Be sure to check in at 7pm on Friday evening for this weeks inspiration and for a chance to join us as a guest designer!

I am still here, honest!!

Just a little preoccupied with everyday life and before I know it my blog has been untouched for days!

So what have I been up to? I've just finished another book, the latest in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, River Marked, which took me a while to get into (lack of Werewolves! and more of other supernatural creatures) but it picked up about half way through and I read a fair amount on my train trip into the City and back today for a work course, and squeezed the end in between dinner and bedtime!

I've caught a couple of films at the cinema too with my unlimited card. I am number 4 was pretty cool (saw it twice!), Unknown with Liam Neeson was pretty awesome, and not at all what I expected.  Chalet Girl, whilst your predictable rom-com was, I thought, rather lovely! I'm planning on seeing The Lincoln Lawyer tomorrow after the gym and looking forward to Limitless with Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro due out this weekend. Of course I won't be seeing it this weekend as I will be in scrappy friendly heaven with the ATDML retreat ladies as we prepare for a full weekend of creative bliss! I am teaching Saturday morning but otherwise the weekend is sure to be full of relaxation, laughter and smiles - actually, who am I kidding my class will be full of the same!!

 

 I have my forthcoming ChickenSoup recipes to work on, my January and February Project 12 pages to create, not to mention a couple of magazine assignments and another retreat class to prepare for so I plan on being my usual proliffic scrapbooking self, whilst fitting in a swim or two into the agenda as well! Did I mention relaxation?? Silly me!!

Long overdue update

Well I am officially on my new laptop now (thanks to a super techy/come mini-geek of a hubby whom I adore!) So apologies for the lack of updates but I am back blogging once more and it didn't cost us a penny!

First up for sharing in my layout from Eclectic Keepsakes 1st birthday crop where we were taught by my good friend Denise and blessed with birthday cake and a gift of an EK stamp for use on all our EK creations.

 

The weekend before I attended the WGC crop with Sue and Co and created several layouts, two of which were very loosly based on the class examples, but I had photos of my boys which didnt suit the floral/butterfly paper so adapt I did!

 

 

I've also been working on my retreat class for the forthcoming ATDML retreat at the end of the month which I believe is sold out. I always love going to Stoke-by-Nayland, whether I am teaching or not, as there are such a lovely bunch of ladies, an awesome venue and amazing classes and this time Annie Hafferman will be teaching too alongside the ATDML teachers Mel Hand, Debbie Jewell, Jane Hewitt and myself.

Here is a quick peak at my Prima class which involves lots of layering and stitching!

 

Plenty of preparation to do as my class choices have come through now so I need to attend to photo printing and putting together some other page kits to make the most of my time. 

I'm also packing my swimming costume so I can have a dip in their very lovely pool and maintain my current exercise regime which, accompanied by joining WeightWatchers again has seen my fitness levels increase and my journey to a less lardy me reignited. Last week I lost 2lb and only used 19 of my 49 extra weekly points, and earnt 10 on exercise. So far this week I have 7 exercise points and am eating plenty of veg, having made a tasty batch of homemade veggie soup which I've been eating for work lunches. So far so good, lets hope the scales agree and don't act unkindly!

 

Anyone for tea?

Isn't she the cutest Momiji doll? Love her and happen to have a couple of spaces left on my shelf too! Maybe for mothers day which can't be that far away?

I have plenty layouts to share from the Welwyn crop I went to last weekend but I'm blogging from my iPhone as my laptop is in repair/update with hubby so they'll have to follow this week. Includes more from the new Echo Park "For the Record" collection too which ATDML now have in stock - I love this line so much!