It's reveal day

So reveal day is finally here and i can at long last show you my project i created with this months kit from Cleo Crafts.

This kit for me was awesome, i loved the colours, content and the versatility of the papers which helped me decide what i would make.

At the moment i seem to be making a few little books, don't think i have actually done a LO for awhile!

I decided to alter the K&CO letter box (from the many that i hoard) and make a little book to fit inside. I am rather pleasd with the final outcome and think i may make some more!!

So here are all the photo's, sorry that there are so many.

Products used are:

Cosmo Cricket:

Carbonation, Beach Towel and Snorkel Boarders
Blooms, Gems and chipboard from own stash

Hope you like my project.

Have a lovely day and take care

Sarah

xoxo

July Final Sneaky

Well it's that time again, pizza boxes will soon be on their way.

Which leaves me time for one final sneaky. This is a very important part of the project i have completed with the July Cleo Crafts kit, don't worry you will not be recieving an empty box (lol), this is what i have altered this month and really have enjoyed the process.

I have given you an even bigger hint as to what the papers are this month in the photo's - but i know some of you have guessed already.

This kit was awesome to play along with, my favourite to date - just love Cosmo Cricket!

I hope to be back with the final reveal either later today or tomorrow and i hope it has been worth the wait.

Have you all have a lovely Sunday and as always, thanks for stopping by.

PS: Thank you to you all who have left comments about the new blog look - it is still being altered a little but think it is looking way much better.

Take care

SARAH

XOXO

Hellllllooooooo

Well hello all.

I thought it was about time i seriously started keeping this blog up to date - i mean whats the point in having one if i never write anything. Some people have asked if i am still alive, i sure am - but with one thing or another other things seem to prevent me from entering the blogging world.

Instead of recapturing the last few weeks i will just start from today and over the next few days work my way backwards with projects, LO's and such.

So what have i been up to this week?

Teachers presents!!! I have thankfully only had to make 2 this year. Instead of making all the helpers in both Sam and Hannah's class i have only made for their direct line teachers, 2 is alot more manageable than 9.

For Sam's teacher at playgroup, where he has just left i made a little 4x4 book with a couple of photos in it. I used the October Afternoon Fright Night collection. It turned out quite well, and more to the point it only took me 1 afternoon to make. His teacher 'loved' it, even making her tearful.

I can't quite believe he has left playgroup and now we are counting down the days to BIG school. He has had 2 induction afternoons with his new teacher at school and he 'LOVED' it. I have been a bit worried about him going, probably because he is my baby but Hannah will be at the same school to look out for him. It is unfortunately a very small school with only 6 classes, 2 per year so its not too daunting for him.

For Hannah's teacher i have been thrifty. I gave money towards the school collection but i always like to give a little something extra. I always feel that teachers must be sick to death of wine, chocolates and flowers so i have decided to alter something that she may like to use.

Hannah and i hit Asda's at the weekend and we came across this note book and pencil holder - now i think it is very drab looking (i forgot to photograph the note book, but was covered in the same paper) - so i have been busy covering it all in the mini kit i purchased from Cleo Crafts on the retreat earlier in the year. The papers are from Bo Bunny and are the Alissa collection. I adore these papers - i could use them on everything.

I am really happy with the final outcome, having never done anything like this before and more to the point Hannah is happy to give them to her which at the end of the day is all that matters.

As it is almost the end of July it will be time for me to reveal my latest work done with the Cleo Craft August kit in a couple of days. This has been an absolutely fantastic kit to work - so be sure to check back towards the end of the week when i should be able to reveal all.

So this is all i will leave you with for now - i have loads more to share, but will share as soon as possible.

Hope you are enjoying the holidays - mine finish tomorrow for a long 6 week break, but hopefully will leave plenty of scrapping time.

Take care

Sarah

xoxo

What a beautiful day

So it's 9am in the morning and i am sat here in the garden as i type this latest blog entry and it's already getting warm. There is a gentle breeze but am hoping that fades away. The weather men are predicting the warmest day of the year - yeah!!!!!

I absolutely love the sun, makes me feel so much happier.

We were heading for the coast today but have been invited to a BBQ at our friends this afternoon - so lots of scrummy food. Will be lots of children and a paddling pool, so kiddies should have fun.

Yesterday i went to a 12 hr crop up in Reading. It was organised by one of the ladies i went to Ireland with. It was a really lovely day. The food was fab, cakes, lunch and dinner - it was lovely to see friends again that i had made in Ireland (Diane, Nicole, Bridget and of course Lorraine). Lorraine had done so much for yesterday - i was amazed.

