Diamond Jubilee celebrations!

Congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen as she celebrates her Diamond Jubilee.  She has continuously served us well, with dignity, faithfulness to God, and dedication duty and it is only right that we should honour her and remember her on this day. 

Alex had a Jubilee party at school where the children were asked to dress in red, white and blue or as Kings/Queens. Alex went for both the colour scheme and pretending to be a Prince with this outfit.  He came back from school really chuffed as he had had his photo taken alongside a cardboard cut out of the Queen, and had won a Golden certificate for good behaviour and hard work.  I took him along to ToysRUs to choose  a special toy as a reward much to his delight.

This morning I painted his face with the Union Jack in preparation for the party.

Our Jubilee Street Party didn't go quite according to plan due to the shear amount of rain,

but as it was a church based party we were able to set up and move inside.

into the sports Hall,

the lounge

and even the worship area.

It was a lovely celebration with friends

and the children had a fantastic time after the food, playing parachute games in an upstairs room while the adults had a quiz.

To continue with the Jubilee theme, my crafting this weekend all featured a Union Jack flag which I made using distress inks sponged through these three templates. 

Here are the first ATCs which were made for my DT entry to Quirky Crafts 'Up, Up and Away' using elements from our sponsor, Cutting Cafe's Up, Up and Away digital stamp set, which I coloured with promarkers.  I am also entering this into PaperPlay 'double up' (2 gold corners on each ATC), SCSC 'anything goes' and Penny's challenge 'Anything goes'.

I then made this card for Less is Mores 'red, white and blue' theme, featuring a Tim Holtz crown which I masked before sponging the Union Jack with distress inks. Finally finishing it off by adding the red and blue peel offs, mounting on dark blue card and then stamping the sentiment (part of a Katie & Co stamp).  I am entering this into CCC 'Royalty', Delightful challenges 'red, white and blue', Daring Cardmakers 'red, white and blue', and Simon Says stamp 'anything goes'. That is all from me for now.  Enjoy the rest of the Jubilee celebrations and holiday.
Love,
Caro
x

A hot WOYWW!

The Tuesday morning tradition of crafting on Mummy's desk with her things has definitely not lost its appeal. Yesterday morning Alex was sat there in his shorts and T-shirt, complete with Union Jack temporary tatoo using my stamps and promarkers to make a picture for his best friend at school.

Here is the completed picture...you can tell it was made by a boy for a boy can't you! His colouring in is getting neater and I love the sun, sky and grass.

For the 156th WOYWW (yes, it has been going 3 years) you can see my desk as it was yesterday evening once I had packed away Alex's mess, worked on it all day, and then got out my latest layout to try and finish! As you can see there are scrapbook papers, craft knives, DST, a hidden craft mat and a pencil for marking where the photos should go. Most importantly my trusty mug of tea is there, half full of nice warm tea - yes, I do still drink tea even when it is boiling hot, and even when it makes me hotter than a very hot hot thing!  I have made an ATC ready for the swap but that is hidden away not to be shown until next week. 

Here is the completed layout which is from our staycation last year and a trip to Twycross Zoo.  The layout follows the lefthand side of Nuts about sketches #215 and I am also entering it into Lasting Memories 'footprints' challenge.

I have also made another layout following Nuts about sketches #214 featuring Tim and Alex, also from our staycation last summer.  I am entering this into The Crazy Challenge 'Childhood memories', Tuesday Throwdown 'masculine' (just to prove that you don't have to use blue and brown for a masculine layout!), PaperPlay 'summer lovin' (A loving Father and son relationship is pictured here) and Delicious Doodles 'diamonds/bling'.  That is all from me for now.  Enjoy the nosey round the desks as part of WOYWW and have a nice week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Sunny weekend

I have enjoyed this wonderfully hot and sunny weekend, although I could have done without having to go into the centre of Sheffield yesterday.  At least the water was running at the Peace Gardens so we could cool off.

Today we went to Alex's school Jubillee Party, which was mostly a disco party but had balloon modelling and kids crafts as well. He enjoyed himself, but we both agreed that after a while we wanted to get out in the sun and away from the loud music!

This afternoon we went to Rivelin Valley intending to go in the paddling pools, only to discover that they are in the process of being refurbished so we went and messed around in the river instead for a while,

before sitting on the edge watching everyone else whilst eating an ice lolly.

I have managed to do a little bit of crafting this weekend, but not a lot as it has been so nice.  This card was made for a girl who is into fairies and I am entering it into Less is More's 'shaped card' challenge, as well as Speedy the Fox 'heat emboss main image' (it is embossed with voilet pearl embossing powder), Crazy4Challenges 'one layer', All sorts 'birthday' and Aud Sentiments 'any sentiment' challenges.

I also made a start on my summer holiday photos from last year with this scrapbook layout.  The main paper is from Bo Bunny and I have added to it with various ink effects and stamps.  I am entering this into SSSS 'Summer Holiday', MTTC '2 of the same' (shell stamp), CCC 'Dimension' (real shells and shrink plastic shell), Simon Says stamp 'male challenge', DYSU 'a little birdie told me', and SCSC 'Anything but a card'.  That is all from me for now.  Have a wonderful week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Chelsea Flower Show and WOYWW!

