Sunday, 13 March 2011

Yet another layout this week!

Obviously I am on a bit of a roll at the moment!  Another fairly simple layout for me - still obviously getting back into the groove of scrapbooking at the moment!


Again this is based on my time challenge - I looked at the clock at 13.43 so
1 word title -this was so tricky as I didn't want to go with bounce or race although hop might have probably been more apt but I went with fly and used my new Tim Poker Face embossing folder that turned up on my doorstep yesterday - have no idea how that happened! along with some Dylusion wings and making memories chipboard to make up my title piece.
3 embellishments - these are the new Tim mini rosettes that also turned up in the same lovely parcel as the texture fades (the fact that I used these and the new die on the same day as receiving them is a small miracle for me!)
4 patterned papers - Crate Paper School Spirit Collection: Geometry, Grade Card, Pep Rally, and Ruler
3 stamps - the two Dylusion wings and the inverted hat used on the bunting both from the Doolally Dorris set.

Also used XCut and Woodward punches for the leaves, Santa's Workshop alphabet, glossy accents, buttons, twine, staples and Bundled Sage, Fired Brick, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Broken China, Mustard Seed, and Peeled Paint distress inks.

The layout was also originally based on a March 2011 page map however once I cut out the picture to remove all the background clutter that happens on a school sports day the page map no longer really worked - I kept the papers the same (because I had already cut and stuck them together!) and the three embellishments but then felt it needed something extra when finished so I added the bunting - I figure that as I have already completed my challenge twice already I could bend the rules on this one!  After all these challenges I am setting are to get me scrapping layouts and it certainly seems to be working!  Have already decided on my next challenge and made 2 birthday cards with it but I will show these on Tuesday 22nd when I set the next challenge on here officially.

Thanks for looking and hope you all have a great weekend - we had a football match and birthday party yesterday and little one has two birthday parties today so it's all go here!

Thursday, 10 March 2011

Another layout for my week one challenge

Have done another quick layout for my week one challenge - I was that inspired by my time recipe!

Sorry for the poor picture quality!  I am currently at my portable craft table in the lounge whilst watching Star Wars with the children (obviously I am not watching it as avidly as they are! tee hee).

For this layout the time was 13.27 so:
1 word title - Legoland (isnt that a cool font!)
3 Embellishments - the sizzix birdie, the legoland button and the two (classed as one) legoland driving licences
2 papers - American Crafts Craft Fair - have used the front and back of one of the sheets to give me the brown strip which was edged with one of Tims on the edge dies
7 stamps - Studio G HappyOMeter (a set of 3 individual stamps), Compass is TPC Studio Travel Journey, the stamp PHOTO OP is by K&Company Happy Trails, the Ticket stamp is from Tims Odds and Ends set and the text on the bird is from his Going Somewhere set.

I was going to redo the right hand side as I dont like the placement of the HappyOMeter but have just put some tissue tape under it and am going to call it a day.  Layout is based on a sketch by Allison Davis - link is below.

Am now working on my next layout... whoo hoo mojo is back!  Thanks for looking.  If you are interested in playing along with my challenge the details are on this post: http://sunshinegirlnicola.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-new-challenge.html

Wednesday, 9 March 2011

What on your work desk Wednesday - 92

Hi, I am back in my craft room and scrapping again!

This is my second double layout in as many days!  Obviously it's not finished yet and let's be honest it might take me another two months but hey ho it's progress!  Unfortunately during my session today I have broken two nails and eaten two kit kats - scrapping is a dangerous game isn't it!

Can't wait to come visiting some desks tomorrow (it will have to be tomorrow as I am out on the school trip to the Space Museum in Leicester today (I am more excited than my 10 year old son!) and I am banking on being too tired to surf tonight). 

If you want to know why I am showing my desk to the world pop over and join in all the fun at Julia's.

