Same sketch, different view

Good morning all,
First I must say thank you for all the fantastic comments you have left for me over the past two days, you are all so kind and it is a pleasure getting to know you all.

I am actually typing this just before I am about to post it as I have been up all night again.  I am fine so please don't worry,  it's just one of my wide awake nights.
Anyway, I designed a sketch that I used for yesterdays card and I have used the same sketch but mirrored it for todays card.  Of course I have used completely different card and embellishments but I thought it would be a good way to show you how I like to do similar but in a fresh way.
By doing this sort of thing you can use one sketch (layout) for a card and just by turning it around you have four ways to make it different.  Then mirror the position of everything and you have another four ways etc. So of course by changing all the papers, embellishments etc you could spend a whole week just using one layout and produce something totally different every single day.  It actually is a wonderful way to keep crafting whenever you have a lack of crafting mojo.
Try it yourself one day.  Find a card that has a layout you adore and use it as a sketch/layout and just turn it around and make your next card from it.  You will be surprised at how different it looks and if you are really crafty (notice the pun) you can make it so no one would every know it was a layout you used yesterday or whenever!

As you can tell from the picture, the only thing, besides the layout, that I kept was a flower. Everything else is totally different.
In place of the embossed background I used Teresa Collins floral paper, then I used MME Lush trellis paper, vintage ribbon and Persian Accents lace border in place of the pleated velvet ribbon and banners.  Next instead of pins coming from my flowers I used diecut leaves and the flower sat on a Persian Motif diecut instead of a bow.  The last change was one fancy button (with shank removed) glued on top of a flattened large beadcap in place of the pearl swirls.
So all in all the same but as I said,  totally different.  I do hope you like it and can see the advantage of retaining your own ideas and recycling them.  We often forget to check out our own creations for inspiration, all too often we think we have to look elsewhere, when in fact we have probably created loads of cards that could be turned upside down and inside out to produce something, again totally wonderful.
Well thats it for now.  If my grandson has his nap later I will put up my next tips and storage post. Fingers crossed please.... lol!
I hope you all have a wonderful day.  Hugs Linda xx

Back to my Spellbinders again.

Afternoon all.
Well I have had to schedule this post as I am busy with my 3year old grandson again today.  He keeps me on my toes I can tell you.  The good thing is that he still loves to have his afternoon nap, so when he settles down I get a bit of time to come and check out the blog.  So I should be able to pop on around 2ish and catch up with you all, fingers crossed.
Well here is the card I promised.

I keep looking at this one as I think it has something missing (and I don't mean a greeting, as I purposefully omitted that). I am wondering whether I should have cut some fancy corners in brown cardstock to fill a bit of the blank space.  What do you think?
I used some dark chocolate brown card, velvet ribbon and swirls to contrast with the ivory and gold on this card.  I embossed the ivory background with the one of the new Spellbinders double sided embossing folders; they are so easy to match up to repeat the pattern.  The yo-yo flower was made from a strip of lame effect fabric that I picked up at 'What' store some time ago.  It is lovely to use as it is soft and very fluid fabric.  The flower center is again, a pearly button from The Hobby House.  I must say a Big thank you to Hazel C. for introducing me to them.  They have some wonderful embellishments and their prices are really good.

While making this card I wanted an excuse to use some of my Decorative Pins and what better way than with a flower and a bow.  The left hand pin here is quite an expensive one infact as I used some of my Murano glass beads.   A couple of years ago I visited Venice and treated myself to some pieces of Murano glass including some choice beads in gold and red.  Originally I was going to make a necklace and matching bracelet but I never got around to doing them, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to use one or two for my Pins.  I then added Swarovski clear crystals to finish it off..... all in all a rather expensive pin for a card, but hey.... I love them so that's all that matters!! 

Well I hope you will excuse me now as I am going to wrap it up there as I am rather tired now and the back is playing up again.  Time for a good rest I think.
I hope you're all having a good day.  I will be back tomorrow with another storage idea and another card.  I will be using some beautiful papers by the fabulous Teresa Collins.
Bye for now.  Hugs Linda x

My Recipe
Dark brown card  and ivory hammered card - Papermill Direct online
Spellbinders Banner Basics 1,  M-Bossabilities EL-001 - Create and Craft
Velvet ribbon and fabric for flower - 'What' store
Brown pearly swirl - QVC
Pearl in gold rim button - The Hobby House
Soft Beige Organza ribbon and pearls from my stash.
Decorative Pins - Handmade by me

How to make your day better

Hi all,
you may think this post is a bit of an oddity but I thought it would be nice to do something a little different before I posted my card for the day  (I've scheduled the card for lunch time, hope that's ok).
We all have days where we, for one reason or another, don't feel as happy or as chirpy as we should and so I thought I would post these ways to be happy ideas for a bit of inspiration.
As you read them you will see the ones that I truly agree with and you will also notice what I love to do in my life - spend my life in the bath!  Only joking, I only do that once a day I promise.  LOL!
It is, in fact, a wonderful way to ease my back but also boost my spirits at the beginning of every day.  I have used my bath time to cry away my troubles, think things through, organise my day, even design card layouts.  But my most obscure use of bathtime is thinking up ways to use my new dies... how about that for whacky!!  I tell you I can bath, daydream and dream cutting dies, I love them so much.
Anyway, I am side tracking again.  Boy I can waffle with the best of them, probably beat them actually (see I'm doing it again....arrrghhh)

Here they are:-

How to make your day better

1:  Wake up a few minutes earlier.   (This is definitely true!!)

