Let the sunshine...

Now, at last the sun is shining !! I am not going to moan, since we have been waiting for this day for a long time, but honestly, isn't it just a little too hot!!

The new sketch is live at Sketches in Thyme, and it is double page one. I am not too keen on double page so I decided to change it a little to make it fit on one page. I am not overly keen on the result but I do like the idea of Amelie looking back at her bedroom when she is older.
So here is the sketch...




and here is my lay out...

If you fancy giving it a go, have a look at what the other Mavens have come up with, you will be impressed.

I hope you are all enjoying the good weather.

Take care

Anne

What a treat !!

Thank you everyone for my birthday wishes and all the fabulous presents and cards I was given. I can honestly say, this was one of the most special birthday I have ever had ! ( could it be that it is because it is the last one before THE big one !! )
And to top it all up, we decided to finish the weekend in Brittany, having breakfast with my brother. So we got on the boat on Saturday night, spent the night enjoying a lovely meal at the restaurant and watching the magic show ! ( did I ever mention I hate magic !! ) (but Harry loves it ! ) and when we woke up, we had breakfast in St Malo with my brother and his gorgeous wife, and then we came back !! Silly but fun and relaxing, no washing or cooking, no gardening or excuses not to sit down and play Monopoly for four hours !! I am easily pleased !

So I didn't get much time to scrapbook and that's a little shame because I got some pretty cool stuff and new magazines for my birthday but I did get a chance to make a card for my little brother. Not so little anymore you see, he is turning 30 this year. I was so proud with my card. He loves travelling and I thought I would use some of my new Studio Calico paper. Unfortunately, I made a little mistake with the date at the bottom, nothing I couldn't correct after he had noticed, but not soon enough that I had already taken the picture. So you get the original version with the mistake !

At least it looks hand made !!.

Busy week ahead, hopefully I will get a chance to sit down one evening and use my new goodies !

Take care

Anne

And here is.....

one I made earlier !!

This is a page I made at a local crop I went to a couple of weeks ago. The story behind is how proud I was when Harry conquered his fears at Go Apes. We went to Go Apes last year and he just freaked out. ( Now looking back, maybe 6 was a little young ! ) but this year, he did really well, you could see the fear in his eyes but he managed to overcome his emotions and enjoyed himself. The only way is up !!

The sun is shining again today, so I will make the best of it.

Take care

Anne

Happy, happy, me..

Today there is a little bit of sunshine coming through the grey clouds, I am going for a pub lunch with some girlfriends and I am hosting a dinner party with my French girlfriends. Life is good !

I know it looks like I haven't been very creative these days, but, really I have ! It is only that it is top secret work !! Well, it isn't really but it does sound good, so let's keep up the pretence !

But what I can show you is my first sketch for Sketches in Thyme. I find their sketches easy to use and you can add lots to them to suit your style. So here is the sketch




and here is what I transformed it into...

The little confetti were a little bit of a time waster if I am honest ( they are supposed to look like the rain !! ) but I enjoyed making the page and the kids enjoyed jumping into the puddles. Well, it actually looked more like a pond than a puddle. And now, we are all a little too familiar with the rain and I can't wait for the sunshine !

If you like the sketch, why don't you have a look at what the other designers did for inspiration and give it a go !

Have a lovely weekend everyone. Thank you so much for all your nice comments. I am not very good at taking the time to return them but I do appreciate them, a lot !!

Take care,

Anne

Trying to play it cool..

but really excited. I have made it to Sketches in Thyme design team, head over there and see my name !! Yes mine !!

Off to celebrate with a glass of wine made by my neighbours !! ) see it pays to be kind !! )

Marshmallow cake and canoe !!

Since it is raining outside and I will soon need a canoe to leave the house...

(And yes I know, I need to do some weeding but the chance to go outside looks remote !!), Amelie and I made a lovely chocolate and Marshmallow cake...

As you can see there is not much left ( diet will have to start tomorrow !! )

Yesterday, I had the chance to spend the whole day scrapbooking with my friends. The lovely and very talented Lisa, taught us through a messy and colourful lay out. As usual, it took me a while to get into the mood and I even had to trash my first attempt, but with perseverance and faith ( and very encouraging words from Lisa !! ) I kept at it and finished a page, very different from my usual style but ever so great ! I really love it, I love the colours and the texture. I mostly love the idea that scrapbooking isn't just about buying the newest products and embellishments but mostly about creating your own art and using plain paper. So here is my page...

I also got the chance to make a page for the Studio Challenges ( first time ! ) where you had to scrap a page using a song title. I found this cute picture of my sister feeding me when I was little and I had to use the title. We Are Family by Sister Sledge.

I love the page, I like the journaling and the colours, I hope my sister likes it too !!

Well, I shall go and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Happy scrapping every one.

Anne XXX

Scrap 365

There is a new challenge over at Scrap365, and you know how much I like challenges so I decided to give it a go. I like the sketch very much and it was perfect to scrap one of the hundreds of pictures I took of the kids while on holiday in Brittany. For once I decided to stay close to the sketch and I am pleased with the result. Clean, simple but I didn't have the time or the inclination to make a mess today so here is what the sketch looks like ...



and here is what I made..

