Saturday, June 29, 2013

Day 30, What Does Crafting Mean To You?

 
Last Day. Wow. Where has June gone?
 
I know its only been a couple of hours since I posted my last blog, but apparantly I am over tired and can not sleep.
 
So I thought I would get ahead of myself.
 
 
So what does crafting mean to me?
 
For me its twofold. It means a business. And it means being completely selfish, and doing something that is just for me. But the two link into each other.
 
I am incredibly proud of where my crafting has got me in the last couple of  years. And I owe it all to my lovely husband, Foxy.
 
Afterall, if he hadn't proposed, then none of this would have happened.
 
I would never have made everything for our wedding, and I would never have got into card making from there. And I would never have started my own business. Crafty Lil' Lel. I am incredibly proud of the things I have done in the last year. No, I can't be seen in magazines, and on t.v, you do not know my face on my name in the crafting celebrity world. I have a lot to learn, and a lot of skills to gain to be able to better myself.  But I am making pretty items that people can afford to, and want to buy again and again. And I am doing it all both by myself, and for myself.
 
So you see, Crafting to me, means having something tangible that is mine. Something that I know I did, by myself.
 
And there is no greater feeling then that to me right now!
 
Lel x
 
Oh, and PS as its the last day of blog a day, it would be rude not to add photos of todays theme. Craft something for an age.
 
Oh, and pps, I have a fab idea for tomorrows blog post too. I shall be writing about my experiences of the last month, and the things Ive learnt along the way)
 




 
These are all made with vinyl bin numbers believe it or not.


If You Could Do It All Again, What Would You Do Differently? Day 29. Craft A Day


So the penultimate day.
 
And its been a Looooooooong one as ever. I have just got in from doing two stalls today as well as a market night last night, and right now I need a bath a sleep.
 
 
I dont care in which order.
 
Understandably, im not crafting today, but I have been crafting as much as I can whilst I've been doing my events, to replace stock as I went. Quite difficult when you think that I didnt take very much with me that I could use.
 
 
But once again. I digress.
 
So what would I do differently?
 
I have to honestly say. Nothing.
 
I am a firm believer in that things happen for a reason! That you learn from the mistakes that you make, as if you did things perfectly first time every time you woudlnt gain anything from it.
 
I might however, be a little more confident in the things that I did!
 
 Lel x 

Friday, June 28, 2013

Day 28. What Are Your Three Wishes, Craft Something For A New Home.

 
Theres only two days left of the craft a day blog. Boo :(
 
 


Before I let you know about my wishes, I HAD to show you this. I've been heat embossing again today, and I finally seem to be getting somewhere!
 
Ive used a Kanban stamp, which I have repeated on a chalked background, and embossed in black. Ive then inked around the edges with a black promarker too. This does loosely fit to the home theme too, as a couple of people have suggested it looks like a canvas. So, definitely something to think about turning it into.
 
 
But I digress, and so on to todays post. Three Wishes.
 
Wish Number One.
 
I wish that I could go to Rome! Hubby and I have been speaking about it for a long time, and it is still yet to happen! There is always something else that comes up that needs paying for. Actually, I wish in general that I could travel more, but time and finds seem to be lacking for this to happen.
 
Wish Number Two.
 
I wish I could stop saying 'I Will Do It Tomorrow', and actually get around to doing things instead of procrastinating!
 
Wish Number Three.
 
I wish for my own little family unit one day. Hubby and I are fab as a two, but I would love us to be a three or a four someday!
 
Simple things, all my wishes. But you might have learnt by now, I'm a simple kinda girl!
 
Lel x
 



Day 27. Three Best Projects.

 
I have to admit, I completely forgot about blogging yesterday.
 
I'm just so tired still! Should probably go and find out what it is that is causing it, but its probably just the change in my work patterns, so theres no need to bother the doctors surgery that I cant get into anyway.
 
 
I'm really struggling to think of my three best projects!
 
The more I think about it, the more I realise that I am not very good at making things for my home. I have lots of things I want to make, that I still haven't got around to.
 
But I will get there eventually.
 
