Not again...

So I talk Ross into taking me to the sorting office to get my parcel early this morning before work (the one that I couldn't get yesterday because the sorting office has now decided to close at lunchtime rather than six in the evening every day). Do you think I got it? Oh no. Instead I get a "oh...it must not have come back in from the rounds yet". Right. It was tried to be delivered yesterday. So where on earth has my parcel been over night? At home with a postman? It certainly makes you wonder... And now it's past their new (incredible!) opening times so the earliest I will get my parcel will be tomorrow...and the THIRD journey (15 mins car ride) to try and pick it up. Sigh...

But on a happier note I did get one parcel yesteday. It was sent with "Parcel Force Worldwide" service and for some reason that got taken to our local Post Office (rather than the general sorting office where all normal parcels go) and I could pick that up late afternoon. Lots and lots of Heidi Swapp goodies!! Yum!! Heather, if you read this, thanks so much for you know what. And watch out for your postman tomorrow :)

And some comments I got:

Margaret said "Just looove the hand stitching swirls & A.L. "SPECIAL" stamp Anso. How did you get the stitching so neat & even, is that your own clever doodling ??" Thank you very much! Right, first I just very lightly pencilled in a swirl pattern on my page (and yes, just my own doodling). Then I took a paper piercer and added holes. Start with one hole (thread comes up from the back) and then leave about 1 centimetre. Then make two holes quite close together (thread goes to the back and comes back up). Continue with about a centimetre space (I just use my eye measure) and making two holes until you have reached the end of your design when you yet again end with a single hole (to take the thread to the back of the page). Hope this helps :)

Gems - thanks so much for the info :)

Crazy...

So I have been out most of the day... Missed some parcels and took the note from the sorting office and went into town to collect them. This was just after 15:00 in the afternoon and the opening times on the card says "Mon-Fri 18:00". Fine! Until you get to the door and it now says "new opening time 12:30 Mon-Sat". TWELVE THIRTY!?! That is lunchtime!! When on earth are you supposed to be able to pick up your parcels?!? Esp if you at work all day - it's impossible!! I honestly couldn't believe it! So no parcels for me today...

Anyway, I had a little play with my win from Elsie and the new stuff from the "Love Elsie" Toby range yesterday. Found some Pink Martini papers which went perfectly with the ribbons and the chipboard from the Toby collection.

Supplies: Pink Martini Papers, Bazzill Doodlebug cardstock, Doodlebug Paper Frills, Autumn Leaves stamps, Doodlebug jewels and Love Elsie ribbons and chipboard. Plus hand stitching, Queen & Co buttons etc.

OMG I'm such a happy, happy girl...

I'm sooooo happy!! Last weeky my name was drawn as one of three over on the Red Velvet blog ,by Elsie and friends, to receive one of three "Love Elsie" kits. I couldn't believe my name was drawn. Normally I never win anything. And I sooooo love the look of the "Love Elsie" lines that it was just the best thing to win!!

Anyway, I didn't want to "jinx" it by saying anything until something turned up in the post. I think somehow I really didn't believe that I had won and was going to get something...

Until the postman just came and I opened a parcel with "Love Elsie" goodies!! I got products from the "Toby" range and even though I have seen pics of the stuff before it's soooo much better in real life. The colours are just fantastic!!! I can't stop picking up the stuff and looking at it over and over again! LOL! Might even be the first in the UK to have some of this stuff. Not that it matters, what matters is that I'm sooooo very happy!!

Now I'm off to scrap with my new goodies. :)

*Please check back tomorrow for a layout using these*

*Swoon*...

A little starstruck here. LOL! Today we went to the annual Yorkshire Ryedale Food and Drink Festival held at Castle Howard. One of the reasons for going was that our favourite "celebrity chef" James Martin was going to do cooking demonstrations there. We had a great time and got there really early so we had fantastic seats in the cooking theatre. Third row from the front and we sat next to the very wide middle isle so perfect for taking photos with no-one in front of you.

