Halloween, Take 2

Posted on | October 31, 2011 | 2 Comments

It’s our second Halloween here in the UK and the whole trick-or-treating event was better than last year! We had more kids stopping by for candies and Emma came home with a good stash of candies. Now, it’s not that we eat a lot of sweets but, the amount that the kids brought in gave me a good indication of how many families participated in this fun event this year. We had quite a bit of fun the last few days that we’re somewhat thinking of hosting a party and really decorating our house next year. Emma was quite inspired by our friend’s highly decorated home and really wants to make our house spookier. I’ve asked hubby and her for a list of things and tomorrow I will find whatever’s on sale for next year’s event.

I hope your Halloween has been as wonderful too!

Today I just want to share two digital pages. For both pages I used kits from Jessica Sprague, Carina Gardner for the above and Samantha Walker for the below. While I’m not too keen on the below page, I do love how the above turned out. The vintage paper’s very pretty and the template (Queen of Quirk) is just awesome. Really LIKE! The below… I love the elements but I don’t think I used them that well. They could be better. I did finish but just not happy with it.

Have a great one all and until next time!

Halloween Prep

Posted on | August 31, 2011 | 2 Comments

Me: M, why don’t you help find Jovie a Halloween costume.
M: Ok.

M took over the computer and five minutes later:

M: Mommy, how about this one?
Me: Emmaaaa!! NO! Jovie is NOT going to be a peanut for Halloween!!

M: But she’ll be a cute little peanut.
Me: No! Jovie, what do you want to be for Halloween?
Jovie: Princess.
Me: There, go find Jovie a princess outfit!
M: Ok, mommy… (pout pout)

Kids!

We’ve been looking at Halloween costumes today just in case M wants something that is either cheaper (than buying here) or can only be purchased from the US (takes a week usually but I’ve had packages come six weeks after it was mailed out — per tracking number). In the past all of M’s outfits have been creatively designed by me but this year M wants something more like the character and not a spin off. In the past, since M’s was still easily influenced, I could wiggle myself out of buying an outfit. Last year she was a pirate. I suggested this because she already have everything for it (well, they all had to be gathered but they were all in the house), the year before that she was a ghost. Remember that ghost outfit I did? Yes, it was just a sheet and yes, no sewing was involved. It was just the sheet and my scissors.

Halloween Ghost

The year before the ghost my mom made a kimono and M was a Japanese girl. The other years before kimono I can’t remember although she was a lady bug the first year and one of the year I forgot M’s face was painted all cattywampus — oh yes, her second Halloween. Her babysitter did it! One year I was at a conference and hubby took her… what was she that year? Hmm… I remember hubby said it was really cold and they ended up at a restaurant after just five minutes. M doesn’t like candies so it never bothered her that she never got a full bag of goods. <-- If this paragraph doesn't make sense, it's ok, it's not you, it's me. I was thinking out loud...

Although you might say I was creative with my approach I have to admit that it was mostly tightwadness and unmotivatedness to be a part of the tradition as the reason for M's 'simple' costumes. I've probably dressed up three times for Halloween my whole entire life. So this year I want M to have fun with it and get whatever she wants (and I'll try not to persuade her to be the paper bag doll or Punky Brewster <-- easily done by rummaging through M's wardrobe).

As for Jovie... we'll find something decent. This will be her first time dressing up. The first Halloween Jovie dressed as a baby and the second time she was a 1-yrs-old. I know, lame mommy, huh?

That's that. I hope you like the page I did using Daisy Jane Paper by Carina Gardner and many bits and pieces from Kitschy Digital. Yellow’s one of my favorite color (red is the other) and the background of this layout makes me so happy! You all take care and laters!

Anglesey Abbey

Posted on | August 26, 2011 | 4 Comments

Last week the girls and I spent part of a day at Anglesey Abbey, a National Trust property. We had lunch, walked through the old house, shopped at the second hand bookstore (it’s M and I’s favorite place, can’t beat £.30 chapter books), walked around the garden and then parked ourselves in the middle of one garden to read. Jovie ran around crazy (as photographed above) like usual while we read.

Today I asked M what she wanted to do and she said, “Let’s go to the garden again.” We couldn’t go though, it rained and so we just went to our local park after the sun came out. We’ve been having a great summer break. We still have a couple more weeks and we plan on doing as many fun things as possible. Tomorrow we’re hoping for a maze maize outing but if it rains it might just be a big indoor playground. We’ll be going with some friends and very looking forward to this part!!

I have here a digital page of our outing. This was at the Abbey’s rose garden. The flowers were starting to wilt but from a distance, they’re still pretty looking. I used some cute goodies from Jessica Sprague: Elle’s Studio Sweet summer paper and tags, Kitschy Digital Fabric Flowers, Carina Gardner stitching and staples, and Cosmo Cricket alphas. I had a fun and relaxing time making this page. I love the soft feel, the layering while still keeping it simple and the fun buttons. LOVE the buttons!!

Hope you all have a great one! Until next time!

Science Museum

Posted on | July 31, 2011 | 2 Comments

Went to the Science Museum for the first time in good old London and we had a fantastic time. Since hubby likes to take things in, we split up. It worked out great because there are so many interactive things that kids can do at the Science Museum while hubby can go his pace looking at things he’s interested in (like airplanes, machines, etc.). Jovie’s favorite was probably the “Garden” located in the basement. Reason being: A water learn + play area. Every kid had a little waterproof cover on and while most kids stayed dried, Jovie was wet. So wet that I had to wring her dress. She had a fabulous time though and M did too. Nap time came and hubby kept Jovie (she was napping in her stroller) while M and I went off to the “Launchpad” on the 3rd floor. We had soooo much fun there while learning lots. The two live shows, Structures and Explosions, were very fun and educational to watch. We still have three more places to go to where kids (and adults… I saw a whole group of adults around the circuit boards) can do hands-on activities. We’ll go next time! I love London’s museums. So many great ones and most are free!!

Then I have a few digital projects using Jessica Sprague‘s pieces (notice how I am loving white backgrounds? {::SMILES}).

A simple little “love” page using goodies from Carina Gardner Fresh Picked: Summer Floral and Pattern Paper. Love watching these two girls together!

I love this photo of Jovie refusing to leave our post office. To give the photo a bit of an edge, I used Jodie Lee’s texture and frame for this photo.

Jovie’s favorite thing to do when we are in the driveway: Rock picking.

Created using lovelies from Jodie Lee:

French Flower Brushes
Steam Punk Brushes
Botanique Brushes

Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 coming soon

Splendid Finn Office Tape + Staples, Graph paper.

Ok, tata for now! More later!!

Some Digis

Posted on | May 31, 2011 | No Comments

Bonjour! I’m not sure what the weather’s like for you all there but it’s been raining, raining and uhm raining today. I had some sight seeing plans with the gals but we ended up staying dry.

Today I just want to share a few digi pages that I did sometimes this month. I sometimes forget to share them because I’d save and then not get back to it until later. I used a lot of goodies from Jessica Sprague, in particular Carina Gardner’s work, for the pages I created.

I love the first page because the girls were so cute together. We were still in Missouri and I remember us taking a little break in between packing.

This one, again Jovie in PJs, was also around that time. I have been behind in scrapbooking and when I get all my teaching stuff out of the way I am going to try and catch up!