Sarah's Cards January 2013 Challenge

There is a new scketch up at Sarah's Cards.  Quite straight lines and very graphic just what I like.  I have kept my LO quite simple.

 

 



I have used Amy Tangerine Sketchbook with a little Shoreline from American Crafts.  All bright fresh colours.

Crafty Plans For 2013

I really am not looking forward to packing our house up  when we eventually move and really think this is the best time to down size some of our belongings.  I know what I am about to say is very rude but my crafting supplies need to be down sized too, yes, I admit I have too much stash. You would never have guessed I had too much, but where do I start?



 

My expedit is full to the brim with paper and yarn, a further shelf unit is full of yarn and then there are baskets galore scattered around the house filled with yarn.  Apart from the odd ball all of the yarn has a purpose with 90% of it for projects already started.  Crochet wise I must get working on those WIPs.  I find it very hard to believe that I only completed 4 projects last year; a cot blanket, a pram blanket and 2 hats.  The hats were not included in my one a day tallies yet I managed to complete 502 stripes, rows or squares last year.  Why then do I have so many WIPs which are less than 30% complete.  According to my Ravelry account I have 23 WIPs at present.  To be honest I think there is about another 4/5 not listed.  Lots of work is needed to complete these.  This year I intend to complete one a day again and I am currently on track which is at least a positive towards completion of the many projects I have began. 

 

 



 This week I have been working on the Rowan Cashmerino DK blanket.  I need 96 squares and have now completed 50 squares and surprisingly I have sewn in all the ends as I have gone along.  Happy with this progress but I had wanted to complete this by Christmas but life just got in the way.  The aim now is to complete the blanket by the end of February.  Seems a long time but I need to be realistic with what I can achieve.  I just don't crochet as quick as I used to due to carpel tunnel and finding time always seems to hinder progress.

 

Knitting wise I just have one seam to sew up to complete my grey cashsoft chunky wrist warmers.  Max of 10 minutes yet they have sat there unloved for about 9 weeks!  Then I have my Nephew's owl hat that needs sewing then eyes, beak and ears tufts made and attached.  Again so close yet very far from completion.  These projects will be completed by the end of next week.

 

2013 will be the year when I do some serious work on the many projects I have started and I will do my best to ignore any new yarn and projects shouting out to me.  Its clear a large number of projects need to be completed before any more are started.  But let me think, didn't I say that last year??  Wasn't 2012 going to be the year of completion?  Oh well, it just happens doesn't it or in my case it doesn't happen, lol.

 



 

Then there is paper crafting.  Paper, paper, paper every where.  I spent the latter part of the year sorting scrapbook kits out.  I had tended to keep the kits in the boxes they were delivered in as I found it easier to use them that way.  I could have a good look at what I had and then just shut the lid. However, the number of boxes were taking over.  I couldn't store them all as I had more kits coming in than LO's being made.  I still have Scrapagogo kits unused and I stopped the subscription 2 years ago.  I also have plenty of Sarah's Cards kits untouched and then there are all the Studio Calico kits. But don't get me started on the number of paper collections I brought in addition to these kits.

 



 

The kits packed into plastic pockets and then stored in these files look much better.  I still need to purchase anpother 5 files to unpack all of the kits but I am getting there slowly.  Even though I am getting organised and compacting my stash I must vastly decrease the quanity I have and quickly.  I can't bear to throw any away which means I need to scrap, scrap, scrap.

 

I took part in Shimelle's class Cover to Cover and I have gone through old albums and noted all the missing stories.  I now need to sort out the photographs for these LO's which I want to work on doing this month.  Completing the actual LO's is not essential I just want to get organised and get the gaps ready to be filled.  My next aim this month is getting on top of Project Life 2012 and September to December Document 2011.  Yes, you did read that right, I have yet to complete my 2011 album.  Then there is the Christmas albums; 2011 and 2012 need finishing. 

In order to decrease my stash I could say I'm not going to buy any more this year but lets be honest its never going to happen.  Instead I plan on completing a one a day for my scrapping too.  This year I will make 365 LO's.  A little ambitious but I will count my Christmas albums as 1 LO per page I make and they are smaller albums, Project life will be 2 pages per week and I intend on keeping up with this years as well as completing last years album.  As with the crochet I won't necesarily make 1 LO per day but I will average this over the year.  Must get started as I have yet to make any LO's this year but I often find I struggle to scrap when the kids are off school as Freya always wants to scrap as well and my table is not big enough for the two of us.

 

Wish me luck because as well as moving house, renovations and life in general I'm going to be very busy crafting this year.

& Monkey Makes Two

Thought I would sneak in an entry to this months challenge over at Sarah's Cards.  

Made using the New Amy Tangerine collection Ready Set Go.  You can find the sketch here.

{Heart}

This month for the challenge over at Sarah's Cards I have used their February 2011 kit which contained Glitz papers.  Its hard to believe that I had this kit 18 months ago and this is the first LO I have made using it. 

 



 

Another LO for Liam's album which I am concentrating on at the moment as I really have so many gaps compared to Freya's albums.  The LO came together very quickly with this lovely sketch and the DT have made some stunning LO's.

