Random Bits

Been busy busy busy as always and the rest of the week is going to be no different, I'm helping a couple of friends out over half term and I'll have 4 boys tomorrow and 5 boys on Thursday.......someone help me!!!! 

So, I've made my Mums birthday card but as she reads this, I'm  having  to delay putting it on here... I've made a few quicky cards  lately but they aren't that great so I've put off putting them on here but as I have not been able to do as much as I would like lately I thought I would show them.

Quick card for a teenage boy!!

As I said before, we have a very special weekend planned.  It's our 10th Wedding Anniversary on Thursday....and my husband and I are going to London for the weekend.  We are going for afternoon tea at the Ritz on Friday!  How exciting!!!!!!!
We intend to chill on Saturday then we are going to The Cinnamon Club for a meal on Saturday night....it should be lovely, really can't wait...Ill be sure to let you know all about it!

Wish me luck for the next few days........
Lots of love xxx

Birthday Boy !

We have just been to the supermarket and done the monthly shop....Oh, how I hate it (so much so I refuse to go any more often than monthly!!)  It does amaze me how much food we get through and how much it all costs.  I do wonder how much the bill will be as the boys get older!!!


The boys have been invited to a birthday party this week and as with men, making cards for boys is also tricky. 

Splatered the paper with Aquamarkers as before

Raised the die cut letters as the 'stopper'.

My boys liked it so hopefully their friend will too. 

I am going to enter this into the following challenges;
Charisma Cardz - card for a male
PaperCrafting Journey - Anything goes
For Fun Challenge - Patriotic colours

The men of the house have an fun filled evening of sport ahead of them ( think the remote control will be red hot tonight!) so guess where I will be ?????

Take care xx

Another week nearly over and another busy week here!!!  At least we have another bank holiday this weekend....yippee!!! (the weather isn't meant to be great though - as always!)

The last birthday we have this month is my Mother in law, it is a hectic month for birthdays for us, next month is quieter so I'll have to find other things to do!!!

I splatered the scallop circle with Aqumarkers and a wet paintbrush - really like the outcome!

Another pink one I'm afraid!! I used the butterfly die exclusive to SU for the first time so I need to play with it a bit more to see what I can come up with.

Going to try my luck at the following challenges with this one;
Crafting for all Seasons - Anything goes
Crafts and Me - #36 Gems and pearls
Divas by Design - #2 For the Girls
Flutterby Wednesdays - #156
Die Cuttin' Divas - #16 Celebration card
Paper Take Weekly - Pale, pretty pastels
Make it Monday - Anything goes

Its also half term again for the boys next week and got another busy week ahead and then a FAB weekend planned - I'll let you know more next time!

Take care xxx

Wow...what a week!

The Brown household has had a great week....

First of all, Wednesday night Elliot won Supporters Player of the year at his football presentation.  Thursday the boys had a fun run at school and Elliot came first, Aaron did fabulously coming from last to fourth!! Thursday night Aaron and I went to Portsmouth to see Olly Murs (x factor) in concert and seeing Aaron having sooo much fun was just priceless. And then on Saturday night we all went to Newbury races, had a few winners and then watched The Wanted in concert.... so all in all it was quite an exciting week for everyone.

I finished the baby boy card that I mentioned.  It is pretty much the same as the baby girl one but I've used buttons instead of flowers.

It's not a great picture as usual (and there I was thinking I had made progress with the whole photo thing!) but I haven't got long before our wedding anniversary so I'm still hoping!!!!

Life seems to continue to be hectic for us so I may not be posting too much for the next couple of weeks but I'll try.
Till next time xx

Famous Faces.....

Well, we certainly had a tiring weekend.  The football tournament was pretty good but I was surprised at how tired we all were yesterday...and I never even kicked a ball!!!
Saturday was Aarons team (U8's), they did well but it is uncompetitive at this age so I guess its all about the taking part.
Sunday was Elliots team (U7's) and we were there at 7.30 and I was on the gate selling programmes.  So, there I was being my usual happy self to all the cars coming through (even at that hour of the day) and talk about a surreal moment when Jamie Redknapp opened his window and presented me with his two pound!!!! 
Why oh why hadn't I spent more time on the hair and make up??!!!!!

By the time I got back to the boys they had already got his autograph!! Honestly though, he was not left alone the whole day, people badgering him for pictures and autographs but he didn't seem to mind one bit (well he never showed it!) 
His son was playing in the same league as Elliot so they had a couple of games together and Elliot was not intimidated at all, he was tackling him and pushing him about.  All in all though, having the Redknapps there added a little bit more interest to the day!!!

Getting back to the cards, my friend loved the Christening card, so I was quite relieved with that.  I have been asked to make two baby cards, one pink and one blue, so I have used up the pink from the Christening card...

Look.....different flowers!!

