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The impossible quiz

back again...

been somewhat hectic!

So since my last blog I have completed all of the courses I wanted to do, most in photography, and I am feeling all fired up and want to do more!

The latest challenge is up at A True Friend on the theme of 'Playtime'.

Nice easy one for me, as Simba is a perpetual toddler in feathered form!

He loves his bought toys, but also loves anyone who brings him a water bottle, or a cup from macdonalds, or a straw, or a milk carton! lol He loves his made up games (does anybody else in the world own a parrot who instigates games of peepo?), and his 'junk' toys.

So I focused my layout on his love of junk toys and made up games/fave pastimes, the inner card from a double sided tape roll, scaling his way up a wicker table, swinging upside down off my hand and a water bottle (he even does the pouring water sound effects when playing with them).

Black card from stash, BG lollipoppe shop, star die cuts, die cut photo anchors, eyelets and brads from stash, Heidi Swapp chipboard letters, chalk inks and a bit of doodlyness.

the pink-croc wearing Romany...

So, yesterday I toddled off to have my fortune told..I did not expect said fortune teller to be wearing pink crocs lol- we hit it off straight away ;)

So what did she tell me?

Well, let me tell you first, that there is one thing about myself that not many people know about, even some of my closest family. I have always maintained that if someone giving me a 'reading' could tell me that one thing, then I would be totally convinced.

She did.

And got it spot on.

And I welled up lol!

I have to transcribe it all so will no doubt forget loads til I have done that.

So, out of my 15 main cards (I chose to have my cards read as you can get a lot more out of it and also ask questions), they all tied together in groups. Four of them told of a death (she did ask me several times if I wanted to know the bad, and when she turned the cards asked if I was sure), I wanted to continue, and although not entirely sure who it is at the moment, there is a death on the way.

I am NOT dwelling on it, Iam not worrying about it- what's the point?

Everything else was REALLY great and I came away with a hoppity-skip in my step.

I WILL marry and it will be a very good and happy marriage, and I WILL have kids.

I have spent so long pondering if it will ever happen.

I am very creative, good with my hands and anything I choose to do with this I can make successful.

She told me so very much about Mart, why he is the way he is, what he has been through, the fact that he works for himself and is hugely successful at what he does.

I will be buying property, and I shall also be very successful in what I do with the property (not sure what that's all about just yet).

One of the first things she picked up on (and i had subsequent cards that said the same) is that I get very depressed, and in a round-a-bout way get depressed about being depressed (yet I went in all smiles doing my 'happy me' bit that I have perfected), but there is light at the end of the tunnel :)

I came out shaking, and pretty much unable to speak.

Of course we were all sharing our experiences in the car, and the funy thing was that out of the four of us, the only link was my Mum, and she managed to tie us all in together, she had no knowledge of what relationship we were to eachother.

Like, she told my Mum she had two children, and she could see there being a wedding for one, and that it would be to a good man (my brother is already married), then when I went in she told me I was not married (I had no rings on anyway and had hidden my hands ;) ) but I would be getting married...

All very very interesting! I will go again to see her (she stays here at certain times of the year- well about 20 mins away).

This is where the reading took place...

Afterwards, we were all in need of a good cuppa, so travelled to Bourton on the water, a beautifully quaint little village, hit a few shops, and had chips sat on the waterfront while feeding the birds.

This place gets really manic in the summer, it seems to have turned into a real tourist spot over the last few years. But the kids, dogs etc all jump in the water for a splash around and have a great time!

After that we headed over to Stow on the wold, hit a few more shops (I tell you, if you like antiques this is the place to go) but don't try and make a day of it cos you just can't!

Then back home and another vet trip for poor Jessicat who has been a little bit poorly. Another couple of jabs later and she is on top form now- she can't stop eating (that'll be the steroids she is on) and is spending lots of time prancing about the garden like a ninny!

long time...

no blog!

TBH I've been busy busy but nowt so exciting that I had to drop everything and rush online to tell you lol!



A True Friend challenge two goes live soon, really enjoyed doing this one, will add the layout here too when it is live.



Been doing lots of digi faffing, learned lots of new things, and made some papers and bits too, have to say I am quite pleased with them, which is saying something as I am a fussy bugger!

May pop them up here for download when I have perfected the art ;)



Can't leave without a pic of something so here is a random digi...so very basic, but it took all of five minutes while I stopped for a coffee one day! Just fancied a play about so I did- that is the beauty of doin' it digi style I guess! Credit: shabby princess wild love

new blog alert!

