24 Hours From Tulsa!

Actually - just 30 minutes from Tulsa! That's where Croppinsville USA calls home & there are tons of exciting things going on right now! The webstore has finally opened its doors & The Creative Crew (that includes me folks!!) have been busy uploading the scrummiest projects to the designer galleries. Allie has big plans to have forums & community galleries to build a fabby li'l place where we can all hang out together - it's gonna be fabulous!!
Check out the Croppinsville blog for deets of the amazing opening offers & more, check out the Hometown Bloggers Bingo - you need to have registered by Friday, Bingo starts Monday.
When you've done all that - head on over to the Croppinsville USA Online Store & check out everything on offer there!
Ooooh! There's tons of scrummy Cosmo Cricket (did I mention how much I love Cosmo Cricket??), Bo Bunny, Graphic 45 (Norma Kennedy does fabulous things with those two brands!) Creative Imaginations, Jenny Bowlin, Coredinations & a whole load more!

Hey Sugar!

Absolutely fell in love with these papers: Hey Sugar! by Cosmo Cricket. Although they have love-themed journaling cards & Strip Tease titles, they are sooooo pretty you could use them for anything girly ... So I Did - & just in time for Arty Girls 'Hint Of Pink' challenge this week!!
I bought one of the American Crafts D Ring albums a while ago, as I wanted something in which I can house layouts of varying sizes (rather than having an album for each size) - It's the 6x12 layouts that are my biggest problem ... they make no sense as an album purely by size. Anyway, I've been wondering how to alter it & so haven't actually started using it - as soon as I got these papers I knew they were the ones! I had the 'Hey Sugar!' Paper Crafting Kit & I've also used a Buck Naked Button; Nursery Trim Trimmerie, Victoria Ready, Set chipboard & Doodle Rub Ons. & I LOVE IT!!
Next up, another recycled project for Arty Girlz ongoing Recycling Challenge. I bought a couple of slatted, wooden picnic tables & these li'l .75" cubes are the spacers supplied for keeping the slats the right distance apart while you screw them into place. So I made these li'l inspiration cubes for my scraproom. I used some tiny scraps from the Hey Sugar! kit, Elementary & Fleuriste Rub ons. The words I've used are: Love, Life, Idea, True, Play & PINK!!

Back again tomorrow with more!!

In Case of Emergency ...

I have been making more of the scrummy flowers from Friday's post (look out on Thursday to see why!) & I finally had enough of struggling along with a blunt tapestry needle ... no good at all! I have no idea what has happened to the plethora of sewing stuff I know I have had at one time or another, so I sent DH down the the local supermarket on Sunday afternoon to buy one of those emergency sewing kits they hang on the ends of the aisles. He returned with a nasty plastic box thingy - seriously hideous and yet, exactly what I had asked for ... Oh dear, that simply wouldn't do!
Cosmo Cricket to the rescue! Trim Trimmeree to be exact. LOL. The tubes that Trim Trimmeree are packaged in are absolutely crying out to be altered (they are clever folks over at Cosmo HQ you know!) and are the perfect size for an emergency kit - mine's for sewing but you could fit mini make up brushes, fave cosmetics, lip balm or whatever in there too! How about an emergency journaling kit with notepaper, decorated pencil, eraser etc - I see some fabby gift ideas here!
So, back to the kit. The tube lid is already threaded with ribbon, so just takes a circle of paper to finish it. It happens to be exactly the right size for a 2.5" circle punch (it's like they knew what I'd want to do & made the dimensions to fit my tools - spooky huh?) I've inked the edges with Chestnut Roan fluid chalk ink - I like a bit of shabby chic - & then just ran a fingernail in the recess to get the paper right in around the edge. I did the same with the bottom, which might be a bit sad as no one can see it ... but I'd know if I hadn't finished it off & it would bug me! I wrapped a strip of the same paper around the tube. Instead of trying to disguise the join, I tore it & inked it up ... made it the front in effect. I threaded the chipboard tag, embellished with rub ons, and initial (which I altered with co ordinating paper cuz it clashed) on to thin chiffon ribbon And threaded them onto the ribbon band around the tube, stuck it all in place and finished off with a sparkly button.
The needle case is a really simple 'matchbook' & the felt is held in place with a fastenater staple, which doubles to keep the matchbook closure secure. I've also made a li'l ribbon band to stop the measuring tape from unraveling. It's just held together with a couple of stitches & a tiny button.
Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie 8x8 paper pad; Nursery Trim Trimmeree; Storybook Cigar Box (for chipboard elements); So Precious rub ons.

