On Holiday, but still creating!

Dear Scribblers

September is turning out to be busier than I thought.

Actually, I'm on holiday at the moment on the spectacular Mediterranean island of Malta, but there's no rest for the writer/crafter. Using my favourite Smythson notebooks to write and jot down ideas for the two wonderful courses I'm doing on my return.

Yes, I did say two. Once again I'm doing Shimelle's Learn Something New Everyday scrapbooking/journalling corse, along with the brand new UnEarth Your Creative Nature by Jani Franck. Both began on 1 September and last the month, and I feel they both give a creative boost whilst complimenting each other. Even though I haven't been able to start in earnest, I have been making notes and taking photos. I'll tell you more about how I'm coming along with full links both courses when I can. (I'm writing this using Blogger on my iPad and can't dd links.)

I'll be back in a few days with more info, plus the start of my 'Scrapbooking Your Holidays' series.

Happy Scribing!

The Crafty Scribe Communiqué - The Count's Sad News

News Flash... Communiqué... News Flash

Dear Scribblers

I heard some very sad news today. Jerry Nelson who voiced Count von Count in Sesame Street has died.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2193272/Jerry-Nelson-voice-Sesame-Street-favourite-Count-von-Count-dies-78.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

The Count has always had a special place in my heart as I explained in a previous communiqué - http://thecraftyscribe.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-crafty-scribe-communique-silliness.html

In fact, the Count was with me last weekend when we visited a favourite pub which was converted from a church. I though he looked splendid in his lair!


The joy and learning that Mr Nelson gave to millions of children worldwide will never be forgotten. We thank you, sir.

In remembrance.

Happy Scribing!

Communiqué Ends...

The Crafty Scribe Inspiration Corner

Dear Scribblers

Something a little different from me today. A friend posted this photo onto their Facebook page and I had to share.

This dog meets his cat friend everyday and they go for a walk! You can tell what great friends they are, can't you? So inspirational... and very cute too!

I wish I could tell you where the photo comes from. If you know, please let me know and I'll add the correct details here straight away. Credit where credit's due.

I've been a little poorly Crafty Scribe, hence the posting delay. I promise you I'll be back soon with the next series - Scrapbooking Your Holiday.

See you soon!

Happy Scribing!

The Crafty Scribe Communiqué - CHA & ScrapTime iBooks Recommendation

Communiqué... News Flash... Communiqué

Dear Scribblers

Did you, like me, miss out on going to CHA last month? I'm not one of the lucky ones who has ever been, even though I would love to, but at least we get to see lots of photos from all the wonderful bloggers who attend, right?

How about going one better and seeing video? Check out Christine Urias and her crafty fact-packed video podcasts, Scrap Time. Not only has she uploaded a ton of inspiration from CHA Summer 2012, she also posts regularly to show products and techniques.

Christine has now expanded into the world of iBooks, creating crafting books on a number of subjects, including this one! CHA Summer 2012

Not only is it a full colour book jammed full of fabulous photos, its also includes lots of videos for you to watch... and it's FREE!

I enjoy watching all of Christine's videos and I've learnt so much from her, I promise you, it's worth a look.

Happy Scribing!

Just A Note:

As always, these posts are my own views.

I do not get paid or reimbursed, in any form, from any supplier mentioned.

I write about 'em, because I like 'em! ;-)

Communiqué Ends... Communiqué Ends...

The Crafty Scribe Communiqué - A Poetry Reminder

Communiqué... News Flash... Communiqué...

Dear Scribblers

Just a little reminder asking you to pop along to my other blog - 555 Days as a Poet and take a look at the daily entries. It's a tough track I'm trekking and I would love some people along for the journey.

Please pass the details onto all your poem reading and verse writing pals, and even those new to poetry, you might find a stanza that resonates that soul string deep within you.

Hop on over, I'd love to see you there.

Happy Scribing!

Communiqué Ends... Communiqué Ends...

The Crafty Scribe Communiqué - A Recommendation - Books by Nick Spalding

Communiqué... New Flash... Communiqué...

Dear Scribblers

You know how much I like to craft and write. You also know how much I love to read.

I thought today I would introduce you to an author some of you may not of heard of... yet, but his popularity is growing rapidly with the Kindle and iBooks release of his "Love... " books. In fact, he is a best selling author, sitting in the top 100, then 20 and top 10, at various times, for many months. Just pipped at the post by all those "Shades of Grey."

