WOYWW 249

What have we here then?  Not much in the way of crafting I can tell you.  We are considering putting our house on the market and the potential move may involve me losing my precious studio.  What will I do?!  I want to scratch myself at the mere thought of not having my own place to craft.  I guess I need to start getting rid of stuff...

Here is this week's offering if you've come for a browse around the desks with WOYWW courtesy of Julia at the Stamping Ground.  

Evidence of some sorting out is pretty much all that's available this week.  We got rid of a load of videos but I had an inkling in the back of my addled mind that someone somewhere had a brilliant use for the empty cases.  I think it might have been something to do with cling stamps.  A brief peruse of Pinterest and Youtube yielded nothing so maybe I imagined it.

In the middle there is very very old evidence of a former crafting life.  I used to like drawing as a teen.  Nothing out of my own head, all copied and all cartoon style, but I obviously liked them enough to cut them out and keep them.  I also found some early poetry that I had penned - phew lots of teen angst there!

I almost didn't join in this week as I didn't manage to get around anyone last week and I sincerely apologise for that.  My littlest great nephew was a poorly boy and in hospital for a few days and it threw things out a bit and then my puter decided to have a funny five minutes which seemed to effect it from then on.  It is mostly sorted now apart from the screen looks a bit different in Chrome but I can live with that... *twitch*

So, regular WOYWW-ers - any idea who or where I might have seen someone doing something clever with storage using video cases?  Do let me know if you can think of anyone!

Bye for now
xx

Season's Greetings!

Its the most wonderful time of the year!  Oh I do love Christmas.  This could well be the last year that both children believe in the guy in the big red suit because Louis is already asking more and more questions about the logistics of our involvement.  Its so complicated!  

These photos were taken last year at Warwick Castle - doesn't it look festive!?  I wasn't there because I was at a scrapping retreat (which was awful!) and when I scrapped these pictures last week I couldn't for the life of me remember why I hadn't been there.  It reminded me to scrap things or at least record the memories as soon as I can because things so easily get forgotten.

 This double layout will be the second and third pages in my Journal Your Christmas album because they really capture the magic and the spirit of all that is Christmas.  Its all about making it special for my family, in particular my children.

 I'm using Crate Paper's Bundled Up collection throughout my JYC and I'll be sharing my method and plans for this in a couple of days.

 I was inspired by this Pin for using large photos so it was ideal for the types of pictures that you get on a day out.  I deliberately kept the background quite muted with the polka dot woodgrain because the pictures were quite busy and orangey.  I did want to introduce my full colour scheme for the album though so I picked out some of the pink and red bits from the ephemera pack.

The little tickets from the pack are perfect for the subject matter here and give enough space for a note or two.  I've added some gold stars here too because I want to run both gold and stars throughout the album.

So how are you getting on with your festive crafting?  Cards all made?  Presents all bought / made and wrapped? No?  Me neither... I'll get around to it... but maybe have another frangipan mince pie first ;-)

Bye for now

WOYWW 231

Ssshhh!  Pretend you haven't seen me here for WOYWW 'kay?  I'm supposed to be doing my 'novel in a month' for NaNoWriMo but it isn't going terribly well so I decided to take a little bit of time out and join in with the Wednesday fun.  

Of course I missed the ideal window of opportunity with which to take my photo so you've got a nice shade of yellow to the picture today.  

You can see the scrapbook page I finished off in the middle there for the album towards the top of the pic.  You can also see the 2013 diary page which has fallen out of my Festive Planner which you will be able to see if you pop back on Friday for the Frosty Festivities blog hop.

Here's the finished page.  Although the lettering took a while I'm really pleased with it.  Upcycling + memory recorded + page I love = what its all about.  I actually experimented with using some Mod Podge and some ordinary PVA to stiffen the fabric prior to cutting.  I found that there wasn't THAT much of a difference so if you fancy giving it a go without forking out for Mod Podge then that's another option for you.

