JYC 2009: Days 15 & 16

Only 2 catch up entries today. I'm tired and need to step away from the computer!

Days 15 & 16:

It's funny because this journal was supposed to be a quick easy format for me but by the time I've pfaffed about what photos to use, agonised over my journal, chosen 'just the right papers' well, it doesn't feel that quick and easy.

More tomorrow, I'm hoping to do days 17, 18 & 19. Hopefully if I keep up at this pace I may stand a chance of finishing my journal around the time the class stops... we'll see.

JYC 2009: Days 12, 13 & 14

Still working away trying to catch up on my Christmas journal. I would really like to finish it this year.

So here are days 12, 13 & 14:

A distinct lack of photos on these last 3 entries. I love the first one, day 12. Christmas Past brought back many happy memories and it was interesting to see how some things have stayed the same but that there had also been some small changes.

Richard likes the last one, day 14, and says it has a 'retro' feel to it. I'm all about retro at the moment so that's a good thing. It was weird though as this was supposed to be the entry for the 14th December and so the Yankee Christmas Swap (held on the 16th) hadn't happened yet!

JYC 2009: Days 7, 8, 9 & 11

Time for a catch up. I'm behind. What a surprise! And yes, I know Day 10 is missing but that's because that day's entry is on the wrapping paper and as I'm running late all the presents have been wrapped and Richard has been super efficient and put this year wrapping paper up into the loft. I've got a draft page but need to wait until the decorations are put away so that I can retrieve the wrapping paper and scan/photograph it to go on my layout.

In the meantime here are my entries for Days 7, 8, 9 and 11:

I've obviously been a very muted green/beige mood lately as looking at these all together they look very similar. Note to self: add some colour on Day 12.

JYC 2009: Day 6

Ghosts of Christmas past? I mostly have really good memories of Christmas but like everyone I expect there are some not so good ones. I haven't written about all of them on todays entry mostly because this is going to be a book for my whole family too look at and enjoy and I don't want to put some things in it. Like the Christmas my brother attempted suicide again. Or the ones I used to have with my long term boyfriend Nick which inevitably ended up with arguments - one year more so than others.

Like I said some Christmas' were awful but I have to say that I've been very blessed and have mostly good memories. They have been the exception to the rule. I remember the excitement as a young girl of waiting at the top of the stairs whilst my dad went downstairs to turn on the Christmas tree lights and make things ready. He also made my mum a cup of tea and once that was done we could run down the stairs and see what Father Christmas had brought.

The year that I'd opened all my presents and thought the present giving was over and then my parents asked me to go make another cup of tea. I felt really grumpy because I didn't want to make one but being a good girl (mostly) I did and as I walked to the kitchen via the dining room I saw a brand new bike! It was brilliant.

And then there's the year (maybe this should have gone on the naughty side!) where unknown to my parents I had been sneaking around the house looking to see what presents they bought and found them all. When they asked me to write my letter to Father Christmas I wrote down everything I saw. All the gifts. Even those obviously meant for my brother!!! I was either trying to impress them with my great memory or stupid... hmmm... I think I'll say naive. Priceless. I still couldn't think why they would know that I'd been snooping...

Anyway my entry for today:

[click to enlarge image]

JYC 2009: Day 5

The countdown begins. Nicely aided by a daily chocolate. This is a first for me as I'm the one who usually buys the chocolate advent calendars and, don't ask me why because I couldn't give you an answer, I never feel 'right' about buying one for myself. So I inevitably end up being the only one in the family without a chocolate advent calendar. Richard is great at many things but buying advent calendars - he is not.

So this year, for the first time, I bought one for myself. Oh, the anticipation. But you'll never guess what, ok maybe you will, but a miracle happened. Richard bought me a calendar! So, I've gone from having none to having 2. Yay me!

[click image to enlarge]

Changed the Ali Edwards template to fit my photos and the little embellishment in the bottom right had some green cardstock that didn't fit in with the rest of the layout so I cut it out and clipped and masked some of the dark green cardstock in it's place.

Thanks for looking.

JYC 2009: Day 4

Today marks a milestone in my JYC journey. I have never managed to get to day 4 before!

