Week 1 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge

So it is the first Monday of January and here is the prompt for Week 1 of the 52 Week Mini Art Card Challenge.  The prompt is "Reflecting".

Remember, anything goes.  This is a way to get you crafting and a good way to test new techniques.   I'd love it if you share your creations with me. Here's my tag:

52 Week Mini Art Card Challenge - 2017

Back in 2008, I took part in a mini art challenge called "52 Q Challenge".  I really enjoyed it so thought I would replicate it by providing a "prompt" on this blog each Monday morning of 2017. Starting on Monday 2nd January 2017.

The idea is that the prompt/word will be provided and then you can create a tag/ATC (artist trading card) or use a page in a book to interpret the prompt in any way you please.  It could be through the medium of collage, inking, journalling your thoughts or anything you fancy.  It is up to you.  If you do join in with the challenge, I would love to see what you create.

I've attached some photos of some of the ATC cards I created for the 2008 challenge (at the end of the year, I stuck each card into a book to keep them all together).

 

A Fabulous Crafting Read

I was very fortunate to receive a copy of the latest book by Carole Matthews, called "Paper Hearts & Summer Kisses" from Carole herself! (Yes, I did a considerable dance around the kitchen in excitement as she is one of my favourite authors).

Christmas in our house has been very quiet this year, as Hubby has been working.  This has left me plenty of time to read, and read I have!  I finished "Paperhearts" today and absolutely loved it.

The book is based around a single Mum character called Christie, who works as a secretary in The City, spending hours each day commuting when she could be home being creative with paper, glue and glitter.  Christie is a papercrafter and longs to run her own on-line business.  By chance she spots a shout out for a designer for a new American company that makes crafting dies.  In the meantime, Finn, her only child has a spate of being ill with headaches which leads to a major operation.

I'm not going to say more on the storyline, as I don't want to spoil it, but if you like Carole's style of writing and are into papercrafting, this book is for you.

Christmas Thanks

It's Christams Eve and as we all slow down a little after all the charging about in the run up to this special time, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you a very Happy Christmas and to thank you for taking an interest in my little blog of makes.

See you on the other side...

Sam x

2016 Goodreads Reading Challenge

In a previous post, I mentioned the "Goodreads 2016 Reading Challenge"  For 2016 I set myself a challenge of reading 50 books.  Well I have exceeded the fifty by all expectations.  Today I finished book 65!

This evening, I will be curling up with book 66 by one of my favourite authors - Carole Matthews.  Her latest release is called "Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses".  I love her books as they have believable characters which for some reason I can relate to.

The new book from Carole Matthews is available in the shops now and can also be downloaded to read on the Kindle ap here

A New Craft Studio

Since June of this year, we have been having building work carried out at our house to create a craft studio to store my crafting goodies and provide a nice area for me to work in.  The room is  now complete and I am totally in love with it.  Here are a few images of it.

I've used Ikea Alex drawer units for below the work surface and Ikea Kallax unit turned on its side for storage below the windows.  I am fortunate to already have a Scrapbox work station (the one that looks like a wardrobe when closed), which works really well in this room.

Berry Berry Christmas Card

This is one of the Christmas cards I have made.  It's a "Penny Black" Stamp called "Berry Berry Christmas" (2514K).

I used pastels to colour the image in, set with hairspray.  I added some "Stickles" glitter for a bit of sparkle too.