ROCKING YOUR WORLD 53RD OF 2016

Good morning and this is the final Rocking your World post of 2016 - the 53rd - no less! 

So how has your week been, have you had your fill of turkey?  Couldn't face another mince pie, in need of a clean start to 2017 - yes I hear you! But for now let us look back! 

We were all set for Christmas with the Harry Potter tree, here it is in all it's finery together with the Death Eaters mask, various wands and a homemade full size sorting hat! 

This was two days before Christmas - I believe the signs of madness are starting to show, hubby making floating candles! 

And said 16 year old turning a certain chocolate into golden snitches! 

And the table all set in a Yule Ball theme for Christmas (as the normal Harry Potter banqueting hall, mean all long tables and pewter platters and tankards which didn't appeal!) 

Time with family has been especially precious this week, chatting with said 16 year old who was waiting patiently on Christmas morning to open gifts whilst I was talking to my Mum on the phone! 

Now there aren't many occasions that we can manage a decent surprise for said 16 year old these days - but this gift certainly raised a smile! 

I also got some beautiful gifts, including a few secret santa gifts that raised a smile, I took part in two craft related ones linked with UK Scrappers!  This was the contents of my Secret Santa Stocking swap

And this was the contents of my Secret Swappers Secret Santa Swap! 

Managing to have all the family around the Christmas table was especially precious this year. 

I got a lovely photo of my fabulous sister!

And my beautiful niece

As well as all the family enjoying their gingerbread challenge! 

I remembered to flame the homemade Christmas pudding (albeit it after I'd chopped it up - whoops). 

We enjoyed a winters walk - just in the local area to where we lived! 

We went to my Mum's for tea the day after boxing day - look at the size of this cheesecake - her own recipe - no reference to any book or google, hence the very thin base and the crazy thick top!

I shared a few piccies on instagram, the floating candles

And the angel wings we finished just before Christmas - the photo doesn't show you the scale! 

And an arty one of the table!

And Mum's cheesecake! 

I even managed some scrapping (finally after months and months of nothingness - I don't count my journal as it is only 8 x 8)

As you can see they are all Christmas related - but last Christmas not this one! 

Thursday we managed another jaunt to Chatsworth as said 16 year old hadn't been when we went the other week, we have now thoroughly put our members' cards through their paces!

I managed to get a photo of these two in the corridor! 

And the snowflakes in the chapel

The library was gorgeous as always, would love to see what books are in there!

And the sleeping lion by the exit! 

Enjoying a wander around the garden! 

We had to giggle about the Santa hats that had appeared on the bronze heads in the garden.  I think Prince Charles looks rather fetching with this on his head!

The grotto garden was beautiful - freezing cold but beautiful! 

We sat for a short while, but the stone was sooooooooo cold

Said 16 year old set to sketching 

And then we split up as he wanted to do another sketch in the garden, we spotted him later on - can you see him - he is in the picture - sketching! 

and again! 

The winter sunshine was just what we needed, we've all been full of the lurgy this last few weeks so a chance to blow of the cobwebs was very much needed if I'm honest.  Not that we came home feeling better just felt better for having some fresh air as it were! 

I hope you've had a truly beautiful and blessed Christmas, that you've managed to have time with family and friends and time to sit back and reflect on the season and the year.  I know it isn't always easy for people so I hope the season has been kind to you! 

Now I turn my head towards the next year, the clean slate, fresh sheet that awaits us with the letters 2017 emblazoned across the top.  I've some plans for 2017, I need to create a formula to put them into action.  

If you fancy joining in pop a post together, come back and link up so we can come and visit! 

Until next year my dear friends. 

FAVOURITE PHOTO, HIKE AND BE OPEN TO WHATEVER COMES NEXT

Good morning, well I find myself on Tuesday and the sun is shining and there are definite blue skies at the moment, so we are off out in a moment to enjoy the day.  I hope you are making the most of it too! 

