December Daily: It's All Finished!

It's finished. December Daily 2017 is finally finished. I love this one so much - and I think it's mainly down to the fantastic kit I received in November from The Wild Hare Kits. I took a day of leave to start work on the album in November - and had intended to finish it at the end of December or the start of January, but I've been so ill!

So, it''s a little bare towards the end, where I would normally have been busy visiting friends and family. But, hey, that's life! Now onto spring, I hope!

Wild Hare Kits: December Daily, The Reason Why

My 'The Reason Why' layout for December Daily is finished and I am so very happy with how it turned out. It features lots of lovely die-cuts from (or made with) my latest kit from The Wild Hare Kits.

I have that 'Holiday Joy' feeling every time I look at it! 🎄❤ 🎅

I'll have December Daily foundations to show soon - I seriously love scrapbooking the holidays!

Wild Hare Kits: December Daily Foundations

Is it a little bit nuts that I took some annual leave especially to do my December Daily foundations?

I had a happy little day at home; with my latest kit from The Wild Hare Kits, some Christmas tunes and a lot of biscuits! And it's ready! Here's a little look at the foundations for December Daily 2017.

Wild Hare Kits: November 2017 Kit Reveal

Christmas has officially arrived! It's kit reveal day at The Wild Hare Kits and this time around I asked for a Deluxe Kit that would be suitable for December Daily. And I have not been disappointed!

My kit this month is absolutely chock full of the most amazing stash - and I am so, so excited to make a start on my December Daily album. I've even booked a day off work! 

December Daily Foundations {Counterfeit Kit Challenge}

I've made a start on the foundations of my December Daily album for 2017. All of this has been made with my October Counterfeit Kit 'Shoreside' - which was actually based on a summer kit! Go figure?! 

I love the little details that I was able to add with some mini-dies! 🎄🎅❄ I found a whole selection of them at the local craft store and swept them into my basket with wild abandon! Isn't that tree adorable?

I made a small selection of envelopes, because I love to add them into my album - with extra little notes, souvenirs, and ephemera. Some I'll add in the Pocket Pages, others I'll add in as they are, for a little bit of extra detail.

Finally, I've added a little bit of sparkle, because I don't seem able to make anything without adding a stickle or sequin! I'm now so excited to continue building the foundations of my album for 2017. December Daily is truly one of my favourite annual projects!

The Expectation of Christmas Future {A Counterfeit Christmas Carol}

My last task for our 'Counterfeit Christmas Carol' is to share a little about my creative wishes for the next twelve months. Well, 2016 has been a little bit of a whirlwind. I've been busier than ever at work; commuting; looking for a new home; and steadily building business in my little etsy store, Obstinate Pursuit. 

Unfortunately, it looks as though 2017 could be even more hectic. I'll be moving home (but the conveyancing is taking so long that it might be 2018 before I'm actually in the new house) and, hopefully, we'll be selling two houses! And, of course, there's still work. *sigh* Wouldn't it be amazing if we were all able to stay at home and create all day, without worrying about how to pay for all of our supplies? 

So Much To Do!

It's tempting to 'simplify' by reducing the time I spend on scrapbooking and beading, but I know that it's when we're most busy that we need time to ourselves. 

Week In The Life 2015

So, I'm keeping my scrapbooking wishes for 2017 fairly simple and am hoping that, in twelve month's time ...

• I will have started and finished my Week In The Life albums from 2015 and 2016. (Is hoping that I'll have completed 2017 as well a little too much to hope for?)
• I will have completed twelve months of working with my One Little Word.
• I will have made three mini-albums 'Portsmouth', 'Summer' and 'London' from photographs that I haven't even had printed (all of which are from 2015 and 2016.) 
• And, of course, that I will be looking back at a full year of counterfeiting with the amazing Master Forgers!

I think that's more than enough to start with, right? Please let me know if you have any of your own scrapbooking/creative wishes for 2017. I'd love to know!

Followers of Christmas Present {A Counterfeit Christmas Carol}

Over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge, we've been busy, high-lighting some of the 'Followers of Christmas Present', showing a little love to the wonderful followers (who are like an extended family, really) who help to make the Counterfeit Kit Challenge such an amazing venture. We love and value each and every one of you! 

Joyce's August 2016 Counterfeit Kit

Today, I am thrilled to introduce the 'Queen of Collage', the lovely Joyce Rodli. The Counterfeit Kit Challenge was but a idea in the minds of our founders, Bethany and Meridy, when I first 'met' Joyce on Flickr. (Back when Blogger was 'the bomb' and Hambly Screen Prints were 'in'. So, so, long ago!)

Some of Joyce's Amazing Mixed Media Projects!

Somehow we lost touch. (When I was locked out of my Flickr Account, I lost more than my images. Yeah, thanks for nothing Yahoo!) But, amazingly, Joyce started following the Counterfeit Kit Challenge and I found her on Instagram (@able2rejoyce) via our hashtag #counterfeitkitchallenge. I was so, so happy to find my long lost friend!

So, here's to Joyce. I hope we'll see more of you in 2017! x

Memories of Christmas Past {A Counterfeit Christmas Carol}

Hello! Happy, Happy Holidays! Today, I'm over on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge sharing some of my memories of Christmas Past and what better than to share some a selection box and some Christmas leftovers?

Our kits for Christmas Past were meant to be small and easy to use - ideal for creating at such a hectic time. So, I returned to my selection box (well, files) of leftovers from my Counterfeit Kits. You can read more about how I store them in Keeping Kits (Plan With Me)

Having stashed away the remainder of my Document December Kit from 2015, it felt fantastic to haul it out and, after all that time tucked away, it felt fresh and exciting!

I cut two of the remaining cardstock pieces down to 6x8; layered up some of the scraps in a fairly simple fashion; then added some random photographs from my 'winter' stash of untold stories.

Once the images were on, I added a few final touches with some washi, embellishments and a little bit of stamping. I stuck with the same basic layout, as these little lovelies won't be next to each other in my albums. Starting with the supplies and a basic layout is a fantastic way to create more quickly, because you aren't lost in how best to tell the story.Just stick, stamp, scrap - and volia!

I'm thrilled to have final documented these small stories at last. And I might even add to them before the end of 2016. You see, there's still a wee bit of that kit left!

A Counterfeit Kit Challenge Christmas Carol

So, it's a new month. That usually means that it's time for a new inspiration kit over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge, but true to form, we're shaking it up a little for December and this month, we're bringing you A Counterfeit Kit Challenge Christmas Carol!

Sneak Peek: One of My Projects for December

Each of the Master Forgers will be sharing three posts, during the month of December - The Memories of Christmas Past; The Followers of Christmas Present and The Expectation of Christmas Future. Head on over to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge for an explanation! It's fantastic!