Every Christmas I always know we will be treated to one of two films, or maybe both....
One is The Sound of Music. The other is of course:
Mary Poppins!
Off out for dinner tonight so not much chance of getting anything new made, I need to go dig out my winter boots for the walk but shall be watching and singing along to Mary Poppins in the meantime!
But I did post this card project on the Frog Blog:
It uses the new Retro Space set.
Well I won't bore you with too many house details now as I need to vamoose and go round and seal the decking we cleaned yesterday (4 hrs of hard washing and brushing and coating in really hot sun!) but apparently it was well worth it as it has come up much nicer now it's dried out. But have to go round in a bit to start on sealing the wood... or staining it... not decided which yet...
But, here's a little project I just uploaded to the Banana Frog blog:
It uses the "It's all about Documenting" set.
Also here's my creation for September's colour focus challenge:
The heart is stamped using the Perfect Paisley set:
Then glossy accented.
And back to the house... I looked at the painted lining paper with my turquoise paint samples... looks like I will be taking down the broken blind in the main bedroom at some point and replacing it with voile and thicker curtains, this should really bring in a lot more light.
I am going for a feature wall in Javan Dawn 2, then the other walls will be Javan Dawn 5. That should help with the illusion of light and space yet still give me some zinging turquoise to enjoy!
The bed was delivered yesterday along with my table and chairs, the conservatory looks so much more homely with them in.
Had plans to paint the bathroom today, but while the weather is good like this, best to do the outdoors stuff first.
A roofing guy is coming round next week to look at the guttering at the back that needs fixing/replacing and the roof - seems to be a cracked roof tile to replace and then the loft will need installing. Not been up there but apparently there's a lot of space for... er stuff. ;o)
Heck knows when I will actually get back to making some cards again!
Right I'm off!
I always feel you need to make the most of these - yet always end up relaxing away the time, rarely packing them with loads of manic activity!
So far I have managed to tick a few things off my more boring to-do list, had a Medium viewing marathon, read half my current re-read book, raced over to Homebase to purchase another cake stand in their 20% event (there were just 3 left), and posted my project of the day over on the Frog Blog:
If you fancy making these easy peasy notelets, check out this post.
I have some stuff to write up for a few projects, but think I will leave that until tomorrow. In the meantime I'm going to get back to my book, and at some point watch Bride Wars. I am also crossing my fingers that Next will still have the crockery I want at a reduced price - and that they will still actually have it in stock as it's not on the website! :oS
Whew, well that holiday certainly passed by quickly - almost feels like we were never away. And I shudder at the thought of going through all the photos I took and deleting the naff ones... but plenty of fodder for future pages (should I actually decide to scrapbook again!) and maybe the odd mini-book. hehe
But in the meantime, here are some card projects I made before going on holiday but couldn't yet post. First up some cards for Crafty Templates, who kindly invited me to guest for their July kit:
When it came to the ice cream template, well I just had to use those Pieces of Me papers from KI!
And last but not least....
And another project posted while I was away, was my project of the day for the frog blog - tips and instructions are here:
And that's it for now... have made a little order for some mini chipboard books but really need some more - especially BG and Cosmo ones, I have plans to actually get a holiday in a mini-book rather than gradually get pages in a normal album - and since I have only managed 1 page from my Chicago holiday last year, that might be a wise decision!
It is TOASTY out there! :oO
If it weren't for the midgies I would still be sat out in the garden reading away it's that warm.
But there are blood-sucking midgies out there and so I am indoors trying to keep cool and think cool thoughts, but also update this here blog with the Project of the Day I posted over at the Frog Blog...
So, by now it will be obvious that I have become slightly re-addicted to Liquid Pearls, well especially red liquid pearls - who knew they were so nice...
Red and turquoise still my fave combo!
But I almost crippled my hand trying to squeeze out the Sticky Fingers equivalent of Liquid Pearls - shame their bottles are so stiff!
