Just Desserts

I blogged the other day about 'white space' [here], a design concept in scrapbooking.  I featured an article (by Debbie Hodge) about white space which showcased three layouts (using the same images) to show off this concept on finished layouts.  I personally liked layout #2 and thought I'd give it ago...

 

Here is a picture of the original layout design...

 



 

 

 

 

And here is my take...

'Special For Today'... feature's my LIKE FOR EVER August kit (Oh So Lovely), which consists if the Crate Paper 'Wonder' collection.  This is my 8th layout with this kit, the photos tell the story of my daughter and I taking my niece out for her first 'grown-up' shopping trip... we had a ball!  Part of the experience was to be 'ladies what lunch', so here we are having lunch in Frankie and Benny's.  Of course lunch had to include dessert... and what fabulous desserts we had!  I'm so glad I managed to capture this moment.

 

 

My journaling

 

Love these sequins and enamel dots that came in the kit, they add just the right element

 

I used some of the die-cuts for my title and embellishments

 

 

I think this design may become one of my 'go-to' layouts when inspiration deserts me!

 

Have a great 'hump day' everyone x

 

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 



Abbie~Cat

As I sit here, typing away, in-between watching the new Christmas adverts on TV.  I'm thinking... why would you (supposedly) spend 7 million pounds on one advertisement?  Seriously, these supermarkets have far too much money, far too much power and not enough freebie coupons!

 

My current pet hate is the tiny amount of money countless big well-known businesses are not paying in UK taxes.  We hear about how much profit they've made each year, but they are not so forthcoming about the tiny percentage they pay in tax on that profit.  No wonder they can spend so much on adverts!  If they have enough money to spend 7 million on one advert or can afford to scrap thousands of pounds worth of merchandise (just because it is 'old' stock ~ that's less than a year old by the way) then surely they should be putting back into the country they are getting all this profit from!  But no!  They are more likely to create a new highly paid job to someone who knows how to evade taxes than just cough it up!  As a consumer it is MY responsibility to protest this, by boycotting these disgusting tax-dodgers and flexing my consumer muscles, by withdrawing my hard earned cash from these rouge outlets!

 

BUT...

 

How can I stand on my principles when the worst of these companies are... GOOGLE and AMAZON!  I mean my Christmas shopping would not get done if not for Amazon... I'm even on 'Prime' for goodness sake!  So much for my ethics!

 

And as for Google... does the internet even work without it?

 

I will do what I can, though... no more Tesco deliveries for me.  Definitely no more trips to Boots and everyone is going to get something from 'Lush' for Christmas this year (because they pay LOADS of tax on their profits)!

 

I've had my moan... so on with the crafting...

My photo today is from 2013 Halloween ~ my niece, Abbie, decided to dress-up as a cat ~ an 'Abbie-Cat'...

LIKE FOR EVER, August kit was used for this.  all from Crate Paper's Wonder Collection, the colours are lovely and that vellum with the gold triangles is beautiful

 

 

 

I love this little cardstock sticker

 

 

...more cats

These thickers are fab ~ 'Gold Charm' they are gold and corrugated for additional texture

 

and to finish a few stickers

 

Simple!

 

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

The Beautiful Game... RUGBY!!!

I am obliged as the ex-wife of a Welshman; the mother of two 'Welshies' and the inhabitant of the rain soaked, sheep laden 'Land of my Fathers'... to love rugby and surprisingly... I do.  Seriously, what red-blooded woman doesn't want to see a bunch of beefy looking, muscle-bound hunks (just don't look at their ears), beating the crap out of each other ~ all in the name of sport!  When I compare it to football, the supposed 'beautiful game', I just don't see how anyone can like the theatrical play-acting and all those 'pratfalls' better than the skills of rugby.

 

Of course, being English (the lowest of the low in terms of rugby supporters, not only in Wales but the world over), I find it very difficult having the entire world against my team, but such is rugby... everyone hates the England Team, always have ~ always will (the rest of the world , "Are you really that insecure?"  Apparently... yes, you are!), but that's another debate.

