Christmas Tree

Inspired by Elsie Flannigan's blog, the lovely scrapping ladies and I made our very own human Chrostmas tree with fairy lights at our last weekend away... Happy Christmas!

Difficult photos

Just a quick blog post about those scrappers block photos!

This layout is one which shows exactly the dilemma I often have about certain photos. I got my photos out (with a small mountain of patterned paper - I figured one of these would go with the dark background photos). But I did that thing where in the end I needed something to give the page a lift. And that lift came from the red stripe across the turquoise pattern.

Black Tie:

In the end, I like the white polka dots that frame the page and match the spotty letters, the sclloped edge seems to lift the square edges that were everywhere, and I tried to break this up more by cutting out the blck flowers to overlap the red card too. I'm pleased I didn't give up on these photos - all too tempting when it just doesn't quite work the way you hope!

Blogging - why bother?

I signed up to Shimelle's blogging class nearly 2 weeks ago now (and this is the first time I have posted!)

For me, blogging is about being brave - about publishing my own work, sharing my thoughts and ideas to the creative scrapping community. Blogging is something I've wanted to 'properly' do for ages, whatevr proper blogging is. So my aim now that I have made a start is to make some time each week for me to log on and share my ideas, thoughts and layouts.

Here is a recent LO of mine:

I am a member of GirlguidingUK and run a Rnger group (aged 14 - 26). I've just had my 26th birthday and this means that I cannot wear this uniform anymore :( I love the turquoise, the vibrance and it just shows that everything must come to an end. I can still wear the navy uniform though.

I wanted this page to jump out at me from my album, to reflect the youth of the Senior Section, and I wanted it to be fun!

More current LOs

Wonder:



Forgot to mention in my last post that the papers were from the gorgeous Scrapagogo kit (thanks for pointing that out Emilie) as was this piece. I didn't have the heart to cut it up so instead continued teh stitching in gel pens over the black strip I added. The word was Robo'd by a friend and I used the scrap as my title! Recycling at its best. Photos taken at Hyde Hall, same as Miss You one.

Beacon of hope:


I LOVE sunflowers, they're so cheerful and always look for the light. I was so pleased to find a whole patch of them growing on a visit to Hyde Hall (yep, same place!) And despite the windy day I'm so pleased with this snap. I spent ages looking for paper that would do it justice and in the end I found a polaroid style frame and label worked best gainst a deep but vibrant backing. The mini flower embellies are hand made and the title made from yummy thickers and mini MM stickers.

Thanks for looking!

Must try harder...

Okay, so life seems to generlly have taken over since the autumn term started again. Major lack of blogging. However, I have signed up for Shimelle's blogging class. Unfortunately, I have since then be ill and not started but I WILL get onto it (I like that Shimelle's classes can be done in your own time!)

However - for now I post a new LO completed over half term with more to follow soon:

Miss You:

This layout is a photo of my sister and I on a day out when I went to visit her new house (all the way in Essex!)

I love these papers and felt they had exactly the right vibe for the photo. The journalling is disguised on the beams of sun and reads:

Dear Becca, even though we didn't see all that much of each other when you lived at home, I miss the fact that you are no longer close by, but in Essex... I'm happy for you - but miss you!

ps: I promise to be a better blogger!

Scrapping energy.

After 4 days of scrapping I feel very inspired. 4 days seems a very long time, but in reality when you're there scrapping, chatting, drinking tea and looking through albums the time just flies.

One thing that really struck me this weekend was just how inspiring other people's pages are. We had a gallery up where everyone put their layouts as they finished. By the end of the weekend there were over 70 layouts to be inspired by!

I often read the blogs of other scrappers, here are some of my favourites to help your inspiration!

http://www.mmwwaahh211.blogspot.com/

http://limegreenlife.typepad.com/

http://hulaseventy.blogspot.com/search/label/I%20like%20to%20make%20lists

http://www.illustratingstories.com/

http://bigpicturescrapbooking.typepad.com/

This weekend I'm going on a weekend crop with some friends. Yay! Even better, we are going from Friday to Monday so that's 4 whole days of scrapping time!

