And So I Don't Forget...

Layout: Not Quite a Whirlwind Romance

Inspired by Ali Edward's Hello Story class, I decided to create a timeline of Boyf and I. On the left are milestones in our relationship, from meeting to now, with wood veneer stars emphasising a couple important points. I've kept the left side intentionally sparse as I wanted to emphasis the fact we've been friends for years and years. The title has a bit of fun with this too. On the right are more general milestones and happenings in our lives. 

The photo is an old one, from 2003, and I keep thinking how young Mike looks! It was pre-digital days for me so I scanned the photo and printed out a copy to use here. 

I haven't really scrapped about the beginnings of Boyf and I, although I certainly intend to. (Boyf's even agreed to provide his perspective.) I want to get my thoughts and feelings down on a layout, but I equally love the overview of this timeline. So glad I got this recorded. 

Supplies include: Crate Paper patterned paper, wood veneer, rub ons, enamel dots, label sticker, Tsukineko Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink and letter stickers.   

Scrapbook on the Road Mini: Version Two

After the success of my last Scrapbook on the Road mini album - it's one holiday that is actually fully documented! - I decided to create a similar mini for my trip to Europe/Africa back in February.  

I used pieces of transparency for the cover, sized about 8 inches by 5 inches. No additional decoration to the cover yet as it needed to survive being pulled in and out of bags. 

Inside, I cut down some neutral and lined patterned papers, many to 6x4 but there are a variety of sizes. On some of the pages I stamped phrases and images in a neutral colour, Wet Cement Hero Arts Shadow Ink.

I took very minimal supplies with me this time, partly because I was organising this mini album at the last minute. (Literally. Mum and Dad were at my house waiting to take us to the airport when I snapped that photo!) But I also knew I wanted my mini to be simpler this time, less colour and pattern fighting for attention with the memorabilia, photos and journaling. 

 

I used stamps to create titles and add a little colour to some of the journaling pages.

Most memorabilia I hole-punched and added straight to the binder rings. I like the look of sticking out in all different sizes, although for pieces taller than the mini album I tried to keep the base fairly consistent with the bottom of the cover, so I could stand it up on a shelf when finished if I so chose.  

I took my Instax camera with me on holiday and I used washi tape to add some of these photos to the album as I travelled.

I have journaled extensively about some days and others don't have anything recorded yet. The way I look at it, everything documented is a bonus - I do this because I want to, not because I have to.

Some of my favourite pages contain lists, such as observations about London or the food I ate in Paris. Collating the information gives a strong impression than scattering it through the journaling.  

I also love capturing moments - quotes and passing impressions that I otherwise wouldn't remember at the end of the trip. I think that's the advantage of documenting while you travel, whether simply jotting down notes or working on a Scrapbook on the Road, those wonderful little details make the holiday special. The 'I went here then here then here' you can work out from your photos after.    

You can see photos and video of my first Scrapbook on the Road here, and I also posted my thoughts on Scrapbooking on the Road and working on that album just after I returned from the trip. (I also posted what supplies I took with me and my reasoning, plan and pre-prepared pages.)

I've lots more work to do on this album before it's complete, but I've started and I'll post more about that soon. 

Hobbies / Interests

I don't understand people without hobbies, without some interest that just lights them up when they talk about it. Life can become a tad too routine without something to research, plan and dream about, to learn and improve; without something you can never find quite enough time to devote to it as you'd like.

Scrapbooking, blogging, photography, knitting, travelling, reading, baking, gardening, climbing... My problem seems to be that I have too many! There are so many projects that I want to pursue, so many ideas clamouring for my attention.

With that in mind, I might be lucky if I finish this latest knitting project by the time I'm ready for retirement!

5 Things that have been happening around here

1.  This evening I had my second pottery class and I'm still amazed at how dirty you get. Shoes, pants, speckled on my glasses and covered to my wrists - clay gets everywhere! It can be so frustrating working with the clay - such a fine balance between good and disaster and the teacher keeps reminding me I need to move slower - but I have a feeling it can be incredibly rewarding too.  

