Tuesday 27 November 2012

WOYWW - It's Starting to Feel A lot Like Christmas ....

Hi fellow WOYWW's - hope all well with you this week !
Last weekend I had a "home alone" weekend as his nibs went to footie in Manchester on Saturday & then at Swansea on Sunday (didn't even come home in between !!) - I was very much surplus to requirements !
So I made a determined assault on Christmas !
Saturday was Christmas shopping - hardly found anything I wanted in the shops in Carmarthen & ended up soaked & fed up after 3 hours trudging from shop to shop in the rain!
So I headed home & did an Amazon order online instead !
I tried on posh frocks for a Ball I have in London next month - nothing within my budget looked right and I wasn't going to pay out a fortune for something I would only ever wear for a few hours ! So looks like I am rummaging at the back of the wardrobe to recycle an old frock !!
Anyway once home I wrapped up all the presents I have bought so far & wrote 30 cards.
I am ashamed to admit to all you card-makers out there that they are bought ones not hand made ! But they are to support the Meniere's Society and as my DH suffers from Meniere's Disease, I have placated myself with that thought !
Then I tackled some Christmas crafting - so on my desk this week you can see a few bits & bobs .. this is my Project Box all ready to start this year's Journal Your Christmas - which is the daily journal project that runs from December 1st until 12th Night on Shimelle Laine's website.

This is my 5th year (you pay once & then are joined up for life!) and experience has taught me to be organised in order to keep up making a page every day in what is usually a busy month !
So I set up a temporary craft table in front of the telly in the lounge & watched slushy Christmas films whilst I made my covers  & cut all my pages to size ready - I like to work on an 8"x 8" sized page as I find this just right for the photos & journalling I like to include.
This is my front cover - I love the whole Nordic/ Scandinavian Christmas that is everywhere this year - but it doesn't suit any other decorations I have for the house - so I am going to enjoy it in my journal instead !
This is mount board (cadged as a freebie from the framing shop !) wrapped in one of the papers I have chosen. I am using (Papermania's "Home For Christmas" collection and the tag is what I made at the "let's get inky" night at our Scrapbook club last week - the tree stamp matches the papers.

Thought you might like to see what a work-desk can look like when 6 girls get inky !
So here's us in action ..

We all agreed it was a great fun night & declared we must have play-dates more often !!
And yes we did clear all that mess up !!

The final bit of Christmas on my desk is my last "Book of Days" page for the year - a Christmas-y December page - and Nordic again - can you tell I like the look - with wrapping paper & a scrap strip of scrapbook paper too !!
I have enjoyed doing the Book of Days this year - and have written one of those 2" squares each & every day ! But I don't think I shall do it next year as it's been a big project - I might have a go at a Smash Book or just do more art journalling & normal scrapbooking -or some of all three !
But I am glad I have done it & that in years to come I'll have a day by day snapshot of my life in 2012 to look back on !

Anyway enough of my ramblings - several of you asked me last week what the tag on the Friendship Bag that my friend Lynda gave me for my birthday said - so I have tried a close up - hope it's a bit more readable !

Hope you all have a good week - and have avoided the floods that are taking their toll across the UK in the past week !
Looking forward to seeing what you have all been up to !
Take care Ali xx

19 comments:

  1. Hi Ali,

    Boy, are you early! I'm glad though because I can start my WOYWW desk hoping right away! Don't feel bad about buying store bought cards. I might just do the same thing...... although I do have some cards that I made last year left so those that weren't on my Christmas card list will get those.

    Love the December calendar (and the Scandinavian influence).

    Will be linking up this week but don't know my number....

    Hugs,
    Kay

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  2. We love the idea of journalling christmas and look forward to seeing some of your pages. Store bought cards are fine, we bought a few too this year, we just can't make enough and will save most paw makes for birthday cards instead. :)

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  3. Wow....what a great project. Love the cover. Can't wait to see what you will come up with in December. ... :)

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  4. Your journal is looking lovely - I havent joined in with Shimelle Christmas class but I do do the LSNED in September. Your crop looked good fun too - have a great week. Thanks for sharing - Sunshine Girl #25

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  5. Sounds like you had a great weekend! Hope you find a lovely dress... Helen, 8

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  6. Thanks for visiting me and as for the cards - whatever makes it for you is OK in my book. Thanks eversomuchly for the friendship bag closeup I think I will make a few of those they are so cool. Off shopping now so could get a few things for them. THANKS BJ#7

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  7. I'm doing JYC for the first time this year. Your allbum for jyc looks good , I hope you get to find a dress for the ball. Jill #48

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  8. Looks like you all had a fab time crafting together.
    Hugs,
    A x #42
    ps I'm hoping you will 'like' us and share us with your friends. [check out my blog for more info]

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  9. Hi Ali, I made it, Yeah!
    Will forgive you the bought cards, they are for a good cause and with all your work and other activities I really dont think you would have the time to make them.
    I know what you mean about clothes, I have to look around for something for our Gala evening in March.
    Take care, Jan S 86

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  10. Hello Ali,

    A quick visit. Busy Christmas desk!
    Have a great Wednesday.

    Thanks visiting my blog
    Hugs Marleen #4

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  11. Love the papers you are using for Journal Christmas.
    Happy Wednesday,
    Laura
    73

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  12. Yeah I dont like shopping in the rain either. Your cards look awesome
    Bridget #12/51

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  13. Bought some fabric and erasers and hair bands (elastic) and have managed to decipher the words with the close up. Determined to make a couple for my best friends. Thanks for sharing BJ#7

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  14. last time I went to Carmarthen, I was amazed at the transformation. I went to Queen Elizabeth grammar for Girls back in the 70s and it was a very different place then with the cattle mart where the new shops now are!!
    Looks like you had fun with the other crafters- there's nothing better!!
    Hugs, LLJ #32 xx

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  15. Great looking desk with a lot going on! Loved seeing the pictures of your calendars this year and I could see how it could be a big undertaking! I don't know if I care for the Smash book stuff right now! Thanks for visiting my desk and leaving such a nice comment. Have a great week! Vickie #3

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  16. Love your project box and the front cover. Thanks for sharing your desk.#111

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  17. Great cover! Nicely organized for your Christmas project! Happy WOYWW! Nan 114

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  18. Hi Ali, thanks so much for stopping by my blog, I am so far behind. Not much computer time since the post change. but, I am hear and love how organized you are. I want to do a journal for the days of christmas, but I have not even started yet. Sorry that you did not have any luck with your shopping. I have found that I hate to go into the stores and I am doing more online shopping. Don't you just love getting together with friends to play in the ink. I sure do. Have a great week. #89

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  19. I can't think of a better reason to use bought cards :) If I hadn't made mine already, I'd be really tempted to pick a favourite charity too. Love your JYC cover - nice papers. I'm still making my late way round WOYWW land but enjoying the trip. Hope you are having a lovely weekend. Elizabeth x #67

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