Sketch To Scrapbook Challenge January 2013

This year in collaboration with 2 Peas In A Bucket Shimelle is putting a monthly kit together.  The unusual part of this monthly kit is if you don't like one of the items or already have it in your kit you can either leave it out or substitute it for another project; in other words, you tailor this kit to what you want and really is the best of both worlds.  Sounds good to me but sadly this month there is no spare money for scrapping supplies so I will have to use what's in my stash this month. 

 



 

As of today Shimelle has shown 3 LO's on her blog made using this kit and has set a challenge based on each LO she has made.  This first challenge is to use this sketch:

 

 

Really love the LO Shimelle made, especially the camera paper in the kit but show me a LO of Shimelle's that I don't love! Guess what?  I have that paper in my stash and but just couldn't bring myself to cut into it. 

 

This is my interpretation of the sketch:

 

 

Thanks for looking.



Scrappy Sunday (27 January 2013)

We are still in January and already I am behind with this project.  Very behind.  I had high hopes of creating one LO for every day this year.  I should have 27 LO's made and instead I have only made 10.  Not good progress really. 

 

Here are this week's efforts, all 3 of them:

 

I have also 2 LO's part completed which will get finished this week and I am aiming on completing 10 this week.  With some luck I should have no kids off school to hinder me this week.  Closing schools for 2 inches of snow is getting ridiculous now.  Having said that they will probably be shut this week due to floods now the warmer weather is on the way and the snow is about to melt.

 

I am fast approaching me 500th post and am currently looking at some prizes to celebrate.  But there is going to be work involved, nothing as simple as just comment!  There is no crafty fun in that.

Project 365 Photo Challenge (26 January 2013)

 

Another week has passed and I have been busy trying to live life, as much as you can when its cold and snowy and trying to document our lives.  These are some favourite photos this week:

 

 

 

Pop on over to The Boy and Me to link up and take a look at some other photos around blog land this week.

Scrappy Sunday (20 January 2013)

Loved the scrapping round up I did last Sunday.  It was so much easier on my time than doing separate posts.  I did post on Monday but that was as part of an entry to a craft challenge.  I think apart from craft challenge posts I am going to continue with a weekly round up. 

 

These are the LO's I have completed this week:

 

 

 

This LO is taken from this gorgeous LO made by Stephanie Howell.  Just love her work and her LO's are so beautiful.

 

 



 

This week I have made 4 LO's including the Sarah's Cards Challenge LO:

 

Thanks for looking and enjoy your snowy weekend x



 

Project 365 Photo Memories (19 January 2013)

I am really enjoying this photo project so far.  To be honest I don't see myself doing much more than what I did last year for Project Life apart from I then scrapped;  I really did take a photo ever day last year apart for a small handful which were missed.

 



 

These are some of my favourites from this week:

 



 

Thanks again to all that visited, your kind comments were very much appreciated.  I nearly got round most people last week but sadly not all.  There are a large number taking part and I don't honestly think I will be able to visit everyone each and every week but I'll try and do as many as I can and mix up who I visit.  It will propbably be made up of a number of short sessions spread thrughout the week, I may see some of you late Friday night.

Again I am linking up with The Boy And Me.

 

Have a great photo happy week x

Wobbles Wednesday (16 January 2013)

With the fast approaching big 40th birthday I am making lots of changes in my life with the ultimate aim of removing stress, frustrations and unhealthy things and rediscovering me and happiness.  Along with a lot of other people I have decided that I will try to loose some weight this year.  I am not one for New Year Resolutions because I find that I put too much pressure on myself and ultimately I fail and then become very frustrated with myself; very very frustrated. 

 

Kate is another blogger who is trying to drop some lbs this year. Each Wednesday she will post a link up for anyone who wants to loose weight with the aim of everyone motivating and supporting each other along their weight loss journey.  The posts are aptly names Wobbles Wednesday.  Hopefully for all of us the wobble part won't be here for much longer.

 

I really do struggle to loose weight on my own and therefore signed up at Slimming World last week.  The number on the scales was not good, I mean really not good.  My local group meets on a Tuesday which is perfect to join in with Kate. 

 

 

After a week of changing my eating habits I was in for a very huge shock when I weighed in on Tuesday night.  It really was a celebration.  Somehow, please don't ask me how but I managed to loose...... 

 

12lb!!!!

 

I just don't know how it happened.  To be honest I wasn't that strict with the plan.  I struggle to stick with just 2 slices of bread a day, struggle with the amount of butter I can use and as for the milk, well I need more than 3 cups a day else you really don't want to be around me.  I am going to try to reducing the butter this week but I can't reduce the milk quota, its just not going to happen and to be honest life is too short to worry about how much milk I have.

 

I want to lose 3 1/2 stone (49lb) and after this first week I am well on my way to this achieving this goal.  I lost 25% of what I want to achieve and if I can do that in one week the remaining 37lb should be a doddle.

 

If you are trying to loose some weight why not visit Kate and join in with Wobbles Wednesday.

 

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday (16 January 2013)

It has been a long time since I joined in with WOYWW.  Life just seemed to be in the way.  Such things are so unfair when you have crafting fun to get on with.  This is my desk this morning.

