Borders, matting and layers.

The majority of my card bases are half A4 card size, or  just under 4 1/4 by 5 3/4 inches. (10.5cm x 15cm).

One of my first cards

The majority of my square cards are usually 4 1/4 inches square, although occasionally I have done  5 inches square and even more rarely 5 1/2 inches square.

To make my standard card base, I cut an A4 sheet card stock in half, (Generally my white cardstock is Nopa from Officeworks) then I score & fold this in half and away I go.

Simple even sided layers is generally the easiest form of card making once the focal point is designed. It is a great way for beginners to start their card making until they are comfortable and confident to move on. I frequent come back to this even after 20 years of card making especially when making quick and easy cards in bulk.

When it comes to the size of my layers, it becomes less standardized. Frequently I work from the top image down unless it is 3 dimensional, layering as I go depending on my image size and the card design I have in mind. Many times I tend to stick with basic squares or rectangles, unless it is meant to be a specific shape eg one of my nestabilities shape or a trapezoid etc.  I only rely on my guillotine for the accuracy of my 90 degree angles. I really should think to use the many Nestabilities dies and labels I have... Um ... A new resolution??? I will try...It would certainly add more variety to my cards.

I rarely ever measure my borders or rather I tend to think of it as frames as I tend to eyeball it with my guillotine.  If I were to measure it, I suppose the majority would be a narrow 2mm border. If you want to make it quick and simple for simple matting, then you can't go past the Ezy Spacers from (Australia's) Stamp it, which gives you 3 different widths of a clear polymer 'stick or rod' so that you never have to measure again. These are approx 2cm, 1cm & 0.80cm, You can turn these on their sides to double the variety of widths. 

I also like to use my border punches and or my Nestabilities, so these might determine the size of my layers.

The Ten Commandments of Crafts

I have been thinking of the accumulation of all my stuff  and we all know just how expensive our hobby (any hobby) can be. This led me to think that maybe I should have a 10 Commandments of Crafting. I guess it would go something like this:



FIRST COMMANDMENT: Give yourself permission to have some time out! It is therapeutic.

SECOND COMMANDMENT: You shall not buy any more supplies without first using the stuff you already have. Don't be a victim to the advertisers and marketing people. As much as we love the new stuff, we really should make a commitment to use up the supplies we have on hand. Do you really need that new doovey lackey or that new pattern. I am effectively rediscovering stuff I had totally forgotten I had, so in a sense it is like a new item, but without the dollars being spent.

THIRD COMMANDMENT:  Life is too short for bad supplies. Depending on your craft and the purpose of it, don't buy cheap stuff as quite often it will not last the distance especially if you want to have something last a lifetime.

FOURTH COMMANDMENT: You don't need to be monogamous. Your taste and your needs may change. Your confidence will grow and you might want to try other crafts. Some will have an instant attraction, others may grow on you, some will be a trend or a flash in the pan.

FIFTH COMMANDMENT: Cover new ground, experiment and stretch yourself - you may surprise yourself. If you are into stamping, try stamping onto cloth or wood. If you are a machine quilter, try free hand machine embroidery or making a quilted vest! Do not conform to other's ideas. It is your craft and your time to use as you see fit.

SIXTH COMMANDMENT: Don't pretend to know it all. You need never stop being inspired and learning if you are open to new experiences, ideas and concepts.

SEVENTH COMMANDMENT: Always be welcoming and encouraging. Share your passion and make friends along the way - you never know who your new best friend will be. 

EIGHT COMMANDMENT: Evangelize..be willing to teach others about your craft. Unless this is your very first lesson, then you are at least one step ahead of someone! I had been teaching papercrafts for years, when one of my students taught me to look at colours in a whole new way! I taught her how to make cards, she taught me to be much bolder with my colours and how to combine them successfully! I am still learning from my students and friends.

NINTH COMMANDMENT: Share your tools and maybe they'll lend you that punch you got your eye on - that you know you would only use 5 or 6 times at most and can't really justify spending your hard earned dollars on.

TENTH COMMANDMENT: Learn to appreciate a great artist. Go to art & craft shows in your field of interest. Also go to shows of different mediums as there is so much to gain from new insights!

And as a bonus there is one more - it is probably the most important one!

ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT: Always remember that craft is supposed to be fun. It’s up to you to make it enjoyable. Don't let it become yet another stressor in your life. Take time out if you need to! I have a quilt I started when I was hospitalized for a couple of months some 20 years ago. I never did get back into it after I left the hospital - it served it purpose which was to help me pass the time. Maybe one day I will finish it if I ever find it again!

   

The re-location of my craft room

It is unbelievable how much stuff one accumulates crafting even more so when one used to teach it and sell some of the products as well, though it was never really a shop or business but rather a service that I offered when the local Spotlight store didn''t stock much papercraft esp in the early days of the craft.
I need to clear my craft room and convert it back into a bedroom in preparation for visitors esp my eldest son & his family, who will be moving to Sydney eventually but needs to have a few months 'breathing' space whilst they have time to look for the best accommodation rather than take the first one available.

