Beautiful & Tasty Bouquet - A Scrapbook Page

 

As most readers will know, I love having flowers around me, but since Silver, the very curious kitten, joined the family three years ago, I've had to find safer spots in which to display my vases. This beautiful bouquet, a gift from my son and his family, was very quickly tasted, smelled, and finally tipped over, reminding me of how careful I should be. Of course, I just had to make a page to record the story for my 2024 album.

Materials: Heidi Swapp's 'Set Sail' collection; Pebbles' 'Kid At Heart' collection; embellishments from a selection from American Crafts,, Simple Stories, Doodlebug and 49 And Market collections.

Layout inspiration from Lisa Sikorski's Scrap A Sketch.

For the record: I've had to take some extended sick leave. Not so much because of the infection I had but because of my over sensitivity to one of the antibiotics prescribed. I'm not sure which is worse, the infection or the 'cure'! I'm on the mend but it's a slow process - I don't think it helps to be as ancient as I am - and I'm beginning to feel more able to scrap and blog again.  

PS: I wouldn't wish allergic reactions to antibiotics on anyone!

Take care everyone

Elizabeth

Curiouser and Curiouser - A Scrapbook Page

I think this page is why I scrapbook. The photos taken of my son and granddaughter at Landmark, Aviemore are from 2014! Now that my granddaughter is an adult it is lovely to remember her when she was just fourteen. 

I put the layout, loosely based on a sketch from Scrap-A-Sketch, together from one of the kits I made up back in 2022 whilst preparing to move house. The plan was to use the kits in my spare time on a temporary table until my new craft room was set up. But to quote John Lennon, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans". Now I have a new plan to work through the kits, alternating with the pages I'm making for my 2024 album.

Materials are all old - from 2017 to 2021 - but I think the finished result doesn't look dated. Papers used are from Echo Park's 'Farmer's Market' & Simple Stories 'Simple Vintage Cottage Fields' collections. The flowers were fussy cut from one of the patterned papers. Embellishments from my inconsiderable stash!

The spatters, which can just about be seen on the background in the photo, were created with Heidi Swapp's Color Shine 'Citron'.

That's it for today. It's late and I need my beauty sleep, so I'll bid you all a good night. 

Elizabeth

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 775

 

Late again! It's getting to be a habit. Unfortunately, I had to be somewhere else this morning and it took longer than anticipated. I almost decided not to participate in WOYWW today but then I'd have missed the opportunity to reveal this shot of my desk taken yesterday. This is Silver's preferred way of involving herself in crafting. Needless to say, no scrapping got done.

This is what I did manage to make earlier this week. It's a 6x12 insert introducing the month of January. The photos on one side it of the seafront here. It's a view I never tire off. On the other side is a photo of the snow covered Isle of Arran taken from the beach. Gorgeous. The other photo is off the many lovely cards received from family and friends. 

Finally, given that Silver has already made an appearance above, I'll leave you with this photo of this adorable bundle of fur instead. Limit is one of a litter of collie puppies raised by Annie, my grandson's fiancee. With the exception of Limit, all the other puppies have now gone to new homes. Annie couldn't resist keeping him for herself. It's easy to see why. He's gorgeous. 
 

Take care everyone, 

Elizabeth

In A Vase on Monday

Good Morning Everyone,

As mentioned in my last post, due to the paucity of material in my garden, I've been foraging up in the nature reserve for today's In A Vase On Monday. I was hoping to find trees in blossom but it's too early just yet. Buds are just forming on the hawthorn trees (crataegus) but otherwise there are no flowers. 

Nevertheless, all the different shades of green found make a fresh and pretty display. Unfortunately, except for the hawthorn, I don't know the names of the other trees I snipped from. 

I'll leave you with this shot of this stunning camelia, smothered in blossoms now, growing in a neighbour's garden. I've been keeping my eye on it for a while wondering how well it would do this year. My patience has been rewarded. It has excelled itself this year.

For many more colourful displays do pop over to Cathy's blog, Rambling in the Garden. Cathy's vase includes tulips that are much more bright and colourful than my all-green offering. 

Take care everyone,

Elizabeth

Sunday Witterings

Thought I would post what I've been up to today. It's been such a lovely warm day, despite the wind which shows no signs of letting up just yet, I went out for a walk. That doesn't sound like something to shout about, but if I tell you that 've been almost completely housebound these last few months then I think you'll agree it's something to be very happy about.

It was just a walk around the block but that took me to the nature reserve at the top of the road I live in. I did have an ulterior motive for going that way. Foraging. Given that there's nothing blooming in my very sad garden, I was desperately seeking materials for tomorrow's In A Vase On Monday. I went armed with my trusty secateurs and a bag in which to carefully stash my foraged goodies. The results to be revealed tomorrow.

