Tilly's Nose

Knowing that I wasn't working this week while recuperating following my operation, I set myself a little challenge.  I obviously didn't know quite how I would be feeling, but was hoping that a little light crafting might be achievable - and I had four spaces left in my current scrapbook album.  So, could I produce four new scrapbook pages to fill up my album?  Happily, I can report that as of today, I have done six!!!  Now if only I was as good at blogging ...

For someone who dislikes the colours yellow and orange, I do seem to be using quite a lot of orange recently, but only because the photos I am selecting seem to be calling out for it!

 "Schnozzer" is a word that we have occasionally used for the noses in our family (no idea why) but then our dog loving parcel postman came one day and was feeding my dogs dog biscuits from his pocket and exclaiming over both of their "schnozzers" because his dog has a black nose and both of mine have brown ones!!!  The word has been in use in our house a lot more since then!!!

Carole x

Going Round in Circles Smash*

I'm a little confused at the moment as to which "head" I currently have on, my Scrapbooking head or my Smash head (that sounds so wrong, but you know what I mean!)  Ideally, I would be able to switch between the two, but I do tend to get a bit stuck on one or the other!

So, I managed to break my Scrapbooking run and do this new Smash double page:

It's all about what we would like to do in our garden (half of our garden is done and is nice, the other half is most definitely NOT) ...

Since we are talking Smash pages, here are a couple I did a little while ago (not as pleased with them, but hey ho, they are part of my book anyway!)

This next one was on a page that I had thought that I would cover over completely, but ended up going with it (and maybe that is part of the reason that I don't love it?)

This page now means a little more to me, as I was in hospital yesterday, and part of the recovery was a cup of tea and some toast and marmalade - good job too as the oral morphine they gave me for the pain made me all woozy and I nearly passed out, so not only is it a guilty pleasure but also a bit of a life saver!!!

Carole x

Never Again!!!

Yesterday, being Wednesday, Emma and I were having a Skype crop.  I had thought that I would maybe do a scrapbook page and then turn my attention to some Smashing.  However, after my first layout which I was quite pleased with, I decided to do another layout ... and on a roll I then went for a third.  For this one, Emma challenged me to choose a layout on Pinterest that we both would do in our own way.  Stupidly I chose this one: http://pinterest.com/pin/214343263484947428/.  Of course at the time, it seemed like a good idea, even with the paint splats.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a fear of "wet stuff" going anywhere near my pretty papers and layouts ... and if only I had listened to myself!  I think after having done two layouts that I was pleased with, I was feeling rather brave.  BIG mistake!!!

All was going well with the layout, and then I got to the bit with the wet stuff :(  I duly sploshed some Mister Huey's on and as I had splashed some onto my desk, I was just wiping around my layout to clean it up when disaster struck - my sleeve smudged the splats - eeeeeeeeeeeek!  Why did I ever think that wet stuff would be a good idea?!

In an attempt to rectify the situation I tried to blot up the smudges, and a bad situation just got worse.  However, I hoped that it might not show and carried on until I had finished the layout ...

but it did show :(  And I hated it.  It bothered me.  Big time.  I was sad.

So, I got up early and walked the dogs so that I had time to do something about it before I went to work.  It was terribly soul destroying to take apart a layout that you had spent time and effort on, but I hoped that the end result would be worth the effort:

I think it was!  What do you think?!

So, if I ever have a moment of madness and even think about splatting anything wet on or near my scrapbook pages, could someone please refer me back to this layout?!  I will never, EVER do this again!!!

Carole x

Sun Hat

It felt like ages since I had last scrapped (it probably had been!)  I am really enjoying Smashing, and I think I had got myself into the Smashing mindset, but I was missing scrapping.  So, last week, I decided to break out the 12 x 12 papers (new birthday papers at that!) and do something about my scrapbook drought.

I really enjoyed doing this page!  Love these new Miss Caroline papers (thanks again Emma!) and I totally love this picture of Hayden that I found whilst having a sort out of a random cupboard!  I had never scrapped a larger photo before, but I love how it turned out.

Whilst I was on a roll and all my scrapbooking bits and bobs were out on my desk, I decided to do another!  This time, instead of brand new papers, I rummaged in my box and used older papers (I'm getting better at using papers from different brands/companies too!)

I usually end up using just one photo on a layout, but these two needed to be scrapped together!  I kept the layout simple as the papers were quite bright and busy, and I wanted it to be fun as the photos are funny!

Carole x

Tea & Cakes Smash

The next (double) page of my Smash book :)  I did try to use the left hand side paper, honestly I did, but it just wasn't working for me, even with the addition of the doily.  So, I covered it over, and STILL used the doily!!!  Luckily, the right hand side was already scrummy kraft paper!

As for the subject?  Well, you can't go wrong with tea and cakes!!!

Carole x

Around Our Home ...

Not sure why, but this Smash page is my favourite so far :)  It just seems to work (for me anyway!)  I love how it is so full and so busy but with lots of things that I love!!!  I think it also helps that the papers were lovely green graph paper, a lovely blank canvas:

I also used my new alphabet die for the title, and remembered to include a cute paper clip (keep forgetting them and now I have a lovely big bag of them thanks to Maria!)

Hope you like my page too!

Carole x

Perfect Kitchen Smash Page

I'm finding Smashing a little bit addictive (like most crafting to be honest!)  I know it took me a while to get going, but now that I have, there is no going back!  I shall continue to cover papers that I find impossible to work with, and work with the others (and there are many more that I like than I don't like).

I love how my Smash book is coming together, but I am wanting to scrap too, and also have a couple of urgent birthday cards to make - same old story, not enough hours in the day :(

Carole x