My order from Papermaze has arrived

That was quick - so I want to get on with my next layout now - but Ross is asleep in my craft room so I am having to do the ironing instead!

I also bought this book (there was 20% off it!)


This is the style of scrapping that I really like but have never been adventurous enough to try it - perhaps I will after reading this.

Feeling a little demoralised after my weight gain on Monday - feel like I want to go out and buy a huge bar of chocolate and scoff the lot. However at the moment I am resiting temptation - just eaten an apple instead!

Scrapbooking and 2nd Etsy order

 Did another layout last night and I am really pleased with it. It is of Jess and her friends on the Wild West night out at Uni - I really like this layout out.



The patterned paper is actually one of the Reminisce winter papers that I ordered for the ice skating layout I did last week, but in fact it went well with this photo and once I had inked the edges with some brown ink - I think it makes the layout look quite country.

I printed out the journalling on the computer and for the first time coloured the paper in Word rather than colouring it with ink as I usually do. I like the effect but do wonder how much printer ink I have used up by doing this.

I have a few more layouts in mind - but have had to order some more stuff for one layout. I am pretty sure that I did have Basic Grey Scarlett's letter collection - but I have not been able to find it anywhere since moving back into my scrap room - but need that colour palette for Jessica's next layout so have had to order another set - bet the old one will turn up now!

My second order from Etsy arrived and it is so much better than my first one - in fact it is just gorgeous and I will be ordering more from here I am sure. The designer is Nicole Lombardo and her shop is niklindesigns1225.etsy.com.



I have added her blog to my ever growing list of Google reader blog and am very impressed with her work.

just look at these intricate scrolls








and these much more usable sized journalling tags

slimmimg disaster!

I put on 1.5lb last night!!!!!!!

How on earth did this happen? I have been very good this week and back on track 100% so I just can't understand it. I am really disappointed as I expected to put on at Christmas having been so naughty but not now, especially after such an excellent loss last week.

Everyone says - perhaps its because my body has reached its optimum weight - but I don't really want to be stuck at 12 stone for the rest of my life.

I wonder if it is because I have not made it back to the gym yet since Christmas - better get back there pretty quick. I am finding it hard to make the time though as I am taking Ross out driving everyday and this is more important, as it is not long till he goes back to PGL and we won't be able to do daily practice. He has his theory test booked for 7th Feb - I really hope he passes so that we can concentrate on the practical test - and Jess wants the CD rom so that she can get her theory under her belt before she comes home in the summer.

My first Etsy order has arrived

..all the way from the USA. This order of paper tags is from Elles and they are much smaller than I imagined. Not sure how much journalling I will be able to get on these. They are only about  the size of a £2 coin! I have already placed another order for some 2007 calendar tags for Liam's album and some more recipe cards for my A-Z but glad I did not order much more.



Still waiting for my second order placed last week - fancy scrolls etc - hope they will be big enough not to get lost on a 12 x 12 layout.

Talking of small things - I bought this last week from Amazon.



It is a Mobile Mate SD memory card reader. It just fits into a usb port on my laptop and reads the memory card directly - which is great because it stops me having to hunt around for the camera cables etc.



It was only about £5 - so a handy and cheap little gadget. I am an Amazon Prime member - so don't have to pay postage now.

Another parcel came today from Amazon for me - (I must stop spending like this when I have not got any money!) This was a book about the Nikon D40 camera. It was recommended on-photography forum) UKS and I am hoping that it will help me use the camera more. The picture quality is much better, but I do tend to just grab the compact camera daily for pics like this.



Spent yesterday evening sewing the 12 monthly pages for Liams year album on to black cardstock and have spent the morning tidying up all the loose ends - its 11.30 and I still have not finished this thankless task.

From this...



to this .....

Another layout!

I am on a roll - here is the heros & villains Double layout I started yesterday.  
These are layout 3 & 4 out of my target of 52,
for the scrapping2008  challenge running by UKS. I quite like it, but becasue it is so full of photos there was no where to put any journalling and 
my layouts feel bare without any.

I like the effect of the self adhesive felt flowers (bought last week from Angel Crafts) but it was a pain to remove all the backing first!

update from saturdays crop

I have been scrapping again - 2 1/2 layouts completed. Its nice to get be crafting again and start my quota target of 1 layout a week - I am up to date now.

I really enjoyed the crop on Saturday. Had not been to this one run by Caroline & Anne before so there were lots of new faces and a couple of girls I knew. In the morning we did a technique class using Bazzill instiches template - not really sure about them- hence my half layout. Will get it out later and see what I can make of it. I can't really see me using it a lot on my layouts - but will give it a go again just to see - as we are getting a template in this months Scrapagogo kit - which should arrive tomorrow.

In the afternoon I did this layout of Liam, which I am quite pleased with.



I started this layout of Jessica skating and finished it yesterday. I really love her face in the large photo, as she looks so happy. I like this layout as it is so different from the ice skating layout I did of last years skating session.



The papers are by Reminisce and came last week as part of my mammoth new year shopping spree.


I have set out all the pages for Liam's year in the life album - just waiting for a few more photos to arrive from photobox and some calendar tags from Etsy - then I am ready to go on this one. I am also waiting for some recipe cards from Etsy to make a start on my A-Z of recipes- its nearly time for the B prompt and I have not even made a start into A yet!  I have set out all the stuff ready for another double layout of Jess and her friends dressed as hero's & villains, but Ross is asleep in my craft room so I can't get in there!

5 stones lost!

Yes I have done it - 2 weeks later that I had hoped but I am here at my second target - phew!



I actually lost 3 1/2 lb last night - this is what happens when I don't eat all the Christmas goodies! So have lost 5 stone 1lb now. I now weigh 11 stone 12oz. Everyone tells me to stop now, but I am actually 2 stone away from the weight I want to be = 10 stone, but I can see that my face is a bit haggard - but my lower half is not - this whole extra 2 stone is hanging around my tummy, bum and thighs - must go back to the gym to tone up here. I think I will carry on till I get to 11 stone and then reassess as actually my BMI still puts me in the overweight category!

Must have my photo taken to record this milestone - would like to get outside but we have had rain, rain and more rain for days now - will add one when the weather gets better.