Sunny day's in the garden ..

And the hot weather continues!! Paul and I spent some time sitting out in the garden, making the most of it. I thought that I would take some photo's ... I have taken some every year as each year we have added to the garden to try to bring it to life.... When we moved here all we had was grass and a couple of dying plants....

The water butt we bought last year as we are trying to do our bit for the environment, I am suprised how much water it holds and how quick it can fill up.... Even though Paul gave it a helping hand when we fist got it!!

The Olive tree was bought for both Paul and I when Gabrielle died, from my work colleagues. I am so pleased that it is still growing, it has really established itself.

Long may the hot weather continue... Love, Magic and Sparkle xxxx

My first challenge

After reading about challenges, I decided to take the plunge and made this Layout this afternoon....

After a little thought I really enjoyed completing it and the main thing for me was that it only has a little pink..... I have also earned some points for the Prima Divas. It has given me a real push.

I spent some time at Little Haven this morning, talking to Sue I was informed of a job.. Creative Therapist. She is going to get me some more information, sounds that I will be able to apply my skills as a Social Worker whist also having fun making, will definately look into it.

Hope you like the Layout...Magic and Sparkle xxxx

Running out of ideas

I have been making the book for my little girl since last October and I have nearly finished. I have completed a couple more pages but I seem to be running out of inspiration... Could this be I am all PINKED out!!!!! As Gabrielle was a pink girl I have stuck to pink, white and green in the book to carry the theme throughout. I am now just finishing off the last couple of photo's of the reception after the service and I feel that I am getting a little bored, BUT I am really keen to finish. It does not help as the photo's are from the disposable camera's that we left on the tables so the quality of the photo's are quite poor...... I think that as I am concentrating on the contant of the pages I am keeping them quite simple with not many techniques.. I really want to get on and play around a little more.

Perhaps I should take a break for a couple of day's. I am running a stall at my friend Karen's Summer Fete and willl be bringing some bits to sell, maybe I should make up some bits now, Also I am at an all day crop on Sunday and I will be making Paul his paperbag book for his birthday.. so that should give me some "time out".....

The hot weather continues and my little dog poppy continues to pant away.. in the sun.. We try to get her to lay in the shade but she seems to think that ahe is my shadow... bless her!

Anyway take a look at the Layouts...

Pink and White stars: This page is of my work colleagues who attended. I used Bazzill cardstock and also Heidi Swapp stars and gems. I cut the stars to decorate with my punches...

Pink Hearts: I cut out the larger pink heart which is Love Elsie paper, which has raised hearts giving an embossed effect, I love the paper.. I got it al Ali Pali... Plain Pink vellum to the left with Doodlebug ribbon, I also placed some Bobunny brads on the page.

MAGIC AND SPARKLE XXXXXX

Busy, busy bank holiday makes!

What good weather we are having...... Paul spent hours out the front field yesterday cutting the grass. We have some flowers and small trees that we have planted so it took him ages as he had to avoid chopping the flowers... I am sure that there are a few less out there today! and he has a rather red neck, face and arms (ouch). We are planning to plant it up in memory of Gabrielle. We are going to buy a 4 year old Cherry Blosson tree (to represent the 4 years of Gabrielle's life) and place in the middle, so we can look out at the pink blossom and remember our little girl. After we collected Gabrielle's ashes we had great discussion about what we were going to do, we have Gabrielle's ashes here at home with us, as this is where she belongs and rather than pay out for a bench, or tree in a cematory that means nothing to us, or Gabrielle we have decided to plant up the front field.

Anyway, have a look at the bits that I made yesterday, it was too late last night for me to take photo's as my camera is not too good.

Pink Frends Forever: I have made this for Gabreille's little friend Amelia. The backing is gingham metrial I bought from Hobby Craft, Flowers punched from Bazill Cardstock, MM shimmering letters, MM jewels, Paper behind the photo is Maylees Garden, Rain dots.. The frame is from Wilkinson, I have applied Dulux paint to it dry brushing to give vitage look. I have made several framed Layouts as gifts to my nieces and nephews, with varying pictures or photo's in them, Gabrielle aslo has a couple in her room with cupcakes, suprise, suprise!!!

Birthday Card: SO SORRY PICTURE IS BAD: I made this for my mum, using Sugar and Spices own stamps, embossing podwers.. I had great fun as the heat gun is my latest gadget....

The Griffin's Layout: This Layout is for my on going project a special book with the photo's of my little girls last day. Within the book I have pictures of the flowers and also of the celebration after the service... we felt it so important to celebrate my little girls life, as although very short, she achieved so much.

Cardstock, Bazzil, Snuggle bug tag K&Co Baby Sweet, Felt flower from Sugar and Spice, flowers cut with punch using white and pink Bazzil card, some given the Glamour Dust treatment, Glitter words from MM.