So today I am planning on packing (thoroughly) I hate finding that I have forgotten a key tool or embellishment. A couple foc rops ago I started to write down a list of all the things I took with me regularly. Not a big deal you may think. Well no maybe not but since I have written this list down and made it into a tag that is clipped inside my mini tote I haven't left anything important behind. What is it you need to take with you? Can you remember to pack it all each time? If not, why not try making yourself a packing list - I guarantee it will save your time (and your sanity!)

More layouts!

Some more of my recent layouts:

The 2 of us
I like this photo of my sister and I, there aren't many. This layout is rather busy for me but I like the overlapping-ness of the elements and the bright colours.

Us Girls

I read somewhere that if you're not sure about what kind of background to use, go for a plain colour like black or white. I love this photo and spent ages trying to find the right pattern. I'm pleased with the simplicity of the final result though.

Stratford Upon Avon

I don't often use natural coloured card as a base and I kept this LO really simply by stamping straight onto the card for both the title and embellishments.

My Kind of People

I was being brave for this LO - using bold colours and different types of scallops. Also I have used a patterned transparency which I normally find hard to use. The photo was taken at a weekend crop, I love the fact the photo is a bit different from the normal group shot.

Excited!

I always get excited when i'm off on holiday or even out for the day in a new place. Taking photos of new things and exploring. I love being by the coast so hopefully will be returning with a whole selection of pics to be scrapped!

Layouts

Here are a few of my layout created at a semi-recent crop, I've really been inspired this year to use lots of colour:

Laughter:This layout was created from a page kit challenge that we all took part in. The papers and card are so not what I would have chosen but I like the way the page has turned out - the photo was taken on the scrapping weekend and printed on a one hour service!

A Few Things:

This layout was created as part of a 45 minute challenge. The idea of the challenge is to select your photo, all of your supplies and get the page scrapped in the 45 mins. We used to do a one hour challenge but found that many of us finished way before the deadline so we cut of 15 minutes. It seems a short amount of time, but it is amazing what you can achieve when you're working to a deadline.

Flap-flaps:

I think these papers are all from a kit but I'm not sure - wanted to try using a contrasting coloured title.

A Little Bird Told Me:

This is probably my favourite layouts - the photo was originally in full colour but all you could see were the bright pink and purple flowers and not the 2 objects I really wanted to see so I played with the colour using Picasa and only left the robin coloured. The orange was taken from the robin itself and the rest fitted in around it.

Birds of Paradise:

I love these flowers but they are really hard to photograph well. I played around with this layout for ages but stuck to the colours from the flower itself to bring out the best I could.

Scrap space overhaul

I was helping a friend of mine sort out her scrap space on Monday (it's tiny and she has a LOT of cool stash). So after a few hours of sorting, binning, labelling and re-homeing stash mountain I returned home and took a look at my own space:



And there's nothing wrong with the space (except it really doesn't quite work for me anymore). I find that it's always messy and I can't put my hands on the things I want when I want it. I re-read The Organised and Inspired Scrapbooker by Wendy Smedley and Abi Garvey, if you haven't read it you must get a copy, it's fab!

So I decided to re-think the way I work. The first step was to take everything (and I mean everything) out from drawers, shelves, baskets. And what amazed me was how much space I had:


So I started by sorting all my stash into heaps (it covered the whole of the spare bed and the floor - I didn't realise how much I did have). I found some things I love that I had forgotten about and at the same time got rid of some of the stash and tools I no longer use. Well worth the time factor!
But the bit I thoroughly enjoyed was putting everything back together - I put all my pens in my favourite mugs within easy reach and I took a lot of stash out of my larger AMM tote that is too heavy to lift and put the bits and pieces in smaller jars and into my little AMM tote that is more portable.

