More layouts from my Retreat

These are a selection of layouts I did to add to my NY album.

using Crate Paper - Wonder Collection - here

 using  Seven paper (Studio Calico) - Golden Collection and Heidi Swapp Empherma pack.

I love how this one came out, simply but effective using the black cardstock as my background.  the cut file is from Kerri Bradford Design.  Paper are from Cocoa Vanilla - Free Spirit here

Another scrap lift, this time from one Julie did for one of her Cut Shoppe post.  Papers are a mixture of travel themed papers I had in my stash.


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Retreat Layouts

Here are some of my layouts I managed to do whilst away in April.

This was using a LFE kit - Pink Paislee - Cedar Lane Collection    There are a few of the sheets still available.

This was  a scraplift, I found on Pinterest - using Simple Stories - Lets Party collection - here

Another layout using a LFE kit -

I scrapliffted this from one Sheena was doing.  Using some papers from LFE Kit, April 2015.

and I did this in a 9x12 format, using a photographs that I had taken the same day, I can never remember ever scrapping a photograph so quickly.  Me and Sheena at Chatsworth, photograph taken by Sam.  Papers used My Minds Eye - On Trend 2 collection here.

A simple one using up bits from a kit that included Seven Paper (Studio Calico) Golden Collection.

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HLM Blogpost - June 2016

I'm up today on the HLM blogpost.  This month I've used stamps  from Pink Fresh Studio on my layouts.  Please hop over  here and  see what I've done.

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HLM Team Retreat 2016

As I said I'd organised a 10 day crafting break, it started with a long-weekend with the Solihull girls, then a few days in between with just me and Sam, then it was time for the HLM DT Team Retreat.

So the for days in-between, me and Sam decided to go out and about on each day and do some crafting or even relaxing at night.

We went to Buxton for the day, very cold but lovely to have a walk around.

then we had a Spa day - OMG! it was totally fab, we had 3 treatments during our stay as well as breakfast and lunch

My first Spa day experience and I'm hoping its not going to be my last - felt a bit strange to start with walking around the building in a fluffy dressing gown, but we soon got used to it.

The weather was lovely that we spent the time between are treatments and eating sitting outside on the patio in the sunshine.

The next day we visited Trentham Monkey Forest - lovely to have a walk around the forest amongst the monkeys and get some lovely shots of them at rest and play.

Then Sheena joined us for our visit to Chatsworths House and Gardens

As more of the team arrived, it was time to go into Ashbourne and get some food shopping done ...

well that was the main objective, but we couldn't resist doing a spot of shopping whilst there, and taking some photos.

We even managed brunch in the sunshine.

and us being scrapbookers, we just had to take loads of photographs of the Afternoon Tea we had prepared.

It was lovely getting together with the team and our bosses, some of the team couldn't make it and where missed the those who where there we had a great time.

Then I was home with my boy again, I think he missed me - lol x 

Thank you for staying with me with my catch - up.  My next couple of blogpost will be scrapbooking related, and less of my waffling.

See you soon

Condense 'April Madness" Post - Part 1

So here the a few photos from Malta and the rest of my 'April Madness".




Before we lifted me and one of my cousins went onto a bus tour, the island is just stunning, and the harbours are simply amazing
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I love how the water is so clear, that you can see the little fishes swimming

 Then on my return home,  it was time to treat my boy to lunch and have a much needed catch up and gather myself for my next trip in a few days time.

I went back to Preston for a much needed catch-up for my besties, but the main thing was to attend my School Re-union.

Another life-long friend, we lost touch when I moved the Birmingham and it was lovely to see her again, and have lunch, before the bug re-union.

And what a re-union it was, it was the best and OMG! it was lovely seeing everyone again

I posted this photograph on my Facebook page and seeing that we are all now in our 50's now, the compliments we got where amazing ... and very much appreciated.  One guy said we hadn't aged, which was lovely to hear.

The day after the night before, we felt very ropey but we had to get out and about.

But it wasn't long before we ended up back at the friends, lying on the floor having a giggle about the previous night and just being us - love these girls.  Yes we had our sun-glasses on inside.

Then home and packed for my 10 crafting break in Derbyshire.

The space is perfect for us crafters to spread out.

it didn't take us long to un-pack and get our scrap on.

and have a laugh.

I'll be back soon.

Malta - Part 3

I did say it would only be 2 post, but I wanted to share more photos, so it might even go over to 4 blog post.

So one of the day my family decided that they wanted to stay by the pool and relax, and me being me just needed to get up and go and explore, so that is what I did, all on my own.

Here I am at the bus stop.  The Maltese people are very friendly, and as the island is small it is easy to get around.  The bus journey was only about 10 minutes to Mdina - The Silence City.

What a beautiful place it is, its a city with a fortress, please actually live here, there was a few cars and tourist horse and carriages, but mainly people walked around.

It even had its own Police station.

Most of the side road looked like this 

There was about 3 maybe 4 churches, all beautifully decorated

and I even managed to see a wedding taking place.    I had good time having some time to myself to explore and visit this site, definitely recommended.

As Mdina was closely by,  it didn't take me long to get back which gave me time to relax by the pool

I'm still struggling to catch up with my blog, so instead of doing separate post for my 'April madness" I going to condense what I've done on my next blog post.

Thanks for bearing with me,  see you soon.

Malta - Part 2 (Gozo)

Following on ... we had decided that we must go over the Gozo for the day, so we took the ferry across the water to the next island and went on a hop on and off tour bus, which is a great way to see most of the island and be told about what each area is about.

To say it was a cold wind was definitely an understatement, it was freezing, but I braved the wind to sit out and see more of the island.

One of the places I wanted to visit was the Azure Window, which was stunning,, and even had people walking along the top, which I did not do and had no intensions of doing.

But I did manage to get my photo taken with it in the background - result.

Then as we were waiting for the next bus I spotted a bay with this little boat, so I went down to take a photo,

Now this is so not like me, but I'm in that frame of mind that I better do things and have no regrets, so before I knew what I was doing, I was sat down in the boat, putting a life jacket on and making my way thought the caves ...

The boat trip lasted 15 minutes, and it was well worth it, going through the caves was stunning, the sea was blue and looks so inviting, the coral around the edge was the most amazing colours, and at one point we could see divers under the boat exploring the sea bed.  

I did try and get photos of the colour of the sea, the coral but as the boat didn't stop I found it really hard, and then I thought to myself that I was missing it all, trying to get the perfect photo and messing with my camera, so I put it  down and enjoyed the ride.

If you ever go to Gozo - I would definitely recommend taking this boat trip.

I'll be back shortly with more Malta photos.

Thanks for stopping by ...