Ms. Grubby Little Mitts

WOYWW – Last minute project

2012-01-25T01:12:00.001Z

I have been crafty this week as a matter of fact – I have been crafty since the year began if truth be told..

But today in particular I am in a rush to finish a project for a three year old little girl…

I made a junk journal for her sister last year and promised her one on her birthday… would you believe Thursday is her birthday and I totally forgot…

Thank god three year olds are not fussy.. I am doing a handbag sort of thing – filled with colouring pages – loads of textured stuff and then I will stuff it with crayons and other stuff to make a mess..

Her mother will probably kill me when she starts attacking her wall – but hey she’s only three once…

Although I am rushing to get it done – this was really a fun little project and I think I will end up doing it again….

See what else I have been up to this week…

Valentine’s project - HERE

Art Journal – HERE

Some more art Journal – HERE

Wishing you all a fabulously fantastic day and happy crafting…

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

Valentine blog hop–The big ticket

2012-01-24T12:36:00.001Z

I spotted this link up Valentine blog hop a few days ago and thought about entering two projects I have been working on..

I will admit I am not a pink girl by any stretch but I do love the valentine season – (minus the pink)..

I love it for the unique things I see in the craft world,
I love it for that extras effort that boy or that girl makes for the Valentine’s in their lives
I also love it because my neighbours tends to bring around the best candies for me… I am alot of peoples Valentine’s (LOL)

But on a serious note – Valentines is one of those gift giving seasons where it can go horrible wrong or just magical right.. But even if’s wrong the mere thought that someone went out of their way to do something for you- just naturally makes it magical…

My first project in the blog hop is one I had to ask permission to show – the pictures below show about 85% of the book’s feature..

The book is highly personalised and the lady that commissioned the book feels a little flustered by having her thoughts and such on the web.. so none of the actual end design was approved..

So I took what I could get – and photo to death the book.. as I really loved this book

It’s a mix of paper and wool flowers and this was flittered throughout with miniature tickets..

If you had not notices the book is actually a big ticket – I made each page from a sheet of A4 paper and then covered with pattern paper and each page is dedicated to a particular though – Kisses, date night, old memory, etc etc

There are loads of tags as well as journaling and picture spot.

Enjoy..

If you have a project or just something you want to share this season – Join the hop and tell us about your project..

My second project will go up Friday morning..

Details of how to get involved is here UPCYCLED SCRAPBOOKING....

Playing around and making backgrounds

2012-01-23T10:59:00.000Z

There is a ustreamer called Rach0113 whose style I love… I love how she experiment and just think outside of the box and comes up with some fun art journaling page..

I watched her last Saturday night using pan pastel and stamps doing a great blending design..

Taking her concept I tried the same thing with eco-crafts acrylic as I am not a fan of chalks, although I know I will try them eventually…

but back to the page – I am in a sort of opposite colour space sort of mood and went with the colours sky blue, moss, blue patina and sunflower..

Loves how it turned out – using the gears stencils and paper artsy stamps I ma liking it alot…

This was fun…

It has begun–UKS art Journey

2012-01-19T11:13:00.001Z

The UKS Art Journal first prompt has gone out.. and it’s just to have fun with a colour of my choice..

To be honest other than green which I adore – I also love colour mix, and layering of colours..

So I went with what I loved and always wanted to try – I sprayed, misted, inked and had fun..

The process to getting there…

So the first page on my cereal box is done…

I think I am going to prep a few pages to make it a bit easier for me when I need to do more pages

Have fun today …

Sometimes even a mess can be saved

2012-01-18T19:09:00.001Z

I made a total mess of this page by adding dye ink and all manner of products that don’t work together…

Needless to say it became a runny mess – but with art journal everything can be saved and while I haven’t gotten the right quote to place inside- I am pleased with how much of the background I was able to save..

Love it…

WOYWW– Feeling like a You-tube addict

2012-01-18T01:29:00.001Z

I have been spending too much time on You-tube… I always always find some project I want to try or revamp in my own way…

Not sure where I am going with this one yet – but at the moment this is the half finished project that’s taking up my desk space

One of the neat thing about going with the flow and trying out impromptu project is that I always end up using stock or tools that I have not used in ages..

I will saw Martha Stewart punches does add a bit of something to everything they go on..

Other than you-tube goodness I have been on eBay finding other kind of goodness…

i love those rollagraph stamps and finding the older one on eBay is always a treat for me… Got 9 of them recently for a steal…

A few were Christmas prints but the others are perfect for all occasion..

Looking forward to having a play with these – with the next few days…

You never know they may just make an appearance on the you-tube project…

Here are some other things I have been up this week

My foray into the world of card making – HERE

My art journal book for use on the UKS Art journey programme – HERE

I un-mounted my wooden back stamps over the weekend - HERE

some art journal pages – HERE & HERE

Wishing you all a fabulously fantastic day and happy crafting…

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

Kicking and screaming into card making

2012-01-17T12:45:00.001Z

I know it sounds a bit dramatic – but I am not a card maker, while I can come up with an idea for a mini book or just get sown and dirty with the messy stuff, I get lost with card making..

I think it’s probably the fact that it has to be clean and it involves rather tiny bits of paper that I have to make every effort not to muck up or destroy before it’s completed that’s my problem.

Anyhow I need to do 12 card for valentines.

I am doing two a day first thing and so far – I am liking the process and it really set me up for the rest of the day to know I have something completed or at least most of the way completed..

I am loving layering and I can’t remember the last time I used this punch…

Petaloo saves the day – I knew there was reason I bulk bought these Petaloo flowers…

They are great to colour and mist.

As I know chocolate will feature in some of the gifts of the season, these stamps were just the ticket..

I will add some finishing touch to them before I am completely satisfied – but for now I am well pleased..

Happy crafting…

A six month journey–UKS Art Journey

2012-01-16T12:16:00.000Z

One of the forum sites that I frequent ALOT is running a six month journey into Art Journal (AJ) HERE – as this is an area that I love and as you can never have enough info or inspiration when it comes to getting mucky , I am in.

One of the first things being talked about or introduced might be a better term as a lot of the ladies are newbies to AJ is the journal itself..

At the moment I have at least three journal going – they range from a tiny 4x4 which is just fun (simply fun to AJ in) to a A3 size journal - at first that size was this big spread of white paper when I first got it – but as I go through the book and make it my own the challenge is now finding the time to put all the ideas I have in my head down – so I am not going to go out and buy another one

This is what I have done, at the beginning of the New Year I went on some sort of tangent to wrangle my overflowing pile of scrap paper into some sort of order and one of the things I did with the cereal boxes, the old envelope, corrugated cardboard, larger size bits of paper and those half finished project was to toss them together and placed them in a ring binder..

So this project just came along at the right time for me to use this book..

There is all kinda sizes and colour schemes going on in this book – but you know – it works for me.

One of the half finished project from last year,

Die cuts, old card and even a jiffy envelope is in this book -I am looking forward to fun times with this album.

At the moment until the first prompt is given

I am saving all the negatives from my die cuts

I have invested in a bigger tube of gesso and even made my own in one case
I have added more stuff to my already overflowing bin of art supplies

And I am leaving myself open to learning more and having fun…

Find more info HERE

Find out more about UKScrappers HERE

Something quick

2012-01-15T00:47:00.000Z

This is another entry in my tiny journal – So quick and easy to do..

Tackling those wood mounted stamps

2012-01-13T00:43:00.000Z

I finally had it with my boxes and boxes of wood mounted stamp – So after a little investigation and some tips from people who had done it before I decide to un-mount my stamps and free up some much need space in my craft area..

The hardest part for me was deciding where I was going to store them – but thanks to a fab new year sale i picked up this photo album which has the capability to house 500 picture…

It was going for 2quid and when I picked it up my intention was to try one of those year long journal challenge and the compartment style plastic inserts are just perfect -

However after weighing up the pros and the cons – I decided on using it for storage…

One of the first thing I did was cut some cards to fit in to the slot of each page…

My initial idea was to use the back and front of the page to house stamp an image – but when I did the first one I realise it was too tight a fit to put to stamp back to from in each slot..

In the end I ended up putting the stamp in the front section and the image on the reverse in each slot…

Before I began I took some tape – just any tape will do and fold it over the hold in the sleeves – and repunch the holes . I did this to give some extra support to the pages, as after all this was not made to hold stamps.

Other than the actual un-mounting of the stamp – this was probably the most tedious part of the whole process.

I had to commandeer the kitchen for this mission – and also because I needed the microwave for the whole process.. Even the trusty apple juice came out …

Where stamps had a plastic film (buy info or manufacturing info) or any pertinent detail paste on the wood mount.. I removed them and attached them to the section that the stamp would be placed in…

I did this as I always ask where stamps are from and I wanted to have that info at hand just in case I am ever asked – or even if I happen to damage the stamps – I will know where to get it from..

Just a few of the baskets getting emptied, these make ideal storage for those bits of wooden backing..

Some picture of the book getting filled

I will admit this is a long process and demands a lot of patience and finger nail as well – but in the end so worth it.

The space this had freed up has allowed me to do a little re-shifting of my craft area..

The other absolutely fantastic thing about un-mounting my stamps is that I have the stamps now close at hand in a convenient folder ..So stamps I have not seen in years – I can now get to them easily..

So far the book has about 280 stamps in there and it does have a alligator mouth sort of look – but I set that right with a elasticated hair band and the book is already tucked away in a corner…

Some Journal pages in a tiny book

2012-01-10T23:56:00.000Z

Sometimes the inspiration strike when I least expect it….

I treated myself to a tiny art journaling book and it had been so much fun doing quick pages in it…

I normally work in an A4 book or A3 or at least have one of each on the go at the same time, so this tiny book was a different path for me and it is so much fun to work in…

Everything is just quick and the inspiration just fly onto the pages…

I saw this lovely set of stamps no Ebay the other day and treated myself – Love them ALOT…

WOYWW - A new year - but still crafting

2012-01-04T09:38:00.001Z

My desk is full of the usual suspect.. We all know what they are…

This week I added a few more criminals to the table… yes they are criminally fun..

I am talking about my Art Journaling supplies… addictive little devils that they are..

I went on an organizational spree and got them sorted and into one of those tool box..

