Photography....watch this space!

I intend to upload photos on a regular basis (yeah, who am I kidding!) so do keep checking in!

Back to drawing again....

I have found the time over the last couple of days to pick up my pencils and start drawing again. Its something that I find extremely satisfying and calming. The first photo is still very muchwork in progress and I intend to completely cover the page in Hibiscus flowers/leaves. I am tempted to add some colour too but we'll see!



Here are some of my older drawings

                

I'm back!! (Well sort of!)

Hi to anyone still looking at my blog! Its been pretty quiet I admit over the past few years. Mainly due to work, kids, home life and generally just not having a minute for myself.
So I am aiming to get my craft stuff sorted out and will be making a long overdue visit to UK Scrappers and joining in with some of their swaps and catching up with old friends!!

Isle of Wight

A shot taken whilst on a walk with my family near the River Yar, Yarmouth Isle of Wight

My first attempts at pencil drawings

My first drawing was the toadstool with girl and my girls love it!! I am, at the moment tending to draw flowers, partly because I find it easier but also because I seem to be able to steer away from the drawing looking flat and infact give it some depth with curls from leaves etc.

The drawing to the left is my favourite so far.

This toadstoool and girl was my first attempt!

Thoroughly enjoying this and find it quite therapeutic!

My final shrine received from Jackie

Well this is another fab shrine that I received over the Easter weekend and its beautiful. It was from Jackie (Kellmorris)  over on UK Scrappers.

 I am so lucky to receive such wonderful shrines from my swappees and I very thankful to you all. x

My second shrine has arrived!!

Here is a picture of my second Matchbox shrine swap that I was involved in on UK Scrappers. This one was courtesy of Suzy and as I am sure you will agree its gorgeous!  I love it and it now hangs pride of place with my other shrine on the side of my computer screen!!!

I have thoroughly enjoyed this swap!  Here's to many more........

and this is one of my received matchbox shrines....

I received this gorgeous matchbox shrine from Lexi (Chupachup2009) and I love it. Its in my chosen theme which was 'Vintage'. Lexi also sent some stash too which was totally unexpected but always welcome!!!

and here it is!!! My matchbox swap......

I so enjoyed making this little coffin, with its purple velvet interior and little handmade library and bottle of Elixir! It started off as a standard matchbox but look at it now. If I am honest, I was a little sad to see it go and now looking back on these photos a year later I really do wish I had kept it and made something else to send in its place!!

Matchbox Shrine No.2

I cant wait to show photos on here of my second matchbox shrine that I posted this afternoon. I dont want it to be a spoiler so I am not going to put any photos on here until I know its been received. (I know the recipient will peek and I want it to be a surprise!)
I was gutted to have to let it go!!!! So silly I know, but I am really proud of my achievements with how it turned out. Alot of stripping it back down to a matchbox shape and starting again, and in one instance it all went in the bin and off to the shops I trekked for another matchbox!!!
I hope the recipient likes it as much I do.

I have finally done my last LO for the current circle journal I am involved in and its theme was 'Pink and Black' so I chose a very understated choice of cardstock but brightened them up with individual poems on the theme.
I must say that on embarking on my very first journal swap, I dont think I realised the concept 'less is more' and I think other members of this swap were horrified at my initial LO for my own journal. Suffice to say, that in these months of varying themes, I like to think that I have learnt soooooo much and that my crafting is changing (for the better). I guess everyone has to start somewhere and we all learn by our mistakes.

Here's to many more Circle Journals!!!!

LO for Circle Journal with the topic 'Places I should go'

I was quite sure when I knew the topic for this circle journal that I would do Sun Island in the Maldives but I decided a place much closer to home and with links to my childhood. Dont get me wrong, Maldives is just heaven in my eyes but Cornwall has such a special place in my heart that it won in the end!!

My choice was Fowey and it truly is beautiful, such a shame my photos cant capture its beauty!!

Matchbox shrine...what was I thinking!!?

Well, I thought it would be a doddle to create a matchbox shrine but how wrong you can be!! Working on something so small and fiddly has been a challenge but an enjoyable one!
This swap was on UK Scrappers and I put myself forward to swap not just one but two matchboxes!! My themes were 'Oriental' and 'Grungey,gothicy, stampotique' (anybody dropping by from this swap will now know the recipients!!...sorry if i've spoilt it!!)

I posted my 'Oriental' themed matchbox today and I am rather pleased with the outcome. I made a picture book on the life of a Geisha. Not sure if my recipient will find it remotely interesting but I did!!!
Photos not the best but if was difficult to photograph to get it all in!!

LO for 'Best of Scrap' CJ

Here's my offering for my current CJ. The theme was 'Best of Scrap'. When I get to add the photos to my blog...why oh why do I look at the finished product and wish I had changed certain things!?? Its so annoying but I guess its all to do with my learning curve. (At least thats what I am putting it down to anyway!)

Suffering today with a sore throat and headache. Went to bed at 8.00pm last night as I felt sooo cold and ached all over. Guessing the school bugs are now doing the rounds with parents too!!!

Unfortunately Christmas 2011 has not been as much fun as it could due to both my girls being poorly with ear infections and tonsillitus and obviously any craft work has had to take a back seat. The photos I am uploading today are from my last DLO. Looking at the pictures now, I wish I had changed a few things but, on the whole, I am happy with it.

Its been a hectic few weeks since I last posted on here but thought I would upload a few photos of the last DLO I completed for the current CJ I am involved in, seeing as I am now working on my next layout!!

This CJ was titled: Hidden Journalling.
 I loved doing this DLO because I got to add some poems, of course hidden away in the envelopes! Just hope the owner likes them as much as me!!

Didnt get to do much crafting in the half-term week, so am now making up for it now!!
I've practically finished my DLO for the CJ and am cracking on with my Christmas Recipe Swap (both of which are for UK Scrappers)

Will post pictures very soon when completed!!

The last few days have been spent looking after my youngest daughter who has had an allergic reaction to something she has eaten so not much crafting has taken place obviously!
I have however, managed to finish the tag for the CJ that I am currently involved in (I nearly forgot about the tag!!)
The dlo has turned out better than I expected and I am very happy with it. The pictures dont really do it justice.

Anyway, thats it for now

The CJ is called "Sing me a Rhyme" and is a collection of favourite nursery rhymes (Will be a keepsake for the owners baby boy). I chose Twinkle, Twinkle and created a window, and when opened shows square window pane with one little star in the corner.

Well today proved alot more fruitful than yesterday, and I managed to finish the dlo for the circle journal. No piccys as yet but I will post some before I send it on. I am really happy with it and am loving my new found hobby!!

Have a DLO to do for the Circle Journal I am involved in on Uk Scrappers. Was hoping to get a chance to get stuck into it today but no such luck...so I am hoping thar I may get a chance to make a start when I get home from work tomorrow, failng that Friday.

My days are just flying passed at the moment... Cant believe Christmas is just around the corner!!! Scary!!