Dear Reader

Here's another project I finished a couple of weeks ago. Yes, it's another Laura Dennison design. I think I'm becoming a groupie! I just love Laura's designs. I've put her blinkie on the sidebar so check her out. I know I've lauded her designs on this blog before but they're so cleverly put together that they're a joy to craft. And they always work out. They are to crafting what Delia Smith is to cooking! Years ago when I used to cook lol and I wanted to try something new but really needed it to turn out ok as others were eating it too I always turned to Delia. And she was never found wanting and we were never found hungry. Apart from the time I added two tablespoons of cayenne pepper instead of paprika to the Hungarian Goulash. Wow - that made everyone blink a bit. I digress.

This project followed the "Pocket Full of Memories" design. There's room for lots of photos and journalling mats and for a Christmas version see Tracey's lovely and beautifully crafted 'Days of Christmas' minibook on her blog. I think this design lends itself to lots of uses. In my case I've made it as a Christmas present for my daughter's Australian housemate called Ebony who we've all taken to. I thought she might like a book to record some memories from her trip. She's never seen much snow before - there was some, she said, on the top of mountains a three hour drive away from her house in Australia - and her wonder at the snowstorm we experienced on the drive back from Leeds a couple of weeks ago was so funny. Every couple of miles I'd hear from the backseat in a beautiful Australian accent "Holy Moley". She told me her mum had lived in England until her grandparents emigrated when she was six. Her mum had told her about the roasted chestnuts she used to eat at Christmas and when we saw a stall selling them she ran over to get some. I didn't say anything wondering how they would go down as they're not to everyone's taste. She peeled one, popped it in and I waited. Her face told its own story but I don't think she wanted to appear rude. So when I asked her how she found it the reply came "I think it would be improved with some chocolate round it". Had to smile at that one. But she's right - there's not much that doesn't taste better with chocolate round it! Which brings me neatly on to

The Reverb10 Day 9 post which is

Prompt: Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.

I could think of a few parties I've been to this year that have been fab and which I'm still smiling about. But I think the day out I had in Leeds with Chloe and Alice, Maurice and Richard (Chloe's new man) and Ebony was just lovely. We shopped 'til we dropped and had a great lunch at Nandos, Alice's fave restaurant. Lots of people, lots of buzz, lots of drama when Maurice played skittles with four bottles of lager and got a strike! I never knew there were so many ways of eating chicken and chips - allow half an hour just to read the menu. But I'm now a peronnaise (spicy mayonnaise) afficianado and the Portuguese lager that got re-ordered(!) - was good too. Apparently they sell peronnaise in Sainsbury's so must get along to buy some. It was a really good day and great to spend some overdue time together and have a catch-up and our new Australian friend made me see everything with new eyes. Luckily I didn't 'rock my socks off' as it was -4 but it has made me realise that sometimes you don't have to go to a party to have a party.

Papers I used were My Minds Eye Pretty Please. This was from QVC in their sale and was very cheap, even taking into account the postage. When it arrived I was amazed to find that it included some ready made tags and embellishments with it. I don't normally do 'ready made' but thought they would be just the job to use on this quick project. I used the labels punch from Stamping Up (sorry the tags aren't better arranged in the photo - rush job in precious daylight hours!), a Magnolia die flourish and the Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet. Flower is punched from EK punches and the pearl brad is from The Hobby House. The photo journalling mats poking out the 'pockets' are punched with the Martha Stewart stars punch. The little handbag was in some charms I won in a Candy Giveaway from Jane at Jane's Lovely Cards (thank you Jane). Lace, card, ribbon and everything else from Running With Scissors.