Short One....

Just a short one as I need to get to bed.

I've scrapped some holiday photos *Big Cheer*. Only 2 done so far but it's a start and I'm really chuffed with it. This is Caernarfon Castle and you can see from the picture of the girls that it was one high tower....well infact 2 towers. As seen in the picture above it was a tower in a tower (well sort of) - any way it was high!

Hopefully I'll get more done in the weeks to come.

Laterz

Tired.....

Where does the time go when the kids are on holiday?? I feel like I'm running in circles trying to chase the clock. Not having a structure in the day, ie school times is really taking it's toll on me now, and it probably doesn't help that I don't have to get out of bed that early either. I don't seem to be able to get anything constructive done before midday if not later. Kicking myself up the rear seems the way to go at the moment.....come on ladies & gents - shout at me for being a lazy moo in the mornings.

I've popped a few more pictures of the holiday on, including me playing on the see-saw. It's been years since I've been on one. Mad Mummy moment in the making. LOL I feel like last week is already a distant memory and the daily structure of life (or lack of in my case) has taken over all too quickly. I need to set myself guidelines for the sake of my sanity and the kids.

Right off to get my rear moving and to the Post Office, else no one will be getting scrapping goodies in the post, and that's just not a nice thought.

Laterz

What a Week.....

This week has just been manic and it's only Monday.

We had a great week away in Wales, the kids had a fantastic time, both learning and playing. Pictures arrived this morning and I can't wait to scrap them. I've got some great shots of the kids painting pottery pigs. Katherine had such a look of concentration, her first time painting... loving her 'piggy bank'. She still goes on about it now. I suppose I'd better be quick and varnish them with something before they wear the paint off. LOL

We also visited a Castle and Electric Mountain....boy it's a long way to the top of a castle tower...I'm not doing that again. Katherine was great going up, but not so good going down...to the point that daddy got the short straw and carried her. Megan has had her head in the guide books ever since, so at least she'll have loads to write about when she goes back to school.

We only booked 5 days in the Caravan thinking that it was new to the kids and not knowing how Katherine would cope with being 2 and not liking new things too much, but boy she loved it, as did all of them..full week next time I think. Can't imagine me coping with much longer. :-)

This is one of my all time fav pictures from the holiday, and the only one I got done in 7x5, don't they look so peaceful.

Right I suppose I'd better get on....house is a dive as I've been uploading to eBay and getting the business back on track all weekend. Laterz!

I WON!!!!!

I can't believe I've actually won something :-)

This month's Scrapagogo kit was blonde moments and Dyan picked 2 winning entries from all those submitted (about 70 or 80) and one of them was mine.......Yeh!!! This is it - Smile, it's a bit different from my usual, though I am doing a few of them - basically it's a 'throw it all on' layout....I'm kinda liking them. But they have there time. My style seems to be quite hit and miss at the moment.

The other layout is my latest Scrapi-dare for Scraptitude and as you can see it's a bit simpler, for my Book of Me, which has a few pages in now, but really needs some due care and attention. The dare was to use 13 or more of one type of embellishment, so I went for lots of flowers and brads. It is around my favourite colour and therefore my personality. I must say it's quite apt for me. Though some of it I will deny til the day I die. LOL

Apart from the serious lack of layouts I'm producing I'm running around in circles at the moment trying to get ready for my holidays as well as sorting out the new Pricing for eBay, and putting new pages on my website.

After all if webby tells me I now have a new feature I've got to mess haven't I? Check out my How to get Organised feature now in place. :-)

Well I'm signing off now, due to more washing needing attention, and I've got catching up to do left, right & centre. At least I've not got work at Pizza Hut for over a week - hiphiphorray!!!

You never know...

You never know with some people do you. I must admit to having my eyes opened to certain things recently, maybe I'm just too trusting or gulable (delete as required). Oh well, live and learn I suppose.

Apart from that life is hectic. Having the kids home maybe great fun, but where does the time go? It probably isn't helped by the fact that I spend too much time in bed in the morning, but really - does time pass that quick??? I really need to get my backside in gear and get stuff done. Too much time spent messing instead of doing.

