The end of a year

Greetings fellow crafters!  How has the rest of the year treated you? Mine has been quite busy since my last blog. 

I wanted to do finish a few projects before I delivered my little spawn- alas, I was not able to do anything other than pile unfinished projects and new purchases in my scraproom. He decided to come out a few weeks ealier than planned, so my scrap moments took a back seat. 

That caused a scrapplosion.  How much of a mess did it make of my room? Well, I am not proud but here is the state at the moment... 

OMG! Duck for cover!

Calling K9s to help search for survivors.

Yes- yes. I know. Horrible.  But I blame this guy: 

 Proof that he sleeps! I forgot he did that!

At least he’s cute! 

I wanted to show you the papers I obtained in my trip out west- but they are somewhere in my pile of stuff on the table... But I’m planning on working on fixing up my room- what’s the point of being married to a guy who’s a born organizer if I can’t utilize him that way? 

So- challenges for me for the near year. Organize my crafts room.   

There was a challenge set out there to use up what papers we have: I am sure I have papers in there that I have forgotten I had gotten so my  plan is to dent at least half ( ok a quarter? 1 third? 1 piece of paper?) from my stash before I purchase anything else... ( Well, except the few items I NEED to start the new year.... )

Anyone else have crafts New Year challenges?

It’s Fall!!!

Hope everybody had a lovely and productive summer! I was busy – but unfortunately have not been able to work on any of my projects I wanted to work on.

My sewing project is still lying in cut up pieces in my scrap room – (who is also may I add a complete mess).

A knitting project I had started had to be undone because myself and the yarn were having- words... well- more like it wasn’t doing what I wanted and I was having words.. ( shhh baby- don’t listen to mommies words...).

And my scrapbooking... Well- One of us Divas that is still blog-less decided to issue a challenge – Can you create X amount of pages before the end of the summer. I thought it was a fabulous idea! And then after completing them you would be able to purchase yourself that one item/tool you thought was a little crazy but seeing it was a prize then it was ok...

I was the only one who did not even come close to completing my challenge.  < Enter SAD SAD face>

Out of the 40 I was planning on doing, a number I then brought down to 20, I still only managed to do less than a dozen.  Life happens- that means no prize for me. Doesn’t mean I did not indulge in some scrap fun purchases this summer however ;)- but that’s for another blog.

We then got together and voted on each other’s fave layouts- some of the other Divas did 60 layouts! :O

I’m jealous and envious not going to lie, they are talented and energetic and seem to manage their time a LOT better than I do. Lol

But here are some of the ones I HAVE completed.

This is a simple cover page for the front page of the album.  the invitations to our wedding. I used a big scroll stamp- took one of my stamping pads and just dabbed all over it.  Simple LO really, nothing else much.

 

Next was a LO of the boys. I had an idea in mind for what I wanted- and went searching on pagemaps for something that could maybe help complete what I wanted- AHA a said! A big round shape... well- needless to say I did not find a white one at all in the store where we were cropping that day. (Scrap en Masse) I was able to find a beige/brown. But- the underside only had a bar code and name printed near the middle... to I flipped it around- gave it a spray and covered the scan code and voila!

And then, to find a title. Natalie found it- I always go to her to help find titles; her ideas are always so fun and original. J

Stolen Moment: another Title found by the Grand Title Master Natalie. Thank you. I just had these pictures of is that I wanted to use, and took a very bright background colour and used the black and whites like in the pictures to offset it.

 

 

This one has no title, just a pretty quote and bling. We ended up calling it the scratchies pages- because I took my Ingvild Bolme ( Prima) distress tool and used it to the pictures themselves.

Someone commented that I was being brave in “ruining” my picture to try a new effect. In this day and age of digital photography it’s not like I was toooo worried. Don’t like it? Print off a new one. I liked the effect- not sure I would reuse it in this album- but it gives it a different look and feel.

 

 

Faux Stitching- I did not take my sewing machine.

Till next time- happy crafting! :D

Copics!!!!!

Today I went and took a Copic's class. I was not sure if I would enjoy it, but I went with my mum – she’s an avid drawer- and off we went.  We took it at CaFabrik – the newest local store. The timing fit me, whereas the ones offered at my usual scrap corners conflicted with my schedule <pout>.

That being said I greatly enjoyed the class. We learned techniques on how to use to colour hair, skin, shading and blending.  Then we were able to put our newly learned skills to practice by making two cards.

The 1^st one that we made was this lovely rainy day card.  I am not quite sure what the name of the stamp is but it was cute.  On top of using the sketch markers we also used the pen (to make the rain drops) and the Copic acrylic (the white details in the drops and on the boots). Then for the background the coolest thing ever: airbrush.  You take your maker and you put it in this gun and pressure from a can or an air compressor turns it into a sprayer!  :O HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!?!! It’s like Glimmer mist but BETTERER!!!!

The second one was with a teddy bear.  I played around with the colours that she originally used- but we used a technique to make the colours look like fur with the blending ink...it is not as noticeable on mine as my bear is not as dark- but a most def cool effect.

