UKS - Scrapfactor Playalong

Thought I'd give the latest playalong Scrap Factor challenge a go as I needed to do something with these photos from Emer's formal.

My First Ever Scrapbook LO

Ah those were the days - when I just got started and was green in judgement! Flimsy papers, too many stickers and rubons (badly applied as I was new to them *shakes head*) and horrible journalling.

I think the reworked LO is slightly more restrained...

Where Do You Go For Inspiration?

I've been struggling to scrap the past few weeks - it's been all work and no play. And typically, when I finally get a chance to sit down in my newly decorated craft space (more on that to come), I discover my inspiration has fled.


In order to kick start my mojo, I headed for my favourite scrapping magazine - Scrapbooks Etc. looking for inspiration and lo and behold I found a recently posted challenge that got me thinking. Result.

Papertrey Problem

I've been looking for a basic dotted line stamp that I can use to create journalling spots when using nesties. Ideally an acrylic one, but I'd live with a large wooden mounted one, or even an unmounted one.

I thought it would be a fairly simple thing to find, but it seems that simplicity isn't very popular, because all I can track down are dotted lines inside borders, with decorative scrolls or motifs. *Sigh*

So when I chanced upon this fabby SIMPLE stamp from Papertrey I thought my quest was over. Only to discover they don't distribute in the UK and the shipping costs from the US are prohibitive.

I've learned there is a UK support group... err, I mean blog... Passion for Papertrey which I'm off to investigate now.

Strange...

Given that I have very limited willpower, it's probably for the best that I've not been tempted by any of the CHA offerings this time around.


And it looks like I'm not the only one either; friends at crops and forum postings all confirm my sense that crafters are tightening their belts and using all the stash they've hoarded rather than clammering for the latest paper ranges and must have gadgets.

It's all quite grown up really. V. strange...

2011 will be my second experience of Ali Edwards "One Word" project. Last year I chose "Content" because I liked the play on the word: content as in be happy with what I have and where I am but also content - the things I fill my life with. It worked really well for me and definitely gave me food for thought. I was able to motivate myself through my word and gain some respite from the chaos that life often seemed to be.


I've been mulling over what to have as my word for 2011 and have decided to go with "Simplify". I think I need to break the life long habit of wanting to make sure every item is covered "just in case". I have no doubt that I have wasted days, if not weeks, of my life planning complicated contingency plans which were never required. I think I need to focus more on keeping it simple.

I've given in...

OK, I hold my hands up - I was a blog non-believer. I didn't think I've ever want or need a blog until I took up scrapbooking as a hobby where a blog seems almost a requirement!

So I'll now be posting my musings and other general ramblings in this bright, new, shiny space.

I think it will be a weekly update... at most.