 

Although in recent years rugby players, in general, have been getting a little out of hand (I blame the footballers influence), with too much hotel carousing; dwarf throwing (who knew there was such a thing!) and adultery, on the whole (probably because there is less money involved in rugby) rugby players don't display so much stupidity in their off-field behaviour.  Ummm, perhaps its all those Max Boyce/Tom Jones songs they listen to and although most of them don't remember the words to the Lord's Prayer, let alone a full song... 'Hymns and Arias' 'Green, Grass of Home' and 'Delilah' can be recited word for word by all Welsh players and supporters alike! 

 

The best match ever?  Goes to the Barbarians (with a nickname like the 'Baa Baa's' how could I not appreciate them) against the All Blacks (New Zealand to the ignorant) in 1973 at Cardiff Arms Park.  This, most exhilarating match was a display of unparalleled skill with the amazing dexterity of Phil Bennett and his physics-bending sidesteps which were as mesmerising as Gareth Edwards' finishing prowess.  The entire 80 minute match was a display of 'offloading', 'dummying' and  body-swerving and was accompanied by the iconic commentary of Cliff Morgan and the operatic Arms Park crowd.  Apart from the Haka, which looked like a drunken rehearsal of camp Morris Dancers (thank goodness this aspect of Maori tradition, the infamous war cry,  has improved and become more authentic over the years!), everything was... 'the perfect game'.  Is it sad that I remember this game from the countless videos I've watched (thanks to my ex-husband's sporting obsession fascination and the fact that no-one knew what to buy him for Christmas)? Full version [here], just fancy a little peak? [here]

 

Football on the other hand... is just not my game.  I would have a serious problem sitting through 90 minutes of watching a ball being passed back and forward (another reason to like rugby... it only last for 80 minutes!).  In fact I DID have a problem when taking my son to his football matches when he was a boy (his father refused to take him... it wasn't rugby, after all) and having to stay there... needless to say I read a lot; cheered (hopefully) in the right places and was very. very glad when it was time to go.  I didn't even mind all the muddy boots (and smells) and sweaty football shirts if it meant it was 'home-time'!

 

My future son-in-law does not feel this way... and every week he can be seen strutting his stuff on the football pitch, yes... he plays!  Which is depicted in the photo on my layout...

 

I've used my LIKE FOR EVER September kit 'Acorn Avenue' for this and I've even managed some mixed media... woo hoo!

 

The border was made from 4 manufacturing strips (waste not~want not)

 

 

Thickers by American Crafts (Fitzgerald in peacock)

 

 

Puffy sticker and mixed media (modelling paste and a stencil from 'The Crafters' Workshop')

 

Doily and mixed media

 

 

Fox? no relevance whatsoever (artistic license!)

 

Glitter circles from last month's kit

 

 

 

 

Even after ten layouts this kit is still going... but I'm definitely going to be killing it soon! 

 

Happy Crafting

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

R.I.P. JONAH LOMU (aged 40), a true sporting great

 

 

White Space...

Did you think it was... space that was white?

 

In scrapbooking (apparently) you'd be wrong!

 

I have said in previous posts ~ I just 'get on with it', that I try not to 'over-think' the process of scrapbooking, I just want to record the memory and use some pretty 'stuff' to do it, otherwise I get bogged down with the right/wrong ways of design and then just abandon it altogether... however...

 

I recently came across an article about 'white space' and found it, not only interesting, but informative as well... so I thought you all should know...

 

White Space can be any colour! Who knew? Right?

 

I have no idea how I actually came across this crazy way of thinking (probably trawling the internet!), but here it is [here], check it out... its good.

 

Simple 'space' can be predictably symmetrical or unpredictably asymmetrical! Uh? What? Over-thinking, much?  But it does make sense, even if it does go again my 'stick it and hope' philosophy!

 

I'm off to have a go at layout #2, if I can find three photos about the same thing...

 

Bye for now   ~   Happy Crafting x

 

 

 

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Home Time

If we are very lucky in life, our children will actually turn out OK... no matter how many times we, as parents, manage to cock up ~ they will manage to get through it and grow up to have only minimal hang ups, they will (hopefully) not be too traumatised by their parents stealing the occasional kiss (despite the gagging noises sons and daughters seems to have been born able to do!). I'm VERY lucky with my two off-spring.  My son is willing to overlook my obvious deficiencies and be kind to his dear old mum, whilst my daughter works and lives away and so, has more understanding of how the world actually works and misses having someone to pay the bills!

