Christmas Journal 2011 - 20 December

Just popping by to wish everyone a Happy New Year!  We are off out this evening armed with two batches of cupcakes that we have been making all afternoon!  Hopefully pics from this evening will eventually appear in my journal ...

I just love this picture!  My darling little niece Evie who came to visit us just before Christmas, of course she didn't come alone, but this picture was just too cute not to use!!!  Those elf ears have been such fun this year!!!

That's the last of the completed pages blogged now, so I had better get my finger out (hangover permitting!) tomorrow!!!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 19 December

Don't even ask me how behind I am with my Christmas Journal this year!  I am however, determined to finish, and have kept good notes and taken lots of pics so as soon as I get a chance to craft I should be able to catch up (that is the aim!)  Here is a page that I did before Christmas, a slow day Christmas wise, so a good day to show some atmospheric pics!!!

I would just like to take this opportunity to wish all my blog visitors a very happy 2012!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 18 December

Finally I got all my Christmas preparations (except the food shopping) finished!  Phew!  Such a relief!!!  Never have I been so behind and unprepared for the big day :(

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 17 December

At last a free weekend to catch up on Christmas jobs (and not before time!), and do lots of jobs we did!!!

Not your traditional booze soaked Christmas cake, but something altogether lighter but still very delicious!  I am delighted to say that the cake does now have it's marzipan layer but not yet the icing :/  oh well, it'll get done!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 16 December

Both my children broke up from school last Friday, and when they got home, I was still at work.  So, I suggested that they might like to meet me after work and we would go for a coffee and cake to celebrate the end of term.  And that's what we did!

They weren't at all impressed that I wanted to take a photograph in Costa, but I insisted, and as they know how important my Journal is to me, they reluctantly agreed, but I didn't get many chances to get a good picture!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 -15 December

Today was a quiet day Christmas wise, so since Arnold hadn't yet made an appearance in my journal, here he is!

He is turning into such a beautiful cat and his tail has really filled out, but he isn't the bravest of boys, and always seems to have a worried expression on his face, bless him.

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 14 December

Last week, it took me two afternoons to write all of my Christmas cards!  On 14 December, I finally finished writing them.  Most of the cards I sent this year were bought, charity cards, but I did manage to make 24 that I sent to fellow crafty friends and family who have come to expect a handmade one!  I used a very simple design that I had used for birthday cards earlier in the year, but I think they were quite effective.

I had one handmade card left, so I stuck that in for today's journal page:

and I did my journalling inside:

(loving that paper tape (red Merry Christmas at the bottom)

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 13 December

Here is the last page that I managed to do last week ... somehow I have got terribly behind again - I blame it on Christmas!!!  There is just so much to do, and this weekend we have been busy busy busy doing Christmas related jobs, although no entertaining for a change!  I have however, been taking photos and making notes, so when I do get the chance hopefully it shouldn't be too hard to catch up!

This shop in Bath was just so pretty and magical, and Phil and I stumbled across it at twilight so all the fairy lights and window display was even more stunning!  Just had to include it in my journal!

This weekend hasn't been entirely without crafting, I popped into my Crafty Corner to rustle up some wine bottle gift label thingies for Phil to give to several of his work colleagues:

This was only necessary because I forgot to buy wine bottle gift bags, but I'm actually quite glad I did now, I think they turned out quite well!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 12 December

OK, so not much Christmassy was going on around here on Monday!  However, Ollie had a much needed appointment at the dog groomer - he was so stinky and we couldn't have that over Christmas!

I did get half of my christmas cards written (the half that needed posting) so it wasn't a completely wasted day!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 11 December

Sunday was a more relaxing day for us, despite the fact that we were entertaining again that evening - largely because we had done all the cleaning for our visitors the day before!  It wasn't however quite so relaxing for our visitors, they had a bit of a crisis at home and in the end, Ian had to stay at home.  However, we still had a lovely evening and after dinner played some games - Logo and spoons (seem to be our favourites at the moment!)

I wasn't sure about using black in my journal, but since some of the Jovial papers have black, thought I would give it a go, and I quite like it!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 10 December

Saturday, we had friends round in the evening ... for the first time, and the first time that the husbands had met!  It was a lovely evening and everyone got on like a house on fire - isn't it great when that happens?!

Unfortunately, I failed to get the photo that I should have done - preferably one with the four of us in, but since I didn't, I used this one instead (Daphne doesn't like it, but I rather like the fact that it looks like she's got Union Jack ears!!!)