 At the time of writing,

his most popular book,

"Love... from Both Sides"

is at 24 on the UK Kindle chart.

His name is Nick Spadling. In fact, his own pages on Amazon, and his blog, speak for themselves.

The books are laugh-out-loud funny, but I warn you, they are not for delicate readers.

Take a look, you might "Love..." them!

Happy Scribing!

Communiqué Ends... Communiqué Ends...

Lessons Learnt - The End. Holiday Scrapbooking coming next.

Dear Scribblers

So that's it! The end of my meander through some of my layouts from last year's Learn Something New Everyday course. I hope it was better late than never, and would to hear love your feed back.

I really enjoyed completing all 30 days, it was the third year and each time it's been totally different. Art journalling in this form was a new experience for me. I'm usually one or more photo a layout type of a person, and this book only contains 7 pages with photos, all the rest are drawings, magazine cut-outs, photos from other sources or mainly writing. It was very freeing to try, and it gave me the urge to attempt some form of art journal every day this year... but that's for another blog post!

I'll be joining LSNED again this September, and I have ideas already for it. I think I'll be returning to my photos every day, as I do miss the photography, probably using my Polaroid PoGo printer 2x3 sizes, that reminds me, I need to order some paper packs! I was searching through my stash recently and found that I have an abundance of tags, all different sizes and colours, which makes me think that I might be making a tag mini-book this year.

So what's next for The Crafty Scribe blog? As I've already hinted above, I will be showing you in depth the project I've been working on for the whole of 2012 in a little while, but before then I will be running a completely new series.

What I did on my Summer Holidays...

Did you find that every year, when you returned back to school after the bliss of six weeks freedom, the first essay the teacher asked you to write was that! What I did on my Summer Holidays.

What I would like to show you is what I've done on my summer holidays in the past. Well, more like, how I've scrapbooked my summer holidays, and some winter ones too. The different pages I've made, how my style has changed and the how I seem to have changed from 12x12 pages to mini-books and digital. I wonder if you look back at your past scrapping, how has your style and design changed? Come along with me as we journey through our past vacations.

Beginning soon!

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 16 - Shhhh! Can I tell you a secret? A Magical Secret.

Dear Scribblers

Here's the final layout I'm showing you from my journey through September 2011 on Shimelle Laine's Learn Something New Everyday course.

I think it's probably my most art journal-y layout of the lot. What do you think?

The wording reads, "Sssshh! Live A Life Less Ordinary. I believe in Magic, Fairies, Spirits, Enchanting Dreams, Dragons, Spooky Ghosts, Angels and all things Fantasy."

I began by painting the background quite thickly in acrylic paint and, once it was dry, painting over the whole thing with Glitz It Sparkles glitter glue, writing in the glittery word MAGIC at the same time.

I used a lot of pieces from magazines, the lips, the main title, the black wings, and the roses, even the girl came from a Vivienne Westwood advert! Although the wings were added separately, her wings was a butterfly from a clothes label cut in half, the full butterfly can be seen in the top left hand corner.

There's another fabric butterfly label used linking the Creative Imaginations Narratives by Karen Russell Journaler's Notebook journalling sheet to the top most rose. I then scattered various stickers throughout the layout including a princess chipboard, 'fantasy' word, and word rub-ons from DCWV's Once Upon A Time range, and a dear little witchy cat from Daisy and Dandelion's Pumpkin and Aubergine Halloween range. I then added more glitter glue and highlights with Sakura's gelly roll stardust pens. It's all about the sparkle.

I wanted it to be a fun page, so I hope the whimsical nature comes across.

This may be the last page, but please come back tomorrow for my closing thoughts on LSNED.

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 15 - The Chicks Do The Hen Party!

Dear Scribblers

One of those modern day rites of passage is celebrated in this LSNED 2011 page.

The Hen Party!

My sister-in-law married the boy of her dreams last October, which meant there was much fun to be had at her hen party a fortnight before.

I began with the photos, taking a selection of my favourites and printing them out using my tiny Polaroid PoGo printer, which is fantastic as the 2 x 3 inch sheets are sticky-backed. Great for scrapbooking. 

As the photos were quite dark as they were taken in a restaurant/nightclub, I decided to make the background colourful, taking the colours from the waitresses psychedelic Pucci-inspired dresses (as can be seen in the photo third from the bottom). 

