PROJECT LIFE - Week 49

My daughter has travelled (on her own- a big achievement for her) a lot of miles to come and see me whilst she's on holiday (she's a teaching assistant, in England they have broken-up for the Easter holidays already, so until she has to get back for her second job... she's come to see her mum!), so I'll be MIA for a few days.  Before I disappear for a couple of days I'd like to share my PROJECT LIFE week 49 with you...

 

 

My two-page spread, PAGE 1

 

 

 Title card made using the CRICUT EXPRESSION

 

 

Job lot of buttons purchased on Ebay.  This one was VERY appropriate here!

 

 

 

Love these little wood veneers, they manage to give just the right decoration.

 

 

 

 

PAGE 2

 

 

 

I used a page from an EK SUCESS 'Smash' pad to fill in the journaling here

 

 

 

I used a date stamp to document this event.

 

 

I'm really enjoying this way of documenting life, it is SO easy, and in years to come, it will be so interesting to look back on.

 

Thanks for taking the time to view my crafting, have a great week.

 

 

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Kanban Kwikie IV

Out came the trusty Kanban Kit AGAIN, to make a few quick, quick, quick male cards... and here they are...

Not a lot to say about any of it really.  The Kanban kit, my scraps and my stash and hey presto!

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

Cricut American Alphabet VIII

'MY Cricut Cartridge Alphabet' this is number 8 (we are no longer in alphabetical order, as I've bought more cartridges since starting this series... AND I got confused!!!)

CRICUT AMERICAN ALPHABET' sometimes called simply 'CRICUT ALPHABET', only comes with the Cricut Expression 2 (pre-loaded), although this may change in the future. 

    

 

The creative features on this cartridge are... 'blackout/shadow', 'font 1', 'font 1 shadow', 'font 2', 'font 3', and 'font 3 shadow'. From this you might be forgiven for thinking this cartridge contains nothing but letters... you'd be wrong, there are, in fact, some lovely images on this cartridge.  Among them - hearts, shoes, flowers, a guitar, light bulb, rabbit, dog, swirls and cupcakes, I could go on, but I won't, there is even a cowboy boot, the range of images is as wide as it is eclectic. I suspect this is to allow new users to get as much of a taste of the Cricut range as possible.

 

My View... I think this is a great 'starter' cartridge, its got loads of simple cuts that encourage you to explore more.  There's a couple of things that I dislike about this cartridge, firstly the images are a bit 'swirly', that's fine if you want a whimsical look but not for the more serious creativity.  I'm sure this is deliberate on Cricut's behalf, to encourage you to buy more cartridges and therefore to push you in the direction of cartridge financial suicide!  The other thing that I dislike (although its more of a general complaint directed towards the booklets themselves), and that is the colours used in the booklet to demonstrate the various cuts, are exceptionally garish, I don't think  shows off the images to their best advantage.

 

My Verdict... If you buy the Cricut Expression 2 you will, undoubtedly be using the 'CRICUT AMERICAN ALPHABET', and since you have no choice (its just there), you might as well explore and enjoy it!

 

An example of MY usage is here.

 

 

 

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PROJECT LIFE - Week 48

Hello Everyone...

 

I'm NOT having a good day... I don't like going to the doctors, least of all because you have to wait for HOURS and then you're only in there for 30 seconds!  Anyway... crafting

 

I'm sharing my week 48 of PROJECT LIFE, with you..

 

 

 TITLE CARD - epic fail!

 

I don't like my title card for this week... and perhaps in years to come, I will change it (or not), but for now... it is what it is!

 

Also I'm entering Hazel's patterned paper challenge for this month with this little card...

 

 

 

SUPPLIES USED...

 

Blue scalloped card blank

 

Patterned Paper... 

• DOCRAFTS 'Me to You - With Love' - base mats
• RECOLLECTIONS 'Valentine' -  punched scalloped circles and bingo cards (got it on sale!)

Embellishments...

• Puffy Hearts  - £1 shop purchase
• Vellum - from stash

 

A mega quick and easy card!

 

CRAFTYHAZELNUTS PATTERNED PAPER APRIL CHALLENGE - 'Anything Goes'

 

 

 

Blah... Blah... Blah...

