Have I got my inspiration back?

I hope so. I made it to my desk yesterday and sorted through my old magazines to see what I wanted to keep. I normally wait a few months then flick through for projects I like, or techniques. I pull them from the mags and stick them in an A4 note book. I then write any notes on the pages and, when I have finished sticking I go back to see the others I have and often that fires the imagination. Sadly there was not one article I wanted to keep from about 8 magazines. Maybe I am reading the wrong ones. I have kept the Craft Stamper mags intact, there is so much in those and, as I subscribe ( next one due any day), it has to be good. I am considering subscribing to an online mag, there are a couple. The only problem with that is I won’t have anything to put in my book!

 

Oh and I got a couple of very ordinary LOs done from our 2002 trip. Maybe that is the problem, all I have is old stuff to scrap – need a holiday to get some new photos to work on.

Made it

After a manic week I finally got an hour to myself and made a beeline for the attic. I have been working on a mini book of the Battleship Texas that we visited when we were in the same state. It is nothing particularly fancy – well battlehips aren’t are they. I had a bit of a play with the cover though and finally used the Big Shot. How easy it is to use, I embossed and cut metal and it was so easy to wind through, I was amazed. After the Zip e mate which was quite tough to wind this is going to be great to use.

 

I also dropped into Kate’s and picked up my Tim Holtz paper pad. I wonder how long it will be before I pluck up courage to use it? While I was there I also booked the grunge paper workshop, that is just a week before our holiday so will fill the Saturday quite nicely as I just know I will be getting excited by then.

A quick update

I am still not doing much crafting, sadly, bit there are a couple of things I need to get recorded.

 

First I unpacked my Bigshot. That was so funny. I struggled to cut the plastic covering, it was really difficult and I hate those thick plastic cases that are moulded in place. I decided to turn it over to get a better angle and there it was, a perforated base. Why can’t they put opening instructions on the top? Mind you would I have read that! Still I eventually got it out and assembled so now it is ready for me to play with.

 

I have booked another workshop, Grungepaper this time, and just a week before we go to Norfolk.

Another workshop

Jennie form The Artistic Stamper took another workshops at Pickleberry Papercrafts yesterday and it has to be my favourite so far. We made this and I am so pleased with it.It started with a blank wooden framed mirror, we stuck, inked and  sprayed the frame then made all the embellishments. We played with UTEE, transferred from a picture on paper to canvas, die cut metal, painted, stamped, used alcohol inks, distress inks and so many more things. I had so much fun! It was also lovely to catch up with familiar faces and old friends.

 

The only drawback – wait for it – taking the photo to post here. I have taken about 10 till I got it right. To start with the mirror was so smeared. If you ever want to see if a mirror is clean – take a photo – every little mark shows up. I cleaned, polished and buffed till I got that right. Then I couldn’t find the right light to give the best colours, well the most like it really looks. Daylight seemed to make it just too light. Still I got there in the end. Now I am looking forward to the next one.

 

I nearly forgot – even Chris likes it and I will be putting it on display. Now maybe that is the incentive to finally finish the UTEE canvas and get that on display as well.

Photo Opportunity

We have had our youngest grandson for the day and we took him to the park. I took some pics of him on the play things, haven’t had a chance to look yet, in fact I haven’t had a chance to do much till now. He is having his afternoon nap and all is quiet for a few minutes, well hopefully a couple of hours. I must have a look and see what I have got.

QVC day

OK so I did watch the 2 hours show, in about half an hour. I recorded it and fast forwarded through almost all the show. The only thing I took from the show were a couple if ideas for card shapes.

 

I have planted some french beans though, suppose that could be crafting in a way!

Shopping!

Dropped in to see Kate at Pickleberry and picked up some Bazzill, or Brazil as our locla Dunelm calls it. I also ordered a Big Shot to replace my old Zip E Mate which won’t take the Tim Holtz dies in the right way.

Sundays efforts

Oh yes I got to the attic again on Sunday so this is really a day late.

 

First the pics from Saturday,

 

Still on the Texas photos. Just one side of a double LO, the other is almost the same.

 

It is straight, just that i stood it up against my Coluzzle mat and it bent a bit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also visited the Battleship Texas which is in the San Jacinto Battleground and to get there we took this causeway. The water was just inches from flooding the road, in fact if it had been a bit more windy I think it would have come over the road.

 

 

 

 

Now I see that here it needs more, funny because I liked the simplicity when I saw it. Not sure what I will do with it though.

 

I started a mini book on the BS Texas as well. When I checked there were so many photos it would have taken 4 or 5 LOs and I tend not to put that many on one subject in an album but make something special. The book will be 8 x 8 and the main pages are Bazzill and I am using both sides. I will post some pics when it is done.

How long has it been?

Too long but today I have scrapped and played with utee. You know the next thing – no camera! I id 3 LOs and 12 x 12 canvas and made another pendant. I have a problem with the UTEE, it is coming up dull when I use a rubber stamp as a mould. I need to look some stuff up and see why then I may re do it. Tomorrow is another day! Camera in hand I hope to get up the stairs again and take pics and do some more.

Did I or not?

Well I got up to the attic and I folded a few cards, well scored and folded, then got caught up with reading blogs and then got dragged into Facebook. How sad is that? Oh yes I also cut some shapes using the nestabilities. Not very productive was it. To be honest I don’t have much inspiration right now. I tried a couple of things with a tag and it was disgusting.

 

On another thought, I have decided to get a Big Shot. My Zipemate is not up to the things I want to do, it won’t take some dies the way they should be used, just not wide enough. So I have been checking prices and, when I get the cheque for the online surveys I do, I will hav enough to get one. Watch this space!

Yay I scrapped

In honour of National Scrapbooking Day I made it into the attic and tidied my desk and then did a LO. Of course I didn’t have a camera and I had to leave it to dry so it will have to wait till tomorrow. The main thing is I managed to break the non crafting bit. The best bit is I got the gardening stuff done as well, with help from Chris so a good day.