Blogging Everyday in June - Day 25: Crafting Advice...

Day 25: Crafting Advice for Beginners

I have been crafting for about 12 years on and off, bits and pieces, here and there and I have to say I'm learning new things all the time, everyday. New techniques, new equipment, new ways to do things, and new makes and dos.

But I have a few pointers:

Always do your research

If you're learning a new technique, like heat embossing, or stamping or die cutting, I always go through YouTube first to have a look at some videos which demonstrate the technique and then you'll be able to see it in action. Sometimes crafters will show you what equipment or tools they use and if they have blogs in relation to their videos, or links in the down bar.

If you can't go through YouTube, doing a simple search on Google or look through social media like Pinterest or Facebook.

Grab a few magazines

IO started out in crafting by buying a few crafting magazines a month, it doesn't have to be a tremendous amount, but maybe two or three magazines - pick and choose whichever in relation to your craft and have a flick through and obtain inspiration, some makes might be easy, others not so much, but you wont know until you try!

Work your way up!

I always started out by creating simple cards, ones that had hand drawn pictures, or just one picture and no words and then I started building up to more advanced cards, adding new materials, adding new techniques, adding new colours and papers and you'll find what style works best for you.

Blogs

Self explanatory, you'll be able to find inspiration via Craft Blogs and you can use social media, Google and you'll be able to find crafters and inspired articles. You can also enter in challenges too, but you can work your way to that, you can just gain a bit of confidence in creating cards first and then entering challenges when you're ready!

Get your friends to help!

I'm always testing out my cards with my friends, getting their opinion, seeing if they like some of my crafting, and even they have some great ideas on crafty things you might like too!

I hope that this crafty advice post helped some beginner crafters

Day 26 tomorrow... 

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 24: My Craft Wish List...

Day 24: Craft Wish List

Err, I have an extensive list, so we could be here all day, but there's probably just a few things I would want on my wish list:

My Very Own Craft Studio - Kitted out with storage, decorations, up to date equipment, lots of paper, my own space... ahh that would be lovely

If that's asking for too much, there's not much else I would want, maybe a MacBook Pro would be great to put my design skills to the absolute max with some great software, a few stamps from some popular brands such as Lawn Fawn, Paper Smooches, Greeting Farm, Some Odd Girl, Simon Says Stamp, maybe some dies from Spellbinders, My Favourite Things and Sizzix. Some great papers from My Minds Eye, American Crafts, Studio Calico and Prima. That's probably the extent of what I would love to have. I think if we're talking details I would be here all day!

I would also like to be a better crafter I think too! But I'm getting better! :)

Whats on your wish list?

Day 25 is next...

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 23: All About the Stuggle-rs

Day 23: Struggles

There are probably a few things that I do struggle with - some more personal, than physical struggles. 

Things like self-confidence I struggle with sometimes, but I am learning to love myself a lot more everyday - even with the smallest of things. Procrastination for me is one of the bigger things I struggle with only because I feel that there isn't enough time in the day to do things that I need to do. Being more motivated especially creatively can be a bit of a struggle as I go through time periods of having a creative block, and then having moments of genius!

There are a number of things, but I often feel like I should do more, and set myself more better life and career goals for the future. I feel like over the past few years, I haven't done much and this is something I really want to improve on, develop and change. I know I can do that, I just need to kick myself somewhere and push myself over the line and go beyond anything and accomplish more. 

Small changes can make a big difference and I intend to try and be better and make something of my life.

Here's to the future everyone!

Finally caught up! Day 24 up tomorrow!

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 22: Your Favourite Crafting Season...

Day 22: Your Favourite Crafting Season

I have got to say without a doubt, it has to be Christmas. Though not really a season, more like an occasion, the winter season is by far my favourite season to craft.

Christmas crafting in general is busy, hectic, but enjoyable. Handmade Christmas cards, handmade wrapping paper, gift tags, or even handmade gifts - it can be really crazy, but it's all worth it especially when you give a present or a card to a friend or relative that you've made and their reaction is huge and it means a lot to them that you've made so much effort into making the gift and adding your own personal touch. Their reactions are by far the best thing in the world! 

