Smile it's the holidays!

Well not quite the summer holidays yet but 4 working days and counting. It's been a really busy two weeks at school as we have been doing extra activities because it's near the end of term and because of our 'Health and Well Being Fortnight'. Managed to introduce my year 4 class to scrapbooking this week. The challenge was to make an A4 layout on 'Things that make me happy'. Had a sort out of all my scrap patterned paper and took in my flower punches. Other than those supplies I tried to show them a layout using only school stock. We had Lot's of raffia and sequined waste, so that was good. I also raided B&Q at the weekend for paint charts for our journalling. A good time had by all.

So as it's nearly end of term I made my thank you cards for colleagues who either I need to thank for their support or time in the gardening club, cycling courses etc. Or colleagues who are also friends and deserve to be reminded how I treasure their friendship and make work a good place to be on those stressful days.

So here they are...............

By the way to all you parents out there, T.A's hate being called 'The Helper' because as you can tell we do so much more, usually in our own time. (sorry to moan but it's the end of term feeling!)

Robert @14

Finally photographed some of my recent layouts. This was Robert enjoying his carrot birthday cake back in May. He's a funny boy at times, here's me thinking I could get away with a brought chocolate cake from the supermarket, but oh no Robert has other ideas. He wanted carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, no problem, got out my Mary Berry Cake Book (the baking queen in my opinion) and it was finished in a flash. Finished it off with a sparkler as we sang happy birthday but I didn't know you had to have special indoor sparklers, so hoped that the grandparents couldn't notice the ash from the sparkler (what with the poor eyesight). Anyhow had fun glittering odd chipboard alphas (loving the glitterness but not the mess, look like I've been to a 70's disco night with it all stuck to my face). Used the Core Definitions Card stock for the first time, wasn't really that impressed with it. Maybe I need to be more rougher with it. Any suggestions let me know. Talking of letting me know, please feel free to leave kind comments. it would be nice to know I'm not blabbering to myself. Thanks.

Ooh Pretties!

Last half term we took a trip down to London to visit a few of our fave. shops............layouts to follow.

While we were there I wanted to track down a haberdashery shop, VV Rouleaux that's been talked about recently in various mags (SI) and fashion TV programmes (Gok)..... I luv Gok! Anyhow it was one of the first warmest days this year, the tube was packed and my new sandals were giving me gip! But we eventually found it tucked away..........Ooh it's lovely. The only thing is that I have a habit that when i have too many choices and a small budget I end up not buying anything. In the end I just chose a few metres of ribbon that I knew would match some recently purchased papers and a feather butterfly. Some of the heaver braids and more fancier lace are pretty pricey but good to browse through. What i liked the most was that the butterfly they wrapped up in an inflated plastic bag so it looked like one of those fish you win at the fair! (I know your thinking how sad, but I thought it was cute). So I will leave you to coo over my purchases while I get going with some scrapping using those scrumptious ribbons and butterfly.

A & J

As I often say to my friend Jackie, 'We have been through a lot together.....and most of it was your fault! I love this quote and sums up our friendship really. Jackie has some big ideas that usually involve a)Dressing up, b)Props, c)Entertainment and d)Me! I don't really know how it happens but one minute I'm just doing my regular job as a Teaching Assistant then before I know it I've agreed to be a fairy (with wings), on stage, in front of the whole junior school disappearing from a magic box. See what I mean? How does it happen? I don't know but it does liven up my (sometimes stressful) day. Anyway this layout features us both with our Christmas regalia on and tells of our penchant for wearing Christmas accessories and the weird but wonderful game Jackie had organised that day of us pretending to be Santa's Sleighs, Christmas Trees etc (don't ask) All I can say is that the children think we are weird, the staff think we are mad and sometimes my job doesn't seem like work.....with thanks to my special friend.

Get them when their scared!

Yeah OK, I get the cruel mum of the year award. But just look at the terror in that little face. Yes this little boy was forced onto the chairlift in Slovenia two years ago in an attempt to allay his fear of them. Well he did say he wasn't going to like it and well.....he still doesn't. Because of his fears there's loads of walks we are missing out on. So this year, SURPRISE!, we are going to try and get him back on it. (I think I will keep this to myself until a)He reads this or b)On the day of our holiday we tell him. Somehow I don't think it's going to happen. All those views begging to be seen as well.........sigh.

Anyhow back to the layout. I Used all Anna Griffin products except the rub on alpha's and the sentiment. I like it, especially as a two photo layout I sometimes difficult to work with.

By the way, you do know that you can click onto the photo's for a closer look don't you. Good glad you did!

Well scrapping calls, I've got some great photo's of London sights that I'm itching to scrap that I took at the weekend.

See ya for now.

Been Busy!

Been busy recently so sorry for not blogging, but what with the gardening club starting again at school and organising cycling training courses I've not had the time to download my photo's. Even though school life can be busy, sometimes, very occasionally you get to go and help on a school trip.

Yes they are stressful (head counting every five minutes to make sure you have not lost any little ones), making sure they are on their best behaviour etc, etc. But they are still enjoyable and one of the few times you can have a more relaxed relationship with your pupils and they may even start to believe that you are human! So I was lucky enough to be asked to help with the year 2 infant class to Neasden Temple. What a glorious place. Unfortunately it was February so the weather was pretty dull and the photo's I took outside (you were not allowed to take a camera inside) came out quite dark and flat looking. Fortunately I had bought some photo's in the gift shop and so used these for this layout with some Basic Grey papers, lace and bling. It's somewhere I would probably not visit on my own so I'm pleased to of been given the chance, I would definitely recommend it, even just for the amazing architecture and carving.

Easter Treats!

Just wanted to show you some little paint chart notebooks I made for some friends for Easter. I've been wanting to try this idea out for some time after seeing it on the WhiMsy love blog http://whimsy-girl.blogspot.com/2008/10/paint-sample-notebook-tutorial.html. Notice the yellow notebook has the paint name 'Easter Morn'. Quite apt for an Easter gift and pretty cute as well. They only took minutes to make and just the thing if you feel like being crafty but can't be bothered to do a whole scrapbook page and sick of the sight of cards. I'm going to make some more but might need to get some more paint charts as they had run out of the pretty pink colour chart!