Prizes and Project Team Ewan....................

So after the excitement of last night, hopefully the prompt will stay at the top of the page until 6th November, I had another surprise this morning. I have followed Melissa's blog for quite a while now as she is a gr8 scrapbooker and also does the ''All about me challenge'' site.
Anyway she is a really inspiring person and apart from all the work she is doing already, she is organising and developing another very special project, Project Team Ewan. 

Ewan was a very special little baby born with a rare heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot or Fallot's tetralogy.

Ewan's parents knew he had this condition antenatally however his condition was far rarer than anyone expected and he died a couple of weeks ago in Seattle Children's hospital.

In honour and memory of this little baby, his family and the work this hospital does for children and families, Melissa and a team of scrapbookers have developed Project Team Ewan to raise awareness, raise funds for the hospital and provide us scrapbookers with specially designed classes from some amazing teachers. The whole project goes live with the classes in 3 weeks.

His parents also keep a blog documenting their son's brief life and their challenges now as grieving parents here it's a tough read and very personal but open, I would advise you to take ur time and have tissues handy because it is gutwrenchingly honest. As a past NICU nurse and bereavement support nurse and counsellor, they have taken an amazingly open way of describing their grief and many people may find it hard to take, so although I encourage you to visit, I also advise you that their honesty is raw and no holds barred, as I personally feel it needs to be, however if you have ever had a baby/child die or are currently grieving I would be well aware of the challenges you will face if you decide to read their blogging.


So imagine my surprise this morning when Melissa's blog had picked me as a winner in one of her giveaways in advance of it's sale on Etsy. The class is called Scrapbooking with symbolism.

The Class is in an easy to follow PDF format.  We go through the elements and principles of design and how they can relate to your layouts in a symbolic way.  And guess what?  I'm already working on my second class!  I felt like as I worked on this class there was so much more to cover and that's what I'm doing with the next class that will probably be out sometime in January.

The class will officially be for sale via my Etsy shop (it isn't ready yet) by November 1st for $15!  It will also be included in the wonderful Project Team Ewan class package!!! Woohoo!!! Even though I'm organizing this amazing fundraiser, I'm still blushing a bit to have a class among such other fabulous talent.

 Here are some of the key contributors to this amazing class package:

Nancy Doren
Jen Martakis
Iris Babao-Uy
Kara Haupt
Melissa Elsner
Dora Phillips
Erica Hernandez
Kristina Proffitt
Jen Gallacher

Janet Bodet Carr

So I am looking forward to receiving my prize from Melissa and also joining in with the classes the team are developing over the nxt few weeks. Please do follow her work and the teams, Ewan's story is not the end but the beginning for this project and for all children and families in hospital at Seattle Children's. As scrapbookers, we have an amazing opportunity to do something wonderful in response to something so sad.

It's getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes...........

Personally I dont recommend this as my body is not in the full prime it used to be in. Is that a muffled laugh I hear? Ok it never has been prime muscle but I would not put you all through the terror of seeing me in my bikini...............althoug we did have a discussion about crocheted bikini's at the weekend as my friend had got one in her crochet book and ther was a story told about crocheted thongs and waterslides. I'll leave the rest to the imagination.
Firstly congrats on Saturdays bloghop, I would say ti was resounding success. So many amazing minibooks and Los, well done everyone and thanx again Mel for organising..........gratutitous applause. Secondly I had a Fab time scrapbooking this weekend at Scrapamia in Southampton. Saw Shimelle and did a minibook class. She is working on a top secret new project for us online class lovers which will be revealed in the not too distant future. Keep ur eyes and ears open. She was in fine form and I had my piccie taken with so u can see proof I saw her. The weekend was fun but tiring mainly cos it was so hot and we had no windows to open. But the event was well organised and I tried lots of new ideas. I will do some posting over the next few days to show u what I did.
Thirdly the next step in my job application is completed as I had to go to Occupational Health today for my check-up. The doctor was happy for me to start ASAP so just the CRB and the references etc to get back now. Things are looking up.
So I will see u all later this week for Scrapamia reveals. Thanx for all the lovely comments about my book and part 2 will be coming.....................;-)

All about me challenge.

HELLO BLOGHOPPERS AND HAPPY Saturday to you all. Now I know it's Thursday but u have arrived early to Mel's All about me bloghop. I have had to post early as I dont trust blogger to post accurately as it has let me down before. So if u are here on Thursday welcome and have a pre-bloghop read, if it's Saturday join in the fun as we hop across the world to visit over 20 lovely blogs who will show you there crafting acitivities for this blog challenge. Here is a list of everyone taking part in case you get lost.......................

