WOYWW #613 - Photos

Well I actually got to the mammoth sorting of my photos on Monday. To save any confusion, the 347 photos I had printed by Photobox were just the ones I have specifically chosen for scrapbooking or putting in frames, for the whole of 2020.

Thought I'd start with the yearly update of the "Family" album for 2020. I get duplicates of any photos of all 3 of us for this 8"x8" Album, the green one on my desk. It has 35 pages in it so will accommodate 70 LOs - 39 LOs done so far. 

Then there's week 3 of my little Lent Journal. Monday's thought was entitled, "Created to Create" which I thought most appropriate. I'd left a bigger space as it was St David's Day too so I crafted some daffodils from a floral die which just about did the trick.

Been busy in the garden this week too, redid my baskets and boxes and attacked the overgrown borders. Think it is getting colder again so back to more scrapping....

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #612 - Screenies!

Guys I really ought to have given credit to the closing words I posted last week. It was from a poem by David Harkins entitled "He is gone" obviously adapted. 

So on to this week, here's my desk from last night. 

I got all my photos delivered but haven't started the mammoth task of sorting them yet. They arrive all higgledepiggledy! I have popped a couple (one enlargement and one normal size, had to search for that one!!) in frames but that's it.

You can also see one of last weeks cards ready to write and pop in the post and my 2 mini journals made from 12x12 sheets, sewn bound. 

I'm doing a Lent one now too. I've given up Chocolate and Crisps for Lent, so the next 6 weeks will be quite difficult for me. I wanted something tangible to see how long I have to wait but am also doing a 47 day Bible devotional in the journal.

Had to take a desk photo from the opposite angle so you could see what else I have been up to. With all the ATC and inchie talk it got me thinking of doing something I could display in my "zoom" screen  (which hides the rest of my bedroom whilst I'm on calls!). 

They are only a little taller than an ATC at 12cm and slightly narrower at 6cm but I can leave them in there when I put my screen away. I don't intend to cover the screen as that would be 336 just a few to break up the monotony. Anyway I have stapled some ribbon to the tops so I can get them out of the spaces, and am again using up my previously cut diecuts, as I am in my journals.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #611 - Sadness & Rejoicing

I was so sad to hear of the passing of Shaz this past week. I never met her but was always touched by her thoughtful comments through WOYWW. 

I was fortunate enough to have been her SWAP partner back in 2017. So my tribute is the ATC I received from her.

My heart goes out to her husband Doug and their wider family.

As for my desk, it has had quite a few guises the past week or so...

1) I grabbed three sheets of 12x12 I wasn't likely to scrap with (as prompted by another desker) and made myself a little 6x6 journal. I bound it using saddle stitch. I am using it as a journal for my 21 day "Grateful Heart" Bible Study.

2) After ordering a whopping 347 prints which covered 2020 from Photobox. I looked them up on Facebook and found a video on a photo box so I made my version for hubby for Valentine's. And a tag for his wine bag.

3) Then I had a 2 hour messenger chat with a crafty friend where I diecut lots of items to make up some cards. 

I made 6 cards in the end and still had some left overs.

Then there was Valentine's.

And then my birthday - phew what a week.

So yes some sadness but also rejoicing.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

You can shed tears that she is gone

Or you can smile because she has lived

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back

Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.

WOYWW #610 - Thanks & Cards

Thanks everyone for last weeks comments of encouragement and comfort after I'd poured my heart out, much appreciated.

The blog hop last week really inspired me so these 9 cards were made last Thursday!

Thanks Karen M for the Inchie/Valentines inspiration, that spurred me into action and I made my hubby's Valentine and 23rd Anniversary cards. My Valentines one was made entirely with previously cut diecuts I'd saved. 

Hubby hates February as he has my birthday the day after Valentine's too! 

The inchie inspiration lead to 4 more cards. The square toppers I'd been gifted some time ago and came across them when I was sorting my 12x12 papers the other week.

