Finding the balance

Boy it's been a long time since I blogged!! Yet again I am finding the balance between home life, crafting, work and blogging a bit tough to get right.

But i'm working on it and hopefully things will get into a routine soon enough.

Work is great and I am loving being back in a challenging roll again.

Home life is always good! We have been busy preparing the garden for winter, clearing the beds and planting bulbs. We are also doing some garden renovations which is very hard work, but the improvement will be so worth the effort.

My crafting life is a busy one! IACW has kept me busy this month, with loads of LO classes and of course the Scrap Your Boobies challenge. I am so overwhelmed at the response we have received, and so proud of the scrapping community that have got behind us and taken up the challenge.

As of this morning we have reached our fundraising target and hope to double it by the end of December.

The LOs we have received so far are all so beautiful.

So alas my blogging life has taken a back seat and this is why I have not updated for so long. I will be working on how to get a better balance to my life but if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them!!

So today over at IACW we have a LO class......scrapping from a sketch.

We feature Pencil Lines and the loves Anna, who had the idea for the inspirational sketch blog.

We were even given an exclusive Creative World sketch!!

Here is a LO I created with it, pop over the blog to see the other LOs.

Here's to better blogging days and laods more yummy stuff to come!

haPPy creATing!!

Caz

xx

Todays post over at IACW is all about 6x12 layouts :) and I am hooked on scrapping this size!

It is so quick and easy and a great way of getting those not so great, in need of major cropping photos scrapped. The LOs below prove that point.

Firstly I have a photo of my sister that was taken years ago, before i scrapped and took a keen interest in photography. She is a tiny little figure in this sea of nothingness. BUT it's a cool photo and I smile every time I look at it. So that tells me it's gotta be scrapped!!

I cropped the top and bottom nothingness off leaving an elongated photo, that was a little too small for 12x12 or 8.5x11 but too big for a 6x6. ROLL ON 6x12, lol, just the right size and shape for this type of photo.

The following two LOs show how this size is good if you have small photos but still want space for full size embellishments.

Go on give 6x12 a try, if you've not done it yet, you'll be surprised by how much fun it is :)

haPPy creATing

Caz

xx

Boobie update!!

Firstly thanks so much for all the support you are giving us over at IACW, for your donations and taking the plunge (ahem) and getting your boobies out for a great cause.

The LOs are all so beautiful!

Every penny we give for research is important, and no matter how small the donation, it all makes a difference.

Today over at It's a Creative World, we are still in the Christmas mood, and we're looking at Christmas cards :)

Now I don't really consider myself a card maker, but since the launch of IACW and seeing the beautiful creations from the DT and of course our guest designer Claire, I have become a little braver and a bit more creative with my cards.

Here are two cards I made using freebie magazine papers!! What a great way to use these up ;)

And a little detail, the snowflakes are done using my EK success punch, lightly inked and stuck on with foam pads to give some dimension.

The Christmas trees were stamped with StazOn, jet black and coloured with water colour pencils.

I hope your weekend has been full of
haPPy creATing
Caz
xx

PS. Chris is making some lovely pink digi papers this month in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness so pop on over for some freebies :)

How organised is your Christmas??

Christmas has come early to It's a Creative World!!

Okay so talking about Christmas in October is shocking.....BUT if you want to get organised this year you really start with a CHRISTMAS PLANNER :)

I was totally inspired by the links Trish has posted on IACW today, in particular AuntNi's beautiful planner on 2peas. I was tempted to do the same size but chickened out as I wouldn't be able to fit the file into my bag and keep it handy ;)

So onto my planner, the size I went for is 8.5x5.5 for the inside pages, and 6x9 for the cover, which is just mount board covered in YUMMY Chatterbox Gingerbread House papers. I have been saving these for some time so i'm glad they are finally used up.

I painted a BG naked chipboard label holder red, tied some ribbons on the edges and then stuck it to a piece of white cardstock and then onto the front of the book. I hand write 'christmas planner'

I decided to keep each divider page the same to give it a bit of consistancy.