Thanks for looking :)

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

My new challenge


Ok it's a known fact that I have been struggling to do scrapbook layouts for a while now, however after making my 12 days of ArtsyCrafts tags I think I could make a tag (or two!) everyday!  So, in order to use this creativity usefully (after all even I don't need hundreds of tags!) I have decided to set myself a challenge whereby I make a tag and then from this try and a make a card and a scrapbook layout too whilst I am still feeling creative.  Bernice reckons the best way to go is by using recipes - I am still a bit skeptical as I have tried recipe challenges before but found them too difficult - but then that is what it is all about really isn't it - a challenge!

So to start off, my first challenge to myself is to look at the clock.  Then using the 24 hour clock I decided to use a word title for the first digit, a flower/brad/button for the second digit, colours/papers for the third digit and stamped images for the fourth.

So I first looked at the clock at 12.29 on Saturday and from this I got to use: a 1 word title, 2 embellishments, 2 colours and 9 stamped images (hope you see where I am going with this!), and from this recipe I created this:

The one word title is James, the two embellishments are the frame and skull (skull is made from friendly plastic this time), the two colours I used were spiced marmalade and vintage photo and my nine stamped images were made up using 1 harlequin stamp once and the skull and crossbones stamp eight times.

Then I looked at the clock on Sunday at 08.34 (yes honestly I scrap that early if I can!) and from that I made the card in the previous post whereby I had no title (0), five flowers and three brads (8), three colours which were Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet and Worn Lipstick (3) and I used three of Tim's new haberdashery stamps and one of his new reflection stamps (4).

And then to see if my mojo challenge would work I looked at the clock again to get cracking on a layout.  It was 13.34.  Here is my layout (yes I have done one and it's a double one too!!!):


Here I have used a one word title "Colours" (isn't that fab - saw it used in a furniture store on a poster and made a mental note to one day use it as a title!), my three embellishments are the football, three patterned papers (these and the footballs are from the Kickin It set from Nitwit Collections) and four stamps - Fabulous - Heidi Swapp, 100% boy and Enjoy the Process - Autumn Leaves and the little football dotted around is by Lily of the Valley.  I know it's not one of my best layouts but to be honest I am just glad I have got some mojo back to create a layout and that I have also managed to reduce my photo pile by four!  The layout is also based on a March 2011 Page Map.

All in all I very impressed with myself and think I might now go and make another layout using the same criteria!

If you would like to join me in my quest to be more creative then give it a go and please link up here so I can come and look at your creations.  Remember if it's 12:34 in the afternoon when you look at the clock you use:
1 word title
2 embellishments
3 colours/papers
4 stamps or stamped images

I am not a task master so your 2 embellishments can be made up of more than one item if you prefer and your stamps could be one stamp stamped out four times or you can use four stamps lots of times - there are no real hard and fast rules to this I just want us all to get creative!

Have fun :)



Sunday, 6 March 2011

What a lovely Sunday

Have spent most of the day making a card:


had great fun messing around with inks, Tim's new stamps and my bigshot.  This card is based on the sketch over at Friday Sketchers so I am entering it into their challenge this week.

Talking of challenges I really need to get myself motivated to do more scrapping - I think I have made a total of 8 layouts since January 2010 and that includes 4 layouts for classes at my crop and this needs to change as my pile of "to be scrapped photographs" is getting far too big!  So I have begun to set myself a series of challenges which involve making a card, a tag and a layout based on just a few criteria.  If you would be interested in joining me then pop back here on Tuesday where I will launch Lets Create Tuesday to hopefully get our creative juices flowing.  I am aiming to set the challenge once a fortnight so please come over and join me if you can.

Thanks for looking :)

Friday, 4 March 2011

Its been a funny old week

Firstly a big hello to Debbie R and Madie for following me - thank you so much :)

Well I had an absolute blast last Friday at ArtsyCrafts - two people I wanted to meet up with were ArtyJen and after almost two hours we discovered that we had been sitting together at the same table during the first class! and then also Madie who again I discovered was sitting next to me (again after almost two hours!) at the second session! what are the odds of that then?  Anyway I also met up lots of other people I already knew and also made some more new friends - all in all a fabulous day!

This is the configuration box I made with Tim:


Isnt it fabulous!  I added the little mushroom, melt art, tattered flower and friendly plastic this week, and it now has pride of place alongside my birdcage on my lounge bookcase.