I used a glittering balloon theme, as balloons and glitter balls were shown in the photos. Of course, birds needed to be added. We were 'chicks' out on a hen do after all!

Draw the balloon background free-hand, using Whispers Strokes pens, and Sakura Gelly Roll glitter and neon pens. Before I stuck each photo down, I drew around it with an orange neon pen to make them stand out from the background a little more.

The die-cut birds and 'A little bird told me' label came from a free kit from Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine. The title journalling card came from Creative Imaginations Journaler's Notebook - the Narratives by Karen Russell Collection. WeRMemoryKeepers Promenade Foil Glitter and Flock Adhesive rub-on kit provided the green glittery 'Birds of A Feather' transfer. 

Unfortunately I can't remember where the lovely glitter balloons and celebrate banner came from, but it was all from one sheet. If anyone remembers, please let me know.

The finishing touch was the big Hen Party button we all wore on the evening, and a good time was had by all the chicks, especially the Hen herself, Julie, as can be seen in the photo second from the bottom. She's loving married life, and coming round to her first wedding anniversary in October. Time does flies, especially for the birds!

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 14 - A bouquet for Shimelle Laine and LSNED, such a variety and so fragrant!

Dear Scribblers

The wonderful thing about Shimelle and her LSNED course, is that she gives you daily prompts and ideas for your own pages, but you aren't restricted by her recommendations. In fact, she encourages you to do your own thing, be it mini-books, with photos, no photos, add-the-photos-later photos, old stash, bought especially stash, art journalling, diary writing, drawing, digital or good-old-straight-forward-honest-to -goodness scrapbooking!

I think this day, was probably one where I went off on my own tangent.

Whenever I go to a department store, I make a beeline to the fragrance department, just like the old yellow and black striped garbed bumble to the flower. I flit from bottle to bottle, taking the cards and using the testers, trying out new concoctions and old favourites. 

I miss Sephora for their rows a-plenty of scent after scent. Alas, they no longer have stores in the UK. Please come back, Sephora. We miss you! On a positive note, Debenhams is especially good for this, with their open shelves, plenty of testers and cards, with helpful assistants there when you need them, not on your shoulder forcing their opinion onto you. Don't you hate that? However, I love perfumes! I'm not alone in the quest, as my husband adores the aftershaves. So between us, we gather a number of the tester cards.

I wonder if you have noticed, how fantastic these cards are. The plain old thin 'science litmus paper' style cards still exist, but they are being taken over by these quirky designs and logos emblazon the different shapes. Of course, any I especially like find a home in my crafty stash. 

Go take a look in your local department store, you'll be amazed at the variety - from heart, circle and apple shapes. To flowers, bows, bottles and Agent Provocateur legs! I've even found tester ribbons in shiny satin and bright yellow grosgrain. 

I think it's time, I took another amble through the aromatic glass vessels once more.

The title of the page reads, "When it comes to SCENTS, I lose all SENSIBILITY!" I printed this out using my Brother P-Touch 65 digital tape printer. (The PT90 is probably the nearest available one to my PT65.)

As you can probably guess, this was a very cheap layout to make. The whole background is made up of perfume tester cards, including some magazine advertisement tester labels.

I found the very funny cartoon comic strip called Arctic Circle by Alex Hallatt distributed by King Features Syndicate on-line, and printed it out for use on this layout only. I took a comic-style font to change the characters name to Paula. So once they've walked around the store and tried on all the fragrances, the penguin says, "You have got to learn to say 'No', Paula!" How apt!

Project of the Day: Here's a revived project of the day for you. Take a trip to your local perfume counters and see the variety of cards available, maybe collect a few and see if you can use them in a layout. It need not be about perfumes. Incorporate them as an extra layer. See how creative you can be. 

Is there anything else ephemera wise you collect? I'd love to hear about your unusual stash and how you've used it.

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 13 - Holiday! Celebrate!... Plus a hint to the next set of projects

Dear Scribblers

Are you thinking about holidays? I was when I completed this layout for last year's LSNED with Shimelle Laine.

The title reads, "I'd love to go on holiday but remember... I'm so glad I've had these holidays."

I was feeling down in the dumps that I wasn't high in the clouds flying off to some exotic location for a week or two of sun, sea and... the rest and relaxation! So I wanted to create a page celebrating the times I have enjoyed on foreign shores.

