I Have To Confess....continued

Zany Snow Trampler


Computer Anorak Wentworth's best Fan!


Swarfega love

Aezine Challenge

The Aezine challenge set on Wednesday was to consider your absolute essentials.
If you had to throw away all your craft bits what would you choose to keep!!
God forbid this would ever be asked of us!!
I gave it some though & here is what I came up with.

1) My Computer & Printer- I hand cut titles generated in WordArt.
2) Scissors- both ordinary & tiny nail ones. I like them for the details.
3) Xcut knife, Fiskars self heal mat & metal ruler- for all cutting
4) Guillotine- Very good for taking edges off pictures & squaring up card.
5) Camera- My Konica Minolta Dimage Z1. I couldn’t take photos otherwise to scrap!
6) Cardstock- Lots of 12x12 as it is versatile & can be cut to any size & makes tags, pockets.
7) MM Eyelet setter- Lovely sleek gadget that sets them so quickly. I love eyelets for fastening vellum.
8) Brads- another favourite fastener of my but great for adding flower centres & spots of colour.
9) Script patterned paper & vellum- I find it is so versatile & makes dreamy looking items on LO’s.
10) Buttons- so decorative on there own, in groups & added to other elements such as circles for impact.
11) Circle cutter- I can’t cut free hand to save my life. My Fiskars cutter gives a good range of sizes.
12) Ribbon- I just adore ribbon & it disguises errors & adds colourful accents all over.
13) Stapler- I have two sizes a mini & standard. Perfect for adding an industrial look & attaching ribbon bits.
14) Corner Rounder- I just love rounded edges. I love the neatness of them & how leaving some undone you get fab shapes.
15) Adhesive- glue pens & dots. I have a range of different ones & most certainly couldn’t do without my new E-Z runner!!!
16) Reporters Notebook- just a cheap 150 page spiral bound notepad for all my ideas & sketches.

I can't imagine life without patterned paper now that I use it, (was once too afraid to start or cut the gorgeous stuff) But sometimes it is good to create a design without it so the picture shines out.

I could never make another mini book again if I couldn't use paper, or at least so I thought.......

Check this space tomorrow as it is, Confession Time!!

Just got to share this with you all...

My friend Joy sent an email this afternoon & this little guy was one of the pictures in it.

Isn't he so cute....

Sunday Blogger

Ok - So recently, I’ve noticed, 2007 has led to a lot of people re-organising themselves, the hunt for ideal storage and craft room loveliness has been at the fore front of a lot of our minds.. but have we done anything about it?

The sunday blog prompt this week is :Show us your favourite parts of your craft area/room/studio.Or - if you don't have a dedicated area, how do you pack everything away and where do you hide it!?take your camera on a little walk and show us your secrets!!!

Large die cut sheets & card storage. Boxes in cupboard for paints etc.. The large oval brown box houses two more inside & they are currently empty..... waiting for new stash!!!

Mini drawers for eyelets, bows, epoxy stickers etc.

Drawers for more card in A4 size plus shoe box blank cards
chocolate tin for pretties, hearts, mini ribbon slides & teeny bits.
Hat boxes for all the rubber stamps, more card blanks & large wired ribbon reels.
Most of this is in my living room & blends in with the furniture.
The room is in too much of a tip for a full photo, "I'm crafting in here to be close to
the PC & stereo"!!!!

The original DCM card

This is the card I originally began, but after an arguement with
the jump rings I gave up & entred the naming ceremony card I'd
made instead.
Now, the rings have played nicely with me & the glue is dry.
the paper is Daisy D's, the insert taken from a wallpaper sample
that I scanned into my computer.
The lighthouse charm, from Debbie. The starfish was in a card kit & the
fibre is also from the same kit. i wound one piece up into a small circluar shape.
The other is gently knotted & glued around the aperture.
the kit was from The Works book & crat shop.

DCM dare. Remember Playschool?

This week's dare was "Through The Window".
Use an aperture on your card. I love apertures, they
add excitement to a card, because you can sneak a peek
of what is behind!!!
I have two designs in mind but the second one is still
in construction stage!!!
(I had an arguement with the charm & jump ring!)
this one is very simple. It is a teddy bear with balloon
coloured with chalks. The balloon is duplicated onto the front
above the window so that when the card is closed the teddy
still appears to be holding his balloon.
It was for a Naming Ceremony, for my Financial Advisor, Carl
who works in our office.
The other one is in progress & may appear later on today!!!!

