Bathroom makeover!

I am so happy that my Blogger typeface has returned to 'normal'. I have missed blogging for a while since it was so frustrating that every time I created a post, it wouldn't include photos. Let's hope it remains this way now.

Welcome to my new followers. Thank you for joining us and I hope you like what you see.

For the past 6 months, I have been busy... dieting and losing over 1 stone - or for the benefit of my American friends - 18 pounds. That is good for me! LOL. I am a chocoholic and have had to curb my temptation, which I am pleased to say has been successful.

I have been decorating - my bedroom and 1st floor bathroom and having a general cleanup, as well as making a mini album for my sister's birthday (which I posted previously).  Phew! Maybe having such  rainy  weather this year has made it possible to get things done. If the sun is out, so am I and I do like to catch some rays in the garden - or at the local beach.

So here is my 1st floor bathroom makeover...

Before...it was more of a beach/seaside theme.

Without changing the bathroom suite - which would have cost a fortune in this size room, I basically painted the walls and ceiling white and added some colour!

After - still keeping the grey, I added black and white with a zing of yellow. It kind of gives it a 'buzz'! *Ü* What do you think?

 I transformed/recycled the big photo frame - painted the border gloss black, used some yellow card for the backing - and black card for the photo frame. I LOVE this photo of 2 of my grandchildren Eden and Ethan. It is a few years old but it makes me smile every time I walk into the room. *Ü*

So there it is. In another post I will blog my bedroom makeover...if only I didn't have so much hassle with editing the photos! I have an old editing programme which came with my pc and since I had my last camera, the programme can't handle the bigger pixels!

Have a nice day peeps.

Family Tree mini album!

It was my sister Carol's 70th birthday on Monday and I have spent many years researching my/her family history.  This past year, I was blessed to have Tricia help me. She found more information in 3 weeks than I did in 30 years!! Carol and I have the same mother but different fathers. She is the eldest child from my mum's first marriage. It was a very emotional day both for her and myself as I had also managed to contact a cousin of hers (that Tricia found for me), and it just so happened that she was holidaying this past week in Hampshire where my sister lives! She called in to surprise Carol and they had sooo much in common and so much to talk about.

I bought a blank 'FAMILY' word album to begin and then I used several collections of papers - Bo Bunny - Timeless, DCWV - Tattered Time and Simple Stories - Generations - again I had help locating some of these papers from sb buddies in USA. I made the front and back covers and all of the pockets to hold certificates and generation sheets from black cardstock.

Some Tim Holtz sprocket gears, game spinners and clock face. The charms are significant to Carol. The little birdcage is when her dad bred budgerigars and German Roller canaries.

A word strip that I cut from one of the 12x12 sheets unfolds...

An old photo of Carol's father I got from one of my cousins...the flap lifts to reveal his details...

The same for our mum...

I made a pocket to hold 3 journalling blocks for Carol to write on...

Thank you to Susan who came to my rescue with 2 keys that I had trouble finding. I made a folded pocket from a sheet of 12x12 black cardstock. The band has a magnet to hold it together and I used my new punch that I won in a recent blog hop at Cal's. *Ü*

It unfolds with areas to write her own thoughts. This is a photo of her paternal grandparents that Tricia found on the internet! Amazing.

Another pocket...with a pull out photo card of our brother Ken (who died 17 years ago). I forgot to take a pic!

More areas to write her thoughts.

The second key from Susan. 42 is the number of the house where Carol lived in Fulham, London as a child and it is also the year that she was born.

 The flap opens to reveal photos of Carol as a baby.

She was a secretary for The Football Association many years ago and then secretary to Fulham Football  Club after that - hence the typewriter.

 The flap lifts to reveal photos of her dad.

Inside back cover.

 I added gusseted pockets that I made from black cardstock to house a 4 generation chart.

...and birth, marriage and death certificate.

 ...and family information that Tricia had managed to find on Carol's paternal side.

 ...and maternal side.

Phew! It has been my biggest project to date and has taken me soo long to put together. I wish I had been able to video the album, it would have saved a LOT of posting of photos. LOL. It was fun to make and I learned about each family member and I now feel that I know them a little better than them just being a name in a book!

Happy crafting,

Hallelujah! I can post again on Blogger!

At last...it has been far too long since I last blogged and I am soo pleased to say that I have managed to find the old blogger face!

