Blogging about blogging

Okay, so at the beginning ot the easter holidays I said that I was going to dedicate more time to crafting in some form or other and then blogging it. Have I done that? Well about twice. So I've decided to have a think and dip into Shimelle's class, A Year of Blogging, to see where I want my blogging (and crafting) to go.
When I started this blog, I wanted it to be a place where I could show what I had made. But now I've realised that I don't make things often enough to warrant it really. So what do I want from my blog now?
Well, I think it's going to still be a place to share makes, but maybe also a place to share photos I've taken and just some general musings about everyday life.
Do you plan what goes in your blog?
Do you blog for a reason?

So this photo is one that represents me at home. Laptop is on, crafting tools are out and cup of tea ready (My name is Ally and I'm a cup of
tea-aholic and proud).
This is how many an evening starts off once school work and housework is finished (ok, so that's another reason why not much blogging and making goes on - daily life gets in the way. HMPH). Laptop will be on, tea and tools ready ... and then I start surfing! I normally start by looking on UKS and reading the threads on there and once I start clicking I can't stop. Before I know it I've ended up on the Internet somewhere completely different to where I started, time for bed and no making done!! Sound familiar?

I have no doubt that I will still have plenty of evenings that travel along this same path but I am going to try and be a little more focussed.

Note to self - spend any spare time in the evenings being more productive!

So that's enough waffle from me. Let's see if this at least gets me on a more focussed track. Let me know your thoughts and feelings about your blog and why you blog too. I'd love to know (ok so I'm a nosey parker too!).

Ally
xx

Let's start at the very beginning

So obviously I'm quite late starting this but hey ho. Also, knowing the way I work, will I finish it? Well the betting starts now, how far through the alphabet will I get?
So I've started taking a photo with each letter of the alphabet and then doing a digi layout of it. There is a thread over on UKS for the more determined than me, but I shall just plod along in my own merry way.
I don't have a digital camera so I'm using my phone to take each of the pictures (hence the poor quality - or is that just the photographers skills I wonder?).
So I had to start with A for Ally. To be honest I didn't really want to, because, as the journalling says, I have to be THE most unphotogenic person I know. I HATE having my photo taken, but I didn't really have a choice. So there I am, rough and ready, in my slob gear as normal.
I used a template that was on UKS back in January and then used a kit by Shabby Princess called 'Express Yourself.'
Hope you like it
Ally
xx

I've crafted whoop! whoop!

Well here I am and it has been sooooooooo long since I've been here. I'm fully recovered now but found that I had no energy at all once I was back at school. Crafting has had to take a back seat unfortunately, but it's school holidays now so I'm determined not to spend it all working! So here is my digi image. I've used a template by Jessica Sprague and then used a kit by Dawn Inskip called Heart and Soul. As the title says, it's a layout of my mum. I don't see her very often as she lives in Wales but speak to her on the phone quite a bit. So, hopefully I'll be around a bit more over the next 2 weeks. Hope you like the LO. Ally xx

A walk in the woods

Another digi layout from me, and of course it's another one of Henry.
There is a lovely walk near us where we can walk through the woods. Henry just loves it. He goes off scampering and rummaging and chasing the odd squirrel or pigeon (he never catches them though in case you're worried).

This was a rare moment when he sat still while we were out, so we grabbed a quick photo. I've made the page using Crush by Dawn Inskip.
Hope you like it
Ally xx

Love you

As the journalling says, Simon and I aren't into all the squishy love stuff but we know exactly what we mean to each other.

I made this digi layout using a kit designed by Dawn Inskip, called Crush.

Hope you like it.

Ally

xx

Bath time!

I'm really enjoying scrapping digitally. I'll be honest and say that I never thought I would, but it just makes designing your layout so much easier! I thought I'd finished this one, and now I've put it on here, I think I've decided that I want to move the pictures over to the left a bit...
well guess what? ... when I'm ready to, I CAN! That's definately an advantage for me.

So here are the credits,
I based the layout on a scrap map by Sarah (15-21 Jan) shown on Creative craft world.
I've used a kit called Spontaneous Delight by C Stephens and was a free download from Shabby Princess.

As the journalling says, Henry loves water. He'll jump in streams and play in puddles. But when it came to Si and I giving him his first bath, we were just a little bit cautious as to how he would be. We completely emptied the bathroom and Si got in with the shower. He turned it on and Henry couldn't wait to get in with him! (1st photo). He loved having the shampoo on and being rinsed off, even though he did soak us both in the process!
When it came to drying him though, we had a different battle. Henry HATES the hairdryer. He kept barking and snapping at it. It took us ages to dry him off. I think we have to work on that bit.

Hope you like it.
Ally

Snow time

Do you remember back to Decemeber when we had all the snow? Difficult to forget really. I hate the snow, I hate being cold ... but Henry just loved it.
Another digi layout for you but I forgot to note down the kit I used.
Think I'm getting the hang of this digi lark now, I haven't done any proper paper crafting for ages!

Hope you like it
Ally
xx