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Monday 20 February 2012

UKS Weekly Challenge - February Week 3

I am part of the Twilight Addicts social group on UK Scrappers, and it is our turn to set the challenge this week. 

As usual, the challenge consists of three parts - the first is to use the sketch below for 10 points. 


The second part of the challenge is to use a group of photos for the second lot of 10 points.  Finally,  for the last 10 points, we would like you to draw inspiration from a book for your title or colour scheme and make sure your reference this in your post. 

I created this layout below of Lewis at six months. 


You can see that I have swapped out two photos to use a hand and footprint of Lewis. 

I used the First Edition range of papers once again called "Up, up and Away" - I am so pleased that they are really versatile and go with most things to do with baby boys.  I used some lime green Bazzill "Just the Edge" strips to coordinate with the papers and then did some handcutting for the embellishment arrangement on the left hand side.  I took some time out one day to take hand and foot prints of both Henry and Lewis for their milestones, and used a pre-gessoed canvas sketch pad from the Poundshop which I have had for donkey's years - I knew it would come in handy some day! 

I had to think long and hard about a quote from a favourite book, but Winnie the Pooh has always been one of my lifelong favourites, and I hope it too will be one of my boys' favourites in the future.  I love the philosophy and the life messages contained in the stories - and how central the importance of meaningful relationships are to all the characters.  I like the handcrafted element to pages, and decided to use my PSX "Playful" alphabet stamps for the quote and the title.  Good to blow the dust off your tools occasionally!

I am very conscious that we are older parents, and through scrapbooking I want to leave my boys messages about how I would like to see them live their lives, and the kind of men they will be when they grow up, should we not be here to see that happen.  That is why the quote I have used is especially poigant to me:

"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart.  I'll stay there forever". 

I hope you join in with the challenge and have fun with it! 

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Sketch and Scrap February

Here is the sketch we used this month - - -


and here below is the layout I created in response. 


It was the first time I used my "Pooh and Friends" Cricut cartridge.  Very fiddly and extremely time consuming, but worth the effort, I think!  I created the inner border with an inch circle punch and the side detail is supposed to emulate the stripes on Henry's shirt.  The colours are pulled directly from the boys' Tigger dungarees and shirts.  The alpha dome stickers are "Mod Designs" by Autumn Leaves and part of my stash busting challenge - they are at least five years old.  No matter how many circle punches I have, I find I never have enough ... I created the white circles underneath the stickers using a Quickutz bubble die.  The stickers really needed the white behind them for some added impact. 

The die-shaped lime green layout base was created by cutting 1/2 inch off each side, and then using an inch circle punch, measuring out evenly spaced semi-circles around the border. 

My journalling reads "Grandma Jones wrapped you both up in her fake fur and you were snuggled in Grandpa Jones' armchair.  At one stage, we could barely see you!"  Pics taken 30th August 2011.


Monday 6 February 2012

Seven Months Old

Henry and Lewis, you are seven months old today (6th Feb). 

Henry, your first tooth broke through on Sunday, 29th January, with the second coming through today! 


Your hand to eye coordination has developed even more from last month, and you are reaching out for food like pieces of dried apple, rusks and such like.  You eat everything that is given to you with enthusiasm and gusto.  You are still trying to bite and chew everything in sight - that includes items of furniture and articles of clothing - particularly relating to your feet! 


Your motor skills are increasing every day - you can particularly control your hands and fingers with deliberate actions and in the last week or so we have started to see your pincer movement with your fingers and thumb. 


This means that you are increasingly taking the opportunity to stick fingers into your brother's face and ears, and delight in pulling our cheeks, lips or ears when we pick you up.  You are able to hold on tight when you are carried anywhere and you are trying to use bits of furniture to pull yourself up!  I often see you with your legs wrapped around the jungle gym and it seems as though you are trying to climb up the overhead supports - even more like a monkey! 

You love to spend time on your back and look up at the ceiling, and kick your legs very energetically when you get excited - which is usually when you see Mummy or Daddy approaching, or you know it is mealtime. 

I often see you staring intently at people and surroundings, especially if it involves food.  Henry, you will reach out and move towards toys you want to play with, and often squeal with excitement or anticipation when you are happy.

Both of you seemed to enjoy spending time with me in the kitchen last Friday when I was making chicken casserole for the whole family. It meant that I could multi-task and feed you at the same time! Definitely a more productive way to get things done for everyone and also give you a change of scenery.


We are very thankful that you both enjoy going out in the buggy, or for a drive in your car seats.  We rarely hear you cry when out and about unless you are hungry.  Lewis, you will more often than not go to sleep, and we often hear Henry happily babbling to yourself throughout an entire car journey! 

Lewis - we are having a struggle with you eating your savoury foods, but it is lovely to know that you are generally regarded as the smiley one when we go out. 


Your personality is emerging more every day, and Mummy can usually ensure a giggle when I sing "little brown jug" - at the "ha ha ha, hee hee hee..."

You love to sleep with your hands behind your head, looking for all the world like you are enjoying sunbathing on your lounger.  Roberta tells me that is the sign of a happy baby - and that is very positive reinforcement for me to hear.  The other morning, I found you at the top of the cot, minus your sleeping bag!  Goodness only knows how you managed to wriggle out of it, especially with the two press studs undone at the top. 


Lewis, you spend a long time on your tummy, looking up towards people in the room, or around you.  Daddy tells me that he is convinced that you respond when your name is called.  You particularly seem to get bored and frustrated just lying on the ground, and seem much happier when you are put into your bouncy chair or high chair for a break in routine, especially in the late afternoon.

When we put you both into the bouncer on the doorframe for the first time on Saturday, you both loved it.  Henry, you seem to be stronger in the legs, but we were surprised that Lewis, you looked very graceful, like a ballet dancer, pointing your toes when bouncing. 


It was no surprise to use when I had you weighed last Friday that Lewis, you have now outstripped Henry - though not by much!  Lewis, you now weigh 8.89kg, or 19lb 6 oz - and Henry, you are now 8.74kg, or 19lb 3 oz!  No wonder Mummy gets tired when lifting you up and down several times a day. 

Lewis, you are increasingly "finding your voice" - though your shrieks and cries can often be ear splitting and uncomfortably loud!  Maybe you will be a rock star when you grow up - the journey to discover who and what you are both meant to be will be eternally fascinating to Daddy and I.

Saturday 4 February 2012

February Scrapology Layout

Over at Scrapology, we are scraplifting SJ this month with this patchwork layout below.  SJ used a lot of inking, and some stitching to add texture.



I am really appreciating simple, clean layouts for the baby album, so decided not to add these techniques to this page. 

I did intend to duplicate the size of the squares as per SJ's version, but then I made a mistake in cutting my squares, and decided to keep it that way, as I liked the texture of the Bazzill cardstock showing on the background. 



Papers are all First Editions "Up Up and Away" with the exception of the khaki green lightly checked patterned paper - it is Kaisercraft.  The only downside of this patterned paper collection is that the green is too vibrant - normally, I would love that, but for the baby photos, I want to let them shine, and take precedence, rather than a really bright colour overwhelm some of the detail.  I also used an off-white grey sheet of Bazzill cardstock, with some white Basic Grey chocolate chip alphas for the title. 

My journalling reads "Daddy and I are very aware that your future is in our hands.  We will strive to be the best parents we can be - in order that you both grow up to be happy, healthy men who live fulfilled lives, with happy families of your own.  Until then though, it's all up to us - it's in our hands."
Photo 21.07.11
Journalling 24.01.12