I am quite pleased with the final result so far, the box is too big for the desk but here it is on the floor to give you an idea..

I am also mucking around in the scrap boxes and over the next few day I will be posting about some of the ways I am using them up..

On Monday I posted my patchwork dies cuts using scrap HERE go have a look..

Wishing you all a fabulously fantastic year and happy crafting…

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

Using up scraps – # 1

2012-01-02T09:24:00.000Z

As scrapper we all have our little boxes, or a big box in my case of scraps. paper, ribbon, odd buttons and other bits and pieces that I am loathe to toss out as I always feel I am going to NEED them to add that final touch to something…

One of my plan for the year – note I am not using the R word – it’s my plan for the year, is to use up the scrap I accumulate,

In more creative ways..

In silly ways if I want to..

To toss them out, jut because I am done with the project…

To give them away if they can benefit someone else.

or anything else that I can’t think of now..

One of the first thing I did was start on a journey to top up my die cut box… as I love patch work die cuts and what better way to use up the scraps than to make patch work A4 sheet and then get crafting..

Start off with any scrap – don’t overthink the colours.. just cut in stripes if possible.. Tear if you are in the mood..

The rough edges with give you the die cut some dimensionality..

Paste these onto a any size paper you have lying around. These are great to use on those paper you never know what to do with. They match nothing and just seem to hang around your paper pile for ages.

The size paper is only limited by the space you have to store the finished project.

Once you have the entire sheet covered – run a layer of distressing ink over the top of the whole thing. I prefer to keep my colour as close as possible to the paper colours I am using.

This is to cover as much of the white edges as possible that will certainly be showing and the ink tend to pull the entire thing together..

So be mindful of the colour used…

Do as much or as little of these sheet as you want to … I tend to do just lots of A4 sheet and store them as is..

I also find the whole process of cutting, tearing pasting quite relaxing.. so can be used as a good jumpstart process to get your creative juices flowing.

Today I need some shapes and am using one sheet .. cut into four and pop into the big shot with my die of choice and I am set to go.

Despite the fact I use scrap to so this -I still am reluctant to waste anything, so the negatives ends up going into my art journal or can be used as stencils depending on the shape you have cut..

Make a plan for this first month and get crafting – using up those scraps..

WOYWW–Th’s was the Wednesday after the big day

2011-12-28T02:05:00.001Z

Now that we are just pass the Yuletide season – Here’s hoping you all had a lovely time with friends and family …

Or just a great time all round if you were far away from loved ones…

Not too much crafty stuff going on for me at the moment – but I wanted to share my latest creation with the free papers from Homecraft Magazine’s…

Some beautiful papers and stamps came with the December issues and I had fun using them this month…

I can also say that I have officially met my goal of using up all my magazine free paper for 2011 – some prints were a real challenge to find a project to suit but all in all they ended up being used…

This went into my friend’s stocking and she was really pleased with this little mini…

On the family front and my craft area

My nephew totally adores my craft spot – and I have to admit I encourage him and spoil him rotten in the process…

This holidays we broke into the rubber stamp pile and we had fun…. I will admit I am not a fan of tags as I see no real purpose for them -I admire them as little bits of paper to try techniques out on….

But with the kiddo here for a few days I admit these tags were fun to make and as long as he is going home with them I am cool with mucking about with him….

Love these….

Below is a sneak peek at a project I am working on for the new year… I am having fun with this one and am just really amazed amazed how inspiration comes from the most unlikeliest things…

Here wishing you a grand WOYWW today and just a special day all round…

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

Art Journaling and having fun

2011-12-07T10:16:00.001Z

Drag out those paint and brushes and have fun…..

WOYWW– Just passing the time

2011-12-07T09:21:00.001Z

Hey crafty people

I know you all are busy with holiday projects and deadline and hopefully some family time stuck into that schedule there somewhere…

I am on pause for a few hours for some “ME” time – sometimes I need to unwind and just do something for fun..

That said, fun can end up being rather elaborate ….

I took my trusty cereal boxes and just grabbed a few odds and bits from my never ending pile and tried something new to me.

The result is below… I so love it and really regret not using some proper chipboard to make this…

The plus part of this is that I will be hanging onto this one – no matter how my mother pester me to hand it over…

Keep your fingers cross and wish me luck in holding out against her…

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

Have a great Wednesday…

WOYWW– Old faithful and some new stuff

2011-11-16T01:01:00.001Z

It feels like forever since I have stepped into the online crafty land… Life sometimes takes a hold and really refuse to shake you loose..

My head is above the water for the time being and I have been crafting – mostly art journaling if truth be told – but crafting none the less.

One of the first thing I did was try to tackle my essential bin – but everything just seems to naturally navigate right back to where they were before – and I am good with that.. for the most part

At least I know where to find my everyday ink, ATG, trimmer, crop-o-dile, chomper – you get the drift…

I am going with the idea that if it ain’t broke – leave it..

Other than my essential bins – I have been playing playing with texture – the holiday/gift giving season is almost upon us – and I am playing around with a few thing.

As of now I am loving how they are turning out..

Front of a mini album – I am putting together for a friend.

Open spread – This was so much fun to put together..

Time consuming – but very pleased with the end result.

This picture came out a bit dark – but this is my challenge to myself to use up those free papers that come with some of the craft magazine that I buy monthly.

The fun thing about this book is that these colours are not my taste at all – but I really got stuck into using up every bit of this paper and I am well pleased with how this turned out…

Not too bulky – but a pretty decent size to get about 25 pictures into along with some journaling spots..

Have a great WOYWW today and the rest of the week. and remember that the new scrapbooking magazine Scrap 365….comes out on the 18th..

Cant wait…

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

Art Journalling – A few November pages

2011-11-14T01:08:00.000Z

Mostly backgrounds – but they are ready for when I need to write stuff..

Stacks and more….

2011-09-22T18:31:00.001+01:00

Seth over at The Altered Page – have a neat blog hop of stacks going on and in the spirit of the event I have decided to show the stack closest to me.

My first stack is my of ATG’s

I am not sure when I accumulated all these gun but one is in every corner that I craft in and believe it or not I still have one more that is not out of the box…

It was really fun to stack them up and see them all in one place… not seen them together in along time..

As I look across on my computer table - I currently have a stack of book yet to get through…

Happy stacking – look around and if you have any stacks going on ….. Share it at The Altered Page

WOYWW – Nieces, nephews and some Up-cycling

2011-09-21T01:10:00.001+01:00

The weeks are going by in a flash - I thought with the kids back at school I would have at least two or three lazy days – I would have even settled for one – but no such luck…

The days are flying by like the wind…

Quite a few things pass by my desk this week – but sometimes I don't remember to capture everything… However some of the more memorable events I definately captured…

I recently got this desktop dress form (I absolutely adore these things) I have always wanted a vintage looking one and finally found one…

Before I had a chance to sit and enjoy my treat – My niece was dressing the thing up in crochet skirts and jewellery…

It’s a virtual fashion show going on on my craft desk this week…. I dread the day she gets into my bag of lace.

Before After

My nephew goes off to Uni this week and my little crafty gift to him going off is this recycled binder… He’s one of those kids who is super organised and likes his stuff stored – so here is my crafty contribution.

I enjoyed making this – It’s made from old book pages and glazed with Pritts Kids Glaze…

He loves it… I am hoping this will be one of those treasured pieces that takes him through university…

Here’s a picture of the inside INSIDE

The youngest member of the family came to stay with me yesterday and I have all my nieces and nephews so well trained that they know when crafty hour is on on the telly they must let aunty watch in peace..

As for the ironing, I don’t even know why I pretend that I do any on a Tuesday’s – I put it up, and sit with a cup of tea and watch craft for a couple of hours…

Hope you had a great few days.

Wishing you loads of laughter for the upcoming few days.

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

Edit after post..

Just to reassure commenter's and other visitor to this blog… the ironing board is only up and the iron is not plugged in… so no fear of hot iron and baby…

Baby is headless because I didn’t ask my sister if I could post his picture on the blog – so a matter of principle going on here…

I had a bit of chuckle from some of the comments though… A scary movie might be in my future if the crafty thing don’t work out…(LOL)

Thank you for all your concerns…. baby and aunty are good – Ironing has not been done in about three week – due to Create and Craft and QVC….

WOYWW – Some week inspiration hits with a punch…..

2011-09-14T00:41:00.001+01:00

There is nothing so wonderful as just having the house free from kids, putting your feet up and a nice cup of Earl Grey just within arms length… (School is back - YEAAAHHHH)

Nothing that is except when inspiration pinches and you just have to do a whole lot of crafty stuff all at once before you forget then….

I broke into the cereal box stash again and just had some fun this week – these are really my prefer choice of material to use when testing products or just doing a fold or trying out something new.

Up to this morning this was the state of my desk – as I mentioned once before – I am the only crafty person in my family but my family seems to never leave my area…. on any given day I can find little bread crumbs of all my family members being at my desk at some point during the day.

I seem to have collected a vast amount of these over the summer – not sure if that is a good thing as looking at it from another angle – my kids seems to be eating ALOT of cereal..

These end results – not sure what I am going to with them yet… but the inspiration bug hit me and I just had to make something..

Front view of the box

I picked up a whole bunch of Match Attack card from one of the charity shops a while ago - and this just seem like the perfect box to put them in.. I plan to alter each card..

Hopefully this will be a work in progress…

This is the other half of the cereal box and this project was one that just seem to start out as nothing and ended up with too much on it.. I have gessoed, paint, colour wash, embossed, punch and did ALOT of other things to this box and I just cant seem to finish…

Because it’s on my desk, my kids have taken to putting all kinds of trinket into it… mostly stuff that belonged to me in the first place.

A junk book –I did this for a little girl that love every paint bottle in my craft room… too much..

A page I did in my art journal this week – I am not a fan of black and white background, so I really had to extend myself with this one… … It is simply but every time I look at it – I am tempted to add a splash of colour to it…

My Mom loves it as it is though..

Hope you guys are having a great week and enjoying the last bit of relatively nice weather.

Wishing you a great WOYWW…..

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

WOYWW – A rather slow week so far

2011-08-10T09:18:00.001+01:00

I didn’t have any pressing projects this week – so I broke out some blank mount board and cereal box scraps and tried some technique.

I mostly worked with acrylic paints, distress ink and come stamps I have not used since I bought them.

