July in Review.

This year is just whizzing by

and I'm so glad that I'm taking part in this mini album project

over at ScrapaGoGo's Club House

so I can record quickly & easily

all the details of 2011.

On my July pages I have highlighted our recent trip to Egypt

& the GCD photo strip in ScrapaGoGo's July kit

was ideal to cut down & hold 3 more photos.

If you look carefully you will see me riding a camel!!

The right hand page covers

School prize giving, Paul's Golf win,

Dan at the jamboree, Cricket medals,

Coventry's Godiva Festival ...

I also used the Maya Rd chipboard weather pieces

as July has been a great month for us weather wise.

I inked & misted the pieces before adding them to my pages.

All my journalling is on the hidden pull up tag.

Do I need another hobby ?

Ive been toying with the idea of learning to crochet for a while. My Mum tried to teach me years ago but I never really got the hang of it & I don't think being left handed helps!
I've decided to try again & have a small project in mind.


I'll keep you up to date with my progress. Wish me luck x

Sheena x

Having Fun with a sketch

This week at

Twisted Sketches

both DT teams got creative with the sketch

& Twist - FUN.

I've used a couple of Hipstamatic photos

taken at an open air concert at Alton Towers.

Together with Sweetly Smitten papers, foldies,

stickers & journaling spot from Sassafras.

I added a swipe of paint around the cardstock edge

to soften and add interest.

Guest Designer

I'm thrilled to announce

that I am this week's Guest Designer

over on Making Memories Blog.

I was asked to make a Lo

using their products & when I looked through my stash

I found loads I wanted to use

so I made 2 Lo's!

Maiden Voyage.

On this Lo there is paper & embellishments

from over 6 different MM ranges.

They blend perfectly together

in my holiday themed Lo.

Prom Night.

The MM papers used here

are mainly from the 5th Avenue range.

The circular border is hand cut from the flocked paper

proving that pink is not just for Girls!

I am thrilled to have had this opportunity.

More July

These Lo's are made using

ScrapaGoGo's July Kit

"Fun of the Fair"

Gee Up

The GCD Funhouse paper

was a perfect backdrop for this photo

of Harriet on a carousel.

The great mix of trims in this kit

enabled me to continue the fairground feel,

creating a banner over the photo.

Put Your Hands in the Air

Like you don't Care.

I used this GCD Funhouse paper

to document a sequence of photos

of me being brave on

Big Thunder mountain Roller coaster!

ScrapaGoGo's monthly exclusive hybrids

were an ideal a complement for this Lo.

Mixed Emotions...

Today has been

full of mixed emotions for me

and one I knew was coming

but I've struggled to prepare for.

Daniel has begun his journey to the

22nd World Scout Jamboree

which is being held in Sweden.

It's been 18 months since the selection process began

& months of hard fund raising followed.

This is a chance of a life time for him

and one I know he has earned.

So why am I struggling so

with letting him go ?

I trust the leaders &

Dan has been abroad with the Scouts before.

But this seems so different,

he is joining 4000 Brits

all heading for Sweden

with the total experiencing the Jamboree

is expected to reach 48000!

Rationally I know

we, as parents have been preparing him

his whole life to be independent, adventurous

self assured & capable

so maybe we should be patting ourselves on the back.

But as a Mum

this is really my first experience of my

chicks flying the nest.

I wish Coventry's Jamboree Contingent

a fabulous fun filled adventure

and Dan (smiley) we are so proud of you Son x

End of an era...

Today we went to see Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows 2.


We went enmasse, 3 generations all seated in a row in 3D specs!
Even though we had read the book & knew what was coming, it was still fabulous to see this finale on the big screen. It generated much conversation afterwards particularly with reference to how it tied in with the previous movies.
I certainly need to watch it again and soon.

Sheena x

Mix It Up

This is an exciting new challenge over

on ScrapaGoGo's Club House.

Where you mix consecutive kits together

for a whole new look.

All about the Food.

Highlighting my children's love of fast food at theme parks

particularly in America !

Created from ScrapaGoGo's July, June & May kits.

Chipboard clouds turned into popcorn

with a pair of scissors & a lick of paint

to compliment the fabulous popcorn bag in July's kit.

Another 1 crossed off our Bucket List...

We have had the opportunity over the last week of fulfilling one of our life long dreams of exploring some of the famous sites Egypt has to offer. Paul particularly has always had a fascination with the Pharaohs & their antiquities.

Here are a couple of snapshots from our trip & when I've sorted them all out I'll post some more.




The Pyramids at Giza.




The Temple of Hatshepsut.


The Temple at Karnak.




The Sphinx.




Memnon - The entrance to The Valley of The Kings

The weather has been a little challenging particularly when it rose to 50 degrees during our visit to Luxor but even that wasn't going to stop us making the most of this trip.

Sheena x

I'm loving it x

I've been loving working

with this ScrapaGoGo kit

Fun of the Fair.

Here's another of my Lo's from it.

Discover the World.

The Pink Paislee Daily Junque Map paper

works so well with the Maya Rd chipboard weather shapes

to compliment my travel photos.

The grid is faux stitched

using punched holes & pen !

Finished with tickets & cute map pins

made from the exclusive hybrids.

Thanks for looking x

My little lunch dates...

...with my Husband :)

We have these little lunch dates from time to time

to treat ourselves,

& have a chance to chat

without the stresses of work, kids & house

getting in the way.

photos are hipstamatic - taken with my iphone.

I created this Lo

for Twisted Sketches no. 110

with the Twist - Ribbon.

The patterned papers, playing card, filter paper

& die cuts are all Fancy Pants- it's the little things.

alpha- AC Thickers

ribbon - AC Dear Lizzy.

Can you tell what it is yet ??

Said in my best Rolf Harris voice ?!

I've had some requests for a house update

so here goes...

The roof timbers are in & the felt is down

so tiles are on site & just starting.

Velux windows are in on the top floor

the electricians & alarm guys have started the 1st fix.

We are having to make loads of decisions

about lots of things we normally would not consider !

From the colour of our drain pipes

to the pattern of the glass in the obscure windows.

This is proving very time consuming & draining TBH

& fingers crossed we've not

made any costly mistakes,

only time will tell x

10 Moments in Mugs !!

It's time for Shimelle's 10 Things.

This month I've gone totally random !!

Years ago we used to have pretty

matching mugs but slowly odd ones have crept in.

As a BIG tea drinker

I open the mug cupboard door A LOT !

I always take a moment to choose

the right mug for that tea break.

Let me introduce you to 10 of my favourites :)

My Parents had this made especially for me

when I was a student nurse

as you can't get items with my name on usually !

This was a gift from a fabulous friend

that knows I love Cath Kidston, chickens

& tea !

A fathers day gift for my husband

from his kids

it's nearer to the truth than I should admit !

I love these little momiji dolls

& this mug is as cute & as dainty as they are.

We got this at a Madness concert last year.

You could only purchase it after the show

was over in case you threw it at the band !!

My scouting name is Fox.

A souvenir from our many

outings to the German Christmas market

in Birmingham.

Another of Hubbys from the kids!

The joke goes...

Mum loves Manatees

Mum loves Dad

Dad = manatee!!

From The Greatest Show on Earth

at Downtown Disney Florida.

A Gaudi reminder from our repeated trips to

Barcelona.

I've toyed with the idea of making a mug mini book

but as it's never happened

this is there

5 minutes of fame!

Thank you for taking the tour x