Here is the house I made with ArtsyCrafts:

Doors Closed
Doors open
and here is the inchie I made to go in Tim's book:


I was so glad that I took part in this as he was genuinely touched by the thought and hard work that had gone into producing this. 

Since that Friday we have spent a few days in Manchester visiting the MOSI and Lego Discovery Centre and then I have finished off a few projects this past week (the Configuration box being one) and also have a relatively clean and tidy house to boot!  Rather a productive week for me :)

Thanks for looking.

Sunday, 20 February 2011

Blog Award

Last week I was awarded a blog award by Sam aka Hettie whom I have virtually met via the Artsy Crafts yahoo group and will hopefully in real life this Friday when I, you know, am going to Artsy Crafts!!! whoo hooo not long now.

Anyway the award is


and there are a couple of conditions for the award:

You have been TAGGED and want to participate?Then create a post where you post the 'LOVE BLOG' image.You should also blog the persons link that gave you the award and inform her/him that you accept the award.You then choose 3 - 5 favourite blogs which you also link in your post, then inform each blogger that they have been tagged.

Dear bloggers:The aim of this action is that we bring unknown, good blogs to light, so I would ask you not to blog fellow bloggers that already have 3,000 followers.

As ever it is so hard to pick just a few blogs but I will pass this award on to:

Sue
Arty Jen
Bernice
Mandy
Lisa

and the person who passed it on to me is Sam.  Thank you so much :)

Anyway I must away as I have a really busy week this week, its my crop today so I can spend all day messing about with papers (I never seem to actually make anything at a crop anymore!), chat and teach a class.  Tomorrow I will be going to Stitches at the NEC and then Friday, well you all know where I am going on Friday dont you! Whooo hoooo.

Thanks for looing :)

Friday, 18 February 2011

Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog

As I have been on a mammoth tag making fest I thought I would enter a tag into the above challenge, which is show a tag, and here she is:



Her name is Doris and she has been made from cream cardstock and Tims tag die.  Inked with Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick and Black Soot then covered with Plum Perfect Pearls so that she has a lovely sparkle.  Her top is stamped with Tims Vogue Stamp and her skirt with the text stamp from the Going Somewhere set.  I have used the rosette die for the ruff using white cardstock inked with Spun Sugar and edged with Worn Lipstick and Black Soot.  The arms are made from Tims ticket stamp and die and finished with spinners.  The Handbag is another stamp from the Going Somewhere set as is the clock face.  Finished with stitches around the edges, metal, tissue tape and string legs - wish my legs were that skinny although the hair is a good likeness!!!!

Hope you like her and thanks for looking :)

Thursday, 17 February 2011

Day 12

Bit sad its the last day as I have had such fun making these! here is Day 12:


Inked in mustard seed, dried marigold and rusty hinge and then put through the big shot with the December texture plate.  Tickets on the left hand side are all from one stamp and I have cut them out individually, other tickets are from the Going Somewhere stamp set.  Letters are again Santas Workshop inked in Fired Brick and covered with glossy accents.

If you would like to join me on my last day then please link up your blog post below and I will come and have a look at your creation.



Thanks for looking :)

Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Day 11

Only one more tag to go!

Here is tag 11:


Inked in Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Aged Mahogany.  Leaf, leaves and quote are all Paperartsy, Tims rosette die and the alphabet is actually Santas Workshop which isnt Tims but I didnt realise that until I had cut out, inked and put glossy accents on them so I decided it was too late to change them!

If you would like to join in and make a tag please do, these are being made until tomorrow for the run up to Artsy Crafts. If you could post it on your blog and then leave me a link below so I can come and have a look (you dont have to be going to ArtsyCrafts to join in - this is just for a bit of fun beforehand!) that would be fab.



Thanks for looking :)

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

Day 10

Firstly a big hello to Val - thank you for following me :).  I can't believe I am already on Day 10 and that there is only just over a week left to go to the big day - whooo hooo!