While searching the web lately I find I am liking the overlay style (not sure if that is what it’s called) but its the process where different medium is used over each other and just hints are seen here or there..

This is a page I have been working on since last week.. I keep adding more and more stuff to it.

Now I just need to write something on it..

Wishing you a great WOYWW…..

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

WOYWW - Sometime it’s best to go with it…

2011-08-03T08:38:00.001+01:00

This week was all about my niece and her birthday – you would think it was the second coming by how she supervised her birthday present.

I made her a Junk Journal with a whole lot of little techniques and bits and bob added to it….

It ended up a massive project at 6x12 and 55 pages and turned out to be as fat as a little cow…

All in all I loved how it ended up and it was such a cool way of using up a portion of all the drawings and bits of paper that my niece leaves at the house after every visit..

(Click image make larger)

I also went to the V&A (Victoria and Albert museum) this week as well.. I don’t like that place at all… But I will admit it is a great place for inspiration…

I visit once a year and take loads of pictures…

I fell in love with these snuff boxes and this journal with the silver cross on the front…

Saw this plaque as well and loved the message on it – I am already thinking of how I can transpose this into my crafting..

Wishing you a great WOYWW…..

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

WOYWW – And the half term begins

2011-07-27T06:33:00.001+01:00

Yes the kids are finally home and I don't have to drag myself out of bed at some god forsaken time of the morning to start the morning rituals…

They all have one week to lay around, eat the house down and get up to all the other things that teenagers of the coven get up to (for the life of me I can’t get them to draw the drapes during the daylight hours – definately coven members)

On the desk for the past few days – I have an envelop album going – I am always amazed at the poor quality of the envelope in this country – I am surprise they make it through the post in tack..

I had to go out and get some Anita’s card and envelopes – just to get a better quality envelope to work with.

My boys every now and then buy me some odd little things and as they get older they actually are putting some thought into there keep mother happy gifts..

They found these kids counting boxes and i have had them for a while now, anyhow their plan was for me to use them as storage for the abundance of things on my craft deck – but I wasn’t feeling them at the time..

They are little by little creeping onto the desk – I am starting to store things into them - from my ATG to my paintbrushes.

Lovely, lovely… I even love the nursery rhyme coverage that they all have.

I don't have other people around to share crafting with – so I normally challenge myself or try out alot of things I see on the net – some hybrid as well…

I found some prima that fell down a corner and I have some Utee shapes and other little experiment going on today – but I see altered art happening for the rest of the week.

Currently I am my nephew’s favourite person – but I think it’s because I have all the good mucky stuff at my house – and he gets into them as often as can..

The holidays couldn’t get here fast enough for him – He’s moved in..

What is it about boy’s and red.

Wishing you a great WOYWW…..

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

WOYWW – Spring clean time

2011-07-20T05:58:00.001+01:00

When I started scrapbooking seriously, a lady gave me two bits of advice that I have never forgotten and I try to keep up with as best as I can all these years later.

First one was “MAKE the time to tidy your craft area – even if it’s only once a years – but do a thorough spring clean and rotate what you have”

While I have only a small space to craft in – it is mine and it gets clutter in 5 minutes, so this week I spend the time weeding back the clutter and finding all kinda goodies that I haven’t seen in months…

Those dress on the wall – those were given to me as a gift almost a year ago – and I found them this week still in the package and all.. They are gorgeous – and makes the right statement on the wall above me.

The second bit of advice was “To have a GO KIT ready at all times” – when she told me this I was a little bit confused but as she explained it – it’s a portable storage container that can accommodate the essential and always ready to go at any time of the day or night.

I will admit I keep on top of the altered art box with militant precision – why?

Because I volunteer in a charity shop and as I am considered the baby in there the ladies support me hugely in my crafting venture – they collect all kinda scraps and bits and boobs to make my altered art love so much easier. and honestly I have to keep a tight reign on how much stuff I take home – they find the coolest stuff.

This is the box that I keep some essential in – I have a few boxes of these stuff – but this is sorta the one you can pick up and go with at anytime.

My spice rack in also got a spring clean yesterday as well – this is without a doubt one of the best piece of item I have on my craft table – I have absolutely everything in those bottle..

If you find a spice rack anywhere - grab it – it make a fab embellishment holder.

Lastly I took my organizer in hand as well – I needed to top up some of the pages and refill some of the inserts. I love the charm of handmade organizers and this one has all kinds bumps and little nooks and hidden slots to get all my projects list, shopping list, schedule in one place and of course a LITTLE space for the family to add their wishlist on.

I also had to make the time to do a gift for my niece and her friends teacher - they are a group of six girls who wanted to write a end of term note to their teacher or whatever girls of nine write to their teacher they wanted to do that..

This was what I came up with – a card with little pockets on the inside and the front left for them to personalize as they wish…

Ohhh the pain of being the only crafty person in my family… LOVE IT….

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

My Pages up to weekend of 16-17

2011-07-18T06:45:00.000+01:00

Still more background

My Pages up to weekend of 09 -10

2011-07-15T06:38:00.000+01:00

All background – will journal eventually..

WOYWW – Stencils and Embossing – much fun

2011-07-13T01:20:00.001+01:00

Every now and then I drag out my clunky box of stencils and embossing folders and have a play around. Why, because I get caught up in learning the newest techniques and designs and forgets for months on end the simply things that I enjoy in crafting – Stencil and embossing falls into that category..

They are easy to use

There is no magic to creating something – almost every piece of paper can be used.

and they add just that extra touch to any project – which is exactly what I was looking for this week.

Some of the things in my stencil box are masks, Fiskars and Sizzix template ( I love those) I have some of those x-cut shapes as well and my favourite are my Imagination Crafts stencils – just fun fun to use..

I also have loads of wire, hand cut templates, those large alphabet shapes – LOVE LOVE those.. I mustn’t forget my glimmer mist template – those are just fun to use.

I do alot of mini books and adding Journaling Spots(JS) are a fun way to encourage personal thoughts as well as add dimension to the finish project. I broke into my scrap box and made a few JS this week – really fun to do – see my detail the post HERE

I collect all kind of packaging to use as template – I used a mess wire alone with my Imagination Craft harlequin stencil to make this cover… All done with acrylic paints.

I went to Alexander Palace craft fair earlier this year and there was a guy who had all kinda project using beer cans (I can’t remember his name – he was at the back, I think he was with Creative Expressions – he was so good) – thought I would give it a go – Here is one of the pieces I did.

I also have a mini album on the go as well for my niece – Her birthday is in August so I am taking my time getting this together for her…

She is at that age where she writes alot of little notes and such and still love to go down to the chemist and get her pictures cleaned, so I am expecting this little mini to be full of photos in no time.

Hope you guys are having a fab week and your desk in full of creative possibilities..

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

Journal your scraps

2011-07-12T13:58:00.000+01:00

I am a hoarder of craft scraps and I dream of ways to use them up – I would hate to think that all crafters are like me – but from moseying around the web I fear there might be alot of me’s out there.

Journaling spots is one of the fun ways of using up rather small and oddly shaped pieced of scraps.

This week I am on a stencil and embossing high so thought I would do a few to use with a few upcoming projects.

Begin

Start off with any pieces of scrap paper – your choice of size (In the past I have used pieces ranging from 1” x 1” to 1.5” x7'”) the dimensions are yours to chose.
If you decide to make 6 Journaling Spot – you should have 12 piece of paper of the same shape and size for this project.
Take 6 pieces and lay them flat
Colour the paper (ink, acrylic or plain if so desire) to your colour choice
Dry - heat tool can be used here
Place paper in desired design embossing folder and run through your die cut machine (be sure to place the paper correctly to feature the side you want to highlight – embossed or debossed)
Take shape out of folder and use a small amount of diluted acrylic paint or lightly inked dauber and run over embossed areas of the project.

At this stage a Heat tool can be used to dry project or left to dry on it’s own.

On mine I have added a dab of bronze over the entire thing – as I love the overall effect that metal acrylic paint gives to a project. (this is optional however)

Chose preferred choice of glaze ( I am using Pritt Kidsart Clear Glaze on this project) or varnish and cover entire project and leave to dry – DRY ON A FLAT SURFACE AND DO NOT HEAT DRY.

Once dry cut off excess glaze or varnish from edge

While the first set of papers are drying –work on your journaling spots with the second set . Used lines, templates. stamps or even free hand to make writing areas.

Colour as needed and be eclectic – be funky, or tie into the theme that your project is about. With these particular Journaling spots I am going for a messy look.

Paste the two shapes together with TACKY GLUE – do not use hot glue or double sided tape, for the following reasons

You need the glue to flow right to the end of the paper to get a perfect seal.
Hot glue will not give as flat a finish as wet glue.
You need a spreadable glue so as to get enough into the grooved left during the embossing process to ensure perfect sealing.
The wet glue allows you a little leeway to join the pieces together properly – which I don’t thing tape affords you.

Shape and colour the edges and finish off with an eyelet.

Journaling area

Here are some possibilities

Front

Back

Have fun digging into your scrap box..

A Mini a month – June project

2011-07-07T04:22:00.000+01:00

Since i joined the Mini a month challenge at the beginning of the year - I have found that the books I make comes in handy for the here or there last minute gift.

This month I challenge myself to use up my scraps and some of those A4 papers that I keep buying at craft fairs but never seem to use up - no matter how fast I cut them.

I have a dear friend birthday coming up at the end of July and a mini book just seem the natural gift to do for her..

I have pictured the book 90% done as I didn’t want to take photo with the content already in (I have to protect the innocent and all that jazz)…

I had fun with this one – My nesties came out to play, I even found some sizzix corners that I have not seen in years - literally years…

I don’t know the paper line of the floral paper here – but the dot paper are from the stack of paper that came with my Slice – accidentally came upon them, they were perfect for this project.

There is a heavy butterfly presence in this mini and the Martha Stewarts punch also came out to play.

The back cover is going to be a personalised piece of paper – so no mat cover on that part of the book.

I went a little overboard with the tag load of edging.

Back page - still need a little something but will figure it out before the big day.

July 05th – Laugh, Love, Live

2011-07-06T13:11:00.001+01:00

I have always wondered what people wrote in their art journal – and after all the mucking about with medium, how do they find space to write..