Not so Good end to Friday.

I got home in pain & thought a bath would do the trick. For three hours I have struggled to keep the internet on but can't send or recieve emails!!!

So, I gave up & went to bed, but the pain in my back has driven me up again.

I never got my card for the dare done & have yet to really do much with my confession.....

My back has been bad for a while now & I mostly manage to bear it, but today has been damn right awful. I feel very sorry for myself as sitting or laying down makes no difference.

For many years I was a Contract Cleaner & I have caused damage to my lower vertebrae. They are fusing together & I need to start regular visits to the Chiropractic, but these cost a lot of money & that is something I don't have a great deal of right now.

To make me happy, I am going to down a nice tot of Baileys & see if that can't rock me to sleep. I woke at 4a.m & am so tired & grouchy now !!!!

I have to start thinking of my craft essentials list for the latest Aezine challenge. I'll try counting sheets of card instead of sheep!!!

Happy Friday...& almost confession Time

Yes girlies, confession time is nearly here & I have to say I am quite excited. My friend Louise gave me a lift down to Tesco & I got new ink cartridges for the printer. And, to make me really happy, they had their own brand matt photo paper. I so lurve this stuff. It prints like a dream with no silly flashback & it is excellent for journalling be it on layouts or greetings for cards.

Today sees the next card dare over on Daring Cardmakers & the 3rd BOM challenge.

I am involved in a photo swop with the lovely ladies on Bumbleberry Cafe, & I recieved Jaqui's pictures yesterday. So now I have a layout to plan for this. But priority will be "I have to Confess....the weekend class.

I can't wait, Friday is always an exciting day of the week, it being the weekend & all, but this Friday is doubly fun.

The search was on for some new music & again disappointment ruled the day!!! Three of my four choices are not available, but not to worry because my 2nd choice was. A nice upbeat groovy tune by The Killers, Somebody Told Me. I luv it, luv it, luv it!!!!!

Oh & I almost forgot, having seen Jakey's fabby Artist Journal card, it got me very interested & I plan to play along at some point. The blog prompts are marvellous & I have several ideas kicking around. I was going to start last night but after a hard night's shopping ( dinting the poor plastic) Louise & I felt the need to re-fuel!!!

So we went for some food at The Old Farmhouse. Italian Style Meatballs with pasta & garlic cibatta 2 for £10. So I "rolled" home stuffed & too late to do anything except surf the net in search of orange papers (for the photo swop)

Jan weekly challenge 3

Apologies right away for the poor photo. the light seems to be really poor the two ends of the day that I am actually home. So I shot home at lunch to try & get a pic ( bearing in mind this has been sat on my desk two days now waiting!!) No Good. Gave up & got the best shot I could!!!

Theme Then & Now/Opposites 5pts

2 or more photos 5pts

2 or more lines of journalling 10pts

2 or more patterned papers 10pts = bonus 30

SLO= 10 total 40 points.

I used 3 different papers (Rob & Bob studio) free in SI, for this as I thought they went well. Again, they are a bit shiny really for my taste. The leaves that decorate the two striped pieces are stamped with a set from Lakeland Ltd. The buttons are from Papermania.

The poor quality makes the journalling impossible to read but it tells how this is one of my favourite trees in our local park & I got a shot of it in Autumn, then & now in Spring.

I have one in the snow but the ink ran out in my printer!!!!!!!

I found this challenge a struggle to do as I didn't feel that inspired by it. Most ideas I had didn't work on paper as ever!!!

I wish you could see the photos better as this tree really is beautiful & seeing it makes me happy!

Happy is a two way street....

and to be happy, you often find you make some one else happy first.....

I have added a new link to my blog under the visual delights & non craft blogs & websites.

The link is to my friend Cath's photobucket where she uploads some of her amazing ATC's & cards. Also some family pictures. She is very talented you should go take a look. I really love the ATC's & think she might very well be interested in the Art Journal challenge over on UKS.

