Project Life

After seeing the many fantastic Project Life examples from other scrapbookers, such as Marcy Penner, I've decided it's time I give it a go for 2013. I've begun my preparations by buying my album and page protectors. I've stuck with the American Crafts D Ring Modern album as these are such good quality and hold your packed pages so well. The page protectors are from American Crafts and We Are Memory Keepers and as you'll see I've gone for a mixture of styles. I'm not sure how this will work out yet but I'll decided as I go along which ones to use or not. 

I've also purchased some gorgeous stamps from the new Pink Paislee Portfolio collection that have some great phrases for all occasions. I have a feeling that these will be used a lot and I intend to buy some new matt coloured stamp pads to go with these. 

A lot of other bloggers have said that to keep up with the weeks you really have to stay on top of it and a lot of them stay organised by pre-preparing their pockets with cardstock and stamped images etc. I think this is a really good idea and am definitely going to go down this route. A fantastic source of information is, of course, the Project Life website itself. Go and have a butchers over there.

In the meantime here is another 8.5x11 layout.

Have a great weekend all, Sherrie x

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Organisation

I've called this post organisation as I feel I'm really getting my creative life sorted. I've had a really good sort and clear out of my scrapping space which has included separating all my embellishments into little drawers and labelling them and finally putting all my papers where I am more likely to use them. I've really enjoyed using my space now that it's in this lovely state. It's very satisfying to scrap in a tidy space where you can actually find stuff!

I've recently purchased some albums to fit specific subjects into and printed lots of photos to get me on my way. One of the albums I've recently bought is an 8.5 x 11 inch American Crafts Modern D Ring album. I've been wanting to try this size for a while now and I really like it. I still love doing 12 x 12 layouts but there is something about this smaller size that's very appealing. Here's a few of the layouts that I've done for my 2010 album:

Of course the good thing about scrapping layouts in this size is that you don't use as much of your stash as you would a 12 x 12 and you could also use every day A4 ring binders and pockets for keeping them in which works out a lot cheaper.

Give it a try. It would be great to see what anyone else comes up with.

Sherrie x

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

iPad Blogging

After reading (briefly in WH Smith cos it cost £10!) an iPad magazine I've figured out how you're supposed to blog using the iPad. You can download a blogging app like this one, BlogPress or Blogsy for around £3 which allows you to link your blog and photographs all in one place in order to be able to write posts directly onto your blog! This is so very much easier when using an iPad, I can't recommend it enough.

Sherrie x
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Success

All I can say about Paddy (iPad of course) is that I'm in love. It is truly amazingly clever. Probably more clever than me in fact. And I really don't mind at all because this little piece of amazingness is definitely going to revolutionise what I call ME. 

Really? I hear you say. Why yes, and I have proof. I've been working on a sketch competition that happens every month over at Scrap365 and not only can I blog about it using Paddy but I can also take a photo of it using Paddy and upload directly onto said blog! In my world this is nothing short of spectacular. This month's sketch was created by Sian who also has a fabulous blog over at High in the Sky.

Okay I will admit that this took me a couple of hours to figure out but hey presto!  Once you have the correct apps installed and your brain has fired up, it works. 

I loved working with this sketch.  So much fun and I hope I've done it some justice.  The DT layouts gave loads of inspiration.

Sherrie x

iPad Love

Okay so my new idea to enable me to be a good blogger was to save my pennies and purchase an iPad.  Ha!  When the delivery man arrived with my new purchase I almost wet myself .... and then nearly hyperventilated.  It's simply beautiful.  And it's very very smart. 

My cunning plan to achieve blog dedication is this .... I'm hoping that not only can I carry it around with me wherever I go to speed up blog entry but I can also take images/videos directly onto it which can be pulled straight into my blog, yippee! 

Watch this space blog readers .....

Sherrie x

Oops

Okay, so I haven't been here for a very long while.  There are major reasons but none of them are really good enough.  There's really no excuse and really the only person who's missing out is me.  Especially as the reason for starting the blog was to document a journey with scrapbooking. 

Anyway ........ I am back again and have loads of new layouts to upload.  I'll pop these on in dribs and drabs but in the meantime, hello again Mrs Blog. 

