My Christmas 2013 Journal

Hi everyone

December and the build up to Christmas is always crazy busy in this house but it really is one of the most wonderful times of the year for me! 

I take a million photographs throughout the festive season - ok, so maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but I do take a lot!

Each year I like to select a few favourites or the ones that tell a story or were taken at special events we have been to and get them into my albums.

This year I've decided to make a smaller book as well as some larger 12" x 12" layouts that will go into my main album.

Here is my first page in my book:

The page is 7" x 7" and I'm using an album I've had in my stash for a while now. 

The album is plain cream pages held together with a book ring. The front and back covers are thick chipboard which I will also decorate as I don't think lime green arrows are very festive!

For several years now I have loosely followed Shimelle Laine's Journal Your Christmas. This is a class which for a very reasonable initial cost gives you access every year so you can follow the daily prompts year after year if you wish.

For my Christmas book I'm using a variety of supplies , some older and some brand new. For this first page I used a sheet of Echo Park This n That Christmas matted onto red cardstock and added some Simple Stories December Documented papers and stickers, wood veneer stars, enamel dots and red gems to embellish.

Do you have a separate album/journal or book for recording December and Christmas? 

Have you started to scrap the season already or do you wait until January?

Happy December!

Sarah x

Six Cards on The 6th (October)

October's "Six on the 6th" went live on the S J Crafts blog earlier today here!

Did you know it's only 80 days until Christmas??!!

So, yes - it's definitely time to get started on those cards, if you haven't already. 

Even if you only join in with "Six on the 6th" for October, November and December you'll still have 18 cards all made and ready to send!

For my six cards this month I chose to use some Echo Park papers and stickers from the "Reflections Christmas" collection that I had won in an EP Facebook competition recently and teamed them up with a Glitz Designs "Hello December" 6" x 6" Pad. I started by taking some 12" x 12" sheets of Bazzill card in White, Stonehenge and Maraschino and cutting, scoring and folding them to make 5" square card blanks. 

I decided on a red/grey/white colour (with a tiny bit of green!) scheme for this month's six cards.

I made each card in a similar way, layering up the background papers (lightly inking the edges with grey ink) and adding doilies and stickers.

I love this red woodgrain paper from the Hello December pad.

I added wood veneer snowflakes, pearls and "splattered" a little white Mister Huey on some of the cards.

One of the Echo park sheets of papers was little vintage postcards and another was little bingo cards so I cut these up into small panels that I could use as embellishments.

On some of my cards I stamped a greeting and added twine to this one:

and a strip of red glitter tape to this one:

I made this one last and I think it's probably my favourite .... I like the simplicity of it!

Here's some detail/close ups for you:

So what are you waiting for??  

Grab some supplies and make your 6 cards!!

Even though the S J Crafts Design Team reveal their cards on the 6th of each month, you have all month (until 5th November) to link up your cards using the Linky tool at the bottom of this post. Each month you join in and link up also gives you another entry into the draw to win a box of crafty stash!!

Have you started your Christmas crafting yet?

Oh hello Blog! ..... And WOYWW 226

Oh hello my poor, sadly neglected blog!!

I had a conversation yesterday over a cuppa and biccies with Jennifer about my blog and the fact that I hadn't blogged for ages. It made realise that I do miss blogging and that I really should find 10 - 15 minutes a few times a week to write a post. So here I am!!

And what better way to get things started again than with a post to join in with What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday (the biggest world wide "snoop" at craft desks!!)

So here is my desk table this morning!

Messy?  Or not too bad??

I'm in the middle of making my 4th card for my set of 6 Christmas Cards for "Six on the 6th"!!

I have discovered this morning that my box of washi (which you can see bottom right of pic) is sadly lacking in festive tape!!!  Note to self .... need more tape!

On another note .... I have started a sort out of my craft shelves/storage!

I had a BIG clear out a couple of weeks ago and sold or gave away a ton of stuff! But now I need to reorganise what's left so I can actually find and use my stash!

I have a tall Ikea Expedit unit and two smaller units beside it. I have a bad habit of just returning from a crop and dumping my craft boxes on the top rather than put them away properly. I want to sort through the boxes and store them better.