Well I found out today – free flow writing can be a thing of beauty.

This was a fun page to create… I went with acrylic paint today and some templates for my flowers.

Green is my all time favourite colour – Hunter Green to be specific, however I am slowly falling in love with blue. I am in the process of hunting down all the shades I have.

WOYWW – A smashing find and summer plans

2011-07-06T04:50:00.001+01:00

I have a busy desk this week – not only did I find some fantastic stuff over the weekend, but I am in the process of drawing up a craft plan for the summer holidays for the kids.

I find that over the years – If I am prepared with little project and such the days goes better and I end up with loads of pictures and I hope good memories for the kids to last a life time.

I found these little beauty in a charity shop being sold out – I make alot of mini album and these are going to come in handy. Love them.

I broke into the cereal box stash and one of the first thing I tried was the plait squares – I am thinking bookmarks or something simple for these. What ever we do with them this is easy and the kids can use all the mucky stuff and make a mess.

I saw this technique on YouTube – it’s freehand drawing or stamping – and using hot glue to tracing the image and then finish up with what ever medium at hand to finish off the project.

Fun fun fun to do –and all kinda mess is the end result…

I have a stack of old VHS cover and I tried masking and embossing on the cover… not sure if I will do this one with the kids – but it gave me some ideas for book cover in the future.

Toothpaste box to make flowers – also another simple to do project.. Demands a little attention and patience, hopefully I can get them to sit long enough to try..

Do you guys have any plans for the summer - or are you just winging it?

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

July 03 – First hurdle passed

2011-07-03T03:49:00.000+01:00

After reading a bunch of blogs and other blogger’s attempt at this art journal adventure – I am seeing that first pages are a little bit of a journey for most people – it’s a little bit of what to do (start with) as well as that feeling of first page jitter – breaking in a new books.

I have it and it’s not nice

So following some sage advice from more experience and old hand at this art thing – I jumps the first page and pressed on.

and hellooooo – I am in…

My first completed page – simply but very please.

July 2 – Just putting the stash together

2011-07-02T03:32:00.000+01:00

Looking for my and find my essentials to take part in my Art Challenges wasn’t all that hard as they were right there on my desk . It really is surprising how much loot we as crafters accurate around us.

Other than the inks, glue, my sketch book and my chalks my best find in my rummage are my calligraphy pens. I bought these in Living ( an arm of Asda) about a year ago and never really used them – but they are perfect to used over chalk or acrylic – loving the finds so far..

I’m off to get creative – I hope.

Some focus to my July

2011-07-01T03:20:00.000+01:00

This July I am determined to make more of a mess on my desk than I normally would by getting involved in two projects that i have recently found.

Firstly I am starting the this July a daily art journal – I have been thinking of getting a more structured angle on my doodling and bits and pieces of paper that I muck up than I have at the moment and I think this just might help.

With some essential that I have lying around my desk I am already to explore..

I am going slowly though –probably will start of with some chalks as i have some EK Success chalklets hanging around my desk for the longest while – it‘s time I used them up.

Find the Start off Post HERE

The July Link HERE

I have also decided to take part in Traci Bunker 30 day Art challenge… it not really a challenge of such but more like earmarking the crafty things I get up in my day..

From the little things to the big things…

I find I like this format alot, as creativity comes in all form- from simply stacking my threads to projects that I am constantly changing and making a mess of.

From Traci’s website

Here are my rules:

I’ll make art every day for 30 days and post what I have done.
I don’t have to finish what ever I’m working on that day, I just have to work on something.
I have to work for 30 minutes, but can work longer if time permits.
It doesn’t matter what I do for the art making, as long as I work on art.
I won’t feel guilty for taking the time to work on art and I won’t have to justify why I’m doing it.
I don’t have to go into detail in my post about how I did anything or what tools, materials I used (unless I want to).

See Traci explanation HERE

WOYWW – Just a little bit of and cutting and pasting, the usual

2011-06-22T13:17:00.001+01:00

I am having one of those loose week where I am thinking of a project to use up some of my “too long held in the back of the closet” stash..

I am currently in love with the envelope mini books projects, as it’s birthday time and little parties here and there happening. Envelope mini’s are cute, fun to make and a really simply project to use up small pieces of scraps.

My one draw back is the paper quality of our envelopes here in the UK– they are so thin and this is where my stacks and stacks of A4 papers comes in. They are thicker than the average envelope and with a scoring board and a little creativity the sky is the limit..

Using some orange (more tangerine colour) A4 paper as my base, I started the magic. I am also using up one of those 6x6 Dovecraft paper pack that I picked up a craft fair, a couple of years ago, I have had this particular pack for a while.

I think this pic probably sums up my week the best – A project waiting in the wings (on the left), a new idea that I just had to try there and then( paper in the middle), my plotting and attempt at writing my cutting and scoring points down ( orange paper on the desk) and at the back a book just finished for my friend.

Front cover for the envelope mini – a work in progress.Loving it so far though.

I wanted to share one of my ATC guns that my kids insist on altering every chance they get. They are currently going through a fascination phase with my big shot.

The other side has those Tim hold gears die – these were made with a Caprisan juice book cardboard. A little blue paint going on there as well..

I look forward to what they do with it next month.

For those who saw my ongoing Tri-Fold card project last week – HERE IS THE FINISHED project

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

Tri-fold card - Finish project

2011-06-20T13:24:00.000+01:00

I showed my journey with this card in my WOYWW last and I have now completed the card. Here are a few pic’s

Open view

Front view

As the card could not fit into any envelope I could find – I made a hybrid version

Open envelope with card in..

WOYWW – Sometimes the project and the paper just click

2011-06-15T01:34:00.001+01:00

I am not very good with colour matching and as much as i adore paper craft I a the first to admit my biggest weakness is coordinating…

Most times I just toss papers together and hope for the best. Lets just say good Karma and a colour wheel from B&Q has saved my bacon on many a project…

Going through my scrap box I found some beautiful bronzy and green paper and immediately know I wanted to try out the tri-Fold card…

I went for a hybrid size – the card ended up being a a 8in x 7in card… I love bigger sized card, so this was a perfect size for me.

One thing I have found out about doing hybrid project is that it gives me a chance to drag out tools I had not used in ages. Punches, stamps and that Tim Holtz distress thingy (can’t ever remember the name)

I actually forgot I had these gold and silver card candy shapes and Velum was just the perfect thing to add a little bit of umph to my card.

I even had to break out the drippy glue gun. I remember when I bought the thing – I loved it, however it drips like crazy which in turn drives me crazy…

Sneak peek at the almost finished card – and it is shaping up pretty well if I do say so myself..

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

Craft room essential – The moveable tray

2011-06-11T01:27:00.000+01:00

I was trying to tidy my craft space the other day – and all crafter knows this only last for 5 mins but I tried.. Anyhow looking around at the area I realised that most of my most used stuff never is very far me.

I pack the everyday tools and such in a mobile three tray unit that I pull and push as need while I work and in a nut shell – it’s probably one of the best thing I have in my craft area.

Full view.

All the liquid messy stuff is on the top tray along with a variety of adhesives

Even messier stuff is on the next tray – INkS – I love that I have them near as I have a tendency to use a few colours over and over again.. When a variety is close at hand – they will get used..

This tray holds the ATG, glue dot ATG, Crop-a-bile, embosser, glue gun etc, etc… all the heavy tools and the tools that needs to be plugged in..

I love love this tray…

I have already started looking for another one to keep just for when this one goes…

WOYWW – We do this for the end results

2011-05-04T09:16:00.001+01:00

I sometimes forget to take a pic of the glorious mess I make on my desk during the week – So I am just going to show you guys some end results today…

I have been working on mini’s, well big bulky mini’s if you want a true definition.. These two were inspired by Kathy Orta from Paper Phenomenon and they such fun to make.

Lots of mess up up – but so pleased with the result.

I am unable to show the inside –as I was not given the permission – but this is the end result of a monster mini..

This one is for my niece’s birthday – she is a girly kind of girl who is at that age where she writes every little secret down and have loads of little bits and paper with all kinda necessities written on then.

This one has slots for pictures and a whole lot of journaling tags…

This one was a challenge to myself to help in my 2011 quest to use up my scrap.. and also to see if I could do something without my sewing machine involved..

Pop over to my other post to see the inside of this mini.. HERE

Finally a card – I am not famous for doing cards but every now and then I give it a try…

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

I challenges myself and came up with – A Scrap of a Mini

2011-05-03T14:24:00.001+01:00

This mini was just a quick challenge to myself to see how I would get on without my sewing machine – which went on the blink the other day…

So I drag out my scrap box, a set of gel pens, cereal boxes and of course the distress ink and I gave it a go…

For my inspiration I went with a sample book from Art From the Art Idea Gallery, entitled – 7 Gypsy – Mason Album

With little scraps of paper here and there and my gel pen to make faux stitching line I went to town on this books. Here’s the cover of the book. As I have not yet decided what to do with it yet – It is yet untitled..

Just an open view of the book. I am using 7inches (width) x9inches (length) house shaped cut-outs to make this book and scraps placed all over it..

Top view of book – Note the faux stitching- this was all done with the gel pen – It took a little time to do it but so worth it when I saw the end product.

Another top view – I also used some border stamps here and there to add a bit of definition to the pages..

Back page –which turned out to be my favourite page of the lot…

Front and back cover view..

Another page I fell in love with – For the faux stitching I went with the principle that I would add the gel pen lines to all the straight edges – so torn edges didn’t get a stitch line.

April Mini a month - Album Challenge

2011-05-02T13:48:00.000+01:00

I finally got around to finishing the squash book which was the April design in the Mini Book a month – hosted by Karen from the blog What's This Then.

Once again I used up a set of those free paper that comes with the Craft magazine (I have so many of these – nice way to use them up)

Karen’s direction is very easy to follow if you want to have a goo – HERE…

I only deviated on two things from Karen's guidelines – for my pattern paper I cut them an 1/8 of an inch lower than the amount required as I like that plain border edging to my project.

A view of the book all opened up.

This is where my second deviation takes place - after putting the ribbon through the back page of the book, I didn’t 'like it coming over the side and tie at the top of the book.. – so I got a little creative and did something different.