I will tell her all about it tonight & I'm sure she will thoroughly enjoy doing it. I feel happy inside thinking about this as it will give her scope to expand her skills. Her card making is pretty cool too.

So I know it made her happy I have added her to my links & it has made me happy knowing she is. So it really is a two way street & the happiness is doubled!!!

And, confession time is approaching FAST!! Keep watch..

DCM mid week Extra - Imagine

Here is my offering. It is for a work colleague's 60th birthday this coming Friday.
I have made this card for all the staff to sign.
Unfortunately the picture isn't too clear but it will be going with me to work at 7.30am so it is the best I can do.
I used purple papers by HOTP. Tags cut from purple card.
Fibres are a ball of wool.
Quotes printed onto self adhesive vellum.
Vellum torn envelope on the front is held on with large purple MM eyelets.

The quote, in case it really isn't clear;
Imagine .
No matter what we have come through. How many perils we have safely passed, or how imperfect & jagged our life has been. We cannot in our heart of hearts imagine how it could have been different. As we look back on it, it slips in behind us in orderly array, & with all its mistakes, acquires a sort of eternal fitness, & even at times of poetic glamour. Randolph Silliman Bourne.

The quote on the tag is, Each birthday is a new beginning, full of promise, opportunity & the chance to make dreams come true.

My BOM wk2, after a slight technical hitch!!

Blogger didn't want to upload this for me early today!
This is the 2nd challenge & the theme was, What do you look forward to the approach of......
Well I love spring. The close up of the journalling in picture two explains why.

Papers are MM Boho Chic Olivia, Wallpaper Stripe, Plum Dot & floral Lattice.

Rub on words, Royal & Langnickel. 3 mini yellow brads, accentz.

The paper was all sanded with a nail file (emery board) & inked with purple petal ink.

The photos were also sanded to soften the edges. The journalling was done using MSPmincho.

Flower on the tag cut from transparency & coloured with gelly roll pens.

I did the close up so it was easier to read.

Aezine second week challenge- Happy 3x5

The challenge set Wednesday 10th, is to be shared today.

We had to make a 3x5 card & use our dictionary defintion of our chosen word.

I had used a portion of mine on my layout & a happiness quote on my Hapy Tag, so this is just the meaning as the dictionary gives it.

Not sure I like the reference to murder a whole lot...lol, but this card will move to whichever room I am working in so I can see it.

I used a white gelly roll pen on the button to give it hair & a smile.

I didn't want it heavily embellished as I don't want the eyes lead too far from the reason behind the card. Too many twiddly bits & you won't see the words.

I completed my BOM layout last night so will be able to share it tomorrow.

I am getting happiness from doing these challenges as they are making me discover myself.

I changed the design twice before I got it finished & normally I agonise for days!!! So I am definately keeping my new style flowing.

Sunday blogger

Sunday bloggers this week is a "practical" one.....Grab your camera - take a walk around your home.. and snap some of the little things that make you happy...Even if its just one thing.... x
We all fill our home with things that make us smile... how about sharing them with us...

Here are a few pictures of the things in my home I adore;

My Sofa. It is so much larger than the old one. Far comfier & when I sit on it I smile!!!
I can lay down full length on it & to me it is my best friend at the end of a long day.



My Stereo. I love music. I have diverse taste, ranging from Rock to Classical. Some of my favourite bands right now are, Muse. My Chemical Romance. Killers. Fray. Train.
Music can make us feel many emotions. Without music it would be like taking the colour out of life.



Table on my landing.
My hallway is empty but for the staircase up to the main landing where my kitchen, bathroom & spare bedroom are. It is very long & uninviting. I inherited pink walls & grey/blue carpet. to add a cheerful splash of colour, I split my nest of tables & put this smallest one on the landing. Everytime I go from my living room or bedroom down onto the main landing it is the first thing I see.



Show me the things in your home that make you happy.......
I could go on forever with my pictures. Bowls of pebbles, bowls of rattan balls. Candles & picture frames. My family photo corner which is above the stereo. I think the bottom line is, we only fill our homes with happy things. Some make us smile more than others....
Spencer, my teddy is my biggest smile giver!!

and I Have Something to Confess....

But I'm not telling you yet!!! So watch this space.

