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About Me

Married to my soulmate with 2 beautiful girls,and our English Springer Spaniel, Suki. Living a country life in Cambridgeshire, whilst baking, gardening, and photographing our daily lifes, where they find a place on my scrapbook pages.

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My little place on the web

This blog is just that, my little place on the web.You will find my daily (or not so daily, hehe)life, my love for my new vegetable garden, baking, photography and my scrapbooking!

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My Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a way of life for me now.It has been for over 4 years. I love journaling, taking photos of my family and love colour and texture, these are all part of my everyday life and scrapbooking.

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The Scrapbook Magazine

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/30/2009 06:05:00 PM 0 lovely comments
It is pretty sad that in the UK we are left with only 1 homegrown Scrapbook Magazine, thankfully its a good all rounder magazine, perfect for beginners and the more advanced scrapbooker.




For a limited time Scrapbook Magazine are offering 40% off the price of a year's subscription. Scrapbook Magazine is the UK's longest running and number one scrapbooking title and is packed full of inspiring projects and ideas.

Subscribe to Scrapbook Magazine today and save £14.36 a year!!

See you tomorrow!
Anna x

Pencil Lines

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/29/2009 09:50:00 PM 5 lovely comments
Pencil Lines sk 163 is live with UK's MJM, sketch by yours truly.Pop on over and click on MJM's blog link, her work is amazing and very artsy. She is one of those artists that can turn to anything and do it really well! Her paper flowers are my favourite and are amazing.




I did a layout of me and my camera, used only 1 photo, not the 3 as the sketch shows, and used a journaling tag in place of the small photo. I do not late the early dark nights, I keep forgetting this when i need to take photos of layouts!!








Supplies :
Paper : Basic Grey
Flowers : Prima Marketing Inc.
Transparency : MME
Ink : Ranger
Crystals : Prima Marketing Inc.
Chipboard frame : really not sure!

Just in case you haven't seen my last post, Pencil Lines the Sketch book is now available to pre order, expected delivery end 2009.
I am so excited to have been joined by 11 amazing guest designers:


Gigi Kennedy
Christiane Muller
Iris Babao Uy
Anne Jo Lexnader
Carina Lindholm
Sue Deacon
Michelle Filo
Tracie Hudson
Annie Hafermann
Shimelle Laine
Emma Trout

It is a hardback book and spiral bound, which has got to be the best part!
Retailing at £14.95 plus postage. I am taking wholesale and international orders, please email me for costs.

The other exciting news over at Pencil Lines is after over 2 years, we are at last having a DT search. I am really looking forward to seeing your entries, everyone is welcome to enter, the more the merrier!

We have had such a lovely weekend, its just been blissful. I am preparing a week of Christmas card writing; kitchen activities include making cranberry sauce and some Christmas chutney.

I hope you had a lovely weekend, thanks for stopping by and for all your support with the book
Hugs
Anna xx

Pencil Lines the Sketch Book

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/29/2009 12:35:00 PM 12 lovely comments

After, what feels like forever and a day, LOL, Pencil Lines the Sketch Book is now available to pre order. I am excited and nervous as you can imagine. A lot of sweat and tears have gone into this book, as well as a change of publisher. The design team have been amazing and so supportive, I really could not have got to this point with out them!

A lot of though went into what I think we scrappers want from our craft books.
This book is in a handy hardback size, spiral bound, will fit easily into our crop bags!

For more details and ordering please visit the shop here.
I am taking international orders and wholesale orders. Please contact me for shipping details and wholesale price list.

I am off to enjoy the rest of Sunday with my family, rockband, roast chicken for dinner and lots of snuggles on the sofa!
Have a great day, see you alter for sketch 163!

Hugs
Anna xx

Archive Layout 2

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/28/2009 01:18:00 PM 0 lovely comments
Now I had planned to do this everyday this week, but I have had the oddest week! I have been thinking and missing my Dad loads this week. I guess its the whole Christmas season coming up and me turning 40 in a fortnight!! that has been on my mind also.
I have been talking to my dad lots (in my head), and keep waking up, with my heart pounding punishing myself for having not spoken to my Dad in ages. For those that don't know, my Dad passed away 3 years ago, so its a bit odd, and painful.

