The New Look Craft Room

At last! It's done! It was a major task - taking me all weekend and most of my free evening last week - but my little craft room now looks how I've always dreamed it could look. I've moved around the furniture, bought some new bookshelves and thrown away at least five bags full of rubbish! But, I'm left with a room that looks lighter, brighter and more spacious - and I can find everything!

I'm sure you can tell how excited I am just by noting the number of exclamation marks I've used in the last paragraph. I'm so looking forward to getting on with some actually crafting.

And it looks as though I'm going to have the time. My poor little laptop has decided that it's overworked and is refusing to charge itself. So, in the meantime, I'm reduced to fighting The Steve for control of the main computer.

If I'm a little quiet this week, you'll know that 'someone' in the house is happily playing World of Warcraft, while I'll be whittling away the hours I would normally spend blogging playing with pretty ribbons and papers. It's a hard life.

Pretty Pinks

The Operation Tackle That Beadstash Team have been busy creating pieces this week to fit in with our new Moodboard Monday feature.

Every other week, we're showing off a new moodboard to encourage the team and, of course, our readers, to create something inspired by the colours, textures or themes of the moodboard. Inbetween, we're showing off our creations. Because that's what we do, you know?

If you could do with some inspiration, want to know how my piece was inspired by the moodboard or just want to see what the rest of the team made, do pop by and say hello. We would love to know your thoughts about the blog and our new features.

Ever Started Something...

...then immediately wished that you hadn't? I decided at around lunch time today that I'd give my little craft room a quick clean and tidy. Half an hour later, it looked like this. Hmmm.



Somehow that quick clean and tidy has turned into a complete re-organisation, several bags of rubbish and the purchase of some new shelves. *Sigh*

Creative Ingredients

Inspired by a prompt from Shimelle Laine's current class on photography for scrapbooking - Love Your Photos, Love Your Pages - I got a little creative with my creativity earlier this week and ended up with what may become one of my favourite photographs of my craft room.

The class is, as always, really inspiring, so it's a shame I haven't had more time to work on it. I think I'll be adding new photographs from the class to some older photographs and dedicating a mini-album to my little craft room. If something deserves mention in a scrapbook, it's your very own space to scrapbook in, right?

Safety Pin Cuff Bracelet Tutorial {Waste Not Wednesday}

I've had a large bag of mixed seed beads in pinks and creams languishing in my beading stash for several years, leftovers of several projects. Unfortunately, all of the beads are slightly different sizes and shapes, which made it difficult to think of the perfect use for the mix - and I definitely wasn't going to spend my time trying to sort them! Definitely in need of a Waste Not Wednesday.

When I came across some safety pins for only a penny each at my local haberdashery store, I had a eureka moment, bought 150 of them, and sat down one evening to make myself this cute little cuff. And I still have enough safety pins left to make another one in a different colour. Score.

You'll need:

Safety Pins, Seed Beads, Beading or Sewing Elastic, Glue - and lots of patience. This isn't a difficult project, but it is a little time consuming.

1. Open one of the safety pins and randomly thread seed beads onto the pin. Leave a little bit of space at the top of the pin, so that it will close. Now close it. Simple, see?

2. Continue threading seed beads onto the safety pins until you have enough to span your wrist. I only used half of mine in the end, but the number you'll need will depend on their size and on your wrist measurement.

3. Thread the elastic through the safety pins, alternating between the tops and the bottoms of the pins so that they nestle together neatly.

Top Tip - If there's not much of a hole in the tops of your pins, guide the elastic between the edges of the metal and pull gently. The elastic should 'pop' into the gap and fit snugly.

4. When you reach the end, secure the thread with a surgeon's knot and dab with bit of glue.

5. Repeat with the other side of the bracelet.

It's by no means a new idea, but the different sizes, shapes and finishes on the beads only seem to make the cuff shimmer all the more. And I've finally made a dint in my bead stash!

Like A Rainbow {Flickr Favourites}

Inspired by reading the lovely Cindy's post listing what treasures she would like to find at the end of her very own rainbow, my flickr favourites are a multitude (multi-hued?) of colours.

1. Birthday Bokeh, 2. Paper Rainbow, 3. Esperando un arco iris.../Waiting for a rainbow..., 4. Today Is A Colourful Day

Visit Mitsy over at Artmind and find out what everyone else has in their flickr favourites this week. They're always good for the soul.

Along Came Life

Every time that I try to settle down to the business of blogging, something seems to get in the way of my best laid plans. I had the best of intentions. I'd set myself a schedule; I'd signed up for Shimelle's new and wonderful photography based class; and I'd suddenly had plenty of crafting inspiration.

Along came life. You know. The kind of life that just derails all other activities. You see, although I am loving my new job and my new colleagues, my contract ends in October and I am desperate to find another job before then. Because - for the sake of my sanity, happiness and all that is good in the world - I cannot spend more time at home. I mope.

So, this week - instead of crafting and enjoying the sunshine - I've been busy completing job application forms, attending a shitty interview and sobbing with the disappointment that can only come from finding out that you were second.

For now, I can only ask my lovely readers to be patient. I'm not happy to have made crafty, blogging promises that I can't currently keep but I know things will turn out right. Eventually.

Love Your Photos, Love Your Pages {Scrap Sunday}

I lost my crafty mojo over the last month. Nothing seemed to inspire me - no wait, everything inspired me, but I just couldn't seem to do anything. I needed something that would give me a kick-start and, luckily, Shimelle Laine has done it again. Her new class Love Your Photos, Love Your Pages starts tomorrow!

My lovely friend, Cheryl, bought me a class pass for my birthday and I am so very glad that she did. With both photography and scrapbooking prompts, the class is absolutely perfect for me - and will most certainly give my creativity a much needed boost.

In fact, just registering for the class and having something to look forward to has improved my mood and brought back my mojo - I've spent the last week making jewellery, art journalling and sewing. So, thanks again for the inspiration Shimelle. I love your photos, love your pages and love your classes.

The Summer Of Slouch

Summertime and the living is easy. Yes, indeed. So, forget smarts this season and spend your hard earned pennies on some casual, slouchiness instead. Slouch is good.

Slouchy Summer by OPCreative featuring TopShop

Denim Vest - Valleygirl, £28; Faded Floral Ruch Skirt - Topshop, £17; Camisole - Debenhams, £9/Pack Of Two; Strappy Stiletto Sandals - $15DollarStore.com, £10; Denim Slouch Bag - Dorothy Perkins, £20; Ruffled Flower Chain - TopShop, £10

With a subtle nod to this season's floral trends and a touch of double-denim, this outfit is evocative of dewy mornings, picnic lunches and star spangled nights.

And all for less than £100. Nice!

Okay. I'll admit it. I've been a bad blogger. I can't believe that it's been a month - exactly a month - since I last posted.

*Slaps own hand in disgust!*

I didn't really intend to stay away from the blog for quite so long, but it becomes more and more difficult to return to it when you lose the habit. I hope you'll all forgive me, because I think that the break has been refreshing, and I'm returning with lots of fresh, new ideas and projects.

So, maybe I'll see you around soon?