UKS Jan House Challenge.

Boy am I HAPPY that I have got this finished!!!

It was one of those pages you regret starting. I decided to keep on going, but in all honestly I don't really like it. It didn't transfer from sketch to page how I intended!!!

I do lurve my palm tree & the cloud covering a bit of the sun. The rest just seems tacky to me. Oh well, I did my best of a bad job.

Time to move on & crack on with the other projects I have lined up for today.

The best bit has to be my teddy Spencer sat at the base of the tree!!!!

Quick "Happy" Update!

This post is edited at the bottom!!
Last night & first thing today, has seen me struggling with my word.
Happy is not how I'm feeling right now. I have gone & misplaced my debit card. I tipped the flat upside down last night several times. I haven't used it since a week ago & my bank is still full (ha ha ha , that's funny) so it isn't stolen. I jsut can't recall where I last saw it.
Yup, I've gone & done it again, Jakey!!!
So as you can guess no grocery shopping happened last night. Today I have to go over to the hairdressers & it will be lunchtime before I get back.
I can see I will not be getting my gorgeous day of crafting while watching more Prison Break, with the delicious young man, Wentworth Miller to make me happy!!
I'm playing some music I love in the hope I won't wobble & give up, but I really want you to send me some vibes to help me remember where I put it!!!
Is this what turning 40 does!!!!!! Crikey it isn't March yet!!!!!
My Dad will be reading this later & killing himself laughing, won't you Dad!!!

This edit is the email I sent my dear friend Joy.
I gave up searching for the stupid debit card & rang Barclays to cancel it. The card had already been blocked. It was found in Sainsburys’ last Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have no recollection of leaving the store without it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This scares me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyhow it was reported found & blocked. Nothing has been taken from the account & I have to go into Barclays on Monday & request a new one as I need identification for another one.
So food has got to go on the already stretched credit card as I will be card-less for a week & the bank is shut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bloody marvellous!!!!!!!!
I really am losing the plot!!!

DCM 2nd Dare of the Year!

After a few technical hitches today, (i.e lack of internet) I was able to catch up & find out the new dare for this week; Raid The wardrobe.

This weeks dare is to look in your wardrobe for inspiration. It may be the pattern on a skirt, the style of a shirt, the pattern on a jumper or the fringe of a scarf. Your card could be clothing shaped! Just go with your creative flow.

As chance would have it, I had been asked yesterday to make a card for someone's daughter who is going to a ball. She wanted something chic.
I think it is a good card to use for the dare as I designed it with my black dress in mind. I wore the dress for my sister's wedding back in October. It is the only item in my wardrobe I can actually fit into!!!

The handbag is a Jolee boutique sticker & the dress cut to shape from a white dress I had in my stash from a year ago.

following on from my last "Happy" post...

check this out;


http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/mag/article.ihtml?index_field=1857&_start_page_=1&issue=&backIssue


There are things suggested by Ali, here that I hadn't thought about regarding how to spend just one hour of your time creatively even if you don't actually "create" anything.

I think her idea is preparation is the key!!!

Must think on that!!!!!!

Been giving thought to my word Happy.

Since choosing my word for 2007, I have spent quite a lot of time thinking about it.
I know some time ago I did a post about why I craft. It makes me happy. Then I listed the small things that make me happy. I chose to list them around the edge of my happy LO. These things were sunshine, log fires burning, candle light... Laying in an aromatherapy bath knowing the good it is doing for my skin & my whole well being. Afterwards, wrapped in big fluffy towel to dry sipping hot tea or the occasional Baileys ( I always recieve a bottle of this each christmas.) I thoroughly enjoy spending time after my bath putting moisturiser on because although I am not a fanatic about cosmetics, I do believe we need to take very good care of our skin, including applying sunscreen.
Once done I like to spent time reading or sketching designs.
This is one of my rituals. How many others of you have these little rituals. Time spent enjoying time on your own feeling happy???

