ATDML challenge 5

This challenge at ATDML was  an olympic themed Medal winners podium of 1-2-3. and they asked  that you create a scrapbook page featuring

1. ONE sheet of cardstock
2. TWO sheets of patterned paper
3. THREE photographs

 I used Shimelles latest ANFSD page as my inspiration with 3 photographs of the 4 of us snorkelling in Antigua last year

I put together a kit of patterned papers for my Antigua photographs  with a turquoisey blue colour theme as I had so many sea and pool pics.  It has lasted really well and I am getting down to the last few scraps so using just 2 thin strips of patterned paper on the left was perfect.  I had all the tags, stickers and embellishments sitting around unused so was pleased to finally get them all on a page although I am not convinced that I would use them in this way again!

ATDML challenge 4

I managed to spend some time this week looking at a trip down memory lane's blog cyber crop.  Visit ATDML here to see all the classes and challenges.

Challenge 4 was to use this sketch

I stuck fairly close to the original design and made this page of my daughter and I taken just over 2 years ago (when she was still happy to pose for photos!)

the challenge over on UKS this week was another goodie and I combined it with my team-mate Niki's 52  layouts step by step #1.  Seriously go over and check Niki's blog out if you haven't already as she is amazing and really inspires me to get on with scrapping when I am lacking in ideas (thanks Niki xxx)

For the challenge you needed to use a delicate or strong patterned paper (I think I managed to do both!), use blue (enough said!), use a cluster of embellishments that reflects your style (my style is simple so I have a group of things that suit me especially the heart) the last requirement was a swirl which hasn't made an appearance on this page!

This photo was taken last year in Antigua when DH and I swopped roles and I played in the sea with the kids and he sat and read his book on the beach (see the LO I made about him here.

UKS Simple Recipes

I have looked at the Simple Recipes challenge but never been that tempted to join in until this month. ATDML set the challenge with bright colours, red, yellow blue and green, a sketch, cutting out elements, hidden journalling and buttons.  I managed everything except the buttons!

My photos all look awful at the moment! I used 2 pics of DS taken 2 years apart at the same sweet shop in Battle, Sussex. I don't tend to use bright colours but the shop is painted red and the story suited all the colours.  It makes me smile just to look at this page and it really does capture his joy at buying the sweets and brings back all the memories.

Again I was happy to use lots of stash and will probably use this sketch again.  If you get a chance pop over to UKS to see the example page created from the sketch as it is amazing!

UKS June weekly challenge 2

I have actually made a few scrapbook pages recently which has been great!  The more I create , the more I want to (my house does need a good clean and I haven't read a book for a while!).  My lounge has been filled with football. tennis and golf so I have spent time playing with paper!

This week the challenge over at UKS was to use a lilacy/ green colour palette, 3 photos and nature and I managed all three!

I don't naturally reach for lilacy/purple papers though I seem to have a few.  Several of these have been in my stash since before I even started scrapbooking and I thought I was never going to use them.  So a great challenge for stash busting and I quite like the page!

Jubilee birthday

I have taken inspiration from 3 challenges and create a page!  The weekly challenge on UKS was to use red, white and blue, at least 2 photos and journalling.  Julie has set the 'J' challenge so I used some Jenni Bowlin letter stickers to spell out Jubilee and created a Jubilee themed page.  The layout of the page was totally inspired by ANFSD by Shimelle though after I had finished I realised I had forgotten to add the twine and brads but decided to leave them off.

I have really enjoyed seeing everyone's red, white and blue pages, though not all jubilee related.  Sadly we didn't do anything hugely patriotic though we did celebrate DS's birthday and the jubilee together wearing red, white and blue and sharing some yummy food together in a room completely covered in flags and bunting (decided not to put it up in the rain in the end!)

family x 12 June Blog Hop

I am so sorry I totally forgot to finish this post and set it to pop up in time for the blog hop organised by the wonderful Margie here.

We try to get together once a month on the 5th to share our family (whatever you want family to be!) photo.  For June we have the biggest group yet joining in sharing photos on the blog hop which is really exciting. Hopefully you came to me from Jo and will hop onto Jill next (see the list below!)

June 5 FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop Participant List

Margie         http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog

Carol Anne     http://www.scrappingthoughts.com

Monica         http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com 

Jo             http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com

Ruth           http://www.chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com

Jill           http://jillconyers.com

Claire         http://www.clairesmillie.wordpress.com 

May was a bit of a non-starter for family photos so I panicked and took a photo at the very last moment on 31st May!  DD said there was no way she was showing her face in any photo so we went for a rather bad back-of-head-on-self-timer-shot......

Not one that I am very proud of!  I did find a much happier and fun pic from April, on the beach in Dorset which I much prefer.....

I am off to catch up with all the other photographs from May, enjoy June's blog hop xxx

story telling Sunday June 2012

In the year 2000 I became pregnant with my 2nd child.  As the pregnancy progressed I realised that his arrival would be rather close to an important family wedding.  The whole family was involved with my Dad giving the Bride away, my Mum organising the flowers, my niece and nephews were bridesmaid and page boys and my DD was the cute flower girl.  Extended family were travelling from far afield and we were all looking forward to the special day.

We didn't live that close to the wedding venue, I was due a baby a few days before, my toddler was the mini bridesmaid and I was having a home birth!  My midwife was wonderful and as my due date came and went, I worried I would need to go into hospital and be induced, she decided my body was keeping my baby inside until exactly the right time.

I was just over 41 weeks pregnant at the wedding, rather uncomfortable but able to join in the celebrations and we stayed until about midnight then left in our carriage and travelled back to London to sleep in our own bed.  Except I didn't get any sleep, my waters broke soon after my arrival home. Eventually I started having contractions (really really painful ones!) and my beautiful son entered the world at 4.30am on June 3rd 2001 weighing in at 9lb 6oz, He was born at home and everything had gone to plan, we were able to join in with our family extravaganza and have our boy delivered in the comfort of our bedroom.

So as Great Britain celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II we are celebrating the birthday of DS, we are dressed in red, white and blue, hanging bunting in the rain and hoping we don't trip over his crutches (he has a suspected foot fracture but that is another story!!)

Todays tale has been brought to you courtesy of Sian's Story Telling Sunday From High in the Sky.  Please join in and I look forward to reading the multitude of posts at some point,

(Sorry for the lack of photos I hope to update this post with some but sadly I am away and forgot to choose some prior to leaving home!!)