[click image to enlarge]

I haven't listed the supplies, and I'm not going to in subsequent posts (unless I use anything different), as I'm pretty much sticking to the same ones in an effort to create an album that will flow. Even though the pages may look very different sometimes hopefully the fact that I'm using the same kit will help the album to look cohesive.

I love this tree. The original one in the kit is sort of a metallic green so I've changed it to blend better with my colour scheme. Got to love a bit of glitter!

JYC 2009: Day 3

Christmas cards. Apart from the buying of the presents this is the next thing that causes me to stress out at Christmas. Do you send a card? Or do you give to charity? Do you send to just family and close friends? What about those friends who don't get one? Will they feel snubbed? Do I make them all myself? Do I buy them? Do I make some and not others? Will those who get a shop bought card feel snubbed they didn't get a handmade one? Errmmm... I think I can stop there. I'm sure you get the picture.

Then there's the fact that for the last couple of years I've made cards but just haven't got around to posting them. I opened up my box of cards to find around 20 or so that had been written out, sealed in their envelopes and even addressed. Just not posted. Do I send those out this year instead? But what if I've written the year inside? But then I can't think why I would do that? But what if I did? Would they just assume that I've made a mistake and wrote 2008 instead of 2009? OK. Stop. We won't go down this route again in just the second paragraph!

Here's my layout. Not too happy with this one and I don't know why but it's in line with my new keep it simple philosophy so I'm saying it's done.

[click image to enlarge]

Supplies:
Be Merry - TaylorMade & Ashalee Wall Collaboration
Dotted Circle Number: Andrea Victoria
Template: Ali Edwards
Glitter Styles: My own

Not much in the way of changes to any of these items except for the bird which I changed from green to blue to better match the layout.

As for the Christmas card this too is in line with my simple philosophy. I've got so much Christmas stuff it's embarrassing. So I'm using it. Quick simple cards. The card above was made using the Die Cuts With A View Christmas Glitter stack (which I bought last year if I remember correctly). One sheet of 12x12 patterned paper has 3 reindeer across it. I cut it up in to 3 pieces 4x12, trimmed it down slightly and popped it on to a plain card base. The bracket journaling block was created using Photoshop and then printed out. I then went over it with a glue pen, allowing the glue to dry tacky, and rubbed some KI glitter over it. Stamp was one I bought recently at Hobbycraft. A little bit of red ribbon and done.

Simples.

JYC 2009: Day 2

You may have noticed that the pages so far have been very simple and very different to my usual style. This was a deliberate choice. I'm hoping by going for clean, simple graphic style that I won't spend too much time deliberating of what embellishment to use. Should I use this or that? Have I layered enough? You won't believe how much time I can waste thinking about these things! And to aid in this I'm also using Ali Edwards Daily December templates.

See? I'm learning. I'm all about the story and not about the stash. I would really like to be able to actually stand a chance of finishing this year. Hopefully it's 3rd year lucky!

[click image to enlarge]

Supplies:
Be Merry - TaylorMade & Ashalee Wall Collaboration
Dotted Circle Number: Andrea Victoria
Snowflake Overlay: Studio Flergs
Template: Ali Edwards
Glitter Styles: My own

As usual a little bit of tweaking to get things how I like this time mostly the snowflake overlay. Originally it the snowflakes were randomly spread all over the page but I move them to create a sort of border either side of the photos.

Thanks for looking.

JYC 2009: Day 1

So today is the day. Day 1 of Shim's Journal Your Christmas 2009 and I'm pleased - I've kept up! LOL. I know it's only day 1 but it's a good start.

[click image to enlarge]

Supplies:
Be Merry - TaylorMade & Ashalee Wall Collaboration
Dotted Circle Number: Andrea Victoria
Glitter Styles: My own

Background paper had some trees printed on it but I wanted to use it as a plain background so used Photoshop to get rid of them using the clone tool. Other items changed from the original include the star on the tree (green paper star changed to glitter), snowflake (glitter changed to one of mine to match the rest of the layout) and the dotted circle number (backed on to kraft paper and glitter style applied to centre of number).

I've decided to keep it simple so that I stand a chance of keeping up this year. So ready for day 2 now.