Well this is what my desk looked like yesterday morning...Alex was sat busy crafting and making a friendship card for one of the girls in his class.  He used a cuttlebug embossing folder, a Penny Black stamp (coloured with Promarkers - he is actually very careful with them) and a Crafty individuals stamp. This is the neatest colouring I think he has ever managed!

As his finished card was Clean and Simple and for a child and he wanted to enter into a challenge (like Mummy!), I am entering this into Less is More's 'for a child/baby' challenge on his behalf!  I am also entering this into Flourishes Timeless Tuesday 'flowers', SCSC 'in the garden' and SSDS 'flowers' challenge on his behalf.

This is the state of my desk as it is now for WOYWW.  My challenge book is out as I try and get inspiration for crafting after a busy few days.  You can also see numerous stamos floating round the back of my desk that need to be cleaned and put away, my work keys and swipe card, as well as my phone and my trusty mug of tea.

I really haven't had time for crafting so far this week as I was unexpectedly invited to the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday.  Mother (and Dad) has been showing at Chelsea since 1972 and she has decided that this is the last year she is going to do it, so on Monday (Press Day), she held a party at the stand for all her RHS and AGS friends, Gran and me!  It was a mad trip down to London and back in the day, but so worth it! 

The Broadleigh Gardens stand (Mum's stand) looked amazing as you can see (view 1),

(view 2)

(view 3)

(view 4) so it is no wonder that she got BBC coverage last night (watch it on i-player if you missed it - her name is Christine Skelmersdale!) and a well deserved Gold medal.

It was wonderful to see her, Dad and Gran and to get a chance to look round the various exhibits in the marquee and outside,

I fell in love with various of the exhibits including Raymond Evison's clematis stand,

the Birmingham floral mini, complete with floral driver,

the incredible vegetable display

this steampunk horse

and driftwood dog.

It was a truly memorable and once in a life-time experience to be there on Press Day when all the stands were looking at their best and yet there was plenty of space to see them.  Now it is back to reality unfortunately and editing a student thesis!  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

May Fest weekend!

Well here in Sheffield we have been celebrating with a May festival in Western Park.  It was the greatest of fun and the weather was actually vaguely warm!  As well as the usual helter skelter and other rides

there were more unusual bungee trampolines which Alex loved

and some circus style entertainers

who even let Alex have a go with the tricks.

He was especially pleased to meet the Stormtroopers

as well as the very tall Sergant Majors!

To finish it off he had his first 'brain freeze' courtesy of a Hawaian ice (I had to help him finish it otherwise we would never have got home!).

This weekend it is time for another Quirky Crafts challenge set by Lyn.  She chose spots, dots, stripes and ribbon.  I was given this extremely cute 'an elephant never forgets' stamp by our sponsor (Robyn's fetish) to use. I actually followed the sketch from Stampin for the weekend for this card, which also fits with Delightful challenges 'ribbon' and Crazy4challenges 'birthday card'.

I also made a card for this weeks Less is More challenge which is to make a card for a baby or child.  I have only just made a new baby card so chose to make a card for a child who is really into Disney.  I used the stamp and brayer technique to generate a reflection.  This is the first time I have done this with non-silhouette and on see through stamps...it was a real challenge...I am not sure how well I have succeeded, but you can at least see what I am attempting to do with it! I am entering this into Crafty Creations 'male birthday card' and Simon says stamp 'clean and simple'. That is all from me for now...I need to go and get everything ready for an extremely early start tomorrow as I am off to London for press day at the Chelsea Flowershow...I am uber excited!  More on Wednesday with photos from Chelsea I hope!  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Midweek rush! (WOYWW)

I am in a real rush this week as I am somewhat behind with preparing my post for WOYWW.  My excuse is I have had a stinking cold all week, have a hacking cough and no voice which seems to have somewhat slowed me down in all ways for some reason.  I did manage to craft with Alex yesterday so he could make this card for his girlfriend though!

This is the state of my desk as it was yesterday (Tuesday) evening in the midst of making a new baby card for one of my oldest friends.  As you can see there are promarkers, flowers and distress inks everywhere and I have to confess it doesn't look much better now. Notable by its absence is my large mug of tea...for some reason I forgot to get a top up - I must be ill!  The situation is rectified as I type this though...there is a large mug sat near me (but not too near the laptop in case of accidents!).

Here is the finished card which followed the sketch from CCCB, and used an image from Stitchy Bear digital stamps which I coloured with promarkers. I cut the central panel with a nestie and distressed round the edge with teabag and worn lipstick distress inks (I did the same round the edge of the card).  I am entering this card into SSSS 'anything goes', Pollycraft 'pink, white, cream and red', DYSU 'use a flower', Delightful challenges 'distressing', Flourishes Timeless Tuesday 'alphabet challenge ' (D: distressing, doily and die) and OLL 'ribbon'.  That is all from me for now.  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x