Tuesday 7 December 2010

Journal Your Christmas: Getting Going

We're at the end of the first week already! I have three more pages to show you today and, as the snow has finally reached us and I'm looking out at a carpet of white, I think I'll be staying inside and working ahead this morning.


Last year I chose 8x8 and I enjoyed its neat size. This year I decided on 8.5x11 and I'm finding it more of a challenge (I thought I would like it as much as the 6x12 pages I made earlier this year here). It's hard to get going, you know? But I'm determined to keep it up. I wanted to include more writing this time round and this size does offer nicely shaped spaces for journaling. I pulled down the one copy of Simple Scrapbooks magazine I bought before it folded, and I have been browsing that for ideas. Why did it have to go? If anyone is clearing out any old copies - please, ask me to make you an offer!


Maybe what is really sticking me, though, is my determination not to buy any new supplies. I really wanted to make a dent in what I have, so I sorted out some Basic Grey "Nook and Pantry" and hoped I could make it stretch. It's the bright, clear colours I'm enjoying and I don't want to dilute them with too many added extras. But maybe a small shopping trip might be in order, Just a very small one..


If you haven't already had a browse through all the Christmas Club stories this week, why not grab a mince pie or two and have a read? I love them all!


30 comments:

Amy said...

You could not pay me enough to part with my Simple mags - I found my first one by chance about one month after I started scrapping and thus started my constant search for the mag in Australia - eventually I suscribed only to have the magazine fold after another year or so ... so, sorry, no deal here! Many of the Simple girls can now be found through ella and write, click scrapbook and most of them have personal blogs.

I used the 8.5x11 format last year and really liked it - my album was hybrid and I used a lot of templates/sketches to take the worry out of the whole design process. A little shopping may just get you in the mood for that extra burst of creativity that is needed in order to keep up the crafty/scrapping spirit!

JO SOWERBY said...

i am using a mixture of old and new stash so i'm with you there. i've never seen simple scrapbook mag but i'm sure u'll find loads of tempting things to try out or go to tim's blog and see his tags, there's always loads of gr8 ideas floating around there,
Jo xxx

Cheryl said...

lovely colours again. it is so hard to fight against the (any) industry and not buy any new supplies, though. let us know how you get on and what your targets are! x

Anonymous said...

Sorry - I won't part with any SS magazines either, I still bemoan their disappearance :(

My favourite size is 8.5 x 11, I've been scrapping that size for a long time now - I don't see where you're struggling though, your LOs look super to me! And well done for journalling your Christmas, maybe I'll get round to that next year?!

laurie said...

beautiful pages! i like the idea of just using what i have (and i have so much!) but i always seem to find a need to go to the store for something extra. :-)

Cheri said...

I have several JYC pages in various stages of completion, but nothing to post yet, so you are ahead of me! And I made the huge mistake of tossing several years worth of SS right before they announced their demise. I was a charter subscriber and had every issue! I now proudly own the last two or so years worth and it would the the last thing in my scrap room I would be willing to part with!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Quite frankly, Sian, I'm surprised to hear that you are feeling challenged with any scrapbook project! Here I thought that all this craftiness just naturally oozed out of you! ;o) What you've done so far is lovely, and I have no doubt the rest of it will be fabulous too!!! xo

Jimjams said...

Oooh lovely pages - a good start. Funny how different pages sizes cause us problems, but it's always good to try new things!
I am slipping behind again but hoping that my simple format will allow me to keep up.

Melissa said...

I really like the way your pages are turning out. I did an album last December and used 8 1/2 x 11. I prescrapped all my pages the same so I just had to add photos and journling each day. I enjoyed it because it was different from the 12x12s I'd been making most of the year. I really like all the different borders you're using across the pages.

Lisa said...

Hi there - thanks for dropping by my blog and for leaving a supportive comment! I love getting new visitors.

No joy on the SS from me either - I hold onto my collection of copies (and x special issues) as if they were the Holy Grail LOL!

I think your Christmas journal looks great - I haven't done much 8.5x11 but I too found it really tricky. But from what I have seen of yours, it's looking great. I love the idea of Nook and Pantry - would never have thought to use that! It looks great. I adore that green paper for number 4.

