Tartan Day!

As it's the nearest school day to St Andrew's Day we had to wear something tartan for work!!!! Not being a 'local' I have absolutely nothing at all to wear in the tartan department so I raided my ribbon box and found some tartan ribbon I bought in a local craft shop.

What to do with it was the next challenge but thanks to Google I managed to find a site with a tutorial on how to make ribbon flowers!! Its Sharon Bs craft site and worked a treat. As you could see the stitching I added a splat flower and a brad and stitched a safety pin on the back. Doesn't look too bad if I say so myself!!

So as not to waste it it will now find a home in my JYC book!!

Journal Your Christmas

Ruth decided that it might be a good idea to journal our Christmas this year and who am I to say no? It's probably a good year to do it as it will be the first time we're together with the two boys. One who doesn't believe in Santa anymore and one who has no idea who Santa is!!! Good times :)

Sarah's Challenge prompt 13

This week was a relaxing challenge.......and I did..... for an hour till I was even more wrinkly than usual!!!

This week as the temperature has taken a dip towards the very cold I would like you to surrender to the healing power of froth and bubbles in a very hot bath. Baths are an essential part of the true pamper routine, as a fancy start to the day or a relaxing end to the day. So give yourself the gourmet bath of all baths, a bath that would put Cleopatra to shame. Try something different, a bit of aromatherapy oil or bath salts, scented bubble bath, bath bombs, or flower petals. If you can (safely) play a little soothing music, add some candles and unplug the phone. For this week’s challenge, I want you to take a picture of your special bath and journal all about your routine. Happy bath time

Look what arrived in the post!

I had a parcel arrive at work today with what I thought were the extra pages for my BOM journal. It was indeed my pages but inside as well was a little something from my nephew Harry. He's nearly two and has already got the idea of buying things that can be scrapped after use!!! What a clever lad :)

Another LO

I do so love having a week day off work. I seem to be able to crack on with LOs during the week. It's just normally too late at night once I get in from work to start faffing with stash.

Anyway here's a LO of Samuel at his first kayaking lesson. I kept getting him to stand still for photos and this one just seems to be one too many!!!

UKS Challenge

Yet again I'm off work on a Monday!! This time it's because Samuel's off sick with a sore throat and a cough. Probably all those snow angels yesterday!!

Anyway while he was asleep this morning I did the UKS weekly challenge. It's not quite the same as the sketch but then that's the whole idea. The picture was taken in July 08 while Samuel was having a 'Shot' on the air rifle.

A walk in the snow

To blow away some cobwebs this morning I dragged Samuel and John up to Winding Walks. We really couldn't pass up the chance to take the dog out in the snow. He loves it.

Samuel made some Snow Angles and I got John to give me a piggy back when I got tired!! The view of the village is lovely when the snow is out.

Excitment all round

Yesterday was amazing. Apart from the dodgy weather on the way to and from Aberdeen it was fantastic. We had to park way over on the beach front and walk accross the golf course. It wasn't actually that bad as the snow was really crunchy and we just followed the crowd.

Our seats were great and we had a really great view. In the second half we were in the right place to see two trys. It was brilliant and even though I have no idea what was going on I was cheering with the rest of the crowd, standing up to get a better look, doing the Mexican wave (Samuel thought this was brilliant) shouting 'Heave' when they were in a scrum and trying my best to get some photos. Oh and I must learn the second verse of Flower of Scotland as I only know the first one!!

Hhmmm photos that's another story. I really must read the instructions on action shots and get a bigger zoom. Apart from the pictures of Samuel friend Callum (which turned out OK as they were standing still) all the others were blurred in some way!! Never mind there's always the next match.

First Rugby Match

Today we're all off to Pittodrie in Aberdeen to watch Scotalnd v Canada play rugby. It's the first time any of us have been to a match so we're really looking forward to it. It's a bit chilly at the moment and there is a bit of snow about but fingers crossed it will all have cleared by the time we leave.

