Role model!

I think this will be my last chance to join in with Elizabeth's Back To School theme at Art Journal Journey.
I still have ideas buzzing around so there may be more schooldays to come in my journal in the future!
My page is about someone who influenced my teaching, a much loved lady by all!
She was my eldest son's Year 1 teacher and I was also privileged to have worked alongside her for a term.

The photograph here was one of many taken on this day…by other parents who were preparing themselves for her retirement.
Sadly my other two boys did not have her as a teacher. One comment from a parent was that her classroom was 'like a cosy nest'. She made everyone feel special!

My son is there right by her feet, partly hidden, wearing a blue and red jumper.
The background was made by sprinkling with Paper Artsy Infusions and spritzing with water, then using Seth Apter's 'Timeless' Stencil Girl stencil.
I stamped some Carabelle Studios small stars and a bigger star and inked the edges of the page, photo and quote( a vellum one I have had for ages) with Ground Espresso DI.
Finally I used a gold pen to colour in some of the small stars.

Thanks for looking, Chris


  

Learn!

I don't suppose I should really be making another entry for Elizabeth's great 'Back To School' topic at AJJ as I have not really had a lot of time to look at, let alone make a comment at so many blogs! My only excuse is I am just loving this topic!
This page started as a a mop up page that had some more ink added. I wanted to show the wide range of subjects taught in schools, although I did start with an idea about the connections between Art and Science - as you can see by the use of the Indigoblu periodic table and the paintbrushes and tubes of paint - somehow I found myself adding more subjects along the way. The image of the 'school' came from a bargain book of certificates that I have had for ages but not cut into - it was cheaper than most magazines!

I used my a brown Crayola Twistable to add some more colour around the images.
Elizabeth has had such inspiring pages on her blog - I'm sure everyone has enjoyed seeing them all! A truly fabulous topic too Elizabeth!

Thanks for looking, Chris

T Stands for…The Stone Circle and more!

Today is the day to share a drink ( and maybe something to eat) and in my case some photos of where we went last week!
As you may know we had a plan to set off early to our caravan, unfortunately hubby had an adverse reaction to some medication so we set off a little later than intended with me driving! (Hubby does enjoy being at the wheel usually)
By the time we had done some shopping for food on the way he was feeling much better. 
On Friday we decided to take a trip to find where we are going in November (Oh yes there will be photos but I will tell you exactly where nearer the time!)
We stopped off at Castlerigg Stone Circle, a place we have often intended visiting!
It is quite close to Keswick but we didn't go into Keswick at all on this occasion!

From here we drove through the Vale of St John, past some beautiful scenery.

We stopped here for a picnic - although we didn't get out of the car for long as it was a bit chilly.

We then drove on to Grasmere

The Garden Centre doesn't have great selection of plants but is is a lovely place to buy gifts…

 ..and is in a beautiful setting

I think you have seen this area before but with Summer in full swing!

Our final stop was here…for some kitchen shopping and…..

….coffee, tea, scone and cake and yes the scone was that big and I gave some to hubby

Of course I had to have this or I couldn't have joined Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T stands for Tuesday….

so Thank You Elizabeth for this really great opportunity to share!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Sun, Moon, Stars

There's a new topic at Try It On Tuesday and we hope that you will find a way to include Sun, Moon, Stars in your entries. As usual you have two weeks to create something using your own preferred medium. The DT have come up with some fabulous inspiration here.

I have made a page in my A6 journal…. 

 ….with a good sprinkling of stars!
The little girl is from a Carabelle Studio set as are the background stamps. The brick wall was made using a Stencil Girl (Seth Apter) stencil.
The sentiment was in a freebie set with a magazine!

I though the little girl looked a little puzzled about something and it made me wonder what her problem might be - my advice - Reach for the Stars - may be useful if she is considering career options when she leaves school - which is why I am also going to enter this at AJJ where Elizabeth's theme of Back To School has a few days left.
(I'm not sure whether A6 pages are allowed though?)

The TIOT team will be looking forward to seeing how you interpret this theme so please do join us!

Thanks for looking, Chris

ps I will be back later with some more photos of our latest trip.  

