16 loves {May 2016}

Welcome to the next in the series {16 loves} for 2016.

For the last few years, I've been sharing my loves each month - a little bit of everything that has caught my eye or been enjoyed over the last month. So, a new year and new inspiration. I hope you will come back each month to see if there is anything in my list to inspire you. 

To see what's inspired me in the past, click to find all my {13 loves}, my {14 loves}, my {15 loves} and my {16 loves}.

I hope there's something in here to inspire you or maybe just make you smile.

one

A gin & tonic is one of my go-to drinks on a Friday evening and we've been enjoying the fact that so many wonderful gins are available at the moment - gin, it would appear, is a bit of an on-trend drink right now. This was a new one for us and at 57% alcohol, you have to be respectful but it's delicious. Fragrant and a little floral. 

two

I'm always on the lookout for interesting travel layouts and so this one seen on Pinterest grabbed my attention right away. The use of the map in the background and then the position of the photos directly onto that map is a perfect way to record a day trip or a short weekend city break. I love it.

Found on Pinterest but originally posted over on Lynn Ghahary's blog here

three

HRH Queen Elizabeth II turned 90 on 21st April 2016 and I, alongside many others at home and around the world, celebrated. I'm so proud to be British at times like this.

four

And to mark the momentous occasion, we had a party! My mum came over and we had a celebratory afternoon tea party. Sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, coronation chicken, red, white and blue decorations and lashings of tea. It was a lot of fun and all the family enjoyed this little slice of Britishness right here in Germany.

five

Of course, no afternoon tea is complete without scones with strawberry jam and delicious clotted cream. My Delia Smith recipe never fails to hit the spot and these remain the best scones we've ever had! You can find the infamous recipe here.

six

Always on the lookout for cute map embellishments, these heart garlands are exactly my thing. Available on Etsy at PaperNotebook and very reasonably priced, us crafty girls could get busy with a paper punch or our Silhouette and run these up to match exactly what we needed.

Map heart garland available at PaperNotebook here

seven

April saw me try a month of selfies. I more or less managed it and some were better than others. I scrap a lot about myself so it's necessary for me to have a ready stock of pictures available to use as and when I need them. This one will be finding its way onto a page before long. Thank heavens for IG filters! I'll no doubt do this again one month as it was quite fun to see how to manage those "bad face" days!

eight

Over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge, there have been a few changes over the last two months. One is that I've taken over the main admin responsibility for the site and the whole team is now working together to select the kits to counterfeit and the challenges to use them up. There are also some new features popping up here and there which we are all finding very motivating! There's new energy over there which is great. For (Inter)National Scrapbook Day, we offered a whole range of Master Forgers'  favourites to inspire our readers. It was super to see the different directions we all took and I loved reading each entry. Even though it's over now, check out the posts starting here for a bunch of ideas!

nine

Still thrilled to receive my Scrapabilly DT kit each month. It's the best day when it's handed to me when I'm in the shop but it's even more exciting to receive it in the post!

ten

It's May which means it's LOAD516. This is the first month that Alice Boll is at the reigns of Scrap Happy for a LOAD month since she took it over from Lain Ehmann and she's doing an awesome job! The prompts are fun and thought provoking and there's been several extra challenges and spot prizes which is nice to shake things up a bit. I missed a day at the weekend but so far, have 18 layouts done for the month so it feels good considering I wasn't intending on trying for a full month. LOAD is one of the best scrappy times of the year.

eleven

Found this on Pinterest. It's calling me...

Pinterest source here

twelve

It was the Eurovision Song Contest at the weekend and the opening ceremony featured elaborate costumes made of paper. They were amazing. A paper crafter's dream inspiration. I tried to take some photos but this stock photo from the ESC site is better and gives you an idea of the incredible creations. Just goes to show that inspiration is everywhere!

thirteen

It's been a while since I posted a nail varnish in my ongoing love of beautiful nails (which I don't have!). This collection of greys by Essie is so beautiful, I'd love them all.

fourteen

Isn't this cute? A Pinterest find which I adore and would love to have a go at one day.

Pinterest source here / originally found on Design for Soul here

fifteen

This makes me want to embroider. I've had a go from time to time and lack the skill and patience but this is simply so beautiful, I might add it to my list again. Check out Mary Whelan Art to see embroidered pieces that will take your breath away...

Pinterest source here / Mary Whelan Art here

sixteen

Something every scrapbooker is aware of. Something I need to keep in mind during my constant battle with decluttering and downsizing.

I’d love you to share your own {16 loves} lists with me. Why not link up in the comments below?

{16 loves} is a series that will feature on my blog each 16th of the month