Crafters Anonymous

I have a confession to make today.  I know I'm not alone (my sister for example is, if anything, worse than me).  I am a massive hoarder!!  Not like you see on the TV on programmes like 'The Hoarder Next Door' or 'Hoarders: Buried Alive' but enough to cause issues to do with storage and containment.  Of course my hoard is mostly made up of craft materials.  I admit that I am addicted and can't stop buying - even if I don't need it.

The latest example of my problem happened only this week.  I had seen Crafter's Companion advertise their new die cutting machine around Christmas time and knew I had to have it.  Not too much of a 'problem' you might say but I already have a perfectly working Ebosser.  My sister (always more sensible with other people's spending than her own - sorry Kate) asked what it did differently to what I already had. erm....  It reverses!! was my only answer.  Not quite the amazing breakthrough machine I had waxed lyrical about but to me that was all it needed to justify spending £170.



Now, I hear some of you say, that doesn't sound much like a hoarder to me. Surely this is just an update on a machine I use every time I craft.  However, if I tell you it's my fifth die cutting machine (all of which are still in my craft room), despite the fact I've only been seriously crafting for about 4 years, then you might begin to see what I'm talking about.  Again, of course, I can justify each and every one (and I DO intend to sell my Ebosser - yeah whatever) so to me it doesn't seem that bad.

But then it got me thinking about what other multiples I have.  That's when I realised just how bad I am.

To name but a few of my items I have 6 trimmers, 7 scoreboards, 4 pokey tools, 6 bone folders, 100s of pens of all makes and 16 pairs of scissors!!! And that's just the basic tools of the trade.  I dread to think how many 12x12 paper pads, card kits, punches, stamps and, most importantly, dies I own. I really think I have a problem.  I'd like to say it's because I'm getting better products each time but that isn't necessarily the case.  Often it's because I can't resist a bargain - a serious problem for an over stocked craft room.  It's no surprise that a hobby that started with a carrier bag, a shoebox of embellishments and a 12x12 paper pad is now threatening to spill out of an entire bedroom.

Now I know I'm not alone and the crafters among you will think this is just normal but I'm beginning to think it might not be.  When I won't fork out £30 on a new pair of work shoes because I can't justify the cost but I'll spend over £100 on a new die cutting machine (to be honest not only because of the pause and reverse thing but also because it looks so sleek and is purple!!) then I might have to re-evaluate my spending habits.

Ah who am I kidding?  I nipped into the works earlier and spent £20 on 'bits and pieces' - more gems and tape and pencils and pretty things.  Whilst my obsession continues then my hoard will increase.

Stamp of Approval

When I first started crafting, and before I bought my die cutting machine, I thought stamping would be the way to enhance my scrapbook pages and cards.  I thought it would be a really easy way to add to them.  After all most of us start stamping at a really young age with potato printing right?  How hard could this be?

I'd see the gorgeous stamps in their packaging with the samples of how they could be coloured in.  I knew I wasn't particularly great at colouring (or interested in it really) but I thought that I could paper piece (stamping the image several times onto different papers and then cutting out the different bits) them instead.

Right from the start however, I knew stamping was not going to the easy option I thought it would be.  I tried allsorts of things - different blocks, different inks, sitting and standing to get the pressure right - but whatever I did I always made a mess.  The most infuriating thing was that I would generally leave this bit to the end of my project and then make a complete mess of thing I'd been working on for ages.  A lot of my early craft pieces have a random butterfly or flower on them that was never intended to be there. 

It was so frustrating that I eventually gave up.  I was fed up of smudged images, half inked sentiments and ruined cards.  I collected all my stamps together and put them in a box out of the way.  But then I'd watch people like Phill Martin or Chloe Endean on Create and Craft, they moved channels, and they were always able to make stunning cards with their stamps.  Now I know they are professionals but how could they get perfection every time?  I thought it must be their particular stamps so bought some of theirs - still no success.  It was clearly me!

As I progressed I got into die cutting and stamps became a thing of the past.  If I lost my crafty mojo I'd turn to my Hunkydory kits and makes lots of cards otherwise I would spend hours playing with my dies.

Then recently I bought a bargain kit of papers and embellishments.  In the pack came a large stamp and I loved it. It was a beautiful girl and I just had to have a go. Because it was so large I took the paper to the stamp and for the first time I had complete success.  When I took the paper off I had a clear, unsmudged image.  I stamped her over and over again.  I was so pleased with the results that I set about making cards with her.