Here is tag 10:

Have inked the background with Victorian Velvet,  Dusty Concord, Spun Sugar and Tumbled Glass.  The tree and leaf stamps are by Lavinia but the Bird House and saying are by PaperArtsy.

If you would like to join in and make a tag please do, these are being made until Thursday for the run up to Artsy Crafts. If you could post it on your blog and then leave me a link below so I can come and have a look (you dont have to be going to ArtsyCrafts to join in - this is just for a bit of fun beforehand!) that would be fab.




Thanks for looking :)

Monday, 14 February 2011

Day 9

I cant believe there are only 3 days left of my 12 tags! Here is day 9:


Tag is inked with Antique Linen, Worn Lipstick and Fired Brick. I have then used Viva Deco texture paste and stamped a script stamp into it with Aged Mahogany ink, inked over again in Worn Lipstick (although it looks brown on this picture it is in fact quite pink) and then I have covered the whole tag with Inka Gold paint using my finger. Key and Lock are from Tims die cut out from chipboard and again touched up with Inka Gold (love this stuff - well worth the investment but as its £8.50 a pot I can only afford to buy one at a time at my biannual trip to Hobbycrafts at the NEC!!). The words are cut using my dymo and edged with a krylon pen (again another very expensive investment!).  Tag is again Tims.

This tag currently has been mounted onto a card and I have given it to my OH for Valentines Day but dont worry he wont want to keep it so I can take it back off and put in my box of tags in a few days time!  tee hee.

If you would like to join in and make a tag please do, these are being made until Thursday for the run up to Artsy Crafts. If you could post it on your blog and then leave me a link below so I can come and have a look (you dont have to be going to ArtsyCrafts to join in - this is just for a bit of fun beforehand!) that would be fab.



Thanks for looking :)

Sunday, 13 February 2011

Day 8

Here is my Day 8 tag and its another Christmas one!:


I have used the double masking technique here - I enjoyed the technique it was quite fiddly and took ages which, as you know, is right up my street!  But for some reason this tag doesnt really do it for me - think I have used the wrong stamp on Santa and the Reindeer - not sure, am hoping little bit of inspiration will strike later and I can "finish" the tag and then add some string/twine to it (that in my eyes is only done when the tag is finished otherwise it has to sit on the "to be fiddled about with a bit more pile" for a while!  Tag is inked with Broken China and Frayed Burlap, swirl stamp and script stamp arent Tims or Paperartsys but are by Viva.  Alphabet is Tims Once Upon A Time, ticket and Merry Christmas stamp are his and the star is a chipboard cut out and inked with Mustard Seed.

If you would like to join in and make a tag please do, these are being made until next Thursday for the run up to Artsy Crafts. If you could post it on your blog and then leave me a link below so I can come and have a look (you dont have to be going to ArtsyCrafts to join in - this is just for a bit of fun beforehand!) that would be fab.



Thanks for looking :)






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Saturday, 12 February 2011

Day 7

Oooh am over half way and still going strong! A big hello to Jayne C - thanks for following me.

Here is my tag for Day 7:


Fairly simple one today - tag is inked with Tumbled Glass, Broken China and Chipped Sapphire then covered with scintillating silver mica pearl powder.  The snow is hand drawn circles filled with stickles.  The houses are coloured with Peeled Paint, Fired Brick, Broken China (which looks green for some reason?) Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold and Chipped Sapphire.  I just loved a tag on saw on Tims blog where he had made the smoke from bent wire so I have had to add some of that to each of my houses (in fact this is my new "new thing" and these little swirls of smoke are appearing on quite a lot of my stuff at the moment!).  Have finished the tag with snowflake tissue tape and another ticket coloured with Broken China and some green twine. I know its not Christmas but its never too early to start preparing is it!

Here is a card I made on Wednesday for my friend:

I will leave you to guess what her favourite hobby and colour are! 

If you would like to join in and make a tag please do, these are being made until next Thursday for the run up to Artsy Crafts.  If you could post it on your blog and then leave me a link below so I can come and have a look (you dont have to be going to ArtsyCrafts to join in - this is just for a bit of fun beforehand!) that would be fab.



