Going mini

This is the first of two posts today as I'm posting as part of the Counterfeit Kit Challenge mini-challenge #2 and then there will be another post as part of Danielle's Earth Day blog hop. So make sure you check out both the posts but I'll be keeping this one a bit shorter.

Mini-challenge #2 is to use mini photos or mini elements on our projects - anything 3"x2" or under. 

This was fun for me because I use 3x2 all the time so I decided to make mine even smaller and took them down to 2 1/4" x 1 1/2". That way I knew I'd be able to fit 12 on a page without it feeling too full. 12 sounds like a lot of photos but I wanted to get back on the wagon of scrapping my 12on12 photos. I've been taking the photos but not scrapping the pages and now is the time.

I thought that using the April kit for my April photos would be a lot of fun and have decided to change up the design for the new year and was inspired by my good online LOAD/BPC etc friend Cathy to scatter the photos across the page. I think hers must have been even smaller though as she managed to make her pages look far less cluttered than mine. I love these bright colours which seem perfect for spring and to have found a way to use this very busy paper.

And then because I was on a roll and I'd already printed out the March photos, I pulled out the leftovers of my March kit and made another page. Success!

Now all I have to do is work backwards through the months until I reach where I left off back at the end of last summer. All the photos are there, ready and waiting. Oh yes, and funny story... I appear to have made my 12on12 for June 2011 TWICE!

Reaching the halfway point!

October feels like a very long month, at the same time as it is FLYING by!

On the one hand, creating every day makes the end of the month feel like a long way away but on the other hand, how is it possible that it is Friday again? I've said it before, but my job seems to make each week seem like just a single work day from my previous life! I say goodbye to students on a Tuesday and before I have had a chance to catch my breath, it's Tuesday again! Not real.

But the LOAD challenge is reaching the point in the month where not only am I feeling the pressure, but I also notice less layouts being uploaded to the gallery each day (meaning less people are managing daily layouts) and there is less action on the message board or comments on gallery layouts. But even if I gave up today, right now, I would still have completed 14 layouts which is a huge number compared to the zero which would have been done if I hadn't been doing LOAD! (Does that sentence even make sense?)

10th October

 ** Back to basics. Create a layout with only cardstock, patterned paper, your photos and a story. Not so easy. I missed my embellishments and all the doodads that give so much dimention and texture to my layouts. But I followed the prompt (and cheated by adding Thickers!) and scrapped the only photos I have of Christmas 2008 (rest lost due to a computer crash).

11th October 

** Use product with purpose. Be mindful of the meaning and significance of each piece of paper or embellishment you use to help reinforce the story. I tried to do with here in the layout about Cam - there is a lot of meaning to what I have used.

12th October 

**  Use product that makes you happy. The title to this says it all. There is nothing on this layout that doesn't make me happy!

13th October

 ** Use colour to reinforce the story you want to tell. Coming back to my BG hoard, I decided that Porcellain would help to set the soft pink scene for the photo here, supported by some soft creams and coffee colours which were all a part of our wedding colour scheme. 

14th October

** Use up some really old stash. No problem, I have piles and piles of the stuff. This beautiful Amy Butler paper was an absolute must have when it first came out and I got the whole range - in fact all three ranges that she brough out - along with all the  bits and pieces that came with it - alphas, felt flowers, fabric brads, stickers, etc etc etc. I used it on one project plus a few odd pages. Great to get it out and see how lovley it still is. I intend to use a chunk of it in my Photo A Day album for 2008 (yes, behind on that too!) Not sure about the cluster splatter in the top RH corner but I am trying to move on!

And I won a spot prize! Yipeeee! I got a SIX-month subscription to Paperclipping Video Tutorials! I am beyond happy as I have thought so often about subscribing. I love Noell's style and I am a regular listener to Paperclipping Roundtable on iTunes. 

I am a bit (!!) behind on Create Free but I did manage a bit this week and will post those next time! I am determined to finish it! I love the project so it is crazy not to do it.

Happy Friday!

12 on 12 with a difference

Now you know that I make a layout each 12th of the month featuring 12 photos summing up the everyday (hence the 12 on 12)? *September's 12 on 12 is another story to be explored at another time.*

But today is a 12 on 12 of a different kind.

