Since my birthday is in November and Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books I decided that in November I would read the collection of Jane Austen related books I have. Ones that are either based on Jane Austen’s novels, about her or some way vaguely related to her. (I have quite a few that I’ve been collecting over the last few years and haven’t read).
Wish me luck.
Shanna.
I have lots of blogs on my Google Reader some that I read everyday, others that I read when I have time and others unfortunately when it gets to over 100 blog posts to read I simply mark all as read. (sorry). Recently I have seen more and more about the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. The idea is to rather than buy any of the monthly kit clubs that are out there to use one as inspiration and shop the supplies that you already own to create your own counterfeit kit.
I like this concept of using what you already have (and it seems most people have a large stash) to create. The benefit of kits is that you have supplies all in one place and you have narrowed your options down. I think sometimes it makes things easier when you don’t have to make a choice from ten rather than a hundred pieces of patterned paper.
As a digital scrapbooker the majority of things I buy come as kits, items all gather together for you. In the last year or so I’ve tended to just pick a kit (lately it’s just been from Echo Park before that it was Weeds and Wildflowers) and use only that to make a layout. In past years I was a member of Club Scrap’s Digital monthly kit club and I still get the monthly Scrapgirls kit (not that I use it often since I have been stuck in an Echo Park rut).
However recently I have been thinking more and more about the idea of creating my own Counterfeit kit from the supplies I have. I mean I still love the solid papers from the Club Scrap kits (before they changed kit format), I generally love the bright colours of the Echo Park paper, the whimsical feel of the Weeds and Wildflowers items (of which I have practically everything). So rather than when I want to make a layout I have to search through all my thousands and thousands of items I have basically organised on ACDSee into categories I can pick. I also think I should start using some of the thousand of word art items I have.
Maybe I just need some inspiration.
Shanna
I was going through some of my older digital kits from Club Scrap Digital (I stopped subscribing after they changed the kit format, I liked the fact that you got a digital version of the main kit). I found a kit from one of their retreats called Enchanted (circa 2009). I found the ALSB instructions and made four of the 5 double page layouts which were perfect for some of my pictures from Disney (which I haven’t scrapped despite being back from holiday for over three months).
Shanna
When my sister called yesterday to see if I could make my nephew a newspaper hat, it didn’t take long. But when I took it to him he wanted a proper pirate hat. Give that I’m a digital scrapper I have very few actual supplies but I do have a pad of DCWV cardstock.
After Googling I found this website which gives a pattern and talks you through making a paper pirate hat. Since I didn’t have any brown cardstock I used red and covered it in brown packaging paper and following the instructions I quickly made a pirate. I also made my niece one in pink.
The kids loved them.
Shanna
Today I went to see the new Three Musketeers film with my brother and sister. This is a rare situation even though we all live in the same street.
It’s a good film, a little more steampunk than other versions, it kind of reminded me of the Guy Richie Sherlock Holmes film. A modern twist on a classic.
Unfortunately the end was one of those films that is a set up for a sequel.
But over all. 4/5.
Shanna.
10 things I could dress up as for a Halloween (but won’t)
1. A Gothic Fairy
2. Catwoman
3. Corpse Bride
4. Red Riding Hood
5. Wicked Witch
6. Devil
7. Skeleton
8. Zombie
9. Vampire
10. Pumpkin
Shanna
So yesterday my mum, sister and I went to the Creative Stitches and Hobbycraft fair in Cardiff.
We bought a few things and took part in a make and take.
Afterwards we went shopping. In the arcade is a shop that provides fish pedicures. You basically put your feet in a tank of a special type of carpe and they eat all the dead skin from your feet. I couldn’t bring myself to do it but I did have fun taking pictures and made this layout. (Apparently it feels like minor pins and needles and it definitely makes your feet look and feel better.) So inspired by the August 2 page sketch support sketch I made this layout using the Echo Park Splash collection.
Shanna xx
PS don’t you just love the sign.
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Hex Hall Series by Rachel Hawkins
Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews
Dark Heart Forever by Lee Monroe
Looking For Alaska by John Green
Iron Fey series by Julie Kawaga
Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens
The Boyfriend Thief by Shana Norris
Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost
Allie Beckstrom series by Devon Monk
Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
Forget You by Jennifer Echols
Heat Rises by Richard Castle
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
Epic Fail by Claire LaZebrik
Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
Stray by Rachel Vincent (I'm currently reading the rest of this series)
37 books this month. Not bad. I’m 124 books into my read 200 books this year challenge. (since I didn’t really start until mid year that’s not bad going)
Shanna.