The Cuttlebug cut'n'emboss squares I found already cut in my stash, the butterfly and dragonflies had been gifted to me some time ago. 

I even got out my very dusty Martha Stewart edge and corner punches. 

I did freshly cut the Happy Birthday circles, but I also cut  more of the Script part in a variety of colours for "next time"

I finished with a friend's daughter's card, dinosaurs and her favourite colours.

Two of the cards are already posted, I seem to be on track this year, seem to be getting my mojo back. Just need to sort and order those pesky photo prints to start scrapping 2020...

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #609 - Finished Scraping 2019

So I finished scrapping 2019 and am in the process of selecting photos from 2020 to have printed. Consequently my desk is back to is usual empty, tidy state LOL. 

My last double LO was particularly difficult as it was the last time we went to Swansea to visit my Mother. 

It was the Christmas before last, and difficult as she disowned me yet again so that was the last time I spoke to her and vice versa. 

Most of the photos were of when I went to Langland Beach and Mumbles Pier with my Son and Husband. 

Note the arcade photo Jan! Little did I know the argument which was to ensue that evening. We left the next day and I was so glad to be home.

On the plus side 2020 slipped by without the usual drama associated with my Mother which has been a great relief. So the situation is incredibly sad as it's my Mother but happy as I've escaped the drama.

My final 2019 LO is of our Pastor's wife and new baby (matching outfits LOL) plus my church friends going for walks and my last geocache find of 2019. 

The "Loved" decoration was given to everyone at the carol service that year. I'd missed the service so hoped to get a spare one at the Christmas Eve service but couldn't find one. I was in my car about to leave when one of the youth ran up to me and knocked on the window, he'd passed me the brown package with the heart logo of our church. I was nearly in tears, he'd found one for me. Anyway I think it was God's way of telling me I'm loved despite what was about to happen in Swansea...

Oh gosh, poured out my heart there.

Anyway one thing to note on my desk is the "MASKS" word I cut out from some packaging I'd kept, since recycled in the clean up. I've been planning my 2020 scrapping and obviously a LOCKDOWN page is required and the word is Just Right - LOL.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #608 - How I Scrap

Thought you'd like a photo of my desk mid-scrapping as of yesterday evening, I've got to December 2019.

I tend to group my photos for a page and crop and arrange on some 12x12 plain white paper.

Then I choose some coloured papers - trying to use up stock but far too many big or fussy patterns which don't work well from me so have asked for some plain coloured/textured card for my birthday.

Then I add a title and embellish as and where I can.

Here's my son's 21st Birthday layout finished. I got the colour blocks and diagonal positioning from the piece of patterned paper. 

Before that there was the big hair cut. I wasn't going to cut his hair again (hoping he'd go to a barbers when in uni) but he didn't so I did. 

The photo before I call my Jesus Photo, love it.

I literally put it in a pony tail and chopped it off. Have kept it and I have one of my own as well. There's a photo of a group of us in church with coloured hair too.

Finally a friend's thanksgiving where the banner I'd made with her 17 years previously was draped over her coffin, so special. 

And some Christmas preparations, including our Church Nativity.

Only a couple more LOs to finish 2019.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #607 Allusion or Illusion?

Last week I said my lack of clothing was just an allusion but was it actually an illusion? Looked up both words and cannot distinguish them enough to work out which I ought to have used in the context! Safe to say the last page in my 15th Scrapbook will cause a stir either way.

Started my 16th 12x12 day to day Scrapbook (my last few have been gifted to me by an ex-scrapper so kind). I put 30 pages in each album, so can fit 60 layouts each. I have 3 special 12x12 albums too, so well over 900 layouts over the years.

My opening page was a lot more subdued, a rainy day when we had out trees lopped. The Silver Birch had half its height cut, they had to come and confirm this was what I wanted, it was! We only have a smallish garden and the trees take over somewhat over the 3 year gap, Magnolia and Red Robin also.