Christmas for me is the best time of the year, I love the whole Christmas shopping experience, getting last minute presents, giving out cards, treats, gift bags, doing the whole food shop. It's mad, but I love it and I wouldn't change it. This year I'll be spending Christmas in another country, so that will definitely be a completely different experience altogether - one I'm very nervous about, but really excited about! Roll on the holidays! (But not yet though, because I would actually like a bit of a summer before it gets cold again!)

Catching up slowly and just about getting there - Day 23 up next!

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 21: A Perfect Afternoon...

Getting there! Here's Day 21:

Describe your perfect afternoon

I think for me perfect afternoons consist of either doing one of two things: 1) crafting in absolutely peace and quiet at home with all the time in the world to create or 2) spending a gorgeous afternoon in the warm UK sunshine!

Crafting for me is something that I can do anytime, but with such a small space at home and not that much to swing a cat, it can be a bit difficult. Being able to craft with no-one in the house and the space all to yourself (moving everything to the living room) then it is doable and then I know I have all the time in the world to create some cards, some layouts and a few other pieces in between. It can be rather therapeutic being able to craft with maybe a bit of music in the background and not having to watch the time every 30 minutes. That in itself would be a perfect afternoon.

On the other hand, sometimes spending time outside is lovely. London is host to some great spaces - some local parks in your own neighbourhood, others requiring a bit of travel to enjoy a wider space for a bit of sunshine and to catch a bit of a tan. My perfect afternoon in the sunshine would consist of me and some good friends, some music in the background to listen to and have a dance around, and also, possibly - though not necessarily needed - though who wouldn't want one - a barbecue! Great food, ice cold beverages, great company, warm sunshine. I couldn't really ask for more! Perfect! :)

That's my perfect afternoon, what's yours?

Day 22 in a bit... 

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 20: Multicoloured...

Day 20: If you could be a colour, what would it be and why?

So It's a bit of cop out, but if I could be a colour, I would be multicoloured. Just like a rainbow, I incorporate all of the colours and can choose to be any colour I wanted to be any day of the week! I could be blue one day to match the sky, green to match the grass and trees, yellow to match the sun on a warm summer's day or red to represent fire and love. So you get the best of all worlds! :)

Picture via Pinterest

Picture via Leanne La Tigris on Pinterest

So hope you love those rainbow inspired pictures. Next its Day 21!

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 19: A Snapshot of your Day...

The next instalment for the Blogging Everyday Challenge is Day 19:

A Snapshot of your Day

On days that I do work, I take the tube (also known as the London Underground) from this very recently built monument - The Shard to where I work in Central London.

During warm sunny days, I'll lounge and relax in the park next to work and chill out with my kindle and a sandwich. I work in an office, so I sit at a desk for about 8 hours a day, doing the usual admin, filing, answering phone calls etc, so normally my days are pretty varied - you get quiet days where nothing happens, and then you can get days where it's really crazy and there's a bout a million and one events going on throughout the day, but I love my job and my colleagues are awesome.

Just a little insight in to my life...

Day 20 up next!

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 18: Dotty About You...

So I have some serious catching up to do! Some ridiculous catching up to do! So here we go... Day 18:

Craft something that dots / with Dots

So with a little help from My Beautiful Mess app once again, just thought I would do this little image containing dots

I thought I would use the 'dots' theme and just crazy with it, so I applied some extra dots for the background in different colours and use the phrase that combines it altogether. Ahh, love - you can't live without it!

Day 19 is coming up in a bit...

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 17: A Beautiful Mess of Red...

I'm still trying to catch up with my blogging, so here's Day 17:

Craft something that has the colour red in it

Now I kind of cheated a tiny bit. I didn't in a sense make anything, I do however create something digitally.

I created this picture using an Apple application called 'A Beautiful Mess'. I took the theme for today which is red and focused all the other combining colours around it - or at least colours that went well with red.

This will probably be on the front of a card at some point, a simple one layer card for a friend or relative.

The application is great for just aplying around with hand drawn doodles, text, handwriting, colours and layouts. I could've spent hours on it, I think you might too! It's only available on Apple products at the moment, and not on Android unfortunately (Boo!) But hopefully it should be soon. Great app!

I'll be catching up on the posts through the week! Apologies. Day 18 and 19 will be up soon!

Summertime @ Aud Sentiments!

