OK so I remembered..

to take the camera with me today so now I have no excuse, till the batteries run out that is !

 

I finished by Birthday Book, I had a whole load of Oriental style paper that I have had for ages and decided to use that, along with some peel off stickers just to add a bit of interest. The core of the pages was some pink Bazzill that has been gathering dust in my stash, pink is a colour I don’t use often and I have collected lots along the way when it came with kits so that is almost used up now, apart from the offcuts which I can use on cards. So this is the front cover, the font for the title is Chinese Takeaway which I cut on the Robo.

Here are a couple of the month pages, room to write the names against the dates and a pocket on the opposite page for cards made in advance – well that is the theory anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new project

When will I remember to take my camera up too the scrap room with me when I go!!!

 

I have started making a birthday book. There will be 2 pages for each month, on the left will be a calendar for the month and on the right a pocket to take cards as I make them, for the relevant events. I saw the idea in one of the magazines and have printed off the months and made a start on the covers but it has to dry before I can do more. I will take the camera with me next time.

Photo’s today

I spent an hour or so this morning adjusting the photos I took of the family. I have decided to order them online, at 10p a print it is cheaper than I can do at home, as long as I only want standard prints that is the way I will go in future. I have selected 20 for the album and they should be here in a couple of days.

 

We are off to see Avatar later, I will let you know tomorrow what I thought of it.

New supplies.

I talked Dh  into taking me shopping this morning and got to Pickleberry Crafts to spend my Christmas voucher. I got some more alcohol inks, UTEE Flex, platinum and silver UTEE and some replacement stickles. The best thing though was the stencils I got, snowflakes and icicles. Just before we left I decided to book in for the UTEE class in January – can’t wait for that, just 3 weeks away.

 

I am really tired today so won’t be doing anything that needs much concentration so I think it is blog hopping day while I relax in my chair.

Award time

 

 

This is such a nice idea and i have had fun looking back over the things I have done. I chose the project I did using alcohol inks for the first time. I loved the mess I made and the end result was really good. I hope you like my tins.

 

 

 

 

Now I am off to spend my Christmas money on craft stuff.

Christmas crafting

Well there has been a certain amount of thought about it, i got a great voucher to spend at my friends shop so I have been trying to decide what to get, maybe a couple more inks if she has any left in the colours I want.

 

There will be no time today as I have all the family, and more, arriving later and staying till late.

 

I will be back tomorrow, hopefully with details of what I get with my voucher – a visit is planned.

Merry Christmas

Finally – new batteries

and the photos of my baubles plus Stickles.

 

 

 

 

 

There are more but I need a tripod to get them with better shots. You can get the idea though. i have done about 8 now.

 

I also took a couple of the desk calendar I made from a kit, all covered in my favourite Basic Gray.

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely cup of coffee

and a quick surf while I enjoy it. I have just done the last of the food shopping, that was horrendous. Almost everyone was in a foul mood and pushing and shoving. Still all done now!.

 

Anyway i was having a quick surf,as I said, and I came across this http://craftstamper.blogspot.com/2009/12/massive-sharpie-blog-candy-giveaway.html . I want to try Sharpies but have my Le Plume and Whispers so can’t really justify buying till more of those run out or dry up. Maybe I should try one or 2 mmmmmmmm.

 

I may post more later.

Monday’s post delayed

by the weather. Yes we had more snow, not right here – we just missed it. It just meant that DH took 4 hours to get home instead of 1 1/2 and my time for blogging was taken up with traffic and weather reports to and from him.

 

I did manage to get some more baubles decorated, I promise pics when I get out to get some batteries, could be today but more likely tomorrow.

 

I can see physical crafting taking a back burner for a few days now but, as always, I still think about it and research stuff when I am relaxing with the laptop and I can still do some more baubles, as long as I don’t run out of stickles – that is a strong possibility.

Oh dear!

I have spent the afternoon decorating come of our plain red Christmas tree baubles, went to take pics and the batteries have run out.

 

I was playing with some stamps this morning, embossing with silver then painting using my perfect pearls. Why is it that when anyone else does it their work looks lovely, mine is a mess so I am going to have to rethink that.

 

I won’t be getting any batteries till Wednesday so you will have to wait till then to see.

More inks

I have been experimenting with alcohol inks but not very successfully, I made a lovely mess and have very pretty fingers but nothing constructive to show for it. Never mind there is always tomorrow.

