Embracing Technology

Even though I was a Computer Programmer, I am what you would call technophobe. Not anything to do with work, but more to do with gadgets in my personal life. I have a bog standard mobile phone, albeit with pretty pink blossom print and jewels. I try not to pick up the remote control, if I can help it. I avoid the Kitchen Aid unless I know I absolutely cannot beat those eggs for a cake ( though I avoid baking as much as I can ). Ok, some times I sneak a browse on A's iPad but only when we travelling because that is the only device around.

Now, don't get me wrong, I still prefer to read a real book! But I have "discovered" the Kindle. I am currently reading Conn Iggulden's Conqueror Series. I love that I can quickly purchase the next book in the series without having to wait till I am next in town.

Here's a layout I made about the books I read...with photos of some of the books. I have used loads of Crate Paper labels and cut out flowers from Crate's Potrait Collection.

I should make a technophobe layout too, shouldn't I ?

Back to School

They indulged me this morning. J has lost his big hairdo but the barber did ask, "when did you last come ?"

And H will not be in the youngest year in school anymore.

Photos from Denmark

We are back. Here are a few photos from our trip. We went to Copenhagen (though didn't make the trek to Little Mermaid ),

stopping off in Odense for Hans Christian Andersen house

Egeskove Castle

and Svendborg.

On the way, we had to cross this looooooong bridge, the Great Belt Bridge.

We also saw "Hamlet's" castle at Helsingor

Then we went to Billund for Lalandia water slides where the tunnel was 3 storeys high.

and the original Legoland.

And then it was time to come home. The free Wi-Fi at the airport meant an end to our five days without internet so J can get his fix and check his IGCSE results. Look at him. What do you think he saw ?

Hope you all had a great summer holiday. Are you ready for school ? We are...I am looking forward to Monday.

Have you heard my news ?

I have a new gig.

Shimelle's Scrapbooking Weekend

I managed to dip in and out of the challenges Shimelle set at the weekend.

The Stickery Challenge, you saw earlier.

The Add to the Story Challenge features a LO from my "minimal" days so plenty of space to add some journalling.

Half Page Challenge is a LO about my trip to NY Botanical Garden.

Chop Your Paper challenge gave me "permission" to cut and use a lot of patterned papers.

Cape Cod Adventure

After New York, A decided to take a couple of days off work so we can have a long weekend together (aaahh). We looked at a number of options before he had the inspired idea of going whale watching off Cape Cod.

We picked up a car and headed north. We made Woodbury Common our first stop. I picked up a new handbag from Coach...my summer handbag because it is white. And couldn't resist a 7 jeans, in petite fit...made just for me! Woodbury Common is fantastic but not as good as Sawgrass Mills near Miami.

We stayed at this Victorian B&B in Sandwich. Very cute, with rickety floorboards and wonky walls.

Our whale watch was with Dolphin Fleet who operates out of Provincetown...right at the end of that tip of Cape Cod. Didn't realise this but it is still 60 or so miles from Sandwich so we set off early.

I handed the camera to A because his height enabled him to shoot over everyone up front. And we were so fortunate to see over ten whales. This whale was waving her fins about

and a tail...

from which I made this layout.

I have used Truprint collage again, copied the whale and flags from Dolphin Fleet's leaflet, drew the lighthouse based on one on a crisp packet that I saved and used a lot of broad nib markers to colour in.

This layout is inspired by Shimelle's Stickery Challenge.

Newmarket Race Night

This is the layout from the Newmarket Nights we went to a couple of weeks ago. I found a Crate paper label, labelled "Field Notes" which prompted me to go with the field notes style.

This layout was done for a challenge at Creative Craft World.
Besides the 2 photos positioning, I departed a good deal from this page map. I have used a lot of stamping, my fingers are truly Distressed.

My field notes are titled Horse Racing (beautiful beast), Tote Betting(lost all races), Fish & Chips(oily, argh), Dressing Up(we were not) and The Wanted (should have gone to see Tom Jones instead).

The photos were printed collage style by Truprint. Have you tried this option ? It does not cost any more that regular prints so when I last ordered my prints, I made a collage for each event. I am not sure I will use them all but they were cheap.