My Life's Ingredients

After I had signed up for Shimelle's class "Cover to Cover"  back in 2012 (the class is available self paced via Shimelle's website) and given I'm a "Shimelle- aholic" ;), it was clear to me to sign up for her newest class "The Scrapbook Process" .  I was thinking about the "album" process in my scrapbooking... I have an idea how to do it, and I like Shimelle's way of having her albums -(chronological albums (i.e. annual ones with just layouts using photos that were taken that particular year) and then have separate albums for special events (holidays, wedding, honeymoon, cruise etc - Shimelle calls them "upgrade albums")). I've yet to do that though... as I've just been scrapping "ad hoc" and never really planned albums ... bar 1.5 albums for the Edinburgh Wolves.  Now ... if we set aside the issue of TONS of photos unscrapped, no layouts planned at all etc ...  I now came back from our...

We don't do New Year resolutions in our household ... but aspirations are fine. ;) Soooo .... what are the plans/aspirations for 2016?? General/Non-crafting Get a part time job after summer (a bit at least ... to get back into my being "Kat" and not "mummy/mami/mum" etc. ) Lose another stone (or 1.5 ... we'll see) Declutter the house paint living room/get new couch sort out girls' "play room" on middle floor Declutter crafts/get craft room/study set up More Geocaching with the girls!  Crafting goals/aspirations 52 scrapbook layouts in 2016 (I think I can manage that ... I think I've done about 12 max per year since the girls were born... :o ) Doctor Who Stitchalong Quilt Harry Potter/Fandom bookshelf quilt Disney Princesses/Winnie the Pooh pillows/quilts for the girls DC Quilt or something for hubby Learn to double-knit and make a scarf for myself (and maybe one for the girls and hubby, too).  USE MY STASH (ok... a ...

Mmmmh... I really wish Microsoft Live writer and Blogger would sort out their problems ... so much easier to write and then upload, but hey ... just have to be on blogger itself to update *gasp!* the blog. ;) Some thoughts running through my head ... how many kids can we accommodate comfortably in our house/garden for the Hobbitses' birthday? I think taking everyone into account we may have 10 kinds around. Is that ok? We don't really want to have a big party this year with going somewhere and paying a lot of money - there's no need for it really. Garden, games and some sausages/potato salad/pasta salad was all I needed when I was a kid?! Only problem is of course that it's the two of them ... instead of just one kid, but so far they have the same friends, so no added numbers! ;) And then for craftiness ... I'm currently thinking about a fandom bookshelf quilt, based on the PoD ( Project of Doom ) bookshelf quilt on Fandom In Stitches .  Was thinking of doing th...

With all the programs about the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, my brain jumps into action with memories again. Well, obviously I don’t have first hand memories of WWII, and not even second-hand. It’s really a shame that kids are not that interested in history (as a rule, there are obviously some children who are history buffs!), and a shame that when our interest finally peaks, some historical events are rather things that the older generations want to forget/don’t want to talk about… Both sets of my grandparents are dead now, and I never found the right time/place to ask questions about their war experiences – my granddad on my father’s side suddenly died of a heart attack 1/2 a year after I moved to the UK. He would have been the perfect candidate to get some insight into history … I know from my dad that he was a POW (I “think” in Russia – definitely something to ask my dad about!). I also have some diaries from him from 1945, and have also some of his medals and I think some paperwor...

Well… when it comes to crafts I don’t have much time for due to the girls demanding my attention during daytimes and me being just flat out tired/cannot be bothered (oh oh!) in the evenings. Effectively I only have Tuesdays to do crafts for long when the girls are at the grandparents for the day and a sleepover.  And that’s usually the day I catch up with housework… Despite all this I’ve decided to sign up to 2 swaps at our local crop group (in addition to the monthly layout Chinese Whisper we’re running at the moment – the only thing I get scrapped at the moment) – a Christmas tag swap (15 tags) and a “Merry Christmas Bunting” swap – each person is doing 14 triangles with a certain letter (mine is “E”) in certain colours (fortunately most are doing the traditional gold/green/red, but we have a couple more modern Christmas colours , too). Can I make it? I just HAVE to. So this Tuesday I just declare a CRAFT DAY – with maybe some washes on and cleaning the kitchen floor, but tha...

