A bit of R&R....

over the bank holiday weekend :-) I'm having a couple of days all to me this weekend. This happens very rarely at the moment as I always seem to have stuff that has to be sorted RIGHT NOW!!!! But I'm starting to pick up colds and snuffles which is a definate sign to recharge the batteries! I've had a busy old week... sorting out the new kit, finishing off some mag work, organising a new crop and craft event (more of that in a later post!!!), planning my retreat classes for Scrapajack... oh sooo much is happening! Which is good... don't get me wrong... I love having so much to do but a little me time is also good!

This is my layout for Samm's fab sketch challenge over on the shop blog this weekend. It's one of those sketches that immediately cries out to be transferred into a layout! The photo was taken by Anita at the Baltic art gallery.

Anyhow... just a quick post today! I have a sunday lunch to finish preparing!

Til next time

Maria x

Surely not!!!

It can't be 2 weeks since I last blogged... can it??? Where on earth does the time go? The past 2 weeks have been packed full of errr... well stuff! I don't seem to have had 2 minutes to myself never mind a day off!
Our little cyber crop on the shop blog seemed to go down a treat and we are already planning the next one. The entries were amazing and we had a really tough time choosing winners... but winners we chose and they're on the blog now! Along with this weeks class ;) A little wackiness from myself!!!

The class this week looks at making cloud masques to create a sky and paper pleating (so much easier than ribbon ;-) ) You can find the destructions here!

Last weekend was our crop. Now I love the crop and meeting up with everyone but BOY the preparation is hard work! So why, I ask myself, am I setting up another one? Probably because I'm a glutton for punishment and hard work!!! Anyhow, the ladies at the crop this month got down and messy with paint and had a ball! We made homemade stamps from anything we could lay our hands on and created some fabby background effects.

This month we played with MME Just Dreamy Daydream papers... I do have a couple of kits left here ;) Oooh and talking of kits.... our August kit is almost ready to go! A bit late this month but worth the wait ;)

I've another busy week ahead. Lots of layouts to finish, a magazine project to put the finishing touches to and a very special class to complete! I've been asked to teach at the Autumn Scrapajack retreat and am just finalising what, I hope, will be a fab class for the ladies attending. I think that there are still a few day delegate place available so why not pop over and book yourself a place! Go on.... you deserve it!!!!!

Right I had best get some work done!
Til next time
Maria x

Scrapping Sunday!

So are you playing along? Our classes and challenges at the Scrummy Stash Cafe Blog are almost done with just 2 more to go live!

I have to confess that I haven't got much done!!! But am hoping to do a couple this afternoon. I have so many projects on the go at the moment that it is just not funny. Here are my contributions to the weekend...

This is my challenge layout... I used Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie collection, some prima bling, chipboard, brads, buttons and flowers. The photos for both the layouts were taken my Anita.

And this is my class layout... instructions and supplies can be found here! Right I'm off to scrap a little....

Til next time

Maria x

Where does the time go?

I've been so busy over the past 2 weeks catching on lots of bits and pieces! This week I've spent the time putting the finishing touches to this weekends mini cyber crop over on the shop blog. I am sooo excited about this! We have some fab classes and challenges for everyone over the next 3 days!

Here's a little peek at my class ;) It's on sunday morning so I'll have to make sure that I drag my butt out bed in time for it to go live!!!

Aside from catching up on projects and assignments etc I've been trying to keep up with my daily walks! There are some lovely walks in my area... I forget how lucky I am to live so close to the sea, countryside and city! When walking the other day I came upon this piece of art!!! I have NEVER noticed it before.... don't know how! I've walked past it about 50 times and it isn't exactly little (about 10 feet tall!)

The spoon is one of 3 sculptures in the fields surrounding us. Amazing... isn't it? It has "eat for England" engraved on it!

Til next time

Maria x

A productive week...

