Throwback Thursday - In memory of Bernard Freeman

Not throwing back too far today - just to May 2013 and a photo of my youngest Jamie fishing with his grandad, my father-in-law who passed away earlier this month. My son adores this photo and the memories that go with it. So glad he got to have to make them xx

Throwback Thursday

Throwback to the  A Trip Down Memory Lane gallery of August 2011 with this page featuring no less than 10 photographs.  Need this February weather to pass so I can plan more fun days out like this one. Good times x

ScrapMates February layouts

As promised albeit a few days later than planned I am sharing my crop layouts from the weekend.  We had a very sparkly day on Saturday at Enfield ScrapMates with the delicious Teresa Collins Urban Market papers. One was very sparkly and I think we all got a little covered!

The paper made for a lovely background to this a page featuring three original polaroid photographs of little ole me from 1971/2. Can you tell I have been going through my older photos recently? 

The second layout was of mum and I last summer at Frinton-on-Sea, our last day at the beach together with my boys before she passed away. Mum would have hated this photo, not sure I ever showed it to her, but I love it and am so glad I have this and the memories now.  2015 will see me take even more family photographs, time passes so quickly.

Our next crop is Saturday March 14th and there are places available if you fancy joining us - just get in touch!

Such sadness so soon :(

I was devastated to lose my fun loving happy father-in-law this weekend after he sadly passed away. My husband has lost a much loved and respected father and my children have lost another grandparent not 8 weeks after losing my mum.

Life seems to be very cruel right now but I cling to memories of good times, hold my head up high and soldier on. This gent would not want it any other way xx
Night night Bernard, breathe easy now x

Happy Valentines - Feel the love!

Happy Valentines blog readers - may your day be full of love x

I'll be spending the day at my crop teaching a pair of layouts using Teresa Collins Urban Market Papers - take a look at these lovelies...

I'll share the pages I made using these tomorrow xx

Throwback Thursday Love!

Feel the love this week as I share a valentine tree of love I made back in 2010. Every now and then I take my paper crafting off the page into a decorative item and I think this is among my favourites.

Have a LOVEly day blog readers xx

House full of poorly peeps

Not much to update with as I have been mostly nursing a poorly household these last few days as a tummy bug took hold of all three of my children. Ok so I know my eldest is 18 but she still counts as one of my children!

Poor Jamie came down with it on his 8th birthday so that was pretty much a wash out on the day although we did manage to celebrate over the weekend with a family meal out. It was the first such event where mum would have been with us and a few tears were shed at a birthday card that was missing her name :(

Robert had another good cross country run on Saturday and whilst the individual results have not been announced the under 17 boys team from his running club were placed first which was great news for the club. He has been doing so well lately and his time at the monthly handicap just keeps getting better and better - he makes me so proud.

So soppy valentines weekend approaches and I will spend the day doing something I love running my ScrapMates crop, that is if I ever get my instructions typed up which is somewhat impeded by a certain kitten hogging my lap! He's too cute to move though!

Throwback Thursday

Another Throwback Thursday - this photo makes me smile so much! A little burred I know but captures the cheeky smile and twinkle of mischief of my youngest Jamie, taken in 2009 just before his 2nd birthday. Hard to believe he turns 8 next week! Where does the time go?

I have been rushing around this week trying to get together bits and pieces for his birthday next Monday. Means I hit my target of 10,000 steps a day this week and achieved my bronze and silver body magic (exercise) awards at slimming world yesterday.

Now if I could only stop the bad snacks between my healthy meals.

I need more fruit & veg to shrink my inches!!

More ATDML Gallery items to share

More pretty things to share with another gallery page from January designed for A Trip Down Memory Lane. Again this uses the My Home Garden papers from the store, not something I would usually buy but I had great fun with them once I got started. This page uses just one of the papers and two 4x6 portrait photos for a pretty straight forward page.

Again I dug through some older stash and used up more of my favourite Jewelry box thickers in wine. Might have to get more as I am rather in love with this font if I am honest!!

Hope you're all being crafty!

Back blogging and some January crafting

Back in the land of blogging after a tough start to the year with Mum's funeral on the 20th and then her ashes burial on the 24th. I am slowly adjusting to life without her and each day does get easier but the pain of grief when it does hit me is overwhelming.  The children have been wonderful healers giving my plenty of hugs but plenty of time alone too if I need it.

I have found myself looking through lots of older photographs too and printed several off for the memory boards we had at the funeral. It was lovely seeing these prompt memories from family and friends and made me realise I need to get these memories into my Scrapbook albums. Several of my layouts for the February gallery for ATDML have older photos used on them but January I finally scrapped one of my favourite photos from 2014 of young Jamie and his "fake scared" photo from Go Ape. 

(He wasn't at all scared but totally fearless and was faking this face for my camera!)

Having moved my craft room indoors (I had a good clear out) I found several bits and pieces I had forgotten about including these wooden scrabble letters and wooden epic word. I also added some foliage from a faux Christmas tree which I picked up several years ago to use in my December Daily album. Feels good to get them on a page!

Papers used are from My Home Garden collection available HERE on ATDML.