Honest I did…

…add my daily entry for Friday but it has disappeared!

 

I took lots of photos of the snow that fell yesterday, we had about 3 inches in the end and the garden looked so pretty. I am planning to scrap them on Saturday if I can get them printed off.

Kindle day

Yes it arrived at 9.30 this morning and I have been playing and reading, there are even some scrapbooking books available and no I haven’t been tempted by them. I have got a couple of books and I might mention them it they are good.

 

I also sat and did a digi LO, another that is the seed for a hybrid page.

Don’t you just love that santa, i have to print him and use him on a page.

A no craft day

This doesn’t happen often but I am so excited I haven’t had time for anything. I worked this morning then got an email to say my Kindle will be here tomorrow. It is a surprise Christmas present from all the family. They have even set it up with my  email address which  is why I got the tracking details and, would you believe it, 2 days from Phoenix to Sittingbourne, that is faster than most online orders placed within the UK. I have spent my time looking at what it can do and trying to decide what books to get for it. This of course means that there may be no craft tomorrow either as I will probably be playing!

Journaling day

I have spent the afternoon bringing my Christmas Journal up to date, all words and no photos for the few days I did. I also watched the QVC 2 hours and got some ideas down on paper for some cards I can get made in advance for next year. The 2 boys have birthdays in February and there are several others at the beginning of March so I need plenty of ideas.

Look what I found

Take a look at this gorgeous FREE kit, and the there is another one , I love these.

 

There are loads out there if you look, I found so many – far more than I will ever use – and so many free ones too. I always check out http://digifree.blogspot.com/ first.

Will I – won’t I

I am so tired today, I started work really early and worked solidly from 7 am till 3 om with just a break for drinks along the way. I am desperate to get the work all done so I am clear for all the nice things I have to do for Christmas.

 

I really don’t think will be creating anything today but I will spend some time later trying to find some nice digi elements I can use on a project I have in mind (for next Christmas would you believe!)

I did try!

I disappeared off to my craft room this morning, after being very good and doing the chores first. I would have spent my time better doing other things. I sat down, realised I had left my stamping mag 2 floors below, took some photos out to scrap, did the LO decided it was rubbish and took it apart. Sorted out 2 BG tags for the last 2 gifts I had to wrap and descended the stairs again. I did wrap the 2 gifts and attach the tags so not all was wasted. Maybe tomorrow!

Busy weekend

Yup it certainly is. We have lots to do and I won’t have time to get to scrap with paper till tomorrow though I might grab a bit of time for a digi LO if I can. I have managed to do my entry for Journal Your Christmas, right up to date – I am so pleased I haven’t let it slip so far.

 

I got the latest edition of Craft Stamper today and I will shortly be having a cuppa while I take a first browse through it, I love the freebie on this months edition. I could be using that tomorrow!

I give up

yet another day when I don’t have time to craft. I will try and do some digi work later and I want to look for some new kits. Something Christmas and traditional, maybe patchwork style. Thankfully tomorrow is another day.

TV day

I spent 2 hours watching a recorded program on angelina fibres and film and then one on parchment craft. Now that is something I aspire to, I love the effects you can get with Pergamano tools. i have tried but have never been that successful.

 

I have a few sketches I want to get in my journal this evening and some ideas for LOs. That’s it for today.

A learning day

I have been busy with work an Christmas preparations today so no chance to get in to my craft room. So I am watching You Tube videos and searching out ideas from various galleries. I also have an online class which is pretty late tonight so I may not make it. It is on the Wacom tablets and promises to show lots of the customising that can be done.  It will be available to watch later as well so if I fall asleep I can catch it tomorrow.

 

If you are interested you can find the details here the best of it is it’s free.

Thinking day

For some reason I feel really tired today, no idea why just one of those things.

 

So no physical craft today, and none to come as we have a Christmas party to go to tonight.

 

I have watched a show on QVC and got a couple of ideas and I have found some You Tube videos I will watch maybe tomorrow.

Got them

alcohol inks. I really couldn’t wait till after Christmas so a quick trip to the shop and an even quicker lunch when we got back then I got to play. I am so pleased with the

results, here are a couple. I couldn’t get the colours I really wanted, all the reds and greens have gone – can’t imagine why! I got a blue, black and 3 brown/caramel shades. I have also tried on some acrylic but I am not so happy with that. Now I need to get some glossy card and try to make some backgrounds, and I can now make a start on the larger tins I have.

