Dolly's Dreamings

A Trip Down Memory Lane day today

I am very very lucky to be on the design team for A Trip Down Memory Lane

I am very proud to have been working with Mel and Jill for some 15 years (with a break for a few years when life became crazy) and they are just so wonderful to work with. In return for creating class pages they send me wonderful goodies to creat the classes with and also send me Design Team goodies so I can showcase new products they stock. They have a facebook group and a blog too.

I have spent today making class pages with a whole new selection of goodies and obviously, I am NOT going to share those, but I can now share the class pages from December using wonderful Graphic 45 papers and stickers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do go and check the store out.

Yesterday we had a wonderful day out. we did a treasure trail in Gosport...  place I had never visited. And it was freezing cold but such bright sunshine my nose was sunburnt! Gorgeous day to be out. They said it was a two mile trail - we ended up walking almost 5 miles and no - we didn't do a lot of backtracking!

These are a few photos from the day

View across the Solent to the Spinnaker Tower

 

 

a beautiful Georgian street we walked down

 

 

 

 

 

and some other scrapping - my first 2022 page

 

 

and I still have some 2021 photos on my pile to scrap so this is one of those

 

Today I am thankful for

• working for Mel and Jill - it is a real privilege
• my new Apple Watch - I am loving it

 

 

 

A Design team sort of day

I am starting to feel a bit better and am a happy girl this morning as I can share something I have been excited about.

 

I was so thrilled to be asked to be a guest designer for Dotty About Flair for the special Happy Holiday event running all month.  Owned by the utterly amazing Adam Westwood, Dotty About Flair has to be the home of the greatest flair in the scrapbooking world. Adam makes all the flair himself and each month there are quite literally dozens and dozens of new flair released. They are always shipped so beautifully packages and nothing is too much trouble for him. But even more than that the Dotty about Flair facebook group is a really fun, vibrant and supportive community so if you are one of my many scrapping friends and you haven't checked it - go do so NOW! And I know I have American readers too - he ships world wide and lots of American and Canadian friends are regular members.

 

I have to do a bit of a shout out for Adam too as I genuinely believe he is a real gem for the scrapping community. He is a huge supporter of small independent businesses and regularly promotes them in his own groups. He is an excellent scrapper (look for Scrappyadam on You tube, Instagram etc) and he is one of the nicest most genuine people I have come across. He is one of those special people - a genuinely good guy. So putting all of that together you can see why I was so thrilled.

In the interests of transparency I need to state that I was given flair free of charge as a guest designer to promote the flair.

The Happy Holidays event has also been running in conjunction with Scrap a Sketch 

I used today's promote of diagonal design, snowflakes and a large title of more than four words, alongside the sketch, to make my page and, like so many of my pages, it included Flair of course

 

 

 

 

 

I am also sharing my CT work this week for Pickleberrypop (again I am given the kits for free to play with and promote as part of their creative team)

 

It is Berry Big Deal week and the collections are awesome and all snowy and winter and snuggly. These are 4 collections I worked with this week.

 

Credits

Wintry BBD by Heather T

 

 

 

 

Credits

December BBD Bundle by Natali Designs

 

 

 

 

Credits

December Hygge Bundle by TirAmisu Designs

 

 

 

Credits

White Winter Dream BBD by Chunlin Designs

 

 

I have daily pages too but will leave those until tomorrow

 

Today I am thankful for

• being a part of the guest design team at Dotty About Flair
• being a permanent CT member at Pickleberrypop
• feeling a bit better
• Finally finding the cat litter we use - you have no idea how thankful for that. Think toilet paper shortage then feline it!

 

 

More of Vicky Boutin Fernwood

I have loved my DT kit this month from A Trip Down Memory Lane.

I had great fun today fussy cutting like no tomorrow.

The papers are beautiful but I needed them to work in the way I wanted

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this one had to be cut up into different bits to work for A4 but it was fun

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a quiet day with a walk and scrapping
• lovely DT stuff to play with

 

Today has been better

Yesterday - for all sorts of reasons - wasn't a great day. Today has been much better.

