About a boy.

One of the stops along the way during Suzy's blog hop was to Sue's blog Me and Mine.
Sue's post featured a great sketch, a fab page and a challenge with a prize attached.

When I saw the page that Sue had done I knew I had the perfect photo to use.
Last summer when the family came out to Normandy for a visit we went for lunch to a local restaurant, a favourite of ours where the first course consists of a serve yourself cold buffet.

After piling his plate high "a la Uncle Roger", Alex sat down beside me and I quickly snapped this photo.
I think the title of my layout says it all.

"can I eat now" 

Tim Holtz papers, alphas and embellies were perfect for this masculine page.

CKCB Challenge # 1 - Masks & Mists and a Blog Hop!

I'm joining another blog hop, this one hosted by the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog, there's a list of all participants at the end of this post.
If you're on the hop you'll probably have arrived here from Lesley's blog "Oh! Blog It!, or you may just be visiting to see what I'm up to today.
However you got here, I'm so glad to see you!

I don't often use masks or misting on my layouts, because frankly I get more ink/paint on me and the desk than I do on the page.
However, when I saw the criteria for the CKCB first challenge this month:

Challenge 1:  Masking Challenge: Make your own or use one you have, but use a masking technique on your project!

I decided to try something similar to a process that I had seen on YouTube a while ago and see what happened.
In my stash I have a few push out chipboard alpha sets that came with some of the earliest kits that I bought in the States.

I removed the remaining alphas from one set to use as a mask, placed it on the plain white card stock and lightly misted with Adirondack Color Wash - Lettuce and Denim and dripped random ink blots in two corners

The photo is of my husband and Nicholas (our nephew and his godson), relaxing on the couch at our holiday cottage in Swaledale earlier this year.

Some masculine (y) embellies and the TH glassine envelope (I added eyelets and string) are from my May counterfeit kit.

Inside the envelope a journalling tag to say how much we love both of our nephews who are growing up into clever, kind, not to mention handsome, young men.

Thanks for stopping by, your next hop is to Milissa's blog.
and in case you lose track of where you've been
 these are the links to everyone who is taking part in the blog hop today.

CKCB   http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/

Jemma   http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk/

Dawn   http://www.dawnsscrapbookcottage.blogspot.com/

Lesley   http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk/

Maggie   http://maggiebscrapblog.blogspot.fr/

Milissa   http://millermall.blogspot.com

Julie    http://spendlesscraftmore.blogspot.com.au

Molly   http://www.42shadesofpink.com/index.html

Lisa    http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com

Candace http://usthreebythesea.blogspot.co.uk/

Sherrie http://sherriesmuddlepuddle.blogspot.ca/

CKCB Challenge #2 & a blog hop!

Challenge #2 over on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog this month is  "Children's Book Challenge".

Trying to incorporate as much of my May counterfeit kit as possible, I decided to scrap the first Famous Five book by Enid Blyton.
I discovered the Famous Five when I was about 8 or 9 years old and fell in love with them all, especially Timothy, George's dog.

Reading about their adventures took me a million miles away from "real" life and I was always happy to be on a treasure island; go off to camp; run away together; off in a caravan; fall into adventure; get into a fix; go to Billycock Hill or have a wonderful time with them.
Believe it or not all of the above titles are still on my bookshelf over 50 years later!

I had to go into to my stash for the red cardstock, Jenni Bowlin stars, tag and Bingo card.

The paper bag with black chevrons was part of my February kit which didn't get used that month.

I'm linking this post also to a blog hop organised by Suzy

 a member of my Scrap-A-Sketch group over on UKScrappers

as she reveals the makeover her blog

Sea Glass & Sand has recently had.

Click here to see the full list of those joining in the hop today,
there are prizes on offer along the way.

If you are already hopping you probably came over from 

Suzi's blog Sugar & Spice and have now reached the end of the hop.
Well done!

The Flyers CJ - Part Deux. Heidi's theme - Favourite Book

For the second round of The Flyers newbie circle journal Heidi has chosen "Favourite Book" as her theme.
I love to read, usually have a couple on the go at the same time and one of my favourite authors is Fannie Flagg.
It all began with "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" and ended with "I Still Dream About You".
I'm looking forward to her next novel but don't know when that will be.
As I couldn't really choose between any of her books I decided to scrap my two favourites.

"The Whistle Stop Cafe Cook Book" and "Redbird Christmas".

Left page
The photo is of the cookbook and some
green tomatoes picked from my garden
 last summer.

I made a card using TH paper
and on the reverse listed all of Fannie Flagg's book titles.
It tucks in behind the flowery paper.

The stamped flower is a favourite
from PaperArtsy.

For the right hand page
I re-purposed a Christmas card featuring a red cardinal.
the redbird of the book title.
The hand written recipe is for the famous fried green tomatoes,
 the tag is hidden behind the card.

lift up the card and there's the book photo

An unseasonable post for the month of May, perhaps, but do try and get hold of a copy of Redbird Christmas reading it every year has become one of my favourite Advent traditions.

1st May Daze LO

The challenge over at UK Scrappers this week required us to use this sketch for a masculine layout.

Add some flowers and use an inking technique.

I searched through my photos and found one of my husband with his best mate when they visited New York City to celebrate BM's 60th birthday in 2008.

Using my May Daze Counterfeit Kit, which I put together last week, I completed the challenge in less than 3 hours, which for me is fast!

All I needed to add to the kit was the blue cardstock; Prima flower and Ranger ink.

CKC - May Daze

The Counterfeit Kit Challenge this month features the March kits from Polly Scrap Kits and the one I've chosen to recreate is "Totally Rad".

With just 4 patterned papers this kit relies heavily on embellies, I see note cards, twine and an envelope in there too.

 From my stash I put together my take on the kit which I am calling "May Daze"

3 of my papers are double sided, I may have to flip them or add extra card stock to stretch the kit out.

B/W printed paper - Teresa Collins
Red / white chevron paper - Studio Calico
Cream/ blue polka dot paper Lily Bee "French Couture"
Black/blue flowered paper American Crafts "Sixth Avenue"
Memories chipboard elements - Teresa Collins
Flags/banners Fancy Pants
Glassine envelope - Tim Holtz
Tickets - Jenni Bowlin
Decorative trim & bakers twine - MME
Various alphas (the sheets of alphas have been used, I will probably need to use others, too); chipboard elements; journaling cards; paperclips; washi tape; parisiennes from stash.

Happy National Scrapbooking Weekend 

to all our American friends & bloggers.

CKC are hosting a NSW party with fun & games for all. 

There are prizes, too!

click here to join in.

Achieving Reiki Level 2

The final challenge for April @ UK Scrappers was set by normeyg.
The criteria were to scrap an experience, achievement or someone/thing that you're proud of, include a butterfly and the colour yellow.

In June 2007 I attained Reiki Level 2, I consider it my greatest achievement in life, so far and that was the theme for my layout.

April Scrap-A-Sketch challenge

This was the sketch provided by Heather for the April Scrap-A-Sketch challenge.

The unusual placement of the three photographs had me flummoxed for a while and I considered using just one photo with two journaling cards.
In the end I persevered as I wanted to scrap our trip to Betty's tea room in York last month and the pretty antique Quimper vase which I took there with me.

The Quimper Club website is running a fun feature showing members photographed holding a piece of Q in unlikely locations all around the world.
Compared to the other places where Q has turned up, Brazil; Antarctica and the Biosphere in Arizona, York may seem pretty tame but it made a great subject for a LO and that's more than o.k with me.