I can't help it. I'm easily distracted.
 
But I will leave you with my three favourite cards I've made instead.
 
Lel x
 




Wednesday, June 26, 2013

What Do You Wish You Could Do? Day 26

 
Like I mentioned the other day.
 
I wish I was good at heat embossing. Its a very definite work in progress for me, and something which seems to be taking me a long time to learn.
 
I have a heat gun, and lots of different coloured embossing powders, but I just can't seem to get it to work properly consistently. Every now and again I find I make a really good image, but then the next one will be rubbish!
 
I'm not sure if it is the stamps I'm using, or maybe the paper.
 
I had a fab idea of making a kind of silloheute with white and black, instead of black and white.
 
But the powder would just not melt!
 
So I will keep playing, and I will persevere! After all, you don't learn anything if you can do something straight away!
 
 
But I know it is late, and I will leave you with some more of my new cards to brighten up my page.
 
Lel x



Day 25. What advice would you give a newbie?

 
I am still a newbie. Ive only been crafting seriously for just over a year now, and I still have a whole lot to learn.
 
But my best advice is this. Find something that you love to do. Because it will soon take over everything.
 
Find your own creative style, and try to let it influence everything you do. That way you will have something that people will start to recognise, and which may eventually become your kind of 'brand'.
 
and finally,
 
Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Its the very best way to learn!
 
Lel x 

Monday, June 24, 2013

Day 24. Your Crafting Wist List/ Craft Something For A Birthday

 
I can't believe there is less then a week to go of the blog a day! Its 6 months until Christmas Eve today as well. This year is flying past to quickly.
 
I'm cheating a little today, as the cards I am showing you are the ones that I made last night. But they are new, and have only just gone up on www.facebook.com/craftylillel as well.
 
I spent the night making cards for boys, as I don't really seem to have many left. I've got 4 events this week, so need to get a wiggle on and get some more made. Fortunately, I had a very lovely surprise this week, in that one of my friends quite randomly left me cardboard box FULL of coloured card and pearlescent paper at our local pub. Which means I really don't need to buy any for a long time.
 
Which means that as I sell some cards, I can buy some of the things from my wish list. Rather then the necessities.
 
Like some more promarkers and spectrums. I bought my first spectrums this weekend as my very lovely grandad gave me some pennies when I visited him. I bought the pastel set, but would very much like the brights now.
 
I would also like to invest in some twinkling H20's.
 
And my first spellbinders die.
 
And some Penny Black stamps.
 
Best get selling me thinks. After all, no one is going to buy them for me.
 
Lel x





Sunday, June 23, 2013

Day 23. Things You Struggle With, or Craft Something For An Auntie.

 
The things I struggle with. Hmmm.
 
Right now I'm struggling with this topic. Do I be really honest, or do I wimp out and tell you the things that I struggle with in my crafting?
 
 
As you might be able to tell from that, I struggle with telling my honest feelings when it comes to myself. It's quite easy to sit in front of a computer screen and put words on paper, so to speak, . But to actually form the words, and say them outloud. Thats another matter.
 
So to honesty. I struggle being the only one of three sisters who doesn't yet have a child.
 
I am the middle of the three, and happily married to an amazing man, whose baby I would love to have. But we aren't lucky enough for it to have happened for us yet.
 
 I struggle with the number of people who ask me 'when are you having one'.
 
And I really struggle with the thought of 'what if I can't have one'.
 
But thats life. Every day I remind myself that I have two beautiful nieces, a sweet little brother and sister in law, and a monkey of a nephew. Who get my full attention whenever they want it.
 
And it will happen for me one day.
 
But to lighten the tone a little....
 
I am struggling with heat embossing. I MUST be doing something wrong, as I just can't get my powders to melt without burning the paper, or without the ink i'm using drying before it can stick.
 
Have bought myself an embossing stamp pad to help with that yesterday, but if anyone has any pointers, I could do with the help.
 
Lel x
 
 
 
 
 
 


Saturday, June 22, 2013

Day 22. Whats You Fav Crafting Season, or Craft Something Using Silver

 
Like what I think will be for many others, my favourite crafting season is christmas.
 