The hexagons are an idea that I Pinned from JimJams - thank you!  Another memory of Aller Farm scrapped and I am still really loving all of this album and the way it is flowing.  Crafting makes me happy :-)

What's on your desk this week?  Don't be afraid to link up, whatever the state of your desk or your mind ;-)

Bye for now
xx

WOYWW 205 - NSD challenge

This is what happens when you try and do too many things at one time...  What a mess?!  That little gap to the right of the pink mat is only there because I just literally picked up the camera from that spot.

Last Wednesday I mentioned that I was working on an assignment for my writing course.  I'm still doing that because something exciting came up on Thursday morning to throw my plans out a bit.  You may have seen this post where I had the amazing opportunity to be a guest artist on Shimelle's blog for her National Scrapbooking Day celebrations.  We were talking about techniques for scrapping at pace and I have certainly been harnessing those techniques to get some of the challenges completed!

My course books and computer are piled in among half finished layouts and paper crafting products and this is not a good mix because things are getting lost and creased.  I'm still working on making the single from last week into a double but I DID find the off cuts from the original and there is plenty enough to make another page - huzzah!   I've got several more challenge layouts in the pipeline but there are classes to go to, family to feed, washing to do, this penultimate assignment to get completed and another blog hop with Jennifer to prepare for in amongst it all too.

One of the layouts I have completed this week actually fits 2 challenges.  This one at Shimelle's blog is to highlight your favourite papers and this one at S J Crafts which was to use just one manufacturer.  I don't think it will surprise anyone that I chose Echo Park!

I adore these papers from About A Boy and they were on my desk when I grabbed the photo and just went with it.  I flicked through my pile of Pinterest print outs and literally chose the first one that I came to that had the right number and orientation of photos, otherwise I could spend all day deliberating over this one or that one...  You can find the original from Debbie Hodges via my pin.

Those big rocks in the Northern Territory in Australia are so darn crazy right?  Just like that crazy rainbow chevron paper that I want to use on every single layout right now.

I'll be catching up with everyone's blogs in the next couple of days so make sure you put the kettle on :-)  And if you want to join in the desk sharing fun for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday then head on over to Julia's blog to find out more.

Bye for now
xx

WOYWW 199

Please don't panic.  That cup is not empty, the tea is just below the rim so all is good in the world :-)  

There is a thank you card made using some pink Papermania papers and that basket of flowers, and that's about all here really.  My study books are still there and I am mid-flow with my next assignment involving my travels, so not much time for paper creations at the moment.  I did manage to finish up 3-4 layouts from my pile of 19 almost-done's while Miss Bella and I were crafting together on Monday but the light is so poor at the moment that I daren't try and photograph them!  Will Spring ever really come or are we destined for a lifetime of Winter I wonder?

This is the finished card which looks better in real life without flash glare or dramatic colouring from tungsten lighting!

Much crafting is going on in the kitchen however, as it is the time of the Easter Bonnet Parade at school.  For the last 2 years we have taken pictures of this event in the sunshine under the blossom tree but I fear that this year it may be an inside job.  Management had offered to do the job this year but when scissors came to paper he backed out leaving with me 48 hours to create something for Louis.  We perused Pinterest and came up with a farm scene affair but the base layer wouldn't stick to the straw hat.  We ended up having to make the base hat and then sticking stuff on.  

We're getting there with me supervising and Louis doing and Bella sticking random bits to random bits.

Cotton wool sheep on the top and more daffodils to cover the dodgy bits and it should be okay.  The most important thing is that it fits his large oblong head without the need for a long length of ribbon to keep it in place!

So what fun are you having on your workdesk this week?  Let us have a look because sharing is caring and everyone is more than welcome over at our wonderful host, Julia's blog.

Bye for now

xx

That's How He Rolls (Scoot)

While we were away I had a great opportunity to play with the new Echo Park Papers collection called Scoot which is available at S J Crafts.  It is aimed primarily at little boys but I ended up with a variety of projects which I'll be sharing over the next week (or you can see more of them sooner at the S J Crafts blog).

