Sometimes - The Mini Album

Dedicated friends and lovely blog readers will be aware that I've been feeling somewhat low this week. (It really hasn't been difficult to notice.) I should thank you all for your kind words and support. You know who you are. Thank you!

Although I'm feeling so much better, I do want to share the creative madness genius that is the Sometimes Mini Album. I had been thinking about the latest Copy & Paste prompt, Post Secret, and initially thought I might centre a layout around this cheery little thought - "Sometimes I feel lonier when I'm with other people than when I'm by myself."

But I had so much more to say and in the end I started putting together this little wonder on Tuesday evening - when I felt the need to just 'get it all out' and concentrate on being honest, not pretty. I collected together some papers, ephemera and embellishments that seemed perfect for the story that I wanted to tell and didn't stop until I'd finished.

I am in love with this little piece of honesty. So often, scrapbookers seem to feel obliged to document the celebrations; the holidays; the good times and leave no room for documenting the truth that sometimes everything isn't perfect. And you know what? It really helped.

Sunshine On A Rainy Day

Well, what started out as another grey, miserable day has turned into a clear, bright summer's day and everything finally feels less depressing. If a few days of inclement weather in the middle of summer turn me into a emo blogger with more angst than the average teenager, I am dreading winter and I'm seriously considering the purchase of a sunlight lamp (or hibernation.)

I've been out all afternoon - walking along canal banks, talking to my folks and soaking up the precious rays of sunshine. We even had tea and toasted teacakes. It seems a good chat, some sun and some starchy goodness are what's needed to put me back in good spirits. Bring it on.

But the sunshine didn't stop there...I got a little (metaphorical) ray of sunshine in the post today from the lovely Ms. Kara who sent me some of her Backyard Confessions Postcards following a giveaway on her blog. The photography is so good - and I'm finding it difficult to choose my favourite - it keeps changing.

Tomorrow I'm looking forward to waking up after a good night's sleep; working on my photography and some scrap time with a good friend. Night all x

Yesterday I Was Trying So Hard Not To Cry...

...but today, I feel fine. Isn't Keri Noble awesome? There's never an angsty day when her lyrics don't speak to me somehow. I'm feeling a little less, um, fragile today but since I had another of Keri's tunes rolling around in my head yesterday, I'd like to share. You may have heard the Kelly Clarkson version, but I prefer the original.

Having A Life Crisis & Looking For A New Job

The title's a bit of a private joke between friends - and it's only funny because it's true - but it sums up my day nicely. I've been really glad of the rain today. At least when it rains you feel as though you're allowed to stay under the covers and feel sorry for yourself. There's something truly awful about feeling wretched on a beautifully sunny day.

Tomorrow I'm going to work on My To Do List. I think crossing off a couple of items might make me feel as though I'm achieving something. And maybe, just maybe, I'll start on sorting our 500+ holiday photographs...

Life Is Made Up Of Small Pleasures

The new Weekly Challenge on UKScrappers went live this morning - and I think it will be challenging. The Girls With Stash Team really wanted to give people lots to think, as well as lots of ways to make the challenge individual. Please come and play along if you can.

Here's my take on the challenge -

Use up precious stash - two papers that i've been hoarding forever; a bit of wallpaper sample that I thought I'd never get around to using and a bit of crochet from my late aunt.
Life theme - title, life is made up of small pleasures.
Doodle, draw or illustrate - very simple this one - drew around the edge of my page to frame and outline.
Swirls - all of the papers have a swirly pattern on them and there's also a swirl embelishment with the flower.
Evoke cozy feeling - soft muted colours; patterns; crochet and stitching combined with a photograph of craft magazines and a cup of tea - whats more comforting than that?

Challenge Yourself!

The teams on UK Scrappers host a challenge every week to get everyone's scrapping mojo flowing and tomorrow morning, the challenge will be set by The Girl's With Stash - which obviously includes me - with all my stash. Here's a sneak peek of my layout for the challenge...

If you're not in the UK, you could still drop by and get some inspiration. Otherwise, here's a little list of my favourite challenge blogs - Category Stories, The Copy & Paste Project, One Little Word, Pencil Lines, Scrap Outside The Box The Art Is Found and Work Your Soul. I feel challenged just listing them all!