With the UK probably going to have a wash out Summer of rain this year (again!) - boo =( I thought I would get in the Summer mood with Aud Sentiments new challenge!

This fortnight the theme is Summer, so we want to see: 

A card or project with a sentiment for Summer, this could be something like 'Fun in the Sun', 'Picnic Time' and 'Surf's Up' - Use your imagination!

We are sponosored this fortnight by Stamp & Create

They are giving the winner a $20 voucher. Thanks so much! 

 

Here's a little bit about them:

Stamp and Create is an online store based in the US with worldwide shipping. We specialize in Rubber Stamps including Magnolia, Whimsy Stamps, Wild Rose Studios, and many, many more at the lowest prices around!! 

Please visit us at www.stampandcreate.com

 

 - x -

 

So here's my creation for this Summer challenge

 

 

I used various papers from American Crafts Collections - Take Note, Abroad & Amy Tangerine's Yes Please collection. I used the Lacy Ovals and Ovals dies from Spellbinders, blue cherry blossoms from Wild Orchid Crafts, small blue satin roses from Papermania, EK Success' Carnation 3D flower punch and Fiskars' Doily border punch. The image is Summer Mae from Some Odd Girl and the sentiment 'Wish You Were Here' was stamped in Harold's ABC from Lawn Fawn inked in Momento's Tuxedo Black and edged in Momento's Blue Lagoon.

 

Hope you like my creation. Team A's creations are live on the Aud Sentiments Blog site now, make sure you come back for Team B's creations for more awesome inspiration! 

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 16: Outside the Crafting Box..

Day 16 asks: When you're not crafting, what do you do?

When I am not crafting or making cards, or papercrafting a project or doing a DT challenge, It is most likely I am doing a few things: I work three days a week as an admin for a charity that promotes Africa in the UK. When I'm not working I'm at home doing errands, or prepping for work projects. I'll sometimes go to a work event, or going out with some friends, or catching up with someone for lunch, or going to the gym. My days can be pretty varied, but follow a similar-ish pattern, but I'm hoping to plough myself into working more hours, getting another job, or at least work on this website - for more on the corporate side of things - like setting up the shop, or thinking about marketing, or at least adding content to the site as much as possible and whenever possible. Think I'm doing a good job of it now! Maybe...

Not very exciting right?! But hey, that's how it has become - but I'm still looking forward to more future adventures! :)

Tomorrow is a new week and it'll be the 17th day of the challenge! Woohoo!

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 15: Love...

I am playing catch up with my everyday blog posts! So let's continue with Day 15 of the challenge...

Craft something that celebrates Love

This is a scrapbook layout I did sometime last year, and I thought this would suit really well with today's challenge.

This is my best friend Bev and her lovely boyfriend Fro. They've been together for over three years and I went to school with Bev and both myself and Bev went to College together in London which is where we met Fro. They've always been a cute couple and with most of my friends you want them to be ridiculously happy, of which they are -massively! They're a great couple together and they're amazing people too! :)

So there's my very short post for today! Day 16 coming up...

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 14: The Five Senses...

Today is Day 14 and we're discovering our five senses...

Name your favourite smell, taste, view, sound and texture

So favourite...

Smell

Probably food - okay so that's slightly vague - more so sweet stuff like cakes, there's nothing kinda sweeter than walking into a bakery and taking in the smell of freshly baked bread and homemade cakes. I love it.

Taste

Hmmm. I've gotten into healthy eating recently and I'm really loving the taste of Summery fruits - Watermelon, Strawberries, Peaches and Apples. 

View

Well, not being biased here, but the view of London from anywhere even remotely tall. We now have the Shard and against the skyline it sticks out like a sore thumb, but the views from pictures I've seen online look amazing. I've been on the London Eye too and as much as a don't like heights very much. The view is breathtaking

London via The Telegraph

Sound

For me, one of my favourites is music. And I mean music I actually like and can listen to. My IPod is my entertainment station. It has all the music in the world that means a lot to me, has sentimental value for me and has grown with me through age. The music I listen to holds a lot of good memories for me.

Texture
I like the touch of anything soft - lol - materials cotton, silk, anything fluffy like soft toys, teddy bears, soft skin, hugs, holding hands - that sorta thing. I don't really have a particular favourite. I don't mind the texture of most things so long as its not slimy or smells bad.... =S

So that was my post for today about some of my favourite things from my five senses, what are yours?