Here is a page I did the other day for my Book of Me. I'm trying to do this album in 8.5" x 11" but I'm not converted yet....there isn't enough room to throw design on. Maybe I'll get better with practise. I really must get organised. The UKS CC starts tomorrow and I've only just remembered when typing this - ooops Guess that's plans for the rest of the week. LOL

I've also picked up extra hours for work at the moment to help pay for our holiday and boy is that wearing me out. I even went in on Saturday when I'd booked it off as we're that short staffed and it was a manic shift with skeleton staff meaning I had twice as many tables to see to as normal. Luckily they were all lovely and totally understood...good day for tips too. :)

Well I'm off to kick these kids to bed and try to finish my current project. Laterz

Paper Bag Books...

...yep the last 48hrs has consisted of Paper Bag Books and not much else. They're the gifts for the teachers this year and boy was it hard work just getting the kids to write 3 things that they thank the teacher for. After a year you'd have thought it would be easy.

Megan was great as usual, wrote them straight out and had no trouble when I asked her to redo 2 in the red colour pen instead. Carys just said she couldn't think of anything as school was rubbish...ho hum. Lewis just didn't want to write - as usual, does it for the teachers but not when mum asks. Anyway finally got them all written even if not willingly this evening and I've spent a good 3 hours finishing them all off and putting them together - sorry to the class room assistant who I'm afraid won't get the same special gift but I couldn't take any more, I'm shattered. Off for a long soak in the tub in a minute to recover.

The kids break up tomorrow and I just can't wait.....lazy days coming right up. Hubby has even offered to nip to the shop in the morning to get me and Katherine some lovely grots to see us through our last day together for a while. Now that I will miss, but having the kids home is great fun too. It's amazing how much easier the day is without spending over an hour doing school runs each day.

Right off for my soak, catch all you lovely people later.

Look at me....

Well not quite me, but a load of drivel I wrote about myself. I was stoked when Lorraine asked me to be the member spotlight for Scrapagogo's July's kit Magazine, as well as unsure about what to write etc.....so I did it when I was in the mood like today. Ready for a waffle. Here is some of my layouts in full blown print....proffesionally printed and everything. Lorraine also included all 3 layouts I sent, so that was fabby....3 hits in one. :-) And I also must say that July's kit contents were just as fabby. I've done 2 layouts so far and I can't wait to do more. Just got to get this work thing out the way first....

As for the rest of my life - that's busy. I've been to the kids funday at school today, spent a fortune as usual and came home with nought, but at least it all goes to a good cause. I can't wait for them to break up for the summer next tuesday...no getting dressed til late, lazy mornings, and hopefully fun, fun fun and maybe a spot of scrapping too. :-) Just got to get the teachers presents organised first....that will be Sunday's mission I think. I want to do mini paper bag albums for the teachers with the kids writing what they've learnt in the past year....sort of a thankyou for teaching me this and this. At least the girls will be able to do quite a bit of it themselves, then I'll just need to get Lewis in the mood for writing and hey presto - pressies.

Well while it's work, work, work for me tomorrow I suppose I'd better sign off for now......and do to sleep chanting - I will update my blog more..I will update my blog more.. I will update my.....you get the drift. LOL

So So Tired

Yep I'm shattered....I spent all day yesterday in the gardens, they're now weed free, strimmed and waiting for the sun to go down so they can be treated to a good mow. In turn that now means that today is washing day, sun is shining and basket is full, so I'm gearing myself up for it.

Goes pretty well with the layout I did the other day for the ScrapiDare on everyday things. I wouldn't survive a week without my washing machine, the amount of washing this house generates is quite shocking.....it's the ironing I put off.

I also got news this morning that my entry to a DT was unsuccessful. :-( I made it to the final judging, but was pipped at the last minute. I must say I am dissapointed, but hey onwards and upwards as they say... I've gone and entered the ProjectaGoGo DT as well, part of me wonders why as my dream is to DT for the ScrapaGoGo kit it's self, but maybe I just need to keep trying for myself. After all there's only so many times you can be knocked down isn't there. After that it either becomes normal, or you hit success.

Right off to tackle the mountain of washing before the sun dissapears and I wonder where the day has gone.

Has it been that long?