After tonights' bath ritual, which included the boring bit, washing my hair!!!, I spent time watching a DVD loaned to me by my friend Louise. (Prison Break series one) I smilled from ear to ear this morning when she handed it to me. Again, it was a moment of sheer happiness. I have started to note these moments down throught out the day, in what I will call my "Happy Journal". It will be a blank notebook filled with sentences or words just whatever comes into my head. (Right now it is scraps of tatty paper stuffed into my appointments diary) Someone told me how pretty my tag looked on my work PC today & after explaining why it was there, & no it wasn't to be parted with!!!, I felt really happy that my pretty tag had made someone else stop & think.
With this weather so wet, dark & windy, I feel very low & I figured if I had a happy notebook, I could later on in the year make a happy tin or minibook. Something to record these moments forever. It would be like turning the sun on in dark times.

Today, I also took out my family photographs as these make me happy.
Here are a couple of my favourites. They feature on my revolving cube right at the very bottom of this blog. They are of my Grandma & Dad, Grandad & Dad & my Mum & Dad.
The picture of my parents is especially precious to me. I can see how young my parents were. How in love they were. It makes me happy to know my parents were very happy. It also makes me feel a little sad knowing what they could never have known the moment the camera captured those smiles.
So, I will leave you with this thought, it isn't a quote or anything I've read but something I feel,
I chose Happy for many reasons for my word in 2007, but when I look back over the years at all that has happened & all the wonderful people we have lost, I realise that life has to be lived as fully as you can.

BE HAPPY, let it fill your heart & soul, & live for those we loved & lost as well as for those we DO love and WILL love.........

DCM Mid Wk Extra- Language of flowers

Just a quick note here.....

I was very disappointed with the photo of my Week 2 UKS challenge as the layout was of special meaning to me. However, I have now got a much clearer picture of it & it is in flickr down my sidebar. I didn't want to muck around with the original post as I had no idea what havoc that would cause. A better picture is here:

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q320/Paulapixie/wk2challengeresize.jpg

The challenge here was simply, Use up some leftovers, be them Christmas bits or any other things you have.

My card was made using left over scraps from my BOM challenge. I adore these papers & thought they'd look great on a card. The tiny tag was a price tag on a small stocking filla gift I bought for someone. The price was only written in pencil so all I had to do was erase it, ink it up & add my little piece of text.
I didn't want to put too much on the front of the card as I hate the idea of covering up these pretty designs.

Jan WK2 UKS Challenge

Apologies in advance for the poor quality of this photo!!!!

I swear it has never been daylight for days, which is bad for us crafters.

This layout is for my BIL Nigel, sadly deceased in August 2004.

The photos are two of my favourite shots of him & my sister, Tracy.

Elvis song/film title 10pts

Bling (for the vegas years) 10pts

Blue (for the suede shoes) 5pts

Something round for the gold discs 5pts = bonus points 30

SLO= 10pts, total pts earned= 40pts.

Design is based on the Pencil Lines Sketch 9.

The papers are sarapapers, in a book called Retro.Cut into 3 circles. Bling brad, MM. Bling stars, Papermania.

Bloom is made up of 3 separate ones from a pot called Just Flowers.

Title was generated on my computer in wordart, font signature. Handcutting is the pits!!!!

The journalling around the circles is what I would tell him if I could & he would no doubt laugh.

It was so easy to make up to the journalling point & then I did struggle a bit with it.

Had a good cry, as you do & then decided it was just right.

First BOM challenge for 2007

This is the week 1 challenge set by Paula Sealey (aka,Pod, aka patterned Paper Princess.)

Signs of Me.

Papers used are Daisy D's Figne Petit, Vigne & Fleur. I love them but only have A4 size & have longed to play with them for a while. The cardstock is from my vintage bonus box.

The title is a pijpoj pop out alphabet, the bloom is made using the new range of papermania blossoms & one of their new range of big brads.

I had real fun with this & as the papers are quite strong I kept them to strips.

I made the little journal circle using my fiskars cutter & mounted it like a frame with foam pads.

The flower up top is on a foam pad ontop of a circle patterned disc I made to a another circle piece. Each photo has a label which I saw in a similar design in Elsie Flannigan's book.

I started off with the idea of scraplifting her design but then got going & just borrowed the strips of pp idea. I like the finished piece.

Ali Edwards challenge part 2

My Happy tag.

