Scrappymella's Place

Squirrel-proof bird feeders

2011-11-13T16:03:00.002Z

'Nuff said!

'My' sculpture

2011-11-12T04:03:00.002Z

Vauxhall Road, Liverpool, at junction with Pumpfields Road and Blackstock Street. Identical design to my entry for an Elf petrol competition in 1997 when I was at Liverpool Art College.

At last!

2011-10-28T06:15:00.002+01:00

24 August 2010
Next door's oak tree in our garden!

26 October 2011
Stage one completed. Damaged plants and shrubs
removed, bricks and stone removed from ground,
terraced, and four tons of good topsoil added.

Art journal challenge #1

2011-05-02T18:42:00.004+01:00

Marguerite

2011-04-27T07:59:00.003+01:00

I can't decide which version works best, so I'm putting them both up!

Oriental card - digital

2011-04-26T18:24:00.002+01:00

Minimalist Yule card - digital

2011-04-25T20:41:00.001+01:00

Back crafting again!

2011-04-14T05:26:00.010+01:00

I recently purchased Serif's excellent program Craft Artist Platinum/Professional. It's so easy to use in its basic form but there is so much that can be done with it that I fell it needs a lifetime to explore everything possible.

I used it to make a New Home card for Swardy ...

... and some ATCs to learn new techniques ...

... and some ATCs for a New Beginnings challenge ...

Thanks for visiting.

Fabrics

2010-10-02T16:15:00.002+01:00

Red, glittery, on sheer black stretchy netting

Blue polyester abstract

Brilliant emerald green velvet on black stretchy fabric

'Vasarely' kaftan

2010-10-02T15:14:00.002+01:00

Great Salford Swim - 2010

2010-09-30T16:40:00.005+01:00

View from my hotel room

View from the boys' room

Power warm-up between acclimatisation and start

The light purple wave

Approaching the turn into Mariners' Canal

34 mins 55 secs - Well done!

The Lakes - September 2010

2010-09-07T07:32:00.004+01:00

The southern tip of Windermere

Guess who wants to swim!!

Rowing boat at the hotel moorings

View from my room

'The boys'

The pool and my room from the bench

Low Wood Hotel

Low Wood Marina

Inchies and twinchies

2009-02-08T14:49:00.004Z

Lynn [Glitter Monkey] lured me into a new challenge run by the Dutch Small World of Inchies blog - inchies and twinchies. As the name implies, inchies are 1" x 1", and twinchies 2" x 2". The theme is 'Pink' and my submission is an inchie on a twinchie!

Lacking in inspiration for something so small I decided to incorporate a sketch from Di Hickman's February challenge, and what a challenge it was! The most difficult part was finding things that were to the correct scale, and wouldn't swamp the tiny pieces of cardstock.

Thanks for looking,

Oriental challenge

2009-02-07T14:33:00.002Z

Another challenge - this time my first Daring Cardmakers. The challenge was for an Oriental card without using red or black. All the embossing is in gold, although the scan makes it look black in parts. The Sakura pens that coloured the geisha are turquoise, orange and brown.

Thanks for looking.

My first sketch challenge

2009-02-05T17:00:00.003Z

As I was taking a wander around my favourite blogs this morning I noticed a sketch challenge on A Spoonful of Sugar that appealed to me, so here is my effort.

The papers are from Joanna Sheen's latest CD, Cottage Gardens; the stamp is coloured with Sakura pens.

Thanks for looking,

Seaside lighthouse scene

2009-01-04T14:30:00.004Z

This stamp was an eBay purchase last week, and is by SonLight Impressions. After making a dreadful mess of colouring my first attempts I scrapped them and started again, keeping it simple!

I used my new-ish Colorbox Cat's Eyes Queue Inkpads for the first time and really like the colours in the collection. Unfortunately, the colour names are obscured by the ink below, so I've no idea what this one is called! The paper is one of the Day At The Beach scrapbook papers by Carol Wilson.

The lower stamp is Through the Storm by Stamps Happen, but I omitted the words as they didn't fit with the card theme.

I seem to be getting better at the actual stamping lark, but embossing and colouring need a lot more practice!

A challenge

2008-12-30T12:31:00.005Z

Several members of the Stamping Mad forum join in challenges and following some of their links I eventually found the inspiration I needed for my next project.

The first was a template on the Stamping Challenge blog; the second the colours from Kristina Werner's challenge earlier this month.

Unfortunately the colours in my scanned card don't match the originals, even though they do in reality, which is a bit irritating.

I'm crafting again!

2008-12-28T17:12:00.003Z

Some people, like Tim Holtz, can do mess well, but when I do messy it turns out ... well, messy! After a couple of traumatic days of searching I at last found mini-misters and Moon Shadow Mists. I almost wish I hadn't! I had another traumatic day getting the spray everywhere but where I wanted it and in the end decided to stamp over a bit of it and see how it looked.

I had bought a second-hand Hero Arts flourish stamp and thought it might look well stamped with Versacolor burgundy. I should have used the burgundy for the Hero Arts Happy Birthday stamp as well, but it didn't stand out well enough, so instead I used jet black Stazon which I think was a mistake.

I tore the edges of card pieces, mounted them onto gold mirriboard, wrapped them with a burgundy organza ribbon, added a flower, and stuck the whole lot onto a burgundy card.

The result is not what I intended, but at least I'm crafting again!

Learn Something New - Day 6

2008-09-08T18:56:00.003+01:00

Here's the latest completed page. For the embossing I cut the cuttlebug embossing folder so the halves could be used at each end of the card front.

Thanks for looking

Learn Something New - Day 5

2008-09-07T11:29:00.002+01:00

I've decided I'm going to continue making a page a day throughout September, following Shimelle's sketches, but not the ethos of the class as I was getting far too confused, and wasn't enjoying it. Looking at the forum this morning it appears I may not be the only one as the number of people posting their daily page has dropped considerably over just five days, which is a real shame.

This is my latest Yule card, and therefore my latest page.