The best bits for me are that, cuz it's pink none of the guys in my house will borrow it AND it's another project for the Arty Girlz ongoing recycling challenge (for which I'm the permanent GDT) - go recycling ... go me!!

For Fabulous Fathers

This first card is especially for my Dad, who lives in Bulgaria. He doesn't really 'do' cards, so I guess there's an irony there! LOL. So anyway, Happy Father's Day Dad, Miss you loads!!
And just in case anyone was wondering, I've used Cosmo Cricket 'Hello Sunshine' Journal Cards, Button Covers, Hula Hoop & Clover cardstocks; Buck Naked Buttons & More; Vintage Trim Trimmeree; Elementary Rub Ons.

This next quickie card is for DH from the older boys (Fish made his own at playschool). Really simple using a Cogsmo Journal Card, Cardstock Stickers, Blackboard Shapes & Doodle Rub Ons - I used the 'p' upside down to make the second 'd' - just add ink and a few strokes from a red marker ... done!

Love Is Like A Butterfly ...

My sweet baby neice, Lily Rebecca is a couple of months old now - so it's high time I made something new for her. This li'l wall hanging is a page from a Maya Road chipboard book - I kept a couple of pages back from my mini book project to use for exactly this sort of thing.
I used the Cosmo Cricket 'Honey Pie' 8x8 Paper Pad, Storybook chipboard brackets (from the cigar box, which seems to co ordinate perfectly with practically every paper range - how versatile are these????), Nursery Trim Trimmeree & Sweet Mix Blackboard alphas. I painted the blackboard letters with Ranger Crackle paint (Tattered Rose) - really pleased with the result ... the blackboard shows through the cracks soooo well! I added a bit of extra depth with distress ink (worn lipstick), which is the perfect deep pink for these papers - I used the same ink to stamp 'Sweet', (Basic Grey, Too Sweet Clear Stamps).
I'm really proud of the velvet flower - I know you can buy stuff like this ... mine is totally handmade: Gather a length of velvet scalloped trim with a small running stitch pulled tight & secure the ends (there will be a hole in the middle!). Tie a loose knot in a length of elastic trim (both from the Nursery Trim Trimmeree) and then pass the top end under and back through the centre of the knot several times before pulling tight (a chinese knot would look good too ... but I've not mastered those yet!) Secure the elastic flower in the centre of the velvet one & top with a micro gem - Easy!!
So I've blogged every day for three days - another 16 to go until I reach my goal!! Back tomorrow!

Fab's Big Christmas Challenge ... May

Fab's challenge for May - at 'Nutter' level is to create five Christmas cards & as I'm proud to own that title (& a couple of others beside), that's just what I've done. I've used Cosmo Cricket 'Be Good' range (last winter's release) as I had some bits left over from a previous project - & you know I'm all about using your scraps! Lots of ink too - these papers are great for a vintage, aged, distressed kinda look.
In the first card, I've used alphabutton fashions. I'd already used the 'Y' (& here comes the clever bit), so used the negative & matted it onto 'peppermint' paper to make a new one. I raised the 'J' & 'Y' on foam tape & embellished each letter with vintage Trim-Trimeree
For the next one, I matted one of the 'just your 'holiday' type' stickers, threaded with trim & layered it over a scrap of patterned paper. The letters are from the 'storytime' cigar box (watch out for the altered box later this week!)
More 'storytime' chipboard on this one - and yep! I did get the sewing machine out! LOL. My mum told me this evening that you can use it to sew fabric too - like to make clothes & stuff!! Gotta wonder what she'll come up with next ... I guess she'll be telling me you can use an iron for smoothing stuff other than paper & ribbons or something - what's that about???
Anyway, the li'l gift there is a chipboard buckle, backed with paper & a ric rac faux bow attached.
Card #4 is a li'l winter forest. Just triangular scraps on a pyramid card (I cut mine from a standard card blank).
This last card also doubles for the ongoing recycling challenge at Arty Girlz - those li'l tags inside the stocking ... they are the paper names from the barcode strips. I hand cut the stocking & raised it on foam tape. I used a black sharpie to add the dots around the edge of the sticker - a regular pen will work but sharpies dry quicker!

