I've "Pimped" my blog, and day 2 at GoGoLand

Hi all,

I hope you like my new style blog, a big thanks to Vicki Parker for her help in getting it up and running, I had order the template weeks ago, but has usual was getting myself so confused I just didn't get round to setting it up, so this weekend Vicki helped me, for which I'm so grateful.

Right now for my 2nd day at the Retreat, doing 4 full packed classes.

Class 3 - designed by Helen, has it was pink and of a girl theme, I chose photos of me, using a 8 x 10 photo and loads of smaller ones. I do know I've said it before but I turely don't know how they come up with all these wonderful ideas.

Here are the papers before.

My finished layout.

Class 4 was Sam's class, which involved embossing and had a very urban/grundy feel to the pages.

Papers before.

My finished layout.

Class 5 was Nicola class, a modern twist on vintage.

papers before

My finished layout.

Class 5 was Nicola - Making the page into a pin board effect.

Papers before.

My Finished layout.

Photo taken by Cheryl Johnson at the June 09 Retreat.

I have two more classes still to do on Sunday, but so far the weekend has been great, loads and loads of laughs (you know me), a unexpected power nap, great inspiration both in the classes and the crop room, an amazing shop, and yes, I keep going back and finding things that I've missed the previous time - LOL.

I've taken some more photos but will load next week. Just one from Saturday. Cassie and Sheena, met Cassie at the Nuneaton Crop last year and spent some time with her at their Retreat, so it was great to meet up again.

I've been asked if I've booked for next year and the answer is YES, YES, YES even though I hope to be going more 'out and about' learning new things, and I know you all think that I spend far too much time 'out and about' I just cannot resist the pull of GoGoLand - ROFL.

This one is my 3rd retreat with Scrapagogo and each time they have got better and better, so to my mind they can only improve. The choice of classes and the attention to details is outstanding, and nothing seems to be too big or small for them to sort out and make your time enjoyable, so as far as I can see I will continue to attend the Retreats, workshops and even visit their crops and learn and get some great inspiration from some amazing girls.

I have thank them in person and I know they read my blog, so I will say on here a big, big thanks you, you are great, keep up the good work.

Right better get some sleep.

Thanks for stopping by ...

Happy Birthday Julie

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Julie,

Happy Birthday to you.

Have a brilliant day love.

* * *

This is the card I did for her using the new bird & branch punch from Stampin' Up.

The stamp set is from American Craft

I hope she like it.

Back later

Scrapagogo - Day 1

Well I arrived safe and sound, after a busy morning trying to sort out the candidates for aHead Teachers position, anyway that another story.

The afternoon and evening has gone all too quickly, but it has been great meeting up with some old faces, and meeting some new ones. The girls from my Solihull crop Sue, Barb, SueChip, Jill and Sue are here, then theirs Cassie and Sheena from the Nuneaton crop, and Sam from Skrapz crop. As well as Diane and her daughter, Charlotte. Not spent much time with Sheena yet, but will be making sure I do before the weekend ends.

So here are a few snaps. Apologies for the quality of the photos, I did take them at around midnight.

When the crop room opened we were all greeted with these lovely gifts, what a place name tag eh.

Then a quick welcome from Janice, Lorriane and Lisa.

Then we had a quick game of bingo run by Sheena, then off for our Evening Meal. I did manage to start a layout before it was time for my first class, which was 'Report Card' by Lisa using the lovely October Afternoon Report Card Collection.

This is what was in the kit.

This is the end results.

Then at 10.30pm it was time to start shopping, and the Team GoGo sure did themselves proud, it was just too lovely for words and I seriously I could have spent loads more, but I did restrain myself, the lovely albums are American Craft and only two are mine, the brown and the green one.

My 1st finished layout, using My Mind Eyes, Little Robot Collection.

I have brought about 4 page kits to do this weekend, wasn't thinking that I would complete one, so I really pleased with this.