Thanks for looking :)

Megan

Learn Something New - day 4

2008-09-05T16:21:00.003+01:00

I can't say I'm enjoying this year's Learn Something New as much as last year's - I'm totally confused about which day I'm on, and what I'm supposed to do, so I've just made a page! As I'm also making Yule cards, this is a photo of the latest, so this is going to be an album of my cardmaking!

Learn Something New - Day 3

2008-09-05T14:55:00.003+01:00

Nothing new under the sun. When I made this Yule card last week I thought it was quite original. Then a member of the Stamping Mad forum posted some Christmas cards she had made ... and one was almost identical to mine!

Megan

Learn Something New - day 2

2008-09-04T09:35:00.003+01:00

I'm finding working a day behind very confusing - here I am, on the 4th of the month, posting a page I made on the 3rd of what happened on the 2nd. Being a bear of very little brain I think I prefer marmalade sandwiches!

The lesson I learned (two days ago) is that photographing metal is difficult. Waaaaay back in my art degree days I remember creating an elaborate open-sided 'box' of white gauze fabric in which to photograph metal sculptures without reflection, but I didn't have the wherewithal to hand.

Six by four metal challenge

2008-09-04T09:28:00.004+01:00

September's Six by Four challenge on the Stamping Mad forum is to use metal in any form. It took three attempts before I managed an image I would show to anyone!

After embossing the holly tree, and before removing the stencil, I added some of my new alcohol inks to the leaves and berries. This was a little more successful than the previous attempt on vellum, but the jury is still out on whether I like them or not.

Thanks for looking
Megan

Day One

2008-09-02T16:20:00.004+01:00

Today, the second day of September, we were to scrap something that happened yesterday - apparently we will be one day behind all though the month, which could be difficult for someone easily confused!

Yesterday I received, and tried for the first time, some alcohol inks, using them to make ATCs for this month's swap on Stamping Mad forum.

I had been warned they are messy, and they are! However, I'm not sure the final result is worth the mess - the photograph makes it look much more interesting! I'm not at all sure I like alcohol inks after all, but at least my ATCs are made very early in the month, for a change!

Learn Something New Every Day - 2008

2008-08-27T16:28:00.004+01:00

I have enrolled for Shimelle's excellent Learn Something New Every Day, as I enjoyed last year's so much. Although it doesn't start until September 1st I have been busy preparing for the first day of term.

This year I decided I didn't want a standard 6" x 6" album, so I've created a 15-page concertina-fold book, which measure 6" x 4", and it's now ready to go.

The papers I'll be using are from the Muted Mission collection in the Now That's Funky CD, by Funky Hand

This year I intend using less photography and more rubber stamping techniques. We shall see how I get on!

Two more six by four experiments

2008-08-05T17:41:00.003+01:00

I have quite a lot of large stamps by Stamp Camp, but I'm never very happy with just stampiing and colouring them - I just don't feel I get a good effect. However, I love using the stamped images in Photoshop and this is using #S167 [Floral Bamboo]

The second uses images from several smaller flower stamps by various manufacturers.

There were about 25 layers in each of these images, to build a texture gradually.

Thanks for looking :)

Six by four challenge - August

2008-08-02T09:30:00.004+01:00

This is for the first 6 x 4 challenge on the Stamping Mad forum. It's for any style of crafting, so I have chosen to combine two images from Joanna Sheen's Dancing with Shadows CD, and manipulated them in Photoshop.

Harebells by moonlight

I really enjoyed creating this, so I may add more before the end of the month!

Day 21

2008-05-10T08:00:00.000+01:00

A totally different type of doodle last night - my mind must have ben going around in circles!

Day 20

2008-05-09T08:02:00.003+01:00

Back to the combination of Sakura Micron and Marvy Le Plume pens. Instead of starting with a scribbled line, this time I tried adding one element at a time. Not sure it worked too well ...

Just Joey

2008-05-08T08:53:00.000+01:00

No doodle today - instead I spent some time yesterday on a Photoshop 'painting' of one of my favourite roses, Just Joey. Unfortunately, there's not yet any way of conveying its wonderful scent online!

Day 19

2008-05-07T07:33:00.004+01:00

Once again I used the Sakura Silver Shadow pens, to see if I like them any better, but I still can't see myself using them for anything other than doodles.

Day 18

2008-05-06T08:13:00.003+01:00

I seem to have lost about five days through not being too well, so this is probably day twenty-something-or-other, really. However, in terms of doodle-days for me, it's day eighteen ... I suspect it shows just how wishy-washy I feel at the moment! This was made with Sakura Silver Shadow pens - I can't decide if I like them or not.

The second is chalk on a navy blue background, just to try to brighten things up. I realised it wasn't really going to go anywhere, so gave that up!

Day 17 - May Day

2008-05-01T10:48:00.002+01:00

It's May Day today - the only day of the year when you can take a sprig of the May [Hawthorn] into the house without incurring bad luck! However, it's not yet Beltane, so no fires, even though it's cold enough! This little drawing was made with Sakura Micron and Marvy pens. I think I should have used a brush and a watercolour effect for the background, but I couldn't be bothered searching for my water brush!

My doodle yesterday evening was again made while the crown on The Apprentice attempted to reinvent the greetings card! Does it show? Again, Sakura Micron and Marvy Le Plume pens.

I also made a computer doodle in the wee small hours when I couldn't sleep ...

Enjoy !

Day 14 [late!]

2008-04-30T13:06:00.003+01:00

I've just discovered Day 14's doodle lurking on my computer...

Day 16

2008-04-30T09:48:00.003+01:00

Although I felt pretty rotten all yesterday, I did perk up just enough in the evening to created my doodle for the day.

Day 15

2008-04-29T07:51:00.004+01:00

I wasn't feeling 100% yesterday, so last night's doodle is a highly unimginative scribble, trying to capture the flowing lines that Lynn Taetzsch achieves. It's very easy to see why she sells her art and I don't usually show mine in public!!

Sunday playtime - part 2

2008-04-27T13:59:00.005+01:00

Once again I've been playing with some of my rubber stamps - scanning the stamped image, then manipulating them in Photoshop.

