Loose Ends

With December on the horizon, I've made a concerted effort to tidy up loose ends and finish off Design Your Life, complete missing album pages and catch up with One Little Word.
Week 12  of Design Your Life was disappointing, as I do so hate it when a class ends with a final week of choose your favourite from earlier weeks and re-do.  Why not just make the class a week shorter and end with a short recap?
As it happened, my favourite layout was from week 1: use a large photo and minimal design.

The lovely Aussie girls over at SAG are still regularly posting and sharing pages of beautiful simplicity.  Amy's latest offering caught my eye and I used it as the basis for a partial scraplift.

One Little Word in October was capturing my word through the camera lens.  Under this category of making October better, I have little people in the paddling pool on the 1st, Harvest Festival on the 7th, weekend crop with my BF over 7th-9th, the visit to the V&A on the 13th and much, much more.  I added journaling strips to each pocket after the photo was taken. 

During November, One Little Word was about indulging in a spot of self-reflection through a number of "I" statements about where I am in my life right now.  Most of it is too personal for blogging. 

That pretty much brings me up to date, (apart from the journaling in this mini book) and ready for December Daily.  My new American friend introduced me to the idea of a pre-Christmas house guest, so do look out for when he/she makes an appearance.

Don't forget to leave a comment here, if you'd like to enter my Christmas GiveAway.  It closes at Midnight (GMT) tonight and will be drawn tomorrow. 

Unexpected Day

The local electricity company forced the closure of DS's school today, as they needed to do some emergency repairs in the road outside.  How can you teach and feed children without light, heating and a functioning kitchen?  However, school will be open tomorrow ~ no striking teachers for us, thankfully.
Cue an unexpected home day. 

 ~ Christmas shopping with Mummy ~

~ Mode of transport: walk, train, bus, walk ~

 ~ Playdate ~

~ Mode of transport: walk, bus, bus, walk ~

I think I may have over done it. What do you think?

Don't forget to leave a comment here, if you'd like to enter my Christmas GiveAway.  There's still time. 

Breaking News: DH Gets An iPad2 ...

... in other news, Hell freezes over.

What's with the let's-photograph-Ruth-ironing-and-still-wearing-an-apron-from when-she-stewed-apple-and-blackberry shot?

Don't forget to leave a comment here, if you'd like to enter my Christmas GiveAway.

Project Life: Week 34

The week where we had a flying visit from a lovely friend who lives a fair distance away from us.  The week when we were able to climb the church tower for amazing views.  The week with stark contrasts in the weather in a 24-hour period.

The week where I made a quick visit up to town in order to exchange an evening dress (and found time to check out the Christmas decorations in a famous department store).  The week it became obvious that DS is making friends at school.  The week with much colder weather, resulting in boots and 60 denier tights.  The week with frequent visits to the coffee shop: my new American friend invited me for coffee on Thanksgiving ~ she said she wanted to thank me for being so friendly and helpful to her.  Cue embarrassed Brit.

Don't forget to leave a comment here, if you'd like to enter my Christmas GiveAway.

52 In Black & White: Week 47

 

Don't forget to leave a comment here, if you'd like to enter my Christmas GiveAway.

December Daily: The Album

The kit I'd ordered from the US arrived safely last Thursday and, overall, I'm very pleased with it.  There wasn't a great deal that made me say, "Wow, love that!", but there was plenty that made me say, "Now, I do like that".
Everything from kit, unless stated otherwise.

 ~ tags: Paperchase ~ stars: Creative Memories punch ~ red brad: from stash ~

 ~ plenty of room to add extras throughout December ~

~ Christmas Pud decoration and red card (just seen): Paperchase ~ bingo card: Jenni Bowlin ~ robin transparency: from stash ~ pockets (cut down ATC holder: WHSmith ~ templates (just seen): Ali Edwards ~

Don't forget to leave a comment here, if you'd like to enter my Christmas GiveAway.

52 In Black & White: Week 46

~ DS and his wee pal P on the front steps at school ~

Don't forget to leave a comment here, if you'd like to enter my Christmas GiveAway.

It's Time ...