You know the scenario; you wake up in a flurry of panic the moment your alarm goes off because you need to be on time for work. You rush around the house trying to get ready but somehow get more cereal down your crisp white shirt than in your mouth; you put the milk in the dishwasher instead of the fridge; and, as you rush from room to room your sleeve gets stuck on the door handle, sending you hurtling back a metre as you were mid-way through marching out of the living room on a mission (is there anything more annoying when you’re in a rush?). As you can probably relate to from this example, being short of time makes your stress levels rise and you’re in a pickle faster than you can say “should have set my alarm earlier”. Make your mornings easier by setting your alarm 15 minutes before you need to get up. This will leave plenty of time for your body and mind to wake up so you can get ready without the stress.

2:  Have a bath.   (My ultimate favourite and proved true by me....... LOL!!)

Rather than that quick dash in and out of the shower, make some me-time and have a bubble bath and some time to work on your personal appearance. Our day always seems to go better when we look and feel our best, so gentlemen, have a shave and use a deep moisturising balm. Ladies, apply face and hair masks and paint your nails alongside your bath. It’s surprising how much a little me-time can perk up your day.

3:  Make a happy list   (This one is why I love doing my Monday Quotes!)

Sometimes we dwell on the things that make us sad rather than concentrating on what makes us happy. It takes a little brain training to change your thought process from negative to positive, and a good way to do this is make a list of things that make you happy and keep referring to it every time you feel sad. Whether you want to write down your favourite quote from a movie, the date of a holiday you have booked, or you stick down a photograph of yourself on one of the happiest days of your life, it’s sure to lift your spirits when you’re feeling down in the dumps. Corny? Yes. Helpful? Most definitely.

4:  Housework   (Life drama?  I cleaned out the kitchen cupboards…. now I clean whatever I can reach…….. LOL!)

It may not be your favourite activity, yet keeping your home clean and tidy could help you stay fit and healthy and keep off those extra pounds. According to a poll on household chores, the average person walks more than 22 miles and burns off 50,000 calories a year while cleaning their home, making it a great alternative to the gym. Furthermore, research funded by Cancer Research UK found that doing household chores can reduce women’s risk of breast cancer by 30% in pre-menopausal women and 20% in those post-menopause.

5:  Prioritise your tasks   (I write lists for cards to make, shopping, jobs to be done……… I’ve always done it)

A common reason for us to be having a bad day is stress. Having a long list of tasks to do can be overwhelming so tackle any problems head-on at the start of the day to get them out of the way as early as possible. Tackling your problems in the morning will eliminate feelings of worry throughout the rest of your day. A good way to prioritise your tasks is to write them all down and then number them from one to 10, with one being the most important, and 10 being the least important. Work your way through the tasks starting with the most important first, and tick them off as you go along. You will feel a sense of achievement each time you tick a task off.

6:  Sniff a lemon   (I use citrus in my revitaliser, it really lifts the mood in the house)

Yep, you read that right. To improve your day, simply sniff a lemon. Scientists at Tel Aviv University suggest that citrus fragrances – particularly lemon – can alleviate depression and boost our mood. Indeed, the smell of a lemon boosts your levels of serotonin (a feel-good hormone) and lowers levels of norepinephrine (a stress hormone), so improve your day by burning a lemon scented candle or spritzing on a lemony fragrance, or you could just go all out and sniff a lemon.

7:  Sweat it out   (Gym? Couldn't if I wanted to (phew!!) but dance in the living room? That's me!!)

Encourage your body’s natural feel good hormones to give your mood – and ultimately your day – a boost. Walk the dog, go for a run, or dance around the living room for half an hour; anything that gets your blood pumping and makes you sweat will do the trick. The endorphins released during exercise are scientifically proven to boost your mood, making any form of physical activity a sure-fire way to boost your day.

8:  Cuddle someone   (Cuddles from my grandkids. The best destress ever!! Ooooo! I do love them!!)

With the soaring popularity of the ‘cuddle party’ phenomenon, more and more people are discovering the benefits of a good snuggle. A warm embrace boosts the natural feel-good hormones released by the body, reduces stress, and creates a feeling of mutual trust. Beware though, whilst cuddling is a great mood-enhancer, we do recommend that you be selective over whom you choose to embrace; your boss or the window cleaner may not appreciate a cuddle as much as your spouse or your pet. If you prefer something a little less intimate, there’s nothing to stop you from expressing your feelings through a man hug (yes, this can be done by the ladies too), or maybe even a high-five to release those happy hormones.