 

Using paper from the pads that came in the pack, Spectrum Noir pens and ink pads I did a bit of paper piecing to create this fresh feeling card.

 

This was a little more advanced as I embossed the 'waste' that was created when I heat embossed this Tattered Lace panel die (pictured) and used it as a background.  This time I coloured her in with my Spectrum Noirs.  A much more girlie image I think.

 

 

I think I may have discovered a liking for stamping now but perhaps I will save up and treat myself to a TODO so it can do all the difficult stamping bit.

I'm Back

I can't actually believe it has been so long since I last posted on here.  I'm not sure where all the time has gone although life has been pretty hectic.  I've started teaching again 3 days a week and I have to say I love it.  Due to the nature of supply work, it means I can do the bit of the job I love without all the stresses of targets, marking and scrutiny.  I really believed this time last year that I would never go back into a classroom - how wrong I was.  I'm back at it and I'm enjoying teaching again.

It also means that I also have plenty of time for family fun as well as getting into my craft room. It really is my sanctuary (although a very chaotic, messy sanctuary at times) and I can lose myself in creating new samples.  I was very busy before Christmas as I had a couple of craft parties and actually went out to a Christmas Fayre.  Although it wasn't the most successful experience it did show me that people liked my cards and that there is a market for them (if I can get the setting and prices right)

 

I had lots of orders from family and friends and it kept me out of mischief during those long Winter evenings.

 

I've also been continuing to make samples for Tattered Lace that have been on TV, on their Pinterest site and also on Crafting.co.uk as examples of what can be made with the dies.  It really has been so rewarding.  I have loved getting these dies and embossing folders before anyone else and really being able to play with them.  It is such a thrill to see the hours you put into your work being appreciated and used by the company.  It's something I hope to keep doing (obviously as long as they want me to) as I really feel like I am doing something with my crafting.

 

 

It still astonishes me how far I've come from my little bag of embellishments and one paper pad that I started with 4 years ago.  As people begin to start talking about the Rio Olympics it takes me back to those first evenings, watching the London Olympics with a glass of wine and my new found hobby.  I've gone from there to an entire spare and it's more of an obsession these days.  I start every week telling myself not to buy anymore crafty goodies and have usually been shopping by Tuesday.  I had a big sort out of my dies a couple of weeks ago (I'm terrible for not putting things back where they belong until I can no longer find anything) and I could not believe how many dies I actually had.  I try not to think about how much I've spent on them in just under 4 years because it is what I love.

 

 

Well I'm off back to it now.  Got some new panel dies I've been experimenting with.  Hoping the results will be good.  Determined to post on here more now, despite being busier than I was before, and I hope you will continue to have a read.

 

Bye for now





As Seen On TV

I think it was in June when I saw a post from a member of the Tattered Lace team, Sarah Trebilcock, on Facebook sharing information about becoming a member of a design team.  I had recently applied to Kanban crafts but had heard nothing back so decided to have another go with a different company. It really was a rush as I saw it at the last minute and so quickly sent of the email.  It said it wasn't die cuts so I sent them a picture of a card I'd created for my husband, Michael's, birthday.

I sent off the email and then waited a couple of weeks but didn't hear anything back.  Ah well.  I would keep trying if I saw any other positions come up but knew it would probably be quite difficult to get on these teams.  They do seem to be unpaid positions but they are a fantastic outlet for my hobby.

Anyway, life went on.  I had a fantastic summer and beautiful holiday in gorgeous Spain. Imagine my surprise when, having forgotten about my application, a couple of months later I got an email from the head of the team saying that I had made it through to the next part of the process.  She wanted me to send her a project to show what I was able to do.  I actually squealed with delight.  Although I wasn't on the team I was a step closer to doing something I really wanted to do.  It took me ages to decide what to send as I wanted it to be eye-catching and show off all I was capable of.  Eventually I came up with a butterfly, shaped easel card.

 

I turned 40 on the 15th of September and had an amazing few weeks celebrating with family and friends and had given up on the idea that I would make it any further on the team.  I was so delighted then when I received an email on the 16th September apologising for the lateness in response but letting me know I had made it onto the design team for 3 months in the first instance. I was over the moon.  I would be working with Tattered Lace products (my absolute favourite out there) and creating cards that could possibly be used to promote their products on their website and on Create and Craft (I know - CREATE AND CRAFT!!!)

 

A couple of days later I was asked if I could make some samples and having responded saying that I could I received a couple of new trio designs.  To say it was a bit daunting is a complete understatement.  I sat and looked at these for quite a while it has to be said.  What could I do with them that was original and worthy of such an amazing company? 

