Bubbly Funk Design Team Challenge

Well Caroline sent through some lovely Hippie Chick papers and BG Ribbon and this is my first ever Design Team Challenge. :-)

I'm really quite please with the result as I don't normally work with such bright colours but I had some pictures of a Horse Fancy Dress that I ran over 20 years ago - eek and they seemed to fit the bill.

I decided on a mini book to accomodate all the photos, I even dragged the sewing machine out of the corner to include a bit of stitching.I was a bit nervous about it so I hope it's okay, I've still got some papers left so I'll see what I can do with those for the rest of the paper.
















I'm now working on some ATC's for the September Bubbly Funk swap and I haven't even looked at their weekly challenge yet!! I've also still got an entry for a CJ to do yet (got another week and a half for that) so it's nice to be really busy with things to do. Just a shame work keeps getting in the way, I could quite easily scrap all day. Oh well never mind.

Anyway, talking of work, I MUST do some, hopefully back to the nicer things later.

"Simply Him"

Completed another LO of Tony this morning. It looks a bit wishy washy on here but the colours are a little brighter than this in real life. I was pleased with this one and it didn't seem to take forever to do so perhaps I'm getting better at this scrapping lark!!

Got the Design Team kit from Caroline yesterday, well, it is just fab. Lovely bright colours, brighter than I would normally use but good for me to be faced with the challenge.

I've got quite a few ideas that I'm playing around with and a some pics that I've scanned that I think will go well with these papers.

It was a nice surprise to see one of my blogging buddies had popped in and left a comment today, "I will swap to Beta, I promise, hun"

Looking forward to the weekend as ever, going to take mum shopping tomorrow and then back later to settle down to some scrapping (surprise, surprise) cos Tony's off to footy, yippee - good job he doesn't read my blog LOL!!

Ooh, while I remember, got some great coasters in Tesco today. 4 hard backed coasters in a little sturdy box, absolutely fab for altering, for £1.49 - bargain!!

Off to play with some 20 year old pics, see what I can do with them LOL!! 

Yet another new project!!!

Right, I've covered my Art Journal. Quite pleased with it actually, the paper is gorgeous. It's wrapping paper from a posh shop in town. I only bought 2 different sheets (from memory, about 70p per sheet) but I'm going to try and get back there to buy some more, it's lovely quality.

When I actually start the inside is another matter. I've been looking for inspiration on the net and I've found a few sites that I quite like. I guess I've always been slightly arty so I think I'll enjoy being able to let go with paints and pencils and stuff.

I'm not entirely sure what way to go on theme either. Alot of people tend to do a journal on their innermost feelings but I kind of want this to be cheery and bright so I may go on a theme, maybe holidays or happy snippets of my daily life. I'm not sure I'm ready to expose the inner me to anyone just yet LOL!!

Sorry I promised canine pics didn't I!! Yes I took a few so I'll stick one in here somewhere. I must also get around to converting to beta blogger, I might have a look at that later as everyone seems to be going that way (and I miss a blogging buddies little ditties on here too).

Oooh, and I'm looking forward to getting my first Design Team pack, it's very exciting but also a bit nerve wracking, I hope I'm ready for the challenge :-)

Right, I'll go and see if I can sort out a pic or 2 of a woofer.


Here's Adam, he's just retired and our friends are going to be having him in 3 weeks time. Don't let the grey chops fool you, he's only 5!!

Don't try this at home!!!!!!!!!

This is what happens when you try to smile for the camera whilst attempting to stop your wrinkles from showing at the same time!!!!!!!! You end up looking like a deformed frog!!

I'm having a bit of "My God, I'm 42" paranoia and I've got to the stage where I'm convinced that the wrinkles round my eyes are doubling daily!

I've now taken to avoiding mirrors at all costs, it's just a bit tricky when you're putting your make up on!

It's a good thing I'm a bit of a hermit and don't actually go out much. Of course, there is a big disadvantage to that because my friends only see me once in a blue moon so the next time they cross my path I'll just be one huge mass of wrinkles LOL!

Anyway, enjoying scrapping at the mo, Tony's been out for the last 2 days so no interruptions. I've started and finished the cj entry I had to do by Monday but I already have the next one as Jilly had to send early. She is such a hard act to follow in the cj's, her entries are always sooo good, I've had to work extra hard on my entries just to try and keep up the fabby standard.

