Ali Edwards - One Little Word

Every year Ali Edwards challenges people to either publically or privately choose a single word which they will focus on in the coming year.

Well, I had two in mind:-

1) Well, I couldn't actually come up with ONE word for this, but it's to TAKE CARE OF MYSELF! This may sound a bit selfish, but I was diagnosed with a condition about 5 years ago for which I have to take medication - and have regular blood tests. Let's just say I'm very good at forgetting both :(

2) OK - this is the ONE WORD I came up with. ORGANISATION!!!! I'm going to focus on turning my pig-sty into a home where I can happily invite family and friends over for coffee, without needing a months advance notice LOL.

So - there you have it. I'm publically committing to get my life organised - guess that encompasses both my goals :)

Wish me luck LOL

What a GORGEOUS minibook

I found this RAK via a post on Ruth's blog Everyday Life of a Suburban SAHM

To be in with a chance of winning a kit to make your own, just visit the Life And Times Of A 12x12 Addict blog, comment on the post, follow her blog and then let others know.

Fingers are now FIRMLY crossed - don't hang about though - you've only got till midnight tonight!

Learn Something New

I've been sitting here looking through some online shops, and started thinking (yes, I know that's dangerous LOL!) I've been cardmaking since my early teens, and scrapbooking for about 7 years, and I fancy trying something different.

So, what better place to set out the new things I'd like to learn than on here! That way, I can't lose it (you'd be amazed at the number of lists I have floating round on scraps of paper!) and it will be a constant reminder - so if we get to June and I haven't done any of them, please feel free to kick me up the bum!

So, for starters:-

1. I'd like to learn how to use my DSLR camera properly - at the moment, pretty much everything is taken on the AUTO mode.
2. I'd like to learn more about Altered Art. I see lots of lovely projects on the forums, but whenever I've tried something it looks like a 5 year old has been let loose with the paper and glue!
3. I'd like to learn Leather Work - especially leather carving. I saw some on American Chopper the other night and it looked FANTASTIC.

I'm sure I'll be adding to the list as time goes on. I think it's about time I spent some quality time with myself :D

Watch this space!

Something New for 2010

OK, I know it's a bit early for New Year's Resolutions, but I was reading through some of the blogs from Shimelle's Blogging for Scrapbooking class and came across Melissa's post from today about her challenge.

One of the challenges was to pick a book from a list and read it, then give a review. It gives links to various Top 100 lists, and there is one for Mystery Novels. That got me thinking.

One of my resolutions for 2010 is to have more quality ME TIME! So, I've printed off The 100 Best Mystery Novels of All Time and plan to read through them ALL! OK, I'm never going to finish that in one year, but I can give it a flippin good try ........ and what I haven't read I can do in 2011 :)

It's nearly CHRISTMAS!

Had a great day shopping with Mum yesterday - got nearly all the pressies now, and there's still 9 days to go! Unheard of for me LOL.

Tonight we've got a Christmas Party for the Jesus Kids, our church youth group for 5-7 year olds. James is SO excited, and can't wait. There'll be lots of pass the parcel, musical chairs etc, and of course - FOOD! Will also be a great photo opportunity (will have to blur the kids' faces for on here though), with the resulting layout being a perfect addition to my Faith Album.

We're also on day 15 of the Advent Swap on FaithScrappers UK - I'm so far behind with posting my goodies, so I guess now would be a good time to catch up. So, in no particular order (as I can't remember which days I opened which of my wonderful goodies!) here is the list so far:-

• Paper Nations stamp with matching Peel-offs
• Stencil with various Christmas images
• Green & Blacks Chocolate Bar (now gone LOL)
• Flowers, Mesh Strip & 2 Blingy Flowers
• Some gorgeous seasonal stickers from CM with co-ordinating ribbon
• Notebook & pencil
• Some Paper Nations Decoupage Sheets
• Assorted Puffy Stickers
• A finger of fudge
• Metal Christmassy Charms
• 4 lovely wooden cats
• Pack of Christmassy stickers
• A little box of After Eight Mints - yummmmm!
• A pack of gorgeous 6x6" Papers
• 2 sheets of Christmassy Chipboard Toppers

I love this swap, as I get to open a gorgeous little parcel of stash every day when the boys do their Advent Calenders, and the occasional choccy gift just adds to the experience :)

I've FINALLY got round to printing off my Blogging For Scrapbookers Year Of Blogging prompts - all 23 pages of them! There is a different idea for every day of the year, so with a little luck and a bit of me time, I will have no excuse not to add a post to my blog each day. I also received my annual copy of Staal News (our friends in Australia put together a newsletter to let all their family and friends know what has been happening in the Staal household), and it got me thinking. We've now got family and friends scattered all over the world, and many of them would not be interested in updates about my crafting (plus there are some bits which I wouldn't want to post for the whole world to see), so I've registered a free website to use to keep everyone up to date on the Maynard Mutterings! Looks like I'll be a VERY busy bunny in 2010 :)

Right - time to finish my Christmas Cards! I'll post a piccy of them later!