Oscar Time

Today was Samuel's Oscar Cermony. His class has been doing film making/movies this term as their topic and each of the 9 groups had to make, produce, script, film and act a five minute movie. Samuel's group did a version of Harry Potter where Samuel played Lord Mouldymort!! I haven't seen it yet as working in a school it's a nighmare trying to get time off but John said it was very good and that Samuel had quite a big part. They all worked really hard and each group won an Oscar for something. Samuel's group won best supporting Actor/Actress (but he said that there wasn't one for best Actor). He has always been a bit of a Drama Queen!!!!

Sarah's Challenge prompt 12

This week I would like you to indulge your soul with some pampering. Take a walk through your most delicious memories. Look through photos of maybe your first family holiday as a child, or your first holiday with your own family. Capture some of the beautiful places you have visited, your wedding day, the birth of a loved one. Capture a special warm moment celebrated with family and friends.How about including a special letter, a marriage certificate, birth certificate, first love letter. Dust it off and bask in the tenderness it may evoke in you. Relish in the sweetness of life you have experienced so far.This week I would like you to create a LO that embraces those delicious Memories.

This is a LO of Dad on Lossie beach in the early 90s. I printed the picture straight onto the cardstock to make it look textured. Not sure if it worked or not.

Sarah's Challenge prompt 11

Sarah wants us to make something for this challenge. As "Tis nearly the Season to be Jolly" I've made a Christmas decoration but have only put a picture on a LO for you to see as I'm taking the actual decoration to the December crop in Aberdeen for the Christmas decoration competition!! Hope that all make sense?

I've changed the decoration slightly since I took this photo!!

UKS Challenge

For the first time in ages I've had chance to do the weekly Lo challenge over on UKS. The Stashaholics came up with this:

Use one or more of these words in your title: Credit, Crunch, Money, Broke or Free - 10 points. Old Stash (From at least last year) - 5 points.

Use a recycled/painted/old element - 5 points each up to a max of 15

The only thing I didn't manage was the painting as I don't have any paint (except gloss for my window sill!!) Here's what I came up with.

Production Line Crafts

I decided this year to make name plates for the girls at work to put on their desks (or prop their doors open!!)

I had 6 to make if you include mine so I thought I'd do them all at the same time. Cut all the chipboard, cover them all, cut out names etc (you get the picture). It worked a treat as after finishing them all I came to the decision if I'd made one at a time I might have given up long ago. I used the really loud and funky Me & My Big Ideas papers and added flowers etc. Thought it might brighten up the office too.

See what you think.

Warhammer

Samuel entered his first Warhammer painting competition yesterday at the local toy shop. There were 2 categories. Under 13 and everyone else. Some of the models were amazing and the time and detail that had gone into them was brilliant. Samuel didn't win anything but he's determined to keep painting and improve for next year.

It's like Deja Vu at the minute as I can see Dad sat at our dining room table in the late 70s painting Airfix planes!!

The guy at the front of the photo is blurred but after reading the Scrapbook Inspirations magazine this month it seems that it's OK to be blurry. And he was me thinking I was pants at photos!!!!

Children in Need

Children in Need is a fantastic charity and one we as a family support. With all the hideous stories in the news this week about children it really makes you think how lucky you are in your own family. Yes, kids (and husbands) can be a pain in the neck sometimes but we still love each other. Support Children in Need if you can. It's well worth it.

Funny Old Week

It's been a very busy week again where I don't seem to have got a thing done. Busy at work followed by busy at home. Parents' evening went well with a great report for Samuel. He's also passed his cycling proficiency test today which he's really pleased about. He's entering a Warhammer painting competition on Saturday so is busy putting the finishing touches to his "Space Marines". John's Mum says that he was just the same at his Samuel's age only it was Airfix models back then and Humbrol paint!!!
We have had some excellent news as well this week but more about that at a later date !!!

My friends Mum loved her little book and I got paid for making it so that was a job well done.