Thanks for looking :)

Friday, 11 February 2011

Day 6 tag

Hi everyone and a big hello to Rach - thanks for following me :).

Here is my Day 6 tag:


Think that this is my favourite so far - the background is inked with tumbled glass, broken china and chipped sapphire, covered with scintillating silver mica powder and then run through the big shot using the cuttlebug cog embossing folder.  Cogs are Tim sizzix ones covered in silver embossing powder and distressed then finished with his metal cogs (these are my last few too must get some more!).  Ticket is done using Tims sizzix die and stamp.  Dont ask me why I thought it was a good idea to wrap twine around some of the cogs but once I started I couldnt stop and it took about an hour!  still it was worth it I think.

This time in two weeks I will be in my Tim class at Artsy Crafts - whooo hoo. If you would like to join in and make a tag please do, post it on your blog and then leave me a link below so I can come and have a look (you dont have to be going to ArtsyCrafts to join in - this is just for a bit of fun beforehand!).



Thanks for looking :)

Thursday, 10 February 2011

Tag 5

Firstly a big thank you to Cindy (aka Skrapcollectr) for following me - I am a frugal scrapper too and its amazing how much mileage you can get out of a scrap of paper!

Here is my fifth tag for the 12 Tags of ArtsyCrafts:


Have used Stream Adirondack Screenwash over the time mask as my background and then just stamped with the PaperArtsy Clocks 5 set.  The chipboard is by Maya Road and I have inked all pieces but you cant really tell from this picture.  The clock is Tims Lost and Found paper stash along with one of his spinners.  I kind of feel its missing something and that the mannequin should be mounted onto something but I dont know what - piece of material maybe?  So I might have to add to it later if I get chance - am a bit busy today as I am meeting a friend this morning for coffee and a chat and then need to sew seven costumes for my Sons drama group and then take him to a football match after school.

There are now just two weeks to go to Artsy Crafts - whooo hoo. If you would like to join in and make a tag please do, post it on your blog and then leave me a link below so I can come and have a look (you dont have to be going to ArtsyCrafts to join in - this is just for a bit of fun beforehand!).



Thanks for looking :)

Wednesday, 9 February 2011

WOYWW and Day 4

Hi everyone, sorry I am not joining in every week -  cant find the time to get around to most people so have decided that I will only play along once or twice a month for the time being - I do so miss my weekly travels around all your desks though!

Here is mine taken yesterday whilst on a tag making frenzy (and yes for those of you that know me this isnt my normal craft desk either! I have moved away from the dining room table today and put up a portable table in my lounge so that I can catch up with some tv whilst creating!):


I am currently making tags each day in the run up to Artsy Crafts - which I am going to on 25th Feb yay! so I am doing my own 12 Days of Artsy Crafts, and making a tag each day which started on Sunday.  So here is my fourth tag for this quest:


This tag is a bit of cheat as its a scraplift from a card I made a while ago!  Tag is inked with antique linen, tea dye and frayed burlap then brushed over with perfect pearls.  Birdcage and bird are from Tims die, the moth is a Paperartsy stamp and the flowers are prima.  Metal disc is one of Tims too.

There are now just 15 and a bit days to go - whooo hoo. If you would like to join in and make a tag please do, post it on your blog and then leave me a link below so I can come and have a look (you dont have to be going to ArtsyCrafts to join in - this is just for a bit of fun beforehand!).



If you want to join in the fun at looking at crafters creative spaces then pop over to Julias.  Thanks for looking :)

Tuesday, 8 February 2011

Day 3 - 12 Days of Artsy Crafts

Here is my tag for day 3:


Have used antique linen, dried marigold and aged mahagony inks. The stamp is an old Tim one "Bank of Love", the metal frame is painted with pearl acrylic ink and the stamp in the middle is from the Odds and Ends set and inked with dried marigold. The chipboard heart is crackle painted with frayed burlap (dont have red :() and then inked in fired brick - it has dulled down quite a bit since its been inked which is a shame as I wanted it a lot brighter Have finished tag with twine and tiny attachers.