I've started a LO for the Bubbly Funk weekly challenge "Call the Fashion Police", I've managed to find the most awful school and teenager pics of me that I possibly can. One is particularly bad, lets just say it involves a swimming costume, green swimming hat and a pair of black elasticated plimsoles! Do you remember black plimsoles - yuk!! Anyway, it's going to be another addition to my BOM, as if anyone would want to look at those pics, but hey, never mind!

Right, that's it from me, off to the dogs tomorrow so might have some canine pics to put up. 

Thursday already!!

And it's nearly September!!!!

It hasn't been a particularly marvellous week (work really does get in the way of things doesn't it LOL)! but I'm glad it's Friday tomorrow.

Managed to do a LO yesterday, pic below. I haven't looked at the blog prompt today, sorry Jane!! I'll have a looksy tomorrow.

Tony's swanning off out to footy for a couple of days but I'm not complaining, I'll probably be scrapping for about 12 hours solid, phewy!!!

No other news generally, we were planning a holiday to Canada next year but now we're a bit doubtful, just don't fancy flying at the mo. we'll see though.

Anyway, I'm a bit "bushed", catch up soon peeps when I've got my act together a bit.

What a fab weekend!!

Well it's Monday evening and the bank holiday weekend is nearly over boo hoo!! Back to work tomorrow, never mind.

I have had a fabby weekend, loved every minute of it. Spent Saturday preparing for a bit of a knees up in the evening. We had a bit of a casino night, no money involved, but we got in a large table, a roulette wheel, chips and all the other bits and pieces. We had 14 friends and family round, I did lashings of food and we had a thoroughly good time. Pic is of Tony and I during the evening.

Sunday was spent clearing up, which I didn't mind really, then we both had a bit of "me time" then we settled down for a chinwag in the evening with a couple of glasses of something tasty!!

Today we went out with friends to a Retired Greyhound day down in Brighton. Our friends are getting a greyhound in a couple of weeks so they wanted to have a look. Bearing in mind greyhounds are retired at around 4 years old they've still got plenty of gusto in them. More "me time" this afternoon and then I thought I'd best update my blog!!

I had some great news on Saturday too, which really made my birthday. Caroline from Bubbly Funk got in touch with me and asked me if I would like to become a member of her Design Team! "Pleased" is not the word to describe how I felt, I was "absolutely delighted." So I've also been busy today figuring out how to upload onto her site and checking out the forum. Take a look peeps it's www.bubblyfunk.co.uk Mind you, I've checked out the other designers and, boy, they've got some talent so I'd better try and do my best work to keep up the high standards!!

Right, best I get on, catch you all soon. 

Sleepless!!!!

Hmmm, woke up at some ridiculous hour again this morning, around 3ish. It was almost embarrasing to get up that early so I held out until 3.45 then stuck the kettle on.

Finished my Oriental ATC's, couldn't do 10 the same, I think I would have got bored with that so did 3 mini sets.

I'm glad it's Friday, I love Fridays but I do have to work a bit longer today as it's pay day for a couple of companies so I'll be sorting that out. I think my name would be mud (polite way of putting it) if no-one got paid today!!

Preparations for the Saturday gathering are under way and I'm really looking forward to seeing some peeps I haven't seen in a while (which is probably all of them, I don't get out much LOL)! I managed to source a Gazebo from a couple of good chums so if we do have any rain at least we won't all get soaked.

There's been a couple of calls for design teams recently. I was toying with the idea of submitting for them but a bit dubious. I don't cope well with rejection and although I'm happy with the LO's I'm producing I'm not sure my stuff would appeal to a design team. I don't have any cute pics of wrinkly babies or animals (although Tony and I don't do too bad when it comes to wrinkles) and I really think people are more drawn to LO's with those themes. I'll have a think for a bit!!

I decided not to do the blog prompt today but I will keep looking daily, Jane is doing a grand job and she really is getting lots of peeps to blog. I read an interesting thread on UKS this morning, some people were discussing how many family and friends read their blog. It seems that most people either prefer to keep their blog to themselves or f and f's are not that bothered anyway.

The same seems to go for their scrapping too, some people are just not interested in what others do. I find that such a shame although admittedly, apart from uploading to UKS I only really show mum and Tony what I've been up to (well I have to justify what I spend all the money on don't I)!! but nevertheless, a lot of time and effort goes in to doing this stuff and it seems so sad that some peeps just aren't bothered.

