Getting to know me...

Head over to the Mannland5 blog if you'd like to join in with this fun blog post idea.

1. Have you ever snooped around someone else's house?

Not that I can remember, it doesn't really stick in my mind, so I think not!! (Although I may be repressing guilty feelings I guess!!!!)
2. Can guys and girls be friends? ( thanks Jen!)
I would say definately yes! I have lots of male friends.  I like the simplicity and honesty you often get within a male friendship! They can be meaningful but on a different level to those you have with other women.  I would say that sometimes if the guy in a friendship has a wife or significant other with no male friends, then she can often be insecure or uncomfortable with his female friends.  This can be quite upsetting! :0(
3. Can you curl your tongue?
Yes I can! What is more entertaining is I caught my cat doing it - and managed to get a photo!!
4. Have you ever stolen anything?
*Shame* yes. But then felt so bad I put it back.  This was many many years ago I hasten to add!!
5. Would you rather talk on the phone or text?
I used to love speaking on the phone, but now I think I would rather text which I do recognise as incredibly socially inept! I like the fact that a text conversation can happen while I do lots of other things, and over quite long period of time.
6. Memorial Day plans?
No, I live in the UK.
7. What do you do to relax?
Mainly scrapbook - it helps me to find my centre and feel balanced and peaceful. 
8. Do you do anything to honor those that have died fighting for our freedom?
No, and thats awful now that I think about it :0(
 
 
Well, thats a little bit of what I'm like! I'm off to scrapbook now!

A lovely day out was had by all!

We went to Hatton shopping village in Warwickshire today. I can thoroughly recommend it yo anyone in the area. It's a lovely day out!
There are a few peacocks wandering around squawking:






Kei was loving the ice creams and pulling lots of silly faces for the camera:






And I was just enjoying being with him!






I am planning a matchbook style minibook using hipstamatic photos I took today. Watch this space...
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My first ever Friday Follow...

Today is the start of a new format over at the Friday Follow blog. I've heard about the idea before but have never been involved.  Well, today is my first go and I hope I get a couple of followers out of it! We'll see!

For those who don't know about it, head over to the link above, or click on the Friday Follow button to join in and to learn more.  It is basically a way to see loads of interesting blogs and for people to see (and follow) you!
Right I'm off to blog hop a follow a few people!

Flower power

I've had a passion for creating my own paper flower embellishments recently. I've learned so many new techniques it's hard to keep a track and not just use the same techniques. I've decided to makexan example of each technique and showcase them amongst the bristles of the old besom broom I have in my craft room. I will add a link to the tutorials for each but am on the move at the moment so will do the for this one later..






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First layout from the May GoGo kit!

I just ADORE the May ScrapaGoGo kit!

Here is my first layout from it:

A tour around my favourite mini books!

Here is a little tour around my favourite mini books in my mini book basket.  I made most of them a while ago now, and it is interesting to see how my style has matured and is now more creative.  The photos are very very roughly in order of when I made the books.  If anyone would like to see more of a particular book please leave a comment saying which and I can do another post with a walk through.

HAPPY DAYS
This little book is made from one sheet of 12x12 paper and scraps of paper. It celebrates a weekend I spent with my friend and her little girl one easter.

A BAG OF NEW YEAR CHEER

AN INTERACTIVE MAP FOLD BOOK

I adore this format of mini book and have now made several.  They are tricky to make but I love the hidden pockets and flaps you can build into it!

A TAG BOOK CELEBRATING A WEEK LEADING UP TO CHRISTMAS ONE YEAR

I made this a few years ago before I discovered Journal Your Christmas!

 

A BOOK ABOUT US

I have several books about us! This is one of my favourites.   It has chipboard pages and is really chunky to hold and feel.

A SUMMER FUN BOOK

I made the pages of this book out of chipboard using some Sizzix dies.  I used scraps of paper again. I often use up scraps in mini books.  A lot of love goes into them though!

COFFEE CUP MINI BOOKS

I love these downloadable mini book hybrids.  You can search for them over at Two Peas.

MY YEARBOOKS

This year I involved with two year book projects.  I decided to do both as mini books. The first is Document 2010 a Shimelle project.

