Happy Anniversary - 10 on the er 13th!

I meant to do this for 10 on the 10th but time went by and I didn't manage to post.  Never mind!    Happy Anniversary to Me - 7 years ago I joined UK Scrappers, having just discovered scrapbooking in the form we use it now (I've made scrapbooks throughout my life in the old way!)  Before that I'd been a card maker for at least 10 years, but was getting frustrated at 'wasting' such lovely stash on cards that would largely be thrown away (cheapskate - yes, I know!!)

Once I'd discovered scrapbooking and bought my one and only QVC TSV - K and Co (what else!?) I joined UKS looking for inspiration, found an online community (wow were my friends worried that I was making friends on the internet!!) and made some fantastic friends through the crop that we started after my first retreat in Eastbourne.  7 years later I am truly happy that I found such lovely friends, a great hobby (not just mountains of stash!) and albums full of memories.

Anyway, in musing mode, I turned my thoughts back to where I first started, and these are 10 of the first layouts I ever did.  It's interesting to see how stash has evolved (no Thickers in those days!,very few collections - BG did one at a time!, and also to see how things are cyclical - stamping on layouts, brads, film strip etc.)

1) The first layout I ever did - and the first time I used rubons, and note the ricrac stickers - real ricrac didn't come in for a while!

2) Another from my K and Co collection - it's funny how quickly I went off pastel stuff - there is hardly any more in any of my albums.

3) I am really proud of this as it is my first hybrid layout - long before I'd heard of digi scrapping.  I made and printed the letters on the computer.  This is also my first foray into fancy fonts - a passion that has lasted a long time!

4)  Gin X was once of my favourite paper manufacturers - don't think they exist any more.  Die cutting was quite new to me too.  The title was cut for my by some kind person on UKS.  I didn't do too much journalling either in those days.

5) Another trade of die cuts - film strip was to die for - and now it's back for a renaissance.  I'm interested to note the 'findings' flower on this layout which came off a bracelet. I'm also rather painfully aware of how much more I scrapped my DD at this time.  Maybe a lack of boyish papers?

6) I hadn't been scrapping long when ribbons became a must have and my large collection began.  As I mentioned the other post, I hardly ever use them at the moment.  I'm also interested to see the patchwork background as that is something else I've been revisiting recently (see tomorrow's post :) )

7) This layout was done at my first retreat at Eastbourne.  I was very impressed by the simple block scrapping that Giselle did at that time (she was at the retreat) and this layout was inspired by this.  I was also thrilled to find the embellishments at the retreat shop as I didn't have many in those days.  My background as a stamper shows on this title.

8) Before the vast array of alphabets that we have now came into being, I was an avid hand cutter, inspired by the 900 odd fonts I downloaded onto my computer!  I became a dab hand with my glass mat and a knife - I still do it occasionally, but now everyone has Cricuts etc. it doesn't seem quite so effective!  This paper came in a swap and was perfect for my photo.  The title letters were coloured in with a leafing pen - another hangover from my card making days.

9) SEI were another of my favourite brands in the early days, and the letters came from another trade on UKS.  This was my first adventure with a corner rounder - borrowed!

10) Another paper that I wouldn't probably buy now, but I like the layout as it reminds me of the development of my scrapping over time.

So what have I learned in my looking back?  Firstly, my style is still blocky! unless I really try to do something different.  Secondly, I have much more dimension in my layouts now.  Thirdly, I hadn't really heard of white space then.  Finally, I'm still on the lookout for new techniques and looks, I still do a lot of multi photo layouts,  I very often mix different manufacturers products, I'd like to do more hybrid stuff and I can definitely get inspired S-J style by things on my old layouts.