Has it really been 6 days since I last posted......boy am I bad at this. Well this week has been slightly boring. General household stuff along with packing & posting. Apart from my dream chipboard turning up on Thursday morning it's been a regular week.

I've been scrapping with it ever since. Both layouts shown are using some of the yummy stuff. I've also spent today changing my ribbon storage. It was getting a bit too much as I found that I desperately needed a third cropper hopper box if I was going to carry on with it that way....so I changed to the ribbon wraps, and wow - I have space.

Next I'm moving on to Alphabets and the rest of my stuff. It's taken my years to sort out my stash in a way I'm happy with. Paper is sorted now along with photos and ribbon.....just got to work on the best for the rest. Teach me to be an organisation freek. It all has to have it's place with room to add if needed. My tools are now done at least with the help of the AMM tote I got a while back.

I also went to a crop last night and for a change actually completed a layout from start to finish you can see my efforts in all geared up. Proved to myself that I can sort of plan a layout without taking ALL my stuff or it only needing a bit of glue to complete.

Tomorrow I'm in work at 3 so I doubt I'll get any 'real' work done, but it has been known, so watch this space. lol

What a productive Weekend.

Yep, scrapping wise anyway. No pizzahut for me sat or sunday, so guess what.....I scrapped instead. :-)

I got 3 layouts done on Saturday and spent today pottering along with getting 3 more inserts done for the grandparent present and fabby tags for my AMM tote. All in all a big pat on the back for me. Pity it's back to the school run and washing tomorrow.

The layout shown is the dreaded sports day photos. I'm pretty chuffed with how they turned out and have loads of ideas flowing for Scrapping Lewis' but I want next months Scrapagogo kit for them, so roll on the 18th when postie willing I should get my mitts on it.

Also after my rant about CJ's on here the other day things haven't got much better I'm afraid, so I gave both CJ's a bit of a kick and boy have they been alive tonight.....lets hope they stay that way. I feel like a mother having to chase people up.

Well lets home this week is good, parcelforce should get there act together soon and send me the customs charges letter for the parcel of goodies I've been waiting for to go on site.....they've taken longer to send me the letter than the parcel did to come from the states - you just can't get the staff.

Anyway off to bed now as it's full steam ahead to get the kids up and out the door in the morning. Lets hope they're in good moods (though I doubt it.)

CJ Rant.....

ARGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!! That feels good.

Why is it that BOTH Cj's I'm in at the moment have gone pear shaped?? It's not even me or the people directly around me either, it seems as though both are stuck back in the line. One I'm all done, dusted and completed all my entries, yet my CJ is still 3 people back... The other, well it seems that it's always catch up. They come to me and others in batches of 2 or 3, then we feel pressured to help them catch up - we're supposed to get 2 weeks for goodness sake! One I did in a matter of days to help, but then didn't get another one for nearly a month. Oh well, only 2 more to do then I'm all done with CJ's for a bit (I think)

Anyway, the rest of my life seems to be plodding along right now. I've got loads of orders to send out tomorrow, which is good news. But I have to write all the labels again.....only forgot to go to staples this weekend didn't I. (Der) Oh well, better than nothing to send after all.

Here is another layout I've completed recently to put a bit of colour on my blog - enjoy!

What a Weekend

Busy, Busy Busy....spent Saturday morning chilling (well as much as you can with 4 kids running around and a hubby out of the house), ready for work Sat night which didn't end up being too bad due to that flippin ball kicking thing on the telly. Rolled into bed late then got up late Sunday for the All day crop. Threw some stock in a box and off I went for a day of Laughter, Chatter, and a insy wincy bit of scrapping. It was great to meet eveyone and nice to put more faces to names. But the downside was I ended up spending most of last night and today catching up with housework.....Boooooring.

Anyway I managed to get it all done ready for a night of scrapping.....and what happens, yep the layout just doesn't look right without the ribbon I told myself I didn't need. So while it's not finished I can say a BIG THANKYOU to Sarah whos going to pop it around for me tomorrow. (love ya), so here is another of my layouts to keep you going until I can post my creation. This is my youngest and her concept of time - it's just so cute I had to get it down on paper. I've also made a note to myself to get more things like this scrapped.....yep means more journalling, but hey maybe I'm just getting old. LOL

I'm Bad.....

