Catch up...

Hello, What a week I have had, three day's at work has really wiped me out. Its a shock how having time off and then returning back to work can have such an effect on you, both emotionally and physically.

We have managed to confirm our holiday for Gabrielle's birthday as we were looking on a site with a thread just like UKS and there were rumours on the thread about what you actually will get as part of the package and also about the accomodation.... Very pleased to say that we will be getting the same as we did in the Disney Hotel..... infact they were really helpful on the phone when Paul explainied the importance of the holiday and they even offered to get us into Castle Club at the Disney Hotel......

I have been really busy making matchboxes for the Fete in a couple of weeks time and will be starting my flagbooks later... I also will be making a picture using Gabrielle's foot prints... so best get to it... ohh I heard from Scrapagogo and I might have a place on their third getaway next year .... still having a think about it as I can be quite nervous in unfamiliar setting, especially if I don't know anyone.....

Also I was asked this week to take examples of my work into a little shop in Writtle as they maybe intereasted in selling, sounds like fun, but I am worried they won't like my stuff (fingers crossed) xxxxx MAGIC AND SPARKLE xxxxx

Circle Journal 2nd Post

Above is some photo's that I took of my first Cj that I recieved from Krystal Majic (Jacqui). I found it quite hard working on a smaller scale..... as I not have as much room to play around with to get all my bits and pieces placed on... and the letters were larger than I anticipated to label my layout... ( Can't wait till Christmas as hopefully as I have been a very good girl I should get my Cricut Expression!!!) would have made life a little easier....

I have continued making all day.. more matchboxes for the fete....and hopefully will have my last batch finished by tomorrow evening as I want to get stuck in making some flag books. I did pop into Chelmsford this morning and went into one of my favourite shops.. Tickety Boo.... Oh my the shop was full of bits that I wanted a true girly shop.... but with Euro Disney booked I need to save my pennies... It was really hard.... But I did manage to buy a little plastic jar with a catch on it will be perfect for my stash.... xxxx Back to work tomorrow; must go get organised xxxx MAGIC AND SPARKLE xxxx

Baby Pink Project and Challenge

Last weeks challenge on UKS was to complete a layout on something that you are proud off and without a doubt of course I was going to complete a layout of my little girl.... (another layout in pink....). It was while I was completing the project and the journaling as part of the challenge that really made me think how very special my little girl was.... ohhh I miss her sooooo much.. you could not imagine.

Our little girl was born at home at 26 weeks gestation, before the ambulance arrived weighing 2lb 2oz (feet first, which is why we called her Twinkle Toes). Gabrielle spent 4 and 1/2 months in hospital on NICU. And if you were to look up the problems that a premature baby could have my little girl, had them all and some of them presented several times. We were very realistic during our stint in hospital about Gabrielle's chances of survival, but as soon as the problem arrived, it was gone and our little girl bounced back stronger.

The Cerebral Palsy, was a result of a bleed that Gabrielle had on her brain at 4 day's old and it was bilateral, affecting all four limbs (Quadrapegic Dyskentic Athetoid Cerebral Palsy). Our little girl had a list of medical problems as a result of the CP, but I tell you she was one of the healthier children from her little group of friends. I think that it is why it was such a shock when we lost her last year.. no warning..... Gabrielle always had a smile, even when she was really ill (even with Menningitis as a result of her shunt)... the doctore would say, she looks happy and I would really have to stamp my feet and insist that I knew that she was not well. Maybe in the end our little girl was tired and did not want to smile anymore.... xxxxxx

So here is a picture of the challenge and also there are some pictures of a Manekin that I completed, it was a Cyber Challenge on UKS a while ago I think (before I was addicted and logging on).... more photo's of our little girl as a baby... to look at them you would think that she is a new born, Gabrielle was infact 4 months old!!!!!

MAGIC AND SPARKLE XXXXXXXXX

More yummy cupcakes xxxx

I just cannot get enough if cupcakes..... I went to a class at SUDAR AND SPICE and made this little mini album.... I just love it.

I added some photo's taken at Gabrielle's third birthday and was really pleased as her little outfit matched the colours....

The class was very involved and we used lots of techniques but I am really pleased with the result and think that the cupcake looks good enough to eat xxxxxxx MAGIC AND SPARKLE xxxxxxx

I am sooooo tired xxxx

I am sooooo tired, I went back to work on Thursday and it has been a big shock to my system.....but really enjoying it. I am changing the line of my work focussing on additional needs and inclusion... Had a great meeting today and will be running Baby Sign hopefully later this year....

