Scrapbook Layouts - 32-34/2021 & St Andrew's Day

Hello Everyone

More scrap pages for the record. All three were made for Shimelle's Half and Half class. 

Distant Cousins

This is my cousin proudly holding her beautiful baby daughter at her christening in 1966. What makes them distant cousins is that the family moved from London to New York shortly after this event. Most of the materials are from Mind the Scrap kits but the black/white check paper is from the Range. 

Fabulous Fifties Fashion

The photos on this page were from an exhibition held at the Lanark visitor Centre. I've scrapped some photos from the exhibition before but I thought these went particularly well with the  papers I chose for the background of this layout. The embossed green cardstock, origin unknown, has been saved in my stash forever and the floral patterned paper is another that came in a Mind the Scrap kit. The clusters of circles were punched out with the only two Stampin' Up circle punches I own. I was very pleased to use a couple of fabric covered brads from Docrafts on this layout, at last.

Leave a Legacy

And this last is the saddest page made in all my 20 plus years of scrapping. I took this photo of my brother just a few weeks before he died of cancer when he was still alert and able to enjoy visits from family. The top photo is of his wife and oldest son who wouldn't appreciate their photos being splashed about the internet. All the materials used are from ancient stash, origin unknown though some definitely came from a local shop that is now closed. 

Tomorrow is, of course, December 1st and I plan to join in with Lisa Sikorski's December Sketch-a-Thon. If your intending to record all/some of the days before Christmas you might like to join in, details can be found on her Facebook site, Scrap A Sketch. It looks like fun - I do like a sketch to get me started. 

And finally before I go, 

Happy St Andrew's Day to all Scots around the world. Enjoy your supper of  haggis, mashed potato and neeps (aka turnip/swede depending which country you're in) 

Have a great day.

Sunday Scraps & Rudolph Day - Christmas Cards 34-37

 Hello and Happy Sunday to you all,

I hope you are all safe and dry. I see from the TV News that many on the East Coast of the UK have suffered badly during the recent storm and now it's snowing. I can only wish any of you that live in the affected areas well. 

I have been making some scrap pages for the Scrap Backwards, a FaceBook group, challenge this week - the aim of which is to use up old scrapping materials, particularly stickers but including other supplies we've had lingering in our stash for some time. One page I made helped me use up quite a bit of an old, 2011, Graphic 45 8x8 pad, Christmas Emporium but, as is always the case, there was a lot of scrappy leftovers. Some scraps were used up for the Christmas Card Club this week but I didn't stop there so here's another four. 

Apologies for the quality of the photos - the lighting, like the weather, has been very poor this week. With the exception of the ribbons, all the materials used were either scraps or leftovers - e.g. the beads were just the last few on a sheet. The stamps and embossing folders are from very old collections - the stamp sets are Docrafts Papermania Noel Christmas Wishes and Marianne Vintage Christmas, the embossing folder is from a Sizzix Christmas set. 

Frankly, almost everything in my craft room is not new. I'm happy with the embossing folders and stamp sets I have and only give in to temptation now if I think I will really make good use of them. I admit to still finding it hard to resist new patterned paper so treat myself to a kit from Mind the Scrap on a monthly basis. Otherwise, the only craft stuff on my shopping list are the necessities such as adhesives, scrap albums & plastic inserts - all those scrap pages have to go somewhere - card blanks & envelopes That sort of thing. In truth, I think I have enough stash at my age to keep me going until I leave this mortal coil. 

It's been a long while but I'm submitting these cards to the following challenges:

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #417 - Ruby's Memory - where anything goes as long as there's scraps used.

ScrappyMo's November Rudolph Days Challenge - a bit late but I think it's okay to enter to the end of the month.

CHNC Challenge 570 - where anything goes as long as it's Christmas

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper November 2021 challenge - a challenge that is always about using patterned paper or patterned cardstock

It's not quite 4pm here on the South West Coast of Scotland and the sun is going down already and just because I can't resist it here's the view from my window right now. 

So that just leaves me to wish you all a very good week and as my late mother would have said, look after yourselves and be good :)

Bye for now, 

Friday Smiles

Hello Everyone,

It's been a while since I joined in with Annie's Friday Smiles. That's because I really found it difficult to find much to smile since April last year when Alan became so ill. 

However, more recently he seems to have turned a corner and is feeling and looking so much better and making really good progress. Life isn't the same for him but he's adjusting well to his disabilities, has taken up a new hobby to replace those he can no longer participate in, and is smiling again. I can see his sense of humour returning too and that's good reason to smile.

And this is his new hobby. He's always wanted to build a model railway but never had the time until now. I think he's making a fantastic job of it. 

And it will be no surprise for many of you that this little one makes me smile - a lot. We've had her since she was 8 weeks old and now she's a much bigger 8 months and very much one of the family. She's curious often, mischievous occasionally and great fun always. Today she has decided that it's much too windy to venture outside. If she was human she'd be having a pyjama day.

