A Whole New Start!!

Yes I have been away for a while, but i have certainly been busy! My crafting was put on hold as family demands tooks over, but hey its all working out now. Soon the kids will be back at school, instead of dragging us here, there and everywhere! Paul has got a new job, which means will be working away half the week (but hey think of all the evenings free to craft to my hearts content!) Finally but not least Baby #3 is due 8th March 2010, so loads of new projects to create.
Watch this space

Cards, Cards and More Cards!

Well after feeling really guilty that I cant help out at school fate this year I decided to make some cards for them to sell. These were made from the instructions and free papers from Making Cards magazine, i hope they might get a few extra pounds in. Also fab for learning some new folds etc for use on my own card making.

Finishing touches

How many unfinished projects have we all got lying in our craft rooms, well in my case far too many! Although my taste has changed and some of these are not quite my usual style i decided it was time to complete them. Some are from classes I took, project kits or stuff I designed long, long ago. So with these done, a few new things learnt along the way I'm looking forward to fresh ideas.

Framed

After spending most of my time last week trying to do bead kits but ending up turning air blue, it was great to unwind at Moxley Masive Crop where I took part in the frame kit class taught by my good friend Dawn. Oh course i had to be bit different supplimenting given paper with K & Co - Blue Awning, and using a chipboard bird cut from my sizzix sparrow die, but it was a great class and i was so proud of end product.

Mothers Day Make and Takes

Well where have i been all this week?......recovering from make and take sessions at Elmore Green Primary School.
On Tuesday and Wednesday last week I organised make and takes for 50 children to be held after school. The basic idea was a parent or carer came along to help their child make a gift and a card for mothers day. The activities were separated into 3 age groups and done on a budget of under £1 per child. I would like to say thank you to my group of parent helpers who helped make this a huge success.

Clowning Around

Its Red Nose Day and yes Connor decides last minute he would like to be a clown. Out comes Pauls old shirt, a pair of scisscors, ribbon and novelty buttons. He had a lovely time and the school raised about £300.

Away with the Fairies

So what have i been doing all week? ......making fairy doors! I found these in an old issue of Craft Stamper and decided to have a go, Bethany was so impressed i then had to make a kit for her and her friend to do, followed by the goblin door for Connor.
These are so easy to make from scraps of chipboard (or wood) and there is a website with story of the doors on http://www.urban-fairies.com/. Just place them around your home and invite the fairies to move in, i just hope i get the magic housework fairies and not the odd sock eatting goblins!!!

Happy Bunny Dance

yeap i doing a happy bunny dance.........i won the febuary challenge on http://www.scrappingthemagic.blogspot.com with my 'Cafe Mickey' entry. i really happy as i never entered a competition before and have won a really yummy prize. Can't wait to recieve it as it is this months kit and includes Imaginisce Fairest of Them All papers as well as loads of cute accessories.

How old do i feel???

Yeap my daughter was 10 on sunday, she held a weekend long sleepover with her 2 best friends, and boy am i exhausted now! In between crafting, tshirt painting, cinema, buildabear, i managed to start having a play on photoshop to make bethanys card, it is my first attempt and i was aiming for a Hannah Montana style art print look. Might not be perfect, i still not quite sure if i like it but Beth was happy.

kids, dog and relatives

Yeap kids were off for half term this week, my Uncle came to visit, and the dog has trained paul to fetch and carry!!
Throughout all this i still managed to make several cards, but forgot to take photos before rushing to the post office!

However i also managed to go to 2 craft shows and pick up a few new techniques, which i hope to try out and post up here within the week
In the meantime heres a link to Debbi Moores website (i took a class with her on saturday), it has some nice demos to try
http://www.debbimoore.co.uk/tips.asp

A Token for Valentines

Well as many know i am not very lovie dovie even at this time of year, but a lovely project inside of Febuarys Craft Stamper Magazine changed my mind.

This Book of Promises was designed by Katy Fox. I altered the design slightly to use my existing supplies, my hinges were made using Sizzix Thick Cut Latches, the pages were Old World Stack DCWV, and the stamps were Autumn Leaves, Heidi Grace , Lil Davis and Back Porch Memories.

Of course the most romantic i got was promising a steak dinner and to allow one day of him playing with his landrover, but hey ho its me if hes put up with me for 12yrs I think he appreciates all the little things!

Time to Complete

Well I decided to start completing all those half finished projects, and what a better way to than to finish a clock ready to use in my stash store.

This clock was made using a Reeves Glass Painting Clock Kit (£3.99 Home Bargains), I then used 7G (words) and Well Worn (blue) papers, &G 99% complete stickers -Time, and with a few odd embellishments including a watch face (taken from own teenage broken watch!!). The photos are of course of kids and Paul (with Cookie Rabbit, oh and I coloured in the clock hands with gold paintmarker.

