Scrapping On The Edge

~*~ A. B. {C.} ~*~

OK, I have too much stash, I do. Seriously TOO much, so I came up with my own challenge, to SCRAP THAT STASH, only I do it with a twist.
You know those papers you buy, that are soooooo purty and you would rather stroke them then actually use them? Well I have tons of those too and they always manage to escape my challenges, so I had to come up with a better plan.

Scrap your papers according to the A,B,C - easy enough, right? I seem to have papers from Manufacturers starting will all letters in the alphabet (ok, I think I can pass on j and q but everything else is there). So, I challenged myself to not buy any more stash before I have scrapped my alphabet right through. If I have more than one manufacturer for a letter, I have to use the one of which I have more papers (that way, my hoarded stroked papers will get done too).

Beginning with A, I had tons of American Crafts papers, simply because I had to have them but always found them too difficult to scrap. But I was pleased how my first layout turned out. It shows my Mom and Dad at a party in 1979 and the retro look of the papers was a perfect match, me thinks. There is another person in the picture but no one could remember who he was, so I stuck a hand cut flower over him. Other materials used were Bazzill cardstock, American Crafts Thickers and Rub Ons.

Now I could proceed to B and found my next hurdle: Basic Grey - again, pretty papers but I have huge difficulties scrapping with them. In the end I managed to use hem for this winter picture of my Nan and me 1968, having fun in St. Johan. Other materials used were cardstock from Frances Meyer, Stickers from Basic Grey and Bazzill, Stamp from Stamps Away and Quickutz die cuts.

Now I can move on to C and I have already taken the Crate papers out of the box, but that's as far as I have gotten - they just don't "speak" to me. The old story - pretty papers that I find impossible to scrap. But by the end of the week I will have it done, I am sure.

If you want to join me in this challenge, go ahead - it's always great to scrap your stash away, even if it is just an excuse to buy more....

Other than scrapping I have become obsessed with a character named Edward Cullen, who is the brainchild of author {stephenie meyers}. This is the most stunning series of books about vampires ever. I just couldn't out the first one "Twilight" down and now I have to wait two more weeks before the second one is shipped to me *sobs*. If you love vampire/romance stories, you MUST buy these books. I bet that you will go to sleep at night hoping your other half will turn into your own Edward over night - so far Lyndon refuses to turn into a vampire but in the end I always get my will <insert evil grin>

~*~ What a hoot ~*~

What a fantastic weekend we had - I really enjoyed it a lot (apart from the abysmal pizza we got at Pizza Hut, but that's another story)

First, we had a look around the shops in Newport and I found a fab suitcase that I am going to pick up next weekend - I desperately need one for my upcoming weekend in Hamburg. We also checked out for some cheap tents but found zilch. After that we made our way down the Bike trail to Sandown. Totally loved the fun benches they out everywhere - if course we had to take picture of us on them too, expect them to appear on a layout in the near future.

After a 2 hour hike my knee started to give in and we had to shorten our trail  - a good excuse to stop off in a pub along the way....after that much needed refreshment we went on to another pub, which we always wanted to try out before but never gotten around doing it. This time we stayed for a couple of drinks and some fun photo's - you could tell by the majority of them that we were already slightly tipsy (the beers together with the burning sun turned bot of us into cheap dates...).

I love the one of Lyndon wearing my hat - he is such a handsome Dude!

On our way back to Newport we came through a little town and were greeted by the cutest boxer dog ever. He was still very young and wanted to play, so we stopped, petted him and played a bit - but when we started moving again, the little rascal followed us. We just couldn't get rid off him and started to worry about what to do. He had a collar but no owner was around (would you leave your dog running around without checking on it???), so I said to Lyndon that we should just ignore him, just keep walking.

He still followed us around and we were getting worried, what with all the traffic - but all of a sudden he was gone. When we couldn't see him anymore we just ran across to the other side of the road and hid behind some bushed....just in case. I swear that dog probably does that every weekend and pees himself laughing when the people he follows hide behind the bushes.

Anyway, we finally made it back to Newport and looked forward to our Pizza - but we were deeply disappointed. It looked nothing like it does in the adverts and tasted so boring too - to think that we had to pay £25 for two and that included only 1 medium pizza, 2 starters and 2 drinks. That is SO bad. We usually spend £25 per week for our weekly food shopping for two....we are not going back there in a hurry, that's for sure.