This first one uses both sides of the same paper which I mounted on a piece of cardstock that I didn't need (awful colour / damaged / whatever).  It gives everything stability and still maintains the 12x12 size.

I was really lucky to catch Louis's first roll over just before 4 months because I was trying to take a picture of him wearing a fireman's outfit, hence the fire engines in the papers being perfect here.  You can see how much more generic some of the B sides are with this ruled lines paper.

I used stickers from the collection with a few on pop dots for dimension and then added a few bits from my stash here and there.

This little guy is currently busy designing his own Lego world and eating us out of house and home.  I can hardly believe it's the same little chap in these photos.  At the time we had a 3 storey house and the only computer was in the top room so I used to lay him on the floor up there with a few toys while I tried to get 20 minutes of chat with my Open University friends.  Now of course I have a lap top and I am on it for long stretches at a time while I study / write / catch up with friends / blog / blog hop / scan Pinterest / make pretty things on my Silhouette / crop photos / check out Slimming World recipes / etc.  I wonder how I could cope now if I could only spend 2 x 20 minute bursts on the computer at the top of the house!

Tomorrow I'll be sharing something I created on black so please do come back and have a look at the rest of the projects over the next few days.

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

Inseperable

I've had a bit of a tricky mojo recently.  Its been there, just not working as I would like it.  I'm completing projects but they are leaving me feeling a little disappointed.  This week also, I've had a nasty stomach bug and I'm still not over it, and I'm part way through a blog post about our horrific camping adventures this weekend.  In an effort to turn things a bit positive, I looked through my spreadsheet of layouts (oh yes, you did read that right) which I have to keep now to help me track deadlines, publishing deadlines and when I have blogged projects etc.  I found this layout that I hadn't shared yet and it reminded me that sometimes I can make things that I really love.  I used a sketch that I found on Pinterest and it came together really well with the Salt Air papers from Cosmo Cricket.  The colours were perfect with the photos of Louis and his Grandma (my MIL) who are inseperable when we get to see her, often to the exclusions of everyone else.

I don't often use printed journalling but in this case there wasn't much to say (the photos are from our Wales album) and so it worked well to have it in short phrases on the strips.  I also used a Cricut for the first time ever for my title.  I was at an Artful Angels crop and they have one there with various cartridges for you to use which is really handy if you don't have one of your own.

I liked being able to match the colour to my layout exactly so I would definitely use it again even though it is quite fiddly.

So there you are.  A sunny layout for a day that is not sure if it is sunny or raining stair rods!  Now, I must go and load the washing machine again.  Oh yes, it was THAT sort of camping trip.  More on that very soon.

Bye for now
xx

Organisation Celebration Blog Hop!

A little while ago, the lovely Jennifer, a fellow DT member at S J Crafts, asked if I would like to join in with her Organisation Celebration Blog Hop.  

She said 

"Some of you may have seen my ‘word for the year’ – ORGANISE, which I blogged about in January here. As it will soon be half way through the year, I thought I’d spend some time telling you about the things that are working for me so far.   So on Friday 29^th June – Sunday 1^st July I’ll be having an ‘Organisation Celebration’ here at Jennifer's Jumbles. There will be posts every hour from 4pm-10pm Friday, and 10am-10pm Saturday and Sunday (BST), including a blog hop, tips, tutorials, challenges, crafts, and lots of GIVEAWAYS!"

It sounded like fun so of course I signed up, after all I am a very organised kind of person.  And it was ages away...

Of course, time cracked on and suddenly it was this week and I thought, what on earth can I say?!  I was about to start packing for a crop and I was getting sidetracked by someone on Facebook asking what they should take when they went on their retreat.  Kapow!  So my own post in the hop is all about how I personally prepare to scrap away from home.  Each person in the hop is sharing something different and each lovely blog has a letter for you to collect (mine is near the end of the post).

