New Shoes

Did that get your attention - New Shoes?

I know most women LOVE buying shoes and cannot get enough. But I'm not one of them. I've never had more that four pairs of shoes at once in my life! One pair for summer, a pair of winter boots, a black pair for 'dressy' occasions and a pair for work.

Today's shopping expedition was for work shoes. I wear work shoes until they fall apart  and the ones I had were hurting my feet. Reluctantly therefore I had to replace them.

I like Clarks shoes for work as they last me years and years (saving me the angst of looking for more) and I usually buy in the Sales. I nearly fainted when I heard the price today! These had better last until I retire!

I have nothing against shoes you understand - I just hate The Buying Ritual. There's the trial of finding a style I like, then asking a bored-looking shop assistant to see if they have my size. There's the compulsory parade up and down the shop, lifting  my trousers to see how they look, while other shoppers' husbands watch the whole process with far-away expressions on their faces! Unfortunately I have short legs and thick ankles and no shoes ever made them appear otherwise. Shoes are just a necessity to me.

I wonder if I'm alone in this attitude. Are you a shoe lover with a pair in every colour and heel height? Or is shoe-shopping a necessary evil? Who hasn't ever chosen a pair in the shop then regretted buying them once you got them home?

WOYWW

I'm cheating a little in order to take part in WOYWW this week! This is my desk last Saturday before I packed everything away into my cupboard!

I had just finished my entry for a challenge and on the desk are papers from Hot Off The Press 'Vintage', my faithful paper guillotine, and a box where I store my distress inkpads. And yes, it was a very nice cup of tea, thanks, but the mug's empty here!

For once there's not one stamp to be seen. Unusual for me, as I really enjoy stamping and rarely have a crafting session without using a stamp on something! If you were wondering why there's a pot of embossing paste on the table - it's just the right size to draw around for a paper circle I needed!

Now I'm off to look at everyone else's desks. Maybe I can pinch a few storage ideas!

School Folder Layout

I've used Karen's school photo on this layout and made the scrapbook page into a file/folder to keep her school reports and exam results in. Don't know about you but I'm completely hopeless at remembering which daughter got what grade in which subject! This way I hope to have a permanent record to help my failing memory.

I used two sheets of  Junkitz card to create the folder, cutting out a tabbed top to the front page. The folder opens up as shown below for me to place pages in or any other keepsake I come across to do with her schooldays. Infact, typing this, I've just remembered I have a couple of newspaper clippings with her on which could go in here!

To make the folder, score the front piece of card half an inch from the bottom and fold it under the back part of the folder when you secure it to the page so that it doesn't show.The front sheet needs a second scoreline at the bottom to allow space to put  items into the folder without it bulging too much.

I have to confess this is not a new layout for me. I have made it once before, for my own schooldays, and to keep some of my old school reports in for future generations to read.

Apparently I had 'an adult head on young shoulders' according to my primary school Headmaster, Mr Morgan!

Obviously, this is my school photo, but I won't tell you which child is me! When I did this layout a couple of years ago I tried to write in the handwriting I was taught (with pen and ink) at Primary School. I certainly haven't the patience to write like that these days! Too many curls and flourishes.

I used white ink on black paper to echo the chalk and blackboard method of teaching I had back then.

And I did remember long ago to write the date on the back of this photo, along with the names of all the pupils, but surprisingly, I can remember them all anyway. Strange that!

Growing Up: A Layout for Photos Without Dates

I have said before that there are very few old photos left to scrap of my two daughters. Most are safely in scrapbook albums. The few I have left are oftentimes without a date and there's no way I can remember when they were taken! This poses a problem, but I've made this layout with chronological photos of Jenni, showing her growing up. No specific date on the page was necessary and no journaling either.

A rather clean, graphic look for me. And white space on a layout of mine? Lordy!

Home Layout

This layout today gave me a couple of problems. I needed to get a whole series of photos onto the page to tell the story, so I had to cut some of them down in size. I arranged them into a sort of square and backed them onto Jenni's favourite colour purple, HOTP Vintage range, but then found they were lost on the page. So I mounted the whole square onto white to give it a lift.

Then I wanted a very large title but had little choice and nothing the right colour (isn't that always the way?) so I used some pink patterned stickers and covered them with Adirondack Cranberry ink - the pattern still shows through but is muted now. I backed them onto white to echo the large square of photos and make them stand out enough on the page. A few rub-ons and embellishments to finish.

Now I have a record of Jenni and Tom's first home together - but when Jenni sees this she'll complain I always snap her eating! Well, if the shoe fits?!!! Just joking! They have a tiny bedsit to cram everything into but they can't afford anything larger as they're now both students. However, they seem to like living together in windy Worthing, and that's what counts!