A true friend is now live!

This is a fantastic new venture that I was asked to take part in run by the fabulous Laurie.

There are so many people who scrap their pets, let's face it they are a part of the family for most of us, yet there is rarely any inspiration for layouts featuring our furry, feathered and scaled pals.

That is where the blog comes in. Every fortnight there will be a new challenge set, the design team will add their take to the challenge, and will be inviting everyone else to do the same.

Challenge one- 'introducing' is now live, and we would love to see lots of fabulous creations :D

I am so excited about this!

This is my layout for challenge one,

'Introducing Simba'

White cardstock, basic grey paper, heidi swapp chipboard heart, gemstones, paint, stamps, acetate, MM cheeky clip and chipboard letters :)

Recipe for a happy scrapper...

Yes, this my friends is product spread the entire length of my landing and back again! To say I am overwhelmed is somewhat of an understatement!
This was the package I received today from the wonderful people at imagination project
How fabulously wonderful and generous they are...I am feeling all fired up to create after being in a rut for a while! These are the new products and are utterly gorgeous- all of them- I think I have most of the new CHA releases, plus more besides!
THANK YOU to Ginger, Kayla and all at IP- you have made a very happy scrapper today :D

a few pics from yesterday

Fabulous jumping from J and lettie yesterday morning- especially as she had her first bad fall last week (pony refused and spun round, J fell off and landed ON the jump! she was fine tho)...can you believe that this child is only 6?!



And the ever beautiful Amelia- (now four months!)

In her bumbo (I nagged for her to have one of these marvellous inventions!)

This is her 'shouting' face!



and some gorgeous close ups- she amazes me...





and some purty flowers just for good measure lol!



Hope you are all enjoying the beautifl weather :)

A lil post...

...to say huge congrats to jo and family on the arrival of Jessica Joanne (8lb 14oz) today :D
Can't wait for pics- lots of love -x-

just a random post!

Nowt exciting happening right now.

Next door neighbour had someone come into her house in the early hours of this morning, they took her car keys- and nothing else- then pootled away in her car! Cheeky swines- still it's a blessing that they didn't make any mess or steal anything else. The locksmiths are here at the mo sorting the locks out (well obv. duh!)

Thankfully I am a bit obsessive in my before bed routine of checking and double checking everything is locked, and since somebody let themself into my Nan's house back last year and stole her friend's handbag I am very viglant in keeping the doors locked in the day when I am in the house.

Mo and Jo have been to visit a couple of times this week and given me the cardmaking bug again- so just a few to share- the bird and scallop phase are still with me (I don't think they will ever go) and I am so happy that birds are the in thing just now- it is SOOOO me!

papermill cardstock, BG phoebe papers, DCWV papers, papersalon and dovecraft (I think) stamps

Quite into making mini cards at the mo too!

Happy Easter

Hope you all had a goodun, I know I did in all the glorious sunshine!
Spent a good portion of sunday spring cleaning Simba's cage with the pressure washer- the temptation to blast unsuspecting passers by was all too much though!
Yesterday involved a shopping trip to Swindon, which means the papermill shop! YAY!
Been a bit manic here as usual, Friday saw me putting up a 10 foot trampoline for J, and then spending over an hour bouncing with her- I was exhausted but what fun!
I have managed to shed half a stone in the last two weeks- not bad seeing as I have had so much take away food!
Off to the stables tomorrow, and more trampolining!
Will leave you with a few DT image from Ribbon mad
Hybrid mini book (credits to shabby princess)
This is made from one sheet of 12x12 plus extra card for the cover




Page one and two- this is what you see when you open the cover


Lift up the above two pages and you get this:
(12x12 scored into quarters, cut up one line from edge to centre)



This creates a flap so you can flip the pages down to get more layouts on, like this:
(the top two pages flip down so you can fold the book to close the cover making a book that is just over 6x6- but one sheet of card therefore makes 6 pages!)



A couple of cards and a tag:







And the oh so cool doly bags- the ribbon kits come in these great dolly bags, which I altered (come on it would be rude not to!)

Still alive!

