Drumroll Please....

Have you got your latest copy of Scrapbook Inspirations yet? Well, what are you waiting for? You do know that if you subscribe you get it earlier? It only hits the shelves on Friday 18 September, but if it wasn't for the postal strike, we'd all have ours already.

Come on, what are you waiting for? SUBSCRIBE!!

So, I hear you ask, what's the fuss, why all the hype all of a sudden? Because, dear readers and blogging friends, it's going to be fabulous! The October issue marks the launch of the new look, new design team, new fabulous features and ideas magazine for scrapbookers...


Did you catch the bit about new design team? That's right folks, a brand new design team, and here we all are...


And while I do question why my face is up there amongst so many talented scrapbookers and crafters (yes, that's me second row far right!!) I feel honoured and excited to know that my personal scrapbooking style is going to take a huge leap forward as I challenge myself to create print-worthy pages and try out new techniques in the hope that I can share my mistakes and successes with everyone.

I can't believe that this has all come out of me entering the Best of British competition that was featured in the September 2008 issue of Scrapbook Inspirations. Timing had been everything - I picked up a copy of the magazine, saw the details, realised I had 6 original pages to submit, took new photos and entered in the closing week. I can still remember the day Rosie called to tell me I was one of the winners, I must have deafened her with my screech! It has been a wonderful year, and I can only imagine how much more exciting the year ahead is going to be.

So, without further ado, let me introduce my fellow team mates, and their blogs.

Laura Buckingham
Julie Kirk
Morag Cutts
Charlotte Poole
Chloe Harp
Andrea Gourley
Karen Cole
Helen Miles
Sam Ball
Jen Naulls
Jane Dean
Anne Parry
Cheryl Johnson
Anita Mundt
Shimelle Laine
Kathy Bridgwater
Mary Anne Walters who is far too busy looking after ukscrappers.co.uk to blog, we're told!

Happy Birthday to You!

If it's your birthday today, then you share it with two of the loveliest people I know. Sharon is my oldest and dearest friend. We met on a Church camp in 1990 and although we weren't in the same schools, our love of ballet and all things girly forged a friendship that has stood the test of time and distance.

It's also Becky's birthday, who is one of my newest friends, and who is so much like me in so many ways. Our kids are in the same class at school and they are firm friends too, so it makes for great playdates for all of us ;-) I'm getting quite confident in my cupcake baking skills so I whipped up a batch this morning - and as Becky exclaimed - they even taste pink!

Happy Birthday Becky and Sharon, I hope you have a lovely day.

Back To School

So, the new school year begins! Holly went off to Year Two this morning, full of the excitement and enthusiasm that a primary school kids still feels on the first day back! Next Monday Liam will be joining his sister at big school, so we'll have another photo then. This week, the Reception Year teachers are doing all the home visits, meeting the children in their own environments so that they can be relaxed when they start. Liam's visit is tomorrow afternoon, and he can't wait!

So cute!

I saw this over on a fellow dollhouse bogger's blog...it's so cute!

The Arthur!

Finally! I have been able to take The Arthur out of it's box, and start building it. Actually, I thought it might be easier to glue the clapboard siding on before I built it, but I soon realsied that it would be impossible to line the sides up with the front unless I built it up to a point. So here it is.
I will put the porch roof on once I've done the siding, as well as all the window and door trims, porch trim etc.
I will put the back roof on when I've done the interior as it's easier to paint and sand and paper without the roof coming down.
I haven't decided on whether or not to put the gingerbread trim on the roof - I guess I will wait and see, and I'm also not 100% sure which colours to use.
But the best part? I have all the time in the world now, no deadline, and no rush. I'm going to take my time and enjoy the process.
And can I tell you a little secret? I already know that this will be Holly's house, as promised, and that I will build myself another house, one day. Maybe one with more rooms ;-)

PS I haven't forgotten about Tilly, she's just waiting on some more colour, and then we'll do a draw and see who she'll be heading off to. Soon, I promise.