Right I think I am due for a return of the Stickles addiction!
Well the time has come to get my stash sorted for my weekend away with some of the girls - I have zero planned, zero energy to think about planning what to make, and zero prepared...
So it will be the kitchen sink approach and I must get it done tonight as I have a very hectic two days ahead before going up to the cottage after work Friday!
But where to start... dies, cardstock... embellishments, ooer.... I may need to get some boxes at the ready to carry it all in!
Oh and I forgot to post this card for the June colour focus challenge on the Frog Blog:
Cute huh? I shall definitely be packing some Mommy and Me!
Here's my project that I posted to the Frog Blog yesterday. :o) Stamp sets used were All about Documenting and Paper Chains:
Got to say I am a fan of this colour combo!
Also, here's my project from the May Colour Focus feature:
I have a "layout" to finish off later today that I started at Zoe's last night, but got some to-do list stuff to get off my plate first before I can sit down again to play, mind you the weather is looking promising for today it has to be said!
So - yesterday I was feeling all ready for a bit of creativity today - I even tried to beat the jet lag by staying awake until near midnight! A miracle in itself...
But I ended up sleeping in until almost midday, well that and catching up on some TV I'd missed!
Then I got in the mood to sort some baskets of stuff out to find room for the new stash, and that certainly took longer than expected! So roll around 6 p.m. and I finally made this for the current CPS sketch (#114).
Some new stash in there, the Martha doily punch (yum!), Papertrey buttons (I really needed some nice brown buttons in smallish sizes), Papertrey stamp, Martha library pocket, and a restock of that flocked MM paper, oh and at last a Kraft card blank!
Also while I was away, this little resist project was posted on the Frog Blog:
Right, well all that remains is for me to try and keep awake enough to watch Ashes to Ashes, but it's definitely time for the PJs! Back to work tomorrow... eek.
And I've still not got dried my hair after getting out the shower almost an hour ago (amazing how you can get sidetracked by e-mails etc.) I've not got time to make a card tonight (but I will be stroking my new Cosmo Cricket stash.... mmmmmm).
So I thought it fitting I share a couple of projects I posted on the Frog Blog the other week, these were using the Build a Bloom set to create your own scallop borders:
Amazingly the perfect blue colour match as one of those dodgy KI ink pads, can you believe they thought that blue was Boogieboard?? Never mind, it matches that 7Gypsies blue perfectly so I finally found a use for it. hehe
I also used the build a bloom set to create a grassy background for my likely-one-and-only Easter card:
I do love my Maya Road chipboard trees, they look so lovely covered in paper as well as paint! And promarkers are great for colouring in the trunk v. quickly!
And last but not least, here's my card for this month's colour focus challenge:
Right off to smother on the Bath and Bodyworks cream *trying to make space for new additions* then catching up on telly and knitting... maybe....
In preparation for Friday's baby shower I have made a card for the mummy to be, so Becky, if perchance you are reading this, look away now!
I will deflect slightly by posting a tag idea that was posted on today's Frog Blog - today's featured stamp set was retro squares, I used the circle stamp from the set to create this gift tag:
Each of the circles on the stamp was inked up with a different coloured ink dauber - finally a use for them! ha!
And also, if you've not seen - check out this month's challenge at the Frog Blog - it's all about your favourite set of Banana Frog stamps. So many to choose from! :oD
Right, I think that's enough space... so here's the card for Friday - it was also inspired by CPS sketch #106:
Can't beat vintage KI - and I finally made a teeny dent in the MM safety pin and alpha bead stash! Yes, a minimal dent... but it's one fewer in the storage box!
I've just finished up a number of projects for Banana Frog that I can't post just at the moment... buuuuut I have managed to chip away a little at the 209 in 2009 checklist!
Just a teeny tiny bit... this one was for the recent colour focus challenge over on the frog blog - stamps used were Pharmacy, Scribble Flowers, and Make a chain.
