Wrapping up 2020 in stats

This year has come to an end much like any others but with a few added twists... like being back in Lockdown Level 3 for New Year's. Well one of the benefits of the Covid-19 lockdown is being able to stay home without feeling guilty. I've managed to get tons done this holiday season too which makes me feel accomplished.

Over the last few weeks I've sewed new lounge, diningroom and bedroom curtains, as well as made 4 blouses, altered a dress into a t-shirt and made 2 pairs of pants.

This year held lots of other achievements too for me as well as the family:

Aaron got his matric results in January and though it wasn't the results we were hoping for, it's been a blessing having him home all year. He started on his journey to become a pilot and has been flying every month since June (at least once a month). He has built up 14.8 hours so far. Also, he has been learning to drive this year... hopefully will get his license within the next month.

Keith had a good year I think. He spent the full lockdown at home (6 weeks) but went back to work fulltime in May. He has thankfully stayed healthy (besides a 24hour sinus infection in June) and hasn't really been affected by the Covid pandemic. A few work colleagues  did get the virus but they were quick on isolating them and warning the staff. He finished the year with lots of pottering around in the garden over this holiday.

For me workwise I worked from home throughout the full lockdown and from May was only going in to work one day a week. In September we went back fulltime. We've had a few cases at work too. The office got closed for the day for thorough cleaning and once safe we returned. I also had that same infection Keith had back in June and spent the weekend feeling sick... stayed away from everyone! To keep myself sane throughout the year I've tackled quite a few of my usual crafts and also read lots. Here's just a few of my stats:

Books read: 48 - I made my Goodreads reading challenge goal for the year.

Paper layouts scrapped: 12 single & 4 double = 20 pages

Digital pages scrapped: 411 single & 6 double = 423 pages

For the first year EVER I reached my goal of a page a day.... and actually exceed it too! I scrapped a total of 433 layouts this year which equates to 443 pages! So very pleased. Guess doing digital scrapping has a great benefit! I definitely won't be printing all those pages, only a select few once my books are done.

I have been on 6 different digital design teams this year... these have accounted for lots of the layouts I made this year. A big thank you to each of the ladies who took a chance on this novice and had me on their team.

And so as 2020 comes to an end, I wish for you and yours a peaceful New Year's celebration and all the joys of being with family throughout the next year. God bless you and keep you. May He lead you on the new path that lies ahead.

Dandelion Dust Design - StepxStep Dec2020

 I have been wanting to do this challenge since the middle of the month when it was posted but just never got there. Today is the last day to submit so squeaking in with my layout done.... my last creation for 2020.

I have really enjoyed doing these step x step challenges... 

a. I've used kits I might not have

b. They're quick and easy

So hopefully there will be a few more of these next year too.

Finishing off my paper scrapping

 I've been saying it for the last year at least, I've run out of shelf space to store my paper layouts hence why I switched to digital scrapping this year. But that doesn't mean that my paper layouts were all done yet... I still had a few needing to be finished to complete my last few albums for 2015 and 2016.

I've spent the last few weeks of this year finishing off these albums and getting things organised. Now I can share the last few pages:

and for my 2016 album I've done the last three layouts too but still need the photos printed. I will only be able to do this in the New Year as the photo shop got hit with Covid-19 and is closed till then.

I also finished a few layouts in September when I was on leave but just realised I never actually shared them.  I actually hadn't even photographed them before filing so had to get them out the album to do that.

These three (2014-2016) albums are now complete. I did go through my whole catalog from 2001  up to 2016 and found a few more layouts that still need doing so as much as I thought my paper scrapping days were done, it looks like I might be carrying on for a few more. I think there are 4 outstanding unless I discover a few more in my hunt for photos.

Once these last few are finished I will sort our my huge stash and sell off bits of it. I think I will keep some well loved bit that I am sure I will turn to when I feel like playing again.

Just some fun stats - I have now created 2367 paper layouts since I started scrapping back in 2003.... no wonder I've run out of space!!!

Gingerscraps - December challenges

 Another jam packed full month of challenges done for Gingerscraps. I have taken my time working through these this month as I had lots of other things I wanted to get done besides scrapping... yes I do have other hobbies too (like sewing!)

I started strong at the beginning of the month and did a few layouts quickly, then finally tackled the last seven in this last week.

1. Font - my layout for JBS Tribe 14 challenge

2. Buffet - my layout for JBS Tribe 8 challenge

3. Scraplift

4. Brush

5. Wordart

6. Minikit

7. Connie Prince

8. Designer

Template

Colour

So with these done I think I am scrapped out for the year! Will post about my stats in another post this week and then get prepared for another full year of scrapping in 2021.

