Or maybe that should be "Slower but Slower..."

Ever get the feeling you are swimming up stream, against the current and just as you pull a bit ahead, the water washes you back downstream? Boy, salmon have it hard!

Just as I clear stuff off my list, the things adding on to the top of the list make it ever longer! Guess it's that time of year. This is always silly season for us with loads of birthdays, celebrations, dinners, Christmas decorations, Advent, St Nikolaus, wedding anniversary, more bithdays, more dinners, Christmas parties, presents, Christmas Market, visits from home and then the grand finale of two Christmas dinners followed by...... peace!

I am not complaining (well maybe a little! ;-) - this is ME after all!) - it all gets done in the end even if Christmas cards arrive a little late and one or two presents are bought at the last minute! Or the last few years I hardly baked ANY Christmas Plätzchen (biscuits) - not EVEN my *world* famous Black Pepper Chocolate Cookies and let me tell you, these are a real winner! But it's a bit frantic and sometimes I wonder about moving some of those events to empty months at other times of the year. Why not celebrate my birthday in May for example, rather than November? Well, maybe not! And I must admit to always enjoying the family visits around this time of year when everyone wants to come over to visit the Christmas Markets. I rarely take the time to just enjoy the Christmas decorations or the markets around here - well you often don't if you see it every day do you? And it is great to just wander around Recklinghausen market which is so sweet and small or over to Essen which is huge in comparison and my top choice for photos

And while I am at it, I just want to say right here and now that I have HUGE admiration for all of those of you out there who have jobs, families, school activities and houses to run - HOW DO YOU MANAGE IT ALL???? I think you all do a fantastic job and I would love to know how you mange to keep on top of it all - suggestions welcome!

But let's get back to the main thing I wanted to write here. I just wanted to post a few projects that I have done recently to prove that I really DO sometimes sit down and scrap, even if the output is a little slow from time to time

First off, what about the Bellaboo Christmas kit, "Festive Funk". I was not quite as productive as usual even though the kit was adorable and fun and everything Liberty had planned it to be. I totally loved using it and hope to make at least another two or three projects using it over the next days so watch this space. But in the meantime, here are my contributions. And if youi love the kit as much as I do, (and let's face it, how could you NOT?) you can find it here.

More to follow later but the shower is calling and then I have to brave the wet grey day outside to go to work.

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!

History in the making

Even in my relatively short life, there have been a few occasions where you just have to sit and realise you are watching history in the making. What has happened in the last 48 hours has most definitely been one of those times. Life is good. Appreciate it.

Hey! It's November...

I know it is unfashionable to say that you like November - I mean, who really likes this cold, grey, damp, dark month? Well, after so many years of agreeing with all the moaning and groaning that happens at this time of the year, I have decided to try a new tack - part of my "new improved" POSITIVE attitude!

You know, November really is not so bad!

The end of autumn with all those fabulous leaves still falling from the trees and misty mornings where the air is magical and hiding many secrets. OK, so it rains a bit and the sky really is often grey but you need this transition phase to take you into the winter. I love it when the mornings start to get colder and you really need a coat! The last mornings have been a little too warm for my liking because the winter coat is needed just in case, but as soon as you walk a little faster, you start burning up! So those mornings when you can really feel the cold on your cheeks and you breathe small clouds of light white condensation make me feel good. (Alright, ten minutes on the station platform can kill those feel good feelings for me but you know what I am saying here!)

And there are signs of Christmas starting to appear and I believe that you can really start to think about it all once November hits. The lights are up in Essen and yesterday I saw the large Christmas tree being erected outside the station - one of my favourites every year. And then, lo and behold, Christmas has hit Starbucks with the Christmas merchandise filling the shelves and toffee nut latte filling my stomach this morning! Do I love that drink or not? I am not really sure you know. It is SO sweet that sometimes, I can't drink anymore but there again, it is really part of my festive traditions and this morning kicked off the season well and truly for me!

Add into the mix, the Christmas markets opening in a few short weeks, my birthday and Ralph's too and you have a nice happy month full of things to look forward to. Go on, look around and see if I am not right! Let's hear it for November!!!!

On the scrapping front, Bellaboo has kept me smiling once again with its November "Fairytale in New York" kit. A dream. Really. Fantastic. Did not want it to end. Might have to get another kit. You might want to check it out here!

And I pulled out some of my favourite cold photos from the last years: our sugarmoon in Canada for a mini album, some town photos from last December when it appeared to have snowed but it was in fact just frozen fog (weird but gorgeous) and my favourite Christmas cookies.