This is just one corner of my messy craft room

So I had to start the mammoth  job of tackling the room. It was a large bedroom with a built in double wardrobe that was chokka black full plus 2 desks, 2 high bookcases, 4 smaller bookcases. Pegboards and cork boards lined the walls and were full. My son who finally moved the last desk and filing cabinet yesterday commented that he had no idea that there was so much stuff until he goes upstairs, which is where I am relocating to, and he sees all the boxes of stuff on the floor. I have not started to organize the stuff upstairs yet as with only 1 month notice that my son was moving in, my first priority was to get the bedroom back into shape. Hence the stuff upstairs is spread out everywhere mostly horizontal until I can get it into the cupboards etc. Not sure what I am going to do yet as I don't have a built in wardrobe up there. The 'old games' room up there is twice the size of the large bedroom downstairs. We are not going to spend a lot of money to make it all pretty and co-ordinated. It will be odds and ends and whatever wardrobes I can scrounge up from recycle centres and op-shops. I am not even going to spend the time and money painting it either. Sure it would be nice to have it all pretty, painted or newly co-ordinated but my priority is practicality and to be honest I have far too much stuff to pack away prettily!

I can only dream of making it as pretty as this

Is your craft area a pretty place or like a bomb hit it?

Christmas inspirations on Pinterest

There are so many inspirations for Christmas to be found on the internet, it can take you literally months to them all, whether it be some lovely crafts, scrumptious foods or decorating styles for your house this Christmas

Find inspiration fast

However you could easily find what you need on Pinterest. I love to spend time happily gazing at inspiring pictures of Christmas (and so much more!) that others have picked up & pinned.

My Pinterest Board

I’ve been pinning off and on for a couple of years. And just recently I have been putting together various Christmas boards that inspire me. These will give you a starting point. Here’s a sneak peek.

These and many more can be found on my Pinterest board  Christmas Love. If you haven’t used Pinterest before, you need an invitation so leave your email in the comments and I will invite you.

What about You?

Do you use Pinterest? Do you find it as addictive as I do?

Have you actually made anything you've found on Pinterest?

I am working on one project I found on someone else's Pinterest board. I will post it soon.
Do you actually use any of the ideas you’ve seen, especially if you have a pin board on Pinterest.

Crochet your own mini Christmas Stockings

Click on any photo to see it in more detail

Inspired by my Mother in law

I have made these cute little Christmas Stockings. They were inspired by my Dutch Mother in law, who passed away just 13 months ago. She would often make us something for Christmas in addition to her other gifts.

First I have to learn how to crochet

So after teaching myself how to crochet and doing a few granny square lap rugs, I had the confidence, and the encouragement of friends, to have a go at making a stocking or 2.

First off, I counted and made a stocking but it wasn't quite right. I then unpicked just one stocking that Mum had made for my kids and could actually see and count what she had done. I tweaked it a little to get  a bit more toe shape definition and away I went.

Tuturial offered...sort of

You can just make out the tinsel thread in the green wool

I am not able to write the tutorial 'properly' as I have only just learning crochet but if you are game, I am more than willing to send you the instructions as I have made them. one day i will attempt to write it 'professionally' and then come back and publish it on this blog.

Add caption

 

 

 

Available for sale 

I did get carried away and made a dozen more than I need for all my great nieces and nephews and my 2 grand daughters, so I am offering to sell them for $5 each plus postage.

Just leave a comment below or send me an email.

What inspires you?

I love looking and being inspired by many lovely blogs and I have pinned some here that I would love to follow through with.  I do have more Christmas crafts in motion. You will see them soon.

What crafts are you making for this Christmas?

Blanket Stitch Appliques

With my two delightful grand daughters coming to visit with us in Cairns recently during our road trip around Queensland, I just knew I had to make something special for them.

Here are the delightful results.

Butterfly Applique

Elephant Applique

I decided to applique something on a t-shirt for them both. The designs were chosen from some silhouettes that I googled up. A quick visit to a craft store nearby to buy 2 fat quarters and some buttons and stranded embroidery threads and away I went.

I don't ever recall doing it before though I may have learnt back in primary school. I noticed the size of my stitches became gradually bigger and by the time I reached the beginning, you could really notice it. But these are for my little ones, I doubt they will notice it at all.I am not going to tell them, are you?

You can read more about our visits with them on the Robbiebago blog here. Or you can follow our road trip and other bits and pieces on the general Robbiebago blog. Click here for the latest update.

I have recovered from my breast cancer

I have been absent for so long as I first recovered from my breast cancer. Then when we got the all clear my husband and I hit the road for a long awaited trip around Queensland to include Mt Isa and Cape York. We are still on the road but I thought it was time I posted an update to inform you all of my recovery at least. I did have to have a partial mastectomy though that sounds so dramatic for the little bit that they took out. Still it was surgery and one that potentially saved my life. I was extremely fortunate in that the surgery took all of it and I did not require chemotherapy at all. I will need to have yearly check ups but I have been cleared for now. For those that want the nitty gritty details I had DCI: Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. Thankfully it is the most common non invasive breast cancer there is.

Sympathy Card made using a Z fold technique

Now to move on back to crafts, here is a lovely z fold card I made for a friend. I hand stamped and coloured the back decorative paper to match the commercial stripey paper I had in my stash/ The hearts were cut and embossed on my trusty cuttlebug and layered.

Hopefully we will keep in touch more from here on. By the way you can read about our trip on my Robbiebago travel blog.