Looking forward to the New Year

It's the last day of 2011.... it's been a very up and down year but I think for me it's actually been more up than down.... yes stressful with Grade 4 and all, but in general not toooo bad.  I do think though that I'm glad to see this year pass.... here's hoping and praying that 2012 will be a much more positive year.

So with that, here is today's Google for you from me....

I plan to do an all-night scrap tonight with my best friend.... okay maybe not "all" night... but at least till past the midnight hour.  Hope whatever you plan for tonight to see the clock change will be just what you need.

God bless you all mightily in 2012.  Happy New Year.

Just a few more

Here are a few more layouts that I've done...

This one I did way back when at The Scrapping Studio but somehow forgot to show it

Another one from The Scrapping Studio.... it's been sitting around for months just waiting for journalling... bad me!

And lastly for now.... a kit that I purchased for a charity scrap.

Now I have a few more layouts planned to do so best I start tackling them.

Catching up on Scrapkits

I've subscribed to Scrapkits this past year as I'm sure you've gathered before.  Every now and then I manage to get photos to go with the kits and then scrap a whole bunch at a time... at other times I just like the page so do it and hope to get photos eventually for it.  Well now I've managed to do just that and I have completed some pages.... so here they are to show off.

These first three kits are made with all the kit goodies and worked wonderfully with my photos.

Now the rest of these kits I adapted using my own stash of papers to make them work with my photos and themes.  I still think they all turned out marvellously.

To make this one work with my papers, I even swopped the left and right pages around.

So there is no excuse to say that predesigned kits and layouts don't work.... you can adapt them to suit your needs!

Scrap layouts done in a day

Back in October I went to Scrapbook 'n Things and did a day of single pages.... we did six very different pages and I have only just managed to put the finishing touches to them.... so here they are for you to see.
 

The pictures on this page were all drawn by Aaron's Grandad in Canada.

Aaron's piano concert in 2010.... there is a flap with more photos underneath

This layout was the hardest one to finish (hence the delay)... but I eventually did it yesterday and am glad to have done it.  This layout is all about Ally who was at school with Aaron but died suddenly halfway through Grade 2.  It has a whole flap booklet with lots of photos, journalling and I included the funeral service leaflet too.

So technically it was six layouts created in one day but finished over the space of two months! I'm pleased with them all.

Nuts About Sketches - Week 193

It's the last week of 2011.... but that doesn't mean that we stop scrapping... oh no!!!!  I've got a whole bunch of pages planned and so will definitely be scrapping this year away.... hehehe.

Here is the final sketch for the year from Nuts About Sketches... a great double page.

My layout is all about my best friend's birthday that we celebrated back in July.

Check out the blog for more inspiration during this week.

Merry Christmas

All the best for this season to each and every one of my blog readers.... may Christ be especially real to you as you celebrate. Even in amongst all the presents, food and happiness, remember that without HIM there would be no Christmas.

As an added greating... here is today's Google:

Nuts About Sketches - bonus

This month Shawn has made two extra sketches which I found and absolutely loved... so just had to scrap them too....

This first sketch is for the Multiphoto Scrapbook Layouts blog for their December challenge.

I chose to do photos of us on Rugby Friday in support of the Springboks for the World Cup.

This second bonus sketch Shawn loaded on the Nuts About Sketches page on Facebook.

I loved what Shawn did with it... all in Fall colours.  I chose to do my birthday celebration for this layout.

So now why don't you give these sketches a go?

Nuts About Sketches - Week 192

I love being on holiday... I get to sleep in a bit later than on school mornings, can do the stuff I want to do, when I want to do it and I get lots of scrapping done.... except at this time of the year.... now it's shopping, making and wrapping presents and general catching up on stuff.  I did manage to get lots of photos printed today so am set for some serious scrapping after Christmas.

This week's sketch from Nuts About Sketches is up... a great single page with room for 5 photos.

I took some photos with my blackberry one day at the office when Aaron happened to be there and our office manager visited as well with her baby girl... such cute pics.

Now head over to the blog to see the wonderful layouts the rest of the design team have done... including a good selection of Christmas ones to put you in the mood.

Nuts About Sketches - Week 191

It's a new week... the count down to Christmas is well on it's way.... I've been Christmas shopping and am just about done.  In between it's been HECTIC to say the least... with trips to Boksburg and back, visiting friends, trying to do some scrapping, photo editing and of course all the shopping. And the madness doesn't stop there either... still lots more stuff on between now and Christmas... but I enjoy this season so am not complaining... just wish there were a few more hours in some of my days.

