December 2012 Book

Last November, I went on my very first scrapbooking retreat. I had an absolute ball - and came back shattered.

One of the THREE (yes, three) mini book classes on the Saturday was this Christmas or December book. It was taught by Tracey Hudson, using the Authentique "Festive" range of papers. It was taught as a base book, to add your own photos,etc.

 

It was a very busy class -  and I ended up completing the book at home later.  I decided to use it to document my December.  And, although the pages are all numbered one to twenty five, I decided to just think of the numbers as part of the decoration, and not as actual dates - does that make sense?

 

I tried to take plenty of photos - and ordered them all in one go, just after Christmas.

 

Then yesterday, I gathered the photos and "stuff" that I had collected during December, and put my book together.  I'm going to add a bit of typed journalling to it soon, but I wanted to show it sooner rather than later. The tags behind the number 22 and the name tags further up were made by my very talented sister, Helen, who I went on the retreat with. 

 

Do you think she planned that ribbon to match the book? I think so, too.

I've really enjoyed this way of recording December - and may do something similar again.

No photos!

Ages ago, I won a giveaway on my friend Lisa's blog of a Bite Sized Scrapbooking Bundle.  Basically, scrapbooking in bite sized chunks, sounds good to me.  Especially when I'm trying to move from the right-hand side of the page.  So, I pulled a photo, used the Scarlet Lime kit, and scrapped another story.

If you're interested in the journalling, it says "How am I supposed to become a world famous scrapbooker, when my children do this to me?"  Total irony on the world famous bit.  But seriously, this is about the usual standard of photos of my girl's - so that's the story that gets scrapped.

 

At the moment I'm really trying to get into scrapping the stories, there are so many of them still to do...

Scarlet Lime Kit

Way back, in November, last year... I was tempted by the Thanksgiving/Black Friday sale at Scarlet Lime.  And splashed out a whole five dollars on a sight unseen kit.  Now, the post and packing added another $15, but I thought I'd go for it - my first order from the States!

It took a couple of weeks to reach me, but it was so worth the wait.  There was quite a bit of purple in there, as well as some greens, some wood effects, some trims and embellishments and a set of stamps. 

These are the first three layouts I made using the kit.  I whizzed them up one afternoon, and then realised that I had completely used my fail-safe scrap-booking combo - can you spot it?  Yes, everything on the right hand side of the page!  Nothing wrong with that - but I'm now on a bit of a mission to mix it up a bit. Which includes the layout in my last post, using Shimelle's project. 

I'll be back soon, with some more from this kit, and a move from the right-hand side of the page....

9 pilots

So, I sat down yesterday afternoon for a little blog hop, and came across this post on Shimelle's blog.  And decided to join in. I shopped my stash, came up with some suitable papers and a photo I took on holiday in Cornwall last year.  The photo had a couple of stories I wanted to tell, but I just wasn't sure how to scrap them.

And about an hour later, had this layout. Thanks for the inspiration, Shimelle.

she art workshop

Want to see what I've been up to this week? I've been getting messy with this workshop.  And I'm having a ball!!  Learning lots of techniques, and being inspired by a fabulous group of artists in the She Art Community.

I've been following the techniques outlined in the lessons - but I'm already starting to feel my way towards what is more my style.  I'm sure I'll have more to show you in the future.  But, if you fancy having a go, there are some tutorials on Christy's website, and I believe the workshop is running again soon.

I'm off now to get my bags ready for Saturday's 12 hour cropaganza at the Bromsgrove crop, with 3 classes being taught by Kirsty Wiseman
 

california gurls

I did these LOs a couple of weeks ago, but thought you might like to see them.  California Gurls is mis-spelt because of the Katy Perry song which we sang a lot when we were in California last year.  Mark took the photos on his phone, and there's not a "good" photo amongst them, but when all put together, they show just how much fun we were having at Disneyland, and it's not often that we get our photos taken together.

 

I did take a photo op - and made the girls sit in Mickey's car.  We had to wait a couple of minutes, because there was another family taking photos, we got chatting, as you do...  And the mom told Mark that he was really lucky to be married to me - because I have such a cute accent! Those of you that know me, as well as those that don't, are allowed to laugh at this point...

