* A Layout....Step by Step*

I managed to fit some scrapbooking into my manic week and as I was busy choosing papers and cutting and sticking I started thinking about the process of scrapbooking and how I go about it has changed recently. When I first started scrapboking I would spend ages choosing papers and embellishments and then shuffle them all about a bit, before deciding it didn't look right, so I'd choose something different and shuffle around a bit more. Nothing actually got stuck down until I was happy with the postion of everything.

These days I have less time and tend to work quicker, make snap decisions about what stash to use and stick it down as I go along!!!

So, I thought it might be fun to take some photos of my layout in progress, at each stage to share with you.

First I chose my photos, I had taken about a dozen of H playing "Wash Up" in the garden a few years ago but I thought these 4 worked well together. I picked out a sheet of kraft for my base cardstock and considered a few patterned papers but quickly decided on this sheet from Crate's Neighborhood Collection. I trimmed it so it was slightly smaller than the Kraft. I had a quick rummage through my stash and came across some thickers and a journalling card which seemed to go nicely. Decision made....no messing about like I used to!

I cropped my photos and arranged then in a block in the centre of the paper and stuck them down, something I would never have done a year ago. I do leave the edges free though in case I want to tuck anything in behind.

Next I punched a border using my new Fiskars Bracket Border Punch using the strips of paper I had trimmed off the first sheet, just the reverse side this time!!

and attached it to the top and bottom of the photo mat.

I stuck down the journalling card to the bottom left

I had some stickers near at hand which I used as a base for my title which are Glitter Thickers. I rarely spend long thinking about a title, just something obvious really. I'm sure there are better titles but I like to keep it simple!

Next I wanted to frame the photos so I added a K & Co border sticker along the bottom and wrote my journalling with a Sharpie Pen. There wasn't quite enough space so on went another journalling spot!

To finish I had a quick look at the sticker sheets on my table & one saying "Little Sweetie" went in the top left corner with a couple of dots from the Thickers Pack. A handy scrap of the paper was just right for a few punched butterflies. A tiny flower, some gems and I'm all done!!

I know of scrappers who take longer choosing supplies and thinking about the design and producing beautiful pages but for me I don't have as much time these days and with so many photos to scrap and stories (and details) to get down on paper before I forget I find working quickly and making decisions quicker works for me.

Do you scrap quickly or take time considering your options and ideas? Has your scrapping process changed since you started scrapping? I'd love to know!

* Big Bath *

There hasn't been an awful lot of scrapbooking on my blog lately so today I am really happy to actually have a layout to show you!

As a newborn my daughter had one of those little plastic baby baths. She loved bath times from the very start and would smile and giggle when she felt the water on her baby skin. After a while I started putting her little bath inside the big bath, mainly because she kicked and splashed so much water went everywhere and me, the cat and anyone else who ventured near would get a shower too!! Putting the bath in our main bath stopped the floor getting a soaking each time and also she got used to sitting in the big bath. Then as she outgrew the little bath we got one of those little seats that have suction thingys on the base to hold it still in the bath. Bath times became even more fun, as the seat freed up our hands (as we no longer need to support her) to play and splash and make funky hairstyles!!

I've used Girls Paperie patterned paper, Fancy Pants Rusted Sun border sticker, October Afternoon & Crate stickers, Jenni Bowlin label, Cosmo letter stickers, My Minds Eye letters and buttons from stash.
Hope everyone has a lovely day in the sunshine! Thanks (as always) for popping by.

* My Little Shop *

Those of you that have followed my blog for some time may remember that I used to own a craft shop, which sadly had to close in March last year. For a long while I missed being my own boss and missed the huge satisfaction of running my own business so earlier this year I decided to start up my own business again. Shop premises are ridiculously expensive around my area so I decided it would have to be an on line shop (certainly to begin with anyways!) so to cut a long story short I am busy setting up a new website which is almost ready. I'm uploading stock as fast as I can, making the last few tweaks to it and also organising an Open Day/Crop. Oh, I almost forgot ... we also have a new name ..... S J CRAFTS .

I have sorted through the shelves and boxes of stock that I still had left from when I moved out of the shop (it filled my spare room) and have put a few bits on E Bay to clear some space for new stock.