The Christmas Journal is finally safely finished & tucked on the bookshelf with it's companions from previous years !
I have tried to create more surface space to work on by moving the box that I had full of all my inky pieces of cut & dry foam for my distress inks - off my desk !
The pieces of foam are now in the 12" x 12" box where I keep the inks - a bit conventional I know - but surely handy !
And I have an extra 5" at the back of the desk to play on !!
Yes all that clutter is AFTER the tidy up - you should have seen it before !!
My laptop & external hard-drive are perched somewhat precariously on top of my printer for a good reason !
When I went back home at Christmas my brother in law was telling me that his laptop had crashed - and they have lost all the family photos from the past four or so years !
He thought he had backed them up on the family computer - but it turns out that he had put them on a previous hard drive but never on to the new one when they upgraded.
So that's four years of memories of my nephews' lives lost forever.
It reminded me that I keep thinking "I must save a copy of everything on my external hard drive" but good intentions on their own don't get results !!
So I actually got my derrière in gear and did the back up last night !
Now I feel virtuous - just need to do it regularly !
A new year's resolution !!
I have some lovely new crafty reading lined up !
Suddenly - as if a backlog was clearing after the Christmas post - 3 of the magazines I have on subscription (whoops can you tell I'm a bit of a magazine junkie !) arrived in the same post last Friday !
And I have the new book from the Sketchbook Challenge blog that Santa brought me still waiting to be explored !
Here's my "Scrappy To Do List" so far !
I have a lot of Christmas stash left - so that & New Year's Eve top the list - some of the others projects date back from pre-scrapping days but I really want to make the effort to go back & scrap these good memories !
So there's my favourite holiday ever which was in Western Canada in the year 2000 - all the stuff we collected on the trip still stowed away in a box !!
And the girls weekend trip I arranged as a surprise for my sister's 40th birthday - she was 46 last July so that gives you an idea of my backlog !!
And there's Florida and ...
No, no I can't face them all - just one at a time will be fine !!
All this planning needed a sugar fix - hence the sneaky bag of fruit pips sweeties - a treat from our local farm shop !
And I actually started a journal page on Sunday ...
The quote "we will not know unless we begin" had been lurking on my desk since last spring - but it caught my mood of "let's get stuck in to some new projects & hope it makes the spring seem like it will come all the quicker" !!
A bit of stencilling, some letters & chipboard flowers from my "must use up my stash" campaign - a goodly splash of champagne mica spray - and I'm waiting for it to tell me where it wants to go next !!
Anyway - hope you all have a fun week & looking forward to seeing what everyone out there in the world of WOYWW is up to !
xx
Hi Ali, up a bit early for WOYWW, I schedule for midnight! Just wondering how good is the Art Journal magazine I spied on your desk? Your have some good projects listed, look forward to seeing them all. Great journal page too. BJ #?
ReplyDeleteHello there, we are so covetous of your art journal and cloth paper scissors mags, both of which we must purchase sometime, other craft goodies keep jumping ahead in our basket though! We love you journal page, and the sentiment is especially relevant to the bears right now. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good qoute you've used in your journal . Hope you get everthing done on your list. jill #10
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who also lost all her photo's. so now I have all mine backed up on a regular basis too.
ReplyDeleteLove the journal page.
Happy WOYWW
Tertia #17
love the quote - oh so true!!
ReplyDeleteand i love your busy desk - could you even see it before the clear up? *grin*
and enjoy your mags!
Happy WOYWW and have a great week :o)
no. 10
You had a good post day :) also I have subscribed the CPS... And bought the Craft Stamper from market. Love them both!
ReplyDeleteHappy WOYWW!
Tuire #2
Always always back everything up always....like many people I learned the hard way!!!
ReplyDeleteNice busy Desk
Silvia #29 WOWYY
Sounds like you've got a ton of plans there Ali! Yes, backing everything up is essential. Things can be recovered (if you've still got the hard drive of course!) but it's easier just to do a spot of housekeeping. Happy WOYWW, hugs Jenny #35
ReplyDeleteLove the look of your reading material - I have some of those issues standing by too!! I really need to do a back up of my computer, eek!!!! Have a good week, Helen #7
ReplyDeletebusy looking desk today. Love the journal pages and the new Journal Magazine. I got the Cloth Paper Scissors a week or so ago and went to the book store and bought the Journal magazine and a couple others last night so like you I will have reading material for a few days. Hope you have a great week! Vickie #31
ReplyDeleteHappy WOYWW. I am a magazine-addict, and now WANT/NEED the Journalling and Cloth/Paper/Scissors ones!! Lovely journal pages - gorgeous soft colours. We lost loads of photos when an old computer died a few years back (well, we still have the hard drive, but so far 5 'experts' have failed to get anything off it), so we now backup to various devices/online storage places. Ali x #40
ReplyDeleteA new year, a clean slate and a fresh start, can't beat that really. I also lost stuff on my computer recently when hubby decided to blow mine up.. luckily just a few months as I am a bit of an OCD type where back-ups are concerned, it's not like you can go back in time and retake the photos is it? :(
ReplyDeleteLove your desk this week and the journal page is great. I think I need to get a sub to more Mage, only have Craft Stamper but as I do more journaling now think I need to spend more pennies.
ReplyDeleteAnn B
51
I'm reading a lot lately of cleaning up and clearing out!!! Definitely a theme for us crafters this time of year, lol!!! I have quite the mess on my hands too! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteJeannie #60
yes, backing up is important - do it today if you can.