Spelling!

Here I am again with another page for Elizabeth's Back to School theme at AJJ

Have you noticed how spelling is becoming less important in these days of computers, predictive text and spell checkers! 
Only thing is that a lot of folk assume that predictive text is going to give them a correct spelling - those of us of a certain age shall we say, know that it's not good to guess what some one is trying to say! I know I have had some real howlers when writing my blog!
I think these two are particularly funny!

My granddaughter still has spelling tests, but I know that when she goes to High School next year she will be expected to know how to spell and spellings will rarely be corrected (as I have seen from my grandsons's exercise books).
My page is about Peggy, who has come top in Spelling in every test she has taken!

Peggy knows that by remembering funny little rhymes that she can crack most spelling codes and she loves spelling tests! This could have been me at school as I still remember lots of mnemonics that help me remember all sorts of things!
I started my page with some PA Fresco Finish paint and some Infusions dragged down over the paint. I added some random stamping and stencilling(Carabelle Studios)and some scraps. The Spelling book image is from Print Shop and Peggy is one of Tim's Found Relatives.
I must have used my 'spell' definition from my old dictionary so I used 'learn' instead. The spelling aids were printed out from my computer. 
If you find any 'bloopers' please do share them!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Days are passing!!

Oh how the nights are drawing in - Autumn is definitely here and I have no idea how the Summer managed to go so quickly!

You may have seen the beginning of this page on my desk on Wednesday.
I added a lot more ink, stamping, stencilling with Clear 3D gloss Gel(and using some of my new stencils) and then added some  Carabelle Studio leaves that were stamped and cut from a Sheet sprinkled with Infusions. I really enjoyed myself!

There is a new challenge to join in with at -
Moo Mania and More - Fall Foliage 
as well as a new challenge at -
Stamps and Stencils - The Colours of Autumn 
I would also like to enter at -
Craft Stamper Make it take it Challenge - Anything Goes

As you may have guessed we are off for a few days!! 
Thanks for looking, Chris

WOYWW 381 - the Ally Pally review!

It has been along time since I last showed my messy desk but today we are at home (now there's a surprise!)and I hope I can get to visit lots of desks today at WOYWW via our lovely host Julia's Stamping Ground blog. 

I think I may have said this before but I don't like to show my desk without being sure that I can return visits and when we are at our caravan now we hardly ever get a signal - not even for phoning.

So what is on my desk?
A lot going on - trying to cram as much crafting as I can into the short time we are at home this week, as well as taking riverside walks with hubby and looking after our grandchildren after school while their Dad is on a course.

A page with lots of watery Brushos that I have started to stamp into.
Stencils to be used on the left, stamps to the back. On the right is another page in my A5 journal and a master board sheet to be cut up etc.
As you can see from the back of my desk things are getting a bit wobbly!
Last Saturday I was lucky enough to visit Ally Pally (Helen has far more photos than I have so take a peek here)
It was great to be in such an amazing building and even better to meet up with blog friends

 Helen(Stamping by H), Brenda(Bumblebees and Butterflies), Nikki(Addicted to Art) and Julie Ann Lee(magpieheaven)It's a bit blurry as I think I was laughing at the time!!
Thanks ladies for the teasing about my never being home!!It was great to see you!(err…thanks to my not being at home!!!)

Alexandra Palace(Wikipedia link here) is built on a hill overlooking London with a big park nearby. It was built for the use of the local residents and was also used for BBC broadcasts in the past.

Leandra on the Paper Artsy stand using some gorgeous paints on new stamps by Kay Carley.

I met lots of other bloggers and saw some great demos but in the excitement forgot to take photos - this is near the end of the day as most folk had left!
Oh! Did I spend any money….err…a bit…Happy Stampers coming up soon so tried to pace myself!!!

Paper Artsy Lin Brown stamp set(also got some stencils and a few other bits from PA), some Woodware sentiments and Carabelle Studio stamps, some Dinky stencils and surfaces from That's Crafty(Thanks to Helen Chilton doing such a great job of demoing)

I think that's it for today, off to check out some desks now! 

