Merry Christmas!

Hi out there, haven't update my blog for a while - my excuse is that I hadn't been well and only recovered fully at the end of October. Again I've not been prepared and made christmas cards at the last minute! Had a great crafting session with friends last weekend making cards inspired by Tim Holtz 12 tags of christmas.

Hope you like the photos.

I bought a new pair of shoes to go with a dress I bought for New Year - yes for those that know me I did say a dress :)

The shoes looked a bit plain so I glimmer misted them!

More artsy craftsy

Had a lovely craft session with the girls today, playing with slide mailers, metal embossing and paint - just what the Dr. ordered!

I feel like last weekend has inspired me so much - hadn't done much in the way of crafting in the last month or so as have still been suffering a bit. Just need to keep it up, had planned to make a start on Christmas cards in August but so far have only managed to make 3!

Thought i'd upload some more photos of the projects I made last weekend.

Artsy Craftsy

Last weekend spent a fabulous 2 days in Newport Pagnell doing a workshop run by Linda Brown of LB Crafts and Leandra Franich of PaperArtsy. The workshop was fantastic, great new techniques using paints, metal embossing and bead making from UTEE. My favourite was the Gothic Arch, combining stamping on fabric, a bit of sewing, and metal embossing. I want to make

another one! They're going to hold another one next year -i'll definately be going :)

I've not done much in the the way of scrapbooking for a while, but have actually pulled my sewing machine out and used it! Bought some new bedroom furniture and decided to make curtains too. Bought some satin ribbon and stamped my favourite Heidi Swapp Damask stamp on it then created rosettes to put at the top of the tabs, also created embelishments by stamping the damask stamp on shrink plastic.

Creativity

Today’s My Freedom blog prompt: Tell your blog readers(if I have any :)) about someone who has been a creative influence in your life -- a crafty mum, aunt or grandparent, an influential school teacher or a friend who brought out your creative side, perhaps

Looking back I have had several creative influences in my life, My Gran was probably the most influential although I only see this now - she was able to turn her hand to anything, could knit Arran cardigans and intricate fairisle patterns, she made clothes for my mum, her sister and brothers - from curtain lining or old clothes - rationing was still going on after WWII. She was a fantastic cook and baker too.

My Dad is also an influence - he's a fantastic gardener and great at DIY - very creative in a practical way, I've actually picked up a good grasp of DIY skills which have come in handy living alone.

School teachers - two most fantastic art teachers I had at St. Brendans High school, Mr King and Mr Callan - always encouraging and inspired my love of Rennie Macintosh. Mr Callan did have some quirky ideas - we would never know what to expect for still life - I remember he once borrowed George the skeleton from the science department, dressed him as a monk and created a grave in the middle of the art room, we walked in to find poor old george in the 'grave' with a butchers knife through his ribs! Certainly made a difference from the usual fruit.

Today was my first day back at work after being ill for 3 weeks, actually was really pleased to go back - although still in a bit of pain, good to feel that things are getting back to normal.

On the mend

I've been MIA recently as have been a bit poorly. New tablets seem to be helping so hoping to catch up with Shimelle's My Freedom class, and Scrap Your Day tomorrow.

Have finished my Inspiration Layout but still need to do the Aspiration one, think I have most of it in my head.


I also managed to complete the last class in Jessica Spragues "Now we're rockin with Photoshop"
I've learned so much and would highly recommend her courses to anyone. Take a look at www.jessicasprague.com
Digi layout below - pictures taken while on holiday in Tenerife - just look at that blue sky!

Today’s My Freedom blog prompt: Share a list of links with your blog readers, leading them to the websites that inspire you most.
Tim Holtz
shimelle.com
Lesley Riley
Feel Good Photos
Overlooked
Somerset Studio
UKScrappers
Jessica Sprague
Jo Blogs

This is just a short list, too many to add here.

Todays prompt was to plan a dream day with no constraints. I've done a one dream day to spend with family - will do another to spend with friends.

Yesterdays My Freedom blog prompt: Share an old photo of yourself and a current photo of yourself with your blog readers. Tell them a little something that has changed and a little that has stayed the same.

The photo was taken at Ballantrae in Scotland, I'm the daredevil jumping off the bank! We went to Ballantrae quite often in the summer, loved going there although my mum says I used to hate the sand when I was younger :)

Things that have changed: well I don't live in Scotland anymore, and haven't been to Ballantrae in years and years so don't even know if it has changed. What's stayed the same - I still love the seaside although don't get much opportunity to go very often.

Finished!

