A class from...

...ATDML by Jane Hewitt.

I have to admit that I had totally forgotten about a recent ATDML cybercrop until I saw a lovely creation over on Virginia's blog.

Jane's class was to create a folio - along the lines of the ones designed by Tim Holtz that can be bought. So I thought I'd have a play.

Here is the basic folio...

 ...doesn't look much until you open it up...

...and then you find a mass of pockets, flaps & pages that you can decorate however you wish. This one will eventually be decorated in greens & lemons - I have the papers but I sort of got distracted.

I had a pack of 8x8 kraft card blanks and they were perfect to use for this project.

Having already made one folio, it was quite a quick affair to put this together...

...using the G45 "A Christmas Carol". At the moment only the outside is covered with PP but there is no decoration and I haven't even made a start on decorating the inside - so it is a 'work in progress'.

Jane's basic idea is fabulous and her instructions are easy to follow so why not hop over to ATDML and have a look...and perhaps a little play. The folio is a great size and can be adapted for lots of occasions.

I promise I will show you both of the folios when they are finished..............................................

Rocking your World...

...Friday has come around again.

What's it all about? Well as Virginia would say...

"Friday - a time to reflect and give thanks on the last 7 days, find those silver linings and smile as you kick back and appreciate those parts of your life that make life that bit easier, that bit better and that bit more pleasant than it otherwise would have been because its...

I've been MIA for a couple of weeks from the WRYW line-up - not intentional but the time has just sliped away from me.

So what's been rocking my world this week?

Saturday - watching a fabulous demo by Andy Skinner. To see what he can do with some gesso, paint, ink and a paint stripper (yes I said a paint stripper) is amazing. No namby-pamby heat gun for Mr Skinner...he really goes for it with his heat variable paint stripper gun - he had the burnt paper and oatmeal to prove it **hehe**

Sunday - time spent over at Mum's...no having to dash anywhere, nothing urgent to do - bliss.

Monday - my fluffy fingerless gloves from '99p Store' came into their own. The office was sooooooooooooo cold (hasn't improved much all week) and my hands were like ice until I put the gloves on - at least that part of me was nice and toasty.

Tuesday - HEAT...at home that is. As I type this I am touching wood with every available part of me as I don't want to tempt fate. My central heating packed up on Christmas Eve last year and I've been making do with a couple of electic heaters (very expensive & and not very effective). 3 times new parts have been obtained and 3 times I've had heating for less than a day...different man this time and after 30 mins tinkering...HEAT (and it's still going).

Wednesday - had a giggle in Wilkinsons buying supplies for Annette West's mini book class over on the UKS CyberCrop...why?...MATCHBOXES...haven't bought any matches since my Advent box making sessions and I clearly remembered the strange looks I got for taking so many boxes of matches to the checkout...only 4 (big) boxes this time LOL

Thursday - start of a new month and the start of Kerryanne English's "Simply Christmas" event.

She has done us proud again this year with the most beautiful downloads for a Christmas planner.

The artwork on these download pages is fabulous.

Friday - last day at work before the weekend...yipee!!!...

So, why not share what's been rocking your world this week. Hop on over to Virginia's blog for links to other folk's "Rocking" posts and why not join in...................

Mystery Kit...

...the reveal.

One of the elements of a CyberCrop over at UKScrappers is the team Mystery Kit - a box of scrapping goodies put together by one of the Sponsors for a specific team at a super price. The number of kits are usually limited in number so it can be a bit of a scramble to try and nab one.

With this box of goodies you have to create something...a mini-book, LOs, a piece of paper engineering...anything you like but there are conditions that you must obey...

You must not discuss the contents of the kit with anyone - not even fellow teamies.

You must only use what comes in/with the kit i.e. the the kit and any packaging - except for a list of specific allowable additions (black/white plain CS or paper, black/white ink, thread, anytype of glue, any tools - inc. stamps, I think you get the idea).

It can be pretty difficult when faced with the contents of the box to decide what to make and it makes it so much harder when you can't chat about it with your team to get ideas - still, that's part of the fun and challenge.

I decided to make a stationery box...

...the base being constructed from white CS and given a bit more stability with some black CS panels before being decorated with some of the PP provided in the kit.
When the lid is taken off...

...the front drops down to reveal the contents.
I made a few note cards...

...using up the odds and ends of PP that I used to decorate the box.
The mini-album is made from the greyboard that was supplied...

...and decorated with more PP. The pages have been made from white CS and as there were no book rings and only a limited amount of ribbon - I went with CS hinges to fix it all together and more of the CS was used to wrap the spine.
The stationery box has 3 sections for storage...

...and I will probably add some more bits-n-bobs after the CC has finished.
The little note cards are perfect for a quick 'thank you' or...

