Snow Day

We very rarely get snow down here in sunny Dorset but we have had two coverings in the last two weeks. Up until yesterday I had been at work each time so hadn't been able to get out with my camera so I had to make the most of the snow yesterday and get snapping. I dragged Rebecca and the dog out with me and we spent a lovely two hours walking around the island, it was so beautiful.
One of my favourite place on the island is Church Ope Cove, it is so tranquil and unspoilt. At the top of the cove there are some ruins of an old monastery, they are always good for photographing but they looked especially good in the snow.

 I started to play around with the photo just by changing it to black and white and sepia, I love how it looks.

 Quite impressed I managed to get this shot, trying to throw a snowball and take a photo with a big camera at the same time isn't easy!!

 Down along the coast past the snow had turned very icy, I couldn't resist taking some photos of the ice on the plants.

 At the top of Church Ope Rebecca was just walking over to the wall to look at the sea when we realised there was a little robin sat there. We managed to get really close before he flew away and I got some photos too, what an obliging little chap!

 Archie wasn't keen on getting his nose in the snow to dig out his stone so Rebecca had to give him a helping hand.

 The snow was great for taking shadow photos.

 Rebecca.

Today is very grey and dreary, I just want the snow to clear away now I am due to have a shoulder op on Tuesday and really don't want it to be cancelled due to the weather!!
If I don't get back on here I hope you all have a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Take care and thanks for stopping by.
xx

Sketch Challenge

I don't seem to have had much time for scrapping lately but I did manage to find the time to use Lianne's great sketch for this months challenge over on Sarah's Cards blog.
I decided to use some of my newer papers, Hoopla, by Glitz Designs. I love the colours in this paper range and teamed it up with a sheet of Bazzill Basics, some Sassafras paper whimsies and chipboard stickers.
When I was little my favourite doll was a baby alive and I kept it for my children in case I had a daughter. As it turned out I had two but neither of the girls were ever that bothered about playing with her, there walking, talking, interactive dolls were much more interesting lol. I did get these photos of Emily playing with her on a rare occasion though so thought the moment should be scrapped.

TFL
xx

Stationary Box

A little while ago I was asked to create a stationary box to hold Christmas thank you cards for Scrapbook Magazine. I have never attempted anything like that before so I knew it would be a challenge but then I do like a good challenge! I decided that I wanted to be able to have the box on display all year round so I knew the outside couldn't be too themed. These Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather papers were perfect as there was a good mix of traditional and more subtle papers.
I started with the inside of the box first and covered it with the more traditional Christmas papers. I have to admit I spent a long time shuffling papers around my craft desk after that and wondered if I was ever going to be able to create something I would be happy with. In the end I came to the conclusion that I needed to treat the box as I would a scrapbook page. Once I had made that decision the box came together quite quickly and I really enjoyed creating it!
The pictures don't show it very well but I have misted the outside of the box and all the flower embellishments with silver mica mist, it gave the whole project a lovely subtle sheen.

The best part of any project for me is all the little fiddly bits, the lid was the one place where I could really go to town without affecting how the box functioned. I made some flowers using Tim Holtz tattered floral dies, Marianne Creatable dies and lots of different punches. I also added some leaves using the Tim Holtz tattered leaf dies, I stuck some wire to the back of the leaves so they could be bent into shape. I added some small Zva pearl swirls which are perfect for projects like this where space is limited.

The inside of the box is much more "themed", seeing the inside and outside like this it is hard to believe that all the papers that I used came from the same range! I have made some cards to go in the box but didn't get around to photographing them. 

TFL

xxx

1st December 2010

I can't believe it is the 1st December already!! What does that mean to most children..........opening the advent calendar. Thought I would share this photo I took of Rebecca this morning supplementing her breakfast with some chocolate!