My thoughts have not been with this blog, but I have picked myself up, after a reading session with Nigela Christmas last night, and I cannot wait to get started on my Christmas baking sessions, and start making some chutneys and jams for gifts, as well.



Here is my second archive layout, its not a really old layout, its about 6 months old. I made it for TSBM designer gallery of "Firsts".




This is layout is all about Lilly loosing her first tooth, all grins.

Supplies :
Papers : 3ndypapier
Diecuts : Sassfras Lass
Alphabet : American Crafts
Jewels : from stash

Its a freezing cold day here, and plans to be tomorrow as well. We are planning a weekend of snuggling on the sofa, cooking, maybe some baking (wink), and a smidgen of scrapping!

What do you have planned this weekend? Hope its a good one for you all, especially my US friends, enjoying a Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends.

Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna xx

Archive Layout 1

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/24/2009 06:49:00 PM 2 lovely comments
This is a layout I did for the Bad Girls Top Designer 2007! I still love this layout.
The Basic Grey papers are great for cutting out, which I still love doing.



Funny thing is I have just done a layout for The Scrapbook Magazine, with the same title! I obviously still need to "Believe " in myself some more, LOL!



Supplies :

Pattern papers : Basic Grey
Card stock : Bazzill Basics
Alphabet : Artic Frog
Ribbon : American Crafts
Rubon swirl : Foofala

Have you got a favourite layout you did a while back that you still love? Do post a link. I would love to see.

A quick giggle, and self portrait of me as the Wicked Stepmother from Snow White for Children in Need last Friday! Its pretty difficult to tell i actually had a crown on top of the baclava type thing; the cloak had a HUGE stand up collar!



Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

No title

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/23/2009 10:54:00 PM 2 lovely comments
Seriously, I cannot think of a title, its gone 11pm, I am tired, is that a good enough excuse, LOL!

Well lately I seem to be more of a nurse than a TA these days. Another day off from work whilst I nursed Lilly. She's fine now and will be back to school tomorrow. The poor thing has been up and down these last 4 days, and this morning she had a bit of a temperature and was really tired, so i made the decision to keep her off school.
I have been busy scrapping and trying my best to catch up on everyday paper work. 2010 see's some changes for Pencil Lines, all good and very exciting, and that has also kept me busy whilst watching Fireman Sam (why does Lilly insist on still watching this?! beats me!).

Emails back and forth today and I have made some great progress with the new changes and I am very excited!!
This morning, when we had a few minutes of sunshine, I managed to photograph my layout for sketch 162.
I used my Jenni Bowlin kit from last month. I had fun playing with the stencil in the kit. I firstly inked the stencil onto my card stock, using an Orange ink pad, followed by some glimmer mist "cocoa". Absolutely love the effect!

Supplies:
Jenni Bowlin October kit
Sassafras Lass chipboard

This is a layout I did ages ago and forgot to share. Again using a Jenni Bowlin kit.





This is a photo of Izzy on our last day in Provence in April of this year. The owners of the Gite had a dog called Lola, who both the girls absolutely adored. Izzy was so sad to leave her, and I am so chuffed that I managed a few photos of her and Lola, this being my favourite.




Supplies :
Jenni Bowlin Kit
Tim Holtz Grunge Board
Scenic Route alphabet

Tomorrow see's me back to work, and then busy at the Post Office, posting heaps of gorgeous Kaiser Craft goodies, kindly sponsored to Pencil Lines for December!! How excited are we..
This week I am going to post some re visit old layouts. I was glancing through my albums, and thought what fun it would be to revisit some of them, and post here.
Back tomorrow with the first of an archive layout.
Take care and thanks for visiting
Hugs
Anna x

Here's hoping...

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/22/2009 07:54:00 PM 2 lovely comments
that this coming week I have some time to blog!!
I have been so busy, I really have had no time to blog. I cant even remember what has happened this week, LOL,a part from i have done lots of sleeping, as I have anemia again! I seem to get struck down every few years or so with a low red blood count, lots of sleep has been in order
Today was our Christmas crop, and I finished my Pencil Lines layout, (I know really leaving it to the last minute), and by the time I got home it was dark so was unable to photograph it, ggrrr, hence no layout from me this evening, but you must pop by the site as this weeks guest is one of my fav artist, i drool over her 2peas gallery weekly!, and she just happens to be last weeks guest artist sister!
I dislike leaving a post photo less but i really don't have any!