... for a giveaway.  I haven't hosted one for about a year, maybe longer and I'm in the mood to spread a little cheer, as it were.  Today, here in London, it is miserably grey and damp; outside looks black and white.  Did you guess that November has never been my favourite month? 

Talk of Christmas is appearing on blogs, a lot of us are preparing for Journal Your Christmas or December Daily or a combination of both. Our American cousins are preparing for Thanksgiving and the beginning of their Holiday season on Black Friday.

Me? I've ordered our turkey and received my December Daily kit from the US, but that's pretty much it.

I need to make a list or two ...

I have two of these sweet Christmas notebooks to giveaway (and will probably throw in a few more Christmassy things as well) and here's what you need to do, should you wish to win one.  Simply leave a comment sharing your favourite thing about the run-up the the big day.  Giveaway will close at midnight (UK time) on Wednesday, 30 November and I'll do the draw on Thursday, 1 December.

Design Your Life: Week 11

Poor old DFL; it's been badly neglected since the start of the summer holidays.  Not that I remember having much of a summer.
Week 11's all about type, font and size.  I'm not one for typed titles, as I usually scrap in 12x12 format and my printer can't cope with that size.  Nothing to stop me from printing out in 8.5x11 format, though, is there?

I think, in hindsight, that I probably should have trimmed off the white space above the title.  Still, you live and learn and it's the first page I've managed to put together in almost three weeks.

The Tall Tall Tower

The church at the end of our road opened its tower to the public yesterday.

The stairs were incredibly narrow and steep.

 But well worth it in order to try out the big lens.

Look closely and from left you will see:  St Paul's Cathedral with Swiss Re building behind it, Canary Wharf, the Shard (currently under construction and looking like a helter-skelter) and the London Eye.
DS couldn't quite manage the steepness of the stairs, although he had a good try and remained at ground level with DH; he (DS) was rewarded later with raspberries from our good friend A.

Project Life: Weeks 32 & 33

Week 32: The week with Happy Mail for me and DS, a look at the menu for school lunches and a gift of hooky magic.

The week where I made a card about my Great Uncle for DS's Remembrance Assembly (and is about to star in the next school news letter, apparently), our first Parents' Meeting at school, an invitation to the Field of Remembrance, dancing to ABBA and daily leaf sweeping 

The week with fantastic Happy Mail for DS and an unexpected trip to the vet for the pooch.

Week 33:  The week with a Remembrance Assembly at school, a big shop at the supermarket, disturbed nights caught up with DS and DS is making friends at school.

The week when I had lunch with my mum ~ a rare treat, DS showed interest in the keyboard in DH's office (now moved to the playroom), a visit to the Field of Remembrance and DS lost his trousers on the walk home (he managed to spill milk over himself at school and had to borrow a pair of trousers age7-8).

52 In Black & White: Week 45

The Reasons Why

Mum and I went into Central London this morning; we visited the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey.

 The reasons why we buy our poppies
The reasons why we wear them with pride

Through My {New} Lens

A brief snapshot of how went my day.
Warning: photo heavy.

 ~ you missed a bit ~  

 ~ Christmas windows ~

 ~ lunch with my mum; a rare treat ~

 ~ love is ~

 ~ caffeine shot ~

 ~ browsing in Oxfam ~

~ music maestro ~

Christmas Comes Early

No, my December Daily kit from the US hasn't arrived.
It's better than that.
I am in possession of a new camera.
An SLR camera.

With a big lens.

I may be a while getting to grips with it.


 

Laying The Foundations

I'm in a rut with my scrapping and this blog, if I'm honest.  I have so many ideas running around my head, but can't seem to make sense of any of them.  However, I have managed to lay the foundations for two up-coming scrapping projects ...
Me: The Abridged Version is all set to go in the New Year (see this post from last month) ...

 Album from American Crafts 8.5x11

Paper is Echo Park's Little Boy range, paired with Kraft

December Daily is in hand ...

This is plan B, as I'm not that hopeful of the kit I ordered from the US arriving in time.  It will be 8.5x6 and the page templates are from Ali Edwards.  I'll also be adding clear pockets for extras, like cards.

Revamping my blog and how I post is something for the beginning of 2012, but I'm open to suggestions.



For The Fallen

"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today"