Maze Book

A girl at work asked me to make a "Pully Out Book" for her Mum's birthday!! so I made a maze book. Her Mum likes pinks and purples which i don't do so I had to rumage through my stash to find some paper. Luckily I'd got some a while back in a swap on UKS. Hope both she and her Mum like it.

Remembrance Sunday

“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.”

It is compulsory (almost) to watch the Remembrance Day Parade in our house. I think it is important that Samuel knows why we have the parade and what the poppy stands for. It is horrifying to think that since the end of WWII there have been 16,000 service men and women killed in action. Did we learn nothing?

In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.

Short days ago We lived,

felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved,

and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep,

though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Fireworks

We went to Cooper park last night to see the annual Fireworkd display and we weren't disappointed. As usual they were fantastic and John even managed to get a few pictures on his phone. It was well worth the £5.00 donation. It would have cost us a lot more than that to buy some and they wouldn't have been half as good. Same again next year?

Sarah's Challenge prompt 11

This week Sarah has come up with a doozy. Art from the Heart. I'm going to have to think about this one!!

This week I would like you to create a piece of home decor for your home that comes straight from your heart. I want you to make a bright, visually rich, soul inspired project that captures you or your family.With Christmas coming up, why not make a themed canvas as a gift or to grace your home. Make a shadow box full of little pieces of your life. Buy some inexpensive frames and produce a LO that really tells a story.

Birthday Book

At the crop in Aberdeen last Saturday I made a Birthday book for my freind Elaine. It's for her to store cards in till they are needed. It's just two bits of chipboard and some A5 envelopes, decorated with patterned paper and some stamps. I haven't decided if I'm going to put flowers on the pages yet or go for the 'less is more' look!!

Busy Bee

As you can see I've been busy catching up with Sarah's BOM with a difference. I was was 3 LOs behind but now I'm all caught up :)

Sarah's Challenge prompt 10

This week I would like you to pick a day, probably the weekend is best. Start that day on the right side of the bed- from the inside of course, with a slap up gourmet breakfast in bed.Make lots of hints to somebody, even go that extra mile whilst out shopping and let a few of your favourite things slip into the trolley, your favourite Colombian coffee, a fancy English tea or some tropical fruit juice. How about something really indulgent such as toasted teacakes lashed with butter to start off with.Don't let whoever is pampering you get off lightly, hint at the fancy red rose and softly serenading background music, you can but try. And try and squeeze in a lingering hug to start the day of!So this week’s LO has to represent your favourite indulgent breakfast or if you don't go with the full works every now and ago, describe what you do go for.

Sarah's Challenge prompt 9

This week I want you to get up early and appreciate the quiet. Whether you are already an early raiser or make a point of getting up a little bit early, take time before the daily rush of the day and savour that sweet stillness of a sunrise.Early morning for me is a magical time for catching up on the little jobs that cant be done with the family around such as checking email, planning college work or quietly reflecting on things to yourself. There's nothing that really needs to be done, no place to be, so enjoy it.Its free time for you to brew a little coffee, write in a art journal, take the dog for a walk, listen to the birds singing, its up to you. You may want to have a slightly earlier night in readiness for the day.And for your LO this week you can create a LO about your early start, your feelings, your routine, whether this is a one off for you or a regular occurrence.

Sarah's Challenge prompt 8

This week I would like you plan your ultimate holiday. If you are like me, you will have a ultimate destination in mind already for when the kids have flown the nest and you have saved for that rainy day. You will probably have a dream of flying away somewhere really exotic, be it a cultural tour of the orient, a safari in Africa or a bush tucker tour of Australia.So take time to plan your dream holiday, go on the net and search out all those tourist hot spots or hunt out those little secret places hidden away. Taylor your plans to what suits you, be it 5 star luxury or back packer hostels way of the beaten track. Make your LO to represent that ultimate dream and one day it just might come true, I hope mine does.So go in, indulge in a little luxury of dreaming and bon voyage.