I think I could have gone on and on with this kit - up there as one of my favourites (or do I say that every month?)

Here are my projects so far (still working on one last thing and I still need to come up with an inspiration card). But do go and check out the gallery for Libby's and Sarah's stuff - we all made such different things. And sorry to hear that Sarah is leaving us - enjoy your time with your family Sarah - all the very best...

Love this...

Want your own Flickr word? Check here

Über-productive!

Yes, another project bites the dust (off my list - not literally!)!!!

Another Cleo project from the Bellaboo Birthday Bash all day crop.

It's all layering and stitching and girlie! Featuring Baby Sister... I love it! - ok so it took me HOURS but it was quite therapeutic for me. Lots going on over here and nice to switch off for a while!

I think I might be a stitching convert - I tried to do some in the Bellaboo October kit and found that I really enjoyed it and really like the texture and dimension it gives to the layouts. And the stitching round the ribbon at the bottom? Love that effect - expect to see that again!

Of course, it would not be MY layout if there was not a mistake - can you see? Yes, the journalling card should of course be coming out of the left hand side of the left hand photo and not peeking out in the middle of the layout - mmm, got to get to grips with my reverse gluing!

My only question... where do you store such bulky layouts? This will surely not fit in any page protector I have. Any suggestions?

Working my way through outstanding projects!

When Libby came over to Germany in the Summer, she brought one of Cleo's wonderful kit projects. She had bought one for herself too and thought it would be fun for us to have a go at the same kit - Nostalgia. She even got mum to sort out some photos of the two of us when we were little. That gave us a giggle I can tell you! All those "fashionable" 70's brown knit jumpers, long socks and sandals and rather dubioius haircuts to name just a few! Of course, we did not have enough time to get them finished while she was here but we started them and then went our separate ways. Libby managed to finish hers weeks ago (blog entry here), and I kept thinking about it but no action!

Well, on Saturday I made myself a list of just those projects that I can remember that need to be finished off or made. I was quite shocked at coming up with 12 items which does even not include those ideas that I have that I would like to do but haven't got around to yet. No, that is just half-completed projects or outstanding class projects that I can think about (am sure the list is really double as long!) So, I sat down and got going again with the Nostalgia kit!

It's lovely of course. A great folded mini-book that opens out to reveal all sorts of treasures! and space for hournalling too which is always a bonus. I did not look at Libby's finished book so I do not know how similar mine is to hers which will be interesting when we really check each other's out. I had such fun doing it, even if I ended up with craft knife injuries on both index fingers and my leg (don't ask!), paint and glue everywhere and chaos in my workroom. It's all done and another thing off the list - check!

OMG - I just checked out Libby's blog to get the link to her project and she called hers Childhood too!!!!! I swear, after the first time I looked at this entry, I did not sneak another peek! I must have had it in my subconscious! Too weird! And just goes to show, I am not as original as I thought! But I still love it! (Oh yes, I actually did copy Libby's button stacking that I heard her talking about when I was over - also not original of me!!! )

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?

I think I want to share!

I have been having so much FUN over the last three weeks on the latest BPS class, Have More Fun with Stacy Julian. I am keeping up with the assignments which is an absolute first for me - (ok, if I'm honest, there is one that I have not done so far, but I will get around to it. Somehow it did not speak to me as much as the other ones.) Over three weeks there have been a total of 14 assignments and I have done 12 of them - I am SO pleased with myself!

Yesterday's is one of the larger projects and I need to give it more thought and I might need to go out and get some supplies in. Still thinking!

We have done some great, silly things with our pages and have not been thinking so much about everything which has made them fast - some of them were complete in under 30 minutes! Others such as "Baby Sister" or "Meant to be Together" of course took longer but you can see why when you look at them! And I have only been using scraps. I think I have not broken into a piece of new paper (except cardstock) for any of them which also makes me feel productive and therefore, re-energised.

In effect, FEELING GOOD!

I have already posted the mini book I created for Cam and the 12 on 12 layout but here are the other 10 projects:

Bowl

Engineer Creek Divas

3 x Trouble

Mini album with photos of the Yukon

Mad Maddie

Home?

Baby Sister

Isabella

Meant To Be Together

This is today's assignment and I feel I should explain - it's on acetate but it won't lay flat because it was rolled up so the picture looks a bit strange - and it's a double sided layout hence the second picture below! (As for the story: Well done Libby!!!)

Cover Story