All Things Paper, card, paint, ink etc.

I had a scrappy time

2012-02-04T11:38:00.001Z

I spent last Saturday making a start on the wedding album and then cut the titles on the Eclips and did a few more LOs during the week. I haven’t finished yet, I need some more photos so I will have to wait for them to arrive from Australia.

Here is what has been done so far.

The venue was at a hotel on the outskirts of Sittingbourne, the Bride arrived through this door so she wouldn’t see the Groom.

As Debbie (the bride) wanted a red car Chris offered ours and we decked it out with ribbons and a posy on the rear shelf.

The best man was a friend of Peter’s from Australia but he works in London right now.

A soft focus photo of the bride, think this needs something else, maybe something to soften the edges of the mat.

Self explanatory this one!

I need some more family photos to turn this into a 2 page LO.

A double page of the table and some of the guests, I also need some of the other guests.

Finally for now, I took a couple of the photographer, he was brilliant and I though it important that they had some of him a swell.

I am the proud owner of...

2012-01-30T09:45:00.000Z

..an Eclips cutter with eCal software and it is all working beautifully. It arrived on Thursday and I got is all working in the lounge where I could just play with it as a stand alone machine. That was a good idea as I had lots of fun using the things on the 2 supplied cartridges and made some embellishments for the wedding album. The mat was too sticky to start with but it settled down fast and I was soon cutting away. I got the software installed over the weekend and Sunday I spent in the attic getting it sorted out there and getting all the free files I had found put in their folders. Then I finished off the work I did on Saturday with titles. I had to fiddle a bit to get the driver to work, just as well I know where the 'System' folder is and how to check the USB connection. For some unknown reason it needed mending. Still all done now and You will be able to see the fruits of my cutting when I get the photos sorted and posted, hopefully in the next few days.Oh and it could well be with a nice shiny new Fuji camera which is due to arrive sometime this week.

Wedding card

2012-01-05T08:45:00.000Z

Here is the card I made for the happy couple.

Place cards for the wedding

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000Z

Just a quick post to get these recorded. Chris suggested the 'tent' card idea and it really worked. Peter & Debbie loved them and, apparently, the hotel want my details as they have never seen anything like them before !!!

I have to say I do like them and wouldn't have thought of using the format if Chris hadn't suggested it so a big thankyou to him.

Finished the tags!

2011-12-13T11:24:00.001Z

Yes I did them all. There are elements of this that I don't like, the lettering for instance! I didn't have any tissue either so used a few flowers I did have. Apart from that it was funto do.

Here's to next year now !

The punultimate tag for 2011

2011-12-11T10:50:00.001Z

Once again I didn't have the right stamps or the right dies for this but I got to use my favourite snowman and the UTEE technique was great fun.

... and the 10th one!

2011-12-11T10:48:00.001Z

This really doesn't show itself as nice as it is. The technique using the image transfer onto sellotape is much better in the flesh. Another one that I will use in the future.

The 9th tag

2011-12-11T10:45:00.001Z

This is one of the tags I did at on Saturday and a big thank you to Kate for having all the stash needed.

Loved the background for this one. I finished it off on Sunday morning which is why the Glossy Accents on the letters are still opaque - not quite dry

Not so much improvising...

2011-12-09T07:26:00.001Z

... more a case of make do and mend with this tag. The only things I had were the tag, the Distress Inks and Glossy Accents. Still it was fun trying to use the techniques. I do like the shadow stamping, doing it deliberately is far more satisfying than it happening when you don't want it to!Anyway here is my effort -

Thanks for looking.

The 7th tag..

2011-12-07T11:39:00.001Z

over half way through now. I am enjoying the challenge of making one a day. Today’s is better than yesterday and I am pleased with the way it turned out.

Needless to say there were several things I didn’t have but I did have half a sheet of glassine left over from a workshop so made the leaves, interesting how you can heat alcohol inks on that. Looking at it the only things I didn’t substitute were the tinsel, the beads and the tag itself. Still it worked out.

On the 6th day…

2011-12-06T14:38:00.001Z

..another tag from Tim. I am not sure if this works or not. I had to use an different embossing folder and I had to stick my charm as I cidn’t even have the right rings.

I found that the paint didn’t want to work on the metal and had to put it on really thick or it went into tiny puddles. The embossing looks almost like crackle glaze! Maybe that is the paint underneath, or the distress ink.

More tags, more improvisation..

2011-12-06T05:06:00.001Z

Firstly I have finished Sundays tag. There were a few things I didn’t have, crackle glaze being the main one. I do have a bottle but it has gone AWOL somewhere. I also don’t have the snowman die so I cut a reindeer and covered it in Glossy Accents then dripped some alcohol ink into it and left it to dry. It was a bit too bright so I added some Perfect Pearls which toned it down a bit. Then I didn’t have the snowflake edge die so used another one. Hey ho the technique is there.

Next came Mondays tag. I had 2 goes at this, the first one was on some acetate I had and the inks just wouldn’t dry, they stayed tacky so when I tried to rub the Archival off it just smeared and was a proper mess. So I cut some packaging and did it again and that worked much better. (Reminder to self to keep some packaging tucked away.) I also don’t have the ‘backwards’ stamp so used a snowflake instead. I have to say the colours are a bit ‘in your face’ and I haven’t added the ribbon yet as it was drying. I inked it to match the tag so it will be even more pink!

I will be off to find todays tag soon. I wonder if I will have the stash to do it!

Chrissie decs

2011-12-05T11:06:00.001Z

These are some of the decorations we mad at Saturday’s workshop.

A pretty hanger made from 8 diecuts, inked and folded then stuck to a chipboard shape from the same die. One thing Mr Holtz does is he never makes his shapes symmetrical so the tricky bit here was to get the right ones back to back. The alternative is to ink the edges afterwards –there was a lot of inking done!

This was a lovely tag, lots of Distress inks and diecuts with a rubber stamp as well.

Possibly my favourite, a glass shape that we stamped and embossed with either silver or gold and then filled with ‘snow’ I added some Bedazzles as well.

A drunken tree, made from different sized rosettes, cut with the Tim Holtz die. WE had great fun getting them to stay in shape and got messy with the hot glue gun.

We also had some glass birds which we coloured with alcohol inks and added some wings, I forgot the photos! Maybe later.

