His first walk

I can't begin to describe just how much this lil fella means to us.
He is just so loving and protective of us and we love him right back.
And today we were "allowed" to take him for his first walk because you "can" when they have been jabbed (and indeed chipped) effectively.
So with a back pack full of treats, poopy bags (nice), a camcorder and my trusty camera we head off to the Three Sisters park nearby. Unbeknown to us there was a fun day event there which meant lots to see for all of us. Sadly belle missed out on all the action as she is at my momma's house being spoiled rotten by Granny and Grandad (sniff sniff, miss you lil lady bug... pic below was taken on Monday afternoon as we kissed goodbye for a few days).
As for Eddy? He was so excited - his tail wagged the whole walk and it was lovely to be greeted by other walkers who wanted to make a fuss of him. And by the end of the walk we had reached the area of most of the fun day activities and absolutely everyone we walked by wanted to make a fuss of him. He was timid at first but triumphed over his fears after the 60th belly rub! This german shepherd pup (two weeks older than Eddy) goes to show how teeny weeny our mini Dachs is! There were so many things to admire on our jaunt including lots of gorgeous summery nature. There were a ton of buttercups out and the odd aqualegia (I thought it was strange to see them out in the wild) and this thingy below....only my friend Maz might be able to tell me what it is. She is a real horticulturist who even knows the latin names for every plant that exists.
We are so proud of his behaviour and how he dealt with new sights, smells and sounds. In fact, judging by the amount of tail wagging, we reckon this lil fella is going to be enjoying many walks or at least, until his lil legs can take no more.
This is Eddy and I on Sunday night at my Momma's house. And yes he really does sleep on my chest or shoulder. He enjoys being that close to us and the trouble is.... we allow it! Its cuddles for all the gang in our house.
After the walk I went home to start back into my normal routine. Being away from home for such a long time on the road was great fun but it is a shock to the system not being within arms reach of the ones or the things you love. I guess Ms Clare Curd was the closest thing to "feeling home" as she is just the best fun to be with. I absolutely adore that girl - she rawks! Our last stint in Edinburgh was fabulous and although tinged with a lil sadness because it was the last one, it was also glimmering with the most friendliest retailers I have ever met. From the tips of Middlesborough to the ends of Peterhead and as far west as Cork in Eire, those people were so accommodating to talk with. And most specially of all I finally got the chance to get to know Beckie Dreyer. Ive kind of known Beckie for almost 18 months but have never had the opportunity of talking to her at length. Its nice to share an affinity with someone who not only adores their family but also have a fun sense of humour and a passion for scrapping. Her layouts are always so thoughtful with touches of lovely extras - Ive loved her style for a long time.
**sigh**
So what else? Hmmmmmmm? Oh yes.......
Yesterday I had an email from Sheila practically begging for another overlay and whilst chattying to Belle on the phone this avvy I had a little play and brought her (and YOU!) this. She is called Entwined

You can grab her Here
And finally check out this lil miss!
As you know she really can't bear flash photography because it hurts her eyes so she improvised for me at my momma on Sunday night!

And with that, I must go to bed and snooze all my cares away. Ive a long trip ahead of this weekend to shoot Jo's wedding, shoot another Jo on Sunday and spend some lovely time with my gorgeous Kiwi friend Lousie Burton in Chepstow. Im prepared for drivers butt cramp but not for the pining of my tribe who I will, as ever, miss dearly xx

Toodle ooooooo xxxx

Puppy love

My brother Leigh and his wife Kerry have got themselves a new pup too. They have a delightful king charles cavalier is called Ozzy and we love him.
We popped along to our mum's house this weekend to celebrate my bro's birthday and we brought Eddy for the ride (of course, he is now our family and our life would be so empty without him) but they did NOT get on! Ozzy is 2 weeks older than Eddy and is discovering what young male dogs do best but not amongst the lady dogs - oh no! He took a partial liking to Eddy and Eddy did not take too kindly. Fights and gnarling ensued and although Ozzy has been a little unwell, there was energy for a bit of rough and tumble.
I caught some puppy love on camera with these dudes in a beautiful rapeseed field near Mum's house. Even though I am allergic and ended up coming away with my white skirt covered in yellow pollen, I came away happy knowing Id gathered some lovely shots for them to fill a frame or two.

We grabbed so many lovely pictures this weekend but time is not on my side to share them all and life is a little bit freakazoid right now. I leave for Edinburgh tomorrow, back thursday and then Ive got the entire weekend taking more pictures for weddings and private shoots. If I owe you an email or phone call - you will get that tomorrow.
Somebody find the pause button for me?
LOVES xx

Rest assured

I think the term "less is more" applies to everything we do whether we think we could do it more often than not despite the consequences.

Does that makes sense?

How I loved being on the road last week and how I hated packing and unpacking too. Neither supplied a gentle equilibrium. In the end I just needed to get home to my tribe and have freshly laundered clothes that didn't need ironing with a non steam iron!