And I haven’t even done ONE layout about the pregnancy, I haven’t taken weekly or monthly bump photos or done bump circumference measurements. THAT’S REALLY BAD!!! Not really a good scrapbooker, me, eh? I will try to catch up with stuff (well… I can start doing measurements and bump photos now) the coming week, and then make sure that I won’t make the same mistake once the twins are born!!! Still searching for non-pink nice paper stacks for a baby (girls) album that is not too cutesy.  Shame it’s really difficult to get scrapbooking stuff for twins. Feeling a bit calmer after yesterday’s outbreak of thoughts etc.

Can't believe it ... another kit I like is finished now, and Rebecca is closing her business!! :( If you like blooms - go and have a looksie at her website as she's got a closing sale on. Here's my last "Booming Blossoms" kit ... gorgeous colours, yummie flowers, great add-ons. Rebecca, hope you'll get lots of family time and can relax ... your kits were FABULOUS! Now I just have to start using them more. ;) Like on this card I made as a thank you for one of our doctors who's leaving the practice (the usual 1-2 year stint thing for younger docs ... :( )

I am signing up for scrapping/journalling classes ... and I don't get anywhere. I've signed up for Shimelle's Classes ("There's no place like home", "You think you know me"and now "My Freedom") and one of Corinne's classes ("Finding YOU") as well as one Big Picture Scrapbooking ("Love of my life" or something along those lines). And I always sign up for it when I am on a new cycle, or during Wolves season. And I always fall behind ... or don't even start (but I have all prompts saved and will catch up in a quiet minute!!). Really not happy about it, so I hope I'll catch up a bit today with "My Freedom" .

There you go... finally!! Left several pages empty after the official league Award print so I could add approx. 2 pix each of our remaining 3 games plus maybe awards night pics? And the 2008 team photo as well. PS: Al said yesterday that's the probably the best present he ever got. Well... there you go! :)

Pheeew!!! Just worked approx. 11 hours on a minibook for Allan's birthday. DH told me on Wednesday that it's his birthday on Saturday, so yesterday I have been searching through photos (not easy as Allan has been wearing 4 different jerseys since 2003!!) and found 23 first, thought that's easy done ... and then thought I should add the relevant team photos as well... and some chapter titles ... and Wolves Logos and helmets ... and side tags... and his Nomination & Win as Player of the week 13 ... and a nice cover as well ... And to add to all that ... I am not a speedy scrapper! Not at all!! I thought it would be easy, the homemade (BIA - finally done correctly but should have used bigger wires!!) album with inserts 5x7 and single photos of 4x6 ... Well...it's a "labour of love" ... LOL. Allan is a very good friend of ours, does a lot for the team and helps around the house until he's getting a job so he can pay some rent to us... And he's real...

and one to go. Decided to send them individually, due to the funny postage prices from RM!! :0 So here are the pictures from Steffi's CJ "Alltaegliche Wunder" ("Daily wonders"). Not too happy with it, but this topic wasn't one that I could think of something easily... :o Material: BG patterned paper (can't remember which one), Flowers from Rebecca's Scrapbooking Stash (I get the monthly basic kit), Brads, Autumn Leaves "Ticketed" stamp, Journalling Stamp BG (?). I'm still working on Doerte's CJ, and I am happier with how that turns out, probably because of the theme. :) Will post pics tomorrow or Friday.

Been to the clinic this morning for a "non-invasive scan" (so ... no dildo cam ... ROTFL) which is totally new after all the internal scans during IVF and cyst problems etc. Suppose... since yesterday I am at the "implantation stage" I think, so they don't want to interrupt anything. :D Couldn't find any fluid, and the right ovary is back to normal size (and the left one was hiding again). Have to keep taking Clexane until Sunday though (prevent blood clotting). Haydeh also took blood (love it when she has to do it - she gets my veins normally at once) and I have to call them in 10 to get the result (i.e. whether I have to go back before our test date for more OHSS scans). Don't think they could give me info on the outcome of the cycle yet. :( Was feeling a bit nauseous and had heartburn this morning... Could all be signs of all 3 things - Cyclogest, aunt flo arriving or being pregnant. It's just not FAIR!! :( Went to Dobbies after hospital (DH took ...

I actually got some scrapping and card making done in the last couple of weeks! SHOCK, HORROR!! ;) And hope I'll get more done soon, but with the Wolves Senior AND Junior season already on, I doubt there will be much time. :o So here it goes ... I've done a WOLVES layout again!! After scrapping at crops only Wolves photos in 2003/04 I haven't touched them much since 2006 I think. But I am planning o n d oing more on that subject, probably starting with this year's photos and w ork my way back to 2004. I s till have to add the jour nalling and the 2nd part of the title (Liz from the crop didn't have her Lollipop Number Dies with her in May) but will get that done soon. :) Then I've been preparing a blank wedding LO for a member of Dani's Forum in Germany - it's agreed in a little group of ladies who are in the same Circle Journal. :) We all kept it to the same colour scheme with beige as the background and then either green or dark red as contras t....