Sarah's Cards August Sketch Challenge

I have some scrap materials on holiday with me but these supplies are limited.  I have my Summer Lovin'  CKC kit and some Indie Chic Ginger & Citroen papers, a few mists and ink.  I have followed this months sketch using the Indie Chic Citroen papers:

And Now For Something Completely Different: UKS (July 2012)

This inspiration class on UKS has been taking place all year and this is the first time that I have actually had the time to sit down and make a LO.  all the other LO required certain types of materials which meant I would have to wade through my stash; a job which I NEVER want to have to do, would tke way too long.  I have always read the prompts and then just thought I'll come back to that another day but never did.  However this month's is so suited to me right now.  Well done Shimelle!

I am on a bust the stash mission and trying to use of scrapping kits, of which I have many.  My stash is taking over the house.  I am now down to scraps for Sarah's Cards October 2011 kit and when I read use scraps I literally jumped for joy.  Out came the box and off I went. 

This is what I came up with:

I still have scraps left and going to do another LO for my Daughter's album.

Only thing I'm not entirelly happy with is the stamped cameras as they didn't stamp properly on the washi tape and I had to restamp.  Well, its too late now.  Why is it always the thing you cant get rid off that goes wrong?

Loved this challenge and I really must get on UKS more often and take up a few more of the challenges.

Ferry 'Cross The Mersey (The Titanic Pose)

When we went on the Mersey Ferry last month it was a very windy day and Liam and Freya decided it would be fun to reinact the famous Titanic Pose:

Made using Sarah's Cards October 2011 kit and based on one of the DT LO's.

Sitting On The Dock

I am trying hard to bust the stash and reach my 100 LO challenge as soon as possible.  I broke in to Sarah's Cards April 2012 kit (now I only have 29 unopened kits!!!) and some Crate stickers to scrap this picture of Freya at Albert Dock in Liverpool.  Its been lovely the past few weeks have some new photos to scrap but I can see me getting bored of these soon.  This LO is based on a Shimelle LO, just love the 3 squares of pp.  Fingers crossed for some good weather now the school holidays are here and we can have some fun days out.

Oh and wish me luck now the school holidays are here!!!

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday? (18 July 2012)

Morning all.  If you are in the UK I hope you had a dry day yesterday like we did in the Midlands.  It was lovely to get some washing out on the line.  Lets hope this dry weather is here to stay now the kids are breaking up the end of this week.

This is my desk this week:

I am part of a Chinese Whispers group and I made my August LO yesterday.  This is the final remain of Sarah's Cards October 2011 kit that I used.  I think there is maybe 2 more LO's here and then I can break the kit down into alphas, embellishments and scraps.  Need to have a look through my stash and find another kit that is nearly all used up.  Although I have now made 22 LO's I can't see any dent in my stash at all!  Sure sign I have too much stash.

Don't forget to pop over to Julia to take a look at other craft work spaces.

Strawberry Fields Forever

In June we went to Liverpool for the weekend and I have now had some photos printed and started to scrap them.  This LO shows Liam by the gates of Strawberry Fields.  Sadly there is plenty of graffeti around which detracts from the beautiful gates.  Why are people so destructive?

I am entering this LO into the July Challenge from Scrapbook 365 which was this sketch.  Made using the October 2011 Kit from Sarah's Cards, Amy Tangerine alpha, twine, buttons and labels from stash.  The stamped strawberries have not come out too good in the photo but they are far more defined IRL.

The Sad End Of A Very Good Thing

I received the last Sarah's cards kit yesterday morning and it is beautiful. This picture really does not do it justice as the B sides are made just for me. Love them so much.

I really am sad to see the kits come to an end but I totally understand why Sarah has made the decision to stop them.  I'd like to thank Sarah, Lianne and all the DT for these wonderful kits and all the inspiration you have given me over the 2 1/2 years of my subscription.

Now I come to hard point.  I am so undecided about what to do with this kit.  Do I rip into the kit and scrap away or do I keep it and wait?

Decisions, decisions!

Sarah's Cards July Sketch Challenge

This months sketch is quite simple and yet very effective.  Like alot of the DT I have rotated the sketch to suit my landscape photo which I have cropped down a little.  I have used Sarah's Cards February 2012 kit with the addition of some twine, pearls, wood shapes and washi tape from my stash along with a little sprinkling of Mr Hueys.

A very rare photo of all 3 of us outside the childhood home of Paul McCartney that we visited last month as part of the Magical Mystery Tour.

Little Fingers, Little Toes And A Little Button Nose

Here is my entry in to Sarah's Cards June sketch Challenge:

One cute little boy at his 1 month photo shoot.

Retreat LO's Part Two

Whilst at Sarah's cards retreat as well as completing the six classes, two challenges and buying lots of stash I also made the following LO's:

As you can see I am loving MME and brought lots of their new release at the retreat.  There a couple of these pages that I need to sit down and add some journalling to but I appear to be having a bit of a journalling block at the moment and I am just not happy with what I have come up with so will wait until I can get the words just right. Also didn't have the right colour alphas with me at the retreat and need to add titles.