Being a new week, there is a new sketch up at Nuts About Sketches

I had fun putting together a layout about my cousin's little girl's birthday party....

It was an adventure golf party.  I had the chipboard title on hand so that was easy embellishments... added some white brads for extra golfball effect!

As I had an extra photo of the moms at the party, I created a flap and hid my journalling underneath as well ... just shows how you can turn any sketch into that little bit more.

Be sure to check out the rest of the team's layouts... they put a smile on my face just browsing through.

Nuts About Sketches - Week 190

Aaron did so well this year at school.... made me very proud.  So the final result - he is going to Grade 5 next year.  He is now on school holiday, which of course means "Mommy Holiday" for me.  I have so much on my plate for the next two weeks that I hope I get everything done.

With today being Monday, it means another fab sketch from Nuts About Sketches.

A three photo double page sketch is so not normal for me... but I had the perfect sequence for this layout.  These pics show Aaron doing a bit of baking.

Now be sure to check out the rest of the awesome layouts that the team has put together.

Google

Today's Google screen... commemorating Mark Twain's birthday.... think it's time we re-read Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.

Week of inspiration

In amongst everything else that I have going on I'm going to try and take part in this too... why not join in and get some Christmas inspiration.

Join in at http://scrappingeverydaymiracles.blogspot.com

Nuts About Sketches - Week 189

We've reached the end of the school year.... Aaron has one more exam tomorrow (Art) and then prize-giving on Thursday.  School closes on Friday and that will be Grade 4 overs cadovers.  It's been a year with lots of learning curves... not least of which were the cycle test and all the studying that had to be done.  Sure hope that next year will be a bit easier.

Today is the last Monday in November... and Monday's always mean a new sketch from Nuts About Sketches.... today's one is a great double layout.

I turned to the caravan trip my folks took Aaron on in July for this layout.... did some lovely scenary shots of the dam they stayed at.

Now it's time to head over the the blog to see what the rest of the design team did.

Nuts About Sketches - Week 188

What a great week - my birthday yesterday and Aaron's on Wednesday.... plus his party on Friday.... I'm busy making decorations for this now and will soon be pulling all the details together.... never mind that this is the big week of his exams... ALL the study stubjects in one week!

Now on to the lastest sketch from Nuts About Sketches.

For my layout, I turned to nature again.

You will notice that I didn't do all the bits of the sketch this week... mainly because I had this awesome paper with the owls on it that I wanted to use, so just put on the bits of the sketch that worked... shows how to start with a sketch and make it work as you go along.

Happy creating.... and check out the blog this week for some more inspiration.

Celebrating My Birthday

Today is my birthday.... and a rather fun date too.... captured this screen at 20:11 on 20/11/2011

Yesterday I had a tea party with my friends to help me celebrate.  I had spent the week baking (in between lots of studying with Aaron for his exams).  So here is the table just for you to drool over...

With most everything containing chocolate (my fav food) this chocolate tart was definitely the highlight for everyone.

Aaron took this photo to help me remember my day... the best of the three he took but still a bit blurry!

I got spoilt with vouchers (to spend on scrapping goodies), a new devotions book, a lovely plant and also a bag full of choccies.

This morning I had planned to sleep in but ended up waking just after 7 anyway.  So after a quick cuddle with Aaron I had my bath and then it was present opening time - Aaron wanted me to open my present as soon as my eyes were open but I quickly put a stop to that one!  Keith bought me new dinnerware as ours is on it's way out (after more then 20 years!)

Between Aaron and I, we made flapjacks for breakfast this morning, served on my new plates (which Aaron had first washed too!).  After breakfast, we went to church and the congregation sang Happy Birthday to me... though most of them didn't know my name so there was a bit of a flat moment at that point in the song... hehe. Afterwards we went through to my folks for lunch... my mom served a great cold lunch of chicken, beef and salads, with jelly, fruit salad and ice cream for pudding.  She also made me a birthday cake.

My present from Mom & Dad was this delightful wind-chime that is now hanging outside my kitchen window waiting for a breeze to make it tinkle.

Now off to have the last slice of chocolate tart before bed... yummy!  Will be celebrating a bit more tomorrow at work with leftovers from yesterday.