Craft With May

For the first time in too, too, long my main crafting spot on my workbench is clean & organized.

Uh, just don’t ask to see to the left or right of this 3 foot space, ok? Thanks. Well, except for the little swivel shelf on my other desk. That’s clean.

That’s where I keep my beverage (tea or water, usually) + books to be read, my candle, random stuff that I love, my violet plant…  yep it’s all clean.

Now, what about the rest of the room?

Here’s what I’m going to do: while I clean I’m going to put together little groups of fun stuff – buttons, ribbons, journaling tags & cards, tiny stamps… who knows what – and assemble little padded envelopes of fun. It’ll help me clean up and clear out a few things – and you could get some free fun stuff just because. Every fun mail will definitely include a pack of these.

Would you help me clean up by taking some goodies off my hands? I’d be ever so grateful. Just leave a comment here – I’ll draw winners Friday (oct 16).

I saw a lot of orange wearing people yesterday, and while I get dressing in ‘theme’ for the patch, at the same time I wanted to tell people that their photos might actually be better if they’d not tried to match the pumpkins. We love the pumpkin patch. There’s a huge one in the next town that has world’s biggest corn maze. (We don’t do that part – girls are still too little)

Can you see my girls out there? This is one angle, it goes on like this in all directions far as you can see. Acres and acres of pumpkins & corn! Note if I’d dressed them in orange you wouldn’t even notice them out there.

Now I’m not a professional photographer, nor will I ever be one, I just like picture taking. The photo above is a favorite – they were so sweaty and dirty!! The photo below is self-portrait style. I love doing those with the girls just for f un. Also, loved B’s peacock blue + my green.

Have you noticed we’re not wearing orange? Or seasonal special shirts either? This is intentional. I wanted Elizabeth in a different shirt but she insisted on her guitar shirt. It still works for me – pink + brown look great with the orange, straw, and green of the patch. That’s my key – wear a color that contrasts but compliments you against the patch. NOT ORANGE!!!

My personal favorite colors to wear are green, peacock or navy blue, a deep burgundy/wine, or brown to the pumpkin patch. You’ll stand out better, the pictures will be prettier, and pretty much they work with most of your fall papers & scrapbook supplies too.

That’s my bottom line, and only real rule when I’m crafting. I have to love what I’m doing, it has to come from a happy place in my heart. If I’m meeting that requirement, than whatever I’m doing – lovely, ugly, painful, wonderful, or anywhere in between is good. I do jump all over the board too – it’s wild. Like this page I’ve been working on today:

Miss Rebecca just over a year ago. Most things here are from the Girl’s Loft August kit, but I added my own stuff as needed. You do know that’s totally ok, right? To add in ANYTHING your heart desires when working with a kit for your own enjoyment & personal use? There are no rules – heck you could rip it apart if you wanted! Not that I did here- there were too many polka dots and lovelies and I kept that kit together just as it should be!

I loved making polka-dottie butterflies. I was totally just playing around with this. No major story to tell, just wanting to fiddle around making a pretty girly page.

I loved using this chipboard as a stencil + Glimmer Mist. I’ve never tried other brands – mostly because my 2 bottles of Glimmer mist was an impulse buy about a year or two ago at an LSS and I never use them so I feel bad and don’t buy more. (know what I mean?)

Then I pull it out and have SO much fun I wonder why I don’t play more often. Coffee Shop and Pink Ink are the two colors I have.

Did I mention this was fun? I don’t think it’s the best planned page I’ve ever done. Uh, but can I tell you something? I didn’t have a plan outside “ooh, lace, butterflies, polka dots, pink… me like”  And I do like it.

I happen to think that the play + photo has an important part in my craft life. It’s where I let myself experiment more and be less concerned than usual with the outcome and if it’ll be “good” or not.

That said, telling stories is another very important part of my crafting life – especially scrapbooking.  

I have always wanted to take a class from Ali Edwards, and after much internal debate (over time mostly) I decided to go for it. I don’t know if or when she’ll do a Big Picture class again, and I know darn well I’m not flying anywhere to take a class from her so I figured I oughta jump in. This morning I made myself this journal to hold listings of the stories I want to tell for class.

Just a moleskine journal – and the butterflies are back. This time I used one of the actual chipboard butterflies.  I’m excited about getting new ideas & inspiration for telling my life’s stories (past and present) and now that I’m all signed up I see a lot of friendly faces in class – very cool!