And the next is the ScrapaGoGo Yearbook

 Wow! That turned into a bit of a monster post! Sorry guys! You must be seriously sick of my mini books!! That isn't even all of the ones I was going to post *blush!*

Well, hope you like them. 

Thursday 5...

I've discovered this fab blog which I really recommend you take a look at.I'm joining in with todays post:

Looking back over my week I can celebrate the following:

• 
  
  Rescuing my "At One" page after some awful hand stitching made me HAPPY.

• Having a couple of lovely comments about aforementioned "At One" page made me JOYFUL.
• The thought of the long weekend ahead with lots and lots of uninterupted scrapping time makes me EXCITED.
• Looking through my scrapbooks and mini books today has made me JUBILANT. I love to see how my style has grown and how lovely my pages look to me now.
• Having a job I enjoy (even though it sadly does not involve scrapbooking) makes me GRATEFUL. So many people really hate their jobs.  I moan about mine from time to time, but I love it really.

Why don't you click on the link at the top of this post and join in with the Thursday 5?

A sneak peak at my minibooks

Pop back this afternoon for a look through this basket of goodies...






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Special friends...

I have met some wonderful, strong and thoroughly inspiring women over the past few years.  I don't mention it very often (well, at all actually!) but as well as loving scrapbooking and being a library manager, I am also a trained Crystal Therapist.  I don't actively practice at the moment - the financial climate over the last few years has not been healthy in terms of starting a new business.

Anyway, through my studies to become a therapist, and through my ongoing monthly sessions with the same class I have met some very special women who fill me with awe every time I see them!
They support me in so many ways and make me stronger than I would be had I never met them. Thanks ladies x

Here's a piccie I love of me receiving some treatment (which is yet another lovely thing about the classes!!)

Today's layouts

I used up the last of my April GoGo kit today. I am so excited to start with the May kit as I have loads of photos that suit the colours!
The first layout I did today used a sketch handed out at the last evening crop by Deb. I was really happy with how the page was going until I decided to stitch the swirl rather than using paper! I then hated the layout and spent ages adding extra stitching, distressing and making paper flowers!! I'm happy with it in the end but it's still not quite what I had hoped for:



























The second layout is possibly a bit too simple,but after the trauma of the stitching I wanted to keep it that way!!!



























I was very sensible and have tidied my craft room so it's spotless. I then unpacked my May GoGo kit onto my work space in anticipation of a three day weekend! It's so pretty, I can't wait to get started!



























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The world outside my window(s)!!

Here is a glimpse at the world around me on this lovely day.

From the kitchen:





















From the living room:





















From my craft room:

I am LOVING Hipstamatic photos!

I adore the vintage feel of the iPhone's hipstamatic camera app! I took these lovely photos of our Hawthorn in blossom and can't wait to scrap them tomorrow!!

I'm so glad that its Tuesday tomorrow. As you all know by now, I get Tuesday's off work and spend the whole day in my lovely little craft haven creating and being me. Yippppppiiiieeeee!!!!

Getting to know me...

I spotted a link to this blog when I was over at SJ's blog today.  I thought I'd join in the fun:

1. Do you have a fetish?

Not that I know of!! But if I did, I'm not sure I'd write about it here anyway to be honest ;0)
2. Do you sing in the shower?
Nope, I sing when I do the house work, but I just tend to shower in the shower!!
3. Who was your first crush?
Oh gosh! That would be Stephen Ralph when I was a middle school I think. It was a really soppy mope-y time of crush too!!

4. What do you think is the best manly trait a guy could have?
Making me feel safe.  But I think one of the greatest traits a man can have is sensitivity and not being afraid to show his emotions.

5. Do you sleep naked?
Yes.

6. What do you do when (you think) no one is looking?
Twiddle my hair around my finger!! Soooooo childish!

7. What's the first thing you do when you go online?
Check my email to see if anyone has commented on my blog. Next, I blog!

8. Summer is.....?
Sunshine, cider and flipflops.

Well, thats me! Why don't you follow the link above and join in?

A little book of feet!!!

