In with the Old and the New {kinda} and a Giveaway

~Welcome to my 100th post and a celebratory giveaway!!!~

I've been 'saving' the Little Boy sticker from Echo Park's Little Boy collection for as long as I can remember. Why do us scrappers do that? Where better to keep our coveted supplies than in our scrapbook albums? So I challenged myself to use it.

Moving out of my comfort zone a little more I looked past the kraft cardstock for once and reached for an old sheet of blue WRMK sewn cardstock. I really like the stitched detail and I think this is definitely something I will try to recreate using my WRMK Sew Easy tool. I added a few embellies from some of my favourite ranges; the little owl is from the DCVW The Green Stack, the sun, cloud and tree are by Bella Blvd. (part of my recent birthday haul - I can't recommend these enough - the are lovely) and the pin badge is American Crafts.

I'm really pleased to have transferred some much loved bits from stash to paper and to have scrapped this photo of my little man from early 2010 - he looks so grown up to me in that photo even now two years on.

To celebrate my 100th blog I'd like to giveaway a £20 gift voucher for you to spend at Craft Island. All you have to do is become a follower of my blog and post a comment on this blog post either linking to a project where you have used a coveted item of your supplies or simply tell me about something you have been hoarding for that 'special' project. The closing date is Saturday 30th June. And I'll announce the winner on Sunday 1st July.

Thanks for stopping by x

I Will Scrap This {love you onions}

Recently we have started saying 'I love you millions' to Jack at bedtime. I usually say this walking down the stairs as Jack stands at the top waiting for me to go into the livingroom, while his Daddy waits in his bedroom to tuck him (and over 10 soft toys) into bed. In reply, Jack shouts 'love you onions'.

This is a cheeky snap taken very, very quickly while trying not to wake him up. Thanks for stopping by x

In the Summertime

And from an old collection to a new one... so the thing is, stash bought for your birthday operates in a silimar way to calories eaten on your birthday - you know the fat free, point free, check free, syn free ones...? This meant I could treat myself on my birthday and it did not affect my stash diet AT ALL. Obvisouly :p So, I treated myself to Echo Park's Hello Summer and Bella Blvd.'s Sunshine and Happiness. I can't get enough of these Summer colours and I'm loving that I managed to use them for a page for Jack's album too.

This is Jack after a hard days work at Edinburgh Butterly World (and when else can you really go to town with butterfly embellies on your little man's pages?!). Seeing Jack sleeping a a rarity as he usually wakes the second I open his bedroom door (although more recently he has been sleeping with the door open so I can sneek a peek more often - not so good in the middle of the night when you want to sneak to the toilet - which happens A LOT at 30 weeks pregnant!) so I always try to snap him when he falls asleep in the car. I then crane my neck as much as possible to look at him. Don't worry I'm not the one driving when I do this! No fellow motorists were harmed in the making of this layout.

Supplies include; Bella Blvd. Summer and Happiness, Thickers, Bazzill, AdornIt, KI Memories Puffies, Martha Stewart butterfly punches, Sizzix Subshine die, Sassafras Lass Felties, gems and a little lone red brad.

I really wanted to make a point of using the gorgeous stickers in the new Echo Park Hello Summer collection rather than hoarding them for that 'special' project (that never transpires) so I really went to town with the stickers on this one. The photo is of my little neice enjoying a bounce in her Jumperoo. Isn't she a little cutie pie. Supplies include: Echo Park's Hello Summer, Bazzill, Thickers, Sizzix Sunshine die, ribbon and decorative pins. Thanks for stopping by x

Digging out an Old Collection

How many must have collections lie in your scrappy supplies unloved, unused, forgotten about? Please tell me I am not the only one who has to have a collection like yesterday and then promptly forgets all about it? In light of my recent attempts at a stash diet I decided to dig out one of my unloved but much loved 'must haves' - Farm Fresh from October Afternoon. 

