6 days in and ......

the photo a day project has fallen apart! Well, actually that happened on the forth, but hey!

So, it looks like POTD is going to be Project Life .... photos of the important things, everyday things, and even the mundane .... just not every day. I'll still end up with a great record of 2012, and it will give me a chance to add more photos of the important things, rather than just trying to pick out one.

On a more positive note, Scrapbook Life 2012 is still on a roll. I've not got anything ready to post yet, but I have been playing with my doodles, prompts and calendar pages, and am going to Staples after work to get a binder, pockets and a few other bits. Then I'm going to spend some time over the weekend playing with papers and getting the binder filled. Piccies will follow next week ;-)

But most importantly, I'm enjoying doing the creative bits I have managed to do .... and even getting out of my box a bit!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge - January 2012

Reading through my blogs recently, I came across a post mentioning the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog (sorry, I can't remember who's blog I read about it on, but if you've blogged about it recently - THANK YOU!!).

On the 5th of each month, the team challenge you to take inspiration for specific kits from one of the many suppliers out there, and compile your own kit made up from stash you already have. Well, anyone who knows me will know I have TONS of stash from when I owned Craft Magic UK - and now I think I've finally found a way to use some of it up!

Throughout the month, the team will also be challenging us to actually USE the stuff in our kits - shock, horror!! You mean I can't just sit and stroke it all???

Now, a lot of my stash is quite old, so the kits won't be as up to date as some .... so here goes with 'January 2012's Counterfeit Kit' Kit based around the Amber Snowflake Kit from Cocoa Daisy

1) Paper Loft - SC312
2) Paper Loft - SC336
3) Paper Loft - GO127
4) Paper Loft - SC306
5) Paper Loft - SC302
6) Paper Loft - SC305
7) Pixie Press - Romance Letter Collage
8) Jenni Bowlin - Live Laugh
9) Paper Loft - Geometric Bubble Caps Alphabet Stickers
10) Pixie Press - Canvas Emotion Stickers - Joy Emotions
11) Sarabinders Small Envelopes
12) Creative Impressions Twill - 'Live, Love, Laugh' & 'Create, Believe, Imagine'
13) Assorted Blooms from the Duck Pond Crafts 'For The Boys' Kit
14) Buttons from 'For The Boys'
15) Ribbon from 'For The Boys'
16) Making Memories Shaped Clips
17) Debbi Moore Stamp - magic moments ...
18) Large Flowers from 'For The Boys'

I can't wait now to see what we are challenged to do with our kit!

Wow - what a day!

I think the weather will be featuring in pretty much everyone's posts today. The weathermen certainly got today right.

At least the school run wasn't too bad, and today's pupil cancelled so I didn't have to try and fight my way through the Dartford Tunnel (which was down to one tunnel as the bridge was closed due to the high winds and so the other tunnel was coming southbound).

This was the view from my front door later in the morning - WOW! We've not had puddles like that for ages, but it didn't slow the cars down! I'm SO pleased I wasn't walking down the road.

A couple of hours later ..... brilliant sunshine! You can always rely on the british weather to keep you on your toes lol.

I'm now sitting down catching up on Eastenders with a box of tissues at the ready - funny how you can get so attached to a soap character.

I love Tim Holtz!

Just watched this video on Tim's blog for his Idea-ology Storage Systems ... I SOOOOO need these! (ok, need may be a bit strong, but aren't they gorgeous!)

I'm now wondering if it would be possible to customise my silver storage box the boys bought me for Christmas - it's one of those mechanic-type boxes with ridged metal sides, but it might work .......

Happy 2012!

And so begins a new year .... welcome to 2012!

Today is the start of another chapter in my life - a new year, new projects, new hopes, new plans, new .... who know's what?

My first photo of 2012 is a little bit of a cheat - I wasn't actually IN London .... the photo was taken of the TV screen, but it's still my photo lol. One down, 365 to go!

I had a great night last night, spending time with Mum & Dad, Ian and the boys - and of course, Parker who tried to get his nose into everything .... including Mum's Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Vol-au-vent! Good food, a cocktail or five & Trivial Persuit on the Wii all led up to the 'bongs' of Big Ben and fireworks.

Today has been quite subdued (and it's not just the after effects of the cocktails!) ... everywhere is closed, the weather has been pants and Ian's hand stopped us doing much in the way of decorating or gardening. So, a quiet day of colouring and watching TV - you can't beat a bit of 'Carry On Camping' followed by 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince' for New Years Day entertainment.

All I need now is to round off the day with a nice bubbly bath!

BTW - you can find my January 1st POTD HERE!

One Little Word 2012

So, I've been thinking about Ali Edward's 'One Little Word' so decided to check back through the archives to see what my word was for 2011 - only to find I didn't have one! The last (and first) word I set was for 2010 and was ORGANISE

Once again, I've been toying with a few words .... Peace, Calm, Live, Family ... or maybe even DECIDE!

Earlier this month I had a bit of a health scare - I found a lump in one of my 'girls' so dutifully went along to the Drs to get it checked out. After a course of antibiotics, it was still there so I went back, and was referred to the Breast Cancer Clinic at the hospital. After an agonising 10 days waiting for the appointment, I finally had a mamogram which THANKFULLY came back as normal. Speaking to the consultant, it turns out I have naturally lumpy boobies, which are just fat lumps. Oh the relief!

It may sound strange, but I really feel I've been given a second chance with my life, and have decided it's about time I LIVE my life rather than just EXIST in it.

So ..... my One Little Word for 2012 really needs to be LIVE!

Now I just need to decide whether to sign up for Ali's One Little Word class at BPS ;-)

I've Discovered Picnik

A couple of weeks ago I downloaded Picasa 3 to my netbook, so I could try and organise my ever growing collection of photographs. As I only have PSE on disc, and no disc drive on the netbook, I've not been able to install that yet, so thought I'd give the Picasa editing feature a go. But, I couldn't find any way to layer photos.

I found an article by Shimelle (via the Blogging For Scrappers class I took in 2009) about various online editing suites, and one of those was Picnik. So I decided, as that was linked to Picasa, to give it a try - paid for the premium membership for a year, and had a play with the photo overlays for Project 365.

I'm quite pleased with what I produced (ok, so it's not that difficult really, but when you're as technically challenged as I am, it can take a bit of playing to master) - I just need to find a way to separate the date stamps as all the numbers for the relevant month are on one sheet. But as it's now 1.20am, I may leave that till the morning!

So, here is my first layered photo via Picnik!