|
Post by joblackford on Jul 12, 2024 0:14:23 GMT
The last 2 cards from the Waffle Flower papers. I belatedly realized I have a post box to go with the postal theme! July share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 11, 2024 20:27:54 GMT
joblackford - those are awesome! love that postage stamp theme! I thought it might speak to you!
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 11, 2024 17:18:42 GMT
Sharing most of the cards I made with an unusual paper pad I got in the round robin swap (it was 5.5x8.5" from Waffle Flower, 12 sheet sample pack). I got some matching postage stamp dies to cut the elements out because the postage theme is trendy, I love it, and I was feeling left out, lol. These used large postage elements in the pad cut with the dies: July share by jo.blackford, on Flickr I had to get creative with some of the smaller elements: July share by jo.blackford, on Flickr These are loosely July Sheetload inspired: July share by jo.blackford, on Flickr I have 2 more to finish off and share later.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 11, 2024 17:08:57 GMT
Gorgeous view azcrafty ! I would definitely spend summers there I did some cards inspired by the Sheetload sketch but turned on their side and A2. That worked better for the supplies I was using. I might try the sketch again in the landscape orientation later. July share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 11, 2024 16:59:29 GMT
joblackford - for comment points- I just go through the thread(s) at the end of the month (quarter) and count. I suspect your tracker would be easier but I know I wouldn't manage to keep up with it. Truthfully for layout/card points - I go through the sharing thread at the end of the month (quarter) with my challenges printout in hand and calculate each layout and card. I used to keep track on the points thread but that was a lot of work and I worried that it was discouraging to others so I stopped a while back. I feel badly about flooding the sharing thread but if I don't share it there, it won't get counted. Took DD17 to her senior yearbook photo session today. She was SO happy to be given a choice between the drape and the tux - and to no one's surprise, she had her yearbook photos done in the tux. I was also surprised she got the choice - Florida isn't exactly a bastion of choices. I usually track my points in the same way I can't handle reading through all the challenges over and over, so I just browse through flickr or the share thread, read each challenge once and ask, did I do that? yes, tick, or no. I added the habit tracker this month to see if it will help me remember to check in. Even if I don't keep up with it daily it's easier to look over the past week to see if there's a comment than scroll through the whole month. Especially with our all-inclusive group I love that your DD17 was allowed to choose her look for the photos <3 I've never encountered the tux and drape photo concept before, just spent a few minutes looking up examples online... I guess that gives a uniform look to the yearbook and takes the focus off the clothes and onto the face, but it doesn't allow for much freedom to be yourself (which I imagine is part of the point). Hurrah for at least getting a choice. Don't feel badly about flooding any threads. I think we all enjoy seeing what you're making and being inspired by your productivity! And it definitely makes it easier to count.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 10, 2024 21:46:41 GMT
That's great, thanks for sharing! It looks like your link might've broken because your @ name here and there are the same, but I'm sure everyone will be able to find it by searching your username. Thanks, I removed the link. Still new to the board. I did add my YouTube channel to my profile, if anyone wants to check it out. No worries. I've seen it happen a couple of times when I've posted links to member's channels. It's an annoying quirk of the way these boards work! I think you can also add a link to your signature line if you want quick access
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 10, 2024 21:44:50 GMT
Oh my gosh, you all. The fact that you can even think of Christmas in July is just foreign to me. I want to stretch out summer as long as possible. Besides that, the holiday to get ready for is obviously Halloween. Halloween is where it is at. Carry on with your Christmas cheer.... I totally get it! I'm very big on celebrating what's going on right now, generally speaking. I have a list of things to do while it's hot because I forget until it's too late to actually do them (like eat gazpacho! and cold avocado vichyssoise soup! and all the berries). Our summer is quite short and I really try to enjoy it while it lasts. But then again, I grew up in the Upside Down - NZ celebrates Easter in autumn, Halloween in spring (! so wrong !), and Christmas at midsummer! So I don't know what makes sense at all 😆 I can pretend to be on board with thinking about Christmas...