Today is the 12th anniversary of when R & I first met. 30th September 1998 is a day that is part of our history and I like to try to mark it somehow.

So today, I decided to do 12 on 12. 12 photos of us representing the last 12 years and using my newly found 12 on 12 design.

I can't believe how much we have both changed (well, I can believe it when I get on the scales but that is also another story) and it was such a wonderful trip down memory lane for me today. We have packed a lot into our time together - little did I know what would happen in my life way back then in 1998!

Nice to use up yet more ancient stash! I love this wedding range of paper but the uses are most certainly limited. A good sprinkling of embellies and I am beginning to see a dent in that collection. 

Do you enjoy looking back as much as I do?

Just a quickie

To prove that sometimes I really do more than just sitting around all day.

I got my August 12 on 12 finished yesterday - yes it may be simple but it is still an achievement!

This morning has been full of work stuff and now I am off to teach. So on that note... Happy Hump Day!

Catching up a little

Not that I want to use that anti word, *behind*. But I've been, let's say, a little slow in getting my 12 on 12s done over the last few months. Not to mention, I keep forgetting and twice this year so far, I've had to do it on the 13th!

But time on my hands makes for an urge to finish up stuff and hey presto, three layouts later, I am totally up to date. Not only that, I have finally settled on a design that I'm going to use every month from now on. This has only taken me more than two years.... Sometimes things take a long time to settle in my brain...

But suddenly it clicked and June and July follow this new, simple, block design. Space for journalling, space for a small embellishment, space for a title, using mostly scraps. Yeah!!! Happy, happy.

I don't really like this one - the colours and embellishments are a little "off" but it's done, and it used up lots of odd, old bits and pieces. And it was really the 13th. Not really important. Pictures of the kids are much more appealing.

Tra laaaa. New design. Block, block, block. Nice, nice, nice! When I had printed off the photos, I noticed how much red and black there was and some flashes of yellow/gold which mirrored the whole German flag colours and feelings of national pride in World Cup month, so I went with these colours in the overall design. I like it!

And again. Same design + different colours = different look. Yes, there is a typo in the journalling, but it's not critical. And another one just using scraps from my box. 

I'm wondering how long I will continue with this project. Should I think about finishing it at some point, or just continue? The album I have assigned to it is very full and very interesting to look back at all those months, but is this something to go on forever? Not sure.

Still on target

28 layouts in 28 days!

It's still fun, I'm still feeling the groove, my strategy is still proving useful. And I currently have a nice pile of 14 layouts sitting in my scraproom! This is great and I feel totally energised to keep going.

Ok, so my life is probably about 10% as full as you mums out there, but it's been really good to get me away from the television and using up lots and lots of supplies.

My Pink Whispers kit has proved a life-saver but I think I might have to switch to another colour scheme! The pink is feeling a bit over the top now. Shock horror - me? tired of pink? well, there's a thing! But there is still loads left (I added in a few things along the way) and I might be able to squeeze out a few that are not pink at all.

February 11th

Still the Pink Whispers kit but taking out some of the other hues inspired by the stems and flower centres of the tulips.

February 12th

What I am really loving about LOAD is that it is giving me the push to actually complete some of the stories or ideas I've had for some time. This was an idea that I've had since I fluffed my speech at R's birthday party back in November!

February 13th 

I don't think I've ever finished my 12 on 12 so early! Continuing with the pink theme thanks to the brighter, more colourful photos. And using up some stash that I don't love quite as much as I did when I bought it so it feels great to see it used up!

February 14th

And here we are up to date and today's romance captured. The day is not over, but the main story is told. Love, love, love it!

LOAD is supported by a private group on Flickr which has also proved to be part of the fun. 147 other scrappers, posting every day, supporting each other, leaving positive comments, motivating each other and having lots of fun. I am loving it all. As a solo scrapper, this kind of thing is what I have been missing and I am really enjoying the community! And I'm getting lots of lovely comments from many talented scrapbookers which is a thrill for me. Makes me feel all warm and gooey. It is really time intensive, but while I have the time, it's great to use it in this way. 

There was something else I wanted to write today, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was.

Anyway, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY and I hope that your day was filled with romance and love.

XXXX

12 on 12

Are you 12 on 12'ing yet?