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 9 December

When I got home from work on Friday afternoon, I weighed out all the ingredients that needed to be soaked overnight, for my Christmas Pudding.  I do love to make my own pudding, and I found this recipe about four years ago and unless I find another spectacular recipe, don't see me changing it - ever!  The title I chose is a bit mis-leading as there are no figs in it, but it is quite citrussy and quite light (which is just what you need after a roast turkey dinner!)

I did intend to steam the pud on Saturday, but ran out of time, and it didn't actually get finished until Monday :/   Never mind, it's all done now and ready for the big day!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 8 December

I think that the page I did today might be my favourite one so far!  Of course, it helps to have a picture of something so cute, but it's not only that.  I must ensure that I do a page all about Arnold too, just to be fair (and the dogs will need to be included somehow too!)

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 7 December

Had another busy day socialising today!  Met my lovely friends and their three dogs for a walk in the forest, then took another friend out for a coffee (that somehow turned into lunch! - how did that happen???) who has recently had an operation and was desperate to get out of the house.  I also then went back to her house and helped her with her Christmas journal - she needed a bit of a nudge in the right direction!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 6 December

Today I had to work (I don't normally work Tuesdays) so therefore nothing much Christmassy happened, although it was really busy in the shop with people buying their Christmas cards and gifts!  So, I had to find something else to journal about today!

Unfortunately, my photo wasn't great as I didn't want to get any nearer to the deer and scare them, nor to draw the dogs attention to them, but I think that you can just about make out that it is in fact a deer!  It felt Christmassy to see them, and also the donkeys in The New Forest on the way home, but I didn't stop to take a picture of them - maybe next time!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 5 December

Monday was a lovely, even if slightly frustrating day!  I ended up spending too much time with friends enjoying myself instead of getting down to some housework and some journalling.  This of course meant that I had plenty to journal about but no time left to do it!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 4 December

Sunday we had our new friends round for the evening.  We met the family through our sons who are good friends now, although when they actually went to the same school they weren't!  It was a lovely evening, we shared a lot of laughs and we hope to do it again one day soon!

I'm hoping to get a lot of use and photos of friends and family wearing the funny glasses and elf ears over the Christmas period - we had a lot of fun with similar things last year!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011- 3 December

Saturday 3 December was the day that we had set aside to put up the Christmas decorations, and that is exactly what we did!  Our five (yes, I said FIVE!) Christmas trees are now in place and twinkling!

My boys (Pickle and Arnold - my cats) are loving the Christmas trees :(  They work as a team to knock the baubles off to the one waiting who then bashes it off for a game.  As soon as that bauble goes underneath the sofa or a cupboard, they just get another bauble off the tree - grrrrrrrrrr!  Pickle even got stuck half way up the tree when he became entangled in the wire of the fairy lights.

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011- 2 December

If I didn't love how my Christmas Journal turned out last year, I might well have given up on this years Christmas Journal.  I can't believe that I got so far behind so quickly :(  In my defense, I have been doing lots of stuff suitable for journalling, it just didn't leave me much time to actually do the journalling!!!

So today when I got home from work, I headed straight into my Crafty Corner and got on with it!  I am now quite used to the small size I chose for this album, and being so small means that it has to be fairly simple, which in turn means that I can finish a page fairly quickly and hopefully keep up with this project!

Day 2:

We finally got to go out for dinner to celebrate Alex passing her driving test!  She drove us all to the restaurant, but Phil and I didn't take advantage of having our own personal taxi this time (maybe over Christmas we will!)

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011 - 1 December

So, the big day is finally here!  Day One of my 2011 Christmas Journal.  I thought I was being clever by making my journal smaller this year, I thought it would be quicker and easier, but ... I'm struggling!!!  I suppose I have got used to scrapping 12 x 12 recently and this new size is stumping me!  This first page took me hours (and look how simple it is!).  Hopefully it will get easier as December progresses ... we'll see.

I also want this journal to be different to last years, but traditions are really important to me, and so day one just had to feature the advent calendars, just as it did last year!

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is doing with their Christmas Journals!

Carole x

Two Cards for One Day

Yesterday was a big day in the Griffin household - HUGE in fact.  It was a life changing day, if all went well, for myself and especially for Alex.

In the morning I gave her this card:

and I hoped that in the evening I would be able to give her this card :

which I did!!!  She passed her driving test!  I don't know who was more nervous yesterday, her or me!  She wanted it so badly that she would have been devastated if she had failed, but I was so proud of her, not only was it her first test but she only turned 17 three months ago!

Loving my new Snoopy stamp!!!  I actually bought it some time ago, but had been saving it for this occasion, and I love it!  Had a thing for Snoopy when I was a little girl.

