Hold Onto Your Hats!!!

There must be a storm a-brewing somewhere... or something magic is afoot - because my MOJO has RETURNED!!!!!

WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!

yes, I SCRAPPED!!!!!

oh and just a widdle bit excited about it hehehhe

At the moment I have 1 LO completed, and another almost there - I'm going to take some frustrations out on it tonight with the sewing machine and then I can finally say it's completed ;)

So for now, I have 1 LO to share - And it features some GORGEOUS Words or Whatever Chippie!!!!!! :)

This LO was influenced by a Cyber Crop Challenge set by Mistra over at Red Earth Scrapping :)

Haiku
Bumble Bee

WOW Chippie lamp-post is inked with gold and then had embossing powder in polysparkle melted followed by a light overlay of pewter embossing powder. The light ball is coloured with silver ink and then overlayed with diamond stickles.

My Haiku
Also a Treens Trinkets "Bling Birdie Pin"

The Haiku technically has an extra syllable in the final line (a Haiku is 5,7,5 sylables per line per stanza) but it's the best I could do, no matter how I played with it it didn't have the same feeling I was aiming for, as in description of the image followed my a title, like a poem in reverse I guess...

I'm hoping to keep the mojo flowing by joining up for the Red Earth Road Trip - it's like a series of mini challenges with no pressure to complete them all etc... Just what I need I think to get back into the swing of things... Monthly challenges and CC I feel will drown me at the moment with everything else going on with bubs etc, this road trip is a hop on/hop off kind of thing so no pressure but should give some inspiration and some cues for scrapping and keeping things ticking over ;) Well that's the plan :) No pressure - ahhh I love the sounds of that!!!! :)

2 Weeks - Really?!?!

Wow, Time sure has flown since I last posted here!!! I can't say I've been the most productive little beaver out there of late... It seems little Aerynn has taken my mojo and has been using it to grow bigger and stronger - I don't mind sharing, but she's been a bit of a hog... that's got to change!!! Mummy's going to start setting the rules methinks!!! LOL

Anyhoos, In the meantime i've ironed out some things with Australia Post, designed a few new little bits and pieces for Treens Trinkets and decided that I'm mostly going to concentrate on TT and my DT work for the next few months until Aerynn arrives and we settle into our new adventure with her :) No pressure in other words!!! I'll participate in an online challenge or three, but not pressure myself with completing too many deadlines in regards to those (they're meant to be fun afterall, not a stress-pile at the end of each month!!! ) and do whatever the crafty whim leads me to do :) Hmmm relaxing - something I'm not very good at, but am going to work hard at working it out and doing it right!!!! :)

LOL I mean only a perfectionist control freak would be worrying about getting the art of 'relaxation' right hey bahahaha

So with that I sign off, I have a craft/scrap room that desperately needs some attention after being sick for a week (awful head cold grrr) and my family deciding as the door could be shut that it was the appropriate place to use as a dumping ground (yeah thanks for that guys!!!!)

BTW, I'm planning on having monthly or fortnightly (whichever I can fit in with my relaxation schedule (what an oxymoron that sentence is bahaha)) stockings on Treens Trinkets with a proper opening coming up - look out for it before the end of this month!!!! :)

It's Friday....

and that means.....

at the Pretty Paper Petals Store!!!!

What flowers will be featured tonight I wonder??


Details will be released on the PPP Blog, don't forget to check it out!!!

Waiting For You - Full Reveal

Well the time has come, I can now share with you the album I've created from the WOW MDF Teddy Bear Album for our much awaited baby and will also show you how easy, simple and fun it is to alter these albums to make the covers into fun little shaker boxes!!!

Firstly here is the album!!! I love how it has come together, and the fact I was able to use pink when I live in a household full of boys and 1 tomboy was a GREAT change!!! :)

So did you see the little shaker boxes on the feet of the Teddy Bear cover? Do you want to know how to make them? Well read on :)

HOW TO MAKE A SHAKER BOX
featuring WOW mdf Teddy Bear album

To start with choose your album. Any with a fully enclosed cut out part on the front cover works best. I have used the WOW MDF Teddy Bear Album that is illustrated HERE

The materials you will need other than general scrapping supplies are:

~ sheets of acetate
~ glitter or pretties to out inside your shaker box
~ glue that is suitable for acetate - or double sided tape

Before we really get started you will need to decide what part of the album you are going to turn into a shaker box. I've decided to use the large foot pads on the bear. The sections that are 'cut' are either loose or can be easily removed for this purpose. Once you have decided on what part will become a fun toy make a template of your cover. Make sure you mark in the holes that will become the shaker box - THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!!!! I didn't do it on mine and wasted HOURS getting the cover decorated which should have been an easy thing to do (trust me to miss something super simple!!!)