Catch up day, or not

2011-12-04T15:11:00.001Z

I was at one of Jennie's workshops yesterday. We mad some gorgeous Chrissie decorations and I will get them photographed an upload them tomorrow.Now Tim's Saturday tag I made a start on today but as I have no crackle glaze (lost it somewhere!) and no snowman die I decided to use a reindeer and cover it in glossy accents. Needless to say it is taking an age to dry so I got on with today' tag and managed to improves with just the embossing folder but it is done.

I am pleased with how it came out. I will get Saturdays and Monday's done tomorrow, then I will be all up to date.

Day 2 of the 12 days of Christmas tags

2011-12-02T14:32:00.001Z

Well at least I had a sheet of old music paper and a stamp for the holly and ivy. Would you believe no string though and only some green wool for the neck. Still it was fun to do and at lest I have kept up so far - only day 2 though LOL.

12 tags of Christmas - No. 1

2011-12-01T18:44:00.001Z

I am intending to do as many of Tim's tags as I can, you can see them here .I don't have the die for the word, the die for the pine cones or the leaves and twigs. So I found a nice font, cut the word on the Robo, cut some Spellbinders leaves and flowers and here is the end result.

I loved doing this one, the embossing worked well, Oh and I didn't have a white dabber (sure I have somehwere but it is not where it should be).Looking forward to tomorrows.

Fun, fun, fun…

2011-10-24T06:14:00.001+01:00

Another Saturday at Pickleberry with another great workshop from Jennie. We filled a printers tray using 14 different techniques. We all ended up very inky but very pleased with what we did.

Here’s mine -

Each compartment had a different technique. I think my favourite is the top left, it is a tiny plastic lizard. He is covered in gilding flakes then put into the box and totally covered in UTEE. I finished it off at home with the letters, cut on the Robo and then dipped in Platinum UTEE. I may add something to the letters but I have time for that. It looks OK as it is I think.

I also made one of the Advent Boxes from a kit. Almost all the bits were cut, was I grateful for that. It took me a while to just cut and emboss 2 boxes with their lids, I think I might have lost a bit of patience with 25 of them. I just have to get the numbers done. Still thinking about the best way to do that.

I thought the flash flare was a problem but it shoes the dots on the red card which is used for the bases.

I have also got a few more Christmas cards don, just over half way with those. I need some nice ideas for the rest.

On the catwalk!

2011-10-02T10:54:00.001+01:00

I went to another workshop yesterday, run by the wonderful Jennie from The Artistic Stamper where we decorated a mannequin. What fun it was too, we inked and stamped sticky backed canvas for the bodice and then made the skirt with a birdcage die stuck on to more sticky backed canvas then we added gilding flakes – have to love those. We then cut leaves out of grunge paper, mouldable plastic, metal and shrink plastic and played with those using alcohol inks. Then it was time to assemble. It took a little longer than we had so we all took the foundations home to finish and I couldn’t wait so did mine this morning. Hope you like the end result, I am very happy with it.

Big catch up

2011-09-11T11:34:00.001+01:00

It hs been so long since I blogged, I have almost forgotten how! Well not really but you know what I mean.

I have done quite a lot more than is here but I would have to split it all into 2 or 3 posts so I thought one of my favourite pieces would be best.

First there is a LO I did of the kids ‘When they were young’. The photos were taken when we took them to Kenya on holiday and we came across the pics while clearing out some drawers. I just had to do this

Next I have some photos of Connor with his pop up tent, he loved it and spent ages popping in and out

The image is a bit small to show his expressions but they were so funny.

I also made a star book for Alan, he doesn’t have many photos of Connor and wanted some. Hope he likes this

Lots of pics of him with various family members and on his own.

Then I did a UTEE class with the lovely Jennie and put my pieces on canvases, this is one of 3.

The yesterday I did a Spellbinders workshop where we used a new template for making flowers. We made this first, you can see the

template as well. It is easy once you get the hang of it and there are some videos on You Tube that I want to check out in case there is more.

Then we cut the same template in felt and this is the result

The one with the green leaf has another, larger leaf which is hidden and is set on a brooch pin. I added a few Stickles to match.

Finally I spent the afternoon playing and made these.

From the left, one made starting from the centre of the template(normally you start form the outside). Makes a tighter flower. The middle one is made with 2 die cuts, the same as the ones on the trinket box. Finally I had a go at cutting 3 and assembling them, I actually like this the best and will make more once I find some suitable paper.

OK this is the end of a long post, hopefully it won’t be so long next time.

Thanks for looking.

Crafting again - YAY

2011-07-17T13:30:00.000+01:00

Yes I have made a start, well with the new Grandson I really need to got moving or things won't get done when they should.

So first the front page for Michaels 1st year album. Jackie had 4 scans and got copies of each one for me to put in the album. I have done a flip book with them and the duck was on the folder each scan came in. I have done the last page as well but it is just a list of important information about the day, prices and things that happened in history. It is a very functional LO so doesn't warrant a photo.

This is the first one in the album we will keep here and will include lots of the photos that don't go into the 1st year one. I am really pleased with it, though I say so myself.

How long has it been?

2011-05-31T08:34:00.000+01:00

I really haven't had the energy or the inclination to do anything apart from my monthly workshops. Things are improving though and I managed a couple of very basic LOs to complete our Tombstone album. Now I need to get the rest of the Arizona trip finished.

I have a number of projects to think about.I have my version of a printers tray to prepare. I have the papers to go in the back of the units and some tissue tape for the edges. A few embellishments are waiting and I will collect some more along the way.

I have 3 canvases that I want to make into a trio to hang somewhere but need to get a distress stain for the base coat.

Then there are several Christmas things to work on, started in the New Year and got no further!

I will get back to regular work soon and then there will be pics as well.

Cards and things

2011-05-09T06:40:00.001+01:00

After what seems to be ages I have completed some things and also remembered to bring the camera down from the attic so I can get some other things uploaded. So here we go.

First the Mothers day card I made for MIL. Quite a simple card but she liked it.

I finished these three yesterday.

There is a LO with no pictures which is the introduction to the re-enactment of the Gunfight at the OK Corral, the first LO of that series which is Doc Holliday and the ‘card’ I have made to welcome the forthcoming grandson.

