My little star ...

.... I'm not the best photographer in this family - that accolade goes to my darling hubby!  But as he's not back for another week, I thought I'd better take some photos of Kathryn in her dance show costumes - as I'm absolutely sure we won't be able to take photos at the theatre.

Love this orange flapper dress - such fun!

So here are a few of Kathryn in all her finery!!  Proud mummy moment!!

 

Kathryn has three costume changes - I've no idea which songs they go with - but I'll find that out this evening!  Love this purple "dress" - I think it's more a long t-shirt!  But it does sparkle!






I think that in the finale Kathryn wears this super little green outfit - just love it!  I wish I could take better photos - but these give you the idea.

I'm don't think I'll be back today - busy getting ready for this evening.  But I'll see you tomorrow.

It's finished ....

... I've done it - Kathryn's little scrapbook is finished.  I based it very much on the layout that I did for Ben's book - there are a few changes, but that's to be expected.  I opted for background card in pink and lilac - suitably girly!  I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out.  Both these little books will go with me when I have to be away from the family - yes, I know I'm soft.  It was so hard deciding which pictures to include in the scrapbook - we've over 4,000 images of her.  It's mad!!  If we still had to print out our photos I'm sure we wouldn't have that many, but it does mean that I've plenty to choose from. 

I used lots of images from Waltzing Mouse Stamps to decorate Kathryn's scrapbook, they are: Celtic Hertiage, Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy, Victorian Frippery, Sewing Box - Hugs, Faux Fun,  Off Beat Backgrounds, Free Spirit - Boy, Pic-Nic Patterns, Halloween Party and Say it with Style.  I have rather a lot of Claire's stamps ;)

If you want to see all the scrapbook - check out Flickr, but I'll show a few of my (current) favourites.

Kathryn - as a toddler

Kathryn - Benidorm last year

Kathryn - hippy chick!!

I have to say that I'm really enjoying writing a blog.  It has really helped me to focus on Kathryn's scrapbook - which I started at the same time as Ben's!!  I find that I'm looking at the various challenges out there and having taken the leap this weeek with WMSC15, I think I'll have a go at a few more. Susan Raihalla sets a "One Layer Wednesday" challenge on her blog Simplicity - I think I may have to check that out tomorrow.  I struggle to keep things clean and simple, so it will really test my ability to meet her challenge. 

I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has left me a comment - I read them all and appreciate you taking the time to give me some feedback.  Anyway, it's getting late, so I'll say bye for now.  See you again tomorrow.

Penguins and bears ...

... and if that's not confusing I don't know what is :)   The bears part is really easy - it's a picture of Kathryn and her friends taken yesterday at her party lunch!!  I think the girls look just fabulous.  And then there's the cake, candles and Kathryn - making a wish.


Making a wish!!



Kathryn, her friends and their bears

And the penguins bit refers to my first ever scrapbook.  From the end of November 2009 to mid-January 2010, Liverpool hosted a Penguin Trail.  This was a huge public art festival, sponsored by Liverpool Council, and involved many local community groups, schools and artists.  The penguins were positioned all over Liverpool and a trail map was produced.  We had a couple of fantastic days exploring the city, seeing the fabulous buildings and taking photos of the penguins.  It was great - so many families were out with their children having a great time. 

And in January this year, as some of you will remember, we had some really, really heavy snowfalls - so much so that Liverpool city centre actually closed at one point!!  By Saturday 9th January, the weather had eased and we made our last trip over by ferry.  Liverpool looked magical.  It was so quiet - no cars or buses about - just a few adventurers like us.  You could almost forget that Liverpool is a huge, bustling city.  We got so many photos that I decided I had to do something with them.  Digital photography is great, but it does mean that many images remain on the computer.  I'd been meaning to do a scrapbook for ages and it seemed that this was the perfect excuse.  I got some wonderful 12 x 12 papers from Purple Butterfly (one of my local craft shops) - and they were in blues, lilacs and purples with snowflake and swirl patterns.  So I went for it.  I'll show a few pages from the album, if you like to see the rest visit my Flickr page.

Kathryn, Jonathan & Ben - my favourite people!!

That's all for now.  I'm off to do some work on my little 6 x 6 scrapbook about Kathryn.  I've been busy on that - got all the photos sorted out and I've decided on the backing papers.  Now all I have to do is put it together. 

Wishing you all well - be back soon.

Kathryn and the many bears ....

Kathryn and her presents

... today Kathryn and five of her best friends went to our local Build-a-Bear to celebrate her birthday.  Jonathan took them all over while I stayed at home and got the Party food ready.  I kept it very simple - sandwiches, sausage rolls, cakes and sweets.  I'm absolutely positive that it's been a fun day for all the families :))  The girls were so excited and had such a fun time and they ate just about everything I put out for them. 



Kathryn's Party lunch

Hopefully I'll be able to post a picture of Kathryn, her friends and all the bears tomorrow - at the moment they are still on Jonathan's camera. 

I know I'm biased; but I think Jonathan is an excellent photographer.  He's been taking photos for years, joined a camera club a couple of years ago and is improving all the time.  If you would like, visit Jonathan's Flickr photostream and see what you think.

Kath's Card

I'm going to show one card this evening which I made for my friend Kath.  She also loves making cards, so I had to make something really special for her.   Kath is very stylish and loves all things black and white - so it was actually very easy to come up with something suitable.  I used card and toppers from a kit made by Kanban (bought from QVC, but no longer in stock).  I do think that Kanban make the most wonderful foiled and embossed card.  I did a matching envelope - but completely forgot to take a photo.

I see that I have another follower and more comments have been added.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read my blog and I hope you find it entertaining and interesting.  I really enjoy looking at the stats section in blogger - that's my geekyness coming out.  I am so pleased to see that I have readers in the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany and the UK - thanks everyone.  Anyway, it's late, I'm tired (all those little girls can take it out of you) - so I'll be back tomorrow.

Going shopping ....

... well, I will be on Sunday.  That's the day that Claire Brennan, of Waltzing Mouse Stamps launches her new clear stamps.  The link should take you direct to her blog where she's showing some of her "sneak peaks".  I love the Nutcracker image - so festive and so many possiblities.  And the cute little guys are just great. 

Jonathan has just gone to collect our darling girl from school - then we're off to buy her birthday present.  Kathryn will be 9 next week.

This is Kathryn at her 4th birthday - she's wearing my tiara - well actually it's become her play crown!!  And tine goes by so quickly.  I find it hard to believe that she's quite the young lady now.  When we go to music festivals she's a real hippy chick!  This was taken in May - she 8½ here - but so cute.

And I've made cards for most of her birthdays.  Unfortunately, I didn't start taking photos of my early attempts - actually that may be a good thing.  I think one of my first serious attempts at cardmaking was for Kathryn's 5th birthday - and it was appropriately girly!  She loved it - but then she's biased.

Anyway, we're off soon, so I'll be back later.