We are now officially half way through the month of blogging everyday! It's gone by so quick! Until tomorrow!

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 13: The Learning Curve...

Day 13: What do you want to learn to do? (Crafty or Non-Crafty)

Hmmm, let me think... Personally there are probably so many things I want to try and learn, but never have enough time to, or sometimes just find new things hard to do. There's probably a million and one things I want to learn to do. Here's a short-ish list:

Learn British Sign Language

I've wanted to learn this since watching Barney the Dinosaur or Sesame Street when I was younger. Love the shapes and hand movements the words and letters make.

Learn to speak Spanish (or another language I quite like)

A few of my friends speak Spanish. My parents are from the Philippines, so Spanish is actually integrated in the language, so I know the basics, like saying hello, numbers, letters, days of the week, months of the year etc, but I'd like to have conversation with someone without having to have a phrase book or Google translate!

Learn how to Knit / Crochet (I've always found this hard - as my hands are just not coordinated enough!)

Yeah. Err, I can't understand the videos, or the magazines. It's probably a lost cause on me, but I'd still like to learn how to!

Learn how to shade / blend in when colouring with my Promarkers (Something I'm still learning!)

I've been following some YouTube videos by Kimberly Brown, and she's pretty cool, its very simple the way she colours her images in with just a 'line technique' - it's fascinating, it works, but y'know practice makes perfect!

Learn how to play drums (Or an instrument I actually like, I used to play the piano when I younger! Not anymore though)

One of my closest friends is a drummer in a band and she gave me a drumming lesson online when we used to do MSN, but once again my coordination is totally out of whack, so yeah I made a lot of noise, but I didn't get very far!

So there you go, I actually thought it was going to be a long list, but those are the first five things that sprung up. What would you like to learn that maybe new and fresh for you?

Day 14 and halfway through our Blogging Everyday in June Challenge! Time's flying!

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 12: Favourite Craft Medium

Day 12 is here and today's craft ask is:

What is your favourite craft medium to work with?

My favourite medium to work with currently is stamps - mostly of the digital or polymer variety. Combine that with a few colours from my Promarkers collection and you got yourself a winner :)

In the last few years definitely, I have been loving stamping, probably out of the two kinds, I really like digital stamps at the moment and the amount of time I have spent trawling through for the perfect image for a card has been head spinning, but enjoyable because you come across images you wouldn't be able to have on a stamp. I'm a little more familiar with which digital stamps I like to use for certain friends' birthdays because I try to match the image to their personality and likeness. I will also try to match the colouring with each individual person I make cards for so that the character and recipient look alike / or are the same, so in that way its personalised. 

Some of my favourite digital stamp favourites are from Tiddly Inks, Some Odd Girl and the Greeting Farm. The characters are boldly outlined and simple enough to colour - I am a messy colourer-inner - I go outside the lines, so I have to concentrate that little bit extra - like the inner child wills me to! I'd like to get into other digital stamps from other brands, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know!

I also love the Paper Smooches stamp sets, Lawn Fawn and now WPlus9, I've also wanted to try out the Simon Says Stamp collection set too, so I might have a bit of a go during the next few months with those brands. Plus with the amount of possibilities to ink in different colours, embossing powders, distress inks, water colour pens and my favourite - Promarkers - there are no limit in possibilities in creativity! The world is your oyster!

So, that's Day 12 sorted! Whats in store for tomorrow?

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 11: 'Hey Big Spender!'

So today's task is:

Day 11: Dish the dirt on your biggest craft spend

Me and my Debit Card have a very interesting relationship. We try and compromise on things and I've got to say my little plastic pin buddy has stopped me from purchasing something because it's talked / coaxed / nudged / hit me to not buy that craft thing I didn't need!