Can we ever, truly be friends with our kids?  I think not... and that's not just because I want to be the boss of everyone!  I could never be anything but 'mum' (or as they were wont to say "ahh mum!!!"), I expected to be the one in charge... it wasn't a democracy in our house but more of a dictatorship!  And of course as my delightful, well behaved children entered teenhood I managed to cross the invisible line of 'fuddiness' by uttering the immortal words (and there's really no going back from this) "in my younger day" ~ and once said, that's it, game over... you have just labelled yourself 'old' and have turned into your parents.  It will bring back memories from your own childhood, remembering how annoying your parents were, for never understanding you, but it will not make you more understanding of your current situation and the stranger in front of you! I guarantee the first time you say it (and there will be many more times), you only realise after the word have left your mouth, what you have said because you will, by this point, be frustrated and ready to be classed as 'old' because at that precise moment you really won't understand the person who is now inhabiting your child's body. 

By way of revenge, I used to really annoy my kids by being the 'cool' mum to all their friends ~ they always found it SO irritating, I had them over a barrel, they couldn't say anything horrible because it would make them look bad ~ mwahhhh!

Since I'm talking about my kids I think I'll show you my seventh layout made with my LIKE FOR EVER August kit ('Oh So Lovely' consisting of the Crate Paper 'Wonder' collection ) I'll get around to showing you layout number six next time...  these photos tell the story of my son's love of school or not!  I never had any trouble getting my kids to school.  School was one of those non-negotiable rules (like seat belts)... you go, that's it! "Yeah, I know... life's not fair (get over it)!"  Anyway, back to my boy... he went, but by golly like the proverbial horse taken to water... no-one was gonna make him learn!  His favourite subject was detention!  The first photo shows his pre-school face (happy? NOT) and the second one shows his eagerness to get out of that blasted uniform (finally a smile)...

Very busy layout

wood veneer

 

yep, there's grumpy

 

I little bit of journaling (gosh, I hate my writing!)

 

 

Those 'Trinket' thickers are lovely even if they do take up loads of space!

 

 

 

 

I love being a mum... and even though they won't admit it, they love having me as their mum... I think!

 

May your inks never run dry!

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

1992 & Best Day EVER

I apologise (if anyone's interested) for my absence... I've not been well, my 'condition' decided to throw me a curve and gave me some new symptoms and 'stuff' to deal with :(

 

My 'condition' (I have Progressive Multiple Sclerosis) has now officially placed me in the disabled echelon's of society, not a place I'd ever thought I'd be, but health is something we don't appreciate until we no longer have it (along with a lot of other things... like bladder control, the ability to walk or the simple act of cutting up one's own food).  I am NOT moaning and I still enjoy life to the fullest (well as that's a bit of a stretch but whatever), but my crafting is something that makes me feel... good. 

 

 I have achieved something ~ I am still useful.

 

Accepting the person I am now, is a never ending struggle, when I don't even recognise myself anymore, but this is what life has dealt me... so I'll make the best of it and acknowledge that it could be worse.  However, last week my little brain lesions decided to play havoc with my senses and knocked me out of action... but now ~ I'M BACK...

 

I've now dealt with all that health $h!t and am getting my mojo back together with my inspiration and trying to tackle my increasing stack of LIKE FOR EVER kits.

 

As I got further and further behind, I tried to run a couple of kits along side each other in the hopes of getting through them, no... it's not worked.  So, rather than getting bogged down with all the crafty goodness, (my December Day by Day kit also arrived), I think what I'll do is forget the October kit (of which I haven't even stroked, let alone opened!) and concentrate on killing my two outstanding kits before the next on arrives and/or I start the December Day by Day kit.

 

August's kit... 'Oh So Lovely' (Crate Paper 'Wonder' Collection) is currently proceeding as follows...

