25th Feb - Mini DCM Challenge Completed!

I am pleased to announce the completion of another DCM challenge!

This time, we were set a mini challenge to create a card with a man in mind. It was a broad challenge, because we weren't confined to a certain age group or occasion.

Luckily for me, I have a little boys birthday coming up, so I thought it would be a good chance to combine the two-again!

So, using 4 small square blanks, I attached them together to make an accordian stlye card blank. I rounded the corners, and then cut 6 panels from a sheet of 'boy themed' paper, which I think is from a DCWV paper stack.

2 panels went onto either end panel, and the other 4 panels were mounted inside using DS tape. I attached a blue and white ribbon across both the front and back panels so the card can be tied up. On top of the ribbon, I mounted 3 blue gems and 2 dinky pale blue buttons. Inside I used the letters 'Birthday' from the Doodlebug 'Birthday Boy' cardstock sticker sheet. I mounted them onto white paper before cutting them out and arranging them across the inside panels. I then took the 'boy' sticker, from the same sheet, and mounted it onto a green acrylic tag. I popped a blue brad through the hole at the top of the tag, and then folded a matching piece of ribbon into a loop and placed it onto the bottom right hand corner of the card. I put the tag on top of the ribbon....and that was that!

Very quick and easy for those of us who need a card in a hurry!

23rd Feb - Another Challenge Set!

Thanks to the folks from DCM for the lovely comments they have left about my challenge entry for last week. I really appreciate it, as I was a bit daunted to start off with! Anyway, I'm really getting into it now, and consequently have no fear about attempting the next challenge!

This weeks DCM Challenge: 20/20 Vision

The challenge is to use 20 of a particular item on a card. However, after being lulled into a false sense of security I read on, to find it had to be 20 of the same item - eg: flowers, brads, etc...and not 20 items altogether! Apparently, if the urge grabs hard enough, you can also try two lots of 20!

Now, that has set the cogs creaking into life! My first thought is to use 20 crystals, as I love my sparkles! Then, if I'm brave enough to try another 20, I may go for ribbon...or I may not! Watch this space for the end result!


I'm also signed up for my frst ever UKS swap - Inchies! I have to make 30 of them and have them sent out by 31st March. I had better get my thinking cap on...!

22nd Feb - Finally Finished A Project!

Hurrah! I have finally finished one of of the many projects on my To Do list! Here is my brothers birthday card, which is also doubling up as my DCM challenge entry! The satisfaction at being able to tick 2 items off my list at once deserves celebrating...with a cuppa and a kit kat!

Feb 20th - Grrr!

OK, this is starting to get silly now. More ideas? No way! I've never had this many ideas at one time for...well, I don't know how long now!

I have just realised its my Bro's birthday on Saturday...that's a card to make there.

I have been asked to make some Easter cards...more cards there.

I have to make some Mothers Day cards...more cards there too!

Why are there only 24 hours in a day? Lori has offered to set me deadlines, which in theory is a very good idea, but in reality I think she will be a hard task master and will be cracking the email whip!

I have had an idea for my bro's card which will also incorporate the DCM challenge, so I can tick 2 things off the list at once...hopefully!

Further to yesterday's ATC musings, I think I've found a way around the problem of finding a starting point...Inchies! What are they? Well, Inchies are what they say...a 1" square card, decorated as you wish. Apparently they are also very addictive...and they also appear to be a lot easier to make than ATC's. If the Inchies work out, then I may be able to adapt them to ATC size! Excellent!

I will post the results on here, as and when they are completed...but have just realised...this is another 'To Do' for my rapidly growing list!

Feb 19th - Ankles Remain Intact!

Well, Simon is happy...at last! My stash is tidied away, the desk is cleared and his ankles are safe from trimmer induced damage! Unfortunately, it took all day, so all attempts to craft in daylight hours went by the wayside.

During one of my (frequent) tea breaks today, I went on UKS, and my imagination has been fired up by talks of ATC's. (Artist Trading Cards) I once tried to make one, but I couldn't get the hang of things! In theory, it all seems so simple - cut a piece of card 3.5" x 2.5", and decorate it. Easy? Well, yes, but I can't work out a design! I'm too stuck in my card making ways I think...can't go up a size (to 12x12), can't go down a size (to ATC's) so I seem to be stuck! However, I had a brainwave, and went to the good old Page Maps site. There are some maps for tags and cards, so I think I will use the tags for inspiration and adapt one to fit an ATC. Bingo! Unfortunately, this also means I have another item to add to my 'To Do' list...and still no nearer starting any of them!

Maybe tomorrow....!

18th Feb - Still Awake With More Ideas!

I have got 3 more items to add to my list of projects to do! The list is getting longer, and I still haven't got as far as the stash cupboard to take anything out to start it all off with!

Number 1:

I am Godmother to triplets and they are going to be 18 on 2nd April. I have decided to get Hannah a piece of jewellery, and Matthew and David a pair of engraved cufflinks each, as from their career hopes, they are both destined to be in suits!

Anyway, I was thinking initially of a card design, and then got to thinking of making my own gift boxes for the gifts. Then I thought 'How about combining the two?' So, therin lies my next project!

I am going to make 3 'exploding boxes'! The boxes will be decorated with photographs of them as they have grown up, from the obligatory embarrassing bare-bottomed-on-a-rug photos, through the gap toothed school photos and onwards to where they are now.

The present will be placed inside the box as well, so when they take the lid off their 'gift box', they get a decorated collection of photographs too! Genius!

