Cocoa Daisy - He Said She Said Sneaks

Hello Lovely Scrappers!!!
I hope you are enjoying the long weekend in England.
We've been away at my sister's and everyone is now back with us again for the next couple of days, so life is still very crazy around here.

Whilst I am editing my Green Day Pics : ) : ) : ) : )
I just wanted to share my Cocoa Daisy Sneaks with you.
The kit arrived just a couple of hours before we headed out on Thursday and I knew I wouldn't get time to scrap until today. I managed to make one very quick one just before we left.
This kit is so lush, I couldn't wait that long.
Here's a sneaky peek to show you how lush it is.








The Cocoa Daisy Reveal is tomorrow, so come and see what we've all been up to.

Happy Monday xxx

Through Her Eyes

It's time for another 'Just for Fun' challenge over at Cocoa Daisy.

Using our lovely new kit and adding leftovers from the old kit.
This month I added a little twist. You also need to add more than 2 photos to your LO.
After our last Orlando trip I had so much fun looking through Hollie's photos she'd taken on her camera. Seeing what she though was photo worthy : )
(click to enlarge)


-The gigantic cupcakes in Disney Studios
- The pudding in Ponderosa
- Louis coming down a slide in Island of Adventure
- 3 of us infront of the Disney Castle
- The Grinch Christmas Shop
- And I love this one the best, they had been playing with their soft toys in the holiday condo. They even made a little video of them on her camera : )




Come and chat with us about this challenge and upload your LO's here at Cocoa Daisy.
You have until 13th Sept.

It's been a little crazy in this house this week.
Dad arrives from the States tonight. I really wanted the house sorted a week before and today is the day and it still isn't. I've just worked all week, Ade's worked from home (in his office which is the room that Dad will stay in) and the beds still not made up. The fridge/freezer broke down and yesterday someone came out to fix it but all my tins and baskets had to come down from the top and they are all over the kitchen still and need to be cleaned but I still have so much work to get done and I have until 1.30pm when I need to get my brother from the station.
It'll all come good in the end eh?!!
: )
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Have fun xxx

He Said, She Said - Cocoa Daisy Kit Sneaks

He Said, She Said.
It's the Cocoa Daisy September Sneaks.






Just Love those Stamps!!

And Christine is celebrating her 2 year CD Anniversary with a fab offer.
Check out the blog here for more details.

xxx

We **heart** Cons (Cocoa Daisy Sketch)

Hello!!

I didn't realise that it's been over a week since I blogged.
We've had such a busy week, but we are enjoying the kids school break.

I've just manged one LO this week.
I played along with the Cocoa Daisy sketch which you can see on the CD Blog here.

I used the August kit to make this.
(click to enlarge)


The Sketch challenge runs until the 20th August if you want to play along.
You can read up here for more details and we've been chatting and sharing on the MB here.
I scrapped a photo of our feet when we went out for dinner on Hollie's birthday. We all had our Cons on : )

As I was saying before, it's been a busy week.
My sister, her hubby and the youngest stayed for a couple of days, we've had playdates and a party to attend and I've been trying to work as much as poss too.
I'm so tired, but everyone seems happy.
We went for an evening walk one day last week.
We have all my family coming to stay this weekend and we wanted to time how long it takes us to walk up on to the common. The quick way we go we have to cross a road that I don't like.
It's only a 30mile country road, but it's very bendy, cars drive too fast and the visibility to cross is awful and scary. But it takes just 5mins from our house to get up here.
But when there's 11 of us including 5 kids, 1 with a pushchair, I just don't fancy it.
So we went through the houses to time ourselves and it only actually takes 10mins.
And last week we got met by this beautiful sunset.

As we arrived,
I took this without the kids knowing.


On the disused runway.
(this is where they were filing the new Ron Howard movie Rush earlier this year. It looks so peaceful usually)


And a couple of Hollie and me.




Today it's work this morning and meeting up with friends at the park later and tonight we receive a special visitor for a week.
Clue : She has 4 legs and is rather furry : )

I hope your summer is going well.
xxx

Fabric Mini Book & a Papermaze Blog Hop

Hello : )

Welcome to my blog if you are coming via the Papermaze's Summer Blog Hop.
You should have come from Karen's blog.

My summer project is this Fabric Summer Mini Book.


I'm really pleased how this has come out.
I bought the actual fabric book years ago but never touched it. So I've finally done something with it using more fabric, felt and lace making lots of pockets to hold the photos of our summer 2012.


I've decorated throughout the book using Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists, Dylusions Mists and Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze too.