Hopefully back tomorrow with my first day of this years Christmas Journal!

Carole x

Christmas Journal 2011

For a little while I wasn't sure if I would attempt another Christmas Journal, as for me, an important part of Christmas is the traditions and doing the same thing each year, even if we do add some new ones!  However, I really do love my finished 2010 journal - each individual page might not be brilliant, but as a whole it is lovely, and I have often flicked through it during 2011.

So, with only a little encouragement (thanks Daphne and Roxy!), I have decided to do it all again this year (must be mad!)  On those busy busy days in December when having that extra thing to do will stress me out, I must remember how lovely it will be at the end ... so please remind me!  I have made my journal slightly smaller this year, and made it portrait instead of landscape, not because it didn't work last year, just to make it slightly different!

So, here it is!  I am using Basic Grey Jovial as the paper collection and have gathered quite a few bits from that collection to add in as I go.  I also plan on using my sewing machine quite a bit, but we will see!  Today (first time crafting for two weeks) I did some more prep, cut more paper into pages and made all of my page/day numbers:

I have kept these deliberately simple and quite small as my journal is small (my pages measure 7 x 5")

So, now that I am all ready to go with my Christmas Journal, I suppose I had better get my finger out and make some Christmas cards and gift tags!

Carole x

Beach Huts

This was a layout that I made at our second crop, but don't think that I have shared it yet.  I knew from the picture that I wanted to kind of build a beach hut around the photo ... or a row of beach huts!

I had mentioned to Daphne that I was going to be doing a layout featuring beach huts, and so she very kindly brought along to the crop with her, her lovely wave border punch and the strip of beach hut paper behind my beach huts - thanks Daphne!

Despite having to bundle up and scrunch into such a little shed, we had a lot of fun, and it was a lot more memorable than the sunny days that we had also enjoyed that week!

Carole xxx

Just the Two of Us

This layout is a result of trying to be clever and combine both one of my class prompts and a challenge that Katy set us for this week's crop.  The class prompt was to be inspired by patchwork quilts and quilting, and Katy's challenge was just to use just scraps with extra points for using the title "Just the Two of Us".  Here's what I came up with (inspired by a LO I saw on Pinterest) :

I made a little cardboard template at home but cut out all the hexagons and inked all the edges at the crop, whilst having a jolly good laugh!  I must say, this is something different for me, but I'm pleased with how it turned out (and even more pleased that quite by accident, I managed to get some trendy chevrons on my page!!!)

Carole x

Hey Arnold!

Here is another LO that I created as the result of a prompt from my online class (which I am very behind with, but which I will continue with in my own time).  This time, we had to include something that we had downloaded.  Hmmmm.  I don't normally do much downloading, so this was a bit tricky, but I solved it by being inspired by the photo:

I found a little image of the cartoon character "Hey Arnold" and used that, since he is the reason that our Arnold's name is always preceded by the "hey" bit!

I am aware that I am scrapping a lot of pics of my boys at the moment, and there are more to come (!) but they are so photogenic and soooo cute that I just can't help myself!  Sorry!

I have been busy this past week preparing my Christmas Journal!  Yep, I've decided to join in and do it again, and although it can get a little bit stressful in what is already the busiest month of the year, it is such a lovely thing to have at the end and to look back on :)

Carole x

Double Trouble

This layout was the result of a prompt called "rough around the edges" - we had to look at the edges of our papers and use border punches, distress inks, distress tools etc.  I was OK with this one, I don't mind a little bit of ink around my edges, so I just went for it big time (normally I'm much more subtle!)  I sanded some edges (including the photos) and generally just inked it up - I might even have added some splats IF I had the right ink to splat!

I also used papers from three different companies on this LO - normally I like to play safe and stick to paper collections, so I really am trying out new stuff with this class!

Since this LO features my boys, now seems like a good time to update you on their progress.  Last week, they went to the vet for their little boys operations.  This was unfortunately not as straight forward as it might have been, as very sadly, Pickle has been diagnosed with a very defective heart, and has been given a poor prognosis.  Therefore, he can't have an anaesthetic like Arnold can so we didn't know if it would even be possible, but as he had to go for another heart scan anyway, while he was sedated for the scan, they whipped them off.  We are all devastated about his condition as he is such a lovely little chap - they both are, so now that the initial shock and sadness has worn off, we are just committed to loving him as much as we can while we have him, and will try to make his little life as happy as it can be.

Carole x

Cousins

This layout is the result of another prompt from my on line class, this time to do a layout using dots and stripes.  This is not a combination that I would normally go for, but that is the whole point of the class, to try out new things!