I have not completed any Lo's or work for 2 day's or been on UKS... having withdrawal symptoms now...... I did pop to Artbase and have bought myself a little wooden manekin to paint up and then attach a mini album, following a challenge that was placed on UKS, following on from an Oscar's theme.... fingers crossed it works out ok..... Anyway I need to finish this weeks challenge and also get painting... also have my CJ to finish and some bits for Karen's Fete.... WOW!!!!....best go and do some work.....MAGIC AND SPARKLE.....

Matchbox Minibook

I completed a course the other weekend at Sugar and Spice making a matchbox mini book, I had so much fun. It was really good making something special out of something used witin the home without a second thought. During the course I did not bring any photo's and felt a little left out towards the end as everyone was finishing their little project off, adding their little bits to the tags... and it really made their projects.

So I decided to finish mine and then made one for Paul for Fathers Day adding a selection of his favourite photo's and I must admit I got a little carried away with my new Stamps... It gave me a real boost once I stared adding my own little touches... whilst I was in the course I was really aware that everyone else was busy with theirs and I felt a little blank as to what I would do with mine...but I feel that it really came together.

I have also decided to tidy up and finish my Projects book, as I have a couple of layouts that need some photo's placed on, and I have also made sure that they all are dated...... With this in mind I am now realy keen to get started on Karen and John's Wedding album... so I am going to chase her for the photo's.

Well, I am off to a Cupcake Mini Albim morning on Saturday... this should be so much fun xxxx MAGIC AND SPARKLE XXXX

Back to Disney for our little Princess xxxx

We have booked to go back to Euro Disney for Gabrielle's birthday.... as when Gabrielle died we said that we would go back to the princess castle to where sleeping beauty sleeps and let off some balloons on her birthday... So we took the plunge and just booked it today, without thinking... we really can't afford it, but as we know life is too short and we do not want to let our little girl down.... So we are really excited..... we are going to stay in Disney New York Hotel and have even booked the Suite; Empire State Suite... VIP, just like we did for our little girl last year..... But to our suprise the Park will be open from 8am till 11pm and then there is Firework display.... three long day's...MAGIC AND SPARKLE XXXXXXX

I love you daddy xxxxxx

I love you Daddy and Happy Fathers Day.... You are the bestest daddy in the whole world..... and always will be xxx.. I know that you are sad, but remember my laughs xx and smile.

Paper and String

Been busy making a little gift for Paul for fathers day tomorrow.. also got loads of photo's developed todayso will be able to place them in my Flag book and also finish my CJ entry. We went out for dinner tonight... bloody nightmare.... First of all one of my lamb cutlets was so rare I could not cut it.. had to wait 25 minutes for another and then they served it to me on a saucer... how classy! Then Pauls dessert was missing the ice cream and also my Irish Coffee had too much cream, pouring over and no visable coffee.. so had to wait for another one.... They did not give us any money off or good will guesture. It's a shame we regularly eat at the pub and until today we had never had any problems, boy did tonight make up for it....

Anyway thought I would share these great pics with you from Paper and String, as listed within my yummy places... I MUST GET SOME.... BUT I WANT IT ALL... CHECK OUT THE SITE XXX MAGIC AND SPARKLE XXXXX

Weekly challenge and some blooms in my garden!

Took some photo's in my garden this morning, as it was rather sunny, despite being warned by the weather people that it would rain... I was really suprised as all off a sudden there is a big flourish of colour at the back of the garden, they are clematus... (I think)

I planted some flowers last year and they have also started to come out, it is another clematus, I put it in the corner of the garden near the Garage, I must admit I am suprised as it seems to be taking off now as I have started to bob and weave it within the trelice. The flower to the side is the only flower open at the moment.. but I am sure that there is more on their way....

This is my first attempt at completeing a layout using an "old" photo, as it was part of the challenge to use a photo of childhood.... I was pleasently suprised as I had a paisley dress on and I have recently really got into Paisley papers and decorative bits.. so I found it quite easy to put the layout together.... I also used a stamp that I bought for my birthday.... (Nina you will be proud of me)... and I also inked the edges.....

I have just found out from my mum that I was three when the photo was taken, so I will put my age on the layout... I was also suprised as the photo was taken at Green Lane in Dagenham, yet my mum and dad lived in Brentwood, and Paul grew up in Barking and then moved to Dagenham when he was about 8, what a small world.....

MAGIC AND SPARKLE XXXXXXX

Love Elsie .....