It began with the yellow tag, which is a real airlines cabin crew baggage tag. From there I covered the layout with a K&Company 12x12 atlas paper from an old line, and added various travel themed items I had in stock, including: Creative Imaginations - Marah Johnson epoxy stickers, Hot Off The Press Attachments collection - Travel range - ribbons, frames, vinyl tags, and K&Company's Sea Glass range - letter stickers, chipboard, and 6x4 card stock. Along with various holiday ephemera I still had in my stash. I quite like the haphazard 'thrown on' look to the page.

Pleased to say we are flying off again this year, and I'm looking forward plunging in on new pages of memories once I'm home.

Important Note: I'm going to be showing you some of my older holiday projects that I've completed over the years in a brand new series coming next on The Crafty Scribe. Please keep checking back for more information, and the last few pages left in LSNED.

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 12 - Cat Rule number 136 - Always hog the last ray of sunshine. Whatever the weather.

Dear Scribblers

The sun has been shining in clear blue skies here in the south of the UK. Don't you notice what a difference it makes when the weather is good? Everyone is happy, and there's a buzz of excitement in the air. I think it's also due to the fact the Olympics officially begin tomorrow. How exciting!

As it's all about the weather, I've chosen to show you this layout from LSNED 2011.

It's all about how the cats can always find the last bit of sunshine in the garden or the house.

The printed title reads: "Deep Summer Is When Laziness Finds Respectability (Sam Keen) - Turns To -  It Was One Of Those Perfect English Autumnal Days Which Occur More Frequently In Memory Than In Life. (PD James)"

The quote within the circle tree is by Lesley Anne Ivory from 'Cats in the Sun' - "At the end of the day when the sun is setting, cats may be seem making the most of the last little corners still in sunshine, until the shadows lengthen and the sun slopes round the other side of the world to awaken all the cats there."

To make the layout, I painted the background in watercolours to look like a cartoon-style sky and gently sloping hill. All the papers and the main title came from two separate kits that came free with Scrapbook Magazine - "Summer scrap kit" and "The Autumn Wishes" collections. I cut out pieces to make the title, sun set, trees, top and bottom borders and arrows to bring focus to the title. The alpha and number tiles for the date also came from the kit.

I printed out a number of suitable photos of my cats, Draco and Merlin, to the sizes I wanted, and cut around them so they appeared more embedded into the scene.

This is another one of my pages where I felt I was getting the knack of art journalling rather than straight on scrapbooking. Plus the layout cost pennies, just a lick of watercolour paint, free papers and both photos printed at home on a single A4 photo quality sheet. Thrifty!

Enjoy your day. Whatever the weather!

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 11 - You sip your cappuccino, and I sip my Fortnum and Masons Royal Blend.

Dear Scribblers

Onto the second half of my pages from last year's LSNED:

This layout focuses on my husband's love of cappuccinos and my devotion to tea. Using as the title, the first line from Hazel O'Connor's song 'Will You':

You drink your coffee and I sip my tea.

I used an oriental inspired scrapbooking kit I bought from QVC many years ago, sorry I don't know the name of the manufacturer. Then I made a coffee cup using real coffee shop sleeves, and added the tags and individual bag sachets for the tea.

My hubby and I have a lot of things in common, but I think it's our differences that make life interesting, don't you?

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 10 - Be like Doctor Who, become a Time Lord. Find out what Stephen R Covey says about this.

Dear Scribblers

Here's a positive LSNED layout to start off your week.

I actually completed this page on a Friday. On a Friday afternoon, I always think about what I have achieved during the week, and what I plan to do the following week. When I read this quote, I thought how important it is.

"The key is in not spending time, but in investing it." - Stephen R Covey

I know how quickly I can lose hours by watching television, or browsing the internet. You know how it is, you check your emails, which leads you to a website, which leads you to another site, which you post on Twitter and Facebook, then you notice a link to YouTube, then another and another, and... How much time? 3pm? 3pm! I went onto the computer at 12pm, only to check a couple of emails.

You can lose days like this. I know I have! So to Live with Intention, and to invest in your time wisely. Brings it all back into focus, don't you think?

The page details: 12x12 Live with Intention page from Creative Imaginations - Marah Johnson (Words around bottom and large keys printed on the sheet), Medium cardboard keys and flowers from DCWV Once Upon a Time - Princess shapes, other keys and small paper clocks cut from The Crafthouse Press ATC collection, tassels and brads from Trimcraft Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Venaissance collection, Two clock stickers with words from Sticker Studio Retroactive Timeless range, and letter tiles from stash.