Sunday playtime

2008-04-27T11:29:00.002+01:00

Back to doodles proper this morning, again using Sakura Micron pens, and coloured with Marvy markers, which is rapidly becoming my favourite combination for doodling.

Day 13

2008-04-26T22:16:00.004+01:00

I realised that if I was going to use Photoshop to paint actual pictures, as opposed to abstracts, I would have to start learning how to use the pencils and brushes better. Unfortunately, Photoshop's descriptions aren't awfully helpful - hard brush v soft brush - which to use and for what?

I started from a photo, and what I've produced is definitely not in the David Hockney class, and I will forgive visitors for sniggering, but I'm sticking it up here so that as I improve - and surely I MUST improve with practice? - I can look back at this and have a snigger myself.

I certainly find abstracts easier, but is that a good enough reason for not trying figuarative work?

A doodle from last week has been lurking on my computer, and as I haven't actually made one today, I'll post this one instead.

Day 12a - I think!

2008-04-26T10:46:00.004+01:00

I'm slightly confused about which day I'm in - that's what comes of posting last night's last night!

This is the scribble-doodle that goes with last night's computer one, even if it is the next morning!

The doodle was created with Marvy pens on cartridge paper.

Day 12

2008-04-25T22:13:00.005+01:00

Tonight's computer doodle is derived from a stamp in my collection by Stramp Camp , and I've entitled it EarthShift. I'm really enjoying using these vivid primary and secondary colours after what seems like years of pastels!

At the moment, every day's an arty adventure, and I'm looking forward to more playtime over the weekend.

Day 11

2008-04-25T08:17:00.003+01:00

I had a lovely day yesterday, meeting a cyber-friend from America - the one for whom I made this book. She had travelled across the Atlantic, navigated Heathrow's T5 without a hitch, flown to Manchester, then taken a train to a little station in the middle of Cheshire, and she was on time.

Embarrassingly, we were late!

We got to know each other over a lovely lunch in a Cheshire hotel, and my friend seemed to like her book.

I was very tired when we reached home, and only made a quick, but I hope effective, computer doodle last night, when I learned how to make different dots!

Day 10

2008-04-24T06:57:00.004+01:00

The first doodle was created as I watched The Apprentice last night, which probably explains the lack of flowing lines!! Honestly, some of the people on that show!

My computer doodle is an experiment in creating textured backgrounds from scratch, combined with some Photoshop brushes created by Vered.

Back to the drawing board!

Day 9

2008-04-23T08:39:00.003+01:00

Last night I discovered how to make text into a circle using Photoshop, so I thought I'd use the letter 'O' for my doodle. The temptation to go back to the pure colours I love so much proved too strong - sorry if it makes your eyes funny :)

For my arty project I drew, on my graphics tablet, a small portion of the blossom I'd photographed the previous day, printed it onto smooth cardstock, and 'painted' it with Derwent Inktense pencils, taking the colour directly from the pencil with a damp brush. I used only two shades of red, underpainting the dark areas with green to make a dark brown/black colour.

Back to the drawing board!

Day 8

2008-04-22T08:47:00.003+01:00

Last night's doodle is really a scribble using Sakura Micron pens and Derwent Aquatone crayons.

My latest 'arty' project is a Photoshop-manipulated photograph of a sprig of blossom from the tree opposite my window. I used the Artistic>Cutout filter, then edged each colour individually with the darkest colour using a 1px Stroke.
Back to the drawing board!

Day 7

2008-04-21T08:38:00.005+01:00

I stayed with my graphics tablet and Photoshop for last night's doodle. I had discovered the Pantone colour swatches earlier, so made use of the gradated colours.

The drawing was a simple one, repeated and offset - something not possible with paper and ink. Although I like texture, I do prefer flat colours for this type of work, so I may well spend more time learning how to use this combination more effectively.

Sunday afternoon playtime

2008-04-20T16:43:00.003+01:00

As a change from getting my fingers dirty with chalks and pens I thought I'd extend my knowledge of Photoshop by learning some techniques that may prove useful in creating computer art. The mini-book After Denfert has obviously ensured that Victor Vasarely remains firmly in my mind, as i found myself following timidly in his footsteps. Where his feet trod, my slippers are shuffling in his wake!

Back to the drawing board - or should that be motherboard?

Day 6

2008-04-20T08:47:00.003+01:00

Last night's doodle was created using my new graphics tablet, in Photoshop, then coloured with Sakura pens. Because of the glitter in the Sakura Stardust, scanning the image proved to be impossible, so I had to photograph it instead.

This is another doodle that's decided its own name - Biker Groove ...

Project 2 is copied from a book illustration. I used to think that copying was cheating, but it's really the only way in which you can understand how effects are created, and it helps to build up your own 'vocabulary' for later use.

Back to the drawing board!

Water soluble crayons compared

2008-04-19T14:35:00.005+01:00

A forum friend very kindly sent me a set of (very artistic) scribbles made with Lyra Aquacolour water soluble crayons. I had been considering buying them, and she thought I could compare them with the two small sets of similar crayons I already have.

Although I don't have all the same colours, the following illustration shows the result of the test. The three brands compared are Lyra Aquacolour (L), Derwent Aquatone (D) and Caran d'Ache Neocolour II Aquarelle (C).
NB: Where the letter has been cut off, it should be (L)

The first thing I noticed was that the Derwent colours are more waxy, and less pigmented than the Lyra. This is also very obvious once water is brushed over the lines.

My Caran d'Ache Neocolours have no discernible point - judging from the pictures online of these, that is more my fault than theirs! I have always tried to avoid wasting any of the crayon by sharpening them, but I suspect that's not a good idea, as I find it difficult to be sure where I'm going to make the mark!

This has been a very useful experiment - now I only have to decide whether to buy a set of Lyra Aquacolours, or to increase my collection of Caran d'Ache Aquarelle. Knowing my weakness for tins full of beautiful colour, I suspect I may go for the former ...

... or there again ...

Back to the drawing board!