This tag is to go with me everywhere in my handbag so I have a piece of happiness to look at all day.
the charm is a tea bag from my dear card making buddy Debbie. I drink a lot of tea while I'm creating!!!
The quote is one I found in a pack of rub ons but was to large so I copied it onto clear self adhesive vellum.
On the rear of the tag is the journalling;
My chosen word for 2007, "HAPPY"
I will embrace this word fully & consider all the little things that make me feel this way.
Each & everyone of us has tiny moments through out our day when we smile to ourselves at the joy the moments bring. This joy is "happiness", be it the first sip of our morning tea to a smile on a stranger's face.
Paula.x

Ali Edwards Aezine Word Challenge - Happy

Here is my layout about my chosen word Happy.

I really wish you could see this page for real, as the light this time of year is rubbish & I had a pig of a job getting a picture without the flash refecting off the metal flower. It did catch the brad in the centre of the blossoms but after 6 attepmts you can actually see the rub on quote on the photo!!! Also the lace doesn't show up too well under the title word.

Later today when Ali does her A little Word post up on her blog, I will create a link to it.

I wanted this page to be fresh with clean lines so that the word spoke to the viewer. I used papers from Dena's Closet, rub on words & a "faith" quote by Royal & Langnickel. Blossoms & metal flower, papermania. Crystal brad, Karen foster. Lace from my sewing box. The font for Title, Happy was Queen & Co. fontastic painted with acrylic paints by Dovecraft.

My journalling block was done on computer using the dictionary definition of "happy" (again not clear due to light) & the journalling around the edges were done with a blue Staedtler silver ball 404. They dry instantly so no smudges but don't think they are acid free so should not be used to draw on photos!!

Sunday blog Prompt

Ok.. So... Who's layouts made you "stop and go wow!" in 2006.. We have all spent time reflecting on what experiences we have been through in 2006 - but what helped shape you as a scrapper? We all look at other peoples work and see ideas that we think" gosh.. I HAVE to try that like now! but we don't always give credit to the creators, or those who inspire us.. If you had to complie a list of top 5 Layouts of 2006... would the all be from diff people? or would they be one or two designers?

If I were to compile my top 5 list of layouts, my answers will come as no surprise to some that;

No. 1, Scrapdolly (aka Karen Leahy)/ Jakey (aka Jake Walker)

These two women would share the top spot as they are both totally awesome!!!

No.2 , Carole Janson, this lady does the most amazing things in 3D!! I feel excited when I see her creations.

No.3 , Patterned Paper Princess (aka Paula Sealey), this woman has shown me some amazing things about myself in 2006 & it is down to her that I have one full BOM & am starting another.

she works on American A4, 81/2 x 11 & they are really cool pages.

No.4, Eleni, my dear friend the altered CD Queen. Her xmas journal has left me speechless.

I am so looking forward to seeing more of her work in 2007, as I feel she is evolving as she goes along & developing her very own style.

No.5, is Clare Brown, as some of her pieces really made me wish I could do better.

However, thinking more about this, there are many people that have made me stop & go wow quite a few times. Just looking in the galleries on UKS leaves me breathless & I try to leave comments where ever time allows.

My very own team mate Rachel Millington (Taniwha) has made some incredible stuff & I am in awe of her. I hope she can pass on many great tips in the months to come as I would love to produce stuff like she does.....

Yes, I think there are some fabby people out there all doing there own thing & doing it well.

I personally am learning to use my own style, but the influences of these people & the likes of Ali Edwards, Elsie Flannigan, Jane Dean, Debbie Jewell, give me insight into what is possible.

I am feeling far more comfortable as a scrapper & am learning to make things the way I want & not how I think they should look.

Day 6 brought problems

The stupid internet won't stay on!!!

Never mind, Pixie got quite a bit done today. Boring stuff to begin such as weekly shopping & cleaning. Washing & similar things. Then Pixie dashed out for a supply of glue pens & some MM paper Boho Chic Olivia fell into her basket..hehehehe...

A few other pretty bits did too, but Pixie was very careful not to overspend as she was on a strick budget mission!! Annother star book has to be made at the end of this month & supplies of cardstock needed getting in specifically for it. It is to be another pink one but instead of pink/choc,this one is to be pink/lilac.