I love the whimsy colours and the little peas in a pod are so cute. Supplies include: Bazzill, October Afternoon, Thickers, Bella Blvd. chipboard jounralling spots, Sizzix Sunshine die, decorative pins, ribbon and KI Memories Puffies. Thanks for stopping by x

I Will Scrap This {the one with the green man}

Jack arrived home from nursery recently armed with a masterpiece! Having been given free reign to paint anything he wanted he painted 'the green man'. At first the nursery teachers weren't sure what he was talking about but once they realised that he had painted a set of traffic lights with the correct colours and in the right order they were very impressed!! Well done little man. Love Mummy x

'The Green Man' by Jack Age 3 1/2

Where's your smiles for Mummy

Where's your smiles for Mummy is a phrase that Jack has heard a lot. Much to my enjoyment he is currently going through a happy to be photographed stage. I can't lie; never looking at the camera and the inability to stay still for one nano second was not my bag. I'm so pleased we've moved on to this new poser stage. I'm fully prepared that it won't last and I am making the most of it armed and dangerous with my point and shoot. But there was the captive audience stage where he couldn't move (much), didn't comment on his outfits and happily posed all the time (although it's safe to say he didn't have many other options).

Ages ago I made use of a special offer at Truprint for a collage print. I had no idea what I was going to do with my print but I think it was always my intention to chop it up. As a scrapper who relies on online photo printing I am always looking for ways to print in a size other than 4x6 (although I love my 4x6 dont' get me wrong) and this seemed like a great idea. It's really simple to create, just pick your photos and Truprint (or I'm sure any online photo printer) does the rest. 

In the spirit of using existing supplies, and I include my pre-printed photos in this, I thought it was about time I put this collage to good use. Three years sitting in my craft room was not part of my grand master scrapping plan (I just checked my Truprint order history which goes back to early 2010 - this order isn't even there). Time to get scrapping!

Keeping the layout Truprint had already given me all I had to do was cut the photos and stick them down in the same order (losing a column and a little from one of the photos on the left hand side to make this it fit onto a 12x12 sheet but I am sure you can order collages in A4 to get around this. 

I added a couple of strips of papers, a title, embellies and some journalling - a super quick layout with lots and lots of photos to look back on.

Supplies include; kraft cardstock, Bella Blvd. Baby Boy paper, stickers and chipboard, Simple Stories Baby Steps alphas, gems, brads and Thickers.

Rollin Rollin Rollin

When Jack first started to roll, he rolled only to the left. When he reached the sofa he would indicate that he wanted to be taken back to his starting position at the opposite side of the rug. Such a precious memory, I wish I had blogged/scrapped this at the time as we had to do a little detective work (looking back at old photos and video) to remember the details. This makes me sad but makes me even more determind to blog/jot down (scrap!!) the little details and the big milestones as they happen. This is even more important to me with Jack's little brother on his way! How do you scrap with two??? Practically? Will there be time? How do you decide who to scrap?! I'd love to hear your strategies?

This page was inspired by Shimelle's second challenge to mix three or more paper collections on one layout. I have to be honest I NEVER do this. I am a lazy scrapper. I don't want to spend too much time on one page. I don't have (or at least I didn't think I had) time to search through collections upon collections to find papers that match. I simply scrap by collection, adding the odd embellishment from another collection/manufacturer but generally sticking to one range. I was ready to mix it up, to give this challenge a go and I am so pleased that I did.

I think I cheated a little however, as I picked collections that have really quite obvious and similar themes - baby boy and animals.

Supplies include; Bazzill (kraft cardstock), MME Lime Twist Fly a Kit (blue star and grey/brown polka dot papers, red stars transparency), LYB Babysaurus (yellow stripe paper and stickers), Bella Blvd. Baby Boy (yellow cloud paper, star and bodysuit borders stickers and chipboard), LYB Baby Boy Safari (chipboard and journalling spot), Ki Memories Puffies (red flowers) and American Crafts (Thickers). Plus some lace, tulle and decorative pins.

I love the introduction of the red from MME - I would never have thought to add red to the other collections. I am so pleased with the results that I am going to keep these supplies together all mixed up. Here's to mixing it up and blogging/jotting things down more!

I will Scrap This {the one with the mother's day plant}

My all time favourite Mother's Day present is a plant Jack grew at nursery. I had no idea he had been growing it, it was a lovely surprise to see him running in the front door armed with a Mother's Day gift - he was so proud of himself.

This is Jack last week with his plant and his Easter gift from his Grandma and Grandad - his own gardening set. I am loving this new super posing phase he is 'growing' through. I better make the most of it before he changes his mind!

I love you more than you know

Look at those fingers and those big eyes and all that baby drool. I can't believe my little man was ever this small. I know everyone says it but they really do grow up so fast! On Saturday morning I went into his room and I said 'good morning little man' and he said 'good morning little mummy' {cue heart melt}. I love him more than he knows. True story.

Suppiles for this page include My Minds Eye Lime Twist Fly a Kite, My Minds Eye Life of the Party, Green and Blue Petaloos and KI Memories Happy Day Puffies.