After the cooking demonstration we went around all the food stalls. There were some great local food on display. And then we went to the James Martin bookstall. It was hard to reach the table it was so busy and people were pushing so much. But I'm a very happy girl because not only did I get him to sign me three of his books "to Anso", but I also got to speak to him and got a photo taken with him. And on top of all that we got his brand new "Village Cookbook" which isn't even released until the 31st. As I turned my back to the table the "Village Cookbook" had already sold out. It might have only been 6 degrees Celcius, cold, very very windy and very rainy but we had a fantastic (and tiring!) day!! :)) Oh and I took over 200 photos of James Martin. Just like a true scrapper would....right?! ;)

A dark rainy day...

What boring, boring weather we have here today. It's been dark and rainy all day and I feel soooo sleepy now from it LOL! Could do with some nice light and a little sunshine...

Annette asked if I could put a close-up on here of my journaling title + block that I did on my Jungle layout the other day. So here you go :)

...and I have another layout to show you. This is a photo of my brother and dad taken at Christmas 2005. Papers are by Paper Salon, stamps by Autumn Leaves and Doodlebug Frills.

Oh and I think I forgot to say that I spent half a fortune (!!) on "Love Elsie" stash on Friday morning so I can't wait for that to arrive from the US!!! I have already been told that my order has shipped. :)

Grrr...nettles...

Been good and done some garedning this morning. First we went out and bought some flowers for some big outside pots we have and then planted them. So now it looks all nice and welcoming by the front door. Then I decided to attack some evil weeds. But it was more them attacking me I think actually. I really did think I would be okay to pull out the nettles with my gloves on...but oh no, they went straight though and now I have some really red, stinging and sore hands. And don't you think that one even decided to jump up (yes I'm convinced it did! LOL!) in my face and get me too!! So a word of warning - be very careful when removing nettles. But at least it's all done now and it looks so much nicer - so I'm a happy girl!!

I actually managed to do my Christmas layout which I mentioned yesterday after some initial trouble. Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey papers, Autumn Leaves stamps and Doodlebug Frills. Plus some handstitching, buttons etc.

Doing my own title & journaling block...

Sitting here trying to get started on a layout but it just won't work. Maybe it's something to do with me trying to scrap a Christmas photo in May? LOL! I don't know. All I know is that no ideas are coming to me. So I have opened the window and put on some happy music (no not Christmas music!! Not at this time of year LOL!) and thought I'd do some blogging before I have another go...

Yesterday I picked up a white paper and some pens and started making my own journaling block and title for a page. I really had no intention of using it. Only to see what I could come up with. The I started colouring it in a bit...and by this stage I thought I might as well use it on a layout. So I did.

You know when you do something yourself...like doodling etc...and it looks so "childish" to you? But when someone else does something similar it looks so arty? Yes I think you know what I mean!! Well, because I have done this journaling block and title, I find it very hard to see beyond my own doodling and get an objective opinion of what I really think of this layout. So the answer is ---> I'm not sure. Still, it's done and I thought I might as well share it with you - your choice to like it or to laugh at it.

*and she returns to the impossible task of the layout that does not want to be made*

Designing with...

Got my June issue of Creating Keepsakes today! Always nice to read... Feel like I have waited for this issue for an eternity. It must be about 2 weeks since it started arriving with people in the UK. Not sure why my copy has taken soooo long time...

Today's layout that I have made is a total scraplift from the 4th of May page in the Autumn Leaves Desiging With...2007 calendar. This was a challenge over on the Scrap-Room forum. To scraplift something from any day in May. Papers and stickers are by KI Memories.

And then I have to apologise - I totally forgot to answer some questions I got yesterday. Sorry about that! So here we go:

Cynthia - wants to know about unmounted stamps, why I bought mine unmounted and what the advantages are? Right, for me there are two BIG positive things about unmounted stamps. Okay so you have to spend a little time mounting them on to some EZ Mount (it's a foam sheet that sticks to the back of the stamp on one side - to give cushioning when stamping - and has selfcling on the other so you can use them with an acrylic block) but it is so worth it: 1) the cost - unmounted are so much cheaper than wood mounted stamps, and 2) they take up much less space. I really would not by wood mounted stamps at all now unless I really, really wanted a certain image and it was the only way to get it. My absolute favourite stamps are acrylic stamps though :)

Kate - please put your e-mail in the comment section and I will contact you.