Also I grabbed a pack of card blanks out of a box today and decided I'd use up the rest of the pack rather than put them back!
Prepare for some very simple and er... samey cards:
So there you go, that kind of makes up for my lack of creativity this past week, and the fact I spent most of yesterday rereading Glory in Death...erm.
Also, I did have a play with my new 55mm 1.4 lens but need to try it out more - still need to load my photos to the PC for a better look, so may well do that whilst watching Lark Rise to Candleford later, it is still one of my many weaknesses! But hey, why not broadcast it to the world... :oS
Oh, and I never did manage to see that Renee Zellweger movie this week, we were supposed to go after dinner at chiquitos Wednesday night, but well, we were there for almost 2 and a half hours - food was delicious, but there was no way we're doing 3 courses again! I say this now of course... but I have finally had fried Mexican ice cream and tried the Quesedillas but am still addicted to their Chimichangas! And the margaritas ain't half bad either...
Anyway, next of the agenda - tea!
Just posted over at the frog blog, but here's my project of the day featuring those brand new Banana Frog stamps! Yuuuum!
The "It's all about... Circles" stamps are lovely for adding a bit of flourish to projects.
I totally love this Basic Grey collection, but I usually resist using it on cards! Well I'm resisting no more, because seriously it is just too nice for it to wait on a shelf until I finally have a layout idea!
As you can see, still addicted to turquoise, and still addicted to satin ribbon!
I can post this card from the Feb colour focus challenge over at the Banana Frog blog:
Stamp set used, the one I am most partial to, Flowery Thoughts! Papers are SEI.
Odd how the "white" looks a bit grey in this photo, in Photoshop it was very white. Bizarre!
I have just been doing some blog tidying, then that went into tidying up my various photo folders on my PC... Oh dear... I hate it when one thing leads to another like that, because before you know it, your Saturday has disappeared!
So I forgot to post a pic of my lovely Paper Source calendar with it's February page:
Oooh I just love the colours of love this month. :oD
And speaking of piiiiin, here's a card project I made using Paperchains stamps for the frog blog:
I just love Sundays sometimes! And especially a relaxing one finally spent reading my book from cover to cover!
After finishing that late this afternoon I got got a little card made for a certain new addition to the Banana Frog fan club, Trish's new baby boy!
Banana Frog stamps used are Tiny Type and Postage
And yesterday's crop did at least end in a layout! LOL It's week 4's Scrap Like You Mean It challenge - and Shimelle's sketch.
Afraid the photo isn't too great as it's quite dim lighting in the evening.
Well crop! There has been no logic to my packing, the only thing I have that shows some organisation in the chaos of totes is the scrap like you mean it sketch for week 4 and remembering the theme for week 5 is black and white!
Otherwise I have bunged in far too much stuff but I couldn't be bothered with the task of painstaking sorting and thinking, especially since it's such a chore to then put it all back together and in it's rightful place when you get back from a crop.
But in other news, here's a little project to share for the day:
It was my turn to share a project of the day on the Banana Frog blog and since it was Friday I just had to get working with those bold bright colours!
Stamp sets used are Greenwich Park and Tag It.
And joy of joys, this is one of my early attempts at Promarker colouring, I know it's nothing complicated or amazing, but it just makes the hedgehog and greeting stand out better.
I some how doubt I'll actually get chance to scrapbook again before I head off on holiday to Chicago in 2 weeks... so to tide me over, here are a couple from today's crop:
Finally managed to use up a few sheets of pp from my Basic Grey Phoebe stash, not to mention some of the lace and buttons from Making Memories and those huuuge MME flowers! And those chipboard Thickers go great with these papers.
Next up, I got out my new July Scarlet Lime kit, which arrived Friday.
Oh and here's a card made using some of the left-over circles I'd cut out of the Phoebe paper, combined with Banana Frog Perfect Paisley stamps:
Gosh, after all the cake yesterday I am really feeling peckish for... more cake. LOL
But this will have to do, a card made with Shimelle's cupcake stamps!
