Back from self-imposed exile...

Firstly, a big thank you to Shimelle. I have been inexcusably terrible at updating my blog recently. I haven't completely stopped scrapping (though I haven't been as productive as I would like) but I just haven't been sharing on here. 

The trouble is, once it gets beyond a few weeks, you start getting that guilty feeling about it. I imagine my little blog staring at me, arms crossed, with a disapproving expression, chastising me for the lack of attention I have paid it. And then updating it becomes a chore, not a pleasure. Which is ridiculous really, because it is MY blog - noone is forcing me to keep it! I guess what I'm trying to say is that I needed Shimelle's gentle push in the right direction to get me sharing and chattering on again. Whether that is a good thing or not is another matter - perhaps I have actually spared the world the inane workings of my bizzare mind!

But anyway, back on topic, and the first page I'm going to share is this one I made for Papermaze ages ago. It's some pictures from our trip to the Isle of Wight this year, Osborne House to be specific. These statues guarded the front entrance and me and Ed just had to take some comical photos with them. 

The background paper is officially gorgeous - I defy anyone to make a less than sensational layout with it for very little effort. The finished layout is one of my favourites of late - everything just came together perfectly with little to no stress on my part. I didn't even have to shuffle the papers around much!

I will be back to share some more long-forgotten layouts with you all - once I have take some decent shots of them. I have a few magazine layouts that have found their way back to me that I need to photograph, as well as some layouts completed just for fun (believe it or not!). Feel free to tell me off via the comments box if I take longer than a few days to update again - I think I need the kick up the proverbial to get me to do it at the moment!

A Nice Cup of Tea...

Right, let's get this straight right away. I'm not a digi-scrapper. I never will be a digi-scrapper. Digi-scrapping is completely alien to my philosophy of cutting and sticking and getting really messy and hiding smudges and random glue smears under various cunningly positioned embellishments. I don't even type my journalling!

However, when Shimelle asked me to take part in her weekend inspiration party over at her blog, I was intrigued. Could my computer really be more to my scrapping than a glorified photo editor and printer? Would I actually be able to use a pdf file full of images on my layout? I decided I had to have a go.

Shimelle kindly sent me a gorgeous set of 'hot-drink' themed images. I'm a big tea-lover, and had immediately jumped at the chance to use this set as I had a layout in mind commemorating my very important work mug (which has my name and a rhyme on it and everything!). When I opened the pdf, I loved the images, but started wondering how to use them. I'm not that confident using photo or image editing software beyond Picasa really, so I knew I wasn't going to be doing any image manipulating on the computer.

So I decided to stick with what I do best, and went back to basics. I printed out several sets of the images on good quality paper. I wanted to use the journalling spaces on my layout, but I didn't want to 'lose' the sweet hot drinks images amongst my scrawl! So I cut and layered the images up, using foam pads to make them 3D, meaning that they really stood out above the journalling. I then cut another tea cup away from the journalling spot to use as another embellishment. The beauty with pdf embellishments is that you can print out as many as you like for layering up without having to spend anymore - and of course use the images for other projects if you wish. I'm thinking of using them to print a set of cool notelets and envelopes...

So here is the finished project - it's not digital, I don't think you could even describe it as hybrid, but it does make good use of my printer for the bulk of the embellishments. So even if you are as dedicated to cutting and sticking as I am, don't completely dismiss the idea of digital - you might be pleasantly surprised...

If you think you'd like to have a go, check out this class running throughout August - you'll get all the pretty printables as part of the deal.

I'll be there, will you?

Take Time to Smell the Flowers...

I created this page last week for the Papermaze blog to show how papers from different manufacturers can be easily combined. On this page there is My Mind's Eye, Basic Grey, Bo Bunny and a Making Memories notesheet for good measure. I love this photo - Ed took it in the walled garden at Osbourne House and the weather was just perfect - it brings back very happy memories of a chilled out day in the sun.







I love these American Crafts fabric thickers - think I may have to treat myelf to some more of these, they bring great texture to the page. I will have to see what other colours they do.

I've been scrapping again this week too, again for the Papermaze blog though it will end up on here eventually. Work has finally quietened down a bit and I feel like I can safely devote some evenings to my hobby rather than marking for a change! I will however be rather busy over the next few weekends - I've got Race for Life and a Take That concert at Wembley to look forward to, but at least it means more photo ops...

Judgemental Who!

This layout brings back very funny memories - the game of Guess Who, updated for a cynical and slightly drunken modern audience. Guess Who is all about judging on appearances, I guess Judgemental Who takes that a step further...

Again, my love of orange shines through - I don't seem to be able to scrap a layout without orange recently!

And just to use up more orange paper, here is a quick layout I made with a snap from Portugal last year - me and Ed taking a break after a day trip into the mountains. I just love these Basic Grey Offbeat chipboard pieces - the pack seems to go on forever which is great value for money with the way things are these days.

Hoping to get more layouts done in the next few days - got my wireless printer to work today and it prints out gorgeous photos which have really inspired me to start up again. Sometimes I go through phases of inactivity with scrapping, but I always come back in the end, and since it was the last GCSE History exam today I feel a little bit of the pressure has lifted - thank goodness! Here's hoping they all do fantastically, bless em.

Where have I been?

I have fed these little guys...

I have visited this amazing holiday home...

Where I met this handsome chap...

I have enjoyed one or two glasses of this...

And remembered to smell plenty of these along the way...

Yes, it was the annual trip to the Isle of Wight with the folks in law (well, not quite in law but I don't know how else to describe them!). I can't remember if this is my fifth or sixth visit, but it's become something of a tradition to spend this half term holiday each year on the island. The weather this time was gorgeous, which made a change from the storms and perpetual rain of the last few years, and I made my first visit to Osborne House, Queen Victoria's holiday home and, incidentally, the place where the great lady died.

So plenty of scrapbooking fodder, and I have now managed to aquire a new snazzy printer, so layouts may start again in earnest! Let the celebrations begin ;)

A New Look

Thought I would finally get around to updating my blog with a page I made for Papermaze recently, about Ed's new look glasses. We spent ages in Specsavers so he could try them all on, and he finally went for two funky pairs of Osiris glasses. I thought the event deserved commemorating since he had worn the previous pair of glasses since he was seventeen!

As you can probably tell, scrapping hasn't been top of the agenda recently - preparing the kids for exams and getting their coursework up to date has taken centre stage, but that is as it should be - this is, after all, a hobby! In my spare moments though I've returned to another crafty love of mine which is easier to transport around and pick up for a few minutes, my knitted afghan squares - I've now completed one row of squares, only about 11 more rows to go! Its a labour of love, but I don't know when it'll be finished - I'm setting myself a deadline of another two years if that gives you any idea of the extent of the project. To give myself a more instant result project to work on, I've ordered some yarn to knit a bag, so I'll let you know how that comes along if and when I get started...

One more reason scrapping has taken a bit of a back seat is that we have bought a new computer. Its absolutely fantastic - so quick and the fan is so quiet its a revelation, but unfortunately its a bit too high tech for our old printer, so I think we are going to have to order a new one. This means I only have a few photos already printed for me to scrap, but at least it means I won't keep printing out new ones before I've done them. It doesn't allow for those random moments of inspiration when you realise you have come up with the perfect layout for a shot though. Still, not too long and we will go shop for a nice new wireless printer and then I'll have much more choice again.

Going to have a nice lazy night tonight, and watch the next instalment of Ashes to Ashes, which I am totally loving - random concept for a show it maybe, but I'm intrigued!