What do you think?

Anne

Sketches in Thyme and Bird is the Word

Quick one today, still feeling a little tender after too much partying at the weekend, think 80's, punk outfit and dancing all night and you will understand !
I still managed to create a lay out today, not my best ever, I will admit, rather messy and unbalanced but hey, you can't love everything that you do !
I used the sketch challenge over at Sketches in Thyme  and turned it side ways,


And a prompt over at Bird is The word

We have a new word today (well, two words)! This challenge is an either or challenge and the words are LOOK / SEE. When you work on your layout for this challenge you have the option of using Look, See or both words on your project.

And here it is...

Hmmm, told you, I still have a headache and I must have trouble looking at colours !!

Have a good week !

Easter Lay out

Just a quick one today, the weather is nice and I should really take the children out while it lasts.

I made a lay out last night, very clean and simple. Not really my style recently, but I wanted to put the emphasis on the pictures this time. Funnily enough, this page took quite a long time to do, because of the calculating and trying to stick things straight !

We were in Brittany for Easter where the Flying bells come during the night to drop off some eggs. We tend to go there every year as my parents have got a lot of land and the search keeps my kids ( and my dad!!) entertained for hours !

So here is my page, and no, I didn't enter any challenge for this one. I did it just for fun !

take care

Anne

Sketches in Thymes and Creative Scrappers

Happy Easter everyone, if only a little late !!

I am back from Brittany where the children and I had a nice break. The bells, ( yes, in  France magic flying bells, and not a Bunny, bring chocolates to kind children) were very generous as usual and I have now started yet another diet !!

I have hundreds of great pictures to scrap now and so I have no excuse !

There is a Design Call over at Sketches in Thymes. If I am perfectly honest, I am not sure I am ready to be a designer ( but then again, why think about it when I haven't even been offered the job !!), but I like the sketch anyway, I often play on their challenge site and the designers are always very complimentary so I gave it a go. Here was the brief..

A Sketches in Thyme Design Team Call!!

Would you like to be a Sketchy Maven? The 6 month term for our talented Mavens is drawing to a close, and while some will be staying on, we are looking for new members to join our Sketches in Thyme design team! If you enjoy creating layouts from sketches, participating in blogs and motivating others to take part in challenges, this might be your chance to be a part of our Design Team! Your term would run May-October 2012, and you would be asked to complete 2 layouts per month. If you would like a chance to be considered, here's what you need to do:

1-Create a new layout based on our sketch below.

2-Post about our DT call on your blog, along with your take on our sketch.

3-Leave a comment here telling us that you would like to be considered for the DT, along with a link to your blog post. Be sure to include your email address so we can get in touch with you!!

And because I like joining a few challenge sites at the same time, I also took inspiration from the sketch over Creative Scrappers.

and here is my take...

I have been thinking about doing Appliques to my pages for a while and I was all ready with my ideas when I realised that in fact I will need to order a special foot for my machine, or may be wait for a generous soul to buy me one for my birthday !! ( that was a hint aimed at a few loved ones !! ). So anyway, I still wanted to add some stitching to my page and so I made an apple and some pretty leaves and stalks for my flowers. I had also kept a page from a Lady Bird book with the word Apple and a few badges which I knew would go well with my page. I don't often plan pages so far ahead but this idea came to me a long long time ago and every time I found something that would go with the title, I put it aside and all I had to do was to wait for was a nice picture of Amelie. I like the end result, busy but pretty and I hope you like it too.

Enjoy the rest of the holidays,

Anne

Made me laugh !!

My sister sent me this little cartoon, it made me laugh a lot so thought I would share it ! Shame if you can't speak French, but then may be you should consider coming to my adults evening lessons !!

Enjoy half term if your kids are off school, we are !!


Anne

Blog Candy

I don't often do this but there is a blog candy at Dame de Kit, and l'Encre et l'Image .Their stuff is great. I once had some free pictures in a magasine and they were truly lovely, so for once, I will try my luck !!

Le principe ? Il est très simple !

Relayez l'info sur votre blog, en y joignant l'image ci-dessus et en donnant le lien vers le blog Dame de Kit :

http://damedekit.canalblog.com et le blog de L'encre et L'image l'Encre & l'Image : www.lencreetlimage.com

Puis, postez un commentaire à la suite de cet article.

Parmi les commentaires postés ici, trois personnes gagneront un kit mini-album complet.

Et il y aura autant d'albums à gagner sur le blog de L'Encre et L'image.

De plus, 2 embellissements inédits seront à gagner toutes les 30 participations : à chaque tranche de 30 commentaires, 2 embellissements supplémentaires seront mis en jeu (par tirage au sort également)

Alors plus d'hésitation : tentez votre chance !

Vous avez jusqu'au 9 avril pour participer...

FAITES VIBRER LA BLOGOSPHERE!!!!