Just a little catch up with an old CAD challenge to use pink and black, well ta-da!
And that's it so for another weekend.... Next weekend I'll really have to sort out my Gibside packing. Waah!
It's been a totally lovely day, but a shame I've spent the best part of it in the office... however after getting back from the sweltering gym I've been sat with the windows wide open enjoying this summery weather!
But, so that I can sit out tomorrow evening reading... I hope! Here are more of the cards from the backlog:
This one is also my version of CPS sketch #62. :o)
This next one is also Sketch This card #48
This next one doubles up as my interpretation of CPS Sketch #61
Next up my version of Sketch This card #47:
And finally, caught up on a CAD challenge at Scrapper's Daily Dose today that also doubles up with CPS Sketch #63:
The End!
for now...
To properly catch up, but wow, still so many cards to make! hehe
Quick run-down:
Well, 2 weeks ago I went cropping and was in a bit of a despondent mood what with the PC having just died. I ended up trying to do a scrap lift to lift my spirits! :o) Alas it's still not finished as I needed a PC to print the photo and journaling, but I just loved the layout Kelly Noel did for the November Poppy Ink kit, I just had to try my hand at it, and here's as far as I got...
I also managed a couple of cards using scraps, CAD cards of course!
Oh and I hadn't posted this card, which I now consider my CAD for the 10th of April (errrr... still got some catching up to do!)
And today, instead of cropping at home for the cyber crop, I went off cropping with friends and well... wasn't really productive, I just managed one layout using my new Scarlet Lime kit that arrived a week or so ago:
Pics of Ma and my Auntie Ula in Torun, Poland, last summer after making a rather sizable purchase of Pierniki (gingerbread) and other treats at Kopernik one of the oldest gingerbread makers in Poland.
Some really nice things in this kit, I like the K&Co. swivel things, but they're a bit too schmaltzy for me, and I will struggle to use the rub-ons, but it'll be fine - and the arrows and heart are pointing to the contents of those bags, hehe!
So doubt I'll be doing much cyber cropping tomorrow, as I have so many cards to catch up on, BUT at least I've managed something for this cyber crop with my beading card class, LOL. Here were the finished cards for the class:
Another layout today and a couple of cards, I feel exhausted! :oP
It's been a bit of a Banana Frog day:
My poor little brother, forever immortalised in such a photo and sporting such a cute little bib...
And a couple of cards for The CAD Project:
And today's CAD card:
Day off from work tomorrow, so am out shopping with Zoe in the afternoon after lunch. Looking forward to it!
After I got back from my appointment for a facial (the most relaxing hour I've spent in a long while!) I decided I was going to get some scrapping done... well easier said than done.
I sat down, did a little, then got up an ended up being waylaid by other tasks and didn't sit down to actually put my layout together until earlier this evening. Strange how that happens isn't it?
So anyway, I have been playing with my new Banana Frog stash and this is what I came up with, quite a departure from how I originally imagined it, and it looks a lot better in real life than this non-dimensional scan...
Anyway here are some close-ups with which to better illustrate... :oP
Anyway, the pic is of my Aunty Ula's sister, Yola. She is one of the sweetest, kindest people I know and always as a kid I thought she was the prettiest person I knew! :o) I don't think I've ever seen her without a smile on her face or a twinkle in her eye, even when telling the kids off for fighting...
So, I shall be catching up with some cards tomorrow, who knows, some more Banana Frog projects!
First up today's card... prepare for some vivid colour exposure (I was feeling the need, what with the gorgeous weather we've had - all pre-summery)!
This card is also based on one of the Card Maps sketches from this month's card challenge on UKS. :o)
Anyway, while I was creating this I had a very vivid music flashback to my days living in Grenoble back in 98/99 as I unearthed my CD of Manau's Panique Celtique (French rap crossed with some celtic folk beats - see, Irish music was everywhere in the late 90s even in French rap!). "Mais qui est la Balette?" is still my favourite track, it ends up being like a funked up version of Frere Jacques...