Each section has a handcut label holder with the section title hand written.

'CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN'

I have had drawn all the pages cause of the odd size, but the ones linked in Trish's post are awesome!! And of course so easy to just print off ;)

'GIFTS'

'CARDS'

'FESTIVE FARE'

After finishing all the pages I made 2 holes using my cropodile for bookrings and have hung some christmas charms off the top one. I would like to add pages next year so it's also a book I can use as reference each year, so i'm not sure I want to bind it until it's full (but of course i'm still thinking about that ;) )

Have fun creating your CHRISTMAS PLANNERS and don't forget to leave a link in the comments on IACW with your creations

haPPy creATing

Caz

xx

We are so proud and honoured that so many scrappers are taking up the challenge to

SCRAP YOUR BOOBIES!!

Breast Cancer Awareness should always be a focus in your daily routine, it's quick and easy to check yourself and if caught early, it is treatable.

Even if you hate your BOOBIES you would never like to face the possibility of loosing one.

Go on SCRAP YOUR BOOBIES this month, email us the image and you could be in line to win a fabulous prize!

There are also lucky dipper prizes for people who donate on our JUST GIVING page :)

Awareness is key!!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it's something that we, as woman, need to take very seriously!

The girls from It's a Creative World have decided that we are going to do our bit to raise money for Breakthough Breast Cancer through our JUST GIVING page and we are challenging scrappers to SCRAP YOUR BOOBIES for a good cause!!

We want to make you think about this one... through art. And then we want you to give.... And then think some more.

This is something that touches most of us, if not all of us, at some point in our lives. As woman we are responsible for our families but we also have to look after ourselves. And we need to be aware of the fact that it can happen to us, but it's treatable and it's something we can BEAT!

Please visit It's a Creative World for more details (including details of some great prizes to be won during the month) and to see the fab work created by the team :)haPPy creATing!!
Caz
xx

It's nearly October :O

Week 4 UKS team challenge :)

I've had a good scrapping month, finishing off 17 LOs :) I wonder if I will ever manage to scrap all the photos I have??

If you've not been over to visit It's a Creative World today, don't delay and get on over! Leave us a comment this weekend and stand a chance to WIN some lovely Bella stamps!!

The team have some awesome inspiration coming to you in October.

We start the crafty countdown to Christmas with some lovely decorating projects!

It's also Breast Cancer awareness month, and we have some fab give aways and a challenge that is one all woman should be proud to take part in!

Be sure to come visit tomorrow when it all kicks off!! :)

haPPy creATing y'all!!

Caz

xx

Print.........to produce in large quantities by mechanical process. Find 'print' in your space today.

Some of my favourite books, of which a few have been read more than once :)

Alas no kiss photo but I did have a kiss in my space on Wednesday ;)

Curious...........eager to know or learn. Find 'curious' in your space today.

A few books that have tought me something!

Tweezers...........an instrument for picking up small objects. Find 'tweezers' in your space today.

A few LOs to share, these have all been done this week, which explains the lack of blogging, lol.
UKS week 2 challenge for September.
purple and yellow paper
question....PURRFECT?
doodled stitches around flower
star eyelet and stripes paper

A welcome LO for baby Ethan, except my printer chopped off the top of his head :( but I still love the LO and no doubt I will do loads more of him so it doesn't matter, lol.

LHS of a will be double LO all about Stuart and Michaels 'boys road trip' to the TT on the Isle of Man in May this year. They took loads of great photos which I will print small and do a collage style 2nd page.

And a couple of wedding LOs. Again very simple :)

And it's back to work for me on Monday, really looking forward to it, but also a little nervous! I will miss my days at home, but I won't miss having no money!

Tonight is the England v SA world cup rugby game and I am so looking forward to it, just hope it's an exciting game and the ref lets it move. (some of the refs are really bad at blowing the whistle and not playing advantage!)

We have loads of very exciting things planned over at it's a creative world in October so be sure to visit us. There is a tonne of inspiration and loads of prizes to be snapped up :)

We are also working on some great new projects and regular features starting in December, add us to your favourites so you don't miss out!

