EVENING ALL - TRYING TO HAVE AN INDUSTRIOUS WEEK

Big waves to everyone, well it's been a mighty busy day at work and at home, but it's kick back time so before I attack the thing called my craft-space which is lacking seriously on the 'space' front at the moment I thought I'd put together a quick post for the beautiful book that Annette (Voodoo Vixen) created for the UK Scrappers Cyber crop recently.

I've had to wait a while to post on here as one of the two I created during the cyber crop was a gift and I wanted the recipient to actually get their paws on it before it appeared on my blog.

I created two books at the same time, the one on the left a gift for Carmen and the one on the right to be filled by yours truly with appropriate photos at some point in the future.

I loved the tissue paper design for the book as per Annette' instructions

The book unfolded

 It has a mini book as part of it's main design

 Which you can see a bit better here

 It has lots of little pockets and spaces for tags

 And more

 From the side you can see the two giant matchboxes, painted to colour co-ordinate with the rest of the book.  I thought Carmen might want to put Logan's hospital bracelet and any other small mementos in here.

 Up close my book in red

 I added lots of ribbons and threads

 And a giant key!

Inside the book is a mix of papers including some hand stamped and masked as the papers I used for this one were not double sided.

 I made a slip when making this and attached the double sided a different way so there's no ability to add tags - so this will be a photo based mini book

 Used some lovely DCWV papers I've had for a while

 Again the side shot with the matchboxes

I'm so pleased with both books, I love how tactile they are and how easy they were to put together, so much so I've now bought four more matchboxes and got hubby to cut me some grey board ready so get ready to see some more of these books very soon!   Just not sure what to do with all the matches if I'm honest!

If you fancy having a go yourself!  It can be found as a PDF download on this page  here it's the third one down called it's a mystery, but all the classes were great, so feel free to explore the page!

If you fancy seeing more of what Annette creates check out her blog here 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY

Morning all - tis Friday and a time to reflect and enjoy the moments that have lightened our previous week, my week has been tough with a capital 'T' but never once did I think about not posting, why?  Because in amongst the crap and there's been plenty have I had elements that have made me happy and made me smile

A weekend off, spending time with my hubby and my son, always fabulous company.  Last Friday evening saw us venturing down to the local shopping centre, now at this time of year you'd think I was crazy - would you believe me that it was quiet?  I'd already spent most of the day shopping and having a mooch around and then continued in the evening.  So why the 'rocking' moment - the decorations - now if you are still in bah humbug mode look away now - but look how pretty the new decorations are.

This one sings and moves and I think from here looks like a giant snowman or is it just me?  And look something you don't see very often my 12 year old smiling whilst in a shopping centre!

It might have something to do with his tea LOL!

Saturday was a day wandering around the local town and buying a bit of fabric for some new festive tablecloths not that I've done anything with it yet!

Sunday brought a day out - I didn't want to go - I really didn't - just didn't fancy it but we'd promised and I don't break a promise so off we went to...

we had a clear journey there and back for which I'm ultimately grateful for I hate travelling on motorways so I was immensely grateful for a clear run. We got to look in giant fish tanks and have our photo taken by my crazy hubby!

We got photobombed by a fish twice!

You want to see?

Really?

Well let me see what I can do?  This one

 and then this one!

we all had a giggle when we saw the photos.  Hubby also managed a couple of really great scrapbooking shots - now this I like!  So expect to see on a scrapbook page really soon.

The rest of the week has been something of an emotional rollercoaster with a huge amount of work thrown in for good measure, however I can be grateful for

Hubby's cooking - he knows I've not been in the mood this week and has just got on with it

Mass at school on Wednesday night was great and thoroughly enjoyed the songs that the Y7 sang actions and all!  It was a very light hearted positive mass, including a power point chart and I got to meet up with one of the Mum's that I haven't seen since they left primary school and we've promised to meet up for a coffee!

Son's homework for history being a success he did a power point presentation on our family history and selected things about both his Granddads and a distant Aunt within the presentation - apparently it had the kids giggling!   Apparently there weren't many who did it that way so he was quite happy with himself.

Amazon orders arriving.

Ideas for Christmas

A couple of bargains in amongst the purchases.

Finishing a few peoples gifts.

A gift reaching its destination and it being liked - I'll do a separate post on that, I've already got some board cut for some other mini books as we speak, I love mini books I'd forgotten how much.

A warm home, a roof over my head, food in my tummy and the fact I'm alive and get to see this beautiful world with my own eyes each and every day.

I'll leave you with a pre-crop layout from the UK Scrappers cyber crop, completely out of my comfort zone it has white space on it, I need to look away quick because I just feel the need to fill in the white space even now!

So that my lovely people is it for this week, I hope you've had a good, positive and upbeat week, if its been a toughy, dig deep and find those silver linings pop a post together and pop back here.  It's always good to share others positives and I'm always humbled by those that take the time out to follow this idea and share - so a thank you to you all!

Here's Mr Linky

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY

Tis Friday - I honestly have no idea where this week has gone - blink and you'd have missed it!

But we are here again to celebrate the positives that exist in these last 7 days - if you want more info - look right there's a bit of blurb there.  We're a tiny group that celebrate our positives - don't be shy - join in if you fancy!

First up on my list of gratefuls this week - fresh air courtesy of our first visit to

Apparently the furthest place north you could go during the Ice Age - otherwise you'd have been dealing with ice 1 mile deep - can't even begin to get my head around this!

This hyena was an example of the types of creatures who frequented the place, apparently back then they were about a third bigger and I'll be honest - he was big enough!