I am honoured to be sharing a hop with some of these uber talented ladies and you are sure to find a new blog to follow if you don't already have them in your list.  Once you've got all the letters (12 on the different blogs and 2 on Jennifer's own blog), you can email Jennifer the phrase you've collected. All entries must be received by Monday the 2nd of July at 11.59pm BST, and all the correct answers will be put into a draw to win a gorgeous prize package of October Afternoon 9 to 5 and Studio Calico Take Note items, worth over £25!  How utterly fabulous is that?!  Thanks Jennifer!

Your next stop along the hop is actually back to the start with Jennifer 

Here's a list of all the blogs in the hop, in the correct order, in case you get lost.

• Jennifer - http://jennifersjumbles.blogspot.co.uk/
• Clair - http://obstinatepursuit.blogspot.co.uk/
• Leanne http://littlelifeofscrap.blogspot.co.uk/
• Louise http://scrapbook-me.blogspot.co.uk/
• Rinda http://gallorganico.blogspot.co.uk/
• Kirsty http://www.journalofcuriousthings.co.uk/
• Jo S. http://curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.co.uk/
• Daphne http://dapfniedesign.wordpress.com/
• Meghann http://meghannslittlecorner.blogspot.co.uk/
• Jo B. http://buckinghamspalace.blogspot.co.uk/
• Abi http://creatingpaperdreams.blogspot.co.uk/
• Lea http://finallyscrappin.blogspot.co.uk/
• Lisa-Jane http://comeinsidemycrazyhead.blogspot.co.uk/  THAT'S ME!

 So, how do I organise myself for scrapping away from home?  Firstly, I live out of my tote bag at home.  I keep all my essentials in there and it means I can just zip it up and go without fearing that I will forget anything vital.  In the back sections you can see various widths and strengths of DST, glue dots and foam tapes.  I also pack a spare ATG roll in case my yellow monster runs out.  In the middle I keep my large scissors, my Tim Holtz ruler, an acrylic block and my pencil case.  I also keep a pack of baby wipes in here and I make sure I keep a few dry ones ready in there too.  In the front internal sections are my Distress Ink pads with coloured dots on the side and a piece of foam attached to the underside.  I keep the applicators and some make-up sponges in here too.  My small scissors, pokey tool, glue stick, craft knife, pencil and thin journalling pen are all kept in the very front pockets, along with my sweeteners.  Essentials have to be close at hand ;-)

 With the essentials taken care of, I set about planning my pages.  Unless I am working with a specific set of papers for a DT submission, I tend to start with the photos using whatever I fancy.  Usually there is some subliminal reason for choosing the ones I do, perhaps I have seen a particular idea I want to try or a particular collection or embellishment to use or a certain story to tell.  I lay them on my desk and then select a few papers to use with them.  Then I choose a couple of possible colours of cardstock.  I also add a few spares of cardstock in kraft, white, vanilla and a couple of "dodgy" pieces.  These are strange coloured or marked pieces that I use to adhere a page onto if I am constructing it out of pieces pattered paper, or to make templates etc.  You can see the piles progressing at the bottom of this picture.

On my trimmer you can see that I've printed off some inspiration and ideas.  These are from my Pinterest board and I often use these to help me plan my pages.  I keep these individually on the pile with my photos and papers.  Then I add sticker sheets and letters, die cuts and chip boards.  Next I go through my embellishment box to see if anything will fit with what I have chosen.  Lastly I add texture to the piles with ribbons, buttons, brads and gems etc.

When I've got everything I might need in a pile, I place the individual page kits in a poly bag and add it to my craft bag.  I usually have a few in there already from the previous crop as I never complete the volume I attempt!  I've also got an idea but this stage if there is anything else I need to take like dies and punches and larger tools.  I always take my little trimmer in my bag and a guillotine in the blue bag.

Its not fool proof obviously and I do tend to get wherever I am going and think "ooh if I had brought that particular ribbon, or that label or that punch etc" but in the main I can get to a point where I only have to finish an odd touch here and there back at home.  

This is one of the layouts I completed at last Saturdays crop and I managed to finish it entirely, including journalling, away from home.  It features Bella and her Daddy in sunny Wales and uses almost entirely scraps.

