Friday 31 July 2009
It's because I can.
Well, only just - my technological understanding is limited to copy and paste and asking for help. But man, there's so much choice out there, how could I possibly not try on a whole bunch of colours, looks, formats? I know, on the advice of my Sissy Dunnit that I need to keep the font over a certain size, and I know from a really scientific poll back in my early blog-changing days that the majority want to read my nonsense off a pale background. But the rest is up to me and I cannot resist. Now this may well explain quite a lot about my scrapbook 'style' too. Or rather, the lack of it. There are so, so many fantastic ideas and styles out there that I don't really need to bother to come up with my own. I don't actually copy, but I can look at a LO that I really like, and 'de-construct' it to sketch level so I can have a go at it myself. I think probably that we all can do that, but very often other scrappers don't need to. I find my best LOs are definitely the ones that kicked off from a sketch. No imagination see. Interesting though isn't it..I rarely lay a photo on a piece of paper to even see if it'll look nice before I've thought about the layout of the layout, if you see what I mean. But I'm a genius at changing my mind too, which is sort of back to the beginning. My beautiful, now grown up mega niece and I went to an afternoon cinema showing of some Disney film or other, probably 16 years ago. There were 6 people including us in the theatre, and every five minutes or so, Mega Niece would change her seat - front, back, aisle, you name it, she sat in most of them - usually without taking her eyes from the screen. I wasn't a parent then, so was more amused than alarmed by the characteristics she was displaying. You know already, that when I asked why she kept changing seats, she said it - "because I can". That choice thing - it sure has some power!
I've been tagged - a great way to find out something specific about someone!! This is fairly harmless though, so I doubt you'll need to look away. I have to fetch my current reading book and turn to page 161, then quote the 5th whole sentence. Brace yourself:
'But there's no denying that the way many public schools are managed poses at least as big a problem as how well they're funded.'
Barack Obama - The Audacity of Hope
And I'm to tag five other people, and for a change, I'm going to work my way through the Followers list - because after all, it's nice to be included!
Jazzy1972 (OMG is that your birth year?!!)
Chris
Lisa
Sarah
Avrilann
Thursday 30 July 2009
The follow on
Wednesday 29 July 2009
What's on Your Workdesk then?
Needless to say, now the sleepover-ettes have been delivered to their respective homes and some basic tidying is out of the way, I'm in the mood to tackle the desk top too, so again, it won't look like this for long. I'm going back to cards today. Whilst I've been ferrying the chums around, I've hatched a plan. Let's see if I can actually get it onto paper!
In off-topic news: this circle of friends thing that Angie awarded....never has it been more true in the comments added after my post yesterday - your (often candid) responses are so welcome and really go to prove that you can find the 'sistah-hood' anywere, as long as you look! Furthermore, I notice that the 'Followers' table is increasing - it's so nice to meet your teeny tiny avatars and follow you around too. The whole 'Followers' thing makes me laugh actually, I wonder if the people who have hundreds of followers living for their every word get a feeling of power from it..or if they even think of 'their people', or (just to chuck in something offensive -) do they feel as if they have disciples type followers? I've seen what can happen to normal people in the presence of 'celebrities'...it's possible! Does having a blog with 'Followers' immediately mean that I'm um, up myself? Or are you like me, a 'Follower' on a kerjillion sites because it saves so much time being able to see who has and hasn't updated their blogs each time you get a chance to wander through cyberspace? Which I do far too often, as you've probably gathered by now! I'm addicted. It's technology's answer to the nosey gene.
Tuesday 28 July 2009
Birthday gal
We get a lot of enquiries and questions about having an only child. It's simple - we have one because that's what we've had! Over the last 16 years I have recognised a small swell of opinion that disapproves more of 'only child' families than the old disapproval of couples who opt not to have children at all..how the world turns, and how odd. Why does it matter? I don't know.
Oh and the life of foreign holidays, good jobs, nice cars and pension payments? We've had them, got them and made them. They are worth what we enjoy from them. Except the pensions. Don't expect to inherit, Miss Dunnit. Oh, and Happy Birthday Darling.
Monday 27 July 2009
Circle of Friends
There are obligations to such awards as y'all know, and I'm posting them here:
Cut and paste the award logo and use it on your own blog.
Nominate at least 5 other bloggers you feel have become part of your circle of friends.
Link to your nominees, within your blog post and include these instructions on how to pick up the award in your blog post.
To show your appreciation to the person who gave you the award, link back to their blog. Finally, comment on the recipient’s blogs, to let them know they've received the award.
Now, Angie has already talked about the stress involved in doing this, nominating five...blah blah. I read or check into hundreds of blogs now, and I just can't do it! I don't believe in stress, and certainly not over something so lovely, so guess what; I'm rule-breaking. If you want to join the famous circle of friends, do - follow the instructions and spread some smiles. Thanks Angie.