Now this is a little strange, as those that know me well, know that I am not actually a massive fan of christmas itself. I'm not sure what it is, but I never seem to particularly feel christmassy. Apart from for about an hour on christmas day maybe.
 
But I do love making christmas cards.
 
I think its because it is the time of year where people tend to put a lot more thought into the cards that they send, and love to find something that is different to the repetitive rubbish you find in the shops.
 
Its great for my creativity too. You can make fab cards out of odds and ends from the bottom of the craft box, theres a massive choice of embellishments to use, and theres no end to the colour choices to use.
 
I tend to make a lot of traditional type cards with reds, golds and greens, but I also love to make really modern ones in silvers, blues and purples.
 
It also means I spend a lot of time using buttons and snowflakes.
 
Whats there not to love about that?
 
So before I sign off for the day, I will leave you with some really rubbish photos of the christmas cards I've been making today. Using silver to fit in with the craft theme today too!
 




 
 
Lel x


Friday, June 21, 2013

Day 21. Craft Something With Animals or Describe Your Perfect Afternoon.


I love making cards with butterflies on. So todays prompt seemed like an ideal one for me. And having just bought some new butterfly peel offs only today, I put them to good use.
 
 


 
Photography is rubbish, sorry, I've taken the pictures on my phone today. I need to add sentiments to these to finish them, but thought I would get my blog done nice and early today as I have to go out for work this evening, and make some more cards for my stall tomorrow when I get back.


Thursday, June 20, 2013

Day 20. What colour would you use to describe yourself. Or craft something using monochrome.


When I read this this morning, I thought great.
 
I love monochrome. You have already seen me do a blue monochrome butterfly card, but I really love using black and white together. I haven't done a card like that for a while, so it was my intention to do one this evening.
 
Then, whilst out collecting for work, I had an absolte DISASTER with my car.
 
Suffice to say, I am now not in the mood for crafting. Or anything actually. Me and my car (or any car for that matter) are not friends. Again. And I will leave it at that, and move onto a colour.
 
I've been thinking about a colour choice all day. And I can't think of one. The first colour I thought of was blue, after all its the colour of creativity. But I think I am actually a little bit of a paint box. Theres aspects of a lot of colours that suit me, and I've always been indecisive. So why stick to just the one?
 
Lel x


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Day 19. A Snapshot of Your Day

 
It is a really late one today.
 
And I am shattered.
 
Todays post is a snapshot of your day, be it a photo, or words or a mixture of both.
 
Like I said, i'm shattered so Im just going to add a quick photo for you.
 
It pretty much sums up my evening, just not the rest of my day. I love my day job, but I really don't like how muggy and horrible its been today. Give me a spring day to work in any day.
 
 
Anyway, hopefully I will be a little less chaotic tomorrow and able to spend a little more time blogging, but no promises.
 
Lel x


Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Day 18. Crafting Mishaps, or Crafty Something With Polka Dots

 
Ive gone for a crafty one today. I'm making up stock for the weekend, so thought I would make a card for the weekend with todays prompt in mind.
 
 
I have quite a lot of different dotty papers, so it would be a bit rude not to. But answer me this, what determines whats a polka dot, and whats a spot?
 
Anyway, heres today card. Any chance for me to make a butterfly, hey.
 
 
Made using polka dot papers (no idea where from, sorry) and a hand coloured (with promarkers) butterfly peel off image. My last one. Nooooooooo. Matted in lilac, and finished with two silver Happy Birthday sentiments.
 
Thats all from me today, as am ever I am a busy bee.
 
Lel x


Monday, June 17, 2013

Day 17. Craft Something Using The Colour Red.

 
It won't be long and the school year will be over. I can't believe how quickly it has gone by. Little Sis in Law started school this year, and reception class is nearly over already.
 
Someone remind me when I have my own children, to learn how to slow down time!
 
But in honour of the end of term, and to fit in with the use something red theme for today, I have made a fab apple for teacher card, with red buttons!
 
