Two weekends away on the trot... I am lucky!

Don't they say all the best things come in three's?

Well this isn't always true, cause whilst I have been exceptionally lucky to have been away for the last two weekends, I have to work this coming Sunday!

Still on Saturday I'm off for a haircut and my nails, so it's not all bad! (I don't really mind having to work.... It means I can enjoy weekends away like the last two I have been on...

The first weekend, which started on Friday 17th February was spent with my fantastic ScrapaGoGo DT teamies over in Suffolk... a wonderful weekend, great company, food and friends... Love you guys xxx



Then this last weekend was over in the Shropshire countryside at Toad Hall which has become a favourite venue... this was my third visit and Sheena and I went along with members of the Solihull crop, three of whom I hadn't met before!

So waves to Bernice, Morag and Julie and thanks to you all for making me feel so welcome xxx



And can I just add that this is my first post using BlogPress.. And it won't be my last xxx
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

One amazing workshop...

Yesterday Liv and I went over to Tixall, just outside Stafford for a workshop with a lady called Jennifer Collier. She runs Unit 12, a unit that houses numerous talented artists, most of whom are textiles biased.

It was the private view of their Spring Loaded collection, so we arrived for a 10am start and did a show making workshop...

Wow, it was amazing!

This was my second attempt at a baby brogue...

I (heart) it... totally so cute xxx

After getting back in some treacherous snowy conditions (luckily I was in Harv's car and not my rear wheel Merc!) I set about waxing some old newspaper and creating another shoe - the wax makes the paper stronger, more pliable and semi-transparent!

I also waxed some old dressmaking patterns to play with...

My first creations were this pair of stillettos - how pretty!

I do need to add embellishments and ribbon but fundamentally they are finished!

Off into Birmingham now to see Lost in Lace...

Chinese whispers... round 2

Hitting 1st February not only means that we're already through 1/12th of our year but it's time to receive and pass on our Chinese Whispers layout, organised by Rebekah Day on the ScrapaGoGo CH.

This time around there are three teams, I receive from one Ally and ironically pass onto a different Ally!

Here's the one I received...

I love the photo... it depicts Ally's take on life, always good for a giggle and full of fun and spirit xxx

Not one for scrapping large photos, I emulated Ally's large photo with a decorative panel of smaller photos and embellishments.

The polaroid style photo was taken on a weekend away at Toad Hall. Jackie Ashton has the cool idea that once developed, we could all have our photos taken whilst holding our photo at arms length...

It made for a great image and a superb title "genius idea".

To echo Ally's cluster of embellishments at the top, I used liquid acrylic to drip down the page, misting while the paint was still wet.

I can't help but cut the mot intricate things out of my papers and this layout was no exception!

Looking forward to Round 3 already, and our next visit to Toad Hall...

Have you heard?

About Essentially GoGo?

It's the scrummy new format kit from ScrapaGoGo, featuring loads of goodies and stash, including embellishments, stamp and even a bespoke card designed by little old me...

And what's more it's all within one kit for the super dooper spiffing price of £14.99!

Nope, you didn't read it wrong... £14.99.

Can you believe it?

Starting with the February kit 'Eclectic Me' this box of lushness features stash from no less than six different manufacturers!

Hop on over to ScrapaGoGo find out more xxx

Pencillines latest layout

Okay so I'm a bit late to the party but hey ho..

This weeks sketch was bought to us by the lovely Morag Cutts

It was a great sketch to work with, especially as it took me away from my usual comfort zone - (I'm sure we all have these?)

So my take on the sketch featured a couple of photos taken of Harvey and I with some of our best friends at V Festival...

It was our second year in succession of going and boy did we have a blast!

Last year Hilary and I were left on our own for a while, while the boys were in a beer tent. Little did we know that they had discovered the Strongbow tent...

TBH I could have stayed there all day - with a live DJ and fantastic music, it really rocked. However we had to remember that we were at a live music festival and to stay listening to vinyls being played may not be the best intended use of our ticket!

The strongbow scarves were distributed amongst the crowd very quickly and were highly sought after, so much so that they became a bartering tool later in the day...

We're not sure whether we are going again this year as Paul and Hilary have recently invited us to spend Easter with them in their villa in Majorca - of course we are obliging!

Going green!!!

To say New Years' Eve was a hoot would be the understatement of the year (and that could count for both 2011 and 2012!)

It was fancy dress at our local and so in true spirit we participated.

Harvey came up the idea that Shrek would be kind of cool and so our disguise was hatched!

Green face paint (even after a trial run) isn't that easy to apply...

At one point I got some in my eye...

And then there was the fiasco of having to do one's hands - Shrek came to my rescue at this point!

And so we were out and starting to enjoy, only for me to realise that I had forgotten my ears!!!

Still I could still pull Shreks's....

And then by about 11.30pm the cross dressing started, so we now have Shrek as Princess Fiona and I'm wearing an outfit from one of the Adams family...

Need I say more?

Chinese Whispers 2012

After the success of last years' ScrapaGoGo Chinese Whispers CJ, Rebekah Day has started three new groups - this time I got in early enough to get a place - hooray!

So the way it goes is you scraplift a layout, take a photo and pass it on to the next in your CJ. This way there is no postage involved and no risk of anything getting lost, thumbs up all round!

I chose a layout by Iris Babao Uy - she designs for Crate and her work is lovely xxx

My lift uses certain elements within her layout, so although not a like for like lift, it incorporates butterflies, the circular framing, the detail at the top of the layout and a single photo.

I can't wait to lift layout number two - definitely a maybe for New Years' Day afternoon, although a hair of the dog might be in order!

Find out why later!!!