Today, I've got 4 classs to do, try to fit in a mini photo shoot with the girls, needs some of the girls that I crop with, eating, laughing and scrapping what more can a girl want ... or yes, chocolate, well we have that don't we with the Easter Egg -LOL.

Check back later for more update.

Thanks for stopping by ...

Happy Monday ...

Just a quick one today, uploading 3 of the 4 layouts I did yesterday. I say, 3 of the 4, because when I came to take a photograph on the last one it needed 'something else' so I will try and add later and upload when I can.

Yesterday was my Solihull crop, and I took along loads to do, that the problem with tiding my craft room and getting page kits together I've ended up with about 20 page kits and not knowing what to do first.

Anyway, I took along my March Scrapagogo kit, full of goodies, so I managed to produce 2 layouts so far, with about 4 more ideas on how to use it -LOL.

This is a scraplift from one of the Srapbook Trends Magazine - not sure which month - sorry.

Story behind the photo - At the Nuneaton/Cronkhill Retreat last November we had our last day, dressed in a certain colour, I was silver and called myself "The Sliver Shadow", we all had a laugh and we have loads of photos, is full poses, which I will add at some point.

The 2nd one I did, I will upload later when I've added something else to it.

Then I found this kit, from Bellaboo April 2009 - with lovely Cosmo Cricket Lil' Man Collection. I'd totally forgot about it, and I just love it, still got loads left so watch this space for some more layouts.

Anyway, the whole layout came from seeing the chipboard cricket set, which I got from Craft Emporium. I've inked the Cricket bat and wickets with 'Albaster' Chalk Ink and clear embossed about 3 times, I've had the Albaster ink for ages, and everytime I looked at it, I wondered, why did I get that colour? - now I know why - LOL. It worked really well.

Then I did this one using Cosmo Cricket - Joy Ride Collection, photo of J & J playing a game of Destinations - which is aboard game about driving around Birmingham City Centre. We still have the game and its has become a family favourite.

Did you notice that I've tried to stay about from using Kraft paper has my background cardstock, I getting used to.

I was out with a group of my friends on Friday, and one remarked that she had recently brought a caravan and was looking forward to touring England with her family. She has wanted one for ages and she has even joined the Caravan Club, not sure what they do in a Caravan Club, but she seems to be pleased with it.

Anyway, made her this quick card, hope she likes it.

Have you noticed the tag ' Let's GoGo' , didn't really take noticed until I'd stuck it down, would be great for my 'GoGo' March Retreat Book, I'll just have to go and get another one eh - LOL.

I've got my tool bag packed and just need to double check my photos for the weekend, got a busy few days coming up, so trying to stay on top of everything.

And tomorrow I've booked myself in for a facial, I'm a qualified beauty therapist, and used to have them on a regular basis, but has time has gone by, things have just taken over and weeks past, then months and before you know it it been a year, anyway they where having a special offer at the local Beauty Salon and I've booked myself in for a transquility facial. Then after Easter one of my therapist friends will be doing a hopi candle treatment on me, with hopefully, if time permits a quick massage. I will have to return the favour, but that's what it all about. I know I have 'ME' time with my scrapping but this is completely different and I hope it will help me to relax and feel less stressed about things.

Thanks for stopping by...

Road Kill Layout

At the Bromsgrove crop, I was telling my story about my layout titled ' Road Kill' to Julie (Redditch), so I throught I put it back on here, and hope that she stops by to see it.

The story is that My MIL had got a new car a few days before we had set off on our holidays, and on the way down she felt that she had hit something, but still carried on, when we stopped for a coffee break, she mentioned the 'thud' but we didn't think anything on it, but when we were returning to the car we noticed that a few people where pointing at the front of her car and laughing, and this is what we saw.

She had hit a pheasant and it had got lodged into the front of her car. Has DH and DS had already set off we had to drive for about 20 mins until we could meet up with them again and for DH to remove it, which did take a while especially with MIL telling DH not to do any damage to her new car - LOL - has if wedging the pheasant into the grill wasn't enough.