Then some September 2019 things like son going back to Uni for his final year, some geocaching and hair colouring. Also moving our son's drums to the loft as we needed the space to move stuff around to enable the lounge to have its makeover.

A dinosaur birthday party of a friend's 3yr old twins

Then the lounge makeover itself. The old original (1927) ceiling was bulging somewhat and we wanted to save the cornice so found some plasterers prepared to give it a go. They did a mighty fine job, the stilts and microwave being the highlights for me.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

Graduation

 My graduation in 1987. 

Photos with my beloved Dad.

And with Judd the guy I was smitten with for the five years but it wasn't to be.

WOYWW #606 - Sorting & Scrapping

Spurred in by you lovely ladies and the sorting I saw last week, I decided to do some shelf sorting myself. I rejigged my first two shelves, moving my dies down a shelf to make them easier to access. My stamp folders have gone up a shelf, 'cause, well, I really don't use them much, I'm not a stamper.

Anyway, whilst doing all that, I found some old photos of my graduation which got me back to scrapping and then I was spurred on by nearing the end of my current (15th) 12x12 scrapbook, so I've done quite a few pages, the last of which is sitting on my desk awaiting sticking.

There's my Graduation, way back in 1987! (Photo won't load properly here so I have posted separately).   My hubby's birthday July 2019 when he did my car hub caps, and my son's visit to his beloved primary school which was on the same day!

Hubby cycling and some Summer stuff. Had misspelt "Chiltons" so redid on some card and it actually looked better. Not use my big gears in ages either.

A visit to Swansea - Caswell Bay and Clyne Gardens. Used the flower die I re-found whilst sorting, forgot I had that Cuttlebug die.

More geocaching, a hospital visit and friends, got me into August 2019. Son had had chest pains but he was checked out and all A-OK. Probably pulled a muscle!

And the final page for the current album is the page awaiting sticking. It is a bit risky, don't ask! It was a challenge and I really didn't take ALL my clothes off it is just the allusion of such! And it was in the woods and we didn't see a soul.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #605 - Gradient

 As expected I've been doing my new "Gradient" jigsaw this week!

I did dye my hair purple and lay on my jigsaw board on New Year's Day as it matched.

I really was going to try and do some crafting yesterday, but I decided to take "some" decorations down instead and watched some more Dr Who.

Then I had my first zoom dance lesson in the evening hence I didn't wish to bore you with yet another empty desk!

Anyway here's me on my jigsaw and if you are really interested on the making and finishing of the gradient puzzle, have a look at my post from yesterday here.

Happy WOYWW New Year Everyone.

Gradient

Thought I'd do a specific post of my "Gradient" Jigsaw Puzzle. I started the sort of the colours/edges on Wednesday 30th Dec 2020. 

Even seeing the colours in the box was a delight to my eyes as I just love colours. Then the edges just went together, plonk plonk plonk..... It was far easier than you'd think.

The following Day on New Year's Eve - 31st January 2020 I started with the pink corner and decided to do it portrait-wise. I had a slight misfortune with the pastel box which ended up on the floor. Great excuse to delay any vacuuming until the puzzle was completed!

New Year's Day - 1st January 2021 - I dyed my hair in the morning and yup it matched the pinky/purple end - LOL. 

I was adding pieces quite methodically by now and flipped the board after getting halfway.  

My son, who'd got it for me for Christmas exclaimed, 

"Don't do it too quickly!" 

But then he had a go and realised how much fun it was.

On Saturday 2nd January 2021 came the slightly more challenging end. I'd managed to sort the greens/yellows into the biggest pile at the beginning so I just knew this would be more challenging. The following day 3rd January 2021 having tried to watch my church service live and it not working I set to to finish the yellow/green section, DONE!

Have to say this was probably the most satisfying and enjoyable puzzle to complete. You aren't limited to looking at a picture and trying to match little patterns, in fact you don't need the picture at all just an eye for colour and the shape of the pieces. 

Excellent, I highly recommend this type of puzzle to avid puzzlers.