I'll be back tomorrow with a link directly to our challenge on UK Scrappers and some photographs from my week away.

We're Hitting The Road

It looks as though I'm going to get my road trip. The Steve and I are meeting up with Steve's brother, Andy, and heading out of town for some forest walking; festival going and fun times. I'll be back in a week with a bit of a 'show and tell' - and believe me, judging by our last trip together, there should be lots to share.

While I'm gone, you can have a leisurely nose at the mini-album I made after our last trip, or the original trip photographs. Here's a peek -

Art Journal - Musical Memories

So, I thought I'd share another of my art journal pages from Kara's fantastic Art Journalling Adventure Class. As part of the class we needed to think - really think - about the part that music plays in our lives.

There's actually rarely a time that I'm without music, I nearly always have it on the background while I'm working, reading or crafting and, sometimes, I don't even notice. But, there are those moments in life that will be forever defined by a piece of music - the song that was playing when you had your first kiss; the tune they played on the radio all summer while you were travelling; the comforting lyrics that helped you mend a broken heart.

To me, every piece of music evokes some kind of emotion, but the tunes I remember are the ones that evoke memories and tell the story of my life. For my art journal entry, I made a random list of songs and the memories attached to them, then inked and blended to create a simple background. (There's a larger version if you'd like to see a little more detail.)

What does music mean to you? Are there any particular tunes that always bring back a certain memory?

Sea & Sky (Things I Love Thursdays!)

It's been dull and overcast here today and I really didn't have to think too hard - or look to far - to put together my mosaic for today's Things I Love Thursdays! I love the sea; I love the sky; and both together...woah...too much of the good stuff! Every single one of these photographs has been in my Flickr Favourites for quite some time, showing just how long I've been influenced by the sea and the sky.

1. Sunset view from hostel, Moorea, 2. Etosha: Skyscape 2, 3. What is the Light?, 4. on ma roof., 5. Double Rainbow, 6. beach gleam, 7. Etosha: Skyscape 1, 8. head rush, 9. Sossego, 10. Hut by the sea, 11. Missing the Sunset, 12. pensacola beach, 13. Cathedral14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available.

I'm coveting one or two of Susannah Conway's frankly amazing photographs from her Sea Stories collection. Okay, I admit it, I love all of them! I'm also really hoping that I'll be able to participate in one of Susannah's Unravelling photography/self-growth courses at some point in the future.

If you've managed to see Up already then you may already have seen Partly Cloudy but even if you have, it's worth a second look. It's heartwarming on a slightly chilly evening.

There's also a beautiful collection of sky photographs on David Horvitz's project site which are available for download free of charge and free to use. I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do with them now that I've got them - frame a small sample of them perhaps or print a few and turn them into a mini-album? Any ideas?

Colourful Mess (My Creative Space)

My creative space is a little bit of a mess this week - a properly creative and colourful mess though! I've been participating in Kara Haupt's amazing Music + Composition Book = An Art Journalling Adventure Class and I am loving it. I've been so intimidated by art journalling - which is crazy when you think that an art journal is meant to be the place where you can try new techniques; be random and not really care about how it all looks. I think it's helped that music is something I find really easy to journal about because it's such a large part of my life, but Kara's video posts - which are so adorable, by the way - have also helped me to understand that I wasn't the only person to get a bit stressed at the idea of just letting go and experimenting. It's great to know that you don't have to be comfortable with what you're doing and that, actually, stepping out of your comfort zone is pretty much the point of the whole thing.

You can find out more about My Creative Space - and have a bit of a nose around other people's creative spaces - by visiting Kootoyoo.

And just because I'm really proud of what I can accomplish with some time; some encouragement and some pencil crayons, I thought I'd share one of my art journalling pages.

Road Trip Love (Things I Love Thursdays!)

I wasn't really planning a theme for my Things I Love Thursdays! mosaic this week. I just opened up my favourites and picked a few at random. Obviously my subconscious was awake well before I had my first cup of tea this morning and knew full well what I would choose to write about today.

