Scrapping Tonight

but just wanted to check in and let you know that I have had the most wonderful day in London with my 2 bestest girlfriends. We spent a good few hours trawling the amazing halls at Harrods, and finished our day having Tea at The Ritz!!! ( a belated bday pressie).
We are home safe and sound, if not completly stuffed, and are armed with foodie goodies form Harrods to delight everyone tomorrow in the morning for breakfast, mmmmmm
Tomorrow I will share pretty photos from my day out in London, and a couple of projects that I am teaching at my crop, until then...
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

I am teaching an online class over at Scrapbookiando at GMT10am today. Stephanie Hunt from Bella Blvd is also teaching!

Today they are of Izzy, Izzy playing football!!
After spending what had felt like days in the house packing book orders last week, we all decided to go out for some fresh air last Sunday. The girls football came alongb too, and I tried my hardest to defend my goal, but decided after only a few minutes, my talents were put to much better use with a camera in my hands!

A few photos of Izzy in action. (click on photos to enlarge)



Todays Pencil Lines the Sketch Book giveaway is over at Christiane Mullers blog. Keep checking back here for the next giveaway!

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Even though I am making myself do a perosnal 365 photo a day, I have not got my camera out for candid snapshots much this year, and it saddens me. We all went to the park on Sunday and even though everyone moaned
"Oh Mum you're not taking your camera are you!!?"
to which I replied
"of course I am!"

And I am glad I did. I actually took some snap shots. Yes I mean snap shots. Camera perfection was not on my mind, as i just wanted to capture the girls doing what ever it is they do at the park. I also played around with sun flare, and really like the washed out look I got.



I then played around with some Pioneer Woman actions with this photo of Lilly on the swings. As I said not perfect camera shots. Which do you like best?

Fancy getting your hands on a FREE copy of Pencil Lines the Sketch Book, then look here at Shimelle blog, where she has  abook to giveaway. Over the next few weeks there will be lots more giveaways across the internet, so keep your eyes peeled! And if you cant wait, or dont rate your chances on a lucky dip then you can order a book direct from Pencil Lines.

Thats all for now, short and sweet blogging...
hugs
anna xx

and you are invited!!


Stephanie from Bella Blvd, Jill from Jillibean Soup, Nikki from Nikki Sivils, have all come together for one huge Blog Crawl! What is a Blog Crawl you might be asking... Well, on March 5th you'll got to Nikki Sivils blog and you'll see a gift that Jillibean Soup is giving away on the blog, along with a handmade gift from Nikki and a list of  design team girls that will be giving handmade gifts away using Nikki Sivils products, you'll leave a comment at each blog & then move on through the list. Then you'll head over to Bella Blvd and see the gift that Nikki will be giving away over there, along with a list of Bella Blvd's design team ladies and you'll do the same thing. Next you'll head over to Jillibean Soup and see the gift that Bella Blvd is giving away, along with all of Jillibean Soups DT gals, leave a comment then go to the next. There are over 50 handmade gifts and product giveaways!! Don't panic because you'll have the entire weekend of March 5th to visit all the blogs and leave a comment for a gift... it's an entire weekend of blogging and giveaways! We'll announce all the winners Monday morning!! Doesn't that sound like fun!!



Here is a sneek of my handmade gift using Nikki Sivils goodies!

All good plans can easily go wrong. After a gorgeous meal out last night to celebrate the release of Pencil Lines the Book, it wasn't long before I started to feel poorly; i had put it down to my greed for the Peshawri Nan, which I am partial to a nan or 2!. This morning I felt no better, and remembered those gorgeous juicy tiger prawns I had in chilli, mmm, not the best for a stomach ulcer. I then had a lovely hot bubble bath this morning whilst everyone was out, and then had a baking session; lemon cake and crumbly cookies with jam middles!! A few tastes of aforementioned scrummy crumbly biscuits with jammy middles, I remembered why I was feeling not to bright. I did managed some fresh air to play football (not very me at anytime!), with the girls and Peter. Took some photos, playing with sun glare, of which I had planned to scrap today. Instead I  just moped most of the day feeling sorry for myself!
I am now curled up on the sofa with a hot bottle strapped to my tummy! And that my blogging friends is where the hot bottle will remain until bed time, which is in sight as I a bloomin knackered!

Hope you had a good day, thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Here are the details for the class I am teaching next weekend at Scrapbookiando

I know its abit mean, but this is a layout for a class I am teaching for Scrapbookiando (online) next weekend. I will have all the details by the end of the week for the online crop! Stephanie Hunt from Bella Blvd is the other teacher, so it going to be a great weekend!

Thirty two boxes filled with Pencil Lines the Sketch Book!!! After so much angst this last week I am so pleased to have them in my hands now.
Its been a tough year for me and this book. I had a publisher in the US and due to the financial market in the US the company no longer publishes, and my book no longer had a publisher. Heartbreaking you can imagine. After so much time and energy that was put into the book by myself and the design team, i decided to use a local publisher and self publish. Its been a long hard struggle, but totally worth it! I am hoping to take the printing to China for another run, when I will then be in a position to list on Amazon and approach distributors in the US. Next week I will put together a list of shops that are stocking Pencil Lines the Sketch Book.

I am packing all pre orders as I type. It will take a couple of days to pack them all, so hopefully UK gals will have them by the weekend to enjoy and start your sketch journey!