OMGosh - It's DECEMBER!!!

Where has the time gone - it's December already, and only 23 days until Christmas!

As you'll have seen, the Thanksgiving posts lasted all of 2 days LOL - and the blog hasn't been much better. Had a really bad few weeks, and didn't even want to get out of bed, let alone write my blog. But, thankfully things are improving (apart from a sore arm as the result of my flu jab this afternoon), so I'M BACK!

I'm part of the Advent Swap on FaithScrappers UK, and so far have opened to little pressies from my Secret Sister:-

• On the first day of Advent my SS sent to me ...... a lovely Paper Nations Stamp and sheet of matching Peel Off Stickers.
• On the second day of Advent my SS sent to me ...... a Christmas themed Embossing Stencil which will be perfect for my last minute Christmas Cards.

More to follow tomorrow, so watch this space :)

Thankfullness!

On Remembrance Day (11th November), a friend posted a challenge on Facebook for us to all add to our status each day, one thing for which we are thankful, and to see if we have enough things to take us to Thanksgiving (26th November).

Well, being one who can't resist a challenge, I've started posting. So far I've had:-

• thankful that I have two happy, healthy children
• thankful that I have a wonderful Mum, without whom I would have fallen apart years ago

Then I got to thinking - yes, I know that's dangerous, especially for me LOL. But, I realised it would be so easy to combine this challenge with my scrapbooking - so, I'm going to start a Thanksgiving Album. I know it's going to take me a lot longer than 15 days to complete, but those first 15 posts will help me to get started. My aim is to complete a layout each week, based on my 'Today I'm Thankful For' post. Who knows, I may even carry it on .........

Watch this space for the first layout which I'm planning on completing during the UKScrappers Wicked Cyber Crop this weekend. I can't wait - a whole weekend of scrapping without the boys!! Now that's heaven on earth :D

My Christmas Wish List

Every year I make a list of the crafty stuff I'd like for Christmas, so my family and friends know what will really bring a smile to my face on Christmas morning.

It doesn't always work, but it's become a tradition! This year, I thought I'd post it on my blog so it's easily accessible.

So, if anyone fancies buying me something, you'll find a list of links in the left hand column - can you just let Ian know what you've picked so he can keep a master list of what's still available.

No doubt I'll keep adding to it as new products are added!



BTW - I'm not assuming anyone will be buying me a pressie ......... but a girl's gotta have HOPE :)

Look what I learned!!

Thanks to the links in Shimelles Weekend Bonus prompt, I've found a gorgeous header for my blog at Background Fairy. It was really easy to add my blog title, which I did using Adobe Photoshop Elements and then enlarged to 150% so it fitted my blog nicely.

Hope you like it - I think I may have to have a regular change to go with the seasons :)

I've just signed up for the Holidays in Hand Class by Jessica Sprague, which starts next week (thanks to everyone who posted about it on their blogs - looks like there'll be quite a few of us doing it :D)

I think I've caught something, as I'm signing up for classes and crops all over the place - maybe my mojo is finally coming back!

Hmmm......... now, what shall I sign up for next LOL

I think I need therapy :D

HOW does a game become SOOOOO adictive??

I've been playing Farm Town on Facebook and think I should now be joining FarmTown-aholics! I spend FAR too much time tending to my crops, re-arranging my fields ........ and now I'm even working for other people!

I'm having so much fun - it's really relaxing to spend a bit of time to myself, growing fruit and veggies, and not getting cold and wet while doing it.

But I do wonder where it will end ??????? LOL

So, what do you think of the farm so far?

Surprise, surprise!!!! I'm behind already LOL.

I'm too tired to do anything tonight, but I'm gonna catch up this week, and jump right back in tomorrow.

Blogging For Scrapbookers : Day 1

Yayyyyyy - I've had my first prompt :)

So, we were tasked to put down our intentions for our blogs. Well, here goes:-

• blog on a regular basis - ok, this is unlikely to be daily (apart from the first 3 weeks), but I intend to at least post weekly.


• take more photographs and share them via my scrapbooks and my blog


• take some ME TIME at least once a week to scrap or make cards - this has been really difficult as the house is a tip, and I haven't been able to get to the table for months! Now I'm learning how to FLY (http://www.flylady.net/) and get my life organised, I'll soon be able to use the dining table for scrapping, instead of a little TV table :)

So, not bad for a first day :)

And just in case you don't believe me about the table ......

My New Blog

Well, here it is - my new blog!

I'm what could be called a 'procrastinating blogger' - I get all fired up about a new blog, post a few times, then go months without anything. Not very exciting really! But I'm hoping that's all about to change.

I've joined Shimelle's 'Blogging For Scrapbookers' Class online, and am eagerly looking forward to my first prompt to arrive in my inbox tomorrow. I'm also hoping it will give me lots to talk about and show to any followers who come across my blog.

So ......... roll on tomorrow!