Scrapbook 2014

Last year, I took a liking to scrapbooking. I found the December Daily Challenge exciting and I loved documenting the good times and the everyday. Upon research, I found that that kind of scrapbooking, picking up small pieces of everyday, fit better with Project Life than anything else. But I am broke, a student, and I do not like 12x12 pages.

 

So here is my alternative

 

I had an A4 black paged sketchbook lying around and I had no idea what to do with it. the pages are of good quality and should hold up well if I ever choose to embellish heavily. It also cost me nothing extra. And I can also use it to use up my stash of paper goods before University.

 

This is my sort-of title page. It sets the ground work and it looks good. The others may not look like this, as I plan to do these on a Sunday night to review the week, and occasionally dedicate pages to their own individual events. But I am at school, so nothing particularly happens. And, because I don't have a fancy camera phone, any photos will be taken on my camera, which looks really odd if you produce that in the sixth form centre.

 

 

So this is the first week! As you can see, much more basic.

I included a pocket made from tracing paper containing the confetti from the party popper that I used at Midnight to ring in the new year, and I have tried to keep it colour co-ordinated... The gorgeous London Eye sticker came from Accesorize (who'd have thought it?) and was bought with a Christmas gift, so completely guilt free!

 

I found this gorgeous 'this week' card on pinterest, which I printed out in black and white, that I hope to use for the whole year. I like the instant sense of what I was doing that week everytime I just glance at it.

 

Printables used in these pages come from:

HERE for the 2014 hearts

HERE for this week filler

 

Hopefully I can stick to it, and maybe I'll show you every week what I've been producing? Hopefully also, they'll get a bit more visually appealing!!! And perhaps someday even include pictures!!!

 



Secret Quilter (16)

I quilt.

And for some reason, I have ever posted them here. I have made a total of five quilts, of which I have three to show you.

 

  

 

This first one is actually my most recent one that I made for my sister for Christmas. It is a Cath Kidston inspired one, as she's obsessed. It's also great, as I hade loads of fabrics that matched her colour scheme. it's my most accurate quilt that I have completed to date, and she loves it.

This is my first quilt, that I made for my Mum, Christmas 2012. She was completely shocked and didn't expect it. The colours are red, with a patterned red and brown swirl fabric. It is backed with fleece and great to cuddle up with.

 



 

This last one is one I made for myself, and was made out of scraps that are used as fabric samples. It was great, as the squares were all the same size. I quilted this one by embroidering small crosses at intersections in coloured embroidery thread. It's lovely and colourful, and for that reason it will go with practically any colour scheme, which will be great for university next year (because who knows what colours the rooms will be?!?!).

 

My fabric stash is huge, but mainly consists of bits that are less than half a metre tall, and making quilts helps me to use all of these up. It's fantastic, and I hope to make many more.

 

Also, to contribute to my 50 Things to Make (which has now been extended to two years) This is counting as 'Something quilted'.



Ciao 2013!

I had thought that 2013 was going to be bad. Plain and simply. I did not like the number. The first half was,  and I suffered for it, then having to deal with my disappointment in the summer. But then my Autumn term was fantastic, and I had some of the best people around me, and the best times I've had in a long, long time. 2013 has been about 'building character', and I feel a better person for it.

 

I have put a decent effort in to this blog this year - I even sustained my August challenge for posting everyday (bar one). And here are some promises I have yet to keep:

 

1) I will finish my travel scrapbook. I still need to print out photos.

 

2) My 50 has been extended as part of my 2014 Resolution. I'd love to finish my list.

 

3) I will again try and post frequently, although A2's are very important, so begin wishing good luck now, if you please!!!

 

4) This  year I participated in the December Daily Challenge, and I have nearly completed documenting all the way up until Christmas Eve, with hopefully a mini celebration of Christmas at the end. However, I still need to print photos....

 

2014 will be a year of change again. Next year I should be off to University, to study History. What I have learnt this year is that documenting what goes on, and finding the positives to flick through, is very good for my mentality. This means art journals and Scrapbooks. So hopefully, even if I'm not sharing it here, some form of craftiness will be occurring somewhere in my life.

 

Thank you for sticking with me for this year, and I hope that 2014 will bring you hope and happiness too.



We Three Kings of Orient are...

...One in a taxi, one in a car.

One on a scooter, blowing its hooter,

Smoking a big Cigar.

I know. I sing wonderfully.

Equipment:

Gold Card blank

Paper scraps in Gold and black

Outline stickers

Glue

1) Trim a strip of Gold Card to the same height as the width of the Card Blank. 

2) Arrange three stickers of the headdresses (hats. I prefer hats, but they don't look like hats) onto this gold strip.

3) Attach to a strip of Black card that is the same height but 2cm wider.

4) Glue down the decorated strip, and arrange three sticker diamonds in the bottom corner.

Ta da!

Number of items used from stash: 2

Gold Card, Stickers

Sparkle

I love glitter,but hate the mess. Glitter outline stickers solve this problem no end.

Equipment:

White Card blank

Glitter stickers

Ribbon

1) Tie the Ribbon into a bow around the bottom of the card blank.

2) Arrange the glitter stickers onto the top half of the card.

Ta da!

Number of items used from stash: 2
Stickers, Ribbon

Button Red

A GREEN Card today...I've mainly been using white card this year, but I began to ran out,so in the spirit of using up my stash, I turned to this colour as well.

Equipment:

Green Card Blank

Patterned paper

Ribbon

Buttons

Felt star

Corner Rounder

Glue

1) Tie the ribbon around the patterned paper so that it forms a bow.

2) Attach a button to the centre of the felt star.

3) Glue the star onto the patterned paper, next to the ribbon bow.

4) Round the two corners of the patterned paper closest to the star, and attach the opposite flat edge to the front of the card.

5) Round the outside corners of the card blank and attach two more buttons to the side of the patterned paper.

Ta da!

Number of items used from stash: 6

Buttons, Paper, Ribbon, Star

Christmas Green

Green and white looks so good together, and it makes a refreshing change to the usual red and green.

Equipment:

White Card Blank

Ribbon

Circle sentiment

Scalloped circle

Foam Pads

1) Attach the ribbon across the bottom half of the card and secure on the wrong side.

2) Using foam pads, layer the Circle sentiment onto the coordinating scalloped circle.

3) Adhere the scalloped circle on top of the ribbon using foam pads.

Ta da!

Number of items used from stash: 3
Ribbon, Sentiment, Circle