Sugar Bowl 40

Hello everybody..

Gosh, it’s been absolutely ages since I’ve updated my blog..
but I’ve got plenty of excuses and will tell all after I’ve given all the details of this weeks challenge over at the
SUGAR BOWL

This week the theme is very much ‘Do It Yourself’
where you are able to choose the sketch from plenty we have supplied in the past
and really go to town on it.

The price for joining this time again is super fabulous and generously supplied by
SUGAR NELLIE and FUNKY KITS..

You get the choice of a 6 stamp Sugar Nellie pick’n'mix & a set of Letraset promarkers (rubberstamping set 1) or  the set of 12 aquamarkers
…whichever takes your fancy… WOW or what?

I do hope you will be able to join in
and as always please check the SUGAR BOWL blog for more information and lots more inspiration.

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Right, on to personal stuff in my life

The kids have finally started their summer holidays last friday and as ever the run up to this has been so busy what with sports days, special essemblies, fetes and even a carnival thrown in..
now it just feels like heaven with plenty of time on our hands and no rushing about for a special few weeks.

As my Facebook friends already know,
I have also made the decision to move my craftroom to the ‘shed’ in the garden.
I blame my sister Nancy for all this hard work as it was her ideas that tipped me over the edge!!!!
The original idea of the kids using it as their play house just wasn’t being utilised to it’s full potential
and we could really be doing with an extra guestroom in our house
what with both mine & hubbies family living abroad
we could much easily put them up when they come over to visit.

Here are some piccies of the progress so far..

We have come quite a bit further this week and its looking different to those pics already
Hope to show more updates soon..

But all that will have to wait as we’ll be enjoying a much needed break abroad next week,
so it’s a perfect time to wish you all a fabulous summer break and catch you all soon!

Hugs,

Marlene x

Sugar Bowl ~39~

Good Morning!!

It’s time for another fabulous SUGAR BOWL challenge, don’t time just fly?

Before I go into the details of the challenge I have a bit of sad news to share..
The lovely Tiets has decided to take a break from her DT post here at the Sugar Bowl,
I’m so going to miss you & your gorgeous work sweetie..
but hope you are able to re-join again real soon!

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The challenge:

As usual the SUGAR BOWL has provided a great sketch for you to follow
with a optional ‘theme’ of the colour BLUE.

The prize for this challenge is 4 new ‘fun & fairytales’ Mangas..
which are due for release next weekend,
and a set of 12 new Letraset Aquamarkers,
thanks to SUGARNELLIE & FUNKYKITS

I couldn’t resist using the sweet Claudia from the sweet ebony collection,
still one of my favorites

***

I hope you all have a gorgeous day and that the weather is millions better than it is here..
[rainy, grey and miserable!]

Hugs, Marlene.

Three..

Here is the collage of todays pictures..
we had to compose 3 objects & work with the lighting, settings and compositions.

I choose to use three of my orange wooden tulips,
thought it was very fitting what with Holland going through to the final of the world cup!!
Just waiting to see who they’ll be up against on Sunday.. Spain or Germany.
Regardless, it is gonna be a party in my house as my sister and partner will be here watching it with us,
orange boa’s, vuvuzola’s, the lot!! yay!

Have a great evening!

Marlene x

Playing with lighting & Flowers

Hello again,

Well, Shimelle’s class is in full swing and we’ve had 2 photo prompts already!
The first [pic above] is to play with lighting, natural or artificial..
different times of the day etc.

Loved taking the jewellery stand all around the house & garden in different settings,
my favorites are the ones on the glass table and mirror, the reflection is just so interesting.

***

The second prompt involves a gazillion flowers..
and I’m not kiddin!!

As we are lucky enough to own a Garden Centre,
I must have taken nearly 200 photo’s of plants/flowers and trees this afternoon!
We were asked to play around with different angles of the same subject
so I’ve got 5-10 shots of lots of different species..
but I won’t bug-up the loading time of this post by showing all

Whilst shooting my pictures I had some company
in the form of gorgeous Butterflies, plump Bumble Bees and even seen a dragonfly
but wasn’t quick enough to get it in my finder!

Aren’t the colours stunning in this Celosia picture??

I did get a tip from one of the girls in the same class about a nifty program called Picasa,
it is a free download and in this program you can easily put your chosen pictures into a collage,
specially handy if you have all these different angles to show

I’m so enjoying the class at the moment,
can’t already wait what tomorrow will bring..

Thanks for your visit and hope you enjoyed looking at my pictures,
I sure loved taking them

Hugs, Marlene x

Card & Class

Hello everyone..

Quick post from me today, but I have a few things to share with you

First up..
As I told you in the previous post it was our anniversary yesterday
[thanks so much for your  emails, messages here & on facebook]
and I got another card to show you..
It’s from my lovely friend Sonia and it is just amazing!

The details on [and in!] this card are just amazing,
these pictures truly don’t do it justice!

We both absolutely love it Son, how am I gonna top this for yours??? lol

*****

Second.. I’ve signed up for a online class with the lovely Shimelle,
[from shimelle.com]
I’ve never participated in online classes before..
but have had the great pleasure of a couple of ‘real life’ classes with Shimelle at the GoGo Retreats
so if they are anything to go by.. It will be fantabulous!!

