One Word

A new year and a new start. Received a Kindle recommendation prompt about a book called "One Word to Change Your Life". I didn't have to buy the book to know my word but then I received a recommendation from Big Picture Classes, Ali's One Word. Serendipity? Coincidence? Whatever you call it, I was in - book and class. My word?

Organise - verb

I have a lot of hope for this word in my home and work life.

Work comes with a pretty significant stress load… deadlines, multiple "to do" lists to juggle, a few unpleasant sorts, and perhaps worst of all choices about what to leave undone because there’s never enough time or resources to follow all of the ideas.

And then there is the stress of being less than I want to be outside of my professional life… and that is where my word started. I have an unrealistic idea that to be organised will solve any number of problems. Thankfully I saw through that and recognised that the verb opens up varied routes for personal growth and improvement. Hopefully, with a little purposeful thought and more intentful observation, I will restore a sense of self that complements rather than fights the pleasures of professional life. 

Papertrey's Make it Monday Challenge # 12

This will probably be the last challenge I'll be able to participate in for a while - back to school next week so won't have the time. However, I've enjoyed the time off and the chance to create items I wouldn't have pushed myself to do in normal circumstances.

This challenge is about using line frames - mine is made out of blue cord and it is on a repurposed vintage bottle of scotch whiskey that used to be my late father-in-law's. I couldn't bring myself to throw it away so I thought I would try to make a bud vase out of it. My aim was to maintain texture and a touchy-feely, three-dimensional look. The papers are from K&Co Botanical range and I covered the label with their embossed vellum. I didn't want to remove the label as I liked the aged look and layering it provided from underneath. It also reminded me of how versamark, such as in the card made here, shows you an image but it's muted. The butterfly label is cut from embossed paper and the vellum butterfly was cut from the matching embossed vellum paper. The wings have been tipped with a glitter pen by Sukura.

The medallions hanging from the cord are made of shrink plastic. OMG do you have to have some incredible faith to work with that stuff. Those little suckers twisted and curled as much as my stomach did watching them. Yes, it was my first time trying the stuff, despite the fact it's been sitting in my drawer for the last ten years! They are stamped with Trademarks, Out on a Limb Sentiments, Guidelines Two, and one of them is cut from the  Limitless Layers dies the other is from Spellbinders.

Instead of using ink/pen to outline the lable, I've used the blue cord (Memory Makers - I think) to outline it, secured by very minute dabs of Glossy Accents. I had to wait until it was fully dry before turning a corner to maintain a straight edge. The ends are tucked behind the raised label.

 I pleased with the results, even when it isn't being used as a vase it will look pretty on the shelf in my craft room and remind me of him.

Papertrey April Blog Hop Challenge

I hope everyone has had a great weekend. It's amazing how much I have been able to do these last few days while off work for the Easter Holiday! I took the time to look at the blogs I follow and I was inspired by Nicole Heady here and decided to try to emulate  the design for the Papertrey Blog Hop masculine recipient challenge. I don't have the right dies and stamps. Yet. But I thought I could improvise a little. Now that it's complete I can see that I haven't used the best colour combination, but overall I'm pleased with the results, as I usually struggle with creating cards like these. However, Papertrey have some new stamps and dies that really fit the bill and will make it a lot easier in the future - now all I have to do is get them across the 'pond'.


 

Supplies:

Papertrey stamps: Star Prints; Everyday Button Bits
dies: Spellbinders Lg Labels; Fiskars Star Punch
paper/card: Do Crafts Papermania Birdsong and A6 card blanks, white Bazzil
ink: Versafine, sepia
other: ribbon unknown, dotted border stamp unknown

Papertrey's Make it Monday Challenge

Yesterday, the rain forced me indoors so I had a go with the Papertrey 'Make It Monday Challenge', which, this week, is to use the Papertrey dies for embossing, rather than just cutting. You can visit Nicole Headey's 'Capture the Moment' blog here for more information.

For this card, I used the large Seeing Stars Collection Die to emboss. I then layered the stars using the medium Star Die to cut the blue Bazzil and the Fiskars Star Punch for the red Bazzil adhering them with foam squares for extra dimension. The numbered stamp comes from Star Prints. I tried to make the embossing pop a bit more by using Fresh Snow, but I think I need more practice with that technique.  For the ticket I used Just the Ticket stamps and coordinating die. Sorry, but I don't know the source of the ribbon or card.

Thank you for looking and have a wonderful Happy Easter day.

What have I done?

I have ripped out a perfectly acceptable (I use the term loosely) carpet in our hall in order to strip, stain and varnish the treads and handrails. I know it will be worth it in the end. It's just managing to save my sanity until the end, that's causing the anxiety.

before

 after

Once I tried stripping with get paint stripper, I knew we needed a faster method; I now have a turbo-charger heat gun that works really well, but it is still taking a lot more time than anticipated. I'll still have to use paint stripper to pull out some of the previous woodstain, but progress will be seen. Eventually.



Before and After

Like thousands of others, I have fallen in love with the 7Gypsies trays. I bought this one from Archiver's on my last trip home to the States and brought it back to decorate. I used a lot of favourite scraps and embellishments I have been squirrelling away over a number of years. However the primary paper was MME and the 7Gyspies Nest sticker sheet. They have a layout example on the back of the box, which I took a lot of my ideas from, but I also took pictures at the store of some of their trays on display. If you want even more inspiration, the Archiver's Website has a huge section dedicated to these great home decor frames here.

Before

After

Papertrey March Blog Hop Challenge

I have never had a chance to participate in the Papertrey Blob Hop, but, by chance, I was able to take a little time to make a card using embroidery floss. Unfortunately, I have not been very 'inventive' with the use of it. However, it did provide an opportunity to play with my new dies and felt. Hopefully, I will have a chance to create projects that fit the bill more fully in the future. Thank you for looking.

For the March Blog Hop we are challenging you to use embroidery floss in a fun and inventive way on your project.  This could include stitching, wrapping it around and tying it like ribbon, braiding, accenting tags, embroidered patterns or anything else you can dream up!  We look forward to seeing your creations!

Details:

Cardstock: White card left over from a Costco kit

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye, Abbey Road, Lucky Me 'Hello World' Lucky Lime Paper

PTI Dies: Heart Prints, Love Lives Here, Take Three

PTI Felt: terracotta tile and Hawaiian Shores

Other: Ribbon, button, blue crystals unknown source, embroidery floss Clark's Anchor cotton floss colour 816 (antique box of floss given to me by my mother-in-law)

Size: 4 x 6