Pixie needed the Olivia papers for a design coming up & she also bought a pack of 50 blank cards & envelopes as they were on special offer. she is trying to make a basket full of cards to take into the office as staff are always looking for cards when she least has some!!!

The Ali Edward's HAPPY layout is completed & will be uploaded on Monday.

Now pixie has the BOM challenge to do, set by the wonderful Paula Sealey.

The House challenge over on UKS is still in sketch form & pixie is not committing to it until she is certain. And, gosh there will be another UKS weekly challenge on Monday!!!!!!

It's all go!!!!

Jan week 1 card dare

This is my first card for 2007 daring cardmakers.
I based it on one of Elsie Flannigan's scrap challenges, no.3 customise a ribbon border.

What this picture doesn't show too well is that the thickest piece of ribbon running from top to bottom is lilac spotted. I used two pieces of lilac check & one piece of lilac spot. Tiny pink buttons & mini purple flowers. Each flower has a tiny star bling in the centre. The large pink blossom is one of my new doodlebug blooms with a Laura Ashley button in the centre. My greeting is made in 3D, (seems to be my thing so far this year) & I have used off cuts of lilac pearlescent card & patterned papers.
I really enjoyed making this for two reasons. The first being it is the very first dare of 2007 & the other reason being I really wanted to try this challenge of Elsie's but couldn't bring myself to use all that ribbon on a 12x12 page!!!!!

Then, on day 5

the very first card dare of 2007 was posted!!!!
Been looking forward to this as I'm back & ready to play. Sadly, I am chained behind this desk until 3.30pm but plenty of ideas are whizzing round my head!

Bling & Beads is the design brief......
Every girls dream.....

Will be back later....

Something Sensational happened on Day 4

I recieved my very first Aezine newsletter for 2007.
This can be found in my sidebar under inspiration. It is a life artist newsletter from Ali Edwards & it is going to be the start of a new journey for me.


Anyone can sign up for the emails & I urge you to play along with me. I have going to have some real fun. I'm sure you will join me won't you Lynne!! http://craftydevilscraftjournal.blogspot.com/





So to start I have to choose a word which sums up what I want for 2007.


This is going to be MY word for the whole year. Choose it & think about it, mull it over in your mind. I have. Then the weekly challenge is, create something, anything celebrating your word. It could be a blog post, a journal entry, a layout or just a simple post it note.


I have chosen a blog post & will also be doing a layout which I am to share with Ali on 8th Jan.

HAPPY

this is MY word.

I want this to be for me in 2007. When I close my eyes & think about happy all kinds of things flick through my mind. I see blue skies, sunshine. I see flowers, birds & insects. I hear my favourite music, I smell wonderful foods. I sink dreamily into soft scatter cushions & sumptious bedding. I float in an aroma filled bath. I run through piles of autumn leaves & watch snow fall silently. I see kittens play, I smell fresh coffee

and all these things make me SMILE. A big fat smile that makes me feel happy!!!!!

Just sitting on my big sofa with my throws & cushions makes me feel like a queen & I know I am blessed to work hard & have these things. I'm not saying material things are the most important thing but these kind of things just give us a boost to our well being.

So, ladies, sign up today & play along. Make this journey with me & get some layouts made. (This should do wonders for my team points over on UKS!!!)

And I need to give credit here to Jane Dean for the link to this cute little pixie.

Go to Jane's blog http://www.seabreezes.typepad.com/, Sea Breezes, where you will find a link to a place where you can make your own cute little chics. The site is bless this chick.

Isn't she the cutest!!!

day three of the year..

brings fun & games!!!(& food)
Pixie woke up late today & was quite a moody pixie until the postman brought her a parcel!!
She almost forgot the present she had bought herself for Christmas as she had been such a good pixie all year.
She bought herself some fabulous pink doodlebug blooms, which she has longed for since they came out. She also got a tiny alphabet from Queen & Co in a rather natty little bag & a book by Elsie Flannigan, 25 Scrapbook Challenges!!!
Pixie saw this book some time ago & thought it might go hand in hand with the fabby Ali Edwards book, Tracy bought her for crimble!
There are challenges on the UKS site following this book, so pixie got really excited about seeing the book.
Tonight, there is precious little on TV, so pixie will be found on her toadstool avidly reading the delights of the fabby Elsie.
So, watch this space as something will be getting created very soon.............
Pixie also got a surprise today when her friend told her she was being taken out to lunch. Her friend had been having a rough morning & needed to let off steam. So the chinese we went, yum yum!
Pixie starts her diet next week....