Using two shorter pieces of ribbon – I placed those between the front covers and the pattern paper – so I have two independent ties at the sides – rather than how it was before with long loop of ribbon that tied across the front.

Finished product – note the ribbon is tied really close to the body of the book..

I haven’t decided what I am going to do with it yet – so nothing is written on the front but I imagine I will add a few more embellishment and such to it, but in the mean time here is a close up of the decoration – I am using the Martha Stewart butterfly lace punch and the prima flowers.

WOYWW – Background, Background, Aplenty

2011-04-27T06:16:00.001+01:00

Do you have a game plan for when your creative juices dries up or if you are just in a funk that makes you jut cant get anything right?

No colours match,

No two pieces of paper fits.

All the angles you cut just always seems to be that few cm’s off…

Well I drag out the messy stuff when I need to kick start my mojo and do backgrounds, yes backgrounds – you never know when you will need that bit of paper to add that ummph to your latest project..

I had fun making a mess..

I love all things script and whether it’s embossed or stamped – these are such a pleasure to make..

Breaking out the acetate and adding little designs here and there – love this ..

Since I was getting all messy – I just did a few journal pages as well… I love the colours of those chalklets

My latest page – I did try for messy, but even after mucking up the pages with pastels and just made squiggles – I still ended up loving the final product.

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

WOYWW – I broke into the cereal box stash

2011-04-20T02:44:00.000+01:00

Every so often I browse the craft blogs and see crafter talking about organizing their craft area or just trying to de-clutter and put all the bits and pieces that we crafter accumulate into some sort of order…

and after reading a bunch of them I was in the mood to de-clutter as well and so dragged out one of the many boxes that I have bulging with scraps to see what creative spark would jump out at me…

I don't think I have been in this box for about a year – I really need to sort out these scrap boxes – I really should.

I did end up finding a few things, mainly die cuts and some papers that demanded I start cutting them and do something crafty.

I tend to use my dies alot to cut shapes and just store them – not for any particular reason but because it’s a great way to use up scraps and also sometime I might need a shape and just too lazy to drag out a die cutter. If it’s already done that saves me alot of time.

Because I have kids who love to cut and paste EVERYTHING – I encourage them to save cereal boxes and any other mountboard type material for those days when they want to do a little crafting themselves.

I will admit I have my moments when I break into the cereal box stash myself and I found a few on this occasion that I had die cut with the nestabilites a while ago..

They are not much to look at now – but with a little time and patience they can be that thicker than cardstock material that you need. They have saved my bacon loads of time when I need a page for a mini book or just something to add a bit of dimension to a project..

Here are the shapes covered in plain cardstock – all nice and lovely now to work on and the beauty is that they are now thick enough that I don’t have to worry about what embellishment I add to them or even what I put them on – they are firm.

Wishing you all a great WOYW Wednesday and hope you find some little treasure in your bits and pieces stash box..

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

Check out what craft bargain I found this week HERE

Tuesday - Craft Find Day – No 2

2011-04-19T12:28:00.000+01:00

This week I had only one really wonderful craft find and that was in WHS of all places.. I am not sure if all their store are offering the discount on Papermania Christmas Textured Collection paper – Plain Cardstock..

I found them for 4.95pound for 60 sheet (12x12) – I ended up buying 3 lots as they are great to use with their white core which is so lovely with Distress ink…

If you love painting or into art journal – most of the pounds shop have great brush ideal to use as noodle brushes… this one I found rather unique as it had a metal handle and the bristles themselves are made from silicone…

So nice to use..

WOYWW – My desk is still a mess….

2011-03-30T08:40:00.001+01:00

On my desk for the past few day are more than one little projects – Firstly there is alot of little Quote Books in the makings and other little Impromptu projects happening.

Impromptu projects – These are little Quotes books or Brag books or some other Mini books that I do in my spare time and add to my stash for those unexpected wedding invite or that house warming or party invite where I have no time to run around and get the traditional gift.

They always go over well and it’s generally different to what everyone else brings.

I am rubbish, absolute rubbish at colour coordination - so I do alot of these project as test cases to see how paper and pattern mix and match.. I am always surprise at the outcome. I love DCWV, they have some of the best print and tend to go well most every other paper line….

This third picture is for my March MINI BOOK challenge – I have so much trouble with accordion folds.. I just always assume each crafter have one pet peeve technique or fold or something that they have to work extra hard at to get it right..

Mine is accordion fold – hate it, but I am determines to make this gate fold mini before the weekend…

Here’s one of those Quotes books almost at the end stage – The cover needs a few more bit and pieces to give the Umph effect.. it has alot of quote about “The Next Step” – you know those quote we felt like strangling our teacher for when we were learning them – but years later they somehow seems to fit.

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

I am starting a link up on Tuesdays called Craft Find Day – it’s basically a list of those find, really inexpensive craft find in the out of the way places or even the none traditional craft places.

See my first set of Bargains HERE…. If you have found a bargain or two recently, pop it on a post and link up so we can see where to go to find the next little treasure

Join me next week….

It’s a good day when you have a “Craft Find Day”

2011-03-29T10:48:00.012+01:00

As crafter our need for storage knows no end – literally. I am always in need of more and more storage, unfortunately for me until I win that lottery and build the craft studio I wish for I make do with my little corner of a room in my house.

I tend to store “up” as it’s easier for me and cleaning does not demand me moving, pushing and pulling a whole lot of stuff to get to that bit of paper or other such thing to make the area clean.

I found this little beauty in Aldi’s the other day – quite cheap under five quid and I had to snap it up. It has eight good size easy access slots and then a further 8 partition-able draws…

I was also the loving the colour as well -

This ended up coming in quite handy, as I tend to use some things more than the other – you know the essentials and this is such a compact way of having it close at hand without alot of stretching and bending to get to it and since I have had it it really help with me finding the little things like a ruler or a bottle that I had just used..

One of the neatest thing about the tool case is the bottom draw – I used it as my bits and bob drawn – every crafter have one or I hope every crafter have one – I pop just about all the little bits and pieces that tend to slid under paper or fall down the side of somewhere - like my pokey tool that I spend more time searching for than I should.

I found these at the pound shop on my high street – they are felt and as a scrapbooker I fell in love.. so many possibilities… The colours are so bright. I have already ask the shop owner to get a few more colours for me…

They come on a reel about 2.5inched across so there is quite a bit packed on here..

Here’s wishing you a great Craft Find Day…

If you have found a bargain this week – pop in onto a post and leave the link here..

March tag – All about Easter

2011-03-28T16:51:00.001+01:00

March is almost over and that means another tag challenge month is closing…..

After much cutting and pasting – I have decided to go with a mix of papers and a little hand sewing – it was very relaxing I must say, I haven’t hand sewn in ages, so that was nice to do this month..

Most of this paper is from the Paper Craft Magazine this month, I never seem to find use for those free stash.. Pretty Easter papers this month and some cool stamps as well…

Click the links to see some other views of the tag…

I went with some thicker floss through the top of the tag rather than ribbons, as I liked the hunter green colour floss that I had…

This tag is for the 2011 Tag Challenge hosted by A Crafty kind of Truffle…

WOYWW – When just any old regular card won’t do !!!!!!!!

2011-03-16T09:40:00.001Z

The times goes so fast – it’s another Wednesday again and my desk for the past two days has been the dinning table. I actually forgot what a production it was to move craft stuff over the house.

It feels like going out with a baby and packing up all the bits and pieces and even when you are done it still seems as if you have forgotten something.

I was on a quest to make a card for my Mom.. In my family we have reach the point where we have no idea what to get her. There is always something to get someone, but my Mom uses up stuff and really there is only so much bric –a –brac to fill those shelves she has and Linen and so forth is also only so much as well.

So the plan was to make a card, packed with as much love as we could put into it and a sit down affair for later on in the evening.….

When I started crafting I used to use the dinner table for all my creations – but once I sorted out my own little area and was able to spread out and have all that nice lovely space – it was a stretch to pack all the bits and pieces around me to get the card done…

But

What fun….

This young lady is why I am crafting downstairs - I was overseeing homework… and my main craft area is too much of a distraction for her.. She is a mini crafter in the making, she love her scissor and glue a little too much for my liking…

She cuts everything…

So far homework moved along nicely and we spend some quality time together….

After much punching, folding and pasting… a few wonky peel off’s - I was done..

As I said a card pack with all kind of love… So a few nooks and pockets here and there..

Sorry for the photo quality - These are the tags that are meant to go inside those pockets. I made enough tags for every member of the family to write a personalized message.. (these are quite long tags – the card itself is 4 x 8 when it closes up)

Card presentation view..

Front view

I rarely if ever make cards and I was quite pleased with how this turned out – as I am more a scrap booker kind of crafter.. but the main thing was that I had fun doing this and my Mom loved it..

WOYWW is hosted by Julia – Check out the other blogs HERE and see what a bunch of crafters got up to this week..

WOYWW – A lot of little forgotten treasures

2011-03-02T14:31:00.001Z

After spending the last few weeks looking at what’s on other crafter work space, I thought I would join the party this week..

I am trying out my new set of Inkadinks colour wash/inks this week – they just came through the post. They are from Imagination Crafts and I have heard alot of good things about them..

I will update as I go alone..

I am still in using up my stash mode - so alot of little cards and templates for mini books are being put together on my desk at the moment.

The nice thing about using up stash is that in my rummage I have found some corner punches that I have not seen in months and a few Sizzix dies that I am now breathing new life into..

I am having fun..

WOYWW is hosted by Julia from the blog Stamping Ground

February Tag – Dragging out those Embossing folders and Peel off’s

2011-02-27T21:54:00.000Z

I decided to go with a single tone tag this month… For one I forgot about it and the 28th was upon me before I knew it and secondly I am still in “using up my stash” mode – so I am using up some of the ivory card stock that I have…

I will admit I did two other tags before I settled on this one – I am really liking the simplicity of it…

My mom is not the “store stuff” sort of mother – she uses everything as often as she can and I am sure this is going to be used as a bookmark as she is a big reader – so lots of glossy accent is on this baby to ensure those embellishment don’t fall off…

The embossing will take on a very weathered look after being used a few times – so that should look nice, as I use embossed bookmark myself and I really like the look of the bookmark after it has been in and out of a few pages..