Well I'm getting dizzy up here on this soap box so I'm off to get a refill.

Antlers!!

As promised we went for a walk yesterday through the local deer and came across these chaps. They were constantly pounding their antlers in the mud just shaking their heads from side to side. I presume they were trying to get the leather coating off so they'd be ready for a ruck or two as round the other side of the park were abour 100 more deer, mainly females!!

Todays blog prompt is:
When you were a child, what did you want to be/do when you 'grew up'? Why? Did it happen? If not, why not? Is it too late? Were there other unfulfilled goals?

Hmmm, not difficult, firstly I wanted to be an air hostess, for some reason by the time I was at High School I'd gone off that idea, probably a good job too as I'm not a keen flyer.

Then I wanted to be a vet, I needed to excel in the sciences and I would have gladly worked hard at them and gone through the years of hard training to obtain my goal!! Unfortunately the idea of shoving my arm up a cows backside didn't appeal quite so much so I regretfully knocked that idea into touch.

I did train as a Graphic Designer which I loved but at the time the best jobs were in the city and I didn't fancy commuting!!

I'm now a number cruncher, a book-keeper, I run my own business with Tony doing books for around 8 companies and we do okay!! But the truth is "It is just the MOST BORING job on the planet" and since I discovered the art of scrapping I'm afraid my job has now become 10 times more boring. I suppose my passion for doing an arty type career is creeping back out of me again, but it's not to be I'm afraid so I guess that is something I do regret.

No blog prompt but..............

I've got Sudoku!!!!!!!!!!

Can't do it myself actually but I thought you peeps might fancy a challenge. It's supposed to change daily but I'm not sure, we'll have to wait and see.

Oh, went out today and took some pics of the deer, I'll upload tomorrow.

Take care now peeps
x

Monday blog prompt

Look up the meaning of your name: Does it fit? Did you want to change it when you were growing up? Do you like it now? If not, what name would you like to have? What is your nickname? How do you feel about it?

Apparently my name means "Divine", well isn't that just YUK!!, I think I can safely say that I could never have ever described myself as Divine!!

Hated it when I was young and not too fussed on it now but as mum reads my blog "It's okay Mum, I don't mind it really"

I hate being called Diane, much prefer Di but I really always wanted to be called either my middle name, Elizabeth, or my sis's name, Sue.

I don't have a nickname, well not one that is used regularly and certainly not one I can repeat on here LOL!!

On with todays events, had my hair cut, same style as usual but happy with it. Went for a quick tipple in a pub in town, very yum yum! Back home, cooked tea and now settled down for an evening in front of the computer.

Oooooh, one bit of news, The Works has just opened up a store in town, I am as chuffed as punch! Mind you, spent nearly £12 in there, tut tut, never mind, worth every penny.

If I can sort out an interesting photo I'll upload later.

Byeeee for now.

Piccies - yey!!!

Well thanks to Mandy (ProudWickedFan) on UKS I have downloaded Picasa and after it scans your hard drive for piccies you just pick the ones you want and click BlogThis!! Tada!!! Brilliant, much better than waiting for blogger to wake up LOL!

I haven't studied Picasa in detail yet but initial impressions, it's pretty good, I'll have a play and report back.

Well "No More Photos" is the LO I wanted to upload yesterday and "Funny Faces" I did today. I'm really pleased with both of them because they're different from what I normally do.

Tony likes them too because he doesn't mind the pics of him for a change!!

I'm still really enjoying my scrapping and although it takes me an age to do a LO I enjoy every minute.

Well, unless I have any exciting news before I turn in later, that's it from me.

Catch you soon
x

Scrappin' Saturday

A whole day scrappin', yippee!!!!

Well I've had a really good day today and I was chuffed to bits with the LO I did but *$%(£"$ blogger won't let me upload it.

I will try again later, I've uploaded it to my gallery in UKS for now, it's called No More Photos. It's a pic of Tony taken soon after I'd got my new camera. We were on the train and I'd taken loads of pics of him and he was getting a little peeved. It's his typical peeved look LOL! Anyway it's more mish mashy than I normally do, I'm trying to be a bit more random and with my fave BG papers. He is being spoilt!!

If I can I'll upload later
x

Oooh, here again so soon!!