 

While they dried I made a start on our desk calendar, using up lots of scraps of Basic Gray and some odd embellishments I have had for ages and never used. I still have a couple of months to finish later in the week.

More white space

Am I OK with this, not sure really. It looks better in a photo than in real life I think. The problem is I wanted both photos on the page, it might have been better with just one.

 

Never mind, done now and I have only ever redone a LO once so it will stay like this.

 

I have been paying with the tiny tins again, with almost no success. I really need the right inks so I think they will go away till after Christmas. Shame I so want a container for my Splenda packets (I prefer the powder to the tablets) and they fit perfectly.

 

I have also been playing with Tim Holtz’s Christmas Tags, again just playing and nothing decent to show as I don’t have the right materials, he does use so many different products in one project!

Well I thought they were

alcohol inks that is. I got my tiny tins out, and the inks and the applicator pads. I put the ink on the pad and dabbed it on the tin and all it did was to collect in little tiny blobs. I can only assume that the inks are not alcohol based. Oh well I am hoping for some vouchers for Christmas so I will add some inks to the shopping list. Shame I was really looking forward to trying them out.

 

I got the next stage of my clipboard done though, and a secret birthday card nearly done. It is for DH so I am having to do it a bit at a time as we share the work space, it has been challenging!

 

Off to see if I can find out more about other techniques for the tiny tins, well I have 10 of them so plenty to play with.

Tiny tins are here

They arrived in the post this morning and I can’t wait to play. Sadly I won’t get to them today as we have Connor with us and he will be stopping overnight. I forgot how tiring a 22 month old can be.

 

I also got a lovely sheet of unmounted rubber stamp, one half is tiny French script and the other is a crackle background. I think the crackle will be used more than the script.

 

Maybe tomorrow I will get something done.

White space…

I think I may be getting there. See my post below, I then put this together quickly and now I want to turn it into a paper LO.

 

The best laid plans and all that

I had such great plans for today, to finish off my clipboard and make a start on a birthday card I need to make, and some invites to a party we are holding. Then we found out that Stef (DIL) was not at all well so we offered to have Connor for the afternoon so she could get some rest. Poor love she has a nasty ear infection and a useless doctor. We will be having him tomorrow as well so probably no progress then either.

 

Still I have been doing some sketches. I have had this aversion to white space, I simply can’t do it. That was until I saw Carol Vordeman talking about every day maths. She talked to a photographer and brought in the ‘spiral’ that appears in nature so much. Imagine the shape of the ammonite. Place this on a page,  say bottom right and the centre of the  shape is the focal point.

 

Well I have 3 sketches and I am going to try them in digi to start with. I will post when I have done.

I love my new storage…

Dh helped me to unpack it and to move a couple of things then it was put in place.

 

then the fun began and I filled it up, to be fair it is supposed to be for inkpads but the little shelves are removable so I just whipped a couple

out so my stickles and alcohol inks would fit. Since I took the photo I have added labels to the edge of the pads so I now know what colour they are etc.

 

DH has put a hook on the end so I can hang a mini clipboard which I will use for notes on future projects, supplies I need to replace and other things. I have painted one side and it is now drying. Just another little project on the run up to Christmas!

December is here…

and I am starting my 2009 Journal Your Christmas. I have designed the numbers for each day , quite simple but it does the job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have also designed my own digi card to send to friends round the world and of course to anyone who reads this.

Web down

Our connection was down most of Sunday and into early Monday so no post, shame I was doing so well with daily posts.

 

Still I got some crafting done. I made all the gift tags for the prezzies and today I made some more for MIL to use. I also wrapped all our gifts and the table gifts we have as well. Then we finished the decs so now for some pictures.

 

First our tree, much the same as last year, 

no new ornaments either. Reminder to self to try and find some this year.

 

I made the tree surround some years ago but it always makes me smile, here is a close up of some of the snowflakes.

 

I can’t remember how long it took to make but it was fun.

 

 

Then there is my favourite candle, it was a gift from my cousin who is no longer with us so it is extra special, apart from being beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also spent some time making a Christmas card for Chris, it is mainly stamped with just a few peel offs. It is not difficult to make, just leave me a comment if you want to know how and I will explain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been looking for ideas for his birthday today, I want something that is a bit unusual and masculine at the same time – any ideas would be great.