Looking at the layout it still makes me smile.

TFL

x

Times just flies by ... again ...

Seriously, where does the time go, its been ages since I last posted, so this might be a big one.

Right to begin, last week, after months of not even trying I did the UKS House Challenge, it was to scraplift a layout and have a 'friend' theme, so I did this, which is a scraplift from Angie (UKS and Scrapagogo DT), but for some reasons I couldn't get it to be uploaded. So here is the layout I did:

Taken in Spain in 2008 with me and my best friends on our girly holiday.

On Thursday night it was the Bromsgrove crop run by Liberty, and I managed to produced these two layouts, plus get some ideas on how to use my Scrapagogo March 2010 kit, which both Debs and Liberty where using. And found out how to do a paper flower, which I will do and upload later.

Celebrating my birthday with friends

Photo of my brother, with a 'mocked' photo of him catching 'the big one' I've decided to do an album with photos of Johnny, for my son, so that he will be above to remember him in the future.

I have also been doing some cards, this one I did today for my friend, she going through a rough time at the moment, and has ever I just what to be with her and give her a big hug, but has we now live far a part, we will have to make do with regular phone calls and texts. In our last conversation I remarked, that this time last year it was my turn to be on the phone to her, and leaning on her for support. It great to have life long friends (we've been friends since we were 11 years old) who we can reply on, in our good days but more especially in our bad one.

Just did this one as an extra one.

I have a lot of magnolia images that I've coloured in and it does save a lot of time when putting cards together.

I've also done some Easter cards. I will be posting them nearly the time. Now Easter cards are a sore subject with me, Julie insists that we should give Easter cards, and for the last two years I've been totally against it, I just think everything is far to commercial these days, but this year I have purchase a stamp and done some cards especially. I've only done a few and hope that they will be gratefully received.

I'm getting myself sorted for the Scrapagogo Getaway on 26 - 28 March, so looking to having s weekend just scrapping and generally having a laugh. And one of the pre-challenges is to produce a name badge and use the pizza box that the kits come in, so here is my sneaky peek, I'm quite pleased with the finished badge and will upload next week.

This mini tag is a new set from Stampin up, available to purchase after 1st April. There is a mini tag punch and a separate stamp set. Will be adding the catalogue this week (as soon has I find out how to - LOL).

So this week is going to be jammed packed, with my all day crop on Sunday, then 2 govenors meetings, a short and very quick visit to the NEC craft show on Thursday, then on Friday another govenors sub-meeting before I drive down to Hertsfordshire, for my fabby weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.

Times just flies by ...

Another long blog, I swear I don't know where the time goes. At the start of each week I'm, convinced that I can at least blog every other day, then before I know it a week has gone by and I've not added nothing to my blog.

So here goes, the first is the challenge that me and Julie set ourselves to use a chipboard shape that we have had for ages. So on Wednesday I produced this, used all old stash, apart from the key.

This is a photo of our 1st home together, a two up two down in Preston. It was start of my life together with Jon and the start of our family life. I loved this house, not for where it was, but for all the 1st that we had in it.

Then this I did in the week, for a challenge at a crop I went to on Saturday. The theme was to use 6 blooms and 6 buttons.

Then on Saturday I went over to the Skrapz crop in Shrewsbury, mainly to meet up with some old friends and generally catch up, it had has been well over 1 year since I was there, and it was so good to get together again. It was really nice spending time with Sam, we just had a great laugh and seeing Theresa and her baby, the last time I saw Theresa had just found out she was expecting and now her baby is 3 months, so it was long over-due visit. Sam did an georgous layout, not using a Scrapagogo kit, but a few bits and pieces that she got on the day, and a few bits and pieces that she brought with her, of course Theresa and I will be scraplifting the design - LOL. I'm hoping to make the journey again soon, and if all goes to plan will be meeting up at the end of year for a week-end of scrapping, in the Shropshire hills.