Finally a close up

It is not an original idea but one I found at Kate's. A large cotton spool covered in ribbon and some added buttons. A piece of dowel sits in the hole, held in place with some bluetac. The top is a shield shape cut on the Robo, inked and embellished with a quote ‘Welcome to the world'’ some narrow sticky borders and some more buttons. The back is blank for us to write on when the time comes.

Hopefully I will get more done now!

Another Workshop

2011-03-13T12:38:00.001Z

Yes i attended another of Jennie's workshops yesterday and we played with the new colour washes, Perfect Pearls mists, distress inks, UTEE and so much more. This is what I made

and it is hanging on the craft room wall for inspiration. I also had time to make a little journal with a few more edge pieces of the jigsaw, that is going to become a journal of our daughters pregnancy, it already has the first 2 scans and a few notes but I won’t show it till it is completed which will be about July time.

Home Decor Plaque

2011-03-11T08:09:00.001Z

Goodness that sounds so American! There is no other way to describe it though. The method for the metal flowers is shown in an earlier post. I thought long and hard about the word to use and I am still not sure if it is the right one but that leaves me scope to make another one!

I think I will do another one as there are a couple of things I would change, partly because I didn’t think it through properly.

Oh and all the flowers, leaves and the heart are in metal with no backing, I might change that but I will experiment first.

Birthday time.

2011-02-27T05:20:00.001Z

We have 4 family birthdays in 9 days starting with Gary on 25 February, then Stef, Jackie and finally Gary on 5 March. I have been making the cards gradually over the last few weeks and got them finished in time. The 2 for the boys are a decoupage and a pyramage. I had the diecuts tucked away and the subjects are good for the boys.

The girls ones are a bit different. The pink one is for Stef (she is such a pink girl) and is a double stamped technique. You need a stamp with open areas, ink up a stamp with fine detail ( mine is tiny script) using a Versamark, ink up the main stamp (mine is poppies) with Versamark, stamp the fine detail directly onto the other stamp then stamp the other (poppies) onto the card. Cover with embossing powder, heat and watch the magic. I then coloured the flowers and stems using distress inks and Cut n' Dry™ Nibs.

Jackie’s card is a resist technique, the background stamp is embossed with clear embossing powder over Versamark then distress inks over the top. The butterfly is embossed with pale blue embossing powder and flies off the page.

That Calendar

2011-02-03T15:20:00.000Z

OK so it took a while but I have finally got to take the photos and bind it together so it has pride of place in my craft room.

Stand by for all the months, some look a little pale but they work IRL.

There you go! The December page was one we had free range on. I used the resist technique on the borders, with a musical stave background stamp. The I filled the gaps wither side of the month with a Christmas stamp using Versamark and Perfect Pearls.

Arizona layouts

2011-01-12T18:14:00.001Z

I seem to be taking ages with these, not the normal rush that I do. I think it is because I do other things these days but I have also had some mojo problems. I am gradually getting them done though, about half way through now. I have completed one 8 1/2 x 11 album of the Grand Canyon, the pics are great for us but I suspect pretty boring for others. I have another album the same size for the Tombstone photos. Chris put in a special request that we have a separate one just for that. The rest of the photos will take up 2 12 x 12 albums and the first is now full. Here is a selection of some of the contents.

Downtown Tucson, taken from the Interstate. We saw this view a lot as we drove this road almost every time we went out for a day.

We stumbled across this amazing Western shop in flagstaff. I used to work in shoe shops part time while I was studying but I have never seen so many boots in one place. All colours and lengths, and yes they are real chaps hanging on a rail as well.

A composite of 3 photos made up this view of the Canyon. The most amazing place I think I have been to.

The map was in one of the free guides we picked up.

This was one amazing place, Davis Montham, otherwise know as the ‘Bone Yard’ and huge area covered in so many planes all mothballed.

Finally there had to be one of the car we had (sorry about the reflection). We did manage a few trips with the top down but it was far too hot a lot of the time, much to Chris’s disgust.

I will no doubt get round to showing a few more when they are done.

Metal Flowers

2011-01-07T06:08:00.001Z

I was trolling through You Tube for some metal projects and came across this Metal Flowers and Frame and I have just the best idea for using it. Hope Kate still has some of those plaques left!

Christmas decs

2011-01-03T05:11:00.001Z

I had these left over from the Advent boxes I made the girls and wanted to use them for this Christmas but I only got the red one finished. I only needed the stamping on the blue one but only got that done yesterday so now the will both be packed away till next year.

The tops on both are embossed metal with alcohol inks added. The red one has some more metal, distressed music paper and some lacy ribbon. The blue has the same paper and one of my favourite stamps embossed in silver (looks white in the photo).

I have started another project. I got these tubes with some wall art in

and just couldn’t throw them out. I have put the first coat of paint on them, one in red and one blue, they need a second coat and then I will slowly decorate them through the year. Thankfully the ribbons either come out or can be masked. They are going to ne a bit of a challenge as I haven’t done anything that isn’t flat before.

More Angels

2010-12-19T11:54:00.001Z

I have had great fun making these I added some baubles made from peels offs and gilding flakes now I just have to get them hung up somewhere.

I have got a couple of wooden stockings half finished, will I get time to get them done for this year I wonder. I have got behind with the other preparations due to all the white stuff that has fallen and Chris nor being able to get home at all yesterday.

TFL

Make & Take day

2010-12-04T17:52:00.001Z

I have just returned from Pickleberry Papercrafts where there was a make and take with Jennie from The Artistic Stamper show how to make a lovely Christmas Decoration with everyone donating £1.50 to Demelza House Children’s Hospice. We all made an angel using paint, utee, stamps and Perfect Pearls. This is the one I did

A real change for me, not green and blue this time.

Masking

2010-11-29T18:19:00.001Z

This is the technique I learned at the last workshop. I love the effect it gives and have used it for most of my special cards this year.

I have had the stamp for a couple of years and used it with either Stazon of embossing ink and powders before but this is by far the best way I have found yet, just finished off with some Stickles to make it sparkle.

The same technique but I used a cotton bud to add some colour on the leaves and flowers.

Update

2010-11-22T08:35:00.000Z

I have been very remiss in not posting so I have decided to do a quick update and maybe gte some pics taken later.

I did finish the second advent box, the photograph is terrible as it doesn't show the embossing as it should be. I have shrunk it down so it looks a bit better (cheating!)