When life gives you...

oranges...

have {fanta}stic fun.

What? don't give up my day job? :p


J having a carry on with oranges

Who knew they could be so much fun

Some of the J's favourite toys aren't toys at all

Boxes become racetracks, roads, garages

Spot a theme? J likes cars

Here comes the science

Supplies are: Echo Park Little Boy, Bazzill, Thickers, Papermania and October Afternoon.

4 photos to try to capture 'the action'

Polka dots because well they are round like oranges, right?

Layered up a whole load of journalling spots to create a mat for the title

Added some sparkles simply because I am addicted to bling :p

I'd just like to say...

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken time to reply to my last post 10 things. I really appreciate each and every one :)

You are my Sunshine

It doesn't matter how sad

feld up
blue
I feel
just one little teeny tiny look at this little man and my heart melts and the sun shines

Give your little ones an extra sqeeze today

let the sun shine

Supplies are sassafras lass bungle jungle, making memories, kaisercraft, adornit and provocraft.

Thank You for the... Scrapping

Look at that face! OK, so I'm possibly a teeny tiny bit biased but look at it {heart melt}. This photo was taken at Edinburgh Zoo in September 2009 when my little man was only 11 months old. I can't believe that he will be 3 this year! Time goes so fast, too fast, much faster than before. I remember when a week seemed like an eternity and summers lasted, well, forever. When did it all start to speed up?

I'm watching as those baby legs turn into sturdy little toddler legs - and I wonder where all the baby podge went. Although, I didn't need too look far - oh hey look, it's on me! :p Could we just stop time for a minute while I catch my breath and take in every single second; smell that baby smell, hold those squidgy little baby fingers in my hand one last time... Thank goodness for blogging, diaries, to do lists on scrappy bits of paper and scrapping to remember it all. I'd be lost without this hobby.

Supplies include: Bo Bunny Double Dot, 3 Bugs in a Rug Animal Stackers, Thickers, AdornIt, Making Memories, Aunty Sarah's Bloomers, Sandylion, American Crafts Flair, and October Afternoon. Ribbon from stash. Thanks for stopping by. Kx

Mummy's Little Poser

I wish I had a little button on the leg of my glasses that allowed me to capture what I could see right at that very moment. Or photographic eyes that upload straight to Photobox with a blink of an eye.

Everyday my little man does so many things that I wish I could capture there and then. By the time I have found the camera (why is it never where I left it?), wrestled it from its case, switched it on, while trying to muffle the 'switching on' sound trying not to alert my toddler to the upcoming photo session (I must learn how to switch that off), switched off the flash (I must learn how to have this switched off automatically - I must read that manual!!) he's off and the moment is gone.

My little man never poses for the camera but he is aware of it. I know because he says 'cheese' when you take the camera out he just doesn't look at it.

I couldn't believe it when he happily posed for the photos below albeit at the back of the cupboard under the stairs with all the clutter; Summer toys and Daddy's golf clubs included, while I was clearing it out for the hundredth time last November.

Supplies include: Echo Park Little Boy, Bazzill Dotted Swiss cardstock, Alphas; Thickers Marine and Leaf, Adorn It, Mini Alpha Stickers Apple, Rusty Pickle Pop Star Rub-ons, October Afternoon Night Light journaling cards, blooms, DCWV Grade School rub-on and Papermania buttons.

I'm so happy I managed to catch this moment with my camera (it must've been where I left it, not in the case and I figure I needed the flash for the dark cupboard!). I guess the photographic eyes and camera specs can wait.

Daddy & Me

Lately, I have been stuck in a bit of a patterned paper rut. In fact I can't remember the last page I created that wasn't completely COVERED in patterned paper. For this page I wanted to return to my orginal scrappy love of more graphic pages and 'white space'.


I used Bo Bunny Double Dot, Animal Stackers by 3 Bugs in a Rug, the small circle journalling spot is October Afternoon, Papermania buttons, Thickers and the felt stars are Making Memories.

The photo was taken at Edinburgh Zoo in September 2009. My brother and sister in law and my in laws were all there. It was an absolutely brillant day. We lucked out with the weather with a rare sunny day. It was so warm we took the little man's socks and shoes off to let his little tootsies breathe. Check out his chubby little legs. Oh how I am going to miss those little baby legs. Thanks for stopping by. Kxx

Snuggle Buggle

Just a quick post from me today to share this page. I can't believe Jack was ever this small! He is only two weeks old in this photo. He's all wrapped up like a snuggle buggle in a towel after having a bath. I can't believe the size of his little face compared to his Daddy's hand.