Hope you all had a good weekend, i will ahve layouts to share for tomorrow, honest!
Hugs
Anna xx

Layout to Share

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/17/2009 02:51:00 PM 3 lovely comments
For those that didn't get over to the Charity event at Scrapbook 101, I thought I would share my layout and sketch here for you all.

My challenge was a sketch, surprise surprise, but I love them, love their versatility.
Here is the sketch I did


and my take







I used photos of Lilly from last a couple of years back when she started rainbows. Love these photos she is soo excited isn't she!

I actually used paint on my layout instead of lots of paper strips. I rarely use paint, as I am scared to be honest! I try too hard, LOL. But I let the brush just whoosh on the page and I really love this layout! Another fear is doodling, and I conquered that too on this layout. Do you have any scrappy fears?

Supplies :
Bazzill card stock
ScrapDiary papers by Lucy Folch
Making Memories paint

If you have a play with this sketch I would love to see what you do and how you interpret the sketch. Just leave a link in the comments and I will pop over and leave some love

Hugs
Anna xx

Time is not on my side

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/15/2009 09:10:00 PM 5 lovely comments
Oh no, not at all. Yesterday we hosted a surprise birthday party for our good friends, Mel and Mike. It was Mel's birthday and Mike wanted a party for her friends and family. Not having the space at theirs, we just had to open our doors for a full on rock party! I did the catering, Peter was in charge of the entertainment (Rock Band), and the children were in charge of the coats and bags, bless them..... I don't have any photos! Can you believe that?! I am so gutted!

This morning we woke pretty early considering the lack of sleep, and the infamous cooked breakfast was put on hold for a Sunday lunch at Toby Carvery for us all.
Home by 1.30pm and the afternoon was a chilled out one, on the sofa napping. I then realised I hadn't done my layout this week for Pencil Lines, yikes!

No fear as I downloaded the free digi template from Pencil Lines and used supplies by Michelle (Filo).
I really enjoyed playing again with digi. I was able to sit in the living room with everyone whilst dabbling in digi scrapping!

I used a photo of Lilly from earlier this year when it snowed, I adore this photo so much, my little model!

Credits :
Template - Pencil Lines sketch 161
Vintage Treasures and Simple Pleasures by Michelle Filo
Hope you all had a lovely weekend, thanks for stopping by.
Hugs
Anna x



Charity : "Water"

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/13/2009 02:19:00 PM 0 lovely comments
I am extremely honored to have been asked by Amanda at Scrapbook 101 to join her this weekend to raise money for the charity "Water", that Cathy Zielske is promoting.



As you probably know, I am a great believer of doing our bit to raise money as a community, so I really did jump at the opportunity to do my bit.
Starting at 7pm (GMT) on Friday 13th November we will be hosting a BIG scrapbooking event. It will last for 48 hours and there will be games, challenges, special guests and PRIZES! A new challenge will be posted every 2 hours for the whole weekend! It wouldn’t be much of an event without a grand finale and we certainly have one of those lined up. Cathy Z herself will be setting the final challenge.

Here's a sneaky peek of my challenge!






I hope to see you over at Scrapbook101 this weekend.

Hugs
Anna x

Skipping...

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/10/2009 01:54:00 PM 5 lovely comments
When we were kids, along long time ago, in the olden days, as Izzy and Lilly would say!!, we didn't have computers and Nintendo and the like, Oh no, we had fresh air, and a skipping rope!



This weekend, whilst Izzy was lolling on the sofa, (which she has done her fair share off, I might
add), Lilly and I, accompanied by a skipping rope, headed out to the garden.

(Izzy pops out in her PJ's to give a helping hand, how funny!)

Izzy is a pro at skipping, Lilly on the other hand is still grasping the whole jumping and throwing the rope over your head thing, LOL. I do believe, half of her problem is the rope is too long. Anyways, she had a good try and lots of fun.





