Baby Boy, Baby Girl, Any Baby

My baby making covered all bases! Boy, girl or any/not (yet) known! (note to self - twins?)

Using a mixture of cardmaking magazine papers and various items in my stash, I had some fun with these. The messages inside range from blank for your own words through to short & sweet.

Add an appropriate gift and job done. New Mum & Dad will be happy and you might get a cuddle - from the baby!

Baby Making

Ha, I knew that would catch your attention...come back later to see how my afternoon of making baby cards goes!

Journal Piece: While I Watch TV

Now, by TV, I mean crafting TV. This is the the type of viewing that can be achieved with something to do in my hands and on my lap.

Tomorrow - well, from midnight tonight - is a special crafting day on QVC and I do enjoy such days. Being a Saturday, it is even more special because my Dearest is home and he does like to care for my every dietary need while I am marooned on the sofa.

Why is this such a preoccupation?

• to keep up with crafting trends and products although I am conscious not everything crafty is featured on one TV shopping channel - so I also read craft magazines regularly - and surf the net, of course
• I reckon - as does Dearest - that every girl who happens to love papercrafting, and also has MS, deserves a day when nothing but TV craft matters - this being the non-football season, there is no worrying about TV clashes of interest and Dearest can always use his laptop (when it isn't in use as below)

Essential items near at hand are:

• TV and Sky+ remote control units for quick zapping - I record while watching (why? see below)
• regularly replaced glasses of filtered water for rehydration - it is such thirsty work being a crafting TV viewer
• a couple of craft magazines for more interest when my brain feels it can cope with two things at once - which means I have to use the remote controls to rewind the recording when I miss an essential piece of crating product info
• walking stick for necessary trips along the hallway to the WC - not too often; those who know me well will also know why - or how - but it's a story for another time - and place
• nutritious (and naughty) snacks as provided by aforementioned Dearest
• laptop (belonging to Dearest) for quick online ordering if the need arises (not that frequently on craft days as I really do watch mainly for above reasons given)

Crafting tasks that compliment craft TV viewing are:

• knitting - the summer cardigan pour mois just needs the neckband and button - hurrah!
• cutting out - decoupage and other embellishments get cut and assembled on TV craft days
• popping out - die-cut decoupage and magazine kits get popped into clear (card) bags in themes/kits ready for later use

As the day progresses, other tasks include:

• (Saturday) newspaper scanning
• ordering from other craft sites when the products on the TV are not making my flash the cash
• yawning - tomorrow is a non-stop run of craft shows until 20:00 (when July in Christmas takes over!) so my stamina will not last that long

And there's a theme to the craft show today (as I write, tis indeed The Day) - can you guess what it is?

 

18th Birthday Nephew

I am now the aunty of an 18 year old nephew - but since I am also aunty to a 20 year old niece and two other younger nieces, it's no big deal. I also have 2 adult sons - both grown & flown. So who's counting...

...well, I think my nephew was! Last Saturday he became a man, celebrated in true style and now awaits his A Level results for uni entry. And, yes, I do remember when he was born but not quite so well as my sister!

Here's the card I made:

Using a large wooden-backed rubber stamp,  I made a silver embossed image onto card in he colour of his favourite football team.

It is simple but effective.

This card can be repeated using different papers and embellishments for a similar effect.

Journal Piece: Heartwork: Beginning

This weekend, chez SDC, is all about decoration and distraction. All of which is most positive. Let me explain...

My husband is painting the kitchen walls and all I have to do is stay out of the way and help put everything back in order when he has finished. That's the best of everything for me, isn't it? I have a man-who-can and I get to be the lady-that-does all the detailing and faffing!

One half of the kitchen was completed yesterday and looks stunning - I am always amazed at what a change of colour in fresh paint can achieve, however subtle. I like to think we are a good team, hubby and me. This weekend is proof of that.

While exiled from the kitchen (not that I do much in there normally as hubby is the cook), I am enrolled on an e-course that is taking place this very weekend.

 Heartwork: Beginning: Journaling e-workshop is totally absorbing, utterly fascinating, leading me to new discoveries about myself and my writing in the way - wait for it - NO OTHER WRITING magazine, short course, manual or textbook has EVER DONE before. Kate Johnson has created an online course that starts with yourself - and that is the fascinating part.

Hubby has just made the last paint stroke! It has to dry for a while so writing can still be my focus until then.

And, I am reliably informed, "those new rollers are brilliant". The artist isn't bad either - love him!






 

Like Minds & Lovely Finds: Crafters I Follow

Well, yes, of course I follow all the crafters in my Google Friends Connect gadget - how are you all getting on in that little box? It is getting cramped, though not yet overcrowded, I note. Ah well...enjoy the space while it lasts.

I have other ways of following the crafters I admire - I tweet, they tweet. You learn a lot about people from he little comments they love to make. I won't name names - well, yes, I'll do that - but I won't repeat asides! Those tweets can be read by anyone who takes part but rewriting here is not on.


Here are my favourite tweeters:

http://twitter.com/notesonpaper who is Julie Kirk, author of the blog notes on paper

Julie's own Twitter bio reads,

"I make things. I write. I drink tea. I wear patterns. I try to be funny. [I think I'll work on something better than this for my obituary]."

Her tweets centre on her daily life, anything from things she's making, things she's bought, what she has overheard, her latest blog post and her take on life's events. Recently, her blog readers enjoyed the tale of The Airshow Treasure Hunt!

Julie, I love your style..

Then there's:

http://twitter.com/FaysStudio who is Fay Martin, designer and online retailer of her own "Unique design-led hand illustrated greeting cards".

In her own words, Fay is a

"Greeting Card Designer, Illustrator, Fine Artist. Likes handbags, shoes, bright colours and coffee".

Fay's recent tweets have led us along the path to opening her online store and preparing to exhibit at a trade show in the autumn. When I look closely at Fay's designs, I feel unworthy but that is just my reaction; in her tweets and blog posts, Fay is always amusing, accessible and modest.

Fay's blog is Pens and Doodles and her website is Fay's Studio. Pop in and see her there.

My third & final followed crafter will need little introduction to any papercrafter who watches Create & Craft, the craft shopping channel.

http://twitter.com/kirstywiseman is Kirsty Wiseman's Twitterland persona where she confesses to be

"always doing something, rarely nothing and in between I'm generally twittering on"

Kirsty designs the material for her own CD Roms - see her online shop here and her blog here!

I love Kirsty's honest appraisal of life's heartaches and joys mixed in with lots of excellent crafting tuition and demos. Crafty Blogs places Kirsty at No2 position, a weighty honour in itself.

This weekend, those who live up north can see Kirsty at the Summer Crafting event in Doncaster. After that, she is back in front of the Create & Craft live TV cameras on Monday morning, 9.00am sharp!

My reason for writing about these three ladies is simple - I may never meet them in person, may not really know them but I do admire the way they share their crafting lives without being Ms or Mrs I AM. If you ever feel put off by the antics or admissions of other celebs, look to the crafting world for real inspiration.

Images my own

How to Blog The SDC Badge

Self-promotion? In your face? No, just plain sensible.

Once readers start to notice your website, is it not sensible to offer the facility to promote a website they like on their own bog or website? Especially when you are happy to display the badges/buttons/gizmos of other crafters.

Have you noticed this on the sidebar?




essdeecee is my alter-twitter-ego so I decided that's who the SquirlDoodle obviously is! I'm offering the badge on a no frills basis asking only that you include the link to this website.

See the care & share gadget in the sidebar.

Many thanks - please leave a comment and I'll pop over to your site and see if you have anything I can use to help promote you.