There are now just 17 days to go - whooo hoo. If you would like to join in and make a tag please do, post it on your blog and then leave me a link below so we can all come and look (you dont have to be going to ArtsyCrafts to join in - this is just for a bit of fun beforehand!).



Thanks for looking :)

Monday, 7 February 2011

Day 2 - 12 Days of Artsy Crafts

Thanks for joining me yesterday Bernice - your tag is fab!

Here is my day 2 one:

Have kept this one really simple as the embossing folder does all the work really.  Tag is inked with Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold and Black Soot with some ticket tape around the top.  Have again used the sizzix ticket die and an Odds and End stamp and inked with Dried Marigold, spider stamp is by Making Memories.  Skull and crossbones is made from UTEE using my melt pot, finished with twine.

There are now just 18 days to go - whooo hoo.  If you would like to join in and make a tag please do, post it on your blog and then leave me a link below so we can all come and look (you dont have to be going to ArtsyCrafts to join in - this is just for a bit of fun beforehand!).



Thanks for looking :)

Sunday, 6 February 2011

12 Tags of Artsy Crafts

Firstly a big hello to Sam and WendyK for following me - thank you so much for joining me on my creative journey!

I am aiming to produce 12 Tags in the run up to Artsy Crafts on 24th/25th February.  I have chosen to start today so that my tags should all be done before the children break up for half term.  Here is my first tag:


I have used spiced marmalade distress ink on music paper with gold perfect pearls.  Swirl stamp is a Paperartsy hot pick (HP1007) and the man is from Tim's mini muse set.  The ticket is cut using the sizzix ticket die and stamped with an Odds and Ends stamp.  Flowers are cut out using the sizzix flower die and Tim's papers.
Please join me in making twelve tags for the run up to Artsy Crafts - just link up your blog post below and I will come and have a look at your creation.



I am off to a friends this morning as she is doing a fund raising coffee morning for Epilepsy - most people are taking cakes but I couldnt find the hour or so needed to make a cake but I did spend a lovely Friday making these cards and boxes for her to, hopefully, sell:


The suitcase was made for a class in August - this is the first version I made but needed to tweek it in order to teach it to 20 people so as I have two I thought I would donate this too along with the green box. The cards and sizzix gift bags I have made specifically for today though - sorry for poor picture quality!

Thanks for looking and enjoy tag making!

Friday, 4 February 2011

Look what I have been up to!

Finally got around to making my Amy Butler bag - took me all of Tuesday (it took me 3 hours just to cut out all the fabric!) and then a little bit of Thursday evening to make it - it has that many pockets and little nooks hidden away in it that these photos dont really do it justice:

This is the whole of the bag - strap is long enough to go over my shoulder and bag is big enough to hold a plastic paper box - this bag has been made solely for my trips to Hobbycrafts in March and November cause I am just that kind of girl and need to have a  bag for everything!

Front of bag with top flap open

This is the inside of the bag - I have pulled the front pocket out so that you can see the zipped section and other pockets - there is room for my mobile phone and a pen and notepad on the lower pocket - the zip at the back is on the flap of the bag.  There is that much material on here that it already weighs a lot before I even get my shopping goodies in it!  It also cost a fortune and I have realised that it clashes with every single coat I own - best to move on quickly I think.......

Anyways it is now only 21 days until the fab ArtsyCrafts event in Newport Pagnell so, starting on Sunday, I am going to make a tag a day for 12 days to, you know, get me geared up for the event (like I am not sooooooooooo excited already!).  So for anyone that wants to join me I will start on Sunday 6th February and finish on Thursday 17th February - want to make them all before the half term begins as I am not sure how much time I will have to make stuff when the children are at home - plus my crop is on the 20th Feb and I will be going to the Stitches Trade Fair on Monday 21st too.  If you would like to join me I will put a mister linky at the bottom of each post.  No prizes as this is just for fun and even if you arent going to the Artsy Crafts event if you would like to make a few tags and share them with me please feel free to join in too.

Thanks for looking :)

This linky is just a test...

