ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY

Morning all, time for the positives of the week, digging deep finding those silver linings that have taken weeks from being good to awesome or from impossible to possible - no matter what your week or how hard it may have seemed in amongst the rubbish that is the day to day world you'll find things, people and moments that will have truly brightened your day, now is the time to celebrate these things because it's

Wow the weeks are flying by, think this is week 28 (trying to remember Sarah's numbering) yep think its 28, over half way through the year, how's yours going?  Year that is, have you managed those New Year Resolutions, still have them at the back of your mind or drop kicked them out of your life come February?

Let's see if we can do numbered positives this week

1. Said 11 year old coming home with an awesome report and getting level 4 in his English and Science and level 5 in his maths, given that he's only recently been diagnosed as moderately dyslexic - this is definitely something to be grateful for.  And how did he achieve this, through hard work and determination on his part - well done hun you are amazing! 
2. Sister coming over on Friday to discuss ways we can help each other this summer the idea is that we both have things we want to get sorted on our homes before the end of summer (I know what summer but you get the drift) and that rather than doing them alone, we can do them jointly thus enjoying each others company whilst making positive improvements to our environments - watch this space as to how it pans out! 
3. Volcano live - been a great watch this week!
4. A day off with said 11 year old Monday, we didn't do anything exciting but we did spend time in each others company which is always a blessing! 
5. Keeping up with blogger, last week I got to Friday and realised all the blogs on my reading list had posted multiple posts, it took an age to go through and catch up with everyone, this week I've managed to read as I go! 
6. Crafting of an evening at my desk as the boys watch TV or fly remote control helicopters in the pool room!  Great fun, I've finished my summer of colour challenge, layouts, I'm now on with cards and we all know how much I hate card making 
7. No alcohol - strange grateful, hubby on new weird tablets for ligament damage which has meant no drop of wine at the weekend, it made a pleasant change and I am thoroughly enjoying it at the moment - lets see how long it lasts! 
8. Reading, I'm reading 40 Shades which if I'm honest (and I know others would agree having read things on Facebook this week), isn't the most taxing of reads but it's not been a difficult read either and sometimes to shut my numbers brain down and read words is nice! 
9. Hubby - a big shout out, no matter how stressed, no matter how much work, no matter how crazy grumpy I am he just 'gets' me and accepts what a complete and utter pain in the backside I am (most of the time)! 
10. Blue skies on Wednesday and Thursday even though I didn't get to enjoy them much, just a change from drizzle and grey clouds! 
11. Summer production at school, it was amazing, so funny - a panto in summer what could be finer, said 11 year old managed not only a small acting role but a duet with a friend and even with a complete failure of backing music the two of them pulled it off with no music - how awesome is that! 
12. And finally the people that make up the WW group on facebook - honestly the most amazing group of women - I salute you all! 

Think that that will have to be your lot peeps, I'm now at home twenty to ten Thursday night only just got in from summer production - said 11 year old still eating his tea - ours is cooking, absolutely shattered etc and I've no crafting to share (well I have I just haven't photographed it yet, promise to make up at the weekend when my brains kicks back in). 

Hope you have all had a great week, if you fancy joining in then pop yourself a post together and then head back here, leave a comment and link up then we can come and visit - always awesome to see other peoples positives! 

BRIEF THURSDAY POST

I'm trying to ignor the fact I've got the auditors back in - grumble moan whinge whine it's been a hard two weeks but I'm nearing the end of it (hopefully).  I should be prepping my Rocking Your World Post but thought I'd finish off what's left in my blog folder!

First up a Halloween layout, which is fairly obvious given the photo isn't it!  Using up stash, the papermania metal tags on the left inked, string ties removed and replaced with organza ribbon, used for journalling, place on foam dots.  Title Tim Holtz stickers that I never thought I'd use and some sort of random Halloween rub on to the bottom left of the photo.  I remember being quite pleased with this one because the composition on the eye is quite nice

 The tags up close

 then the Rotunda in Scarborough, again one of those mediocre layout, Jo said I was my own worst critic and she's probably right, but just occasionally it doesn't matter how much i throw at a layout it sometimes just doesn't come right.  I think this one was a sketch and the thing that threw me was the fact that the paper isn't in thirds and so visually isn't as appealing, it's nice just not amazing.