Just!
Thought I'd better pop in to let you know I haven't died!
Things have been really manic, so much on all at once, then Friday I was struck down in my prime with a horrid bout of tonsillitis!
Still- I didn't let it stop me (I had no choice!) and carried on as much as I could, although I did feel somewhat drained.
Anyhoodle- am better now, and trying to catch up with deadlines and stuff one by one!
Quickish post today, I should be able to update more regularly now (once I am all caught up with other stuff), got a new whizzy (PINK!) laptop (thank you direct line!), so I am surfing at speed once again. Blogger was a total nightmare on the desktop, everything was so much bloody hard work on there and soooooo s l o w!
Hope all is well with everyone...catch ya laters!

tattoo's and stuff

I have had many many conversations on various forums about tattoos. I have two small ones, a star on my right arm, and a Rhonna Farrer swirl on the side of my left foot. Mart, on the other hand, has quite an impressive selection! I have said so many times that I want to photograph them, but he does not like having his picture taken (I can count on one hand the number of snaps I have of him)- so last week while he was in bed (awake but led on his front) I grabbed the camera- sadly I got sprung, but for once he actually let me take some shots! I think he quite liked looking at them too cos he can't see them! Bear in mind this is just his back, he has some on his chest and one on each thigh too! When we first met, he had 3 in total- just look now! I have lost count! I have squiffed the names and dates out- it's his nieces and nephew, and Mum and Dad.

Overall view of his back- some go round the side a bit so difficult to get them in- I was very careful not to photograph his arse- only I need to see that lol!

This is a cover up of an old tat.

This one is also a cover up and I think looks like a cabbage!

Really don't like this one!

Will try and snap the others when he lets me!

All the classes I was putting together are finished and ready to go- a couple of sneaky peeks-

spoke too soon!

typical! Got that nasty fluey cold bug again that's been doing the rounds!

Starting to feel a bit better now *touches wood* so have spent a busy weekend trying to play catch up!

Lots of classes to prepare for and write up- getting there slowly but surely :) Thank you to my guinea pig emms! ;)

Heard that lovely clunking sound on saturday morning- you know the one when the postie has been and left you something nice?!

Scrapbook Inspirations mag is in the building! This issue was the £5 challenge for me, piddled myself at my description- cheap and chic *snort*

Here is the layout I did- typically, said Mr Postie did rather crumple the mag-

Had great fun making this one- I really really love doing work for SI mag- they are so easy to work with, always pay up promptly, and never fail to return layouts in pristine condition. I've only ever done work for creative scrapbooking before SI, and they were great too, but there is something I can't quite put my finger on about SI- love it!

Sadly, the lounge and bumblebeecrafts closed it doors last night :(

This has always been my first port of call when I switch my computer on. In fact it is a habit that has been going on for so long, that I still clicked on the lounge this morning :(

It has been a huge part of my internet life for a long time, I quickly became moderator along with my fellow lounge honeys Shirl, Beth and Jen. I have made some fantastic friends, and they are friendships that will last. It was also the beginning of another love story- scrapping! Because of the lounge I started scrapping, which led to me being published, going on to winning Best of British, getting several design team spots, and doing bits of work for Scrapbook Inspirations magazine. So a huge thank you to Anna, for making this my online home for the last few years. I am truly sad to see it go, but, on to bigger and better things for you as a Mum, designer, and business woman :)

it's going well...

I've been trying to sort my sleep pattern out a bit lately. After being ill so many times recently I could have slept not only for England, but Europe, and in fact the entire universe. When I get up I am still totally exhausted, even after more sleep than I should need. Something is obviously working, as it is getting easier to get up in the morning. I have increased my fruit and veg intake, and also started eating less 'white' foods. Rice is now brown wholegrain rice (tesco do a great one that still tastes like white rice), as white rice is stripped of every single thing that is good for you. So effectively it is an empty food. Bread is now brown too, and I have even bought wholemeal pasta! Not tried it yet (its years since I have tried it) but I think I will mix it up with white to start with! Hey- it's a step in the right direction!
I have been reading one of Gillian McKeith's books I am not dieting as such, but trying to be more aware of what I am putting into my body. Don't get me wrong- I am not following the plan in this book as such, just making small changes for the better. Like the rice thing- what is the point of eating it if my body gets absolutely nothing from it? Particularly when I can eat rice that tastes pretty much the same but is packed full of vitamin B!

Whether I am feeling better because of the food changes, or something else I don't know but I am gonna keep on! It's all good!

A huge toot and a honk for Suzanne and Caz for being selected to go through to the next round in MM Idol So deserved girlies! (had to pimp your bush lol)

So many things to photograph right now, and so little time- so will leave you with a recent layout that I actually love (very rare)

long time no blog!