Thanks for stopping by and for all your patience and positivity with Pencil Lines the Sketch Book
Hugs
Anna xx

Pencil Lines went live last night with sketch 174 and guest designer Sue Mylde. I love blog hopping, it is how I came across Sue's gorgeous work. Do you have a favourite artist that you fell a cross by accident? Please share...

Anyways back to Pencil Lines.... Awesome and inspiring gallery by our fabulous DT, do have a good browse, also do click on the DT's blog links on the right hand side for more info on their layouts.

With it being Valentines day, I wanted to do a layout about Peter and I. I had already chosen my journaling from a Foo Fighters song we both love; see this post.
I was all set to use the Valentines line from Nikki Sivils "Will He Be the 1", but I didnt have this line in my DT box. Hey that didnt deter me at all, as I pulled out the gorgeous "Flaming Butterfly" range and knew exactly how I wanted my layout to work.
These beautiful butterflies are begging to be cut out and "popped"

Happy Valentine's Day !

How was your day? Mine started with breakfast in bed, delivered by Izzy and Lilly, followed by a tray of gifts for the girls and me!
We all got a soft cuddly toy ( I know I am such a softie!), and I got a new Momiji Doll.
Later in the morning, Peter and I had a silly photo shoot.
Here are a couple of the outtakes.

This afternoon I headed into my studio and had a play with the new Nikki Sivils line, "Flaming Butterfly"; I am in love with these papers. I then worked on a layout uisng January's Kenner Road kit for an online class Scrapbookiando; I will post more details on my class later this week.

If you are in need for some Valentine scrapbook ideas, look here and here

Hope your day was filled with love!
Hugs
Anna x

Tomorrow is valentines day, and with a self timer shoot lined up, papers from Nikki Sivils "Will He Be The 1" range of papers waiting to be scrapped, i googled the words to a fav love song;
These words will be the journaling to my layout.

Hello

I've waited here for you
Everlong


Tonight
I throw myself into
And out of the red, out of her head she sang


Come down
And waste away with me
Down with me


Slow how
You wanted it to be
I'm over my head, out of her head she sang


And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again


The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang

Breathe out
So I could breathe you in
Hold you in


And now
I know you've always been
Out of your head, out of my head I sang



And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again


The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang

And I wonder
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again


The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang

Everlong - Foo Fighters
 
Do you have a favourite love song that is perfect for you and your Valentine?
 
Hugs
Anna x

A few of my favourite snapshots from the past week;

Twitter·Blog


n. a nifty place to read official news from Twitter.
 
Follow me here
 
Catch you later with a 365 update!
Hugs
Anna x

Pencil Lines new sketch went up on Sunday with guest designer Lisa Day. The design team did an amazing job as always! I havnt been able to join in these past week, but I am definitley going to find the time for this Sundays sketch!
As always, we offer a FREE digital template , which you can download from here.


Had an emotional day at work, due to 4 kids from my class going through some really tough times, and my heart strings are pulled every which way at the moment. I just hope their time at school brings happier memories for them.

Short post today, so thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

After a wonderful welcome back at school today, the afternoon was tough. I am seeing a hypnotherapist re some childhood problems, and today had me balling my eyes out for 1 hour and half and experiencing stuff that wasn't very nice. I am OK, and very pleased that my hazy memories have been confirmed, and i can start to move forward. I have 4 more sessions left and I know they wont be easy, and more tears will be shed, but in the long run , I am hoping that I can stop blaming myself and asking questions, I can start being the mum my girls love and want, and the wife Peter deserves. I can move forward and maybe, just maybe start to love me! Its a big thing to ask, but I actually believe I can come out the other side and see a brighter future.
Onto happier things...
This will make you giggle, a photo of me from my school days next to my BF Lisa,  popped up on facebook today!




Thanks for listening,
Hugs
Anna x

what the postie delivered today! Slight picture overload, be warned!



Expecting my delivery any day now. Order your copy today from here
Have a lovely weekend. We are having a few friends round for a Rock Band night; chilli is cooking and the house is tidy, just got to do a practise run of my repetoire on Rock Band, lol!
Hugs
Anna x

At last I managed to photograph (not very well), the mini book I made with the free Valentine printables.
I love the simplicity of this mini album, makes a change from my usual cluttered pages I do, LOL.

Really excited to announce that I am now part of the Such Sweet Tierney DT. London designs and makes the most funky buttons EVER! I cannot wait to start playing.
I am so honoured to be joined by;

Pearl Lui
Shermaine Kruijver
Stacey Young

Go check out the new DT's blogs as you will be blown away!

Back later with more photos of my mini book.
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

I have been out most of the day, and the light here has been dark and gloomy again, so I have been unable to take any decent project photos, gggrrrr. Tomorrow regardless of light I will pull out my studio lights and tent and I will have my Valentines projects photographed!

In the meantime I have been browsing the net and have been completly blown away by artisit Alisa Burke. i suggest you run on over to her blog NOW, and be inspired by these beautiful "healed hearts" and her valentines wreath (scroll down); both of which I want to make.


Alisa has given a tutorial for both these projects. Next scroll further down to a video of her at work, truly inspirational!

I have been inspired today, have you? Who or what inspired you?
Don't forget to add your name to this post for a chance to win a RAK from me
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

The opposite page is where I have added a photo and a barcode sentiment stamp by Autumn Leaves.
Little details like bottle cap, pearls and the Making Memories page tabs were all added to my final pages.
The front and back cover have been made using chipboard and then I have bound my book with the Bind-it-all.


The winner will receive a Valentines RAK!

Tomorrow I will have a cute gift bag and card to share.
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x