But Friday night came and so did the bank holiday traffic so I opted to stay an extra night in Lingfield because butt cramp and zero air con is hardly the height of "having a laugh". In fact, its the depths of the doldrums and I would have been on the kill come getting home at 3am.

So I get home, eventually, at Saturday lunchtime and almost immediately cracked on with millions of projects before flying out of the door to my Momma's house to celebrate my bro's birthday. My sweet DH had washed all my clothes, line dried them and within 4 hours of being back - all was done. I suppose working with all that yummy Doodlebug and BG all week had intensified my creative juices...... thankfully. I was a very happy momma.

The pooch went berserk when he saw me come home and belle was relieved that I was safe and sound.....so in comparison to getting a mass of work done, being away from home for 6 nights and stressing out over drivers boredom, my babies (Ellie and Eddy) totally lifted me out of my funk.

I have my Studio Calico sneaks on hand for you to have a gander at. The kit goes live on the break of the 28th of May at midnight (EST) or 5am uk time. This kit has so many wonderful papers this month and the colours are brilliant for both boys and girls.

I forgot to mention a free download that you can get for your cards at Crafts Beautiful. I made a ton of backing papers and embellies to cut and keep over HERE (you will have to register for free, though). Simply entitled Fizzy Woo ( geared towards the man in your life) you can grab the A5 sized projects for emergency cards or small digi projects.
And lastly, I wanted to share two little pics that make me happy being at home at my momma's. These types of country lanes make me happy and that road there is very hilly bumpy that makes my Belle giggle with delight as I fly over them. I can't wait to take her up to the rapeseed field later to take a couple of snaps.And Momma's wisteria is just the best. I cannot wait for our pergola to be built so I can have these adorning it over the next few years. Mum has cut a few clippings for me so that I can recreate the wisteria magic. I'm also dying to intertwine some honeysuckle too. And as its a stunningly sunny day, I'm off out with my parents, my bro and his wife Kerry and my tribe to soak it all up before the darn rains comes tomorrow.Toodle ooooooooooooo xxx

3 hours shopping

can do this to you...............
not nice but a bit of oil of olay can fix it in 17 years. Clare and myself showing the glow of 3 hours hard slog shopnations at the Meadowhall centre.
Be back soon....this on the road lark is too much fun.
And have a lubbly lil overlay to get over that monstrosity.....
She is called "lazy days" and you can get her here

SC Kit Winner

Goes to Amelie....oh yes it does.

Dont you just love www.random.org?

Well done Amelie.

Go and read her blog here

And its overlay time again (ive got a ton of these on back order, they are something I make whilst on the phone or have 5 minutes spare. Never fret that Im tied to this darn machine. I have Ellie and Eddy to keep me from being a slave to the mac!). She is called Immortal

and you can get the lil dude here

On the road

Last week myself, Clare Curd..... (below, although she is trying to imitate Sir Alan Sugar)and a number of good fun troops from DO HO headed out to the masses to launch the new Papermania lines as well as introducing their clientele to Doodlebug and Basic Grey.

We started off in Taunton then Bournemouth and then Coventry spending a night in each place. The camaraderie with these people is immense. Hard slog, demo's and sales pitches by day and then by night....holy moly. Its laughing gas and winding down in prep for the next day. Bouncing off Clare's energy, Emma's giggles and Beck's infinite might not to mention each of the territorial team is enough to exhaust all your laughing gas and in place, cough so hard that you think your innards my be upchucked.

Oh I do love to laugh. This girl makes being on the road so much fun. Honestly, the two of us are dangerous with access to You Tube's coolest archives of Victoria Woods and even (dare I say it.......Chubby Brown)

We were set loose amongst the racks at DO HO and my radar sniffed out the BG aisle within 2 seconds. I was int here like Flynn (what does that saying mean... do you use that?). I took chunks out of the stamps and chomps out of the paper. If your store ends up with supplies and teeth marks - they are mine. Oh do mind the dayglo jackets we are wearing - not good for the complexion or those with photo phobia.

Its such therapy to enjoy a chuckle and it's even better to see other people laugh too. Sue Lawson, pictured here (white top) with Clare couldn't even keep her cola contained. Clare had been talking about dogs when Sue had just taken a sip of coke and at the same time realised what Clare was talking about. Out came the coke from all orifices and laughter ensued outside Maccy Yaccy Donalds. Now, call me old fashioned but coke is not meant to come out of your nose. Only its what I heard in a song by Grand Master Flash way back in the 80's. I am talking coley cokey and not the powder stuff.

Talking of Maccy Yaccy, Clare ate her burger incognito. I think she looks so much younger with that on her head.

The new Papermania line is just a breath of fresh air. the matching embellies are superb and judging by the clients reaction, its a real knee jerk in the right direction. I can't tell you how lovely the new stamps and felt roll's are.

