27 June 2010

Garden progress

There has been more progress on the slope...

Think pink for summer

I love summer fruit such as watermelon, strawberries and raspberries - lush.
I love this piece of jewellery designed and created by youngest DD and this hydrangea is perfect.

13 June 2010

Stamping on cj, garden moves and little helpers

Got carried away today and finished cj with some stamped creatures that I water coloured. Two of my brothers in law were here working on the garden so youngest and I were on digging duty and watching young cousins. I finally feel as if we may have a garden soon. Youngest nephew is very cute and knows exactly what he wants when he visits. It's amazing the toys are 20 years old but still going strong.

12 June 2010

Circle Journal part two, watercolour paints add to mix



On to the next stage... I decided that the green background paper needed a bit more oomph so decided to add my own grass with watercolour paints which reflected the style of the original digi kit. Then I took a look at my magic photo wheel and decided the lilac paper was too lilac and needed a little softening...
I have more or less figured out what one side of the lo will look like but not yet stuck it down - there may be on extra surprise that you can't see yet.


On the other side I want to have my cottage garden picture plus my photo wheel so decided I needed to create a pocket that would allow the photo wheel to go on top and be taken out and played with leaving the lo below. Not quite finished yet but almost there - the label will have journaling on back and can also be taken out of pocket. Hope you like - although it may still change a little as nothing is stuck down. The photograph is of the walled garden at Applecross House, Applecross Peninsula on the North West Highland coast of Scotland.

11 June 2010

Circle Journal lo using hybrid pieces a little tutorial and circle thing

Last night I was working on my flowers circle journal for my uk scrappers group. We had been discussing hybrid layouts and I decided this would be a perfect project. I used paper and elements from these two kits.
Once I had chosen elements I wanted I printed them out. The tag is created digitially using three pieces from the kits. I then inked the edges, folded and distressed the pieces. It was at this point I decided I wanted to use many flower photos on the layout but make them interactive...
I remembered picture viewers as a child that you moved around to make different pics with and decided to have a go. I started using a cd, scrap paper and paper clips and a lot of improvisations.
Once I worked out the basic structure and placement of photos I used a cardboard template to cut out flower pics and began to assemble. That pic will come in next post. This was a messy job and my desk got a little guddly... You might be able to spot parts of cj on desk but I will post them up later.

10 June 2010

Progress on the muddy slope

This week the sinuous railway sleeper wall is beginning to appear. Lens Guy is still painting railway sleepers spruce green and at some point this summer I may be able to plant some pot bound plants like the poppy.

8 June 2010

Management speak and jargon

I hate jargon.I am going on a work related course this week and need to complete pre reflective journals, risk assessments, contingency plans smart goals and a financial restraint plan...!!! All my project is about is showing other members of staff how technology can help them. Does my project make cac for cfe with tacal in the eo and have I linked with leadership contingency? Yes I have checked it is east to understand and will help make our life easier.

7 June 2010

Window Shopping page 2 in Oxford Album

I created this the other night using iscrapbook - so far so good - then the software asked to be updated and I did this and now it won't ****** work! I managed to access it through iphoto and here it is. Sorry if you are not a computer person and wondering what on earth I am blathering on about it.  The layout is based on a sketch from the Bo Bunny blog Friday Challenge.  What I liked was the idea of having the journalling all round the page. I  love this site as it has lots of great demos and info and the sketches are fab.  What did I use? I had a mix of digital kits that I have purchased and some that were free and bits and bobs from software application. In no particular order these are:
Bird from Wilna Furstenberg's Fly Away Kit from Two Peas, Bottle cap from Betsy Tuma at Two Peas, metal lettering font on software, paper from Sweet Sprinkles at Shabby Princess, arrow from software, circle motif stamped over photos and on orange paper from Vinnie Pearce punch elements at Two Peas. The stitching came from Queen of Quirk. I am printing out some of the elements onto white card and I will layer these up onto the paper elements to give a decoupage layered effect.

4 June 2010

Cautionary tale - don't garden in fit flops or you will regret it...

As it was another sunny day I rushed home from work donned shorts, t shirt and fit flops and headed into garden (muddy slope) to tackle more digging and weeding. Ironic isn't it? We don't have proper flower beds or anything but we do have a plethora of weeds. Lens Guy was at front of house,  water and rot proofing 30 metres of railway sleepers ( new not old) so I decided to tackle some of the weeds. I was most impressed with my efforts and was attacking the rock hard ground (what you get when it doesn't rain and your garden is made up of clay and large sandstone rocks and builder's rubble) with enthusiasm and a garden fork. Disaster struck - quite literally. I dug into my big toe with the fork, accidentally, of course. At first I was so shocked I couldn't believe it and then as I looked down at the gushing red blood I realised I had speared my big toe with the fork. I shouted for Lens Guy but as he was at front of house with some loud metal music blasting out he was oblivious to my feeble cries. I hobbled to back door and found roll of kitchen roll which I liberally applied to toe trying not to bleed too much on floor. Needless to say Lens Guy came to rescue and here I am, several hours later, sitting with toe up, heavily bandaged and in quite a lot of pain. Had plans to go to crop tomorrow but as in pain, and can't get shoes on over bandage, will be at home. I feel I should be starring in some "Tom and Jerry" style cartoon as the whole incident was totally stupid and the toe bandage is like an over the top cartoon bandage and I can almost visualise the throbbing pain symbols. I don't think I should be allowed near pointy sharp tools without the correct footwear. I really am pretty rubbish at all this stuff - it took me about two hours on Thursday to bang 20 panel pins into the wooden fence. I was such a girl - missing the nail, tapping and swinging wildly. I did do it though and then I tied bits of green strings to nails and hopefully my woefully small supermarket cheapo climber plants will do the business. I did manage to plant some Iris and Lilies that I have nurtured from bulbs and tiny plugs into garden today prior to spearing incident and I also put in some sunflowers and sweet peas I grew from seeds. I will take pics tomorrow as my hobbling meant I couldn't make it to top of slope to take pics.

2 June 2010

New shoes...

My new shoes (well flip flops) arrived today. Second attempt as I ordered the wrong size to start with. I already have one pair of fit flops which I bought last year before hip op to see if it helped my walking and posture. They did work and were super comfy. As I am a bit of a hippy and hate wearing shoes I decided to invest in another pair for work that were a little smarter and a different colour, plus they are sparkly. I am not sure if they do what they say on the packet but I will be wearing them lots.

1 June 2010

Front cover for oxford album

Finally managed to scrap a picture - I think I have been having withdrawal symptons. Due to time constraints I have created a digital page using a set from Shabby Princess called Sweet Sprinkles. I think this is going to become a hybrid album so watch out for alterations to this original printed page.

Can you spot which one is me?

Trip to dreaming spires of Oxford

Just back from a wonderful weekend to Oxford to visit eldest son taking youngest daughter with me. We managed lots of : shopping, visiting college grounds, viewing summer 8's (rowing in the rain and bumping the next boat), punting, laughing, picnics in meadows, eating, more shopping and perhaps a tearful goodbye from me as not sure when I'll see eldest again.
Window shopping was interesting...
Punting was fun but apart from the obvious novice punters there were tree hazards, dogs swimming in the river and ducklings (super cute) and swans.
I hope you like my take on Oxford - I was trying for the less obvious pics. Dinner was at a fab noodle bar called Endamame (long queue) and Jamie's Italian - very good but yet another queue but with a fancy pager to alert you when your table was ready - not as daughter asked "Have you got the vibrator  thingy in your pocket in case you need it?"