It's been nearly a whole month and no posting, sorry for those of you that do read I just keep forgetting. Anyway, I had a great time on my weekend away and I've really got going with the kids albums, they are now my crop work and it's great that I know what to take and can just get on, instead of having a panic attack the night before deciding what to take, and will I need this or that? My crop bag is now permanently packed and I'm ready to go at a moments notice. Here is the A layout for my eldest Megans page, and it's all worked on the Cathy Zielske idea of an A-Z book but in 8x8 and not about me. I've even journalled (shock horror) and hand written it all.....only cause it's for the kids though, so don't even think for a minute that journalling will be popping up on all my pages from now on, as it's not got a chance.

I've also been quite creative in general, and taking pictures of the kids in the pool like mad, this is one I did the other night of Katherine and her face is just precious. I seemed to faff alot with it before getting it right, but I'm chuffed with the end result, and I finally got to use those lil davis wooden letters that just haven't been quite right on other layouts I've tried.

And the BIG news is that I've actually cleaned my kitchen window today. Normally I end up asking the window cleaner nicely to give it a quick wash for me when he has his brew, but due to him being off the last few times I felt I'd better get off my rear, climb on the sink and get on with it, now how good am I?? Oh ok then to you it's normal, but to little big it's a big thing OK? So give me a pat on the back and a little cheer.

Also the BIG, BIG news is even better.....but I can't tell ya. Hehe. I will just as soon as I can, surfice to say that I'm chuffed as mint balls, and I'm 'sorta' gonna be in print. :) Anyway I'm rambling now so I'd better get some sleep, hubby is on call again tomorrow, and while it means no work for me and more scrapping it also means that my lie in goes out the window.

Quick one

Well this is a quick one as I'm in the middle of packing ....I'm going away for the weekend, on my own and scrapping :-)

HOW GOOD IS THAT? I can't wait, though I have sooo much to do.

The past week has been manic, 2 of the kids have been ill, then they lovingly gave it to me, so I was unwell too, then I've been both trying to catch up as well as pack to go away along with getting the 2 older girls ready to go on holiday with Nana. I'll need more than a weekend to get over it I'm sure but hey - it's a start.

Yummy Junkitz also landed on my doorstep the other day and can be seen scattered around my site. Well of course I just had to make enough time to upload that little lot. I'm busy working on loads of plans for the shop and site, to make it a great place to shop, so things seem to be moving loads this end but no where to be seen. :(

Ooo and my little lad did a special assembly for all us mums yesterday, he was a EXCELLENT Rooster and did me so proud.....it made me realise how much my kids mean to me, and how I need to give them a bit more devotion. That is now one of my new goals, on top of the others.

Oh well off to finish sorting washing before off to do the daily chores and pick the kids up.....I'll fill you all up with news when I get back. ~ Don't do too much while I'm way. LOL

Blinking Royal Mail....

Oooo I could have wrung someones neck today. I had a note left of Saturday saying I had 2 parcels waiting for me, so a friend went to get them for me on Monday they couldn't find them! He was advised that I should wait until today to see if they turned up on the van, and if not phone them up......hense when they didn't turn up I phoned (a few times), anyway they said they couldn't find them, couldn't speak to the driver as it was to late, blady, blady blah blah....

Then about 3.30 I got a phone call saying, surprise, surprise they'd found them - 4 parcels together.....4 I said? I was only due 2 late ones and ones that were also posted yesterday and due today....anyway hubby went to pick them up and sure enough one of them was one that was posted yesterday. So they've either forgot to put them on the van this morning...or didn't deliver today due to the increase of traffic in Warrington. Either way I'll have a moan.

Anyway - rant over.....I got, lots of Yummy Scrummy goodies. Page protectors arrived for the kids albums along with my Scrapagogo kit (MMMmmmm) and my gorgeous Scrapitiude Cybercrop prize!! Lots of luvely Safralass papers and bits and bobs, scrummy! Thanks Kimmy!

I can't wait to scrap now, but I'm shattered. :-( Ideas are flowing though and hopefully I'll get some energy back tomorrow. :-)

What a day....