It was very different this time as unlike last November I was no longer using a crutch and was able to take my crop bag as well which meant more scrapping supplies on hand which I naturally put to good use.  Plus with an extra bag I could buy more stash than last time and if there is room in your bag, it is just rude not to fill it with stash!

Sarah's Cards

These are the six classes from Sarah's Cards 2012 retreat which I went to a couple of weekends ago in Warrington.


Helen's class:

Lou's class:

Tracy's class:

Claire's class:

Jen's class, just need to add some journalling but I'm not sure what I want to write as I never make LO's about me!:

Ifa's class, not photographed too well as the paper has curved due to misting:

There were also 2 challenges over the weekend.  First was the page kit:

Then the sketch challenge:

I had a great weekend and it was so much fun to meet up again with some wonderful ladies that I met at the last retreat plus it was great to met some new ladies too.


I will be back in the next few days to show you the other LO's I made over the weekend.

A Fantastic Weekend Adventure.

I have just returned home from the most wonderful fun packed weekend with this group of wonderful ladies:

Many many thanks to Sarah & Lianne for organising it all and thanks also to the DT for your stunning creative work.  Just love them all so much.  

Scarappy Sunday

Yesterday I spent the morning scrapping.  It seems forever since I scraped but in reality its only a week.  I put it down to all the madness going on here right now.  Work has been a big issue in my life the past few months and the last 10 days have been hell.  Until things are settled, I am hopeful it will be a positive outcome, I am plodding on and trying to live with the stress of it all.

Scrapping on a Sunday morning was just what I needed.  These are the LO's I created with the help of Sarah's Cards DT:

It was nice to scrap some older photos from back in October 2010 and fill the spaces in my albums.  

When I first received December's Sarah's Cards kit I really thought that is not me, I am never going to use this kit.  

However, I used some of the kit for my Project Life title page and then surprisingly I made the above 4 LO's.  I add the piece of Kraft and some small alphas but apart from that everything is from the kit.  I think I have another one or two LO's in this kit and I'd like to get them completed this week so I can say I have finished a kit in its entirety.  This is a very rare thing in this house!

Shimelle's Scrapbook Wake Up Call Challenge

Shimelle is holding a Christmas Craft weekend over on her blog.  Her first early challenge today was to show a Christmas make that had been made previously.  I have hunted for my Journal Your Christmas 2010 and can I find it? Nope, nowhere to be seen lol.  So I will show you this page instead which is a picture from last Christmas but was made in May this year using Sarah's Cards April 2011 kit:

Yes I am that far behind scrapping my Christmas photos that I am scrapping them in May and there are still a huge pile from last year and in a few weeks it's Christmas again.  Where has this year gone?

Day Three Of The Crafty Spa Weekend (Sunday)

Another 2 classes today.  First up was Through The Window by Natalie Grant:

I just loved this LO so much that I made a boy version this evening:

The final class was Flying The Flag by Rachel Ward:

In total I produced 9 LO's, a decorative peg and two sweetie boxes:

All with thanks to these lovely talented ladies:

Day Two Of The Crafty Spa Weekend (Saturday)

Well yesterday started with another great nights sleep until my neighbours had a little tiff in the corridor at 2.30am which lasted over an hour.  By the end I think everybody in our corridor had come to conclusion that a young lady's room card key didn't work and her slightly jolly (alcohol added) friends might like to go to reception to tell someone. Why it took them over an hour I don't know!  Anyway, I am really thinking now that I NEED a new bed or I move in to a hotel full time.

Sorry for the poor photos of Fridays LO's but that was down to the mobile.  I took my DSLR today and managed to get a few more but sadly with no daylight.


I am LOVING this retreat and have met some lovely lovely ladies.  How Sarah and Lianne managed to match up 4 strangers and sit them on a table and find they just click is truly amazing!  Thanks ladies, this has made for a fantastic funny weekend.  I really have not laughed so much for such a long time and considering we were strangers 36 hours ago it is unbelievable how well we have got on.  I really hope I can have the experience of other retreats in the future.


These were yesterday's LO's:

The first LO just needs a zipper rosette added which I will try to have a go at finishing today.  I also need to photo my sketch challenge as it had been handed in for judging, not that I stand a chance when I looked at all the other lovely LO's made by the other attendees.

There was also a little make and take tag from Friday evening:

Now on to Saturday's activities which consisted of 3 classes. First up was Against The Grain which was taught by Vanessa Stokoe.

After lunch was Fancy Flora by Jen Naulls:

Followed quickly by Krafty Adventures by Lou Stevenson:

After dinner it was time to collect my card making class supplies from Tracy Gough.  It was now 8.30 and to be honest I couldn't face another class.  However, a couple more take and makes filled the evening:

A lovely little magnetic peg and two sweet filled packages....wonder if these will make two little ones happy when I get home!

After a team quiz (sadly we didn't win but a 12/20 was quite impressive in our books) the next challenge was set by Sarah.  An altered canvas made using your scraps from the retreat classes.  This is Cherry's entry.....words are not really needed but oh did we laugh!

Finished off with a little hooky in bed.  Fantastic day all round x