in the style of Sarah Ahearn Bellamere by train

I treated myself to this beautiful book just before I went away.  I LoVe the way Sarah Ahearn uses snippets of collage and colour, and also her use of white space.  One of the activities in her book is mini scrapping using what comes to hand from a collection of papers in a box. I found this really hard on holiday but gave it another go whilst away again this last week.  We celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary this week by taking a steam ride from York to Scarborough, first class no less!!

On the return journey I got out my scrapping kit again and had a go at some mini pages:

I might still add to these pages, I might not, but I'm pleased with the progress I'm making.  My friend Chris and I are going up to Harrogate on Saturday for a workshop with Kate Crane, again working on mini pages - hmm, I see a pattern forming ;)

Did you wear your red nose today?

Who remembers the first red noses?   These are so comfortable compared to the originals, and I can' get over how they seem to suite everyone!!  You still can't breathe through your nose whilst wearing them though.

For those non UKers reading this blog post, today is Red Nose Day 2011 for Comic Relief which raises money for the poor and disadvantaged both here in the UK, and in Africa, and this year will include Japan.  I wore my red nose and beeley boppers whilst out driving today and didn't spot any smiles..I would have smiled if I'd seen me!!!  

Things have been a bit busy in my life at the minute, which I'll be able to share with you soon, so my apologies for not keeping up with my DT commitments, and not blogging so often.   

I've been having a brave play in my journal this week, encouraged by the lovely Chris Bedford from Pear Shaped Crafting.  I'm pleased I'm having a go, but one of the things I really don't enjoy is the glare from the shiny paper.  I will be sticking with my usual style but am enjoying the challenge :)

I do, however, love this card I made using this week's play date cafe colours.  It's based on a piece of wallpaper I found on an exposed wall in Ancoats, Manchester.  It had a leaf image on which I've outlined and extended with my sewing machine, adding additional colour with scraps of fabric.

I can't promise that normal service will resume in the next few days, but I will let you know some very exciting news soon!