...just a quick keep in touch sort of message. I kept the decoration fairly simple as I am trying to be more 'postage aware' with my card makes.

No-one gets to see anything that has been made until the gallery is opened for voting - that in itself can be a bit stressful as you can't see if you have up-loaded it correctly due to it being a 'hidden gallery'.

The kit was fab and I still have quite a bit left which I'll be able to make good use of. From choice...if I had been using these PPs without any restrictions, I would probably have chosen kraft CS or brown/cream as my additional items - but hey!...that's part of the fun of the challenge....................................

The Mosgots are...

...ready to fly.

Before I explain what a 'mosgot' is, I just wanted to prove that my desk is still tidy...

...even after 'mosgot' construction LOL

It seems kinda bland just saying it was a 'typo' but that's how it started.

When UKS have a CyberCrop it has been a sort of tradition to have a Mascot Swap - usually an exchange of small cuddly toys that the recipient can sit on their desk/work area.

Someone asked if there was going to be a swap this time but instead of 'mascot' it printed as 'mosgot'...so The Detectives are having an ATC Mosgot Swap (sounds much more fun than mascots LOL).

These are my five completed and ready to wing off to Suzie...

...who is acting as swap host for the event.

I went with some cheery 'menguins' (no that is not another typo - it's what we have always jokingly called them in our family)

You might have noticed that there are some little menguins below the ATCs...these are little 'mosgots' that the recipients will be able to use in any way they like (there are a variety of mini menguins so they might not match the image on the front of the ATC (and they will be snuggling inside the ATC for their journey).

I actually made 6 of these so that I could keep one...

...as you can see - this little chappie has made himself at home on my nice tidy storage stack.

Never having made an ATC before (I don't think you can count the samples that we made at one of Andy's "Tim style" days) I didn't realise how difficult it could be to make something soooooooooooooooooo small. Worse than that, I was worried that my efforts would be woeful against the creations of the others in the swap. Never mind - we're all in it for the fun so I hope folk will like these when they recieve them.

Suzie; they are heading to the seaside and will be in the post to you tomorrow......................................

Are you sitting down...

...as this could come as a shock!

In the previous post I showed you my desk after clearing enough space to set down a cuppa.

Well...I got home from work and once I'd had something to eat, I got stuck in.

I started by clearing everything off apart from the PC...

...and everywhere got a good clean (it couldn't have been that dirty - could it?) gosh the grime that came off was awful. I know PCs attract the dust but really...

I finally moved the PC to where I've wanted it for ages - no more sitting at a funny angle...

...so much easier. The blotter that I bought I don't know how many years ago is now out of the packet and on the desk - perfect as it has a wrist rest for when I'm typing.

A close-up folks of a few of the plastic trays that I bought when Artbase closed its b&m store. At last a place to keep things tidy on the desk...

...and as they are 12x12 trays, everything that I need craftwise is to hand.

I have to say, I'm pretty darn pleased with this evenings efforts.....................

A Little bit of...

...pre-Cyber-Crop organisation.

My 'planner' is sorted...

...I always set up a folder for CCs as I like to keep a hard copy of the classes and challenges for future ref.

A very simple project of labelling up a ring binder...

...filling it with plastic pockets and printing off the items to be stored there. Quick and very easy.

I have a whole set of these dating back to the first CC I did which was the UKS 5th Birthday celebration - doesn't time fly.

Chief Woozle briefed us on preparation for the CC and suggested we get our working 'space' (???) tidy and ready for action...

...I've made a start - I actually have space to put down my cup now LOL..........................

First Pre-cybercrop challenge...

...was to create a Birthday card.

After all, it is UKScrappers' 10th Birthday. So here is my card...

...it was suggested that Red/White/Blue should be the colour theme as those are the forum colours for UKS.

The image is one I coloured a while ago...

...lucky enough, I coloured two versions of this stamp and one was R/W/B.

Made use of some of the Jubilee themed stash that I bought earlier in the year...

...Portabello Road dotty paper and a Kanban die-cut.

Now comes the fun bit...it is rather a long time since there was a cybercrop on UKS and I've got to try and remember how to upload piccies - wish me luck folks LOL............................................

What's Rocking your World Friday...

...on a Saturday (at least it's a day earlier than last week LOL).

If you still aren't sure what this is all about, hop over to Virginia's blog where she will give you a bit more detail - but in a nut-shell...it is taking the time to look back over the last 7 days and share the lovely things that have brightened your world.

So, what has rocked my world this week...

Hotwater bottles - the weather has been so damp & chilly this week that it has been lovely to snuggle up on the sofa of an evening with a fleece covered hotwater bottle in front of the TV.