Doodlebug never fails to impress and the best thing I love about this collection is the flocking tubs. Used rather like glitter, the flock feels luxurious and dreamy.

Even Kev gives it a thumbs up. Kev looks after the south of the country and Im certain he has his own secret stash to craft with between events. And who can blame him - its Doodlebug.

Andrew, the head of shed, was in fair spirits by the end of the first day but then he hadn't really clagged on to the fact we were about to raid the BG and DB stands to wallpaper the hotel room with.

Basic Grey was a hit with the clients who saw the attraction instantly. It's not £1.00 a sheet unless your retailer has upped his margins. The RRP on BG is 60p a sheet. With Euphoria being launched in July, its going to be a collection pack to lift your summer spirits. And I hated it when I saw it online and yet in the flesh.........deeeeeeeeeeeelish.

I stood all day and demo'd the cropadile and big bite (which I call the bad boy!).... its such a thrill to see the reaction of shop owners who see the beauty in its simple crunching style. We R Memory Keepers have these lil nifty chunky gromlets which I think will fare better on jeans, Jackets and bags as well as pages and cards. Loving these tools so much.Clare demo's a ton of new papermania lines and one of my favvo cards was this lil baby. She really does make some corkers.Clare and I here trying to take a self portrait with a 50mm lens. Not good even with your arm stretched out at full length, in a dark room and on a low entry DSLR thus making it almost 85mm. Still, it was worth a couple of giggles.I am on the road all of next week too and I have managed to recharge my laughing gas in prep for jaunts to Huddersfield, Cambridge and Lingfield. We are joined the following week by Bexter in Edinburgh to wrap the events up ... which will mean trudging back home with memories of a supercoolio roadshow.

And home to Ellie and Eddy who Im sure I will miss a ton.

Getting acquainted

I knew they would fall in love with each other and get cosy. She came home from school, snuggled on the sofa for some after school wind down time and they chilled out for a wee while.

The same with myself and mark - we are besotted with this lil wiener. Here he is playing with some toy sausages.... just to make him feel more special. A sausage dog playing with sausages? Only in our house!

He was crying when he left hi momma last night, cried a little when we all went to bed and has been good ever since. He has been lovingly cared for all day in his momma's absence..... I just know he will be cared for so lovingly for the rest of his life.

I can't convey how much we are attached to him.

Ooooooooh... we just love love love him.

Did I mention we love him?

I hate trains

I really do.
They never wait for you.
Conductor is 99% always a knob head.
Smelly men always sit next to you.
I wanted to get home on time.
Didn't happen.
Couldn't collect doggy with Mark.
Waited hours for him to get back home whilst I stood in the porch (I didn't have a key).
Ok, it was only 10 minutes, but still.
As I stood in the porch I looked around our street and neighbours houses and noticed that one of them had painted their tiles from grey to red. Like a fake terracotta blended with rouge.
AROOOOOOOOOOOOOOGA.
Blech, made my eyes bleed.
This put me further in a bad mood.
Roofs should, at least, look uniform.

Mark swerves around the corner into our lil cul-de-sac and all was forgiven when Eddy was placed in my arms for eternal loving tonight.
We love our new puppy.
He completes our family in waves of love you can't measure.

Funny old day really. But not funny "ha ha".

Also, please do not call me or email me if you expect me to laugh.
For at least 48 hours until I recharge.
I have no will or energy left in my body because I spent all week choking to death on "fat bird style" laughter. You know, the sound of a laugh that makes you feel like you smoke 100 a day (which I do NOT do). Blood vessels have been burst, bladders weakened, chest inflamed from lack of oxygen between hysterics and neck ache from throwing my head back with giggles. So as much as I hate trains and old men with halitosis the balance is outweighed with puppy love and extremely fun work colleagues selling uber fab mega amounts of BG and DB.

Pics coming soon.
Winner of the kit coming tomorrow.

And zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........

Carbon Footprint - my take (also prize giving chance)

Carbon footprint – here’s my two’penny’s worth

Despite potentially being hounded by a gazillion ozone fundamentalists I feel I must share my thought on this in light of hellish train journey today.

The day started rather wonderful as I woke up to the sound of birds singing. I was feeling excruciatingly virtuous knowing I was saving the earth by taking a train to Taunton then onwards to Coventry over a period of 4 days for a road show. As I would have been travelling alone in my car anyway it made government approved sense (and certified entry into heaven) to take the economic, earth saving decision to take public transport. What my angelic decision did not consider was the amount of freaking baggage I would have to try and lug up and down numerous flights of stairs, in the heat with no trusty steed or knight in shining armour willing to assist. Had I actually sat down and considered the size of luggage against width of the aisles on a train I seriously would have admitted green defeat and gone by car. I did not have the option to travel light like a funky boho momma. I have 4 days of clothing to take (its summery weather here and I need clean and fresh daily) plus I have all my demo stuff, my tools, my shoes…. A girl has to have shoes but only 3 pairs and I did put two pairs back. Downsizing is the new black in our house. So other than the nightmare of travelling by car and suffering clutch and accelerator cramp (let alone brake cramp and indeed butt cramp) I had little option but to take the train. And besides it was cheaper on the fuel front even though I am on expenses (so brownie points to me really. The accounts payable department of DO will be impressed and surely upgrade me to first class on all future excursions for my thriftness).