Well apart from feeling rather icky for the first half I've had a busy old week. Last sunday was the race for life. Angie and I power walked and Vanessa ran! Next year I hope to run at least some of the way!!! Anyhow we had a fab time. The atmosphere was amazing and the rain held off which is quite suprising considering that is the north of england and it's July!

Angie and I treated ourselves to a lovely meal after the race and I undid all my good dieting practices by having a chocolate pudding! It had to be done! So this week I'll be back on the diet with new resolve and still a fair few pounds to shift!

Our new kit went on sale this week :-) I love this kit... I love anything 3 bugs as I find it so easy to work with be it scrapbooking or cardmaking! Have you seen their new summer CHA releases? Oooh delicious!!! Lots of gorgeous stash being launched at the moment. I love the new Crate lines and MME have hit the jackpot with their new lines... they are just divine. I love My Minds Eye... their papers are classic and won't date.


Anyhow here's a couple of bits that i've made using our July kit.

I'm having a good old scrapping weekend and first half of week to get up to date with projects and assignments! It feels like ages since I had this much time to scrap and play and I'm loving it!!! My scraproom is due a HUGE sort out and I'm going to spend a couple of days being ruthless! Anything not likely to be used is going up for sale! I honestly think that even if I scrapped solid til Christmas I would still have too much! And on that note... I'm off to hang my washing out (whilst it's not raining!!!) and get scrapping!

Til next time

Maria x

What a week!

Its been one of those weeks... you know the ones... lots of things have gone wrong but interspersed with a couple of goodies!!!!

Ok yesterday was a day and a half.... managed to get me some nasty spyware on both computers! So spent all day trying to sort them out. Got the laptop sorted but unfortunately the PC seems to be dead in the water so to speak! Mind you I have lots of tips on how to revive said PC so am going to pucker up and try and give it the kiss of life over the weekend. Failing that its off to PC world for some intensive care!!!! On the plus side yesterday my photos from anita plopped through the letterbox... will share some of my faves in a mo ;-)

On to disaster number two yesterday... my car has been fixed! Great I hear you say... well not so great when you are faced with a £670 bill :-(. Especially when very, very skint! So have made the monumental decision to go back to nursing! Not full time mind you... I'm going to do some bank nursing :-) How scary?... esp after so long away from it! But... the pay is good and i can do hours to suit around the shop!

Ok so here are some of my favourite pics taken by Anita!

All coming to a layout near you very soon!!!!

Dad isn't too well again... had a trip to A&E this morning but thankfully they let him go home! He was dreading another hospital stay! Fingers crossed that he'll improve quickly... they say that kids are such a worry but I think that parents are too!

On a lighter note... July's kit is almost ready to go! Just waiting for some gorgeous buttons and then it will be all done. Will pop a sneaky peek up in the next couple of day along with some layouts that I've been working on!

Til next time!

Maria x

Getting organised!

I have spent the last 3 days sorting out shop stock and moving it all into new storage. I am now converted to the really useful way of storing!!! The 35l XL boxes hold 12x12 papers beautifully so all kits are neatly stored in these little gems and they can be stacked on top of each other! This has freed up so much space! I am no longer falling over boxes when trying to get to my desk!!!!


Next task is to sort out my personal stash mountain... this, I think, will be a mammoth task! I need to clear out and declutter... so next week will see me rolling up my sleeves and getting stuck in LOL! Am planning to sell lots on ebay ;-).
This morning another challenge has gone live on the SSC blog. It was Angies turn to set the challenge this week and she chose a summer theme. However, looking out of the window this morning I think that was wishful thinking. Summer has disappeared! Its cold and raining. Ah well... at least I'll be able to scrap without wishing I was outside :-) I'll leave you with my sample for the challenge.

The photo was taken by Anita... love it! I used our June kit (so dreamy!) and added some Collage Press stamps plus Doodlebug alpha stickers which I am officially addicted to!!!!

Til next time

Maria x