Embellish your World

September and October Project 12 pages

Not sure why I didn't get around to doing my September page last month, so I have just completed both Sept & Oct this weekend. First up September's sketch we were provided with over at Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine.

As usual for me on these pages I have used up lot of bits and bobs, including some Prima flowers and odd brads I had in my "use these" pot on my desk. September  saw my youngest start school, my eldest boy celebrate his 7th birthday and a visit to see Gorilla Statues in London.

The October sketch looked like this.

And my layout, featuring Mr Cardle no less, looked like this.

My fave part on this page (apart from Matt Cardle obviously!) is the bat embellishment I made from a spooky patterned napkin! I adhered it to chipboard, cut it out and the applied a layer of glossy accents! The photographs of my boys doing their "scream" faces do make me chuckle too!

I also found this fellow whilst on their site a few days ago, created by one of the Bo Bunny ladies for Thanksgiving! Might had to have a go at making one of these for Christmas - he is too cute!

Off to make myself another cup of tea now before I settle down with my Kindle for a read but before I go just wanted to let my blog readers know I am restarting ScrapMates, my monthly scrapbooking crop. We have a new venue, a sparkling new hall not far from Junction 25 of the M25 and will be annoucing our January Crop date very soon. To keep informed on what is going on visit the Enfield ScrapMates blog or find us on Twittter @ScrapMates or on Facebook. So excited about this it's not true!

June & July Project 12 pages

As mentioned in my last blog post I am playing catchup with project 12 and finished June's page this evening and did July's too. Project 12 for those who don't know is simply scrapbooking 12 double layouts per year from a double layout sketch provided on the SCT blog each month.  I choose to follow along to compile an entire album summarising the year for me and my family and this is the second year I have played along.  I still haven't completed a page for January this year yet (I spent most of it in America dealing with my late father's affairs so it wasn't the best of months) but I think I am close to knowing what I am going to do for this page that compensates for the lack of photos I took that month.

Anyhow, I have done Feb - July now, and here is June's page and the sketch on which it was based.

Working with the square photos was fun on this one, although as I have chosen to work in an 8.5x11 format for this project I always have to adjust my measurements - indeed I should own up to actually NOT measuring a thing!!  I just go by eye and what looks right to me. One thing I love about this page is that is uses up lots of bits and pieces I have in a draw I affectionately named "Use it or lose it!". I throw odd bits and pieces into the draw and then when I am looking for something to finish off a page, or maybe add to an embellishment cluster I go to this draw. 

My July layout actually uses the August sketch as I knew I would have many more photos in August and the July sketch has space for more images so I swapped them around. Saying that I then replaced where one photo should be with 9 mini ones -of the same event! Apologies for the star over my nieces face but my sister doesn't like me to share pictures of her on the internet and I have to respect that (but I still want her in my albums of course x) 

 
Finally got a chance to use my RiffRaff designs chipboard dragonfly on this page, and the black circular die-cut I have had for several years too - both out of my "Use it or lose it" draw! And the background patterned paper (KI Memories I think) is another ancient product among my collection - can you tell I tidyed my craft room?!!

I have most of my August photos all printed off ready to scrap, and of course the July sketch I will be using, so I should have that double page finished in no time at all, which will then mean I can focus on the next project on the horizon Thirsty Thursdays over at ATDML starting September 1st on a weekly basis! This along with Shimelle's LSNED class will have me super scrappy next month and of course I will have plenty to share here on my blog!

April Project 12

A speedy blog post from me today as I need to catch up on some sleep after several dodgy nights with our youngest and a rather irratating cough - oh the pleasures of motherhood!

Just wanted to share my April Project 12 page which I completed using delicious papers from MME "Stella Rose Mabel", elements of Fancy Pants "its the little things", Crate paper "School Spirit" and the ribbon pleat from Pink Paislee "Queen Bee". I do love it when I choose a paper range to scrap with and then bring in elements from various manufacturers to compliment it. 

 

The sketch on which it was based can be found on Candian site Scrapbook & Cards today where you can also find out more about Project12 and creating a layout to review each month of the year. You don't have to do every month and you can use the sketches to inspire other layouts too. I have now completed Feb - Apr 2011 and have prepared the background for May - I just need to get taking some photos (hopefully better ones after my photography course on Saturday!

Project 12 - 2011

Well due to my somewhat unusual and unhappy start to the year, travelling to the USA to deal with my late fathers affairs, I hadn't made a start on my Project 12 layouts for 2011. I still haven't managed to do January - maybe I will just focus on the journalling and have fewer photos, but for now I have completed February and March pages.

 
 

I decided to do my album 8 1/2 by 11 this year, last year was 9x9 and I am hoping the challenge of the different size will mean I have to be a little more creative with the sketches which are of course for square pages.

Here is March's sketch and you can see how I changed it up, but still kept the photo placements the same.

 

 

 
I used my Sugar and Spice stamps designed by Marion for the floral element on the left hand page. These were bought at Ally Pally and I love how versatile they are. Papers are older ones I have had for a while, but I thought they fit the spring feel of the page.

Time to get off the laptop now and head off to the cinema to see Arthur - can't wait for a good giggle!

Project 12 2010 - my final pages

Amid the chaos that has been the last few months, I lost momentum on my Project 12 Album that I had started in January.  Started on Scrapbook Cards & Today blog a few years back I decided to play along with this project for 2010 which involved just a 2 page layout per month summarising the family activities for each month, or a special occasion that occured on a particular month.  I used a 9x9 Making Memories album I'd had sittinga round for this project and am happy to say, not withstanding an introduction page and maybe a conclusion (well it does tell the story of our year) I am all done.