And as I sit on my front facing seat complete with table for my lap top (in this case table top – oh and I get a socket to recharge for **free**….but not so green, right?) I think of the luxury of being able to sit back and relax. Or am I really relaxed? No. Because the luggage storage is 8 seats back and I am fretting that some wee tinker might steal my suitcase and my fabbo pink and brown rolling tote (full of BG and doodlebug I may add – you see my dilemma, don’t you?). Not to mention my Big Bite, Cropadile and other delightful things that could be flogged down “said thief’s” local pub for the cost of a few pints. I mean, my hubby knows the value of a few packs of BG stamps as Im sure potential thieves do… those buggers go for millions given the right buyer.

So I start to think of my own personal carbon footprint for my health – the damage I am doing to myself in light of all this. Heart failure at thought of luggage being stolen, anxiety over potentially missing my connecting train, stress of having to negotiate getting off the train with two massive pieces of baggage and cystitis (the fear of leaving my seat to go and spend a penny in case some other lil tinker decides to snaffle my laptop and indeed my seat. Maybe next time I will pack some Ocean Spray). Its not healthy to worry about CF. And besides my carbon foot print this year has gone to pot and now Im afraid that the local government environmental officer will come pounding at my door and give me a years community service cleaning doggy poopy from our local park. Never again will I make reservations for trains with that amount of luggage. I should have learned my lesson in Florence and Paris on the luggage front and to add insult to injury, my bloody handle came off in Paris and all I was left to pull the case was a nasty, sharp piece of metal. I really wanted to die at that point.

Jane Cresswell (her name is Jane Egan Cresswell but that’s too long to type at times and I am making a point of mentioning this only once just so that I don’t confuse you by calling her just Jane (thus you thinking it was Jane Dean) so no longer will I have time to spell Jane Egan-Cresswell in future… too many vowels and that would seriously deplete any alpha sticker pack, wouldn’t it?) and I laughed so hard when that handle fell off that I considered bladder surgery on my return to the UK. It suffered some real damage that weekend and funnily enough we were with Jane Dean in parts for the while trip. But I really am talking about JC at the point where we laughed so hard when my handle came off. Did I tell you about the part where my handle came off? Gah!

Where was I?

I read in the Telegraph last week about two women whose life was compared in favour (or not) of carbon foot printing. I appreciate the science and good will behind it, I really do but its all too much too late. At this rate we will all be dead in 2050 from the heat of the earth after the ozone collapses or drowned by the polar ice caps melting and the earth being under several feet of water (grim reaper, anyone?) I will try and adhere to the concept but to be honest with you, unless somebody makes it the law it will fall into the ignorance category of most of your lives. So anyway, the comparison was that one woman will try and adhere to the guidelines and one woman already does live by this regime. Nothing new there in a comparative study. One does and one might. It just made me laugh and I can’t really comment on it … its too damn controversial. Just thought I’d mention it but reading back on this last paragraph, it’s a bit boring. But still……………….

The moral of the story is this. Next time I want to go anywhere that is greener than going by car perhaps I should just shove my luggage on the back of my broomstick and fly down. With a carton of ocean spray and a socket for my laptop of course.


Finally - Studio Calico are giving away a free kit on every DT members blog as part of the welcome of one of the new DT'er's... Stephanie Howell (I love Steph, her layouts are magnificent). For your chance to win a kit, leave a comment below and I will pick a name at random. The kit will be sent direct from Studio Calico's headquarters in Kentucky to the lucky lucky commentor. Good Luck!

