Dolly's Dreamings

A not so mini mini book

I spent the day two days ago making a mini book as I had so many things I wanted to keep and record about Colonial Williamsburg. Yes there will be more scrapbook pages but it was fun to do something different. 

 

I found some very old paper I loved which was like crackled and old and I had fun using different embossing powder (goodness when did I last use them) to replicate the finish for the chipboard letters.

 

 

 

The cover is very dimensional and I made the flowers

 

I added lace onthecontrasting spine and a button and elastic closure 

 

It uses a hinged system to hold the pages which are all pocket pages

 

 

 

 

You can see the hinge system here

 

 

the cover before it was decorated

 

 

The pocket pages covered but not decorated yet

 

 

I used two paper bags from the museum to act as inside covers and to hold journalling and the maps of the museum

 

 

 

 

It was a fun way to spend a Tuesday.

Yesterday i worked with Nigel doing a paint refresh at a local store. It was heavy dirty work but fun to do it together and heck -t hat's what baths are for!

• Today I am thankful that the headache I have had for a week is a little less - but I feel it building again. I wish I knew what caused it.
• Thankful for the ability to transormflat pieces of paper and card into a 3 dimensional book - such fun 

 

 

Berry Big Deals Day

Just a quick update today as it is release time for the Berry Big Deals at Pickleberrypop.

You know the drill by now - all of the designers work with the same basic palette and add their own twist and colours too. Everything coordinates beautifully and there are some awesome creations this month again.

THIS LINK will take you straight to the page with the deals

 

I worked with three of the packs this month

 

The first was We'll always have Paris by Heartstrings Scrap Art and it was clearly made for us!

 

We had our second honeymoon in Paris (three months after our wedding as we had to save for it) and a long story but we were broke and even finding food to buy was an issue. We decided to go back for our 25th wedding anniversary and do it properly. We renewed our vows in Sacre Coeur which is still one of the most magical, romantic, standout moments of my life.

 

 

This is Waiting for Spring by et Designs and was way too cute not to use for these photos of Emily

 

 

 

 

And finally Love and Life by Heather T

 

 

I fell in love with this once I saw one of the masks had Disney written all over it. I am sure that wasn't the intention (well I know it wasn't) but I couldn't resist

 

 

Today it is still early but I am thankful for

• a lovely walk yesterday to the new starbucks(how spoilt are we) 
• Nigel taking down the clematis from the front of the house and giving the house a whole new, open look.
• spring sunshine

 

 

Sorting everywhere and poetntial prizes.

I am trying so hard to sort scrapping stuff so I know WHAT I have, WHERE it is and HOW I can start to use it up.

I think I am getting there but one thing is for sure. I have way way way too much stuff.

But I will get there.

 

In the hope of getting rid of more stuff I am thinking of runninga sketch compettionon here - perhaps setting s sketch challenge or somethinga nd offering some small prizes. They would be unopened things but not new. Sticker packs, embellishments etc. What do readers think - would anyone be interested in this.  Let me know and if it looks like people would be interested I will host a couple of scrapping competitions with prizes.

 

Yoday I pulled out a very old Three Bugs ina Rug pack that almost went in my last RAK but I decided I liked the colours. So I determined to make a couple of pages with it and also threw some very old Junkitz eyelet tape too.

 

 

 

I also have a couple of photos to share made from the cyber crop at the weekend

 

This was a challenge to write int he first person for someone else so it was Kira and Fiki of course who have been VERY cross to be shut out of the bedroom whilst we were painting.

 

 

 

 

This is a white space challenge which I was quite pleased with - a carriage driver from Colonial Williamsburg

 

 

We have also been sorting at the flat - today's challenge was to sort all of the clothes out. It was very sad as she had some lovely clothes but they are all too small for her now and she has largely new clothes in the nursing home. We spent a few hours sorting them and they have all gone to a new good home and we now have an empty bedroom. We are getting there slowly but surely.

 

Today I am thankful for

• jobs well done
• space
• roomy bins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scrappy Days

I was playing along with a cyber crop today and having fun making pages. I just find, sometimes, that a challenge will inspire me to make something.

I have made a few pages today

 

This one is very random. It is a picture I just snapped out of the car window which seems to epitomise the random weird stuff you see on a road trip. I loved the old car and the road stretching ahead. It was like stepping back in time. I like that it leant itself to a long photo too.

 

 

I managed to use the clouds butt he real bonus for me was using some leaves that date back to 2003. They were on one of the first layouts I made and were the only nice thing about that layout! They were stamped onto a nice parchment paper and then embossed in copper. I threw the layout away - it was pretty grim - but I kept the leaves ... just in case. Today was the just in case moemnt.