 

We had a trip out to Christchurch to run an errand we needed to do and then had a wander around which was nice. And I have had a scrappy afternoon which is always good.

 

I have been working with my November Design Team kit from ATDML - it is Vicky Boutin Fernwood and is lush lush lush

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a better day
• wandering
• scrapping
• DT kits - lucky girl

A bit of scrapping

The good news is the cats are still OK. We are hoping and praying that will continue and we will be out of this state of permanent worry. The numbers reported on the RVC site are still rising - up almost another 100 today on Friday's figures. The worst thing is not knowing if they are still at risk though they have stopped the food. We are hoping not.

 

I have been scrapping the last couple of days and have even made a start on the holiday.

 

This one of Caernarfon was using a Scrap Squad sketch

 

 

The was for my Dolly's Dastardly Dare - it uses all the things I hate about making a page - so I felt I had to do it as I set it.

 

a beach selfie from the holiday

These three pages are for my DT work for ATDML using the wonders mini swatch book and Simple Stories Sunkissed

 

 

 

 

 

The first of many Portmeirion pages

 

 

 

 

 

and just a little bit of stamping on this one!

 

 

 

 

Another little seaside town - and another scrap squad sketch

 

 

and Portmeirion at night

Today I am thankful for

• the cats still being well
• a nice quiet time at home.

 

 

A little bit of normal

It is taking a  while but life is slowly slowly getting back to being a little tiny bit normal.

Yesterday we went for a walk to Longham Lakes which was lovely and then - shock of shocks - we went out to eat, to a restaurant. First time since September. We went to pizza express and went at 3.00 pm as we figured we would be the only ones as it was too late for lunch and too early for dinner. We were the only ones in their outside area. It was warm enough and oh my goodness the pizza was delicious. Let's be honest- it is just nice to have something you haven't cooked yourself.

I was going to take a photo as I was so excited but I was so excited when the food came I forgot!!! It was THAT good.

 

 

Then today we went to Lyme Regis - still in our own county. I have only been twice and so it felt new and like we were on holiday. We had a lovely walk and then - shock of shocks - we had lunch on the beach at a cafe - and yes - forgot to take that too!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The remains of dinner!!

 

 

 

 

and a little scrapping for ATDML using the new Vicki Boutin Colour Study which is way way brighter than I would normally use but I kind of like it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• little bits of normal - for the first time this week we ate out (twice) and I didn't wash the shopping!
• beautiful places and perfect company
• Nigel getting his second jab tomorrow

 

very summery

The weather has been gorgeous and we have had another lovely weekend, marred only by the fact Indy appears to have an upset tummy again. It doesn't seem to bother him but obviously it is not good and he is still so much smaller than Koda, so back t the drawing board tomorrow.

 

It has been the ATDML cyber crop this weekend and so I can now share my class pages. You can find full instructions through the blog and the website

 

This was my class using Simple Stories Vintage Cottage Fields

 

This first one which is really dimensional is now up in the hall int he special scrapbook frame I have

 

 

 

 

and this is my class using Paige Taylor Evans Wonder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will have other pages to share tomorrow but I think that's enough for today

 

We had a wonderful beach walk Thursday

 

 

 

 

We had a lovely drive out Friday too

 

 

 

 

and finally a walk along the quay today

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• people liking my classes - always a worry
• sunshine
• walks
• my three boys - love them so much

 

 

 

SpringTime

Well there is hope all around. Covid cases are falling, lockdown restrictions are slowly being lifted and the sun is shinning. The washing is outside and we have been for a couple of lovely walks.

 

Yesterday a walk along the Stour.

 

 

 

Today a lovely walk and picnic in the Spring sunshine at Kingston Lacy. I love seeing the changing seasons there and everything is coming into bloom. 

 

The house has had all the frost protection boxes removed

 

 

 

The magnolias are blooming

 

 

 

The acres are budding

 

 

There are still glorious camelias in all colours throughout the park

 

My fairy tree had lots of blossom offerings

 

 

 

 

there are still daffodils in abundance

 

 

 

and lots of blossom

 

 

But can anyone please tell me what this tree is  - this is the long shot and the others are closeups of the flowers

 

 

 

The clocks have gone forwards and the boys are adorable - though struggling with the change of time!

