Christmas is coming...and so is the snow!

Hi! Well, it's official....Wal-Mart have their Christmas tree up on SR64 in Bradenton, Florida so Christmas must be coming!!!!! (I was just a little concerned when I saw the man swinging from a high ladder trying to attach the top of the tree to the rafters in Wal-Mart's roof, but no news of any accidents in the store so he must have been OK! It's a long way up there....meaning it's a very long way down!!!)


So, back to my story! When a custom order came into my Etsy store for snowy white Christmas gift tags, it spurred me into thinking "I need to get cracking!! (A very English saying for "get a move on!") Christmas will be here and you won't be ready!" (Note to self - Didn't think about it before that when you speak to yourself it gets put in speech marks when you blog it! Should I be concerned then that my own internal thinking is officially speaking to myself??? And as such, could be construed as weird?????? Need to find time to ponder on that one later!! With all that's going on between now and Christmas, I may have to stay "weird" until after Christmas!!)


Anyways, so I ran to my Cricut Design Studio package.....OK, I sat down in the leather chair at my PC and flicked a switch!.....and got creating! I set about creating a SNOW wordbook. Never done it before, but I love the look of those books! I couldn't decide whether to leave it plain or decorate it...it looked so sad plain, so I got out my punches, embellishments and stickers and set to work! With the snowman under the transparency on the front, it looks as if he's really outside in the snow! With the frosted window effect I made over the inside of the letter O, if looks like a frosted window, all snowed up and chilly!! You can just imagine breathing on it and  causing the pane to frost over! There's prismatic snowflakes that shimmer and shine....there's tags for notes and journalling and photo mats for those treasured photos...it's a snowy delight! All you have to do is add your photos! Yay!


I'm so pleased with the result and wanted to share it with you. Here's some pictures:

I've just listed this on Etsy. Here's the link!


http://www.etsy.com/listing/85394093/snow-christmas-wordbook-scrapbook


I'm so inspired, I'm off to do more. Trouble is, I can't decide what to do first?.......maybe an Angel wordbook in Christmas colors.......maybe a Santa one in Santa papers?..........maybe a cup of tea first to help the decision-making process to kick-in? Throw in a couple of biscuits (that's cookies to my American friends!) and I'm there!!!!


Bye for now,
Wendy

Phew...what a week it's been!

Hello-ween to one and all! (I know, corny, but it has to be done! Right?!)


Well, each year, I try to remind myself at about this time, that life is gonna be hectic for a bit, so just go with it! And each year, middle to late October comes, life turns into a whirling dervish and my life goes into one big tailspin!!!!!!


Fortunately, I've yet to spin out of control....but it could just be a matter of time!! Only kidding - I hope! In truth, I LOVE this time of year! I've been thinking about all the things that make it really special. Maybe some of these are your favorites too! Here's a list, in no particular order, but all seem so frightfully important just the same!!!


Fall; Halloween; the darkening evenings and cool mornings (it's Florida so it is more cool than cold!!....although we've had some cold, crisp and even mornings these last couple of winters so anything is possible!!); the multitude of houses decorated with orange and black, weird headstones and ghostly things that go bump in the night!; CANDY - oh yes, who can forget the candy!!; trick or treating; apples; apple cider; candy apples; pumpkins; CANDY - did I mention that already?!.......the list just goes on and on....and we've not even got to Christmas yet!...that delight with all the shopping, mall bustling and late night venturing to anywhere that's open and sells the one item your little darling wants so much....is yet to arrive!!


Well, the one thing I haven't mentioned that also takes place at this time is my twin daughters' birthday party! Two of 'em, both born on the same day, both looking forward to a party, also this week and all that it has to bring!


So, you see now why my life is so busy at right about this time!