Did you spot the different flowers? I borrowed the stamps from my Mum and not sure where she got them from but eveything else is the same a the Christening card apart from the flowers. (have I mentioned the flowers are different...lol!!) I used a SU punch and flat backed pearls also from SU.  I didn't want the ribbon to go all the way round so I've cut the end and heat them slightly with the heat gun to stop them fraying...hopefully!
The blue one will be very similar, I'm sure, but I'll pop it on here when I've got round to doing it!
Till next time....xx

Christening card

Good Evening

Just a quicky tonight, got a busy weekend with football.....what joy!  The boys have a tournament over both days and they were asking for parents to help out, I was given 7.30am...yes, am on Sunday morning!!! Can you believe it?  I rarely get up that early during the week! 

Anyway my friend asked me to do a card for a Christening.  I found this quite tricky as it's hard to know what people expect for a religious occasion...

The Christening gown was heat embossed

It has occurred to me that I am using those flowers quite alot at the moment so I am going to try either another flower or none at all. 

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges....
Cooking it up with Katie #61 Brads, letters and image
Crafts and Me #34 Punches
Craft Creations #118 Anything goes
Divas by Design Anything goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty #53 Anything goes
Flourishes #117 Anything goes.

So, till next time,

Take care xx
Materials used: Joanna Sheen Christening stamp,  SU border punch and scallop circle, Cuttlekids alphabet dies, Docraft papers, Gellypowder Bubble Gum Yum embossing powder.

Back down with a bump!

We are back....and quite frankly we don't want to be.  We had the most fabulous weekend, the sun shone (hot and brightly), the food was great and the company was the best!!!

We went to the beach and ate fish and chips on the sea front, we went in the arcades (and spent a fortune!), we went to the funfair, we played bingo, we won at 'open the box' (twice) and us adults danced at the kiddies disco.  It was just a lovely weekend.  The drive home wasn't so great, I love the M25 when there has been a crash.....

The boys have been brilliant and they have had a ball so all in all it was very successful and we're looking forward the the next one.

 Elliot (my son, in the middle) started off by holding his jeans up and paddling but we had to go and buy a pair of shorts and some flip flops as he ended up getting soaked!  Kids eh?

We got back at teatime today and my husband is going to decorate the kitchen for the rest of the week so I'll let you know how that goes!  No rest for the wicked huh!

I have nothing to show today, I just wanted to share my weekend with you...sorry.
Take care xx

Happy times ahead !

I am very excited....we are going away tomorrow for the weekend with some lovely friends and I can't wait!  We all went away earlier in the year and had a fab time so we are doing it again.  If the last trip is anything to go by, we are in for an alcohol fuelled, fun weekend.  Bang goes the diet for another week!!!!

It's my husbands birthday next week so I have made him a card.  I showed it to the boys and they said "Did you make a mistake Mummy? Why have you crossed it out?"  You'll see why!!!
Before we had the children, my husband was a keen golfer, had a handicap of 12 (I think thats quite good!!) but with the costs involved and the time spent playing the game he hasn't really played too much since.  I think he is eager to get back playing and has recently started taking the boys to the driving range, so we'll see.

So, here is my card.

My 'mistake'!!!!

As mens cards go, I was pretty pleased with this.  I'll let you know what he thinks!

My Stampin Up goodies arrived today and I have been so busy with packing and baking cakes (!) that I haven't even played with them yet....well, I guess thats something to look forward to after our trip!
My baking is going quite well lately.  I have never been into baking, it's never been too successful but I have tried again and its going ok.....move over Nigella!  Friends and family are still in shock I think but they are still alive so thats a bonus!!!!

Take care xxx
Materials used: stamps from See D's (boys toys), backing papers from stock, star punch (paperchase), square scallop punch (SU), ribbon - choc chip (SU), ink - choc chip (SU), happy birthday stamp (SU).

May Birthdays...

I have soooo many birthdays this month and worst of all, alot of them are men!  Arrghh!!!
Everyone says the same but mens cards are so hard, why is that?  They are quite simple human beings really but still I panic every time I have to make one.

This one is for my father in law.  Whilst I was waiting for the boys over the holidays I picked up Papercraft essentials magazine (issue 67) and with it was a free booklet with sheets from www.craftsuprint.com.  I haven't used them  before but this particular sheet caught my eye.  My FIL does enjoy a flutter on the horses from time to time so this was perfect for him.

The picture needed cutting out which I am not great at and I didn't use all the layers but I think he'll have a chuckle at this.

So, the royal wedding has been and gone, wasn't it lovely?  We all went to my mums and had a full english breakfast, courtesy of my husband who cooked for 11 and washed up!!! It was a lovely day and something for us to celebrate too.  We live about 10 minutes from Bucklebury (where Kate is from) and it was good fun trying to spot some friends on the local news......We did drive past the festivities before heading over to my Mums, it was fab!!!

I have taken other photos recently of some bits but as I have said before my camera is awful.  We have our 10th wedding anniversary next month so I have already started dropping very big hints about a camera being at the top of my wish list.....so, here's hoping!!!!

We are all back to school and work tomorrow and back to the rat race but I do like a bit of routine...... 
Take care xxx
Materials used: Free sheet from Craftsuprinrt, ivory linen and dark green cardstock and large gold brads .