Day 2 - GoGo Getaway

Hi all, well last night was great we had a great welcome from Lorraine, Janice and the DT Team,

then it was time for our group photo, which was taken by Kirsty Wiseman and printed off so that this morning we could add them to our hybrid layout, another great touch from the GoGo Team,

then we were off for our evening meal before our first classes of the weekend began.

But before all this waiting on our tables were are welcome gifts,

My 1st class was designed and taught by Lorraine, and has you can see I decided to completely change the one on display and do my own version, which has worked out really well.

Lorraines - original

My version:

Then at 10.45 it was time for the shop to open, and boy the Team had really excelled themselves, with Cosmo Cricket, Sassafrass, Jenni Bowlin, Dear Lizzie, Elles Studio, Glitz Design Inc. American Crafts, to name but a few

Yes I did get a few bits which I will upload another time. But it was all just lush and something for everyone taste.

So my first class today was by Sam and assisted by Sheena - which involved a lot of cutting out, somethings that she specialises in and yes, I did moan but I just loved the class

Title - Walk this Way

Me and Beki concentrating of all the detailed cutting we had to do.

One of the layouts from the Scrapagogo October 2010 kit, have done another but will upload later.

I forgot to upload this one, which the 'lovely' view - NOT- from my hotel window.

Right will be back tomorrow to upload tonight and tomorrows classes.

Thanks for stopping by ...

My Retreat Badge and the Scrapagogo Getaway Begins ...

So today I was up at 5.30am to make my way to Cheshunt for the 5th Scrapagogo Getaway, A very early start but I hope the weekend will be worth it, these Retreats have not let me down so far so I doubt this will be any different.

After the journey down car to the local station, 3 trains changes and a taxi ride I arrived at the Hotel at 12ish, very tired but happy that my weekend of fun can begin. Obviously, I couldn't book in till 2pm so I relaxed in the bar and had lunch, then I went for a walk around the grounds, the Autumn colours are just amazing and looking forward to sharing some of my photos over the weekend.

By the time I got back to the reception people were beginning to arrive, it great to meet old and new friends, especially good to meet up with Beki and her Sister Claire, Chloe and the DT team.

So here are a few of the photos from around the grounds.

The Tree House, A great construction, but all locked up, we have in the past had classes in here, so I might be able to get some additional photos from the steps/room etc.

The lovely Manor House part of the hotel, I hope all those cars go away over the weekend, won't look good in the photos later.

My room, 717 not a good view from the window but a lovely room nevertheless.

So now I share with your my badge for the weekend.

So for my badge, has it was Halloween I decided that I would do a suitable badge along these lines. My first idea was to have a pumpkin shaped badge, but when I saw Nicki's Sizzix Haunted House Die I know I had to make one of these instead, complete with bats (grudgeboard), pumpkin & spider - sizzix.

So alot of paper piecing was involved but I think it was well worth it.

I inked and heat embossed the bats grudgeboard - which I have had for ages and ages, they are out of the Seasonal Grudgeboard pack, I didn't want them to look too smooth, so when while still hot a moved each shape to they had lumps and bumps.

Pumpkin & Spider - Sizzix

You can't really see from this photos, but I used some cloud shapes as a mask to highlight clouds going in front of the moon - IYKWIM.

Then when I was thinking about what Scrapagogo had said about the design of the badge, I realised I hadn't included 5 of something, to represent the 5th Getaway, so I added 5 tiny stars.

I would like to thank Nicki for the use of her dies, Julie for providing the goggly eyes (spider), Morag, Nicki & Julie for their comments, which I asked for, and completely ignored - LOL. Thanks girls you all rock.

I'm so happy how it worked out, I hope you like it too.

Thanks for stopping by ...

Half Term Holiday

Well we have just spent a great week in Sheringham, this was are 3rd visit for the year and well worth it.

I know some that think going to the same place year after year is boring, but I say 'Why Not', we has a family love it and hope to visit for many years to come. We have already booked a week for Easter time and looking to book again for the Summer, but need to sort out James school holiday dates.

The weather wasn't brilliant but it was great being away and in a place that we all love.

For some reasons, I don't know what, but I didn't take has many photos has I normally do, but here are a few.

We went for long coastal walks, I walked along the beach, which I wish I could do on a weekly basis, its so relaxing to do, and a great way for me to clear my mind and get things into perspective. We watched fishing boats being launched, and when I could keep James till was able to have my photo taken with him - LOL

Now I off to the Scrapagogo Getaway Retreat on 29th till 31st October , so please pop back over the weekend and I'll try and add some photos of the weekend as I go along.