Cybercrops - it seems sooooooooooooooo long since there was a CC over on UKScrappers but there is one starting at the end of this month (with a few things taking place in the run-up). I signed up and was allocated to the Detectives team. It has been fun 'meeting up' with old friends who I haven't seen much of since the last CC.

Visiting with family - it was lovely to get a chance to spend some time with my niece who was on a brief visit to the UK from Germany. Shame she wasn't able to take advantage of the 30% off weekend at Pinnacle Crafts and even more of a shame that the weather was so grotty Tuesday evening...but it was lovely to see her and spend some time with her.

Jacket Potatoes - we have a cafe near the office who serve the most MAHOOSIVE jacket spuns you could possibly imagine. Filled with bolognaise (sp?) they are just fab.

Shops - the real bricks & mortar type...not on-line virtual ones. I don't like ordering stuff on-line if I haven't had a chance to see it in the flesh and I certainly don't like having to pay huge amounts of P&P, so it was great that I found out the big John Lewis store in Westfield (Stratford) stocks Liz Earle toiletries. I was able to pick up one of the limited edition Cleanse & Polish - smells devine. Also whilst in Westfield I popped into HMV to look for the Daniel Craige Bond films - they only had one but it was really cheap - £3. However, I didn't get it. They had the 50th anniversary box set of all 23 Bond movies reduced to just over £40...well, it would have been rude not to take advantage of the bargain.

Friends - just spending some 'girly' time wandering around craft shops and having coffee & cake, whilst not really being in a rush to be anywhere else (even if I did end up spending more than I intended LOL).

Dark evenings - I love & hate these. I really don't enjoy leaving for work in the dark or returning the same way but it is lovely to snuggle up on the sofa in front of the fire with the lights dimmed and just watch some TV - seems so much more cosy.

Haven't done a lot of crafting this week and haven't taken many photos but I came across this pic on-line.

The dark clouds give this photo a very moody feel.

Well that was what rocked my week, why don't you hop over to Virginia's blog and see what is rocking the world for the other Rockettes..................................

Has your Mojo gone missing...

...or is you creativity comatose?

If so, get yourself over to UKScrappers (link in my sidebar) and sign up for the coming Cybrecrop.

It will be taking place October 26th through to November 4th...with a number of challenges beforehand to get the creative juices flowing.

This event is being run in a far more relaxed way this time so that no-one feels pressured to make stuff they are not happy with just to meet a deadline or to add to the team points total. You can dip in and do as much or as little as you fancy or time permits.

I'm in and I am part of the Detectives team - do hop over to UKScrappers to find out more. Come along and join in the fun..................................

Waste not...

...Want not.

Although prices vary quite a bit for the different mica sprays that are now available, they are still quite expensive and the last thing you want to do is waste them un-necessarily.

At the beginning of December UKS held their "Scrappy Little Christmas" cybercrop and cybercrops always mean - MYSTERY KITS. A kit is made available at a reasonable price but the contents are a surprise (and the same for everyone). You can not discuss the contents with anyone...the aim being that you create something out of the contents that will earn your team points. You also have to stick to the contents of your kit although there are a few black or white items that you can supplement.

The kit this time contained a bottle of pearly mica spray - lovely but all the papers were quite highly patterned so out came the black CS.
As you can see, I created a box with a corsage-style embellie on the corner but rather than just spritz the black CS I used the chipboard snowflakes (part of kit) as masks. This also saved time and effort as I wanted to spray the chipboard shapes anyway LOL and had the benefit of not wasting the lovely mica spray.
For the challenge I used some of the PPs to make a mini album and a matching christmas bauble - both of which were decorated with the sprayed snowflakes.
The bauble was made from punched cutouts - I used a Woodware 3" six-petal flower punch. Each punched shape was then folded in half and glued together along the spine of the fold. I can't remember how many shapes I used but the number can be adjusted to give a fuller bauble.
The mini album was quite easy as one of the PPs was decorated in quarters (double sided too) so that formed the pages. The front of the album had a bit of bling added (kit) along with some decoupage cut from one of the other PPs.
The embellie was made using my poinsettia nestie to cut the shapes from one of the PPs and then forming them into 3D flowers (they were given a spritz and a bit of stickles added to the centres). I used Martha Stewart fir branch and x-cut holly sprig punchs to cut loads of shapes from white paper. Some of these I sprayed, some remained plain. It was then just a case of using some pinflair glue to assemble it all. I also cut a few bits of the ribbons provided to add into the arrangement.
As you can see from this pic - the black CS used for the box didn't spray evenly. Normally if I require an even finish I would gently wipe over with some kitchen towel but on this occasion the spritz & splatter added to the effect.

So if you are going to play with sprays and shapes don't just spray on newspaper or in a box - place some CS under your shapes and you will get a lovely 'masked' effect paper without wasting/using up any more of your lovely spray. Go on - have a play.....................