My feet have started itching. It's not a fungus, I promise, I just miss travelling. I'm daydreaming of taking a road trip - of long, dusty roads ahead of me; of tea in flasks and campfires blazing in the night. It's an odd feeling. It's a need, rather than a want.

I'm not entirely sure where this wanderlust comes from or why, every so often, I feel the need to leave everything behind for a while, but it's like recharging my soul; my sense of self. It isn't that I want to bugger off into the wild, never to return - though I admit that I have thought about that occasionally. Taking some time away from my comfort zone and away from my routine allows me to see things differently. To put everything in perspective. To feel moments of magic when the only thing that you're thinking about is what could be around the next bend in the road, and the afternoon sunlight hits the leaves in the trees so that you're bathed in a brilliant golden light, and you turn on the radio just in time to catch the first bars of the perfect song, and you breathe in deeply, and everything is alright in the world.

It's those moments that we remember when we head back home and sink ourselves back into our routine. It isn't that our routines aren't welcome - too much excitement and uncertainty probably isn't good for us - but thinking about those magicial moments doesn't just remind us of our summer holidays. Those memories remind us that life isn't just about work, television or laundry; life is about relationships; life is about freedom; life is about living.

1. vw camper van, 2. lonely in the night, 3. beautiful morning sky, 4. Sunrise Surfer (bw), 5. beachwalkers, 6. 'Amarula Sunset' - Masai Mara, 7. Dream road, 8. Double Rainbow, 9. “Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he's carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he's carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also, you're drunk.”, 10. Bolligton - Sunset Grass, 11. 知床國道 - 鈄里町, 12. 網走 - Route 39, 13. memories of summer 14. Not available 15. Not available 16. Not available.

Leonie!

Just enough time to pop in and let you know that following my tutorial and giveway from Friday, the first name out of my little hat was Leonie and she is the winner of a little flower brooch - handmade by me!

Leonie, would you be kind enough to e-mail me with your address and let me know if you'd like a particular colour or colour combination? :)

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Fabric Flower Tutorial

Drumroll please...I now bring to you my very first on-line tutorial. I hope that the photographs and instructions are clear and simple for you to follow, but there are some additional tips at the end of the post (along with a little givewaway) and if you have any questions please pop them into the comments so that I can answer them for everyone else as well.

You will need:

Scrap Material - I used an old shirt;
A little scrap of felt or extra scrap of fabric;
Needle & Thread - Mine is red to show you the stitches. You may want yours to match; A Pen;
Scissors;
Buttons;
Iron - optional, see tips at the end.
A Tumbler - to draw around;
And a shot glass - Have your vodka on stand by in case it all goes tits up!

Start by drawing around the tumble to make five circles on your scrap fabric. Now cut them out - easy enough so far right? Note: I should note here, that this project isn't an exact science. Draw on your fabric in biro if you want and don't worry if your cut edges are a little bit wonky. No-one will see this part of the fabric once the flower is complete.

Take your little circles over to the iron and fold in half, then press. Watch your fingers! Fold in half again (so that you have a quarter circle) and press again. Do this for all five circles.

Thread your needle, doubling your thread and knotting the ends together. Pick up your first quarter circle and, starting at one corner of the rounded edge, run a few long stitches (not neat, little ones) across to the other corner. Then pull/push the fabric together creating some little folds. This forms your first petal.

Pick up the next quarter circle and pop a stitch into one corner of the rounded edge, then push against the previous petal before continuing to stitch across to the other corner. Push/pull to create your next petal. Repeat until you have five petals on your thread. You'll see that they have started to curve around into a flower shape all by themselves. Use a couple of little stitches to join it to the first petal and that's the base of your flower.

To cover the hole in the front, middle of your flower you can either use a little bit more of your scrap fabric, or some cute, little buttons. Either way, make sure you do this step before you cover the back. This is not maths class and you do not need to show your workings. It does make it a bit harder to sew buttons on, but take your thread through the fabric at the edges of the gap - this will be covered and won't be on show.

Cut a little circle out of your scrap felt and secure it to the back, covering my working. If your sewing is neat and perfect then I don't like you because I'm jealous you can secure the felt with stitches or, if you're a scruffy sewer - like me - use a little bit of fabric glue.