So I am back (again) and this time I am another year older *sigh*!

PC is still running like treacle, and laptop has now passed away *RIP*

First off some thank yous...for all the gorgeous cards I was sent, and gorgeous goodies too!

From Jen- BPS product playground- loving it!

From Shirl- AMM tote IN PINK! She is all filled up and I have used her every single day!

From Beth- paperartsy stamps and dew drop inks *slurp* have had great fun playing

Ali- thank you for the box of yumminess!

You gals all know me far too well!

I had loads of goodies and was totally spoilt! My Mum, bless her, took the day off work so she could take me for lunch. We went to a fab pub out of town called the house in the tree, we have been there a few times, but not for ages. Always great food, a roaring open fire and happy people! The field mushrooms in stilton were to die for!

Had a lovely morning with Amy and Amelia, and got this gorgeousness to add to my ever growing collection...another person who knows me far too well (I often think Amy knows me better than I know myself)

All in all a lovely day :)

The studio- this is coming along nicely, the floor is laid- see pic-love that guy, who gave up his sunday to lay it for me gratis- and furniture put together, still in a bit of a mess, gonna shut myself in there later and do some sorting out. Will take some more pics when I am straight! (if ever!)

Amelia is totally flourishing! She is a beautiful baby who I adore so very much! She pretty much sleeps through the night every night already- which is fab for a breast fed baby at 2 months! She is a real smiler, and coos away at you when you talk to her. She is at the stage now where she totally recognises who is holding her, and who is talking to her- she turns her head to see you and beams!

and, at last, she has some chunk on her thighs to grab!

Oh and as a last point- thank you to Imagination Project- I won their comp for a fab box of cha goodies! *yay me*

ttfn- hope all you bloggettes are well -x-

at long flippin last!

so after being MIA for a bit- was poorly (again!)- then blimmin blogger was not playing ball! I have been trying to update all week, and finally I am in! Its taken me an hour to get this far though! Ho hums!
So- the scraproom floor is down and is boootiful! Furniture is put together and am slowly organising stuff and getting straight!
Once I am sorted I will get some pics up.
On to better things- the beautiful Jennie bought me a most wonderful pressie- I got the product playground class from big picture scrapbooking! I so wanted to do the class but decided it was too much money to spend when I could be paying off my credit card bills from christmas! Lubs you hunny!
Next thing- I have been tagged by Jo-
6 weird things about me...shouldn't be too tricky!
1- I have double jointed toes- but not my big toes, and I have double jointed fingers but not thumbs!
2- I have obssesive compulsive disorders, that is about as weird as it gets lol!
3- I am allergic to antihistamines (only some- but go figure?!)
4- I am allergic to too much heat- some of my glands shut down and stop working in certain areas if I get too hot!
5- My hair and fingernails grow at a superhuman rate!
6- My eyes change colour with the seasons!

Anyhoodle- will try and update again- hoping to get my pc sorted- am working on the laptop at the mo which could be why I haven't been able to get in blogger, hope you are all well -x-

art journal

If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you check out Emily's art journal challenge- a WHOLE YEAR! And I'm so gonna do it!

Here is my week one and two, and as I got 'spare' cards in my deck, and just happened to find this rub on quote complete with paint splatters I though I would do a cover/intro card, just to remind me of why I am doing this journal, and making changes in my life for the better, a kind of physical version of positiveness :)

the cover/intro card-

week ones prompt was 'was makes you proud?'

I painted the card, added crackle glaze, then rubbed

gold paint on top, wiped the excess off then added

lettering and a stamp.


week twos prompt was 'what is powerful

to you?' To me, love, in all its various guises

is powerful. So after painting this card, masking

a heart off and overpainting (though the colour looks

awful in the scan) I added the 'love' sticker to the

heart and journaled 'if I have love in my heart I can

achieve anything' added a bit of doodling, and scratched

some hearts into the paint et voila.

The bonus being that my little studio is all packed up right now so I am creating using whatever scrappy bits I can find! This is the only way I am getting to craft right now! I managed to find an old cigar box, and have painted that ready for my cards to sit in. I am planning on punching holes in the cards and hanging them on a bookring too so they are all in order!

TTFN blogettes -x-

the most WONDERFUL news...

Last night I received the following email...