 

 

Cawl

Hi Y'All... how's it goin'?

 

For the last few weeks (here in rainy Wales) we've been following the Six Nations Rugby Championship.  The clubhouse has been open for every match, and cawl (a traditional Welsh dish similar to a chunky soup, in our case with LOTS of pepper in it) has been served to all.  So I've draw inspiration from this (Ireland won the Championship by the way) and made a rugby card.  I suppose I could of made a card with food on it... but that's for another time, and to be perfectly honest, by the time the championship players kicked their last conversion, I was heartily fed up of making HUGE pots of cawl!

 

 

 

SUPPLIES USED...

 

DL card blank in Kraft

 

Topper/Sentiment

• KANBAN 'Scrum Down'

Papers...

• HOT OFF THE PRESS 'Colour Me'
• WHITE CARDSTOCK - from my stash

Embellishments...

• WOODEN LEAF VENEERS - from my stash
• WOODEN HEART VENEERS - from my stash

 

In case you're interested this is cawl...

 

 

... told you it was a BIG pot!






THE CRAFTING CAFE - April Ch. - 'One For The Boys'

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PL - Moorlands... the beginning

So here's the start of my 'Moorlands' PROJECT LIFE.  Hopefully this (when complete) will be an account of our lives at Moorlands Caravan Park.  It's been great fun looking through all the old photos, but a REAL pain in the behind to figure out what all the dates were!

 

I have a HUGE chest of photos that I've gone through and sorted into different categories - although as soon as I'd sorted out any 'Moorlands' ones, I got started on my album.  I have found that the whole day can pass with recalling memories and reminiscing!  I bought an album (yes, another one), especially for this project and I am trying to use just one core kit (Kraft).

 

The object of this album (unlike my weekly one) is simply to have a place to put all the 'Moorlands' memories into.  Sometimes I document different events or occasions, but its not that important as I'm always going to be 'playing catch-up', and the past is the past, I don't always remember what happen, when.  I've also discovered that the same picture will have different memories for different people... it's been a wonderful experience so far.  And well worth the effort of getting all those photos out of storage.

... album

... KRAFT core kit

 

 

... BECKY HIGGINS page protectors (design A)

 

 

 

... first couple of pages

 

So I've made a start... more to follow!

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

 

 

Life Observation... hunger

I realised, some time ago (when I was considerable lighter in weight) that there is a VERY thin line between hunger and boredom, and so, after my second packet of maltesers and realising that I am not hungry... REALLY.  And having a mountain of sorted/categorised/organised photographs on my kitchen table (I've been sorting them out in the hope of getting on with my PROJECT LIFE  albums) that continue to stare at me (accusingly), begging me to either put them away or DO something with them!  I have decided to put my boredom aside (and my maltesers) and attempt a scrapbook page.

 

My boredom buster...

 

 

SUPPLIES USED...

 

Papers...

• DCWV 'Scrapbook kit in a Stack - BABY' - yellow background/photo mat
• FIRST EDITION 'Up, Up and Away'  - circle patterned/plain blue
• MY MINDS EYE 'Grow and Bloom'  - green dotted
• HANDMADE PAPER - from stash

Embellishing...

• LETTERS 'Simple Stories -FRESH AIR'
• INK MIST 'Imagine Crafts - FIREWORKS PALE BLUE'
• EVERYTHING ELSE - from stash. word cut-apart/ fabric 'cool'/brad/washi tape/paper clip etc.

 

CHALLENGE...

 

S J CRAFTS - March Ch - 'A Photo Collage For Inspiration'

 

 

Have fun crafting... remember boredom does NOT equal hunger, If I'd of realise this years ago I wouldn't be so fat!

 

 

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Imagine that...

I've just found a great little online shop Imagine that... they've got a lovely sale on patterned papers at the moment, some are as cheap as 19p!  And I couldn't resist! 

 

 

(accurate. fast delivery)

 

... and they also added a little free stamps as a thank you, and I spent less than £10, consider me IMPRESSED!

 

 

Anyway, I've got a quick little card to share today... I'm running out of men's cards and wanted something 'spring-y' so out came my (very old) trusty Kanban kit for the topper and with a quick rummage into my scrap pile and the result is as follows...