Yesterday I was busy writing up my class for Rusty Pickle and sorting all my other assignments which are due this week. That also led me to make some decisions, which should give me back some more "me" time and it is a weight lifted off my shoulders. Nothing too major, but re-organizing your life once in a while, is not a bad thing.

Oh, I totally missed the {pencil lines}reveal last night - I thought it was Saturday! That's what happens when you have a long weekend, it messed up your days totally!
The sketch from {gigi kennedy}was such fun to do and I adored what everyone came up with. I flipped the sketch 90 degrees to the left and included less pictures. You know me, I just hyperventilate when I have to use more than one picture - so quite frankly, I think I have done well getting three on a 8,5 x 1  layout.

Materials used: Cardstock, chipboard alpha - Bazzill ** Paper - KI Memories, Making Memories, Danyeela ** Stamps - 7Gypsies ** Metal plaque - Making Memories

~*~ Long Weekend ~*~

I have been waiting desperately for this weekend. You see, in the UK we do have an official holiday on Monday, so that means we have three days off - and BOY do I need those. So far I have been unable to catch up on my assignments to get into a regular routine with my full time job, the DT work and my private life so I am trying to re-shuffle an reorganize bits and bobs over the next couple of days. But today is Lyndo-day :)

In 2 hours time we will go hiking about on the Isle of Wight, end ing up in some of our wonderful pubs and feasting on some delicious pizza. "hang on a minute", I hear you say. "weren't you on a diet?"
Yes, I am - but one day a week I treat myself to eat what I like and so far it is working, I am still losing the pounds and while that is going on I don't see a need to not enjoy my life. Today is gonna be fun!

yesterday we had the plumber coming to our house to fix all our dripping taps - we were left stunned.
First of all, I only called him on Thursday afternoon and he offered then and there to come around, but as it was such short notice, no was at home so we agreed on yesterday. Then he amazed us at showing up on the dot, being very efficient and when Lyndon asked him if he thought anything else in our bathroom needs replacing, he said "nah, everything is fine as it is". A plumber who isn't out to as much money out of as he can??
For 2 hours work, replacement tap heads he only charged us £80 (approx $150) - what a bargain, considering that he also had his apprentice working with him. We already booked him in for some other stuff in our flat in October. So, things are looking up in a small way.

To "celebrate" the fact that the plumber cost less than anticipated I went out in my lunch break and bought two awesome notebooks in Paperchase, which I had been eyeing for weeks now - gotta LOVE the covers.

I better get ready to go out now - catcha later gators

~*~ Happy Mail Day ~*~

Don't you just love those days, when the postman brings you a parcel full of goodies?? I love it even more when he brings me goodies from Rusty Pickle <insert big grin>.

Most of the stash in the picture is what I ordered from their back catalogue as I always wanted to get my hands on some of the previous CHA releases - but you need to feast your eyes on the papers and stickers on the bottom right hand side, they are all the brand spanking new CHA releases and so far I think I have only seen them online at {scrapbook.com}.

While our telly was playing silly buggers last night, I figured I better go scrap an finished a magazine assignment which is due for the end of the month. That means I can play with my new stash all throughout the bank holiday weekend coming up (I am such a saddo.....I can't think of anything but my hobby)

And I start to get really excited now about the Workshop weekend in {hamburg} at the end of September - so looking forward to see my friends again!

~*~ All You Can Eat ~*~

My photo of the day for yesterday without a doubt had to be my dinner. I love food and I wish I could eat until I pop (mind you, sometimes I think I *do* eat until I am close to popping). Of course this love for food shows on my body (shape copyright -> Michelin man) but with the {slimming world} eating plan, losing weight is so easy.

I did try other diets and whilst they were successful in the short haul, for long and successful weight loss, there is only SW for me. Look at the picture of the day - that pan is ALL for me, and the good thing is none of it will make me fat. I could even eat another big pan full like that if I wanted. That's the great thing of SW, you can eat as much as you like (or until you pop) as long as you "mix and match" your food groups right. No (or very little) proteins together with your carbohydrates is all you need to remember, the rest is a doddle.

Don't forget - you can still win yourself some fabby scrapbooking stuff if you design a header for my blog. You have until the end of the month and details can be found {here}.

And another thing - the Design Team Call for {2 jills}is still going full force. If you fancy getting a super yummy Monthly Kit to play with and inspire others, then head over and get your application in - you'd be a foll to miss this opportunity.

