New Blog

These days I am mostly blogging over at

tattersandfrills.blogspot.com

Three Sisters

I've been struggling with a nasty cough for over a week now. Combined with flogging this dead horse, something had to hit the back burner as I spent the week on the sofa. This is something I knocked up a couple of weeks ago when I was inspired by a couple of projects in March's Craft Stamper magazine. I guess you could spot which two if you went through it page by page.

I had the frame handy - people often pass things on to me and I can't bear throwing them away in case they might prove useful. And sometimes they do. It was gold. It isn't now, but looks much better. The whole project is a piece of paper from my Olde World stack, distress ink, paper labels and die cuts from the Cricut Heritage cartridge. Acrylic paint on the frame. Easy peasy.

Half-term Half-time

It's been a quiet week so far. Lexie is always happy just to watch Spongebob so I have been able to get on with a few things while she chills. Fizzy had a friend over for a couple of days and has therefore been out of my hair. We have run a few errands in town and done some washing. Yay (well, I'm glad it's done but it's not my favourite chore lol).

My first pizza box came today.

I am half thrilled, because it's lovely, and half panicked, because I don't really know what I'm going to do with it. It all matches. Stroke.

Today we also went to KFC with Lexie's boyfriend Jack and his family and had a lovely time. Jack's a Cub, and I commissioned him to make a birthday card for my sister-in-law as it's bob-a-job week (month more like!). He made this fabulous card, which I'm delighted with, and I'm sure she will be, too

Penny's book

When Penny saw Karen's book she asked for one to take on her trip to Barcelona. So this is Penny's book. I went for the grunge-y/clean look and was delighted with how it turned out. And so was she. Right, here goes. Papers are Dovecrafts Sugar & Spice. The green panel is the faux wax resist technique. The alpha is from the Cindy Loo Cricut cartridge, cut on font layer, and the deer are from there too - and blue googly eyes! Lol. (Vintage Photo Distress Ink pad as well.) The owl tag is from there as well.

Ribbons pulled from stash.

Slide pocket from HOTP stencil. Stamps are 7 Gypsies journalling stamps. Except for the others which are varied. Docrafts,

Tim

and my favourite (for this book) - no idea where that comes from! (She laughed!)

Owl frame from Cindy Loo. It turned out great.

And how to: Cut 2 pieces of cardboard 5 x 7 inches. Cover (both sides) with paper of your choice. Punch 3 holes (see picture) in each cover and add eyelets. Cut lots of pages 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 and stamp them as you choose, after you've punched them as well (line them up with covers and mark with a pokey tool through the holes). I like to use lots of different papers, plus playing cards, envelopes, scrapbook papers. Use what you have. You could stick die-cuts on the pages, or punch shapes. Whatever you like. Decorate your front cover as you choose. I like something 3-dimensional (see Gift Book entry for flowers), but Madam wanted it to be flat so she could put it in her bag. Add 3 book rings. Tie ribbons/fibres/tags on the rings, as you like. Stick lots of fab things inside or journal - whatever you want. Have fun!

Made a nice piece of wall art yesterday, inspired by this month's Craft Stamper. (There's been a bit of discussion this week about what's being inspired by and what is just blatant copying, for personal gain. Personally, I like to look at what's out there and if I'm moved to, maybe make something while I'm thinking about that particular thing. Not copy it, because that's a bit dull. Yes, I know I'm cutting lots of things with my Cricut right now, but I don't pretend I invented them, and I don't sell 'em either!) Picture tomorrow. And I'm working on a super duper secret project which is so exciting that I may burst, but I won't tell you what it is, no matter how you beg.

Gift Book 1

This is the book I made yesterday (and the day before!). The box is decorated with Cindy Loo cutouts.

And here is the book. With the little bitty gift card.

And the book itself. 'Wax resist' paper, by me. Flourish from Cindy Loo. Red tissue and newspaper flowers made by me (oh how that Cosmic Shimmer mist stains!) Selected fibres.

All the pages have a stamp on them, or a punch out, or a punched item stuck on.

And here is a 'detail' shot of the 'wax resist' paper, and those fab flowers.

And did she like it?

Oh yes.

Yay.

A card for Doreen

The lady who acts as escort on Lexie's school bus is poorly and, as my new Cindy Loo cartridge arrived today, a card seemed in order. I have become quite enthusiastic about my poor old Cricut lately. When I bought it, I used it about twice. I didn't much love the George & Basic Shapes cartridge, and others were just too pricey. However, after making some nice valentine cards using the much-maligned George, and discovering other cartridges which were a)fab and b)affordable, I have made some investments and am now the proud owner of the Cindy Loo and also Heritage. (And another on the way.) And I have taken my cardmaking to the 'next level', whatever that means.

I know that cards aren't the most fascinating thing in the world, but for someone who feels like she is emerging from a chrysalis of non-productivity and self-induced failure, they make a great route to recovery. I made a book today. Pictures tomorrow.

School Disco

Friday was the long-awaited school disco and here is Lexie in her new dress.

She looked lovely. She had a super time and danced and jumped and rolled on the floor. The usual.

And this

is a card I made for her teacher who spent Saturday doing this. I thought the least I could do was make her a card.