A Couple of Layouts

It's quite amazing. It really is. I actually managed to do a couple of LOs at the ScrapManic weekend. I really didn't think I'd have the energy but more than that, I didn't think I'd have the inclination to scrap anything.

I'd been so busy with the run up to the weekend, putting together my 'I Can See Clearly Now' class and creating sample LOs for my 'Mad About Ads' class that one of the last things I said to Richard before I set off for Barnett Hill was, and I quote, "I don't want to even think about scrapbooking for ages, at least not this side of Christmas!".

LOL. That didn't last long. Not only did I scrap 1 double and 1 single LO but I also got half way through another double (it just needs some finishing touches). There's something about spending time with so many talented scrapbookers that just rubs off on you. Walking around and seeing the fabulous stuff being created really inspires one. I was even inspired by a few things that people did with my classes.

I've been scrapbooking in such a way lately that I've just forgotten
that it's supposed to be fun! Yes, it is. Anyone else forget this
sometimes? I promised myself this weekend that I was just going to
relax and enjoy my hobby. Every time I found myself
deliberating too long over something (and boy do I do this ALOT) I just
asked my fab scrapping friends around me a simple question and then
just did it. No deliberating, no agonising over this embellishment or
that. Nothing. Just threw stuff together. It was very freeing. Not
every LO has to be fantabulous and I think we all at times can get a
little precious over our scrapbooking. They're just photos and memories
and we don't have to create 'WOW' LOs all the time.

I did this LO, Country Life, on Saturday morning whilst everyone was off taking their first class (I didn't have to teach until Saturday afternoon) and decided to do another ad inspired LO. Love this photo of Richard and our niece, Billie-Ray, which was taken a couple of weekends ago when my sister and her horde came for a visit (she knows we love her coming to stay really). You can't tell from this LO but it is based on an ad for steak - honest (if I remember I'll try and find the ad to upload for comparison). At one point I found myself pondering over whether to use squares or circles, a quick question later and 'circles' was the answer. LO done. Supplies were all from my recent Jenni Bowlin kit and I just LOVE those Thicker stickers. Didn't think too much of them in the packet but once I used them ...

The only downside to scrapping 'in public' is that I find it hard. I don't know why, my mind seems to just dry up and all creativity goes out the window. I've learnt that if I want to be productive whilst cropping with friends that I need to use sketches (or ads!) and do a little bit of prep work first - it's probably got a lot to do with spending too much time gossipping chatting and my brain finds it hard to do 2 things at once?

This next LO used a Becky Fleck sketch and even though I didn't follow it to the letter you can see the basic structure is there. I've got soooo many gorgeous photos from our trip to Bermuda that I just feel I want to scrap them all and so I am. LOL. I usually have my albums by year not themes but I think I might have to make an exception for Bermuda. The only problem is that I don't really have much to say, journalling-wise, as how much can you say about going to the beach?

I'll get the other double LO finished which is a similar LO to the one above but this time Harriet on the beach as opposed to Katarina and no doubt I will do another similar one for Noah.

Manic at ScrapManic

Just me though. I was the manic one.

I can't believe how nervous I was at the thought of teaching this weekend. Must be something to do with knowing the calibre of the scrapbookers attending and just feeling totally not worthy of standing up and teaching them - it should have been the other way around! LOL.

I did have a great time, as usual, though. And once I'd calmed down I 'think' my classes went down well. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the results of what everyone else has done/created with them. I will get around to scanning and posting my 'I Can See Clearly Now' class as requested but for today I'm going to sit back, relax and drink lots of latte macchiatos using my fab new coffee machine.

It was absolutely brilliant to be able to spend some quality scrapping time with my best scrapping buds, Cherry and Carole, and also having the opportunity to get to know some other on line friends better too, especially Jackie, Cherry's sister. I had a blast, once I'd got my first class out the way.

Oh, got to go, just had a call from school to say Katarina has been sick... I need to go pick her up. The joys of being a mother. ScrapManic seems so long ago now...

I Am Alive

Honest.

Just surfacing long enough to apprise you all of this and then it's back to my nose against the grindstone.