 

Seven layouts completed, love this kit (I say that with ever one of them!), it's very child-like with its papers and embellies with a beautiful colour palette and of course some lovely little cat die-cuts.  There's plenty of everything left for more layouts.

 

 

September's kit... 'Acorn Avenue'  (Pink Paislee 'Cedar Lane Collection) is...

 

Nine layouts down with probably only one or two layouts left in it before it's killed, so I'm getting there.

 

 

October's kit... 'Hello, Beautiful' is...

 

Currently untouched :(   and will remain so unless there is suddenly more hours in the day or I'm miraculously cured (then I won't have a de-fuddled brain unable to cope with more than two things at once... but then I'd have to look for a full time job and I'd still have no time... ).

 

 

I'm also behind with my blogging... meaning?  I've got a few page layouts to share with you... but I don't want to overwhelm you with my crafting greatness, so today I'll only show you two of the pages I've managed to complete...

 

Both are from the 'Acorn Avenue' kit, the first (layout #8)... 1992, is of my baby boy in yes, you've guessed it... 1992.

 

A very simple layout using 2x2 squares of patterned paper

 

Those fussy cut flowers (from the 'Town Square' patterned paper) have provided a HUGE amount of interest on my layouts and of course, some gold splatters of Heidi Swapp Color Shine

 

Date and title in one, using the American Crafts Thickers - 'Fitzgerald' in peacock

 

The frame and 'smile' die-cut are from the ephemera pack

Look at those rosy cheeks and happy smile!

Don't look at that disgusting red flowered wallpaper

 

No layout is complete without a bit of bling ~ sequins from Pretty Pink Posh (exclusive mix

for LIKE FOR EVER)

 

My second page (layout #9) is a very old photograph I fish out of the attic, of my Uncle Barry's wedding to his lovely bride.  My Aunty Linda (now deceased) was the most beautiful person I've ever known both inside and out, a very special lady who is sorely missed.  This photo gave me the opportunity to immortalise this precious memory.  I am the little bridesmaid on the right, along with my two cousins ~ we all wore pretty bright pink dresses and none of us had a clue what we were doing!  I went on to be a bridesmaid another five times for friends and family (wasn't I popular?!)...

 

When I see my Uncle next, I'll ask him what year this was and then make sure I record the date. I'm loving this light woodgrain patterned paper

 

Lots of layering, some of the tissue paper the kit came in and some glittered washi tape

 

I'm so glad I splashed out and got the embroidered tags (add-on), they are lovely.  I used the puffy stickers for part of my title and the AC thickers for the rest. I also punched out a gold glitter heart and added it to the top corner of the layering.  You can just see my (not so happy) little self in the bottom corner

 

... more glitter washi tape and another piece from the ephemera pack, the acetate 'memories' was stapled to a piece of yellow patterned paper and adhered to the washi tape with foam squares

 

 

I cut the acetate wreath in two to maximise its use and added some purple splatters to the top and bottom corners.  To complete the layout I added some journalling

 

So this was my part one catch-up, I gotta go now... my son's cooking roast beef for Sunday Dinner... see, being disabled has it's perks!

 

Happy Crafting

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

Give Us A Kiss

Hello everyone, I hope you enjoyed Halloween...

I've recovered from my recent home invasion and managed to do a layout today.  This photo is of my two children way back in 1995.  As you can see my son was determined to have a kiss from his little sister, an event that was nearly as rare as water in the desert!

 

To say that they didn't get on is an understatement... I failed, miserably, to get them to even like each other!  I think they both have similar personalities (strong ones) and back then, they just didn't feel the need to EVER give in to each other, no matter how I tried to explain the concept of 'sharing'.

They get on great... now!  But that might have something to do with the fact that they don't see each other very often!

Anyway, my layout was achieved using the LIKE FOR EVER September kit 'Acorn Avenue'... it is a lovely mix of Pink Paislee's Cedar Lane collection patterned papers and embellishments...

(home made flair)

(journaling on the fussy cut flower)

(washi tape)

American Crafts 'Fitzgerald' thickers in peacock

 

This is my 7th layout with this kit, it just seems to keep going... but I REALLY want to start my next kit... 'Hello Beautiful' <<must NOT give in to temptation>> << why not???>>

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

No Room At The Inn...

or... It's the Little Things That Matter

I've had family visiting!!!

