Layout a day :: Day 1

I recently received a fabulous parcel of scrap goodies from America and have been dying to play with the contents ever since. But no matter how hard I try to make time for scrapping there always seems to be some dull task in the way. Maybe it's just procrastination, I don't know. However, the lack of scrapping needs to be dealt with and so I have set myself the unrealistic challenge of doing a layout a day for a week! Pretty funny, I know! But I have set my sights on 7 layouts by the end of next weekend, and, darn it, 7 layouts there shall be!

Number 1 is before your very eyes, and by my own admission it will never win any prizes for clever use of product or design. But no dout in years to come Patrick will appreciate the half hour I took to document his fun day meeting Star Wars characters! And so I am at peace with it. (Although the only new product I got to use was the who what when where stamp - must try harder tomorrow!)

The good stuff

I've been floating gently down to reality and normality this last week after the show, and it definitely feels good. For the past couple of months I've spent nearly all of my own time in the evenings and during Conor's naps getting things done that needed to be done - samples, price lists, new products. And there's been a real sense of satisfaction moving my business on and looking forward to it becoming more successful. Each job done has been ticked off my list with a bright red marker!

But now I feel I can finally get down to doing some of the things that make me, well, me. The creative stuff. The scrapbooking. Reading the backlog of magazines. Trawling blogs. Generally having fun! (Obviously at some point I will have to clean the house, but for now I'm prepared to turn a blind eye!) So tonight I did me some scrapbooking. Got the creative juices flowing again and documented a few more details of family life. So I thought I'd share, while I'm still on the patterned paper high!

This one has been in my head for such a long time. It is no big shock to those of you who know us well to learn that Patrick is really just a mini version of me. And while there are times that I love having a little mirror of myself running around, more often than not it is the negative side I see. All those aspects of my own personality which I would prefer not to have to deal with are staring me in the face in my own son. No doubt it's some sort of penance, given how much it pains me to see him cry because he's nervous about going to a friend's house for the first time, or howling with misery because a tiny piece of a transformer is missing, presumed lost forever.

And a bit of a random one about us, the Boyd family. Really for no other reason than this is the only recent photo that features all of us, and also because I really wanted to use this paper! The layout is totally lifted from the summer issue of Simple Scrapbooks. Really, why do the hard work when someone already did it for you? I think I love this page :)

I hope to be posting more of these over the next few days - I feel a creative roll coming on!

Creating = happy :)

Just wanted to share a couple of layouts I've done lately. I am really loving the extra time I have at the minute that means all the dull jobs are done by the end of the day and I have some time to create. And there really is no doubt that creating makes me happy. I should definitely do it more!

This one was for the last issue of the Scrapbook Magazine. They supplied the materials, which I have to admit were fabulous, especially the the ribbon. I loved this photo of Conor and his little chum, Poppy, taken on a picnic last October.

Another of Conor, showcasing his many fabulous and crazy faces!

My guest designer layout for Pencil Lines featuring my favourite shot from my London trip last month.

And a tribute to the fabulous Auntie Lesley. I pinched the layout idea from the last issue of Simple Scrapbooks and have to say I love it and will likely be using it again! Hmm, it seems these are all of Conor - clearly some work to do to restore the balance!

One for the grandparents

Ok, Typepad is killing me. I've been trying to post since last night and it's proving very upsetting indeed. I have retyped the whole thing 5 times, posted it with just pictures in the hopes of going back in and adding text, but all to no avail. This is my last attempt! All my original thoughts are somewhere in the ether, and if you get anything from this, well call it a bonus.

It's all been about the end of term of late, and although I was overjoyed to finish, I was filled with dread at the thought of the end of P1. As it was, I cried. Who'd have thought?! But we survived. I did take a photo of Patrick on his last day to compare with the one I took on his first day. The difference is unbelievable.

First day....

Last day.....

And that prompted this.

It's a bit of a shock to my system that I managed to take a photo, upload it, print it and scrap it all within 48 hours! The scan is terrible but I do like the layout.

Now, for Nanny and Grandpa, who have abandoned us and fled to Florida, leaving their 2 Labradors to our solid floors that they hate, a couple of photos. Just to show that we're all alive and well and that we haven't in any way harmed the dogs yet!

And a final thought. Well, more of a question. Why is it that despite the hundreds of toys affiliated to every tv show and film going, and no matter what special things they do, more amusement and harmonious play comes from a puddle that is about half an inch deep?

Ok, I've done it and will quit while I'm ahead:)