Number 2:

I saw a lovely card made by a member of UKS. I knew I had to try and make one too! Its a 'Waterfall' card, and the effect on the front is brilliant! I am aiming to make one for Mothers Day, so when I manage to actually make one, I shall show it off on here!

Number 3:

The next project to catch my eye is a 'matchbox' book. It looks very cute! Bethany wants to make one too, so I'm going to have a go first and then she can copy it. I think that one will be an Easter project. Yes, I think spreading them out a bit will perhaps be a good idea!

Now, I just have to find the time to get started! Maybe tomorrow....!

17th Feb - Oooh...some ideas!

Well, I have been a busy bee today, but nothing that has so far involved anything scrappy!

Saturdays are always busy with Bethany (my DD) going to gymnastics and disco dance classes. After dropping her off there, it home for a quick dust and vac, and then back to collect her again. I soon realised there is no point trying to start anything craft related!

Anyway, I have been thinking some more about what to kick off my scrapping habit with. I have decided that I am going to do the following projects - not necessarily in this order, mind you!

1. 12 x 12 layout of my Grandma. I found a lovely photo of her and I have been waiting to use a certain sheet of paper for ages now, so this looks like just the project.
2. A tag book for my friend Rebecca, who is expecting her fIrst baby at the end of August. I'd like to make her a book to record details of her pregnancy, as this seems to be forgotten when the baby arrives!
3. This weeks Daring Card Makers blog challenge, which is to create a card with more than one fold.
4. Find a sketch layout and start thinking about the subject and what to use on it. Perhaps I should add number 1 down here!!

And, I think that might be it for now. It seems quite daunting, but now I've got a sort of plan, I feel I know which direction I can go in...via the biscuit tin!

Perhaps I should add to the bottom of the list the task of clearing the craft area before I start, so I can at least see what I have got and have somewhere to work!

Maybe tomorrow....!

16th Feb - Signs of Early Addiction?

Well, here we are at 04.30am on a Friday morning, and I find myself awake and letting you know about it!

Could this be the sign of an early (in both number of days and hours on the clock!) addiction? Surely not - on my 2nd day? Well, if it is, its a side effect I can do without, unlike my bed which I like too much to sacrifice for this scrapping lark!

I kept waking up thinking of photos I might be able to use, and papers they would go with...and then it got to ribbons...and brads...and stickers...and flowers...and colours...methinks my page maybe somewhat crammed!

Blimey! I really didn't expect this! Scrapping has me in its clutches and I'm powerless to resist...lack of sleep certainly doesn't help!

So, here I find myself on the sofa with a big mug of Horlicks and a sleeping, snoring Lucy on my leg. Lucy is my pooch, to avoid any further confusion...and any strange images which might have popped into your head!

Just heard from UK Scrappers that I have been given a 'mummy' to look after me. She is called Becs and sounds very nice, but I do wonder if she has any idea what she has let herself in for with me as a member of her scrappy family? My own mother still struggles with me and despairs at times, so I do hope I won't be responsible for Becs going grey too! Mind you, Lori seems to put up with me and my ramblings...but that is by email and we have only known each other for over a year now, (she is probably thinking 'it seems so much longer than that'!!) so there is still time for her to change her mind!

Lori is fab, for you folks who need to know. She is a good laugh, does funky LO's (Lay Outs...I'm picking up the scrapping lingo as I go along!) and has fast become a very good friend. She put up with a daft New Year drunken phone greeting...and laughed (with me or at me, I'm not sure!) about it afterwards, even though I was probably loud and incoherent! A good way to introduce yourself to your email friend to whom you had not previously spoken to until this point! She cheers me up and sends me the most fantastic parcels of goodies, with, of course, the obligatory cat hairs! (She gets dog hairs in her parcels, by return!) All in all, she is great and has taught me a lot about card making and scrapping and is always there to encourage me. We also have a mutual dislike of Dawn Bibby, a fact which both bonded and cemented the friendship quicker than anything else! More ramblings about the Bibby to come as I progress down the road to scrappy heaven!

I have just read a thread on UKS whereby someone is talking about sketches. Now, I thought this was a drawing someone did and used on their LO - nice fruit bowl, landscape, etc - but it seems I am mistaken! Sketches, it would seem, are to give inspiration on LO's. Well, looking good to me, as it looks like you gather all your stuff together and follow the instructions! Very easy! I think this might be a good way to start, so I will probably do this until I have the confidence to let myself loose on a page with my own creativity! Until then, I'll borrow someone else's...and I will post the links for you to do the same!

Until later...*yawn*!

15th February - WHY?!!

Well, I have decided, after a few weeks of mulling it over, to start scrapping. I'm not quite sure which urge is responsible for this, although I am sure my lovely friend Lori is involved somewhere! For those of you who haven't yet, please check out Lori's blog, then you too will understand why I feel the need to give it a go!

http://cathaircrafter.blogspot.com/index.html

I have been making cards for over a year now. I feel the need to 'break out' and try something new. My hubby Simon would also like me to try and use up as much of my stash as is possible, as then he may be able to walk around the bed without breaking something - either his ankle or my paper trimmer!

I have SO much paper, I don't really like to think about how many trees are involved!

12x12, 8x8, 6x6, A4, A3, and a big box of scraps and offcuts,,,all colours, textures, shapes and sizes.

It would be lovely to have a project to work on and show them all off. I also hope that I can take some of what I learn from the scrapping side and apply it to the cards I make.

So, where to start, and what to do next? Well, the first thing I will be doing is checking out the UK Scrappers site http://www.ukscrappers.co.uk/ and getting some ideas and advice from there.

Watch out for the start of this new addiction!