I'm still managing to get this done each and every month. Although to be honest, it's a miracle most months as I am so forgetful. And most months, the 12th just jumps up and bites me. It's just another reminder of how fast time is flying and I was honestly shocked rigid this month when I got my reminder from Susan on Monday evening. Surely it couldn't be the 12th already?

Then it's a matter of actually remembering all through the day - this week for example, I seem to have just stopped early evening. The camera was there on the table, but it didn't register with my brain. But it made it easier somehow to pick out only 12 photos for the day.

When I put the layout together this morning, it struck me how colourless all the photos are. Grey and dreary and quite frankly, a bit boring. And then I thought about how that sums up January completely (and that is exactly what this project is all about). My least favourite month of the year. I was thankful for the beautiful pink flowers that my very dear school friend Geraldine had sent me so at least there was the tiniest splash of pale pink there.

These layouts are by no means wonderful and beautiful. But that is not really why I am doing it.

I take photos and use them to document a day in the life...

When I first started, I spent ages creating elaborate double page spreads and getting all "designy" with it. Since last year, I take my photos, print them out 2x2 and then just lay them out on a single spread. Add some journalling and be done with it.

I now have 22 months documented and have just spent 10 mins flipping through my album - so interesting to see how things have changed (and not changed) over those 22 months.

Here are my catch up layouts:

November 2009

December 2009

January 2010

No, it can't really be. Can it?

Can it really be the middle of September already? Actually, yes it can because when I got up this morning, the calendar told me it was . And I believe it. Calendars are generally incapable of lying. Of course, I might have slipped (once again) into a parallel universe where time is twice as fast as that on earth but the chances of this are slim.

How scary is it that we are heading to the end of September? I mean I opened my eyes yesterday and it was 1st Jan. Where did those last months go? Did you know that it's only 98 days till Christmas? Yep, thought that would freak you out. Christmas things are creeping into the shops already and I bet you in the Philippines they are already wishing each other "Merry Christmas" (it was a competition who would be the first to say it in September. You get a full 3 1/2 months of build up over there...)

But I did manage to slow down time a tinsy winsy little bit on Saturday to remember that it was the 12th and another month is recorded in my 12 on 12 album. What amused me though is that I am really confused with the dates right now - tied up with this faster than reality passing of time - and I actually had the title as Aug 09. Then I looked at it and thought that it was a bit autumnal for August and realised that the reason it had an autumnal feel was because it really IS autumn! And that I was a month out in my calculations! So oranges and browns and pumpkins and spiders' webs are all featured. (#42 in my Challenge 50)


We are still enjoying life in Balconia and are planning to keep the outdoor season going as long as possible because it is such a novelty for us.

PS. Have I told you that I LOVE autumn? You *may* not have noticed that the majority of my layouts are probably about this season ;-) but it is!

Dry spell

It sounds like I am not the only one to have lost their mojo recently and I have had nearly two weeks with no creativity whatsoever apart from a few birthday cards which always take me far too long to finish.

What to do?

Start small is the method I chose most of the time. The whole, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" idea. It is not like I don't have a lot of ideas of things to do and projects to start, it is almost like I have too many. But every time I look at my wonderful collection of stash, I just feel overwhelmed.

So start small I did. Do you remember my small CD case calender that I made at the beginning of the year? Each month I print out three small square photos to sum up the month and then make a few notes listing the highlights and there it is - a month encapsulated in a very small, easy way. So, I broke the cycle by completing May's entry and already choosing what I think will be the three photos for this month.
Then I felt compelled to print off my 12 of 12 photos for the month and then, on a roll, I finished my 12 on 12 layout. Pat myself on the back and feel much better. Ok, it is a simple design, almost the same as last month (which is the idea!) but I feel so good that it is done!


I might even now go for the challenge I set Libby et al (see here).

April 12 on 12

Ha ha!

Going for the easy layout and design... Maybe this will be the same design for the next 12 months, maybe not!

But as Easter was so pink, this was ideal for this month's 12 on 12 and overall, I am happy to have it to add to my album.

Of course, like I said before, I totally forgot about it on the day and remembered two days later! Luckily, we took a lot of photos anyway that day but I am definitely missing some that I would have taken - me cooking dinner, the food, the boys finding their eggs etc. But no worries...