I'm one month behind, but am going to start out now... :) Planning on doing Shimelle's "Scrap Your Day" - the class itself started last month, but with all going on then I just didn't have the time. But will try my best (still have to do my album! :0 ). I woke up with a headache, about to get everything ready for senior training ... just had breakfast so I can take a tablet. Last time I didn't eat anything and even the Paracetamol didn't agree with me! :(

Well... not much done this time, specially as I had to get stuff ready for the game on Sunday and we had our friends' wedding Saturday evening, so didn't do much. Got 90 points though. :) Here are my attempts: "Pretty in Pink" class from Chloe - as I am not a "pink" person, I've slightly changed the colour scheme... Then we have a challenge ... "Blank Cheque" - a challenge to do a Layout without any patterned paper. Not a problem for me, as I don't use that much patterned paper anyway. :) I took the opportunity to do my CJ entry for Babs in the 2nd CJ Group on Dani's Forum (German). Journalling Reads: "That's what it looks like in my house nearly every Monday. Edinburgh Wolves kit, i.e. Jerseys and pants. Either from Training or games (10 per year minimum). Juniors and Seniors. Approx. 40-45 sets, each week. That my own washing is not getting done much is understandable. BUT I LOVE DOING IT!" Title "Any Given Monday...

Well... I've done the following: 2 Dark Washes 1 Hour ironing Putting DVDs away Now I am going to make dinner and my lunches for tomorrow and Wednesday (which I forgot to add to the list) and then see how I get on with the 30 mins upstairs and the stepper. :) There will be NO scrapping tonight ... just not in the mood for it, but I might have a look at the BH Sketch Books I got so I can get an idea for layouts this week? And the Circle Journal as well?

A day later than usual, but still feeling tired. :o Not to mention hot flushes (uh uh ... no reading into "symptoms") etc. Got most of my workload done at least and had a nice lunch with Lisa. When I came home I found a box from Germany ... my "Adventskalender" from the Scrapbookseite Forum . :) Wonder how I will put it up - hang it up on the wall? Put it somewhere in a box or something like that? Something to look into. :) Looking forward to opening the individual gifts! :) Will add the photo tomorrow. :)

YAY!!! It's going to happen again this year. And I have best intentions to finish the journal/scrapbook this year. :) Probably will do some of the journalling up front. What I am talking about? Shimelle's class/workshop "Christmas Journal". It's a great class, and once you've signed up for the first time you are automatically invited to the chat group & gallery every year thereafter. :) As I said already, it's the 4th year for me - first year I signed up and didn't do ANYTHING, in 2005 I did the first LO and that was that - last year I was able to do 6 more LOs. Am keen to finish this scrapbook this time round though, as it is hopefully the last Christmas as a twosome... :) You can see the existing LOs in blog posts from December 2006. :)

Yes, after 2 months missing crops due to Wolves games I finally was able to join the girls for a nice day cropping, blethering, drinking tea and having nice food. :) And of course shopping. ;) I had photos on my CF card as I was CONVINCED that there is a photo printing machine at Woolies on Lothian Road now ... but of course there wasn't. :( The small photo shop where MIL and I printed the photos for FIL's 60th birthday album has vanished as well, and I couldn't find any other place - should have checked the upper part of Lothian Road as there's a Boots which may have had the photo printing machine... But I had been scrapping nonetheless ... checked size of the photo for matting and did the easier journalling for my first LO for Corinne Delis' online Workshop "Finding You" . There's going to be some hidden journalling on the right hand side behind the bullet points once I get my head around what I want to say. Wanted to start on my Xmas cards but wa...

Been playing around with Photostudio today to get the award done ... can't post the photos until Saturday though, just in case someone is coming across the blog. ;) But yes, I think it can be classified as Digi Scrapping, even though it's minimalist style (now ... that's my normal style when scrapping Wolves pics anyway, isn't it??). Done 10 awards, and now I am totally shattered. Get the stuff packed but will take photos beforehand. Come back to this post on Saturday evening ... I'll have the pics up then. :) *** Here are some of the awards as printed off ... will add a Slide later but slide.com is down just now. :( ***