There's:


1) a birthday to prepare, buy for, share with and clean up after!
2) a birthday party to prepare, invite, buy for, share with and clean up after a houseful of girls! There's goody bags to prepare, a theme to come up with, cakes to bake (which I'm doing in between typing this! Last count - 34 done!), pinata to stuff and wonder how on earth to hang it from the lanai, pin the candle on the cupcake poster to design/draw (knew the art would come in somewhere in this blog posting!), presents to wrap in a multitude of layers so they look huge and very interesting (we are a typically English family so "pass the parcel" is a must at any kids party!!), and that doesn't begin to cover the thank you's.....
3) Halloween - costumes to think about, decide upon, try-on, buy and then wonder about where it can be worn to get the most use out of this annual purchase because it sure won't fit the kids next year!
4) School parties - Halloween/Fall parties (did I mention I'm baking 30 cupcakes for a Fall party this year? So, my count of 34 done is somewhat short of my total...another 30 to go tonight!).


NOW you  might understand why this time of year becomes a whirl of parties/events and things that need to be baked/crafted/prepared for. So, now I know why I craft....because if I couldn't and didn't, imagine the price of having to buy/get someone else to do it! So, my time is short, the events are numerous, but I take just a snip of satisfaction in knowing that I did as much of it as I could, myself.


As I'm writing this, I notice that my house smells of vanilla cupcakes. The kids have gone to bed, begging for "just one more"! "There's always tomorrow" I tell them, with a shooshing as I whisk them off to bed so I can bake some more! My husband is sound asleep on the couch. And what about me??? I'm about to finish that last batch before I sit down with a cup of tea....and maybe a small treat of a cupcake for myself! With 64 cupcakes in my kitchen?......who on earth is gonna notice if I eat just one????!


Thanks for stopping by! Tune in for more delights next time!! :)

Wendy

Molly's Scrapbook Supply

Hi all! I'm all for helping others to promote so here's a blog of a fellow Ninja friend who I met via Etsy. She has wonderful scrapbooking supplies so for all you fellow scrappers, go check her out!


Here's her blog - she's doing a give-away so GO OVER, LEAVE A COMMENT AND YOU MIGHT WIN!


http://mollysscrapbooksupply.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-and-coupon-code.html?showComment=1319557897553#c6768041661256604143


Alternately, here's her Etsy store.....


http://www.etsy.com/shop/MollysScrapbooks?ref=em




Let's help support each other!!


Thanks for stopping by!
Wendy

My website is working, it's live and it's fab!!!!!

Hi! I finally oozy-baloozy did it!!!! I've been putting it off and putting it off.....like a baby, too scared to make the leap! Then after finally (shockingly!) realizing it wouldn't do it by itself, I dove straight in....and can you believe it, after all the angst, procrastination and hair-tearing, it only took a little over 2 hours!!! Am I just amazing or is it more that technology is so fast progressing that things don't take that long anymore?! Who knows?....who cares?....I just know I DID IT!


OK, so it's not completely finished. OK, so my products are still all on Etsy. OK, so you can't actually buy on it yet. BUT, Phase 1 is complete and Phase 2 is in the planning stage. 


SO, what am I talking about? Well, I guess the blog post title gave it away somewhat(!), but I'm talking (and very proudly I might add!) about my website! It's perfect; it is all the colors I wanted but wondered if I'd ever manage to get the color palette right; it switches and swooshes from page to page......it's like a new addition to my family. It's mine, all mine and I did it!!!!! Here's the link. PLEASE go check it out. Give me feedback if you can....every little bit helps! :)


www.distinctlycrafted.com


OK, so maybe now I am getting a little carried away, but I can't begin to tell you the relief of knowing that something is now out there to promote my stuff. Besides Etsy, Facebook, word of mouth and friendly recommendations. It's liberating....it's awesome.....it's like a weight's been lifted and a huge item has finally been taken off my "to do list"! WOW!