 

 

CHALLENGES:-

 

CHALLENGES 4 EVERYBODY - Ch# 39 - 'Anything Goes'

 

CRAFTY GIRLS CHALLENGES - Ch# 14 - 'Anything Goes'

 

PAPER CREATORS CRAFTS - Ch# 21 - 'Spring is in the Air'

 

THROUGHT THE CRAFTROOM DOOR - Ch March 25 - March 31 - 'Anything Goes'

 

A CARD A DAY BLOGGING - facebook page

 

 

 

Have a productive day...

 

 

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Crafty Nut

Hello all, Happy Mother's Day, UK..ers

I came across a new challenge (well new to me anyway) with Hazel at 'My Crafty Outlook', all about patterned paper (I have ALOT), so here goes...

 

 

SUPPLIES USED...

 

Scalloped white square card blank

 

Patterned pages...

• 'THE ENGLISH PAPER COMPANY' 'Siesta - Woodland' (green/blue)
• 'WE R MEMORY KEEPERS' 'Geo-Hectic Runway' (grey & blue spot

Toppers...

• 'KANBAN' 'Football Fan' (footballer)
• 'KANBAN' 'Goal!' (shirts)
• 'HOT OFF THE PRESS' 'Color Me' (gold tags)

Embellishments (from stash)...

• Doily (coloured with promarkers - deep aqua)
• Brads (sparkly blue)

 

Challenge...

 

CRAFTYHAZELNUT'S PATTERNED PAPER MARCH CHALLENGE

 

If you have time, go check it out - there are SO many entries and the inspiration is phenomenal! Thanks for calling by, have a GREAT Sunday x 

 

 

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PROJECT LIFE starts here...

I'm sorry for the long delay in posting...

 

...but I'm back now, for a bit at least.  You don't need to hear how life and health has been getting in the way of my crafting, so... we'll just get on with the good stuff!

 

I've discovered 'PROJECT LIFE', have you heard of it?  It's a kind of easy scrapbooking... I'm all for easy!

 

You get an ALBUM, and a set of CARDS (a 'core kit'), some PAGE PROTECTORS (to put your photos and filler/journaling cards from the core kit, in), fill in any journaling you want to do and then put it in the album (with or without embellishing the cards or photos) and et voila! 

 

Sounds simple?  It is!!!  The biggest/hardest part of PROJECT  LIFE is sorting out your photos in the first place!  To learn more click here.

 

So I decided to give it a go.  As well as a weekly album, I decided to tackle my mountain of old photos as well (I don't do things by half, you know) and do an album about the Caravan Park my family own and run, and an album of my children's' first years.  I'd like to share some of this with you!

 

One of my biggest problems is I'm an 'all or nothing' kinda person, so when I decide to attempt a new project I tend to go all out (budget allowing... and sometimes even when it doesn't, who needs to eat? right?).  So instead of one core kit, I bought three! (and then more part kits!).  Instead of one album I bought two and instead of some pocket page protectors... I bought over 100!  At least now, I've GOT TO do project life, no going back now... onwards and upwards!

So I started my first layout in 2013 (unlike the rest of the crafting community who seemed content to wait for the new year to start, I was NOT, so I started in week 47 of 2013 - patience never was my strong suit!).  I didn't really know if there was a wrong or a right way to do this new thing, but I gave it a shot.  And here are my first two pages of PROJECT LIFE a la Karen...

 

So, if I manage to keep this up (and I have so far), I will have a photographic diary of my time on earth (well from week 47 of 2013, that is).  It's out with my usual A5 diaries and in with PROJECT LIFE!

 

So I used...

The Olive Edition Album...

 

 

 

 



 ... and the Olive Edition core kit

 

 

 

... I used the 'BECKY HIGGINS' page protectors, design A, which is a 4x6 card in each corner (four in total) and four 3x4 cards across the middle horizontally.

 

 

 

 

... some journaling, embellishments and memorabilia and hey presto... my first week is done!

 

 

... the 'COUSINS' and the heart were die-cut, using my CRICUT and the 'PLANTIN SCHOOLBOOK' cartridge.

 

So my life is now being documented (for better or worse)!

 

 

I haven't made many cards in a while, but I'm slowly getting into the swing of things, so watch this space...

 

 

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