I have been very busy scrapbooking loads of new layouts.  I've also made an effort to purchase albums and have starting yearly albums so that I can make layouts specifically for these and hopefully over some time I'll have lovely gorgeous albums to look through. 

For some reason though I have started on 2010.  Nothing for 2007, 2008 or 2009!  I don't know why I do things round the wrong way but I just can't help myself.  I get distracted way too easily. 

Bysey bye for now Mrs Blog, I'll be back shortly - I promise!

Love Sherrie x

Weather Wierdness

The weather is behaving in a very strange way here in the UK.  One moment it's pouring with rain, the next sunshine and blue skies.  It's a right pain when trying to decide what to wear but because of this unending rain there is a glimmer of sunshine - more time stuck inside scrapbooking!  

I have a gazillion photos that I need to scrap so I've been trying to push as many pages as I possibly can.  Here are a few:

No journalling on these pages yet, I will add that later.  I'm trying to make a holiday album that blends together well and where all the layouts are coordinated..... ish.  I have written my holiday journal already so all I need to do is add in the journalling from there.

I love it when a plan comes together!

Sherrie x

Journalling

One thing that I've always found tricky is journalling. In the past I have preferred not to journal on layouts as I never like the look of my handwriting and I always question whether what I've written is going to look silly to the person reading it later on. 

It turns out that this actually affects a lot of scrapbooking buddies and I'm not the only insecure scrapping wierdo after all!  I'm a bit like this with a lot of my layouts too.  I get to the end of creating a layout and just think, hmmmm, I don't really think this is very good. 

So, I've decided to try and tackle this little problem by planning my layouts and journalling a little better. I bought a notebook and (of course!) before I could use it for journally I decorated it. I've been journalling special days and every day things and particularly events that I've taken pictures of. 

I've found this really useful when it comes to scrapping a photo as I have the journalling already prepared and I can either use the whole thing or just take the important bits out and transfer them to the page. It has definitely made the journalling part of scrapbooking easier for me. I'm not saying that I'm going to put lots or even any journalling on all future pages but it's nice to have even if it's on the back of a layout. I think photos do say a lot but if you've got a terrible memory like I have then you can't really beat putting your memories in your own words for others to read.  After all, I always think (rather morbidly) what if I'm not around to tell my children about their births etc. Who else is going to know all those little bits of detail that the photos don't show? 

Sherrie x

Blog Post Number Three!

Here I am on my third blog post of the week - hurrah!  Not to dwell on it too much (ahem!) but I am happy that I'm prioritising my time well this month.  Praise to all the Mum's out there who try to take on extra curricular activities - it's damn hard.  Oh yeah, and full time jobs.  What on earth has happened to this world when wanna be stay at home Mums are forced kicking and screaming into work?  I know which I'd choose but I also know that I'd probably go insane and will only be able to talk about cbeebies and eat homebaked cake for the rest of my life. 

This layout is not quite finished yet.  I have some dates to add to the little tag and I'm debating some ink splodges but can't quite make up my mind.  I am really pleased though with the way it turned out. 

We've got tons of decorating to do at the weekend so I can't see any scrap time or scrap enthusiasm (gonna be exhausted!) at all which isn't great as I've got thousands of New York photos!

Have a great weekend.

Sherrie x   



Ha ha ha ha!

Ha! Twice in one week - I said I would and here I am.  I have had such a great week this week getting lots done and feeling better for it. 

I had such a wonderful evening on Tuesday at my local crop club.  We recently lost our venue so one of the ladies very kindly offered her house as the new venue.  Now there is nothing I love better than seeing inside other people's houses!  I am so incredibly nosey and love to see how other people live.  Her house was really lovely.  Not much scrapping was done but I did get a page ready with all the papers and embellishments chosen.  I learnt a valuable tip too at the crop.  If you have all the items you intend to put on a page, use a plastic 12x12 bag (like the ones suppliers send papers to you in) to store it all in so you don't end up losing anything.  This is really handy for me as I often get layouts ready (i.e. choose the papers etc.) but are not ready to stick anything down to finalise it. With this system I could have a few layouts on the go at the same time.

