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!

A TUESDAY MORNING POST - now a Wednesday morning post!

Well the computer is trying to download its anti-virus software which means its on go slow - a little like me this morning. Yesterday was my first day back in work and crikey wasn't it a strange day!  Honestly I don't want a repeat of it today but with two full on meetings its likely to be another difficult one.  However, I set my stall out this week to actually manage more than just my Rocking post, I didn't mind what post just as long as my rocking post wasn't the only post I managed.  So here you have it a Tuesday morning delight - bet you're glad you happened along here.,  Can you tell the sarcasm in my post LOL?

So what have I got to share this morning - actually what have I got to share - hold on let me have a look
- well as you'll have gathered I had to abandon ship yesterday and re-commence this morning - the anti-virus software basically ground everything to a halt - grrrrrr.  But I'm back here and now it's Wednesday Morning - so lets have a Wednesday morning layout or two ! This one is a double layout I don't think I've shared previously from the Masonic Lodge in Beamish!

  Another Angel shot but at a jaunty angle!

 And apparently the way to feed a squirrel is using a peanut on the end of a skewer!

Phew I managed a mid-week post - thanks for looking - hope you're having a great day!

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY

Friday - a time to reflect and give thanks on the last 7 days, find those silver linings and smile as you kick back and appreciate those parts of your life that make life that bit easier, that bit better and that bit more pleasant than it otherwise would have been because its...

First up has to be the arrival of Carmen's baby, I'd already put my post together last week when we learnt the news, he's absolutely gorgeous and both Mum and baby are doing well!

A week off, to kick back and enjoy time with said 12 year old, the week has literally flown by, I can't believe we've been off that long.  The days seem to have been much shorter as well.

A trip to Yo Sushi last Friday - a first for hubby and a second for me, I spent more time wearing lunch but hey it was fun nonetheless.

UK Scrappers cybercrop has been awesome - one of the the small craft projects I made this week!

A trip to the local Garden Centres animal centre which had new baby Meerkats to show off - look how tiny is he! 

 And the one on look out seemed quite happy to pose for pictures

 My niece and said 12 year old - pretending to be little kids again - honestly what are they like!

 Christmas decorations apparently are much more fun worn on the face!

 Then Wednesday night brought our first ever Halloween 'party' now its in quotes because it was only a small affair but said 12 year old was the giddiest I've seen him in quite some time - lovely to see his enthusiasm!

My brother and his girlfriend Fi brought pumpkins

 We had a lovely evening full of giggles and fun and my niece and my sister stayed over.  My niece came dressed as the lead out of the film Black Swan - she looked amazing, here she just before taking her make up off at the end of the day - how gorgeous does she look! Eye make up done by my sister and before you ask - yes this will be appearing on a scrapbook layout very very soon!

Thursday brought a mixture of strangeness, mad dash to get sister and niece home, hubby home early, some difficult family news and a circle journal rush to be ready for posting date.

And then before we know it Friday is upon us once again.

Two layouts before I go, hubby and son on holiday earlier in the year

And sister on a rope bridge, I've already shared this layout on Collaborart blog and thought I'd pop it on here too.

So there you go my week, how's yours been, if you fancy joining in grab yourself a cuppa and have a ponder, pop yourself a blog post together and come back and link here, if you're not sure that your week was good enough, take yourself five minutes and really have a think - you'll soon find those silver linings. 

MK ON UKSCRAPPERS CYBER CROP

Now the gallery has actually gone live I can share what I did with the fabulous kit for the Detectives Team on UK Scrappers mystery kit.  I've wanted to do one of these before but never managed to get my hands on one, until recently!  The strangest thing is that you have soooooooooooo many ideas of what to do with them, it's hard to actually get started and make something but once I'd got started I challenged myself to see what I could do with the kit.

The only additions we were allowed was black and white cardstock other than that it was what came in the kit!

So my first idea was a mini book, based on a design in Scrap 365 that I loved!

This is it opened up

 And again

 And again

 And fully opened documenting a trip to Castell Coch

That was it then I'd started the kit so how much more could I get out of it!  Next up a layout, I loved the colours in the kit they went so well with my Castle photos!

Up close, the tag layered up with alphas on it from the kit.

Then I managed this layout, which I loved doing.

Up close , buttons on the circles

Supplies by now we getting a bit on the thin side but I managed one more layout so I was pleased, kicked myself that I didn't gut the navy paper at the back - I could have managed even more if I had.

Up close gems, embossing powder that was in the kit.

By now the kit was significantly thinner but I thought I can do one more layout - surely I can do just one more, again I had the magazine 365 out on my desk on their sketch page so I did this layout.

Simple embellishments

 And then I was left with a handful of scraps, but with some careful gutting of paper and matting onto black, layering up and then placing on white cardstock I squeezed one more layout out of the pack!  Mission accomplished.

 Up close some of the buttons!

So there you have it - one mystery kit used, I really should look into buying a kit a month because I've had such fun with this one using papers I wouldn't normally get chance to play with!

Thanks for looking

ROCKING MY WORLD FRIDAY...

Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Good Evening (depending on when you read this delete any inappropriate greetings and insert correct one according to the time of day).

Tis Friday - which means only one thing!

Again we've definitely jumped straight from one Friday to the next because I can't honestly think there was a week in between - was there?  Was there?  Really was there!!!