Deck the halls

yes we have decorated the house so my craft efforts today are all tied up with that. I have put out the little boxes I made 2 years ago and the snowflakes are waiting for me to decide where they are going,and how. I haven’t taken any pics yet but will do so tomorrow and post them.

Sketch time

After a hectic morning in London, working, and a nice afternoon at the cinema watching New Moon, i am trying to get some sketches done for a couple of LOs and 2 cards I have to do for family.

 

I can do both those in front of the TV which is where I plan to be for the evening.

Look what I am making today

I got this a couple of weeks ago to make a container for table gifts. I have made the boxes for the gifts, all little novelties like you would get in crackers. I think it will make a change from the usual silly jokes and hats that tear as soon as you put them on.

 

http://www.kandcompany.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=5931

 

I am also still trying to decide what to do for my Christmas Journal this year. I will be following Shimelle’s journal Your Christmas with additions from Jessica Sprague but I keep changing my mind on the colour scheme. I will sit and play with that while I watch the TV tonight, maybe get some inspiration from all the Christmas ads on now.

 

Finally Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in the US, have a wonderful day and enjoy whatever special meal you have.

A no craft day

Yes for the first time in ages I will not be doing any crafting at all today. I have been really busy at work all day and we are going out tonight to visit a friend that we haven’t seen for several years.

 

It feels quite strange not to be able to add anything at all here. Hopefully things will improve tomorrow. In the meantime I will post a link to a project I want to do

 

http://dollysdreamings.typepad.com/dollys_dreamings/2009/11/free-class-and-announcing-new-project-.html

 

I have just the tin to use and plan on something for DD

I am really tired

I have had both grandsons here today and they have worn me out. I did manage to get some photos though.

 

This one of both of them , I just love the

hand on the knee look!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   This beauty of Gary has to be my favourite and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this one of Connor.

 

This means I have all the photos I need for a little project for MIL for Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also got my delivery of Bazzill today, now I have no excuses at all.

A digi day

I have decided that I need to collect all my digi stuff together and sort it in so I can find stuff when I want it. This all came about because I wanted  to get some templates done for Journal Your Christmas which I am doing for the second time. Last year I did all digi but this year I want to do a hybrid journal. I knew I had some seasonal embellishments tucked away somewhere but with access 2 PCs and a laptop I had trouble tracking them down. So armed with by external drive I got them all in one place. I was quite surprised at the amount I had too, something for every occasion and, with the aid of colourising in Photoshop I probably have all I want for now. Not that I will stop looking and downloading.

 

I am going to spend the evening trying to sort a bit more and then get those templates doen.

A birdhouse and some monograms

I made my first wishing house from a project I got from here, all in Basic Grey and, thought it needs some refinement I am quite pleased with it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also made some monogram tags for Christmas presents. BG again I am afraid!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More work to be done on the snowflakes later if the electricity stays on so I have enough light. It has been really stormy and thinks keep flickering!

Finally I have been crafting

I got to spend all morning and most of the afternoon sorting out my space and it is now useable at least.

 

I forgot to take a proper before pic so took this which just shows the space I had

as you can see I had to move the keyboard to use it. Now I have this

and have room for my printer, Craft robo, embossing machine and my photo printer which has been hidden in a cupboard for ages.

 

I still have more organising to do, the area to the left of me is cube storage and has all my paper and cardstock, books, tools and things. This will have to wait till I get my new unit for my inks and powders.

 

it is quite possible that other things will move as well but, right now, it is working well. I have spent a couple of hours on a project which I will possibly finish tomorrow and it was so much easier to work.

Craft – what craft

I have had a long and difficult day, don’t even really want to talk about it it has been that bad. Now all I want to do is try and relax and watch the big annual fund raiser on the TV, Children in Need. I might even be talked into having a drink or 2 at the same time.

 

My crafting effort for today will be thinking about what I can get done tomorrow.

Questions

Shimelle’s class has suggested Please & Thank you for today so I have a question as the Please bit.

 

I am looking for storage for my tiny bits, eyelets, grommets, beadlets, buttons,etc currently I have them in a small case with dividers but the case is so big it is tucked away and I forget I have them so they stay where they are. Any suggestions for some thing a bit more visible.

 

For my Thank you I have to say a big Thanks to everyone who has viewed my blog and in particular everyone who has left comments. you have no idea how warm it has made me feel.