This is some of my 12 x 12 papers in need of a good sort out!

It's a slow job .... I'll do a little bit each day!

Right, time to make another cuppa and then take a wander around some WOYWW desks ... then back to those Christmas cards!

Thanks for stopping by today! xx

Six Cards on the 6th!

Hello!

Goodness, has it really been 2 months?!!  What a bad blogger I've been!

Over on the S J Crafts Blog a brand new series has started today!

"Six cards on the 6th" is all about getting organised for the festive season!

I always end up making my Christmas cards at the last minute and even some years I've had to resort to sending shop bought cards! So this new series is perfect for me. If I make 6 cards on the 6th of each month between now and December, I'll have a lovely pile of cards ready to write and post! No last minute rush!

Jennifer is encouraging us to use a "kit" to make our 6 cards each month as this saves on the decision making and constantly getting up to search for supplies. As the new Christmas collections are only just released, for my first batch of cards I rummaged through my stash and pulled out some of last years left over scraps of papers and stickers to make up my kit.

I also added a set of dies, a few stamps, ink pads, red embossing powder, red twine, red glitter tape, plain cardstock and some gems to my kit. I decided to keep to a traditional red/green/kraft colour scheme for my set of cards. I also pulled out some card blanks, my heat tool and 3d foam pads (not in the photo). Having a kit to work with certainly helped me work quicker as I didn't keep stopping to search out my supplies.

So here's my finished set of 6 cards:

 

As I used just one set of dies and limited myself to two stamps, my cards are all quite similar but I don't think that matters as they will all be sent to different people. I added one or two extra embellishments such as the little green chipboard stars but in the main I kept to my kit.

 

These three were all stamped with the "dashing reindeer" stamp.

 

 

 I think this one is probably one of my favourites from the set. I heat embossed the stamped tree image, mounted on the die cut layers, with a strip of glitter tape and 3 gems to finish. Simple!

If you want to kickstart your Christmas crafting why not join in with "Six cards on the 6th" .... pop over here for all the info and there's some great inspiration from DT member Jennifer and you can link up your set of cards over there too!

A Family Break

Last week we enjoyed some quality family time on a few days break at Centerparcs at Longleat Forest!!

 

Here are a few of my favourite photos from the millions I took.

 

This lake was lovely ...

 

.... but quite how I ended up out on it on a Pedalo, I'm not too sure!! The Powers of Persuasion of a 9 year old!! Fun though!

 

We had a lovely day out a Longleat Safari and Adventure Park.

 

Hand fed the deer!!!

 

Watched the cute lion cubs as they walked in amongst the cars!

 

This one was literally right outside our car window!

 

 

 

We took a boat ride to feed the seals, enjoyed a train ride, went roller skating, played tennis, went in the swimming pool, played ten pin bowling and ate lots of yummy food!!

 

 

A fun few days away from our usual routine!!

 

I have a feeling some of these photos may be appearing on some layouts very soon!

WOYWW 202 ~ Piles!!

Hello ... so this was the state of my desk table earlier today!

Piles!

And Boxes!!

 

I still have the pile of unfinished layouts that I told you about last week on the top left corner. I've finished a couple of them but also added another to the pile!

 

I've been getting a few layouts planned ready for a crop this Saturday so you can see a pile of photos from my "to scrap" folder and two of my boxes of stash just balancing on the edge of the table.

 

I have two new Echo Park collections that I want to use - Bundle of Joy and the Sisters Mini pack. I've been choosing my papers, photos, embellishments and alphas and creating piles ready to put in 12 x 12 plastic bags to take to the crop. Watch out Lisa-Jane, I'm going to be organised this time!!

 

This post is for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. ... the weekly nosy at the desks of other crafty peeps!

 

Right I'm off to visit some more desks!

Just another day at the beach

Every few months I take the shop to a lovely crop held at Littlegreen School near Portsmouth/Chichester and run by Sue. I'm usually lucky enough to fit in a little scrapping time in between running the shop.

 

This is the layout I made last time I went!