 

 

 Well eventually I came up with about 5 cards to send off to them.  I checked the TV schedule, saw when the programmes that were selling these products were and set up the planner to record them - just in case.  The first programme aired and there was no sign of my card.  I was a little gutted but then thought about it realistically.  It would be amazing if my first set of samples went straight through and made it on air.  Ah well, I thought.  Maybe next time.

 

Later that day a link was put on Facebook to the Pinterest page where samples of these cards could be found.  I nearly jumped for joy as there in full, glorious colour was one of my cards.

 

 

Of course I started texting and phoning everyone lol.  I was so proud of what I'd achieved and it felt great to know that I was doing things they appreciated and that might inspire other people and their card making.  The next day I watched the programme again to see if things could get any better and there it was......  one of my cards was featured in the display of cards (circled below).  I'd done it - I'd made it on to Create and Craft. Who would have thought that a couple of years ago I didn't even know Create and Craft existed and here I was on the channel. 

 



 

When the next email came to ask if I could do some more samples I responded immediately.  What would I get to play with this time?  A couple of days later the package arrived and I had been sent a couple of over the edge dies and a border die. At first I found it tricky because there was no real focal point with them but after a few days of cutting and sticking I'd made nearly a dozen cards to send off.  I was very proud of them and hoped that I would again see them on the TV.

 

this time the products were part of the 'Pick of the Week' but the dies I had been given were not part of the main bundle so I didn't expect to see any of my work.  I checked pinterest again but they weren't on there until I looked through cards that had been made for another collection and there they were - TWO of my cards this time. 

 

Eventually the 'Pick of the Week' sold out and so on the last day of programmes they moved on to other dies - including those I had worked on.  It wasn't until I looked more closely that I could see all my cards in front of the presenters as they did their demonstrations because they were hidden by the titles and product details.  I was a little disappointed that they were there but couldn't be seen.  However, this disappointment turned to complete excitement when the presenters Dean and Rossella were asked a question and they used one of my cards to answer it with.  I was over the moon.  they both commented on how beautiful it was and I swelled with proud.  I know it sounds ridiculous - it's just a card for heaven's sake - but again it is something I love doing and they are being appreciated.

 

 

I just can't wait for the next product to be delivered and I hope to be creating samples for Tattered Lace for as long as possible.

 

 

A busy Summer's Weekend

It's been a while since I posted but I've had a busy couple of months.

July has become one of the most important months of the year for me over recent years.  It obviously is the month all teachers dream of  - when we finally get to have a long, relaxing break.  Now I'm out of teaching it is equally significant as it is the month in which my little lady turns another year older.  This year was her 4th birthday.  In keeping with always I was going to throw her a big birthday party.  For the past couple of years this has also coincided with the Create and Craft Summer Crafting event and this year was no different.

Now, as I have already said on here, I am Create and Craft mad.  I can have it on TV all day.  Although I'm not always watching I like it in the background.  When I found out they would be broadcasting live from the event this year it was an extra incentive to go, despite having organised a big children's party for the next day.  Having been the year before, my sister also fancied going (although she is not a Create and Craft addict, she is bigger crafter than me and is the reason for my obsession). Last year mum came too and drove us there but, having quickly realised there was nothing for her to buy, (she does not share our passion) she ended up sat outside in the sun all day.  We felt we couldn't ask her again so we went by train.

It was manic!!

We arrived at about 11am and it was just chaos.  To people who don't know about crafting you would never believe there were so many people into it.  Despite the crushes, the grabbing and the queuing we managed to bag ourselves a number of bargains.  Ok so we had a big craft bag full of goodies.  We decided to watch the final live hour broadcast from the event and because of this ended up on TV for a millisecond each and then meeting Leonie and Dave (two of the presenters).  Kate thought it was hilarious but I have to admit I was a bit starstruck.

 

 

Despite our protestations that due to the crowds we wouldn't go next year, it is safe to say we will be at Summer crafting next year.

 

 

The next day was Lucy's 4th birthday party.  We were holding it at her preschool so it could be inside or our regardless of the weather.  She had requested a Cinderella theme with fancy dress.  She is completely Princess obsessed which I love.  Her favourite is Belle but having seen the live action version of Cinderella she has now moved her love to her for a while.