 
Photo is rubbish, but for some reason when I scan buttons they go a very funny colour!
 
Lel x


Sunday, June 16, 2013

Day 16. When You Are Not Crafting, What Do You Do?

 
Day 16. That means we are over half way through already. Where is the month going? It will soon be closer to christmas then it far from it! The year is just rolling past me!
 
Its Fathers Day today, and so I have been relaxing (yeah right) at the Father In Laws house and having a BBQ with him and the family. My own Dad has spent the day on the golf course, so I am yet to see him.
 
I haven't done any crafting of my own today, have just helped my 4 year old sister in law make some cards. Which helpfully leads me into the topic of todays post. What do you do when you are not crafting?
 
I live a very atypical lifestyle. There are no two days the same for me.
 
As well as running Crafty Lil' Lel, I also have another business, The Lady Window Cleaner. This is my job, and apart from my husband, its the only constant that I really have. Although there are never two days the same there either!
 
When I am not at work, I frequently spend time the little sister and brother in law. They are 4 and 3 years old, and like to have my constant attention. Today I've been making cards with little sis, and been beading (!) with little bro.
 
I also like to spend time with my nieces, as I mentioned the other day. I love being able to watch them grow up, and turn into proper little people. I would love to have my own one day soon (fingers crossed) as they all melt my heart a little more, every time I see them!
 
When I'm not spending time with family I love going out on my bike with my hubby, friends and a camera. I'm lucky enough to live in a city that is so full of open parks, and spaces to be able to go out and kick a football around, or play rounders and cricket, especially in the summer.
 
I'm also a qualified Sports Therapist, so when hubbys football teams are playing I'm often (though not always, business comes first) found on the sidelines helping out with the first aid!
 
Like I said, no two days are the same!
 
I live a simple life really, and do simple things.
But why not, they are afterall, the things that make me smile!
 
Lel x
 

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Day 15. A Day In Your Crafting Life, or, Craft Something That Celebrates Love

 
Its another late night for me tonight.
 
Its been the Mother In Laws 50th birthday party today, so we have had a party. I'm shattered, and I have the bath running ready to sink into. So its another quick one from me today.
 
I did think about doing a day in my crafting life post, but it mainly involves frustration and procrastination, so I thought I would just leave you with something pretty instead!
 
 
I love using a siloheute on my cards! Just need to find a better way to colour them! And I also love a bit on monochrome too!
 
Lel x


Friday, June 14, 2013

Day 14. My 5 Favourites. Or Craft Something With A Music Theme.

 
Its a busy, busy day here at Lel's today.
 
Hubbys Mum turns 50 this weekend, so I have two cards to make for her, as well as four Father's Day cards to do. As well as collecting for the day job, buying jeans, and making cupcakes.
 
Needless to say, todays blog is of the written, and not the crafted kind.
 
And so, My 5 Favourites.
 
Smell~ Has to be Cherry Blossom. My day job involves cleaning windows, and I love walking through a garden, and being hit with the smell of it. Its so summery.
 
Taste~ theres lots I could list here. Namely sweet things, chocolate spread, jam, strawberries, pineapple. But I think i'm going to go with Banoffie Pie.
 
View~ This is a 50/50 split. I actually can't choose between the beach and sea, or a snow covered wood. Ironic as they are so far from each other.
 
Sound~ Children laughing. Theres nothing that can lighten a day up more.
 
Texture~ Its satin or silk for me. You know the kind that you can run between your fingers. It has quite a calming influence on me too for some reason.
 
So there we go. My (almost) 5 favourites.
 
Now I best go buy some ingrediants and some new jeans!
 
Lel x

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Day Thirteen. What Do You Want To Learn.

 
Day thirteen. Unlucky for some, and rather fittingly today has been a nightmare. But the prompt has got me really excited.
 
Not the craft something with stripes prompt, as I'm not crafting today. I need a day to down tools and tonight is date night with the hubby.
 
But you see, if you read the 10 Thinks That Make Me Happy post (Haven't got a clue how to hyperlink it btw) then you will see that 'learning' is one of the things that make me happy!
 