Then there was the christmas Card workshop I did - Cards with a twist was the title and it was another of the lovely Jennie from The Artistic Stamper and brought together lots of the techniques we have covered this year, and some new ones too.

I feel a little less guilty now!

First mission accomplished

2010-10-30T15:50:00.001+01:00

The first of the Advent boxes is done. It was funny, every time I did a bit I thought there was just a little more to do. I did the next bit then decided on something else. Still I am pleased with the result though not the photograph, I seem to have some odd shadows on the stocking.

Next task is to start on the second one, it will be a different colour though.

Another great workshop

2010-10-17T11:33:00.001+01:00

…at Pickleberry Papercrafts with Jennie from The Artistic Stamper.

All we knew was the title of the day – Christmas Curio Box, along with the fact that we would be using Ranger products and Jennies own stamps along with other things as needed.

We Gessoed (is that a real word!), painted, added texture paint, sprayed, tinted and glitzed the box then worked on the inside bits. Stamping, alcohol inks, distress inks, UTEE, sticking and gluing and this is the end result of mine

I had to finish it off this morning and the tree was the most time consuming . I also should have used the flash on the closed photo, it would have shown the colour better.

I am off back to the attic after a spot of lunch to make a start on the advent boxes for the boys. They will take a while so don’t expect to see them any time too soon!

UTEE fun

2010-09-12T16:33:00.001+01:00

I went to another of Jenny's workshops at Pickleberry yesterday. We had great fun playing with UTEE and made a book. I was determined not to do blue and green again and had sort of decided on reds and oranges.

This is the front , I couldn’t

resist the little kingfisher.

…and the back with its lock face and key. I am not sure what I will do with the book, it has 4 pages inside with cut edges using Tim’s dies. I have inked them to match the cover. Maybe I will decorate the rest of the pages with stamps and die cuts.

Mini books

2010-09-12T16:25:00.001+01:00

A mini album for the three Mums of the little ones that we went to share the day with a couple of weeks ago. They are all similar and very simple but a nice memory of the day for them.

I love the Cinch, it is so much easier to use than the Bind It All.

Mini journal

2010-08-26T18:26:00.001+01:00

Every tine we go away I make a mini book to stuff receipts, tickets, little guides and other bits and bobs into. This time I have mad a minor change and added a couple of pages where I can jot notes as well. The pics are slightly out of focus sadly but I think you can see what I have done.

From the front! The colours are based on how I see the rocks and desert, I will probably be proved wrong.

This shows the third page which has foil flakes along the edge, in the same colours.

finally another of the list pages and a pocket for the bits.

Catching up..

2010-08-21T14:30:00.001+01:00

I have been very bad at bringing the camera down from the craft room and uploading the stuff I have done so this is a bit of a catch up on the last few weeks. Hopefully I can get back into the habit of posting daily after our holiday at the end of September.

First a couple from our family BBQ a couple of weeks ago. The boys love Hula Hoops, potato based snacks that will just fit on their fingers. I just had to take these .

They had great fun playing Piggie in the middle with Dean.

The next few are from our holiday and are all going into a home made album, 8 x 8, for Deans birthday. He really liked looking at the big album I made and we thought he would like one for himself. I have only put some of them here.

That’s it for now – all caught up.

Oh and I got my texture plates for the Big Shot today, had a play and made a few ‘bellies’ for Christmas cards. Even got one made. Think I am going to have fun with them.

Christmas project

2010-08-21T14:17:00.001+01:00

I have decided to make some more house decorations this year and this is the first. It will be a tree (you can probably work that out for yourself) and I am still trying to decide on the embellishments I want to put on it. I think it will be Utee on chipboard as I have some seasonal shapes that I can use. As usual it is a blue base, most of our newer bits are blue and certainly the ones I have made are. this time i have spritzed with green and silver. It looks a bit messy at the moment but it will take shape – I hope.

Family Day

2010-08-01T18:59:00.001+01:00

I will get to scrap these, might even make a mini album of the wonderful day we have had. Here is a taster

Jackie & Alan with their respective offspring.

Dean playing ‘piggy in the middle’ with the 2 boys.

2 1/2 years old loving an ipod!

a friendly visitor

Father & Son

Steph & Connor

Nearly there now

2010-07-29T14:55:00.001+01:00

I have been managing to find some time each day to scrap the holiday photos and I have just 4 LOs to go and it will be finished. I am not posting them all here, there are rather a lot and some of them I have kept really simple so I can get more than a couple of photos on each page. i don’t know about you but I always find 4 or more pics can be cluttered and, when I put that many on one page I keep the embellishments and things down to a bare minimum. Anyway here are some from the last weeks efforts.

Our fist night was spent moored to the bank with this in view, the other side of the river were 2 water pumps that look like windmills. A great start to the week as it was really peaceful.

So many of the houses by the water are thatched in the traditional way. Dream homes!

I love swans, even though they can be quite aggressive, they always look so graceful.

Chris spotted this when we went for a walk and it wasn’t till we got home that I could identify it as a tiger moth caterpillar. I have a picture of the end result (the moth) which is going on a tag to add to the LO.

There are about 7 pages of mills in the album. This is the first and shows 5 different ones some working and some not. They are mainly used to pump water from the land.

The remaining ones will hopefully be completed over the next couple of days and the album will be complete. Strangely for me I know what I will be doing once it is finished. I need to make a start on the dreaded Christmas cards. I know it is early but we are away at the end of September and I have 150 to make this year so need to get started and not leave them all to the last minute.

More from Norfolk

2010-07-21T15:23:00.001+01:00

OK so I finally remembered to bring the camera down and sort the photos.Now I would normally do it in my craft room but the PC up there is giving me so much grief that it is all I can do just to get titles cut and the odd thing printed. So here goes with the next batch.

Jackie spent quit a bit of time on the roof of the boat, not when we ere going through bridges of course. I think she found it a bit of an escape from Gary for a while. Not sure you can see but she has her camera in one hand and her phone in the other!

Just a small selection of the sailing boats we saw. They looked wonderful in the sunshine and had near perfect wind conditions.

A couple more, the top one is a very traditional boat that once was used to ferry cargo about.

I use a Tim Holtz mask and spritzed the background with perfect pearls, reinker and water in a mini mister.

