M is for Monograms!

Yup that's todays challenge on the shop blog! Set by Samm, she has challenged us to use monograms on our projects....

and this is my example! Please excuse the wonky photo drenched in way too much sunshine!!! Not one of my better photographs! Ok for this layout I used stacks of Rhonna Farrer French twist products... I am loving playing with range.

The kits have unfortunately been delayed as we are still waiting for the scrummy rub-ons and transparency strips to hit these shores from America.... I want to say that it will deffo be ready by next weekend but I'm not going to tempt fate!

Have had a busy old week scrapping to my hearts content... heaps done... none that I can share :-( ! Am all scrapped out for today so am going to have a lovely relaxing afternoon watching the rugby, a leisurely soak in the bath and then off out tonight to drink copious amounts of alcohol and freeze my butt off in this chilly weather!!!

Have a great weekend all

Maria x

A couple of layouts to share...

Yes I actually managed to fit some scrapping in over the weekend, although it feels like a distant memory now! Thankfully I have quite a lot of scrapping time pencilled in for the rest of the week. My mojo is well and truly back and my brain is buzzing with ideas... just love it when that happens!

This is a layout of Kim and her utterly gorgeous BMW Z4!!! How cool does she look? Actually Kim always looks cool... even with no make-up on... makes you sick! This is another of our Anita photos (and again on the next lo!!!) I used Tinkering Ink papers and bazzill chips to make the giant buttons. I raided my alphabet stock (I have heaps.. love alphabets!) to make the title and added a painted border and some zig zag stitching.

This next layout was for last weeks UKS team challenge combined with the Elsie 52 challenge. I used the new Margot papers from Collage Press, chipboard, buttons and some blossoms. I love how this turned out. Those papers are an absolute dream to work with and I'm itching to play some more! Watch out for them featuring in a kit very, very soon ;-)

Speaking of kits! Our next kit will hopefully be ready by the beginning of next week at the latest. Its a cardmaking OR scrapping kit! The choice is yours!

On a non-crafting front.... the exercise is still going well! No more weight loss but I'm still perservering. Tonight I've been for a power walk and then an hour of pilates to have a good old stretch out! My house is still pretty tidy although the ironing pile is growing... MUST get it done at some point. Its another busy week at work... lots of projects on the go and none that I can share just yet! Managed to squeeze in a haircut yesterday though so my cute little bob is looking nice and sleek again!

Right off to catch some sleep....although having said that... there's a good film just started!

Catch up soon

Maria x

A busy old week!

Yes it's been pretty busy here all week! Have managed to get lots done but still so much more to do! Have been tidying and sorting... with not much time for scrapping as I would've liked :-(

Today is challenge time on the shop blog and this week I challenge you to use ribbons on your projects! I love ribbons and have a pretty substantial collection of them going on!

This is my layout for the challenge. I love this pic of Ziggy... he looks so chilled out! I used our Junkitz Flowerful kit which has sadly sold out.

The february edition of Quick & Crafty! is out now and has some cards that i made using the Bliss kit in it! I love this kit... you can make it traditional or really funk it up with doodling and ribbons!

Right I'm off to do some more housework and then some scrapping! Off out tonight so want to be all sorted!

Have a great weekend!

Maria x

Goals, goals and more goals!!

Ok rather than set new year resolutions this year I set myself a number of personal goals! I've put on a few pounds over the past months and I need to lose them! Now I know its not the same as someone who has a lot of weight to lose... its only a measley 10 pounds but boy those extra pounds aren't half uncomfortable! My clothes don't fit... and I have the very unflattering muffin top thing going on... sooo not a good look! Being a classic apple shape the extra pounds have stuck themselves to my middle which is pretty uncomfortable when sitting!!! Oh and top of all that I just don't feel good! Soooo...... cue the healthy eating programme!

I'm not a fan of faddy diets cos as soon as someone tells me I can't eat something I develop a very unnatural craving for that thing! So I am doing the Paul McKenna thing.... eat what I like and just stop when I feel full! So far its helped me to lose 3lbs!!!