ReplyDeletehorray for an extra 5" space
pretty journal page.
blessings from Angela (#71)
Completely forgot so late this week!! BJ#52
ReplyDeleteI feel a kindered spirit. You have cups of markers, pencils, and paint brushes on your desk just like me.
ReplyDeleteI'm a friend of Sandee's. Hope you get a chance to check out my blog.
Lori #81
Your desk is so wonderfully organized! Love it!
ReplyDelete/Zildara #85
I do get the feeling that you are a little overwhelmed but will get going soon. One step at a time and your journal pages are the first step.
ReplyDeleteLove jo x
Once you start there'll be no stopping you looking at your workdesk! Happy WOYWW! Karen 93 x
ReplyDeleteooo i must do a back up thanks for reminding me as i would lose the whole of my youngest's life if mine was to go!!
ReplyDeletepretty journal page
Happy woyww TFS Mrs.C.xx #28
craftylittlemoos.blogspot.com
hello Ali...and wow you have a lot up your sleeve....tidy desk ,love your mags! mY pC ALSO BALANCES ON THE EDGE OF MY DESK...NOT A GOOD THING...I read somewhere that every so often we should pick out some of the best photos and print them...1. They are ready yo scrap 2.they will survive if the electronics fail!
ReplyDeleteHappy creating!!
Zeffy #72
Another one here who hasn't backed up in ages so thanks for the reminder! Lots of lovely reading to keep you busy and a whole list of projects too! Sounds like a busy scrapping year is lined up. Love the journal page and the quote, pretty colours too.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Brenda 94
Love the journal page and the sentiment. Lost pictures.....yes I lost a years worth by taking the PC for repair before backing up to external hard drive. Really DUMB!!! But lesson learned. Happy WOYWW
ReplyDeleteKrisha #110
I am so glad that you have backed up...I seem to do it about once a month which isn't really regularly enough, but better than nothing. I love the fact that your desk is post tidy...what a great selection of crafting goodies on display! Your art journal page looks great. Thanks for sharing. Caro #46
ReplyDeleteI have my backup running automatically...using a windows task...If it fails it tells me. Yeah!!!!! you reclaimed 5 inches of space on your desk! I think you said 5 " That's a LOT of craft space! Accomplishment! Note about the backup's. Remember, if you have a fire, you have lost your photos....or a theft...just had a friend, who had her house broken into and they stole her computer and backups...however............she also backed up on the clound...so, no worries...That is the SAFEST backup you can do...external hard drives....have problems....the cloud is a better choice, in my humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteOoh I think a good tidy up now and then is good for the soul - it's also a useful reminder sometimes as to exactly what you've got! Sorry to hear about the photos, that's a real bummer. We have an ED that hubby backs up (but not always as regularly as I would like) installed after a major crash and loss a few years ago. I got Oh to get to get me a sub to Cloth Paper Scissors for Christmas - can't wait to get my first issue! (Fellow magazine junkie) Cindy #54
ReplyDeleteI loooove your journal page and the sentiment is so true! The cards on my page are from stash too, I am trying so hard to use up those bits of cut paper that get tossed into the box! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)
ReplyDeleteYour journal page looks lovely! I know what you mean about trying to make space on your desk - I'm always shuffling things around looking for more space. Hey ho - grateful for all the supplies though :)
ReplyDeleteSarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity
Hi
ReplyDeleteWow your tidy up gave you and extra 5" of extra desk space some people do not realise that is a lot of space to us crafters.
Ria
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DeleteHello! :) I love all the goodies on your desk. What's the "sketchbook challenge" magazine? Quite interesting to this little inquiring mind. lol :)
ReplyDeleteLove how your space is looking and how you've got inspirational magazines out to help get it dirty again. I am so with you on "must use up my stash"
ReplyDeleteGreat journal page and great quote. I keep telling myself I must back up my photos and still haven't done it. I must, I must, I must. Thanks for a reminder. Happy WOYWW Anne x #135
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are going to busy! Love the quote on the journal page! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteApryl H #9
I like your list - good idea. Sugar is always helpful and the saying - excellent. April #136
ReplyDeleteHi there, yes you will need summer clothes, even though it is raining here today, I am still in shorts and a t-shirt! You might need jeans and a cardigan as a back up for the odd cold evening or if you are going up the mountian...it is chilly on top. email me off my blog and I will give you lots of places to visit which you might be able to slot into your work day! Bella @No42
ReplyDeleteDang, girl, you are going six ways from Sunday here! You have enough projects and ideas to keep you busy for the next ten years!! Oh, my heavens. Have fun with it all - I've no doubt you will!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by the Playhouse and have a wonderful week if I don't see you before!! Darnell #30
Blimey you're busy, and an inspiration to us all! I love that this is your desk after tidyi. It makes me feel good about how my desk usually is. It's ridiculously tidy right now, but it won't last. I hope to have a partially glittered skull to show you next week; thank you for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rachel
Hi Ali, so sad for your brother-in-law to lose all those photographs. Hopefully, some family members have photos that he can be copied to help fill in some of the gaps. That's a challenging 'to-do' list, I hope you make good progress with it. Thanks for sharing - as always I enjoyed reading your post. Elizabeth x #69
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of the list, my trouble is i would write it, look at it, then put it to one side and never find it again. something would end up piled on top.
ReplyDeleteI love the journal pages.
Regards
Nelle.
hi,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear your brother in law lost all those pictures.. what a wonderful to do list just remember do one at a time and it will be finish before you know it. love your journal pages.
Happy WOYWW!
Michele #127
Great layouts!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry I am a day late. Fighting the nasty flu.
Lori #84