This is another birthday card, made with friends in mind. I wasn't happy with how
flat the design appeared in front view so tried for a side shot.
I again, used scraps from the free papers in SBI & a scrap of pink card.
I used the Hibiscus die from my big shot but didn't build up the full flower.
I hate how shiny these papers are, but have found a supplier of the 12" versions.
They are Melissa Francis Heart & Home range & this one is called Rhonda.
I'm not sure how they would look on a full LO, I guess a shabby chic arrangment
would bring out the best in them (something I can't do!!)

and on day two of the New Year....

the fairy princess had to go back to work... so ends the fairytale week of crafting & back to the grind stone!!!!
It is so, not fair!!! (stamps feet, in childish manner!)
Never fear, she will be back later with another card design & more challenges are ahead...
Watch this space.....sobs, mutterings & curses as she switches off & heads back in the rain to the office.....I am wasted she crys, truly wasted there!!!

Jan wk1 challenge & Birthday

January 2007 week 1 challenge= word New &/or Roman Numerals = 10pts
Use chocolate = 10pts
Buttons = 5pts
Journalling = 5pts = 30 bonus pts.
total= 40 points.
I used pale chocolate paper, & chocolate words by SEI. Chocolate & pink buttons. Patterned paper free from SBI. Journalling block also SEI.

Birthday card made using scraps from patterned paper free in SBI.
Both designs used flower dies from Elliott, my Big Shot. Hasn't he been a busy boy??

Sunday Blog Prompts.

What has made 2006 for You?
What has made you smile, cry, laugh, reflect & what have you learnt?

I never thought that starting this blog was going to open my world to so many wonderful people.
I started it to put my work on as I was involved in the Weekly Top5 challenges set by the brilliant Paula Sealey.
I had no idea how it would take off.
I became involved with the Daring Cardmakers, & got my card making mojo back.
I got to share my daily life with the designers I admire so much, Jakey & Karen. Karen even designed my banner which for me was fantastic as I have admired this amazing ladies' work for years.
I am "in touch" with Jakey on a near daily basis & this woman rocks!!
Debbie Jewell was another designer I admired & I pop along to her blog weekly (she has moved & doesn't blog a lot right now)

Going back to the wonderful people, there are so many of you out there & you are in my living room everyday like old friends.
There is the talented Carole Janson, the 3D queen. Eleni, my very dear friend, the CD Altering Queen.
Miss Kathy, from the daring cardmakers, who introduced me to all the lovely ladies at the Bumbleberry Cafe. Gillian, from Oz, who I met via the daring cardmakers & Anne in NZ, who made a beautiful card for me to frame later this year (when I can find a suitable one)

The comments left on my blog make me smile. They even make me cry especially when I opened my heart & shared my Christmas Traditions Past.
Then the amazing Rachel, (Taniwha) came into my life & invited me to join the team Scrap Shoppin' girls.
I have to say ladies, you are a really fab bunch & you treat me like you have always known me.
Happy New Year to you, Rachel, Helen, Pauline, Val, Nic, Annie, Naomi & Anne. You girls rock!!!

Being published in Scrapbook Inspirations topped my year as I had never been in print.
I haven't got what it takes to be a designer but it was thrilling to see my work in print as I do love my mini books. I already have orders for more this year!!!!

What have I learnt? I have learnt that there is so much more to learn & a whole world full of amazing people to help me do so. My team mates are very talented as are the lovely ladies on the Lurve Thread over on UKS.
Importantly for me, I have learnt that I can scrap!!!!!!

Last year saw my sister re marry & the wedding was amazing. It was a dream come true for me to stay in a castle. This year is my 40th birthday. They say life begins at 40 & I am still hoping to find the man of my dreams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I had to leave my knight at the castle!)

There are many more things I could say regarding work & stuff but none of it is really publishable!!!!!!!!!!
So I will stop there & go get some scrapping done!