Exam boredom!!

Why, oh why, oh why did I accept two contracts for marking GCSE papers this year?? Well, I have completed online marking of 550 papers for one board, and have done about 600 of the 1050 for the other board. The deadline for the rest is Monday and whilst I'm confident that I will meet that deadline- I am bored of marking and just want to play.

As I mentioned already, I am Guest Designer on the Scrapper's Block Challenge Blog this week. The challenge set was 'What's in your handbag?'. I didn't have time to do it justice, so went straight for the obvious- a photo of my bag on a night out. The journalling reads 'I like to justify taking my camera on a night out, so I take the bare minimum in my bag'.


Materials:

My Little Shoe box 'Enjoy Life' patterened papers
Jillibean soup journalling circle
Fontwerks peach label, red label
Bazzil basics blooms
Doodlebug buttons
Buzz and bloom Shout Outs small chipboard (from Bubbly funk)
Junior Dymo
American Crafts Elements photo corner
Ribbon from stash
Paper Co. cardstock

So this is my only offering for the last few weeks. I have done a CJ entry- but not photographed it - and I have several that I've not uploaded yet. I can't wait to get my scrapping life back :)

Psst!

I got another commission from 'Scrapbook Inspirations', and I'm a Guest Designer on the Scrapper's Block Challenge blog next week too. Very excited ;)

Colourful photos

This week Shimelle has encouraged us to take photos in various colours. I'm rather stretched for time so couldn't do this justice and will def. be revisiting this when the marking finishes in a few week's time but here are some of my photos;

Today: A day for cool pastels

Some pretty pink petals

And my Dad's doggie

Yesterday: A day for earthy tones

Friday: A day for all things light

I love how the light falls on my friends at Elissa's christening.

Thursday: A day for blue

I love blue in the garden. I combine it with orange for the most colourful and striking effect. So here's a photo of my blue pots, oh and a blue flower too!

Wednesday: A day for greys, shadows and black

Tuesday: A day for red, rose and pink

To be honest, I was all redded out after last week.

Monday: A day for green

Perfect, on a day I was visiting my Dad at his allotment for the first time this season!

And I found this rusty old bin at the park :)

Thursday felt fun

Shimelle didn't disappoint today, coming in with another fab challenge! This week's SLYMI challenge on UKS was to use felt on a LO. To tie in with the 'Scrapper's block? Challenge blog' challenge (scrap the senses), I decided to go with the photos from this weekend of my Dad and Son picking and eating peas in Dad's allotment. It's his first season on the allotment and as the journalling says 'Connor loved picking the fattest pods and eating the peas from it'.

'A fresh and new taste'

Materials;

• Felt from Hobbycraft (Plant green colour)
• Hero Arts Fancy Felt 'Summer Flowers'
• 7 gypsies journalling block
• Sequin waste from Hobbycraft
• Kaiser craft Rhinestones
• Adorn it Carolee's creations Sleek Black
• Doodlebug designs inc Beetle black mini rub ons
• Fontwerks black labels
• BoBunny Rub ons 'Gardenia'
• Me & my big ideas adhesive gems
• Scenic Route Afterthoughts colour rub ons
• Li'l Davies Designs Chip-Art Words 'Spring'

A dog's tale

Last night I noticed call for help on the forums of UKS. Someone wanted a LO of an animal using mainly blue/turquoise or pink. When I learnt that no-one had responded, I decided to scrap the photo I took yesterday at Dad's of his latest puppy. Dad takes puppies in from 'Dogs for the disabled' and socialises them. This is the second one he's had. The first one was a total nutter, but Newton, this one, is gorgeous. Not only does he have wonderful markings, but he's got such a lovely nature and isn't at all boisterous so Connor even enjoyed playing with him yesterday.

I would never have chosen blue to scrap this photo in a million years but the colour directive seems to have worked in this case because I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

'He's a dream'

Materials:

• Dictionary definition from charity shop dictionary
• Fancy pants heart pin from 'With love'
• Tim Holtz journalling ticket
• 'Dream'- Dovecraft
• Photo corner from stash
• Pom pom ribbon by Fancy Pants 'About a boy'
• Rub on Crate Paper 'Mia Collection'
• K&Co 'Woof' tag

'Meaning of Flowers' CJ

The Sketch CJ that's due for posting on Saturday was Lis's this time around and the theme is 'The Meaning of Flowers'. I used decided to put some of last weeks teachings in to practice and this LO is the result;

Symbolic Colour

Colour has well known symbolic associations. I always remember my A level English lessons when my teachers would bang on about the white and red flowers together symbolising impending death, and Thomas Hardy loved to use colour symbolically. (It's because of 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' that I always think of Hardy when I eat strawberries, so vivid is his use of symbols, colour or otherwise.) I was always led to believe that when given flowers, the colour could be symbolic - yellow for infidelity, red for love and passion, white for innocence and new things. Florists even include pages of guidance for when you're buying flowers!

My flowers of choice would be orange. Teleflora say 'There’s nothing bashful about the color orange–its message is clear and blatantly proud. Symbolizing energy, enthusiasm, and warmth, an arrangement of blooms in this vibrant color conveys confidence, satisfaction and a passion for life.' A passion for life.

Today’s challenge is to use colour in a symbolic way on a card, layout or other craft project. Shimelle said of blue, "Blue is a traditional colour of good luck and good health. Its richest shades were once reserved for the royalty and most wealthy, as the dyes were some of the most expensive".

As many of you will know I've been on a mission to lose weight in 2009 and am about to reach my target of 80lb. I am feeling happier and healthier. Blue is my symbolic colour in this layout 'Health and Happiness'. It also fullfills the SLYMI requirement for this week 'Scrap a self portrait' as I took this photo at arms length leaning on the window sill at Mum's house.

Materials;
Bazzil basics white cardstock
Basic Grey 'Scarlet's Letter - Fare thee well'
Urban Lily 'Say it'
Papermania patterned papers
Jillibean soup journaling sprouts black circles
Dymo junior and black tape
Bazzil bloom
Pearl ribbon from Hobbycraft
Basic Grey button
Fly Stickers
Sequin waste from Hobbycraft
Making Memories cheeky shimmer stickers