Well thanks to Jane and her blog prompting I'm here again so soon LOL! Todays prompt is this:

"If you could go back to about the age of 14, when you're just entering your teenage years, what 3-5 pieces of advice would you give yourself? (Remember, this could/would have changed your life"

Hmmm, trying frantically to remember what I was up to at 14. Pretty rebellious no doubt. I don't actually think I would have done an awful lot different in my life, I guess some things I may have said would be:

1/ Believe in your own abilities, what one person may see as a shortcoming others will see as a major achievement.

2/ Make time for family and close friends.

3/ Enjoy life, it goes damn quick LOL!

I can't say I have masses of regrets in my life, I've made a few mistakes but, hey, aren't you supposed to??

I would say my biggest mistake is that I didn't start scrapbooking until last December, I should have started much before that LOL, never mind.

I'm getting stuck into my ATC's for the Oriental swap now, I'll upload pics when they're done.

Woke up at some ridiculous hour yesterday and just had to take a pic of the mist rolling in over the village green, it looked amazing.

A bit eerie mind you, sort of reminded me of that Stephen King film, "The Fog" I think it was called that anyway, it was a scary film that's for sure LOL!

Blog prompt

Well there is now a Blog Prompt being posted on UKS the first being "Who are the people you have met who you've gained the most from?"

I guess Tony must be the main one, we seemed to have grown much closer over the last couple of years and, although weve been together a long time, we seem to be learning so much more from each other recently.

My mum and dad have definately been huge influences on me and it goes without saying how much I have gained from them.

Quite a tricky prompt this, it's something I've ever sat and thought about, but hey, nor was a journalling jar and that has sparked amazing memories LOL!

I'll definately be checking out the new blog prompt daily, hopefully it will inspire me to blog as often as possible.

Blog Tagged

Mmmmm, blog tagged, new one on me LOL but I’ll give it a go! Thanks Nat, feel free all to read Nat's answers too, link to her blog on your right :-)

1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
I think it would have to be in a tiny village called Sutton which is a few miles south of me. We went for a drive recently an bumped into it by chance and it is the most beautiful, quaint little village, stunning! I even looked on the internet to see if there were any houses for sale there. There was, just the one, great if I had a spare 850k floating around ROFL! YEAH RIGHT.

2. What's your favourite article of clothing?
Definitely jeans, I didn’t buy any for years and then invested in a couple of pairs about 4 years ago and have hardly worn anything since.

3. Favourite physical feature of the opposite sex?
BUMS, just can’t beat a lovely firm bum.

4. What's the last CD that you bought?
Ooh, now Tony bought a couple recently, Fat Boy Slim and someone else, can’t remember who, it’s in the car LOL! It’s good though.

5. Where's your favourite place to be?
Got to be at home, in fact, I’m rarely out of it seeing as we work there as well. I love being indoors, I think my favourite time is when the weather just starts to get cold and we can put on our real flame gas fire, it’s lovely sitting there with no lights on just watching it.

6. Where's your least favourite place to be?
Hmmm, I don’t think I’ve got a least favourite place, I don’t really go anywhere LOL! Well, from home to the pub or to mums or shopping, that’s about it.

7. What's your favourite place to be massaged?
Well if I was ever lucky enough to get massaged I’d be able to tell you but at a guess I’d say my head and back.

8. Strong in mind or strong in body?
Never been strong in body, used to be in mind but that’s slipping I’m afraid!!

9. What time do you wake up in the morning?
Normally about 5am, in bed by 10pm so I get plenty of zzzzz’s!

10. What is your favourite kitchen appliance?
The Kettle, it’s always on the boil, which is more than I can say for me.

11. What makes you really angry?
Actually I’m quite a placid person but this tends to mean that people just talk over me and don’t let me finish my sentence, I must admit I find that B****Y annoying.

12. If you could play any instrument what would it be?
The saxophone, always wanted to play but probably never will!!

13. Favourite colour?
Blue I guess.

14. Sports car or SUV?
Sports car any day!!

15. Do you believe in an afterlife?
Yes, I can’t believe that you die and that’s it, finished.

16. Favourite children's book?
Haven’t read any in years and years but I do remember reading the Famous Five books and enjoying them, showing my age now.

17. What's your favourite season?
Love all seasons, spring because I love to see the new growth on the plants, summer because of the lazy hazy blue sky days, autumn for the fabulous colours and winter because of the frost and snow (and Christmas is my fave time of year).

