Oh No ...

Well the sad news is that my brother, who was 48, died suddenly on 10th April. To say it was a complete shock is an understatment. I feel like I'm on my own, he was the last person left from my young life, and up until a few days before we were talking/laughing about our childhood, with both of us getting things wrong, then coming to a final conclusion.

These past few weeks have been awful, I've been down to his house, to start to "sort things" out .. .cancelling bills, etc and sorting his funeral out - which can't take place till 5th May - couldn't believe the the cemotorium was so busy.

Over the months, I've often joked with other about people phoning up say QVC, and saying that crafting has helped them get through a difficult time in their life... but oh my its so true. I know its early days for me at the moment, but it has given me a few hours each day, where I don't have to think about other things going on in my life and concentrate on crafting.

On the 18th I went to Ally Pally has planned, meeting up with Julie and Kay for the day, it was great to see female friends and get a cuddle ... you can never have too many cuddles LOL ... and again not having to think about the tast ahead. Yes, I did shop till I dropped and I've only just starting to put it away.

On the 25th I went to PaperArts, to do a workshop run by Cleo Jarvis (Bellaboo new owner), we did a LP layout and a mini book - the mini book I did of the Tuna Turner concert. I will photograph them soon and will upload.

People keep telling me that life goes on, and times a great healer and to try and carry on doing the things I've booked and planned to do, and not cancel, so I doing as many as I can, to keep myself busy and on top of things and so far its working.

UKS Weekly Challenge

My team "Urban Faeries" have been asked to set a weekly challenge over on the UKS forum. After much discussion, here is my entry. the main feature is that it had to be a scraplift from my favourites (on the UKS site) so I choose Relliott71 "The Hat" as my scraplift.

The use of a foreign object to scrapbooking had to be used - hence the owl badge.

Also distressed and inked edges.

Thanks again for looking ...

TINA TURNER - LIVE

What a night - I went to see Tina Turner at the NIA Birmingham on 7th and she was brilliant.

Since moving to Birmingham I seemed to have found my feet and doing alot of things on my own - don't get me worng I would love other to come along, sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Anyway, as soon as I know she was appearing in Birmingham I booked my ticket. My Hubby didn't want to go and not only that we don't have anyone to look after our son in the evenings so I was on my own.

I went on the bus which stops at the top of my street and then got a taxi home.

With her dancers

For a woman who is 69 she was totally amazing.

I took these photos with my panasonic FZ28 using the Aperture feature, wasn't sure what I was doing but knew that it give a longer zoom capacity. I was near the back of the hall but the photos came out really well.

Really looking forward to going on my photographic course which starts at the end of April to find out what my camera can do...

Thanks for looking .....

Exploding Bag Card & Envelope

I know I've mentioned previously that I don't like templates, but I'm hooked now. After doing a exploding bag at one on our "crafting" get-together, I have now cut out several and produced one for Julie - she often says that she never gets crafty things from people.


So here what I produced for her Birthday on Friday.


I used the new Smark papers - Friendship and Naugthy or Nice Collections and embellishments. I've used embellishments that reflect our crafty friendship.


We both have a love of owls, so wanted to use one somewhere on her card - this is the Quickcutz one which was really easy to but together.

When we meet up we often drink "latte" so this was appropriate to us...

use this one to represent us as "kindred spirit" as crafters.

over the past few years, she has become a friend to me, and I hope I am to her.

this one represents our love of "Stash Shopping" and that it is definitely out of control.

She really loved it and I hope she had a great birthday.

I have done a layout this week, that is part of my UKS team challenge, so I can't upload till it goes live over on UKS which will be week beginning 13 April. I can tell you that its a scrap lift from a regular Gogo girl - Relliott71 - so thanks Rachael - will acknowledge you when it goes live.

Have a great Sunday and thanks for dropping by ...

Catch up Monday ....

Had a busy "crafty" day on Saturday, after returning from a Bridal rehearsal I decided to relax and I produced the following.

Hadn't done must over the last week in the range of scrapping, still trying to sort out my room - which is definiately an on going battle and with going back to the NEC on Sunday with some the the Solihull crop girls, I didn't produce many layouts at the crop.

Anyway problem solved and I feel on top of things again ... well a little bit.

So here goes, using Scrapagogo March 09 kit, this kit has a lovely selection of spring colours, oranges, greens and blue all very fresh and inviting.

GROW YOUR OWN - James uncle has been growning pumpkins for years and entering them into competition, and he has started a traditions where he given James a set of pumpkin plants and we see what we can grow. To incorporate the "pumpkin" colour I used the journalling card as part of the patterned paper.





THE ROCK - The photo is not very good, but it reminds me of our time on holiday, and this rock became our focus point to meeting up on the beach with family.

I added an outline to the letter stickers for added interest.

I also added some swirl stitching...

RELAX - photo taken in 2005 when we visited London for the day and had a ferry on the River Thames.

I LOVE US - using the Scrapagogo Feb 09 kit - this photo is out of focus, it was taken my our son on a visit to Windsor in 2005, but I've used it because it a rare one of me and DH together.

and finally, I recently purchased the We Are Memory Keepers - "Nonsense" Pad from QVC. which I used for this layout.

Rock Star - photo of my son with a blown up guitar pretending to be a "Rock Star". The guitar came with the "School of Rock" DVD a few years ago.

Used an Autumn Leaves "Talking in Circle" Stamp and cut out some of the patterned paper to make swirls, up the side of the paper.

These are ear-rings that I purchased from Tammy Girl in the sale, which make a great embellishment for this layout.

I've even cut out a bird on a branch from one of the sheets.

Have a great day and thanks for looking

xxx

Stamp with us - Blog Candy...

Just found this link to win some amazing Blog candy ....









Stamp with Us - worth checking them out.

Spring is here .....

What a lovely few days we have had this week, still a bit cold but the sun is shining, the birds are singing and all well.



Discovered a new feature on my camera, well I didn't really it was Kay (Solihull crop) had attended a course and learnt how to focus on a subject and let the background be blurred. So after a quick lesson from Morag (Solihull crop) on Sunday I took these pictures of the daffodils growing in my garden.

I know not a flower, but couldn't resist ....

Morag also mentioned that she was attending a 10 week photography course at the Botanical Gardens and how much she was enjoying it. when I originally got my new camera, (it was for my birthday - but got it in October), my hubby suggested that I go on a course to learn how to use it properly, but I never got around to sorting it out.

Well I have now, have just booked myself onto the next course which starts 30 April at the Botanical Gardens, its a 2 hours course, and it allows you access to the grounds to take photos using the techniques learnt in class, so after a quick turtorial from Morag, imagine what I could be doing after 10 weeks - LOL.

After visiting the NEC Craft Show last week, which I wasn't too impressed with but still managed to spend a fair bit thought, I'm on the look out for new stash.

Just got these delivered today, from A Trip Down Memory Lane - The new range of My Minds Eye - Penny Lane - Tiny Dancer, Feeling Groovy, Free Bird - small accessories, and of course some Thickers. The stash took 24 hours from ordering till delivery - how brill is that.




The Tiny Dancer paper is for my Great Niece photo on her Christening Day earlier this month.

She just looks like a "tiny dancer" - beautiful