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 10, 2024 21:36:11 GMT
I sat down to finish some postage themed cards and got distracted by some old butterfly experiments. I decided to push myself to finish this one because done really is better than perfect. Yeeeears ago I had stamped and embossed the butterfly on dark blue paper (and then perhaps bleached it? or that might've been a different version). Definitely added some metallic watercolors to it. Didn't love it and didn't know what to do with it. Fast forward to yesterday when I fussy cut it and decided to cut a teal leaf frame and put it on a metallic background. I think I love the idea of this stamp more than the reality of crafting with it, but I keep trying anyway. July share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 10, 2024 20:43:47 GMT
I just watched the Waffle Flower (cards) July release video and now I want to buy all the things and make all the cards! I better sit down with a pen and paper and write down which bits I actually love and see if I can make them without buying quite so many products... (I could probably even use products I * already own * !)
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 10, 2024 20:41:36 GMT
I am currently working on a week long series that will be up on my YouTube channel that will start July 25th. I will have a video a day, all Christmas layouts! lifeinlayouts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/ lifeinlayouts That's great, thanks for sharing! It looks like your link might've broken because your @ name here and there are the same, but I'm sure everyone will be able to find it by searching your username.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 10, 2024 20:39:26 GMT
BTW I made myself a little habit tracker I can color in when I leave a comment here so it's easier to count up comment points at the end of the month. And sometimes I even remember to fill it in! Does anyone else use something like that to help track their points?
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 10, 2024 20:37:00 GMT
And speaking of journaling, here is the QOTD: What are your favourite fonts for journaling?I love handwritten fonts, and I am on the eternal lookout for the perfect one. I have yet to find it. My ideal handwritten font should be print rather than cursive. Most of the fonts I like have one or two little things that prevent them from being "the one." The font that I use most often for journaling is Sweeter Sandwich. Oh, that's a nice one I tend to play it pretty safe with fonts these days after choosing some that were a bit too distinctive in the past. Looking back at journaling in them I don't love them any more. I've forgotten the names of the ones I tend to use but the main one is a simple sans serif and I have a kind of brush lettering font for chapter/month titles. I use a font that looks like old school Dymo labels for some labels. And whatever fonts Geralyn Sy is currently making word art in, since I use a lot of her templates and elements.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 10, 2024 4:22:56 GMT
I only caught the tail end of the celeb period and mostly knew some of these folks from Paperclipping Roundtable. But I’m laughing my head off at some of the descriptions above. I remember some people by similar descriptions
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 10, 2024 4:01:44 GMT
mom , I don't do Tik Tok, what does this mean (bolded) please? She did something for the buyers' kids? She literally turned her old office into the new owners sons' room with personalized wall art, bookshelves, etc. She bought new towels for them. Its weird. WHAT??!! Now the earnest money is being “held” because the buyers claim there’s a $35k necklace hanging on a chandelier. This is absolutely hysterical and she’s done it all to herself. What?! Seriously wtf? I almost wish I was on TikTok to see this drama but honestly don’t think I could watch.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 10, 2024 3:44:47 GMT
Which leads me to the QOTD: What have you learned lately about your craft? Or what would you like to learn?I'm not sure if this is what you meant by the question, but I learnt a new technique a week or so ago - how to add handwritten journaling to a digital layout. I used to scan it, then try to extract the writing from the scanned image and paste it onto the page. The results were okay, but not great quality. Then I learnt a technique where you scan your journaling, create an adjustment layer to adjust the levels, then turn the journaling into a digital stamp. It is awesome! I've done it on a couple of layouts recently, and don't be surprised if you see it on a lot more of my pages. That sounds very cool! I follow a couple of people who use Procreate to add handwritten journaling to digital layouts (somehow) but I’ve never tried anything like that myself.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 9, 2024 17:37:06 GMT
