The Boys

I love these Basic Grey Periphery papers - but I can't hoard them forever! The muted colours went so well with this photo of the boys taken just before christmas at Winding Walks. The stamps are Creating Keepsakes one designed by Lisa Bearnson - I bought them off a fellow UKSer - they came as a set of 3 alphas and I really didn't think I would use this set.

Easter

Before you know it Easter will be here - have already bought the boys their chocolate eggs - wonder if they will last till the day??

Made my first easter card - using another stamp from Funky kits - I just love this bunny.

Crop LOs

Managed to accomplish quite a bit at the crop on Saturday which is unlike me. Both LOs feature the boys of course and I have fun cutting the titles with the Cricut Expression. I need to win some pennies on the lottery so I can treat myself to one!!

Holiday Mini Book

Here is my mini book that won the crop challenge on Saturday. I cheated a bit cos the book as a Scrapagogo Grab It but I did dismantle and re bind it. All papers are scrummy October Afternoon. Really pleased with it as all my fave photos from the holiday are now all in one place.

Shoot into the sun.

The 3rd superhero challenge over on The Shutter Sisters was to take a photo into the sun. Can't say I have ever tried this intentionally but quite like the effect - so will be trying it again! Photos taken yesterday on our walk in Aberlour.

Fun in Aberlour

Drove out to view a house today - only to find it was still a building plot!! Still it was another possibility.

Carried on till we got to Aberlour and took the boys to the Alice Littler park. Its a fab park with lots of different pieces of play equipment. I'm not allowed to show you the ones of Andy coming don the slide or hanging upside down on the climbing frame!!

We then walked along the Spey a bit and up the path that runs alongside the distillery until we reached Linn Falls. It was a gorgeous walk up through the trees with the chance to practice my photography skills at the top.

Magnolia card.

I made a magnolia card for my friend Sharons birthday at the Aberdeen crop yesterday. Really pleased at how it turned out even if it a very simple design - used my new pencils which are such gorgeous colours.

Happy birthday Sharon!

Challenges

I seem to be taking part in quite a few challenges over on UKS - a fab way to motivate me to scrap more.

Challenge 7 of the Elsie Flannigan 52 challenges was to scrap an artistic photo - I had just the picture to use - of a little pile of stones we happened upon when we were walking along Findhorn beach.

I have also done the last 2 weekly challenges on UKS too - and both LOs had a similar theme. As usual they are of the boys and they centred on the fact even though thye fight and argue they are the best of friends. I really hope it stays that way while they grow up into fine young men.

Photography skills

Andy has been away to Fort William this weekend and drove home through the Great Glen. He had taken the camera with him and decided to take a few shots - makes a change cos its usually me in charge of the camera. The shots are of Loch Laggan - do wish he had cleaned the car first!!

Birthday card

Have made my first ever Magnolia birthday card. He is called Luca and can be found over at Funky Kits (link over on the right) - they are such fabby stamps - crystal clear and a joy to work with. I am usually pants at making cards but am chuffed with him - don't want to post him away now!!

The sentiment is a Paper Salon stamp - from their Tailored Tin range.

School holidays

What do you do to keep the kids amused when they are on school holidays - it doesn't feel like it got above freezing today so we only went as far as Cooper Park and the library. Boys had the chance to get rid of some excess energy - and when they stood still long enough I managed to get a few photos.

Roseisle

Took the boys to Roseisle beach yesterday too - beautiful sunshine in Elgin but really misty on the coast. Boys had great fun running up and down the dunes and I actualy got Sam to have some photos taken - no small task!

Happy chickens!

Took the boys to the local farm shop yesterday - Sam will only eat "happy chicken" after watching Hugh Fernley Whittingstalls Chicken Out campaign. I am pleased he has taken an interest in where his food comes from and the welfare of the animals - the chance of a KFC and MacDonalds has been turned down so he must be serious. They both loved seeing the chickens running around.

Valentines.

We don't really go overboard on Valentines Day - but I thought I would make Andy a valentines card this year. Pleased with how it has turned out - not too fussy. Huge thanks to Monica over on UKS for her fab idea.

Here is the first project I have made with my Bind It All - I have only had the machine since last October but was quite daunted by the whole thing. This book is for a swap over on UKS organised by Sarah (aka Smelly!!) I love it and am going to make another one to keep - and have lots of other projects going round in my head.

Mr Blue Sky

Its been a glorious day here today - as soon as the boys got home from school they did their homework in record time and went out to play. Basketball was the game of choice - just look at the colour of that sky.

A quiet few days

Not really done much - except bake lots of muffins (which the boys demolish in record time!)

Have finished a couple of challenge LOs over on UKS. One was to not use stereotypical colours (ie pink for girls, blue for boys etc) So I used the scrummy Heidi Grace papers out of one of last years Scrapagogo kits and lots of pink on this LO of Callum. Not sure he likes it much!!

I have also entered the house challenge over on UKS - this month it is to do a LO on a LOVE/Ribbon theme. I scrapped one of my snowy photos from the weekend showing Cllum loving the wintery weather. Had fun with all the ribbons and lace.

Photos of my feet??

Val over on UKS pointed me in the direction of a fab photography blog - The Shutter Sisters. This weeks challenge: This week's photo challenge is to try it out with your camera. Set the self-timer, set the camera on the ground, click the shutter and get in front of the lens. Then post the results in the comments. Looking forward to seeing your shots!

So I went down to my local park to give it a go. The resident wildlife didn't seem to be too bothered but some passers by were giving me strange looks - have no idea why!! I actually like some of the results - even the one of the empty park bench.

Maybe I should have put my fabby new boots on first - another photoshoot maybe......

First cards

Two posts in one day - whatever next!!

Here are my first 3 cards made with this months Scrapagogo Greetings kit - it coordinates perfectly with the Create kit.

Snow fun!

At long last we had some snow - started about 10pm last night and we woke up to about an inch of the white cold stuff.

Persuaded everyone to wrap up nice and warm to go out for a walk up Winding Walks. It was beautiful - there is something special about walking on virgin snow so we took one of the smaller paths where no one had been. Took lots of photos of snowball fights, icicle sucking and general messing about. It will probably all be gone by the time we get up tomorrow.