All the patterned paper that I've used is from My Minds Eye, Lost and Found Two. It's from the 6x6 pads which were perfect for this project.



The pages have been left blank as we have lots of activities and plans coming up such as my Dad coming from the States in less than 2 weeks : )


I've tried to make the book as colourful as possible.
It's a great way to use up odds and ends and left over embellishments and alpha stickers.


And I've made sure that there is plenty of space for my story telling on each page.



At the back of the book the felt makes another pocket.


Have you made a summer 2012 mini book?
Do you plan to make one?

Now back to the Blog Hop.
Here is a list of all the places you should have hopped from and to:

Papermaze blog - http://scrappaperscissors.blogspot.co.uk/

Amanda - http://blog.amandajonesdesigns.com/

Wendy - http://wendymckee.blogspot.co.uk/

Carol - http://www.kraftypieces.blogspot.co.uk/

Karen - http://apapergallery.blogspot.co.uk/

Lisa - http://scrappyfairies.blogspot.co.uk/

Lou - http://prettypaperandchipboard.blogspot.co.uk/

Anna - http://mycreations-anna.blogspot.co.uk/

Back to Papermaze again - http://scrappaperscissors.blogspot.co.uk/

To play along:
-The blog hop will run from Monday 6^th to Friday 10^th the winner will be posted over the weekend.

· -People have to comment on every bodies blog including Papermazes to be entered into the drawing.

ThThe winner will receive this lovely scrapbooking kit from Papermaze.


The kits are available every month for only £10

If you are continuing on with the blog hop then Lou is next in line:

Lou - http://prettypaperandchipboard.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks for stopping by today and good luck with the hop.
xxx

The Secrets Out!!

Yesterday we shared a really exciting secret that we've been keeping from the kids.

We took them to The Village Hotel near us for breakfast and over the meal we told them that we are going back to Florida in 10 weeks : )
I've been dying to tell them.

I took my journals with me to show and tell them all our exciting plans and took lots of photos whilst they were looking at my note book and getting very excited.
(click to enlarge)


We are in the midst of a play list to put together for the car and we are planning all the lovely restaurants we want to visit.
After breakfast we hung out in the cozy hotel lobby in the big comfy chairs with Starbucks. It's become a fave weekend past time : )



I saw on MME when we got home yesterday that the August challenge is to scrap 10 photos.
Perfect timing as I'd just taken all of these.
I've used a combo of :
MME - Lost and Found Two and also MME Kraft Fun Day including some of the packaging.
I've also used some MME twine and the Happy Days stamps.

I hope you've had a good weekend too xxx

My Travel Journal - Cocoa Daisy Project Kit

I've been really excited to share this latest journal of mine.




I spent 8 hours sat on my lounge floor making this last weekend.
That was whilst watching some of the Olympics, The movie 'Super 8', 2 episodes of 24, more Olympics and a couple of 'Cake Wars' and some more Olympics.


Although I do have a studio to work in, I do love spreading out on the lounge floor and working on a project. The tv in front of me and no other distractions.

I'm a sucker for a Mini Book these days.
When Christine first showed her Mini Book sneaks, I knew I had to have this project kit.
I was so pleased with what I received. I had an idea after it arrived (I originally was going to turn it in to a leavers book for my son's Junior school when he leaves next year)
But then I decided to turn it into a Florida Travel Journal.


When we go to Florida, I never like to show our family and friends our photos until they've been scrapped. Obviously this takes quite some time and I always feel time pressure to get this done and by the time I'm done the whole excitement of the trip has passed slightly when it comes to showing family members.

So I'm getting ahead of the game this time.

I've pre-made this mini book so when we get back we can just print off loads of photos and slot them in.

Each page has 1 -2 pockets to hold the photos and each page has 1-2 journal tags that are held in the pockets. The pockets are made from the 4x6 jourrnal cards that I got as an addon. I've stuck down just the 3 sides and then vellum over the top stuck down in the same way giving me two pockets.

I am very organised when it comes to our trips.

The itinery was completed a while ago now. I've spent hours planning this trip. I work on all the park stats working out the best days to visit certain parks, allowing plenty of chill time in between, we have certain things booked and meal reservations in place. So that's why I've been able to plan this mini book ahead of time.






I've used lots of the Cocoa Daisy stamps throughout the book to carry on the style.


The only item I have added to this book which didn't belong to the kit are the red and blue stars. This is an Authentique paper that I picked up at Sparkle Dreams when I was last there as I knew it would fit in perfectly with this album and our US trip. I also added the little USA flag on the front.