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 9 - Getting to grips with art journalling... It's Easy Like Sunday Morning.

Dear Scribblers

I hope you are having a fabulous weekend. Enjoy your days whatever you are doing.

Now, talking about the weekend, here's one I made for a Sunday for LSNED

The title reads, "Life made fabulous. Easy like Sunday morning, followed by thunder bolt and lightning, very, very frightening!"

I remember this day, it began beautiful and sunny, and ended up dark and brooding culminating in a massive storm.

I tried to get the page to reflect this. As Sundays in our home always begins with a trawl through the papers and supplements, I decided to use newspapers as the theme.

The background is ripped up pieces of proper newspapers and stuck down with wet glue, much in the same way as you make paper-maiche, although just a thin layer to cover the pages. I then painted over the whole think with watercolours, leading to dark colours on the end to represent the storm.

I used words out of the newspaper to make my title, apart from the last section which was tiled paper letters I had in my stash, and the pictures and cartoon (including the row of flowers along the bottom) all came from the papers too. In fact, the relaxed girl was actually made up of three separate pictures  (legs body head) stuck to make one image, take about being Dr. Craftenstein!!!

I think this was one of the first pages I made where I actually thought I was getting to grips with the difference between scrapbooking and art journalling. What do you think? Although it's great to be part of Shimelle's LSNED course in September as anything goes.

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 8 - My Life in Books

Dear Scribblers

After yesterday's break, we are back on track, and here's my next layout from last September's LSNED.

As you can see this was all about my love of books, and the books that shaped my life. I think you could probably tell a lot about me from reading the covers. A tom-boy as a child, into the dramatic arts. love of sci-fi, gothic, magic, fantasy and positive thinking, keen on the odd block-buster or two, a nod towards the classics and history, but with a very silly streak. Mmmm! Sort of sums me up.

Have you ever made a list of your favourite books at different ages? What have you found out about yourself? Have a go!

The layout itself is very simple. I thought I would let the covers do the talking. I made a table in my word processing document and dropped each jpg into a slot, so I could keep them sized the same, which I then printed out on A4 photo quality sheets. The background is K&Company 12x12 paper I've had in my stash for about 8 years!

Happy Scribing!

Just a note: Any companies or products I mention are items I've bought myself. I am not attached to any other crafting, scrapbooking or art website or company. I mention them because I use them or like them!

The Crafty Scribe Communiqué - Silliness, but you can call me Vlad!

Communiqué... News Flash... Communiqué....

Dear Scribblers

Had to share this with you all.

Last Friday, I went to see the hilarious stage show of The Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy in Brighton. We had a fabulous time, which began by a meander through North Laines, where I happened to find The Vintage Magazine Company. Inside the shop, waiting for me was The Count (Vlad to his friends) from Sesame Street! In full figure finger-puppet style. He was my favourite character when I was a child, so I just had to buy him.

Obviously, he came to the theatre with us...

and then again to see the Olympic Torch on Sunday. Can anyone guess where we are?

I have a feeling that he's going to crop up on a few more photos, don't you? He may even need his own  mini scrapbook!

Do you photo anything unusual? Or carry anything with you? I know that Gisele Scanlon of The Goddess Guide and Experience, carries a little blue plasticine snail called Mr Snailey who goes all over the world, and into the best restaurants, with her. Why don't you start something silly today?

Don't worry, Lessons Learnt will resume again tomorrow with number 8 of the series.

Happy Scribing!

Communiqué Ends... Communiqué Ends...

Lessons Learnt - 7 - Don't be 'A' Negative... Be Positive!

Dear Scribblers

I don't know whether you've noticed that my pages and my outlook couldn't be described as girlie! If anything, I would say I'm more down with a sci-fi-goth-chic-geek-rock-chick vibe, although I don't know how others would describe me!

Like I said, I'm not into girlie, especially pink, so you can imagine what a surprise I had when I'd finished this LSNED page! I didn't even know I had this much pink in my card stock.

I started with a purple/blue watercolour base for the page, and layered on the artist trading card sized printed papers (from the Artist Trading Collection by The Crafthouse Press who also made the ones on the Oscar Pistorius page.) 

