Tuesday 18 December 2012

A Christmas Carol(e) - Days 10, 11, 12 and 13

Not sure what is different this year and why I'm not managing to actually do a page each day, but I am kind of keeping up in a funny kind of way!  Today I did another four pages, taking me up to yesterday, but by the time I finished this afternoon, the light was rubbish so I will have to take pictures when I can.  I do love how these little pages come together quite quickly though :)





I am happy to say that all my Christmas preparations seem to be back on track now, Alex and I even spent a couple of hours in the kitchen this afternoon (my only day off this week) where Alex made a batch of delicious chocolate chip cookies and I made two batches of mince pies, one for eating now (rude not to!) and one in the freezer ready to go nearer the big day :)  This makes me very happy!!!

Carole x

Friday 14 December 2012

A Christmas Carol(e) - Days 8 & 9

For these two pages, I tried something different.  I tried something that I had a feeling I would love.  I tried something that I have been wanting to try for ages.  I used pocket pages :)  I love little clear pockets!  I have been thinking about buying and doing Project Life for well over a year.  On Black Friday I very nearly crumbled and purchased the whole lot until I saw the final bill.  I am going to have to do something similar because the thoughts and the feelings just won't go away ... so watch this space!

Back to my Christmas journal though, and little pocket pages:


I knew that I wanted to fill one of the pockets with Christmassy confetti, so that I did first.  I sewed the pocket shut so that the confetti stayed in place and decided to sew the title/kraft strips on at the same time. I had to work out how to incorporate some patterned paper, and also to keep the kraft theme going too.


The end result?  Two pages that I am really pleased with :)  Think I am going to love doing my own version of Project Life!

I have been naughty today, and instead of writing the rest of my Christmas cards, I have been playing catch up on my journal, and am up to date!!!  I am sure that it won't last long though.  Hopefully the light might be better tomorrow and I can get some good photos of days 10, 11, 12 and 13.

Carole x

Monday 10 December 2012

A Christmas Carol(e) - Days 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

Finally, my photo/printer issues are sorted, and so, without further ado, here are days 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7:






Sometimes, getting stuck in a groove can help!  Once I got my head around the A5 size/shape of my pages, I managed to almost catch up today!  It was also my first proper decent session in my new craft room, and I love it!  I am keeping my pages fairly simple, but they are starting to look lovely all together in my binder!

Back soon with more pages!

Carole x

Wednesday 5 December 2012

A Christmas Carol(e) - Day 2

Not liking this running behind with my Christmas Journal business, but hey?  What's a girl to do?  Never mind, I am still loving this project and WILL finish, one way or another!


For this page, I thought I would mention the weather (as us Brits love to do!) just in case we don't get any snow during December (and although parts of England today have had snow, we haven't down in the south).  Still hoping for a white Christmas though!  Fingers crossed!

Carole x

Monday 3 December 2012

A Christmas Carol(e) - Day One

I have had a nightmare with this wonderful project so far this year :(  It is only because I so love doing a Christmas Journal that I have persevered.  Imagine only being able to do day one on 3rd December?!

My problems started when we moved almost all of our bedrooms around this past week, and consequently, we also moved my Crafty Corner upstairs into the new spare room.  So, on 1st December, my entire stash was stacked up and inaccessible.  Never mind, after a lot of sorting I had a lovely new craft room, this time with windows (my craft space before was under the stairs and dark) and a larger work surface (less storage space was the only down side, but after much sorting, it all fits!)

Once that problem was sorted, my next problem presented itself.  Printing photos.  In my previous two journals I have printed photos onto ordinary photocopier paper, but this year I wanted better quality photos. Earlier this year I inherited a little Canon photo printer which prints really good quality prints.  Perfect!!!  But, no.  I have stocked up with cartridges and paper and was ready to go.  I have taught myself how to create photo collages so that I can print smaller pictures more suitable to the size of my journal.  All good.  But, no. It turns out that there are two problems, (1) it is impossible to install drivers so that I can print directly from my computer and (2) even by uploading the collage picture back to the camera, the camera then won't read the file and print it :(

So, I have no choice but to get my photo collages printed every few days wherever I can.  So very frustrating.  Looks like I will be running a good few days behind in the whole journal.  However, I am very determined that I will finish.

So, after much stress, here is Day One:


Self explanatory really, my OH has been growing a moustache for the Movember charity and both he and I were very glad to see the back of it!  Makes a change from my usual day one of the advent calendars though!

I hope to be back soon with some more pages to share!

Carole x