I used a sketch from an old magazine for this.

We saw this a couple of times, looks a bit strange in the UK and the name of the river boat (see title) makes it even odder!

I still have loads to do but they are coming along slowly but surely.

I’ve got the camera, at last

2010-07-11T11:21:00.001+01:00

I have spent a cool couple of hours in the attic and 2 more LOs are completed. By cool I mean the temperature, it has been really nice so far but was just getting a bit hot up there so I have left it for a while.

I feel an explanation is due first. I normally do our holiday albums in chronological order but this time I decided to do something different, partly due to the fact that I have pictures from more than one camera and partly because I can’t place some of them in time. OK I could check the date stamp but that is not an option now as I have altered them all a bit (sharpened, lightened etc) so I have them in sections. First come people, I haven’t finished all those yet but here are those I have done.

I love the way the camera does that, these were taken within minutes of each other, same place, same lighting. Oh well. A bit of a basic LO apart from the tag which is a Distress Ink tag with the quote ‘ These are the moments I want to remember forever’ and shows everyone taking a turn at the wheel.

We stopped for lunch at the Green Man between Norwich and Wroxham, the restaurant is full of musical instruments of all types including a Euphonium!

Gary loved catching things with his net, he managed (with help) to get some fish and a shell fish, possibly and Ormer.

I love this picture of the little man, he was really good about keeping the hat on in the full sun, it was a very hot day.

This is where I started using sketches, this one from Scrapbooks etc, well my take on it anyway.

Another take on a sketch from the same source, using a Tim Holtz mask. The quote is an old one, ‘if friends were flowers I would pick you’ printed on acetate.

Last one for today is a collection of photos that include Jackie. No title yet, I am working on that and it will go top left. Quite like this one if I say it myself.

30 degrees

2010-07-10T15:49:00.001+01:00

is just too hot again. I managed to get a couple of LOs done first thing, before it got too bad but that was it. I am using sketches and they are really working for me. I should have the camera back in the next day or 2 then I can get some pics taken. Mind you I have told the family that they can’t see any of them till I have finished but they don’t come here so I should be safe.

I am off to have a shower to get a bit less sticky for a while.

Summer crafting

2010-07-09T09:15:00.001+01:00

Well it’s a bit thin on the ground. One reason is that my craft space is in the attic, a converted roof space. Though it has 2 opening windows it gets fiercely hot when the sun shines, of course it is wonderful in the cooler weather. The other reason is that there is always so much more to do, the garden needs much more attention and there are evenings spent in the garden just relaxing.

Still I am scrapping again. I have 160 photos to get into the holiday album for the Norfolk Broads. I so need some inspiration though, I really feel stale, so I am on the look out for some interesting LOs that will take several pictures in a fresh way. After all there are limits to what the photos contain. People, buildings, boats. birds and general wildlife. I must have about 20 or so just of sailing boats. I am also looking to find some embellishments that I can print off. I think that will be todays task.

Grunge paper workshop

2010-06-20T17:49:00.001+01:00

OH I got so inky yesterday, and more today finishing off my project. But back to yesterday.

Another workshop at Pickleberry Papercrafts with the lovely Jennie. This one was grunge paper and we spent the day creating this

We started by preparing the frame with paint and stamps and some thick medium that I can’t remember the name of. We stamped a wet stamp into that which gave the texture, then painted and sprayed. then we started on the flowers. Roses first in different sizes and finished then we moved onto die cuts and metal. I brought mine home in pieces and finished it today. I had decided I wanted something other than a flower in the centre and found a large key in my stash which I inked and distress stickled. I also made one more flower (bottom right) using a stamp I have and distress inks. It has also been approved for hanging on the wall. YAY.

Next workshop is at the end of July and is a jewellery day. Looking forward to that.

Have I got my inspiration back?

2010-05-30T06:39:00.001+01:00

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

2010-05-20T20:15:00.001+01:00

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

2010-05-18T05:17:00.001+01:00

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

2010-05-16T07:30:00.001+01:00

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

2010-05-13T16:23:00.001+01:00

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

2010-05-11T17:31:00.001+01:00

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!

2010-05-10T16:40:00.001+01:00

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

2010-05-10T06:18:00.001+01:00

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?

2010-05-08T16:16:00.001+01:00

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?

2010-05-03T21:37:00.001+01:00

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

2010-05-01T18:50:00.001+01:00

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.

A realisation

2010-04-29T17:49:00.001+01:00

I suddenly worked out why April and May are slow on the crafting front. Let me explain -

I have 2 things in my life that absorb me – paper craft and the weather. It is at this time of the year that the big storm chases begin in the US, including 3 tours of UK people. Lots of them are available to watch live streaming online and I spend most evenings about now doing just that.

So don’t expect much from me for a while but I promise to post any time I get some done but with the garden, the storm chases and our drive being relaid it is unlikely just yet.

What is it with April

2010-04-29T06:48:00.001+01:00

I took a look at my journal from last year and April/May were the 2 months of the year that I did the least crafting. I think it must be the garden taking up more time. So I need to do something about this and make a concerted effort to do something constructive today.

I am thinking along the lines of some digi work but I really prefer the hands on with paper, card and the rest of the stash. Hopefully I will have something to report later.

Quick update

2010-04-27T16:27:00.001+01:00

I am thinking about my crafting but, after Sunday’s celebrations I am still sorting things out and, to be honest, trying to get my knees to recover. I will be up in the attic by the weekend if it kills me as I have lots of things to do.

A short break

2010-04-22T17:28:00.001+01:00

I won’t be crafting for the next few days, despite my wanting to take part in the UKS Cybercrop. I am suffering from some sort of nerve3 pain in my arms and legs, probably due to some new medication I have been prescribed. I also have a 90th birthday celebration to prepare for on Sunday – no it isn’t mine! LOL.

If I get anything done I will of course post but it is likely to be next week before I get anything done.

UKS Cybercrop

2010-04-21T20:24:00.001+01:00

It is this coming weekend and I have signed up. Not sure I will be able to do much as I have a lot to do for a big birthday celebration on Sunday but it will give me an excuse to sit down for a while on Saturday.

I got the Mystery Kit today and I have opened it up and laid it out while I think about what to do with it. I am hoping inspiration will jump up and hit me in the eye some time tomorrow. I have a glimmer of an idea but obviously I can’t talk about that.