Here is the finished result: tidy, organised and all in easy reach when I'm scrapping.






I'm so pleased with the result. Even though I couldn't change the furniture and storage I had, I could change the way it was all arranged and it inspired me to get scrapping!

The morning of a crop!

On the morning of a crop I get that excited, nervous feeling in my tummy. Knowing that I get to spend all day with my firends chatting and catching up, using up some of my yummy stash papers. And feeling inspired by the pages of others. Love it!

Long time no blog!

It's been a while since I've blogged, mostly 'cos I haven't scrapped much in ages! So I thought I'd post a couple of layouts - the first 2 in my 2009 album:

Looking forward:

I always try and make a title page layout that reflects my thoughts for the year. This year I'm looking forward to the year and want to make the most of it.

Some of the elements on this page were from last month's Scrapagogo kit, the swirl is something I've been saving up for something 'special'.

Live life to the full

I love these pics I snapped of my boy at Wisley, I had asked him to simply smile at the camera, but in true Dave style he pulled silly faces, so it seemed as though I just needed to scrap them!

The patterned paper is from the new Basic Grey Moroccan range and letter stickers are also BG.

I like the fact that both these layouts are bright and vibrant! Here's to many more this year :)

Ways to combat scrappers block!

If you're anything like me, from time to time you just lose inspiration and can't quite make your LO work for you. It's so frustrating as often you know what you want to do but can't quite get there or you look at the photos you really want to scrap but can't seem to find any papers that match them. Annoying or what!

So I thought I'd post some of the techniques I use to combat this scrappers block!

1. Scraplift a layout
I tend to add LOs to my favourite's gallery on UKS and go back to these when I get block.

2. Inspiration book
I get a scrapping mag each month (SI) and after I've read it, go through and cut out any articles, sketches or LOs that I like and stick them in a book. Look back through this for ideas, I haven't yet not found this helpful!

3. Complete a challenge
If you have ever been to a retreat/ crop I'm sure you will have come up against challenges. When I feel as though I can't make something work I will turn to these. Here are a few challenges below to get you started:
a. complete a layout from start to finish in under an hour (harder than it sounds)
b. make a layout in monochrome
c. use song words as a title
d. include 100 words or more on your layout
e. scrap using only 2 sheets of paper and a pen
f. use an old piece of clothing somewhere on your layout
(thanks to the SA girls for some of these ideas)
If anyone has any challenges they have enjoyed doing, I would love to hear them!

4. Inspirations jar
Keep a challenge jar - get a (clean) old jam jar/similar and decorate. Inside put slips of paper with ideas you collect or challenges you would like to try then when you are stuck, pull out a challenge and do it! This always creates some interesting results.

5. Old albums
Look back through your old albums, even old stash, it's amazing because I always find something I had forgotten about or see an old technique I want to re-use. I could also recommend looking though other people's albums if you can get your hands on them.

6. Blog hop!
How could I leave this one off? If you need inspiration, look on the many scrapping blogs out there, there's always loads to inspire and get you over that scrappers block hurdle.

Snow day - no school!

Today school was closed because of the severe weather warning that was put in place for our area. I'm sure the children were delighted :)

But it meant that I had a day at home so I made the most of the time by scrapping of course! I made a mini book for Dave in prep. for Valentine's day and a layout about my blog (so I shall post a photo of my blog LO on my blog for you to see!) But I managed to leave my camera at school so it will have to be next week.

Tomorrow I will be posting ideas to combat scrappers block, we all get it, so I hope these coming ideas will be helpful.

Still snowing!

Well it's been an amzing week here in Berkshire. It's beeen snowing all week, every day a new layer of snow on the ground. The children have loved coming in to school each day having a snowball fight on the field before lessons start. I love the snow, and have some great photos ready for the school website and some for me to scrap too!
Although th edriving hasn't been so fun this week - very icy and slippy, I must be getting old as I'm looking forward to the roads being dry again! Although if I'm wishing I wish that I didn't have to drive to work in the snow and could enjoy it at home!