I don't think I have spent one huge amount of money one thing all in one go, only because I can't actually bring myself to part with a big bit of money on craft equipment, as I can't really afford it in the long run. I bought my Big Shot and Starter kit from QVC on installments, and the accessories - like dies and folders - I buy in intervals as and when I needed them. I tend to spend my money more when I'm at Craft Shows only because there are lots of shops and companies there who will sell stuff at discounted prices and it's like one massive Hobbycraft in one massive building. And even saying that I only ever go to one Craft Show they hold twice a year, which is the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace in London, which is on every April and September, so even a big splurge is far and few between

Me and Ebay have a good relationship too and I'll buy my craft ensentials online. I've discovered new polymer stamps in the last 18 months and can easily spend a bit on stamps, so If I had to name one thing I spend money on is that. 

I an more of a selective craft shopper I look for deals on QVC, Ideal World and Create & Craft more and if there's anything I am particularly interested in, I may consider buying it. I'm more of a contemporary crafter too, so everything for me is like fresh, new and dare I say it - trendy, and I lean more to digital stamps and print outs! I've learnt to be a bit more particular now and stop myself from buying anything that's waaaay out of my price range or more importantly - anything that I don't need - before my accountant rings me up! :) And plus my Mum would find out about my craft expenses, so I best not buy anything for a bit... Lol.

So, that's my 'big spend' post today. What was your biggest spend on craft items?

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 10: Purple...

Its Day 10 and I've crafted something little!

Craft something that has the colour purple in it

So today I crafted these purple flowers:

These might be coming out pink-ish on your screen ('cos they came out pink on my phone camera screen!) but they are indeed purple. The paper pad I used was the Papermania Capsule Boysenberry Collection in A4 size and the die cut set I used were the Sizzix Sizzlits Flower Layers set. I used my Sizzix Sidekick to die cut these out and added some buttons that were in my stash for the centres. They're pretty cute and I quite like them :)

I don't normally craft in purple, only because I just find it difficult to craft in this particular colour. It's not as neutral as beige, pink, white, or cream, so I don't craft very much in purple. Maybe I should, but I just can't! Lol.

So that's my little post for today, until tomorrow!

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 9: Favourite Crafters...

It's Day 9! What does today hold? Let's see:

Tell us who your favourite crafter is (Famous or Non-Famous)

I don't really have just one fave crafter because that's impossible to pick, so here's my list below:

YouTube:

Angie Kennedy Juda (Stampin' Up! Demonstrator)

One of the first people that got proper into crafting in recent years only because the SU! demos were really simple and easy to do with just about anything and I really liked the way she edited and cut her videos too. Really lover her Chic 'n' Scratch branding!
http://www.mychicnscratch.com/

Kristina Werner (Simon Says Stamp)

Another crafter who got me into crafting in recent years because she created the most amazing cards with just the simple use of embellishments and stamping. She also got me into embossing / heat tools and die-cutting a lot more in cards too. Plus the way - again with editing and her own brand of designing is awesome too.
http://www.kwernerdesign.com/

Other YouTube Favourites:

Patricia: tubeyoumaster1

Nicole: Scrapology

Sherie: scrappinnwrappin

Amy: My TeddyBoo

Lee: Luvlessscrappin

Juliana: ILuvVintageScrap

Arlene: mybutterflykisses12

Bona: LiveLoveScrap

All the YouTubers above do a range of shabby chic cards / albums or projects, vintage style craft, and a mix of other styles in between

Bloggers:

Alyce from Kit and Clowder

Melissa from Melissa Made

Kelli from Bee Craftee

Like Kairen and probably a lot of UK Crafters, I do watch Create and Craft and some of the crafters on the channel are pretty awesome. One of my fave presenters and she is still a crafter is Dawn Bibby and I saw her do a craft demo in London and got slightly starstruck! She is pretty cool. Other TV crafters I'm fond of include Barbara Gray from Clarity Stamps and Debbi Moore from Debbi Moore Designs.

There's probably more crafters somewhere that I've failed to mention, but every crafter big and small has inspired me in some way or another, so for that I say a big thank you! :)

Day 10 tomorrow and the start of a new week! :)

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 8: My Craft Space...

Bit of a late post today, as I have been out for most of the day but before Day 8 is over in very warm London I thought I would squeeze in the eighth day post!