Along with the weight loss I am determined to get fit and tone up! I have been following an exercise plan for over a week now and can already feel the benefits! Today saw me signing up to do the race for life in July! I think we all know someone who has battled or are battling cancer so its a fab cause! There are a few members of the DT joining me to do the race and we are planning some fund raising projects for the shop.... so watch this space!

This is a layout that I made for last weeks shop blog challenge! It was set by Samm and we had to use brads. I used French Twist which just happens to be the next card kit ;-)... should be ready next week!

Its been a funny couple of weeks on the scrapping front! Totally lost my mojo last week so took some time out to chill and enjoy catching up with friends... was lovely! Oh and I managed to fit in a bit of shopping too! I love a bargain so was delighted to pick up some gorgeous new togs when in Newcastle. Hopefully it will put an end to the "what am I going to wear?" dilemma that I usually have on a saturday night!!!! Well for a bit anyway!

This weeks challenge on the blog has been set by Angie. Use at least 3 pieces of chipboard on your project! Easy peasy.... i just love chipboard! I made this layout using our Out & About kit. It's of Kim's dog Bobby! He is such a cutie!!!

I have 3 layouts on the go at the mo! So will post pics as soon as they're done. Right best go and clean the bathroom....another goal! Keep on top of housework.... although not doing very well with this one!!!!!

Maria x

Whoops!!!!

Ok Merry Christmas and A Happy New year!!!
Just pretend that I posted this a couple of weeks ago instead of now!!!

Hope you all had a good one and spent time with loved ones. I have spent the past couple of weeks fighting a god awful cold :-(..... which has meant no scrapping and basically lying on the sofa watching TV and generally feeling very sorry for myself!
So I'm now playing catch up! I have a pile of projects to complete for various people and they all need to be finished by next weekend.... guess who's going to be busy?!

Today see's another challenge go live at the SSC BLOG!!! This week we are challenging you all to use up your scraps... I'm terrible at collecting scraps... I always seem to have a mountain of them and never use them so this is a great challenge for me!

I've used scraps from the Princess kit and some bits of chipboard and ribbon. There's some hidden journaling which my first few goals for 2008 scribbled on it! Photo by Anita Mundt :-)

Have a few projects on the go that I will be able to share (when they're finished that is!) so will pop back soon.... honest!

Oh and I just wanted to wish my buddy Kim a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Hope its a good one hun!

Maria x

Whoops!!!

Didn't realise that it was so long since I last posted! Think that's mainly cos I've been running round like a mad thing trying to get caught up on stuff! It doesn't work... you see just as you think you're nearly up to date a huge pile of work just appears from nowhere.. oh and its all urgent!!!

So since last post... magazine articles x2 finished and posted off to editor. CJ mountain has been conquered and all up to date. Shop blog challenges up to date. New kits.. flying out the doors! Chrsitmas cards= none!!! Nope not a christmas card has been made..... so this weekend will be spent frantically making cards! Am thinking that this years design will be pretty simple but stylish of course!!!

This is the layout that I did for Samm's challenge last weekend.... we had to use material on our los! I used the Bliss kit and added some bits and pieces from my stash. The centre of the flower is material... a very old junkitz swatch! And took my tag maker out the bag again!

This weeks challenge has been set by Vanessa and she challenges us to rip up our stash!!! In the nicest possible way of course! I used the Out & About kit for this lo and added some stitching to create the circle.

Tonight I'm off to Karens where we will be heading off into the cold night air with a group of friends for our christmas get together night! Still haven't decided what to wear! Would thermals be uncool?!!!!

Ok off to make crimbo cards! Have a fab weekend all and don't forget to join in with the new challenge!

Maria x

Challenge Saturday!

Yup its saturday and that means another challenge on the shop blog! This week it was Karens turn and she challenges us to do some colouring in on our creations!! Don't know about you but I just love colouring in! Very therapeutic!!!



This is my effort for the challenge! I used Mindy's Flowers stamps and the Doodlebug Memories stamps and coloured them using watercolour pencils! Added a Roxy ribbon some black brads and voila!!!

Have had a very rubbish day today :-( So I am now off to console myself with an evening of scrapping! For as they say... when the going gets tough, the tough get scrapping!!!!

Maria x