Here is the cover of a mini book I am starting. It will contain photos if my feet out and about. I often like to snap a photo of my feet when I am on a day out or holiday etc. These photos can be really amusing and tell a story all of their own! I have lots of these photos printed now and as the minibook is 6x4 it will be fairly easy to do the pages. At least that's the plan!



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Do you tweet?

I've just entered into the world of Twitter. It's good fun and a great forum for learning about things. If anyone reading this is a tweeter then please follow me :o)
My username is stryxaluco (i adore owls!) and my full name is Caroline Faulkner.
Thanks everybody!


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A little list of happiness

Things that are making me smile today:
* The hug I got from my man this morning thanking me fir sitting up late with him to do an application form.
* My cat-she is crazy and makes me laugh everyday with the silly things she does!
* My job-despite moaning about it, I do love it!
* The weather. We are having a scorcher if a day here today.
* Costa coffee- lurve cinnamon latte!!

To be continued...

Eco Champion!

I am really excited by a new project I am involved with through work. It is called "Eco centres" and my library is going to work towards a green flag award. As part of this I am going to work towards becoming a Sustainability Champion for the service. It's great to be involved in something with work that I feel so passionate about personally. I just need to get scrapbooking on my job description and life will be perfect!!!

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Simple Things

This months word for the Simple Things project was CREATE.
Wow! There is an amazing amount of deapth and meaning behind that one little word. I felt a little restricted by my chosen project format this month (the loo roll tag book) BUT decided to embrace the whole pointof this project and get down what meaning I could in my words, colours, paper etc.
So here is my 'page':







I am continuing to LOVE this wonderful project!

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Waiting for my photos

I have finally sat down long enough to sort all of our digital photographs into annual albums, and each one of those is split into 12 months. From there it was relatively easy to sit and flip through the photos for ones I would like to scrap. I am now waiting for a text from Jessops to tell me when to bo into the store to pick them up! Its a shame I'm working Saturday considering how many photos I am having delivered!! Expect lots of layout posts in the coming weeks!!!


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I am loving my Go Go kits!!!

I still have loads of papers left from my April kit following a slow start, but I love the papers. To my delight the May kit arrived this afternoon and I squealed the place down when I opened the box-it is just beautiful!! The colours and themes of the papers are perfect for the photos I have ready to scrap.

Here is my most recent page from the April kit...



And a couple of close ups...





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Tee hee!!!

Finally I can take hipstamatic photos!!!



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Exciting!!!

I have an i phone!! A whole new world has opened up!

I love Tuesdays!!!

I just don't know what I would do if I had to work on a Tuesday!! The hours I work mean I am still full time, but because of having to work until 8pm every Wednesday (yuk!!) and work every other Saturday (serious double Yuk!!) I am lucky enough to have every Tuesday off!!
I have the whole house to myself (well, except for my kitty!!) and its just BLISS!! I have a little unwritten rule that all boring work (ie housework) must  be finished by 11am! After that I make a pot of tea and head to my Craft room for a day of me, me, me and creative fun!!

Here's what I made today:

April Go Go Yearbook pages

Here's a little close up of my crackle-effect butterflies! I just adore my Martha Stewart butterfly punches!!

Document 2010 April pages:

I really really enjoyed making these pages. I managed to use up the scraps of my favourite papers and they look great (even if I do say so myself!!)  I used some new micro letters for the subtitle:

And I used one of my new Petaloo blooms for a bit of prettiness:

A page about my best friend's little girl:

I just can't believe that Elana is 9 years old! She tried out to be a rosebud last weekend and was successful!!

As a rosebud she will get to dress in a pretty dress, wear a mini crown and ride with the carnival queen in the town's summer carnival. She is soooooo excited and I am incredibly proud of her! I am doubly proud as she wore a dress I bought her for her audition!! Hence the theme of the page.  It is my first full page using the April Go Go kit.  Its taken me ages to get started with it but I wanted to do my Go Go Yearbook pages first, hence the delay with creating!  Anyway, here is the page:

I used the amazing pins from the kit to highlight the number 9 on a tape measure for her age:

As well as these projects I also got 3 projects half started and all packed for the Thursday evening crop at Fairfield. I'm at work until late tomorrow so today was the only chance I had.  I feel all organised and its great!!

Hope you like the pages :0)