I'm blessed (now they've gone), I truly am.

I live on the caravan park my parents own and run (we've been here, in Wales for the past 30 years), I have my own two-bedroomed flat... well it's a one-bedroomed flat plus (chaotic) craft room.  And even though we have beautiful spacious caravans available, my wonderful family always want to stay with me, in my flat!  Why? I'm just that wonderful, I guess!

The thing is, that not only did my brother and his two children want to visit (mainly for the fab Halloween weekend), but also my amazing daughter (plus fiancée) had the week off work and came to stay as well.  The sleeping arrangements, to say the least, got a little complicated!  Remember... one bedroom and one queen sized bed!

So... Sunday saw Michelle (daughter) and Daniel (future son-in-law) arrive, they ended up sleeping in this configuration... Michelle in bed with her mum (I hope it doesn't scar her for life!), Daniel on the sofa  (it's a very comfy sofa).  They won't let me sleep on the sofa, and I quote... "my mum's not sleeping on a sofa", they're old fashioned that way (something to do with their up-bringing, I suspect!).

... Monday, the same configuration, although Michelle and I spread out a bit more and weren't quite so uptight about accidentally touching each other and invading each others personal space... either we just couldn't be bothered or (I suspect more to the point), we were both so knackered from the previous nights rest (or not) that we no longer cared who had the most space so long as it was 'ME'.  I think we were both a little envious of Daniel and the comfy sofa by this point!

... Tuesday, ditto.  Michelle and I now have bags under our eyes and Daniel is FAR too happy, so we've now designated him... our own personal slave for, any and all, things that we need doing! From emptying the bins, washing up and tea making to decorating the clubhouse for the Halloween weekend!  (Well he has had the most sleep after all!).

...Wednesday, Michelle can no longer cope with sleeping with her mother (thank God) and decides to drag a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Daniel (B45T4RD) off to my mum's beach house (Yah... a night on my own!).  Off they go.... bye. 

A good night's sleep follows!
 

...Thursday, my brother arrives with two kids, my mums invites my other niece to stay (citing her need to spend quality time with her cousins, and  dumps her on me as well)! The sleeping configuration for this lot? Kenny (brother) on the comfy sofa; Annabelle (niece #1) and Abbie (niece #2) on a blow up double bed next to me in the bedroom; Edward (nephew) in the bed with me.  By 10.30 (already 30 minutes passed my bedtime), I make the kids turn off all ipads (they're playing mindcraft together, whatever that is), we settle down and off go the lights.  Since Edward is only six and the smallest (a hell of a lot smaller than my last bedfellow any way), I'm thinking I'll be able to get a decent night's sleep!  Oh, you fool!  My lovely nephew spends the WHOLE night farting!  At one point I swear there was green gasses coming from beneath the sheets and  I was seriously worried about him poisoning the girls, I just thanked the lord (several times) that I  was fairly close to (a now) open window and managed to inhale something other than the last few meals my delightful nephew was now trying to digest! 

...Friday, Michelle and Daniel are back (oh goodie!), the sleeping arrangements are as follows... Kenny on the comfy sofa (have I mentioned that the sofa is comfortable? Well it was until it was used as a bed!).  In the lounge with Kenny is now, not only the double blow up bed, but also a single blow up bed (hahaha Kenny gets the kids... #1 snores, #2 talks in her sleep and #3 stinks!), Michelle and Daniel are in my bed (I hope they appreciate all I do for them), and where am I? I've disappeared next-door to my mothers (mwhah!).

...Saturday, almost ditto except #2 niece has also had enough of the crowd (she IS an only child after all, its amazing that she's managed to put up with everyone up until now) and joined me next door, so once again I'm sharing!  My mother wanders into the bedroom in the middle of the night (I don't know if its to check up on me or niece #2, but she very quietly and carefully makes sure we are both covered adequately with a duvet... it's the little things that matter, I have a small smile on my face as I  drift back into the land of nod, thinking all the time that even at 51, I'm not too old to be tucked in!