Day 5

2008-04-19T09:56:00.003+01:00

Derwent's Inktense water soluble pencils give "an ink-like translucence". My technique is not good enough to achieve the solid, flat colour that I was trying for on this doodle. Perhaps I would find them more suitable for flower drawings, where the variation in texture is an advantage.

I became so frustrated with my poor technique that I finished off the doodle with Caran d'Ache Neocolour crayons, used dry. This provided the deeper colours of red and yellow.

While surfing yesterday I discovered several step-by-step projects on the Derwent Pencils website. Although I only have an old set of their Graphic pencils, rather than the soluble Graphtone used in this demo, I gave it a whirl. This is the result.

Back to the drawing board!

Day 4

2008-04-18T08:05:00.003+01:00

I was a lot happier doodling last night - so much so that I did two to make up for the previous day's disappointment.

The first is a quick doodle I've entitled Elementary - as in earth, fire, water and air.

Both these doodles were made with water soluble crayons by Caran d'Ache and Derwent Aquatone. I noticed that when I applied water to coloured areas, it lifted slightly into the brush, making it paler on the paper. I seemed to remember that the opposite happens while using the Derwent Inktense pencils, and have decided that tonight's doodle will be with those for comparison.

Back to the drawing board!

Day 3

2008-04-17T10:10:00.006+01:00

Last night's doodles were disappointing, possibly because I was very tired, but mainly because I forgot I was doodling, and tried creating - and it didn't work!

My first attempt was a landscape. Yes, I know it looks like a landscape, but I also know it's not a very good landscape! I was trying out my Stampin' Up marker pens, and while the colours are good for landscapes, I found them unforgiving - more likely I don't know how to use them properaly. Something to work on, though...

I was so disgusted at my attempted landscape, I wouldn't sign it! Instead, I picked up a set of Sakura Silver Shadow pens that I've had for a while but not used apart from signing the odd card.

Initially, I doodled a loose triangle of what became flower heads, then added stems, leaves, and basal leaves/roots. I decided to quit for the night, and tried to get to sleep, but I was kept awake by a mixture of irritation, and failure. This morning the landscape still looks awful, but the flowers don't seem quite so bad.

Ah well, back to the drawing board!

Day 2

2008-04-16T09:47:00.000+01:00

Last night I scrawled the pen doodle while trying to answer questions on University Challenge, then spent the rest of the evening colouring it.

I thought I should experiment with different media, so this time I dug out my old chalk pastel pencils, as I wanted to try the paper stumps which arrived yesterday from Artifolk. At art college we always made our own, by tightly rolling cartridge paper, and I wondered if 'the real thing' was actually better.

Professional tortillions and stumps are larger, and firmer in the hand, than anything I ever made, but essentially they do the same job, and not really any more efficiently. However, they're so reasonably-priced that it's only worth bothering to make your own when bought ones aren't available.

I became so engrossed in the process of colouring that I almost forgot to stop! I was never very good at leaving white areas which add so much to a drawing or painting, and today's doodle is a good example of my shortcoming.

The cheapest way of setting the chalk is to use hair spray, spraying into the air, and moving the paper through the mist a few times. That avoids large blobs of hair spray from marring the finish.

While I was scanning the doodle, and uploading it here, the music to the Ray Stevens' song Gitarzan kept running through my head, and I realised that the doodle had reminded me of a guitar man, complete with fanciful top hat, and so I've named it accordingly!

A-doodle-a-day

2008-04-15T12:36:00.004+01:00

Inspired first by Kevin King's fonts and artwork, then by the daily drawings of New York artist, Lynne Taetzsche, I decided to embark on a doodle a day.

Many years ago, while at art college, I could draw after a fashion, although I was never one of those natural artists whose work always rather demoralised me. Once I left I stopped drawing as I felt I would never be good enough.

I've been persuaded by forum friends to add my doodle-a-day to my blog, so here goes.

Day 1

The black pen is from the Sakura Micron set of five, with different-sized nibs, and the ink is permanent once dried. Colouring was with Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils. These are also permanent once wetted then dried, so layers of colour may be built up without disturbing lower layers. I'm using 200 gsm white cartridge paper which I know will stand up well to wetting/drying cycles.

... and if anyone sniggers .... !!!

Many years from now ...

2008-04-08T14:18:00.009+01:00

Yesterday was my birthday, and as I lay in bed contemplating the day ahead I wondered how old I was! I then wondered where the years had gone, and what I'd achieved in that time. That was the inspiration for this book.

Cover papers are by Hot Off the Press, and the pages are made from an A1 sheet of 220 gsm artist's cartridge paper. All decoration is using easy-blend stencil paint with (mainly) plastic stencils.

As the inner pages contain some personal details they aren't shown in any detail.

I received loads of beautiful cards from forum members , and was also very honoured to be sent Sheena's first beautiful flag book as a card. Isn't it great?

After Denfert

2008-04-04T19:34:00.006+01:00

This small pop-out concertina book is a homage to the op-artist who inspired me many, many years ago, Victor Vasarely. The title refers to my favourite periods of Vasarely's work, those that came after the period he was in Denfert.

The book size is 3" square, and the papers are by Dovecraft. The miniature 'art works' were created in Photoshop, something that wasn't available to Vasarely when he created his masterpieces.

This is a rough draft for a larger project I would like to undertake sometime in the future.

My first - pocket book

2008-04-04T11:11:00.005+01:00

My plans for another 'seaside' book were put on hold when I heard from a cyber-friend that she would be flying in from America towards the end of the month - on her birthday. As we would be meeting soon after her touch-down I decided I'd make her a 'vacation memories' book.

Each page gives some white paper for jotting notes, and a pocket to hold small pieces of memorabilia, such as train tickets or postcards, as she travels around the country.

It measures 6" x 4.25" x 1", and is again made with two matching Brenda Pinnington scrapbook papers.

It was only once it was too late that I realised ribbon closures might have been useful, in case my friend collects as much memorabilia as I do!

I'm really enjoying making books, and already have my next on planned ... and no, it's not about the seaside!

My first - flag book.