Day 8: Describe or Take a picture of your Craft Space

I have a ridiculously small room and as with a small room comes an even smaller space and area to craft in! So I've taken a few pictures of my craft space (well sometimes it ain't even a space - it's just mess!) which is located in the right hand corner of my room. So here's a bit more detail for each numbered picture I've taken:

1) I have two shelves - the first top shelf I store my 6 x 6 paper pads in the grey basket on the left hand side, then various other items including an 8 x 8 pad, my multipurpose platform & shims for my Big Shot, some Cath Kidston Sew & Make books, various A4 paper, folders, paperwork and in the far right in the magazine files I store my various border dies, box dies and taller shims for my Big Shot. 

The second shelf stores cards made for my past or present DT teams, my jewellery and beads storage box, containers with buttons, more beads or broken accessories and a clear box that has twine, ribbons etc and the Sizzix Texture Boutique on top.

2) This box contains craft material I am currently using or trying out (shorter explaination, or we'd be here all day!)

3) Pens, rulers, pencils, scissors, colouring pencils, felt tips and next to them (though not evident in this picture!) Promarkers

4) Printer with random papers, folders and a blank canvas

5) Storage drawers with dies and punches, embossing folders and the last drawer envelopes and card

6) This box (which is on my tiny desk) has got the stamps and inks I am currently using.

I don't craft at my desk, because there is no chair at my desk, so I normally craft 80% of the time on my bed (random but true) which is just opposite my craft area. I just work on a hardcover A4 book and then put a cutting mat on top and then place all my craft stuff around me, so it's easier to reach for. I do sometimes (the other 20%) craft in my living room, but I hate having to drag boxes around and move from room to room if I need something that's in the other room, so it's a lot easier to craft in my room as everything I need is in there and I get time to myself! :)

So that's my craft space. I'm looking forward to checking other crafters' 'creative spaces' too!

Until tomorrow!

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 7: Ten Things...

Day 7 is here - nearly a week into the Blogging Everyday Challenge and I've actually really enjoyed it. Start as we mean to go on!

Ten things that make you Happy :)

I actually think this is going to be a bit difficult - but let's give it a go! (and in no particular order)

Food

I love food, I don't like cooking as such, but I love food. My Dad's a great cook and as I still live at home, I just love the comfort of home cooking and home cooked meals. Knowing that my Dad could be cooking a family favourite makes me smile, plus on a Sunday I always love a good roast!

Favourites include: Chicken, Cake & Shepherd's Pie. Yummy!

Family

I consider some of my best friends to be included in this category. They always make me smile and make me happy in any instant and they're always there for me - that's always a reason to smile

Friends

Good friends, close friends, best friends - whoever. I love their company even if I don't see some of them all the time. I always enjoy time with them as a group and individually and that always makes me happy.

Shopping

Yeah, I had to include it because I do love me a good ol' shop. Whether it is craft shopping. clothes shopping or shoe shopping. I love me a window shop or the occasional splurge!

Long Summer Evenings

It's nearly festival season in the UK and possibly anywhere else vaguely warm and nice and I know me and some friends are going to a few one day or weekend festies so it'll be good to spend some long Summer evenings enjoying great company, great atmosphere and entertainment while it's still warm and light outside.

Great Company (and spending time with awesome people)

Spending time with people whom I adore and totally love to pieces and enjoying those moments - whatever the season, whatever the weather. Whether its doing something totally random like BBQs in the sunshine, going down to the beach for the day or even just going to the park around the corner to soak up the atmosphere is pretty cool and spending time with and being in great company is always a reason to be happy

Crafting

I do love me some paper, and some double sided tape and then some stamps! Highly recommended and highly therapeutic - Card making (specifically for me) or a bit of scrapbooking makes me happy - putting those memories together and making something special for someone is enough to make me smile

Space and Time for Me

There are times when I like being alone. And I say alone, I mean having time to reflect on the week or day, or having time to myself to relax. I love other people's company and I like the company of others, but there are times when I like space and time to chill out, relax, take it easy and just reflect and rest. 

Birthdays / Parties / Special Events

You have a boogie, you have a bit of a dance, you spend time with some good / great friends and it's someone's birthday - and they love their birthday. Or it's a wedding, or a special occasion in general and you love seeing people and yourself celebrating together. I love those moments.

Bad Jokes / Humour / Sarcasm

Enough said on this one. Hearing bad jokes is one thing, having to explain the bad joke in question is another. Laughing makes me happy, so if you got a good joke (or maybe a relatively bad one) - you know who you can tell it to! :)

So there are my 10 things that make me happy. It wasn't that bad actually. Trying to think though was a bit much (as always!) but I got there in the end. 

