My new blog, The Papercraft Sessions, is now live and can be found here. Please come and visit me in my new blog home and say hello :) If you feel like 'following' me then I'd be hugely grateful!
My starter kit from Stampin' Up! is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday and I'll be praying for my little girl to take a loooooong nap in the afternoon so I can open it and start playing. It's a bit frustrating at the moment because I can't start practising the class projects until my kit arrives, as it has the products I need in it. I'm also legally required to wait 7 days after signing up as a demo before placing my first order, so I'm having to wait a while before I can get any of the non-kit items I want to buy. Probably a good thing really or I might order one of everything in the catalogue in the haze of my new demo excitement :D
There are so many new techniques that I want to try, both for myself and also so I can demonstrate them in the classes too. I've seen some fab ideas in the last week that really make you go 'Wow! How did they make that??' and it would be great to see the same reaction at a class and be able to show people how to achieve it.
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Big news!
Sorry for not blogging for so long. I've had my finger in a few pies, so to speak, and haven't been doing much card making lately. That's about to change though because I've made a big decision that will mean I'll be doing a lot more crafting soon.
I've taken the plunge and decided to become a Demonstrator for 'Stampin' Up!' products. If you haven't heard of them, you soon will as i'll be showcasing plenty of cards and papercraft techniques using SU! stamps and card/papers. I'm hoping to be running classes in Loughborough from June, which is really exciting (and just a bit scary!). In order to be a 'demo' I'll be focusing on SU! products and in line with that I'll be setting up a new blog. I'll post a link here as soon as it's set up so you can take a look and hopefully follow me in my new creative journey :)
I've taken the plunge and decided to become a Demonstrator for 'Stampin' Up!' products. If you haven't heard of them, you soon will as i'll be showcasing plenty of cards and papercraft techniques using SU! stamps and card/papers. I'm hoping to be running classes in Loughborough from June, which is really exciting (and just a bit scary!). In order to be a 'demo' I'll be focusing on SU! products and in line with that I'll be setting up a new blog. I'll post a link here as soon as it's set up so you can take a look and hopefully follow me in my new creative journey :)
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Happy New Year!
Wow, it's 2011 - where did that come from??
Just like November, December continued to be full of colds for all the family. Christmas festivities started late with the tree and decorations not going up until mid month. It worked out well though because Phoebe, my 21 month old Daughter was able to get used to the tree gradually as it appeared, then became decorated over several days. It didn't stop her touching it mind you!
I managed to make around 20 cards altogether, which I was really chuffed with. Some I liked better than others and I was really proud of some of them. I only managed to get quicks pics on my phone so I need to get them onto my computer before I can show them here.
I've spent most of the last month swaying on the mood swing, much to the joy/anguish of my nearest and dearest. As New Year approached I went through the usual mindset of wondering how I can do better in 2011. What changes can I make? What habits can I break? I came up with a set of four general aims for this year:-
1) Watch more films
2) Read more books
3) Start Lampworking again
4) Stop stressing about whether I'm a good parent
I'm not sure I will ever be able to achieve no.4 as it might just be the natural way of life for any parent, we'll see.
Having had these aims in my head for a few days I realised I did need a few more specific resolutions to aim for. So far I've come up with:-
1) Stop picking! If I can manage this for long enough to let the mess on my back clear up I'm going to treat myself to a back massage.
2) Drink less alcohol. My Husband decided that the plan for January is to drink everything we've got left in the cupboard from over Christmas (Bottle of Sherry, 1/2 bottle of Baileys, bottle of Red wine, beer) and then buy no more alcohol for the rest of Jan and as long after as we can stand :D
3) Stop overspending. The last couple of months I've had a bit of an attitude of "well if I don't buy it now I'll never be able to afford it in the future" which is just silly. I intend to live by the maxim "If I can't afford it now, I shall save up for it". We've worked out new budgets for food shopping and spending money and we WILL be sticking to them!
4) Make the two chain maille bracelets I intended to make before my Daughter was born. I have everything I need so there's no excuse and it's a great way to satisfy my creative urge without having to spend any more money. I started one of them yesterday and managed to get about a quarter of the way through it. I'm hoping to have it finished by next weekend, assuming Phoebe has her naps as usual.