I think I did rather well, incorporating two stripes and two dotty papers!  I am sure that I am learning new stuff just by trying things out (even if sometimes when I read the prompts I think that I don't like the sound of that!)

Carole x

Pumpkin Cupcakes

No papercrafting for me today :( but I did make something - Pumpkin Cupcakes with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting - especially for Halloween.

I wasn't sure how they would turn out due to the Pumpkin, but they are yummy (especially the frosting!)  Love the recipes from The Primrose Bakery!!!

Carole x

Chalk & Cheese

I am so enjoying scrapbooking at the moment!  Obviously, some of my layouts work out better than others, but that is part of the learning process, and I am learning to try new things courtesy of my online class.  I am really enjoying actually using some of my pretty papers instead of hoarding them away, although even some of the older ones can still be quite difficult to cut into - but I love seeing them in my album instead of in my stash.  Since starting attending the crop and doing the class, I have practically filled up a whole album (plenty more still to share!)

So, this layout is the result of prompt #3 to do a concentrated layout.  I cut up a whole set of brand new papers (eek!) only to have to abandon them because they didn't work with the white background, and I knew that I definitely wanted to use a white background (that was quite painful!)  However, I love these old papers (Basic Grey Urban Prairie) and now don't have many left ... may in fact have to purchase some new papers (yay) at the rate that I am using my existing ones!

I must admit that I really like this layout ... it may look simple but I can assure you that it nearly drove me mad.  I definitely wanted to use the rosettes that I had made with Daphne (thanks Daphne!) and also my new butterfly and border punch and that probably made life more difficult, but I did it!

Carole x

Snuggle Up

So, this layout is the result of the second prompt in my online class, Shimelle's Pretty Paper Party.  We had to use patterned paper as our background ... so I did!

I love this picture and have done since it was taken, so much so that it is in a frame in our living room :)  Don't tell Jasper's three brothers, but I have always had a little bit of a soft spot for him - shhhhhhhh!  No special supplies were needed for the party, it is all to do with using up our existing stash, so that is exactly what this LO does - Basic Grey's Boxer papers, and whilst searching for appropriate papers I found some matching chipboard stickers!  Bingo!

I've had a bit of a crafty weekend this weekend.  Friday evening I went to my first Stampin' Up event (and yes, I spent loads!)  It was a fun evening where we all made 12 cards in 4 hours!  Not bad eh?!  Saturday was my lovely new friend and fellow crafter Daphne's birthday (we met at the new crop that we both attend) and she very kindly invited me to her house to celebrate.  We had such a lovely afternoon and she showed me her AMAZING craft room (stash/room envy or what?!)

Today I managed (after much paper shuffling, and cutting up brand new papers, only to change my mind and change to others) to complete a layout for the third prompt in my class.  Phew!

Not sure how much crafting will get done this week as it is half term ...

Carole x

My Girlies

I thought that I would show you the layout that I did as a result of the first prompt of my on line class.  We had to use strips of paper ...

I'm quite pleased with it, but I have a feeling that the prompts/challenges may get a little harder as we go on!

Carole x

Love your Smile

I have recently sent off for 50 random photographs from my computer so that I have a lot to choose from when the opportunity to create a layout presents itself.  I chose the photos for many reasons, some not great pics but have a great story behind them, some because I can kind of see them working on a layout and some just because I love them and that will be a great starting point!

This is an old photo, but falls into the "love this photo" category!  I surprised myself by selecting a strong patterned paper for the background and going with it!

I even managed to use that cute little wooden owl button that I had been saving up for the perfect layout!  Love it!

Today is the first day of my very first on line class by Shimelle, turns out that I am most definitely a Pattern Contender, a Paper Collector for sure and something of a Collection Packer!  Not sure what to expect other than lots of inspiration, so watch this space!

Carole x

New Babies

Two of my cousins were expecting babies, about six weeks apart, one mid September, the other late October.  However, as is often the case, babies arrive in this world when they are ready, and who would have thought it, but they both arrived on the same day (which incidentally was what would have been my dad's birthday).  Even more spooky, one of the babies was given exactly the name that we had chosen for Alex if she had been a boy - William Paul (Paul was my Dad's name).