 Up close I used the pattern of the paper to create some stitching, one of my favourite embellishments, nearly all my layouts have some sort of hand stitching on them!

Creativity wise this week has been quite productive, I've done two layouts per week of the summer of colour challenge because I thought if I can create mail art in those colours I can create layouts can't I - the lemonade sherbet (pink and yellow) one I thought would be the most challenging but as it turned out it was baseball nut, because I had very little in the way of vanilla and dark raspberry paper wise.  However, finished off the last one last night.  So then I thought now what - so I started churning out some cards with the scraps from my layouts.  The downside now is the cost of stamps in order to send them to people mmmm need a magic postage stamp fairy to leave some under my pillow!

Hope you're all having a good week see you tomorrow for Rocking Your World

HALF WAY THROUGH THE WEEK AND BREATH

Morning all tis Wednesday I tell you and Yorkshire or at least my part of Yorkshire has awoken to - wait for it - sunshine and blue sky - I've no idea where it came from but would be more than happy if it fancied stopping around for some time to try and dry the ground out - because the garden that became a jungle that became a garden is back to being a jungle again!

Ooh it's been a hard week - it has but now I'm here and all seems calm but then I've not left the house yet so normal craziness will resume shortly - of that I'm sure.  Yesterday I spent 7 hours answering 7 e-mails at work, if I carry on answering e-mails at this speed I've got another 145 hours of e-mail answering to deal with - mmmmmmmmmmmm not a happy thought!

Anyway enough of my drivel I'm here to share crafting - I am honestly, first up  a layout from Kenilworth Castle last year and said 11 year old, I was really happy with this one once it was completed despite it being a simple layout!

 Up close the title, die cuts and using up old stash stickers!

 And this one - taken an age ago before I realised how awful artificial light, red curtains and a predominantly red layout actually were!  I never liked the title on this one mmmm maybe I should have changed it.

 Last up another layout I don't like but its made and done so you get to see it, I'm not sure why I don't like it possibly the paper choice?  Not sure anyway it's one of my least favourite

 despite the stitching

 And the stamped die cuts and glossy accents.

What you'll have been able to tell from this is that I'm dredging the bottom of the barrel when it comes to my layouts - ooh best crack on with some more, think I've got some to photograph but I've run out of albums to put them in, any idea where I can get some cost effective albums that won't break the bank?

Hope you're having a fabulous Wednesday!

SUMMER OF COLOUR - WILD 'N' RECKLESS

Ooh now I didn't have any trouble at all using that colour scheme, more my normal colours if I'm honest.  Hubby had decided he wanted to go for a walk as it was dry but I did remind him of the ligament damage in his knee which he was supposed to be resting.  So yesterday was a day of rest (even though it was Saturday and not Sunday), actually yesterday was a day of creativity which I thoroughly enjoyed - well an afternoon and evening at least.  I played in my pairs journal which was much fun, I played in my art journal book (which I haven't done in forever............) and I did my Wild 'n' Reckless mail art cards - yet again a set of six!

I even managed images to tone in with the colours LOL using up images I've had an absolute age, altering them, changing hair colour and eye colour and tattooing the living daylights out of them - much fun!  Now I'm not sure which is my favourite possibly the lady with the green hair and the blue hair if I'm honest!

 Lady with green hair

 Lady with blue hair!

Thanks for popping by - hope you're having a great weekend, can't believe that we've only got one colour left - hoping for not too much pink if I'm honest but we'll see and it will be a challenge no matter what!

SUMMER OF COLOUR

Another post - can't you tell works been mad this week, finally finished this weeks mail art for the Summer of Colour challenge over on Twinkle Twinkle, I found this one hard as it was another ice cream with pink in it, but just about pulled it off (I think).

