The craft room MESS vs Clean up evidence for Card Makin Mama's


So the powers that be at Card Makin Mama's decided that at the end of January we were going to share our craft spaces with our followers.  I had the problem of leaving it in the mess that is normal for me or tidying up.  A tidy workspace for me, means Im not crafting, but I really like to start with a tidy room (note im not saying clean.. this room isn't clean)




                                                                                                                                                               So a short little view of my room and the craft stuff ive accumulated!


 

 

To start if I open my blinds I look directly outside to my side yard, often with the dogs looking up with a sad let me inside face, or a little willy wagtail bird (they are tiny and are distinguished by wagging their tail feathers).  At one stage a beautiful king parrot used to hang off the guttering looking inside the house, he got so used to people that he was happy to eat seed from our hands.  We haven't seen him in a long while though, another family is most likely spoiling him.












This wall is over 2metres long and filled with inkpads, it took me a while to find a way to store my distress inks so I actually use them.  I had my blending tools in a drawer which was neat but the tool was never with the pad and YES I have a tool for every colour (im considered a HAVE IT ALL crafter)


I recently took the plunge and added archival pads to my collection and I love them, definitely don't regret buying.  The ink pads don't end there, I have the full set of CTMH colours and in the drawer ive started on Shadow Inks.. a definite problem in ink collecting.  I am doing my best NOT to buy the Simon says colours even though they are taunting me.










Although this looks like a mess its better than what it was.


the drawers in the far right of the photo are now neat, there is adhesive, a5 paper and more in the top drawer and sewing patterns in the bottom.  On top of the desk is lots and lots of plain 12 inch cardstock and out of shot of the photo is a waredrobe with MORE card stock in plain and patterned.


You can see the stacks of 6 inch paper pads here.. another collection problem but you will be thrilled to learn im using the papers and trying to place the used pad to the bottom of the pile so I use more of a variety of papers.




The copics have been moved, housed and sorted into so many different places but this is what works for me.  They are sorted by colour and number, so 0's, 10's 20's etc. 


My ATG guns live on this side of the room too (when I remember to pop them back)








after a recent trip to IKEA where I got some magnetic herb tins I sorted embellishments


I didn't have a magnetic board but found that my unused scrap easel worked perfectly to pop the embellishments where I can see them.  It will do for now.




The upper cupboards are yet to be sorted, the far ones are filled with my husbands university stuff that he was going to sort for the last 4 years.. im still waiting.  The others have sewing paraphernalia in them that I most likely don't need!




As for the lower drawers, the ones on the right are power cords and enough embroidery thread to last most of Australia many years.


I have sorted many of my stamps into the cupboard just under the ATG gun. Leaving me with about a dozen clear a4 stamp folders and pages that Im wondering what to do with..




The ones directly under the window are recently sorted.  And have my embossing folders and sentiments in them. The third drawer is Colouring mediums like gelatos, inktense, prisma etc and the second drawer is tim holtz, Dyan and CTMH stamp sets.








What else.. my Janome sewing machine from past years that I refused to used for papercraft for a long time but now decided its OK, my Husqvarna DE machine is safe away from paper though. 


My Blackcat cougar is in the corner not cause he is in troube but because he fits there and isn't taking up too much bench.  Beside him is my newest addition of the Brother scan and cut (LOVE IT) and my printer which my husband rolled his eyes at (of all the things he was worried about it was a printer... made me laugh) its an Epson 1430 and fabulous.










On a side note, I was talking to my husband the other day about a lady on an online garage sale site trying to sell 3 pieces of Kaiser patterned paper for $3.  He was shocked and said AS IF.  I said well its cheaper than what it cost and he went a little pale and said WHAT.  He really has no idea how much card stock and the like costs.  I think I may leave him NOT knowing, its safer that way.






Thanks for visiting today








Furtastic - LOTV at Totally Gorjuss

This week at Totally Gorjuss we would like to see your best Furtastic creations, we are happily sponsored by LOTV.
I used my Brother Scan and Cut again for this project, yes its purely addictive.
 
I have started a plan with my patterned papers, fellow DT member Melissa suggested that I use a paper pad and then pop it to the back of the pile, so more of my 6inch papers see the light of day.  Ive started that challenge as of this week, so fingers crossed you all see some new patterns sometime soon!  This card is simply copic colours and some washi banners were made using washi and white remnant card stock.
 
I hope to see your creations over on the Totally Gorjuss Challenge, and please be sure to visit our sponsor
 
Till next time
Penny
 

Totally Gorjuss - Pearls and Lace

This weeks challenge at Totally Gorjuss is
Lace and Pearls
you can use both or either
 our fabulous sponsor this week is The Hobby House 
 
 
For this card I used my brand new Brother Scan and Cut (yes another cutter... this one can affectionately be named NO:5)  I am totally infatuated with it.  You stamp your rubber or clear stamp onto your medium, place it on the mat, scan, the machine finds the Image (if your lucky) and creates a cut line around it and then you can add a margin if you wish.  It does much more than that but for my purposes that is the MAIN feature and the reason I bought it.  I am looking at my stamps in a whole new light now.  I also use my distress it tool by zutter and even dug into my sentiment stash to find a new sentiment instead of the old favourites I've been using of late.  I coloured with Inktense, can't say I love those yet, Ive never been fantastic at water colouring!

Thanks for visiting today

Card Makin Mama's with Scrappers Delight (MOVE IT)





http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com.au/


This week we are proudly sponsored by


And we would like to see your interactive "move it cards"
Wobble, shake and make the recipient interact with your card.