 Even though Isabella still hasn't reached her due date, she is now home and doing really well after a couple of weeks in hospital.  I haven't met her yet but she looks so dinky from the photos I have seen :)

Carole x

Staycation

This year, like last we holidayed at home :(  It must be admitted that it isn't the same as going away, and totally getting away from it all, and with unreliable English weather on top ... not ideal!  However, we had some nice days out and did some fun things, and living this close to Bournemouth and the beach, we waited until the morning to see what the weather was like before making any decisions about what to do each day.  This was one of those days :

I need to thank my friend Daphne for encouraging me to use (instead of squirrel away and look at and stroke!) some of my favourite papers, and these are indeed some of my favourite papers, Cosmo Cricket Early Bird - love love love them (although sadly I only discovered them late so couldn't get many nor any embellishments etc).

Carole x

Hubby's Birthday Card

Just a quick post today before I start work this afternoon :(  (can't really complain, haven't been in since last Thursday!)  It was my DH's birthday a week or so ago, and this is the card I made for him, inspired yet again by a pin on Pinterest:

Part of the reason for not wanting to go into work this afternoon is that I have re-caught the bug ... you know the bug I am talking about ... the scrapbooking bug!  I managed to created two layouts yesterday, and another one this morning, and you know what it's like, now I'm itching to do more!  Oh well, that's life I suppose, so off to work I go!

Carole x

20 Things About Me

Here is another layout that I did a couple of weeks ago.  I found doing a page all about me hard, it's much easier scrapping about my family and pets!

I kept it quite simple as you can see although with lots of Sizzix action and doodling added to lift it a bit.  I was quite sure that I was going to be frustrated by attempting to type the journalling list on my old portable typewriter (with no correction facility/backspace/delete button), but I surprised myself by managing it first time (must be the Secretary that I was before having kids coming out!)

I don't seem to have managed much crafting just recently, but I am hoping that nothing will stand in my way for a whole day to myself on Wednesday - keep your fingers crossed for me!

Carole x

I like driving in my car ...

Last week, I attended my very first Crafty Moments crop!  I was unsure what to expect and was worried about not having everything with me that I might need.  The advice I was given was to put myself together a little kit, so that's what I did during the afternoon ... however, I basically did everything for a scrapbook page except stick it down!!!  Consequently, during the evening I completed my page too early so there was nothing for it except to indulge in a bit of stash envy and admire everyone else's creativity!  The afore mentioned stash envy has lead to a little online shopping (from newly recommended websites!) where some gorgeous new bits and bobs accidentally found their way into my shopping basket (and I totally blame Katy for bringing it with her to the crop and Daphne for subsequently encouraging me!)

Anyway, here is the layout that I made on that day:

I have decided that I like to use song lyrics in my titles, so this title was Cuttlebugged and typed on my little old typewriter, and I used Basic Grey Cupcake papers (because I still have so many left!)

Really looking forward to the next meeting!

Carole x

Happy Birthday Joannie

It was pointed out to me today by a couple of people that I haven't blogged for week or so.  How did that happen?  So, thought I had better get my finger out and do something about it!

Here then, is a birthday card that I made for my little sister Joanne ... another one inspired by a similar card found on Pinterest (I love that site!)

I think she liked it (hope she did anyway!)

Have a lovely weekend!

Carole x

Kitten Love

I know that I have done a few layouts of my boys, but you can't help what inspires you now, can you?!!!

I have to say, I think this one might be my new favourite - it's got loads of typical "Carole" elements, the kraft, pretty papers, punched flowers, and the most brilliant photo of Pickle and Arnold (and I can't claim to be the photographer, this was all down to Alex's patience with two wriggly subjects!)

I also love the sewing!  If it wasn't such a nuisance to get my sewing machine out, I'm sure that I would do an awful lot more sewing on my cards and layouts!  I sewed the border around the whole thing, the circle in the centre and then the strips of paper too!  I also found out that it's not easy to sew a circle ... however, much to my amazement, I don't mind the slightly messy rows of stitches, in fact it might even add a little something (that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!)

Carole x

Something a little bit different ...

Not a scrap of brown paper, nor any of the usual Carole touches here - and I quite like it!  It was also so simple and didn't take long - Yay!  I'm thinking that I might well use this design for my Christmas cards, just using Christmas papers for the stars and an appropriate sentiment - if I ever manage to actually get back into my Crafty Corner any time soon :(  It's been two weeks tomorrow since I last did any crafting - way too long for my liking.

Life should return to normal soon as my children both go back to school this week - Wednesday and Thursday.  However, it isn't good news for my littlest kitten who had to go back to the vet today to have his heart murmur checked out.  Unfortunately, he hasn't grown out of it, and so he has to go for a heart scan on Friday, bless him.  He has however, doubled his weight since his last visit (for his second injection) and he now weighs in at 3kg (compared to the 600g that he weighed when we first got him).

Carole x