PixelScrapper - why it's a great place to join

I was approached by PixelScrapper at the beginning of the month to write an article about them and my digi scrapping as a way to help prompt the website. I feel honoured that I have been given this opportunity and hopefully you will come and join in the fun too. 

I've been a member at PixelScrapper for more than a year now (I think I found the site in the middle of 2019). It's a great resource for digital scrapping ... full of daily downloads and also monthly challenges. I try to take part in the wonderful challenges but there are months when I just don't get there. However at any stage you can dive in and take part in a challenge or two. They've even started a reward system now of getting extra downloads if you do 8 or more monthly challenges in any given month.

I have labelled my previous posts with the tag DigiScrapping:PixelScrappers if you want to see my layouts that I made for previous challenges.

The daily downloads are definitely a plus in building up my stash and allowing me to choose the items I want to scrap with. There are all sorts of elements, papers, wordarts, inky bits, templates and more to download. Every day you get 5 download credits to use for that day. Now and then there are even special days when you get added bonuses and can download a kit. The subscription services is another great feature... with this you get unlimited downloads. Mainly due to the exchange rate I haven't yet done the subscription, but it might very well become an option for me sometime in the future. There are monthly and yearly options to the subscription service.

So if you are wanting to know more about digital scrapping, PixelScrappers actually have a wonderful article all about the world of Digital Scraps. This will give you more insight into the hobby as well as links to various sites around the web to help you get started. You can also browse around the graphics, kits and commons areas to pick and choose things to download. The forum is a helpful place to start with lots of tutorials, tips and the monthly bloghop list too. The nice thing about the gallery is that you can post any layout there, you don't only have to use PixelScrapper goodies in your work. This makes completing the challenges even easier.

Now you might be wondering why I have switched to digital scrapping. Well for a number of reasons really:

1. I ran out of shelf space for all my paper layouts.

2. I can't stop scrapping as it's a great stress reliever and so digital made sense.

3. With Digital Scrapping I can scrap on the go - I scrap on a tablet using PixelLab and can take it with me wherever I go... I am not bound to a desk

4. There is no mess with digi scrapping... hehehe. This is definitely a plus as I don't have to tidy up. I can just close my tablet and call it a day! 

5. Yes I do miss playing with ink and doing lots of techniques, but I have learnt how to incorporate some of these in my digi layouts now too. I am keeping very close to my same style of scrapping just with a few adjustments.

6. Printing a book for the year plus any kits that I buy does add up but when I look at how much I spent on paper scrapping it's about the same cost. There isn't must difference in the budget department! 

7. The huge plus however is that I get a LOT more in a digi kit for the same or less than a paper kit cost, plus I get to keep the goodies forever and can use them over and over and over again... oh and I never run out of e's in my alphabet stickers.... hehehehe.

8. I can also scrap photos over and over again using different kits everytime until I eventually decide that it's time to print. If I don't want to print a layout I don't have to... but it is a memory scrapped.

These are just some of the reasons why I digi scrap... there are lots more and I guess if you've made it this far and want to know more, you are welcome to drop me a comment.

Be sure to check out PixelScrapper for lots of fun goodies.

Merry Christmas to all

Christmas this year has arrived amidst the pandemic, the shopping frenzy that never stops and all the chaos of our lives. Whatever your Christmas holds this year, I wish you peace, health, happiness and lots of laughter. May you know the Christ Child in your hearts and hold Him close throughout the year.

From me and mine to you and yours, I wish you a Merry Christmas.

NiniGoesDigi - Tsubaki {Camellia} kit

Today is the last day of the 12 days of Christmas and Nini has a lovely kit on offer called Tsubaki {Camellia}. A beautiful kit for some lovely photos of our flowers.

Check out the sale section at The Digital Press.

The Digital Press - December Challenges

 I love doing the challenges at The Digital Press (I think I've said this every time I post about it...hehehe). This month there are 3 different challenges:

Dawn By Design - create a layout where all photos and embellishments meet along a line of two papers... I chose a sketch where this happens twice... hehehe

Dunia Designs - something Christmas themed

GoneDigital Design and NiniGoesDigi teamed up on a template challenge

I mainly used GDD goodies on my layout so decided to do another one with NGD stash as well... just to spread the love around.

These were lots of fun to do... till next month again.

Edited 12 Jan 2021 - I found out I won the random draw for Dunia Design's challenge... scored me a free kit!

NiniGoesDigi - Noël Noël Kit

Another kit on special for today only at The Digital Press's 12 days of Christmas... this one from NiniGoesDigi is called Noel Noel... a perfect Christmas kit.