"Dear Wild Bird Supporter,Over the last two years, you were kind enough to lend your name to an impressive group effort to get the EU to stop importing millions of wild birds.As of January 11, 2007, I'm delighted to inform you that the EU has decided to do exactly that -- all wild bird imports have been banned permanently. The temporary ban on all live bird imports has been extended until June 2007, and the new regulation takes effect on 1 July 2007. Read more about the ban on our website at: http://worldparrottrust.org/.I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your enthusiastic support of this effort and hope you and your organizations feel proud to have been part of making this momentous decision possible.This ban will spare about four million wild birds a year... forever! Take a moment to picture a flock of four million birds and think of them flying free! Working together, we've all made this a reality.Happy New Year, indeed!Sincerely,James D. Gilardi, Ph.D., DirectorThe World Parrot Trust Glanmor HouseHayle, Cornwall, TR27 4HB "

I have actively supported this cause, and this new ruling is THE BEST NEWS! THANK YOU TONY BLAIR! (never thought I would hear myself say that but i am so so truly grateful to him for his backing).
Bird exportation/importation is a very cruel and barbaric practise.
And before they even get to the stage where they are packed tight in mini cages with no room to move, defecate and even breathe properly (with no food or water), some of these poor creatures have been through the most horrific process.

Take baby african greys for example (this is the same species as simba). They are taken from their nests, way too young for a lot of them to cope without being fed by Mummy, not weaned at all. The poacher then opens the baby birds wings.
and stamps on them so they can't fly away.
Brutal enough yes?

Then bear in mind that some of those feathers may not be properly developed yet. These are called 'blood feathers', and it is like a vein running through the inside of the feather. That baby bird who has managed not to die yet from stress, fright etc can then bleed to death.

If these poor birds have made it to this stage, they are bundled into cages with no room to move- interesting fact here to tie in with this- in the UK it is ILLEGAL for a bird to be housed in a cage that does not allow it to fully open its wing span and totally move around in every direction.
But it is deemed as acceptable to these beasts to cram them in a cage where they can't even breathe properly. All for a measly bit of money.

Ok, so the above is usually the worst case scenario, and generally the illegal importation trade- but having these new rulings means this will be enforced more harshly. No birds coming in, and therefore these shipments of birds will be caught.

At this stage I would like to point out that Simba is 100% British bred in captivity (and lives the life of riley!). We now have more than enough captive birds to breed from in this country, and all of Europe, so really, there is absolutely no reason for any imports, a fact which I am sure will have helped with this ruling. Many species of bird face extinction, largely due to these practises.

As you all know (and if you don't you must have been looking on here with your eyes shut lol) parrots are a topic that I am hugely passionate about. I HATE people who buy a bird without learning about the HUGE commitment they are taking on, and subsequently get rid of the bird, for it to be passed on and on...then it ends up in a very over run sanctuary- this isn't like animal shelters at all, we have hardly any parrot sanctuarys, partly because parrot keeping is so specialised and requires a lot of specific knowledge. the fact that parrots are like little toddlers all of their life. they require an awful lot of work and dedication. and for that, to the people who selflessly open and run these places (usually out of their own money) I am so very thankful. It is these people who have to deal with the wild imports that have been taken on as a pet, and then discarded. Hopefully this move will mean that less birds will be dumped :D

If you got this far- thn thank you! I am so happy I wanna shout this from the rooftops!! lol

Book of love...

Nowt really exciting going on, so thought I would finally show the book I made at our workshop with Emily (huge congrats on your news btw!)- now it does have a few bits to be added to it (I pick it up and add to it when I am in the mood and have nothing else I am *meant* to be doing) and a couple of pages I want to completely redo, but this is how the book is right now, hung on my studio wall. There are loads of pics!

Front cover- large photo overlaid with acetate and pretty stuff!



Family pages- me and my mummy bear...


and my lubberly nan



jasmine making a wish on a 'fairy'



pretty pink flowers- mmmm- this page is really cool, made with masking tape and paint



new shoes and french pedicures


two more god-daughters



my jessicat- this is one page I am redoing


simbadoodle, also redoing this page, I did this one and the 'jess' one at the same time, I must have been in an odd mood I have decided!



Simba's mad tomfoolery


photo collage of lots of things that I love- rubbed over with white paint


friendship page- my best friend with simba, who adores her!



Simba's toes- I adore his toes so much lol! This was done onto acetate- hence the shiny bit!


last, but by no means least- this page is all about my simbadoodly and just how much I adore him. I know you all think I am stark raving- and maybe there is a slight bit of truth in that, but he is my companion and lifelong friend :)