The children (and me) are beginning to flag a little by now, they've had a late night playing bingo; they've (and me) have had a thoroughly unpleasant gas experience; we've all had disturbed nights without our usual compliment of restful bliss in order to recharge, we are probably not at our best as we face another day of energy sapping delights.  Next the kids face another full day of Halloween fun and we all have an even later night of disco dancing, drinking games (not the kids although I swear those 'fruit shoots' make the kids far more 'hyper' than the two alcoholic shots I got caught with!) and raffle excitement (if I hear... "but I didn't win" one more time, I'm gonna ban any of the kids from participating in the bloody raffle!) and our oldest child, who is at present on the cusp of hormonal puberty is... only now able to communicate in a series of grunts!  The other two are crying at the drop of a hat... but of course when I have the audacity to suggest that perhaps they may be "a little tired" I'm told in no uncertain terms that "NO, WE ARE NOT!!!" then one (or both) burst into more tears. Oh what fun!

...Sunday... THEY'VE ALL GONE and do you know what?

I'm missing the bloody lot of them!  And all the fun and chaos they always bring with them!  I decide ~ I must be some kind of masochist.

Crafting? not a lot (I've been kinda busy,) so I'm showing off the December Daily kit that will soon be up for grabs from LIKE FOR EVER... not cheap, but great value and I'm definitely going to get it...

 

 

 

DECEMBER DAILY 2015 KIT

£60.95 (Coming soon)

WRMK 4x6" Album in Classic Red with 10 page protectors | One pack WRMK 4x6" Page Protectors | One pack Project Life 4x4" Page Protectors |  One pack Project Life 4x4" Divided Page Protectors | One Christmas Wishes 6x6" Pad | One Christmas Wishes 4x6" Stamp Set | One pack Christmas Wishes Puffy Alphas | One pack Christmas Wishes Acetate Squares | One pack Christmas Wishes Studio Puffs | One pack Christmas Wishes Rubber Charms | One pack Christmas Wishes Acrylic Shapes | One pack Christmas Wishes Gold Foil Words/Alphas | One pack Christmas Wishes Die Cuts |  One pack Evalicious Oh What Fun Wood Veneer | Three assorted Evalicious Oh What Fun Flair Badges (may differ from those shown in photograph) | One pack Pretty Pink Posh 8mm Sparkling Clear Sequins | One Freckled Fawn Gold Dot Washi Tape.

Kit Subscribers receive a free journaling pack with each kit purchase.

COMBNED RRP OF £82.75 REPRESTENTING A  SAVING OF  £21.80!

 

 

 

I'm off for a rest now... happy crafting x

 

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

Ramblings ~ Americanisms

I suppose my ramblings are not to everyone's taste... I mean, I do talk write rather a lot of nonsense; I do occasional cuss {American word #1} and considering this is a crafting blog, sometimes it takes a back seat to the thoughts in my head, thoughts that I want to get out, that need to burst forth with such determination that as soon as I wake they are telling me to write them down! Oh dear, voices in my head?  That sounds bad :(

 

I woke today... not to the sound of ticking, to hear about that, click [here], but to the thoughts of the words we use, I found myself thinking the phrase "I'm super excited..."  What?! {American word #2} (I can't, now remember what about, it was an hour ago, after all).  But just the use of those words rattling around in my head set off alarm bells!  I mean when did I feel the need to use American lingo?

 

I'm English (and proud), I have lived in Wales for the past thirty years... but I haven't changed my accent in all that time... if I've held out over the Welsh then why not the Americans?  Oh, I can cwtch (cuddle) with the best of 'em... when the kids were little it was 'bach' this and bach' that (little or dear) and occasional I even used 'cariad' (love) to my cheating welsh husband (ha... don't miss him!). I mean, my children (being born here) ARE Welsh, they both speak Welsh, my poor son even thinks like a Welshman! (A disadvantage, I think... but I'm obviously displaying racism, sorry about that, I will make it clear... not all Welsh man are cheats!  There racism averted!!! ).  They both had Welsh taught to them in school from 3 years old (full-time school no less, the Welsh do get somethings right! With only 14 months between them, I was ready to pack them off for half the day!) - solely Welsh no English was allowed until they got to year 3 (about 7 years old!)... poor kids! Having asked them, which language do they think in, they both tell me... they think in both.. now that's an advantage, making it easier to learn other languages in the future, or so I'm told!