Eventually managed to muster enough energy to complete my first LO for My Freedom class.
I like how it came together - a completely different process than normal. Still have my Travel one to complete, maybe tomorrow. If you want a better look go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkyfingers/2664788391/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Played with my alcohol inks and a Heidi Swapp mask today and altered my Ikea standard lampshades

Today’s My Freedom blog prompt: How do you prefer the pace of life? Do you wish things would
speed up or slow down? Illustrate with something that has been on your mind or on your calendar or share your preference between working slowly or quickly on a craft project.


I found this photoshop brush in my collection - sums it up quite nicely I think!
Time certainly seems to be elastic - sometimes I think the year just seems to be flying by (probably an age thing) but then it can seem to drag. Because I've been off work ill this week time has been strange, I only seem to be functioning normally when it's time to go to bed, but I'm still waking up early in the morning but really not fit for anything so the day seems to stretch endlessly - and TV is driving me up the wall. ITunes has been my saviour this week.
Got my hospital appointment through but this seems so far away - 29th July, just have to hope I can deal with the pain until then.

I don't mind craft projects that take time, but I do have quite a few unfinished projects around so sometimes is good to have a project that can be finished in one sitting.

Every Artist...........

Today’s "My Freedom" blog prompt: Have you ever been inspired by the words of a poem?
Share the poem with your blog readers and tell them how you came to value its words.

Well, it's not exactly a poem but it does having meaning for me.


This really resonates with me because I feel that no matter what someone creates, they put a piece of themselves into it, although I do struggle with calling myself an artist.

The digi layout above I created using a photo I took of some flowers my friend Sam sent to me to cheer me up. Original photo below.

What’s in your suitcase?

Today’s "My Freedom"blog prompt: Play a game of ‘What’s in your suitcase?’ on your blog by listing your necessities for travel.
My essentials would be: books - can't travel without something to read. My MP3 player, can't seem to sleep without listening to some music and I think sometimes it can provide a soundtrack to your holiday - a song that you then associate with a location (hope you know what I mean :) )
Camera - no self respecting scrapbooker would be without their camera, lenses, rechargable batteries
Suntan lotion - being quite pale and freckley this is essential.
Space allowing i'd sneak in some crafting stuff - a few stamps, some inkpads and paper - oh and a journalling book and a pen. I made some envelope books for my holiday to Tenerife to record what we did each day and hold tickets etc.

Travel journals.

Time Travel

Ok so this should have been done yesterday but the painkillers hadn't kicked in so playing catchup today. Blog prompt 2 from "My Freedom" Class is : If you could travel in time for just one day, where would you go and what would you do? I'd go back to Glasgow around 1896 to meet Charles Rennie Mackintosh, around this time he designed the Glasgow School of Art. I love Mackintosh and used to go to the degree exhibition every year as part of my school trip. It's one of my favourite buildings in Glasgow and I love how Mackintosh designed the interiors also - down to details like mirrors and lighting. I'd have spent the day watching his design process and trying to soak up inspiration.
Details of Mackintosh here - http://www.crmsociety.com

I'm still here...

just! Been feeling poorly for a few days but thought I'd try something to take my mind off it for a bit. I've signed up for Shimelle Laine's "My Freedom" class - details at www.shimelle.com
Todays prompt relates to time & travel. Took some pics of clocks in my flat - the one from my glass painting days that hangs in the kitchen(need to change the battery!) and my wee mackintosh clock ontop of the TV. This looks like shaping up to be a very interesting class - whole new approach to photos, journaling and design. Lets hope I finish this one - the Home project is still not completed but not forgotten :)
Here's what I did with a couple of photos.

Home

Today I actually manage to start and complete a project on the day the prompt was published!
I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. Photo I took of some flowers I bought myself and aged in photoshop, printed then sanded the edges. Project is from Shimelle's 'No Place Like Home' class.
House shaped cut from chipboard, covered in Paperchase flocked paper, lace, crocheted flower and fabric flower stamped and folded.

It's me again! Thought I'd actually get round to updating my Blog eventually :)
As always I've got too many projects on the go but I love it! Currently trying to follow through Shimelle's 'No Place Like Home' class. So far managed 1 DO, a digi version of journaling and have my House book under construction (OK so I've cut the covers and found some cute little door knobs from a DIY store near work!)
Since I last updated my blog I've changed jobs - so no more 12hr shifts - heaven!
Have been taking photos around my flat today, moving stuff out of the way to make it look tidy! I'm still in the process of sorting out my stash into my scrapbox, so once this is done I'll have everything easily to hand and not spend hours hunting for stuff.