One of Many

With so many amazing layouts entered into challenges I'm thrilled to feature as a 'Top Act'.

Merly Impressions give me inspiration and support in this crafty world in which we live and now I have another reason to create a blog entry, to show off my new badge:

I'm not enough of a techno wizard to know how to make it small and neat along the border of my page so here it is in full glory!  Now I just need to get busy with paper and scissors to make my name badge for the retreat in June.

Food for Thought

Another month is passing and another challenge left until the last minute. The Merly Impressions Challenge  this month is to scrap anything relating to food.  This was a broad spectrum and I felt I needed a little more direction so looked to CSI to help focus my thoughts; their case file this week is detailed below:

I have had a title in mind for a food layout for several years and this was the push that I needed to actually put ink to paper.  Although I love food and drink I didn't realise at first that I sub-consciously rate the dishes and consider whether it is the 'best' that I have ever had.  '6 of the best' has always been my title and the challenge today was to think how to put it together.  Having just returned from a trip to New York where I visited the 'Ink Pad' and succumbed to my first purchase of spray inks, and some new stencils and stamps I determined to put these to use.  Step one: look at new supplies

and the end result:

It isn't a very good photo of the finished layout because the paper curled from the ink sprays and wouldn't lay flat to photograph.  I chose the paper because it made me think of ledger paper in keeping with numbers and recording facts.  I've never used spray inks before and sprayed dylusions slate grey over most of paper to meet colour requirements.  I then experimented with dylusions pillar box red and Tim Holtz layer stencil.  My journaling lists the best:

• Scrambled Egg - at Hugo's, a restaurant we visited in 2003 some-where on our journey along the Australia coast from Cairns to Brisbane
• Champagne - having sampled many we have decided that our favourite is Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin and we're happy to drink it anywhere at any time
• Breakfast - has to be at Raffles in Singapore as the choice was phenomenal and I especially enjoyed the spicy noodles and gammon joint.  The service was the best I have ever experienced anywhere in the world
• Cocktail - Ginger Berry Daiquiri @ Blue Smoke Restaurant in New York
• Chowder - at The Grey Lady in New York, best for flavour and presentation
• Mango Sorbet - at the Movenpick hotel in Petra, Jordan

I do not have photos of all these delicacies but the memories are all that I need.  I shall still continue to rate my food and add to this list; in fact I could do a layout just covering breakfasts around the world ... and this from a woman who doesn't normally eat breakfast (it's a holiday thing!)

I have tried to use stamps more as I have so many and need to practice.  I would love to be able to layer more for interest and am making a start.  I like the little hearts that I have scattered around and have just invested in some clear stamps (Impression Obsession) that I intend to use for my Project Life whenever I get around to starting.

Thank you for looking and feel free to make recommendations of your 'bests'

Pawprints

Sometimes all you need to get crafty again is a little push.  Unfortunately the loss of a friend's dog was a sad reason to motivate me.  But it shows I haven't lost all mojo ... just need get back to scrapping as time is running out for this months challenge.

The words of an online text bring tears but also comfort:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

(Author unknown)

No time to Scrap

I don't know why this year is going so quickly but I have found that I cannot make enough time to scrap.  I read about it in magazines and look at other people's work on various blogs but even that has slipped lately. I seem to have abandoned CSI which proved to be impossible for me to keep up with; I don't know how people lead such full lives with jobs, children and crafting.  Merly Impressions set a more realistically achievable challenge each month and I fully intend to embrace this topic of food ... I'm just not sure when.  

Life has been full lately of visiting family and party invitations, lunch out with friends and family to stay.  Never mind the housework and gardening and fitting in work.  I guess this gives me lots of photo opportunities ready to scrap when I have (or make) the time.   

In the meantime enjoy the arrival of Spring ... Don't give up on me!

Get ready to Stamp

I've been thinking about how to tackle the latest challenge for Merly Impressions  and I started by examining my stamps.  Shoved into a drawer they have sat there undisturbed for quite some time. I then needed to look closer to try and decide which would be useful. The answer is easy ... tip them out on the floor.  

To make the challenge harder I also decided to use the Distress Stains that I bought last year and haven't used yet.  Having decided on my photo I knew the colour scheme needed to involve purple.  I didn't buy a purple stain (mistake number one) but thought it would be easy to mix blue and red together (mistake number two).  I prised the lids off and poured into waiting receptacle. I then decided to practice flicking from a paint brush onto cardstock (mistake number three).

This was when I decided that there were too many mistakes.  I learned that:

a)  stain means STAIN and it doesn't wash off skin

b)  flicking paint means that it really does flick ... onto walls and desk

c)  paint brushes roll and this results in paint on the layout in places it was not intended

It was time to take a break ... and try to wash my hands again

 

I am very glad that I have a supply of more than one sheet of white cardstock as I needed a second page to start again after the paintbrush rolling incident.  I decided to create separate sections independently before combining them into the finished article (which is proving to be quite elusive).

I stamped and heat embossed a frame for my photo and was very pleased with the effect:

Just a bit of fussy cutting needed now, what can go wrong with sharp blades?

Time for a break as this has all taken much longer than I anticipated.  Watch this space:

****

So this is it.  The remit was to use stamps and this is the result.  It's not quite what I imagined in my head.  In my imagination it was going to be layered with lots of interesting detail but in reality there appear to be straight lines and little detail. I guess it's minimalist when I had wanted shabby chic (I just can't do shabby chic even though I admire the style so much). I started by stamping a star border all around the cardstock and then added a little softness using water pencils and smudging.  I am really pleased with the heat embossed frame and used the same technique to create the title along with alphabet stamps that have lain neglected in the bottom of the drawer for over 5 years.  The journaling spot is a kaisercraft stamp and there is a home made embellishment from stamping on acetate.  I couldn't seem to find anywhere to place patterned paper but still needed to fill the space that was left.  Another star burst stamp seemed to do the trick and then I splattered a little stain to try and add more interest.  As we've discovered splattering is not a technique I'm very good at.  Brads, buttons and mesh were the final additions.

I love the photo and the journaling records the fun we had trying to get Dad to smile for his graduation photos.  There was lots of silly behaviour and laughter, and we succeeded in getting great photos.  It is a wonderful memory and this shines through in our smiles. Even if the layout did not end up the way I wanted I certainly fulfilled the remit of using stamps.  There isn't the soft fluffiness that I aimed for but I am still pleased that I have managed to showcase the photo and give it the recognition that it needs.

Thanks for looking and any advice on stamping gratefully received 

Happy Valentine's Day

I hadn't expected my husband to be organised enough to get a Valentine's card this year so was surprised when I woke to find a card propped against the kettle.  With the weather blowing a gale and torrential rain, I wasn't so devoted to Cupid that I was prepared to walk to the shops ... so what is a girl supposed to do?  Go to her craft space of course!  

I'm pleased that I made a card in less than an hour and even more pleased that it was all done with scraps.  He proposed in Paris so it had to include the Eiffel Tower.  Hope he likes it too.

What a boost!

What a wonderful start to the new year.  I was a Top Act for December 2013 with Merly Impressions and now I'm thrilled to discover that I'm a Top Act again for January.  I am easily pleased and it's a great boost to think that other people out there want to look at, and actually like, my creations.  I look at so many amazing layouts out there in the big wide world of craft and sometimes lose faith that I can create anything to compare. Thank you Merly for providing me with the push to create every month.