Got it

2010-04-20T13:43:00.001+01:00

I got a project pan today, dropped in to see Kate at Pickleberry and remembered it at the last minute. Of course I had to get some other stuff too, a Tim Holtz mask and some Kling On so I can get my unmounted stamps sorted out. Just need to find the time to use them now.

Oh and the project plan was for the Vinamold (see 9 April) so I can make a start on making some moulds now too. Well Chris is not due back till late tonight so I may creep pup there later.

Nice little find

2010-04-19T18:15:00.001+01:00

I have been on the look out for some nice embossing folders, I love dry embossing and the effect it gives. I was so pleased when I wandered into the craft shop in Bluewater and they had some really reasonable ones so I got 2 for less than i would have spent on one of the others. All thanks to Chris being delayed so I had time to spare. Oh and I popped into Hotel Chocolat and got some lovely bargains as well.

2 for 1

2010-04-18T14:56:00.001+01:00

Yesterday was such a lovely day we went out to the garden centre after lunch, when i had planned to get into the attic. Still I managed to get some more alcohol inks – great colours – and some distress inks. there are still some gaps in the Distress ink colours that I want to fill though.

I did get there today though, my knee is really sore so I left Chris to the gardening and disappeared for an hour or so. I got the photos done of the frames and a little pendant I made from a bamboo domino. I painted the domino and then foiled the swirl on. A thin layer of clear glue on the top to protect it al and it is done.

The top frame is just poured utee, the middle one is crackle glaze on 2 corners and more utee on the others. The bottom one is glossy accents covered with beads. All I need to decide on now is what to put in them.

Here is the domino

Not much time!

2010-04-16T18:56:00.001+01:00

Today has been a bit hectic, up to London, back via Bluewater then helping the neighbours with PC problems. I did get a package in the post – kinetic cards that I will use for (dare I say it) Christmas.

Just waiting to see if we get a dust filled sunset tonight, that Icelandic volcano must be good for something.

Oh No

2010-04-15T21:34:00.001+01:00

I did nothing today. Been just too busy with work, well if that doesn’t happen then the rest … well OK you know the answer.

A quick aside, we are supposed to have this plume of volcanic ash over the country and all flights have been grounded. We are expecting great sunrises and sunsets but it hasn’t happened so far.

OK more craft tomorrow

Evening Crafter

2010-04-14T16:11:00.001+01:00

That’s me today, I am off to my space after supper and will craft till I feel like going to bed with a good book.

I am hoping the frames look better today, I played with UTEE yesterday and it was looking good. You never know there may be photos later!

I have some more animals to scrap as well. I am finding the 8 x 8 size a bit challenging to be honest. I have got used to having more space to play with and, though I don’t use a huge number of embellishments, the smaller size means using even less. Oh well at least I get to leave more in my stash.

Ooops - nearly forgot

2010-04-13T18:47:00.000+01:00

I had a funny day, work this morning but Chris leaving for work about 1.15. I then sat down to watch the mornings QVC program. Such a shame for Dawn, being such a public person and having such a difficult time in her personal life. Still she is looking good and the show went quite as it should. Sadly there was nothing spectacular. Same went for the afternoons show though I did get an idea for some dimensional cards. Wi;; have to work on that.

Now I am doing some evening crafting and working on more of the frames. Some of the stuff I did last time isn't right so I need to go over that and create some more fun on the corners.

More drying time

2010-04-12T15:32:00.001+01:00

I have done some more to the frames and the domino and yes they are drying again.n I have to say it is quite unusual for me to things that I leave for another day. I am normally a ‘get it done’ person. Still I have some more to do tomorrow if I get time.

Inky fingers

2010-04-11T14:37:00.001+01:00

That’s me! I have been working on a domino, the small frames and the photos from Howletts and nothing is finished. In fact the domino and the frames are drying.

First the frames, I have painted them with terracotta acrylic paint – had to leave that to dry. Then I have started to decorate the first one. I started with PVA and dropped alcohol inks into it and swirled it round a bit. Did that on 3 corners then put some Glossy Accents on the third corner, dropped some toning inks into that and topped it off with some clear, tiny beads. Now it is drying.

I painted the first domino with brown acrylic – left that to dry!

The LO is the first page of the album and is of the mansion at Howletts. I tore the edges of the mat and rolled them a bit then coloured them lightly with some distress ink – guess what – it is drying!

The garden calls

2010-04-10T17:51:00.001+01:00

The weather is so beautiful that we have spent the day in the garden and I have done no crafty things at all. I may draw some sketches later but right now I am pleasantly tired so that may not happen. Tomorrow is another day!

What a find

2010-04-09T16:22:00.001+01:00

I have been thinking about making my own moulds for embellishments ever since I played with some Mould & Pour. I do think that particular product is a bit over priced and I wondered if I would re-use the same moulds time after time. Well I have found something else that you can re melt if you want and is a whole lot cheaper. It is Vinamold and I ordered some yesterday, it arrived today how good is that! I will be giving it a try as soon as I can find a project pan for the MeltPot as that seems to be the safest way for me to melt it down. Now I need to find things that I can mould as well.

Goodies!

2010-04-08T16:31:00.001+01:00

Having had both the grandsons here today has left no time for much else really. I did get a little bag of goodies in the post though.

I now have some tags Tim Holtz size, now I will be keeping one so I can use it as a template but i wanted a number for a little project I have in mind. Then there were some dominos, I have seen them on a blog or two, all pretty and decorated so I want to have a go. I also got 3 mini frames all linked together. I have a couple of ideas for those as well. Finally there were a couple of unmounted rubber stamps, one of stars and the other one that will work beautifully with utee to make another pendant. So guess who can’t complain of having nothing to do for a while!

What a lovely day!

2010-04-07T17:28:00.001+01:00

WE went to Howletts today and I took loads of pics of the animals. I

checked them out when we got back and uploaded and ordered 32 to make an album with. Here are a few peeks at them as ordered, some may be cropped of course.

This will need the edges trimming as it was through mesh and the best I could get.

Isn’t he gorgeous – I can’t remember what he is right now but I will for the album.

You will have to wait for the others.