I hope you have enjoyed my smiles this week and will share yours too by linking them over at Annie's A Stitch In Time. Everyone is welcome to join in.

Scrapbook Layouts - 29-31/2021

Hello Everyone

I'm back to share more layouts made around May this year when I was taking Shimelle's Half and Half class. Consequently, all three pages have backgrounds made up of two halved sheets of 12x12 paper. 

29. For Sewing

This page records both of my sewing machines and so the paper and embellishments used are appropriately from a collection that is sewing and craft related - Simple Stories, Hey Crafty Girl, 'Makers Gonna Make' and the multicolooured thickers for the title are American Crafts 'Journey'.

30. Pampered Pooch

Again, for this page I've used patterned papers and embellishments that are related to the photo of Mylo the Chocolate Labrador looking very sorry for himself after a shampoo and rinse. Papers from two collections - Echo Park, Meow and Mind the Scrap's kit for May 2021 and thickers for title are 'Holly'from American Crafts. The dog and paw embellishments were cut with Dovecraft's dies. 

31. Life is Better with a Cat

Celebrating the arrival of the newest member of our family, Silver the kitten, born on 13 March 2021, The photos were taken throughout her first week with us when she was just 8 weeks old. The papers are from Mind the Scraps kit for May 2021, the title is a Peartree Cutfile and the kitten stickers from the Echo Park Meow collection. 

And that's it from me today. Short and sweet but will be back with three more layouts very soon.

Take care everyone and stay safe.

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 651

Hello Everyone,

I'm writing this on Tuesday evening in the hope of being able to post early to the Stamping Ground for Julia's WOYWW weekly meme on Wednesday morning, just for a nice change. With my abysmal track record this could be a small miracle. 

This was what was on my desk late Tuesday afternoon and with the exception of the card, now finished, nothing has changed. (Check out the previous post to see the card.)

The papers are leftovers from the scrap page finished recently - a page that only took me four years to finish! There's only a few sheets, some cut-aparts and lots of scraps left so, rather than put it all away I decided to make a few Christmas cards with it. The collection is an ancient Graphic 45 one, 'Christmas Emporium', from 2011. 

Elsewhere on the desk are the necessities of cardmaking - ribbon, twine, stamp block with stamp, adhesive tape runner, pencil, scissors, and the usual dish full of bits and bobs ... the kind of thing that needs to be returned to its rightful place if only I had time. 

And now, here's the kitten pic of the week.

On the table, and she knows she shouldn't be there so she's giving me the, 'you know if I look at you with my big kitten eyes you can't be mad at me', treatment. 

And finally, the funnies.

Just the two today, and neither anything to do with cats too. 

I don't believe it, it's still Tuesday night and that's the post written, ready to publish early tomorrow. Which means I will have all day to visit as many desks as possible. I'm pleased to report that I did get round everyone from last week and, with the exception of one, left comments too. Things are looking up. 

Take care everyone and have a very happy WOYWW. 

Bye for now ... 

Elizabeth

Christmas Card Club - Angels or Fairies in Memory of Shaz - Cards 31-33

Hello Everyone,

This week the Christmas Card Club is asking for Angels or Fairies - a theme chosen by the lovely Shaz who, sadly, is no longer with us. I count myself as one of the privileged to have met Shaz, and her equally lovely husband Doug. Without doubt she is very much missed by all of us in the Christmas Card Club. 

I searched, and searched, through my stamps, dies and even readymade toppers and, sad to say, I don't have one angel or fairy. However, I did find this angel in my box of Christmas cards received in a previous year. I trimmed it down to size, matted it on to a scrap of textured green card before fixing it to a white card base. The greeting was stamped on one of the trimmings from the original card front, matted on to a snippet of the green card before being attached to the topper. 

Cards 2 & 3 were made using toppers and scraps from a very old (2011) Graphic 45 collection 'Christmas Emporium' which I've been hoarding but even I have to admit that after 10 years it's time it was used up!

Cream satin ribbon and a stamped greeting, from an old Polka Doodles stamp set, were added to the patterned paper and matching topper for card 2. 

For card 3 the patterned paper and topper has been matted on to teal blue textured cardstock before being adhered to the white card base. Three adhesive pearls, the last I had in just the right shade of aqua, provide the embellishments. 

I've been reminded just this week that it's about time I made sure I've made enough cards made ready for the annual card writing marathon! It's not been my main priority this year but I think I've not done too badly. 

So that's it from me. I hope you are all well. I hope, too, you will pop over to see what my teammates have created for this fortnight's challenge. You'll find a list of their names and links on my right sidebar - as always their work is so much more creative than mine.

Bye for now ...

Elizabeth

Scrapbook Layouts - 26-28 & 16/2021

Evening Everyone,

I hope you have all had a great weekend a lovely Sunday. 

27. Moments Remembered

I spent much of Saturday clearing our bedroom so a flat pack wardrobe could be made up. For me. Up till now we've shared the built-in wardrobe but I'm being squeezed out. Can you believe it,  my husband has more clothes than me!  Today, I've moved my clothes into the new wardrobe. I'm delighted. He's delighted. 

