Pinterest inspiration...

Yesterday, I finally succumbed and signed up to Pinterest.  I'd managed to avoid it for fear of being sucked in to another online addiction but having a few minutes to myself, I decided to see what it's all about.  So far, I can see how it can be a good way to keep ideas in one place, as well as somewhere to visually bookmark things I see on the internet.

I came across an image that I immediately knew would be a great inspiration for a colour palette for a layout: 

Source: marthastewart.com via Helen on Pinterest

I'm home alone today (and supposed to be tidying and cleaning!) but I fancied a play with my stash and so, using the colours from the photo, I came up with this:

Supplies from 'Metropolitan' and 'Mind the Gap' Studio Calico kits.  Stamp is Studio Calico, embossed with 'Zing!' powder.  Sassafras letter stickers and Martha Stewart and Smash tags. 

Photo courtesy of Evie x

The photo is of Graeme and me on holiday in Benodet, Brittany.  We're creatures of habit and have been going away to the same town in Brittany for the last 6 years but this time we tried somewhere new and really loved it.  Can't wait to go back.

The story of us...

I'm not very good at scrapping the past.  I'm much more of a 'right here, right now' type of scrapper.  I'd printed out a copy of this photo a while back and put it into the box where I keep all my 'to be scrapped' pictures.  This is the first photo that we have of Graeme and me together from way back when we first met.  This was one of those awkward, hold the camera out in front of you type of photos (pre-digital!).  It's overexposed and our faces are crammed into the shot, but the photo means so much to us.  It was Valentine's Day 2003, 6 weeks after we'd met and the night we ended up living together.  It may have seemed hasty to some, but we've never looked back.

The journaling tells 'our story'.  How we met and ended up together.  For the more inquisitive of you, I'm sure that clicking on the photo will bring up a large enough version for you to have a better read :)

Five go to the beach...

Long term readers may have realised that we absolutely love being on the beach/near the sea.  I'm very pleased to report that George seems to share this love too.

So this layout records one of our many trips to different beaches during our holiday to Brittany in June.  The self-timer was well used during this holiday; some large rocks, in this case, became a good resting place for the camera and I have vastly improved on the knack of legging it into place before the 10 second countdown finishes!

So Grown Up...

Everynow and then, when I'm in need of a kickstart, I have a play with a sketch.  I saw this one posted on Facebook the other day and thought I'd join in: http://sarahscardsltd.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-challenge.html. 

I took this photo of Evie on the beach on Brittany a month ago.  I couldn't believe how grown up she looked and that started me thinking about how much she has changed during her first year at school.

Technique wise, I had a bit of a play with some mists which I'd love to say was meant to represent the colours and shininess of the beach but was actually just a happy accident whilst I was trying to create enough background to make the masked stars stand out.  The turquoise doilies were stamped and embossed with 'Zing' powder and the vertical lines on the right hand side were balanced on the other edges with a machine stitched frame.

Thanks for looking. 

Bit of a catch up post...

It's been a while...mainly because I went back to full-time work at the beginning of May which has meant that not much scrapping has been going on.  I'm either too tired in the week or trying to spend time with the kids at the weekend.  

We're on wind down now to the summer holidays so scrappy-Helen has returned.  Here's a few layouts from the past couple of months:

4 and 5 month layouts for George (he's now 6 months old which I can hardly believe!)

 And a couple of me with the kids. 

I love the mother's day photos as it really shows the kid's different personalities!

Hopefully be back soon with more layouts to share...