Designing day

2010-04-06T17:34:00.001+01:00

After the Easter break it was back to work this morning but I have had time to do some work on Robo designs. Nothing too fancy but I want to be able to cut aperture cards with a degree of consistency so I have set up various shapes on A4 paper. Square, oblong, circle, oval and star. I have heart to do and I will think about any more shapes that will work. Keyhole comes to mind and snowman for Christmas and maybe bell shaped.

That’s it for me today.

Easter Monday

2010-04-05T18:49:00.001+01:00

a day of rest and relaxation! I made it up to the attic, researched some photos for a LO I am planning, and got a surprise. OK so here is the story. We went to Texas in 2002 – some LOs in the slide show. I made a terrible attempt at an album and it is in the process of being reworked. I won’t even begin to tell you about the original. Anyway we spent a couple of nights in Galveston and really liked the city. We were so sad when Hurricane Ike caused so much damage in 2008. To do something different I was hoping to find some pictures of places we saw then and how they look now. The big surprise is that, in the main, the tourist sites and the old buildings in Downtown are still the same. Even the hotel we stayed in, which was right on the seawall, is still there and obviously in use. So my idea is out, now to think about something else.

Finding that out put paid to my inspiration for the day too!

Chipboard basket

2010-04-04T14:49:00.001+01:00

It’s is finished, all I have to do now is to make the flowers to put inside. I even have the floral foam to take them. Problem – I need grunge paper to do the ones I want to do and I can’t find any at all, it has all sold out. I may have to go down the faux porcelain route or just make them out of paper. Anyway here is the basket, I painted it with acrylic paint then used distress ink on the outside edges. I wanted to spritz as I love the slightly specked effect it gives but it didn’t work, think it might be the paint just absorbed it too fast. Then I stamped with Versamark then topped that with perfect pearls. Poppies on the short sides, mixed border on the long sides and cherry blossom on the handle. Not that they show much in the photo, they do in real life.

Busy doing nothing

2010-04-03T14:22:00.001+01:00

How nice it is to have nothing pressing and to just sit and read.

I have caught up with the blogs I am subscribed to and have decided that I will try and do some of the challenges, not today though. I am enjoying the relaxation too much.

I decided not to do any thing with my chipboard bits today, giving things a bit of space gives me inspiration sometimes and means I don’t get too stale with idea. I am going to keep on surfing for ideas and get back to ‘doing’ tomorrow.

Frames are done

2010-04-02T16:55:00.001+01:00

i am really pleased with 2 of them, the first 2 below.

The first is painted with acrylic paint then sprayed with green glimmer mist. Then I went to use the Mango spray but the mechanism had broken so I flicked instead. Quite like the effect. The corner piece is a piece of Friendly Plastic I made ages ago, it has been sitting on my desk waiting for something to use it on.

The second one is distress inks directly on to the chipboard, I used Rubbed Sage and Wild Honey (think those are the right names) and then stamped over the top with Archival ink.

The last one is just painted with acrylic ink then Rock Candy Distress Crackle paint. I put it on really think but it hasn’t crackled that much and I don’t think ink or paint over it would work so I just added the charms.

Actually it looks OK in the photo!

April already

2010-04-01T15:50:00.001+01:00

At least I didn’t get caught with any April Fools.

The only crafting I have done is to stick 2 pieces of metal on to one of the frames and that will be all I get time for as we are having a cozy dinner tonight. Should get some done tomorrow though.

Yipee!

2010-03-31T17:33:00.001+01:00

My frames arrived today, I could be taking a closer look at them shortly.

It has been an odd day as DH went off to work late and will be out till very late so my routine has been all upside down and I haven’t done a thing. I haven’t even had time to decide what I am going to do with the frames. I am hoping inspiration will strike when i get to my desk.

Where is my order..

2010-03-30T15:31:00.001+01:00

I placed an order last Thursday and got notification that it had been dispatched over the weekend, supposedly first class if the website is to be believed. It hasn’t arrived and I so want to get some frames made. I will be making a note not to use the site again. Most online suppliers make the effort to get stuff out next day if not the same day so I was really expecting things to be here. Not a happy bunny.

On a positive note I did get my pages finished but forgot the batteries for the camera so they are waiting to be done tomorrow. That will be when the post arrives and I up up 2 flights of stairs I don’t doubt.

First things first

2010-03-29T15:02:00.001+01:00

….the finished tag collection. I put it all together with the Bind It All and finished it off with fibres and ribbons.

I had a free day today so I popped down to Pickleberry and took some photos with me. I have been working on and 8 x 8 album with different techniques in, one for each letter of the alphabet. It as been badly neglected recently so I did some more of that. None of them are finished as they need titles which I will get cut on the Robo in the next few days. I had a play with the new Tim Holtz dies as well. Thanks to Kate I managed to get a US flag on one page as well.

Here they are…

2010-03-28T11:25:00.001+01:00

I have been in the craft room for a couple of hours, tidying up a couple of the tags with small embellishments and remaking a couple of the pages for the book. I got my Alice stamps out to complete the theme.

Here are all the tags

And the pages to hold them

Now all I have to do is to finish off with some threads and ribbons and find some charms to complete it all. I will post another pic when it is done.

What a great day

2010-03-27T18:01:00.001Z

The workshop was really good and I have had a wonderful day. We mad a book of tags with all the different techniques, I will take some pics tomorrow and post my favourites.

The next best thing is that Jenny from the Artistic Stamper is going to do a mixed media class in May – something else good to look forward to.

OK so we now have thunder and lightning so I am off to get the camera out in case it gets good enough to get some shots.

Preparation and a tidy up.

2010-03-26T16:09:00.001Z

I had big intentions this morning, a few hours free and I was planning to scrap. Instead I realised I needed to gather a small toolkit and bits to take to the workshop tomorrow. That quickly degenerated into a big tidy up and a bit of reorganising.

I now have my toolkit ready to go with a new heat mat and a new apron. I really should have done something with that. My lunch is in the fridge, a nice healthy salad, and I am ready to go. I will do a full report on what we do but it may not be till Sunday as I will be back too late to get it done tomorrow.

I’m back

2010-03-25T13:28:00.001Z

Yes my eyes have totally settled down and I am back to my daily edition. I have managed to do a bit of scrapping, I did a LO yesterday but haven’t quite finished – picture to follow.

