Up and Running at Banana Frog

I've uploaded my first project for Banana Frog - head over to their blog if you'd like to see more...

ER

I've just watched last weeks episode of ER - Episode 1 of the new series.... TV programmes like that should come with a warning : Be prepared: you will need tissues
It was ssssoooooooooooooooo sad - very understated and nicely done but oooooooooh sooooo sad! I blubbed.. a lot! Fantastic TV.

I also finished watching 'The Devil's Whore' from before christmas - anyone who didn't see that should watch it - brilliant series - I watched it and then immediately wanted to watch it again!
I watch recorded programmes first thing in the morning with my breakfast to ease myself into the day - not sure Devils Whore was such a good choice - slightly too much blood, gore and beheadings for 7.30 in the morning!

Card Inspirations.....

.... sign up for new classes is today at the shop - ending at 3.15 (but you can still book via phone, email or post after that), the shop will close at 4.00. And they're also having a sale so why not pop by to sign up for a class and grab a bargain or two at the same time! There are some great christmas items in the sale - so if you'd like to be super-organised for xmas 2009 (!!) go stock up on your stash!!

Here are a few sneak peeks of my classes....



Oops, they're all looking a bit pink (and green) aren't they - there are other colour choices planned - honest!
Part of my New Year Resolutions (which weren't many) was to not use white as a card base - broaden out into other colours.... maybe I should include 'do not use pink & green' in those plans. :o)

I'm a happy crafter because.....

... yesterday I found out that I'd been picked to be one Banana Frog's Design Team for this year!!!!!
At least I can say that now without chuckling to myself and grinning like a cheshire cat! (M said I was randomly chuckling to myself during the drive to see friends yesterday evening! he'd ask 'banana frog?' and I'd chuckle again! lol)
Am very excited and looking forward to what's in store... Am chuffed!!

I must have been nice this year and not at all naughty because Santa brought me a 'Slice' die cut machine!!!! Yeay! I had to wait a while for it but that's probably a good thing because if it had arrived at christmas I wouldn't have got anything done because I'd have been too busy playing with it! lol

Its a great little machine! Expect lots more pics using pieces cut using it.....

Sorry about the wierd angle of this photo! And the wierd paper choices - I was just cutting anything I could get my hands on at home (which isn't a lot since I tidied up!)
Look how nice/interesting the cut pieces start to become once they've been fed through the cuttlebug (bottom right and top right pieces), or stamped on - 'button' top left, or hand embellished - '2008'.. oooooh the possibilities...... and while you're looking could I draw your attention to the GORGEOUS dots paper (frame, centre of pic) (from Bazzill I think) - how lovely is that paper!
The machine has its limits - only cuts up to 4inches, and only through thin media (no chipboard) but its really portable, and for anything thicker - there's the Cuttlebug, and anything bigger there's the Cricut or Silhouette.. definitely filling a hole in the die-cut market...
I'm a happy little crafter!! (and for more reasons than just receiving a 'Slice' - more about that tomorrow!!)

During my current 'tidying up' project (and I'm using the term loosely because I just seem to moving things around according to M - but its all part of the process!) I found this photo (on the pc - tidying that up too!) of a book I made from lots of bits of cardboard, all different sizes, bound together with the bind-it-all. Its a book that I keep on my studio desk to try out bits and pieces in rather than on random bits of paper/ card or in my sketchbook (different surface). This page was created using a scroll cuttlebug die I'd just bought (so of course had to use straight away! lol) and Banana Frog alphabet stamps - these ones are great because they are quite large (about an inch-and-a-bit tall)... I like the page because of the metal effect to the scroll (didn't photograph too well) but at the same time am not too keen because it looks a bit 'halloween' - due to the colours - I might go back to it and try and alter it in some way.......

Perfect Pearls

Love Perfect Pearls!!!!!!!!!

I was working with these at Card Inspirations before Christmas and I created a couple of sample sheets in preparation to show how different the same pearls look on different coloured backgrounds, and I thought I post them here... I've masked off the background (Heidi Swapp Butterfly masks) and then spritzed onto the page using distress ink mixed with Perfect Pearls, and then finally stamped snowflakes using VersaMark ink and brushed on Perfect Pearls powders. The effect is so lovely on black...

Christmas cards...

I need to pace myself! lol No posts for 2 weeks and now 2 in a day! Phew!

Here are some of christmas cards I made (though I will confess that due to teaching, commissions and a sick cat I didn't have time to make all our christmas cards and so we did send a few bought cards (shock, horror and the shame of it!! and me a card making tutor! rofl) Normally I make all my christmas cards from scratch but this year due to the reasons stated I bought some embellishments to work with... which was good because it was a learning process - adapting things to your own style etc etc etc....

Using Stampendous sticker sheets...

Using Basic Grey card making pack - It's useful to buy if you're in a hurry but I'm not sure I would buy one again - it takes away a lot of the creativity - I bought it as a base start from and I added peel-offs and gems to the paper supplied and I still have lots left over (this isn't all the cards by the way) - even though I did customise nearly all the cards and only followed the directions for one in particular as it was such a definite design with provided embellishments.... (still gotta love Basic Grey though!)......