I had fun making thing –even if it was in a rush – and one major thing I learned was that Ivory is difficult to photo – the pictures do not do justice to this project…

I may have to take this again in some natural light – hopefully this can be seen from this angle.

These are a few close up – to show the different embossing used on the various dies cuts as well as the little bit of distress ink that I used to add a bit of colour to the project..

I am using one of the Sizzix True Love set of three dies – which I think are so cute, as the are small enough to fit the tag perfectly but just large enough to use one of the finer detailed embossing folder on it.

This tag is for the 2011 Tag Challenge hosted by A Crafty kind of Truffle…

January Tag – Just regular die cuts and some UTEE

2011-01-28T08:44:00.000Z

Just something different for me, I am on a quest to use up as much of my stash as possible this year… it’s amazing the amount of paper and other bits we crafters collect over a relatively short period.

I gave the Tim Holtz inks a break today and tried something different. I am using Pearlized paper with die cut embellishments over coated with UTEE…

Loads of trial and error and burn fingers – but I am liking the simplicity of it …

After multiply coats of embossing powder plus some UTEE as well – I was liking the extra sheen it gave to the pearlized paper.

The UTEE also added a little bit of weight to the die cut as well.

Using up some of those Petaloo stack of flowers that i have and never seems to use…

A view of the card on a different background….

This tag is apart of the monthly Tag Challenge - 2011 hosted by A Crafty Kind of Truffle…

The kidlet getting all crafty….

2011-01-23T23:14:00.001Z

This is a tag my niece made this afternoon after being under foot the whole morning….

She loves her bright colours….

Just playing around

2011-01-21T22:47:00.000Z

A few things I have been fiddling around with…. Some paper flowers that were more fun to make than I even imaged they would be …

And I got in a load of Tatter Angels glimmer screens and gave one of those a try along with some glimmer mist…. Lots of mess but fun…

AMAM – January project

2011-01-21T01:41:00.001Z

The challenge .. Make a mini from

4 envelopes – these can be any size or color, the smaller the envelope obviously the smaller your book will be and the larger the envelope, the bigger your book must be. They do all need to be the same size though, to start with anyway!!
2 pieces of plain cardstock cut to the same size as the envelopes (the CS needs to be reasonably thick – I used mount board, chipboard would work well too).
Patterned papers to cover the above card on both sides – two pieces will need to be slightly bigger than the card (to cover the outside front and back covers), the two other pieces need to be the same size as the card/mount board/chip board.
A piece of normal cardstock, as wide as the envelopes and 12" long, try to find a color that matches your PP’s if you can.
A length of ribbon. It’s hard to give an exact measurement on this but I used a metre and then trimmed it down at the when the book was finished .
You will also need a selection of coordinating pattern papers to embellish the inside of your mini book, plus a selection of embellishments. You can use stamps as well, buttons, odd bits of ribbon, die cuts, punches, blossoms, chipboard, etc, etc.

and following Karen’s basic instruction HERE I had a go myself…

Front view of the book… I have no idea what I am going to call it or even put in it, but I will admit I am glad my mojo is back – it was fun putting this together.

The original plan was to go with some funky designer paper over the envelopes – but the retro bug bit me and I just went with the flow..

I went with retro - circle and stripes all through the book – I probably was a little lazy not to make the effort and try to co-ordinate some colours sheets, but I love the retro look…

Midway through – still no idea for the cover

Because I had no idea what the book was going to be used for – the cover proved to be hard going – so I moved on and did up the enveloped themselves….

Using the oval Fiskars punch I made some tabs on the envelops and using just plain 4x6 card stock I added some tags to the project with opposing cardstock pull tab on the side to fit into the slot on the envelopes..

Close up of striped page

Close up of circle page

View of another page together

Following Karen’s instruction I had dragged out a Sizzix texture plate and I thought it would make a great addition to the front cover… I added it just at an angle and also used the embossed paper through the scallop punch…

The book so far

A closer look – That’s where I have left it – as soon as I figure out what I want to do with it I will add some words to the front and a few other bits and pieces – but for now I am OK with it as it is….

I will make this book again as there are something that can only be learn from trial and error and definitely I have things I will leave out in the future and bits I am quite chuffed turned out so well..

and lastly it was nice to reacquaint my self with my tools – I literally forgot I had those texture plates…

WOYWW – Week 85, The kids have taken over

2011-01-19T11:25:00.000Z

Julia from Stamping Ground host this meme about What’s on your Work desk Wednesdays..

Here’s my craft desk – not different form any other day – but i find I have too much of the kids stuff on there… See the dog bone on on the left and the Hello kittle bits there…

I swear they are into everything on that desk…..

An experiment with Colour Wash

2011-01-10T00:17:00.000Z

I have been seeing a few tips here and there about colour wash and was really intrigued to see how I would get on with it myself…

After rooting around in the back shed I found some – yup right next to the white emulsion paint, so just regular colour wash that you get from the DIY stores..

After painting the cardboard – as I wanted something thicker than cardstock as I was not sure how wet this thing got – but it’s not messy at all and gives the paper a varnished look without the sheen or like a surface that has been sandpapered – which I thought was was really pretty….

After that it was just trial and error really…. But this is the finished project – all set to mount on a canvas that I am doing up…

Finished Product..

Colour washed paper then a background stamp with embossed ink… I used Golden Fish Lustre (Cosmic Shimmer) Embossing powder, as I wanted a muted background to go with the rather darker butterflies that I was going to put on…

As I mentioned before – this was a trial and error process –the residue from the embossing powder will melt into the colour wash and give the surface a rain splattered look,which I thought gave the whole thing a rather unique dimension…

I am sure I am going to be using that technique in the future…

Paper punched butterflies from DCWV Le Creme paper pack and attached with glossy accent…

A mini a month 2011 challenge….

2011-01-03T15:33:00.000Z

A new challenge for 2011 – A mini a month, hosted by Karen from What’s This Then blogspot…

The general rules are…

The challenge will officially start on the 3rd January 2011 when a prompt/theme along with a few ideas plus some supporting words/quotes will be posted up on my blog.
On the second week I will put up a list of supplies that you will need to make your project for that specific month.
At the beginning of the third week I will then put up step by step instructions on how to make the mini book, along with photos of how I made mine and also my finished book.
This will then give you two weeks to put your book together, so no pressure involved as you can just do a little as and when you like.
The prompts will always go up on a Monday so we will always know exactly where we are IYKWIM!!!
There are no rules to follow, well actually yes there are two rules LOL!!!
Rule #1 - No new stash to be bought for the project!!!!
Rule #2 - Please enjoy and have lots of fun!!!

Which makes it all nice and easy to follow ….

Jump on Karen's blog if you need more info on the project as well as have a look around, you‘ll be surprise and you just might find something new or even get refreshed on something's you have probably forgotten….

My Blogs roll

2011-01-01T18:33:00.000Z

http://www.ihanna.nu/

http://megankathrynp.blogspot.com/

http://ideastoinspire.blogspot.com/

http://jennaupson.blogspot.com/

http://waltzingthroughlife.blogspot.com/

http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/

http://mycupbrimswithtiddles.blogspot.com/2011/03/envelope-mini-album.html

http://neelzexpressionz.blogspot.com/

http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/2010/03/taking-dipstep-by-stephow-toetc.html

http://dragon-dragonsdream.blogspot.com/

http://candimandi.typepad.com/

http://yizzsyawn.blogspot.com/

http://www.scrappingmojo.blogspot.com/

http://jennaupson.blogspot.com/

http://techniqueszone.wordpress.com/site-menu/card-making-projects/#comment-549

http://besottment.typepad.com/

http://hydrangeahippo.blogspot.com/p/tutorials.html

http://www.scrapbooksetc.com/theme/occasions/weddings/easy-wedding-photo-album/?page=8

http://www.scrapbooksetc.com/crafts/albums/

http://pennyduncancreations.blogspot.com/p/artists-using-my-cut-files.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUxt1szG1H4&feature=related

http://indigoinklings.blogspot.com/2007/03/using-brass-stencils-in-big-shot.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8grlYIX5N5Y&feature=related
http://artfreebies.blogspot.com/

http://www.tandastamps.com/shop/ez-specials-c-218.html

http://www.youtube.com/user/iscraphappy

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13073025

http://www.practicalscrappers.com/p/idea-central.html

http://donnasalazar.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Monday Challenges

Tuesday Challenges

Wednesday Challenges

Thursday Challenges

Friday Challenges

Saturday Challenges

Sunday Challenges

1st & 15th - Copic Creations Challenge
MONDAY - Pocket Full of Posies
MONDAY - Wild Orchid Challenge
TUESDAY - Tiddly Inks Challenge
TUESDAY - Papertake Weekly Challenge
TUESDAY - A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge
WEDNESDAY - All That Scraps Weekly Wednesday Challenge
WEDNESDAY - Whiff of Joy Challenge
THURSDAY - Cute Card Thursday Challenge
THURSDAY - Lili of the Valley Challenge
THURSDAY - Some Odd Girl Challenge
THURSDAY - The Sugar Bowl
FRIDAY - Friday Sketchers Challenge
FRIDAY - Just Magnolia Challenge
FRIDAY - Daring Card Makers Challenge
SATURDAY - Sketch Saturday
SATURDAY - Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge
SATURDAY - Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge
SATURDAY - Basic Grey Challenges
SATURDAY - Penny Black Saturday Challenge
SUNDAY - Anyone For Anya?
SUNDAY - Lovely hAnglar Only
SUNDAY - High Hopes Stamps Challenge

True Stories – Prompt Four :: Writing Letters

2010-10-29T09:27:00.000+01:00

I love letter writing, I still write as much as I can whenever I get the chance. It is sad though that alot of my friends prefer the electronic version..

But I still do love getting a handwritten letter through the mail… so today’s prompt was just the ticket for me…

A summary of the project ideas:
*Start with an old photo and write a letter to your younger self
*Write a semi-public note to a loved one about a special memory
*Write a letter in your journal and hide it somewhere on a scrapbook page (also, consider a title that seems like a short letter)

A letter to me

It was hard trying to find the words to say what I want to say to my younger self twenty years ago-.. I went with advise, the need to take a chance, the joys of friends and asking her not lose contact with them.

I told her to enjoy life as it comes and not be overly concern about propriety – be happy as we only truly get one shot at..