There are soooooo many things that I would like to learn to do.
 
Like a massive list. But I am only 25, I have plenty of time to fit it all in, I'm sure of it.
 
1. I would like to learn to sew properly. I am envious of all of you who can just whip up a bag out of material and thin air. Me and my sewing machine ARE NOT FRIENDS. But I will get there.
 
2. I would like to learn to use my camera properly. It is something I have been saying I will do for around a year now. I have a bridge camera, and still don't have a clue what most of the settings do.
 
3. I would like to learn how to decorate cupcakes. You know so they look like the ones you see in those amazing cafe windows. And so they don't look like something an animal might have thrown up.
 
4. I would like to learn a language fluently.
 
5. I would like to learn how to fix my car when it goes wrong, which unfortunately is all too often.
 
Thats just the tip of the iceberg. Theres no end of crafting things I would like to learn to do with paper ~ papercutting, how to draw, how to colour with shading etc, calligraphy.
 
Seriously, I better stop. Or I will be here til bedtime, and date night dinner will be burnt (curry, if you were wondering)
 
Lel x
 


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Day Twelve. Whats Your Favourite Medium

 
I definitely have a favourite medium to use!
 
Chalk.
 
I love it. I love that its some easy to use, is so versatile, and there is no wrong way to use it.
 
 
I love using it to make cards with fairy silloheutes on (silloheutes also being a favourite of mine) as you can just mix and play with the colours to make something new.
 
They mean you never get two backgrounds the same either which is especially important to me as I dont like to make two cards this same.
 
Its also a good choice to use with the little people in my life too, as it just isnt messy like ink is, and they think they are using something much more fun then crayons.
 
 
Short, sweet, and succinct today, but I'll leave you with some pictures of chalks.
 
Lel x
 


Day 11. Spending Money or Craft Something for a Child


Naughty Lel didn't do her blog post yesterday, so I'm catching up tpday.
 
Its only because I was so busy, and so exhausted!
 
I had my cards accepted into Realitas in Peterborough today, so had to take them in to be displayed, and was shown around the premises etc. Im quite excited about it and cant wait for it to open!
 
Ive taken 27 cards in there, and they are there on a three month trial, but hopefully they will sell well, and I can still be in the shop for christmas.
 
But to todays topic.
 
Whats the most you have spent on machinery?
 
Ive been quite good. For me it was my Big Shot, and as I mentioned the other day, I like to bargain shop!
 
I paid a bargain price of £45 for it, including 16 dies.
 
Can't get much more of a bargain then that!
 
Thats not to say I WOULDN'T spend more then that or other things, just that I haven't had the available funds to do so (damn having to pay rent etc~ don't they know theres better things to spend money on)
 
 
And so I will leave you until later this evening when I will get back to normal, and todays post.
 
 
A very tired, Lel x

Monday, June 10, 2013

Day 10. Have A Rant About Something or Craft Something in Purple.

 
Wow.
 
Day 10 already. Where on earth is June going?
 
Its a late on from me today as I've had a busy day. Monday is my day off from window cleaning, and so I had my youngest niece for a good part of the day. She is 6 months at the weekend, and an absolute beauty. I love getting the chance to have her.
 
Needless to say, it means I dont do anything whilst she is with me as I like to give her my full attention. So although I read todays prompt before 9 this morning, as was tempted to do a rant post there and then (note rude lady in satursday post), I was suckered in by the colour purple.
 
Its my favourite colour you see, so I thought it would be rude not too.
 
I had planned on making something in the early evening, but was then asked to make 4, yes 4 first birthday cards for a friend. Three are now done, and I'm waiting on some inspiration for the last, so I moved on to my something purple.
 
And here it is. Something simple, and clean, and using ONLY purple, with a touch of silver.
 
And hey, who doesn't love a cupcake that comes without the calories :)
 
 
(apologies for really bad photography, but nothing is charges except my phone, and thats just about knackered)
 
Card made using silver cupcake peel offs coloured in purple and lilac promarkers, matted in two shades of purple paper, and finally edged in a purple hand drawn stitch border, and purple edging.
 
