Unimpressed

This page sits opposite the one I shared previously, and I maintained the colour scheme across here too. There's even a small slither of the same paper hidden there too!

This picture refers to an incident of great disappointment... after our meal, we ordered a cookie pizza, expecting it to be soft, gooey and amazing. No. It was rock solid, so one of my friends took a knife to it, in an attempt to chisel anything decent off of it. There wasn't any. It was a very sad moment indeed.

This is another layout that I caught inspiration off of pinterest, and it's a fantastic way to use up scrap paper, and all of those odd bits which aren't big enough to use on a layout by themselves. The most hassle is trying to decide where each strip will go,and because the background is so vibrant, the embellishment is allowed to be fairly minimal.

This is a great idea if you want a fairly easy page that will use up a pretty hefty amount of scraps.

P.S. even if the scraps aren't long enough to go all the way across the page, cut them in half, and hide the split beneath the photo... you won't believe how many of these actually use that system!

My Crazy Nutters

And here is my next meet-up with my other lovely friends! This photo was actually taken at a rail station at night... because we're classy like that.

The layout is similar to something I've seen pop up a few times on pinterest, splitting the page in half on the diagonal. It's a very striking design feature, and I enjoyed then creating this trail of embellishments all of the way down that line. I pretty much collated all of the pieces I could find in the colour scheme and threw them at it... This process seems to have worked surprisingly well!

The title is not something I would usually use, but I wanted to use those letters. Unfortunately, there were very few of them left, and this was the only thing I could create that was a) relevant, and b) achievable. Ah well, it doesn't look too out of place.

I actually made this layout before I received my Elle's Studio goodies, which was a shame, because their colours fitted so well to this scheme... I think perhaps this paper was even an Elle's Studio one... I can't remember. But either way, it turned out great all by itself.

Happy Girls are the Prettiest Girls

 I will just quickly say that I am aware that the photos recently are looking a bit funny. I may have to change how I photograph them during the summer, because that wood background is actually a garden table outside, and with the strong summer sun it does something weird to the pictures.

This page sits opposite the one I previously shared, and because the writing was on that side, I had full reign to lay it out and decorate it exactly how I wanted it.

Again, it's quite a simple page, I used a border strip in the background, and then cut out embellishments from two pieces of paper. Finished off with a couple of pieces of wood veneer and a title in mixed fonts (which was an experiment I actually quite like) the page was complete. and a very pretty one it was indeed.

Quote, I believe, is from Audrey Hepburn, and it is very true.

Golden

The photo I used here was one we took at one of our sixth form group meet-ups... I have a few of those that I scrapped recently to share with you; everyone was home for Easter, which made it all so much easier. I loved the golden tinge the lighting gave to the photo (I don't edit my photos at all) which inspired the whole page.

This layout is unusual for me because the background is quite dark, but I wanted to try something different. I actually really like it, it sits well with the page opposite it.

In terms of actual construction, it's very simple, just three 6x6's layered beneath a square photo, with a 4x6 journalling card for my writing (and look! I've actually written on this one!).

For the embellishments, I found a diddy heart punch whilst I was going through my stash and I just had to use it... Apart from that, I had some metal leaves that had fallen off one of my headbands that I'd kept, a small wood veneer frame, and a border strip that I'd trimmed down to little pennants.

In terms of construction, it is a very simple process. But it is amazingly effective.

Mignonne's Birthday

This was one of the last times I was with my Sixth Form friends. We gathered for a birthday, at a very fancy hotel, we had a room to ourselves and everything! It felt so grown up!

I loved collecting all of the patterns together for this one. As a group, we were wearing such a variety of dresses, I tried to pick out colours from all of them, The red is dominant due to the colour of the walls, and it brings a grounding to the different contrasts.

I like using my patterned paper. Their designs complement each other, making it unnecessary to crowd the page with embellishments which I own very little of. I use a few on each page, just to tie things together, such as this journalling box. Then I let the patterns and the pictures speak for themselves.

When we played Catch

Sometimes, you just have to cling to the moments that make you happiest.

I've found this subject very difficult, and I often don't allow myself to be happy. But it's those unconscious slips where I suddenly find myself being happy that I cling to, no matter how short, how spontaneous or how trivial. I want more of them. So they deserve to be documented. In this way,when I fall into a low, I can find them again.

On a Thursday, last thing, we have a form period where various pieces of admin occur. Currently we are preparing Christmas Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. And we had a spare bouncy ball.

It started with me, bouncing it off of the desk.

Then Beth asked me to throw it to her, and we played catch.

Soon there was Mignonne, Nikki and Tom.

Then we tried to get it into the fire bucket.

And we played piggy in the middle.

And then we returned to playing catch, bouncing it off of the cupboard doors.

It sounds far too simple.

But the excitement and sheer concentration, competitiveness and frivolity of us near-adults, over a small, bouncy ball, was somewhat astonishing. The relief it gave over its simplicity broke the trend of the serious nature of A-Levels. I laughed and I smiled, and while others looked on at us thinking us childish, I didn't care. It was fun.

It forces me to acknowledge the friends I have, and to appreciate them for all they're worth, because they are worth far more than me. They see me through all of the guarded, upset,conflicted Rachel, and help to reveal the light-hearted one. 

They are the best people in the world.

Friends

Because I don't tell them often enough how awesome they are.

Drew, you are hilariously funny, and one of the hardest working people I’ve ever seen. Your fandoms mean a lot to you, but without them, you just wouldn’t be you. You may be short but you make up for it in heart, and though sometimes you can be worrying, it’s only because I don’t understand. You seem to have so much fun with everything in life, the universe and everything and everything you do is brilliant. You are amazing, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Her Tumblr

Georgie, you are so pretty you don’t understand, your skills with make-up are beyond belief, and your music is amazing. You are clever, and you get great grades. Your choices are your own, and I should not judge. No-one should, so don’t you let anybody. Because that’s another thing: you know your mind and aren’t afraid to speak it. So sing it loud (because you could do that), and don’t take no for an answer.

GeorgieGrapeVlogs

MyBrittonFamily

Her Tumblr

 

Robyn your musical talents are also sky high, and your fandoms as well make you, you. You’re Ravenclaw by nature, and you are so kind and gentle it’s astounding. Yes, sometimes you may have the odd evil quip, but that does not detract, it only means you have an answer for everything, which is no way bad. You are one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, you are funny, and you have brilliant choices in 50’s dresses.

Her Tumblr

Becky, you are weird and random and completely hilarious. Your facial expressions are quite honestly some of the most expressive, quite possibly, in the entire world. You are extraordinarily talented with your art and drawings, which never fail to amaze. You are creative and inventive, clever and laid back. Even when you’re in a panic, it doesn’t seem like it. You have a near constant smile, one which cannot fail to brighten someone else’s day.

Her Tumblr

Johanna. The creative, random, intelligent, stubborn, crazy, smiley, indescribable Johanna. You’re supportive to everyone, you don’t care what others think, you are slightly mental, but I think elf ears would suit you, most definitely more than others. You are most certainly and unequivocally a Ravenclaw, Penguins will always be your animal and blue suits you (it rhymes...). Johanna, never change, and don’t let anyone stand in your way.