I'll be dropping by again!

alexa said...

Here's another who will not be parting permanently with the few Simple Scrapbook mags she has! But am happy to lend you some if you'd like :). I love your pages and particularly the sentiment in the Count one. My family laughed at me a few years ago when I said the bubble would inevitably burst, and Thrifty, Frugal and Austere would be the New Cool. Wish I'd put a bet on it now! Using stuff up seems like a good plan, and looking forward to seeing what you do next.

scrappyjacky said...

I'm trying not to buy anything new for my journal as well....though mine is very small....and,for me, very minimalist.
Yours is looking wonderful so far....I particularly love your 'perfection' page.
I've used 8.5 x 11 a couple of times now....and love the size....big enough to get plenty on....but so much quicker to do than 12 x 12

Curlywiggles said...

Great JYC so far, I really like the colours and all the graph papers you've used.

SS was great wasn't it?! I love to keep it simple. I've got about 5 copies that I can part with if you want them? They are quite old but still inspirational. I'm happy to pass them on if you're prepared to pay the postage for them? e-mail me if you want them.

Rhona said...

I'm quite glad I'm keeping mine really simple this year, and mainly digital. If I hadn't, I don't think I'd have completed anything this month. The pages you've done so far are lovely and I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of them.

Anonymous said...

Really nice pages! Snow sounds like a perfect reason to stay in & scrapbook! :) I'm just putting together Day 2, though some of Day 4 is done, lol.

Ruth said...

The 8.5x11 is a great size ~ your pages look fab! And I'm another who bemoans the demise of Simple Scrapbooks.

Micayla said...

I only brought a few bits. I knew I had loads left from last year including a full range embellies and all untouched!!
I am loving your pages Sian, I always do and you provide me with loads of inspiration. I love popping by and saying hello.
xx

Scrappi Sandi said...

I'm loving with what you've done with JYC so far!! Hope your mojo comes back with a vengeance soon...it'll be some small thing that fires you up & gets you moving!!

Liberty :) said...

these are lovely sian!!! i know what you mean, sometimes i find 12 x 12 soooo big! i do love 8.5 x 11 its one of my favourites. 6 x 12 feels a bit long and skinny for my liking! If you look on twopeas, you can search the member gallery by page size which is handy for layouts! Im just making up my 8x8 as I go along - very badly!!!!

Jana said...

Your pages are lovely. Enjoy this size and embrace the "white" space.

Maria Ontiveros said...

I loved that magazine, too, which is funny b/c I'm not really a "simple" kindof gal. Still, there was something in each issue that really called to me. I'm afraid I sold mine in a long ago purge.
I do think it takes a while to get the journal going. I'm afraid mine is becoming a bit more of a December Daily than a JYC, but that's okay. I'm still enjoying it.
Rinda

Cal said...

Considering you are finding the size a challenge you really can't tell from looking at the pages! They are lovely!! Looking forward to seeing more!

Jenna Upson said...

Def keep going Sian, your pages look amazing! I love the patterned paper on day 4! x

Kristin said...

I think you have met the new page size with perfection, I love the lo's. It's funny how such a small thing can make us feel a little off about a project :) Yours look great though, TFS :)

Michelle said...

What a lovely pages! Great job!

Ann Freeman (mafswife) said...

Love you JYC pages x fab style that I just can't pull of myself, I am too random but they are a pleasure to look at

Cheryl said...

no sorry no parting here either I love my ss magazines and refer to them all the time. Good luck with not buying any more stash that is my downfall so what I do now is I am subscribed to a couple of subscription kits and I use them and vow not to buyu any more supplie well a girl ccan dream x

Lou said...

Your christmas journal is coming along nicely. I find the 8 X 11 size hard going too, but it will all come together and you'll be so happy when you've finished it xx

Genevieve said...

Your Christmas album is just fabulous...such a good idea to use up your stash! I bought the last of Simple Scrapbooks and loved it - so full of inspiration. I can't wait to see some more pages! Oh, and I definitely think you should treat yourself with a wee shopping trip!

Rachel Brett said...

Fab pages Sian, I am using 8.5x11 too and so far I love it! :)

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