28. Wee Dreamer

After all that, there's not been much time for scrapping but I did grab an hour or so before dinner and was able to complete a page. But that's not what I'm sharing in this post. Instead, I've gone back to the three layouts made in April this year. 

16. Hygge Season 2020

Numbers 27 & 28 were made with supplies included in kits from Mind The Scrap. Number 29 uses materials from one of my favourite collections, Simple Stories, Cozy Days, and it was made following Shimelle's Half and Half class. 

I'm putting together an album which is all about my childhood, just for me, and that's where the first layout will be filed.  The photo is of the shop where my two brothers and I spent our pocket money on sweets every Saturday. I found it so difficult to choose which sweets I loved best. The front of the shop  was also where the mobile library parked  every Thursday. Choosing books from there was almost as difficult as choosing sweets. 

The photo in the second layout is of my gorgeous grandson. Callum is autistic and finds loud noises hard to tolerate, hence the headphones. I think this photo of him wearing them is simply beautiful. 

In the last layout I've used a photo of a vase of Autumn foliage and berries because they herald the onset of winter that's just around the corner. Here in Scotland winter comes sooner rather than later and when it does, we do what the Danes do, we hunker down, stay cosy and count the days to Spring. 

To date I've completed just over 60 pages this year. Nothing like the 200 I'd hoped for but then that was probably totally unrealistic. Not to worry. I plan to share with you, and so probably bore you to death, all the remaining pages from No. 29 onwards, in batches of three, until I'm caught up. 

In the meantime, I wish you a very goodnight. I'm off to bed. 

Edit Note: I've just discovered that what I thought was Number 29 is, in fact, Number 16 and has appeared in this blog sometime before. That's what happens when I try to blog from my mobile phone!

Bye for now,

Elizabeth

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 650

Hello Everyone,

I've been trying to write this post for Julia's WOYWW all day and been singularly unsuccessful! However, I'm determined to get back into some sort of regular posting, starting today. So here's what's on my desk. 

Just some stuff I've been trying to make pages. As it's November it's been my intention to create as many autumnal pages as possible. I think I've made two, or it could be three. Hardly worthy of an entry into the Guinness Book of Records. But for my record here they are.

The last one was actually started in February 2017! Over four years ago!! And that's got to be some sort of record - a bad one. I just got stuck on how to progress with the layout so it got consigned to the WIP pile ... for four years! And I still haven't written the journaling. Shameful really. 

And now, the kitten. 

She's into everything now and I'll swear she's determined to climb every tree in the garden. 

And finally the funnies, all based on Silver's endearing little ways:

Whew! That's me done. Now I'm off to see what Julia and all the lovely deskers had in their desks today. 

Take care everyone,

Bye for now

Elizabeth

In A Vase On Monday - Amazing Amaryllis

Hello Everyone,

I don't have a vase to share today ... there's not a lot blooming in the garden at the moment ... so I thought I'd share my amazing Amaryllis instead.

What makes it amazing for me is that it's the first time I've ever saved a bulb from a previous year and it's survived to flower again. 

Not that I did anything special. It's only been stored in the cold frame all the way through spring and summer but it must have provided the bulb just the right conditions to bring it on and bloom again. It's early so I.m thinking it will be over by the time we get to Christmas but I'm happy to enjoy it's beauty right now. And, of course, I will do exactly as I did once flowering is over and pop it back into the cold frame in the hope she will amaze me again next year. 

If my amazing Amaryllis has impressed you do pop over to Cathy's blog, Rambling in the Garden to see even more lovely floral offerings. 

Christmas Card Club Challenge - Cards 29 & 30

Hello Everyone,

Only a day late! I've spent the weekend reorganizing and cleaning the craftroom and somehow Saturday and Sunday just whooshed by.

It all started with my monitor. It's been malfunctioning for some time - it's just been going dead periodically throughout summer. It was easy enough fixed by unplugging, leaving for a few seconds and then plugging it in again. But there had to be more to it than that. And there was. It was the sun streaming in through the window overheating the back of the screen where the plug is situated. Yes, you read that right! The SUN! In Scotland! Proof, if any more was needed, of global warming. 

The answer was to turn my desk round so that the monitor is no longer in front of the window. Quicker said than done as everything under and around the desk had to be moved too. And, of course, all that upheaval led to the need to hoover and dust where nobody but the kitten had for many months dared to go. 

Now, that was a long-winded explanation for me posting these two cards today and not yesterday. Christine set a challenge for Christmas Wreaths this time. I'm still recycling cards received for Christmases past. You may need a magnifying glass to spot the wreaths but they are there. 

So that's it from me. I hope you are all well. I hope, too, you will pop over to see what my teammates have created for this fortnight's challenge. You'll find a list of their names and links on my right sidebar - as always their work is so much more creative than mine.