WOYWW 195

Do I still have piles?  Actually not so much.  There is a little pile of cards (some of which I hope you can tell, were not made by me...) which was a result of Monday's craft morning with my baby girl.  I made a couple of emergency cards myself plus one for my Mum at the weekend which almost counts as thinking ahead in my book.

Centre stage are the results of a cutting spree on my Silhouette.  We had a bit of a falling out, my Cameo and me, when it refused to cut cleanly.  I Googled, as one does these days, and cleaned out the blade, but still no joy.  It seems that I have somehow broken a tiny piece off of the blade because a new one worked beautifully.  I haven't used it much so I am a bit gutted that it has broken already as they should last for months and months.  Hey ho.  We live and learn and hopefully don't break too many more...

I am really really pleased with what I can produce on it though and I am really looking forward to using those backgrounds on my layouts this coming weekend at the retreat.

Elsewhere in the house I am working on some canvasses with shells and pebbles on.  One of those things that you see in a shop and think "I could probably do that myself" and then find that you can't.  But try I will!

What's on your desk this fine Wednesday morning?  Let the world have a nosy, do, and join up with WOYWW at Julia's because the weather is miserable here and it will cheer us all up :-)

Bye for now
xx

Moo Cows

I'm patiently (not really) awaiting the results of my third OU assignment but there's no chance to twiddle my thumbs  oh no, because I'm busy getting ready for my weekend away next week too.  I've been printing off lots of ideas from Pinterest to take with me and I make my page kits accordingly.  This does seem to work well for me and means I get maximum time actually scrapping while I'm away.  

This layout was one such project from our last retreat and was inspired by many of the bannered projects around including this one from my board.  B must have been about 18 months here and we met up with my niece and her staffy at a local country park.  Both B and Harvey Dog were fascinated by the cows and it was so cute and funny watching them both.  I love these pictures of her because they captured her wispy hair and chubby toddler arms.

I've still got bits of this gorgeous collection left, its going on forever!  "This and That, Graceful" was the first one of these Echo Park collection kits that I had and I have loved virtually every one of them since.

I flicked up some of the ends of the banners for dimension and added lots of chipboard and stickers from the collection and a few other bits and bobs for lots of texture.

Alongside my printer churning away is my Silhouette Cameo which is also busy busy getting ready for next weekend producing some lovely die-cut backgrounds which I can't wait to share.  Kelly at Envisages has shared a heart background with me and I'm looking forward to using that one too.  See her layout here.

Bye for now
xx

WOYWW 194

Well hello again!  In for a penny, in for a pound I say.

Here's my desk, full of piles.  Nothing much changes really does it?!   Oh, and there's a cup of tea of course too.  Well it wouldn't be my desk without it now would it?

Top left is my Writing course stuff and top right is stuff that stays on my desk all the time.  I was so happy to find that little pink heart shaped bowl in Ikea because its just right for little clips and such.  The rest of the desk is preparation for our scrapping weekend away a week on Friday.  I'm just apportioning my washi tapes.

The large pile bottom right is actually a pile of almost finished layouts.  19 in total.  Some just need a little journalling or a date, some need one or two little embellishments to finish them off and some need all but the bare bones.  I'll get around to them.  Its on my list....

So nice to be joining in with the worldwide desk share of WOYWW again :-)

Bye for now
xx

Can I come back yet?

Better late than never, so they say!  Goodness what a few months its been!  I THINK I am starting to come out of the other side of things now and I have missed the blogging community so much that I have seized the moment, shaken the dust off the camera and found my way back here at last.  I'm gradually making my way around and catching up with everyone.  Wanna be friends again?

So what's been going on?  Well...

... actually, I'll save that.  I typed it all out and there was just too much.  Lets just saying it involved coursework, stomach bugs, new bathrooms that went wrong, unrelated leaks, unrelated electricity problems, snow, Christmas, birthdays, stomach bugs and a major depressive crash.  The good news is that things are starting to trickle along in a more normal fashion and I have, what is hoped, is the right drug for me now so that all the other things don't cause me to fall over in a snotty heap sticking pencils up my nose and shouting wibble.

Have I been dieting?  Well yes and no.  But I'll come back to that.

Have I been exercising?  Well yes and no.  But I'll come back to that.

Have I been decluttering?  You bet your sorry little box of car boot rubbish I have!

Have I been studying?  Yes!  And getting assignments in.  I'm excited about the next module because it is Life Writing... which is kinda blogging by another name innit?

Have I been crafting?  Of course I have!  Yay! (and thanks to Jennifer's advice I *think* I have sorted the issues with my photos...)

T.I.G.G.rrrrr 

A double layout featuring my girl getting her face painted at Beaulieu.

 This was one of many layouts I completed at a retreat in early December.  The retreat itself was awful but that's another story.  We had fun and scrapped lots so that's all that matters.

Left page.

 I used Crate Paper Farmhouse and some older AC Flair badges for this bright project.

Right page

 I used lots of the stickers from the collection pack and layered up with buttons and tags and ribbons oh my!

Embellishment close up.

I'm still loving the pinwheels!  Those felt leaves were a bargain in The Works and add another pop of colour and texture.