And, voila! That's your flower finished! You can either add a brooch back so you can wear your little lovely on your jacket, or you could stitch to your bag, scarf or sock!

A Few Tips To Make Things Easier

Material - Cotton and linen are perfect materials for this little project - old shirts, pillow cases and sheets would be fabulous. The material draws together so nicely and only leave a little gap to be covered by your buttons and felt. Thinner fabrics draw together easily, but don't hold their shape as well. Heavier fabrics hold their shape well, but don't draw together easily. (See the denim flower below.) If you do use a heavy fabric, use extra fabric to cover the gap instead of using buttons - much easier.

Pressing The Circles - Pressing makes the corners of each flower petal stay in form and it's a little easier to sew the fabric without trying to hold everything in place - but, if you hate ironing and are nimble fingered, you can skip this step.

Production Line - If you think you might make more than the odd one of these little cuties, draw and cut out all your circles in one go; then take them all to the iron; then sit and sew them all. It's quicker and easier!

I took a few sewing lessons a while ago, to increase my confidence with a needle and thread and with machine sewing. I was taught how to make this little brooch by my tutor, who said she had no problems with anyone passing it on - she couldn't remember where she learnt it! Please don't abuse me if you think this method has been in your family since time immemorial! Thanks :)

The Giveaway

Leave a comment, letting me know what you think of the tutorial and tell me your favourite colour or colour combination. On Monday, I'll choose a name at random and the lucky winner will receive a brooch in their favourite colour or colour combination. Looking forward to your feedback. Have a good weekend!

Inspiration (Things I Love Thursdays!)

I sat up late last night scrapping - or trying to scrap - my mojo seems to have disappeared. So, I thought I'd better take a bit of a break; do something else and come back to it. In the meantime, I had a good trawl through My Flickr Favourites and reminded myself of all the inspiration out there in the big, wide yonder. These are some of my favourite layouts (and minis) from some fabulously talented scrapbookers.

1. 06.24, 2. Dreamer., 3. Always - Pink Paislee, 4. everyday, 5. Untitled, 6. Untitled, 7. Van - Red Velvet GDT, 8. Memories, 9. Untitled, 10. 53Bonheur, 11. My 50s Pots: Work Your Soul Challenge, 12. vanity, 13. Get Away - Red Velvet August Kit

Winning Streak

I must have been a really lovely person in a previous life. I seem to be on a bit of a winning streak. I never normally win anything - no sports day ribbons or trophies for me. Luckily, in the blogosphere, being fantastic at rounders is not a requirement! Oh my! I've just broken out into a cold sweat at the thought of rounders - there's obviously some horrible humiliation that I'd repressed coming to the surface!

Still, I can think about my good fortune and the wonderful generosity of people out there in the big, wide world - and of course, all the giveaway goodies coming my way :)

1. Faux bois, free bois, 2. Backyard Confessions. , 3. music + composition journals: an art journaling adventure, 4. Fabric brooch giveaway.

First, Kirsty wrote me note to let me know that I'd won some Banana Frog stamps, clay and this lovely woodgrain pendant following her tutorial on the Banana Frog Blog. I'd been meaning to get myself some clay and some stamps to have a go myself so I'm thrilled to have the chance and be the proud owner of Kirsty's awesomeness.

Then, on Monday, in the miserable midst of portfolio building, I took a break and decided to look at some of my favourite blogs to cheer myself up and headed on over to Kara's blog. I was so busy checking out the swoon-some Hambly that I almost missed her announcement that I am soon to be the lucky owner of some Backyard Confessions Postcards. If you're loving these as much as I am, you can get yourself some from Kara's Etsy The Sequinned Shoe. (Kara's also running an Art Journalling Adventure soon and it looks fantastic - remember to sign up on Monday people!)

And, as if all that wasn't enough for little old me, I've just noticed that I've won one of Julie's cute, little fabric brooches that she made for the lastest challenge on The Copy & Paste Project and it's the yellow one. Woo hoo!

Honestly, I'm thrilled and a bit overwhelmed!