Back to ....

.... early mornings, packed lunches, after-school activities. Oh, just take me out back and shoot me!!!

Sandie set this week's sadistic challenge on PaperPlay Challenges - I was thinking of not doing it, as a kind of one-woman protest!!!! But then I gave in - I've made a card for the teachers in DS's school. I'm going to bring in some choccy buns and the inside will say ".... bet you'd all forgotten what chocolate tastes like!" (the staffroom is notorious for always having niceies to eat - they've probably all been on diets all summer!).

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I used Scenic Route Appleton papers, which are perfect for school themes, stamped the apples with Hero Arts stamps and coloured with prismas, then mounted them with foam to give a bit of dimension, hand-stitched the red lines, and printed and cut out the lettering.

This week's prize is sponsored by Crafty Alley and it's a stack of 12" x 12" papers.

Thanks for looking.

Yet another Baby ....

.... Girl! What is going on in the world - I don't know anyone who has had a baby boy recently - all girls. Isn't that supposed to mean a more peaceful time?!

Anyway, decided to incorporate this week's SFTW challenge, which is to use the colours pink and grey. I also used this week's Friday Sketchers sketch. Thank goodness for sketches, they can be great for kick-starting some inspiration.

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Isn't her name gorgeous? Have to visit her later in the week - pressie bought and wrapped too - I usually buy clothes, but when we were on holidays I spotted an Elmer toy and book in a shop window and I couldn't resist them.

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And a relative of mine is getting married at the weekend in Somerset. We're not going to the wedding, too close to back to school, but here's the card I'm sending. I don't really like doing "occasion" cards (apart from birthdays!), can't seem to think of anything and I don't have any wedding-y stamps either, so I always do a variation on this quilled bouquet for wedding cards. This time I've varied the background layers a bit.

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Thanks for looking!

Nose to the ....

.... grindstone. Nothing like a deadline to get going again!!

It's PaperPlayChallenges day again. This week, Mandy set the challenge with this sketch:

I made a thank you card for the owner of the cottage we stayed in. I wanted it to have a sort of "English country cottage" feel, and I'm very happy with the finished card, although I was tormented trying to get the three panels on straight!!!!

This week's prize is provided by Cardznscrapz and it's two cute Magnolia stamps.

Thanks for looking!

Back ....

.... down to earth. Sigh - just back from holidays in England. We had a fantastic time. But it's all over now, sob, weep, wail!!

Would you like to see my holiday snaps?!!!!! It'll only take three hours, I promise!!

We first went to the IMM (International Mini Meeting, for those who don't know!) in Birmingham. Over 3,000 classic Minis and almost 7,000 adults and kids camping in a park over a wild and sleep-free sunny weekend. Brilliant fun.

Here's the convoy waiting to get into the site:


A tiny portion of the site:


The ONLY way to get about at festivals:

Next came the civilised part of the holidays. We rented a cottage in the Cotswolds and toured with our Swedish Mini friends. Isn't this picture postcard perfect?

This is the front door of our cottage:

And the local pub two doors down (the village had houses and a pub, no shops, no post office, just a pub!):

Now back to real life. I must say I thought I'd miss crafting but, gasp, I didn't at all. (But I did manage to google the nearest scrapbooking store and pop round for a visit!!!).

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Normal blogging will resume soon - I just have to do the laundry, pack away the camping gear, find my mojo - and make something!!!

Blog Awards ....

.... I just love these!!

My lovely friend, Mandy, has given me these awards to add to the collection!!! Thanks, hun!!

To keep the Circle of Friends going I must do my part and pass it along.....Here are the rules for this award: To pick up the Circle of Friends Blog Award cut and paste the award logo and use it on your own blog. Nominate 5 other bloggers you feel have become part of your circle of friends. Link to your nominees within your blog post. Include these instructions on how to pick up the award in your blog post. Link back to the person who gave you the award in your blog post, to show your appreciation. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received the award.

So here are my nominees, in alphabetical order 'cos that's the way I am! ................

Carol

June

Kelly

Liz

Lynn

Thanks girls, I love both to read your inspirational blogs, and to read the lovely comments you leave for me on mine!!