Monday 29 August 2011

Time flies

I can't believe how quickly the summer has flown by, I have just one week left before DD returns to school! At least this year we are ready, school uniform is bought and labelled.

The school holidays have been filled with a holiday to Devon, lots of gymnastics and the odd day out. I have survived, in actual fact (& I can say it here) I don't want them to end. Shock horror I said it, I have had the happiest little girl doing what she totally loves. I love seeing her so smiley and happy, I just hope that it continues when she goes back to school.


The summer holidays do mean that I have done very little in the crafting way. I have scrapped nothing, which feels a little odd but I am sure that will change as the Eclectic Keepsakes crop is in a couple of weeks (woo hoo). I have had the sewing machine out, I bring it out every now and then in the hope that I will suddenly know how to use it properly and be able create the most amazing things, I can always hope.

Two days it took me to turn these.......

 

Into these


I do feel quite pleased with myself, so pleased in fact that I went online to find a simpler pattern. I found one and that is my current project. Hopefully I will have something to show you by my next blog. 
Hope that you are enjoying the last dregs of summer ;)


Wednesday 10 August 2011

There is always cake

I love crop days, fact. I love that I am not the only one who looks forward to them, my DD can not wait to spend the whole day with Daddy. This months crop was quieter than usual (there are a lot of ladies on holiday) which meant that Karen had decided to group the tables all together in the middle of the room. This opened up the opportunity for a lot more chatting, we talked as one large group, which was really nice. At the same time this means that I get a lot less done, I had not had time to organise myself, so I had no real LO's in mind. I did take a long my new purchases though, so I got to have a play with them instead.

As always the lovely Karen had made some very yummy cakes, these are always a hit with me and she now kindly saves DD one, which goes down very well. Daddy's company all day and then cake!


I didn't just natter and eat cake, I managed to finish the crop class that I missed when I was in Rome. Mel from ATDML did the class and I am sorry that I missed it, her LO is lovely and I really enjoyed it, it was perfect for the picture that I took of my Sister and DD last month at my Dad's birthday bash.


I really like how Mel used every inch of these lovely papers, that includes cutting flowers out of the squares.

Mel used a button punch from Martha Stewart, I am not lucky enough to own one of these, so I raided the pot that I bought in Liberty's. I love red, so to me these red buttons are perfect. I used a stamp for the stitch effects. I love the patchwork look and feel that this LO has. I plan on trying some more patchwork looks in the future.

I also took part in Karen's summery class. Her LO had such a fun summer feel to it, you can see Karen's LO here. I am very proud of myself, I managed to scrap photos that I took on holiday, that is quite a quick turn a round for me.e to do a double LO, two more towards the 100.


The first one I completed was a photo of all three of us together. I am trying to get at least one photo of all us together on holiday now, otherwise it looks like at least one of us is missing.


Below is a closeup of one of Karen's blocks, I layered my umbrella and cut the bit out from the bucket so that I could put my spade through.


I also free styled on the swirls and cut them all out. A lot of cutting out for me but well worth it I think.


The second LO features DD, in her surf chick mode. She really got into the body boarding this year, often going out of her depth so that she could catch bigger waves. I loved hearing her squeals of delight as she whizzed past.


I have added a close up as the photos have come out really dark. See she is smiling :)


I have lots of ideas floating round at the moment, hopefully I will get some time to put them into practice. Two lovely ladies shared the loveliness of Tim Holtz distressing inks at the crop and I am thinking that I need to have a go, I also picked up a crafting magazine this week and they have an idea in there which I think would be great for Christmas. Yes I said the C word and it is only August, but it is possibly something I could do in front of the TV at night. Will let you know how it all goes. I am now off to go shabby chic some frames with my girls.




Saturday 6 August 2011

Sneaky crafting


As I thought I haven't done much crafting this week, although I went round to my friends yesterday for coffee and some how managed to sneak in some crafting. My friend Vicky so gets me, while putting the world to rights over coffee, she casually dropped in that she had tried something new while away last week. Felting! Did I want to have a go, as she just happened to have all the stuff required to hand. Of course I wanted to have a go, it is so easy & you can still chat while you do it, just need to keep an eye on where you are stabbing the needle. I had a great afternoon.

As I write this I am off to this months crop, so hopefully some more layouts will be created.