5) Make a bead that's good enough to swap in time for the Flame-Off in April. Despite being out of the lampwork loop for a year I still wouldn't miss the Flame Off (a UK gathering of people who like to play with glass). I'm still in touch with a lot of the 'gang' on facebook and it seems I'm not alone in having taken a hiatus last year.
6) Take more baths. I miss reading in the bath ;)
7) Make a Stuffy toy in time for Phoebe's birthday. Stuffy is the brightly coloured cube in this pic...
...I've managed to find some red and black flocked damask for his left side and some shimmery gold crepe for his bottom. Just need to find some green corduroy, yellow felt and orange fur now. The back panel is a pocket from a pair of denim jeans and I have plenty of jeans that have seen better days so no problem there.
8) Make Phoebe a birthday card to be shown on CBeebies again. She loved seeing her photo on tv last year so I'm determined to do this again.
Just like November, December continued to be full of colds for all the family. Christmas festivities started late with the tree and decorations not going up until mid month. It worked out well though because Phoebe, my 21 month old Daughter was able to get used to the tree gradually as it appeared, then became decorated over several days. It didn't stop her touching it mind you!
I managed to make around 20 cards altogether, which I was really chuffed with. Some I liked better than others and I was really proud of some of them. I only managed to get quicks pics on my phone so I need to get them onto my computer before I can show them here.
I've spent most of the last month swaying on the mood swing, much to the joy/anguish of my nearest and dearest. As New Year approached I went through the usual mindset of wondering how I can do better in 2011. What changes can I make? What habits can I break? I came up with a set of four general aims for this year:-
1) Watch more films
2) Read more books
3) Start Lampworking again
4) Stop stressing about whether I'm a good parent
I'm not sure I will ever be able to achieve no.4 as it might just be the natural way of life for any parent, we'll see.
Having had these aims in my head for a few days I realised I did need a few more specific resolutions to aim for. So far I've come up with:-
1) Stop picking! If I can manage this for long enough to let the mess on my back clear up I'm going to treat myself to a back massage.
2) Drink less alcohol. My Husband decided that the plan for January is to drink everything we've got left in the cupboard from over Christmas (Bottle of Sherry, 1/2 bottle of Baileys, bottle of Red wine, beer) and then buy no more alcohol for the rest of Jan and as long after as we can stand :D
3) Stop overspending. The last couple of months I've had a bit of an attitude of "well if I don't buy it now I'll never be able to afford it in the future" which is just silly. I intend to live by the maxim "If I can't afford it now, I shall save up for it". We've worked out new budgets for food shopping and spending money and we WILL be sticking to them!
4) Make the two chain maille bracelets I intended to make before my Daughter was born. I have everything I need so there's no excuse and it's a great way to satisfy my creative urge without having to spend any more money. I started one of them yesterday and managed to get about a quarter of the way through it. I'm hoping to have it finished by next weekend, assuming Phoebe has her naps as usual.
5) Make a bead that's good enough to swap in time for the Flame-Off in April. Despite being out of the lampwork loop for a year I still wouldn't miss the Flame Off (a UK gathering of people who like to play with glass). I'm still in touch with a lot of the 'gang' on facebook and it seems I'm not alone in having taken a hiatus last year.
6) Take more baths. I miss reading in the bath ;)
7) Make a Stuffy toy in time for Phoebe's birthday. Stuffy is the brightly coloured cube in this pic...
...I've managed to find some red and black flocked damask for his left side and some shimmery gold crepe for his bottom. Just need to find some green corduroy, yellow felt and orange fur now. The back panel is a pocket from a pair of denim jeans and I have plenty of jeans that have seen better days so no problem there.
8) Make Phoebe a birthday card to be shown on CBeebies again. She loved seeing her photo on tv last year so I'm determined to do this again.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
I am still here!
Just a quick blog to say that i've not fallen off the edge of the world, I just haven't blogged in a while.
November was a month of coughs and sniffles for all the family and any craft time i've had has been spent designing this year's christmas cards. I've made 9 so far, some identical, and have a LOT more to go. Once they're all done I'll get onto photographing them and blogging properly.
I'm also very excited about a papercraft craft I'm doing next week with Lindsey Mortimer. We'll be making calendars using the Stampin' Up! Ornate Flowers stamp set. More details here...Confessions of a Craftaholic.