It's done and it is not even May yet!

Summertime, and the living is easy...

Welcome to European Summertime - when we lose an hour of sleep but win an extra hour of daylight and with it, the promise of balmy summer evenings sitting outside with friends and family.

It felt strange tonight to look outside at 8.30 to realise it was only just dark. But it's nice to think that we have the whole summer ahead of us.

I guess everyone enjoys this time of year, don't they?

Anyway, I haven't done very much at all this weekend except potter around in my little room and managed to finish two layouts. One of which is my March 12 on 12 - again, better late than never!

A whole year has now been documented this way and I am raring to go for the 2nd! I am definitely going to streamline and simplify the process and think I will go for a single page layout with small photos and brief descriptions - these have been taking me FAR too long! LOL.

Once again, thanks Susan for the monthly reminders. I love this project!

12 on 12 - better late than never!

Yes, once again, I'm here posting my February 12 on 12 just before I'm due to start the March one!

But I did it which is the main thing.

Another thing is that I came up with yet another design and even that did not work out quite like I thought! Guess I am just not good at these clean, graphic line styles a la CZ. But it is quite pretty, uses up some tiny scraps I had leftover from the Bellaboo February kit and is really pink which is always a good thing.

Once again, credit to my fellow 12 on 12'ers who are always ready with their layouts within a day or two. I admire you all but somehow I just can't manage it.

I am trying to get Amber (babiest sister) to join in and she tried last month but forgot to take any pictures in the afternoon! I told her to do it anyway just using the pictures she has. So Amber, get it going and don't forget your camera this Thursday.

March will be a complete year for me and I love looking back over my album to see the year whizz by. Maybe from April I will simplify it all a bit and make a simpler template and only a single layout. Will have a think.

Spring is coming - looking forward to more blue skies. Happy Sunday everyone.

How many times can I kid myself that I am "catching up"?

Yep, more time goes by, more projects left unfinished or not even done although I always have the very best of intentions!

So, new leaf, new start and all that.

Here is my 12 on 12 for December (way late) and January (at least it's still this month!) with much respect for my fellow 12 of 12'ers who always manage to get their projects done within a day or two!

A change of plan for me this year though. Since April last year, I have been making life difficult for myself my making each month a different (and not always successful) design. Well as of January, I have decided to make life easy by choosing one or two of last year's designs and just repeating it each month which hopefully will make it simpler and quicker. I am also considering using just one range of paper although I am not sure about that right now.

Anyhow, I loved the easy and pretty design I came up with in November and decided to start with that. I am also considering the July design or even the October design. I thought two might be nice so that I can alternate them.

So December was all about signs of Christmas all around and January was my first real day back at work with plenty of cold snow still on the ground. Both themed to some degree.

I love flipping through my 12 on 12 album and seeing how my days have changed from month to month. This is such a great project to be a part of - thanks Susan!

And I will be so pleased when we get more daylight and I can take half decent photos of my stuff. (yes, I know I could use my scanner but one thing at a time!)

Slowly but surely

It's a bit painful at the moment, but I am VERY slowly trying to work through outstanding stuff. My October 12 on 12 was missing as pointed out in the comments on my last entry by Meredith (:-)) and I really wanted to catch up so that I am on track with this. Maybe I am just making it too difficult?

Anyway, I decided to sit down during some dead time at work and create two simple sketches and then I just got on with it over the last couple of days. But you know, this is much harder for me than sitting with a blank piece of paper and just throwing stuff down on the page!

I decided to go all graphic and simple á la Cathy Z (I'm doing her Design Your Life right now over at BPS and am trying to "internalise" some of this simpler stuff.) and I created a grid as the base to the layout. But as you can see, my measurements were somewhat "off", my common margins are not all that common and I have odd spaces here and there which I had to fill with ribbons and paper!!!! Best intentions! I guess there is always next time!

The main thing in that the day is recorded!

November was a bit more successful - and I used the new font recommended by Cathy Z which I adore.

And onto the next projects - the Christmas kit work for Bellaboo - another fantastic combinations that will blow your mind! Looking forward to sitting down tonight and getting down to it.

