For fast-acting relief - try slowing down

Thanks to the tail end of Hurricane Bill whooshing over the South West, we decided to deffer our trip away by one day - no one wanted to battle with the high winds and heavy rain and I was one of them!!
So off we trotted to our secret little hideout in Somerset, where we enjoyed 5 days of sunny skies (sometimes) and plenty of laughter.
We were the first to pitch up - my Sis and little nephew arrived shortly afterwards and then finally "The Tux's" made an appearance to complete our merry tribe of happy campers.


Our days have been really relaxing - everyone kept themselves occupied by enjoying time splashing about in the indoor and outdoor pools - the guys have skated, scooted and ridden their bikes as well as keeping us oldies entertained with their silly antics.
With no TV's, computers, DVD's or XBox's in sight we have enjoyed the opportunity to spend some quality family time together. Lazy days spent pottering around at snail pace was just what we all needed before the back to school routine begins.

This is the second year we have spent August Bank Holiday escaping inland and we had so much fun that we have made plans to do it all again next year.

Our tenting equipment has been dusted off and packed away, the washing machine is busy gurring its way through the piles of dirty laundry, Hubs is cooking supper and the guys are curled up on the sofa watching a film - everyone is chilled out and relaxed - so I'm off to scrap!

September Prima Build a Page went live today - check out the sketch right here.


I used photographs of Hubs grandparents on their wedding day for my interpretation of the sketch.


Cutie Catchers patterned paper, Times alphas, Artistry flowers, Collage Mulberry papers and Say it in Pearls all from Prima Marketing.

Hope your BH weekend was fun.
Thanks for popping by.

T.x.x.x

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down ~ Lily Tomlin

Five Faves Friday

This blog really inspires me........and she has such a cute puppy hound too..... Love her photography lots....This makes me smile.....these these are exceptionally useful and they are free - all 45+ of them.....and this makes me dream.

What about you?
What are your five favourite places to go to to be inspired?
I'd love to know.

Thanks for dropping by.
T.x.x.

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"

Life has been busy for me over the past few days as I've been busy adding the final touches to Prima classes that I will be teaching in Holland, Germany and Belgium in a couple of weeks time.
Ive also been working on a couple of top secret projects - so no images to share - sorry.

Whilst I was away teaching at Crafty Stash Summer Workshop in Welwyn Garden City, I was asked to share a "how to" for a little mini book I made using Prima Paintables.

click on images for larger view

I decided to share the "how to" for everyone out there who happens to love all things Prima and Mini books.
You can check out the "how to" right here and whilst over there if you leave a comment you may be the lucky winner of a box full of Prima yumminess.

The new releases from Prima have got to be my favourite ever - I'm seriously loving the Tropics collection and used it to create this page.

Like I said, life has been really, really busy - the family have been wonderful and have kept me fed and watered as Ive scrapped the days and nights away - and so now its my time to thank them as we head off for a few days away and enjoy life - I'm just hoping the sun shines!!

Have fun and thanks for popping by.

T.x.x.

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" - John Lennon

Home from Home

Its good to be back.

On Saturday, after 8 long hours stuck in traffic, I finally arrived in Welwyn Garden City where I was welcomed in to Sue's home. We spent the night chatting as we sat underneath the most amazing arbour in her garden. I loved it so much that I have asked Hubs if he can rustle one up to pop in our garden - it would be perfect for the grape vine to grow across as well as providing us with a little shelter in the evenings.
Ive digressed - Sue and I nattered the night away and before we knew it it was time to head off to the nearby venue where Sue would be hosting the Crafty Stash Summer Workshop.

I got to meet up with some of my wibbly wobbly team mates from UKScrappers as well as few familiar faces and plenty of new.


The classes all seemed to be enjoyed and I think a good day was had by all.
A big thanks to all of the ladies who came along and took my classes - I had an amazing day and hope you did too.

Super big thanks to Ellie for being my classroom assistant and even bigger thanks to Sue's hubby, Mark, for keeping me fed and watered.


Sue gave me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers as a thank you gift - the scent from the Lillie's is divine and fills my home with the sweetest of perfume.....thanks mate for making me feel appreciated - you really are a gem despite having the fax twitters every now and then ;)

Throughout the day I taught 5 classes - 2 Prima and 3 Sassafras.


We used a Prima Clear Paintables to create this page using acrylic paints, Stickles, Say it in Crystals and of course Prima blooms to put the page together. Everyone had the choice of blooms so each and every page created was very different.


