Happy Birdee

It is a male friends birthday this week and as he is a keen birdwatcher I dug through my unused stamps to find something suitable.  I didn't want to send a realistic looking bird as I knew my knowledge of birds wasn't up to accuracy in colouring so I settled on this Tim Holtz set.  For some reason the stamps were not in a packet so I don't know what they are called.  I heat embossed the background using an unused tub of gunmetal coloured embossing powder (unlabelled) which didn't work at all as I was expecting.  Perhaps it wasn't embossing powder? But it gave quite a nice masculine background to show off a stamped and fussy cut bird and sentiment.  While making this card I remembered another birthday that I had forgotten so quickly made the second card to get delivered today. 

Sticking to my new year resolution I had to make a decision about the stamps and decided that while I liked them, they had limited use and have gone in the swap box, and the embossing powder in the bin!

WOYWW 502

My desk is multi tasking this week as I have gone back to work for a few days a month and needed proper desks space to prepare the necessary for each of my students.  I feel good about going back, I have the best of both worlds in that I will be working for one week a month and the rest of the time for crafting.  Definitely the correct balance I feel.

On my desk are the remnants of yesterday evenings craft session including two cards made for sending today - I live on the edge!  Following my new year's resolution of using unused stamps I made the cards using the same stamps but in different ways.  Now to clear it so I can start today afresh.

Playdates and Inky backgrounds

On Friday a good friend came round to play.  We knew each other before crafting but since I've led her into the crafting world we see a lot more of each other and have regular 'play dates' where we try new things out and put the world to rights.  This Friday we made inky backgrounds in the morning using a Gel plate and brusho's.  Lots of ooohing ensued and a few hmmms and one or two 'dont like thats'!  After lunch we made cards from the backgrounds.  I was quite happy with both of my finished cards.  The first used brusho's brayered through a Visible Image stencil and then over stamped with an old Visible Image stamp that definitely isn't going in the swap box!  The second has a brayered background with Lavinia stamp as the main image.  I used an Inkylicious stencil and Sweet Dixie and Clarity stamps to add depth to the card.  Again non of the stamps used will be going in the swap box as they all earn their keep. When I was making this I remembered a friends wedding anniversary is  coming up and so will use this card for that.  I couldn't believe that I don't have a happy anniversary stamp in my stash, so have had to order one.  Sandra made a couple of lovely toppers from her backgrounds, and again I forgot to take photos.

Birthday Crafting Party

This year I celebrate a significant birthday and when my husband asked if I wanted a party I said I wanted a crafting party.  Even though my birthday isn't until the 24th the party was on the 5th as co-ordinating diaries wasn't as easy as I'd hoped.

So, on the 5th five crafting buddies settled down to complete two Andy Skinner workshops.  We were so busy talking I forgot to take photos of the day.  The first workshop was covering a paper mache book box with embossed card and masking fluid, and then painted using Andy's various paint methods.  It was amazing how different each box looked even though we all followed the same instructions.  For the second workshop we altered the front of a note book using embossed card and structure paste.  This time, after reading Andy's instructions,  we all went off piste and did our own thing.  Again five very different book fronts.  I really enjoyed both techniques and will use them again, and not only because I have loads of masking fluid left!

At the end of a lovely day crafting, and yes there were a lot of carbohydrates involved, we all went to a local Thai restaurant to round the day off.  I'm very lucky to know such kind, generous and funny people.

The first picture is of the book.  When finished I felt the orange 'holes' needed something so added the text.  I think this makes it look like it means business and is to be used.  The book box is nearly finished, and yesterday my stepfather fell in love with it so I suspect it will be going his way. 

New Year Resolution-get on and use it!

Like every crafter I know, I have a pile of unused, untried, stuff piling up around my fairly decent sized craftroom that sometimes it's hard for me to squeeze in.  So new year's resolution is ... USE IT.  My resolution is to make at least two cards a week using previously unused stuff - including the boxes of inky backing papers.  Once I've used the stamp, die of whatever if I like it, it can stay.  If I don't it's in the swap box.

The second part of my resolution is that if I buy anything new it has to be used straight away, to the same rules as above, otherwise it is likely to sit gathering dust like the rest.

Wonder how long I can keep it up?  Probably about as long as the healthy walks and giving up chocolate!

So I start the year with this stamp which must be quite old as it has a sale sticker on the packaging and it must have sat on my shelf for a year.  I like the stamp more than the card but feel it has limited use, so the swap box it is!