Biz Valy

Anne

And yes.. she did it !!

 Yes, I have finally finished my mini book on Lille , so without further delay, here are the pictures:

Now, I don't know why the pictures are not in order, I did put them in order to start with but the Blog is very slow today.

I also had time to play to the new Scrap Fit Challenge, teamed up with The Paper Variety Challenge.

 

Workout #64- Its Easy as 1, 2, 3...

The 'Its Easy as 1, 2, 3..' Workout is here and all you have to do is list out numerically your journaling on your layout! This could be a list of your Top 10 favorite moments from last year, a list of goals for the new year or the countless reason you love ScrapFIT (Just kidding!). Show us your numbered list!


Be sure to incorporate this journaling workout with the Sketch below from The Paper Variety so you can enter you layout at both places!

 

ScrapFIT Sponor for Workout #64 is

 

And this what I came up with:

 

I enjoyed the stitching and putting all the papers together and I really like the end result. Nothing like self praise !!

Off to do the ironing, outside !! I have found the longest extension lead in house and it is big enough to be able to iron on the patio !!

Have fun

Anne

 

let the sun shine !!

The weather is so lovely today, really doesn't inspire me to do any work !! Would much rather be outside and I really don't blame the kids who spend the lesson looking outside longingly !!

Not much happening on the scrapping front either ! Well I did get some time at the weekend to continue my mini book about my trip to Lille, but it is still not finished and at the moment it feels a little like it will never be finished. Yes, as you know, I do get bored of projects very quickly. So, to get my inspiration flowing and my motivation growing, here are a few pictures.

I like the look of it so far, a little grungy and messy, only a couple of pages left and the front and back cover ( although, I often give up on the back cover !! ) so if anybody has any ideas or pictures of what I should do for the front cover, feel free to inspire me. I was thinking about corrugated or ( however you say it ) cardboard !

Enjoy the rest of the week, only 6 working days and a bit until Easter Break for me.Yehhooo.

Anne

Quickety quick.

Quick post to show you a page I made for Scrap Fit where this week you have to :

This month's Warm-Up is all about getting messy. We want you to create a project that involves splattering or dripping something. You can use paint, mist, watercolors...if you can be messy with it, then it will work. You need to do more than just spray a little mist, though...get creative with it!

I splattered some Gesso, used some orange watered paint, inked some flowers, and used paint on a stencil. Very messy for me !

I also liked the challenge over at Scrapbookers Anonymous where the challenge this month is to...

Another month under way. Happy March!!!! This time we want you to use STICKERS!!!! and lots of them.. get digging in your stash and get creative. The more the better we say... =)

I used a lot of stickers on this page, including hearts, text, flowers, and of course the little hats.

Thank you all for your nice comments. And HELLO JANA !!

Anne

Beware !!

Now, let's make it clear from the start !! anybody who mentions the rugby score will be baned from this blog !! For ever !! Especially if they are English !! ( Although I did enjoy the match and I was on the edge of my seat the whole second half and I thought we might just make it but.. oh well c'est la vie, we still have the most handsome players anyway !! )
I had a lovely weekend pottering round the garden and enjoying the lovely weather. Well when I say pottering, it was more like slave working. We are planing on having an extension and a lot of ground work and moving plants and borders has to be done before we start so we gave it our best shot !. ( I think Amelie filled one bucket and got bored with it but Andrew is still at it as I write. )

I also got a chance to do a little bit of scrapbooking last night. I wanted to make a quick page but as it happened it took me rather a long time before I was happy with it.
Last Friday was Mad March Hair Day at school. A day when the kids can wear their hair as mad as they dare. I mentioned it last year and funnily enough made a page for Sketchy Thursday which was chosen as a favourite, my first time ever to be mentioned anywhere !!
So here are a few pictures..

and here is my page...

The sketch is from Scrap365



I especially like the little badge and the brads who come again from my favourite shop of the moment Ze[naty]tude .

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and have a good week.

Anne

At last..

a little bit of time to scrapbook !! This last week as been busy for some reasons or others and entertaining my cousin and his family. It was lovely to see everyone and the kids had a great time but I would be lying if I said it was all good fun !! Fun yes but tiring !! We were lucky with the weather and we got to do a lot of outdoors activities which is always a bonus when you have four hyperactive kids in the house !. Andrew and even made a fire and the kids had fun roasting marshmallows. So here is my new page.
I have chosen a sketch from Scrap fit...



and here it what I came up with...

I bought most of the papers in France and I thought they would be good to scrap in French, which I don't often do. But sharing time with French cousins had to be in French !! Of course I added a bit of sewing and my new favourite splash stamps.

Have a good week.

Anne

Merci Lesley.

Since not much is happening here on the creative side !! ( my printer is out of ink and I am sticking with this excuse !! ) I thought I would show you something my friend Lesley made me to say thank you.

They are little note cards with a cute little Origami bird on the side . A little too pretty to use I think so I might have to keep them all for me and write myself some letters !!

Thank you Lesley, I loovve home made presents !!

Anne XXX