A couple of new classes

I recently stumbled across Heidi Sonboul's blog and I am so glad I did! I love her work and I was lucky enough to stumble across her just as she launched some new classes - at only $2 each!

Each class is really detailed and I have created two layouts so far which I love! The second class actually had a video in which was great to see her actually putting the page together.

So here is the layout from the first class:

I just loved working with all the layers here and sticking all those triangles down! We were also taught how to make the wonderful flower - will definitely be making one of thse again!

The classes are published on a Monday and this is the one from last Monday. In this class we were taught how to make the ombre paper and then the video showed how to put the layout together. I have to thank Penny (again!) for the title of this layout!

And here is the journalling in close up:

I then went on to use the scraps to make a card - not something I do very often, but I loved the colour scheme and wanted to use up the ombre paper! I have sent this card to Alexa with her prize from the giveaway.

So, if you get a chance, do hop on over to her blog. Even if you decide not to take her class you will discover some wonderful layouts over there!

Sunday Summer Scavenger Hunt Photos

I've decided that if I've got any photos to share for Rinda's Summer Scavenger Hunt I will try and load them up on a Sunday.

So, here is the list:

1. Open air market
2. Theater for performing arts (not a movie theater)
3. City Hall, Capitol or other similar civic building
4. Airplane
5. A sunset
6. Someone or something taking a nap
7. A sign that is intentionally or unintentionally funny
8. A tower
9. A photo with someone or something that is clearly out of place or doesn't belong
10. A bench that is outside
11. An animal in a zoo, aquarium, nature preserve, etc.
12. A cloud in the shape of something (please specify what you see)
13. A fence
14. A stained glass object or a mosaic
15. A fire truck or police car
16. A windmill
17. Candle(s)
18. Your local pub/bar, coffee house or tea shop
19. A fisherman
20. A dinosaur
21. A photograph of you with an artistic tool or craft supply (you cannot substitute for this item)
Bonus/substitute items. If you find any of the above items too difficult, feel free to substitute either (or both) of these items. You can substitute up to two items, but you cannot substitute Item #21:
A person wearing an outfit (or item of clothing) that symbolizes your country
A sundial

And here are my photos:

This dinosaur usually lives on top of the cupboard in our utility room - difficult to take a photo of him there! He was made by collecting pieces from a magazine when Ben was 7 - it took us over  year!

This statue just didn't look right on the roof of the building in Folkestone! However, if I find something that is better for number 9 I will replace this.

This is the Quarterhouse, the theatre opposite Penny's flat in Folkestone.

 I am looking forward to finding more things on the list when we finally get some time to ourselves! We spent all yesterday moving Penny's furniture out of her flat, so today was spent doing all those jobs that didn't get done yesterday! I know exactly where to go and get my windmill photo - looking forward to a Sunday afternoon out!

A quick apology, a link up and a winner!

I took part in Sian's 'The Great Big Swap of Very Small Things' and received a wonderful parcel from Sandie - it was quite a large parcel as Sandie lives only about 5 miles away and hand delivered the parcel to me! I took a photo of all the wonderful stash she sent me - papers, old book pages, washi tape, punched bits and pieces and oh so much more and then put it carefully all away. I have already used some of the papers and embellishments. So, I thought it was time to put the photo onto my blog and thank Sandie for my stash and Sian for arranging the swap. Only when I came to upload the photo it seems to have been deleted! I have searched the memory card from top to bottom and it is not there! I can't take the photo again as the stash is scattered around my scraproom. So, I am sorry Sandie! But thank you so much for my stash - it is lovely! And thank you Sian for arranging the swap.

So, I am also linking up today to Rinda, as I am taking part in her Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt.

This is the first year I have joined in and I am really looking forward to finding all the items on the list. Do hop on over to her blog to see the list of items - are you joining in too?


And now for the winner of my 500th birthday blogpost. And the winner, chosen by putting all the names in Penny's hat and drawing it out is..... 

Alexa! 

And as you will see from the video I picked a runner up prize to whom I will also send a little package of yumminess and that is:

Sandra!


Please send me your postal addresses to gotchfamily@btinternet{dot}com.

Thank you for all your lovely comments and here's to another 500 posts!

What I did with my Photo Freedom prize

This post is rather photo heavy! But I thought you might like to see what I did with my prize from Jennifer Grace.

The first page protector I used had a 12x6 side and three 6x4 pockets.

And this opens out to show the layout of the hotel. I cut a slit in the page protector to make this easier to look at.

The next set of pages were in the 4x3 pockets.

I managed to incorporate the jewel pins which had been in my bouquet. I specifically requested them in the bouquet as I knew that I wouldn't be able to bring the flowers back and wanted to use something from the bouquet for scrapbooking!

The next set of pages used 4x6 photos and journalling cards.

I wrote the titles of the songs which 'Elvis' sang to us on the ampersand here.

I was able to include the tickets we had for going up to the observation tower at the Stratosphere.

There was a 12x12 page which meant I could do two large layouts, which I enjoyed doing. I used some Echo Park Everyday Eclectic papers and stickers to compliment the papers and stickers which came in the pack.

This photo was one of three taken at the Stratosphere by their official photographer.

This page protector had four 6x4 pockets and four 3x4 pockets on each side. I moved from the evening of our renewal onto our exploring of Vegas the next day.

I added in this page protector from some American Crafts ones I had. This and the one below (three 4x6) allowed me to use all the Vegas photos and finish this chapter of the album.

I used a 4x6 journalling card and attached a 3x4 one to it to do the journalling on this set of photos.

And to finish the Vegas section there is this 12x12 page showcasing three photos from the Bellagio fountains show. You can't quite see the letter 'f' on this photo, but it is there and I covered it in Stickles and in real life it shows up quite well!

If you have managed to read down this far well done and thank you! I have to say that I really enjoyed using this Photo Freedom pack - much more than I though I would. It was excellent for my California album and I may buy another pack to do another section of the holiday. It is a really good way of getting a lot of photos scrapped with minimal effort, which if you have over 2000 photos of a holiday to do can't be bad!

Don't forget that my giveaway closes at midnight tomorrow, Wednesday. If you haven't already left a comment please do so to be in with a chance to win the 6x6 Crate Paper The Pier paper pad and ephemera pack :)

Soporific Sofa

Penny came up with this title! She also moaned that I was using these photos - 'how embarrassing' was her comment! However, I don't often get to see my babies asleep any more and I still love to watch them sleep , just like when they were babies. How Ben could sleep with his legs like that I don't know, but he was sound asleep.

This layout was made using scraps from my stash and one sheet of patterned paper that had been sitting in the folder for ages and not used.

Just realised that I haven't done a close-up of the journalling and I don't know if you can read it in the top photo.

'Ben was a little hung over when he came home for his birthday celebrations 

and needed a little nap on the settee when everyone had gone. Penny fell asleep 

another afternoon but I couldn't resist taking the photo.'

Don't forget that my giveaway is open until midnight on Wednesday 12th June. If you haven't left a comment please do and you could win the lovely Crate Paper The Pier 6x6 pad and ephemera pack.