 

For my crafting today, again I can’t show you as it will spoil the surprise (how many times am I reading that right now!) but I will be making a Digi Christmas card which I will be sending out early in December.

Taking shape

My craft room that is. Before today I had a smallish desk with screen, Bamboo tablet, keyboard, craft mat and various other things on the top. Then I had a variety of other cupboards and things which had my Craft Robo and printer on.  Now I have 2 desks, side by side so everything is on the one level and, once I get it all sorted out it will be so much better. I will take pics when it is done.

 

I am really tired at the moment, we have had to put all the furniture back where it belongs, rehang all the curtains and clean top to bottom, and there will be more tomorrow as they didn’t quite finish today.

 

I have some more snowflakes to make this evening, I really want to get them done so I can get pics of them completed and maybe even hung a bit early (DH willing!)

 

Off to have a soak in the bath to ease my aches.

Page Prompts

I am following Jessica Sprague’s Holidays in Hand and today I have printed off the daily prompts and I am going to work on those later.

 

With one for each day it will take me all evening just to sort through them and decide on the things I know I will be doing then maybe planning some more.

 

Just a short entry today as I already posted the pictures and I have a hidden section with my scrapbooking ideas on, as suggested by Shimelle.

More of the heritage

I spent some time with PSP last night just tidying these up a bit,. They are all of my Gran at various stages of her life.

 

  There is a date on the reverse of this which puts her at 7 months old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sadly there is nothing on this, or the next one, so I have had to guess. I think she is about 4/5 here but open to suggestions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally this, probably a teenage picture.

Old photos

What I have achieved today is to print off a copy of a very old, hand tinted photograph.

It had to be taken around 1900 and is of my Great Uncle who sadly died about 6 months after the photo was taken. I have some more of my Gran at various ages as well and I want to create some LOs with them to try and tell the story as I know it. There is only one of her children still alive, my Aunt, and I have got some answers from her so I will be creating some journaling later this evening to go with them.

I did scrap..

but the batteries in my camera are flat so no photos today. I used a couple of sketches from the UKS cybercrop and, as usual, made them my own – well that is what sketches are for isn’t it?

 

I won’t be able to get to my stash till next weekend now, we are having new windows installed Tuesday and Wednesday so I have had to move everything out of the way. As my desk is right by the window that has had to be moved so I have nowhere to work. I will be taking the opportunity to straighten things out when I get back up there and I am adding more work surface at the same time.

 

There has also been a change in my Christmas prezzie from DH. He was going to get me UTEE, I will have to get that myself now as he is going to get me some gorgeous storage units from www.craftracks.co.uk not sure which ones yet but I have given him a few options for the most useful to me. Unfortunately this means I will have to reorganize again after Christmas but i think it will be worth it and I will post pics when it is all done.

 

So back to laptop crafting for the week.

 

While I am here a big thank you to everyone who has read my blog and particularly those who have left comments. It is so nice to get them.

Finally…

I got to do some hands on crafting, in my craft room. The stuff I have been dong in the last week or so has all been on my lap, on front of the TV.

 

I made the rest of the Christmas cards but I can’t put the stash away yet as I am planning a Christmas Journal in paper this year (did a digi one last year). I can’t put the cards on here as people read this who may be getting one.

 

I also did a couple of LOs, one isn’t finished yet but this one is. Some

more of the birdlife from Florida earlier this year. I have stuck the bottom strip down now, in fact it didn’t show till I took the photo. It matches another I did, this is the right hand page.

 

I also got my embossing folders delivered today – need to play with those tomorrow.

Snowflakes everywhere

yes I have started making the snowflakes in the K&Company kit. I have spent some time punching out the die cuts and trying to work out which go together. It’s good fun with the dimensional ones, the 3d ones are obvious but I think I can get creative with the others. I will post pics when i get them assembled but it may be a while.

 

I have a crafty weekend planned so, with luck, I will finally get some photos posted of what I get done.

Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling

What a lovely list that is and I really haven’t had to think about today’s blogging prompt, it all fell into place easily.

 

I am seeing the pile on my desk shrinking and I complete the weeks work, and I finished it early which means I get tomorrow afternoon off.

 

What am I hearing – just the radio, I can’t be bothered with anything else. I have Gold on and they are playing some lovely 60’s and 70’s stuff.

 

I am smelling the bolognese sauce I made for tea, and it does smell good.