The class is all about getting more out of your camera and..
yes you guessed it, scrapping with the photo’s taken

This class runs for 4 weeks, with 6 prompts per week..
so expect to see lots of photo’s & pages passing by!

*****

And lastly, the new Cardmaking & Paper Craft magazine is out
and this month I’ve got the Designer Challenge and 10 ideas for teens featured! Yay!

Also my buddy Jo made her debut in the magazine with a fantastic sketch and feature..
Totally gorgeous hun!!
..so it’s definately worth a trip to the shops and get a copy

Well, this is it from me for now,

Have a great evening & catch you all soon,

Hugs, Marlene x

Gullivers & Thank you!!

Hellooo..

We’ve had a fab day out @ Gullivers Kingdom today,
but boy were we tired from all that hill [or mountain!] walking!!
The sights are so beautiful in that part of the country, I love it there!

Here are a few of the photo’s of the day,
couldn’t show all as my lappy with the photo edit program is playing up..

***

I also wanted to share a super fabulous surprise that I got in the post yesterday..

Isn’t this card just fabulous???

My lovely blog buddy KATHY remembered that tomorrow.. July 4th
[American Independence day]
is also my hubby’s & mine Anniversary [18yrs]
and it was just the most wonderful and gorgeous surprise to receive this card so out of the blue!
Thank you so much Kathy, you’re such a sweetie.. it will surely be treasured!

Hope you will all enjoy a fabulous Sunday, I’m sure I will

Take care,

Marlene x

Sugarbowl ~ 38 ~

It’s Thursday .. Time for another challenge over at the
SUGAR BOWL

The fabulous sketch this time has been provided by Judy
with the extra option of using scallopes

The prize this week is totally awesome..
I’d love to be in with a chance of winning it myself.. lol:

A purple Leanne Ellis Candy Box full of stamps,
ribbons,other goodies and a ‘Trinkets’ bracelet!

I hope you will have time to join us this week,
remember..
the only rule is to follow the sketch with a SUGARNELLIE image,
everything else is optional
as always all the details of the challenge and lots more inspiration
can be found on the SUGAR BOWL blog

Have a fabulous day all,

Hugs, Marlene x

STS: Scraplift

Whoohoo.. another [boy] layout to show you today!
Just in time.. Can’t believe it’s July tomorrow already!

Challenge 6 of the June prompts at the
STS blog is a Scraplift: 2pts
Where you simulate one of the other participants layouts.
As I’m always inspired by the lovely Isa,
I have chosen one of her gorgeous creations.
Her layout can be seen HERE.

For my page I’ve distressed the cream CS background with the sanded SU! stamp
and used Tim Holtz vintage shabby papers.
The rub-ons are from TLC and Flair designs [letters]

Got some lovely stitched ribbon from PinkPaislee [Thx Dawney!!]
and distressed of all elements with ink & my nails

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Love these photo’s taken of Jake on our Dominican holiday last Xmas,
gosh.. that seems ages ago now!

Thanks again for looking and
I hope to see you tomorrow for the newest SUGARBOWL challenge..
9 am sharp

Hugs, Marlene x

Cool Dude

Hello and happy Tuesday all,

I’ve started this page last week,
but with lots of things going on I never got to finish it until today!

Again the prompt is from the STS blog: Sunglasses 2pts

I find it quite hard to do boy/mens layouts..
really have to ‘think outside the box’ for those as
I’m always grabbing for the feminine flowers, ribbons & such.. [you get the idea..]
So I’ve copied a layout from the Craftystash gallery as I loved the arrows and rough edges.
Will have to try more macho ones as I’ve got mountains of photo’s of my son waiting to be scrapped!

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Sorry I haven’t got back to you with my ‘news’
but I just can’t believe how quickly the end of June has creeped up on me
and that is always a superbusy time at work,
specially with the weather being so nice and all..
I promise it will be revealed really soon

Have a gorgeous evening and thanks for looking,

Hugs, Marlene x

  

 

Garden Girls

Oh.. how lovely is this weather?
I’m definately a sun-loving sort of person and this climate makes me all happy!

The layout I’m showing today is very apt, all garden-ey and fresh..
nothing like spending the sunny days outside right?
Most elements used are from an old crafty stash kit and long forgotten stash,
can’t believe I’ve cut into those gorgeous Webster’s Pages DP..
but I’ve stroked them for long enough!
You can see more details in the photo below.

It also fits in with yet another challenge over at the Scrap, Theme & Sketch blog,
No4.. Girly page: no pink or purple: 2pts

I’ve added some detailing with Frosty Lace stickles and Prima gem swirls

 

You can click the photo’s for full view.

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Just come back from a lovely luch at Frankie & Bennies with hubby
.. well, I had to gain back the calories lost from the Zumba dance lesson last night

Also very excited as me & my girls are off to see

in concert at the Ricoh Arena on Thursday,
can’t believe how quick it has come around.. booked the tickets way back in November!!
It promises to be a fantastic night and if her last tour was anything to go by.
it will be brilliant *Ü*

***

Have a fabulous day all,
hope to be back before the weekend with an update on the concert and some news to share..
that I hope will be well worth your returning visit!

Hugs, Marlene x