 

She had a fabulous day (with only a couple of meltdowns) and got some fantastic pressies from all her family and friends. She is very spoilt but worth it (not biased at all)

Create and Craft obsession

As I've said already, I started crafting to create memories for my daughter in the form of scrapbook pages. Eventually I found the shopping channel 'Create and Craft' as just that - another place to shop for craft items.  However, these days it's part of my viewing choice watching it as entertainment rather than really thinking of buying products necessarily.  As those who know me well would confirm, it is on throughout the day and can almost be guaranteed to be on in the background if they visit for a brew.

What it has done is introduce me to a wider range of paper crafting products and craft companies who I would never have been aware of.  The likes of 'Hunkydory', 'Tattered Lace', 'Tonic', 'Spellbinders', 'Kanban' and 'Crafters Companion' are now staples of my crafting work but I'd never heard of things such as die cutting, embossing and decoupage before I found this channel.

It has proved to be an expensive discovery over the last few years but to be fair it is one of the only things I spend money on (well apart from my daughter obviously) and I get so much pleasure from it it is worth it.  It is very true that crafting helps to de-stress me and I've needed that over the last couple of years when work has got the better of me and when I finally gave it up.

I started to make cards once I'd found die cutting.  I bought a couple of 'Tonic' fairy dies and a few 'Tattered Lace' dies and got to work creating my first cards.  I was so proud of them.  Now I look back and although I still like them, in the same way with my first scrapbook pages, they look so basic compared to what I'm capable of now.

I didn't know about matting & layering, about different card shapes and what was actually achievable.

 

Now though my cards have come on in leaps and bounds.  'Create and Craft' not only sell the products but also show you what you can do with them.  This means that I can then transfer these skills to the other products I have - not just the things that are being sold at the time.

 

I've now done a couple of parties for family and friends with my Christmas cards but mainly make bespoke cards for people on a request basis.  I'd love to expand this to become a full time job but at the moment it is really just paying for my crafty stash.  I just need an occasion and a bit about what the recipients like and I'm away.

 

Here are a few of my favourite makes:

some cards made for Harry's 90th

One I made for my Bradford city mad nephew Zac

A touch of paper folding

One for the hubby

A pretty ballerina

A wedding

An anniversary

A new baby

 

At the moment I have a list of cards to make from birthday's to fathers' day.  I'm so thankful for my friends and family for supporting me and just hope that I can make enough money to support my 'Create and 'Craft' addiction.





A Walk in the Woods

As I mentioned in my last post, I began to scrapbook as a way of documenting Lucy's life.  When I was young photography was a very different animal.  You would have a film of 24 or 36 and those few pictures would be precious (well the ones that actually came out ok once you'd got them back from the processing shop) and were carefully placed into albums by my mum.

This was the same as I was growing up and holidays, parties, nights out would all fit on one film.  In a way I'm grateful for this now as I cannot imagine the kind of things that would be on social media if facebook had existed when I was in my formative years (it's bad enough what goes on there now I'm approaching the big 40).  I now have a select number of albums covering those special occasions in my life.

Of course all that has changed now with the advent of digital photography.  I went out and bought a fancy camera when I realised I needed better quality photos for my project work.  I now have thousands of photos of birthdays, Christmases, holidays and generally just day to day life stored on my laptop.  Sometimes I can spend hours looking through them but up until I found scrapbooking that's about all that happened.  They were never printed off and put in albums.  An occasional few made it to photo frames and were put out for people to see but most just sat there.

Now I can pick out my favourite images and create something that is special and a reminder of happy days.  I always write a bit about the situation as though I'm writing to an older Lucy and telling her about her life.  Although the pictures and the design are the creative part the journaling is important as a reminder of people, places and dates.  I used to spend hours going through old photos with my nan and unless the names of those on the photo were written on the back then it was difficult for her to remember who some of them were.  Hopefully this way Lucy will always know who she's met in her life.

Now some are a feature on her bedroom wall.

 

A recent family day out was to St Ives Woods in Bingley.  When we had our Labradors we used to go here quite often but since Lucy has been born we haven't been until then.  On May Bank Holiday we went for a walk there. 

 

Lucy loved it.

 

She rushed around the woods looking for all the carved figures that they have throughout the woods.  She cuddled the fairies and said hello to them all.  She thought the little dwarf with his pants down was hilarious.  She wasn't very happy about the scary witch and wouldn't go near but was happy to have her photo taken with the rest of them.

 

Now I took a number of photos (just on my phone) and these could quite easily have stayed there.  However, it was such a lovely day that when we got home I set about taking those photos and turning them into scrapbook pages.  Now a memory has been created that will be there for Lucy to look back on and perhaps recreate with her own children in many years to come.