Step 1: Cover one side of the album with glue where you are going to adhere acetate. I have used a full sheet of acetate to cover the whole of the album as I wanted the eyes and 'hands' to be clear to allow the patterned paper on the 3rd page to show through.

Step 2: Carefully lay the acetate over the required areas

and smooth the glue underneath. Don't worry too much if the glue 'bleeds out',
it can easily be cleaned up with a moistened cloth.

Allow to dry overnight. I recommend weighing the acetate and mdf to avoid any possibility of buckling.

** Not all glues adhere acetate successfully. You can use
Double Sided Tape if you prefer - make sure there are no gaps in the DST,
you don't want your pretties to escape!!!
(I had to change to DST as my glue didn't work)

Step 3: Once the glue has dried or you've adhered the acetate with DST trim around the OUTSIDE of the album to make sure there are no bits sticking out and to keep things nice and tidy.


Step 4: Flip your album over and it's time to add your 'pretties' Avoid anything too heavy as it can scratch the acetate or even worse make the seal between the acetate and MDF separate!!


Step 5: Trim up a piece of acetate to cover the back of your shaker box. Adhere using glue or DST, again making sure there are no gaps for your pretties to escape through!

VOILA!!!

Step 6: Time to Decorate. Remember the template you made? It's time for that to be used, choose what papers you wish to use to decorate and cover your MDF page with and using the template cut out the holes that will allow your shaker box to be revealed. Alternately you may wish to paint your page - as with the glue, not all paints will successfully cover acetate.

Trim, primp, decorate until you're happy with your page and enjoy!!! :)

My finished and decorated Shaker Box "Paw"

A Sneaky Page, A Mini-Tute and Several Plugs....

So who wants to see a page from the "Waiting for You" album?? The album itself is a MDF product from Words or Whatever WOW - and it comes pre-drilled ready for putting together, but I decided I wanted to change mine - so have covered the pre-drilled holes and will be joining it at a paw and an ear instead of at the top of the two ears... If you check out the album at THIS LINK you'll see what I mean about it being pre-drilled at the top of the ears ;) And I hope you don't think I sound like too much of a nutter!!! LOL Don't forget that Words or Whatever are a wholesale distributor - if you want their products (and I know you will) you need to get your local scrapping or craft store to contact them and order it in for you if they aren't already enlightened enough to be stocking their wonderful products :)

Now as I said, I can only share part as it's a work in progress, but the page I am sharing today is beautifully complimented by a Pretty Paper Petal's Coloured Storybook Flower which I have done a super simple enhancement on further down the page. I hope you like it!

"My Wishful Dreams for You"
OTP Bear Album

It's a basic papering technique that I've used to cover the MDF page with. It's simply pink cardstock adhered to the surface with a simple acid free glue and then trimmed to the edges of the MDF page with a craft knife. I've then inked the edges, glimmer misted the surface with pearl GM and then laid on and adhered the lace and embelishments with double sided tape.

Dragonfly charms come from Tracy at the My2Angels online store

the Hand dyed lace was purchased from Sue at Lovelybugs Bits n Bobs

the journalling is a portion of a poem I thought mirrors my wishes for our new little girl,

it reads:

I Wish For You
Comfort on difficult days,
Rainbows to follow clouds'
Laughter to kiss your lips,
Sunsets to warm your heart,
Gentle hugs when spirits sage
xxx
Friendship to brighten you,
Beauty for your eyes to see'
Confidence for when you doubt,
Faith so you believe,
Courage to know yourself
xxx
I Wish You Enough

*****

So, the flower doesn't look all that different from a regular PPP Storybook Flower does it - well take a closer look....

See the little sparkles dancing on the petals?? It's an incredibly simple enhancement - and I mean S.I.M.P.L.E!!!!