Home again, I settled down to a latte and the April edition of The Simple Things magazine. It's the perfect read for a Sunday afternoon. I'm halfway through Kate Humble's A Year of Living Simply. It's my aim now to live as simply as possible, However, I won't be jaunting off to America or the Netherlands as Kate has done for her book. All that travel can't be good for the planet!

So far it's been a good day. That doesn't sound so very earth shattering but after the last few months of coming to terms with life as it is now, and not how it was, it definitely is. I'll say no more. Instead I'll leave you with a photo of Silver who just has to get involved in scrapping with me. 

Take care everyone,

Elizabeth

Stretch - A Scrapbook Page

 

This is the last of the pages made and not posted during my blogging absence. This one is dated May 2022. In the photo Silver looks as though she's scratching the wall but, in fact, she's just stretching after a snooze at the top of the cat tree. 

The layout is another scraplift of a page, this one made by Melanie Marshall, that appeared in The Scrapbook Magazine. I do wonder what inspiring scrappers like Melanie, and Sam featured in yesterday's post, are doing now that the magazine is no longer published. 

Materials: Papers from Jen Hadfield's 'Peaceful Heart' collection and Pink Fresh's 'Right Now' & 'Time To Chill' collections; Nuvo Crystal Drops 'Red Berry'; Embellishments from stash. 

Today's shot of Silver. I've brought the scrapping trolley through to the living room. I plan to watch YouTube videos on the big telly while I scrap.  Well, that was the plan but clearly Silver has other ideas. It would seem the camping table makes a perfect perch.  

I'm still getting used to the lighter evenings - it's almost 8pm and it's still nowhere near dark. The weather has been better today - windy, not unusual here on the coast, but sunny and warm and, in my experience, that is unusual! Hope you've enjoyed better weather today too.

Take care everyone,

Elizabeth

New Specs Documented - A Scrapbook Page

The weather continues to be wet and miserable here so I've been working on a scrapbook page this afternoon. Not this page. This is one I made earlier. November 2022, actually. Still not sure about those frames. 

The layout is based on a page by scrapbooker  Sam Sweetlove. This page appeared in an old copy of Scrapbook Magazine, which, sadly, stopped being published in November 2009.

Materials: Kraft and yellow cardstock; papers from Pinkfresh Studio; embellishments from my not inconsiderable stash. 

Here's hoping for an improvement in the weather soon. I have a garden that's crying out for some attention. And talking off attention seeking, and to finish with, here's a pic of my little furry princess.

Take care everyone,

Elizabeth 

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 774

 

I'm later for Julia's WOYYW than I hoped to be. I had great plans to be up early and 'atom' but my usual early morning call, aka Silver, let me down. I'm reviewing her contract! 

The top pic is a shot of what was on my desk last night. More of the same as last week. Still working on my January pages. Progress is slow. 

This is the album I've chosen for 2024. Simple but the poppy image is lovely, 

And this is page No. 2.  I found that once I'd put the title page in place it needed another to back it, before I moved on to completing the 6x12 insert I plan to use to record what month follows. And, of course, the subject had to feature one of my favourite photos of himself. Love that smile.

All materials used are from the same Heidi Swapp 'Sail Away' collection as used for the title page shown in last week's WOYWW post.

And finally for this week.

I decided to invest in a steamer. It's all Annie's (Wipso) fault. She mentioned steaming her granddaughter's dance clothes and it got me thinking that I need one in my life! It's only just arrived so I've yet to try it out but I look forward to giving it a go.

And a final finally. I had difficulty leaving comments on some of your blogs. Things, it would seem, have changed in the time I've been gone,  It hasn't helped that I've been forced to change my email address due to problems with my previous supplier. Sigh! Apologies if you didn't receive a comment from me. Someone did mention they found my comment in their Spam folder! 

Take care everyone,

Elizabeth

In A Vase On Monday

 

When we moved home I brought as many of the plant pots from my garden as I was allowed. They've been sadly neglected since so pickings are very slim indeed. 

However, after a deep search I found two tulip buds and one sad little narcissus peaking out of a rose tub. The foliage is from a self-seeded aquilegia and a curry plant (helichrysum italicum).

The photo in the background is one of my favourite shots of my late brother, Douglas. 

Given that there is very little in bloom in my poor neglected garden, next week's vase contents will have to come from elsewhere. Fortunately, there's a nature reserve at the top of my road which I'm thinking could be an ideal source of plant material. 

Please pop over the Rambling in the Garden, where Cathy hosts her very popular Monday meme, to follow links to other beautiful vases today. 