See you all tomorrow, Lel x


Sunday, June 9, 2013

Day 9. Your Crafting Heroes, or Make something Masculine.

 
So todays post is about your crafting heroes.
 
And I dont particularly have any. I don't really have anybody who I have to go and peek at every day, or who I really follow.
 
I'm not sure whether this is a bit odd or not, so I've made a masculine card instead.
 
I've gone for a card for a little boy, as I think they can be really fun to make. I know a lot of people don't like making male cards, but I think they often involve a lot of creativity.
 
I've only recently bought myself a Big Shot machine. I bought it second hand, with a stack of dies for £45. (see what I mean about a love of buying things at bargain prices) There were I believe, 16 dies with it, including the basic circles I've used for this.
 
So here he is. I call this 'Good Morning Mr Catepillar'
 
 
Hes also a good way of using up some of the millions of offcuts I have laying around.
 
He is finished with textured paper (another offcut) and some blue colour fade paper.
As extra details, ive drawn in some antenae and tiny little feet, before giving him googly eyes!
 
I did think about making a nautical themed card, and may still do this afternoon, but I've just come back from the bootsale with a brand new stencilling kit, and am itching to have a look through there to see what I can make!
 
Enjoy your Sunday
 
Lel x


Saturday, June 8, 2013

Day Eight. Show Us Your Craft Room or Craft Something Christmassy.

 
Its a short and sweet one today as I am sulking.
 
Took myself off to my favourite event I do every month to only sell 3 cards. And have an old lady be EXCEPTIONALLY rude to me.
 
And now am off to a 21st birthday party.
 
I thought about taking photos of the room I craft in, but like I said the other day. I.Am.Messy.
 
No One needs to see that.
 
So I leave you with my first christmas card of the year. The colour isnt very good as for some reason buttons dont scan very well. But you get the idea. I just need to get some more star buttons for the top.
 
 
See you all again tomorrow.
 
Lel


Friday, June 7, 2013

Day 7. 10 Things That Make You Happy or Craft Something With Food

 
Its another beautiful day here in Peterborough today. The sun is out, the sky is blue, and life is good.
 
Pretty apt for todays prompt then!
 
So, less waffling from me today, i'll get straight to the point.
 
The 10 things that make me happy are: (In no particular order)
 
1. My lovely nieces, nephew, and baby brother and sister in law. They are all under the age of 5, and incredibly fun to be around! Seeing their happy smiley faces never fails to cheer me up when i've had a bad day. I'm having my youngest niece for the day on Monday (shes nearly 6 months) and I can't wait.
 
2. My business Crafty Lil' Lel. Its my baby, the thing that I have done just for me, from nothing, and I am incredibly proud of all I have done.
 
3. My fab husband. He is in a word AMAZING.
 
4. Surprise, surprise, colouring in, and all crafting really.
 
5. Reading. I do a lot of it, and there can be nothing better then curling up with a good book, and transporting yourself miles away.
 
6. Being outside. I work outdoors for my day job, and on summer days like today there is nowhere I would rather be then in the sunshine making the most of the weather.
 
7. Learning. A know this seems a little odd, but at 25 there is still a lot in this world that I do not know, and want to know!
 
8. Writing.
 
9. Thinking about my holiday to Devon in September. We are only going for a week, but its for our wedding anniversary. Im hoping the weather is good, but I dont care if it isnt. Im just excited to get there!
 
10. Finding bargains. I like to shop. Not in a shopaholic, addicted kind of way. But I am happy trawling through charity shops, car boot sales etc, to find items that are nearly new, or even new for next to no money. My dad calls me tight, but I would just rather get more for my money. And if its craft stuff I find, then even better.
 
So thats my ten as I think of them now. If I think of anything else as i'm crafting tonight I'l come and add them at the end. And who knows, maybe i'll add a card or two as well.
 
Lel x


Thursday, June 6, 2013

Day Six. Craft Something Autumnal, or Where Do You Get Your Inspiration?