Gotta Lotta Bottle?

This weekend was DS1's birthday bash, which means a big BBQ & has done for the last 9 years or so! As the guys are older now, it does tend to mean copious amounts of alcoholic beverages! LOL. We somehow managed to stretch the festivities over two days this year (hence a lack of crafting ... & blogging too!)
So this yummy li'l Cogsmo number is the layout for Friday's class ... I love when I get a chance to scrap my recent photos straight away. Check out the pull out journaling to the right of the photo collage ... & I don't know whether the picture picks it up but most of the blackboard shapes there have been coloured with Inktense pencils (more vibrant than watercolours). Lots of soft inked edges again - Has to be my absolute fave technique I guess! LOL
The best bit of living in the UK has to be the easy access to real ales - my guys are only too happy to drink them, just so I can have the labels ... aren't they just too good to me? Seriously tho' real ale artwork is the best free scrapping ephemera ever (the bottle caps too - & the guys do their best not to scratch them or bend them as they open up!) so look out for some of that coming up soon.
I've been neglecting the blog a li'l bit of late ... it went kind of pear shaped mid-may & posting became kinda sporadic. Thing is, I love having a blog & sharing stuff with you guys ... & I have soooooo many things still to blog about! So this is the month that I'm gonna make a real effort to post EVERY DAY! & If I can do it for a month (or the 19 days that remain!), then I guess that makes it a habit & I can keep it up permanently. All the comments you guys make on my posts make it so worthwhile - so keep 'em coming & I promise I'll post more often! Deal?

Let's Go Green!

I had a li'l bit of exciting news while I was away - the Arty Girlz, Crissie & Julie, have selected me as their guest designer for the ongoing recycling challenge over on their blog. You can join in this challenge at any time - just click the banner for full deets!!
... & check out the 'guest designer' blinkie on the right (scroll down to just below my DT places) - way cool huh??

Bad Blogger

Forgive me readers for I have sinned ... It's been 11 days since I last blogged! I've been struggling a bit to keep up with all that life throws at me this last couple of weeks - I've barely scrapped, which makes me VERY crabby; household appliances are dying left, right & centre; marital relationships have been a tad strained to say the least ... & it's half term, which means I have both Fish & DH at home ... We are working simultaneously on the house & garden this week - major works are underway & the second skip arrived this morning.
Apologies to those who are expecting DT work from me - I'll be playing catch up at the weekend (again!!!) but from next week I expect normality to reign once more.
I had a li'l play with my alphas & the lush Bo Bunny Ella papers for today's class - see you there ladies!!

Reminder: The Way Of The Scrapbooker Starts Today!!

My new class starts over at MCC later today but it's not too late to join the fun! All the deets are here (scroll down to the 3rd class)! The classroom will open at 8pm (BST) - so long as you are paid up, you'll receive an e-mail with the classroom keycode - & that's about all there is to it!
This li'l album is part journal, part scrapbook - designed especially to go where you do & with refillable space for you to add notes, sketches etc on the move ... No kit to buy - you can use your own stash - but a full supply list is included for reference. You'll even get a full PDF of quotes, especially adapted by me, ready to print off at home. All that for $15 (so if you live in the UK, it's an absolute steal!!!)
Can't wait to see you all there!

Mega Catch Up Friday!!