4 seasons in one day

Flipping heck, we started with a scorcher today.
We got our summer glad rags on, put the gazebo up, dusted down the soft furnishing for the patio set and got comfy in our sun trap of a garden. We let the tortoise run wildas we put our feet up and just soaked up the sun (a very rare occasion in our garden). Of course lady muck kept on snapping her fingers for this, that and the other (but I was glad to go into the shade at times) plus we had to top ourselves up with nice, ice cold drinks.
Belle and I picked daisies - check out the scooby doo slippers!We picked 105 in fact, she counted them and the lawn was weed free after that), chatted about our puppy coming home on Thursday and all sorts of knick knack chitty chatty's. Then, as you do in the hot weather, you plan a BBQ. So off mummy trots to Sainsbury's for kebab ingredients, sausages and the likes. The supermarket was chocka block with like minded BBQ peeps. The whole of Wigan was sure to smell of charcoal come 7pm. I get home, I put the stuff in the fridge and I go and catch more rays (with my sensible SPF15, I may add). Then a lil wind blew up and before you knew it, claps of thunder indicated that we tidy up the entire summer patio area and retreat to the great indoors. Then the heavens opened.
Joy!
Looks like the food will be cooked in the conventional way and were were gutted that our bangers wouldn't have that fab BBQ taste. Soon the wind stopped and the rain halted so we threw the bricks on the BBQ real quick and cooked our food quickly, before the heavens opened again. I have to say we timed it perfect because no sooner had we taken our last bit......it piddled it down.
Before it got too dark, I managed to take a picture of a layout I taught yesterday over at Dawns Studio. This was the first lesson the students had taken with me and without using patterned papers. Dawn had asked me to incorporate two crackle paints on the schedule so I manged to come up with this. I have to say that the crackle paint is a bit special. In the past you had to use up to 3 mediums to achieve a crackle finish - now, with rangers distressed range you can achieve it with one swoosh of paint. I had a great time meeting new ladies to scrap with who loved the technique as well as using acetate, stamping on a layout with paint (using dawns design daisy and swirl stamps - deeeeelish) and using eyelet setters for the first time. I wish the eyelet would come back into fashion, I love them and I do have 15 million of the little sods to use up. So if you live in the Accrington area or fancy dropping by the studio in future go and check the schedule here from time to time to see when myself, Dawn or indeed other people are teaching. Dawn gets a lot of visitors from all over the country to hope they catch a glimpse of her - and more than likely they do and more than likely she spends time chatting or advising them of this and that. Its such a thrill to see her customers enthralled by her lovely spirit. Her shop also mail order so if you fancy that crackle paint effect, you should try it. Im hooked.
After strawberries and meringues I popped back to Dawns house for tea. I also took some pictures of her three very characterful pooches during the rest of the daylight before sundown. Each dog has his own lil foible and wouldn't really perform for me. I had to climb up a beautiful but very steep bluebell bank to try and catch one of the dogs at rest in between play. Eventually I got a couple of nice shots of these dudes which has put me in good stead for when Eddy comes home. I can't wait to understand our dogs character but these lil fellows gave me a snippet of the fun to come.
Not long after, a yummy salad with absolutely everything green, red, yellow and green again was presented to me with a cooked salmon and I just couldn't cut into it. I mean it was monstrously artistic, devilishly tempting but far too good to be cut up. I have to admit that as hunger pains were killing me my head sprouted ravenous horns and I attacked the whole plate in no time (Minus the beets, I'm not a fan of beets and I forgot to say - sorry JJ!). I have nightmares about beets thanks to my mum - who eats them like they are going out of fashion.

Im glad I had a lovely day both yest and today (see, it's true what they say - I really am Pollyanna!).

Its a lovely feeling to be surrounded by such nice people.

And then I get to go home to even nicer people too.

Little pickle got hurt

Little pickle Bella had a bloody awful day at Alderhey Hospital today.

Nerve conduction testing is not funny and if you have to take your kid or even yourself for one - they are NOT nice. They stick two great hoicking needles in your leg and then have the audacity to send electric shocks down them just to test your nerve reaction. I have to give credit to both the nurse and doctor who soothed her whilst she cried in pain. They gave her a Nintendo DS to play with, played Shrek 3 on video and talked to her to help take her mind off it. And whilst it helped a little, my poor little nugget was crying but most surprisingly acted braver than norm.

Give it up for the Bellemeister. She is such a little pickling peach nut.

Other than that, today was averagely mundane with loose ends being tied up, classes being finished off and some demo work using that really spesh core-dinations cardstock. And despite the DB moment (two posts below), there is nowt else to report. Oh yes, I had my hair done - big wow. So I leave you with this lillte gizzit

and you can get her here.

If you are in Accrington tomorrow and fancy taking a paperless scrapbooking class (its super fun) you might like to pop into Dawns studio before 1pm. We would LOVE to see you there. Im bringing strawberries...................

I am still laughing.....

but obviously now have realised that the DB thing is an offensive term? (see post below)
I really didn't know - honest.
I rang my Mum and asked her if she knew the term and she almost choked on her tea as I was talking about it. She told me that it was used as a form of contraception some years ago or means to clean certain areas of your body. She was laughing and is now feeling my shame. Where do you buy those things from? Boots? Woolies?
And as for me? I thought it was a term you called someone who was playing/goofing about.
I still think its funny because I guess Im just in shock!

Ok, calming down, getting over it......... new topic coming soon......

Belly Laugh

Spurt all over the screen moment.
Just had a comment left on my blog from Ali who asked me if I really knew what a douche bag was. Of course I dont, its something that gets bandied about between my sister and I.... like calling each other a divvy or a tinker.
So I goes and looks up douche bag on Wiki (as advised by Ali) and all I can say is.......
OMG, so bloody funny.
I had no idea things like that existed.
Funny, vile - whatever.
It made me belly laugh, at least.

carry on.......................

