Sarah's Cards Sketch Challenge

I've not done a monthly sketch challenge for a while, so now that I'm getting back on track with the balance of Project Life and Scrapbooking, my first thing was to get to grips with some challenges, here's what I've come up with.

You can find the sketch here

Project Life - February 2013

Here are my February PL pages, and this is a month where I have added extra and different designed page protectors.

Having my first scrapbook pages published that I was paid for, James shaving - a definite OMG moment, having a dry day to hang my washing out.

Putting my new Crock Pot to use, catching J&J going through last years PL albums.

Walking in the snow to get a parcel from the Post Office, obviously it was stash - lol.  The boiler breaking down,

Valentine Day, Roof man, my sales on Ebay, and meeting Celine Navarro at the NEC.

A trip to the Ballet; dentist for James, and James taking it easy in Homebase whilst I was on the phone.

Making crispy cakes with James, spending time with Sheena.

So these are the additional pages, I'd organised a weekend of scrapping with some friends over in Shropshire I had arrived early so that I could have a walk around Wenlock Priory before meeting the others for lunch in the town.

The weekend was freezing, so the photo shoot was cut short we did manage to take these before diving back into the warmth of the house.

I added a stitched detail using the Amy Tangerine Stitch template.

And these are just a few details about the weekend.

I will be back shortly with my March pages.

Project Life - January 2013

Can you believe that I've not blogged any of my Project Life album this year.  Well over the next couple of post I've rectified that and I hope you like what you see, if you don't then "ah! oh" if you do then 'thank you'.

My Project Life (PL) albums are not the regular PL journals, but my version of PL, I do use the divided page protectors, I subscribed to the Studio Calico (SC) PPL kit, and I got a designated box that holds all the PL items in.  But I don't do my pages on a weekly basis, saying that I do try and keep the entries in the correct date order, but if I need to add a photo in a middle of the week, I just do it and not too bothered about it not being the correct date.  I also don't just do a side a week, if I have more going on in a particular week, I just add more page protectors - in a different format, my way of thinking if I don't get around to scrapbooking these events then at least they are in my PL albums.

Over the months, I read various blogs and threads and people have different views on how to put a PL album together, some people are very strong minded about following Becky Higgins way to the letter and can't see that a PL album can be done another way.  Others are doing a smaller version for example using a 8x6 album - so I say just do what you feel comfortable with.

Putting the past 3 months together I've realised that I need to re-think how much time I've devoting to my PL pages, I've noticed that it is taking over and my regular scrapbooking in going my the wayside so that I can finish my PL pages.  So I've come up with a plan - only work on it  for 2 hours per week, thats planning, printing, sorting, assembling the inserts - everything.  I will let you know how I get on next month.

Apologies for the shadow, quality and reflection on the photos.

Me & James meeting friends for Lunch, Lunch again a Ed's Diner in Birmingham and Jon's birthday.

Cinema trips, Parents night, and the arrive a 'Happy Mail' from SC

OMG - the weekend it snowed and snowed, got some great photos, but it stopped us going down to London for a family party which was the most annoying.

Took the kids sledging

and of course, I had a go

Meet Sheena for Lunch, tried to help James with his Math homework - ahhh !!!, helped clear the street of snow so that the workers could get out, catch-up with friends over a meal.

So that was a snapshot into my January.


Thanks for reading and pop back in a few days to see my February pages.

Guest Designer - 12 Month in View

I was asked by the lovely Bernice to be a Guest Designer over on this blog here

Why not hop over and see how I put this layout together.

I would like to thanks Bernice and the team  for asking me to take part with this blog, I really enjoyed the challenge.

A Trip down South - Part 2- Harry Potter Studio Tour

So to follow on from my previous post, our main reason for going to London was to do the Harry Potter Studio Tour, and boy was it great.

I am not a big fan of the film but have watched a couple of them but James hadn't seen any, he know the general story and a few of the characters so I hope he would enjoy it and take in the whole experience, and to say he loved it, is an understatement - it really helped him having the audio pack, as we all did, and he went round each area listening and looking around, it was a complete joy to see him taking it all in, on several occasional he even told me to move over and listen to what he was listening to - lol x

So here are a few photos of our day.

Arrived at the Studio

 

The great hall

The Griffin Stairwell

Chamber of Secret Door

Hadrig motorbike

Professor Umbridge's Outfits

Diagon Alley

Dobby

 Not sure what this was called, but looked very scary.

The Gringotts Goblin Masks

4 Privot Drive

James on the bridge

James gave the Harry Potter Studio Tour a big thumbs up (as you can see) and he want to go again, which is a bonus.  We are planning to return to London soon and hopefully back to the tour not before too long.

A final photo of our tried feet, as we headed home.

I would definitely recommend a visit to this tour even if you are not a fan, there is loads to see and find out about and its a great day out.

A Trip down South - Part 1

So after being back home for 2 days me and James where off again for a 2 day visit down south.  I had booked the trip with Julie and her girls, spending a few hours in London then an overnight stay, and the following day visit the Harry Potter Tour.

So we started off at Kings Cross, and had photos taken at Platform 9 3/4

Then we went on to Carnaby Street,

and found Choccowoocdodah, a very small shop 

but they had some amazing cakes on display.

Then a super quick visit to Big Ben just enough time to take a few photos, 

Then onto Covent Gardens

Whilst we were watching a street artist I noticed we were standing on James Street.

Then we headed back to our hotel to get a few hours sleep before our day at Harry Potter Studio Tour 

I would have loved to have done more sightseeing, but we were limited in time so me and James are planning to return to do more.

A cold but relaxing week in Norfolk

I've had a busy few weeks, the first started off with a family week in Norfolk.  Even though it was very cold and on a few days blowing a gale we had a lovely time.  It didn't rain so we were able to get out for walks every day and I managed to spend time with the family without rushing around.


Here are a few photos taken over the week.

So we arrived to blue skies and a cold wind, but we had a lovely walk along the prom.

I attended Church on Easter Sunday.

We walked up one hill to see the cross 

Then J&J went on a walk towards Cromer.

Of course, I just had to see the steam train again

Had a trip to Cromer.

The one of the day I walk to the top of the hill and was in time to see the steam train on its journey.

On the Saturday before we drove back home, we decided to stay a little longer in the day an walk to Cromer, this was the best day of the week and it would have been ashamed to just pack up and go.


Just has we were setting off, we watched some hand-gliders over head.

Cromer pier in the distance.

We all had a great time and I just love this part of the country, looking forward to returning later in the year.