 

I am tasting nothing. I have been good and not had anything to eat since lunchtime and I have only drunk water, I feel quite virtuous.

 

What am I feeling, I am feeling pleased with myself as I have managed every prompt so far.

 

Now to the crafty bit, I sat down and sorted through my Christmas cards and decided which theme I am going to use for the 12 I still have to make. Now all I have to do is do some sketches to follow.

 

Happy blogging everyone.

My idea of fun in the internet

Today’s prompt in the blogging for Scrapbookers is about fun on the internet. Sadly I don’t use the web for fun (I get that elsewhere) so I tried to think about the things I do when I have nothing specific to do on the web.

 

Basically I just surf, the fun is in the journey. For instance I will start with a blog that I have subscribed to and maybe check out the links there and click on one of those, then the next one and so on.

 

Here is a trail that I followed earlier, I started at Banana Frog, love their stamps. Next I went to Audrey Tan's blog. There I found this a total surprise and one that I have added to my Google Reader subscriptions.

 

I spent ages there so that is where the trail ended.

 

Off to take another journey and see where it leads me.

Snowflakes…

…arrived today. No not the real ones but the Swell Noel kit from K & Company, so you can guess what I will be playing with tonight. I would have been scrapping but I can’t get to my desk as my ‘space’ is being worked on so it is more streamlined, well that is the theory anyway.

 

In case you haven’t seen them

this is the kit and we are going to hang them through the conservatory where all decs will be blue and silver.

 

I will try and post some pics when I have finished them but don’t be surprised if I forget!

 

Oh and thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments I have received.

Goals!

Shimelle has come up trumps again as I haven’t done anything crafty today, too busy at work.I still have time but I doubt there will be any constructive work done as our little grandson arrives soon and is stopping overnight while his Mum and Dad go out for the evening.

 

So thanks to Shimelle I have something to post about in GOALS.

 

My one goal at the moment is to learn how to do more with my lovely meltpot.

 

  I have had it for a while and only used it once or twice. So I have added some things to my Christmas wish list like UTEE flex and some different colours of UTEE and some tools and some Cosmic Shimmer UTEC (I think that is what it is called). Roll on Boxing Day  so I can reach a goal.

 

I think I may revisit this topic occasionally and also use it on my other blog when I have nothing else to talk about – that doesn’t happen often either.

Noel!

I got the Christmas 12 x 12 project completed, not sure if it will stand on the cube storage or hang on the wall yet but I am pleased with it.

 

It will go with the Winter House I made a couple of years ago and the tree I have made this year.

 

I also made a birthday card but DH has signed and sealed it before I got the chance to take a photo. Shame as I used a new embossing folder on cordinations stack then sanded it down, worked a treat. I have some more birthday cards to make soon and I will use the same technique and hopefully get to take pics!

Weekend bits

I didn't have time for any actual craft on Saturday, we were busy getting ready for a get together with friends and neighbours. I did manage to pick up a pot of acrylic paint to use on the 12x12 canvas I am getting ready for a Christmas project so not a day when absolutely nothing crafty happened, just a bit lean.

Day 6 and it’s photos

OK so I took these a while ago but they are among my favourites of our youngest grandson Connor. I think the title says it all …

A Craft day ?

Today has mainly been spent doing ‘house’ craft as in cleaning up after our new boiler was fitted yesterday, what a mess they left us.

 

Never mind it has given me thinking time to plan some stuff and, while we were getting the supplies in for the cleaning I found a really cheap diary for next year. i always keep a diary by me when I am watching the TV. I use it to made sketches, jot down notes and ideas and it is a constant source of inspiration for those times when my own has left me for a while. I also use it for when I watch craft shows on TV (Shopping channels do sometimes have some great ideas).

 

Anyway the one I have got for 2010 is a day to a page and not a week to view which will give me more space to use. I might even have a go at altering the cover.

 

I also got a blank calendar kit for the desk, one of those that has it’s own stand and the pages flip over the top for each month. Another project to add to the list.

5 favourite things

So todays prompt is to list some fav things so mine has to be craft supplies.

 

Top of the list is Basic Grey, I could have made it all five in all honesty but that would not be so clever would it? I love all the ranges and use them regularly in scrapbooking and cards as well.