The title, Don't Focus on The Negative - Be Positive, was created on the computer, as was some of the other words. The rest came from many companies including: K and Company, Bo Bunny and Cosmo Cricket, which reads, " Remember to love, delight, explore, wonder, let your imagination run wild, laugh, believe, smile, hope, play, have fun, be genuine and kind each day."

The birds came from a free collection from a magazine, and I made my own version of the girl I'd seen as a template in a magazine. I think it may have been from 'You Can Craft'. If anyone recognises the artist or knows in which magazine it was featured, please let me know as I would love to credit them for their design.

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 6 - Friendship Bracelets... To show or not to show bad layouts

Dear Scribblers

I wanted to share this LSNED page with you, because I'm not happy with it. Sometimes it's worth showing the mistakes as well as the favourites.

The story of the page is to explain how I learnt to make macrame and friendship bracelets by watching You Tube clips (which can be found here).

I used ribbons to give the impression of bracelets laid out, added two photos, a piece of a test bracelet I made and printed out the title and sub-title.

If I was to do it again now, I know I would have painted the plain book pages to help them blend, reduced the amount of ribbon, and put the words on one page and the photos on the other. I think I would have also handwritten the titles instead of printing. Actually, I might have covered the photo page with ribbon, and used a thin strip only on the title page.  Something like this:

What do you think?

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 5 - The Wonders of the Universe... Sorry, without Dr Brian Cox!

Dear Scribblers

A dark LSNED page for you today, but with a positive meaning.

I painted the whole of the background with black acrylic, and then using an air gun, blew paint onto the pages in a variety of colours. You could get the same effect using a straw. Just don't suck the paint back up the straw too far! I'm sure a mouthful of paint isn't very tasty at all. Yuck!

I sprinkled glitter into a few places which stuck where the paint was still wet. The white paint burst behind the photo was actually cut from a shopping mall's brochure, which I added a layer of pale glitter to. The photo came from NASA's website, I think, or from one of the mainly space photos sites on the internet. I then used a white gel pen to write and to doodle with. The main title is stencilled from a standard school-type alphabet plastic stencil.

It reads. "Our daily problems are insignificant in relation to the wonders of the universe. Our lives are a blip in the cosmos, don't fret the small stuff! Celebrate being alive!"

There's further writing around the white paint bursts which reads, "As Humans, we spend so much time worrying, complaining and stressing our our day to day lives, making dramas over the tiniest thing which seems so big, so right out enormous at that moment in time, but look at it in comparison to where we live. I don't mean your house, street, town, country or even the whole world. I'm talking about being a child of the universe. The fact we are even alive, and know this, is a MIRACLE! It's amazing to be part of the energy of the UNIVERSE. This vast wonderful system, full of beauty and things known and unknown. Part of everything forever. Now don't those issues seem small? Enjoy today. Marvel in life."

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 4 - Olympics & Oscar Pistorius

Dear Scribblers

With the Olympics and Paralympics coming up on us as fast as Oscar Pistorius, I thought I would share a LSNED page that is based on a quote from that fabulous South African sportsman who is also known by the awesome name of 'The Blade Runner!'

His quote is: "A loser isn't the one who comes last in the race. The loser is the one who sits in the stands and watches."

This isn't just a quote for sports and games. It's to remind you to get involved in life, remember to participate in each day, don't just sit on the sidelines and watch your time go by.

I painted the page in a pale green, then added the Olympic rings, although most of this became covered up. I used artist trading card sized papers with game-type images on them and splattered the whole lot with more paint, before adding the mat and layered sheets. I'd printed out the words on the printed paper using the computer, picking a sporty 'American Football' style font. The day, number and trophy clipboard tags were added along with a lot of glitter.

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 3 - Footprints... Sole to Soul

Dear Scribblers

Here's the next page, I'd like to share, from LSNED - Sept 2011

I hope you can read the writing. It's all about the words for this page... and of course, the feet! My hubby and I had fun doing this one, painting each other's feet with red and purple acrylic paint and stamping down directly onto the book. Although it was less fun (actually, maybe even more fun) trying to get the smaller prints from the cats!

Lots of time spent, trying to keep them still enough to ink a paw and then not having them walk the ink over the house! In the end, we nabbed them in the garden, and used some plain white A4 sheets for them to walk over. It sort of worked. I then cut out the best prints of the lot and layered them onto red thin corrugated card, and did the same with the red heart print paper, cutting out both hearts by hand.