So here are my double layouts for the final quarter of 2010 along with the sketches that inspired them.

OCTOBER

 

 

Paper used here were those I won from a Canadian company earlier this year called Lucky Number 7.

NOVEMBER

 

 

Again I used Lucky Number 7 papers on this layout, and kept the journalling brief on what was a pretty tough month. And lastly onto December where I was grateful for the number of photos the sketch called for - although naturally I deviated from that!

DECEMBER

 

 

 

My December page uses a mixture of old Pink Paislee Mistletoe papers and new Fancy Pants Hot Chocolate papers. So there it is, I did it! An entire year summarised in one album and I love it!

I have already ordered my cardstock for next years Project 12 where I will be doing a portrait 8.5 x 11 album and ATDML have Bazill cardstock in this size in their sale so I was a very happy bunny!  The first sketch is revealed this weekend and I would highly recommend this as a nice low-maintenance project for your 2011.

Lastly for today, another page from my JYC minibook - December 26th

 

September Project 12

 
I didn't stick exactly to the sketch this month, probably varying it more than I have any other month, mostly due to having more portrait photos I wanted to include than landscape.  I love my Prima brickwork stamp which I used on my background card this month. Then some old rub-ons that I have had lying around for a while and a few other odds and end completed my double layout for this month. Now I just need to hope that the lovely Mel and Jill have been able to order me in some 9x9 page protectors as I only have the back of one left, and 3 more months to do!!

I can hardly believe we are in the last week of this half term, with a week off school looming ahead for my 3 I have a couple of days off with them with arty/crafty stuff and swimming on the agenda (both their choices when asked what they'd like to do during the day if I was off with them). Jamie (aged 3) also asked if we could find some more rectangle box treasure, which after a while I translated to Geocaching! We did manage a nice walk this weekend, but no caching was involved - did get some nice autumnal photos however which I am planning on scrapping using my Lucky #7 papers I won from Canada. I still have a few caches to find in the nearby park so maybe we will try for a few of those next week, weather permitting of course.  It was chilly this weekend, but not raining so perfect for being out and about with the children.

 

 

Project 12 - August page

Quick post sharing my Project 12 pages for August. I have so much more to share but no time right now as we are preparing for my sons 6th birthday party tomorrow and I have much to do!!

I started out with the sketch for August but then it evolved into the page above, which once more uses lots of left over bits and pieces from my stash including some Pink Paislee paper, a chipboard SUMMER word I have had for ages, 7Gypsie stickers and a Prima journalling spot.

July Project 12 and ChickenSoup #8

I'm such a donut! Forgot to upload and share my July Project 12 sketch by the 20th deadline, even though I had done it! But here it is anyway - full of photos of our family week away with a little chicken photo tucked in there celebrating their arrival to the family.

And talking of chickens I was rather surprised by how much I eventually liked the card I made for the latest recipe and I have made several in this style since for colleagues at work. I dug out an old Sassafrass alphabet and stamped in a variety of colours, added a cupcake image coloured in with Promarkers and then a little stickles to the main HAPPY BIRTHDAY stamped word.  These are so much fun to do and I've added a name to a few as well for a truly personalised touch. Hope you will be inspired to play along once more!

 

Echo Park, Chickens and thanks!

What another blog update?! I know, what am I like!  Today sharing my project 12 June pages using the Echo Park Walk in the Woods papers (scrummy!) The sketch for June and my interpretation are below - rather a bright and full page for me, made easier by working in 9x9 for this project.  Half way through now and I'm going to need to buy some more 9x9 page protectors to be able to complete all 12 months, so if anyone knows where I can get some (think my album is Making Memories but any post bound page protectors would work) please let me know!

My chickens (or rather pullets as they haven't laid as yet) are getting bigger and have settled in nicely. Robert and Jamie are eager to feed them and cuddle them everyday, and Robert has finally accepted that they won't lay any eggs until they are older.

And final sharing for today, I made some thank-you cards for Robert's teachers and assistants for tomorrow is his last day in reception.  He is very excited about starting year one in September, almost as much as knowing his brother will join him at school the year after!  Nothing too fancy about the cards, but Robert helped design them and wrote his own messages, and together with the customised Post-it note pads and bought some sweets with handmade wrapping hopefully they will be well received. 

 Still no baby from my sister, she is now 4 days overdue, but tomorrow is the 22nd and her birthday is Feb 22nd so maybe, just maybe little one will make an appearance for us! 

May Project 12

Now I have my laptop back in lovely working order I can share my May project 12 double layout that I saved and then couldn't access.  May, as my blog readers may have observed, was mostly full of elephant hunting around London so it should come as now surprise that my pages for May mostly contained Elephants!!

My layout used my fave Queen Bee papers by Pink Paislee which lend themselved to cutting out small details for layering (which I kinda love to do!) and judging by the clips we get to see more of from July 19th over at Pink Paislee, the new releases are going me winging their way into my shopping cart very, very quickly!! I just love their papers, and my next class from ATDML in August will be using the Pink Paislee 365 degrees collection.  #

Just take a look at what is coming soon from Pink Paislee ....

Here is what Pink Paislee say about this collection!

 "Elegant design meets eclectic materials in this new Parisian Anthology collection.  This stunning array of products will include designer ink resist papers, brooch brads, polymer clear stamps, printed corrugate shapes, and several unique embellishments designed with crafters in mind" 

And this rather catches my eye too! Especially as I'll have all three of teapot humans (quote from True Blood Season 2 - Eric referring to children!) at school in September! I can't wait for these!

Back tomorrow with Week 3 Recipe from ChickenSoup - are you playing along? Come see what we are up to, and join us on facebook too (ChickenSoupDT)