I have fallen in love with Elsie.... and I am so desperate to get her new Recipie Ideas Box, I saw it on Rachel's blog and now I am feeling a little Cabbage Green with envy as I cannot seem to find it, so I will have little search tomorrow, posting on UKS..... And after having a massive haircut the other week at my cousins I feel that I now have the bug and want to cut some more hair off... thinking that Elsie's Hair cut looks quite good... but I don't want to start looking like I am obsessed!!!!!!!!

Went to a Crop last night and have got a good start on my CJ entry... but feel that I have so many bits to catch up on and finish... Also fathers day is fast approaching and I would love to make a little something for Paul xxxxx

I hope that I can get all my little jobs finished.... and there is a pile of ironing calling me, but I am ignoring it for tonight!!!!.... MAGIC AND SPARKLE XXXXXXX

Stash, stash and more stash.. and a flag book too!

Who's a lucky girl then... just look at all my stash... The first picture if of the round of stash that I bought from Artbase, in Hornchurch which is in Essex. It was my first purchase of a large stamp set, in which you can build a swirl... I also got a couple more stamps, punches, stickles, tags, paper, and "rub ons" as well as a little mix of other embellishments; some a plastic and some are metal...

The Fastemator and bars, with my stitch maker's and stickers are from an order I made in the bath on my laptop on my birtday; talk about heaven.... I used some money that I recieved from my mum and Paul's mum. The delivery arrived the following day at 8.45 AM. I have been after the Fatenator for ages, I think that I will especially use it when I start my Disney book, for the holiday that we had last year with Gabrielle.. they do some great Disney staples... so thank you Paperarts xxx

So, this little stash purchase was from Sugar and Spice, to be honest with you I was feeling all bought out.... The Around the Block clip fastner, I was really looking forward to using, but the clips can be fastened without the tool....

So a little more, I bought on Saturday, I have used the Sissix die cut already on my new Cuttlebug I have named Ladybug..... there are so many I would like to buy.....

This little stack of paper was from Sugar and Spice too.... lots of bright colours, I have booked in to do a Cupcake mini album in a couple of weeks, so may try one of my own after....

This stash was from Karen and John for my birthday, I have used some of the paper in Gabrielle's book but I bought it seperatly, now I have a whole book of coordinating paper. The punch makes a really cute little tag, I have plans to use it on a Layout with individual words on each tag...

And here is the impressive Flag Book that I made on Saturday at Sugar and Spice.... I made it from scratch, and loved every minute of it... must admit though the folding to make the spine was a real test if my patience....

The individual flags were made with two different colours. have ordered lots of photo's to go within it. I was really impressed how you can make the book with such little stash.

I love the book... whatdo you think??.... MAGIC AND SPARKLE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I am now 35 xxxx

I thought that I would share this little birthday cake with you, I know it is a little late but things have been a little manic. After my shop and little class and then show on Saturday, we went out on Sunday to our good friends Karen abd John's. Karen cooked up a Bar-b-q...there was loads of food and had a really good time.. Boy that woman can cook. It was really good fun and Karen's parents and brother was there too... Karen also bought me some stash, which was very thoughtful.... I just need to start placing an additional 5 hours within the day to be ale to make some layouts and bits with all the new bits.

Well, thats my little catch up for now, I am going to post my new stash later and also the Flag Book, I made on Saturday. I am also back to SUGAR AND SPICE tonight to make a matchbox project.. not quite sure what it is called.. xxx MAGIC AND SPARKLE xxx

Magic Circle is in the post ....

My first CJ...... I have posted it off today, I feel bad as I receieved mine at the beginning of the week, mind you I have till the 25th of June to complete my double layout. I decided to set my CJ as S is for Scrapbooking, allowing everyone to choose a letter and them complete their layouts followingon from the theme with their favourite stash.... obviously I chose P is for Pink, mind you it not need be a colour it could be a theme.. G is for Garden ot D is for Doodlebug, C is for Cupcake... it is endless.......
I will be having a think about Naughty but Nice, the theme for the CJ I receieved from Jaqui (Crystal Majic). I have really enjoyed completing the book and it's so exciting waiting for books from the grls in the circle and then having to have a think about what you would like to put in......
I have had a big think about the weekly challenge on UKS today and as it should be a song by the Rolling Stones, I think I may do Brown Sugar or there was another one about the colour of a rainbow.... showing my age as I don't really know the songs.....
Tomorrow, is my birthday and I will be 35.... so hope to go out and do sometin special with Paul, feeling really sad as I miss my little girl soooo much and we always made a speacial family day on birthday's xxxxx MAGIC ANd SPARKLE XXX