Then learned that I can take a satin or taffeta ribbon in white and simply colour it with the marker and it will keep the colour! Way to make the ribbons match the colours used all the time! And I also used the airbrush technique on the while flower.  You can deepen the colour by how close you keep the nozzle.

All and all- an enjoyable afternoon and has made me appreciate Copic markers.  Maybe I’ll get more into them – but shhhh- don’t tell my hubby...

Kitty  

One project finished!

Earlier this week I went to see the baby doctor. Yay! At 15 weeks, almost 16, baby is doing great! Baby is strong! Baby is now by him/herself because its twin did not survive. That’s right- I was expecting twins.  What a shock to learn that this little spawn could have in fact been two...

Of course my medical logical mind understands that there must have been something terribly wrong with it so that at ~ 7 weeks it stopped growing, and therefore living. But the emotional, mother to be inside me was simply devastated. My husband and I have so much love to give! It would only make sense that we would be blessed with two at a time! And to hear this news has brought great sadness to us. But, BUT! I can’t be too sad; I still have my little spawny gummy bear parasite inside me! Clearly it does not deserve to be forgotten and loved less! It does not deserve this sad environment to grow in.

So in an attempt to change my mind yesterday I stayed home-had sad moments- and knit knit knit. And I finished my 1^st little project for my incoming little one. This brought me happiness knowing that 1- this was something positive and loving and 2-i had something COMPLETED!!!! Oh the satisfaction of having something completed.  Scrapbooking as much as I love it, is a very long project that requires a lot of time and attention. But a knitting project- you start with a ball of yarn- a few needles- a pattern and off you go!

The repetitive movement of the knitting is soothing. I have also discovered- that having never practiced it before- I am not really good at cross-stitching.  I went forward- knowing that this little babe will not be too worried on the evenness of the whiskers. 

                                                             oops knit too long!

                                                      the cat- modeling - how's the likeness?

I based it off a pattern from Phildar, that I purchased at Le Tricot.  I just loved how lovely and easy this pattern is. They have an entirety of patterns for beginners.   It makes for quick and easy projects!  So now on to the next! I want to work on my scrapbooks- and knit some more. Because I am very much aware that after the spawn is born I won’t get much sleep and know that it will win out over crafts. For a bit...

                                                  the spawn

Kitty

Why do so many people wear white?

It’s that time of the year! Time where my trips to Starbucks usually involve a yummy refreshing frappuccino blended coffee... And today is no different. Sarah and I are enjoying our drinks, blogging away.

Yes dear interwebbers, I have been off the blog sphere for a while. I have not had the chance to scrap or craft much as of lates! :O I know! I’m back at work full time, and silly thing is taking up all my time!

And you wonder- well about the weekends? I take them to sleep, or my slave driver hubby makes me clean up. * Shhh don’t tell him I said that*  We are slowly getting ready for a new long term guest. Lucky me, I’m hosting a parasite!  I do not mean this in a mean way but considering the definition of the word (an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment. ) I do not see it as any other way. I’m very much looking to this little presence we will be lucky enough to welcome in November however. That means MORE PICTURES and something new to scrap, and knit for and sew for!  I need to finish my current projects ( hahahahahaha I know) before I’ll be wanting to use all my free time to sleep!

But I have made a little project: mother’s day’s cards. I made one for my mum, and one for my mum-in-law, and my gmaman. I forgot to take a picture of the one I made for my gmaman. I used some of the Prima flowers I got when I went to Auntie Em's for the Cari Fennel class. ( love the album we made- I have not finished it yet... maybe I should.. lol)

Here are the pics I took ( meaning my hubby took) of the cards.

                                           My hubby hard at work taking pics of my creations.

 I used Basic Grey Indian Summer paper and stickers.  I just enjoy the colours so much that I used them in a layout that I did of la Sagrade Familia. Working on these cards made me happy in so many ways. I was filled with memories of our honeymoon- and then filled with love for mothers knowing that next year I would be included in that special day. ( I did however remind my husband that my hosting duties did pretty much mean I was already taking care of his child.)

Hopefully as I’m in my second trimester that I will have a bit more energy and be able to get some crafting going. Right? Riiiight?!?!?!

I need to get my scrap room in order ( I have my overhead light in YAY!) and perhaps host some ladies over to scrap! How fun would that be?

Hopefully I can get a project done that isn’t a nap- and I’ll have more to blog about. Hahaha!  Tomorrow I’m walking the Ottawa Run 5K ( doctors orders no running, and she’s going to be there as well so..) pity, seeing I wanted to beat my time from last year... well- next year then. I also want to complete a frame for my medal from last year. ( seeing it was my 1^st ever race).

Well- ill try not to trip and fall and bust my face, apparently pregnancy makes the klutzy worse... and I also hoped id become graceful and elegant...  <pout>

My drink is over! Time to call it! Good evening and happy crafting!