Saturday, 29 January 2011

Lots of cards

Firstly can I say a big hello and thank you to Kim, Neet and Karla for following me.  I have had a really busy week with lots of things to organise for the parents association, my sons drama group where we need to make 20 costumes for his Romeo and Juliet play (gulp!) and our 2011 workshops plus having a decorator in so the house has been a complete tip too!  I then suddenly found myself having to make five cards this week - had a cousin (her 40th), a new baby in the family, Sister and two friends all with birthdays this week - here is the one I made for my friend Jane with whom I have a coffee with every Monday morning!


Dont you just love that Lili of the Valley stamp and of course a Tim ticket had to just creep on there!  Have been doing some other stuff too for workshops but will post those at a later date - will show the clock I am going to make at one at the crop tomorrow and I will also be doing the class which uses some lovely Fancy Pants papers from their Hot Chocolate range:


Thanks for looking and see some of you tomorrow :) we have a full house so be prepared for lots of fun!

Sunday, 23 January 2011

Have been busy

My mojo seems to have come back in a big way - I have managed 3 layouts and a clock in a week!  Will show you the clock another time as I am thinking of changing it slightly - its for a workshop in February.  The layouts have already been filed away in their albums - they are only plain but I have rediscovered the ease of following sketches and have scrapped 2 awful photos which needed to be done as I want the stories to stay alive and one lovely photo on not so nice paper so I am not going to showcase them on here - they are for family eyes only!

This mini book is also for a workshop in February:


We will be organising our workshops dates in the very near future so watch this space.

I also need to give a big thank you to Spyder who so kindly gave me a blog award way back in December - sorry its taken me so long to get my act together to nominate 7 others, but here they are:

Nicks
Kim Dellow
Debs
Pam
Made by Karla
Stamping by H
Neet

and here is the magical blog award for you each to post on your blogs and pass onto 7 others.

Blog Awards
all of the above I have "met" during my Wednesday Whats On Your Workdesk travels - their blogs inspire me, make me laugh and are a delight to visit any time of the week - not just Wednesdays.

Thanks for looking :)

Saturday, 15 January 2011

Mojo is back!

Firstly a big hi to Shelley - thanks for following me! and secondly I have done a layout today!
My two little boys :)
This layout is so way out for me in so many ways!


1. I have mixed old (cosmo cricket) and new (basic grey) papers (well new to me as I only bought them in November).

2. I have used three photos that were *shock horror* all taken on different dates and *shock horror* are a mixture of colours and haven’t been converted to black and white!

3. I have used a sketch (Becky Fleck – page 33 of page maps 1 if you are interested) and *shock horror* broken away from it a bit by introducing an extra piece of paper and a journaling card and where there were flowers on the sketch I have used a cog! (first for me I usually have to follow a sketch and would normally have had to use flowers!).

4. The cogs aren’t Tim’s – oh no – I have broken open a pack of Maya Road cogs that cost me £3.25 and have been sitting in my chipboard drawer for months as they are too expensive to use! (go figure – but I am sure I am not the only one out there who does that!!).

5. and the biggest “so out of my comfort zone” thing on here is that there are no dates on the photos!! Get me! (although I do have to confess that I have written them on the back of the layout – couldn’t move on that much too early on a Saturday morning).

Oh yes that’s the other thing, this layout has only taken me about 4 hours! – this includes inking, cutting out, sticking down and faffing around trying to wind string and then a very expensive robot ribbon I have (again unused because, yes you’ve guessed it, it’s far too expensive and lovely to use!) around and through the cogs but they both just looked rubbish so I have gone for the metal spinners and cogs instead – no expense spared there either eh!

I am on a roll.....

Stash used:  Basic Grey – Inventory, Cosmo Cricket - Cogsmo, Distress Inks: Brushed Corduroy, Dried Marigold, Weathered Wood, Fired Brick and Shabby Shutters, Sizzix Ticket die, Stampers Anonymous Odds and Ends Stamp - Limited Edition, Stampers Anonymous Mini Muse Stamp – Embrace perfection,
Maya Road cogs, Silver cosmic shimmer, Metal cogs and spinners and, last but not least, Sizzix on the edge die - Ornate

Thanks for looking - am off to see if I can do another one now!  whoo hoo.