Tempting Treats Disney Layout

Well following a prompt from http://scrappingthemagic.co.uk/ I decided it was about time I made a start on my Disney album.
The prompt was to include
a) 1 or more photos of you and your tempting treat
b) Mickey ears/head
c) Hidden Journalling
d) A little Sparkle

I dont usually use large bright patterns, but the kids choose this paper and wanted it to be used for their Cafe Mickey page, i added some DCWV cardstock, bazzill bling (mouse ears, Sandylion Disney boarder stickers, and Basic Grey magnets.
Anyway here it is;

Don't leave me with a blank wall!

Ok maybe it the child in me but whenever i see a blank wall i can't help but start drawing. Both the kids have murals or icons in their rooms, the undecorated hallway got the Disney touch at Christmas and now theres my scrap space.

This was created about about 1am this morning, based on one of my favourite stamps by Heidi Grace. I used XL sizzix to draw rectangle then stamped flourishes (Autumn Leaves) using black stazon ink. I wrote the word myself in permanent marker (29p Wilkinsons), then decorated with Prima flowers -tropical, and crystals (Poundland).

I also have a Tim Holtz quote in progress but i missing a 3 chipboard letters arrrhhh!!!

My Scrap Space

Ok it might not a grand room, but its great for storing my stash.

This basically is a long thin hallway between the house and garage, its primary use is for laundry and a way through into backgarden. These functions cause various problems for my stash so everything has to be sealed in boxes or bags.

The recessed shelving unit was in fact built by me! My first MDF project after watching too many DIY programmes and was once a window that looked into the garage (not a pretty site its our junk storeroom!). Other furniture is mostly Ikea and the far messy end is filled with the kids craft bits, although they do tend to use mine alot.

Its all about storage

Well the units were put up last week (Expedit 8 hole £29 Ikea). I brought 2 in white one went upright which i house all scrapbook card, papers, and kits in. The other i put lenghtwise so it would form a work surface.
I had to alter the hortizontal unit by leaving out 2 shelf dividers so that i could fit in my RUBs (Really useful boxes various sizes/prices Staples), but i find its a perfect fit house more scrapbooking and my cardmaking stuff. The coloured drawer boxes are Die Cut With a View (filled £30 QVC), they fit in perfect.

The other storage I use is the bookcase (Billy £29 Ikea), Childrens wardrobe (forgot name £11 in sale Ikea) these are very nice and slim great for hiding tools and other craft kits, A4 paper drawers (Fira £8 Ikea - although my black and white were half price) these are great stacked, smaller drawer units contain, stamps, punches etc and all the drawers can be mixed for any combination. Finally my wall storage is infact a bathroon cabinet (Songa £7 Ikea) mine was old design in sale with a mirror front which i covered in cork to provide a noticeboard and to protect stamps from sundamage.

All the details

Everything has to be in boxes in my space, but i still try to keep it reasonably pretty.
My ribbon box is just an old Black and Decker screw box, but i decopatched it and added lil davis chipboard letters using a cropodile to punch hole for ribbon ties.

The display board is actually a tool peg board that i spayed white (£2 sale B&Q) I use this for new purchases or items I need to remember to use.

My purple/blue boxes (£1 for 2 Poundland), pink dvd/cd boxes (£1.50 Poundstretcher), tubs on wall shelf (Glis £1.95 for 3 Ikea), pink coffee tins (£1.50 for 3 Q&S)

And if you noticed my decorated door, that is simply painted and the panels filled with wallpaper samples.

Kids Craft Day

Well the kids decided that my craft room was now ready for them to explore, as they put the finishing touches on their UKScrappers cyber swaps. Cuddley companions made with hats of felt and deodorant lids. Then decorated matchboxes filled with any little thing they could raid out of my embellishment tubs. Very creative but very messy!!

A Few Quick Cards

How i love Thursday, had a great mini crop with friends, which really got me in the mood to create a few cards.
Firstly is Lisas which basically was just from the Basic Grey Sultry card kit, which was so easy to do.
Then there is the 'home tweet home' which was based Basic Grey Baby Card Kit, I changed the colour scheme using Sultry BG papers, some Bazzil card and the Fiskars Threading Water punch (thanks Sharon)
Lastly is the Eygpt card which was actually made using a kit from QVC, quick easy but very effective.

New Year, New Crafting

So this is where i begin my online crafting journey. Its a new year, my studies are on hold until the new academic year (thank you credit crunch), but on plus side this allows some time for ME!

Yes I will be making the most of my time off learning fantasic new techniques from whereever i find the inspiration. I aim to take classes and scraplifting as many new styles and techniques as I can.

So join me on this journey I will be posting links to all the projects along with photos of my creations.