New things

If we all had a sheet of every new line of scrap paper for just one launch at CHA - we would have enough papers to scrap all of our own albums in one go and fill a slack handful of cropper hoppers to boot.

Seriously, we would.

That's not counting the matching card stock, the chipboard, ribbons, brads etc etc. Just where would we store it all?

In light of this product overload I have had to stop buying paper because I literally have too much. The past 4 times that I have been in the states on business I have taken whatever was offered and additionally I bought extra at incredibly lower prices simply because I could. So, now, if I feel I **need** a new paper I have to stop and seriously think "will I use it or am I buying it because its pretty?". And that's where my decision lies. I can't tell you how difficult it is not to go online to my favourite UK shops and plop some paper in my virtual shopping basket these days. But I am so spoilt for choice that I can never, ever make the right decision. I'd rather somebody do it for me - thats why I love kits, like Studio Calico.

So its a good job I'm welcoming the launch of July's paper from the funky re branded Papermania range with papers sure to set both the card making and scrap booking world alight. I was fortunate to take samples yesterday and wondered all the way home where I would put it. Instead I'm going to use it on the roadshows over the next few weeks to share with hundreds of retailers and I'm going to really enjoy hacking into it. As much as I love my BG and Doodlebug, this new line of goodies is also going to take an equal amount of loving. And even though I'm showing slight snippets below and even though its not EVERY new product, I feel their new line deserves applause. DO have listened to the demands of both the novice and advanced scrapper and have produced scrummy papers in brilliant colours on fantastic heavy weight 160gsm paper. There are printed TRANSPARENCIES too with co-ordinating stamps, felt roll, felt ribbon, card stock stickers and matching inks to match the entire range perfectly.

When I saw the range on the displays at DO yesterday I could have easily been standing at CHA amongst other prestige leaders in the industry because I feel its that good. The other girls who viewed the stock were completely stunned at the displays which brings a new buzz to this often picky industry. And I know you know what I mean.

Amongst the pre-launch there are also premium brand announcements to take the scrap world to another exciting level. Core-dinations. Freakin about time. Card stock with a twist or should I say "core". Every colour cardstock (there are 80 odd in the first batch launch) has its main colour and a lighter core so that when you distress, rub, scratch, sand and rip it - a fabulous lighter shade will magically transform the card stock into something a lil bit special. We all got to fiddle with it yesterday and I can see endless possibilities.

We also got to trial the We R Memory Keepers Big Bite. Now I was not impressed with it at CHA because I thought "Yup, an industrial cropadile with no handles. Its a massive stapler. Its a rip". Whoopee doo. But as a massive cropadile user and often frustrated with only being to punch away the mere edges of my 12x12, this bugger goes and reaches the centre of the page and attaches those goodies you love so much without breaking into a sweat. It means you can work it one handedly on a flat surface for a better purchase whilst maneuvering your card stock on a steady and level surface for a crisp and clean finish. I was sold. It goes to proove that you have to try before you buy. I think suppliers should make it law!

DO have also partnered with Clearsnap - those bloody marvellous peeps of the Colorbox range of inks that we all love to edge with let alone stamp with. The entire range will be available soon with custom ordered secret inky things coming our way soon. Im an inky girl on many many occasions so Im not going to say it was a bad idea, am I?!!

There are other partnerships and exciting things coming our way which makes me so glad to come and join DO. Being some of the first to try new products would be the dream job of many people but for me its about understanding the background of a business and enjoying the creative side of life in the same breath. Its also about meeting hundreds of other crafters who just want to get down and dirty and craft. Through my very own lil peepers, that's what this industry should be about - sharing, enjoying, laughing, encouraging, inspiring, learning and teaching. The fact we all get a but high on sniffing our stash supply is only a small reason why I love it so much. Oh, and the chocolate and cakes at crops too.

Besides having a nightmare choosing new papers, I had no problems snagging these lil gems tonight at The Range in Wigan. We paid a visit to go and buy Eddy (our new Pup) some little bits and pieces for his bed and treat time. When we had done that I sidled up to the craft section which was brimming with oodles of little trinkets. Including these little douche bags. the Hug stamp is from Anita's stamps and cost £1.99. I suppose I could ask for anything by Anitas from DO but I really don't want to start taking liberty's, so I bought this as it will have a million uses.

Now these little monkies by Studio G are a crazy, bonkers, silly and quite selfishly smugly only 99p a box. Yes, you heard that - 99p a box. All those delish lil stamps in one teeny box for 99p. I bet you all clear the shelves this weekend. Dammit - now that is some commission I should be on!

These little clear Studio G stamps were also 99p a pack. WTF?

