Project Tuesday

Seems like forever since I posted a Project Tuesday item but here I am - a bit out of practise but I'm back.

This week's challenge was to create a 'genie bag' and I'm surprised I've never done this one before - always meant to - just never got around to it.  Can't we all say that?  Well I made mine way too big to die-cut my handles in my big shot so if you haven't yet made yours that's worth bearing in mind.  If only I'd started with a smaller bag but I simply wasn't thinkin that far - DER!  Clearly I wasn't thinkin cos I cut off the bags original handles and I could have left them on!

Things are a bit here and there in my craft room right now and I'm a bit out of touch so I grabbed a few things close to hand and this is what I came up with for this week.  I think I'd still like to have another attempt - just a smaller one so now that I've made one I'm sure I'll make another one before Christmas.  It's a lovely way to make home made packaging for your hand made gifts and even the store bought ones.  Pretty packaging is super expensive to buy so that's even more reason to make your own too. 

This is a side view showing the bag I used as my base.  After adding front and back panels of paper and cardstock I grabbed a paper flower, some ribbons, a green button, punched holes for the ribbon and a genie bag was born!  What a fab way to recycle too!

Hop on over to Project Tuesday to check out the details of how you can make your own version and then upload and share why don't ya.  I 'd love to see it.

Getting back to Lasting Memories

Sad circumstances forced me to take a break from my DT work for Lasting Memories but it's high time I got back to it.  Karen - you have been super patient with me so a big THANKS to you m'dear :-)  Your support was very much needed and appreciated. It's good to be back even if I am dreadfully dis-organised and out of the routine right now.  And just when I thought I'd cracked it our computer went belly up!  Thankfully we know a very sweet gal who is a whizz with this kind of thing so here I am.

Well less chat and more posting I think.  This week's project had to feature punches and I was glad of a chance to finish one of Maddy's baby pages.  I needed some embellishments in the lower right hand corner so I grabbed me some circle punches. 

I started by cutting me some circles and snipping away here and there to create funky kind of flowers.  Then I punched out several circles to add centres to my blooms.  I finished them off by adding pen details everywhere and layered them up surrounding my title tag.

Here's a shot of the finished page and just for balance I added an extra flower in the upper left. It's a nice way to draw the eye across the page diagonally.

I've used this 'faux frame' technique before and it's a super way to create a clever effect and a really quick page all at the same time. 

Apologies that I'm late in posting this but if you haven't yet checked out the other DT creations hop on over to Lasting Memories and check em' out!  I'll try to be on time with the next one I promise.

Christmas Classes

I decided the only way to get back into crafting was to book myself in to teach some classes at YTOC and with Christmas fast approaching they were destined to be seasonal projects.  This was a good move - a step in the right direction for sure.

Class 1 was this Tuesday and featured an easel topped drawer complete with a presentation box.  It was a lot to get done in a single 2 hour class so we worked on getting the various components made and left the decoration till last.  I was keen to use one of the Christmas collections from Craftwork Cards and Kay chose this design for me to work with.

The class was smaller than usual and we all knew each other so it turned out to be real fun and it was good to be back teaching again especially since I've missed everyone.  These photos were taken in store after class rather than my usual 'posed' shots at home so they're not my best I'm afraid but hopefully you get the picture LOL! 

Once opened up another entire box lifts out revealing a sweet little drawer - perfect for a sweet gift (yum) -  topped by an easel card making it a card and gift in one.  The drawer is just under 5" x 5" and nearly 1" deep so it'll take quite a few small gift items if you give it some thought.

I even decorated the inside of the drawer some - why not?  Besides the more you 'bulk up' the drawer the sturdier it becomes.  My samples have to take a lot of abuse like opening and closing numerous times and even though these shots were taken on the night of the class I think it's held up pretty good.

As this one belongs to the store I decided to make one for myself (mine's green and purple) but with so much work involved I didn't get a chance to finish it.  If I can I'll tinker with it this weekend and post it later but I really must get into my DT work again too.  I have completely gotten out of my routine as well as my crafting so I need to be super disciplined with myself and get back to it especially as I have chosen the projects for December over at Project Tuesday.  I just need to remind myself what I chose, find the rest of my mojo and get crafting so I can get excited about it!  I'm sure once I get started I will.

The next class at YTOC is on 17 November and features the purple and silver Christmas page using Craftwork products that I featured earlier here on my blog.  We'll be stamping, heat embossing, punching out and generally having some scrapbooking fun.  I like that I can squeeze in a scrapbook page every now and then to mix it up a bit.  The last class of the year is on 1 December and is one I'm REALLY looking forward to teaching.  I have been desperate to teach my little paper sack gift pocket project (my sample still needs making).  I just have to play around with the Bo Bunny papers I picked out to get inspired. 

My mojo is there somewhere it's just proving slow to return to me I'm afraid. My eldest daughter is going to be stopping in on Wednesdays from here on so I can help her craft up a bunch of Christmas pressies (plus do my own too) so maybe that'll get me back on track.  Certainly can't hurt huh?  Anyhow I am looking forward to spending time with her.  I just love my girls and I miss hanging out with them more.  We are planning to all be together for Christmas this year so I'm really looking forward to having them both around for a few days even if it will prove noisy, busy and hectic - who cares - it's worth it and I can't wait!  Now that's something I CAN get excited about :-)!