 

But, being a proud Englishwoman I insisted, as they grew up, that they not have a welsh accent (stopping certain phrases or pronunciations... what a mean mummy I was).  So, now,  I feel they have the best of both worlds... they don't have silly sing-song accents (thought to be the second most 'thick' sounding accent in the British Isles only being thought a little more 'intelligent sounding' than the Birmingham accent!  <<My daughter's Welsh and her fiancée is from Birmingham... were did I go wrong?>>), but can communicate in two languages.  If I could do all that for them... why am I  now using words like 'adorable', 'super excited', 'trash'!

 

And while we're at it why would you call a fringe... 'bangs', that makes no sense what so ever!

 

Then it clicked... no, it's not all the US dramas/cartoons on TV (don't you diss Criminal Minds or The Simpsons) or even the influx of all the super-sweet {American word #3}  food goodies now found in all the major supermarket isles (Reeses peanut butter cups, yummy!).  It is in fact...

 

YouTube!  Yep, all those scrapbook process vids I've been watching (constantly)!  I know you do too... Have you noticed that the Americans are always 'super excited', it takes a lot for us Brits to be 'super' anything , we may occasionally become 'a bit' but 'super' nah..., except maybe,  on LIKE FOR EVER kit arrival day!  Then you should just feel sorry for all the poor postmen out there!  Us LIKE FOR EVER girls can be worse than the most viscous Rottweiler when a pizza box is held by someone other than ourselves!  <<ponder>> I wonder if we go into 'grab' mode when a real pizza is delivered, not that I'd know, I live in the back of beyond, home delivery is something only Tesco do, and then it's only been recently.

 

Having realised I'm developing an alarming vocal bad habit... I have been looking out for certain words/phrases to see if I've picked them up.  I mean, we all know that Americans sometimes use different words to us or some words have different meanings and certainly have different spellings (that alone drives me crazy {American word #4} ~ stop dropping letters, how am I supposed to use all my ephemera {from the Greek word 'emphemeron'} with misspelt words, and don't get me started on 'mom')... they use the words "fanny"  and "panties" for goodness sake... I means, come on, who (in Britain) would say either of those without a smirk. 

 

There is a fantastic write up, I found, not so long ago, that an American tourist had posted on Facebook about the differences between our cultures... it is brilliant, I'm just off to see if I can find the link...

 

 

 

 

Found it!

[here], but if you're anything like me ~ that's way too much effort (I know, I know... I'm lazy! It's probably unfair to class you the same, but hey, it's my blog!).

 

 

Makes you feel better about Britain doesn't it, although I didn't know Cornwall was a country in its own right! And no guns!

 

<Rambling> over...

Let the crafting begin...

Why am I posting a picture of sugar? Because I am proud, yes proud, proud I say... of my weight loss, after a year of struggling ~ I am 50 lbs down, which is great... but I want you all to recognise just how much that 50lbs represents (I'm needy like that!).  I am no longer carrying all those sugar bags... wow!

I'm also doing another challenge today (a much easier, more enjoyable one)... I'm scraping for the LIKE FOR EVER Sunday Challenge (#4)... to use a loonnnngggggg title...

I'm telling you... the only kit you'll ever need is one from LIKE FOR EVER (if your British anyway), they are awesome {American word #5} and Nicola (owner, hard-worker, dedicated crafter) is so, so good at her job...

Scrapped using the LIKE FOR EVER September kit... 'Acorn Avenue', goodies from

the Pink Paislee Cedar Lane collection

I absolutely love these glittered words, they add such a great impact

 

Proud... I tell you!

 

Hand stitching, with some embroidery floss, a wood veneer butterfly and a glittered heart (sorry I didn't even allow the glue to dry before I started snapping away with my camera LOL)

 

Proud, I SHOUT!

 

Minimal embellies and just a few light splattering of Heidi Swapp colo[u]r {American word #6} shine in gold

 

Have A Nice Day {American words #7}

 

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...