 

 

 

 

Tired boys

 

 

and the look on Indy's face is priceless

 

 

 

These pages are the class pages I made for ATDML for my march classes which I can now share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• spring weather
• hope
• time together
• outside dried laundry
• my boys - all three of them

 

 

 

A whole new kitchen

Well it's been quite a year here at Koda and Indy's house and they have NOT liked it. Lots of shut doors, strange men, strange smells and banging nd drilling and sawing and just general stress stuff for them. Plus a Mummy who was very stressed over the whole things.

BUT

 

The new kitchen is finished - well apart from a few bits we have to paint like the strut of the breakfast bar and the new flooring which we cannot pick until the stores re-open in April. But we are pleased with it. MK Interiors did a great job.

 

This was how it was Monday - old kitchen with the worktops I hated from the day it was fitted in 2008

 

 

 

 

and utility room

 

 

 

New kitchen as of this afternoon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are all glad it is over and love the new bright light kitchen

 

I have been scrapping for A Trip Down Memory Lane as part of my DT work. I was sent some gorgeous papers from the PinkFresh Studios Some Days collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a completed kitchen
• no workmen other than Nigel
• scrapping time
• our home - more than just the bricks and walls - it is we 4!

 

 

That was quite a night

Well it's been an eventful two days - mostly in a good way

The boys continue to make progress. I think Nigel summed it up well when he said they had missed out on three weeks of handling and fuss that Kira and Fiki had before they came to us and so we need to put those three weeks in. And a week in they are transformed really.

They now run (fast) freely around the house, though they chose to go back to their room to sleep at the moment which is not a bad thing. They know their food, water and litter is all there and they have hiding places if they want them. They spent most of yesterday evening out playing with us and we were rewarded with requests for fuss too, which is a bit of a first.

 

Indy likes joining in with Bananagrams - his spelling isn't good but his biting is excellent

 

 

 

 

It made us laugh when Indy tried to take the new toy dynamite upstairs to his room. He couldn't manage it so Koda helped.

 

I was very poorly in the night with sickness caused, I think, by pasta that had seen better days and I ate cold. Consequently, I had little sleep and was feeling very delicate so it cheered me enormously door to be let out to play before breakfast and I even got mega fuss from Koda too who is still very reserved.

We packed all the decorations away today and it feels lovely yo have a clean clear house again - just ready for destruction.

These are the last two days journal pages - I have enjoyed it this year and look forward to completing it 

 

The heart lifts up for journalling about our Christmas wishes and some photos

 

 

And some pages I made for ATDML using the gorgeous Simple Stories Jingle all the Way

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• our little boys - slowly slowly and we will all get there
• Nigel - my rock ... in sickness and in health
• clean tidy house

 

 

Final preparations

It seems like we have been getting ready for kittens for a while now and we made the last big final preparation today. We have open bannisters and when Kira and Fiki were little they used to fly around the house and we worried about them falling through the bannisters and all the way down to the bottom so we covered the stairs. We lived with the bright yellow plastic for six months until they grew. This time we bought much more aesthetically pleasing clear plastic and our stairs are now again protected for little baby cats. The things we do for love.

We had a lovely get together with the neighbours - on zoom of course - last night and celebrated as we always do. We usually go for a meal with the three closest houses, but this year we celebrated on line with a quiz and a few drinks and nibbles.

Sadly the either is bad and so no viewing of the Christmas star here - clouds are way too thick.

I have scrapping to share and Freda the regency photos were from Weymouth.

I have been lucky to work with Simple Stories Jingle all the way from A Trip Down Memory Lane and have this page celebrating he gorgeous wooden ornaments Ann sent in remembrance of Kira and Fiki

 

 

 

 

 

I have also caught up with my December journal

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• preparations complete
• almost time to have out babies and bring some joy
• good neighbours