 

 

This is another one made

 

 

The embellishments were all from Poundland - showing cheap can be cute too. As was meeting piglet.

 

Then there is this page

 

We always make the most of our first morning in the USA as we are jet-lagged so up early and get to see places whent hey are empty and bathed in gorgeous light.

I also made a companion page for piglet - Tigger of course.

 

 

Today I am grateful for

• a husband who did the shopping so I could scrap all day
• a newly painted bedroom windowsill - been a while but done at last
• the smell of clean laundry - I did find time to do that

and finally - because they are beyond lovely - my babies are upset they cannot be int he bedroom witht he wet paint so are sulking on their bed in the hall. Kira was UNDER the blanket when I stopped to get my camera.

 

 

 

 

 

Glorious - spring is here

It has been beautiful the last couple of days and it really is like spring is here. The crocuses and snowdrops are blooming and even a few early daffodils.

 

I have lots to share too.

 

First - I liked the digital page I made so much I wanted to replicate it in paper and this is what I came up with

 

 

I was pleased to get so many layers in and like the white space which is unusual for me.

 

And here are a couple of pages from our visit to Carlo's Bakery meeting Mauro and Grace.

 

 

This was made as part of my Design Team work for A Trip Down memory Lane and uses the gorgeous Prima Midnight Garden with lots of fussy cutting

 

 

 

 

And yesterday was Art and we have been working on Benningfield paintings and this is so very very different to my normal style - I am not sure I like it but I did persevere and finish it

 

 

and finally a few photos from lovely walks on the beach - first as Branksome and second this morning at Hammworthy were there was a mist that was so ethereal and where there wasn't a ripple ont he sea at all until a small boat went through - it was glorious.

 

 

today ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valentine lushness and a bit of humour

Only one day away to Valentines Day.

 

I wonder how all of my readers celebrate it. Nigel and I really don't any more. We agree not to send cards as they are - in our view - a waste of money. We know how much we love each other and will often surprise each other throughout the year with little cards and gifts and special acts, but we consciously avoid the commercialism of valentines day these days. We didn't used to - but I think we have just gotten a little cynical these days. We stopped when I left work and it wasn't just the money - we spend so much time together we no longer felt the need for the special day. However, I know it is important to lots of people and I love that.

 

There is a whole slew of beautiful valentines kits out to celebrate and I have had great fun playing with them as part of my CT work at Pickleberrypop and I have a couple to share with you.

 

There was something on TV the other day about full disclosure and I don't normally labour the point regarding the design team work I do. But in case anyone is unsure ... I do not get paid for being on design teams but I do get the products for free. However, if I ever had any product I was not thrilled with and didn't feel I could fully endorse I would not promote it. No matter what. Thankfully the designers at Pickleberrypop are awesome and their products are always always superb. And I know I am a very very lucky girl to have such lush goodies to work with.

 

Anyway on to the releases. This is a Berry Blends collaborative kit by et designs and Chunlin designs and it is so pretty

 

 

 

I couldn't resist my all time favourite photo of Jim and Gemma at their wedding.

 

 

This is a stunning kit by Natali Designs called In Love

 

 

I used it to make this page for a mojo challenge which was to use only one side of the paper. Very alien to me but I love it and now want to recreate something similar in paper - my plan for later. Don't forget to check out the mojo challenges on Pickleberrypop. several of them - the template challenge, the use it all and the mystery box give you free goodies to create with. And the challenges are always fun and inspirational. Plus if you complete all 8 you win a lush free kit.

 

This one is not valentine themed but such a giggle called O O now I've got my cootie shot.Itis by Jen Yurko and I love her quirky humour 

 

It was beginning to scrap this photo of Fiki getting his annual shot at the vet's.

 

 

Do go and check out what Pickleberrypop have to offer. It is such a great site.

 

Today I am thankful for

• being a Pickleberrypop Creative Team member - my fifth year I think

 

 

Both lightheaded

It was haircut day today - Nigel needed it badly - me not so much so mine is shorter than I am totally happy with but it will grow - and meanwhile there are always brown paper bags!

 

We have had a couple pf quiet days although we did go and see a film yesterdy - All Is Love. I enjoyed it - but I did feel they could have lit some scenes a bit more. Yes I get that it was 1600s and I get they used candles but once I had accepted that could we have a few more candles please. I hate dark films. Some of the speeches in it were superb and I thogh Kenneth Brannagh was wonderful. I just don't like Judi Dench particularly. 

 

I have also been scrapping - of course. I have been working on my Design Team pages for A Trip Down Memory Lane this month. These two pages are with the utterly gorgeous Prima Georgia Blues which I have loved. They have such beautiful gold foil embossing and are very classic Prima.