The fab ScrapManic 6 is happening in, oh, just over a week now and I am very, very busy getting stuff ready. Not for cropping though. No, I'm teaching a couple of classes - I haven't even begun to get my head around organising anything myself to actually take to scrap. I feel like I'm running around like a headless chicken at the moment but I'm really pleased with how my 'I Can See Clearly Now' class is coming along. Maybe I'll post a sneak peek sometime. And then again, maybe I won't!

The other class, 'Mad About Ads', is coming along as well.

Oh, and in the middle of all this the children were off school for 10 days with half-term, I had to get 2 LOs done (in a relatively short space of time) for Scrapbook Inspirations magazine and I started work.

Yes, work. Not that what I normally do (cooking, cleaning, laundry) isn't work, but this is more the 'I'll-actually-get-paid-for-this-work' type of thing.

OK, got to go, people to see, places to go, stuff to do...

Jenni Bowlin Is In Da House

I am loving this kit. It just fits in with all that I'm loving at the moment. Although I could have done without being gotten out of bed by the postie this morning!

Ah well, I suppose it was worth it for all the Jenni yumminess. If I can find time then I'll post a photo of it later so you can all drool along with me.

***Edited to add picture (as promised). Late I know but better late than never is one of my motto's (and I'm often late!!!)***

Sneak Peek

Getting there. Plans, ideas, coming together.

And as promised here is a small sneaky peek of the class I'll be teaching this Saturday at PaperArts. This is all for now as I need to get going on the 2 classes I'll be teaching next month. I just wish I didn't feel so rotten. I was really sick yesterday afternoon, dizzy spells, nauseous, physically ill. I think there is a virus of some sort going round, well, that's what everyone keeps telling me. I am feeling better this morning but should probably take it a little bit easier.
That's my excuse for not doing the housework today!

"So Much Time, And So Little To Do"

"Strike that, reverse it" - one of my favourite quotes from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the version with Gene Wilder). {On an aside I love movie quotes and quote them in everyday conversations but forget that other people may not know what I'm talking about - what's so unusual in that? People probably never know what I'm talking about, LOL}

Anyway, back to topic. I am busy. Very busy. Planning classes (I have 3 to do in the next 5 weeks), actually having to do the layouts to support the classes, writing up notes etc. Trouble is often when I'm faced with lots to do my brain seems to go in to a freeze and I end up doing nothing. I have though accomplished a little today and have put the framework together for one class, added the photos and just now need to embellish it.

And on top of all this my brother, bless him, has asked if I remembered that shawl I offered to knit for his expected baby? Remember? Remember something that I spoke about for all of 5 seconds weeks ago, hey, I can't even remember what I had for supper last night. So, erm, no, sorry, I didn't remember and no, I can't do it. I have though organised my mum to knit (or crochet) said shawl instead and have offered to knit something once the baby is here and we actually know whether I can use blue wool or pink wool (I'm hoping for pink but I suspect he's hoping for blue...).

I'm also hoping by then that I will have time to sit and knit as opposed to sit and scrap. Hmmm, how do we feel that will pan out...

OK, back to the grindstone for me. If I actually manage to finish one of the projects I will post a little sneak peek here but don't hold your breath!

It's Finally Happened

Yes it has. I have now officially become an embarrassment to my child.

You know it happens to other parents but you never imagine it will happen to you. After all, you imagine you're different to all the other mums, there will never come a time when your child criticises your clothes or your hair or your {whatever}, you're the 'cool' mum, I mean c'mon, you're a 'life artist!' {read scrapbooker! LOL}. But sadly my day has come.

Katarina has gone off on her Year 6 residential week away today and kindly turned down my offer of coming up to school at 11:30 this morning to wave her off on the bus. "No, you'll embarrass me" she says. I, obviously being the great 'cool' mum, respected her wishes and agreed to just take her, and her luggage, to school in the hopes that I would at least get to say my goodbyes and perhaps a kiss. Who was I kidding?

LOL! I was lucky if my lips managed to graze her cheek by the fleetest of touches. Oh well, I am proud of her. Proud that she is so self-assured and confident. Proud that she feels able to just go off in to, for her, unknown and not feel that she has to cling on to mum.

And secretly pleased that at home, away from prying eyes, she still loves to snuggle up to her mum for hugs and kisses...