I had a productive day, 2 whole LO's finished - i think i shocked myself, it's normally 1 a week if i am lucky.

I used one kit from Cleo Crafts (Alissa mini kit). These papers are divine. I bought them whilst in Ireland and have been waiting to use. I decided to use the sketch that was on the Cleo Craft blog for NSD - a bit late but never mind. It's a LO of Hannah in our back garden in Texas. She was watching the the gecko's running up the walls - it was something quite unreal in her eyes after moving from Holland. We had only been there for a couple of weeks, so was adjusting to the new gdn creatures. A few weeks later we had an armadillo in the gdn - that was crazy!!! A shame i never had my camera to hand, as it won't be something we have in the gdn now.

The next LO i used some new papers i bought this week. I find it very hard to find teenage boy papers - so when i came across these i had to have. I love the blues and browns in these and thought they were a perfect match to this photo of Liam at Galveston Beach in Texas. The kids and I adore the beach so would spend many days there. This was our last visit to the beach before we returned back to the UK.

This was done for a sketch challenge that Lorraine had organised, but as ever it ended up looking nothing like the sketch. As i scrap in the smaller size (not 12 x 12) i find certain sketches just don't work - so more often than not i do have to accommodate which i am happy to do as it makes me think outside the box.

I was pleased with my efforts for the day - and i think my fellow scrappers were too.

Now for the next project.

This week i ordered a lovely cupcake album from Cleo Crafts , they have had some beautiful albums in this week, check them out as i do know they are selling fast, matching papers and stamps also.

Given that Hannah has just had a cupcake themed party this is going to be perfect. This came yesterday whilst at crop, so had a lovely parcel waiting for me for when i got home. It's a lot bigger than i expected, so can fit lots of pictures in it too. I really am looking forward to creating this little album, the last few weeks have seen me go cupcake mad, i did vow after the party i never wanted to see another cupcake - after making the invitations, party bags and so on, but this should be a perfect end to my cupcake era!

Am hoping you all have a fantastic Bank Holiday weekend, enjoy the sunshine whilst you can, but don't get burnt.

Take care

Sarah

xoxo

May Reveal

So it's time to reveal my latest project for Cleo Crafts May monthly kit.

I had lots of fun with this kit as the colours were lovely and bright. I decided to scrap a photo of Hannah that we had professionally taken at Easter 2006, back in Texas USA.

The kit contents this month contained the lovely collection from Daisy Bucket, Perfect Harmony range. The papers i worked with were Avery, Delaney and Lizzie.

I have added a few pieces from my own stash which included Tim Holtz Tag, Lace and 3d flower heads.

I hope you like my project and i look forward to seeing your creations.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog.

Take care

Sarah

xoxo

I'm here and i'm back.

Yeah - I'm back!!!!

How bad a blogger have i been, 3 whole months, but where has the time gone. Its going so incredibly fast this year but it has been fun.

I have so much to share with you all, it's hard to know where to start.

I think the greatest aspect of the last 3 months for me has been my first ever retreat back in April to N.Ireland. The retreat had been organised by Cleo Crafts who i am a current Design Team Member for - so really 'had' to go (lol).

The weekend got of to a bumpy start as the weather had been bad that week. Now i am not one for flying, so was a little apprehensive to start with - thinking everything would be ok.

Well how wrong was i. From the minute the wheels left the ground we bumped all the way over to Ireland - i swear we had a trainee pilot, but safe to say we landed in one piece and now the fun could begin.

Tara was at the airport to meet us in the mini van - which we soon filled with our luggage of course most of it was stash. We had to collect 2 fellow passengers from Belfast City Centre, Diane and Nicole which gave us the opportunity of a little sight seeing.

We started our tour by driving through the Falls Road and Shankhill Road, 2 famous roads in Belfast that holds much History

We had a pleasant journey onwards to Port Stewart going through many wee towns but we all had to laugh at the town called 'Bally Bogey'. Unfortunately due to the weather we couldn't stop for a snap.

We arrived in good time at our accommodation - which was fab - nothing quite like what we expected. We thought we might be staying in bunk beds, much to our relief.

I was staying in a chalet with Denise, Bridget, Lorraine and Kate - but for some unknown reason we were also known as the 'Rowdy Bunch'...................... Still to this day i am unsure (lol).

We stayed in the Ulster Chalet.

Friday night got under way with a lovely meal (all hand made) and then the scrapping commenced. A few of us stayed up until the early hour of the morning completing challenges and LO's along with much chatter and laughter.