I have just found Eskimo Kisses which is really gorgeous, I think this  is the most delightful. I think I might have to find this

and buy some.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second on my list is Ranger’s Distress Inks. This is near the top at the moment as I am using new techniques with them and I got the Fire Brick and this blue one today. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next comes my Craft Robo, the best thing since sliced bread. Any true type font can be cut, also shapes and dingbats. I love designing swirls and hunting down new fonts that will cut well.

 

Fourth on the list is gilding flakes, I have used them quite a bit for this years Christmas cards, no pics yet as I don’t want the cards on show too soon.

 

Finally comes stencils, the ones you can use for dry embossing. I make a few cards using these and they can be quite classy, well I think so anyway! I want to try them out on scrapbooking LOs next.

 

There are so many other things I like and I am not even sure this list will be the same tomorrow.So maybe I will try and do it again sometime, see if it changes.

Day 2 – an important event

‘I have had to adapt this a bit as the prompt was for ‘a significant day in your life’ obviously this doesn’t fit this blog so I had to do some searching in my mind to find an even that suited.

 

Picture me, someone who has made cards for a few years and also loves to travel. The travel led to piles of photos being put into albums with SITCKY STUFF (( know better now!). There was a show on a shopping channel which showcased a scrapbook album with some stickers. I placed the order and waited for it to arrive. Arrival day is the day I have chosen to record here.

 

Ding dong on the door bell and the courier was there with my parcel. I had to wait a bit to open it as I had some work to complete but soon enough I was spreading the contents on the table. This is where I start to cringe as the album is nothing like the ones I use now, no page protectors just leaves of tissue to keep the pages from sticking to each other. There was also no paper or card. Simply chipboard pages. I religiously laid out the stickers and the photos from a recent trip but somehow I wasn’t happy with just that so I got some of my background papers from my supplies and added those. I still have that album and often look at it and think I ought to strip the photos out and do it all again but I never do, and probably won’t.

 

So my first day of scrapping which led to me going to a crop and then I really found out what it was all about.

Intentions….

Today is the start of the course and I need to get down what I want to achieve from the next 3 weeks.

 

Firstly I want to improve my blogging skills, I want to be able to write better text, include more photos than I have in my other blogs and learn some new bits and bobs that I can add like photo albums etc.

 

Secondly I want to record the crafting I do, from making something to receiving new supplies and even watching an interesting show on TV. I am also hoping this will help with inspiration when it has run dry.

 

Finally this will NOT be a record of my day to day life, that belongs elsewhere.

 

On to today’s entry.

 

I received my Distress Stickles today , there is quite a selection of colours, not sure if I have all those in the picture and they have disappeared up to the attic now so I can’t check. Hopefully I will be able to play with them soon.

 

 

 

I also watched a show on Ideal World with metal embossing and alcohol inks, some really great ideas and strangely some memories of my Grandad who used to do metal embossing a lot. Now I have some metal, some basic embossing tools and the inks so another project to add to the to do list.

 

For future reference the metal embossing range is from Walnut Hollow though there are other makers as well.

Blending with Distress Inks

I have been meaning to try this for ages but have only just got round to it following a demo I saw on the TV. I had all the stuff, inks and blending tool so there really was no excuse.

 

first things first the best thing to put on your desk is a silicon sheet, failing that some paper you have no further use for.

 

The trick is to pick up the ink on the blending pad and start rubbing, in circles, from off the paper or card you want to colour. It is the ‘off the card’ start that is so important, this stops you getting heavier blocks of ink and also stops hard edges.

 

Start gently just rub until you have the amount of ink you want. Then choose a toning ink to add some depth. The card I made has 2 examples of this, the colour round the stamp and the mat behind the image. The mat was gently spritzed with a mister, not sure that shows as it is quite subtle. I will try some more another time.

Using Live Writer

There is a forum with the Blogging for Scrapbookers course and one of the other members posted a link to Live Writer so I thought I would give it a try. It looks as if it is quite easy to use, let me try a picture.

Well that was easier than using the Blogger system and sizing placing the picture is a breeze. I think I might like this. You can find it here if you want to try it out.

Here I am!

I am taking a class with Shimelle , hopefully I will learn some new stuff along the way.

I already have a blog which is just a weekly diary, and a recipe blog so the kids have access to my recipes.

This one is for my crafting, I have never posted that much about the crafting I do but now maybe I will.

The course proper starts on 2 November so see you then....

In the meantime expect a few changes as I get this the way I want it.