Thanks for looking, Chris

T stands for Time for home

This is a very apt title having just had a few days away although we are only staying put until Thursday!
We had a great time and I have some photos to show you!

First though I would like to show you my latest page for Elizabeth's theme of Back to School for Art Journal Journey.

A little bit of random stencilling and stamping as a background…the image is from Print Shop and I printed out my words on the computer too.
I think this image still sums up what it is like at Home Time in Early Years teaching - making sure that children are dressed properly and have their belongings with them.

Now I am also here for Tea with Elizabeth as T Stands for Tuesday!

On the first day of our break away we called into a cafe in Romford where we stayed. I ordered a scone and was surprised to have it arrive toasted - however it tasted delicious and was very welcome after our 6 hour journey!

Hubby had an Armenian speciality cake (the proprietor was Armenian)and said it tasted good too!
As you can see hubby had a milkshake while I had a cappuccino!

The main purpose of our visit was to research my family history and we had some success with that. Hubby's is easier as his family was close to where we live.
The Records Office in Chelmsford was really helpful and when we came out again into the heat of the afternoon sun we walked along by the River Chelmer.

The view of the Records Office from the river.
We then went to visit Mountnessing where my Mum's family lived when she and her siblings were youngsters.
My Mum never mentioned the windmill but it has been recently restored.

 I doubt this view has changed much

I am peering over my specs because I was using my camera and can't see the image without them!

We went for a meal in the oldest pub in the village and what a good decision that was. The Prince of Wales not only does excellent food but the landlord after finding why we were visiting the village went to fetch me a photo that was taken while my Mum was living in the area

I tried to get in the same position for my photo.
The thought that the man down the road walking towards the camera in the 30's photo could have been a relative was a strange feeling!

On Friday we were up very early - a train to catch into London!
We headed to the Tate Modern to meet up with...

….lovely Julie Ann Lee of Magpie Heaven! We had a great wander around the galleries (until it was time to go when we lost our sense of direction and took a while to get out!)
With a plan to meet up again at Ally Pally on Saturday Julie Ann went off for a lunch date and hubby and I sat and enjoyed this view while eating our lunch.

St Pauls Cathedral in the rain!
After lunch I went to see the Georgia O'Keefe Exhibition…

..then we walked along the South Bank to reach Westminster Abbey where we had managed to obtain 2 for 1 tickets.

No photos were allowed in the Abbey but we did buy a guide book to remind us of our visit!
After a quick coffee and a couple more stop offs we caught our train  back to Romford.

I will be back tomorrow to show you Ally Pally photos and what I managed to add to my crafting stash!

Thanks for looking, Chris

  

Too much of a good thing!

Hello everyone! As you may tell we are back home…and it  won't surprise some of you that we are off again at the end of the week!!

I will leave showing you most of my photos until Tuesday(TSFT) and Wednesday (WOYWW)

We had great time - some of it spent in the cool of the Record Office in Chelmsford searching for my ancestors (couldn't access the ones I wanted online!)

It was quite a walk to get there and it was HOT!

This was the temperature in the shade as we set off in the morning - we had been for a wander up the road in Romford where we stayed.

As it turned out we found out quite a lot and it made interesting reading!

We then headed to the village where they lived. It felt good to be there!

Friday was spent in a slightly damp London (definitely more of this another day!)

Of course on Saturday it was a different day altogether - off to Ally Pally which is a beautiful building!

Hubby went off to buy newspapers and also wanted to have a walk around. 
Meanwhile I was meeting up with blog friends and having a little spend(Helen has some great photos over on her blog Stamping by H)
This morning I have been playing with some of my new purchases except that…. you know how it is…I wanted to play with everything.well almost!!
The page I have made is just sightly overdone…...

…proving that you can have too much of a good thing!
New stencil and a Paper Artsy set by Lin Brown ELB30 .
I used part of a quote by Mae West by Woodware to express my feelings on this! 

I am now hoping to get some more crafting in as well as blogging!

I am going to enter my page in Craft Stampers 'Anything Goes' Make it, Take it challenge

Thanks for looking, Chris