Challenge #186 week of 28th September 2015

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

Even though I live in Germany, I still stay connected to "home" in various ways - including heading over to the BBC website (BBC.co.uk) on a more than regular basis. I have to admit that I really miss the BBC and all the amazing tv shows and series they produce.

So, I was thrilled last week when I saw that my very favourite version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was celebrating its 20th anniversary. You can read the article and see "that" scene here (Pride & Prejudice at 20). Oh my! I have this particular BBC version on DVD and must have watched it a dozen times or more. In fact, it might be time to watch it again even though I can practically talk along with them.

There's something very special about this adaptation - make sure you read the article to find out all about it if you're not familiar with it - and Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle made the perfect Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. *sigh*

So of course, this week I'd like you to be inspired by Pride & Prejudice.

Have you read it? Is it your favourite book? Have you seen this television adaptation or maybe one of the films? Do you like period costume dramas? Do you have a "thing" for Colin Firth? What about the fashions, architecture or era featured? I think there are various directions you could take for this prompt and I really think this might be a chance for me to go romantic.

It would be wonderful to see your creations over at the Whimsical Musings Flickr gallery with the tag WM#186.

Challenge #185 week of 21st September 2015

I was looking through a very old album recently - the giant 12x12 set of pages I created for our Nova Scotia holiday back in 2006. The style is pretty dated and of course, I'd do it totally differently today but I love it all the same - there are beautiful photos, heartfelt journalling and so many memories locked in those pages.

It was interesting to see how I'd included some of the memorabilia of the holiday as design techniques and was reminded of this when I pinned this beautiful card below by Julia Stainton for MFT.

Looks to me like some things haven't gone out of style in all those years so this week, I'd like you to be inspired by shaker-box elements.

Here's that original home-made element! Basic but I was so proud of achieving this! Remember that I made this a long time ago!

While not strictly, shaker-boxes, these could also be interpreted as a shaker-style element. 

And I know that I have a little clear pocket element filled with shaker-bits and pieces on a layout but can I find it? Of course not! If I come across it, I'll add it in!

Anyway, if you are inspired to create this week, please don't forget to link up your project in our Whimsical Musings Flickr gallery with the tag WM#185. We'd love to see what you make!

Challenge #184 week of 14th September 2015

I thought it was time to give us a sketch to use as it's been quite some months since we did that.

However, I was really disappointed to see that Creative Scrappers has closed their sketch doors. This was definitely one of my favourite places to go for sketch ideas - as well as Citrus Twist - as I think the designs that Kristine came up with were often very original and the DT was awesome.

So, I've decided to link up their last sketch #286 for us to be inspired by today.

I particularly love the strips of paper and how this can be interpreted in many ways - pp, journalling strips, layers, washi, banners, rows of die cuts etc. The blog post for this reveal has many different takes as well in case you'd like to take a peek at how others have used this design in so many creative ways.

Adding this to my must do list this week.

As always, we love it when you link up your creations over at our Whimsical Musings Flickr gallery and don't forget to tag your upload with WM#184. See you there!

Challenge #183 week of 7th September 2015

Sometimes I like to look up if there is anything weird or wonderful being celebrated around the world at the moment that we could use as a prompt and I have to say, I came up with a good one today.

Wednesday 9th September is National Teddy Bear Day! Well, in the US anyway. I'm not sure if it's celebrated anywhere else but hey, it's good enough for me.

So this week, I'd like you to be inspired by teddy bears.

I found some information about this "special" day here and here but I don't think you really need any reason to celebrate those special toys in your collection. I love teddies and have quite a grouping - what's the collective noun for them? A cuddle of teddies perhaps? Some of my bear family, and many are not bears at all to be honest, are really quite old and some of them far younger but loved all the same.

Over the years, I've done one or two layouts and almost feel bound to redo both of these that I tracked down as I have so much more to say and a better layout design to make! But I will try not to and just find another soft companion in my life to say something about. In fact, having found that second layout in an album, and seeing how little I wrote, I may well just leave it out and get more journalling written up right now!

I know you can find a way to scrap a page about a special teddy - whether it's your own, a family heirloom or your kids' favourites. One that is a constant travelling companion perhaps or even sadly, one that got lost (yes, I experienced that trauma as an adult). Go soft and cuddly today and record that special friend.

We would really love to see your creations over at our Whimsical Musings Flickr gallery here with the tag WM#183.