Plotting and planning (day 6)

As I was walking home from the library yesterday evening I peered through the archways of Somerset House...and I was SO excited to see that the skating rink is open for the Christmas season! It is London's equivalent to the skating rink at the Rockefeller Center in NYC, and it just looked so festive and romantic. Luckily I had my camera with me from the night before (I almost never remember to put it in my bag), so I spent a little while wandering around and enjoying the atmosphere.

I loved seeing couples tentatively edging forward...as others whizzed by and others still stayed as close as physically possible to the barrier! I haven't been ice skating in years (something tells me I'll be the 'clinging to the barrier' type) but I can't wait to book tickets! It is open until 24 January, so if you're local or perhaps planning a day trip to London before Christmas it's definitely something to bear in mind! And, just because I L-O-V-E-D Christmas in New York, I thought I would include a picture of the Rockefeller Center as well:

Over the summer I spied the Belle & Boo Christmas postcards in Paperchase and made a mental note to get some for Christmas layouts/projects. I went in a few weeks ago and they had almost completely run out of the 'Happy Christmas' postcards! Major disappointment followed. After hunting down a member of staff (who I am pretty sure thought I was 100% crazy) and enquiring whether they expected to get any more in, she assured me that they get deliveries every week and that they would be replenished soon. I was not convinced. They had the Belle & Boo Christmas cards upstairs which had a much higher mark-up, so my cynical side assumed that the powers that be had simply decided to take them off the shelves. To cut what could be a very long story short, I popped in yesterday on the off-chance that the postcards might have been restocked...AND THERE THEY WERE!!

I just think that the illustrations are gorgeous - I love the muted colours and the innocence and simplicity of the sketches. I also love the Belle & Boo buttons and Christmas Boo tags...so cute! Definitely check out the Belle & Boo website, Etsy store and blog! I just can't get enough of it...

I want to decorate my teeny tiny craft corner with some creative inspiration, so I also picked up these postcards while I was in Paperchase. I was really inspired by an idea I found via Lushlee via another blog post which I haven't been able to track down (if it was yours, please let me know so I can give you credit!):

Such an inexpensive and inspiring way of making a bulletin board! I was thinking of using some Amy Butler or Cath Kidston fabric...Definitely a project that I can't wait to start in the New Year!

Speaking of which, prompt no. 6 for Blogging for Scrapbookers focused on 'setting goals.' I have imposed a moratorium on all things crafty this month so that I can concentrate on finishing my postgraduate essays due in the middle of December (although I am aiming to get them done by the beginning of the month). Although I spend a lot of time staring wistfully at my scrapbooking supplies, my 'time off' has actually given me some time to think about my hobby and how I want it to 'evolve' over the coming months. I say this because I have been struggling to finish an album that I started over the summer - I just can't get the tone right and I am so frustrated by the lack of coherence and consistency. It is possibly because the memories that I am committing to paper are particularly precious, and I think my standards are unreasonably high as a consequence. But, I have an idea (or several!):

My scrapping resolutions for 2010:

1. I am going to invest in an Americans Crafts 12"x 12" D-ring album and some divided page protectors (with 4" x 6" slots for photos) and finish this album! The page protectors make the organisation and structure more consistent while simplifying the design. A D-ring album allows me to include other bits and pieces which would be difficult to include on a normal layout, such as acceptance letters, essays etc. (this album is supposed to record my 4 years at university).

2. I am going to start scrapping the 'present', as well as the 'past.' I want to get an 8.5" x 11" album (in my mind smaller is more manageable...although I'll probably regret saying this!) and do two layouts a week about what has happened during that week...whether it be something exciting or something unbelievably mundane.

3. I was so inspired by Natalia's beautiful Journal your Christmas ATC spinner in the latest issue of Scrapbook Inspirations. I really love the idea of creating a little spinner full of 'happy things' - little snippets of good news and exciting happenings, for example. It's sort of an embryonic idea at the moment, but I'm excited!

4. Upload my layouts to my blog!

Tonight I am going to an early Thanksgiving dinner, tomorrow evening we are going to see New Moon...and in between I have to write 3000 words. Help. But, if you made it to the bottom of this post, congratulations! It was a little longer than I expected....

Enjoy the weekend!