Scrapbook Saturday

Just thought I'd share what "scrappy" things I've been up to this week. 

Last Sunday, I decided that it was time to put all of the layouts I've done this year in to albums. It's my least favorite part of scrapbooking. I always have so many pockets to cut and fold-outs to deal with. But, considering that I am taking Ali Edwards December Daily class this year, I decided that I want to have everything else out of the way. More about the class below.

The first thing I did was get out the stack of layouts that needed to be put in album. 

I started sorting them in to piles--one for each of the albums they will go in.

I have lots of albums all going at the same time. That way it never gets boring. This time, I had 8 categories: home and garden, travel, family, friends, AYM, Jordan & Robbies wedding album, Barb and Sandy. This makes it easy to just grab one album at a time. I quickly realized that I did not have enough albums. So, I made a quick online purchase.

By the time I finished, I had finished off 3 albums and started 2 more. It took me 6 hours--just doing that! I made a New Year's resolution 1/1/2025 and kept up with them on a monthly basis. That only lasted a few months and then I let myself get behind. I am happy to have it out of the way.

So, my December Daily class started this week. You can read more about that here.

I have loved it and have started to make a few things.

This first one is a paper weaving technique that was so much fun.

I'm thinking that I'm going to use this as the background for the title page in my DD album with a gigantic 2025 on top.

Then, I got to thinking about our AYM theme for 2026.

I decided it would be fun to use this same technique for the title page of that album

This is how I know I have ADD--one thing leads to another. While I was thinking this through, I had to get it started lest I forget the idea. 

I decided to hand-cut a heart booklet and sew it down the middle. I have an idea for that too. I grabbed some ribbon, made a few houses and voila'--I just about have the title page done and the things for the kit too--I've already precut 196 strips. I've found that if I don't do the cutting upfront, someone will do it wrong and then we won't have enough paper! Believe me, it happens every time!

I stitched these Christmas trees. They are about 5" tall and didn't photograph well. They should lay flat once I adhere them to a background.

This was so easy to make. I made a template first. This was going to be the beginning of my album. But, unfortunately, I didn't remember what size album I bought. This will be too big. Still, I can just use it on another layout for my regular albums. I worked in 12x12 only--until this DD project. It's going to be a 6"x8".

This mantle was super fun to make. Notice the shiplap? I'm planning to put the page title in a wreath on that. I might add some stockings.

It's been a super fun week scrapbooking. I told Butch that I was going to help him outside with the fall garden clean-up, but he never mentioned it again, so I just did what I would rather do anyway. Isn't that what retirement is all about?

Friday Funnies

Ten Things Thursday

Since we're going to spend so much time in the kitchen, let's look at some.

They are really all beautiful. The green ones look like they might be the same kitchen, but they are definitely all different. And, of course, I'm a sucker for the white ones.

OMGosh! Unbelievable!

I could be happy with any of these kitchens. 

What I Buy Wednesday

Well, I've got a doozy for you this week--and it's scrapbook related. 

For 18 years, one of my favorite scrapbook teachers, Ali Edwards has been teaching a class called "December Daily". Although I love her classes and have taken dozens of them--several in person at scrapbook conventions--I have never taken this one. I love the concept of taking one picture a day during December and telling the story. But, as much as I love the holidays, they are really busy. I just never felt like I could commit to the class. Instead, I've sort of done my own thing in January and made a Christmas album for the last two years devoted to documenting December. I love how they turned out. 

This year, I've decided to "bite the bullet" and take the class. I'm finding myself with more time on my hands (hence the 16 books I read/listened to last month!). Anyway, I purchased the class bundle for $65.00. Basically, that's 3 classes with a total of 46 lessons! Yep, that sounds like a lot--which is why I never wanted to commit to it. The price can't be beat! It averages out to about $1.50 per lesson. 

This year, I am on top of it! I've already completed the first 20 lessons as they have been available. It starts mid-October and goes through November so that you can be ready to go in December. I'm excited. 

It works like this: starting in August, she has what is called the "boxing" period. You can start putting anything you might like to buy in your box. You have a month to add things, subtract things and decide. New items are released every few days. She's a marketing genius and has figured out a way to keep the excitement up. Things sell out quickly. 

Whenever you are finished adding to your box, you can make the purchase. I made my purchases as I went along. If you don't, you are not guaranteed that what you want will still be available. There were a few things I missed out on--like the large stitched felt numbers and some of the papers. Even after you make your purchase, you can continue to add to your box. The point of that is that you get free shipping and it all arrives together. This year was a tough year for this small company due to all of the tariffs and unreliable shipping dates and the high costs associated with that. To be able to bundle your whole order was economical for her and a deal for us. 

Well, my box arrived yesterday, so I thought I would share with you what I bought.

Pay attention to the brown envelopes under the paint set. I have a close up of those and the contents.

