Postcard Exchange.....

I was invited by the wonderfully talented Jules, over at ACOT to join a postcard exchange. All participants have to make a postcard a month and send it to the person who's month it is....ie: my month is May. So in May I will get 12 handmade postcards from a bunch of talented ladies. We could pick a theme to have our postcards come in, or leave it up to the ladies to surprise us. I chose to be surprised. Doesn't that sound like wonderful fun???? We just started an online group so we can get to know each other during the year.  I will post my postcards after each lady receives them in case they see this blog :)

Hop on over to Tara Orr's blog to see the incredible shaker tag that she made with the Bo Bunny Timepiece collection. It's gorgeous!!! Here is the link to her blog http://eachmoment-onlyonce.blogspot.com/2011/05/shaker-card.html

It's in the cards......

I am on a card making kick. My Mom and sister think that I should make them to sell- I am thinking about it. I need to feel around to see if anyone would be interested. Why not spend your money on a lovely handmade card than the commercially produced ones that cost a fortune??

Here are the last few cards that I made.......

I am in love with.......

Tim Holtz. Or at least his stuff and techniques :) I haven't actually got any of his products yet, but am impatiently waiting for my orders. I adore Graphic 45 also, and the distressed/grunge look and I think that G45 and Tim Holtz complement each other. I am waiting for a configuration box!!!!!!!! (omg), crackle paint, distress ink, grungeboard, timepieces, sprocket gears, 12 x 12 pad of Core'dinations cardstock, sewing room die cuts and tissue tape. Oh, am I going to have fun!!!! The configuration box fascinates me and is such an awesome way to express your creativity. I know what some people are getting for Christmas :)

Little awesome things

I just saw a commercial for Maxwell House coffee. He talked about how you can let the dark things in life get you down, but there are little awesome things that happen everyday and focus on those things instead.....like popping bubble wrap- who doesn't like that????? :)  There were a bunch of awesome things in my day today.....first it was absolutely beautiful out and very warm. Hubby and I sat out on the patio for an hour. My daughter was in a great mood and we all sat together for an hour, chatting. We had great pizza for supper. My dog.

As I am waiting to get my surgery done, I have to focus on the little awesome things, as I have a tendency to get down when I am cooped up at home. So, I will try to focus (and blog) on the little awesome things, at least every other day.

Yes, I am lazy.....

I really shouldn't have a blog..lol..I will have plenty of time to write so I should keep up with it. I am officially off on sick leave now waiting for my surgery on June 22nd- a double knee replacement. I shoudl be out of my mind by the time that comes. I'll be bored silly. Yes, I will get lots of scrapbooking done, but, still, time will be long. I just wish I could wiggle my nose and it all be over.

I should get my Mom to come to my Grandmother's house to go through her attic and clean up. No one has touched it since she passed away. I spent many, many hours up there as a child and I am hoping to find some treasures up there that I can keep that remind me of my Grandmother. Since I have discovered altered art and Graphic 45 I want all the old things I can get. And what better ones to have than things that belonged to my Grandmother :)

Speaking of Graphic 45, here is a layout done totally with G45 papers. It is my favorite layout I have did so far, I just love it!!! I liked it so much I posted it on the Graphic 45 Facebook site. I will blog some more tomorrow folks!!

Mondays.......

*sigh* Don't you just hate them?? The NSD crop was over at 8 pm last evening. We have until midnight on Tuesday to submit our challenges. I have only 2 done but I may get another 2 tomorrow. I also did 2 of the fast scraps during the crop and 2 classes. Overall it was a great time. Here are a few of what I did.
The first is a bottle tag/gift card holder. I was very pleased with how it turned out. The flower was made by cutting the middle out of a doily, then using the outer edge to make the flower. Cut a circle out of cardstock and use the doily edge by going around in a circle while kind of folding the paper onto itself. Clear as mud??

The card below was for Mother's Day

Busy, busy.....

I have been non-stop all weekend with the NSD crop over at A Cherry on Top. What a great place, I just love it there. It's like another family- ones that understand your scrapbook obsession!! I have learned TONS from the talented members on the forum and the Creative Team members. Also they have the best online store I have ever seen and customer service is second to none.

Speaking of the crop and CT members, I made this awesome carrying caddy from a beer holder - it was a class given by ChrissyTina, a CT member at ACOT. During the crop, there are always a few classes given by CT members. I loved this one!!!! Here is how mine turned out. I use it now to hold scissors, adhesives, rulers, etc, that I scrap with.

Here is Chrissy's tutorial on how to make it Drink Carrier Class

Book Binding

Check out this Book Binding  tutorial at Bo Bunny. Something that I definitely have to try. It would make such a great gift!

I'm getting new.........

knees!!! Yup, TWO of them. I have had longstanding knee problems. I had my first surgery at age 14 and it was a major one. That is what has led to a knee replacement in one knee. The other, I guess, has had to compensate so much for the other and led to it's current state.