Living quite close to the beach we are lucky enough to be able to visit fairly often and when H was small we would often go and let her play in the sand with buckets and spades and paddle in the sea.

 

I have lots (and lots!) of photos of her playing on the beach and lots of scrapbook layouts of beach photos!!

It's actually getting tricky to come up with different titles for my "beach" layouts ... the title for this one is taken from this layout which I had pinned.

 

The background paper and the pink diamond pattern paper are from the Crate DIY Shop collection kit and I've used some pink polka washi tape, Studio Calico Aqua Thickers and a few tiny alpha stickers and brads from my box of stash!

 

I will add some journalling and the date to this layout.

 

I hope you've had a lovely weekend .... it's the last day of the school holidays here so after a walk along the beach and ice creams this afternoon we are back home to preparing uniform and school bags!!

WOYWW #201 ~ Unfinished Layouts!!

Apart from last Saturday when I had a fabulous time cropping with my lovely friends Lisa-Jane and Paula at a 12 hour All Day Crop and helping to raise a few pennies for breast cancer, I haven't had the chance this school holiday to get scrapping! Last week we had some work done on our kitchen (new worktops, sink, tiling etc!) and there was a lot of dust (how does it travel all over the house?!) so all my crafty stashed stayed carefully packed away and protected from the mess!!

 

My Dad very kindly offered to look after H for the day today so after dashing around like a mad thing this morning catching up on jobs, errands and just a little bit of housework I have settled down at my table this afternoon for a little creative time!

 

As it's Wednesday I also thought I could join in with the weekly blog hop, WOYWW where we all get to have a nosey at each others desks. If you have no idea what I'm on about take a look at Julia's blog to find out and join in!

 

So, on my desk is a pile of half done layouts.

 

Actually there is 10 in total!!

 

I've taken the photo so you can also see how I use the floor and a chair beside me to pile my boxes and bags on so they are near at hand! I craft at my dining room table and hate getting up and down to get stuff from my storage unit.

 

Some of the "unfinished pages" just need dates or journalling .... others need titles and some like the one I'm currently working on (with the banners & pic of H sat on my knees) need just about everything!! I matted the photo and cut the banners last Saturday at the crop but got no further!

 

Do you always finish layouts or do you have a pile of unfinished pages too? I'd love to know!

 

Anniversary Weekend Layout

This layout was another I made on my weekend away and  is a scraplift of this Pin on my Pinterest board. I've only recently started to use Pinterest but already I'm loving it as a great source of scrappy inspiration.

 

I've used just a few strips of patterned paper and the cluster of embellies keeps the focus on the photos! I do need to add the date to the tab on the top right corner.

 

The photos were taken on a weekend away last summer in the New Forest.

My hubby and I rarely get any time away on our own due to the difficulties of finding a babysitter (not sure baby sitter is the right term for a 9 year old but you get what I mean!!) so two days away in a hotel to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary was a wonderful treat!

 

In other news .... It's still the school holidays and I'm enjoying spending lots of time with H ... the non-spring like weather has meant trips to the cinema, shops, library and activities at home but she seems happy with that. We went out for lunch today and to visit a local museum tomorrow.

 

Those of you on school holidays with children ... what activities do you do when the weather is not great? ... I'm grateful for more ideas!

Away She Goes Layout!

Just popping by very quickly to show you another layout from my scrapbooking weekend away!

 

This one uses a real mix of papers and collections. There's some AC Dear Lizzy 5th and Frolic, October Afternoon Woodland Park, Echo Park So Happy Together, MME label stickers, washi tape, Studio Calico wood stars and chipboard arrows.

The journalling reads: "We took your new big bike out to the New Forest. You really got your confidence and enjoyed cycling along the paths. Up until this day you liked to have one of us alongside you for reassurance but today you were happy to go it alone!"

My daughter had outgrown her old bike and we had got her a new one but she found it so much bigger than her old one and it took a few outings on it to get used to it and get her confidence.

I'm loving the current scrapbooking trend for arrows!

 

 

I included the little "Goals" tab on this page as she had definately set herself a "goal" that day and didn't stop until she had acheived it!!

