Up grade...

I'm not a fan of technology

unless it's a camera or a phone !

Today I upgraded from my iphone 3GS

to the fabulous 4 !

I'd be totally lost without my iphone,

I store loads of info on it, lists, music, podcasts for running,

games...and phone numbers :D

I'm always looking for new apps

that I never knew I needed !!lol

The case is by Agent 18.

Sx

A modern wonder of the scrapbooking world...

...well CHA certainly was this for me and more x

I can't believe this time last year I was there

experiencing all CHA had to offer

with the GoGo Girlies.

CHA was bigger than any show I'd ever been to here at home

with every one who's anyone there with their new ranges.

I spent most of my time using the show guide to navigate myself around

as you would in a major theme park.

I loved seeing all the latest stash but it felt weird that you couldn't buy it

on the spot, then again thats very probably a good thing !!

When all the work was done & orders placed

we had chance to sightsee & have a laugh,

I even sampled the roller coasters at Disneyland !

To find out all this years show news and products,

check out ScrapaGoGo's Blog

for the latest news from LA.

Sx

Fancy a freebie ?

Hop on over to ScrapaGoGo's blog

let them know your favourite add on

& you could win it !

How fab is that x

Sx

Progress...

We have waited so long for this

that we now can't keep away !

Since I last blogged, the house has completely gone

and with it the smell

that I could no longer bear.

We took the family up too

to experience this new beginning,

and all feel more positive from this.

The measuring begins.

Foundations & external walls.

Getting ready for the internal floor slabs to be poured!

Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about !!

I am thankful that our build is being managed for us,

it takes the pressure off us a little.

Think this house deserves it's own scrapbook

so we will be able to look back and remember the journey.

Thanks for listening.

Sx

ScrapaGoGo- Lessons Learnt

I made this Lo with my January ScrapaGoGo kit

using their Details Delivered prompt

to journal a lesson learnt.

My lesson learnt is to trust my own judgement

no matter how hard the situation...

& the whole story is documented on the tag

behind the journalling card.

The pic is harriet's recent school photo,

doesn't she look so grown up & happy.

The stamps I have used are the lush

ScrapaGoGo Loyalty Stamps,

want to know more ?

then hop on over & take a look.

Sx

New ScrapaGoGo Blog...

ScrapaGoGo have a new look blog

made all pretty by the

lovely Kirsty Wiseman

Why not hop on over there

& grab the new blinkie

and find out more

about one certain DT member

this week

wink wink !!

Sx

Happiness is ...

lots of beautiful stash

in ScrapaGoGo's February kit x

this is this months stunning

Go to Pieces selection

which can be added to your kit subscription.

Also there are 2 add ons

available on Grab it day

( 1st of the month )

and extra complimentary cardstock

to help to use your kit to the max

Sx

So Lush x

I'm loving the look of the ScrapaGoGo February kit

" Happiness is ..."

and some extra elements

including this gorgeous cloud stamp designed by our own

Nicola Kerridge,

and these amazing bespoke cards by the talented Sam Ball.

You just can't help but fall in love with it all x

Sx

All Complete

Over the last few days

I've been working on finishing my

GoGo Yearbook 2010

and here it is complete :)

I just love it.

It's just the right size to flick through easily

plus a great reminder of all the fab ScrapaGoGo

kits I've had each month.

Here are Novembers pages

featuring snow, my car accident

a fab weekend away & a early xmas dinner !!

Finally, Decembers pages

featuring a Madness Concert, more snow !

Dan turning 16 & a trip to the german market.

ScrapaGoGo are running

a new project this year called

A Month in Review

& I'll tell you all about it soon x

Sx

one year on...

For most people today is just like any other day

but for my family today,

or should I say the 12th of January

is a day we will never ever forget...

but I'm trying so hard not to dwell on the negative

so I'm going to count my blessings instead !

I have these 3 amazing, healthy, rude, funny,

loving, annoying children.

I have a wonderful husband who puts up with me

& my obsession with pretty paper & photos.

My parents are just awesome.

I have the dream job

designing for Britain's number 1 kit club

ScrapaGoGo

My friends are very special & so supportive.

and we have our plot

finally being cleared to make way for our new home.

So tonight we will have a drink to celebrate all that is great in our lives

& look forward to being in our new home by the end of the year.

Sx

One of my xmas makes...

I realised I had not shared any of the Christmas gifts I made.

Let me introduce you to

Sad Sock Monkey.

I found him illustrated in

Stray Sock Sewing Too by Daniel.

The book had no instructions but

once I started him it seemed to come together OK.

The look on his face was just perfect

for my teenager son !!

With his very happy owner on Christmas morning.

Sx

Loads of inspiration...

Have you been over to the ScrapaGoGo club house recently ?

It's full of inspiration to get your scrapping off to a great start this year.

Here is this months

Blueprint To Go

featuring a fabulous sketch by Kirsty Wiseman

and this lush example by DT member Sam Ball.

I just had to do it too.

Using ScrapaGoGo's January's kit

Elementary My Dear

here is my take.

I've stuck pretty much to the sketch except my photos are all the same size.

Thats the fun about sketches, you can modify them to match your supplies.

In case you wondering the pics are school photos of me from the 1970's

where non uniform & BIG collars were the norm !!

Give it a go & post it on the CH

we love to see your designs x

Sx

Beginning of the end...

About bl**dy time !!

We are one week away from the first anniversary

of the fire

& finally the demolition crew have started

to take apart whats left, whilst salvaging all they can.

There have been a number of factors

that have contributed to this taking so long to start

but these seem to finally be resolving.

They are removing all of one end so they can get the heavy machinery in.

I find it hard to know how to feel as I watch this unfold,

pleased, that we have some progress but

mournful in a way, for a home we all loved.

I plan to continue blogging as usual

but with a selection of progress reports

added in, so you can share with me

the ups & downs of

building a house from scratch.

Sx

Review of 2010 & Word for the year...

It would be honest to say that 2010 was a roller coaster year

for us with some distinct highs and lows...

Highs

I went to CHA in LA

went on our first cruise

Visiting the Elephant Parade

17 years of marriage

loving teaching scrap booking classes

Lows

Our house fire

Mum's fractured arm

2 operations

Delays due to Volcano

Lots of stress...

I've learnt 2 major lessons during all this

1) I am much stronger than I ever believed,

when I thought I could take no more,

I have found an inner strength to help me cope.

2) I have some AMAZING friends

who aren't afraid in a crisis to get

their hands dirty

or listen to the ramblings of a demented woman !!

So on to 2011

My word for this year is

PHOENIX

We plan to rebuild our family home

after it's destruction by fire.

On a personal level I am going to pick myself up

& dust myself off

after a year of trying to come to terms

with all the last year through my way

I aim to emerge as the happy, sociable person I once was,

I have been changed by my experiences

but now aim to channel this energy in more positive ways

many thanks if you have read this far !

I'm not known for long blog posts !

Sx