I'm sure most people have tried gluing glitter or the likes to the petals on flowers and discovered how difficult it can be - not getting the glitter any further than the edge of the petals and how messy the glue (and whole project) gets in particular. So, this is an alternative. Instead of glue use clear varnish/sealant spray!!! I purchased a can of this clear 'paint' from spotlight months ago and it lasts forever!!!

Now when I say it's simple, I really mean it...

Step 1 - put your flower onto a surface that wont be damaged if it get's sprayed. I've opened up an old pizza box.

Step 2 - Spray the flower you are wishing to enhance.



Step 3 - sprinkle glitter over the top.

And voila - flower completed!!! The varnish/sealant dries super quickly, it's clear and no one would even know that you had glued the little sprinkles of glitter on - they appear to be sitting ever so delicately onto your petals - but in fact the are stuck fast!!! If you want to be doubly certain the glitter will stay in place a light top coat of varnish/sealant will do the job ;)

Told you it was simple!!!!

The complete 'Waiting for You" OTP album will be featured on the Words or Whatever WOW blog in the first week in May - I really am thrilled with the way it has come together in the end (despite pulling it apart a few times LOL - one of the beauties of working with MDF - it can take a beating!!!!) and can't wait to show it to the world :)

OTP Sneaky Peek...

Ok, I've mentioned a few times about the "waiting for You" album I'm doing. It's all going to be revealed on the Words or Whatever blog in early May, but for now, here's a little sneaky of one page... I might reveal this page (and ONLY this page) early - I'll see how generous I'm feeling LOL

This page ALSO features a Pretty Paper Petals Storybook Flower which I've altered - I will have a super quick little tutorial on how I've altered the flower when I post the page... It's sooo simple to do and soooooo effective!!!! :) But for now this sneaky peek is all you're going to get :P

I've done something other than scrap!!!!

And I remembered how RELAXING it was!!!! It's knitting!!!! My nan taught me how to knit when I was tiny - in fact I can't remember a time when I haven't known how to knit or crochet - I can't even remember being taught!!! Considering I've very clear memories from back when I was 4 and 5 that says a LOT!!! LOL Ok, mum said she had a hand in it as well so I'd better acknowledge that too hehehe

Seriously I can remember holidays at nan's where pop would teach me drawing and his skill of signwriting, I'd LOVE the aroma or paint and solvents - I still love it ;) and of the afternoon and evening I'd sit cross legged in the rocking chair next to nan and either knit or crochet, she'd usually be crocheting something for a new cousin that was due (too many cousins in this family to count!!! LOL)

So, I've knitted a little hat and cardi for Aerynn. I'm not sure if I love it completely yet - the cream crochet edges were meant to be picot edges but they looked rather hmm 'silly' might be the politically correct term LOL and because I'm not sold on the colour in particular yet of the edges it's not tied off or sewn in so can be easily removed if when I pull it out of storage in a week or so I can remove it if it's still not sitting 'right' with me ;) Ahh such a perfectionist eh LOL Anyhoos, here it is.....

and it's salmon pink, not brown **sigh** LOL

The hat is my own design I roughed up when Domenik was a bubba, I didn;t write out a pattern this time, I had his hat beside me when I knitted it up and went from there ;) If anyone wants the pattern I can write it out - It fits newborn to 3 year old (Dommy's still fits him!!!! Got to love fisherman's rib!!!)

The jacket pattern is found HERE I added an extra 2 rows after the first row of eyelets so it was separate and an obvious waist tie, also I added quite a few extra rows to make it flare a bit at the waist to make it a little more girly :) It's rather heavy as the wool I used as an aran (Patons Washed Haze in Coral colourway)


So my next knitting project is apparently knitting another jacket for my nephew, i already did him a hat an the request is for a jacket to match (I hope I have enough wool!!! LOL) and I'm making a simple pram blanket out of lincraft 'giggles' yarn for Aerynn - nothing flash, no pattern really jsut knitting a big rectangle - and hoping it works out bahaha, ahh that is so my way in so many things!!! ROFL

PS - final touches are going on the "waiting for baby' album... I had a change of mind for some of it when it was almost finished so started a few pages on it from scratch again - more WOW product LO's to come soon!!!!! Wooooohoooo!!

BTW Words or Whatever WOW are almost at 1000 FB fans!!! Come on over and join the fun and be INSPIRED!!!!! :) Let's hit 1000 before Easter and make it an even more special time for the company :)