Note: Much as I've tried this week and last, I am unable to leave a comment on Cathy's blog. I've tried everything with no success. Things have clearly changed in the year I've been gone. 

Take care everyone,

Elizabeth

Sweet Paws - A Scrapbook Layout

Although I made hardly any scrap pages from the time we moved house in October 2022 till now I did manage a few. This is one made from, I think one of the page kits I put together before the move. It's dated December 2022. Sadly, I cannot remember anything about the materials used but I do recognise the base as one I made while taking Shimelle's Half and Half class. 

It's no surprise that it's a page featuring Silver. She has the sweetest wee paws, but then she is the sweetest wee cat. Most of the time! She has her moments. Still, I don't know what I'd do without her. 

That's it from me for now. It's late and Silver is telling me I should be in bed. She won't settle until I do. 

Take care everyone, 
Elizabeth 

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 773

Hello Everyone,

Here I am with my first WOYWW post in forever! And I'm feeling just a bit rusty but I'll do my best.

It's actually Tuesday evening as I write. Being so out of practice, I need to start sooner rather than later. This is a shot of what was on my desk this afternoon - the first page I've worked on in months!

Truth to tell, while real life got in the way, I had no time, or enthusiasm, to play with pretty paper. And I wasn't too sure where to pick up from anyway. I needed to give myself a good reason to get going again. So, I enrolled on one of Shimelle's classes, This Year's Story. Turned out it was just the encouragement I needed.

Needless to say, I broke the very long spending freeze and treated myself to some new stash. That done, I dug out an empty album, a pile of page inserts and arranged everything in this trolley. All set up and ready to go. 

Here's my first effort. It's the title page of this year's album. The layout is based on one of Lisa Sikorski's sketches. I like a good sketch for inspiration. Because I live just a short walk from the seafront - which will no doubt feature a lot in the album throughout the year - I've chosen a seaside theme and I'm loving the paper collection, Sail Away from Heidi Swapp. 

Finally and before, I go to bed, I'd just like to thank everyone for the lovely cards and messages of condolence/ They are all much appreciated. 

Take care everyone,

Elizabeth 

In A Vase This Monday

Hello Again,

From Helen

This lovely vaseful of tulips didn't come from my garden. They are a much appreciated gift from a friend. Currently, I don't have a garden as such. Just some scraggy grass, a few neglected pots and a privet hedge. Much to my regret I had no time since we moved in, or the inclination if truth be told, to concentrate on sorting out the garden here at our new home. That will change this year. With the help of my daughter and son-in-law who have kindly offered to help. We have plans to create an easy care garden for my 'winter' years. We're just waiting for the weather to improve.

In the meantime, here's a couple of photos of flowers that I have received in recent weeks. Sent to cheer me up and much appreciated too. And they amuse Silver too. 

From Annie & Dod

From Alun & Elaine

As you can see, she cannot resist flowers. She sniffs them, licks them, and tries to empty the vase. With the one above, she succeeded. Because of this, I've struggled to find safe places for my vases of flowers. I hoped she'd lose interest as she got older. Not a hope! She recently turned three and there's been no change. Sigh!

That's it from me today. Hopefully, I'll be back on future Monday's with whatever is in a vase, whether it be something picked during nature walks or from what has survived in the various pots brought from the old garden, I'm looking forward to the challenge. 

Take care all,

Elizabeth

Hello

 

Alan Worthington
16.9.1938 - 30.12.23

It's been a very long time since my last post. Many of you already know, but for those of you who don't my lovely husband died on 30th December last year. Life is very different without him and it's taking me a long time to adjust to life as it is now. I know I will never stop hating life without him. We had a lovely life together and I'll never stop missing that gorgeous smile. 

He always encouraged me to do the things I love. Particularly scrapbooking. He understood why it was important to me to play with photos, pretty paper and cute embellishments. For him it was his model railway - he enjoyed nothing more than disappearing into his shed to work on improving the layout he had lovingly put together. 

Bearing that in mind, it's time I got back into scrapping again. And blogging about it, as well as anything else I think might be of interest to readers here. And that means updating this blog. I've made a start by giving it a new header. Hope you like it. 

Of course, the content quite possibly won't be the same. Definitely won't be the same. After all, I no longer have my best pal to go out and about with anymore. But I do have a gazillion photos, hundreds of happy memories, all waiting to be captured on my scrapbook pages. 

And finally, 

Life goes on and I have to adjust to this new life I'm living. One project I hope to complete is an album recording the last two years. To this end, I have enrolled on Shimelle's current class, This Year's Story. I can't pick up where I left off but I can and will adapt and keep on keeping on. Looking forward to showing you the results in the weeks and months to come. 

Take care everyone, 

Elizabeth