What makes you happy? I look forward to finding out :)

Anything Goes & DT Call at Aud Sentiments!

Hi everyone. Hope you're having a great week so far. It is nearly the weekend, so hang in there 'cos it's only 2 days to go! :)

At Aud Sentiments this fortnight we have a new challenge and it is the ever popular ANYTHING GOES! So we're asking you to submit your entries to our blog with a card / project - with a sentiment - to the tune of whatever you want and any theme you want - just make sure you have a sentiment! Couldn't be easier!

We also have DT Call so if you would like to become a member of our Design Team check out our post here that outlines all the details for you and a few terms and conditions to look over too, so check that out when your submitting your entries. If you're happy with all the details and fancy becoming a DT member please add the words 'DT' to your entry and you never know - you might get picked to be on our Design Team! :)

Now on to our challenge - make sure you check out our blog for the Team A's cards and inspired designs and check back again the following for Team B's designs

Our sponsor this fortnight is: Beccy's Place

Here is some info about her:

"I love spending time in my craft room designing and creating with paper, fabric, flowers, ribbons, paint... anything I can get my hands on really. I have tried many different arts and crafts and have a particular passion for papercrafts, decorative painting and ribbon embroidery. I love to share ideas and "how to's" with other keen crafters,"  Its well worth a little click over to Beccy's blog, she has some great tutorials as well as her gorgeous images.

Here's my card below:

Image (c) Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com

Supplies:

White cardstock

Pink Paislee London Market Paper Pad Collection

Dovecraft Tea Doilies

Lace from a London Thrift Market

Cheery Blossoms from Wild Orchid Crafts

15mm Red Roses from Wild Orchid Crafts

Spellbinders Scalloped Oval Die

Spellbinders Oval Die

Stem Roses fom Hobbycraft

Memento Ink - Angel Pink

Image is: Dressy Mae from Some Odd Girl

Pink Adhesive Gems - Poundland (UK)

Hope you guys like my card for the challenge this fortnight - please visit the blog to erner in our challenge and apply for DT if you wish too as well! :)

Happy Crafting!

Blogging Everyday in June - Day 6: Inspiration for Crafting...

We are on to sixth day - nearly a week in already! Time is whizzing by! Here's Day 6's challenge:

Tell us how you / where you get your inspiration

Easy one I think for me and it's YouTube!

Now as I am in my late 20's I love me some YouTube. I'm very fond of the all knowing online social media and one of the main inspirations I get for card marking and crafting in general is YouTube. This is only been a recent thing though online within the last 2 or 3 years and in the early days of crafting I used to buy tons and tons of cardmaking magazines - Simply Cards and Papercrafts, Scrapbook Magazine, Cards Magazine (a US craft magazine, I think - they stopped selling it in the UK), Do Crafts anything like that if I saw it in the shop, I'd buy it and if it came with a great freebie that I needed or wanted or liked It would definitely be in my basket and on its way to the checkout! Then from magazines (though I still buy the occasional magazine!) it moved on to TV - especially shopping channels like - QVC, Ideal World and now Create and Craft which I do watch most of the time when I am at home in the background if I am making cards during the day. They inspire me to some degree, but it's always great when they have a craft you know nothing about and you wanna learn more, or if they showcase crafts you know everything about and you want to extend your expertise!

With the rise and popularity of Pinterest - which I do like, Facebook, Twitter and especially YouTube. I get most of my inspiration from YouTube. I think for me, I love visuals and seeing card and paper crafters such as Jennifer McGuire (Simon Says Stamp and others), Kristina Werner (Simon Says Stamp), Angie Kennedy Juda (Stampin' Up) and independent crafters as well - putting a card together from virtually nothing is so cool and I'm like 'I could so do that!' And its great being able to see the beginning to the end process and then the finished result - it is awesome and I still feel amazed when they produce something out of nothing - and equally astounding when I can do that myself and think 'Wow! I just totally made that!' It's a great feeling!

So that's how I get inspired for crafting! Can't wait to check out everyone else's stories of how they get inspired too I'll be reading them!

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Until tomorrow! :)