~*~ A Photo a day ~*~

I am such a little follower - since my friends Maddy and SJ are doing their "a photo a day" sort of challenge, guess who has decided she needs to do the same thing?

Yup - MOI.

The way Maddy works on her photo a day, is really creative and productive  as most of her day-photos end up as layouts. So I figured, what better way to document what's going on in my life right now.

Number one culprit from yesterday would then by THE TAP.
After the man from Southern Water loosened our stop-cock, we were doing the happy dance, thinking we could change the washers, clean the taps and everything would be as normal.

Oh how wrong we were - we can't unscrew the top, no matter how hard we tried. Downloaded tutorials and everything - nada, the sucker won't budge. So we have to get a plumber in after all...aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

~*~ When it rains... ~*~

...it pours.

Everything happens at the moment and I am not sure how much I can take before I snap. It started with our roof having to be repaired and we had to "find" £3,000 (approx $5,800) from somewhere. We had some savings which were intended to be used for our holiday next year and for smaller emergency repairs, so that got wiped but wasn't even close enough to pay the final bill. In stepped Lyndon's mom and stepdad and gave a cheque for the remaining amount. We didn't want to take it, but as all their children got the same amount from a lottery pay out, we didn't feel so bad accepting it in the end.

Well, we thought that was that but then we were told that our water supply would be invoiced with double the amount per month as we are paying now - no way, was I going to accept that and demanded they install a water meter. So someone from Southern Water will be coming around within the next couple of weeks.

Then we were told that our staircase will need replacing as it has become quite dangerous - another £1,000 we don't have.

Could it get any worse? Oh yes. Last Tuesday I got a call from Lloyds TSB to call them immediately - with no further comments why I should call. After I hung for 15 minutes in the waiting queue I had the "pleasure" to speak to the most patronising, rude and obnoxious person ever. Lloyds froze my account as the payment we received from Lyndon's parents went out a week after to my landlord - just like that. No calls, no nothing, just feckin' froze my account. Then this rude prick told me that he is terminating the call as he doesn't believe I am me....can you believe the cheek?? I answered all his bloody security questions and he refused to believe I was the account holder. Even though I told him happenings on my account that only the holder could now. After 30 minutes (!!!!!) he finally accepted that everything was in order and told me that he unfroze the account and I could use it again.

Imagine my surprise when I needed to make a payment yesterday - yup, the account was still frozen. So I had to call Lloyds TSB again on the number coming up on my screen. Of course they told me that I will need to speak to security and would have to call another number - everything at MY cost even though nothing was my mistake. I finally got through to a lady who actually was very nice and she activated my account immediately.

Guess who is cancelling her accounts she had with LLoyds TSB for almost 10 years?? The last half year with them was more than painful - when I have a question they are unwilling to help, their customer service people are the rudest and unfriendliest ever and you never even get a word of an apology once they realise they made a mistake. This time I will not keep schtumm about it and file a formal complaint about the shabby treatment I received with them. I know that I am not the only one - one of my colleagues at work has just cancelled her account with Lloyds which she had for 20 years, because they treated her badly too.

So, if you are thinking of opening an account with anyone - DON'T go to Lloyds TSB.

Right, after that was put right again, surely I could enjoy my weekend....or so I thought.
All of a sudden one of our tabs in the bathroom would not close anymore, the water keeps dripping and the big problem is that our stop-cock is jammed. We had a plumber trying to loosen it, to no avail. So we tried the main, outside stop-cock - which is also jammed. So on the phone to Southern Water again who are sending us an Engineer in "around 5 working days"....erm, lady - did you hear me say that my tap isn't frickin' closing and my water is running day and night??? Yup, she did hear me, but she doesn't care and they can't sent anyone any earlier.

What is UP with this country and its service providers?? I have no idea how much this dripping tap is gonna costs us, but I am sure we won't be able to afford any holidays for the next two to three years with everything that's looming over us at the moment.

No wonder my Mojo took off when she did

~*~ Slump ~*~

I hate days like these, when you can feel your creative slump tapping on your shoulder and then hitting you full force....that happened to me the day before yesterday.
Needed to do a Thank You card for Lyndon's Mom and it took me 3 hours to get something presentable together - still didn't fancy the outcome too much but I couldn't be bothered faffing on anymore.