Time to think back about the last seven days, what's provided the smiles, the silver linings, the chuckles in my life... let's see

1. UK Scrappers Pre-cyber crop challenges - bliss is all I can say, I've had much fun!
2. UK Scrappers mystery kit, for once I managed to get my hands on one and after days of looking at the kit - I actually did something with it - thoroughly enjoyable! 
3. Wednesday Whine group - you girls are fantastic and have been such a massive support to me personally recently - THANK YOU - you know who you are! 
4. My sister Melanie for talking some sense into me when I was at my most stressed - thank you sweetie! 
5. My hubby - just for being him - which is awesome (always).
6. My son - for making me smile this week for a day at the beginning of the week, when he walked through the door after school and when asked "How was your day" - responds with the words "Awesome" - now this I like!
7. My study provider for allowing me to defer my course even if it's going to cost - now to reinsert sanity chip! 
8. Red Dwarf X on Dave - fabulous series up to now - we've chortled our way through the first three episodes!
9. A week off work next week - something to look forward to! 
10. A tidy house (well it's tidy now it won't last but it makes me smile when its like this!). 
11. Weight watching this week - it's been quite easy - fingers crossed I'll see a change on the scales 
12. Milky coffees
13. A lie in on Saturday and Sunday morning
14. The world's best salad that hubby cooked out of a Jamie Oliver magazine for a salad that goes with curry!!!
15. The more unusual supermarket in town for actually stocking Fenugreek seeds for the salad above.
16. Zest magazine - such a good read and the fact I bought it off the magazine man on the market for £1.50 even better! 
17. My local craft shop for allowing me to buy so many reels of double sided tape - can't believe I actually finally ran out - how did that happen! 
18. The new Scrap 365 magazine - always a good read and I love all the layouts! 
19. A walk in the local village on Sunday and a pint at the pub for hubby which he thoroughly enjoyed!
20. Royal Mail for getting a card to its destination on time! 
21. Asda for getting the shopping to us on Monday without a problem! 

And that my good people will have to do for today - 22 items that have made my week positive and better - now that is something to celebrate! 

Quick layout before I leave you with Mr Linky - a photo captured by said 12 year old when we were at Belsay Castle and Gardens earlier in the year! 

So if you fancy joining us - pop yourself a blog post together and come back and post here so we can come and visit and celebrate and enjoy your gratefuls!

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY

Good morning Rockettes it's Friday and time to take a step back and give thanks for all the positives and silver lines that we've had running through our week.

Mmm let's think

1. I'm grateful for being alive and for living somewhere that allows me to write down my thoughts and feelings freely
2. I'm grateful for the amazing Wednesday Whine group - you girls really do make my week!!!!! 
3. I'm grateful that I took the plunge and started to Weight Watch last Friday, it wasn't a huge - "ooh I'm going to..." moment, I just decided and then got on with it. 
4. In turn that's meant no booze this week, so I'm grateful for long evenings full of films, family and crafting!
5. A hubby who understands how mad his wife is most of the time (particularly when I decide 14 hours days are the way to go)  
6. Weekend lie in - it was much needed and on Sunday hubby crept downstairs and left me fast asleep - absolute bliss to not have to wake with an alarm - I'd forgotten how nice that was. 
7. Sharing the cooking task with hubby, we've both done really well making tea together, getting it out of the way so we can all chill and enjoy our evenings! 
8. Havahire - a local firm that rents out exercise equipment, even though I've got an air glider it causes hip issues so I fancied 'borrowing' a cross trainer which arrived safe and sound on Tuesday - I hadn't realised how unfit I am, but I'm hoping to be a bit fitter by Christmas!
9. The lovely man from Eon coming out to sort the seal issue on the boiler on Tuesday, it's good to know that it's worth having the cover for the peace of mind you get. 
10. UKScrappers for the pre-crop challenges on their cyber crop, I've had quite a lot of fun up to now and managed two pre-crop challenges still wondering what to do with the mystery kit if I'm honest. 
11. Donna - who is my partner in the pairs journal on Collaborart for bearing with me whilst things are a bit mad, I've done some work on her journal but want to do something else - just not sure what the something else is yet?
12. Sarah for hosting a great CJ on UKS which is just coming to its conclusion, even though we had some issues along the way it has still been great to get to know everyone so well in the group and whilst I've decided not to do another CJ on UKS for some time I will miss the group I was in and the chats we had, hopefully our paths will cross in some other ventures.
13. Grateful for milky coffees
14. Options hot chocolate the Belgian Chocolate variety
15. Said 12 year old embracing the idea of getting on with his homework last Friday evening!
16. Catch up with my sister, Mum and niece on Sunday

And that my beautiful people I think will have to do you for now! 

I hope you have had a great week, if you fancy joining in, pop yourself a blog post together, come back link up and we can come and visit.  We're only a tiny group - but we have a whole heap full of gratefuls!  

Before I put in Mr Linky - I'll pop a quick layout in, it always amazes me how versatile and fun circles can be on a layout!  You'll have to forgive the fact my 'r' fell off my title, I handstamped it and didn't like and then restamped on circles and went over the top (in my usual layers and layers and layers) but then in the process of photographing lost the 'r' - you'll be pleased to know I did find it - but afterwards. 

Finally Mr Linky