Hi Weekend

Posted on | April 30, 2011 | 7 Comments

Did you all get more sleep today? Hope so!! While I didn’t go to London or watch the full deal on TV/Internet it’s been a wonderful experience to be around all the festivity. Thursday I went to M’s school for a little party. There were buntings, balloons, food and performances by the kids. M was in cheerleading and their group did a little show. Miss sassy pants did well although I had to shake my head when she went on telling other kids around her what to do if they weren’t doing the right thing instead of just doing her routine.

Friday I did some driving and it’s been so fun seeing different pubs decorated with photos, more buntings and balloons. It was really neat too seeing how different people dress. While there were a few who came casually dressed many, especially the women, had their more formal dresses (don’t forget the cute cute hats — very British I think) and their suits. Parties were everywhere!

I took this photo with my phone. It’s not great but it should give you an idea on how festive the UK has been.

At this pub a mock wedding was held… red carpet and all {::SMILES}.

And the card… A little card using Waltzinmouse’s sketch for this week. The theme is to use some sort of tassle or tassle looking piece. I went with this. My tassle is tied to anything, that little clip is the only thing holding it up. Kind of fun and the color combo’s a bit out there, no?

Have a great weekend! I hope your weather’s as wonderful as ours!

Wedding Anyone?

Posted on | April 29, 2011 | 2 Comments

Have many of you been up since early this morning watching the wedding? I caught the end part of it while checking the news. Lovely couple I must say and quite a practical gown in comparison to the last big wedding!

Just a quickie post… a little page of Jovie using digi pieces from Carina Gardner at Jessica Sprague. I used the Fresh Picked Summer line for this layout. Such prettiness and I had fun playing with them. I chose the colors because of Jovie’s outfit. I think they compliment well.

Alrighty, more later! Have a four day holiday!! Whoohoo!!!!

Time Needs to Slow Down!

Posted on | April 27, 2011 | 3 Comments

It’s almost the end of the month. Nooooo!! I still have a lot of stuff to finish! Then once it hits May it’ll just be one more month before Jovie turns two. NO NO NO! I don’t want her or M to grow up anymore. I wanted M to stay little but she didn’t listen. Jovie’s better at being little than M but everyday she gets a little less baby-ish.

I really haven’t crafted much. M have been out of school for two weeks. She just went back today but this Friday-Monday is a long weekend here due to two holidays, Friday the royal wedding and Monday an already schedule UK holiday. Oh, if you’re wondering, no, we’re not going to the wedding and since we have no TV we’re not watching it either. I’m sure I’ll catch it later when I go to CNN to read the news. I’d be interested to see the dress but that’s pretty much it. I love fashion. Anyhow, due to M’s school break I’ve been focusing on the girls. Like I said I’ve been all sorts of places with them and by the end of the day I was just tired. So instead of crafting after the girls go to bed I’d either work (grade/answer students’ emails) or sleep.

I did though manage a few pages. I am very much loving templates right now, digital templates that is, because in a few minutes I can create a page. I’m not kidding, it took me five, maybe ten minutes, to create these layouts. So less than 30 minutes I got two put together. For these layouts I used templates from the Queen of Quirk at Jessica Sprague: Little Red Flag and Broken Column. For the pattern paper and embellishments I used pieces from Cirque Du Ciel and You Are Here. Very into simple digital layouts. While it’s fun caking on digital pieces, a layout that’s simple like these make me happy. I really love how I journal more too when I do a digital page!

Ahhh, my two girls! Love them both!!

Oh, if you have a minute and want to get some tips on photographing your card size projects, go to this post: How to photograph your card. It’s my little contribution to the Jessica Sprague’s hybrid blog. Take care!

Happy Belated

Posted on | April 26, 2011 | 5 Comments

Hi all! It’s still Easter/end of spring term break here and we’ve been busy going places + working. But, thought I’d pop in a bit and post a little card and some photos. I wanted to post earlier and wish everybody a wonderful weekend but just never made it so happy belated Easter all!

So far we’ve gone up north, down south, and all around here. The results of all our wonderings are: Sore feet for me and girls who sleep until 8-9 a.m. almost every morning. I am also hoping that all the walking has made loose some weight. My fat pants are a tad bit tight and I told myself that I am not moving up to a size 4!!

The card above was created using Waltzingmouse’s sketch for this week. It’s quite simple since I want to emphasize on the sentiment and the embossing. The card’s quite easy to make but I think it’s quite stunning. Just elegant and I seldom admire my own work. Now I kind of wish I know somebody who’s getting married, moving, celebrating or whatever so that I can give her this card.

Anyhoot, on to pictures…

This was taken in Ickworth. This place was a great example of somebody eccentric who has more money than he knew what to do with it. We’re members of the Royal Oak, an American organization that supports the National Trust, and so for $90/year our whole family have access to all of NT’s properties. I love supporting these types of organizations because not only do we enjoy the places they preserve but we’re also helping a tiny bit financially.

We went to Ickworth because they had an Easter Egg Trail. Ickworth has 18,000 acres of park area. It’s has a gigantic garden too. I have no idea what the total miles are but it’s an awesome walk! The trail for the egg hunt was so peaceful despite all the kids!

Unlike the hunt that we were used to in the US the trail was more of a scavenger hunt with a chocolate egg at the end of the trail. There were 19 or so clues that M had to find, letters which made a name, and then at a field she was to locate x amount of eggs hanging on different trees and draw their patterns on her piece of paper (there were eggs already printed on them, she just had to draw the different designs).

Before we got to the field “skipper” below tripped and fell. Instead of running to save her I took a photograph first. I know, scrapbookers can be a**holes (HA!).

Here’s a little close-up… she’ll hate me when she grow up (HA HA!!).

Here’s the field. See the gigantic house in the background? That was a house!

Here’s M drawing the egg pattern on her paper.

And while M’s busy finding and drawing eggs, Jovie snacked. We didn’t bring a proper picnic but plan it for next time…. and better walking shoes!

Big Cadbury egg! It’s nice to actually get a piece of chocolate instead of the plastic eggs with who knows what inside. M gave this to Jovie. We seriously have no balance in the house. M doesn’t like sweets or junk food. Jovie loves sweets and she’s really not a great eater. I make her but she prefers dessert than anything else.

Tata for now… be back later!

A Year Later

Posted on | April 21, 2011 | 7 Comments

Time sure flies when one’s having fun!! I can’t believe it’s been a year since we arrived here in England. We have less then three more years now… unless hubby renews his contract… This also means that I’ve been a stay-at-home-mom for a year and although working part-time is a sweet little treat it’s nothing like going to work. I miss the girls I used to work with… all the chit-chats we used to have… and just the variety of things I did. I do though LOVE all the places we’ve all been to and I see many many more in the future (maybe not as many due to energy prices going up).

Just a quickie post today… I also want to share the above card that I created for Pebbles blog. Pebbles has these cute little templates and I used one to outline the bunting. After a few stitching and paper gluing I got the above corner. Love it! So so cute!! I think I am going to save this one for Jovie’s birthday. She’ll be two in a month and a half or so. WOW!

Here’s a little close-up of the stitching:

Princess