Ciao and

haPPy creATing!!

Caz

xx

PS, today is my dads birthday, he would have been 60 today. I miss and love you so much dad!

Hold.......to grasp, carry or support with your hands. Find 'hold' in your space.

I hold today the first tomato picked that has been grown by my own hand :)

Another LO to share, this I did yesterday, using a photo of Nina taken in March. She looked at me alot like this when she was here, I don't think she appreciated the camera in her face every 5 seconds, lol.

This morning has been very busy, doing loads of household paperwork and letter writing. Nothing crafty i'm afraid :( Maybe later this afternoon ;)

Be sure to check it's a creative world on Monday as it's blanket update day and I have loads to share!!

Caz

xx

Thoughtful........absorbed in or involving thought. Show us 'thoughtful' in your space today.

She is not in my space today but this is a photo taken of my sister back in March when she came over for our wedding.

Two LOs to share today, both are UKS weekly challenges, the first is a photo of my niece Jessica, looking like the angel she is most of the time ;)

the second is a photo, taken last Saturday, of my friends new baby, Dillan, with her granny *heart*
I am off having a scrappy afternoon :)
haPPy creATing
Caz
xx

Hey, hey it's Friday!!

and I have 3 glorious days to spend with my husband!

Stone.....a hard solid mineral. Show us 'stone' in your space today.

And LOs I have done in August, most in the last three days :)

This first one is a photo of my Gram, she was seriously a cute little girl! I did it for the weekly challenge on UKS a few weeks back, but then realised it was the week befores challenge so can't claim the bonus points but I can still claim LO points :)

This LO is for this weeks challenge, connection to Winnie the Pooh (used the quote "If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus one day, so I never have to live without you" stamped around the edge of the page) 10pts, something honey coloured (the paper is kinda honey coloured) 5 pts, Something with a B (buttons) 5 pts and use scraps (the bit's of paper have been left over from another LO) 10pts.

Another LO of my beautiful DH :) I was just messing around with the camera and I took this close up of his eye, I thought it was cool so decided to scrap it :)


My sweet niece practising her spoon bending skills, thankfully not on my cutlery!

And a few wedding LOs :) Very simple, but I need to get the photos printed and in an album.

There is still a bit of journalling to do, but i'm not quite in that zone right now, so this will have to wait.

Tonight we are off to our local pub, which is about 27 seconds from our house, with some friends for dinner and a relaxed night out. I can't wait as I feel very house bound without a car and not going out to work. And of course as much as I love Josh, he just isn't great company when he decides to sleep ALL day, lol.

Right I best be going to start getting ready :)

haPPy friDAy dudes

Caz

xx

PS mom I have been very busy with the blanket!!

can, can't and don't know if I want to.

Can.....a container for food or liquid. Show us 'can' in your space today.

A LO I did a few weeks back, using the love elsie papers I got in the scraproom kit. Totally loving this kit!

Well yesterday I didn't manage any scrapping cause I was too busy crocheting my blanket together, I can't seriously believe what a mamoth job this is, and in truth if I had known, I don't think I would have started the project! Mom has jumped in and done loads of the work, but the next one will be mine and mine alone to complete, and it's scaring me. One is almost done and I can't make for one niece and not the other so I have to keep going. I mentioned buying wool for a blanket for me, well after getting through two blankets I have no idea if I will want to make it.

Oh and my landrover is broken :( I am gutted. I love that car and now it needs major work at a major cost. Oh poop :(

No idea what I am going to do today yet, but my tummy is full from a huge breakfast so maybe a little sleep is in order ;)

Have a great day y'all

Caz

xx

P.S. I will do a major catch up with all the blogs later today :)

Chop

To cut into small pieces. Find chop in your space.

lol, another animal 'bum' LO for the ladies who loved the giraffe layout :) Please excuse the horrid photo, it's from at least 2 years ago, when I didn't know how to photograph 12x12 LOs.