Happy Mother's Day

As promised; my Mother's Day card (made in advance I would like to point out).

 The card is based on the sketch mentioned in the previous post. This is the first one I made and it has the ribbon added; I didn't add the ribbon for the birthday one. I like it better without the ribbon. I like how the doily wraps around giving you space to add an extra sentiment.

The fastest card in the West

Why is it the night before that you remember you need a card? Better than the day after I guess. This was the quickest card I have ever made - under 20 mins. I don't usually use premade embellishments (especially ones as gaudy as the chickies) but I bought them especially for a friend as chickies have a history with us. We had to deliver a parcel to the aforementioned friend before she left on a trip; I decided to whip up a bon voyage card with the aforementioned chickies. The paper came from a Webster's Pages paper pack that came free with the latest Australian Cards Magazine. As I flipped through I thought that particular paper would go unused in my stack (putting it politely). That was until I realised it would go nicely with the chickies! A match was made and a card was created in no time at all.

To be honest the time would've been quicker if I had more space to work with and if I didn't have to clear a space on my overflowing workspace to create it in. I did clean the stamps and put them back in the boxes after (but I will admit to leaving them on the desk).  I don't know why I am openly sharing my disorder: I should feel safe as the clean-as-you-go freaks should know not to read my blog by now! :) Anyway, it's still the fastest card in the West in my book.

Credit Where Credit is Due

In the weekend I made a card based on a card I had seen on the Scrappin' Patch Blog. I thought I was on to it making my Mother's Day card ahead of time instead of the usual mad dash to make a card the night before an event. Then I remembered that a certain special lady had a birthday only a couple of days later. What a stroke of luck that I had enough of the same DCWV paper to recreate the Mother's Day card with a birthday twist! I even managed to break out some of the $2 Washi Tape (Score!) I bought recently. In retrospect I would've used the red washi tape on the inside of the rosette instead of the pale blue one which you can't really see well as it is too pale. I don't want to load my Mother's Day card until after the event so you won't be able to compare the differences. I might also be holding back so that May's blog post is sorted in advance ;)

Forgive the not so perfect photo shots and the messy background. I only cleared enough space on my desk to complete the cards - maybe I should've began this blog with a warning for all the 'clean as you go' people?

Credit where credit is due: I came across the original card on the Scrappin' Patch blog (sorry, I can't find the original post or the owner's name) http://scrappinpatch.blogspot.com

Let's hope that I haven't forgotten any other important events that need a card asap.

Thanks Artfull Crafts

Thanks Artfull Crafts! I came home from a family holiday to find a parcel waiting for me. I was so surprised to find out that I won a prize on their blog event - Centre Stage. I can't wait to play with the kit but first I have to unpack and take care of a small mountain of washing. I love to travel but I really don't like unpacking :(

Keeping Karma Happy

I don't believe in karma but I find it interesting that on the day that I sent the parcel from my last post off to my friend I came home to find a parcel of my own in my letterbox! I was fortunate to win an unclaimed prize from Maya Road recently and it had arrived! I couldn't wait to open it up and I was like a kid opening my presents, ooohing and ahhing as I pulled each piece out. The envelope was stuffed with lots of bits and pieces of gorgeous stuff. It was brimming with trims, pins and mini stamps. I feel in love with the peachy pink trim at first sight! I can't wait to create with them. There was a double up of the mini clock face stamp so in the interest of keeping karma happy I have passed it on to the BFF.

Just in Time

This little parcel is packed up in a courier bag ready to be sent off to the recipient tomorrow. A dear friend of mine has moved out into her own place and I am so thrilled for her. BFF gave me the Stampin' Up! stamp set from last year's Sale-a-bration promotion and this is the first chance I've had to play with the stamps. As soon as I decided to make the recipient a 'welcome to your new home' card I knew I wanted to use this set. I searched Split Coast Stampers for some inspiration (easy designs only) and this is what I cam up with from my scrap stash.

There's been a bit of a gap since the last blog post but there's lots going on - some of it positive, some of it challenging and some of it unexpected. With the goal of blogging at least once a month, this blog post made it just in time ;)

Happy to be what I call "creative"

How good it feels to be creating again! I sat down and devoured the latest Creating Keepsakes magazine last weekend (Nov/Dec 2010) and I was inspired to use the 15 Minute Layout idea. Now, I don't normally scrapbook using a sketch but I thought I would give it a go. Trouble was: I had to clear a space on my desk which was still overflowing with bits and bobs from my last project (yes, unfinished - hangs head in shame). So, a quick 15 Minute (cough - 30-60 minute) layout turned into a 2+ hour marathon with the initial 1hr+ needed to clear a usable space on my desk. I still have three sorted piles left to put away but I didn't want to waste any more of my precious scrapbooking time/energy in cleaning up. I know the 'clean up as you go' freaks out there are probably wanting to put their two pennies in here but let's move on before they can :)

The 15+ Minute layout turned out quite well but of course it took me longer because a) I don't have a complete, coordinating line to work with and b) I have to ink the edges of everything so that there is at least one unifying thing that ties it all in together (because it's not from a complete, coordinating line). It is A4 size and now I have the problem of where to store it as the only A4 album I have is for the dog (yes, he has his own album!). I must confess that I popped it in the back of the dog's one - must get on to creating either a new A4 album or more A4 [human] layouts to join it and thus making it not quite so weird. I'm not ready to share it as yet, need to get the parents permission as it has a pic of BFF's second daughter - Miss 2.

Currently I'm working on my 2010 double layout. Yes, I may be a bit behind (ok, 1 year) but at least I am getting back on track in early 2012. Every year since 2007 I create a double layout using index photos from that year. It is very simple and follows a similar design each year: Black cardstock (although 2009 broke the tradition & used green), index photos, [handmade] chipboard numbers for the year spanning both pages two thirds the way up the page, photo corners on the four outside corners, and mini journaling. Of course, I don't want to show that on here either - too personal to share with all the cyber stalkers out there!

Instead, you get a picture of some fridge magnets I made for my Mum. Those of you who actually read my blog will see that the paper on the pegs matches the paper used on the recipe folder I made for her last year. They were super quick and easy to make (yes, might even be doable within the 15 minute mark). Now the fridge has a set of magnets that blends with the kitchen design instead of a mishmash of all the free, advertising, rectangle magnets that you get given. Ah pretty!



Just as a final note: I watched a rerun of one of my favourite shows last night (Miranda) and I fear that parts of this blog may have been influenced by her style - apologies. It really is lovely being what I call "creative" again! Such Fun! ;)