It's been a weird day, I've been over tired AGAIN, so I know what's coming....*sigh*

Anyway after a sleep with the baby this afternoon and work phoning and saying they didn't need me tonight did I want the night off? - Like YEA!! I decided that I may as well give myself a scrapping evening and boy did I scrap. I got my Guest DT layout done for Scrapitude, which was hard, I wasn't keen on the papers and found them really hard to scrap with - you should have seen the mess I made.....anyway I think I'm happy with the result, though I'll know for sure in the morning when I look at it again. Keep an eye out for it!

Then I actually scrapped with the TLC Artist's Choice - another shock horror, but I actually like the new papers more than I thought I would! Anyway you can see my efforts above, follow that with a late night finishing a scraplift challenge and I thought it was a successful evening. :-)

Anyway I better get some sleep as tomorrow is another busy day with kids and an 8 hour shift tomorrow night. (I doubt I'll get out of that one)

Where did it go?

Where did my day go? I lost it somewhere between 9am and 4pm... I had great plans at 9am this morning on my walk home from taking the kids to school. I was going to get all the housework done and photos for listings so that I was free to list or scrapbook guilt free this evening. Then a friend turned up at 10 past nine and upon her leaving another turned up...

By the time I was back on my own with little one it was gone 12 o'clock and I had to get invoices ready and orders packed ready for the Post/School run. A few brews later and only the front room was tidy. Once I got home with the kids I was fit for nothing......an hour and a half out the house in this heat pushing a pram just wipes me out.

Darling hubby saw I was shattered though and kindly let me go to bed for an hour or so while he did tea and put the kids in bed, so that was a nice change. :-)

Anyway at least I got a bit of washing done this evening before I get buried in it, along with some stash shopping - essentials I promise, and bargain auctions to clear some stock in my eBay shop. Anyway, while I've had a boring housework day here's a layout from the cybercrop weekend on Scrapitude so at least you've got something to look at. LOL

There is a real world out there

Yep there is, I've actually seen it today. I forget how much I'm in the house sometimes, apart from my PO and school run I tend to be in the rest of the time, and I really should get out more while the sun is shining.
Today it was a trip to Costco, and boy was it worth it. I came home with 2 bottles of Ketchup, some glue but best of all.........12 Danish for £3.50 BARGAIN! Then it was a chat with a dear friend on the phone who made me get more stash, as we went browsing the web. - I deny all responsibility for it. (Ner)
Oh then for once I was actually prepared with something to do at my crop tonight. I'm getting myself organised with the kids 8x8 albums, and worked on a bit more on those. I just need to do more shopping now for the extra cardstock and papers for the others then I'll have 4 whole albums to work on when I go on my scrapping weekend at the end of May, along with something to do at crops. :-)

I'm still going...

I just don't know where my energy has come from today. I've managed to tidy, hoover, clean the bathroom, put 3 loads of washing away, wash 3 more, mob all floors downstairs and still churn out 3 6x6 layouts, 2 CJ's and another 12x12 layout (on the right). All mixed in with the ususal School and Post office run.
It is helped by the fact that business is a bit quiet at the moment, but with the nice weather I'm sure I can cope with that for a bit. (Not too long though)
Having said that I'm now shattered and about to go for a long soak in the tub before my back gives out on me.

Oh and how could I forget.....I'M SCRAPITUDE CROP QUEEN, I'm gonna get loads of lovely stash prizes ~ how good is that, goodies just for scrapping & enjoying myself. My scraptospend though is still going downhill, what with Kimmys Bazzill offer yesterday, and my need for another album I'm truly in scrapping debt. So I hope my mojo stays around for a few weeks till I manage to catch up, that or a lottery win will be good. :)

Well I'm now totally scrapped out, I've done 10 layouts, 10 Cards, 2 Altered Frames, 2 ATC Cards and a couple of Dominos in 34 hours of Cyber Crop Madness. I must say though that it has been the most fun I've had in ages and I'm chuffed with every layout I've done. This one is my favourite as the papers are just great and the minute I laid the title down I just knew it was going to work. Another one of my sweet baby.

Off to sort out boring mother stuff like washing etc, and school clothes before collapsing into bed to recharge before another day begins.

Great big thanks to Kimmy and all the Cyber Crop team for a FANTASTIC weekend. Love ya all.