QOTD: What have you learned lately about your craft? Or what would you like to learn? In regards to watercoloring, I learned that the tools aren't the key to being good at the craft, of course, but having really crappy tools makes it far more difficult. I finally bought some decent brushes and they make a big difference. I had held off, knowing that I often buy all the things without putting in the time to learn how to use them. I'm also learning that if I have more than one piece to paint I can get messy on the first one and then be more careful on the second once I see that I don't like messy very much. I'd like to figure out how to spend more time practicing. I have time, I just don't always spend it well.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 9, 2024 17:24:17 GMT
I didn’t do DD last year and thought I might go back and make one when all the Christmas hype starts, since I usually get inspired but by the time December rolls around and I start anything, I’m already halfway over it. However, I bought the Stories of Christmas Past kit from AE for super cheap and it includes the class so I think I might channel that Christmas energy into working on a compilation album. I have always liked the idea of creating a “baseline” Christmas album that includes a lot of the traditions that have stayed the same since I was a kid, like a prequel to my current DD. Then, my current albums can focus more on what has changed since then. The idea was in the back of my mind and I was debating getting the kit every time it went on sale, then I found a bunch of childhood photos and decided it was time. The kit went on sale for $10 and I jumped, then it sold out so perfect timing! I think when the DD bug hits me sometime around Ali’s yearly release, I will just add to that album. I’m excited to work on it, but I have two summer travel albums I need to work on first. My brain is still in summer mode. I love that idea!
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 8, 2024 23:50:31 GMT
Wow, Shakti it does sound like the boiler saved you! TBH cold showers sound quite pleasant… It’s 92 outside, 83 inside, and rising. I’m understanding siesta culture these days. I’ll either hide in a darkened room with an ice pack or hang out with the spiders in the basement this evening. I have some junk-for-sale from the in laws that needs cleaning, and then maybe I will crochet and listen to an audiobook in the hammock. The basement is not a fun place to be but it’s a lot cooler.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 8, 2024 1:51:16 GMT
I'm not sure when I will shop next but I have some basics on my wishlist - adhesive sheets, black cardstock, thicker vellum, and I heard about some good Christmas red cardstock when I was watching a video the other day so I should add that too. (It was laurafadora recommending C&9th Poppy in case anyone else needs a good red) PTI’s Pure Poppy is a perfect shade of red, and it’s nice & thick. Highly recommend. ETA: I can send you some if you want to compare, I have both (c9 & PTI). Thanks for offering. I have a partial sheet of C&9th poppy, as it turns out (I got one of their sampler packs). If you wouldn't mind sending me a panel of the PTI one, I'd appreciate it. I've never looked at their site before but the cs looks a bit cheaper the C&9th.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 7, 2024 21:10:03 GMT
QOTD: my next purchase will most likely be albums and page protectors. I have 150-200 layouts to put away 😬 Wow, that will be a big job!
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 7, 2024 21:09:15 GMT
I'm not sure when I will shop next but I have some basics on my wishlist - adhesive sheets, black cardstock, thicker vellum, and I heard about some good Christmas red cardstock when I was watching a video the other day so I should add that too. (It was laurafadora recommending C&9th Poppy in case anyone else needs a good red)
And Waffle Flower is trying to tempt me with their new Christmas goodies. I could pick up something new to use for this year's cards, but as I watch videos and see more cards, I'm not certain I love the postage stencils as much as I first thought I did. I might shop for a Santa layering die instead. I don't have any Santa stamps or dies! how?!
