Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Colours of autumn

2013 10 09 Autumn

Autumn is one of my favourite words. I like all the vowels in it. It's also my favourite season, so that's worked out nicely. This acorn and oak leaves was much harder to sketch than I anticipated it would be, but it's done now. The best thing about keeping a sketchbook journal is that if I don't like a page...it doesn't matter because I can just turn to the next one.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Scrapbook Sunday (2)

1013-52-Cutest pickpocket closeup1


I don't often used 'themed' embellishments, but this deer was too cute to pass up. I bought it especially because I wanted to scrapbook our trip to the New Forest and then when I had it...I got stage fright. What if I used it and it didn't look right? What if I put it in the wrong place? Silly me.

1013-52-Cutest pickpocket


The thing is, if I have a beautiful embellishment sitting in a box, I'm never going to look at it. Eventually I might have a clear out and make an effort to use it, or I might give it away. The only way all these pretty things make sense is if I use them. I am gradually working my way through my stash and turning pretty things into records of lovely memories.

1013-52-Cutest pickpocket closeup2

Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Making the best of it

1013-50-Perseverance

Photos of a small fluffy thing moving quickly? In a cage, in poor light? Never going to be brilliant. But the story was far too important not to record. Little Waldy is one very persistent degu, and quite inspirational.
1013-50-Perseverance closeup
Loving layered embellishments, stickers and paint splashes. And life with the degus.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Scrapbook Sunday

Photos scrapped within a month of taking them? Yes, it's true. Sometimes I just have to go with what inspires me, and yesterday it was these pictures. I also have a new photo printer, which makes printing small photos for a collage like this so much easier. The photo grid inspired me to try a more streamlined design and instead of layering elements on top of each other, I worked to build a grid with different embellishments and journalling cards.


I've had that card with a sweetcorn on it FOREVER, so this was the perfect opportunity to finally use it. Everything else came together from that, and luckily I had enough elements to make the rest of the grid. The folded circles came from a discount basket somewhere, but they worked just perfectly for this, and I like how taking them outside of the grid adds a bit more movement. I don't normally do double-page layouts, or use 8.5x11 card, but for some reason it just happened with this page, and I like it.


Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Preservation tactics

2013 09 23 Preservation

Life doesn't get easier. But if I have learned anything at all, it is that focusing on gratitude and action helps me through. So despite wanting to hide under the duvet most of the time, I am keeping going. Things that I am grateful for right now?

  • Wonderful love and support.
  • Small fluffy animals who depend on me.
  • Making things (both the jam and the chutney were delicious).
  • A sketchbook. I've just started a new one.
  • Cosy blankets on the sofa.
  • Autumn picnics after work.
  • Scrapbooking. There are still lots of happy memories to record.

Sunday, October 06, 2013

Take a deep breath and carry on


2013 08 18 Steephill

Gran was the bravest person I knew. She never complained, never grumbled about life, never faltered in her determination to carry on. I am desperately trying to follow her example but I don't think I'm doing very well. There haven't been many new sketches in my journal lately so I thought I would catch up and share some I did earlier in the summer. Happier times.

You can see this sketch in larger format here. Flickr has increased their free photo storage allowance so I can upload there again.