So a very quick update...and just managing to post for the only time in July, a recap of how busy I have been...yes peeps, I haven't been idle. I shall post photos of my newly decorated bedroom in my next blog when I have edited the pics. I have also decorated my 1st floor bathroom but will post photos of that another time.

I have been overwhelmed with busy-ness and I need to finish off a mini album that I am making for my sister's birthday next week. I say sister, she is actually a half sister but I have never considered her that. She doesn't know much about her father and I have spent months doing research - with the very kind help of a UKS member and she has been such an inspiration. We now have a 4 generation family tree for her and she will be thrilled.

Photos of the mini album will follow the bathroom post. *Ü*  I am off to get more done so I can get finished by Saturday.

Happy crafting.
Toots for now,

The Queen's Head!

You may be thinking that I am referring to the local pub but it's something very different! Our BBC News team were asking for people to send in their photos so a mosaic could be made up by artist Helen Marshall who will then create 2 photos of the queen - one of her when she was younger and a current picture of her. It was too late for me to send in photos but one of my daughters did (Michelle).

The mosaic was on display in the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne for a few days at the end of May and it has now been on display in the new Turner Gallery in Margate for 2 days only.

My husband and I went along to view it ... and to see if we could find the photo of Michelle - on her wedding day. It was a while before I had to call her and ask for a clue! LOL. Finally, I found the photo. It was a good 'game'/challenge to look amongst over 5,000 photos for it!

There were so many people that it was difficult to get a clear view to take a photo without anyone in front of the huge display, so this is what I managed to get...

Then I zoomed in on the middle of the display...

...and finally, I found Michelle's photo - right in the middle. *Ü*

What if anything has made you feel Jubilant?

Disbanded Design Team.
It is with sadness that the design team I was part of has been disbanded for reasons beyond their control. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Hobbysew and my last project has now been returned which I can share with you. The papers that I had were of a Halloween theme (no surprise there then) and I had some photos of one of my granddaughters - Eden that fitted well.

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting my blog.
Toots for now.

Alexandra Palace stash!

So I had a fab time at 'Ally Pally' as it is affectionately known. I took a friend along who is a newbie to scrapbooking and she was in awe - with the whole experience - and speaking of 'when she goes back in September'! LOL. Another convert. *Ü*

I prefer AP, as it caters more for scrapbooking which is my preference even though I like to make cards, decorate and alter other items. Whilst I am not a stamper - I am slowly getting a liking for some of the quote stamps and this time, I was impressed with the tiniest of stamps that was demonstrated and won me over - so I had to have some to try out.

Here is some of what I bought...the said mini stamp sets...

 ...and some examples of how they can be used...

There were lots of patriotic items in preparation for the celebration of the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympic Games. I liked the postcards on the CTM stand by East of India.

I love these clear stamps which will definately be used. I went to Madame Tussauds in London with my family at Easter and as well as being born in London, I have a project in mind. *Ü* Plus...my husband (who drives the local buses), will be in London for a 3 week stint driving VIPs to and from the Olympic venues. *Ü*

 These border strips were cute. Oops...I think they are upside down!

 Still going with the theme...these ribbons were a good buy.

I also bought some scrapbook papers that had been reduced to 50p - MME - Lost and Found - with glitter. I was thrilled to find 2 Graphic45 stacks that I have wanted for some time that had been reduced - Fashionista and Communique, as well as some G45 individual papers...oh and some black and white cardstock.

A profitable day for me - apart from a chipboard album that I was hoping to buy but was out of stock - maybe I shall get it in September - afterall, I will have go back now that my friend is planning to!!

Happy crafting.

G is for...

I have had this papier mache 'G' initial for a while and keep meaning to decorate it. So, at last, I have done it!

Papier mache initial was from Hobbycraft. The patterned paper - and butterfly is from a black and white bundle that I got aages ago from TKMaxx. The letter tiles from a retro store in Margate, black beading from C&H Fabrics, feather came loose from a Valentine fan that I bought in Poundland and some black lace I had in my stash. The little diamonte brad was given to me by my daughter.

I'm off to Alexandra Palace in London on Saturday with a friend. I am going to buy more chipboard albums to decorate for my daughters for Christmas and I have a little rather long list of items to look out for! *Ü*  So if you see me by the way, give me a wave and say hello. *Ü* Have fun yourself if you are going.

Toots for now,

***HAPPY EASTER***

Here's wishing all of my followers and visitors a very Happy Easter. Have a Super Sabbath and enjoy the festivities that it brings.