Another year older!

... and I'm over it LOL! Hi all! since I was last here I had a birthday ...



Hubby took me to Stratford for a picnic and shopping and then cooked yummy crispy duck in the evening, a lovely day all round. Wierd that last year was a big build up to the big four 0 and this year it kind of just happened :) Thankyou to all my lovely friends and family for all the birthday wishes too I was over whelmed by all the messages that popped up across my various hide aways in cyber space! Ok so moving on ...

Today is my project of the day over at the Lilly pad for Banana Frog ..



A Froggie fairytale

I had sooooo much fun making this simple little project and the step by steps for it can be seen on the frog blog here.

Yesterday was one of my monthly workshops with the lovely ladies at Bee Crafty. We made versions of this ...



A mirror I altered for my first guest design spot over at Banana Frog over a year ago ... oh my where does the time go?? Once again the joy I find in teaching is to see how everyone makes their own unique version of a project ..



We made our own vines for this class and they turned out great (I think that will be a post to come :)) as well as making tissue paper flowers of all shapes and sizes! I had a lovely day with everyone and as ever thankyou to all the ladies.

A couple of posts ago I mentioned my work with Serif and digital scrapbook artist 2 and thought I would share some of my layouts



This was my second ever digi layout made within about 2 hours of loading the programme! It really is so super easy to use and so much fun, infact it should come with a health warning it is so addictive! I have printed this one off on an A3 printer and mounted it on some 12 x12 cardstock, you don't need an A3 printer just put it on a usb stick/cd and take it to the stationers to print or print in 8 x8, A4 or anyother size you like!



This A4 layout is completely digi. I love the blend modes on the software, literally one touch blending to create that designer look paper by adding your own photos to your backgrounds





and taking that idea a step further, creating my own background paper with a photo in it, printing that off and making a hybrid page with the heart journalling embellishment created in the programme.



I'm finding it fascinating to create a completely digi layout



and then copying that in hybrid form. The letters on these layouts use the stencil facility in the programme and are filled with photos of Stratford. I am really loving playing with this digi scrapping, a surprise to me really as I am a paper and glue girl but it's giving me a wider feild to play in and experiment and I love that I can create my own papers and embellishments in the programme! If you haven't got yours but are intrigued I'll be back on Create and Craft with Serif for 2 shows on the 17th August and again on the 23rd ... see you there :)

And Finally...



My handsome boys with their new haircuts!



Helping me unwrap my birthday presents, not a very clear photo but it makes me smile :)



On the way for the picnic in Stratford, Stan is so protective of his little bruv!



And then the boys had to get in on the act of the pink champagne, the cork was a great source of amusement for Oliie



and a 'won' prize for Stan!!

And relax LOL .....here endeth the waffle! I will be scheduling some posts over the next couple of weeks as I am off up the baltics, as it were!! On a cruise ship with hubby, think russian ballet, the hermitage and cocktails on deck ... I can't wait :) The boys are off to visit with sister Ruby in Yorkshire, oh dear what am I landing on mum and dads doorstep!!!!

Thanks for visiting and I'll be reporting back soon ... ish :) until then Happy Crafting.

Love
M x