I scrap-lifted this from one of my Pinterest layouts from Scrapbook.com and I love the way it turned out even I was twitching by the time I had cut, inked and randomised all those scalloped circles!

I'm admitting to using scraps of plastic from toy packaging here and it looks odd as a close up but I'm happy with how it looks on the layout overall.

So now you need a letter to send you on your way back to Jennifer, am I right?  Well the letter you need is "Y".  Now go, hop around, and tell Jen I sent ya!

Bye for now
xx

Well Hello Sun!

So yesterday morning we were strawberry picking in the rain (a VERY poor harvest this year) but by the afternoon we were feeling a tad warm.  Today the sun is properly out and I hear rumours of this lasting 4 days.  We shall see.

In celebration of the brief sunny interlude, I have a rather bright layout to share!  I used Shimelle's Starting Point and may actually get this uploaded in the same week it was offered which is a rarity at the moment.  Yet another Pembrokeshire layout featuring Louis, this time telling how he is so desperate to get in the water that he ends up going in with his clothes on for a "paddle" and before we know it he is wet through from head to toe.  How can you resist though when he clearly makes him so happy.

The papers and chipboard are Cosmo Cricket Salt Air, the ribbon is American Crafts and the Playtime rubber charm is October Afternoon Sidewalks.  The gems are Papermania and Louis has asked me to inform you that the ones used as bubbles on the fish was his idea.  Taught him well I have, as Yoda would say.

This is one of nearly 5 layouts I completed at the Artful Angels crop on Saturday so you can expect a flurry of posts in the next couple of weeks.  It was wonderful to be back scrapping, I feel I have been lacking time and motivation recently but a mad Pinning session had me eager to get back to my scissors and glue - huzzah!

Bye for now
xx

WOYWW 142

Happy Wednesday creative people!  I wonder how many of you purchased a little "something something" from QVC yesterday?  It was wonderful to hear the words "Tim Holtz" and "the WOYWW blogs" in the same sentence on national TV - thanks Dyan Reaveley!

And oh, what a fine mess of piles my desk is today.

At the central rear of the desk is "art-sediment" left over from my 2 year old doing her own special form of scrapbooking.  This involves sticking old photos, picture side down, to the nasty papers you get in some magazines or snipping a thousand bits of said paper onto the floor and then picking up a couple and sticking them on top of any photos that were picture side up.  Other than that there are a few layouts that need completing, the beginnings of some DT work and then centre stage is some micropore tape that I have been experimenting with stamping onto.

Among the piles is a layout that I finished after the crop on Saturday.  I didn't have a sketch or an idea to start with and it was the end of the day and I couldn't seem to access my Pinterest so I used the grid again which is a great fall back.  I ADORE these Thrift Shop papers from October Afternoon.

The photo was taken by L when he was not quite 5 years old so I think he did a pretty good job!  I love that he captured both myself and B smiling in the sun.  He loves his girls and was so pleased with the way this came out.  I can't wait to show him the finished page.

I tried something new for me but probably very old hat to many, with this paper clip and button embellishment and I love how it turned out.  Expect to see that again for sure!

Lastly I must apologise to the three people that have nominated me for a Liebster Blog Award.  I have not forgotten, I have just been swamped with various things and I am trying to decide who to pass it on to.  I am over the moon and thrilled to have been nominated - its a great feeling to know that the random burblings are appreciated in some way by other people.  I would also like to thank Fiona, who's blog I have been reading for some time.  She passed me details of how to check if you have been Pinned on Pinterest, and guess what?  I have!  I was so pleased that I did a little clap.  It was during discussions about Pinning from the original blog and not just re-Pinning - its a bit of an issue at the moment but for me I'm just happy to be Pinned at all!  It's one Pin and it has only been re-Pinned twice but it was one of those things that was on my crafting bucket list.  Hurrah!  It cheered up an otherwise pants day as my boy has been diagnosed with asthma out of the blue.  He is one of the liveliest people you could ever meet and it was the last thing I expected but at least now the poor chap might stop coughing and get some sleep, and me too!

Bye for now
xx