Happy New Year!

Best wishes to everyone for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012.  We've had a pretty good 2011, as it stands and are blessed to have two happy, healthy and growing sons who are gorgeous!

Thanks to Paul's Mum for a splendid Christmas and Boxing Day.  She goes to so much effort to produce a delicious meal and a beautifully decorated table. 

The boys were very spoiled for presents and received so many.  I have made a concerted effort to write everything down - otherwise it is so easy to forget!

Here is Henry in one of their presents - a lovely snuggly bear hat from Aunty Katrina and Grace.  Lewis decided not to like his indoors - I think he was too hot!

Still, Lewis was in fine form and was smiling and laughing a lot of the time.  I think this is the first time I've managed to get a photo of either of the boys smiling - once my face disappears behind the camera, that's the end of the smile! 

Their present from Paul and I was, amongst other things, these booster chairs/high seats, which attach to normal chairs.  It means that the boys were able to grace us at the Christmas table with their presence - what a lovely addition this year. 

I finally got out from behind the camera to be included in a family photo.  It's turned out quite well, but is a precious memento, whatever the quality. 

And finally - the boys with their paternal grandparents.  Hopefully next year - we might be with their maternal grandparents and keep the trips evenly spaced from one year to another!

Just after this, Lewis grabbed Grandma's earring and was giving it a really good bash.  I think Grandma was very lucky to escape with her ear! 

May you all be happy and have good fortune throughout 2012.

December Scrapology card challenge

This month, the card challenge was set by Chrissy from Merly Impressions. 

My husband and my FIL have birthdays very close together.  The timing of this challenge was perfect with a theme of autumn and leaves.  I often resort to using leaves on masculine cards as I feel they are a very versatile embellishment. 

The above was the card for my husband - my Sizzix dies turned out very useful.  I have bought both the Tim Holtz labels and mini labels die and I also used some ancient alphabet stickers from Chatterbox.  I like the positive and negative images here - a great way of making the stickers stretch further on a budget.  All the leaf images are also from a Tim Holtz Decorative Strips die - Autumn Gatherings.  I used the Basic Grey Granola range of papers for all the leaf shapes.  The background patterned paper was an ancient piece of Jenni Bowlin - great to cut into some of these papers and get them used up!  I used lashings of Tim Holtz distress ink around the edge to add some depth. 

My father-in-law's card was a variation on the theme -

A few more bits and pieces gone from the mountain of stash - now, where can I buy some more time?  If you get some time, why not join with us and having a go at the challenge? 

December Scrapology Layout

I didn't think I would make it this month, but managed to carve out a bit of time close to the deadline to make the December Scrapology challenge.  This month, we scraplifted Pamela Young's layout below. 



This is how I interpreted the scraplift. 



I went with the three photos (albeit of different shapes) and the scalloped circle, so stuck to the main elements on Pamela's layout. 

The background is a very light green Bazzill cardstock, so it doesn't show up too well.  I haven't indulged in too many new scrapbooking products lately, but one thing I couldn't resist was a couple of collections by First Edition, bought to scrapbook the boys as babies.  The papers are so cute, and perfect for baby boys.  The alphabet, journalling block and patterned paper are all from the same range, called "Up Up and Away!"

You can see looking between Pamela's layout and mine that I also interpreted using the mist differently.  Rather than use tissue paper, I misted a border around the edge of the patterned paper.  I used a piece of Crate Paper as a template for the patterned paper, and then drew a border freehand using some white scrap paper to form the border.  The mist is Cosmic Shimmer "Teal Wash" and this mist really does shimmer in real life. 

The journalling spot and motif does glitter too - shame the effect does not show up on the screen.  My journalling reads:

"6 days old - 12th July.  When you were first home from hospital, we were still trying to breastfeed.  However, we were also worried that you weren't getting enough, so we were also feeding you with syringes so you weren't getting confused between breast and bottle.  Looking back almost 5 months, it is hard to believe you were both so small and we were worried about your weights!

Grandma Brierley and Lewis, Grandma Jones and Henry.  Scrapbooked November 2011."

Even though it is a very busy time of year, why not grab some time for yourself and take part in this challenge!  Thanks for stopping by.  :)