 

This first is a scene in New Hampshire that we just thought was lovely. There is lots of fussy cutting and some dimensional flowers as well.

 

 

 

This  one celebrates the newest member of my family - the little baby named after his great great grandfather, my grand father.

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• being on the design team for A Trip Down Memory Lane and the gorgeous things I get to work with
• quiet days

 

These just made me smile

 

 

 

 

 

RAK News and scrapping

Firstly can I let everyone know the RAK of huge wads of paper has now ended and 4 people have lovely parcels of 100 sheets of paper and other goodies on their way tomorrow.And I feel a little bit better about my stash. 

 

I will try and do RAKs again - but maybe just not such heavy stuff.

 

It's been lovely here today, though we possibly didn't make the most of the nice weather as we have been in most of the day apart from a trip to the supermarket - well a girl has to eat (can you explain why we did the food shoppingt his week and yet we are having a take away for tea!)

 

I have some new scrapping to share

Another couple od Disney pages that don't look very Disney

 

This one showcases the mill wheel at Riverside. I often see posts saying it isn't working but whenever we have stayed at Riverside it has always been turning - and we do enjoy watching it. The photo begged for the circles.

 

 

This was the last photo I took at Riverside this year. We were all packed, the car was loaded and we were just about to set off for Miami and then home. We had been a little disenchanted with Disney even before we went. We ddon't like the way it has changed, we don't like the upselling of everything, we don't like the alcohol int he parks, we dom't like how crowded it has become and we feel the magic has gone. We both agree the Disney best years for us were between 1996 and about 2012 and so we have decided we will not be going back for a long time - if ever. We have been for 5 of the last 6 years and so we are pretty Disney satiated and there are so many other places we want to visit. So Disney is off our agenda for the time being. (Well Disney World - Disneyland California is a whole other story!) I knew all this and it suddenly washed over me as we were leaving and I confess to shedding a few tears.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely weekend
• being able to help others ina  hobby that I love

 

 

 

Yukky weather RAK Update and a little bit of crafting

I don't know what the weather had been like in your neck of the woods but the weather here is yucky - yes that is a proper weather term. Yucky. Rainy, very very strong winds and just good old British Grey. At least it is not cold.

Barb I lovved your links to the frozen pants in Minnesota - too funny.

I need to update on the RAK of papers. Who knew a hundred sheets of paper were so heavy. They are going to cost a lot to post and whilst I am really happy giving away stuff I didn't want it to also cost me quite so much money so please comment if you are happy to make a small contribution towards the postage. To compensate for that I have also stuck in some embellishments, tags, ribbon etc. Just a few bits for newcomers to try out. But I am offering 4 packs and the postage will come to over £24 for the four (just over £6 each) so a little help towards it from each recipient would be appreciated. I promise you will get a lot for a very little.

Today we went to see Escape Room at the cinema which was very good. I think possibly the worst film I could have gone to see as I am quite claustrophobic ... not so much of small places but of places which don't have an easy exit. I always know where every exit is wherever I am. So it was inevitable it was going to scre the pants off me. And it did.

I have been scrapping but some of it is Design Team work so I cannot share it yet, but I can share this.

 

This was the sunrise snapped from the car on the day we were finally driving to Disney. It was quite spectacular.

 

 

 

And this page celebrates that we discovered we love French Quarter this year. We loved the breakfast there, the ambiance, the food court. We were happy we were at Riverside but loved the benefit of having both resorts to use.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a scary movie from the safety of a cinema with a clearly marked exit
• staying warm and dry
• new DT things to play with.

and these just amused me

 

RAK for paper

I have a RAK to make for people who are new to this hobby and have very limited supplies. I have sorted out four packs each with over 100 sheets of 12x12 paper, assorted colours and designs to give to people. 

 

Please note they are all nice papers from a smoke free home BUT they are not latest Designs. Some are double sided and I have tried to give each pack a mix of modern, vintage etc. It’s been like a trip through memory lane with papers from chatterbox, sassafras, daisy D, junkitz, GinnX. Names from the past. There are lots of brights but also lots of heritage and darks but they might help to get someone started if they are new to scrapping and give you stuff to play with that you needn’t worry about spoiling. 

Please don’t be disappointed ... they are not modern Designs like Shimelle, Maggie Holmes stuff etc 

 

But this is for people new or with very limited stash. 

 

I will pick two,people by random in each place. Bear with me though ... money is short so I will post two off this month and two next month as they are going to cost a lot to post.

 

just comment if you would like it and I will pick two,people at random at the weekend