Reasons to be Cheerful

For more information on what Reasons to Be Cheerful (#R2BC) is all about please check out this post from Michelle at Mummy from the Heart for a full description.

This week's Reasons to be Cheerful: 

1. My exam (and therefore my course) is over! I'm glad to see the back of it. I really struggled with it as there was a lot of information to take in and remember, not good when Anti D's and mental health problems mess with my motivation, concentration, and memory! 
2. My new course started last Saturday, I'm yet to start properly as I need to just let my head stop feeling like it is going to explode, but it's creative writing, so something I enjoy.
3. After the really stressful day on Tuesday my exam (I'm confident with one question! :-0 but its worth 30%), Little Lady gave me a proud mummy moment and walked all the way across the room. She has been standing and taking 2 or 3 steps for a few weeks so it has been coming for a while, but it was like she new I needed it! Aren't kiddos amazing?
4. I had a break from the revision to link up with Wendy at Handmade Harbour for her Midweek Papercraft Party, I did a very basic Halloween card / invite, but it was a great distraction from the stress. I'm hoping to join up with this week's theme of Men and boys. 
5. Speaking of Halloween, have you seen the Alex and Alexa Blogger competition? I have blogged details here. 
6. Because of my exam and revision, Daddy had booked a week off. I like to say we had some lovely family time, but we didn't really, I was too busy. Little Lady has enjoyed spending lots of time with him though. Hopefully, we will do something as a family, or even just as a couple, soon.
7. I am planning a few Christmas posts at the moment, mainly crafty and gift inspired.
8. I put on a LOT of weight this week. I know that isn't a reason to be cheerful and I certainly wasn't. I expected a bit of a gain due to Daddy cooking and me snacking on sandwiches etc. due to lack of time. But it did mean I had a bottle of Rioja and some chocolate! lol Onwards and upwards, I'm back to eating normally again.

So over to you, what are your reasons to be cheerful?

Alex and Alexa Spooky Fruit Blogger Competition

Making a pumpkin for Halloween?

Seriously, that's so last year!

Spooky Fruit is the new (orange and) black.

AlexandAlexa.com are running a Spooky Fruits competition for Blogger's to win a host of Halloween goodies.

There are 3 prizes to win.

Everything you need for a truly terrifying Halloween with the kids.

• A cutely, creepy knitted toy from Lucky Boy Sunday
• Two Halloween kids’ costumes from Lucy Locket
• Two fabulous Lego storage heads for Halloween candy
• A selection of beautiful Halloween party supplies for kids from Meri Meri
• A set of cute Halloween figurines by wooden toy suppliers Le Toy Van

(Total value £223)

We will also feature the winning spooky fruit creation on the AlexandAlexa, Life & Style.

• Two Lucy Locket Halloween Costumes
• Halloween party supplies from Meri Meri
• Le Toy Van Halloween toys

(Total value £118)

• Halloween party supplies from Meri Meri
• Le Toy Van Halloween toys

(Total value £58)

Great prizes, right? So how do we get involved?

1. Create a spooky fruit creation and share on your blog.
2. Include a link to the competition page here.
3. Tweet or email your entry to AlexandAlexa.com via @AlexandAlexa or social@alexandalexa.com
4. Closing Date: midnight (GMT) 24^th October 2013.

Full T&C's on competition page: http://lifeandstyle.alexandalexa.com/halloween-party-supplies-for-kids/ 

Halloween Card / Invite

Having (finally) linked up with Wendy at Handmade Harbour for Midweek Papercraft Party last week with my cheap weight loss tracker, I won! Woo Hoo!

This week's theme is Halloween.

So here's my entry:

I'm taking a quick craft break from studying, so it's a bit basic this week. 

I looked on Google for free Halloween scrapbook paper for ideas. I have used freedigitalscrapbooking.com before, so I looked there and found a really cute purple ghost one, from here.

Cute, right?
I printed it slightly smaller that A5, I trimmed using my cheap little cutter, I cannot cut straight!

I then glued to an A5 piece of purple card. I'm designing this as a card cum invite, but you could just use a piece of A4 folded in half for a card.

I created a banner using Word and Bleeding Cowboy font, saying Happy Halloween.
I printed and cut out, layering on top, although to be honest, I could have printed over scrapbook paper, but I liked the mix of purples.

I created a Mummy. I make a body shape in card, then covered it in strips of tissue paper bandages.
 

Next I created Daddy, (can you see where I'm going with this...?). I found a google image of a skeleton. I was going to use Mr Printable's Bag of Bones tag idea for create a skeleton, but couldn't find brads.

For Little Monster, I used a digital stamp - friendly Halloween trick or treat monster - from Handmade Harbour shop. I coloured him in using pencils, before cutting him out, and accidentally breaking his arm off. Oops!

I added my people to the card, labbelled them and added 'Come join us...'.

I think Mummy might have worked better as a print out, it's rough but you get the idea! :-)

Reasons to be Cheerful

For more information on what Reasons to Be Cheerful (#R2BC) is all about please check out this post from Michelle at Mummy from the Heart for a full description.

This week's Reasons to be Cheerful: 

1. My exam is on Tuesday and I'm really struggling, so will be glad to see the back of it!
2. Although I would have preferred a break, my new course starts today, it's advanced writing and I'm glad to get back to something I'm good at!
3. I lost another 2lbs this week at Slimming World. Expecting a bad week this week as I am using every spare minute to revise, so cooking and having breaks isn't really on the agenda...
4. I had a fabulous night with my best friend on Wednesday, even if it did mean wandering the streets in the rain and contemplating a break in! lol
5. Little Lady is doing well, although I suspect she's having a growth spurt or coming down with something as she's really tired, she not giving in though which is making her (and mummy) cranky.
6. I've found some crafty things I want to make for Christmas presents. One involves using Kiki's old clothes I haven't got around to ebaying, so watch out for some crafty posts (when I find the time).
7. I entered the weight loss tracker I made for myself and friend into Handmade Harbour's paper craft party, and won! Check out my shiny winner's badge on the right side bar :-)
8. I continued with my group and felt a bit more comfortable this week, it really helps me that other are going through the same thing if you know what I mean, obviously I'd rather nobody ever suffered mental health difficulties.

So over to you, what have you been up to this week? 

What are your reasons to be cheerful? Do let me know.