2008-04-01T14:04:00.000+01:00

Here's my first attempt at a flag book. It didn't turn out quite as I intended - I cut the flags too small - so, like Topsy it sort of grew instead.

The title is S3, or Sky, Sand and Sea. The cover and spine papers are from Brenda Pinnick again, the gold panel on the front is one of the Kings Foils, and the title is computer generated in Photoshop.

I'm now wondering which form to try next. Watch this space!

My first - Japanese accordian mini-book

2008-03-25T12:32:00.004Z

Entitled 368, this mini-book is my first attempt at a Japanese accordian book. The pages measure 3" x 6", and there are eight usable sides (four pages). The content covers (in brief!) the 368 days between my last day at school and my wedding day.

The pages are made from Rob and Bob Studio scrapbook papers; the cover is cardstock by Die Cuts With a View. Numbers are coloured with Sakura pens.

I think I now feel confident enough to attempt a more complicated and substantial book.

Floral mini-book challenge

2008-03-23T17:30:00.002Z

Challenge is the right word! When I dreamed up my idea of a flower-shaped book for the challenge, it seemed such a good idea, but when I sent out my pages to the other participants there was a little wailing and, I suspect, some gnashing of teeth...

However, they all produced beautiful pages as you will see below. I decided that today would be the day that I put my book together. It would only take a few minutes, I told myself ...

My plans had included sewing the book with invisible thread ...

It took me four hours and three attempts, then once it was assembled I realised there was no way a cover would fit neatly onto it, so I now have a beautiful ... erm ... pendant mini-book!

I tried to put the names against each page, but being a bear of very little brain, I'm not clever enough for that, so I hope I get them in the right order. Pages are from Marion, Santtu, Roberta, Vivienne, Billie, Annie and Lynn.

The final page is my own, and is my first attempt at both tapestry stamps and flower soft.

On to the next project ...

My first ... circle accordian book

2008-03-22T18:00:00.000Z

Last Yule I bought myself a couple of surprise presents as usual, something I began about ten years ago. I wrap them up, label them from me to me with love, and put them under the tree with all the others. Each year I'm so glad I did, as my husband and son seem to think I appreciate little kitchen gadgets ....

One of my 'surprises' last year was Alisa Golden's Expressive Handmade Books - a fantastic book that is very reasonably-priced, and full of beautiful diagrams and loads of useful information.

In February the Stamping Mad Forum's Virtual Crafting Challenge was on Inks, and I used the opportunity to catalogue some of my stamps. I noticed I had quite a few daisy stamps and threatened to make a mini-book called A Field of Daisies.

Now that my playroom is organised and tidy I have time to try my hand at one of the books illustrated in Alisa Golden's book, so for my first try at a circle accordian book, I have made A Field of Daisies. Here are a few photographs of the (almost) finished book - there are a few empty pages awaiting new stamps I have on order ...

The pages are made from a Brenda Pinnick Scrapbook Paper Pad. I had started off by painting my own background paper, but it refused to lie flat when dry! Back to the drawing board on that one - in fact, I should really have stretched the paper properly first, but I was in too much of a hurry to get started...

Circle accordian book opened up to show its form.

For this I used the central part of the small Windsong Treasure Box stamp and coloured with Marvy pens.

Stamp is Inca's Daisy Squares, coloured with Pearly Watercolour paints from The Works (offline until April).

Various punches used on iridescent cardstock.

I'm now looking forward to my next handmade book... when I can think of a subject ...

Full of Folds - Virtual Crafting Challenge for March

2008-03-20T15:30:00.002Z

I have always been fascinated by the sculptural elements created by folds, and although I had bought a couple of books on the subject I hadn't made any serious attempt to coopy or create such paper sculptures.

The Stamping Mad March Virtual Crafting Challenge provided just the right opportunity.

Here are some of the resulting paper/card sculptures.

Above: four simple curved folds in an A4 sheet of printer paper.

Above: two curved folds with a small section cut - hammered cardstock scrap.

Above: parallel equal folds with random horizontal cuts - thin cream cardstock

Above: angled folds with circular cuts - white cardstock

Above: angled folds and circular cut - white cardstock

Above: angled folds and circular cut - white hammered cardstock

Above: curved folds from centre point of a regular hexagon - white hammered cardstock

Above: vertical folds, horizontal cuts and random angled folds - pre-coloured linen cardstock.

Above: sheet of A4 printer paper folded into a solid facetted shape.
Based on a project by Paul Haeberli (1994)

There is a lot of beautiful curved fold papercrafting online by Richard Sweeney, and the late Dr David Huffman. Other articles on Origami Mathematics are also very useful for anyone who wants to have a go for themselves.

My playroom

2008-03-17T12:40:00.002Z

It's taken over two weeks but at last I've FINISHED sorting my stash, and my room's now ready for playtime! This is the view diagonally across the room from the door.

I'm not superstitious, so working round the room widershins [anti-clockwise] first there is a cupboard fitted with strong, deep drawers. The top two drawers contain cards and envelopes, stored in polythene bags by type. The third is full to the brim with rolls of tissue paper, rice paper, wallpaper, wrapping paper, etc. The next has stamping accessories, although most of the ink pads and all the stamps are in my bedroom cupboard. In the bottom drawer are old family photographs waiting to be scanned.

The vegetable rack in front of the drawers is for pulling up to my desk to hold equipment I'm using on any particular project.

The shelf immediately above the drawers holds all my scrapbooking papers, cardstock and some embellishments.

The small metal filing cabinet holds ... erm ... filing ... including user manuals, etc. Pergamano and dry embossing equipment is in the top drawer, and my sorting means I have a spare drawer in the middle. I doubt it will stay empty for long - my flower soft order arrived this morning!

n top of the filing cabinet is a large box of finished cards, surmounted by a large drawing board and my Rotatrim. I have taped a large bag to the side to take all the waste, although much seems to end up on the floor no matter how hard I try...

Next we come to glass shelves backed by mirror tiles, which provides added light to that part of the room. Yarn, embroidery threads, buttons, beads, and other small embellishments are stored here.

