Fields of poppies...

Hi Everyone!

On our way to the in-laws a few weekends back we went past Heartwood Forest and saw the most amazing spread of poppies! We just had to stop by later and go for a walk to see them up close...

We also took the opportunity to go and have a look at how the saplings that we planted in the Magical Wood were doing, this is what it currently looks like so you can't see too much!

Unless you get up close, here is what I think is an oak...

 You can see more pics of our tree planting here...

Thanks for looking!
Kirei

Wedding Day...

Hi Everyone!

Wow...three posts in one day! Just trying to catch up and get some photos on here that I have been wanting to do since last weekend. It was Lee's younger brother Chris's wedding on Fri 20th to Louise over in Henley-on-Thames...

Just married...

The hand embroidered ring cushion...

Lee with his mum and dad...

Lee's uncle and aunt, Stephen and Bridget...

Lee's brother Sam and his fiance Cheryl...

Lee and I...

A proud dad and his sons...

In the garden by the Thames...

 
The table centre...

The flowers and lucky horseshoe...

Cutting the cake...

The stunning cake...

A fabulous day and a fun evening with good music and dancing!

Thanks for looking!
Kirei x

The Olympic Torch...

Hi Everyone!

Wasn't the Opening Ceremony last night fantastic... quirky, fun, and very British! I am truly feeling very patriotic right now, how couldn't you be really!

On that feeling patriotic note...I wanted to get a couple of pics up from yesterday in the office. We were having a team meeting and one of my team had a little surprise for everyone... he knew someone in the building had brought in the Olympic Torch so he organised for us to have it so that we could all get a photo with it! Very cool, particularly as our meeting was Olympic themed... well it had to be really, on the day of the Opening Ceremony didn't it!

Enjoy watching the Olympics over the weekend... Go Team GB!

Thanks for looking!
Kirei x

Simply Stampin' Challenge #70 - Sketch

Hi Everyone!

Oops, I am a little later than I should be with this week's Challenge entry! It has been a busy week with work and I have been home much later than normal as I am getting ready to be out of the office on jury service from next Wed! So my crafting time was pretty non-existent all week :-(

Anyway I hope you liked all the entries we had for last week's 'Vintage' Challenge, have a look here to see what everyone did...

So this week we are back with a Sketch Challenge...

And this is what I came up with... very colourful! and using one of my fave sets of the moment 'Up, Up & Away'...

Products used (all by Stampin' Up! unless specified):
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Paper: Brights Designer Series Paper Stack
Ink: Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue
Accessories:  Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffetta Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch
Stamp Set: Up, Up & Away

Why don't you give it a go this week, we love looking at what everyone comes up with! Don't worry if you don't have a blog as we do accept email entries.

Thanks for looking!
Kirei x

July Week 4 layout for Be Scrappy...

Hi Everyone!

So this week I got to play with papers from the classic 'En Francais' range by Prima. The Be Scrappy Kit also included some blue ric rac, red ribbon, coordinating mulberry paper butterflies and mini pearls so plenty to play with!

Firstly I trimmed all of the manufacturers strips from the patterned papers, though I didn't end up using all of them! From the 'Bonjour' paper I cut a selection of elements to use on my layout - a border strip (that matched the manufacturers strip) and a variety of the decorative squares.

I used the cream Bazzill as the base for my layout and attached the two matching border strips to opposite sides. Then I mounted my photos onto the red Bazzill leaving just a thin border - my photos are approx. 5" x 4", 5.5" x 4" and 3.5" x 4". Note that I mounted two of the photos on one piece of Bazzill.

Cut two strips of the 'Bonjour' paper (fleur-de-lys side) 2" x 3" and attach towards the bottom of the cream Bazzill (approx. 2.5" up from the edge). Punch a decorative border from a strip of the red Bazzill and attach below the 'Bonjour' paper. Then stick down the mounted photos.

Now it's time to add the embellishments - mount the journallling box to some red Bazzill and attach below the right photo. Then layer some of the other decorative squares to the right of this (raise one on foam pads).

Add some butterflies and attach a mini pearl to each one. I added some more pearls at the top and bottom of the photos.

To finish off I added a title using some alphas from my stash.

You can purchase this Kit for a limited time from the Be Scrappy online store. Have a look at the Being Scrappy blog to see what Niki did wth this Kit.

Thanks for looking!
Kirei

Simply Stampin' Challenge #69 - Theme

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for all the fab entries with last week's Colour Challenge, have a look here to see what everyone came up with...

So this week at Simply Stampin' Challenge we were back to our theme week:

VINTAGE

I pulled out my stamps and went with the pretty obvious 'Vintage Vogue' and this is what

I came up with...

A close up of the flower detail...

I have just realised that my design is very similar to my last Challenge card and that was unintentional! Obviously one I like using...

Products used (all by Stampin' Up! unless specified):

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Paper: Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack

Ink: Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Subtles Designer Buttons, Victoria Crochet Trim, Vintage Wallpaper & Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folders, Border Punch (non-SU!)

Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue

Why don't you have a go with this week's Challenge! We love to see what you come up with, and even if you don't have a blog we do accept email entries!

Thanks for looking!

Kirei x

July Week 3 layout for Be Scrappy...

Hi Everyone!

This week's Kit from Be Scrappy included papers from the fab 'Lost & Found Two' range from My Mind's Eye. I decided to use a photo of Lee and I from our wedding day as the colours of my flowers were perfect to go with the papers.

I started off with a base of the kraft Bazzill and then cut the following pieces from the other papers: 5" x 5.5" piece from the red Bazzill, two 1" x 5" strips of red Bazzill (border punch both of these), the bird tag image from the striped side of the 'Ordinary' paper and a 10.5" x 2.5" piece from the green polka dot side of the 'Ordinary' paper.

Now before sticking them all down I stamped a medallion image in kraft coloured ink, so firstly have a play with where you want them to sit on the kraft Bazzill. Mark lightly in pencil where they sit so that you know where to stamp your image. Once stamped stick down the papers in this order: green polka dot, red Bazzill, border punched strips of red Bazzill, photo (I used a 6" x 4") and finally the bird image.

I added a group of corner embellishments in the top left corner, stamping a small part of the medallion image first before layering up the papers. I finished off with 3 x brads.

I repeated the brads in the bottom right of the layout and finished off with adding a title with alphas from my stash.

Why don't you pop on over to the Being Scrappy blog to see what Niki did with this Kit!

You can pick up this Kit for a limited time here.

Thanks for looking!
Kirei

Disneyland Paris...

Hi Everyone!

Lee and I went to Disneyland Paris a couple of weekends ago with our friends Simon and Julia and their lovely kids Oscar and Eliza (Lee is Oscar's godfather). We went over on the Eurostar from St. Pancras and arrived in Disneyland Paris on Thu afternoon to glorious sunshine and 30 degrees! Headed into the Park at 3.30pm after checking in and didn't come back until the Park closed at 11pm as we had to see the fab new 20th Anniversary 'Disney Dreams' evening show! We stayed for 2 nights and we all had a great time enjoying the Park with the kids, here are some highlights...

Eating in Cafe Mickey and meeting the characters...

Oscar likes cars...

'Magic on Parade' in Disneyland Park...

Hitching a ride...

Watching the 'Moteurs Action' stunt show with Lightning McQueen...

The family with Mike from Monsters Inc...

Watching the 'Stars 'n' Cars' parade in Walt Disney Studios Park...

The End...

Thanks for looking!
Kirei x