I have decided we need some up to date pictures of the boys so have ordered some chipboard frames that I can decorate and then get some nice pics as the weather improves. I have a few ideas for the frames but don’t want to start till after Saturday as I have a workshop on distress inks to go to and there may be some new ideas I can use. Besides the frames have to arrive first.

Enforced time out

2010-03-23T13:34:00.001Z

I have mild infections in both eyes and I have to rest them as much as possible. So as I have to work that is where my time is being spent at the moment so not much crafting. I can watch the TV and flick through magazines but that is boring to report on day after day so, until things are easier I will be giving this a rest as well. Hopefully it will only be a day or 2.

Mmmmm metal

2010-03-21T13:20:00.001Z

I had a play with metal this morning and I think I need to find someone who is already used to using it. I need a few more ideas than using embossing moulds and peel offs. I did find out one co0l thing though.

The metals I have are purple one side and silver the other so I embossed to use the purple as the top, then I tidied it up and sanded it, that showed the silver through which I liked. However I made a few mistakes and some sanded bits were not what I wanted. I decided to try and paint the wrong bits with some alcohol inks. I have a pen that you fill with alcohol inks but I have filled it with blending solution. I tried the ink fill but all that happened was the purple came off, clearly the blending solution was removing the purple. So I did learn that at least. I also found out that my stamping mat is perfect for embossing on, not too soft but just right.

I have been trying to watch some more of the videos but they are buffering just too much to watch sensibly. Maybe I will have a look for some more or try and see if I can find a workshop somewhere.

Travel book 1

2010-03-20T14:51:00.001Z

I am really pleased with the first of this years travel books. I used a variety of different techniques which made it interesting. I used alcohol ink on the acetate cover and that showed the stamped and distressed front page. On the other ages I used plain stamping, stamping and heat embossing, spritzing with a mask, rub ons etc.

I still need to find some more rubons for the clear parts of the acetate and then put it together. That is for tomorrow.

I went shopping

2010-03-19T16:59:00.001Z

this morning. Should have been working but everything I touched was only half there so I gave up.

I popped into Kate's and got the Bazzill I needed and a few sheets of Basic Grey from the Granola range. There is still something about BG, it just shouts at me to buy and use it. I also got an Acetate and Chippies album, the tag shape, to make the Journal for our holiday in Norfolk. The BG will be just right for that, the colours are perfect.

Then I saw this, the Tim Holtz stamp storage

and I fell in love. I know it is only acrylic but it is so gorgeous, looks just like tooled leather and very expensive. I also know that I have recently made a lot of storage for my unmounted stamps but there you go.

There is a video on You Tube showing how to customise it with acrylic paint but I am not sure I want to do that, at least not now, but that may change.

Metal is looking interesting

2010-03-18T16:42:00.001Z

I have been watching the Ten Second Studios videos and there are some lovely ideas. In particular there is one I found with Tim Holtz but I haven’t had time to watch that one yet.

That is it for my crafting today, not much but it has taken up all the afternoon just sitting and watching and taking a few notes. I will have time to try some of them out at the weekend, or maybe even tomorrow.

All upside down

2010-03-18T06:56:00.001Z

That’ me at the moment. I can’t seem to get back to my routine and it is driving me nuts. I am OK in the morning but come lunchtime and it all goes to pot. I have got used to having lunch then spending some time on crafting. Now that can be half an hour with a mag, watching TV shows live or recorded or getting into my craft room and doing some. Then in the evening, after supper, settling down to catch up on blogs and blogging. The last bit is the most difficult right now and I seem to be failing badly.

I am hoping that actually putting this here will drive me to get back on track.

So Wednesday saw my metal sampler arrive. I have some basic tools and some metal to play with. I put a piece through my embossing machine and it worked perfectly, I want to try alcohol ink on it later. There are lots of videos on the Ten Second Studios site and I want to take a look at those.

Catch you later I hope.

Travel pocket books

2010-03-16T13:21:00.001Z

I mean books with pockets and not the ones you keep in a pocket. We are hopefully having 2 holidays this year and I need to make a book for each so I have somewhere to keep receipts, tickets etc. I keep a written journal or blog for our holidays and have done for ages now, they get printed off and included in the album(s) I make for each. I also have all these little books with lots of bits in them that haven’t made it into the albums. I love looking back through them and seeing what we bought, where we ate and stayed and some of the things we did.

Ideas for this year are coffee filter books, tag books, concertina books and anything else I can find for a change.

Our first holiday will be to Norfolk in June where we have a boat for a week so this will be a nature based theme. We haven’t finally decided on the second holiday but it will be at the end of September and somewhere there is still some warmth and sunshine so this may be a ‘hot’ theme. More as I get things organised.

Off to watch QVC for a couple of hours, maybe there will be some inspiration there.

Monday’s child..

2010-03-16T04:56:00.001Z

was very busy! A full day in the office which is very rare, and and evening seeing Alice in Wonderland with the wonderful Johhny Depp.

So no crafting but I am hoping to make up for it today!

Slide show – look

2010-03-14T12:34:00.001Z

Yes I managed to get it done. I tried a couple of sources before I found the one I used, had some problems with the others but this one was easy and there are lots of variations to choose from. When I change the photos, or do another one, I will try out some of them. There are also 2 LOs in the selection that I finished this morning. I am having great fun trying to use up lots of old stash too. there are more to add yet so watch out for changes.

Happy Mothers Day to all Mums out there, I got a lovely card and a prezzie to come in the next day or so.

Blogger or Live Writer

2010-03-13T11:26:00.001Z

well one of them failed yesterday, I wrote and up loaded my post from Live Writer but it didn’t show up. So what did I do yesterday – well not much really. I was quite busy with work so didn’t have that much time. I read all the blogs that I am subscribed to, assuming they had posted of course. I also downloaded a couple of ideas for future projects.

I am going to combine this with today’s post. I have been into the craft room and managed a couple of LOs but then the F1 qualifying started and I HAD to stop. This afternoon there is 3 hours of crafting on the TV and I am planning to watch that and take notes and draw some sketches.

Paper Roses

2010-03-11T17:32:00.001Z

that’s what I have made today, and my desk is covered with them. I need to get them together and assembled in the small bowl I have. Then I can display them with the grandkids pictures.

I am quite surprised I got them done as it has been a busy day with visitors and a lunch out but I always say I work better when I have lots to do.

More tomorrow I hope…