 Hunting for archaeology

 And about as close to a woolly mammoth as we were going to get!

 Had  a fabulous walk along the gorge!

We also got to go in one of the caves - and our eagle eyed 12 year old spotted cave spiders - shudder -
I won't scare you with pictures!  Apparently they are quite slow moving due to the extreme temperatures which is good because I really didn't fancy getting up close and personal with them!

Saturday a whole week after the car driving experience for said 12 year old we found him in this - you'll be pleased to know that he stayed on the ground - but it did make me giggle thinking one week on he's in yet another vehicle's driving seat!

And another - helicopter anyone?

 And Mischief One and Mischief Two here, Craig insisted on opening the window and when I asked why he said it was so he could signal with his arm when he wanted to turn left - honestly!

Sunday saw a jaunt to the cinema to see Skyfall and all I can say is ooh my - definitely the best Daniel Craig - Bond film we've seen - it's a great film and a few twists and turns and unexpected elements along the way!

Then we headed over to my Mum's for a Bonfire party which was fabulous, meat and potato pie and mushy peas with swedey mash and gravy - she had a fire up the garden, got rid of loads of branches and a good catch up with family!

Monday night brought bonfire night, we managed a few fireworks that said 12 year old demanded and then some sparklers.  I enjoyed  playing with the cameras firework setting and getting a few sparkler shots - said 12 year old managed a message to me!

 And hubby managed a star - genius!

Winning the raffle on the cybercrop - gorgeous prizes on their way including a Big Shot - I'm still struggling to get my head around this LOL!

The rest of the week has trundled along at a fair rate of knots, lots of work meaning that I've been shattered which in turn has meant a few evenings cuddled up on the sofa.

Other gratefuls - hubby and said 12 year old always Rock my world - amazing - they are such good company!

The Wednesday Whine group - as always

Collabor-art for the commencement of it's first circle journal - I sent mine and received Pat's in turn this week, I can't wait to get started!  Mine was looking mighty plain as it left my hands but was heading over to Donna's so I'm sure she'll have much fun adding to it.  This is how it looked as it left,

 and the other side

 And the outside box

We are currently looking for some new members to join the fold on Collaborart - so if you fancy joining us - head over and take a look, there's no stress to do 'everything' you can dip into things as and when it suits the key element is that when you commit to a project that you follow through and keep everyone in the know.  That way we get to share some fabulous projects together without the worry of people going AWOL!  There are things running all the time (pairs journal and mail art) and then other projects that you can sign up to and I know Sarah has sooooooooooooooooo many fantastic ideas up her sleeve at the moment - you wouldn't want to miss out!

Hot chocolate at night (post 9 o'clock) when I'm chilling.

The laptop allowing me to sit on the sofa and watch TV whilst browsing the internet.

Royal Mail for getting Christmas pressies to me without a hassle!

Carmen's Secret Santa Swap even though its proving something of a headache at the moment.

And my lovely people I think that will have to do you - in essence, my week has been busy and full and fun.  I've enjoyed time with people I love (whether in person or on line).  I've been out and about, enjoyed a film, family time, time at home - you name it I've been done and it makes me feel happy.

I'll leave you with a layout from the fabulous UK Scrappers recent cyber crop, this was a pre-crop challenge of using a class from a previous cyber crop.  This particular one based on the Love Life Class  (click the class name if you fancy having a go yourself!)

If you fancy joining in - just pop yourself a post together and pop back here to link up!

UK SCRAPPERS AND MINIBOOK HEAVEN

Can I just say that the cyber crop on UK Scrappers was an utter delight to play along with, not so much pressure this time with longer deadlines and uploads times and no point gathering which always feels a little frantic if I'm honest.  This time we had classes and challenges spread over numerous days with to enjoy.  I didn't manage many of the classes but those that I did manage I loved!!!!

It just shows you what fun these can be when you spend the time, in amongst the layout challenges were also some mini book challenges and if you know me then you'll know that I have something of a weakness for mini books.

So I thought I'd share one that I created during the cyber crop for friends who'd just enjoyed a Halloween come house warming party, I'd seen the photos on the internet and thought it was an absolute must for the mini-book added to which I had a gorgeous 6" x 6" pack of Halloween papers on my desk desperate to be used!  Now this book is without the photos that I added and I may be able to get hold of it post photos (I didn't like to include without permission as it were).

The papers on the covers were some long existing 12 x 12 papers I had one of which was a photo of a giant pumpkin!

 Inside cover - flap to include more photos, decorated with a Halloween embellishment I had

 Next page had a hand sewn mini pocket on the left

 Next page - a giant pocket, the original book had a straight stitch binding it all together but I used a stitching template to create the star effect you can see on the right of the page here.

 A mini book inside the mini-book with a fabulous paper clasp!

 Some of the lovely Halloween papers

 And now the double page spreads so you get a better feel for the book

 This one with the lift up flaps either side meant that you could add so many small pictures to the book!

 And the only downside that I managed to turn into an upside.  The final page instructions forgot to mention that you needed to stitch down the page before adhering to the book, this in turn created two mini pockets to utilise.  Unfortunately this element was missing from the instructions - but it wasn't a worry because I used it as a pull down flap on the page to include even more photos - so win win all round

 View from above shows the rigid outer cover and plenty of space inside to include the photos etc.  Which meant in turn the book didn't bulge outwards once it had it's photos added!

 If you fancy having a whirl at the book yourself - its the sleeping under canvas minibook and can be found here!