But I digress, I had my fix of Manau and then worked through my general playlist, but ended up skipping loads more tracks than I listened to. Looks like I could do with creating a new general playlist of stuff I want to listen to right now...
Have a list of new tracks I want to download, even that "I want to marry a lighthouse keeper" from the M&S ads, lol, there's also Galway Girl, Sweet Like Me (Gabriella Cilmi), Fascination (Alphabeats), American Boy (Estelle) and I need to check to see when the new Moby album is out. Apparently this one is his best release since Play.
Well since I lived off Play for about 6 months in 2000 I do believe I'll need to check this out! Nothing has topped it yet, but then again Extreme Ways is in a league of its own...
And as Sarah so rightly reminded me... Madonna's new album is fast approaching. I'm afraid I don't think she can top Confessions for me. I LOVED every track on that album, there isn't a duff one on there and I think it is just my style of music... all superb... I've heard the new single and I'm reserving judgement until I hear more from the album... I'm a bit worried there's going to be more talking than singing on this, and more beat than tune, but let's see - I hope it'll be another fab one!
Caught up with some CAD challenges and other sketches... phew!
First up back to the 31st of March where the challenge was to use "Just for You" on your card... OK mine was rather loose on the wording, but I based it on CPS sketch #58:
The challenge for the 1st was to create a card for a teacher, had to cheat a bit here...
I set the challenge for the 2nd - to use Stickles....
And today's challenge was to use a journaling spot on a card, based it on one of the card maps in this month's card challenge on UKS:
Well, as the title suggests it's simple, and quick, but it's a card!
And it's the CAD challenge for the 9th of March - if I ever manage to catch up it remains to be seen!
Finally, all caught up with the CAD challenges I missed.
The challenge for the 12th was to create a card based on the sketch provided:
Next, the challenge was to create a card using hearts in some way:
Then on the 14th it was a free for all, with the challenge to create a card of your choice, this card is also based on CPS sketch #51:
Next up yesterday's card - the challenge to make blue and green the main colours:
And finally, today's card - the challenge, to use stars in some way. I don't have much in the way of stars, but had these in a recent Poppy Ink kit, unfortunately they're a bit battered from the metal embellishments that were also in the baggie, but I'm sure it adds to the charm!
That's all for today! :o)
I started off today's creativity very early with a couple of card requests from my brother. One for a Valentine's Day card and the other an engagement card... well, the Valentine's is for his friend's now fiancée who is from the States and presented him with a Valentine's card yesterday much to his bemusement after they announced their engagement... and so that she doesn't feel left out celebrating Valentine's day in the UK without all the US glitz I made a quick card for him to give her. :o) Together with an engagement card...
And here's today's CAD card - the challenge to create a baby girl card. :o)
Also I unwrapped some more of my nestabilities for playing with and have had to come up with a friendly compact storage solution - I like how Nichole heady stored them in CD cases, but that's still too bulky for me at the moment...
So most of the sets are living in ziploc bags still stuck to their tacky black background sheets, but one set was taped over instead of having the sticky background. So I cut some glossy card down to size and coated it with a little Aileen's tack it over and over and am just waiting for it to dry then can store the dies on it in their relevant baggies which are all grouped together on a bookring and labelled... just need some more dies now! :oP
Right, finally all caught up until tomorrow.
Here's yesterday's card - the challenge was to create a boy birthday card only using orange, brown, green and black - bit of a struggle for me boy cards... never mind the colour limitations. LOL
And today's card challenge was to create a Congrats card:
Right, gymming in the morning then may get down and create something. I had fancied catching up on my reading this weekend, and managed to resist ordering Strangers in Death at amazon while it was half price. I have it on order from the Library - number 9 in the queue for the 3 issues currently out... awwww.... will I manage not to cave in! Who knows...