(Credit and Thanks toYahoo Lifestyle & Realbuzz.com) 

Well that's it for now, I hope you liked some of the ideas.  See you at lunchtime with my latest creation.  It's back to the Spellbinders as I am having withdrawal symptoms again! :)
Regards Linda xx

Another playful card

Todays card came from one of my play times in the craftroom.  I was a little bored and fancied trying something different so I dragged out some of my mags for a little nudge and much needed inspiration.   I didn't really want to do an easel card, but when I saw the style of this card I realised I had never done anything like it so decided to give it a go.

Still sitting on my desk were the Hot of the Press papers I used recently, so I decided to use them again as I really liked the flowers and flourishes on them.
I dragged the sewing machine out and although it was only to do a bit of stitching around one of the layers I liked the texture it added to the card.   I also used some WOC flowers and some Creative Expressions PVA in bronze to embellish.   It is simple but a little bit different for me as I rarely use acetate.

In the magazine they had stamped on the acetate but I decided to leave it plain so that the flowers shone through.  However, I am definitely thinking I must try this again soon too, as I haven't stamped and embossed on acetate in a couple of years now.

The flowers I used were not all the right colours so again I took out my Whisper Pens and altered them to suit.   With this is mind my next post will have a little tip for you.  It is about flowers, glues and Spellbinder dies.  I showed you how to store your dies easily and now I will give you a little tip for using the packaging too.
Have a good day all.  Linda xx

Monday Quote

A very quick post this morning as I am up to my eyes with the grandson.  I will, however, be back later this evening with something very special and worth the visit I think.  (Hint...... think  'Pay it Forward')

My first quote for this morning is one by Victor Hugo.  I love this one because it truly discribes how a laughter or just a simple smile can totally light up the face....

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.

The second quote is by George Bernanos....

To be able to find joy in another's joy:  that is the secret of happiness.

Isn't that just too true.  So many times I have seen the joy in the faces of my family & friends or heard it in their voice and instantly I begin to smile myself and it can make my day brighter too.  In the same but opposite vein, if they suffer then so do I.  I think our love for those important people in our lives links us with an invisible thread that binds more than just our hearts.  It also binds our emotion to them in so many ways.

I hope your day has begun bright and cheerful, if not I hope it turns out a good day very soon. 

Have a good week all.   Best wishes and regards Linda xx 

(By the way, I have more storage ideas and some useful recycling tips to share with you throughout the week!!) 

Storage

Hi again
This is unlike me isn't it, two posts in one day?  I am beginning to wonder if I am feeling okay.....lol.
This is just a very quick post to show you my storage solution for my Spellbinder and other dies.
I like to keep my dies on a piece of magnetic sheet in a plastic cd wallet so they are easy to find and easy to store.
At the back you can see that I am also able to store my masks and all my long Sizzix dies in here too. (Plus I have a few pads that I made using my Bind-it-All machine and old scraps of paper.) 

Each of the wallets has a description card included that shows the die number and manufacturers name for that die set.  Each card is cut so that they index, which makes searching through them alot easier.  I originally started out with colour codes, for example the blue tabs were for foliage & flower dies etc, silver tabs were for all the Labels die sets and the red tabs were for all the fancy shapes and tags.  Then unfortunately I ran out of some colours and so I had to use any colours I had left with any new sets I bought.

Each wallet has the dies on a magnetic sheet, the tab card and also a precut of all the dies in that set.  This allows me to play around with the shapes and design layouts before I begin the actual project diecutting and then, ultimately, I make less mistakes.  This also allows me to come up with different ways of mixing and matching the dies, creating some new and fancy shapes in the process.

For me this has been the best way to store all my dies as it is cheap, easy and space saving.  When I had less dies I used the smaller of the two boxes and then moved them over when it got too full. (Sorry about this picture it is an old one of my die box, before I had the light tent and better camera.)

The plastic CD wallets were 50 in a pack for under £3 and the boxes were £2 for the small narrow one and £2.50 for the larger one (all from Wilkinson).  In all, the storage in the bigger box was just £8.50 (I had to have two lots of CD wallets).  The smaller box is now storing other crafting items, so all in all a very inexpensive way to keep your expensive dies safe and sound!!
Well that's it folks. I hope that this is of help to someone looking for a way to store their dies.
Take care.  I'll see you tomorrow with another card, thanks for stopping by.
Hugs Linda xx

Another mini card

Hi all and happy sunday.
I do hope you are all having a good weekend so far.  Todays post is very short, it is mainly to show you my latest Mini Card.  I love to make these to include in parcels or with gifts that are going in the post.  They are also really handy when you just want to send a note to say Hi.

 

I started with the largest of the Spellbinders Labels 20 dies and blood red card for the base, then a beautiful floral paper from MME Lost & Found2.  It is a stunning paper and the reverse is the lovely pink check shown on the smaller Labels 20 diecut. This is one of my all time favourite papers.   I cut more of the blood red card with the Spellbinders Damask Motifs dies to add some filigree decoration and a piece of my hand crocheted lace with a few dewdrops to finish it off.

Well that's all for now though I will be back about 2pm with a storage idea.  Take care of yourselves and have a crafty day.  Hugs Linda xx