That’s it from me for now. Just two very different projects crafted with same basic supplies that have very different purposes – because sometimes it’s about the words, and sometimes it’s just not.

Happy Crafting!

~ May

(sigh/FTC disclaimer/disclosure/whatever: That’s the same Girls Loft kit I mentioned in my last blog post, which was given to me very generously by the Girls Loft. That butterfly punch was also given to me at some point while I’ve been working with Fiskars. Tattered Angels has never heard of me I’m betting, and I’m a regular paying student in Ali’s class. I think that just about covers the whole she bang. We’ll talk more about the FTC some other time…)

First: kit winner (FTC disclosure kit was provided by Scarlet Lime): Vanessa DeLisio!  E-mail me with your address(mflaum (at) comcast . net) to claim your prize!

Now I want to talk kits, if you don’t mind. Here’s an e-mail I got:

I’ve not tried kits for several of the reasons already stated – I may love the look of the kit, but will it go with my pictures – how many pages can I really make with it – what will I do with the leftovers since I don’t have much storage space – should I try a kit club – which one – is it really economical – or will I get a lot of things I won’t use……  I wanted to sign up for the class because you are the instructor, but didn’t because of all these questions.

I have gotten similar questions a few times now, so I want to take a moment and share my thoughts:

~ If you’ve not tried a kit club this class could be FABULOUS for you. You can talk to and scope out what other students and myself are doing with them, and get a better feel for them while working with your own stash. Get comfortable and see if a club is right for you – it might not be but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy working with kits of your own making!

~  In my class, as in my craft life I  use the kit as a base and add in/change up as needed to suit my own needs. The kit is there for you to use – you own it and can make it work for you however you see fit!

~ Never forget that a kit is simply scrapbook supplies gathered together. I do this every time I make a page – gathering things I think might go together and then choosing what really works. Don’t get intimidated by that “kit” word- it’s a good thing. (if you take class, you’ll see)

~ Making your own kits, using a page kit from Target, using new or old kit club kits… it’s ALL good!!! Everyone has different reasons for being in class, and so long as you’re there to enjoy creating & making layouts you’ll be happy. I design my classes with substitutions, using your own stash, etc. in mind so you can play along no matter what you want to use!

~ The question of “which kit club is for me” is a very personal choice, but in class (and we can chat before via e-mail too) I’ll be happy to talk this out with you. It is a matter of what you value – and what you’ll get ues from.

I hope that helps – if you’ve still got questions or want to talk out what class is all about/what it’s going to be like please DO e-mail me! I’d be happy to help clarify and make sure you’ll enjoy.

Now, I’d like to share some projects from the August Girl’s Loft kit I played with last night:

I didn’t think I’d use that popcorn bag, but then as I sat here eating sugar babies & popcorn inspiration struck. FYI – I’ll be giving away caramel apple sugar babies + scrapbook supplies later this week. for sure.

Next up, well it’s a “risque” subject matter involving a 4 year old who is obsessed with body parts. ALL body parts. I wasn’t going to share this one but decided that since it’s part of my scrapbook (and very much real life) I would.

Note: you won’t find scandal in my BPS class ever. But here on my blog? Well, once in a while it might come up.

Finally – I’m working with some fun ideas that are taking a while so I’ll post results of this effort tomorrow:

I’m going to do a few more kits/info postings on the blog – if you have anything you’d like me to talk about, q’s to answer, or anything at all DO let me know!! I’d be happy to share.

Happy Crafting!

 

FTC disclaimer alert: The Girl’s Loft sent me kits including the above kit to work with and share projects here & in my class. Nice of them, no?

You might think this seems a bit early – but come 12/1 believe me I’ll be GLAD to have done some of these up! All I needed was just a bit of Heather Bailey dreamy felt + a scrap of trim and flower from making memories I was on my way.

Just cut felt about 3/4″ wider than the gift card. Then stitch up the two sides.

Sew a bit of trim on to make a  handle then cover that up with felt holly leaf + glued on flower

I drew the holly leaf on felt then cut out & stitched up middle just because. I love doing things just because.

Does anyone know what this edge stitch is called? I just call it super fab – I learned it in my sewing 101 class but don’t know what to call it anymore.

I think anybody would LOVE to get this clever display for their gift card this year. I’m going to be making more for sure – especially since start to finish was about 10-14 minutes. WOO HOO! I love a quick project.