2.  Sunday before last I went on a winery tour organised by my sister to celebrate her birthday. Things didn't quite go according to plan when the rental mini bus got ahem, bogged in mud, but it was a fun day. Lunch was delicious and I may have come home with a bottle or two. :)

3.  Excepting an early Sunday morning 'I've brushed my teeth and pulled on clothes but that's as far as I got' trip to Officeworks for printer ink, I spent last weekend entirely at home. And it was wonderful! Pottering around, cooking, scrapbooking and chatting with the visitors who dropped in for various reasons (while I still hadn't managed a shower) I didn't get anywhere near everything on my to do list complete but it was a lovely 'recharge my batteries' weekend.  

4.  There's been lots of talk and consideration about finances and future plans. Boyf and I are starting to look for a new place to live, but slowly. There's nothing particularly wrong with where we are living now but we don't see it being the best choice for us long term. With no urgency to move, we can wait for a place that we both fall in love with, and that suits the budget. I keep bouncing back and forth between feeling like this is a priority - I'm dreaming of a house with no 'end date' - and thinking of all the other things I'd like to do with my money. I don't cope well with indecision!

5.  I've been working on a layout tentatively titled 'Delanie and Mike: Not Quite a Whirlwind Romance'. Prompted by Ali Edward's Hello Story class, which I'm really enjoying by the way, it is a timeline of my relationship with Boyf. I don't think I've mentioned, we met when we were nine years old. :) 

Simple Scrapper: Let's Have an Adventure

This month the Story Starter theme at Simple Scrapper was Work/Play. Inspired by one of the story prompts and a Premium Membership template, I created:

Journaling reads: Camping, four-wheel driving, going on safari... Without a doubt, life's a little different with Mike. I may be cautious whenever he suggests we have an adventure, but I always end up having fun. Really, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Using a bright patterned paper and six photos, there is a lot going on in this layout.  But I think vellum makes it works. I created the banner from scraps of cardstock and my sewing machine.  

Supplies include: vellum, patterned paper, letter stickers, thickers, wood veneer and Glossy Accents.

 

The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping.

December Daily 2013: The Colour Scheme

Yep, you read that right. After finishing December Daily 2012 only last month, I've already starting thinking about the next one! With all the new scrapbooking collections being previewed before the big trade show next month, it's hard not to.

This year my favourite Christmas collection is Basic Grey's 25th and Pine. Although I'm not so keen on the patterned papers, the embellishments and colour scheme have captured by interest.

Although I'm in no way ready to start another December Daily just yet - I've so many other projects bubbling in my brain at the moment! - I am starting to get excited.

Scrapbook shopping, particularly when I don't have to fork out any money just yet, is so much fun! (That reminds me, have you seen this Hoarders Revisited video? Boyf and I both got a good laugh out of this one.)

Bright Spot

By the front door we have a tree, a camellia I think it is. Although covered in buds, there is one sole flower in bloom. Coming or going, daylight or after dark, I notice it every time.
That flower captures my attention and suddenly I'm smiling.
There's something magical about flowers.

TBT: El Malecon

 

The waterfront of Havana. Well worth a stroll.

Laundry: Almost Complete

New plaster, floor, tiles, paint, light fitting, bench, sink, cupboards, power point...it's been a lot of work but I think it's totally worth it. Particularly when it's Boyf doing most of the work. ;)

Such a change from the grimy, mismatched 70s laundry of before.  

We haven't entirely finished - the window frame and door needs to be repainted and I'd like to add colour with some art - but that's all aesthetic. I think this might be my favourite part:

Corralling those clotheshorses on hooks.

While I don't now magically enjoy doing the laundry, this revamp/remodel/gutted-and-started-again laundry certainly doesn't hurt.

Sunday Lunch

On Sunday I discovered that a group of adults can be happy to just sit and watch, utterly captivated by a cute little 11 month old.

Boyf's aunt Sally wondered what exactly they used to do at family functions before Claire came along. ;)

Given that we were all gathered at Steve's house to celebrate his birthday, I probably should give him a mention. Happy Birthday Steve!    

He may not be quite a cute as Claire, but he probably has as many toys as she does!