New layouts

This weekend was fantastic! I attended another Cropfest weekend - 12 girles scrapping for a whole weekend! I thought I would share some of my layouts with you:

Advent calendars
This layout was inspired by a magazine LO but it turned out nothing like the original! All of the colours are scraps except the backing card, I love the vibrancy of this layout, it's unusual for me to do a double but I think it works!
You mean I can choose?
This is a layout I have been trying to complete for ages. It tells the story of me finding a gluten free Italian restaurant in London. I really like bold colours at thw moment.


Scrabble:
I had a play with some busines card pockets this weekend - I like the way you can slide embellishments in to give the page a more flexible look. These cost me about £1 from Asda for 50 - bargain!

Seventeen:
This layout was completed as part of a challenge we had this weekend. The challenge was to onclude 100 words or more on a layout. The papers came from last month's Scrapagogo kit.

Little things I love about scrapping!

I've been busy uploading photos to get printed today ... and came across these. And the photo of all the layouts on the wall made me think. Everyone has their own indivisual style and I love the fact that I feel inspired by the work of others. Thank you ladies for all the inspiration I get from all of your blogs each day.

I love the fact that our hobby opens all these doors - and gives us the opportunity to play with lots of toys! These punches, alphabets and gadgets were a selection of what we had at a recent scrapping weekend.

The Moonwalk ... in training.

This year Mum and I have entered ourselves for the Moonwalk in London, this is something we have wanted to do since Mum beat her breast cancer 7 years ago. We both have bad backs and so this will be a real challenge for us! We went out on our first road walk last week... we were hoping to do a couple of miles but ended up doing 4 miles! Not bad for our first walk. I grabbed my camera on the way out and I'm so glad I did as I don't take many dark photos.... here are the results:

I thought walking in the dark would be hard work but it was fun.. we kept to the lit paths and as you can see used the crossings.... I live near a pretty big roundabout and we have to cross ut using 4 sets of lights... but I love the way the red and green man photos turned out!

Organisation

Right now I feel the need to get organised. I'm going round the house a little at a time re arranging, sorting, moving, clearing. It sounds good so why isnt the house actually getting any tidier? We are waiting for our shed to arrive so that all the stuff in the garage can go out there and there won't be so much lying round the house and I can clean properly!

My scrap stash is, amazingly, already sorted but I'm so busy I haven't had the time to sit and just scrap. I have a whole weekend set aside next week however so this week will be spent sorting and packing, getting photos printed and looking for inspiration again after over a month ith n0 scrapping time... any inspiration welcome :)

Craft Robo!

I'm feeling lucky at the moment, my lovely Dave bought me a Craft Robo for Christmas! I had only mentioned once that I would like one (in an in my dreams way) and on Christmas morning one turned up under my tree.

So I've been playing a bit... I've had a go at printing out words and titles and I've also learnt how to 'trace' the outline of an image! Woo. But I feel a little lost... I know it can do all these amazing things but I'm a bit worried about learning how to do them. I guess I need to spend some time on the UKS Robo forums... photos to come soon.

It's been a long time

Hi all,

It's been over a MONTH since I last blogged! But it has been one busy, busy month. I went back to work full time which was (as you can imagine) exhauting, especially with the run up to Christmas in a primary school - Christmas plays, carol concerts and we took teh choir to sing at some old folks homes. It was a fabulous but truly exhausting week.

And then.. just when the Christmas holidays arrived so did the visiting of relatives, meet ups and wonderful, busy days.

Now I've been back at school for 2 weeks and feel as though my life is a little more under control.. and that means the blogging can be done once more!

So hello lovely blogging ladies - I'm really looking forward to a blog hop :) Just think of all those inspiring projects that have been going for a whole month!