Oh! Blog It!

Friday, 12 June 2015

Back For Good?

I know!

How bad have I been?

18th February, that's nearly 5 months without a blog post.

We've been going through some tough times here in the BlogIt House

and craftiness has taken a back seat.

My first bit of creativity in a long while came today whilst tidying and trying to make sense of all my craft stuff. A box of half used alphas.

The last few months have found me pinning lots of quotes and ideas and today, instead of sitting and thinking about it I actually did it, I made something!!!!

No, it's not the best but it's colourful and it has meaning.

We're not through it yet and the light at the end of the tunnel is still elusive but we will get through.

So, as the Take That song goes, I am Back For Good however sporadic that may be!

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

Want to be in OUR GANG?

Fancy something to look forward to?

A little break before the Christmas onslaught?

Then why not join the fourth

Scrapz Retreat

where anything goes.

Crab Apple Crafts, after their retreat in July, will no longer

be running crafty weekend breaks

BUT

I am!!!

Forest Hills Best Western Hotel in Frodsham, Cheshire

has great food,

great customer service and great facilities.

Above all they want US back there in November

to create havoc, noise and fun!!

The aim of the weekend, November 6th to 8th, is to

scrap, card make, crochet, book fold, in fact do whatever you like as long as you have fun!

There are no hard and fast rules however the challenges will be set around scrapping

and there are prizes to be had!

So, what's included....

2 night's accommodation
Friday - 3 course dinner
Saturday - breakfast, 2 course lunch, 3 course dinner
Sunday, breakfast, 3 course lunch
Tea, coffee, juice, water, biscuits
Free wifi
Full use of pool, sauna etc

The cost....

Sharing £200

Single room occupancy £240

Optional Sunday night rate £60 to include DBB

If you are interested in joining us please send me a message and I can

let you have payment details.

I require a £50 non refundable deposit to secure your place.

Tuesday, 17 February 2015

Swapsies!!!!

I recently took part in my first ever SWAP!

Arranged by the lovely Sian from High in the Sky

I was given 6 addresses to send 6 postcards to arrive on around

Valentine's Day.

I forgot to take photographs of the ones I sent but I can show

you the ones I received.

The first was this one from Lizzy Hill and although it is of one of my favourite cities

it actually came from somewhere I have never been, Oz!!

Oh how I would love to travel around that wonderful country some day soon.

Thank you Lizzie, I could feel the sunny warmth as I read your card.

Another Liz was next and again a sunny send from Texas.

Having travelled Route 66 a few years ago we ventured into Texas for a day or too and boy\was it HOT! Oh to be back there during these cold UK days.

Liz, you brought back some lovely memories and I hope you continue to enjoy that new life.

Now the next one was very personal.

Katie had seen my "Recycling Books" blog post

and how lovely of her to send a card to tie in with that.

Thank you Katie

And how can you not smile when you get this next one in the post.

Sonja, thank you for reminding me that the days are getting longer

and Spring is just around the corner.

The fifth and final (so far) to arrive was from Karen.

She writes of her love of canals to explore the UK.

This one is not far from me and I've often walked along along it when visiting my sister in Shropshire.

Karen, thank you for sharing one of your loves with me.

I am not sure what happened to No.6 maybe still floating around in Postie's bag somewhere!

Thank you Sian for organising the swap.

The arrival of postcards from faraway made me smile during a hard week.

Thursday, 12 February 2015

How Would You Use Yours?

Challenge #2 over at the Counterfeit Kit Blog is already here

which means we are very nearly halfway through February already.

I'm not sure if I'm coming or going lately but one thing I know is that I need

get more scrapping done.

Time just disappears doesn't it? Or is it just me?

Anyway, I'm babbling on and I'm supposed to be showing you how I've used a date stamp in an interesting way.

Hmm, I can honestly tell you I was stuck on this one and really did not have a clue

so I pulled out my kit added some stamps and just went for it.

Sometimes it's just the easiest way!!!

I used stamps and pads that I've never used before to add days of the week and months all over the page
before printing onto my new found friend (10 sheets of self adhesive paper for a £!)
to create my title.
I added a few sequins and embellishment to finish off.

So, how will you use yours???

Sunday, 8 February 2015

A Crop Works Wonders

Up until yesterday I had made only one lonely layout this year.

Yesterday at the crop changed all that.

Armed with a bag of goodies from Jen @ Wear Crafts

I got stuck in and, although I created less than usual, I was very happy with the two finished

layouts that came home with me.

Just look at the gorgeous Simple Stories Collection ...

... I was working with.

How can anyone not like this?

Jen has the FULL collection, go on, I dare you!

Here are my first two layouts...

The first I wanted to be happy and colourful.

A photo take of me and jimjams on our jaunts to Derby last year ready to sup a very

tasty cocktail or two...

and the second a thoughtful photo of The Child taken at Easter last year.

The stamp a Tim Holtz which just cried out to be used on this layout.

I hope to start scrapping more again this month.

How about you, are stuck in a rut, can't get going?

My tip would be to just take one kit and work with it - pretend you have nothing else.

Let me know if it works!

And don't forget the February Kit "Snow Fun" is (I think)

just about still available.

Wednesday, 4 February 2015

Forgeries on the Fourth

The February reveal on the 1st of the month

saw me promising I would be back with my

Forgeries on the Fourth today.

I was quite taken aback by how many of you lovely forgers said

you were looking forward to it

so thank you!!!

Firstly, remember the map paper from the kit?

This paper was probably my favourite part of the kit if I'm honest and I really wanted to get my forgery very close to the original.

I took to my cutting machine and got to work...

I applied Ferro Metal Effect Colour using a palette knife to create that raised effect through my homemade stencil.

I really am quite pleased with how it came out.

________________________________

Next was the alpha paper.

I had just received a new set of dies through the post and need to try them out.

I haven't stuck them down on the photo but you get the picture right?

Spare random alphas that you know will never get used would also work.

_________________________________

To create the ephemera I used paper scraps, punches, a printer and some pro markers.

I found some images on the internet, printed them out and coloured them in

while the rest just used punches from my stash

_________________________________

The flowers!!!

I just don't do flowers however I thought I would give them a go....

Here I used dies but really didn't like the outcome

So I punched a few hearts, curled them and stuck them together

before adding a gem in the middle.

Still not great but better I think.

Anyway, those are my Forgeries on the Fourth

thanks for stopping by,

what will you forge for your kit?

Sunday, 1 February 2015

Feb Kit Reveal

Hello and welcome along to my part of the kit reveal for February.

Susanne should have sent you here
however if you hopped right into the middle
and want to start from the beginning you can do so
HERE
with our Guest Designer, Doris.

So onto the kit, do you like it?
I am loving it!

The kit from Scrapbook.com Kit Club: Across the Miles

is full of gold and glittery bits to wow anyone.

Take a look at the breakdown (left) and how my forgeries compare (right)
(apologies for my awful photos -
must remember not to wait until the last night to pull my kit together!)

Journey Begins - Webster's Pages