K&Co papers - lovely vintage feel to their range...

Round up...

I'm sorting out my home studio and so its time to tidy up! and I keep coming across projects that I've completed but don't seem to have posted about - such a lot going on and a lot of it I can't share because its going to be published, used for classes etc etc etc ..... So here are some pictures (apologies if I have shown them before - I did do a quick check back through the blog - which has made me realise I must start tagging things....)
(btw:I'm not supposed to have a 'home' studio because I have studio space that I rent and therefore all my creative bits and bobs should be there but over the past month or so a lot has made its way back home (in my defense the studio can be quite cold)

Firstly here are some of the spreads from a mini-book I made of a day trip M & I took to go and see Seth Lakeman perform at the open air theatre in London's Regents Park - fantastic day and a great concert. Its 6x4in (approx) & I love that the pages show around the front cover - not all the same size.. books like that make me want to look inside! lol (btw - the flowers on the last 2 spreads shown now have buttons or pearls in the centres)

Next is a card I've made for my new nephew. I'm loving using acetate for cards and minibooks but they can be challenge to photograph! Aaaanyway his name is Ethan and he's bundle of cuddly loveliness! - though I may be biased of course! lol

Slightly lacking in Christmas spirit...

Craft Stampers blog lists the blogs of regular contributors and when they last updated

Jo Firth-Young
2 weeks ago

.. now if that doesn't kick start a person into updating their blog I don't know what would! lol

but the thing is itsgotten distinctly un-christmassy in our house - oh yes we've put the tree up (gorgeous white tree - yes white - last year it was up side down with very bright decorations this year its white and slightly more muted)(the tree looks slightly ghostly...), we've bought the presents and we've lined up our christmas movies - Fred Claus and its a wonderful life BUT and this is a very big BUT...
our lovely, affectionate cat Fredd caught a virus (no idea how because he doesn't go out!) and was literally fading away in front of us - wouldn't eat, wouldn't get up - nothing. zilch. so off to the vets where he spent almost 3 days at the vets on a drip where they filled him full of all kinds of things but he still wasn't responding very well... he came home and I seriously thought I would get up one morning to find out he had died in the night. BAH HUMBUG. Cancel christmas! Aaaanyway a shot of valium later, and yet more tablets and he's gradually getting better... SLOWLY..
So OK I might re-instate christmas...
Losing 2 cats in one year would have been really hard, really sad.
(though there were light moments in all this - the valium shot made him really want to eat but he wasn't completely in control of himself - practically face down in the food, and he couldn't walk in a straight line - it was like he'd had one sniff too many of the catnip... which was v funny in a 'you've been framed' type way)

So, not much creating has been done - I've made some christmas cards (but only because I had to - had a commission) - will add them to the slide show on left when I get a minute - hopefully more will get done this week... Fredd's health allowing - I know you can't put your life on hold for things like this but its hard to concentrate...

I looked at Tim Holtz's blog the other day which got me all inspired so maybe I'll revisit that and see where it takes me...

I might put up some pictures of the christmas tree - its so pretty - well I think so anyway - but as always I still think it needs more decorations! lol When we take the tree down I might count how many decorations are actually on it..... I'll keep you posted..... (and Lola, the kitten, has been very good and not played with too many decorations... yet)

AAAAAAAnyway - on a positive note (too much doom and gloom so far.. lol) had some more work published in Craft Stamper this month (yeay) - in shops now.

Thats all folks.

I can't believe that tomorrow is DECEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where did this year go??

Eye candy that's getting me in the mood for Christmas

In this months Elle Dec/or Living etc (can't remember which) there was a BEAUTIFUL interior and in this interior were HUGE paper balls.... but no source was listed! HUMPH.

.. .aaaaanyway I was clearing out the cruise trunk (our coffee table) last night where all the interiors magazines get stashed away (some were 5 years old which is really bad!) and I was flicking through before sending them to recycling and ... TA-DA more huge paper balls and more importantly a source.

look at the prettyness!! the loveliness!
these made me very happy! these will be debuting in my lounge this christmas... well maybe not the lounge (the biggest snowflake is 72cm!! - maybe the drop in the hall... we'll worry about that later) but they will definitely be out of the reach of Miss Lola! That kitten LOVES to chew cardboard and paper! Am almost dreading putting the tree up - she's going to be a nightmare.
christmas tree versus 5 month old kitten? you do the maths. lol

And these little birdies will go into the aviary with my Tweets (see previous post)

Shocking!...

... how long its been since I last posted... have been soooo busy with projects that aren't really blogable (is that even a word?! lol) - lots of bits and pieces over the last week or so, and one major project for College... and over the weekend I managed to strain my torso/ribs so I'm hobbling around like a little old person! M's had to help me off of the sofa a couple of times! lol I feel like I've been kicked by a horse! lol

I'll have too keep this blog updated more in future and keep it filled with pretty pictures because now its linked to the Craft Stamper blog site. Exciting.

I'm in the December issue of Craft Stamper by the way! To find out more you'll have to buy the magazine!!