Then last night I managed to almost finish the page and I am so happy with it so far.  It's my first layout of a New York photo and I am loving it.  The best thing that happened during this layout was that I had almost stuck down the background paper and then, as I was inking the edges, I noticed that I really liked the other side as it had a really good option for journalling!  So, after checking that it worked I whipped it over and stuck it down.  It's funny how you think you've got a layout all wrapped up and then you see something lurking around your desk or notice the other side of a paper and it can totally make a page pop.

Hopefully will get the layout finished tonight and get it on here for you tomorrow.  So that will be three blog posts this week!  Crikey, I think I need to sit down. 

Sherrie x

We're Back!

We've now been back from New York for two weeks and our feet haven't properly touched the ground.  We've been so busy that I have totally abandoned my blog and I am truly ashamed! 

However, I am happy that I've been able to do lots of other important things recently such as playing with the kids, reading and scrapping.  Scrapping is so much fun at the moment because, of course, I have lots of lovely photos of our amazing super duper honeymoon in New York. 

You cannot begin to imaging how fascinating this place is.  It is so busy and bustling and interesting.  There are always things going on and there is so much to explore that one week is simply not enough.  On a slightly downside, it is absolutely exhausting.  We saw so much of the City but we were very tired at the end of every day and slept like dogs.  We probably walked around 8 to 10 miles every day!  Here are a few photos:



So now back home and back to the all too familiar routine.  I have lots of layouts planned for my many many photos.  My husband took hundreds and hundreds of photos which got a tiny bit waring at times although now I appreciate it as I've got some amazing photos to use. 

Over and out for now but hopefully will be back on this week!

Sherrie x

And Finally

I've finally had a chance to catch up with some scrapping.  I've been taking part in Scrapagogo's Blueprint to Go which is a monthly sketch that goes with the monthly kit.  This is for November 2011's kit:



The next is from the December Blueprint to Go:



Lately I've also been trying out different styles.  I've been wanted to do some layouts that have lots of white space.  I love this look but find it difficult as there is always so much I feel I need to put on the page.  Here goes:

Five weeks to New York - too excited for words xx



New York, New York!

Okay I didn't want to start it yet but I can't hold out any longer ..... I have begun the count down to our honeymoon in New York!  I am so very excited that I can hardly stay still.  I feel like life's in limbo until we get there and begin our holiday. 

I have wanted to go to New York as far back as I can remember so for our wedding if our guests asked what we would like as gifts we asked if we could have travel vouchers (very controversial wedding subject!).  We were very lucky to receive enough to purchase flights to New York which was unbelievable for us. 

There are many reasons to visit New York but one of the best for me is ...... scrapbook shopping!!!! Of course.  I have a few addresses for scrapbooking stores, including Michael's.  I cannot wait. 

I would welcome any suggestions/ideas from anyone who has been to New York for places to visit, restaurants to eat at etc etc. 

Sewing machine (love it) post coming soon.

Sherrie x

Yay!

Finally finally I've got a sewing machine!  Yay!!!!!!!!!!

I've been wanting a sewing machine for such a long time now and I happened to pop into Lidl yesterday morning and they had a SilverCrest machine for sale at £59.99.  After a lot of thought and some forum searching I decided to get it and it's great.

Small problem - I have no idea how to set it up and use it yet (oops) but I plan to have my mother-in-law round to give me a lesson.  I'm allergic to reading instruction manuals.  I can't wait to get some stitching onto a layout.

Watch this space xx

New Year, New Pages

Technically these layouts were done late last year but hey ho it's nice to put something up given that I've been away for a few weeks.

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and New Year and enjoyed the celebrations to the full.  Even better I hope you've managed to get some fantastic photos to scrap. 

I've started a new album.  We've, finally, got ourselves a new Paperchase store in Plymouth and it so happens that they sell these fab A5 Kraft folders all ready to decorate.  Better still they also sell A5 pockets and A5 pockets divided into two 6x4 photo sections.  I've already begun a new 2012 album which begins, of course, at New Year's Eve.

Happy Scrapping

Sherrie x