I Speak Melsh (http://ispeakmelsh.blogspot.com) links to

Gallo Organico (http://gallorganico.blogspot.com) who links to

Life At The Gables (http://lizlee-liz.blogspot.com) who links to

Everyday Life of a Suburban SAHM (http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com) who links to

Hootings of an Owl (http://emhowl.blogspot.com) who links to

Helena's Creative Maven (http://helenascreativemaven.blogspot.com) who links to

PaperTurtle (http://paperturtle.blogspot.com) who links to

Blodwyn3's Night's Dream (http://blodwyn3snightsdream.blogspot.com) who links to

Heather's Scraps (http://heathers-scraps.blogspot.com) who links to

Kitty Scrapper (http://kittyscrapper-nancy.blogspot.com) who links to

{Behind the Purple Door} (http://purplecrazymum.blogspot.com) who links to

Curlyscrapbooker (http://curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.com) who links to

From High In The Sky (http://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.com) who links to

Den's Crafty Diary (http://www.deecie.blogspot.com) who links to

Deb's World (http://www.debs14.blogspot.com) who links to

Over At Our Place (http://overatourplace.blogspot.com) who links to

Five... (http://www.joolsg.com/blog) who links to

Scrap Dreams (http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com) who links to

Journal of Curious Things (http://journalofcuriousthings.blogspot.com) who links to

A Roof of One's Own (http://gotham-gal.blogspot.com) who links to

Havoc and Mayhem (http://www.havocandmayhem.com) who links to

Enjoy The Ride Today! (http://www.enjoytheridetoday.blogspot.com) who links to

Captured On Film (http://mrsbeee.blogspot.com) who links back to

I Speak Melsh (http://ispeakmelsh.blogspot.com)

Ok so first off thanx to Mel for playing hostess and being the brains behind the idea. Secondly thanx to Stacy Julian for her free class on Big Picture Scrapbooking. If any of you find this hop fun and would like to make ur own minibook then please go on over and sign up for free. There are loads of fun, free classes to join in with as well as ones to buy. They are all excellent and lots of fun, plus you learn loads too.

So back to the hop. The premise of the hop is to make a minibook all about yourself and here is mine.......................
I stuck some red cardstock to the tin and added ricrac to tie everything together once complete. The letters are Sassafrass and the other elements are Cosmo Cricket and handmade flowers.
I used a tin from Woodware which had a minibook accordian book inside and I made more pages to make it bigger.

This is one complete side of pages from the book
The front cover with photo of yours truly. I painted chipboard in blue acrylic paint and used a Sassafrass frame for my picture.
Here are the first 2 pages. The acrylic tags are by Maya road in this book. The writing reads: my lounge, sunsets, beautiful views, spring bulbs, summer, autumn leaves, winter snow, crucifix, books and singing.. The picture is the clematis by my lounge window.

I distressed the edges with Distress inks and attached coloured card and paperstock to make the pages stronger as they were abit flimsy. I then chose a range of photographs which say something about me and which I really love and attched them randomly to the pages, along with some quotes and poetry which I really love.
I love my orginal 80s music and this picture collage shows some of my faves. I still love Depeche Mode and Human League and the album by The The is one of my all time favourites. The quote wouldnt photograph properly but reads ''After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible in music'' by Aldous Huxley.
These ladies are 2 of my closest friends and I am seeing them for the first time in 6 months on Thursday. They are truly inspirational women in so many different ways and have taught me alot about being a Christian, a friend and about myself too. They have supported me through the worst times of my life. The quote reads ''What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in 2 bodies'' by Aristotle.
Oooh David Tennant yummy! Oh sorry ran away with myself then...................anyway, I love DT, most excellent actor and best Dr Who ever. The next picture is my Easter cupcake extravaganza. There were eggs and glitter and I love them. The quote is from Winnie the Pooh a truly wise old bear who says...............'' Just because as animal is large, It doesnt mean he doesnt want kindness, however big Tigger seems to be remember that he wants as much kindness as Roo!''.................awwwwww. I love Pooh.

Next pages are local images from my flat and at Wells moat
My fave coffee establishment.........................