Its been such a beautiful day here in Peterborough! The sun has been shining all afternoon (still is now) and I've had a lovely time walking around the City Centre with the hubby looking for a fancy dress costume for the weekend.
 
We've been having a lot of discussions as we've wandered around, including one about me writing childrens stories. You see all this blogging has really got me my writing bug back. And having seen some rather cool typewriters in the Sue Ryder Vintage Shop you never know what might happen.
 
Childrens stories isnt as random as it seems as its something I had to do for A Level English, and really enjoyed. But anyway I digress.
 
 
I got back from town to look for todays prompt, and loved the idea of making something autumnal. I love the colours of Autumn, the reds and golds, and walking through the woods kicking leaves up.
 
And thats what inspired todays card!
 
Image 'Foxy' by Bugaboo, red cardstock, gold mirror card, woodland friends paper, and a gold sentiment.
 
Lel x

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Day Five. What Is Your Favourite Quote/ Craft Something With Green In It

 
Today is going to be a blog of two parts again.
 
I have a favourite quote, and as I will be making lots of lvely cards this afternoon I am pretty sure I can make something with green in it.
 
I might do the floral from yesterday as well.
 
You see I need to make lots up as I have an event at the weekend. I will once again be at Handmade at St John in Peterborough City Centre, and am hoping that the local paper, the Evening Telegraph will be coming along to see me.
 
Then I am off to Realitas in Werrington Centre on Tueday to leave lots of lovely cards with them to hopefully sell for me. Its a gallery space, and I can't wait to go into the new branch.
 
 
Theres a reason that i'm sharing that little bit of exciting news (babble) with you ~ not just because i'm really enjoying blogging and writing again, but because it quite perfectly leads into my favourite quote.
 
'Turn Your Can'ts Into Cans, and Your Dreams Into Plans'
 
Its one I saw on facebook of all places, and one which is now scrawled in pencil of the craft room. Once we get around to decorating (6 months in the new house and haven't picked up a paint brush) it will be on the wall more prominently as it is something I definitely live by. And something which lately I have really been trying to do! Fingers crossed its slowly and surely starting to happen for me!
 
Right, best get off and do some work whilst I wait for the man to come and fix my hot water for me so I can have a bath and wash away the dirt from the day job! See you all later with some photos.
 
Lel x

Are we ready for some photos? I haven't done a floral yet, but heres a few I have made this afternoon..



 


Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Day Four. What Crafts Float Your Boat/ Make something floral.

 
So today im back to just a typed post for now.
 
I might craft later, but I cracked my elbow on the corner of a wall whilst putting my hair up this morning, and I cant put any weight through it now. It doesnt help that its my right elbow, and im right handed!
 
So what craft floats my boat? Unsurprisingly, as seen in my previously posts, its making cards.
 
What is there not to love about pretty papers, glitter, the massive array of stamps, and digis to colour, pretty pens, ink, I could go on.
 
Its also peaceful, and brings a lot of enjoyment to my life. And people love to reveive them. And its something that I can pass on to my little sister in law ~ shes 4, and loves spending hours with me making 3D decopage cards that she can do her spelling in.
 
It does drive me mad somedays though. Theres always a day where whats in my head wont replicate on paper, or I just cant find the perfect 'thing' I know I have, but which has gone missing.
 
Do you know what I mean?
 
I do have a love of other things crafty as well, and will try and have a go at most things. Hubby bought me a sewing machine for christmas and I'm learning to use that. Ive also make my nieces sign for her bedroom out of painted wood, and been known to make chocolate vodka as christmas presents.
 
Strange how most of my crafting is born out of necessity for presents, hey.
 
Lel x 

Monday, June 3, 2013

Day Three. 5 Words To Describe Yourself or Something Blue.

 
Today i'm going to do both of the above :)
 
Just because I can.
 
 
So, 5 words to describe me first.
 
 
Messy!
 
Imaginative
 
Crafty/creative
 
Chatterbox
 
Friendly
 
 
When I first saw todays prompt, I thought that would be really easy, and rattled three adjectives pretty quickly, but as you get to the bottom it gets a bit tougher.
 