Many of the things here were on sale. I do love a good bargain. They are some leftover products from previous years. I picked the red album with gold stars (you can barely see it) as it was half price from last year.

The hearts are wooden.

There are frames, tags, stamps, tabs, ribbons, numbers and envelopes.

That "tiny attacher" is a gift. Basically it's a stapler that staples little staples. I already have one and love it. When Ali offered it for $10, I knew I wanted to use it for a gift. I don't think any of my scrapbooking friends have it. 

Now on to the envelopes.

The one with the stars is--you guessed it--filled with all kinds of star embellishments.

Envelope number two is filled with papers, cards and journaling cards as well as some chipboard embellishments.

Many of these will be used on a page. 

After the first 20 lessons I've had, I'm anxious to get started making stuff! I'll share some of those on Saturday.

So far, I have loved everything about this project. That makes this post one of my favorite "What I Buy Wednesday" posts. There's just not much new stuff in the scrapbook industry. It's always fun when I find something. 

AS IF. As if I really need anything else!

 

Tuesday Thoughts about...

...surprise gifts! I think surprise gifts are the BEST. I think it's the unexpected-ness of them that makes them so special. 

Here's the story:

On Saturday night, we were meeting our friends, Diane and Grenville from Nottingham, England. They have a home here and come for 6 months at a time. They were taking us to dinner as a "thank you" for going to our beach condo. A nice dinner would have been more than enough of a "thank you!" But, they showed up with this:

...a beautiful gift basket from The Happy Place. The owners are sisters and friends of Diane's. This basket is so full of "goodies!"

A couple of fun books...Butch and I are going to go through the bucket list book during happy hour and mark off the ones that we've done. 

...a historical puzzle, a tea towel that expands with water, a thank you note and gift card for The Happy Place and some Taylor Swift car coasters.

There is English toffee (my favorite), shortbread cookies, tea and a tea spoon.

And finally a "Union Jack" teapot. I've already added it to my collection!

I've put it front and center next to King Charles II Coronation teapot. 

Me on Monday

October by the Numbers:

Movies Seen: 4

*The Dead of Winter

*****The Roofman

*****Bruce Springsteen 

****Regretting You

Books Read—16

5 star books:

All the Colors of the Dark

I’m Thinking of Ending Things

An Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man

The Midnight Feast

The Little Liar

The Orphan Collector

The Next Person you Meet

Finding Chika

River of Time

The Crash

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k

Podcasts:

Paul Burrell’s Royal Tea—7 episodes

The Scrap Girls—2 episodes

Scrapbook Pages Completed: 15

Lunch Out—5

Dinner Out:—5

Bridge—7

Documentaries/Movies/Series  

HGTV:

****America’s Scariest Houses (2 episodes)

PBS:

*****The Boleyn’s (3 episodes)

****Hemingway

*****The Pack Horse Librarians of Appalachia 

*****Unforgotten (3 episodes)

Hulu:

*****Schitt’s Creek (12 Episodes)

****The Man in My Basement

Netflix :

*****Monsters Inside (4 episodes)

****Fred & Edith West (3 episodes)

***Victoria Beckham (2 episodes)

*****BTK

*****The Woman in Cabin Ten

*****True Haunting (5 episodes)

****Premonition 

***The Miami Showband Massacres

***Take Care of Maya

****Memories of a Murderer

***Persuasion

****The Union

Prime:

*****The Gadbury Sisters

****The Secret History of My Family (2 episodes)

*****My Foolish Heart —one of my all time favorites!

***Finding My Mum

***Lord Montague

***The Beatles

*****Hamilton

*****Hollywood Idols (16 episodes)

***The Presidents (1 episode)

*****Another Simple Favor

****Hollywood & Crime (2 episodes)

**Scandal Then & Now (1 episodes)

Trips & Events:

Scrapbook Retreat

Sunday Roast at Gren & Diane's

Happy Hour at the Dawkins

Had my cataracts removed!

Bone density test

Mole check

Keith Urban concert

Family fall craft

Entire family breakfast

Something for Sunday

Today, I'm taking down the Halloween decorations. I don't take the pleasure in it all like I used to. Now, it's just work.

It's that time of year. We've had the heat on for about two weeks. And then last week, this:

We had our first fire. I love a fire--so warm and cozy. So far, we've only had a couple, but probably our favorite time is the morning. That means that we have two fires a day! In the morning we only use 3 logs. At night we'll use more. 

In addition to our first fires, our garden girl, Sara put together our winter boxes. It's a little splurge that I enjoy rather than dismal empty planters all winter. 

I love the colors of the Huechera (Coral Bells) and the fact that these will be planted in the garden come spring. 

I'll leave the pumpkins for a bit longer. Then, I'll swap them out with red berries from our Foster Hollies.

 Next up will be Christmas decorating. It's all happening so fast.