Also latest issue of Paper Crafts arrived the other day, had a good flick through and rather loved their feature on owl and bird stamps... oh yes!
Have been playing with some Banana Frog stamps today and of course my big ink collection - still don't own the perfect shade of brown - to just create and see where the flow took me... One of these cards is today's Card a Day on the theme of "thanks":
The other cards I made are here - gotta have a montage - montage!
Today's theme - a "hello" card and what better stash to do the job than Banana Frog Flowery Thoughts stamps! Oh and a fair bit of ink... ;o)
Here's the card for yesterday! ;o) The theme? Weddings of course!
Managing to keep on top of things... kinda... Today's theme was a "boy card" - well this is more a duuuuuude card....
The weather hasn't been anything to smile about so I had a rather nice day catching up with a few things (very leisurely) including today's Card a Day challenge plus watching The Bourne Ultimatum - great ending with room for another in the series, I so hope!!! I seem to be in a Matt Damon zone... wasn't too bothered with him as an actor until I saw the first Bourne film and have been lapping up his films now! I do love him as Linus in the Ocean's films - especially Twelve where his parents have to bail him out. So funny...
Anyway, here's another recent card:
Think I'll watch Ocean's Thirteen after my bath... Back to the grind tomorrow!
Here are a few of today's cards finally uploaded!
First up, gotta start with the KI right? Bit of a dull photo, but anyway, here's a close up of the aperture which has a piece of acetate in it:
I got the new stamps out too - well I'd already used one for the background on the greeting above, but I needed to try that birdie!
I was then in need of a snowflake fix and just had to reach for my set of Banana Frog Blizzard stamps!
I love the other snowflake design in this set too, it's great for really subtle and delicate snowflakes... alas you can't really see the delicate look in the next one:
I stamped very pale lilac pigment ink onto a shimmering card blank - it looks lilac in one light and cream in another. Then I embossed the snowflake with turquoise glitter/clear embossing powder, added a bit of bling and the greeting. Looks very subtle in real life and glitters quite nicely when the light catches it! Honest...
Then it was time to use the retro baubles set again, this time with light pink and light green ink for a bit of a non-traditional colour mix!
But I could leave the Blizzard set alone for long and decided to try my hand at this week's Use Your Stash challenge manufacturer - American Crafts! I have so much of their ribbon, but no papers (at the moment) so it's a bit hard to get the perfect colour match, but yep, time to use up that ribbon! hehe
More AC ribbon this time combined with AC white Eddie rub-ons. The scallop background is one of the snowflakes from Rhonna's set stamped in brown staz-on.
Anyway, off now to tidy up the chaos!
I finally did do something creative today after all... First up, killing two birds with one stone, so to speak... This week's DCM dare to use an animal on your card, but also CPS sketch 34 as the inspiration!
Amazingly I have used up some mega old stash here - namely Chatterbox paper that I was hanging onto for a rainy day! Also that Judikins retro cat stamp that I love so much and a rub-on and fab kitty brad from Lorry. :oD
Also the Banana Frog kit class for the UKS cyber crop went in, here's my interpretation of Shim's sketch - it looks really washed out in the scan alas... but spot the deliberate mistake, I have no idea why I think I am living in 2006 this year! :os
Right, off to sort out photos of the other thing I managed to get done today between reading...
But as of next weekend, it's Christmas journal and card time! :oD Oh yes....
In the meantime, here are some cards for Banana Frog that I've not yet posted. They all use the Flowery Thoughts set, one of my faves. :o)
Bit difficult to photograph as the card blank is pearlescent cardstock and the pigment inks are really opaque on it - looks a lot nicer in real life!
Good old Basic Grey tags!
A bit of bling is always good for the soul - especially Stickles!
I quite like the dandelion look and the Colorbox Queue inks work really well on iridescent card blanks.
Simple but I really like the celery and lilac combo!
The circle stamps are just the right size to combine with a few scraps of KI. :oD
This is my fave one, very simple yet I just love how the colours pop!
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