Then yesterday I went into Paperchase (I *heart* that shop) and found the most amazing GORGEOUS wrapping papers. Those who know me well also know that I am scrapping with wrapping papers on a regular basis and the new double sided ones are just to die for. So, I bought two sheets with a layout in mind and couldn't wait to get home.

It never happened.
The layout that is.

I pushed the bits of paper around and it just didn't work, looked awful and I ended up ripping them apart and chucking them in the bin. Lyndon managed to get there at the right time to prevent me chucking the rest of the papers when he suggested the unthinkable "no need to throw them out, we could use them for actually wrapping presents..."
You know, that thought never even occurred to me. If it's no good for scrapping it quickly loses its appeal for me, I am weird like that.

But I had to do something, I can't go to bed without creating anything - I am that obsessed....

So, I made a Halloween card -> which is pants, but at least I made something

Product used:
**Cardstock - unknown (card), Bazzill (flowers) ** Papers, Stickers - Frances Meyer ** Pens - Uniball Signo (white), Zig (black)

~*~ Pencil Lines, DT Call and another Toot ~*~

What a productive weekend for me - not only did I get a number of assignments done, I even managed to scrap for myself *gasps*.
First off all I finished my layout for the 1st challenge on {inked scrapbookers} - you were asked to do a layout about your first Tattoo. Mine was so bad I am surprised I even found this tiny picture of it....
Product used >>Papers - KI Memories, Collage Press, Making Memories ** Chipboard Number - Rusty Pickle ** Stamp - Stamps Away, Asta Arts ** Chipboard Alpha - Bazzill ** Felt letters - Stationers ** Stickers - Making Memories <<

Then I done another challenge layout, but this time it was a challenge started by me for the 2Jills community - and this was about scrapping your Pet Hates. Boy, do I have a lot of them - I think I am just a grumpy old woman...
Product used >>Papers - Autumn Leaves, Wild Asparagus ** Cardstock - Frances Meyer ** Stamp - Anna Griffin ** Chipboard Alpha - WRMK ** Ink - Brilliance Dew Drops ** Lace, buttons - unknown  <<

But first things first - I couldn't believe my luck when Somerset Memories (former Legacy) requested yet another project of mine, namely one of the Minibooks I made for the Rusty Pickle Amazing Race. So excited about it as Somerset Memories still remains one of my all time favourite Mags!

If you are addicted to Monthly Kits as I am, you will need to check out my home from home, {2 jills} as they are having a Design Team Call. The new owner, Jennie is looking for Scrapbookers and Cardmakers and I suggest you move your bums over to one of the friendliest forums in the world and consider applying for the team. I have been with their DT for 3 months now and I still love it as much as on the first day. Even if you don't want to apply for the DT, it's well worth checking us out - the community is awesome and the Kits just ROCK my world. Have a look at the right hand side of my blog and you can see what I did with the last Kits.

As for this weeks {pencil lines}, our GDT's don't come much better than {nisa finn}, she of Hambly, Fontwerks and HOF fame (to name but a few). Her sketch was such fun to do - I have been waiting to scrap those pictures of me, off on my way to America for the first time.
Product used >>Papers - KI Memories ** Rub Ons - Frances Meyer ** Chipboard Alpha - Bazzill ** Stamp - Stamps Away ** Paint - Gesso <<

~*~ Free - my favourite word ~*~

So, the weekend with Linda and Luke went really well. On Friday Lyndon took Luke and they went for a little kick about in the park, while Linda and I went over to Cowes. As it was the last day of Cowes week and the night of the fireworks, everything was quite packed but that didn't stop us from having fun.

I also decided to go into the Carphone Warehouse and check out if I could get an upgrade on my phone. I have been on contract with them for about 2 years now and I got really bored with my old, tiny phone. Actually I didn't get bored with it but as my eyes are getting worse and my fingers chubbier with age, I needed a bigger phone. Eak!! Can you believe in this day and age where we are all looking for things to be as tiny as possible, I am wishing the days back when mobile phones were as big as bricks??

Anyhoo, the Sales Assistant was fabulous, he managed to get me a monthly deal on my existing contract, which offered more free minutes and more free text and I even pay £2 less a month! Best of all I got a PINK FREE phone with it - and I am loving it!!!! It's a Motorola MOTOKRZR K1 and I expect it to make its debut on one of my next layouts... he he. So for now a picture of the blue version has to do.

Don't forget to check back at {pencil lines} tonight - once more we are having a fabby Guest Designer and I can't wait to see what the DT did with this weeks sketch.