I used the Best Creation Baby Safari collection that I won on the Best Creations Blog last month. Cute isn't it? It's perfect for baby pages and I am going to do loads more but I am going to use it to scrap some photos taken at Disney's Animal Kingdom in WDW as well as I think it will go well with our safari-esk photos. Love Kirsteen x

Baby it's Cold Outside

I was about to put all my Echo Park Wintertime papers away but I thought as I had them out might as well have another bash at the page that I had started but got nowhere with. And I am soooo glad I did. I think this page is one of my all time favourites, of the moment (obvs.) :p

I layered lots of stickers, there are so many in this collection. I can't imagine running out. And added a punched scalloped circle, rikrak and some Kaisercraft Pearls to create a cluster of embellies at the bottom on the photo.

I just love this with the little hat and the pompoms. As always, I still need to add my journalling. Jack had been playing outside in the garden for ages and was his face when I suggested that it was perhaps time to come inside. Look how cold his little face looks. Happy Friday!! I hope you have a fab weekend planned :o) Kxx

Calamity Jane does Scrapbooking

I had a huge case of Calamity Jane does Scrapbooking when I created this page. Firstly, I under estimated just how wet the Tim Holtz Distress Ink was going to be. After inking the large square of patterned paper I placed it on top of the cardstock and shuffled it about a little, spreading ink everywhere.

Undeterred I carried on, adding double sided sticky tape to my large piece of inky paper, and when shuffling it into place for the second time I noticed it was squint. I'd somehow managed to cut the paper jaunty and with a 12x12 guillotine (who knew that was even possible...).

Prior to figuring this out though I popped the cardstock into the guillotine just to make sure that the cardstock was absolutely square you see and I somehow managed to pull down the handle ever so slightly making a cut into the cardstock (seriously, what are the chances?).

I also added a mis-match of uneven foam pads to the Wintertime sticker making it bumpy (this was not the look I was aiming for). The upshot is that this page is slightly smaller than 12x12 and purposely bulky to make up for that :p I kinda like that it has a funny little story to go with it though :o)

I used Bazzill, Echo Park Wintertime and Kaisercraft Pearls. The photo was taken in our back garden in December last year. I'm not really sure what it is that my little man is trying to do but I like to think he's checking the depth of the snow with his head, as you do obviously! :p


I made this little embellishment using a scalloped circle punch of Wintertime patterned paper and some of the co-ordinating stickers with a little twine and some Kaisercraft pearls. I added a flurry of snowflakes to the bottom of the photo using an old Xcut snowflake punch and some more Kaisercraft bling.

Peek-a-boo!

I love this photo of Jack. It was taken on one of those rare surprise warm sunny days last year. I was really lucky to catch him peeking out of the window of a little wooden train in the playground at the local farm. He's so quick now, I see so many photo opportunities flash before my eyes in a toddler shaped blur as I scramble for my camera!


I used Little Boy by Echo Park papers and embellies along with a sheet of Bazzill cardstock. I popped the title and a couple of the embellies on foam pads to add a little dimension.

Halloween's Coming...

I can't wait for Halloween. Can you? Most of all I can't wait for the children's Halloween costumes to arrive in Tesco!! Last year my little man was a vampire and this is by far my favourite Halloween costume he has worn to date (he's only two mind you ;p). I was torn between a bat suit and a vampire suit. I went with the vampire suit and although I'll admit that I'm a little biasied I think I made the right decision, he was the cutest vampire in town ;) I wonder what he will be this year...

 Pop on over to the DCWV Blog to be in with a chance to win three spooky prizes :)

The Great Scrap Lift

What I love about scrapbooking is that even when your scrapbooking mojo has got up and gone you can always find inspiration in all the lovely work shared online. I'd picked a photo of my little man that I wanted to scrap and I had some new 3 Bugs in a Rug that I thought would be prefect but no mojo to create anything. So I hopped over to scrapbook.com to have a looksee and fell in love with this, isn't it gorgeous. I tried to use it just as inspiration but loved everything so much that it is a complete scraplift from layout to title to supplies. I'm so pleased with the result and I even got to use my new hand stitching tools and my scallop template :)

The cheeky little giraffe is one I bought in Joanns or Michaels in Orlando over two years ago, isn't he a cutie? Happy Saturday! Thanks for dropping by. Kxx