Oooooh! I don't plan on doing this too often! LOL.
Major e-mail issues have been taking up my time this week - leaving precious little time left for blogging ... & the result is mega catch up Friday! LOL. Anyway, I've set up a new g mail account for the store (have to say I do love google's ever-expanding free services! LOL) & all is getting back to normal! If you have my contact deets stored, please update your contact list now!! You can use either the e-mail in my blogger profile or the deets on the webstore ... any others that you might have are not working right now & I will probably phase them out now anyway!!
I have a whole bunch of projects to share right now ... check out the posts below!!

More Cogsmo!!

Cosmo Cricket's new Cogsmo range is fabulous for making birthday cards ... & doubly fabulous for boys!! I made this li'l bunch of cards while at MILs & have a ton of other ideas too!!
You'll find individual images in my gallery, HERE!

Sorry Di!!

This is the card that I should have e-mailed over to Di Hickman for this week's sketch. I'm having major issues with my e-mail (so much so that I've set up new webmail accounts) & what with going up to look after MIL this week, I didn't get it there ... which sucks as I really kinda like this one! Lotsa MR ribbons & stuff ... and more of those Urban Rhapsody papers!

Winged Things

This is the front cover of a li'l Maya Road mini book I've been working on. In fact, it's pretty much all Maya Road goodies. We're hoping to become a stockist over at the webstore - just awaiting confirmation on that one really.
I made it for the NSD/MR challenge over at 2 peas - the 2 winners will have theirs displayed at CHA - what a thrill! & there's $100 of MR goodies thrown in too ... so it's all good! LOL
In the meantime, if you'd like to see the rest of the Album ... it's over on my gallery, right here.

Playtime!

I'd wanted to blog this while at MILs but I'm a total ditz & left my camera cables at home! LOL. So this is the layout we'll be doing this afternoon!! Gotta love Cogsmo!!!

DT Call at Crop 'Til You Drop

Yup! the new DT Call is up now!! Check it out here

Fab's April Christmas Cards

I actually made these cards a couple of weeks ago for Fab's challenge - but

I've been such a bad blogger of late that I hadn't got them posted. Anyway, you might remember I had been posting a lot of stuff made with Luxe Designs ... & these cards were made with some of the scraps. Certainly not your traditional crimbo cards but I do like to do something a li'l bit different. The papers, rubs & ribbons are all Luxe, gems & sentiment stamp by A Muse, Sizzix tree die & SU! snowflake punch.
There's still a bunch of A Muse goodies on sale at 75% off - check 'em out before they are gone!
& I haven't forgotten about posting my scraproom pics - the week has just got away from me a bit. I'm having a bit of a break next week ... so I'm hoping to catch up a bit then too!

CHALLENGES, COMPETITIONS & MORE FREE STUFF!!

Bit of a catch up post here - soooooo many ways to win right now!! So let's get right to it:

Crop 'Til You Drop Monthly Challenge. This month we want to see felt &/or fabric on your projects. So why not whip up a quick card, layout, altered item ... or whatever! & we positively encourage multi challenge projects, so do feel free to combine with any other challenges that you usually enter. We also are more than happy to receive multiple entries - the more projects you enter the greater your chances to win!! Need stash to get you started? Check out the webstore for felt & fabric stash!!

It's Good To Be Green - Allie Gower over at Croppinsville USA has a fabulous green giveaway up for grabs ... in a recycled box!! All you have to do is pop on over to the blog & leave a comment about your own green efforts ... & don't forget to say I sent you over! LOL. Be quick - you only have until Wed 7th May (that's tomorrow! Yikes!!)

I have a li'l RAK of my own here too! As you'll know from my previous post, I've been working on that li'l scrapping haven of mine. Can you imagine just how much stash I've rediscovered?? Anyway, the deal is that I'm gonna RAK some of that stash to you guys as it'll take me several lifetimes to use it all (& I'm a bit of a monkey for buying new stuff! LOL). All you have to do is post a li'l comment telling me your best storage tip (cuz I still have loads of stash to house!!) & I'll enter all the comments into a draw (on May 22nd - my Daddy's birthday!) Send your friends over & I'll do an extra draw for those people too - 1 entry for each person that mentions you in their post.

So good luck ... & go win stuff!!