Under the glass shelves is the bureau, where all my punches are now stored ...

On the next wall the shelves are mainly filled with cardstock, sorted by colour. The top shelf holds magazines, books, etc. The thick lever-arch file with the flowery cover contains templates, while the blue one to the left is all Hot off the Press papers.

The computer desk is on the far right of the window wall, then my work table, supported on two units. The right-hand one is metal, with shallow drawers. These hold all the cardstock and papers for computer use, including photographic papers. There are currently two empty drawers ... but again, not for long!

The little plastic chest of drawers on top of the work table holds the things I use every day - glues, scissors, knives, pencils, water brushes, etc.

This is the view of the garden that I have when sitting at my work table. There's a bird feeder just to the left of the window and most days there's a constant stream of small birds coming to feed.

The left side of my work table is supported on a simple shelving unit. The top section holds brads and eyelets that I use most of the time. The next two shelves have various score boards, with bone folders in the upper, and rules and straight edges in the lower. The lowest shelf contains peel-offs separated by colour in boxes. In the gap at the bottom I keep a cat litter tray - no, I don't have a cat, it's for catching embossing powder or glitters!

To the left of that unit is one I bought from Wilkinson's last week, with 6 A4-sized drawers. I used to store my scraps of card in a big cardboard box, but now it's neatly sorted by colour groupings, and is now accessible when I'm embossing.

I had been wondering where I could keep my Score-it board, but the top of this new unit has turned out to be the ideal place!

The final wall starts with a shelving unit that houses my television and video recorder. Fortunately there is also plenty of room for more storage! This time the boxes on the two top shelves hold 'work in progress', so I have no excuse for not finishing at least some of the projects! The boxes on the bottom shelf are mainly kits, although a couple contain die cuts which I look at from time to time, then don't get round to using!

The biggest item of furniture in the room is a lovely sideboard. The top section has glass doors and I've managed to keep that just for 'pretties' - nice glassware and other things that bring back happy memories.

The centre shelf in this is ideal for my Wizard and Sizzix machines, with their own light. There's also space for my Talking Books machine, which keeps me company a lot of time I'm working.

Tucked behind the door is my colouring corner.
Top shelf: Twinkling H20s stored without lids in peel-off boxes; Metallic Rub-Ons, also in peel-off box; stencil paints and large stencils; Art Institute glitters and glues.
Second shelf: Ikan'dee chalks; Sakura paintbox; Perfect Pearls in a Terry's Old Gold chocolate box!
Third shelf: Sakura pen rolls; Stampin' Up pen roll; Marvy pen roll; watercolour pencil roll [three sets amalgamated into one roll] and [standing up] paint brush roll.

So, that's it! It's been a very long, very hard struggle at times, and although 'the journey is the thing' I'm so glad to have arrived at my destination!

There's just one problem. I'm scared to get anything out in case I make it untidy again!

December quote challenge

2007-12-06T19:31:00.001Z

From the offered quotes I chose "Understand that life is not fair." Whilst working on my son's birthday album I had found this long-forgotten photo, and couldn't resist using it for the challenge.

Unlike the previous pages, this one is digital, created solely using Adobe Photoshop, which is much quicker than cutting and sticking! However, I don't find it quite so satisfying as 'the real thing'!

Megan

December We Love Flowers Challenge

2007-12-03T20:55:00.000Z

This challenge was to create a layout using only red flowers, with the same colour appearing elsewhere in the layout.

The 'Red Fairy' rose bush is outside my front door and has been particularly beautiful this year.

I couldn't decide what to use as a background, then remembered the fairy-like background paper on Joanna Sheen's 'Dancing with Shadows' CD. I liked the single strip of them top and bottom of the page.

My first scrapbook challenge!

2007-12-02T20:02:00.000Z

Although I'm in the middle of a major scrapping project for my son's birthday present, I stumbled upon the challenges section of Scrapbook.com, and just had to join up and join in!

The December Colour Challenge is to create a layout [LO] using only black and white, with one other colour. An extra point would be awarded for using a black and white photograph as well.

Here is my first challenge entry. Hope you like it

The paper was downloaded free from Scrapbookscrapbook. I was so pleased with my downloads that I made a small donation through PayPal.

The photograph was originally a coloured one, which I manipulated in Photoshop by making it greyscale.

Can't wait to join in my next challenge.

Megan

Day 30 - the final day!

2007-09-30T17:49:00.000+01:00

The leaves of brown came tumbling down ...

This was the sight from my workroom window this morning, even though there was little wind. It was the first time this year that I've seen it this year. Autumn is on the way.

For the final page of my first scrapbook I have gone minimal, but I'm unhappy with my small handwriting. Either a lot more practice is needed, or I'll stick with Bradley Hand font!

Tomorrow I start another album - I don't want to get out of the newly-acquired habit.

Day 29

2007-09-30T17:43:00.001+01:00

Today's prompt was to be a pair with yesterday's page - something hard to forget. Finding the decoupage image I went with:

It's hard to forget happy school days.

Although I didn't play hockey I was certainly a rebel !

Day 28

2007-09-28T14:43:00.001+01:00

This is a left-over from Wednesday's page where I felt frayed and snowed under. One of the reasons was that each day I had got something new out, but not got around to putting them away again, thinking I might need them the next day. We've all been there, haven't we?

The close-up on my work space is a reminder that it's much easier to spend a couple of minutes tidying away at the end of each session than to embark on a blitz every month - if I can face it!

Day 27

2007-09-27T17:34:00.001+01:00

I'm not good at introspection, and I find that the most difficult part of this class. So, today I took the easy way out, choosing to celebrate the changing season, and remind myself that nature provides a wonderful bounty for those who take the time to look.

Day 26

2007-09-27T17:23:00.000+01:00

On the 26th day, when I took stock of how much I had to do - and most were things I wanted to do - I just didn't know where to start, so did nothing!