Saturday got off to an early start with the lovely Alison demonstrating a beautiful stamping class, the results were stunning

The day continued with much scrapping, stash buying, chatting and laughter. The lunch and afternoon tea was lovely, so nice not to have to cook for a whole weekend.

The hall we were using was to be used by another function in the evening, which meant we had to pack our things up, but not all was lost as Tara (aka Edie Mccready) was taking us on a little sightseeing tour - The Beach!!! I couldn't wait, something about the beach which is so calm and tranquil - even if it's cold and windy. So we all hopped aboard the Cleo Tour bus and off we went.

All aboard for Tara's Tours

Although very cold at the beach, and a little windy it was wonderful to be near the sea again - it was very peaceful. Now i do love the beach but given it was still winter i wouldn't actually go in the sea - unlike Diane and Nicole, they couldn't wait to catch the waves, the shoes were off and they were gone.................................... the rest of us just looked on in amazement, but they enjoyed it albeit having frozen toes.


We stayed at the beach for awhile, when Tara decided to practise her curly Font in the sand - and what a good job she done. We all had to have our picture taken


We then headed straight back to the chalets to get changed as we were hitting the town for a lovely meal and entertainment. The food was wonderful.

Tara and Louise finished off the evening with a little award ceremony for the various challenges/classes held over the weekend. I think we all done very well.

I had had a wonderful day and couldn't believe how quick the day had gone and Sunday we were heading home already. The night finished late after a sneaky glass of wine (Thanks Bridget!!!) and we all just fell into bed.

Sunday was an early start, packing which was a squeeze with more new stash on board - we only had a 20kg weight allowance for the plane. Then we had a traditional Irish breakfast, an Ulster Fry! Yum.

It was time to pack up the mini van and be on our way. We were going sight seeing on Tara's Tours. The Giants Causeway and The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge were on the agenda.

We were so lucky with the weather as although it was cold and windy the rain held of for the entire morning - enabling us to get some pictures of the beautiful landscapes of Ireland.

We all enjoyed The Giants Causeway, but a lot of walking and climbing was involved.

Group photo at Giants Causeway.

Next stop was the rope bridge. Now this was going to be a challenge for me as i am petrified of heights but even more so cliffs. I have had this fear ever since a little girl - i can remember where it all stemmed from.

So was i going to be brave and go or stay back and wait for everybody?

I thought about it along the way and came to the decision that i would at least try, after all i never know when i might get another opportunity. I was kind of hoping the National Trust might of had the bridge closed due to high winds, then the choice is taken from me.

We got there - and the bridge was open. We had a long walk along the cliff edge - with lots of steps along the route. There were only 6 of us who made it to the bridge from the group and I was one of them.

Well i saw the bridge and felt sick. I had a wave of panic come over me - it was high and over the sea!!! Gulp.

One by one we walked across the bridge and then it was my turn. I couldn't let the group down, so went for it. It was windy and the bridge was bouncing, but i done it - i was ever so proud of myself, i had conquered one of my fears. If it hadn't been for the other girls i probably would of not done it.

This photo is taken the other side of the bridge - all pleased with ourselves.

Now that we had walked the bridge - we then had to get back to the other side. I had to face my fear again. We decided to all walk the bridge together to get a group photo - this was very bumpy and i was at the back - i couldn't wait to get on to safe land. It was an incredible experience and now looking back i am really pleased i made it across.

We then had a long walk back to the mini van where our Tara Tours had ended. It was now time to set off to the airport for us all to catch our flights home.

I can't believe what an incredible weekend this was. Having never been on a retreat before and spending a weekend with ladies i had never met in person just via the UKS forum i was nervous.

All these fears were soon banished. Everybody was so warm and welcoming. I truly had a fantastic time, i laughed so much - in fact i didn't stop all weekend.

Louise and Tara done a fantastic job organising the whole weekend and it was lovely to meet them both finally.

As the weekend was such a success Louise and Tara have now arranged another retreat.

6th November 2009!!!! My name is down and i really cannot wait.

Now, for some more recent news.

Its almost reveal time for the May Cleo Craft monthly kit. Here is the last sneak peak before the final reveal this coming weekend.

I hope to update my blog on a daily basis now, i won't leave it soooooo long.

Hoping your having a lovely day

Take care

Sarah

xoxo

I am still alive

Just popping in to let you know i am still alive.

I really don't know where time has gone and it's almost May already.

I am hoping to get some time over the Easter Bank Holiday to update my forgotton blog with the latest news, lo's and photo's and news of my recent retreat in Northern Ireland which was just the best fun filled weekend ever.

Hope to be back very soon

Take care

Sarah

xoxo