I love the bits and pieces that come with this kit.
Like these kraft envelopes that will hold photos so nicely.




I can't wait to fill it now : )


We've booked a Behind The Scenes Tour at Seaworld one day, so the paper bag will no doubt come in very handy holding our tickets and photos after.


And I've made sure there is lots of space for our Seaworld journaling.


This is an Epcot day. That's why the Eiffel Tower is in there.
We will be there for the Food and Wine Festival. I thought this day would be worthy of another kraft envelope. I'm sure we will end up with loads of photos here.
We usually end up with alot of the best photos being taken at Epcot.


This is our double page for Discovery Cove.
The fabric comes with the kit too. I'm planning to stick a large photo on either side of this.
And I love the vellum envelopes that Christine always adds. So handy and super cute!


Our road trip day around the Cocoa Beach area.



And coming to the end : (



And the back of the book.



Have you ordered this project kit?
I'd love to know if you have. They sold out straight away.
It feels really good to sit down an complete a project like this.
That seems to be the secret to me making so many mini books lately. Having the stash in front of me and just getting it done in one sitting.

I do hope you have a lovely weekend.
Have fun xxx

Sketchbook365 Sketch & nom nom nom

I have a sketch for you today.

This one comes from Sketchbook365.


It's a cute one.
You have until August 16th to play along.
You need to upload your entry here.
The winner will receive a goodie pack from Papermania.

Here is my take on this sketch.
(click on pic)


Dinner with our friends last night went well.
I really enjoyed all the cooking. I did it in stages so it didn't feel like loads to do.
We had:

-Popadoms with all the pickles

- Thai Spiced Pumpkin Soup

- Homemade Pretzels (I used the egg wash method)

- Lime & Tequila Sorbet (I don't have an ice cream maker but freezing in a shallow dish for 3 hours with a couple of stirs in that time worked great)

- Thai Fragranced Chicken Korma
- Lamb Curry
- Lime & Coriander Basmati Rice
- Bombay Potatoes
- Homemade Naan Breads

- Keylime Pie

We have loads leftover (no need to cook today!) and I still feel so full.
I added in the links for the 3 recipes I found on Pinterest.
What we would do without that place???

I have a full one work day today.
Loads to do.
Hope you have fun whatever you are up to xxx

Love to Travel - Cocoa Daisy

So, did you grab a kit this month???

The Cocoa Daisy kits sold out again super fast this month.
So did alot of the addons.

I made this LO here using my main kit all about my love of travel.
(click to enlarge)



That MME circular card was perfect for my title.
I love the orange and grey combo.



I used Maya mists for my drips and the Maya ink from the main kit.
The stamps are fab again this month!! That camera is adorable.



I have to say I love the Maya inks. They ink so well. I ran it around the edges of my page and they just feel so moist and full of ink. The sponge is quite soft compared to alot of ink pads which make it very easy to inks the edges. I need more colours : )


The story behind this LO.
I've said it here before. I just love to travel. It's something I really miss from my pre-kids days. I've still been fortunate enough to go on some nice holidays whilst having the kids, but it's a different kind of travel, isn't it?!

I'm seriously considering going to CHA in LA in January with my Cocoa Daisy teamies.
I REALLY want to go. Quite a few of the team will be there.
When will I get the opportunity to meet so many of them like this???
Ade used to work just 20mins south of Anaheim, before we were together. So we thought he could come and work in the office whilst I'm with the girls, but we'd stay on extra and make a 'mini-moon' out of it. Apart from a night in Barcelona, we've never been away without the kids.

My first dilema: The Kids
Can I leave them for the week?
I'm so scared that I will get close to the time and not be able to go through with it.
I feel guilty about us doing this without them.
We wouldn't do Disneyland, but I would still feel guilty.
Plus they are away this week and Hollie is missing us and home.

My second dilema: Timing
We have an Orlando trip not too long before.
Financially, it's not the best time : )
I don't want to do a trip like this and worry about the cash flow.
And at the same time I don't want to hold back on Orlando.
We've saved hard and have lots of exciting things planned.
I don't want to cut back on that trip.


Oh what to do??????
Decisions.....Decisions.....

We have friends coming over for dinner tonight.
I started prepping last night.
I've planned an Indian / Thai infused menu.
I hope it all goes to plan.
The curry is made as is the keylime pie.
I'm planning on a few new recipes today that I haven't tried before.
Could be interesting : )

Well, have a lovely day and thanks for stopping by xxx