Zentangle ATC's

I told you I was addicted!

I have made some zentangle ATC's as well. I like them all although the one with the eyes is my favourite. I was going to put them up to swap on the CM&P Forum but I'm not sure I can bring myself to part with them. I'm sure I will, perhaps I'll just photocopy them first!!

Here they are:

Zentangles

I think I have found a new obsession - I love to zentangle!!

Having made one zentangle to cut up for my inchies I thought I'd make another larger one to hang in my workroom. It took approx 2 hrs to complete and here it is:

Hope you like it

Claire

Inchies

I have always been intrigued by inchies. I have seen them mentioned on different forums but until I saw them in the flesh, as it were, I didn't realise just how much detail you can fit on such a tiny space. I wanted to have a go and thought I would host a swap on the CM&P Forum. I chose the theme of black and white which with hindsight was a bit if a mistake as it is quite limiting and I found it difficult to come up with enough ideas.

I limited the swap to 15 people. So far 10 people have signed up to join in with the swap and the completed inchies I have seen are all amazing. I made 8 to begin with, all different, some with brads and one which opens like a book, but then I got stuck.

Here is a photo of my first 8:

I then started to think about black and white and where I could get inspiration from. I remembered seeing a zentange ATC swap on another forum and thinking how amazing the cards were. I never thought I would be able to replicate the standard of the zentangles on the web but I thought I'd have a go. For anyone who has not seen a zentangle have a look at http://www.zentangle.com/ there are some amazing examples there. Anyway I used a small piece of card and started to draw, I only intended to cover a one inch square but once I started I couldn't stop!

Here's the image I ended up with:

And after I had cut it up and made the inchies:

I am really pleased with these and think I have found a new obsession, see the next post!!

Claire

Shed Update!!

Any spare time I've had this week has been spent in the shed, tidying and moving things around. I have got rid of a huge amount of stuff and there is another large pile of bits and pieces ready to go. I finally feel I can begin to see the potential of the large space. I have uncovered the desk from under a pile of junk and so it is beginning to take shape.

I have also been trying to fit a few bits of crafting in and will show you what I have been up to as soon as my camera battery is charged and I can take some photo's.

Hope everyone is well and the weather is better than it is here - it has not stopped raining all day and the road is flooded a little way down from me. Let's hope we see some more sun soon.

Claire

My weekend

Hi all,

Sorry for not posting for the last few days. I have been so busy and my crafting has taken a back seat. I decided on Friday I was going to have a major tidy. I have a large shed in the back garden which I have used for storage for a few years. It is fully insulated and has electricity etc so I thought it was a great space going to waste. My idea was to create a workshop in there and have a lot more space for making things etc. This obviously meant sorting out the accumulated clutter. What I thought would take a day turned into 3 days and I'm still not there. I have sorted out so much stuff to go and have made good use of my local freecycle site.

I had a break from tidying yesterday morning to go to my local car boot sale, I thought I'd go and see what bargains I could find. It took me 2 and a half hours to walk around and I bought 1 thing - not a great success. I got home, looked in the mirror and saw that I was extremely sunburnt as well. I know I should have put sun cream on but it didn't look that sunny when I went out. So it goes without saying I am in pain today and even though I keep thinking about going and finishing the tidying in the shed I can't seem to find the enthusiasm. It may be a while before I have a fully functioning craft workshop!

I'll let you know how it goes and if I ever make the move into the garden shed!!!
Claire

It's my birthday!!

And I woke up with a stinking cold, sore throat, cough - the lot. What great timing. Oh well I wasn't planning anything special anyway so I am just going to have a quiet day.

Along with a couple of cards the postman also brought a beatiful fat book page from Potter, (Lindsay), this morning. This is for the Fairy Fat Book Page swap which is currently taking place on the CM&P Forum. Thought I'd share it with everyone, I think the fairy is very cute and I love the soft feathers Lindsay has used on the back.

Hope everyone is having a good day.

Claire

Get well card

Here's the get well card I have made for Linda who is a member of the CM&P Forum and who has fallen over and broken her arm. I have put a joke inside the card and hope it will cheer her up a bit. Here's hoping she is back to crafting soon.

The front:

And the inside:

Claire

Black and White ATC Competition

As promised here's some of the crafty bits and pieces I have managed to get done today.

There is an ATC competition taking place on the Card Making and Papercraft Forum at the moment. The theme is black and white. I love black and white but normally always add a splash of colour somewhere for example an image of a lady in black and white but with red lips etc. I spent ages thinking about the ATC and found some inspiration when I was going through my stamp drawer. I found a set of stamps which included a pocket watch and decided I would use the theme 'time'.


Here is what I finally came up with:

What do you think? I know I'm up against some fantastic artists so I'm not holding my breath and doubt I'll win. Anyway I believe it's all about the taking part and creating something you are happy with rather than the winning.

Claire

Good Morning!