Check out the sale section at The Digital Press.

NiniGoesDigi - Wrapping Frenzy

 It's been a wonderful few days of the 12 Days of Christmas... I've enjoyed browsing the sale category to spy what's on sale each day... drooling more like! hehe. Today's offering by NiniGoesDigi is perfect for those last few frantic minutes on Christmas Eve... a real wrapping frenzy.

Check out the sale category at The Digital Press for lots more on offer.

NiniGoesDigi - Peace of Mind

 Wow there have been some awesome kits on sale every day this week for the 12 Days of Christmas sale at The Digital Press... here's  today's offering by NiniGoesDigi - it's called Peace of Mind

Check out the sale section at The Digital Press for lots more specials

GoneDigital Designs - December Monthly

 It's release day at the Digital Press and Shannel has a beautiful kit available today called December Monthly.

I used an old Pagemaps sketch for my layout which showcases lots of the papers.... I also decided to keep with a fairly monochromatic theme for this page with jut the smallest touches of red.

Be sure to check out this kit in store where it will be on special all weekend. (Don't forget about the $2 for 12 days of Christmas either).

NiniGoesDigi - There's Snowbody Like You

 Are you getting your hands on the 12 Days of Christmas sale items? Check out today's cute kit called There's Snowbody Like You

I did this as a scraplift off a layout I saw on pinterest... the perfect jumping off point for scrapping (besides sketches that is!).

Look in the sale section at The Digital Press for this kit and more on sale.

NiniGoesDigi - Memorable Moments - December

Today starts a special sale at The Digital Press - 12 days of Christmas with one kit each day at $2 and Nini has a great kit on sale today only called Memorable Moments: December

If you can see I tried a little technique on my photos... turned them black & white but left the tree in colour.... just for a little effect and something different.

Check out the sale section at The Digital Press.

There will be different products on sale each day till the 19th... so remember to check it out. I will be playing with a few of them (but not all)

Just Because Studio - Tribe challenges

 The JBS Tribe has challenges on the facebook group every few weeks... The last challenge ends today for Tribe Challenge 14

I created this page for the challenge using the newest kit that I bought during the black friday sale. I've also used this for the font challenge at Gingerscraps.

As this was the last challenge and many of the participants hadn't managed to do all the challenges, we've got the opportunity to do some that we missed so that we can still get to 10 for the year and earn a free kit... well up to now I had done seven within deadline and needed to do another 3. I've spent the weekend doing the last few:

Tribe #08

Tribe #06

Also entered this one for the Dec buffet challenge at Gingerscraps

and lastly this one:

Tribe #03

So good to get these done... next year there will be more challenge and more freebies on offer.... yippee!

The Lillypad - December Challenges

I took part in the Make It Snappy challenge from Scrapping with Liz this weekend and made this cute layout.

I have missed out on doing this challenge the last few months as I kept forgetting it was on (first weekend of the month). Hopefully next year I will be more diligent and get to do a few more.

Rachel Etrog - December Stories

 It's release day at The Digital Press and Rachel has her monthly kit December Stories available today... it's a great kit for all things December, not just Christmas, though that is what I scrapped.

Check out this beautiful kit in store as part of the Special Edition and it is on special for the weekend.

NiniGoesDigi - Reduce Reuse Recycle Repeat

Today is the first of the Publisher's Picks for this month... each week there will be a new selection of kits on sale. This kit from NiniGoesDigi is lots of fun for all sorts of layouts. I used it for photos of one of Aaron's school projects he had to do last year.

Check out the Publisher's Pick section at The Digital Press.

The Digital Press - 6th birthday celebration

 The Digital Press turned 6 this weekend. They were one of the first sites I joined in on doing stuff... I won a few prizes in last year's birthday bash and have a vague memory of checking out the 4th birthday celebration before I actually played along in the National Scrapbook Day last year. This site has been one of my favourite places to hang out and of course I am on the design team for two of the designers (GoneDigital Designs and Rachel Etrog) and guest for two others (Dunia  Designs and NiniGoesDigi).

There are lots of games as well as challenges going on in the forum for the 6th birthday celebration. Here are the layouts I've created:

6 feet apart

6 pics

Straight Six

6 feet under

Six of everything

Mix Six

It's been a busy few days creating layout but I really do enjoy these challenges. So glad I got to play along.

Update 5 Dec 2020:

Look there is my name... not once but twice!!! I get prizes... hehehe...this is so cool. The sad part was that there weren't that many people playing along and doing the challenges. Every time I logged in all I saw was my name next to each post.... over enthusiastic achiever! Oh well at least it earned me stash!