Are you sitting...

...comfortably?

Here are some pics of what I've been up to lately...
There is no real order to these as I was more concerned in trying to get some reasonable photos to post. This time of year is especially difficult with the poor light quality (and my lack of photography skills don't help LOL).
Dawn's Christmas workshop was another great day of techniques & engineering - I would never have thought to glitter spray vellum to cut holly from but it works beautifully.
Fabric stuck to acetate is also something a bit different and provided the basis for a lovely hanger on a 'K' card. The muted gold card was a lovely change from miri.
This lovely Santa makes you feel as if you are peering through a window. A beautiful card that is more like a gift as it has its own lovely box - these images were from one of the My Craft Studio Christmas disks (must make more use of mine).
I have so enjoyed using my Copic & Promarker pens this year...unfortunately, I got a bit carried away LOL I have a lovely collection of coloured images but have yet to turn them into cards and my mind seems to have gone blank for ideas.
This cutie little bear is a clear stamp from a Kanban set. Easy to colour and a bit of bling helps to bring it all to life. I am also loving the 'sun ray' embossing folder that I got a few months ago - not specifically for Christmas but it certainly does the job.
This little group is just a selection of some of the Christmas cards I have finally put together this week. The card that I used for Mum's card is beautiful - pale green with a snowy effect, slightly pearly and embossed - I thought it made the perfect background for the traditional red/green Magnolia image that I had coloured.
This little cutie was a card I made for one of the Cybercrop challenges, last weekend. The polar bear stamp is so sweet and again the sun ray embossed miri card works really well.

I have used a mix of PPs on my cards, many are off-cuts from other projects (Paula, you will be proud of me - I've actually used some of my scraps LOL). In most cases there wasn't a need to worry about make or range...I already have the images coloured so I'm just looking for PPs & CS that will co-ordinate.

Although I've been busy I think I need to speed up a bit as we are now only 13 days to Christmas **groan**........................................

A Winter's Tale...

...well sort of LOL.

I really liked the look of this class over at the UKS cybercrop but I didn't really want to do another snow Layout. So this is what I came up with...



There have been so many berries on the bushes this year that I just had to take some pics.

I was rather pleased with the way this came out as I do love the Autumn colours..........................

Letter to Santa...

...Cybercrop class.

I have been able to combine one of the CC classes with the use of a template by Kerryanne English. Her Santa letter template was just what I was looking for and I meant to sit and colour one in a few days ago, then guess what - one of the CC classes needed a 'letter to Santa'...sorted.
I was quite pleased with the way this came out - I was able to use the photo of "Santa" that I took on my recent visit to Harrods.

One of the problems I have with loading pics to the UKS gallery is that the pixel size makes it quite small so I normally prefer to load here and place a link on UKS. Unfortunately, that can't be done during a CC otherwise I can't claim the points for the things I've completed...never mind, at least the pic here is a bit clearer LOL....................................

I'm a...

...Jingle Belle.
No I am not mad (well, no more that usual LOL) I will be part of the Jingle Belle team over at UKS for the coming cybercrop.

We'll be jingling all the way...........................

A Cybercrop...

...is a coming!!!

Note your diaries, the next UKS CC is on 3/4/5 December - oh what fun............

Up and running...

...the Cybercrop has begun.

Managed to get all Friday's classes/challenges done. Here are the pics...
The Angel - handcut frames.
Regent Street - Shopping theme and use of a sketch.
Bow Street - paint and getting mucky LOL
Vine Street - bit of hand doodling (used my Copics)

Some really great classes & challenges so far but not sure how much I'll get done in total as the old neck is starting to complain about being sat at the desk for too long. Will have to see how things go..............

Well it's...

...over. Another cybercrop comes to a close :o(

Did loads this weekend - completed 26 assorted classes and challenges and achieved just under 900 points.

Here are a few of the bits...


One of Annettes classes - fab mini book with 'hidden keepers' - loved doing it and will post some more pictures when I've actually put some photos and embellies in there.

Wasn't sure I was going to do this class as it was a four-parter but decided to give it a go and ended up completing all four bits - glad I didn't go for one of the kits as there were elements I loved/disliked in each of the available options.

Found this old photo of Ben & Sandie and just had to scrap it...this class was just right for the pic.

I started a scrap album of my wedding pics over 2 years ago and haven't managed to get very far with it...at least now I have another LO to add LOL

Loved playing with both B&W and Colour pics for this one - the general idea is adaptable and I will probably use it again.

So it's all over except for the last of the party goers over on the UKS site. It will probably seem very boring without the daily challenges and very slow without the manic hype of the CC weekend.

I've had a grand time, can't wait for the next one. See you soon, I'm off back to the party..............