So we gets home - hot, sticky and feeling zingy from a non typical May day and in the drive I spot this dude. Its not often you see these in these parts, these are typically beach side butterflies. I didn't have chance to focus and faff with settings so this is my best shot and I love him. I called him George and then he flew away forever.And finally, whilst its getting summery fun around here, I made these to mark the beginning of a wonderful season of my favvo fruits with a meringue nest, some cussy and a couple of those juicy red numbers. SLURPO.Im off to bed, that was a looooooooong blog entry and I don't know about you but if you are still awake - you deserve a certificate.

Summers coming......

How hot was it today?
I mean, just how did I manage to have myself tucked inside a building all day whilst the public at large lounged in their gardens and soaked up the blazing sunshine?
Aaaaah well, no matter really.
I was having a lovely time at DO HO (loving that cos DO HO - reminds me of MO FO...which is naughty but still.....). A number of expertly scrummilish card making gals along with Beckie Dreyer and Jane Dean had been invited along to sample the outlandishly lavish kits given to them to showcase around events, magazines and roadshows which included every line of Basic Grey and Doodlebug. We also got to see (and maybe even take a few packs of) the new kits being launched in July from the re-branded, re-fitted, re-invented line of Papermania.
You won't even recognise it - it's quite the phenomena.
Its about time the UK had an affordable stake in the scrapbook market
And I wish I got paid commission for all this but sadly I do not. Because if something is pappa poo poo, I won't love it or use it or indeed mention it. But the new lines are far from poo plops and Emma should be a very proud girly along with her DT in recognising that scrapbooking can be affordable, colourful and wonderful in the same breath. Shame daylight ran out as I got home but I am soooo going to show you what is coming to the nearest craft outlet in the morrow.
In the meanest of time, here is an overlay that I made on the train journey down to Bournemouth. 8 hours was not much fun on a steaming hot train (delay due to a suicide on the track - nice) and a spell of dashing across London on the tube with no air, signal failure at Winchester and a taxi driver who only spoke three words (yes, no, maybe....gah!). Having said that I did meet some incredibly fascinating people including a gentleman who is representing a warlord from Afghanistan at the house of commons today. He didnt say much but his philosophy on life and war and crime and the weather was frightfully intriguing.
You can get the lil dooche bag here

Didn't we have a lovely time

......... The day we went to Formby.

We have just had a great, fun filled and happy weekend.

Saturday- the joys of a wedding and a good cry. Then an afternoon spent at Dawns studio preparing for classes and rooting through the piles of supplies to make an A4 scrapbook class and a layout for next weekend. The girls who work at her shop are THE most friendliest people I have met in a very long time which goes to show for a shop with welcome and passion. Its the only bricks and mortar shop that stocks every line of Prima flowers... you can imagine how much I am dying to cover myself in PVA and roll around in all that floribunda! I cannot wait to get stuck in and make stuff. Cos making stuff and having fun are two of my most favvo things in the world. Wouldn't you agree?

Sunday - Family BBQ at the in-laws. Fabulous food, fun on the Wii and good conversation. I wish we could spend more time with them than the odd get together. But Im sure we make up for it regardless.

Monday - a day the beach with my Sister, BIL and her two sparkly, spangly and minxy kidlets. We took a drive to one of our favourite beaches where sand dunes and kids = a scream. In the Uk, you are never more than 72 miles from the nearest beach......that's a trivial fact for you factorials. It sure felt like 72 miles from the car park to the beach. And then some.

Its far easier to pull than push a buggy in the sand. It was a great workout, in fact!

With "crazy Uncle mark" leaping from behind long grass and jumping over the kids heads from great height (almost breaking every bone in his entire body and scaring me half to death), picnics, tantrums, giggles and burning off MIL's cakes from the day before. It's hard to convey just how much of a fab bank holiday we have really had. My niece, Charlotte and I have become the bestest of friends since she started to despise me some months ago (but then again, she is only 3 and 3 year olds are just like that!).

This is she - rolling like a lil tub of buttery fudge down the dunes.She let me get covered in a ton of sand, allowed me to half kill myself by rolling down the dunes just for her pure entertainment and she even laughed at my rubbish jokes. She really is turning out to be a funny and delightful lil lady. My nephew, Harrison is turning into devil child extraordinaire. He is almost two - that speaks for itself. Despite this he is still incredibly funny and he saw the beach today as a massive adventure. Belle did her own thing and watched from the sidelines, giggling at us all acting like clowns. She had the best seat in the house, that I can tell you!

My Sis, bex and BIL David sharing a rare photo together (ie - either one of them is usually behind the camera). I can't tell you how much I love this photo of them.

It was one of those days that you just don't want to end. We finished off with home made chicken and mushroom pie (my secret home recipe that is a real comfort and joy to all that eat it - Im not sorry, but I don't profess to be Gordon Ramsay but its one of the few dishes I can call my WOW remedy and have me adored for almost 20 minutes! LOL). Although, I did slightly burn the underside of the puff pastry squares, gah!

After they had gone home (sniff sniff) I muscled down to photos conversions and made this lil treat for those crazy digi ladies. She is called Trellis

and you can get her HERE

Der da der-der....................