November was a month of coughs and sniffles for all the family and any craft time i've had has been spent designing this year's christmas cards. I've made 9 so far, some identical, and have a LOT more to go. Once they're all done I'll get onto photographing them and blogging properly.
I'm also very excited about a papercraft craft I'm doing next week with Lindsey Mortimer. We'll be making calendars using the Stampin' Up! Ornate Flowers stamp set. More details here...Confessions of a Craftaholic.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
I see straight through you...
Very quick blog to show a card I made for two challenges; Colour Create Challenge #56 -Purple, Aqua and white and Cute Card Thursday Challenge #136 - So Transparent.
No time to write but here's the card!
No time to write but here's the card!
I'll write details on how I made it later tonight :)
Monday, 25 October 2010
Out of Chaos comes Beauty
The title of this post comes from the realisation that I'm able to make beautiful cards despite having a craft table that resembles my mind, i.e. chaotic, disordered and very messy! To prove the point, here's a pic of my card on the table...
You can see a bit better on this pic how I've torn the edges of both the checkerboard background and the girl image (from Tiddly Inks) and used a black inkpad to colour the torn edges. I love how it adds to the grungy look. I used PaintShopPro to create the pink edges highlights on the checkerboard. The main image was coloured using Promarkers. The sentiment was created using MS Word and I made an 8 loop bow using gingham ribbon from Stampin' Up! and a flower brad from my stash.
Now let's see that card without the mess...
You can see a bit better on this pic how I've torn the edges of both the checkerboard background and the girl image (from Tiddly Inks) and used a black inkpad to colour the torn edges. I love how it adds to the grungy look. I used PaintShopPro to create the pink edges highlights on the checkerboard. The main image was coloured using Promarkers. The sentiment was created using MS Word and I made an 8 loop bow using gingham ribbon from Stampin' Up! and a flower brad from my stash.I've followed the sketch given by InStyleStamps October Sketch Challenge so I'm entering that challenge.
Friday, 22 October 2010
Some yummy thanks
I've been slowly learning to be more confident in the kitchen (one area I struggle with due to my depression/anxiety) and I've discovered a fondness for baking. Probably because I have a major sweet tooth and baking usually means I get to eat at least some of the results of my hard work :D
My Husband arrived home from work the other day with a big box of apples which a lady he works with had given to him from her apple tree. I was really touched at her generosity and set to work planning what to make. I settled on Apple Turnovers as I had some puff pastry in the freezer that needed using and I knew hubby had some clotted cream ice cream in the freezer that would be delicious with them served warm.
To say thank you I made a little card using the 'Love Notes' that Stampin'Up! have recently retired. I used some dotty paper from my stash together with Choc Chip cardstock (SU!), and my new fave punch - the corner rounder. The scallop circles are Old Olive (SU!) and I used a Thank U sentiment from my 'Little Bit of Everything' stamp set (SU!). The apple was made by stamping an image from the 'Tart & Tangy' stamp set (SU!) onto the dotty paper and cutting it out and placing it onto the same image stamped in choc chip ink.
My Husband told me today that 'the apple lady' was chuffed to bits with the card and has put it up on her noticeboard at work :D
I've decided to enter this card in the Simon Says Stamps Challenge (Simon Says Give Thanks) and also the Tiffany Doodles #5 - Fall Theme Challenge.
My Husband arrived home from work the other day with a big box of apples which a lady he works with had given to him from her apple tree. I was really touched at her generosity and set to work planning what to make. I settled on Apple Turnovers as I had some puff pastry in the freezer that needed using and I knew hubby had some clotted cream ice cream in the freezer that would be delicious with them served warm.
To say thank you I made a little card using the 'Love Notes' that Stampin'Up! have recently retired. I used some dotty paper from my stash together with Choc Chip cardstock (SU!), and my new fave punch - the corner rounder. The scallop circles are Old Olive (SU!) and I used a Thank U sentiment from my 'Little Bit of Everything' stamp set (SU!). The apple was made by stamping an image from the 'Tart & Tangy' stamp set (SU!) onto the dotty paper and cutting it out and placing it onto the same image stamped in choc chip ink.
My Husband told me today that 'the apple lady' was chuffed to bits with the card and has put it up on her noticeboard at work :D
I've decided to enter this card in the Simon Says Stamps Challenge (Simon Says Give Thanks) and also the Tiffany Doodles #5 - Fall Theme Challenge.
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