What I did for NSD weekend

I had planned a creative weekend to celebrate National Scrapbook Day this year (last year you might remember a fire at the store just a couple of days before completely scuppered all our plans) but when it came to it I changed my mind at the last minute. Just shy of 6 months after moving out of the store and into my new, compact scrapping space at home, I seem to have outgrown it. So my mission for the weekend is to re-organise.
We have a long weekend in the UK - a bank holiday Monday, which means DH is here to tackle those all-important power tool tasks. I don't touch power tools but that's another story!!!
These are the 'before' photos & I know that I'm lucky to have a space of my own but it's not quite working out for me ... The table in front of the window catches the sun in the afternoons (which means I'm practically blinded on all but the greyest of days) & I can't put much at the back as it's always falling down on to the window sill - especially at night when I close the curtains. There's also a lot of wasted space, inaccessible areas & the whole thing is just a bit too cramped!
The bookshelves & those big blue storage boxes work quite well, except that they are partially blocked by the table. Some of those boxes (the ones with acrylic paints & card blanks) are quite heavy. Sometimes I'll make do with what is already out rather than lifting them all out- and if I do get them out, I don't often put the stuff away again, so that's even more clutter to deal with!
Just look at all that wasted space in the 3rd photo! That is the back of the wardrobes that divide our bedroom from my scrap space - we have toyed with many ways of using that space, but nothing really works. You can't hang anything weighty on them & there's a limit to how high you can stack things up - definitely requires a new solution!
I have a huge closet, which essentially is a li'l room over the stairs. I have lots of shelving in there & the only issue again is access - the drawer unit close to the doorway makes it really difficult to get to the stash inside (we took the closet door off to gain space there). This is where I store all my cardstock, papers, alterables & some of my tools, so I have to get in there quite a lot. So that's a quick way to suck all the pleasure out of starting a new project - & the reason why I don't alter as much as I'd like to ... Sooooo much wasted time just trying to get to things! LOL.
That last photo ... That's the mess under my table - also hard to get at as there's only just enough space between the table & the back of those wardrobes for me to sit (tiny, svelte skinny thing, I am not!!) I had one of those blue boxes full of metal embellishments under there that I know I haven't touched in months ... kinda forgot it was there really! Yep! time for a serious change.
So this last couple of days, I have been measuring, moving stuff, repurposing household finds & finding lots of li'l jobs for DH. I'm nearly ready to share, there's just a few more bits to finish off Monday. I guess it'll never be actually finished as every time there's something new added, the storage needs change a li'l bit ... but at least it's gonna be workable.
So pop back soon to see the end result!

Today Is Turning Out Just Fabulous!

I had a rather productive day yesterday & didn't get to bed until 3 am (again!!), so I really didn't want to get up this morning. Doesn't sound like a good start? Read on ...
I eventually dragged my but out of bed when the parcel guy came with a delivery - that always means yummy stuff arriving from the US. Today's offering? A fabby box of product from C&T Publishing. I treated myself to a couple of idea books (partly to see what's already been done) plus board blocks in a couple of sizes, an indie file box & a 10x10 board book - Lush, Lush, Lush.
I left this layout on the table downstairs last night - entered it into the Truly Trendy competition at Scrapscene. Obviously the trend I picked is 'birds'. I wasn't sure about it last night but this morning I love it. I have a big problem cutting into a sheet of gorgeous paper - not wanting to cover it up - so I collaged my fave bits from 2 papers & yep! this morning I like the result ... maybe my judgement is a li'l bit impaired after midnight!! I used K&Co Mira - gorgeous stuff & one of the most inexpensive ranges right now. So this is what my ladies will be making tomorrow.
So then I get on to my e-mails ... first one I opened is from Allie Gower, offering me a DT place at Croppinsville USA. This is a brand new venture, so I'm thrilled to get in right at the beginning. Can't wait to get started!!
The store/webstore opens in a couple of weeks but there's lots a-happenin' over on the blog - including a big green giveaway right now!!
My late night sees me right up to date with all my DT work etc - and it's 1st May - 2 bank holidays to look forward to this month & DH has a week off (I think) around the second bank holiday. That means family time. So yeah! Today is a good day!