Three layouts to share this morning, first up a photo from the Members Garden Party at Chatsworth last year, we had a fabulous evening in the garden, enjoying the band, the food we had taken and the fireworks! 

Next up a photo of said 15 year old on his main hike when he went to Crookestone Barn last year as part of the team building for the Lesotho expedition.  I just remember how tired he was when he arrived back that weekend! 

And finally a photo of niece and her friend at their prom last year, I love love love, the natural pose of the two of them!  Utterly beautiful! 

I created all three layouts from a colour kit I put together inspired by a CSI post.  

I hope you are managing a happy scrapping day! 

COUNTERFEIT KIT LAYOUTS 19 THE FINAL ONE

And the final layout for this month, this is one of my favourite layouts, using a technique I saw on UK Scrappers last year, making little tiny cards and creating a layout.  the photo is the three of us once again at Chatsworth perfecting the family selfie! 

Roll on tomorrow for many reasons including a new counterfeit kit! 

CKCB - 15 16 AND 17

Morning all, well I've been up since the crack of dawn (or so it feels) and had a physio appointment which was a tad pointless - referral on to podiatry to see if they can get this foot pain free - we shall see.

So I thought I'd share another three layouts that I created with my counterfeit kit this month, the first up is the Mad Hare from Alice in Wonderland, this was by far my favourite when we wandered around Chatsworth last Christmas.  He had such an amazing expression and I loved all the detail.  It was also lovely to see them recycle the Snow Queen's throne from the previous year which is what the hare sat on!  A simple layout but I took my lead from the colours in the photos!

Then you can't tell but the border of this one has shiny gold elements to it, kept it quite simple adding a few elements such as the hand stitched kisses along the top.

And finally the dressing up corner at Chatsworth - as you can see everyone wanted to be the Mad Hatter!

Hope you have a happy scrapping day!

CKCB 12, 13 AND 14

Good morning

Well I've time to share more of the CKCB layouts that I did this month - I've seriously squeezed some creativity out of this kit this month.

First up 'Hi Ya' the top photo documents my sister and niece locked in the prison near the 'court' for the Alice in Wonderland trial regarding who stole the tarts.  The second photo shows how ridiculously small the prison actually was and what my sister said as she stood up and had us rolling with laughter!

Fairly simple layout, double matted photos, strip of contrasting 12 x 12 and torn 12 x 12 over the top, hand stitching top right hand corner, embellishments including the pre-cut circles and the type writer journal card.

Next up - I'm loving playing with white space at the moment.  Two unequal pieces of 12 by 12, strip of contrasting between the two and a few extra words and a wooden piece for the word love.  Hand journalling, add photo - job done!

The photo is of me and said 14 year old on my birthday last year exploring the gardens at Chatsworth!

And finally my 'crazy' layout, this was the psychedelic caterpillar as part of the Alice in Wonderland at Christmas last year, it was so colourful and crazy when we got in there.

The layout actually took a bit of time to do, a double frame on the outside and then patchwork paper in the middle meant that one photo on the layout got lost and it was either get out the gesso - which always gets me because it usually means the papers will buckle slightly or use two photos - I went with the easier option of using two photos.  Hand journalling on a couple of stickers.  Sorted!

How are you doing on your kit this month?  Hope you are having a happy scrapping day!

COUNTERFEIT KIT LAYOUTS 10 AND 11

Morning all, I can't tell you how giddy I am to be up at 7.55am on Monday morning!  Why?  Because this week there is no work, so I'm still in my PJ's and I've got a cuppa and blogger to keep me happy - utter bliss! 

First up the giant crawling half human/half hare rabbit at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, it always looks so different depending on the time of year, in Autumn (when we took this photo) she's still creeping in amongst the foliage, we visited her recently and as the trees around are all bare she's fully visible!

Then another photo from Chatsworth at Christmas which was in the theme of Alice in Wonderland, these were two of the hedgehogs embroiled in the croquet game with the Queen of Hearts, I adore the bottom picture where the hedgehog has his eyes closed!

Hope you have a happy scrapping day!