For the second Prima class we used Prima's Artful Cardboard teamed up with papers from their Flirty Little Secret line. The pre printed cardboard sheets are such a versatile product to use as they are great for pages but are also perfect for chopping up to make mini books.
I'll share my Sassafras pages tomorrow :D

I left Welwyn early on Tuesday morning and endured the delight that is knows as the M25 car park! GAH!!

I sat in my car and questioned how on earth do people manage to stay sane when they have sit in traffic like that everyday, just to commute to work? I am so glad Hubs and I escaped the rat race - I really couldn't live in a city anymore as I much prefer the slower and more relaxed pace of life.....anyways - I finally made it home late afternoon on Tuesday and after plenty of welcome home kisses and cuddles from the guys, I made straight for a hot bath followed by a snooze on the sofa....and snooze I have...for the past two days!

Its good to be home and be back with my boys :D
I need to get busy in my scraproom for the next few days - deadlines are looming and I have a huge trip overseas to organise myself for!!

Thanks for dropping by.
T.x.x.

Busy bee - thats me!

For the past few days I haven't had time to think let alone blog!
With the new releases beginning to hit our shores, I have been kept occupied creating classes that I'll be teaching over the coming months.


I'm off overseas soon to meet up with my pal and fellow "PrimaDonna" from across the waters, Jen Starr, as we are about to embark on a mini tour of Holland and Germany.
I love Holland and am thankful that I have the opportunity to return to such a wonderful country, as well as some of the nicest scrap stores too.
Having never visited Germany before, I am really excited to be able to go spend 3 days there - I'm just hoping that our schedule allows us some free time to go explore the sights and sounds of Frankfurt.

Did you see that the Prima Educators now have a new home and to celebrate there is a selection of Prima goodies up for grabs - go check it out here.


This weekend I am off to Welwyn Garden City, to go teach at the Crafty Stash Summer Workshop. This is the event I was meant to teach in July but unfortunately the "Piggy Flu" got the better of me and I was laid up in bed - fit for nothing! Thankfully I am now 100% recovered and raring to go!

Ive also been busy finalising plans for an amazing trip to Greece.
I'm so excited that Jen Starr and I are teaming up with Crafting Cruises to offer a 7 day Scrapbooking Cruise to the Greek Islands in June 2010.


Setting sail aboard the Norwegian Gem, we depart from Venice, Italy and travel down to Iraklion, Greece passing by Croatia, Corfu, Santorini and Mykonos along the way.

Crafting Cruises offers an easy payment plan and prices start from just $1150 ( £695.00) including all port taxes and fees, cropping space while at sea, make & takes and plenty of fun and goodies! There will be a minimum of 8 classes available to choose from through out the duration of the trip.

Space is very limited, so be sure to sign up early - a low cost deposit of $100's per person secures your space on this amazing adventure. Crafting Cruises offer a total money back guarantee - your deposit is fully refundable up until the final payment date of Feb 28th 2010. They also offer a monthly payment scheme - more details can be found right here.
If you have any questions about the cruise, feel free to contact me using the "email me" link in the sidebar - hope to see you there!

Have a great weekend and thanks for popping by.
T.x.

An afternoon off

As it was so sunny and warm yesterday afternoon we took some time out, from painting and stash sorting, to go pay a visit to our friends who were camping nearby.
When we arrived the guys were just finishing of their game of golf -


Max really made me laugh because the golf club was almost as big as him!

We made our way down to their camp and stayed there for the rest of the evening just chilling out and chatting the night away.
I've not played "Uno" in years and had forgotten just how much fun that game can be!
Whilst the adults played the guys all took to their wheels and went off on an adventure around the campsite - it was great to watch them all having such a good time.


I can't wait til we all disappear on our camping trip at the end of the month - I'm praying for a sunny spell because I'm not so good at being a wet weather camper!

Not much else to report - the weather took a turn for the worse as its been dark and dismal here all day :(
Painting has resumed and whilst Hubs has been busy taking care of "the cupboard", Ive been cleaning house and managed a little scrapping too.


I'll leave you with my Pencil Lines LO, which went live last night and features papers from My Little Shoebox and Ki Memories - alphas stickers are from Rose Mokka and the butterfly is a rubon from Glitz Designs Audrey collection.


I burnished the butterfly rubon onto a piece of acetate and gently bent the wings so that the butterfly looks like its just resting on the page.


I used the sketch to create a 6x12 page - I'm really liking that size to scrap at the moment - anyone know of any good 6x12 albums out there?

A box of delights from Sassafras has arrived - guess what im doing tomorrow :D
Have fun and thanks for popping by.

T.x.