So, maybe now I can hang up my hat and take a well earned rest.........oh I wish! Now it's only just begun! There's my items and products to promote on the site; there's maintenance when (Heaven smile brightly!) things sell and need to be replaced and removed; there's tweaking and twitching (?) the pictures and content; and of course, there's PHASE 2!!!!!


Ah, Phase 2....the bit when I actually need to get the wheels spinning and the products for sale on the site rather than just on Etsy. The inserting, listing, pricing and the whole world of shopping carts, payment methods and shipping! 


WELL, maybe I've not conquered so much after all. There's still tons to do. BUT, Phase 1 is complete, and for that, I think I deserve a well-earned cup of tea! (Well, I am English, after all!!)


Thanks for stopping by! To know you're there and taking an interest is what spurs me onto bigger and greater things!


Wendy

I MADE IT!!!

Hi all! I've just made it  - passing the magical 100 items listed on Etsy! Heaven knows it's taken some time and a lot of hard work, but I feel a real sense of achievement that I DID IT!!!

Here's a few photos of some of my recent stuff.....just to add some color and spice to my blogging!! :)

Tags, die cuts and stickers for all those Christmas crafts you're bound to start soon!

 Baby girl and baby boy scrapbooks and stickers:

 

There's tons more (at least 96!) on my Etsy site so go check it out! 


Remember, here's the link!! 
http://www.etsy.com/listing/83155587/baby-girl-mini-chipboard-scrapbook-album?ref=v1_other_1


Thanks for stopping by!
Wendy

Bradenton Art Show - I was there!!

Hi! It's been a while since I appeared at the last art show, but decided to venture out and test the waters again! And so, yesterday dawned cool and sunny....perfect for sitting out in the Florida air and enjoying the morning! In true English fashion, all I needed was a bacon buttie (a bacon sandwich!!) and a mug of tea! What I got was a cold cup of tea (by the time I'd put my stall items on display even in my travel cup the tea was cold!) and a cereal bar!!!! I guess one can but dream about warm bacon butties dripping with ketchup and hot butter!!!!!


I met my good friend Kathryn at one such event a couple of years ago (still without the bacon butties I might add! :)  ). She then had the stall right next to me and we've been firm friends ever since! Such that, we now do these things together!! Here's our stall.....a riot of color and fantastic art!!...and that's just my side! :).....Kathryn's is much more put together and tastefully eclectic! :)  I have to give her credit for the photo....my camera was a bit wonky yesterday and the results don't really do us  justice!!

Check out Kathryn's blog for her slant on the day, and have a look at her wonderful art. She's a true artist and paints pictures...unlike me where I just play with paper and yarn! :)


http://new-art-angelself.blogspot.com/2011/10/art-show-pics.html?showComment=1318811108269#c5445148968150470821

Here's a couple of close-ups of my stuff. These came out a little better....the sun didn't seem to get in the way on these shots!!

All in all, a great time.....and got talking to some wonderful customers! Met a few people who are budding crafters like me, as well as a couple of folks who fell in love with my latest creation.....a scarf using yarn from Eastern Europe. You'll have to keep watching my blog to see the end result of that one....only a third of the way through it and whilst I try to hurry it up, it does seem to be taking its time!!


Thanks for tuning in!
Wendy

Life's a Beach - isn't it?!

Hi all! Been busy trying to build up my portfolio and seem to be racing from one art project to another!! My latest endeavour is another collage on canvas piece. Living so close to the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, and the huge variety of shells that can be found here, I've been wanting for some time to try to capture that lazy, hazy days of summer feel...with a few local shells thrown into the mix! Here's the resulting work:

Set on a 12" x 12" canvas which has been covered in light brown acrylic paint, I've then used scrapbooking paper for the background, along with embellishments and shells to create a sense of depth and to complete the design. 

 It really does convey the sense of relaxation, and summery beach days!




This art piece is perfect just to place on the wall, or could be used to show your own photos of the beach - just mount them and display! 


That's all for now! Thanks for stopping by!

Wendy