I felt 'frayed at the edges' and 'snowed under', with everything 'getting on top of me'. I used a brilliant cartoon purloined from the internet, and piled amost all the other elements on top of it.
Unfortunately I can't identify the artist to ask permission to reproduce it, or give him/her the credit s/he's due. Any help on that would be much appreciated.

Day 25

2007-09-27T17:20:00.001+01:00

On this page we were asked to show something outside the restrictions of the class. Regular scrapbookers were encouraged to make a sample of their scrapping style. Non-scrappers could focus on another craft.

My main hobby is cardmaking, and this is a little stamped, coloured and matted 'thank you' card I made recently.

Day 24

2007-09-27T17:16:00.000+01:00

Bread, especially home-made bread, is my big downfall in controlling my weight. The tag should read "If you can't stand the smell stay out of the kitchen"!

Day 23

2007-09-23T19:35:00.000+01:00

This page was to be linked visually to the previous one, so I took it one step further. From the shady nook on the opposite page I can see the bed of poppies in the middle of summer. They are descendants of those in our garden 'at home' more than half a century ago. I've moved some to every garden I've had.

Day 22

2007-09-23T19:17:00.001+01:00

Today we needed a a simple message, a simple layout, and something we appreciate, no matter how unimportant to life as a whole. My page came from something that seemed sad at the time, but has turned out rather well.

If the old apple tree hadn't died, and the big evergreen shrub hadn't outgrown its space, and if the old paving stones hadn't been the right size, and the bench hadn't fitted neatly, I wouldn't have my shady nook. No babbling brook, but there is a trickling pond just out of shot. :)

Day 21

2007-09-21T15:03:00.000+01:00

A cryptic page; one that means something to me, but would require explanation to anyone else - should I choose to provide it.

Quiz players [and climbers] know that Scafell Pike is the highest peak in England, and it's height - pre metrication - was 3210 feet. The mnemonic for remembering its height was easy - 0123 backwards. But along came metrication, and now its official height is 978 metres. And that comes to 3208.6 feet. Of course, Scafell Pike might have shrunk, but personally I blame metrication!

Day 20

2007-09-20T16:00:00.001+01:00

Two-thirds of the way through the class! It's fairly flying by.

This time we were to identify something to look forward to on hectic or dismal days. I'm looking forward to my bedroom being decorated, and so spent some time on the Dulux website, looking for ideas.

I'm not too keen on today's design idea, using pieces of patterned paper to create a type of frame - I don't think I will be using it again.

Day 19

2007-09-20T10:14:00.001+01:00

Today we were asked to think of someone who had affected our lives, perhaps without ever meeting them. I was immediately reminded of Joyce Grenfell, who achieved so much more than "George, don't do that!"

I was a great fan of Joyce Grenfell's work, and always intended to write to thank her for the pleasure she gave me. Then she died, and it was too late.

Since then, whenever someone's performance has particularly impressed or moved me I have written such letters immediately, and have had some lovely replies.

In designing the layout of the page, we were asked to create curves with anything to hand. I used a CD for the semi-circle in the patterned paper, and a cup to isolate the face. I added the quote Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today, and hand- wrote the name. I still don't like my own writing!

Day 18

2007-09-19T09:13:00.001+01:00

Today's page was to focus on a funny mistake that we had made, so this incident fitted the bill admirably.

Just last week we were baffled by the mysterious appearance of a pen alongside the cooking eggs in the breakfast frying pan. Was it supernatural? Did we have a poltergeist?

No, but it did take a few minutes to work out what had happened. When I picked up the lid from the counter top to cover the eggs and steam the tops rather than basting, somehow the pen had stuck to its underside, and fallen off into the pan.

Oh, and the pen still worked after a wash in soapy water, and the taste of the eggs was not affected!

Day 17

2007-09-19T09:07:00.001+01:00

This page was to be a mirror image of yesterday's layout, but with a twist. We also had to think about a lesson that we needed to constant re-learn, and for me it concerns eating healthily and losing weight.

I used the picture from the box of my new scales as the illustration, and once again used my own handwriting for the tags "One pound at a time = success", as a reminder that I have to be more patient.

Day 16

2007-09-17T14:32:00.000+01:00

This page should have marked the half-way point of the class. We were asked to try to use a photograph of ourself, and to identify whether out reasons for taking the class have changed as it progressed.

My motivation originally was just to do something different, but as I've searched through old photographs I've seen what a bad state they have got into, even though they were in 'proper' photo albums. Now my aim is to rescue and restore them, and leave at least one scrapbook that my son can browse through in the future.

Day 15

2007-09-17T14:29:00.000+01:00

I was rather disobedient, and have not done as teacher decreed! Because today's date is always been a rather special one for me I swapped today's task with that for tomorrow.

The picture flaps down to reveal the following text:

The Battle of Britain, which lasted officially from July 10th until October 31st 1940, was the only battle to be staged in military warfare that was ever to be fought entirely in the air, even to this day. It was to turn the tide for the whole future of WWII. Had the Battle of Britain been lost, German forces would have invaded Great Britain and would then have had total domination of Northern Europe and possibly have succeeded in being a world power.

It also documents two significant deaths in air crashes that occured today - Colin Macrae, who was killed when his helicopter crashed, and Brian Brown, whose Hawker Hurricane crashed at Shoreham Air Show.

Day 14

2007-09-17T13:53:00.000+01:00

Today's lesson required a triptych, so I chose a faded, rather jaded, old photograph of Bradda Head on the Isle of Man. I also decided to risk my own writing on the page. It isn't quite as bad as it might have been, but I certainly prefer Bradley Hand font!

"I must go down to the seas again" is a quotation from Sea Fever, by John Masefield, and acts as a reminder to me that photographs are not as good as the real thing. I must get down to the seas soon.

Day 13

2007-09-14T17:48:00.000+01:00

Today's class was one that we were to use at a future date - unless we had something applicable aready. It was about learning a big lesson the hard way - perhaps from something we had done wrong.

I hasten to add that my page doesn't actually fits the bill too well in terms of message, but it does document a little incident that happened today. Although I'm having a little dig at my husband, we are still friends.

