Everyone can write a little

Yes that's right! Cathy Zielske's new class on Big Picture Scrapbooking involves micro-journaling a la Twitter or Facebook updates. And it rocks! It's one of the most satisfying albums I've made, because it's quick, personal and could be endlessly repeated or reinvented. It's a little more expensive than other classes I've taken, so I waited right up until the last minute to join. I've enjoyed it all thus far - Cathy has a very good sense of humour and this has definitely added more value and interest to the class!


I made the album from scratch, as I didn't have the funds for a gorgeous American Crafts 6x6 Ring binder. I aimed to make something a bit like a Bind-it-all Cover it, since I wanted the same effect as the ring binders. And even though I say so myself, I think I did a pretty good job! I've been saving this Tinkering Ink paper for so long, the most expensive paper I have in my stash, and it suits the purpose perfectly.


The inside covers and the paper for the title page are also from the same pad. It's got some cracking contrasts in it! I love the rich chocolate in combination with the reds and blues.

It's such a simple concept but so effective (well, it is Cathy Zielske after all, the Queen of Simple Scrapbooking!)

There are many more posts just ready to be dropped into the template, but it's just a case of finding the appropriate photos to go with them. It has the potential to build up quickly, and I like that sort of thing.

What's your current project, and do you twitter? My username is SBLove_crafts, if you're on there, drop by and let me know!
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Ooh my very first crop!

Well folks, I had a thoroughly good time last night - me and my friend Paula had our very first crop! I used to work with Paula back in the day, and lost touch when I moved jobs, but we reconnected last year after we'd both had children. Not only did we have this in common, but she also did scrapbooking - the joy of finding someone else who shared my love of paper and glue!

So, after a few months of just talking about it, we decided we'd get together and actually scrap side by side, a mini-crop all of our own. There are no crops that I know of in our area (Sheffield/Chesterfield), but if anyone else knows different, please let us know.

We chose a layout designed by Natalia Harandon in a recent issue of Scrapbook Inspirations (page 40 issue 52 if you're interested) as our inspiration, and arranged a night away from the respective squealers.

After spotting this post about the men's testicular cancer charity Orchid on It's a Creative World, I thought I'd scrap my man. He's a great fan of dressing up, and delights in growing a beard for the purpose of shaving it into various shapes. I chose the best photos, converted them to black and white, and kept the main (tastiest) photo in colour.


Paula also scrapped fabulous photos of her eldest boy at 18 months old, already as tall as his dad's lawnmower - eek! I love the colours she's used - even though they're exactly the sort that I gave away in my last post!


We plan to have another in a few weeks, and will probably do a similar thing. What do you do when you go to a crop? Take your own individual project, or have a joint inspiration piece or topic? Do tell ;)

Get that citrus zing in your craftspace!

Well, inspired by the clean-up giveaway at Shimelle's blog/Twitter, I've had a tidy up myself and have decided to be ruthless. Here I have, for free, two sets of stash each comprising of a 12x12 album, a pack of citrus HOTP 12x12 paper, half the pack of citrus flowers, half the pack of brads, and half the pack of citrus monograms. They're part of my prize for winning BOB2008, and I've been keeping them in the hope that I'd learn to love bright colours. I have come to accept that they're just not me! So, the first two UK people to comment below will get a little stash boost (has to be UK, cause they're so darned heavy, sorry).Whatcha waiting for? Go comment!

Title changed to stop spam.

Well, after some rather fetching moments with my darling daughter, who strenuously fights any attempts to put any pretty stuff in her hair, I'm looking for a couple or three readers who have a small child who'd love to try some of my new felt flower hair clips or bobbles FREE OF CHARGE!! Yes, that's right, FREE! I think they're delightful, and if I had any hair, I'd wear them myself, which of course you may want to do. Whatever you wish to do with them is fine, provided you don't sell them! Because that's what I'm planning to do.


The only thing I'd ask for in return is your opinion on a couple of things - the design and the price! So, if you fancy a little pretty in your post this weekend, drop me a line at rattuspackus@hotmail.com - the first 3 people to mail with a choice of type (either bobble/clip) and colour (purple/orange/blue/bright pink/dusky pink) will get the chance to help me out :)

If that sort of giveaway isn't your thing, try this blog from Charmed Stamps - they're a stamp company and they have such a lovely bundle of free stash to celebrate their new stamp range...

Update - still two samples up for grabs... email me :)

Prepare yourselves...

I've actually gone and scrapped a photo of me, when I had long hair. It's really quite sad, how much I miss my hair. It's short now, for the main reason that at the moment, there's quite often bald patches due to stress. That and the fact that with a toddler it's quite difficult to spend time scrunching and combing. I don't think I could bear to go through the in-between stage - with curly hair it can be a nightmare!