Sorting

Ive spent most of today sorting through my stash ready for it to be put away nicely in "the cupboard".


My new storage space is almost complete - the plan is for it to be painted tomorrow and then rubbed down on Tuesday - I want a distressed white wash look - hopefully it'll happen?

We have an over excess of testosterone in the house!
The guys have mates over!
The tent has been erected as they are camping out for the night whilst Hubs and I head off for a jolly with some friends.
I dread to think what the guys will get up to whilst they are home alone for a couple of hours - they are a sensible bunch 99% of the time - but Ive just spied a couple of cans of lager in one of the the tent's bedrooms!!! I'm no party pooper - but I'll be giving my boy a little word on the evils of drink before we leave - I'm sure he will be OK and not get hammered - it bought back memories of me doing the same thing when I was almost 16- only I hid White Lightening and my head hurt so much the next day!!!
This being "Mom to a Teen" is really difficult at times - sometimes I kinda feel like Karma is nipping me back for all the teenage antics I got up to!
No wonder my Mom always said - "Just you wait til you have children of your own - then you'll understand"....I do now know exactly what she meant! Sorry Mom .x.x.x.x.x.


I'll leave you with a little peep of my page for Pencil Lines Sketch 147 which goes live at 8pm on Sunday night with guest designers from My Little Shoe Box DT.

Have a great weekend and thanks for dropping by.
T.x.x.

Old Friends

YAY! After a horrid start to the week finally the sun is shining :D
*happy dances*
Whilst the rain poured down from the skies on Monday, the guys and I decided to have a little sort out.
J found one of his old faves lurking in the back of the cupboard and then spent the next hour reacquainting himself with his long lost Buddie. A few years back he and Robo were inseparable and he would play with him for hours on end!


At the end of the day, as I was about to pop Robo into the charity box J retrieved it and said
"Mom - somethings you just can't ever throw away".
He quickly scurried off to his bedroom to position Robo back on the shelf, where he used to live before he was allocated a space in the back of the "Wotnot" cupboard.
My boy sure takes after me and hoards anything and everything - neither of us like to part with our belongings - now matter how big or small they are......which is probably why my scrap room currently resembles the local tip!
I am eagerly awaiting the completion of the new cupboards Hubs has made for me.....by the weekend they should be done and dusted :D
I've promised myself that I WILL have a bloomin good sort out and off load the stuff I no longer want or use. I have also promised Hubs that I WILL fit everything in to my new space and that I WILL be ruthless with my sorting - lets hope I have the will power to actually stick to my word and let the stuff go! {blush}

I've had a productive week so far and have been working on future classes that will be taking place during Sept and Oct....as well as working on a huge assignment that I am so very honoured to be involved with.



Not a lot else to report really - the guys are enjoying the sun and so I'm off to join them for an hour or two.
Watch out beach - here I come!

Have fun and thanks for popping by.

T.x.x.x.x

Party on.....

Everyone loves a party, right?


Well you are not too late to join in the fun - get your best dress on and head on over to shimelle.com where the party is in full swing.

I was really excited to be asked to be part of the party and when Shimelle sent me over a set of her exclusive printables I knew straight away how I wanted to use them.
I dug out a pack of Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Sticky Back Canvas and ran it through my printer.....result - a sheet of canvas page accents that were perfect for the page I wanted to create.


As its my best buds birthday this month, the Friendship Printables were just what I needed to create a page especially for her - to celebrate and thank her for the most amazing friendship we share.....I photographed the page before I added my journaling because some things you only wanna ever share with your best friend ;D


I blinged up the canvas pieces by adding some crystal gems and used papers from Making Memories Great Escape collection to create the page.

The printable sheet Shimelle sent me is part of a set of 20 which make up her new 4 week long class -"Go to Press" - over on 2peas. All details for this "Stress free Scrapbooking" class can be found right here.....cool eh?

This week, Pencil Lines has the pleasure of being joined by more than one guest. My Little Shoebox DT will be joing us for the month of August as well as being this months sponsor. :o)

Here's my page for sketch 146, which was designed by Anna - I created a lettersized page and rotated the sketch.


I used to stickles to add a little glitz to the MLS transparency title and added a Prima fabric bloom and some Momiji Zakka to embellish.


The colours of the papers match so well with my collection of Momiji dolls that I couldnt resist creating another page to go in to my Momiji album.
This little doll is called Lucky and she was given to me by a friend as a thank you gift.....she is one of my fav's and takes pride of place in my scrapping room - which is being given an overhaul this weekend by Hubs!


Thanks for popping by.
T.x.