Me on the other hand, is tired and in limbo. Having Izzy off these last few days has knocked my sort of routine, out of sync, and I am completely in a tizz and so behind on "stuff". Today though I have at last managed to pack all outstanding RAK's, Yay I hear you cry, so if you are waiting on a blog RAK or a Pencil Lines RAK, they are winging there way to you as I type!! Well, they are in the hands of our useless Royal Mail, so lets keep everything crossed!
Another job I got off in the nick of time, is my first exclusive sketch for paper and digi scrappers, to Scrapbook Memories. I am really excited about working with Kristy from SM this year, its gonna be a blast!


Its turned nippy here in the UK, thank goodness we have heating now, LOL. Off out in a while to pick Lilly up from school and take her to Qi Kwan Do.
thanks for stopping by, and do leave a comment if you are passing by

Hugs
Anna x

An odd couple of weeks

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/08/2009 09:51:00 PM 2 lovely comments
Yes it surely has been , here in the Bowkis household. Izzy has been under the weather for the past week, and Friday was diagnosed with Swine Flu. We missed Halloween, hence no photos this year, and Bonfire night went without a bang. BUT come Saturday night, Izzy had perked up a little and after a good dose of painkillers we all headed out in our PJ's to the garden for some sparkler fun!
Don't you just love Lilly's Bet Lynch set up, LOL...




Me trying to take a photo whilst holding a sparkler, LOL. Still love the bokeh...




I had my ISO up really hi, hence the grain, but I didnt want the flash to go off and I handheld the camera. Will play in photoshop with these to improve the quality.

The one problem we have faced is trying to get the Tamiflu down her! Today we did managed to hide some in a chocolate croissant that she asked for, LOL. Her appetite has improved, thankfully, as it was so odd Izzy not eating, she loves her food!
I am keeping her off school tomorrow to build her strength up some more and hopefully head out to the fields for some fresh air, and then i can judge how she is.
No one else has had the bug, and hopefully it will stay that way. I am keeping a close eye on Lilly as she goes down hill so rapidly..
Anyways, Pencil Lines went live tonight, with guest designer Kathie Link. I am not that happy with my layout, which is so annoying as I love this photo of the girls together, probably one of only a few from this year. No idea why it looks so crooked, it isnt IRL, honest!




Supplies :

Pink Paislee Office Lingo
Prima flowers
Hambly rubons
Jewels Bazzill Basics

We have had a quiet but wonderful weekend, hope yours was a good one too.
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

Swine Flu

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/06/2009 04:38:00 PM 2 lovely comments
My dear Izzy has the lurgy and Tamiflu is in the house! As well as being snowed under finishing the book I now have a poorly girl.
Really hoping to have something to share tomorrow as I am doing a class for the Cathy Zielske charity crop at The Studio.
Amanda at The Studio is supporting the cause by holding a 48 hour on-line scrapbooking event hosted at The Studio.
"We hope to use our online presence to raise lots of money for a GREAT cause! The grand finale will be a challenge set by the wonderful Ms. Zielske herself!"
The event will take place Friday 13 - Sunday 15 November. During the event there will be a new challenge posted every 2 hours and there will be cool prizes, special guests and a whole heap of inspiration! . Every penny raised will be donated via Cathy to charity: water.
Hugs, hope to be back tomorrow!
Anna xx

Quick update

blogged by me domestic goddess On 11/03/2009 02:15:00 PM 4 lovely comments
I am here, honest, just so so busy finalising the book text and such, I havnt had a moment spare!
So if I havnt replied to an email I am not ignoring you just snowed under.
Last week was half term and I do have lots to share, but for now, I am going to share my belated Halloween projects!
Pick of the Pumpkin Patch







This is a photo from a couple of years ago that I am sure has been scrapped a few times by now! Still adore it though. Used the wonderful Scenic Route Salem collection

Boo Banner




Just love these banners, here is a Halloween one I made for my class crop last weekend
I do have a couple of kits left with instructions to make the boo banner and layout.
Cost £11.00 incl P&P, email me if you want one.
Contents :
4 sheets of pattern paper Salem
1 sheet of die cuts Salem
1 pack of chipboard Salem
3 chipboard banner
Ribbon

Check out Pencil Lines with our guest designer Maisa Mendonca
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x