Good morning everyone, and what a nice morning it is too!. The sun is shining and the sky is blue here, it actually looks like a lovely spring morning rather than the wintry days we have been having recently. Here's hoping this is the start of things to come!

I'm going to be very busy today, I've got some orders to complete, an ATC to make for a competition on the CM&P Forum and a get well card to make for a member of the forum who accidentally slipped and broke her arm. Plus lots of other things that will no doubt crop up during the day.

Oh well, better get started, I'll hopefully get back and show you what I manage to achieve a little later.

Claire

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Rhea.
So now I have to tell you 7 things about myself:

1. I love anything crafty - an easy one for starters and no shock there!!
2. I have done a parachute jump for charity
3. I have never been abroad apart from a trip to Calais via the tunnel to buy cheap alcohol
4. I hate football
5. I collect old/antique sewing machines
6. I am a sweet-a-holic, any sweets will do but especially jelly tots
7. I love cooking

Claire

Animal Alphabet

I have been busy over the past couple of days trying to complete some ATC's for a swap on the CM&P Forum. The swap is for 26 cards and the theme is Animal Alphabet. This is a long term swap with 3 cards being swapped each month. I decided to try to complete the whole alphabet and send them all in together otherwise I know I'll get swamped with other stuff and miss a month at some point!

I found the most difficult part of this swap was finding animals which begin with certain letters, x was a real problem and in the end I used the latin name for the swordfish, (xiphias gladius). Not sure of that's cheating or not!!!

Anyway here are the photos of my finished ATC's.

Angelfish, butterfly, cat, dragonfly, emu, frog, goldfish:

Hummingbird, iguana, jellyfish, kangaroo, ladybird, monkey:

Nessie, owl, penguin, queen bee, rabbit, sheep:

Tortoise, unicorn, vulture, woodpecker, xiphias gladius, yak and zebra:

Hope you like them, let me know what you think.

Claire

I'm back

Hi everyone,

Sorry I didn't manage to post at all while I was away, the wifi connection was down the whole time and I couldn't get on the internet at all - lots of withdrawal symptoms and loads of emails to go through now.

Anyway I'm glad to be back and able to post again. I managed to finish all the invitations I needed to make and make quite a few cards while I was away. I'll share them with you later when I've got through all the emails and taken photos to upload.

Hope everyone is well.
Claire

Birthday Cards

I have a couple of friends who have birthdays in the next week so amoungst other things I've been making their cards today. I wanted to make something simple and elegant and think I have managed that. Here is the first card:

And the second:

Both cards have a piece of delicate lace behind the coloured ribbon but it not showing that well in the photos.

I am going to go away for a break tomorrow for about 10 days so I won't be around much but I am taking my computer so I may be able to post a few times.

Hope everyone has a good start to April and I'll be back soon.

Claire

Another Card

I have been very busy with orders over the past few days and have been working hard on invitations and cards.

I have just finished a card I was asked to make. It is for a 21st birthday and the lady I've made it for asked if I could use the picture of the birthday girl which she put on the front of her party invitations. I have done so and I like the card but the only part I am not so happy with is the photo, I just can't get past the fact that the girl has no feet!!!

Here's a photo - please let me know what you think.

Hope everyone is having a good evening.

You Make My Day Award

This is the second award I have been given by Kerry - http://www.angelwings2.blogspot.com/

A huge thank you again, I feel so honoured to have been chosen twice.

I would like to pass this award on to the following people:

Cazzy - www.cazzytime.blogspot.com

Caro - www.carocrafts.blogspot.com

You both make my day by creating such wonderful blogs which I love reading.

Thank you

Arte Y Pico Award

I would have been thrilled to receive an award, but I am ecstatic because I have been given two.

So thank you so much Kerry, please visit her fantastic blog at www.angelwings2.blogspot.com

The first is the Arte Y Pico Award:

The Arte Y Pico Award is given to those who share their art and creativity and make a contribution to the blogging world. There are 5 rules attached to this award:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs which you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting materials and also contribution to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link of the blogger who gave him/her the award.

4. Award winner and the one who has given the award have to show the link to the Arte Y Pico blog.

5. To show these rules.

As I am new to the blogging world I haven't really had that much time to look at many other blogs, there are a few I really love and return to again and again and for this reason I have chosen to pass on this award to the following people:

Isa - Your cards are amazing, I love visiting your blog and looking at what you have been up to and especially the stamps you have been using. www.isabelslittlecorner.blogspot.com

Anice - I love reading about how your business is progressing and what new products you are introducing an your cards are fab too. www.funkyhand.blogspot.com

Karen - Your creations are fantastic, there is always something to look at and take inspiration from on your blog. www.kazmac.blogspot.com

LazyKay - I know you have already recieved this award but I'd also like to give it to you, your blog is great and I love looking at your new creations. www.freewebs.com/bean-sidhe/blog.htm

Kerry - right back at you - I visit your blog frequently and I love your style and everything yoy make, you have inspired me with your creations and for that I thank you. www.angelwings2.blogspot.com

Thank you again to Kerry.