Thanks for stopping by ... have a fab weekend ... I know I will ...

Theatre Night, Scrapping and a Badge ...

On Monday night Julie took me to see Blood Brothers at the Hippedrome for my Birthday, which was a early Brithday present, my Birthday is not till Christmas and it was just brilliant. We started the evening off at TGI Friday, we used to go here regularly, so it was nice to re-visit and have a good meal.

Then off to the Hipperdrome, Birmingham, the night was a sell out and the lead was played by Nicki Evans from X Factor and she was really good.

I loved it and would highly recommend it for anyone and would go back and see it again.

Now onto some scrapping, these first two layouts came about when I was re-arranging my new shelving unit, which I will take a photo and show you soon, and found that I had room on my desk now and just wanted to scrap, both layouts using Studio Calico Kit - August kit

Supplies: Bazzil Cardstock, Sassafrass Whimsies, SC Month Stamp, Stampi' Up Tab Punch, WRMK - Alphabet Sheet (g), Thickers

And look at this lovely calendar stamp set, again from Studio Calico, just love it.

Then this one

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket - Patterned Papers, Chipboard shape, Alphas; Sassafras - Indie Girl; Studio Calico; Basic Grey - Olivia:

And I used my new cloud punches.

And the final one was one I did for my Solihull Crop challenge, photo of James, Izzy & Millie outside the Cinema in July.

Again another Studio Calico Kit - September this time.

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket - Pixi-lisious; Sassafras; Studio Calico, Jenni Bowlin Butterfly & Journalling Card, Glimmer Mist, Sassafras India Girl - Journalling Sticker, border sticker, Alpha stickers; Maya Road Chipboard Frame;

And another stamp from Studio Calico, a very versitile ruler stamp.

And finally, a sneak of my badge for the Scrapagogo Retreat, next weekend, which I really looking forward to.

Better get going now, thanks for stopping by

Friends visited and some crafting ...

My friends visited from Preston at the weekend, and we had a great time, first it was opening their albums and photo frames (which I forgot to take a photo of), there were really pleased with them and then I showed them my article in Scrapbook Magazine and it was great to get ohh and ahhs from them, especially when they are not crafters, and being life-long friends they will tell me the truth - so it boosted my confidence by their comments.

Then we had a trip into the City, for shopping and lunch then back home, to watch X-Factor and then back in to the City to visit some bars, we had a great weekend and I do miss them.

So onto some crafting, I did this the other weeks, but was waiting for the mini alphas stickers to arrive.

Supplies - October Afternoon - Seaside Collection,

I also used my Tim Holtz Rosette Die and added a sticker beach ball

This one used Scrapagogo September kit, the cloud idea was from a layout done by Lorraine, but I went one further and drew round them onto the cardstock, then 3D them over the shape.

Studio Calico - September kit - This it had a full packet of Maya Road framed chipboard in, which I glimmer misted and added the same colours to the cardstock, added different patterned papers to the back.

And my final project for now, are some Stampin' Up Cards, I'm trying to use my Stampin' Up products more and this is just to show case what I've been doing. So here are a few cards I done.

No. 1 Supplies - Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Red; Paper - Newsprint; Ribbon - Chocolate Chip 5/8" Satin; Stamps - Artistic Etching

No. 1

No. 2 Supplies - Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Red; Stamps - En Francais (large background stamp), Artitic Etchings, Happy Everything; Inks - Classic Black, Crumb Cake, Red, Choc Chip

No. 2

No. 3 Supplies - Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Red; Ribbon - 5/8" - Old Olive; Stamps - Artistic Etchings, Happy Everything; Ink - Chocolate Chip; Punch - Border

No. 3

No 4 - Supplies - Cardstock - Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive; Punches - Scallop boarder, 2-step Bird; Ribbon - Red 5/8"; Ink - Whisper White; Stamp - Perfect Punches

No. 4

No. 5 Supplies - Cardstock - Red, Old Oliver, Chocolate Chip; Stamps - Dasher, Solid Stripes, Perfect Punches, Tiny Tags; Ink - Crumb Cake, Black, Red, Linen Thread; Punches - mini tags, scallop.

No. 5

No 6 Supplies - Cardstock - Natural; Stamps - En Francais Background stamp, Touch of Nature Set, Perfect Punch; Ink - Black, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

No. 6

Thanks for stopping by ...