Anyway, enough of my whingey reminiscence. Are you ready?


I've been trying to be a bit more simplistic with my layouts, otherwise I spend far too much time thinking about what to do. This one still took me three hours from start to finish though. I think most of the time I spend thinking about which papers and cardstock to use. I then hunt through the rest of my stash, and pick out stuff that coordinates with the colours I've chosen, sling it in the pile, and then discard it bit by bit until I get what I want. I think it looks ok, but I'll probably go back at some point to tart it up a bit.

What takes you the most time? Do tell ;)

Pay It forward Layout - it had to happen!

Now my work is done with the pay it forward goodies, I can post this layout here. I really had fun with this one, but made an error which I have duly noted for future reference. That is - "title lettering should be the same type for each separate word."


I've posted the before and after, and I hope you'll agree, it was an improvement, though I have to do something to disguise the marker pen and the glue from the previous placement underneath. I might just take all the letters off an put a strip of card underneath - though any other ideas gratefully received.


I think I have a problem with Thickers. They are pricey, and sometimes I just can't bear to use too many. What's your favourite item that you can never bear to use? A piece of patterned paper? Or a strip of glorious ribbon - do tell ;)

The goodies

So, as promised, here are a couple of shots of the stash that will be making its way to Floppy. It's going to feel a bit like Jim Bowen on Bullseye for the rest of you - have a look at what you could have won...



And what's in the box, I hear you say... well, I wanted to keep a few small bits and bobs a surprise - that way, Floppy gets the best of both worlds!



Thanks to all who participated. No doubt I'll have another draw soon for something or other, so keep popping back and browsing!

Hoorah!

And we have a winner! It is: Floppy, who said...

Congratulations on your 50th post and 1000th visitor!! Well done :) I really should get my finger out and start my own blog...I did sign up for one months ago but haven't done anything to it!

Edited: Floppy has been in touch! And very delighted she was too. Let's see if she still feels the same when she's got the stash! I'll also make sure she get a couple of my lovely handstitched felt flowers in a co-ordinating shade. Have a looksee here at my pal Trees's blog for a pic of said flowers - I have mislaid my pics, and wanted to blog the winner asap... I'll be posting photos of stash tonight, just so you know I wasn't teasing!

Enjoy the sunshine...

50th post!

It's been a while since my last post, I promise I've only been thinking of lots of lovely stuff to give away in celebration of my 1000th(!!) visitor (and coincidentally, my 50th post). So, photo to come, but suffice to say that anyone who comments on this post will be entered into a draw for a little bundle of crafty/scrapbooking goodies of various types - in shades of purple, green and pink. Lovely!

International commenters are welcome, but I reserve the right to substitute the bulky stash for something more amenable to overseas postage - say an Amazon/Ebay/digiscrap voucher or something ;) I'll close the draw on 12.00 midnight GMT Sunday 19th April and post the winner on Monday some time

Also, if you're up for even more free stuff, take a look at the gorgeous Tollipop blog. It's always choc-full of delightful pictures, photos and the most absorbing tales to accompany both. It's also her one year blog-anniversary, and so she's having a giveaway for the gorgeous framed original artworks below, plus other goodies. I have no idea why I'm telling you all about this... I want them all for myself. Mwa ha ha haaaa.

Stitch and Craft Show 2009

So, this last weekend was my big moment, my chance to see my name in lights... well, on laminated card anyway. It was the Stitch and Craft Show 2009 at Olympia 2 in London, and the Best of British Scrapbooking 2008 winning layouts were to be exhibited. That'll be mine then! Well, along with five other far more fabulously talented people, Michelle Jackson-Mogford, Julie Kirk, Jo-Anne Cavanagh, Jane Knight and the overall winner, Kim Tomlinson.

Needless to say, I was very excited! I managed to arrange to meet up with a couple of the other winners who were also going, and we got together for a photo or two. I also got to meet the very lovely (and dinky) Rosie Waddicor, the editor of Scrapbook Inspirations - the magazine that ran the competition.

I went with all intentions of splurging on loads of stash, but managed to only buy knitting-related products. Not quite sure how that happened, but hey ho. All is good!

Right now though, I'm really wanting this wallpaper - it's fabulously decadent!

I also got to meet up with one of my "Pay It Forward" giftees, Tinkersdamn, and handed her a little cute something that I hope will be useful. The 6 spots are now filled, though I will be having a 1000 (!!!) visitor giveaway at some point very soon, so keep your eyes peeled. Suffice to say, I've had lots of fun fiddling with felt, and think I might have to make all sorts with the stuff.

So, tell me, is scrapbooking your only craft, or like me do you have crafty fingers in too many pies?