 



 

Messy but much tidier than it has beenfor a long while.  A bit of ink spraying yesterday and if you look closely you can see I have bitten the bullet and joined Slimming World again.  It needs to be done and I am quickly approaching the big 4 0 and I need to lose some of those extra lbs.  Sadly there is quite a few.  I'll be back later today to tell you all about my first weeks results on the scales.  All I will say is shocked!

 

Moving on to my chair is my Studio Calico delivery. 



 

 

I've now subscribed for all 3 kits; scrapping, card and Project Life.  Loving the project life pack:

 

 

I really do love their acrapping kits but I have noticed they do appear to be getting smaller and this month the prices went up, the postage went up and the free delivery kicks in now at $125 for international orders.  The card kit which I have been having for 3 months now are not in my opinion that great.  I am seriously thinking of cancelling this kit but the stamps are nice and I don't have any greeting stamps in my kits as I don't make cards but the amount of scraps I have and the amount of money I spend on shop broughtcards that quite frankly are nothing special isgetting silly.  This year I am trying to make all my cards and not buy any.  Whether I can keep this up with Christmas cards will have to be seen later in the year.

 

Well that's my crafty space this week.  Fancy sharing yours?  Then pop on over to Julia to join in.

 

Thanks for looking.



Sarah's Cards January 2013 Challenge

There is a new scketch up at Sarah's Cards.  Quite straight lines and very graphic just what I like.  I have kept my LO quite simple.

 

 



I have used Amy Tangerine Sketchbook with a little Shoreline from American Crafts.  All bright fresh colours.

Scrapping Sunday (13 January 2013)

I posted on Wednesday that I am intending to complete a LO for every day this year.  We are only 13 days in to the year and I am already behind.  I understand this will be a challenge but I need to reduce my stash and preserve memories for Liam and Freya.  I am also intending on having plenty of fun adventures and challenges which we naturally need in order for me to document our lives.

 

So far this year I have made 3 LO's and completed another week of Project Life 2012:

 

 

Hope to try and get a few more done this week.



Project 365 Photo Memories (12 January 2013)

For the past few years I have seen numerous bloggers taking a photo a day.  This year I am joining in and I am hoping to post once a week on a Saturday to share some of our photos.  we are working on this project as a family and I my not necessarily take the photos myself, I want to encourage Liam and Freya to preserve their childhood adventures.

This week Liam and Freya have gone back to school after what seemed like an eternity.  Usually the holidays seem to fly by but the two week Christmas break seemed to go on for ever.  I honestly think all three of us were happy to get back to our day to day schedule.  We have not done anything exciting this week, just trying to get back in to our routines.  This is my favourite photo taken this week.

 

A nice bed time hot chocolate made with frothy milk, chocolate sprinkled on top and a lovely big gulp of Bailies.  Just what a needed on Friday night.

I never joined in last year and I really thought that I would not be able to keep up with this project but I am going to give it a go this year.  To be honest with Project Life I did take photos most days and it wasn't really a chore.  If I miss a day it won't be the end of the world; I just want to preserve our memories and as much as I hate the idea I am going to take at least one photo of me each week preferably with Liam and Freya.  I look at our photos and there are very few photos of me with Liam and Freya; its something I want to do for their memories.

 

I am linking up with The Boy and Me for their 365 photo project.

10 Things On The 10th (January 2013)

I haven't taken part the last few months as the 10th just seems to have come and gone before I realise.  Is it me or does time seem to fly by so much quicker when you get older?  This month I am going to share with you 10 photographs that I am going to scrap this month.

Boxing practice:

  

 

Looking cute in her bear hat with a hot chocolate:

 

German Market fun:

 

 

Me and my girl:

 

 

Liam feeding Cousin Thomas:

 

Looking cute:

 

Christmas cuddles with Aunty Candace

 

Christmas cuddles with Cousin Freya:

 

Bounce time:

 

First time ice skating:

 



 

These photos are some of my favourutes taken over Christmas.  Not professionally posed but every day life.  Pop on over to Shimelle to see other 10 things on the 10th.



Crafty Plans For 2013

I really am not looking forward to packing our house up  when we eventually move and really think this is the best time to down size some of our belongings.  I know what I am about to say is very rude but my crafting supplies need to be down sized too, yes, I admit I have too much stash. You would never have guessed I had too much, but where do I start?



 

My expedit is full to the brim with paper and yarn, a further shelf unit is full of yarn and then there are baskets galore scattered around the house filled with yarn.  Apart from the odd ball all of the yarn has a purpose with 90% of it for projects already started.  Crochet wise I must get working on those WIPs.  I find it very hard to believe that I only completed 4 projects last year; a cot blanket, a pram blanket and 2 hats.  The hats were not included in my one a day tallies yet I managed to complete 502 stripes, rows or squares last year.  Why then do I have so many WIPs which are less than 30% complete.  According to my Ravelry account I have 23 WIPs at present.  To be honest I think there is about another 4/5 not listed.  Lots of work is needed to complete these.  This year I intend to complete one a day again and I am currently on track which is at least a positive towards completion of the many projects I have began. 

