Good Reads in February

We're nearing the end of the month now so i thought i ought to post my Good Reads for February! Eeeep! i can't believe we're almost in April already!

i mentioned that i started reading The Host at the end of last month and i finished it after about 11 days. It's set on earth after an alien invasion. The alien souls are inserted into humans and erase them so that they can use their body's as hosts. The book is told from the perspective of 'wanderer' who is inserted into the body of Melanie, who refuses to surrender her mind easily. i struggled to get into it until around the 200 page mark and only really started to mildly care about the characters towards the end. There was no need for this book to be as long as it is (around 600 pages), it was far too laborious for me and i think if it has been shorter i might have enjoyed it more. The ending was kind of a set up for a sequel, but i'm not sure if Stephenie Meyer has plans to write one or not. In all honesty i wouldn't be that excited about reading it, but i probably would because i'm a curious kind of person and i like to know the whole story. There were some interesting parts, i enjoyed reading the descriptions of life on other planets, but it lacked the excitement and romance of the Twilight novels. So, overall this book was ok, not amazing, and i wouldn't bother to read it again. Also, the front cover creeped me out!

Next up was I Am Number Four, the movie is out right now but i haven't had the chance to see it yet. It's about an alien from a planet which gets destroyed by another alien race He among 9 other children flee with their guardian's. The book starts where who's  i enjoyed the book, it's not as pacey as a lot of other young adult fiction but the characters are likeable and i think it's going to be a good series and is set up well for the next book.

One Day. Two Uni graduates meet on their graduation night and the book follows them on that day for 20 years. This is another book that's being released as a move this year and i LOVE the actors who are playing the leads. Three of my girlfriends raved about the book and so i was expecting a lot, which is probably why i didn't end up enjoying it as much as i thought i might. i did enjoy it, but i think i had high hopes after all the hype and it just didn't live up to them. i never really warmed to the characters or have any sympathy for them so the book was a bit lost on me.

JBS 'Be Our Guest' Online Crop Part 2!

i had a scrappy day to myself yesterday and it was bliss! i completed a few more pages inspired for the challenges at the JBS online crop. i wish i could have played along with a few more as they were all super inspiring. i had a lot of fun with this crop and can't wait for the next one, big thanks to Doris, Jenni and the Team for putting so much work into the it.

Dina's challenge was to create a page based on the prompt 'this is me...'

Papers, Crepe Ribbon, Ticket: Jenni Bowlin Studios, Frame & Mists: Studio Calico, Twine from own stash. 

i am all to aware of my faults and try hard to work on them to become a better person, the kind of person that i want to be. But we are all have our imperfections and i try to embrace that, so there's a few of my bad traits mixed in with some of my good qualities on this page, because we are are all imperfect - it's what makes us human.

Doris set a challenge to use at least 4 different patterned papers on your page without using a trimmer! eeep! Luckily i had lots of scraps over from my previous pages so this one wasn't as difficult as i was anticipating.

Papers, Crepe Ribbon, Journalling Card: Jenni Bowlin Studios, Alphabet Stickers: Sassafras, Mist: Studio Calico, Twine, Embroidery Floss & Ribbon from own stash. 

These photos were taken in Stratford Upon Avon last April & they're of Shakespeare's Birthplace. i love that we have so much history to explore in this country!

JBS 'Be Our Guest' Online Crop

JBS Mercantile has a new Forum (this is very exciting stuff) and this past weekend they had an online crop. Because of the time zone differences i didn't stop in for any of the chats but the DT set lots of fun challenges to play along with. A lot of them are still open until Sunday if you want to play along too! There are lots of gift cards for JBS Mercantile up for grabs! i'm hoping i might squeeze some more time for a few more challenges this weekend but i wanted to share what i've done so far. i decided as it was a JBS crop i'd try and use as much JBS product on my pages as i could. Turns out i have quite a stash of embellies but not so much of the papers and most of those i've been hoarding since 2007, eeep! Time to put them to good use me thinks.

First up was a sketch by Celeste based on one of her pages.

Paper, Crepe Ribbon, Month Card, Border Sticker, Buttons: Jenni Bowlin, Mist: Studio Calico, Twine from own stash. 

i already included a photo of cheese and wine night for my Document 2011 but it was a really fun night so i decided to scrap it again allowing myself to add more detail in the journalling, they're not the best photos, but i am ok with that. i managed to use nearly all JBS products on this one, they coordinate so well! i even handcut the title out of one of the papers. i couldn't resist adding in the mist or the twine though. i toned down the navy polka dot paper using some of the JBS paint in malted milk. Jenni has done a fabulous video on ways to use her inks here. i've decided i need those buttons in every colour, i think they are probably my favourite JBS product ever!

Betsy set a challenge to use an oval on your page or card. i think it might have been years since i used an oval on my layout! i remember when i first started scrapping and they were all the rage, i even cut my photos into ovals, scary! Anyway, i had some of these scalloped oval journalling spots from JBS so i used one of those to house part of my title. One of my sisters turned 25 last week and i still can't get over it! We grew up together so have a special bond, i think it's only one you can understand if you're fortunate enough to have had the same experience. i am so proud of the person she is. This is one of my favourite photos from when we were littlies. Circa 1986. And yes i still have my care bear, but he is rather well worn, travelled and loved so is not in quite the same condition.

Scalloped paper, journalling spot, stick pin: Jenni Bowlin, Mist: Maya Road, Tape: American Crafts, Alphabet Stickers: Sassafras and American Crafts, Twine from own stash.

This was my very last Jenni Bowlin stick pin, waaaah! i need to stock up on some more, i love them dearly! i punched some hearts out of scrap paper to use as a mask for the Maya Mist which turned out a lot better then i was anticipating (mist can be rather unpredictable at times). And i used one of Jenni's lovely die cut papers, but i had to trim the edges a bit to make it work for my 8 1/2" x 11" page. Now i can use the other half on different page :)

Warner Bros Park *Pencil Lines Sketch 200*

Sorry i haven't posted in a while, the last week or so has been crazy busy and i've been here there and every where. i just wanted to stop in  and share another layout i did using a Pencil Lines Sketch, this time it was sketch 200 and i loved it. 

Papers Sassafras Lass, Jillibean Soup, Alphabet: Basic Grey, Mist: Studio Calico, Doilie Stickers: Hambly, Flowers: Sassafras Lass.


i took these pictures when i was at the Warner Bros Movie World Theme Park on the Gold Coast of Australia. No one on my coach or in my room at the hostel were interested in going so i just went on my own. i started off on the kids rides thinking they'd be tame and i'd ease myself in, but even those were terrifying! i screamed my head off on every single ride. Haaaa! It was a really cool day though, i loved seeing all the characters because i am basically still a child at heart.

Speaking of Warner Brothers and theme parks, She Who Must Not Be Named discovered the other day that WB will be opening  up the Harry Potter Studio's for tours in the spring next year!! i am geeking out big time about this and can't wait to go! And it's only about an  hour and 45 minutes drive away. i am soooo excited!