Catching up...

Well, I was out most of the day yesterday so I never got a chance to do my daily card for the BPS class. So this morning I have been playing catch-up...

I've been doing both yesterday's and today's card before I'm off out again. I have had lots of fun playing with my brayer which I only bought the other week (been on my wants list for years LOL!) for yesterday's card. And also having fun with some texture paste for today's card. The texture paste flowers are full of glitter but that doesn't show un in the photo unfortunately.

My new class...

Exciting!! Please head over to A Trip Down Memory Lane and check out my latest layout class. It's an on-line class and totally free! :) Very easy step-by-step instructions and lots of photos to help you on the way. You can adapt it to suit any type of photos you like and use whatever colours/papers you like. Should you want to do the layout with the same papers that I have used, then Mel & Jill (A Trip Down Memory Lane) sell all the stuff you need and give you great service :)

Scrapping with scraps...

Just finished a layout done for a challenge over on the Scrap-Room forum. Only used paper scraps (that wasn't the challenge) and that makes you feel so great doesn't it? A very satisfying feeling!! I try to do it every now and then, but I really should try to do it more often. I also completely finished a packet of rub-ons...every tiny bit! Aaaah - great feeling!

Anyway, layout is made using the following: Bazzill cardstock, Autumn Leaves rub-ons, Heidi Swapp "Writers Block" journaling circles, Scenic Route chipboard, Queen & Co big brad, Doodlebug frills, Autumn Leaves stamp plus a few buttons and a piece of ribbon. The patterned paper I used was a scrap piece so I'm a bit unsure about the manufacturer...though I believe it's by Chatterbox.

Note to self: that was the third layout in a row with green background - maybe try something else next time?! :)

Right I'm off to hunt in my supplies to see if I have enough EZ Mount. Got some really cool unmounted stamps in the post today and they need some EZ Mount. Yes I'm sooo into acrylic stamps at the moment, and I really don't want to buy anything else (when it comes to stamps!), but these were just so great...they needed to be mine! LOL!

Couldn't resist...

Well I couldn't resist playing some more with my new Autumn Leaves alphabet stamps...which of course resulted in another layout LOL! I used SEI Christmas papers, Bazzill cardstock, some ribbon, Junkitz anchorz/brads and some Heidi Swapp bling.

Been out buying some new clothes today and now I'm off to the kitchen to prepare some food for tonight...

Love my new stamps...

I just love my new alphabet stamps from Autumn Leaves!!! Okay so I knew I liked them because I bought them (LOL!)...but I didn't know just HOW much I would like them until I stamped with them. I'm in love!!

Anyway I finished off my first layout using my new stamps yesterday and I promised I'd show it in my post today. Supplies: Scrapworks papers, Bazzill cardstock, 7 Gypsies sticker and Autumn Leaves stamps.

Eleanor: yes it was an apicectomy I had done at the hospital. And yes my mouth/teeth are slowly starting to feel better now. Thanks for asking :)

It's Friday....

I hope you're all enjoying the feeling that it's Friday today and a whole nice weekend ahead! I'm busy scrapping today... I finished the card for the "52 card pickup" BPS class this morning. Had lots of fun playing with clear buttons and trying different ways to embellish them.

I have also got most of a layout done so far. I'm using my new alphabet stamps by Autumn Leaves and I just L-O-V-E how they came out on the layout. Much better than I thought - I can see myself using these lots and lots. I'm going to try and finish it later today, so please come back tomorrow and have a look...

Thank you...

