Wanted!!

The latest addition to the Oakes household! He really is the cutest little convict there ever was!!!

celebrating friendship

Another layout from last month's retreat, this one is about my friend from school, even though school was a hundred years ago we're still in touch and still friends!

my first, my last....

admit it, you're all singing along now!! :)

and another...

This one was for one of the classes taught by my good friend Jemma, if you haven't checked out her blog then can I recommend you go have a look? She really is a very talented lady!
Despite the time it took to sew all those letters, I really enjoyed doing this one and thought the lovely bright papers worked really well with the photo of my granddaughter, Lexi.
Sadly I can't remember what the papers were, I'd had them in for ages, but aren't they wonderful?!

and some more...

my posts are becoming like buses, you don't get one for ages then two come along together!!

Here's another couple of layouts from the retreat

This is Gracie-Mae again, this time caught raiding the cupboards for goodies!! Judging by her face I'd say she found some!! There is such a mix of products on this layout from daisy Ds, fancy pants, K &co and BG - I told you I'm determined to use up my old stash!

and this layout is a celebration of the fact that we now have ten grandchildren! The papers I used were actually freebies from a scrapbook magazine, teamed with a few buttons and some kraft cardstock.

Still here!

It's been a while, and although my resolution this year was to update my blog more often I realise that I failed dismally!
Guess what next year's resolution will be?
Anyway I'm here now, so I may aswell mention the fab retreat I was on recently! Most of my team from UKScrappers were there along with some other friends - we even Skyped one friend while we were there.

Despite the accomodation and food being pretty basic the scrap room was fantastic, light and airy and plenty of space to spread out! I managed a staggering 14 layouts - unheard of for me! That's probably more than I had managed for the last 6 months!

Aswell as being productive it was also really relaxing, I came home feeling more chilled and relaxed than I have in a long time and we all had such a laugh, I didn't want to come home!

So I better post some layouts then!!

this one was quite cathartic for me, I came across this photo recently and asked my brother if he knew where it was - turned out to be my old school - now I either didn't recognise it because I atempted to spend as little time as possible there or I'd blotted the whole dismal memory out altogether. The school isn't there anymore, but I promise it wasn't me who knocked it down! Although had they called me I'd have been available to lend a hand!

On a more cheerful note....this is my adorable and cheeky granddaughter Gracie-Mae, I'd had these Karen Foster football stickers in for ages - I'm on a mission  to use up all my old stash....................I could be some time!!

Sneak peaks

It's mine turn again over at the Sarah's cards blog and I've been in a stiching frenzy!!

Here's a small taster of what I've been doing

why not pop over there and take a look?
Doods x

falling behind again!

Is it too early or too late for a Halloween layout? I always seem to be meeting myself coming back these days, so my photos from last year are only just being scrapped. I absolutely loved this Mischevious paper from My mind's eye and this oh so cute photo of my gorgeous granddaughter Bayley.
I should explain the title while I'm here, my son, Danny (Bayley's daddy) is a magician, so doing tricks is definitely his thing!

I hope you are all enjoying this sunshine we've been having! I'm off to scrap my Christmas photos!!

Doods x

May????

Is it really May already? This year has flown by so far and I'm still waiting for a day dry enough to get into my garden! This has surely got to be the wettest drought in my memory!

Thought I'd share a layout or two this month that have been done a while but haven't yet seen the light of day (bit like me really!)

This is my gorgeous granddaughter Bayley-Rae.
Will be back with more soon but if you've got a free minute or two to spare why not pop over to Sarah's cards and see what else I've been up to?

Doods x

Have you seen...

...Tracy's sketch challenge over at Sarah's cards Why not have a go and be in with a chance of winning a £20 e-voucher!
Here's the sketch

Just leave a link to your entry on the Sarah's cards blog.

and another

here's another layout I did for Sarah's cards in December

I had scrapped this photo of my gorgeous daughter, Sian, before, but loved it so much that I thought I'd do it again!

Sarah's cards

In December I was thrilled to be asked to be guest designer for Sarah's cards, here are a couple of the layouts I did with the gorgeous December kit!

New year, but same old me. late as ever!!

I know we are into the New Year now and all you probably want to do is put Christmas behind you and move on, but before you do, I wanted to share my little Christmas projects with you.

The chipboard tree was from a class taught by the hugely talented Cleo Jarvis at a previous Christmas workshop at Exhall.

The advent was originally from tesco (huge thanks to my mate Lesley for this!!) which I decorated with old patterened papers I'd had in for ages.

The idea for the ribbon tree and the card holder were both found on Pinterest ...it's amazing what you can do with some old clothes pegs and a coat hanger!!

Happy new Year everyone!!

Doods x