Sunday 26 July 2009
Old or old(ish) photos
Friday 24 July 2009
Almost Cute
Thursday 23 July 2009
Motivation: The Challenge!
Wednesday 22 July 2009
Wednesday already - WOYWW then?
Can you just see the snout of the piggy? He's flocked and eminently tactile. He was a gift from the Enthusiastic Educator. I think if I leave him in here, he will probably end up being a receptacle for all the little bits of change that I find when dusting the downstairs (yes I do!) - will be interesting to add up how much the family leave around thinking it's not worth pocketing. And in other present news, also on the desk at my right hand is a gift from Willowy Blonde. You have to understand that blogging is just another way of wearing my heart on my sleeve really, so it'll only be a surprise to me that I'm apparently so transparent:
Monday 20 July 2009
Sucker
Saturday 18 July 2009
Are you modest about your worth?
Thursday 16 July 2009
OK, this is as cute as it gets...
Share this award with a few other people.
Wednesday 15 July 2009
WOW it's WOYWW!
If you're getting into checking for WOYWW pics on various blogs, download the button that Annie made for us from the right hand margin and join us. It's not a membership thing, there are no rules, hell, it doesn't even have to be Wednesday's photo. We just wanna see what you're doing!
And because Blogger let me this morning, here's another photo - a collective shot of die cut christmas decoupage from Crafthouse Press' bargain pack. Loads. Which is why they aren't on cards yet! Great in-front-of-the-tv-crafting though! I'm getting ready!
Monday 13 July 2009
I've had an amazingly fulfilling 24 hours in terms of craft related achievements for me. I decided to set an example to Miss Dunnit, who is tasked with a major overhaul of her belongings in order to re-vamp her bedroom - to create a room worthy of a happening, intelligent teen instead of the hotch potch arrangement of toys and teen gadgets that she currently lives in. So, to motivate and inspire, I have begun a major clear out of my old craft room which became a dumping room for anything and everything. This has forced me to consider finding homes for lots of stuff I want to keep, and equally, to realise that there's a load of stuff in there that I haven't used for over a year - yep, I probably won't use it then, huh? OK, pack it up nicely and put it in the box that will go on sale at Kraft Crazy's Flea Market next month. Great. No sacrifice for sure, and I'm really feeling quite proud that the room that Mr Dunnit offered to brick up to save me the guilt of having to clear it out - and him the pain of having to listen to me vocalise my guilt - is starting to look more like the empty box room that it should. Let's not talk about the embarrassingly thick layer of dust on the floor - the floor for heaven's sake! Oh my. My flylady friends would have fainted! But it's OK, just keep going, it'll come good, and I'll have 3 sets of those plastic drawer stands to give away and that will practically empty the room. Marvellous. But hang on...Miss Dunnit has made one tiny effort. Carry On mother, don't be overwhelmed by your enormous role modelling success just yet - pretend you haven't noticed. Indeed, go downstairs, do a happy dance in the kitchen and make Mr Dunnit a cup of tea while you have a little brag. Oh do. Because when you go back upstairs, you're going to have to Keep Calm. For Miss Dunnit has used the once empty plastic drawers to dump her stuff into. I can't even form words, let alone argue with her logic - I wanted it out of her room and the storage facility is now available. Keep calm. Carry On.
Friday 10 July 2009
Chrsitmas, Villages, the Weather..it's all here!
I know lots of true decoupage junkies use silicone glue too - admirable. I cannot get the blobs to behave - that stuff strings like octopuses in my hands! I use the foam pads, happily. There's an incredible sense of achievement for me in a neat but perfectly formed hill of the peeled off squares! I know. But I like it. Same way that I get a real sense of satisfaction in actually using something to the point of it running out. Satisfying. Unless of course, I haven't foreseen my running-out-situation coming and then I'm not smug. I'm just cross because I've run out! Complicated, this crafting thing!
I had the pleasure of standing in for Shopkeeper Gal this morning (she thinks I'm doing her a favour!). I even had a delivery to unpack - some very desirable punches let me tell you, and of course the Doodlebug flock in colours to die for. For me. Back to that colour thing again. I'm currently 'working' on a Doodlebug house for a Saturday afternoon session type workshop, so I'm guessing I may well need some of that less than ordinary flock. Hmmm. And the trouble with the house? As it takes shape, I already feel the need for a neighbour, and perhaps a shelf to stand them on and oh lordy...a colourful village!
Have a lovely weekend. Make the most of the weather - as far as I can tell in the UK, you can either stay in and scrap because it's going to rain, or get out and enjoy the sun because it isn't going to rain. No change there then.
Wednesday 8 July 2009
What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday
I think that those are the best explanations and excuses I can come up with for my desk this morning. It will change after lunch, there's workshop preparations to be made and I need a 'clean slate' so as not to forget anything. Share your work surface with us won't you? Leave a comment so we can visit you on this WOYWWednesday.