There's an extra little note at the bottom which reads, "I also learnt that trying to make kitty prints is... well, like herding cats. Impossible!"

You'll be pleased to learn that the cats received fresh prawns for tea that day as payment for their help!

I also wanted to make sure the end of the title finished at the bottom of my foot. Soul on the sole, you see. Get it? I like to play with words, me!

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 2 - Life is a Roller-coaster!

Dear Scribblers

Here's the second page I'd like to share with you from Shimelle's Learn Something New Everyday course in September 2011. I hope you'll understand if I write it as LSNED from now on.

This is the double layout for each day that I explained in yesterday's post. I was a little nervous about tackling what was 18x11 inches of blank space each day, but going about it as an art journal, instead of what would be almost a standard 12x12 scrapbook page with another half (6inch width) tacked onto the side, I found it easier to think about. If you get my meaning. That would be an enormous amount of space for me to scrapbook with layer papers, but with paints and art journal freedom... not so much. It seemed to be the right amount.

The extra length meant I could tackle ideas like this one! My life as a rollercoaster. The journalling reads, "I learnt that when you deal with pain on a daily basis, Life truly is a rollercoaster! The best way to cope is to relax, take the dips as you take the highs and remember... always remember to ENJOY THE RIDE!"

I used watercolour paints again, with Whispers Strokes watercolour and permanent double-ended pens (used a lot on the whole LSNED project), Cosmos Cricket letter stickers, and the rollercoaster framework is thin black ribbon.

Happy Scribing!

Lessons Learnt - 1 - Off We Go with Shimelle's LSNED... 2011?!?

Lessons Learnt in September 2011

Dear Scribblers

What one thing an elephant and The Crafty Scribe do not have in common?

I forgot!

(I won't tell you what I do have in common with an elephant. It could be a long post! By the way, how do you know if there's an elephant in your fridge?...................................... Footprints in the butter!)

Back to the post at hand, or at keypad, or touch pad, or mouse. Mouse? Ekkkk! We are back to that elephant in the room again.

Now I've that silliness out of the way.

Way back in September, I completed Shimelle's Learn Something New Everyday course for the third time, and it was just as enjoyable as the first... and the second.

I realised that I hadn't posted any of the photos of my pages for you on the blog. I forgot! I'm sorry. But never fear, I delved into my external hard-drive to recover a selection of my favourites for you to see. I'll be posting them over the next few days.

Here is the first:

As you'll notice, I went for something completely different last year... art journalling. It was the first time, I attempted anything like this so was a little tentative to begin with. This was my internal title page, using watercolour paints, stamps and letter stickers.

My forgetfulness shows itself once again as I can't remember names of products used. The majority of it was quite old stash. I'll list those that I remember as we move through the days.

The plain pale cream paged ring-bound book was approx 9 x 11 inches (23x28cm). Only the inside title and end pages are single sheets. Each day covered two facing pages, as you will see. The cover was plain cardboard which I also decorated.

I hope you stay with me as I show you around the favourites of my messy arty painty and scrapbooky pages from September 2011. Better late than never, right? I hope!

Happy Scribing!

P.S. Why did the elephant paint the bottom of his feet pale yellow?........................................................ So he could hide upside down in the butter in the fridge, of course! 

Wishing you all a fabulous day... and News!

Brand New Series Starts Tomorrow... 

Lessons Learnt 

(Better late than never)

Find out what an elephant and me don't have in common!

Happy Scribing!

The Crafty Scribe Communiqué - When you thought it was safe...

Communiqué... News Flash... Communiqué....

Dear Scribblers

Yes, when you thought it was safe to go back into the rhyme... 365? No, it's verse! (or should that be worse.) Now, it's 555!

Want to know what it's all about?

Please either check out my original blog or my brand new squeaky clean one here: 555 Days As A Poet by The Crafty Scribe.

I hope you'll come along and enjoy the fun.

Happy Scribing!

Communiqué Ends... Communiqué Ends

I'll be back!

Dear Scribblers

It's been a long time, hasn't it?

Don't worry, I haven't disappeared completely and I will be back soon.

I'll be posting pictures of recent projects and mumbling about scrapbooking, journalling and the rest of the general musings.

Please stay watching, and I'll post on my Twitter feed when I have a proper post uploaded and raring to be read.

As always, Happy Scribing!

Love and Hugs,
The Crafty Scribe xxx