One of my favourite books.....................the quote reads...............'' Our talents are the gifts God gives to us........What we make of our talents is our gift back to God'' by Leo Buscaglia. So the next time someone bemoans ur time scrapbooking tell them ur using ur talents as a gift for God.

The only problem was I couldnt fit in everything I wanted to share so another minibook will have to be made................All about me the sequel. It could become a franchise and a movie!!!
Now Stacy also suggested some questions to answer and these are mine:

1. What is your favourite indulgence..................I love going to Starbucks and having a Cafe Latte with their raisin toast and butter. I read a g8 book or magazine or simply watch the world go by.
2. If you had one afternoon to do anything what would you do?................I would drive to Lyme Regis in Dorset and walk along the Cobb. I would stand on the end and breath in the sea air, then go and look for fossils on the beach and treat myself to an icecream with a chocolate flake.
3. What is something you use everyday and could do without but wouldnt want to?..................I could do without car food but Holly and Willow would rebel and as I love them I put up with it.
4. What is something you buy in bulk just to make sure you have it?.....................pasta and tins of chopped tomatoes.
5. Where in your home do you love to be?..........................I love my lounge as it looks out across the other apartments here and when I have the window open I can hear the birds and cows. It is also a g8 place to craft and relax.
6. What in nature most inspires you?............................beautiful sunsets, rainbows, gorgeous views and cute fluffy animals.
7. What store wouldnt you live without?......................unlike my friend who said Asda, I couldnt live without Scrapbook shops or anywhere that sells cute household objects.
8. What is a little thing you do to spread cheer?..............................I love giving flowers and sending cards and I love speaking to my friends on the phone, oh and of course I hope I spread cheer through myblog
9. What is your happiest colour.........................bright pink!!!!
10. What book(s) have change your perspective on life...........................the more I read and learn from the Bible I find myself understanding my life and the life I want to lead. I have also read many other g8 books such as ''The Alchemist'' by Paulo Coelho and Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain. I love to read anyway but those 3 stick in my mind the most.
11. What is your favourite season?.................................spring for the spring flowers and baby lambs, summer for beautiful sunny days, autumn for childish leaf scuffing and winter for snow and frost.
12. What is ur fave symbol......................the cross/crucufix. It is such a simple object to look at but carries so much meaning.
13. Do you have a collection?...........................I have several but mainly books. I have books everywhere.
14. What is something you are really good at?..............................singing!
15. List 3 words that describe you...................................bubbly, loyal and intelligent

So I hope you have learnt some new things about me and will continue to hop on to the next blog who is the lovely Sian from the Emerald Isle, home of Guiness, lephrechauns and U2. G8 combination. She lives in the tall house with the tall one, the small one and the accountant and writes very witty and informative blogs. So hop on over to check out her All about me post. Au revoir etc.

What makes you angry?

..............normally I would say not alot. I get ''narky'' about stuff but not full scale anger. Well to day I had had enough. My parents very kindly put some money into my bank account so I could pay my annual nurse registration fees which were due a couple of weeks ago. So off I go today to get the postal order and do a couple of other bits in Wells with the £4.00 in cash I won. Got to the post office to pay everything and my card is declined. Mmmh thinks me, best go to bank. So off I plod, try the cash till but it says I have to activate my card, well seeing as how the card is 2 years old, my brain goes into slightly irritable mode. Wait in line to speak to a manager and they look everything up on the computer and all it tells them is to phone another department. She sepaks to them and they inform her they have put my account on hold because my main account is overdrawn. No w appart from the fact that I don't have enough money to pay the overdraft because I have no job and no benefits have come through yet, they are preventing me from accessing my own money. So I proceed to have hysterics in the branch and go into a quiet room. All the bank can offer is Citizen's advise. So I can't get at my money, what I have anyway which isn't much, because the bank are *********!!!!!! So suffice to say I am Mrs Angry of Wells today.
Anyway in order to get rid of these feelings of nastiness cos I hate feeling this way, I thougt I'll watch Lewis on itv player only for the sound on my computer to die 3/4 of the way through! So now I'm really bereft and decide to scrap my ''All ab out me LO'' under this theme. I've written it about cold callers as I get loads of those at the moment cos I'm off work and they are mega-irritating.


I called the LO ''See red''. I have used some bits of leaflets from my bank but painted over them so you can't see who I'm moaning about after all all I need is to be sued by them!

I found these tickets in my stash and the letters are Sassafrass chipboard.

I used a red glimmer mist on the card and black paint on a glue inner and some red stickles.