To journal or not to journal???

The big question about this layout was whether or not to add any journaling. I'm a big fan of getting the stories down, especially in the children's albums...but as you can see, on this occasion I opted out. The photos look great but in actual fact Tom didn't have such a good afternoon. Before the races, the children have a choice of about thirty activities dotted around the field...and the real story is that it all proved too much for Tom and he had a huge stroppy meltdown. The happy photos at the end are thanks to the miracle working of his teacher.
So there is a story to tell, but I chose not to tell it. I really do believe in 'warts and all' journaling...but in years to come does Tom need to read that he had a bad day and it was embarassing for me having a wailing son in front of all the other parents? I thought not! I'm sure those of us who had happy childhoods also had 'meltdown' days but our memories filter out some of those bits. I'm happy for Tom's memory to do the same:)

'I ran in a race'

Supplies: Paper and cardstock - Creative Memories, Bazzill, SEI, The Girls Paperie; Stickers - American Crafts 'Thickers', Cosmo Cricket 'Tiny Type', My Little Shoebox 'Mini Alphabet Sticker'; Journaling boxes - October Afternoon, Echo Park; Bunting punch - Woodware

And at last...I have used my new 'bunting' punch on a layout!

Time flies!

Well, time flies! I can't believe I am now the Mum of a ten year old! It's fun (yet scary) to watch her become more independent and grown up. And to think that she has only one more year left at primary school!
Anyway, the challenge for me was what card to make for an "in-betweenie" - not too babyish, but not too grown up. Favourite colours blues and purples...but NOT pink!
I remembered some old Rusty Pickle paper lurking in my stash that seemed suitably 'doodly' and found some cool badges in Paperchase...and this is what I came up with....

Supplies: Cardstock - Bazzill Bling; Paper - Rusty Pickle; Badges - Paperchase; Stamps - Sizzix; Punches - woodware; Die-cut numbers - sizzix 'bigz sassy serif numbers'

I coloured the paper using my pro-markers (fantastic pens btw). I used pliers to remove the pins from the back of the badges, and then attached them to the card using sticky foam pads. The card then opens to reveal a big glittery '10' cut using sizzix dies.

I am now thinking of all the other cards I could make using badges...so watch this space!

July Sketch Club

This month's sketch is based on my 'Keep off the Grass' layout that you can see here...I thought you'd like something nice and summery:) I look forward to seeing your pages!

Books on the go

I love reading! As a child I read under the covers by torchlight (and now tell my children off for the same offence!). Taking inspiration from Shimelle's Blogging for Scrapbookers course I thought I'd try to add a quick weekly post about what I'm reading at the moment. Having always read avidly I have found myself dipping into magazines more in recent years, as life with three small children meant I didn't have the time (or energy) to get properly stuck into a book. I loved Scrapbook Inspirations - and still miss it:(
But now, with the children all at school and all sleeping through the night, I have been making up for lost time. I'm still sometimes limited to grabbing a few pages whilst I clean my teeth but I've enjoyed catching up with a few old favourites and finding some new gems!

And for the past couple of weeks I've been having an Austen fest. I've reread Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma and Persuasion countless times..but can't remember the last time I read Northanger Abbey or Mansfield Park, so I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the modernity of the books - I always tend to think that facetious, understated sarcasm is a very modern style of humour...until I read Austen and realise that people have been the same for a long time regardless of the outward trappings. Anyway, I hope to finish Mansfield Park today and then its on to Sense and Sensibility.

The littlest bridesmaid

When I first made this page for the Papermaze blog I ummed and aahhed for ages trying to decide which photo to use...and ever since then I have been meaning to make a second page using the 'other' one!

And I have finally done it! I've changed the colours to match the wedding colour scheme, but other than that it's a straight scraplift (which is ok because one will go in Jessie's album and the other in Hannah's album). I'd love to know what you think x

'The littlest bridesmaid'

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill swiss dot, My Mind's Eye, October Afternoon, The Girls Paperie; Alphabet stickers - Cosmo Cricket, American Crafts 'Thickers'; Flowers - Prima; Ribbon - RexHome; Die cut - Sizzix 'Tattered florals'; Stamps - Sizzix, Hero Arts; Bazzill In Stich'z templates;

Keep off the grass

I've had this layout on the go for a few weeks...but have finally finished it:) I love this picture - Hannah crawled round and round the blanket but wouldn't venture off onto the grass.

'Keep off the grass'

Supplies: Paper - Creative Memories; Stickers - Creative Memories, Echo Park; Glitter border - We R Memory Keepers;

a bit of a birthday layout...and a sketch

...and here's this month's sketch and layout!

I seem to make lots of pages using three photos and this is no exception as I couldn't choose which photo to use. This is Jessie looking ever so grown up on her 7th birthday (in new birthday clothes)...and the photos show her having just blown her candles out before we had had a chance to sing, then joining in singing 'Happy Birthday' to herself, and then finally blowing her candles out at the proper time!

I really enjoyed going all girly, and piling on the bling for this page...and I was pleased with myself for using up some old Creative Memories paper lurking in my stash (the checked pattern) - something I should do more often!

'Cake'

Supplies: Paper and cardstock - Bazzill bling, Creative Memories; Journaling card - Elles studio; Ribbon, flowers and gems - WHSmith; Butterfly border - sizzix;