And, finally, a card that I made for my sister-in-law's birthday...

speak soon, sarah x

inspired by

 

Inspired by my friend Lisa's post with photos of herself, and some newly received papers, and a sketch here, I also used some old favourites and came up with this layout.  Hello me x

happy days

The eagle-eyed of my readers may have noticed a distinct lack of scrapbooking on this blog.  Now, there's not been a lot of blogging, I know, but even less scrapping.  There is a reason for this, and I've thought long and hard about sharing this, but it's part of me, and although it's not my story to tell, it is part of me and my story. 

So, here goes....  This is a transcription of the hidden journalling, behind the photo of my brother, my sister and me...

It's all letters and numbers

I started the day with a list of numbers.  You know, 6.40 alarm went off.

1 cup of tea

3 red lights

1 green light 

4 cups of fruit tea

You get the idea...

But, by the end of the day there were some new numbers.

1 word

6 letters

Cancer.

My brother has cancer.  He's had the op, and today found out that it's not the better seranoma we hoped for.  But the teratoma.  Which means two lots of chemotherapy.  But, that has it's own numbers.

2 doses of chemo

6 weeks

2% chance of recurrance.

He should be done by Christmas.

This was originally journalled on Tuesday October 26th 2010, inspired by the day's prompt on Shimelle's on-line class, True Stories.  And finally scrapped on 30th December 2010.

So, there you go.  Sorry to end the year on a bit of a downer.  But, his outlook is good.  He had his (hopefully) last lot of chemo yesterday, and, as a family we shall spend new year's eve together and say goodbye to the old year, and look forward.  To a happy and, above all, healthy new year.

To all of you who pop by my little blog, thank you for visiting, and here's to a happy, healthy 2011.

October Crop

So, Saturday was the Bromsgrove Crop. And I actually had a plan of what I wanted to do, instead of turning up with loads of stuff, flicking through my photos, and then trying to put a page together with what I have in my trolley... I decided that I wanted to try some different technique type things - well, it was my plan, so it had my vague description...

But, first, I did this layout, following Deb's sketch



Now I've taken a picture, I can see that I still want to add some journalling, but someone at home has borrowed my "good white journalling pen". Again, the photo's not great, but it was taken on a dull February afternoon, and it captures Phoebe brilliantly, next to a cake stand full of her cakes. And, can you see that cluster? Could that be a "technique type thing"?

We then had a quick card making class, designed by Deb, but I don't have a photo of that - oops. But, it's a lovely masculine card, do pop over to her blog, if you get a chance...

Then onto my plan. Last week I came across this blog, and like her style, so, if you look you will see that I have blatantly "lifted" these...




I'm very happy with this, I like that the papers I happened to have in my trolley go so well with the colours in the photo. Want to see a close up of the technique?




Then came this layout, with bunting - that I can't believe that I haven't done before, as I have my fair share of bunting at home! It also has pinwheels on, that I had actuallly worked out how to do a couple of weeks ago, as my orchids currently have no flowers on, and I thought that pinwheels would brighten them up - really should take photo of that... Enough of the rambling - back to the story... The photo is one of my sister, brother and me, taken in the seventies, and the title should have been "smile please", to go with our fixed smiles. But I didn't have another "e".


So, that's my scrapbooking catch-up. Now all I need to do is put them into albums, and do some more scrapping!

September Evening Crop

Apart from the monthly Saturday Bromsgrove Crop, Helen and I also try and go to the Thursday night one. And in September I got these two layouts completed. That was after taking about an hour to catch up with everyone, and settle down.

I had finished these by about 9, and was going to start another one. But, decided to pack up slowly, and carry on chatting...

September Crop

The September crop at Bromsgrove was a long one, 11 till 11, with three classes by Morag Cutts. If you're a Bromsgrove cropper, or you hop around their blogs - you'll have already seen these - but these are mine...

Luu and her boyfriend, Joe, before she went to her Prom. Joe couldn't go, as it was a joint Prom with Luu's school, and the local boys' school, that Joe didn't go to. But he came to see her off, and that's a convoluted way of explaining why he isn't dressed up for Prom! But, look how his shirt matches the papers...



After the classes had finished, Helen and I challenged ourselves to do another layout using the leftovers from the class kit.



Luu and me, taken by Luu on a cable car in San Francisco. Not bad for leftovers?



And a close up of the cluster of embellishments, or "pile" as Helen calls it when she's playing up at the crop...




Then, I finished the day off with double page layout using photos taken at Disneyland, when we were in California.

Minnie is just about my favourite character - so, when I saw her I shrieked out loud, to Luu's embarrassment. I practically ran over to her, only to be politely told she was there for a private party... and could I move. Oh, well. Oh, and Mickey got into the photo, but he plays the supporting role, in my eyes.