This was a emotional letter for me to write…

This is another page that either needs some ribbon or some sort of embellishment… I was drained from this letter and to be honest this fits the mood I am in..

I will revisit it in a week and touch it up…

There are two rather large tags in here – One is a letter to a younger me and one is a short letter to my son – to be read in about 10 years time..

True Stories – Prompt Three :: Rinse & Repeat

2010-10-28T08:37:00.000+01:00

From my school days to my work day one constant remains, repeat to remember, and today’s prompt asks us to delve into the finer details of all the things we repeat during the days.

It could be to the kids ( This I am sure most parents knows the joys of), it could be something we do in the community or it could be on the job. Wherever we rinse and repeat a phrase we are asked to make it our own today…

A quick summary of the ideas:
1. Choose a photo and draft several sentences all starting with the same phrase to describe the picture, the person or the activity.
2. Make a list of all the things or people you love and write down the reasons you love them. Make this into a minibook perhaps.
3. Instead of just using words or phrases that repeat, write about an activity you have repeated many times, like a routine.

Some of the phrases my family and I use daily

Breakfast is on the table

Have you clean your shoes

Is your bed made

Please put away all these books on the floor

Whose rag is over the rail

Why is the towel on the floor

A cup of tea please

There’s a toy in my handbag

I went with papered paper tags for this one and basic cord instead of the traditional ribbons – this page I definately need to add something more to it… I need to think on what more I want to add to give it that humphf effect..

Page with the tags out

True Stories – Prompt Two :: Letters & Numbers

2010-10-27T08:35:00.000+01:00

Who don't love letters and numbers, as a scrapper I love templates, chipboard and punches of letters and numbers, so it was a pleasure to see this as our second prompt..

A summary of the ideas:
*Use the alphabet to direct your thoughts in a longer piece of writing on one subject.
*Make a list of numbers that describe one day, one event or your routine.
*Start with a photo and use the initials of those in the picture to describe the people (possibly numbers too, like 2 in a couple, a family of 4, etc)

There were some excellent Ideas given in the prompt and I am going to go with one of them…

Letters

I read because

Son – I love a good Adventure

Brother – Who told you I read the Book!!

Mom – Trying to keep up with my Child

Nephew – My aunt maDe me

Numbers

My morning

5.30am – Up and gasping for a cup of Earl Grey

7 – The morning begins

8.30 – Waving the kidlet through the door

9 – Another cup of tea

10 – Housework to the tunes of “The Carpenter”

Page two of the mini album. I am Martha Stewart and Petaloo -ing it for this page… This page was so easy. On the inside of the tag I did “YOU ARE SPECIAL BECAUSE” for my entire family….

Letters and numbers stamped onto the main page and a few pearl buttons for highlights.. I am so tempted to over embellish this page – but I wont because it is not for public viewing…

Sometimes simply does it….

A close up of the page….

Page one and two together..

True Stories – Prompt one :: Questions and Answers

2010-10-26T07:59:00.000+01:00

The prompt for today asks us to question ourselves.

A summary of the ideas:
*Draft a personal Frequently Asked Questions for things that others often ask you
*Think about the questions you think need to be answered for others, like writing advice to a child (but could also be for a friend, etc)
*Use writing to help with a decision-making process in your life by writing down the question and several possible answers, then adding notes to each one to help see which options would be best for you.

Some question I am normally asked… from the silly to the serious

Why do you read so much?
Don’t you ever sleep?
What with you and all the clocks?
Where is your accent from?
Why did you only have one child?
Why do you still live with your mother?

I wont answer them here but the answers are all written in the trusty Monkey’s notebook. I will note though that it was a struggle coming up with questions that people normally ask me. I had to let the day pass and then give it a go..

But once I got started I just wrote loads of questions and I find people ask me the weirdest questions, from my clothe choice to my procreation choice….

Here are few picture of my the cover of my Mini Album and the first page (will update as needed)

I went with all the things I love for the cover. I am a lace and paper girl. There’s some newsprint scrap paper there as well along with a bit of felt – from my hat fetish..

I love polka dots, but didn’t want to over do it with a full polka dot page – so I did the retro thing and tones it down with a bit of strip and a black lace – that’s my addition for the fact I love erotica..

Nothing says sexy like black…

The first page with my mini pockets ands tags… I still kept the lace effect going on this page…

The same page with the tags out – This is probably the most elaborate page so far – but it is still early days. I might get all diva yet and bling it up in a few weeks…

Pen and paper at the read…..

2010-10-25T07:34:00.000+01:00

I am going to be writing in my monkey’s notebook as well condensing each weeks progress in a mini album on the weekend. I am going for a free flowing format with my writing – using load of dashes, doodles and of course strike throughs when I am not feeling what I have write…

As for the mini album I and not going to get bogged down by bell, I am going to go for simply – but it is a work in progress so the book will develop as the weeks go by…

Here are some pic for you.

A new online Class – True Stories

2010-10-24T07:13:00.000+01:00

Again I have decided to indulge myself and go with an online class. Once I read what this three week class is going to be about I was immediately hooked.

TRUE STORIES is all about the journaling which I am sad to say I don't do enough of, but after these next few weeks I am hoping to change that..

Find more info on the class here… CLICK HERE

Anyone is invite, you don't have to be a scrapper to join – as long as you have a notebook and a pen, you are ready to start..

My current obsession – Ribbon and Buttons

2010-10-07T22:55:00.001+01:00

What are your current obsessions – Mine are my bottles and boxes of buttons and my huge bottle of ribbons…

Playing with the spare stock!!!!

2010-10-06T22:46:00.000+01:00

I have been playing around with some loose pages that I have and seeing how I can mix and match stuff..

Some of these are actually looking really good….

That’s one of the reasons why I love crafting, the possibilities are endless and the end results is most times very surprising…

Here’s two that I mucked about on yesterday.

Completed LSNED journal

2010-10-02T12:35:00.000+01:00

Here is my completed book – Still no cover, but I will get to it… I Just have to decide on something to flap over the beautiful floral cover that’s already on it..

I love the look of the book and I am fascinated by the fact that it is so touchable – my Mom makes grabby hands at it as soon as she see’s it…

30th September - I hate when a good thing ends !!!

2010-09-30T12:28:00.000+01:00

Page for the 30th Of September

What I learned today

“ I hate when a good thing ends !!!”

29th September - I still love mud puddles !!!

2010-09-29T12:25:00.000+01:00

Page for the 29th Of September

What I learned today

“ I still love mud puddles !!!”

28th September - Take a Chance, Take a chance !!!

2010-09-28T12:22:00.000+01:00

Page for the 28th Of September

What I learned today

“ Take a Chance, Take a chance !!!”

27th September - I hate that the summer is ending !!!

2010-09-27T12:20:00.000+01:00

Page for the 27th Of September

What I learned today

“ I hate that the summer is ending !!!”

26th September - Creative People are all kind of special !!!

2010-09-26T12:17:00.000+01:00

Page for the 26th Of September

What I learned today

“ Creative People are all kind of special !!!”

25th September - Oh, How I love a good craft fair !!!

2010-09-25T12:14:00.000+01:00

Page for the 25th Of September

What I learned today

“ Oh, How I love a good craft fair !!!”

24th September - A little or a lot of laughter make such a difference !!!

2010-09-24T12:10:00.000+01:00

Page for the 24th Of September

What I learned today

“ A little or a lot of laughter make such a difference !!!”

23rd September - Even when things things seem there darkest – Never give up !!!

2010-09-23T12:06:00.000+01:00

Page for the 23nd Of September

What I learned today

“Even when things things seem there darkest – Never give up !!!”

September 22nd - It’s a great feeling when you come home with exactly what you wanted !!!”

2010-09-22T21:35:00.000+01:00

Page for the 22nd Of September

What I learned today

“It’s a great feeling when you come home with exactly what you wanted !!!”

I hate alternatives when it comes to some things.

When I am looking for that perfect dress or that perfect shoes or even if I am looking for a particular brand of bread – I hate alternative.

I went out today with a clear idea of what I wanted to get and what I hope to achieve by the end of the day – and I am so pleased I got it all done and I got exactly want I wanted.

Job done…

Day 22nd Image – My big bulky book

2010-09-22T20:52:00.001+01:00

I know we still have a few more days to go before we are completed with this project..

But I thought I would post my journal as it is now…

As you can see – filled with bits and bobs of my life from the past month… I still have not done anything about the cover yet though…

I still have a few days to sort that out though…

September 21st – Sometimes it really is all down to me!!!

2010-09-21T21:40:00.000+01:00

Page for the 21st Of September

What I learned today

“Sometimes it really is all down to me!!!

There are times in our lives where it is down to you to get stuff done.

One of the things we all learn as kids is to ask for help, share, know that many hands make for lighter work - but sometimes harsh or even hard lessons teaches us that every now and then sometimes it really is all down to us.

Down to me really…

It could be simply household stuff like making sure there is tomatoes in the fridge to big stuff – like making sure I am ahead of the game when it comes to parents days and meetings.

While I would like to swiss my way though the day and say “Oh someone else will do it”, in my reality it won’t get done if I don't do it.

September 20th – I struggle to recycle !!!

2010-09-20T21:20:00.000+01:00

Page for the 20th Of September

What I learned today

“I struggle to recycle !!!

I am admitting it – I am a horrible recycler (is that even a word)

With the multitude of bins the council gives us you would think I would have gotten the hang of it by how… But I haven’t..

The tins and the paper more often than not end up together.. the general waste have all kind of stuff that should not be in it – in it..

I am sometime too lazy and too tired or just too pushed for time to do the whole separate and bag and all the other stuff that goes along with recycling…

I know I do the big stuff, I reuse, I turn off lights, I bulk up where possible and share where there is that option.. but the little things like everyday household waste disposal – still leaves me at the bottom of the ladder..

I‘ll get there – I’ll get there..

September 19th - I love knowing something no-one else knows about, Secrets !!!

2010-09-19T20:51:00.000+01:00

Page for the 19th Of September

What I learned today

“I love knowing something no-one else knows about, Secrets !!!”

Can you remember the days when your parents told you secrets are no good – and to resist doing the whisper thing in public.

I am sorry to say, but I still love getting the whisper now and then in public places, especially when it’s a secret. More over when I am the only one that knows about it, I love it.