Now its your turn.  Head over to the Card Makin Mama's challenge blog and check out the other Design Team creations.  Also please visit out sponsors, without them we don't have a challenge!



The Card Makin Mamas Facebook Group can be found below




http://www.facebook.com/groups/125503720817365/?fref=ts



Thanks for visiting today

Totally Gorjuss - Manly

http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com.au/


This week at Totally Gorjuss our theme is Manly

 

Perfect timing for this theme, I was cleaning out my craft room drawers (again) and came across these phtotos that I had printed out years ago and never scrapped.  The story behind the layout, both my husband and I are both green eyed (and im slightly a jealous soul) but I tend to call him a green eyed monster anyway.   I think I nailed the Male theme in this layout, I even dug into my stash of metallic embellishments and used them instead of STASHING them for a rainy day.  I really would like to cull my craft supplied by using them instead of putting them into a drawer.

I hope to see you all posting on the challenge blog so we can comment on your projects.
please  leave me a comment here too, so I know you have visited.

 

4 more Christmas cards

If you are friends with me on Facebook you would of seen me talking about being more prepared next Christmas.  I only sent 7 cards to friends, mainly as I refuse to purchase a card when I have a mountain of tools and supplies to make a card.  I have been kindly reminded that the card doesn't have to be fancy, more thoughtful and showing that your thinking of someone.  That said I will be making a few one of a kind cards through the year as well.
 
These cards were made from 1 sheet of scrapbooking paper and some remnants that I refused to throw away (thankfully)
 
 
I notched out the edge of the cards so the twine stays put, something I've seen done before but never remember to do.  Must admit that tiny little notch is so simple and it works!  Ill definitely be doing that again.  I did these cards the hard way, one at a time.  In hindsight it would of been smarter to lay a 30cm pattern paper strip along the base of scrapbook paper and then do the trimming.  The inside of the card has a thin strip of coordinating paper just so there is some interest inside.
 
I hope you like these little cards, Ill definitely be making more of them.  Im thinking if I end up making too many my Mum would use them next Christmas for friends and acquaintances... but I wont get too ahead of myself here.
Thanks for visiting today

Christmas cards in batches

Ok, here is something interesting.  I used to sew and I hated sewing in batches.. it was so boring doing production line.  I had mistakenly assumed that card making in batches would be similarly boring but I recently watched a You Tube video of a SU demo making ten cards in 20 minutes and thought there may be something in making in bulk.  My version of bulk is 4 cards.
 
Today ill be sharing a cute little card and later in the week another 4 cards that I whipped up on Saturday night in record time. 
 
 
This image was a free gift from Tiddly inks in late 2013.  The cards are only 10cm square.  As you can see I experimented stamping a stitched effect but I didn't like it where it overlapped on the card edges so I left two card stitch free.   The Inside the card has a sentiment and a simple border stamped on the lower edge of the card.
 
These cards are being entered into the CMC Challenge this week which is anything goes
 

Totally Gorjuss Ribbon challenge

http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com.au/


This week at Totally Gorjuss our theme is Ribbon
and we are happily sponsored by Ribbon Girl

I wasn't quite sure what to make this week, I originally was thinking a ribbon flower using burnt organza but ended making a ribbon background by sticking ribbon to a card panel in a striped format.
I added a huge satin bow and wallah.  Of course as luck would have it I couldn't find my bow easy or my bow maker so I winged it on the bow front!



I hope to see you all posting on the challenge blog so we can comment on your projects.
please  leave me a comment here too, so I know you have visited.

I'm entering in the anything goes challenge over at CMC Copic challenge too

Thanks for visiting today

Open Minded Challenge -Guest Designer

A few months ago I put my hand up to join the new challenge blog Open Minded Challenges ,and although I wasn't successful I was asked to participate with all other DT applicants with the first challenge. 
 
http://open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.com.au/
 
The challenge for Open Minded Crafting this week is NEW.
I used a brand new chevron stamp from Close to my Heart.  I was originally frustrated with the stamping but I figured out that lightly rubbing a pencil eraser over the new stamp allowed it to accept ink and give a wonderfully clear impression.
 
 
The image can be found here, it was kindly donated by Milkcoffee
 
Please support this new challenge blog, its going to be fun watching them grow.  The blog is up and running now with a few posts from DT members there with Bio's attached. 
 
Thanks for visiting today

Card Making Mama's 2014

http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com.au/
 
 
Hi and welcome back to CMM for 2014.  We are hoping to mix things up a little this year so please be patient as we find our rhythm and things work and change.
 
 
Our first sponsor of the year was unknown to me before I was given my choice of images.  I must admit I struggled to choose which image I wanted, as there were to many on my wish list.
 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/artbymiran
 
As with all my posts, clicking the pic of the sponsor will open their store!
 
 
Our challenge is going to be simple for all those entering.. with
anything goes
 
it scares me when we go with this theme as it seems that everybody gets creating when there are limited rules!  I actually find this theme quite hard, I like rules and guidelines.. I know Odd!
 
Im going to try and decorate the insides of my cards this year too.  I like the idea of adding a sentiment inside the card.  These sentiments are from the BE set from Simon Says stamp.    I really was worried about purchasing another die and stamp set but I have used these little sets a lot in the month since I purchased them.

 
Now its your turn.  Head over to the Card Makin Mama's challenge blog and check out the other Design Team creations.  Also please visit out sponsors, without them we don't have a challenge!



The Card Makin Mamas Facebook Group can be found below

http://www.facebook.com/groups/125503720817365/?fref=ts

 
 
.  Thanks for visiting today