Decorated Chipboard...

As you can see I've just completed yet another swap - this time for Decorated Chipboard! I was really intrigued to see how they would be decorated and what shapes people would come up with, and how they might inspire a project rather than just decorate it...

Anyway, I only had the one die that could cut through chipboard - this lovely Stampin' Up! exclusive one that I ordered with my first discount :D so I decided to decorate it a bit like a bookplate of sorts, so that it might be able to complement the SMASHBook craze - especially for those making their own books :)  Of course they'll be able to use it as a normal embellishment too, a journalling spot, etc.

I used the Stampin' Up! Top Note die, Tea Stain Distress Ink (thank you Rachel!), generic chipboard, wooden dominoes from my LCS, Tim Holtz Film Reel, graph and lined paper by various companies, Prima printed tape, one of Tim Holtz' acrylic stamps for the ticket (thank you again Rachel!), Stampin' Up! permanent Snail adhesive, and Stampin' Up! kraft cardstock.

I can't wait to see what I'll get in return!

L x



Tip-In My Hat...

I've also waved  a fond farewell to the Tip In Swap pages - I really enjoyed working on these and hope everyone likes them - I wanted to give them the feeling that I'd drawn directly into their chosen book, so each pages was made with a background of relevant text, an appropriate image, and then hand-inked:
I was two groups - Group 3:

and Group 5:

I really hope people like them, I'm proud of them - havent done my own yet though, because I don't want to double up on quotes!

L x

August Tag Swap...

My first time hosting - how exciting! I set the UKS August Tag Swap theme of peridot + metal + inspired by oz, and here you go - the results of the August jury!

Group 1: nettyb, Kittycrafts, mistyrat, me, Kellmorris, and OLFRTAYL underneath

Group 2: Nerlly, KJJC, TinkerHamilton, with jainethepain and allyj50 below

Group 3: honeypip, RosieMac, cockneycrafter, Roxy52, funkymonkey, Weaselwise

I was impressed with the interpretations and the fact that they were all so different - well done everyone and a huge thank you for taking part!

L x

Urban Garden...

Just a quick post before I forget- these are my tags for the UKS June tag swap- theme of two, royal, and alexandrite...
It took a lot of reworking and testing - really leaky elbows! - but now I'm really, really pleased with it :D

Stamps: Tim Holtz
Gems: Sarah's Cards
Lace Trim: Prima
Velvet Ribbon: A Haberdasher
Velvet Lace: Anna Griffin
Ink, Paper, Card, Embossing Powder, Blossoms Punch, Bird on a Branch Punch, and Adhesives: Stampin' Up!

Thanks for looking- if you want any more info on the supplies please let me know :)
Leanne xxx


Sent from my iPhone

One Litle Word...

I read this post at the start of the year as I was trying to determine my word - Release, Less, Focus and many others vied for attention in my mind, until today (yes it's been a long process!)
Looking through it again and trying to find the one comment that stood out, I realised I had to CHOOSE, because I couldn't move on until I did.
I'm lucky to have a choice, and all this time I've been throwing it away and riding things out until it's too late, never acting on things, letting them pass me by, so:
I CHOOSE my family;
I CHOOSE my health;
I CHOOSE to select the things I love about my life and throw out what I don't - and then I will CHOOSE the new things I want in their places, not just accept things because they turn up;

I tell you what though - the oddest part that I can't get my head around yet is that I didn't really CHOOSE it - but it seems to have chosen me!

Diamonds...

Ta-dah! My tags for the UKS April Tag Swap, which I am chuffed to little mint balls about!

The required elements were bling, a crown, and the theme of 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend'... And with a theme like that it meant only one thing could take centre stage- the lovely Norma Jean!
I went for a look of a poster on a wall, adorned with bling and a graffiti-effect crown, accompanied by a photo-relevant quote from the song itself, and really hope i didn't miss!

I really do hope that my recipients like them... It was touch and go at one stage as it seemed LES (Leaky Elbow Syndrome) had struck- it just wasn't translating from brain to page- but I'm really pleased with my end result :D

Hope you're all getting the same feel-good factor this weekend!
L xxx

Counterfeit Kit Candy...!

This is not only a great idea, but a fab giveaway - check it out! http://scrappinmargie.blogspot.com/2011/03/100-follower-giveaway.html Leanne x

Going Loopy...

...for Rico's new Loopy yarn!

A more natural version of Cancan, you still get a scarf from one ball, but with a more natural, daytime feel - love it!

The pattern is in the ballband, but basically it's 'Cast on 7 stitches by picking up every other loop, knit in garter stitch, cast off as normal' - I played a while and decided I prefered 9 stitches wide, and here's how I got on:

And I got lots of attention whilst knitting it whilst the kids were playing at our local junglegym, because it's brand new and looks complicated - but it's not, it's just a lovely result from a yarn that does all the hard work! One thing to note: knit the loose side, not the tight side of the yarn (it does say this in the instructions, but someone at our LYS missed this one and they struggled to get into a rhythm whilst sampling)

Ayway, thanks for looking, anything new for you project-wise this week?

Leanne x

Bon Voyage...

Just a quickie with my contribution to the March Tag Swap on UKS, hosted by the lovely Netty :D

The criteria were: Aquamarine, Travel & a Postage-related item

Thanks for looking,

L x

Today I Am Mostly...

LISTENING: To Grace and Dylan running riot
EATING: A banana
DRINKING: My second coffee
WEARING: Jeans, white tee and cardigan (my go-to outfit!)
FEELING: Fatigued after a nice weekend
WEATHER: Dreary and weary, where did the sunshine go?
WANTING: Quiet, and all of Ysolda Teague's patterns
NEEDING: To load the dishwasher
THINKING: About my tags and CJ
ENJOYING: Knitting my new wool (Rico Loopy - so names because it drives you...)
WONDERING: If we should have another baby (sorry, a bit deep but honest!)