Another embellishment close up, just cos I can!

I have such plans a-foot for my blog in terms of holding myself accountable and I mainly want to get back to why I started this in the first place; to help me heal and to reach out to others who use arts and crafts to help them deal with depression and mental health problems.

I just wanted to give a shout out to Sarah at S J Crafts because she allowed me to take a step back from the design team when I felt I should quit.  She stood by me and didn't give up on me and made me believe in myself again that I had something to give.  Thank you Sarah!  We're going away for a scrapping weekend in a couple of weeks with a few of the Artful Angels and we can't wait!  I'd better start packing!

Bye for now
xx

Inspired by Winter

I'm really pleased to be joining Sarah at S J Crafts for another term on her design team.  She has been running a series on being Inspired by Winter and this included getting to know the Design Team a bit more.  Pop over to the blog and see how we all answered the questions.

Here's what I made using some goodies from My Minds Eye and Studio Calico.  

I was inspired by the wintery colours of icey turquoise and grey with a splash of sunny yellow.  That's certainly the kind of wintery days we've had here - its been fffrrreeezing! 

I used a doily as a mask and then another one actually on the layout because they always make me think of the delicate patterns of snow flakes.  I also love the intricate designs and the sparkles that come with the frosts and so I added some bling in the form of gems and some snowflake patterned vellum.

The photograph is of me and my Mum at my graduation which happened in the summer but represented years of studying during the Winter months.  I'm right back there now, highlighter and cup of tea in hand.  Its much harder with children and I have been forced to make a few changes, albeit temporarily I hope.  I have decided to take a bit of a blog break both in writing and reading / commenting although I hope to get around many of you and see how you are etc.  I need to get my head straight as I have really struggled recently and it has not been good for those around me.  I need to get some writing done and focus on the bigger things until I can catch my breath a bit but I really hope to be back soon.

In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful festive holiday period, however you celebrate!  Blessings of the Season to you all!

Bye for now
xx

Carta Bella Traditions - Layouts

I'm looking at these pumpkins  in the photos and thinking that Autumn feels like a long while ago now!  Some people in the UK have had a smattering of snow today I believe.  I am tucked up in my craft room doing my writing coursework and generally feeling a lot more positive about things after my relaxing weekend but more on that another time.  I have a couple of layouts to share using the Carta Bella Traditions collection featured in the previous post.  (This collection is currently reduced in the huge winter sale on at S J Crafts!)

I love the Autumn colours in this collection and the pops of blue.  I distressed all the edges and added punched leaves to fit with the story of a trip to Wisley Gardens with a friend.

I'm using pop dots for stickers more and more as it makes them easier to move around and gives a wonderful dimension.

This double layout is the first of millions many from our holiday on Aller Farm with Featherdown Farms.  This particular one is about Powderham Castle so I chose the more traditional colours and prints.  It was the Jubilee week too and so this collection gives a bit of a nod to red, white and blue without being in your face with Union Jacks and the like.

Some of the flowers are fussy cut from the papers and others are punched or die cut and some are slightly shaped to add dimension.

Ordinarily I would post several pictures of close ups and the double pages on an individual basis but I had to fiddle and faff around to even get these pictures to post.  I have taken off many many pictures from my blog and it still won't let me post a new one unless I shrink it down a lot but then of course I lose quality.  Hey ho, I will find a way around it eventually even if it means paying for the privilege! 

I have one more DT post to go live shortly which involves a beautiful collection from My Mind's Eye that I'm looking forward to sharing.  Don't forget to tell me what goodies you bought in the sale but do hurry as Sarah is selling fast!

Bye for now

xx

Carta Bella Traditions cards

When Echo Park Papers announced it was launching a sister company I was intrigued.  I love Echo Park and the new Carta Bella company promised premium branding with a sophisticated range so I was excited to be able to work with one of their debut collections.  

Sarah sent me the Traditions collection from the S J Crafts shop and true to their word, the papers are wonderful quality and slightly textured.  The colours in this particular kit are great for everyday, Autumn and Christmas if you prefer not to purchase overly themed ranges.   

I had a few cards to make and I think you'll agree that they are all very different even though they come from the same wonderful kit.  

This one was inspired by a home decor project on Pinterest and was inked with Rusty Hinge Distress Ink and embellished with orange gems for an Autumnal feel.

This one features one of the stunning stickers from the 12x12 sheet that comes as part of the collection.  I knew it wouldn't work on a scrapbook page so it was perfect as a focal point on a card raised up with some pop dots. 

And then this last one for my dear Dad which embraces the traditional feel of the collection with the addition of an embossed car (oh how I love to watch embossing powder melt!) and some script ribbon (apologies for the blurring, my camera didn't like being left in the cold car overnight!).

I also made 2 very different scrapbook layouts with this wonderful collection so please check back again soon.

I must just say a quick thank you for all the comments and e-mails etc on my previous post.  It is wonderful to have people thinking of you across the world and sending their love.  The last couple of weeks have been some of the darkest I have known for a good while, the stress of the house is just adding to it!  This weekend I am off to a scrapping retreat to play with paper for hours on end.  This is by far my best therapy.

Much love to you all

Bye for now xx