 

 



 This week I have been working on the Rowan Cashmerino DK blanket.  I need 96 squares and have now completed 50 squares and surprisingly I have sewn in all the ends as I have gone along.  Happy with this progress but I had wanted to complete this by Christmas but life just got in the way.  The aim now is to complete the blanket by the end of February.  Seems a long time but I need to be realistic with what I can achieve.  I just don't crochet as quick as I used to due to carpel tunnel and finding time always seems to hinder progress.

 

Knitting wise I just have one seam to sew up to complete my grey cashsoft chunky wrist warmers.  Max of 10 minutes yet they have sat there unloved for about 9 weeks!  Then I have my Nephew's owl hat that needs sewing then eyes, beak and ears tufts made and attached.  Again so close yet very far from completion.  These projects will be completed by the end of next week.

 

2013 will be the year when I do some serious work on the many projects I have started and I will do my best to ignore any new yarn and projects shouting out to me.  Its clear a large number of projects need to be completed before any more are started.  But let me think, didn't I say that last year??  Wasn't 2012 going to be the year of completion?  Oh well, it just happens doesn't it or in my case it doesn't happen, lol.

 



 

Then there is paper crafting.  Paper, paper, paper every where.  I spent the latter part of the year sorting scrapbook kits out.  I had tended to keep the kits in the boxes they were delivered in as I found it easier to use them that way.  I could have a good look at what I had and then just shut the lid. However, the number of boxes were taking over.  I couldn't store them all as I had more kits coming in than LO's being made.  I still have Scrapagogo kits unused and I stopped the subscription 2 years ago.  I also have plenty of Sarah's Cards kits untouched and then there are all the Studio Calico kits. But don't get me started on the number of paper collections I brought in addition to these kits.

 



 

The kits packed into plastic pockets and then stored in these files look much better.  I still need to purchase anpother 5 files to unpack all of the kits but I am getting there slowly.  Even though I am getting organised and compacting my stash I must vastly decrease the quanity I have and quickly.  I can't bear to throw any away which means I need to scrap, scrap, scrap.

 

I took part in Shimelle's class Cover to Cover and I have gone through old albums and noted all the missing stories.  I now need to sort out the photographs for these LO's which I want to work on doing this month.  Completing the actual LO's is not essential I just want to get organised and get the gaps ready to be filled.  My next aim this month is getting on top of Project Life 2012 and September to December Document 2011.  Yes, you did read that right, I have yet to complete my 2011 album.  Then there is the Christmas albums; 2011 and 2012 need finishing. 

In order to decrease my stash I could say I'm not going to buy any more this year but lets be honest its never going to happen.  Instead I plan on completing a one a day for my scrapping too.  This year I will make 365 LO's.  A little ambitious but I will count my Christmas albums as 1 LO per page I make and they are smaller albums, Project life will be 2 pages per week and I intend on keeping up with this years as well as completing last years album.  As with the crochet I won't necesarily make 1 LO per day but I will average this over the year.  Must get started as I have yet to make any LO's this year but I often find I struggle to scrap when the kids are off school as Freya always wants to scrap as well and my table is not big enough for the two of us.

 

Wish me luck because as well as moving house, renovations and life in general I'm going to be very busy crafting this year.

This Year.....

This year there will be big changes in our lives.  These past few years have not been kind to us as a family and as a result I have decided we need a fresh start.  We are moving over 100 miles away.  Moving to the sea side.  Moving to this:

 



 

But before the move happens there is lots of work to be done.  I need to finish the renovations on our current home and then sell it.  This scares me.  Scares me alot. 

 

The up heavel for the kids.

 

The time and stress that will come.

 

How long will it take to get everything organised? 

 

Can I raise enough money to buy a suitable property? 

 

Am I doing the right thing for us?

 

Only time will tell if this is the right choice.  However, as a family we need a fresh start. 

 

We need to start anew. 

 

I need to pluck up the courage to face the 39+1 day...just 72 days now. 

 

This year is the year our lives change for the best.

 

I hope you can join us on our adventure to our new life.  Our new life by the sea.



Welcome 2013!

Happy New Year to all my wonderful blog readers. I wish you and your families a peaceful and prosperous year ahead.  May all your dreams materialise and you and those around you are blessed with health and happiness.

Sorry for the lack of posts the past few weeks. I'm having problems with my laptop as Liam has been using it and whilst it has been charging he has been bending the wire in to a very tight loop resulting in the plastic splitting and the he continued to twist until actual sparks were seen!  It wont charge at all now.  I managed to find one reasonably priced online and I am patiently waiting for it to arrive.

I fully intend on coming back as soon as I can to write a 2012 round up and let you in on my plans for this year.  There's some big changes on the horizon for us as a family.

Finally I'd like to thank all my visitors for taking time to come in to my little world these past 12 months.  As corny as it sounds I really do appreciate you visiting my blog and leaving such encouraging and supportive comments.  Thank you for the bottom of my heart.  I just can't express my gratitude enough.

Love and hugs to you all xxx