Changing Rooms - Credit Crunch Style!!

So, here I continue, with my great big two fingers up at Brown, Bush, oil giants etc!

When we moved into our house, about 5 1/2 years ago, we had a lot of plans for it. The main one being an extension to make it into a 4 bedroom with playroom/study etc. This would then lead to the kitchen being done, that blooming blue stairs carpet being ripped out etc etc! We decided that once I went back to work and started teaching and we had 2 wages again and both kids at school, we would go ahead with it. Hmmm, that's before oil prices sky rocketed, the housing market slumped and when you could actually buy a loaf of bread for under £1! So, needless to say, the extension has been put on hold until the financial climate improves, or both kids move out and we no longer need a bigger house! Your guess is as good as mine as to which will come first!

Anyway, I've decided that, as new kitchens etc are a bit of a luxury, I'm going to make small improvements to the house and spruce it up a bit. We started a couple of weeks ago by giving Xander a big boy bedroom (see here). This week, it's been the turn of our room and Emily's 'house'!

Rob built Emily a playhouse in the garden a couple of years ago and I've been meaning to get her some curtains for it so it looks like a proper little abode! Anyway, at the weekend I blitzed it (seemed to have turned into a bit of a store room!) and debated the curtains. Now, traditional fabric curtains would look good, but not very practical over the Winter (I can just imagine the foisty smell next Spring!), so I came up with this ingenious idea for water proof curtains. Take 1 kids party table cloth (plastic not paper), cut it up, grap a staple gun and voila! Instant make-over for the bargain price of £2.49!!



Next came our bedroom. We've never done much with it as we'd planned on a nice shiny new room with the aforementioned extension. Anyway, after over 5 years I was sick and tired of looking at it so, off I trot to B&Q, £20 and 2 rolls of funky chocolate (coloured not flavoured unfortunately!) wallpaper and here's our new bedroom! I did get very extravagant and buy 2 new cushions last night to match the paper, but, coming in at £27 in total, I think that's quite good and much cheaper than an extension!

So, we shall not be beaten, do you hear me Brown?! We the people will have shiny new houses no matter what, so nur!!

July Challenge Update!

I've just recieved this layout from Julie for the July scrapping challenge. She's gone with Challenge 1 (one word title, subject you've never scrapped before and journalling). I absolutely love it, I think she did a great job!

Jules, we really need to get together and scrap one day!

TIA!

That's Thanks In Advance!

I've managed to get cover for Emily for the whole school holiday on my study days, which is a huge relief I tell you. What with the end of the course coming up, my big assignment and the exam, I was having a bit of a panic there! However, I just want to thank the following people in advance for helping me out:

Mum - every Wednesday with BOTH my kids, you're mad woman!

MIL - 2 lots of 48 hours with Emily? See above!

Gem - I'm not sure the working from home with Emily there will consist of much working, good luck!

Amanda - Emily and Cameron? Both in your house for a full day? I'm sending round the valium and gin as we speak!

I know there's a lot of you that would have helped out if you could and I appreciate that too. In the meantime, please join me in wishing my mum, MIL, Gem and Amanda the best of luck; they're going to need it!!

Introducing...My Brand New Scrapping Buddy!!

In the early hours of this morning, a new scrapper came into this world! Well, put it this way, if she doesn't know it yet she soon will, what with her pedigree (mum's a scrapper, grandma's a scrapper, auntie's a scrapper and some mad woman up the street's a scrapper!!)! Yes, my good scrapping friend Lauren gave birth to a beautiful baby girl this morning! We thought little Abigail was never going to show up as she was due 10 days ago; however, I think she was just giving her mummy and I chance to get a couple more layouts done before she came along!

So a big congratulations to Lauren and Marc on your brand new family! Can't wait to meet her and give her a snuggle (and start teaching her about brads, alphas, paper selections.....!!)

Note To Self: Think Before You Blog!

So, last week, I set all you crafty ladies out there this challenge for July. Now, you would think the advantage to being the challenge setter would be that you could create challenges that fitted in with projects you had planned already? Well, MOST people would think of that....

Hence I spent the weekend cursing the idiot who had told us to use a lyric from a song and trying to find 3 patterened papers for my layout!!

However, finally I did manage to find both and have actually managed to do both challenges (well, thought as I'd set the challenges I'd better show willing!) So here's my LO for Challenge 1:

And here's the dreaded Song Lyric challenge:

Right, off to look for my brain cells in plenty of time for the August challenge!

Hero!

This weekend we ventured down to Lincolnshire again for Rob's Grandad's RAF Memorial. Although the weather was appalling, it was extra inportant that we go as Grandad was laying a wreath this year.

Afterwards, they got the Lancaster out and they switched on all the engines; as last year, it was so emotional. Here's Grandad with Rob's cousin Kim, looking so proud! (BTW Kim, great to see you and Richard!)

Afterwards, we escaped the wind and rain for a sandwich and a nice glass of wine and to give Grandad some time to chat with his favourite Great Grandson!

Note Grandad's medals, he and I had Emily going that one was for tidying his bedroom, one was for eating all his tea etc!

Thanks for a lovely day Grandad and for everything it stood for.

That's It, We're Off!

Thick as blooming thieves these 2!

We've been over to see Laura and Evie today. Had a lovely afternoon in the garden then took a quick trip to the park. This pic of the 2 munchkins just sums them up: they're sick of us grown ups and so they're going exactly where THEY want to go! Good job they're damn cute with it!