Another Pink Flowery Page: On the reverse side of the above layout. Bazzil cardstock, with flowers punched some are pink vellum with pink Stickles for the centre, I added Heidi Swpp flower jewels.

Wish upon a star: We decorated the tables in the barn where we went back to after the service and also left black and white camera's to get the photo's to go in the book. When we got the photo's developed we were pleasently suprised to see that some people had placed the little stars to spell out; Gabrielle and also Little Star: I used Heidi Swapp ribbon to hang the stars at the top of the layout, the cardstock and stars on the ribbon are Bazzil. Glitter paper to mount phot's from Sugar and Spice, and I added some Star Confetti at the bottom with the words "Wish on a star and an angel will never be far".

Pink stripe and star layout: This is on the reverse of the above; I drew pink stitching on the top and bottom of the page with my yummy Sakura pens,Bubblegum, sugar coated card by Doodlebug placed at the top, Striped Vellum by Petals and Possibilities, Heidi Swapp White stars with Galmour Dust, Smaller stars Bubblegum card and plain pink vellum. Within the layouts I have placed the individuals names by their photo's...

I have enjoyed making the book with all the layouts and only have a couple more to do before the book will be finished.. I have decided I will start a Disney book to capture the holiday with Gabrielle from last year. This will be fun and a challenge as I will be using colours other than pink!!!!

PINK, PINK, PINK xxx

Hello, What have you been upto?? The weather has been great; I have posted for you a couple of mini projects that I have completed. ....

Princess Crown: I made this using a Maya Road Princes mini book, adding additional card that I cut out; Bazzil; The stamp detail is from Sugar and Spice's own range; Rub on by Doodlebug; The seperate worrds I printed on the computer and applied Glossy Accents; Yummy embelishments; MM Sweetie epoxy tags; Bobunny heart brads; ribbon from Sugar and Spice, Mixed collection; Doodlebug letters and Shimmering letters on front; Seed beads and also Sugar and Spice's own Nuddies given the Glamour Dust treatment.

I made the crown a couple of weeks ago following a mini album morning class. As you will not pink is my favourite colour. It's a nice little book to keep a couple of my favourite photo's of Gabrielle.

Fairy Picture: This little fairy I made for Mothers day in 2005, I gave them to Gabrielle's nanny's and decided to keep one for myself. As Gabrielle had Cerebral Palsy it was really hard to paint with her, she would struggle with the texture of the paint (Gabrielle was hyper sensitive to some textures).... So I made the fairy using her footprints as the wings. have made several other little thing's using her footprints. I cut all the parts of the fairy, layering them adding a little embellishemwnt on the dress and around the wand... Hope you like?

HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY XXXXX

Well, what have you been upto??? Wishing all my buddies a very Happy National Scrapbooking Day....... I hope that you have been upto lots of yummy things.. paper, glitter, scissors cakes, chocolate and bubbly and also good company xxxxxxx

I have been to my favourite place today Sugar and Spice as they were celebrating National Scrapbooking day with classes every hour. I booked in and competed a page with them. I took some yummy marshmellows with me, I dipped the tops in chocolate and decorated them with fondant flowers... all in pink and white. They looked good and tasted even better... everyone enjoyed them.

I was able to gain double loyalty points and despite me being on a stash ban I managed to spend some money.. would be rude not too!!!! I bought some more paper for my little gift that I want to make for Paul, stickles and some yummy Berry Sweet paper and stickers.

After my time at Sugar and Spice I went to my nephew Luke's Birthday Party...Happy 5th Birthday "Bobbler" xxx.. You looked like you had great fun. The food was great (Well done Emma and Luke Senior) Both Paul and I had a lovely time xxxxxx

Well, I hope that you have had as much fun as I have. Below is a photo of the Layout I completed (just need to add a photo) and also the great paper I should not have bought!!... problem is it is so nice not sure that I want to cut it up and use it!!! Watch this space....

MAGIC AND SPARKLE XXXXXXXXX

Sugar and Spice and all things nice.....

Above are the Layouts that I completed whist on a course at Sugar and Spice the BEST place ever.. it's in Barleylands Craft Village in Billericay, Essex.Since completing the course I have placed their titles on and also some journalling. I have also now just booked into to complete a couple of "one off" day's their, making some mini albums.

Yesterday I bought lots of stash to start a little gift that I want to make for my hubby Paul for his birthday.... and it's not pink!!!!. I am off today to my bestest buddy Karen's Nursery as I am going to judge her staff as they are running their own Apprentice in preperation for thier Summer Fete. I am going to be the prize, as I am hoping to make lots of bits to sell at the fete. This will be my first attempt at selling, so a little nervous. The larger bits that I sell I am going to take as examples and will take orders.... Get me make it sound as if I am used to this... It will be my first time!!!

Hope you like the Layouts above.... Magic and Sparkle xxxxxxx