I'm pretty sure the words i've chosen are pretty apt though. If hubby is reading i'm pretty sure he will definitely agree with the first one. But it would be good to ask friends what they would think, and your opinion of yourself, and others opinions of you are often different!
 
 
As for the Something Blue...Watch this space. Its a fab sunny day, and i'm off to make cards in the garden! I know what I want to make, i've just got to put pen to paper. No drawing for me today though, as I've got a new stamp I want to use.
 
See you Later,
Lel.


And here it is, my something blue. Not my best work, as this stamp is a NIGHTMARE. I stamped it about 12 times before I could even get this far with it. Its a hobbycraft stamp, and it is not up to their usual standards.

 
Stamp from Hobbycraft, versamark blue lagoon ink, paper from a papermania blue stack, and edgings are possibly from Anitas, but I'm not sure.
 
I do need to neaten up the corners on the edgings a little more though, but I was in the garden and only had the scissors, and not the knife.
 
Looking forward to what tomorrow brings! (I purposely havent looked at any of the prompts until the day so its a little surprise every day!)
 
Oh, and if anyone is reading this, and wants to pop over to www.facebook.com/craftylillel then I have a giveaway running until friday!
Lel. x

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Day Two. Something Summery/My favourite gadget.

 
So todays prompts are Make something summery, or my favourite gadget.
 
And the something summery prompt has got me crafting. I have wanted to make a beach hut themed card since last summer, and I just never got around to it.
 
So today I did. Quite apt as I had decided I was making this card before I checked in to see the prompts. Its even an image which I drew myself. If you read yesterdays blog, then you will know that I can't draw, so this is an achievement for me!
 
 
Ive made the card on a square cream base. I cant stand cream, (I got the card in a sale) so I've covered it with a pale green matt, and a pale yellow granite type paper.
 
Ive then topped this with a panel of beach hut paper, and my lovely drawing has been coloured using a pastel green promarker. I know its flat colouring, but I'm only just learning to shade.
 
Ive then finished the card with a silver sentiment, and some stamped bunting.
 
 
TA DAAAAAA.
 
 
 
So the lines in the drawing are a little bit wobbly, but actually I love just how fresh this card looks!
 
Lel x


Saturday, June 1, 2013

How I got into Crafting- Part of the Blog A Day For June

So the lovely lady over at Karoove is running a Blog A Day through June.
 
 
As Im still new to blogging, i'm going to do my best to take part. Day one is today, and the theme is make something pink, or tell us how you got into crafting.
 
As my mojo is missing at the moment, I'm going to do the latter~ but at least it gets me writing again.
 
I've 'crafted' since I was a child. I clearly remember spending hours and hours drawing landscape pictures, (I cant draw by the way), of either the beach, or rolling hills with a river and a few sheep on. I also spent hours and hours colouring in in those doodle pattern books. Hell I still have one of those now!
 
As I grew up I dont remember anything changing. As I did my GCSE's and A Levels, all my notes were in pretty multi colours. I think I spent more time drawing out my notes then I did revising them. This stuck at Uni too, any excuse I had to go out and buy pretty coloured paper and pens I would!
 
 
But it wasn't until I got married that I really started crafting properly again.
 
In the lead up to the wedding I made everything that I possibly could out of paper. I started with the engagament invites and save the dates, and it all went from there.
 
I made the invitations, the table confetti, the keyrings we had as favours which were also place names, I covered shoe boxes in pretty wrapping paper to hold all the gifts in, and I made the photo trees we had as the centrepieces too.
 
And I LOVED every minute of it.
 
We got married in sept 2011, and when we came back from our honeymoon, the christmas crafting magazines were all in the shops. I bought a couple with the idea of making the families and friends christmas cards. By the end of December I had a clear stacky box full of bits and pieces I had brought.
 
Its June 2013 now, and I now have an entire room to store all my crafty items.
 
Along with a business making affordable handmade cards~ www.facebook.com/craftylillel
 
God help us when we havw children, as I have NO idea where it will all go. Thats probably why i've been trying to sort it a little to make some more space. But I keep finding things that I just NEED to keep!