Saturday 25 September 2010

Venturing out to pastures new…

When I first started scrapbooking I was totally unaware of just what a HUGE global community it would open up! I stumbled across the craft from card making, loving the fact that I got to keep my creations & preserve our family’s memories, but little did I know how it would also become such a big part of my life!

Then, about 5 years ago I discovered that a girl I worked with, Karen, was also a scrapper & we have since become firm friends. She introduced me to ScrapScene & from there it all just escalated! I now take part in several on-line forums, contests & on-line classes. Blogging, of course, is just a natural extension of Scrapbooking & now I regularly visit many blogs!

My one frustration was that as I work on Sundays, so many crops were off-limits to me, but Karen again stepped in by introducing me to a Saturday crop she had found, albeit quite a way from home, even chauffeuring me there & back when my shoulder was at it’s worst! More recently we have been attending a monthly Saturday crop just two villages away, but after it was cancelled for two months on the trot, we put our feelers out for alternatives.

Sadly, Saturday crops still seem thin on the ground, but two evening crops came into the frame. I tried one earlier this month. The ’3 Jolly Scrappers’ at Huntingdon, just a half hour drive for me, was delightful….a nice venue, friendly people & a shop full of lovely scrappy goodies! This will definitely be on my monthly agenda!

September24 2010 011 This week, Hilary recommended another evening crop…’Crafting time’ in Shepreth. This is a bit further for me, but convenient as I have to drive past Karen’s house, so could pick her up & repay the chauffeuring favours from times past!!  We had a wonderful time…great venue above the permanent shop…Nina the owner is just lovely & a great time spent scrapping & getting to know new friends! This is a fortnightly crop & again, methinks we will become regulars!  Hilary had brought along a little gift for me…a length of sheer ribbon, printed with the words ‘Joy Happiness Blessings’ how perfect is that?!! Thanks again Hilary!

There is one anecdote from the evening I have to share…
 
September24 2010 007 Karen is an avid photographer & loves to take candid photo’s, snapping away while we work or chat.  As the evening drew to a close, I pulled out my camera & joking, said to Karenlook engrossed”…to which she replied “I know it’s my fringe”…??!!??!!  She thought I’d said “looking gross”!!!!!!  As if I would, or more to the point, as if she ever could!!!!

So what did I do at the crop, besides chat & laugh! Well I got on with a LO for the week one challenge over at Dixie Pieces ‘Glee Club’…a ‘Classic Rock’ challenge,to use a Beatles song title as a LO title & keep the LO in the theme of the 1960’s. I chose ‘Good Day Sunshine’ which fitted in well with a photo taken in Covent Garden last month. Then I dug deep into my stash for anything vaguely psychedelic!! This is what I ended up with…

GoodDaySunshine
…I printed the song lyrics onto that ‘Dream Street’ PP as part of the background & felt the ‘Pink Paisley’ stripes were just right too! As having ‘secret items’ included in your LO can earn extra points, I tried to get as many different things on there as I could!! Without making it too cluttered of course!!! Just have to wait till Monday now to see if I’ve chosen well!!!

Have a LovelyDay An extra challenge was thrown in too…to make a card or tag, to include at least one word from your song title in the sentiment. I used up the scraps from my LO & put together this card, which I will use for my   M-I-Laws upcoming birthday! 

So, that brings my scrapping week to a close! I still have some catching up to do on LSNED, but today is free listing on eBay, so I’ll be getting as much listed as I can…gotta start thinking about Christmas shopping & all the added expense that brings!! Not to mention how good it feels to see the loft becoming much more organised!! I’m also sorting those not-so-perfect items in preparation for a car boot sale, so hopefully the coffers will soon be brimming!!!

So, I’m off now to get out my camera & weighing scales…I’ll probably be online for the whole of the day!! Nathan is off for a sleepover later & Lee is out with ‘Mensa’ all afternoon, so I’ve only myself & Alex to think about…Yay!

Thanks for dropping by & have a great weekend!!  I hope that all of you who are off to ‘Ally Pally’ get some great bargains!! : )

8 comments:

Dawn said...

sounds like you had loads of fun - is the shop worth a visit? Have a fabulous weekend xxx

karen said...

Where is the kitchen sink on that layout?????

Sian said...

Great post Sandi- I love the way you give us a bit of everything! I can't believe that stumbling on scrapbooking nearly 3 years ago now could have taken me down so many different paths. I've learned so much, met so many good people. It still amazes me.

Jennifer Grace said...

Great layout and tag. I'd love to find a crop to go to, I can't drive so it's a bit tricky. One day eh? Glad you're having fun at them! x

debs14 said...

I love the idea of planning a layout around a song title, and your finished page is great, love the colours in your papers.
The story about the fringe made me laugh! Pleased to hear that you are finding new places to go. The crop at Marks Tey is a good one but that may be a bit too far for you to go, think it takes Denise about 45 mins from where she lives.

scrappyjacky said...

Wonderful LO,Sandi....love the brightness of it....goes so well with that photo.
Am doing some ebay listing myself today....have already done the boot sale!

humel said...

Hooray for crafty fiends - and hooray for blog friends, too! xx

Lizzie said...

What a cheery scrap page! Love all the bright colours and the smiley photo.
Sounds as if you're busy with your crops. I don't like to go too far from home and find evenings tricky... However I do go to a local crop, in Oakley. We meet once a month just now - generally on a Sunday, but sometimes on a Saturday - but we also tried a couple of evening meetings, which worked ok. We may do this again after Christmas. Maybe you might be interested, as it's so close? Drop me an e-mail if you want me to tell you when we book the hall for a Saturday or evening - "lizziemade@aol.com"