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Rain or Shine

I've finally managed to photograph my layouts I made on my scrapbooking weekend retreat!

 

This was the first page I made and was based on Shimelles sketch two

I used some Simple Stories Vintage Bliss papers and stickers and had lots of room to journal the story of a day trip to a local country park when H was small and Daddy took her on the little steam train. They bought tickets and hopped aboard, all smiles in the sunshine (left hand photo on the layout). Within a few minutes of the train moving off, the grey rain clouds that had been threatening couldn't hold off and it began to rain. It was only a short shower - but trust the good ol' British weather to choose that moment to rain!!

 

For the rest of the journey, H had her little hood up and snuggled into Daddy. She still loved her train ride!

 

I love how cute she looks, sucking her thumb and just look at Daddy's sad face 'cos he got a little bit wet!

 

I sheltered on the platform keeping nice and dry, waiting for the train to return!!

 

I'll be back to share a few more of my scrapping weekend layouts soon.

 

Hope you are having a lovely weekend!

 

 

A Scrapbooking Weekend!

Last weekend I spent a wonderful few days away at this converted barn nestled deep in the Dorset countryside with the lovely Lisa-Jane and 5 scrapbooking friends. Well, a couple of the ladies I had actually only met once or twice previously but by the end of the weekend I definately now consider them to be friends!!

 

We ate yummy food, drank gallons of tea and coffee, enjoyed home baked cakes, had the odd glass (or two) of wine,  chatted, laughed, relaxed and of course scrapped late into the night.

Some of the ladies spent time relaxing in the hot tub, swimming or in the gym but the most excercise I got was a lovely walk around the grounds of the farm.

 

Along this lane ....

... and around this lake and the second lake which you can't quite see in this photo as it was on beyond the trees!

 

 

I managed 5 completed layouts and well into a 6th, although some ladies made 10 or 11 pages .... maybe I chatted a little more than I created!!

 

I'll be back soon to show you the layouts!

 

S J Crafts Kit Layout

Oh hello blog!! So sorry I've neglected you a while!!

Once again everyday life caught up with me and "hogged" my blogging time!!

 

A few weeks ago I launched the new kits in my shop and of course it was only right I should have a play with it.

 

Here's the layout I came up with ...

The girls were enjoying "deer spotting" in the New Forest Bolderwood Deer Enclosure and spent ages gazing through binoculars to see them close up!

 

I wanted to make a quick and easy page as I currently have a BIG pile of photos I want to scrap and I need to make a dent in the pile!! I'm on a bit of a mission just lately to make quicker layouts as I don't get much scrapping time these days and need to be more productive in the time that I do have!

 

 

 

I matted the grey cardstock onto the pink leaving just a small border and cut the floral paper into a banner to echo the journal card I knew I wanted to use top left. I used my new scallop border punch on some more paper strips and just tucked the "So Happy Together" card underneath.  A few small embellishments (some raised up on pop dots) to finish off and another page is done and in my album.

 

Do you sometimes make quick and easy pages in an attempt to get through the pile of photos and memories you want to scrap or do you prefer to make less layouts but spend more time on each?

 

Sarah x

The Lost Village

I realised I didn't show you the other layout I made at the crop a few weeks ago.

Tyneham is a Dorset village which was evacuated in the second world war, but the residents never returned and it's remained deserted ever since. It's now known as the "lost Village"

Many of the building are now ruins but there is loads of information about the  village and the villagers. The school is particularly interesting - as you enter the door you feel as you've stepped back in time - all the school books are laid out and name labels still sit above the coat hooks.

If you want to know more check out this website.

Last Summer, when my in laws were here visiting, we took a trip out there. 

The old phone box was a great background for a few photos with the grandparents.

From the village we walked out to Worbarrow Bay where the photos on this layout were taken.

I layered up patterned papers and washi tape and created my title with my favourite Wood grain Thickers.

I hope you've had a lovely weekend ... thanks for stopping by today!

Snow Day!

It's a Snow Day here today!!

School is open so we set off for the walk to school!

Back home to the warm and dry, where this is the view from my craft table!

Do you have snow today?