I could go on and on about my knees but I will spare you! Let's just say that my quality of life has gone downhill dramatically in the last 8-10 months. I am excited that I am getting new knees, but also a bit scared. Hopefully it all works out for the best.

Here it is.....my first tutorial!!!!

Ok, so the idea is not original. Does that matter???? Is there some type of internet etiquette about making your own tutorial with someone else's idea? I hope not..lol..someone please tell me if there is :)

How to make a fabric flower (like the one on the Rock n Roll frame that I did). Chrissy asked if there was a tutorial, so instead of posting a link to one, I will do my own. yay!

I use a cotton fabric, made a little snip at the top with a pair of scissors and then ripped the fabric downward in a strip. The length and width of the strip entirely depends on the size of the flower you want, of course. The width of my fabric was approximately 1.5 inches and almost 22  in long. I like the look of the frayed edge and it gives your flower that "shabby chic" feel. Of course you can cut the material if you prefer.

You will need a hot glue gun, at least that is what I used. You could always use a Gluber, which seem to be pretty neat. I have never used or even seen them, but it would be easier and less messy I imagine.

Ok, start by twisting the fabric and making a tight little centre...

then start using your glue gun and put a dab of glue on the side of the fabric, while continuing to twist your fabric and glue, going in a circle. You can make the circle as tight or loose as you like, depending on how you want your flower to look.

Continue until you run out of fabric or your flower is as big as you like. Anchor the fabric on the back like below...

Then, voila! you have a flower. You can add a jewel or brad for your center, or leave it as I did. You can see how big my flower turned out by the markings on my cutting mat.

Hopefully I clearly explained the instructions. It's obviously not difficult!! I would like to learn to make them so they are a little less flat looking, but I guess that comes with practice.

Any comments on this would be greatly appreciated, as it was my first tutorial and I would like to know what you think! Thanks for looking!!

NSD Crop at A Cherry on Top!!!!!!

Sooooo, the big crop starts tomorrow- YAY!!!! I can't wait. It is a 24 hour/day crop starting Friday afternoon and ending Sunday evening. Boy, I'll be pooped!!!! I am spending today organizing all my scrappy supplies and trying to streamline a bit. My dining room table is my crop space, as I have not been using my scraproom since I had my knee surgery. It will probably be a long time before I use it again because I am going to need more knee surgery very soon. I'll know more after I see my surgeon tomorrow. Oh, I have a 2 story house and the scrap room is upstairs. I like scrapping downstairs anyway because DH/DD comes and sits with me at the table and we chat and stuff so I am not isolated in my room. I get more done this way.

I know that my followers so far are all ACOT members, but just in case someone happens across this blog, come and join us, it will be a BLAST! ACOT has the most awesome members and creative team, you won't be disappointed.

Pictures as promised.....

Here is the little craft item I made for my daughter. I had no idea I was going to do this as it started off as something different for someone else! I was going to make a shadowbox for my MIL but could not find one to buy, so I bought a frame that is recessed sort of like a shadowbox. Around the area for the picture is mirror and I did not want to cover it completely so I left bits of it peeking out. The pink fabric I used I had initially tore into strips as I was going to make flowers out of them. I was trying to think of something to cover the frame with and then I remembered the fabric and gave it a try. Once I covered it I thought this would be good for Kate, and it went from there. Obviously it is a very simple project but I think it turned out lovely, and she really liked it :) She had the lead role in the original musical "I Want to Break Free" in January,therefore the pictures and the "Rock Star" reference. I am taking pics with my Blackberry at the moment until I get a lens for my camera- mine is broken. You can also see me in the mirror on the frame in some of the pictures..lol.. I made the pink and white flower. It was my first try so it did not turn out as well as I had wanted it to, but I liked it and Kate loved it so I included it on her frame.

I'm so excited!!!!

My first followers and comments!! lol It's great though, I feel good :) thank you ladies!!!

So I am proving already that I am not good at this blogging business :)

Today was my daughter's 14th birthday. I am so happy for her, yet sad for me. I don't want my baby to grow up!! I will post a picture tomorrow of a little gift that I made her. And she genuinely loved it!!!!!

Here are pictures of a small hinged lid box that I altered for my mother-in-law as a gift for Mother's Day. I used all Graphic 45 papers except for 2 tiny pieces. I am in love with Graphic 45!!!! I just discovered them recently and now I cannot get enough. My MIL actually just bought some of the Once Upon a Springtime paper and others, to send to me!!!!! She's awesome.

Lovely

This is a page I did of my daughter based on a sketch from http://pagemaps.blogspot.com/ for the A Cherry on Top Sketch Contest- I am a regular member over at ACOT and the place is awesome!!!!

A Blogger I am not

Hmmmm, I love other people's scrapbook blogs and thought "maybe I can do this myself?" I'm not too sure, but I can give it a go. Why not? Now to go figure out how to post pictures and the like!