Scrapping Catch-Up

I haven't posted any crafty stuff here in a while, but that doesn't mean I haven't made anything. I've knocked out a reasonable few layouts in fact, and recently I've been enjoying doing some cardmaking again. If I carry on like this I might even build up a bit of a stash of cards so I don't always have to make one to order!

A few of my recent LOs (including one of some photos from my last post - yes I'm even scrapping stuff the same month I take the pics occasionally!).

A heavenly day

We spent a few hours this afternoon at Wakehurst Place in Sussex, a satellite site of Kew Gardens. It's a fab place - plenty to explore and lots of variety, from the walled garden, manicured lawns, specimen beds, pretty ponds and streams, to deep woodland, a big lake, and rocky valleys. There's even a nature reserve attached that you have to book to visit because they limit the numbers so much - haven't made it there yet.

It's only about 15 minutes drive from home, so it's a favourite place to go for a couple of hours to relax or for a walk (especially with super cheap annual membership!) We were last there about three weeks ago and the bluebells in the woods were just coming into bud, so we were determined to get back while they were in flower. This weekend was the first chance we'd had and we timed it just right - they were absolutely gorgeous. And so many! I took a ton of photos, like these:




The rest are on Flickr if you want a peek.

We took a picnic and strolled around just enjoying the glorious sunshine.

Wonderful scents: warm smell of bark chippings where they'd put down fresh mulch, light but delicious bluebells, headier rhododendrons, the freshness of still new leaves.

At one point, walking a few feet behind Andy, I heard a rustling beside me. I stopped to look, thinking it would be a bird, but no - it was a young rabbit! He stared back at me in shock for a few seconds, then bounded off underneath the bush he'd been nibbling.

We were back near the entrance when Andy spied this handsome fellow and his lady friend and decided to feed them (we had some seed with us).


Of course the ducks over by the nearby picnic tables had to come and pinch some. And when we eventually walked away, a pair of jackdaws joined in the foraging too.

Great times!

A new class from Shimelle

Shimelle's new class, Here, There & Everywhere is starting this Sunday and I can't wait. I love her classes, even if I don't keep up with them!

This one is all about places - in Shimelle's own words:

"Here documents the kind of travel you do near home: tiny little everyday journeys and important sights on your hometown landscape. There records the places you have been. Whether they are close or far away, we’ll illustrate your travels so far. Everywhere is something entirely new: we’ll be scrapbooking about the places we dream of going and looking into making the travel of our dreams one step closer to reality."

and should be perfect for me, as I love to travel and dream about travelling.

Sign up on Two Peas in a Bucket or visit Shimelle's blog to read more about it.

See you there!

Going on holiday

Andy and I are going on holiday in the first week of March, and I can't wait! We're going to Tunisia with my parents, and I'm so looking forward to escaping this winter weather for a little while. It just seems to be coming round awfully soon.

It will be my first visit to Africa, about time I got to another continent! We'll be touring around, visiting Carthage, and plenty of Roman sites, should be really interesting. Definitely not a lounging around holiday.

Seriously cool!

I found this video on good old YouTube the other day, and had to share as I just LOVE it! I dread to think how long it take to make. The song is pretty nice too :)

Cybercropping

I took part in the cybercrop on UKS this weekend. I didn't do that much really - I found quite a few of the classes fairly uninspiring to be honest. But I am pleased with 3 the layouts I did do - and it's definitely more than I'd get done on a normal weekend, so it was good to have that push! I've also made a couple of cards for friends' birthdays so a fairly productive weekend in all.

Feeling blah

I've been reading lots of blogs lately, but really not had any inclination to post on my own, don't know why. And now, I'm just fed up of being ill. I know I haven't really had it bad, but I've had this ridiculous cough for 2 weeks now and frankly it's just getting tired!

My Circle Journal is home...

... and it is wonderful!

My fabulous UKS teamies have worked on my CJ for the last 9 months to produce a beautiful record of who they all are - and it is extra special because I've now met some of them. Just need to get together with the other girls now!

Here it is in all its glory (click on the thumbnails to see full-size pics):

Front cover



Rules



My page



Moira



Miranda



Nic



Clare



Gemma



Becs


Kimmie



Maxine



Sign-in



Back Cover





Isn't it great? (despite my poor photography!)

What happens when...

...you leave your PC unattended?

Icon War!!

Great days out

We had the week before last off work, and had a great time both at home and on day trips out and about. We were really lucky with the weather - it has been rubbish since but we had glorious sunshine.

We visited Whipsnade Zoo, where we loved seeing the animals in such spacious enclosures. Some of our favourites:

the lemurs


the sleeping lions


the rhinos


the peacocks wandering around freely


The next day we went to the Tutankhamun exhibition at the O2. It was really interesting, and many of the items are amazingly beautiful. When you realise that everything there is well over 3000 years old it is even more astonishing. After the exhibition we went for dinner at a latin restuarant (mmm, enchiladas!), and finished it off with a couple of cocktails. Then it was on to the cinema to see the latest Narnia film - good fun, especially after a couple of drinks! After that we gave ourselves a bit of a treat, given that it was so hot we skipped the tube and instead we took the Thames Clipper back to London Bridge.

We also spent a day on the coast - starting off at Eastbourne.

We even had a go on the penny arcades, an essential part of a trip to the seaside in my opinion. Then we referred to the Good Pub Guide to find somewhere for lunch, and ended up in this gorgeous little village called East Dean.

I could quite happily have sat there for the rest of the day to be honest! But we didn't, we went on to Beachy Head for a brisk - and windy - walk along the cliffs.


And to top it all off, we drove home via the Long Man of Wilmington. Unfortunately there is nowhere convenient to stop, so we only got a fleeting glimpse, but at least we can tick him off the list now ;)