PS. Don't you hate the fact that it is so difficult to catch that 30 seconds of decent daylight now that winter is definitely here - taking photos on the floor with electric light and flash.... not a good combination! The layouts are much *nicer* IRL!

PPS. Isn't that Fancy Pants floral gorgeous? All the PP I used here (in both layouts) is from Bellaboo - I adore this range of Botanicals though. It was lovely to use something so pretty. It did not need much embellishment at all. Thanks Lib!

Can't Believe My Eyes!

I honestly cannot believe that it has been more than TWO months since I last updated the blog. What must you think of me? And there I was doing so well and then silence for so long. No excuses although I have to confess to having a crazy time over the summer with family visits (baby brother for three weeks and then the Chance family for five days) which are always great, a visit from my best friend, holidays, two trips to the UK including my baby sister's 18th birthday party and various scrapping challenges!

So where do I start?

Ok. How about with the Bellaboo stuff over the last couple of months? If you have not already checked out the monthly kits that I work on, well pop over to the site (here) and check out the kits for September and October here. I'm sorry to have to tell you that you missed a couple of FAB kits for July and August but September was a dream to work with and October was right down my street with hints of Autumn, texture and memories of home. I will put a few sneak peeks for my October projects below but check out the gallery here and then order your kit here!






Unfortunately, I have to admit to falling off the Big Picture Scrapbooking "Have More Fun" class after such a good start but I am slowly working through the outstanding projects and have made inroads into the daily project for September which I hope to be able to post later in the month.

I think these two projects have not yet been posted and I have to say, the layout was a lot more fun than I thought it would be and I like the fact that it includes small items that have special meaning to me - ideas are represented by certain items! And as for the mini-album, well this is great and I have just finished a second one with the October Bellaboo kit (see above). This is Stacy Julian's take on completing a "photo album scrapbook" quickly and easily to get a whole load of photos "dealt" with to allow you to focus on the important stories you want to tell on your scrapbook pages - such a great idea and so easy. Uses up lots of photos and product and you get such a sense of achievement. Great!

Mmmm, what else?

Well, yesterday I managed to catch up with my 12 of 12 project - I was missing Aguust and September althought I had at least managed to take the photos! Thanks to Susan's reminder! So here they are ...

And of course, there was the infamous Bellaboo Birthday Bash which you can read all about in the October newsletter here! We had a total blast and it was so worth the effort of going over to be part of it - I enjoyed every second of it and participated in three classes by the delightful Cleo which were great fun. I managed to finish the canvas on the day which I was so proud of (featuring me and Ted at Crange Kirmes - a local famous funfair). The other two projects are half done and I really want to find time to get them done over the next week or so! It was just so much fun and you HAVE to be there next year!!!

I am sure that I am forgetting something but that will have to do for now!

What have you been up to?

12 on 12 - July

Another month - already? Hard to believe, but true. July came up so fast and as I write this, it is hurtling towards August.

The 12th was quite uneventful apart from almost forgetting to take pictures at the beginning of the day. How does that happen?

And this is really not deliberate, but once again, there seems to be a theme running through the day - it's clear that each month through the year will have its own feel but I had never expected to have themes each month. April was socialising, May was hectic errand running, June was all about travelling by public transport. July, I am embarrassed to have to admit - was ALL about food and drink. I don't think we stopped eating and drinking all day! I only had a couple of photos which featured neither food nor drink. But that is what is interesting in this project! I have to admit that over this weekend, I really think that I gained two kilos! But it was all enjoyable at the time! We went out for breakfast, needed refreshments at Ikea, stopped off at Starbucks, decided we NEEDED a fast food snack, had dinner at Helga's and finished off stuffing our face with sweets! Shocking but true and I am glad to have captured it!


This month's design was inspired by the Kelli Crowe project this week in my BPS Have More Fun class (will post other "stuff" from this class another time) using the square punch and only scraps from the scrap box. But I am pleased with how it turned out and may come back to this style again in the future. At some point, I want to settle on a style for each month to make it more uniform and easy to produce but I think that maybe the first year will all be different!

Sorry the photo is not brilliant - so difficult to get good non-reflecting light.

On the subject of "scraps", do you only have one or two colours in your scrap box? Or is it just me? Is this a sign that I only ever scrap pinks, greens or browns? Am I boring? What's in your box?

Roll on August 12....