Wednesday, 12 January 2011

WOYWW and a Toot for me!

Morning everyone - it's a good week for me as I have been published in Craft Stamper :) - have been published a few times before but always in scrapbooking magazines which is funny as I usually stamp on everything and Craft Stamper is the one magazine I buy regularly!  However I sent in two projects to them last year and they kindly decided to publish my pirate bunting!  My son isn't too impressed but is pleased that he will be able to have his bunting back and on his wall again soon.  Let me know if you liked the article - it's on page 30.

Also along with the circular squash book (which I did manage to finish and have time to make a little box to keep it in - post of finished article is below if you are interested) here is something else I did on Sunday:

Birdcage
I bought the birdcage from Sema warehouse and thought it needed pimping so I have used Sizzix tattered flowers and bunting made from My Minds Eye papers, the vines are from a Martha Stewart punch and the metal birdies that were on the cage have been painted with inka gold paint - I want to paint the leaves too but have decided that I absolutely must use inka gold paint on them too and as I don't have a green I am going to have to treat myself to some when I go to ArstyCrafts and finish it then!  The birdies I bought at Artisan and have covered with music paper and inked.  Hope you like it!

My dining room table looks just as messy as last week despite having to clear it all off for a couple of dinners this week:

and yes that is an almost finished layout at the back there - I am so trying hard to get out of this scrappers block - I seem to be able to make projects just not scrapbook layouts at the moment!

That's it from me today - my little boy has been poorly and off school for two days (which is why I haven't had a chance to blog the birdcage before now) so today I need to catch up with some jobs around the house as I am having a decorator in tomorrow to do a few rooms for me - whoo hoo.

If you would like to join in the fun and frolics of looking at other peoples desks and see what they have been up to pop over to Julia's and show us your desk - go on you know you want to!

Thanks for looking :)

Saturday, 8 January 2011

Its finally done!


Have managed to get my dinosaur circular squash book finished - papers used are Basic Grey Archaic.  I have to confess that this has been a work in progress for well over a year - guess I just lost my way with it, shoved it in a drawer and forgot about it.  Instructions were taken from UKS in June 2009 (thats how I know how long its been a wip!) and yes I am glad its finished and I am really pleased with the results:


Book closed
 
Front of book opened out
 
Closeup of front of book first section
 
Closeup of front of book middle section
  
Closeup of front of book third section

 
Back of book opened out



Closeup of back of book first section

Closeup of back of book middle section

Closeup of back of book last section

  And then I have made a quick and simple little box to keep it in:

Box
 Can I also just say a big thank you to Tracey and Becky for following me too - its great to know someone likes my work!

Thanks everyone for looking :)  off to work on my bird cage now!

Wednesday, 5 January 2011

Whats on your workdesk Wednesday?

Hello everyone!  I feel I have been away for so long!  I havent been anywhere but just havent been joining in the fun and frolics of snooping at peoples desks due to lots of other commitments before Christmas, I have, however, been busy crafting and, as you can see, am currenly residing on my dining room table again:


This book is a work in progress that has been going on for about 15 months now (if you cant tell from the picture as it is kind of blending into my table there isnt it - its a circular squash book) - I have decided that I really must finish it (mainly because Julie at my crop has told me I cant throw it away and start again so I am heeding her advice and getting it finished!).

Cant wait to start snooping around on all your desks later - I should have been catching up with the housework but my eldest son isnt back at school today due to a burst water pipe (my little boy is most upset as he still has to go in as he is in a different school! bless him) so I will no doubt have chance to put on my pc and have a snoop!  If you want to join in with the snooping leave your details over at Julias and we will come and have at look at your desk too!

On another exciting note - my tickets for ArtsyCrafts (my day class with Lin, Leandra and Tim Holtz) arrived yesterday - as you can guess I am very excited!!
Happy New Year and WOYWW everyone!  Its good to be back :)