Here comes the bride, all dressed in erm, Ivory. LOL.

Bernadette and Phil - 3rd May 2008.

I love a good wedding and when you are distantly related to the bride you can't help but have a flipping good cry! I have known Bernadette for 13 years as she is........... wait for it.....erm, my husbands sisters husbands sister! Cor, that made my head hurt.

Isnt she blummin gorge?

I got me another wedding on the 31st May and boy, I cannot wait (hi Jo - yes, I mean YOU!). It is incredibly hard work, though, when you have to scream on the top of your voice looking for people to be in the photos and control the blinking and the moving and the positioning and the lighting and the timing. But when you capture moments like the ones above - its a job I wouldn't swap with anyone.

This is Eddy

He is 7 weeks old and when he is 9 weeks old he can leave his siblings and become one of us.
A Wiseman that is.

Now mark has left the Army we can finally have a pooch so that we can all enjoy him together - everyday. We took a lovely drive this evening to go and view the last in the litter and the very moment we clapped eyes on him, we knew he was ours.
We had discussed names all the way there (Mark wanted Torres and I told him to die, basically... Im not naming our dog after a footballer - no matter how brilliant that footballer may be.).
We toyed with Nando (shortened first name of FernandoTorres), Stevie (Steven Gerrard) and then Kevin..........for a joke.
I wanted Alfie, George, Harvey or Norman and Mark wanted random footballers names from the Liverpool squad (nop, no and no).
Belle couldn't make up her mind - at all. In fact she was enjoying Mark and scream at each other with completely bonkers names.
Then it came down to Rolo and Eddy (Eddy being part of Ellie's fave cartoon Ed, Edd and Eddy) and of course we plummed for an Ellie related naming - its only fair. So we arrive and fall in love and of course, take pictures. Shame that there was really poor lighting (it was 7.45pm and im using ISO 800.... the shame of it!) but here are my semi best shots of the night.

This is eddy and mark getting better acquainted This is Eddie and his siblings. We love how his lil sister is squishing her head right over his eyes!
More sibling shots - tis time they are not scrapping for the top sleeping spot.Eddy in one of millions of poses that he will have to live with for the rest of his life. He will be my companion and my model - all in one!Miniature Dachshund pups don't have the long snout that they will eventually sport in a few more weeks time. But they are such cute puppies and in another 2 weeks he will have grown more.And finally Belle gets her hand in as he gives her a tender look. We hope these two become great buddies. It melted my heart to see these two interact.

**sigh** - you just can't measure tenderness and affection.

Poor Belle

This lil schnitzel-with-noodles was in a real pickle yesterday.

She had an MRI appointment at 6.15pm (I KNOW!) at Alderhey which required her to lay as still as possible for almost an hour as they used magnificent technology to capture images of her spine, hips, shoulders and brain. But what people do not realise is that Ellie suffers with incredible involuntary jerks caused by her muscles that just never bloody calm down. Well, what little muscles she has anyway. For the first 20 minutes they just could not get a reading as she twitched and jerked, jumped and shook as her body tried to relax. She was sweating from concentrating as hard as she could to try and lay still. We noticed this as she sat up at one point (between scans) and pools of sweat had gathered under her back. Eventually she manged to keep still by both mark and I holding her feet and ankles AND her head still. If only you could have seen it......... Belle on a bed in the middle of a machine that looks like a polo mint/lifeboy. Mark reaching in one end, me in the other....BUMS in the air, donning massive ear defenders and feeling strong magnetic pulses charging through our bodies. I fell asleep during one burst of scanning as did Ellie - such the polava. But at least its over and we hope to see the results via her neurologist sometime soon :(

I made this overlay whilst having a looooooong conversation on the phone this afternoon with Mandy Parr. It was lovely to hear from her and to hear what she is up to since she opted to give up Scrap Studio in favour of going back to nursing. I also spent some quality time on the phone with Cleo to catch up on the super duper new kit she has this month. If you are a scrapper that fancies something a bit more challenging than your average kit - do drop by her blog HERE to take a peek.

you can download this lil dancer HERE

And the winner is

Karen Garlick of Cornwall

(raffle ticket purchased 25th March)

Huge congratulations to you - your prize is GIGANTIC! I would have loved to have had Ellie draw this ticket but she was in bed early due to an MRI scan this evening and was subsequently drained.

Mark and I want to wish you all a huge thank you for participating in the raffle, donations and also for the support you have shown us during this amazing journey in Ellie's life. It beggars belief that humankind can show so much affection for one little girl. She is very dear to us and although the fight is not over - I hope you all realise how much a huge part of your kindness is going towards believing in HOPE xx

We also want to say a GINORMOUS thank you to the people who have donated prizes. I will collate a list tomorrow and make a special post JUST FOR THEM. If it were not for these people donating, this would not have been possible and Karen would not have won an amazing scrappers paradise.