Day 12

2007-09-13T20:19:00.001+01:00

Today we were asked to observe the changes in the outside world. I chose to do so literally, by photographing something right against my bedroom window.

We also were to frame our photograph - I tried a variety of methods but found a ball of furry yarn whose colours matched both the photograph and the patterned papers in the album.

Day 11

2007-09-12T21:28:00.000+01:00

Today we were asked to document some little gratitude. This coincided with my six-monthly hospital check up, so my gratitude to a family I have never met, and to all those who took care of me, is so great it is difficult to express.

I tried to do something different, although why on earth I chose that shape for the picture of six-months's worth of medication is now totally beyond me. It just seemed like a good idea at the time!

Day 10

2007-09-12T21:25:00.000+01:00

This and day eleven's page are linked by chance rather than design. Today's is occasioned by the the immorality of one family, whereas tomorrow's is about another family's selfless generosity.

The details of the will are hidden inside the illustration, but suffice it to say that solicitors have been engaged, and the will is being contested.

Day 9

2007-09-10T16:11:00.001+01:00

Following the shock occasioned by the scaled on Saturday, Sunday was spent planning my eating plan for the foreseeable future.

The illustration is an indication of my breakfasts each day - unless it's my lunch! The little concertina book on the page outlines the mini-plan for a mini-me. Wish me luck!

Day 8

2007-09-09T14:05:00.001+01:00

On Saturday morning I stood on the scales.

Need I say more?

Day 7

2007-09-07T15:08:00.000+01:00

I saw a news item about Hadley Learning Community, near Telford, Shropshire, England, and thought it was such a brilliant concept that I should record it in my journal. I managed to find a coloured plan of the area on the internet, so that forms the main illustration on the page. Details of the schools as they are at the moment are in the folded pink card.

In a few years time, when I'm leafing through my old albums, I will probably check to see how well the concept has stood the test of time. It has all the hallmarks of the way education should go - I do hope it works.

Day 6

2007-09-07T14:57:00.000+01:00

This was a bittersweet day. At breakfast I heard that Luciano Pavarotti had died. Although I'm not a great opera-lover, I do recognise that Pavarotti probably did more than any other singer to bring opera to the people.

I heard one story told that he had performed in Sheffield, but his voice was not good as he had been ill. He apologised to the audience, and told them that he would come back and sing for them when he was better, and that their tickets would be valid. He did return and true to his word all tickets were accepted for the performance.

Then I had lunch at Frankie and Benny's with my friend - a musician - who was celebrating her 50th birthday. The meal was disgustingly crammed with carbohydrates and fats and simply delicious! We both chose the East-Coast sundae for dessert. These consist of toffee and chocolate ice-cream, chocolate sauce, chocolate pieces, chocolate malt balls and mini marshmallows ... but we did choose low calorie/low carbohydrate drinks ...

Day 5

2007-09-06T09:40:00.000+01:00

"Today I learned that ice is hot"!

According to the Hot Ice website:

Olympic, World and European figure skating champions are getting ready once again to amaze audiences at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool with their sheer skill and speed - as they have done every year since 1937 in the world’s oldest purpose-built ice arena (as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records).

In my page I used my ticket, together with the words 'hot' and 'ice' from the shows advertisements. It will be a great reminder of a great show!

Day 4

2007-09-06T09:20:00.001+01:00

The journalling of the full story behind the 'do it yourself' tag is safely hidden within the little envelope. Suffice it to say it concerns politely requesting a husband (who has nothing better to do than the Times crossword) to move the pots of miniature daffodil bulbs into the garden - on five consecutive days!

Day 3

2007-09-03T13:02:00.000+01:00

I found it easier going today - I had decided yesterday what picture I would use, as it was a continuation of yesterday's memories of the National Botanical Gardens of Wales. When we visited in 2003 everything was still very new, and I would like to return one day to see how it has grown.

The photograph of the lake linked in very nicely with my thoughts on my son's current ambition. He wants to swim down the Thames! No, he doesn't intend dodging the pleasure cruisers outside the Houses of Parliament, but the part of the Thames that runs through beautiful Gloucestershire countryside.

He is allergic to the chlorine in swimming pools so trains in a mere [meres are small lakes in hollows created by glacial action] in Cheshire.

Day 2

2007-09-03T05:00:00.000+01:00

I found today's class much more difficult than yesterday's Title Page - firstly because I was thwarted by dead batteries in my camera, then by heavy rain!

Instead of snapping the beautiful orange berries clustered on one of my Pyracantha bushes I idly looked through some of the many photographs I've taken over the years. I remembered there was a relevant tag in my collection - the one to the right of the page - so I decided to go with old photos which had never been in any of my albums.

I always try to live for today, while looking forward. The photos I found today gave me the opportunity to look back with pleasure. I learned there's nothing wrong with a bit of nostaliga occasionally, so long as you don't live in the past!

A new month, a new challenge

2007-09-02T04:30:00.000+01:00

Today I started my first online class - scrapbooking with Shimelle. Rather nervously I crept into the Yahoo group early this morning, and found a place to sit. Many of the others seemed to be old hands at this scrapbooking lark, so I do hope I'm not out of my depth.

After printing off the welcome email and the three pieces of information - Getting Started, Supplies and Title Page - I settled down to scour my stash of 12" x 12" papers that I have been hoarding!

I decided on some from the Rob and Bob collection as they are designed to go well together, so I can't get things too wrong ... I hope!

By evening I had my title page completed, and breathed a sigh of relief. It hadn't been too difficult, and I was moderately pleased with my work even though I can see so many imperfections now it's done!

Shimelle's motivational statement

2007-09-01T19:30:00.000+01:00

Shimelle has writen a motivational statement for the class to use in their blogs:

This September, I'm going back to school. In my own little world. I've got a book and a pen and I'm going to record what I learn from life. I believe I really can learn something new every day. I'll share what I'm learning in the form of pages from my book, posted right here on my blog.

I'm not alone: lots of crafty ladies are learning and recording right along with me. See their work here and here. Learn more about our project here.

Forum header

2007-01-01T19:00:00.004Z