It’s that feeling of wanting to spill the beans, but knowing that you can’t or else you will be letting someone down that I love. Can you remember that feeling of whispering on the phone about a surprise that you can’t talk about, you have to do that mental lock on your lips and toss the keys away..

All my friends and family know I love a good secret and I think they have a chuckle seeing me doing my darnest to not just explode – but I do it though.. and I will this time.

I will, I really will…

Have you hear a secret lately – something you are just bursting to tell?

September 18th – I love the Tiger-ri-fic days !!!

2010-09-18T21:33:00.000+01:00

Page for the 18th Of September

What I learned today

“I love the Tiger-ri-fic days !!!

There are just some days where the day could not go any better even if I tried.

Today was one of those day for me – we had the same amount of chores to do, my kids still got up to their drama, i was still cooking dinner at 3 O’clock, but some how there was a rightness to the day.

Everything flow, everything click. I call these my Tiger-ri-fic days. They don't come around often, but when they do come around it’s fantastic.

One of the boys make this backing paper for me with some tiger stamps and I fell in love with it – it actually sum up my day. Dark stamp for the highlights, dull stamp for the busier points – but over all a brilliant day…

How was yours?

September 17th – I can be quiet and still be a friend !!!

2010-09-17T20:24:00.000+01:00

Page for the 17th Of September

What I learned today

“I can be quiet and still be a friend !!!”

Most of the people I call friends in my life are people I have known since childhood or for a good many years. We have seen each other through good time, bad times and alot of the in between times.

One thing we have all learn over the years – is sometimes one of us just needs the other. Not a shoulder to cry on, not the voice of reason or even the voice of calm support – sometimes they just want to know the other is there and that's it.

I try to explain once to someone that knowing my friend will support me without doing anything, without uttering a word or even making any demand can be the biggest help when I am agitated or just in a difficult situation.

One of my friend went for a interview today after too many years out of the work place, without saying a thing a bunch of us just met at a coffee shop on the corner to where she was being interviewed. Like clockwork when she came out she just came to us – because we knew she would just need us to be there – giving quiet support.

Friends – they so make the difference.

September 16 - Taking the bend in the road can lead to an exciting new adventure!!!

2010-09-16T20:36:00.000+01:00

Page for the 16th Of September

What I learned today

“Taking the bend in the road can lead to an exciting new adventure !!!”

I debated what phrase to use for today's lesson because my day was more about changes or crossroads that comes into our lives at anytime and at any age…

At the end of the day it was about when I decide to take that bend in the road, when I decide that I either need a change or if I am ready or even willing to take that risk to take the bend in the road.

I am not the most adventurous person when it comes to new things – but some times there is nothing to do but make that bold step and try something new. Everyone’s experience will be different – but I am now on a new adventure in my life and while my heart is beating like crazy worrying about disappointment, failure or even let downs, I am so excited at the new lease I seem to have on life, I love the adrenaline rush and I love the fact that what ever happen I did it on my own terms in my own time..

Are you at a crossroad in your life? - is it a yeah or nay for trying something new?

September 15 - Children comes with their own set of drama !!

2010-09-15T20:17:00.000+01:00

Page for the 15th Of September

What I learned today

“Children comes with their own set of drama !!!”

Where have the days gone when a kid was just a kid, when the most urgent thing on their mind was how to get a chance to stay up and watch tele a little later.

My teenager are utter drama queens – everything is an issue and anything that can be overdramatized is generally is… I have taken to rolling my eyes at them and telling them they have their whole life’s ahead of them to stress about the little things.

Sometimes I listen to them without them knowing and I have to giggle when I am alone – they plot and plan and overdo everything. No matter how much I tell them “less is more” or even “simply does it”… they overdo and make a harsh of even the simplest things.

Oh for the good old days of kids just being kids..

September 14 - I hate people touching my mess

2010-09-14T20:02:00.000+01:00

Page for the 14th Of September

What I learned today

“I hate people touching my mess”

I remember growing up with my grand mother telling me “never touch the stuff in my sewing room” – Why? because she knows where everything is – even if it looks like a mess to me.

The older I get I am of the same opinion – while my mom and my kid’s fingers might be itching to just pack and tidy up my area – I get annoyed when they move stuff.

I say to them “I know that the scissors is under that bit of paper, I know where to find my brads, I know where the last scrap of paper I use is place …. and if you touch it – you just mess up my system”.

It might not look like a system, but it works for me…

Anyone else feels the same about their mess?

September 13 - Grocery shopping is not my favourite thing

2010-09-13T21:00:00.000+01:00

Page for the 13th Of September

What I learned today

“Grocery shopping is not my favourite thing”

One of the things to make me leave the house with my shoulders slump and in a very low mood is shopping. and not just any shopping, but grocery shopping.

It‘s the fact that it takes hours to do, it’s mindless and I always forget something in my haste to get out of whatever supermarket I am in.

Don't even get me started on the shopping cart – I think Murphy's Law was written for me – If a broken trolley is in the stands – I will be the unlucky one to get it. Even if I start out with a perfectly sane trolley, it starts having issues by the time I am halfway through..

I really dislike grocery shopping

September 12th – I am a creature of habit!!

2010-09-12T23:00:00.000+01:00

Page for the 12th Of September

What I learned today

“I am a creature of habit”

I am not sure how other people organize there weekend, but I look forward to the weekends.

It means having a lay in, probably some junk food for the kids and a whole slew of back to school stuff to break up the day..

What ever way it happens – by Sunday evening I normally have my ducks in a row and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Day 12 Image – No rest for the flora and fauna!!!

2010-09-12T18:00:00.000+01:00

I am still capturing all the gorgeous plant life on the camera – Some are literally on there last leg… Enjoy.

September 11th – It is nice to know you are being thought of!!

2010-09-11T23:00:00.000+01:00

Page for the 11th Of September

What I learned today

“It is nice to know you are being thought of”

Today was an important day for me and it was really nice to see friends and family and have a good time, but the one thing that made the difference was knowing that people care and actually tell you that they care about you or are thinking about you.

I had a great day even with the up and down weather. Kids running in the back yard, food on the gill, laughter and good cheers all around …

Total bliss….

Wish I could have bottled that moment and that feeling…..

Day 11 Images – The clouds at play……

2010-09-11T22:00:00.000+01:00

Today was so hot and with such heat you would expects sunny blue skies, but we had grey skies for most of the day and to top it off the most spectacular cloud events happening up above…. I just had to snap..

September 10th –Beautiful things can be found in the most unexpected places

2010-09-10T23:00:00.000+01:00

Page for the 10th Of September

What I learned today

“Beautiful things can be found in the most unexpected places ”

After some overnight showers – today was absolutely gorgeous. Everywhere I looked it was a feast of freshness. The trees were making there last stand against the on coming cold spell.

The later summer blooms were all round – even my poor lavender bush was gracing us with the most awesome fragrances.

A nice quite day all round, but a day that I got to see nature at it’s best….

Day 10 Image – Around my neighbourhood

2010-09-10T22:18:00.000+01:00

I found these beauty while doing my walk – aren’t they just gorgeous..

September 09th – Some pretty amazing people pass through my day !!!!

2010-09-09T22:05:00.001+01:00

Page for the 9th Of September

What I learned today

“Some pretty amazing people pass through my day ”

After a mightily long day – I am finally in and all I feel like doing is crawling into bed and not get out for a few days… but I know that ain’t going to happen.

Looking back at my day – lots of good things happened, I made new friends, I got into the mix of things as usual and I am sure I misplaced one or two items I am going to need for tomorrow – but tomorrow will take care of itself.

With all the going ons though – I have to admit some pretty cool and amazing people passed through my day today and everyday.

I most time don’t take the time to see them there or even just to stop and say WOW – you made my day better…

I really need to step up my game and let these wonderful additions to my day know that they really do make my day better. Starting in the morning I will ..

Too tired to move now!!!!

Day 9 image – The best of weather

2010-09-09T21:49:00.001+01:00

For the past couple of years at this time we would be getting into cooler spells of weather, however this year, while we are having some showers here in London – The flora and fauna are somehow lusher than ever.

I spotted these trees today and they were in literally the best shape I have seen them in, in a long time… I am definately going to capture more of these glorious sights before they start changing colour…

Hope the plant life around you is doing just as well..

September 08th – I am a reader !!!!

2010-09-08T18:20:00.001+01:00

Page for the 8th Of September

What I learned today

“I am a reader”

I have not been my usual self for the past few week, and one of the things that took a beating when I was feeling rather low was my reading.

I read A LOT of books every week and every month. Today I came across a stack of books I had earmarked to read weeks ago and for some reason they called out to me. For people who read you would know this feeling, the feeling of just wanting to delve into a story, meet new people and new worlds – I was there.

I took up Lori Foster – Too Much Temptation and I was hooked, before I knew it I was closing the last page with a smile on my face.

My reading mojo is back and all I can say YESSSSSSSS!!!!

I am a reader.

Day 8 images – I love books

2010-09-08T18:00:00.000+01:00

Some of my stash from yesterday’s delivery – Books, AAhhh boooks

September 07th - Today the postman is my new best friend

2010-09-07T23:40:00.000+01:00

Page for the 7th Of September

What I learned today

“Today the postman is my new best friend”

I love Tuesday’s, more often than not this is the one day I am guaranteed to get ALOT of post and packages.

There is a certain joy to ripping into packages and none better than something the postman has just delivered. I got a few packages today, books and some other stuff but I also got a whole stack of 12 x 12 papers that I was not expecting but was so thrilled to get…

I love trying out new papers with my scrapbooking and these I am sure will be totally great and definately get my creative juices flowing.

Day 7 Image – I love getting the post

2010-09-07T23:18:00.001+01:00

September 6th - In my kids world – Laundry day is “as needed”

2010-09-06T22:11:00.000+01:00

Page for the 6th Of September

What I learned today

“In my kids world – Laundry day is “as needed” ”

On the weekends I as million other moms the world over do the laundry, for some reason my kids have their own schedule for their laundry – WHEN THEY NEED IT…

I am thinking this is a teenage thing or is it a boy thing.

What ever it is, it’s driving me up the wall – I really can’t tell the last time I saw the bottom of my kids clothe basket…