Hand Crafted Memories

I've managed it ahead of time this weeks Pencil Lines challenge number 122 . I had these great pictures of my nephews in the recent snow, they were having a great snowball fight but really they are the greatest of friends. I had some pictures left and loved sketch number 121 so I had another go.

I know spring is coming because I found these in my garden! I love spending time out there but it's been sadly neglected for the last two years due to the pitiful summer's we've had. I didn't totally abandon it but I didn't give it as much TLC as it usually gets. I intend to make sure it looks as glorious this year as it did a couple of years ago. Here's hoping for a gorgeous summer.

A few wedding invites that I made as samples when I used to do wedding fayres. I've made the stationery for quite a few weddings and enjoy doing them especially when I've got plenty of notice. I'm always surprised at how the invites evolve from the initial enquiry from the couple, I give them an idea based on what they say they are looking for and it always developes into something different. These are really lovely for a winter wedding and have little boxes made to post them,I always wrap them in gorgeous white tissue paper. They look really expensive when they are finished. These are always favourites and the rose bud colour can be matched to the colour theme of the wedding. Simple and very elegant.

I've managed to do the pencil lines challenge for this week before the next one is published. Only just managed it but at last I'm using holiday photos. I have thousands and the albums were all standing on the floor of the bedroom when the radiator burst. The restoration company did say they could try and retrieve them but only the bottom 2 inches of the album got wet and the photos aren't spoiled just wet. The company just scan them in and use digital software to restore them. The idea of me scrapbooking was to scan them into my computer and use my favourites on my pages. So I decided to concentrate on getting them all onto my computer a huge project to run alongside the craft room project.

Here are a couple of pages from the UKScrappers murder mystery cybe rcrop, this was the Unexplained that used kits from Bubbly Funk . I used Happy and Heritage only after I sent for them did I find out that they were designed by Kirsty Wiseman . Here's my take on them and yes the little girl in the pictures is me. Heritage Happy

I've signed up to to Shimelle Laine's online here there and everywhere project. Seems ideal for me to do something with the millions of travel photos I have. Those that didn't get damaged in the leaking radiator fiasco. I'll post pictures as and when I have them.

This page is another based on pencil lines sketch number 117 . I gave this one to my monday ladies as homework. These are a group of four lovely ladies who come to my house on a monday every fortnight to craft. I asked them to make either a card or scrapbook page using the sketch, so this is my contibution. I'm excited to see what they have come up with. Hopefully I can catch up with the challenge on pencil lines this week and post the pages a little bit quicker.

I've no idea what's got into me but I've been on a bit of a scrapbooking frenzy recently. It's maybe all the therapy I need at the moment to balance out the trauma of the leak. This page was inspired by sketch 118 on Pencil Lines. I love this website and have done a few pages inspired by the page maps. This was taken from a boat that we took to view Santorini from the sea. I used some chipboard flourishes that were painted with Adirondack Sailboat Dabber paint then edged with the lettuce colour and finally lightly brushed with white. I then used clear ultra thick embossing powder to add the shine. So far I've painted the bedroom a lovely soft apple colour, I swear the paint smells of apples. Everybody laughs when I say that but I swear it does. I'm waiting for the electrician to have a look at adding all the extra sockets I need and Allied Carpets are coming to measure up on Saturday. Things are moving along it seems like ages since it happened although it is o...

This card was made a few weeks ago using Craftwork Cards sugar free fix papers. I lifted this design but can't remember where from, it's great for using up bits that are left over from other projects. Here's a name hanger that I made for a little girls bedroom door. Here's another one, the chipboard letters are from Craftwork Cards that are painted and decorated.

I know they predicted it but you never think it's going to be as bad as they say. I got up this morning and had Chris Moyles on the radio (love him), he was talking about how bad the weather was, I looked out of the bedroom window and nothing. So I had a shower, had my breakfast. Ithen closed all the blinds still nothing, went upstairs to get my boots out of the wardrobe cleaned my teeth put my coat on and stepped out of the door to this! Where did that come from! I swear it came down that quickly and it's still coming down. Then you end up looking and thinking do I go to work or not. I decided to wait and see, but now 2 hours later it's a white out. This little guy sits outside in my garden looking in through the patio doors. I'm feeling very guilty it looks like he's pleading to come in. It is absolutely beautiful but I can only say that because I'm inside, warm and safe. I didn't feel like that on Monday when I was in Dudley with one of my friends at work...

OMG what a week and it's only Wednesday! It all started at the weekend, I had nothing planned, I mean nothing. That of course means only one thing, a whole weekend of crafting and organising. I decided I would finally empty everything out of my 'office' ready for painting and final preparation for the new units. As most of this was already done I decided to craft a bit first. My friend Lynda and I have been lucky enough to get our hands on the pre-release of the fabulous new stamps from Craftwork Cards,see them here . They are to die for, I have never had such a pristine image from stamps before, sometimes the problem with clear stamps is that they 'squash' when you press down and this makes the lines a bit thick. Not with these the images were lovely and we have made several samples to hand in to Sue. Bonus point, I wiped Staz-on off with a baby wipe. I'll put pictures when we know what is going to happen to them. Anyway I digress, after a thoroughly productive...