Right off to throw paint at something else now - don't stand still too long you'll get painted!

SATURDAY CRAFTING

Yes I know I've been MIA - blame work - Saturday let's have some crafting!

Layouts - this one of said 11 year old trying to pull the sword out of the stone at Warwick Castle last year!

 Up close, stamping, filled in and fake stitching!

 A double page layout, this is when I started the project life my style-y at the beginning of the year - unfortunately February's page never happened!

 Close ups

 Of both pages!

So there you go crafting Saturday morning style!

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY

Wow can you believe it's Friday again - how scary is that - I mean honestly - we are past midway point on the year which means that life is literally flying by - week 27 of Rocking Your World Fridays

Now this is late Thursday evening and I'm tired the auditors arrived on Monday and have been very busy keeping me on my toes since, my computer at work has had to be sent off for repair so life has been taxing and difficult and awkward and it's seriously caused me issues - but here we are to celebrate the positives albeit that sometimes they can feel small and insignificant - it doesn't matter how small if it's a positive it's worth celebrating so without further ado

First and foremost with a grand drum roll is this bunch of awesome people - why I hear you ask because they all joined in Rocking last week and I loved reading everyone posts and I don't think we've ever had so many join in - so to each and every one of my Rockettes I salute you!

Scrappyjen
Toni
Joanna
Janet
Sapphire Montague (tee hee)
Carmen
Laurie
Sabrina
Devon
Sarah
Sam

My Mum, sister and niece arriving home safely and having a great catch up on Sunday - Melanie is sooooooooooooooooooo brown - totally jealous but she looks really well on it - it was great to spend the afternoon chatting.

My niece for looking after her cousin when he went up to big school this week, it's been a taxing few days but lovely to know that she was there to look after him taking him on the two bus journeys and returning him safely (even if a bit grumpy - but that's another story) at night!

It's gonna be a long haul for him come September but knowing that he's ventured and done this bit on his own is one hurdle that needed to be dealt with and it seems as though he's enjoyed his days even if he is absolutely cream crackered when he gets home!

Hubby and said 11 year old helping clean up when it gets bad.

Hubby for cooking teas even ones that end up random like tonight - foods food - tonights was random though hun - garlic mushrooms tapas style I get, ham salad pitta's - I get, hot chicken - I get, sweet and sour chicken leftovers from chinese with prawn crackers - I get - but all together - really LOL - when I said using things up I don't think I meant everything!  But you cooked so no complaints!

Said 11 year old appreciating that work is mental at the minute and keeping me company on Saturday whilst I was working from home!

Blogging friends for knowing that although I've not been around this week that I'll be back really soon - I've missed so many posts!

Chats with my sister when I've dropped off and collected said 11 year old - motivating each other to get things done, her house is coming along a treat - mine however has only been tidied mentally - because work beckons LOL.

This Means War for providing a good giggle even if not particularly mentally taxing.

Charlotte at the hairdressers for taming the locks - however it does feel like I've got lego hair again you know the type you can take off and swap with another one if you fancy and women lego hair is always the same! .

Hubby for lightening and dying my hair at the weekend I'm currently a red head on my way to blonde - the things he does for me bless him!

Oh peeps I'm sorry but that really is my lot this week - blame work, late night early mornings parents evenings and audit!  Hopefully normal service will resume shortly!

Crafting - now don't hate me it's Christmas - no I mean it's a Christmas layout LOL and Susie no fainting from the statement - it's not long now you know!  Was only talking Christmas cards with my sister yesterday LMAO! The scene that greeted us in the town centre last year!

 Simple up close embellishments - it's amazing what a bit of glossy accents can do!

 A bit of double sided tape and scrunched up ribbon work a treat.

 The only decent shot from a School Reunion captured last year, I did have my eyes shut (don't ask) but hey - it's documented!

 And finally Mr Linky