6ichthusfish

Take One from SJ at Little Musings...

Over on the blog 'Little Musings', SJ has been running an inspiring new series of videos called 'Take One'.  Well, I've had a little bit of extra time this week as it's half term here, so I decided to join in.  She's on 'Take One #3' this week.  I laughed out loud for real when I watched her video... seriously funny and entertaining.  So, what's it all about?  Basically, it's about taking inspiration from your own layouts.  You find a LO you made and like and then focus on just one thing from that LO and do that one thing again on a new LO.  Simples.  So, I flicked through my albums, with both T-g and Chef leaning in to see and and picked a LO I made last year.    Anyway... here's the NEW LO I made today...

Yep, that little cutie is me, back in 1977, when I was 9.  The photos are originals, attatched by photo corners, not glued down... I can't see the point of making copies when part of the charm is the actual original photo, with all it's flaws.  Below is the LO 'earing model' that I took one thing from.  It's of dd being an earing model for my teeny little crochet earings I was selling on FOLKSY at the time. I remember that in 2010, that was the hat that never left her head all Summer, so looking back I'm so glad I got it on film.  Can you see what it is yet (insert patronising Blue Peter tone of voice) that was the one thing I took from the LO?...

Yep, it's the die-cut hearts with a negative heart.  (What on earth is a 'negative heart' and can you get treatment?)  OK... so very different LOs but I followed SJ's prompt to 'Take One' thing and do it again.

Here's a couple of close-ups...

...and the embellie...

The journaling says...

"This was my first bike and I spent many happy years riding it.  It wasn't new when I got it and it wasn't for a special occasion.  Before I had this bike, when I was much younger, Michael & I shared a little red trike and often fought over it.  One day my Dad came home with this bike for me.  Photos by Auntie Margaret. "

I recognise the square prints with no white border as having been taken by my Auntie Margaret.  She's sadly no longer with us because she was really my Dad's auntie, sister to my Gran.  She was famous for taking photos with the person at the edge of the picture.  Nope, not an arty reason, it was just that she used to obviously squint through the viewfinder a strange way and think the person was in the middle of the picture.  She was a character.

The LO is also made with Kraft and one colour (blue) so fits the prompt 9 for Shimelle's Pretty Paper Party too.  Yay! Two for one.  Lovin' the scrappy time I'm getting :)

 

 

Been Scrapbooking at the Pretty Paper Party.....!

I feel like a late comer to the Pretty Paper Party, hosted by Shimelle  but made this LO a few days ago and haven't had a moment to photograph and upload it   I made it for prompt 4 all about using dots and stripes. I loved this challenge  and have never used so much dotty pp on a LO. These photos were from our 16 yo twins' 5th Birthday party. Big brother, Roman,  and little brother 'Smurf' were dressed up too. It was a special day for everyone, back in the year 2000.

There's a stripy strip and I made the embellishment with the big white 5 on it by embossing stripes into the yellow card stock with my Cuttlebug and wood-grain embossing folder. This reminded me of how much I love the textured look of embossed patterns.

There was lots of journaling so I added a tag behind the LO...

It's not my usual thing to scrap older photos, but I am so pleased this special day will remembered and in the album.  Maybe I'll scrap more older photos.  We'll see.  Here's one last close-up...

Feels good to be creative again :)

New Beginnings...

There have been lots of changes around here.  Lots.  I am coming to grips with it all.  Slowly.  The biggest change has been that Roman has gone to University.  He got back from Thialand very (very) late on Wednesday 21st september and after three days at home  Husb and I drove him to Uni.  (Sunday 25th)  Yep it was too quick for my liking. I will post some of his photos he took on the trip in another post.  He used my Craftroom to pack in, because his room was still full of Thailand backpacking gear.

 

 
 

We'd found out he wouldn't be in catered accomodation so had to sort him a list of stuff for self-catering.  I really enjoyed just the two of us going to town to get the last few bits and pieces like new trainers because his had only just survived the Thailand trip.  New jeans, jumper, T-shirts and undies.  Toiletries and stationery.  Towels, bedding and pillows and a new hold-all.  The list went on and on.  We went to Starbucks and sat and sat.  I was holding it all together (mostly).  He has phoned once since we dropped him off.  Once.  I heard from him more when he was in Thailand and was using Internet cafes.  If you're reading this (you know who you are) get in touch with yer muther. 

Ready to go, just need to pack the car (and get a few photos!)...

 

Still looking a bit tanned...

 

When we arrived after over three hours in the car, we had 20 mins to drop him off.  Seriously.  There was a shortage of space to park, so although I could understand it... it was too quick.  Actually it was 17 mins from driving in the gate to driving off.  I did get some very quick photos of his new room...

 

 

 

He had been greeted by a bunch of folks that live in his Halls, so he was a happy chappie...

 

The campus is fab.  Here's the view from his window...

 

...and up to his room...

 
...and nearby...

 

 

When we drove out the gate I saw a bunch of students and just had time to capture this photo of Roman going off in a group to a BBQ. 

 
Unexpectedly seeing him after saying our goodbyes made me a bit tearful.  But as Husb said, it's good to see him walking off in a group than leave him sitting on his own in his room.  My Husb is a wise man.  We went for a coffee.  I was a bit teary.  We had a brief trot about in the sunshine and remembered that we'd visited this city about 19 years earlier on a mini-break.    

So. What about the other three?

This girlie now goes to College.  She has a very full timetable.  Here she is on the first morning...

 

I totally love her confident, purposeful stride...

 

The next day was Chef's first day at Catering College.  They don't travel in their 'whites'.   

It was a cold wet morning.  He's not over keen on photos these days :(          But he strode off, very excited and raring to go (he's wanted to be a Chef since he was 12)...

 

The following day, Smurf started school.  He had asked about school last Easter.  Husb and I visited first and I was very impressed.  We took him for a visit and he liked it too.  Then followed several weeks of gradually introducing him.  The school were absolutely brilliant.  They integrated him more and more and finally he went for the whole last week of last term.  He looks so grown up in his new uniform...

 

He's kept his morning paperound and has a ten minute window to get home and change into his Uniform.  School is a 25 minute walk away (uphill on the way home). 

 

We were so pleased when he got to do BTec Construction as one of his options.  He does Construction all day Wednesday and it's his favourite subject.  He has been doing all sorts of woodwork joints and helps his friends when he's finished his work.  He's not so thrilled with the academic stuff but has got on with it.  So pleased he's settling in.

Right then.  That leaves me.  I am not sitting at home like a lady of leisure.  I have been helping an old College friend with fundraising for her African Charity, but I'll put that in another post as I must go and get on.

Husb is fine too.  Supportive as always :)  I am so very blessed.