Now I'm going to say "thank you" to someone - only I don't know who you are! How funny doesn't that sound?! LOL! Anyway it seems that some people followed the link to Make The Moment Last when I posted my great news about being on their DT the other day. And one person from here ordered and put me as the person who referred them. Turns out, I have just found out, that I get a little voucher as a thank you for referring someone. So to that someone who did this - thank you, you know who you are :)

And talking about Make The Moment Last, they have some great stuff, don't they? :) I have been drooling over all the yummy new flowers by Prima...and those funky flower ribbon slides by Maya Road - just neeeeed some of those!! And the Maya Road ribbons!! And the Dream Street papers on special offer!! I can go on and on! LOL! Anyway if you head over there and can't resist their stuff, a quick little mention of "Anso" when you put the order through would be very much appreciated. *wink wink*

And talking about stash...guess what - it was indeed my Scrap-Room kit which arrived just after I made yesterday's post on here! So much yummy stuff again. I have to say that the pictures that I will put on here does not do the kit justice at all - it makes it look rather dull and boring but it's soooo much better in real life.

Kit:

Embellishment add-on:

Stamp add-on:
Since we're mentioning Scrap-Room, I have actually been working on a layout this morning for a challenge on the forum over there. I have used some Pink Martini papers which I love, including some of their rub-ons...then lots of Autumn Leaves stamps. I just can't seem to get enough of my AL stamps at the moment. :)

Scrapping again...

So I'm back scrapping again today LOL! Still in pain but in a lot happier mood today. Might have something to do with the goodies that arrived yesterday. I also forgot to take pics of the nice Lippy Chick books that I got from Roz yesterday - thank you so much!

...and as if that wasn't enough, the second part of my US order arrived today. A yummy set of Autumn Leaves alphabet stamps ("Antique Hand Drawn" for anyone that wonders what they are called) and the new "Perfectly Clear" book (also by Autumn Leaves). The only slight disappointing thing is that the book is only 48 pages (I knew this in advance) which is a bit strange since all their other books have been a lot thicker. Still, I guess it's the quality of the material that matters. Just had a very quick flick through and it looks really great so I can't wait to sit down a little later and have a good read :)

And finally the layout which I did today...it's a pic taken of my sister and her boyfriend just after Christmas in Sweden. The papers/stickers/chipboard are by Heidi Grace from April's Scrap-Room kit, Autumn Leaves stamp and Heidi Swapp journaling square ("Writers Block").

Right I'm off to work on my card for today's BPS class...

Ooooh a Royal Mail van has just stopped outside - let's hope it's my Scrap-Room kit...

Tired...and cheered up...

I have to confess that after 7 days of non-stop (day and night) pain in my mouth, since the operation, I'm getting rather tired and fed up with it. "Normal" toothache is bad enough and can affect your mood a lot...and then when it feels like toothache in 7 (!) teeth in a row (because I have stiches above several teeth) non-stop for a week...well let's just say I want it to stop now. It's slowly getting better, but far too slow for my liking...

I was going to scrap today but my heart really isn't in it. That really frustrates me. So I'm concentrating on making my technique card for the "52 card pickup" class instead. A bit smaller project and maybe just what I need right now. LOL!

But I did have a nice stash delivery from the US about 20 minutes ago!!! And it makes everything even better that I bought it on a weekend-sale too! Some yummy things to play with there. Love the striped ("nopepad") papers and I'm really impressed with the Hambly transparencies (even though they are not shown off very well in the photo on top of patterned paper), some yummy chipboard and lots of other little bits.

Thanks everyone for the congratulations on the DT position - that means a lot :)

Been dying to tell you...

Right I have got four things to tell/show/answer today. Saving the best for last...LOL! Anyway, here we go...

1) First I'd like to show you a pen jar (or in this case a brush jar!) that I made over the weekend. Last weekend I bought a big pack of cheap brushes in Hobbycraft to use for glue, varnish etc. Anyway, I needed somewhere to keep them so I made a cute little jar using one of my favourite Scenic Route papers at the moment, some Making Memories glitter stickers and more glitter in the form of Stickles glitterglue. Unfortunately the sparkly bits don't really show up in such a small photo.

2) Katy asked about the letters I used on the layout in yesterday's post: they are SEI Citrus Kick "Puff Stickers" alphabet. Hope that helps :)

3) Today was the first "proper" day of the BPS "52 card pickup" class and we had our first technique card to make. I really enjoyed doing this... playing with clear embossing powder - and it was so quick too - definitely something I will try again in the future!! Can't wait for tomorrow's technique now...