Sam Layout, which is more stunning in real life than on here, but you can get the basic idea.

A close up of the embellishments she used.

I love how she just puts things together and it all works, maybe that why she on a design team and I not - LOL. Will be doing one of the 4 classes that she is teaching at the GoGo Retreat which I'm so looking forward to, even thought she 'working' I'm hoping to spend some time with her and Sheena and hope that we can do a mini photo shoot over the weekend.

Well I took loads of things to do, but hardly got anything done, but I did know that it would be like that, so here are the few things I did.

My Document 2010 February Layouts

I managed to do these today, whilst I had a few hours spare...

Based on a Pencil-line sketch.

Scrapagogo - January Kit

This is another to be entered into a challenge, used bits from some old Scrapagogo Kits - Sept 08 and April 09 ones - and a few other bits from my stash.

As well as these, I done my January and February GoGo Yearbook Entries but the light was getting low, so will take photos tomorrow.

So my quest, to use up my old stash is going really well, I have got some new papers, but not as much as I thought I might, but am making good use of all the stash I've got. Did you noticed that I've found some 'bling' so I'm adding to to everything, can't believe that I've not used it that much before. My other plan for the coming weeks, is to use coloured cardstock or patterned papers has the background and try and keep away from 'Kraft'. Hence the layouts I did today not being on 'Kraft'.

So my plans for this week is to get all my photos sorted for the GoGo Getaway Retreat at the end of month, I know what photos I want to use just need to find them, and I might have to get James involved in a mini photo shoot as a back up option.

Thanks for stopping by...

Something for Almost Nothing ....

Another fab sounding class, by shimelle, check it out here, I love doing her classes shes always offers a different perspective at looking at things and according to her blurb she is having 'guest designers' which is another added bonus.

So if you are up for another class to use up your stash, check it out.

Baby Shower, GoGo Game Over & Wembley

A long post today, last week, I went to Rachel 'Surprise" Baby Shower, organised by her sister Hannah, it was orginially booked for the 18th, but with all the snow that fell that night, it was postponed till last Thursday.

I've never been to a baby shower, so wasn't sure what it was going to be like. But I must say it was a great night, full of laughter and game playing.

These are just a few of the photos taken on the night.

And yes, Liberty was 'sniffing' a nappy.

Then on Saturday it was another ScrapaGoGo Day Event over in Coventry and was called 'Game Over', which had the basis theme of "games" the GoGo Team did a great job as usual and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We did 5 classes with plenty of time in between to chat, shop and meet old scrapping friends and make some new ones. And was a great way to get me all fired up for the Retreat at the end of the month.

So here are the 4 layouts and 1 mini book/flapbook

designed by Nichola

designed by Lisa (if you look at the tiles around my photo you will see the it says 'Just Me' top right, and bottom left 'smiler"(going upwards) was going to put 'sexy' but throught that was going way too far - LOL

designed by Lorraine

designed by Sheena

designed by Janice

It used playing cards to support the photos

and I used "J" and "A" on the front to represent James initials.

Then Sunday we where up bright and early to go and watch Aston Villa v Manchester United at Wembley. We travelled down by train, which was good, even if we had to sit on the floor traveling down, but the atmosphere was just fab.

The weather was awful at the start, what is it was me going to London and the rain. Anyway, we had a great time, so sad, especially for Jon & James that Villa lost, but the all day was just brilliant and well worth it.

And finally, using the facilities, I noticed this .... can you imagine having to pay £8.00 for fish & chips and you are not sat down in a posh restaurant - LOL

Well that my news so far, I've got a challenge to do with Julie on Wednesday, we got some chipboards shapes ages ago and we have decided to finally use them - well one of them - LOL, and for once I'e got the title but not sure how I'm going to add the shape to the layout, so for the next few days I'll be going through my magazines to get some ideas of what to do with it.

Thanks for stopping by ...

Happy Scrapping