18. What is your least favourite household chore?
Can’t say I actually like any of them but I guess dusting.

19. If you could have one super-power, what would it be?
Well, to be honest I have just sat here for 10 minutes thinking about this and I haven’t got a clue, I can’t think of one thing that really appeals.

20. If you have a tattoo what is it?
No, haven’t got a tattoo, don’t like them on girls, sorry if anyone reading this has got one but I just don’t like them.

21. Can you juggle?
Ha ha ha, what juggle balls or juggle 6 jobs at once. Never been able to do the former, used to be able to do the latter but even that has passed me by now.

22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to?
My Dad, I miss him very much.

23. What's your favourite day?
Definitely Friday, last day of the week and I don’t normally work the whole day.

24. What's in the boot of your car?
Erm, a fire extinguisher, spare wheel, err that’s it.

25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?
Ooh , got to be hamburger, raw fish doesn’t do anything for me, love it cooked mind you.

Well thanks Nat for tagging me, I think I will tag Caroline.

Sheez, where'd the weekend go!!!

Whats going on with this month, it is just disappearing so fast!

Anyway's, weekend was good apart from the rain yesterday but, hey, we need it apparently (roll eyes). Went to see a brilliant band on Saturday night, it was held in a village hall but the hall was really very nicely done so didn't feel village hallish at all really. And they had bar there so that made it just that teeny bit better.

We've seen this band before but only when they've been organised by our friend, they normally only play in the Hampshire area, they don't normally venture into Sussex (wonder why)!! so it's a real treat to see them.

As far as creativity goes, I did a LO yesterday of Tony at Pagham beach, he hates the photo, but I like it so tough. He liked the LO though, he was impressed with the BG, and I was impressed that I'd actually managed to use a sheet rather than just stroke it. I told him he was very honoured!!

I've been pondering over some ATC's today, I signed up for an Oriental swap and I'm sort of struggling really. I really wanted to paint something myself but having to do 10 makes that a bit daunting really so I'll have to have a bit of a re-think.

Right, back to it then!

Me again

Ooooh, another entry today!!!!!!!!! You get nothing and then all of a sudden you can't stop me.

Finished my altered picture frame - ta da!!!

I'm quite happy with this, the shells we collected at that beach. It was a gorgeous morning, hardly a soul in sight and not a cloud in the sky. Fab!

Where's the week gone !!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe how quick this week has gone, Thursday already and I haven't been blogging since Monday, what a sin indeed.

I've been "arting" though, I don't think we should use the word crafting anymore, or hobbying come to that. After reading a discussion on UKS I have come to the conclusion that scrapbooking, altering and anything else like it for that matter should be called ART. So there!! We are all ARTISTS.

Right, I'll get off my soap box and move on now! My latest creation is actually a scraplift, original design by the brilliant Debly on UKS who kindly gave me permission to produce my latest work of ART! LOL!!!

I'm currently working on something completely different with one of those deep photo frames (well it's different for me anyway). I'll upload pics when it's done.

Well apart from the fact that I really don't know what is happening to August, a third of the way through already, I haven't much else to report.

More to my BOM

Well there's no stopping me now after the cyber crop. I did this LO today and I think it will be fine for the front page of my BOM.

I'm so pleased I did the crop at the weekend, it's given me so much confidence with my scrapping and LO's seem to come a little easier now.

I'm getting rather addicted though, I seem to spend way too much time scrapping but Tony doesn't seem to mind too much.

Well, I've got no other news so I guess I'll get back to scrapping.
xx

Lazy Sunday morning

Had an early night last night, absolutely whacked. Busy yesterday with the cyber crop again and I did a LO from the Jillybeans class and finishd off my Journal Jar and book.



I'm looking forward to going through the journal jar, some of the stuff in there really got my memory banks into gear and it will be interesting to recall some of the more colourful moments in my life LOL!

We were meant to be going off to a local show today but we have a mini crisis local to us so we're going to stop in, hopefully all will be resolved this week. I guess I'll just have to do a bit more scrapping hey.

Tony went off to his first footy match of the season yesterday to Barnet v Torquay, the away team scored in the 94th minute so that was good. I think the biggy premiership kicks off next weekend, aahh bliss, all that time to scrap on my own LOL!

Right, off to get more tea, 6.45! is that all it is!!