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 7, 2024 3:59:00 GMT
I made my first scrapbooks in sketchbooks (just photos stuck onto the pages really) but I guess my first real scrapbook purchases in the US were probably Pioneer post bound albums and a big pad of ugly papers, in 2002. I may’ve bought some rubber stamping supplies before then. My local store Monkey Love Rubber Stamps was just down the street and my SIL took me there right after we moved back from Japan.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 6, 2024 21:04:26 GMT
I hope I didn’t duplicate. I don't think you did. I hope I didn't change too much when I compiled these into the list. (added items from your Themes list into Shapes/Icons, then added an EEK challenge to the theme cuz I was thinking of a scary monster when I read that challenge LOL) Looks good! Thanks for whipping them in to shape for me and I spotted that Hummel reference 😆
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 6, 2024 19:36:55 GMT
It was a close one! Thanks for all the leading and organizing
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 6, 2024 15:42:54 GMT
highkeycrafting , may I ask which Altenew watercoloring class you registered for? I've been tempted by them. Congrats on new baby, new job, and craft shed! I think different companies also tend to favor different products/techniques, somewhat based on the products they offer. S&CT or SB.C (maybe both?) have used shimmer pens in classes/retreats I've taken with them in the last year or so. SU demos still use it in recent videos I've seen. Jennifer McGuire still uses Perfect Pearls and/or homemade shimmer spray made with Perfect Pearls, but I don't think I've seen her use the shimmer pens. Altenew sells metallic inks, metallic watercolors, shimmer ink sprays, and glitter card stock, so those are the products they tend use in their events and videos to add sparkle. Yes, I still see shimmer pens in videos like Kristie Marcotte’s scrapbook dot com ads because they sell a whole range of colored glitter/shimmer pens. And it’s a nice touch if you don’t care for glitter and/or want to keep things flat for mailing. I always forget that I got influenced by Vicki P to buy one when I first started cardmaking. I hardly ever use it now. I don’t feel like I was ever much on trend so I don’t think I’ve had a similar feeling. When I quit cardmaking in the early 2000s I eventually gave away almost everything (which wasn’t much) and then started fresh many years later. So much had changed from the wood mounted stamps I started with that it almost seemed like a totally different craft to me
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 6, 2024 15:30:44 GMT
TECHNIQUES Slather on some paste, mousse or butter Stretch your paper by hiding the gap behind other paper
THEMES The other kind of stamps - postage shapes are trending, Christmas postage is fun in DD albums, or scrap about stamp collecting Put a paw print on it Put a cryptid on it - Yeti, Sasquatch, Bigfoot, Jackalope, Loch Ness Monster, mystery creature you saw while hiking
WORDS Use a foreign word in your title Use an English word in your title Use a made-up word in your title
COLORS Winter in July - use a winter color scheme, cool colors Pearly - use shimmery, pearlescent or opal colors (paper, foil, pastes) Holographic cardstock/stickers for all the colors
OTHER Complete a class - a new one start to finish, or an old one you never got to the end of Use a new or new-to-you product for the first time
I hope I didn’t duplicate.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 6, 2024 15:01:28 GMT
Marking my spot
July total 1958
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 6, 2024 15:01:10 GMT
Excited to see the challenges. Or it is just create anything - sorry I’m new to this. I am currently working in cards. I am happy to see that they count for points. You can create based on the challenges, or just look at them at the end of the month and see which ones you hit by accident and yes, cards definitely count. You can also tally how many hours you spend crafting (any crafting) and get points per hour just for sitting at your desk figuring out what to put where even if you never finish anything! I keep a post-it note on my desk to tally hours. Feel free to add a couple of challenges if there’s something you expect you’ll do. I have a new cat die I want to use so I’m going to make a cat theme challenge. And there are points for chatting about random nonsense with us too: 2peasrefugees.boards.net/thread/146145/3-team-challenge-chatFeel free to ask about any of this!
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 6, 2024 3:04:01 GMT
I have absolutely no need for it but that 4x4 album cover design is amazing. I love it. If there’s a paper in that design I will buy it in bulk.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Jul 6, 2024 2:56:52 GMT
joblackford Thank you so much for starting this thread. I do hope sleepingbooty is ok. I need to do a deep clean of my old DD supplies. I have years worth of supplies and I know I won't use it all. And I like buying AE new stuff each year. But not sure where the best place to unload my old AE supplies. Hmm, I know there are active buy/sell/trade groups for some brands so maybe someone can point you to an AE specific one. I think I ended up RAKing the last of mine, but I didn’t have much.
|
|