The photos of Phoebe are really bad quality. But, just look at her face! That's why I scrapped them. It was the end of our day at Disneyland, and we were watching the awesome firework display, before a last ride then a long drive across LA, to our hotel.

May Crop in October?

Well, there hasn't been much scrapping on this blog lately, has there? To be honest there hasn't been much in real life, either. But that may just be changing...

So, for a little catch-up, here's my (paltry) contribution to my albums... Back in May, I did these layouts at the Bromsgrove Crop.

The first is of Mark and Phoebe crabbing at Bude, back in 2003.

Then, using a sketch provided by Deb, I did this layout. Again using an old photo. This time of Luu, taken in 1998, just after Phoebe was born. The story behind it is that she had got herself dressed that morning (to "help" me out) in her best black velvet dress. During the morning my Mom and Dad popped in, to see if I wanted anything from the supermarket, I can't remember if I did... But Luu decided to go with them, and when they got there, by chance there was a photographer. So, she had her photo taken, in her best dress, on a Saturday morning at Tesco's.
It's really not my normal style - whatever that is... But, sometimes it's good to go out of your comfort zone, and I think it works quite well with the style of the photo, and that pink velvet chair.


And, finally, a layout that was put together really quickly, of Phoebe on holiday in 2009. Much more my style...

stash shopping

Last Friday, I went with my Mom and my sister the the hobbycrafts show at the NEC. It's a show we've been going to for years - but this one was just not as good as it used to be.

Want to see what I bought? From what is perceived to be one of the biggest craft shows this country has to offer?


Impressed? Hmmn, thought so.

But, really, perhaps it wasn't so bad? But, there's a story - isn't there always?

As I was about to make my first purchase of the afternoon - I realised I had left my purse at home.... Thank goodness I was with Mom and Helen. Mom promptly leant me £20.00, and Helen said she'd pay for anything I wanted. Phew! Mom then said, as it's my birthday next month - I could use the £20 towards my birthday present, and Helen said to look for pressies, as well. So, the goodies in the bag above were bought with the cash - and I still have more than £12 left! Yes, the show was that good...

To be fair, I did find some other bits that Helen was going to give me for my birthday - but when I saw how little I had bought, I bought them off her. Want to see???


There were definitely sellers that have been there before, that weren't there this time. I wonder what it is? The internet? Or the economic situation? I don't know, but people certainly seemed to be spending, judging by the bulging shopping bags and trolleys.

I'm sure I'll be going to the next one, as it's not too far from where I live, and it's always better to see things for real, and to be enticed by things that might not be noticed whilst internet browsing. But I do hope that more sellers go back to it...

Cropaganza...

Last Saturday, the crop that I go to, had it's Cropaganza! Thirteen hours dedicated to scrapbooking!! Lib did a great job, as ever, organising a fab day. We had a little shopping, some lovely chilli and cakes, and three classes taught by Morag Cutts.

Above is the mini book - just need to put some photos and do some more embellishments in it.

We also did a kit layout...

I didn't think I had any suitable photos, but when I looked through them, I found this picture of me, my Mom and Dad on the right, and my Auntie and Nana. I think it really suits the retro feel of the papers, how about you?

We also did a sweet wall organiser using the same papers as the mini book.

So, after spending all afternoon on the classes, I decided to have a change of tack, and went back to scrapping some of the older pictures I've recently had processed.

I've had these papers a little while, knowing I wanted to use them with these photos, again I think they have a retro feel. The photo is my brother, my sister and me, sat on the sideboard... Note the fringes... We think that Mom used to cut them especially when she knew we were going to be photographed.

And the last one is me, strawberry picking - and looking as though I have a fair few in my mouth.
I got home just after 11.30 in the end, shattered, but already looking forward to the next one...

dishcloths...

So, I've worked out how to crochet from a foundation chain. With some help from my Mom. And to practice, I've been crocheting... dishcloths!

Does this mean I have too much time on my hands? Well, no. I can actually do this while watching TV, so, quite productive, really... And, the dishcloths are really good. Even Luu commented that they are better than the others. And they're good practice projects - next up, decorative edgings - on my dishcloths...


And on the scrapbooking front, I've finished my Christmas layouts, here's just a couple of them.


I have some great pictures of my sister, brother and me in the mid 70's, just begging to be scrapped, but focus. Before I move onto them, I'm working on a mini-album of my December postings...