I Was Inspired

I was so inspired by the crafting we did while on holiday that I created a couple more pages and left all the bits and pieces for the girls to get together again after I had gone. I left clear instructions so they could keep up the crafting sessions and I love to think they will.

If they DO then I have promised to send them a few more projects!!!

I just loved the way this page turned out and I can't wait to find some really cute photos of Maddy to fill it with. I bought these papers here at home before we left for the trip and I love the way all the colours come together - between the paper designs, the flower embellishments and even the added accents for text etc. I bought the accents in USA (Archivers) and I've colour copied them using mom's printer so the girls would have them too. I often used to do this when teaching a class so I could use a copy and not have to buy an extra set for my sample.

The photo anchors, brackets, brads, buttons and knotted ribbon all add nice touches to the page. Once the photos are on the page it won't look quite so busy despite the fact that there's actually alot of different things going on. I posted a tutorial earlier that showed you how to make the faux brads but we used purchased ones for this page.

This page led me to be inspired to create another one. I have been so wrapped up in cards, bags, tags and boxes that I have almost forgotten just how much I enjoy scrapbooking.

I used a whole bunch of faux effects on this page including faux holes (stuck on white punched circles) in the scalloped edge, faux ribbon (paper strip) and faux zig zag stitching (pen).

I sure hope the girls have some fun doing this one. I added a birthday 'definition' because Maddy was due to turn 4 and the colours seemed so girly but since the strip of paper says 'celebrate' the definition block could be replaced with something else.

It has to be replaced with something since I printed my long text on an A4 piece of paper that has been cut and pieced back behind the definition block to make an A4 fit 12 x 12 perfectly and still allows me to use a standard sized printer with my computer.

We Crafted

Since I knew we were going home for about 3 weeks I planned to do some crafting sessions with the girls - sisters-in-law Debbie, Linda and Sandy, Mom and even our 3 nieces.

We had a great first session at Sandy's house and even Debbie (not a crafter) had a really good time and she was a natural too. We scrapbooked a really nice Christmas page ready for the photos from this special Christmas.

I think these gals are pleased with their efforts don't you?

Then we had a session at Debbie's house and we made cute little cards. It was great to see my nieces getting into the spirit as well. Jen is just gonna love this photo of herself - NOT - sorry Jen but you looked at my camera and smiled!

Everyone really got so into it that I am only sorry we didn't have more time to craft.

Even mom managed to join us for this one. I hope the girls learnt just how easy it is to produce cute handmade cards.

Since we were staying at mom's house her and I got a bit more crafting time in too, making cards and altered notebooks. We shared some real quality time which was what it was all about.

All in all it was a lovely 'crafty' holiday and I made sure I left the girls a few more 'kits' so they can get together again to craft.

Well Kept Secret

I can finally share a very well kept secret on my blog.

Dave and I spent Christmas in Idaho this year - the first with his family for 20 years!

We had been planning the trip for about 9 months and it was to be a surprise for Dave's Mom. It was a surprise alright but it amazed us that she never cottoned on and I have to thank Dave's sister Debbie for keeping the secret. I know it wasn't easy for her.

Getting to Mom wasn't easy either since we flew via Chicago and the snow had ground the airport to a halt. We arrived from London only to be told that our flight had been cancelled. We were rescheduled to fly to Denver late the following day which mean't an overnight hotel stay. We tried desperately all day long to get an earlier flight as standby but there were so many others all hoping to fly standby that it proved impossible.

We finally made it to Denver just minutes before midnight on Christmas Eve but then couldn't get to a hotel - the airport was abandoned except for a few stranded travellers the same as ourselves. We spent a very uncomfortable night at the airport and were desperate by morning.

We were scheduled to fly out of Denver late Christmas day but then got lucky and got on as standby at the very last minute on an early flight so we finally arrived at our destination just in time for lunch.

Mom was soooooo surprised and since I was the first one she got a hold of I thought I was never going to draw breath again! She hugged me so hard I thought she was never going to let go - aawwww. I won't embarrass her by showing the photo of her blubbering like a baby!

Besides a few other things we took mom a continental quilt (duvet) as she mentioned in all the times she had been to the UK she'd always wanted one and never got one. We packed it in one of those vacuum bags and it worked really well.


It also mean't that I could be there personally to see everyone open the gifts I had made. I featured a sneak peek of this framed page on my blog and now I was able to see Sandy open it up. She is my new sister-in-love and I really loved spending time getting to know her better. I'm only sorry I will have to wait so long before we can do it again.

Deb's loved her family memory clock and it wasn't long before she had found a new home for it on the wall. I just love making these hand made gifts so I was pleased that they were well received.

I'm really glad we made this trip even ithough it mean't I had to forego a traditional 'English' Christmas dinner. I hope the memory is enough to last a very long time since I think from now on we're gonna stick to Spring or Autumn for the next trip.