4) And finally the exciting news! Now confess please, how many of you did jump straight to no 4 when I said I'd save the best news for last? LOL! Remember a few days ago I hinted something about a Design Team? Well, I'm now officially allowed to say that Jackie approached me before the weekend about being a member of the Make The Moment Last Design Team. I feel very honoured and pleased to be asked and I'm looking forward to some great DT work in the future! So I'm a happy girl...

Scrapping - it just happened...

Hadn't really panned to scrap today at all. But then I started looking at this SEI Citrus Kick kit from Scrap-Room which we got last month. And well...I just started cutting my cardstock to size. And then I cut a half circle from some paper...and then I just found the perfect photo to match the colours. And by this time I might as well continue, right? LOL! So I made a layout without having planned to do so and it put me in a good, happy mood so I'm really pleased! :)

Supplies: Bazzill cardstock, SEI Citrus Kick papers and "puff stickers", Doodlebug frills, Autumn Leaves stamps etc.

A nice little walk...

The other day when we were going somewhere we discovered this roadsign with a flower and a butterfly on it pointing in another direction. We decided that we'd have to check out what it was sometime since it was so close to home.

Today was that time. Took the car and camera and drove around following the signs until we discovered this park. Really nice for a walk. And not only that but at the end it had a house with a free rainforest jungle garden. Wow it was hot and steamy in there but once the camera lens got used to the temperature and the steam went off it, we took lots of photos. It's amazing what things you can find so close to home and have no idea about...

*Smiles*...

Got some great news yesterday evening. But I don't think it's official yet, so I'd better not share quite yet. Let's just say it might be something DT related *hint hint* And I'm really excited and looking forward to it!!

Still in nonstop pain with my mouth. But oh well....I try and be as positive as I can and not think about it too much. Which kinda half works LOL!

Cynthia: asked about my "Art Doesn't Have To Be Perfect" stamp. It's by Catslife Press. Hope that helps. I have to say I really love that stamp and it's great to add to the back of minibooks etc.

Just finished another layout using last month's Scrap-Room kit. Loved the colours of this. The bright lime green and turquoise!! So "me" right now :) And talking about Scrap-Room kits, hopefully it's not too many days until the next one arrives either...

A short post...

This will only be a short post today - sorry. My cheek is even more swollen, my mouth hurts a lot and on top of that my stomach has decided to not agree with the antibiotics I got from the hospital. But I won't bore you with the details LOL! I just don't feel so great at the moment that's all.

Tried to cheer myself up a bit with some scrapping this morning. But I really wasn't feeling creative at all so I only managed a quick layout... Bazzill cardstock, Autumn Leaves and Banana Frog stamps, K & Co paper, Heidi Swapp heart etc.

52 Card Pickup deck...

I look like a hamster! Or at least half a hamster! LOL! My cheek was so swollen when I woke up this morning (and still is). Slept okay but not really that well. Kept feeling the pain all the time. Okay so the swelling keeps getting worse and worse, but I just keep telling myself that it should turn some time tomorrow so that will be good news. I have been trying to take my mind off the pain by finishing off my deck of cards for the "52 Card Pickup"...

I used some of my favourite Scenic Route papers for the cover. Lots and lots of glitter on the "52" chipboard numbers and a rainbow of cards inside...

Thank you...

Thank you for all the sweet comments you left on yesterday's post. That means a lot!!!

Well it's over and done with. Didn't really feel any pain during the operation but I could feel everything they were doing and I had to have little silent "peptalks" with myself a few times when I started to feel a lot of panic. I had no idea it would bleed so much. So glad it's all over. Just the pain to deal with now (and most likely swelling getting worse and worse over 48 hours and then turning for the better, I have been told)...and it hurts quite a bit now...so I guess I'm not in the most interesting blog-moods at the moment LOL!

Anyway I'll leave you with a little look at another of the classes I took for the UKS cyber crop. Tomorrow I hope to feel up to a little work on my cardbook for the "52 card pickup" BPS class...