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Post by joblackford on Jun 2, 2024 0:54:41 GMT
Also, Team, it's June! So challenges reset and if you're one of those folks who scramble at the end of the month to look through your photos and posting history to figure out what the heck you did all month (Who? Me? ), scramble time is here!! That will be me tomorrow Not too much scrambling, I hope. We had a full day with CaliforniaFIL and avoided the main pitfalls of the family dysfunction 😝 A little bit more detailed medical talk than we might have preferred, but overall we had a good day. Tomorrow and the rest of the week we'll have the time a lot more broken up by other plans and with other people around, which will be more relaxing. FIL brought us a truck load of old books and magazines and tools. I'm looking forward to finding out from hubby which ones he's excited to have and which ones we'll be finding new homes for. Luckily we're well practiced at that! I found a fun tutorial for watercolor + doodled mini landscapes on bookmarks, which I'm looking forward to playing around with. No crafty time at my desk today except demonstrating die cutting to FIL and explaining about making cards for charity, but I got well into a new crochet blanket while we were talking
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Post by joblackford on Jun 1, 2024 3:39:07 GMT
I have had vague plans to figure out how all of this art deco stuff fit together and it was nice to have inspiration to not overthink it, just pull it out and do the obvious/simple thing. I literally followed the layering guide for the focal image and used the mini deco set for the sentiment. I've kind of known I was going to try tone-in-tone stamping with that background stamp since the retreat a year ago. EtA: I put the background together with the focal image because they both came from art deco style sets. I am pretty chuffed to see, now that the card is completed, how the shape in the background echoes the shape of the blossom. It was total serendipity that I probably could not have planned if I tried. That's perfect - exactly the kind of attitude that I think Justine is trying to encourage Playing with what you have and seeing what happens. And there you go - whether a happy accident, or subconscious association, you've discovered a great pairing.
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 23:57:56 GMT
I finally did some more of the Watercolor for Joy class I was starting to think I would never follow through on finishing it. Not the end of the world, but it was a bit of $$ to sign up and get nice brushes and paper. I haven't bought any fancy tube paints yet! I'm using the Japanese pan watercolors I just had to have and barely use. Today's little practice pieces were fun and turned out OK. We blew watercolor blobs with a straw to make twigs and I watched the basics of painting weird little birds, although I haven't started making my own yet. I just added beaks and legs to the color swatch blobs from the first lesson.
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 23:42:20 GMT
That's a beautiful card Shakti! I love the bold focal flower and the 20s style of the background and sentiment. Are those from a single set or did you mix and match?
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 23:41:02 GMT
Yes, the lessons are available on replay until the next one starts, and then there will be a 24 hour period when they're all available at the end. Linda and scrapnnanaThe lesson(s) are very quick if you skip through the intro and don't stay to watch the Q&A. I was listening while doing something else this morning and between listening and glancing up at the slides it's pretty easy to absorb the gist. Today was really about limiting supplies so you can make quick decisions about where to start, using supplies you already own, even if the cards themselves aren't necessarily quick. Note, there are no actual demos of cardmaking in this challenge so you don't need to be sitting at your desk with supplies ready to craft. You just need 10-15 minutes to listen and think
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 18:22:03 GMT
I joined up yesterday. About to sit down and watch the first day.
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 17:41:38 GMT
Boy, that is quite the accomplishment from $1 worth of patterned paper joblackford . Nicely done! Pretty satisfying!! The pad had been opened but from what I could tell they hadn't used a single sheet. Lucky me!
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 15:56:28 GMT
You might want to check out scrappylikeafox on IG - she does quite a few kinds of summary or recap layouts and other multi photo pages that could be adapted into monthly recap pages. http://instagram.com/p/C15ZpBXu_BI
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 3:09:56 GMT
MichyM your cards are beautiful You're making me want to buy some more embossing folders. And dies. I like the effect with the diffuser, and it seems like it did the job perfectly.
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 1:38:01 GMT
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 1:35:06 GMT
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 1:25:58 GMT
I'll try to be back to comment on all the cool pages and cards shared! I turned a paper pad into 33 cards this week. I'll share detailed photos on the card share and/or Sheetload threads but here's a preview: May share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 1:08:09 GMT
WAIT!! All the Hummels and there are MORE?!?! Yikes! Sounds like you'll have an interesting weekend, joblackford . Safe travels, grammadee . I know I'm less chatty on the iPad "keyboard" than I am on the computer, but I'm glad you'll at least be checking in! I’ve been selling off their collections pretty steadily since late 2019. If you went into their house you would 100% say “omg how do these people have so many collectibles?!” - milk glass, Roseville pottery, Storyteller dolls, pewter, carnival glass, crystal, not to mention artwork hung from baseboard to ceiling on almost every wall. It’s seriously overwhelming, even after the progress we’ve made. The glass case still appears to be completely packed full of Hummels even though I’ve sold 17. Only 112 more to go. It’s fine. We’re used to it.
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Post by joblackford on May 31, 2024 0:47:05 GMT
I made a 6x8 paper pad I got for $1 last week into 33 cards ETA: no scraps!! May share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on May 30, 2024 23:03:59 GMT
I slept in far too late this morning. I guess I needed the sleep. Hubby got FIL’s deck steps finished yesterday so at least he doesn’t have to drag himself up and down onto the deck to finish the last section. They should have a functional deck finished on time tomorrow. That was FIL’s goal… and the other FIL arrives sometime tomorrow from California. Just in time for major rain. I think I need a new crochet project to work on to manage my anxiety while he’s here. He’s not the easiest person to be around and I’m not sure what we’re going to do with him if the weather is terrible 😬 The rest of the fam don’t get here until Mon night iirc. Oh well. I have crafting to do! Cards to share! (Cleaning can wait til tomorrow) Have a good day and get all that adulting done Are any of the visiting family staying with you? NO!! Thank goodness! CaFIL thought he was going to, but we reminded him how cold and small our house is, only one bed and one toilet, and offered to pay for him to stay literally anywhere else. He'll find a lot to complain about wherever he is. Everyone else is staying at the family home, the one full of Hummels with the new deck
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Post by joblackford on May 30, 2024 19:31:08 GMT
I think it’s awesome Capri is walking at graduation. She worked hard for that diploma and that’s a powerful statement to her classmates.
I’m also glad Heidi clarified that it was a golf cart accident and did her PSA. There are some kids in my neighborhood who race those things around in the streets. It’s dangerous and I think the parents are fools to let them do that. Oh I agree. I think it's awesome. I just don't think I would have been that brave or confident myself at her age. Definitely. I wouldn't have had the courage to do that either. I would be hiding at home. But it looks like she has a strong community of friends and family rallying around her.
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Post by joblackford on May 30, 2024 16:51:26 GMT
I slept in far too late this morning. I guess I needed the sleep. Hubby got FIL’s deck steps finished yesterday so at least he doesn’t have to drag himself up and down onto the deck to finish the last section. They should have a functional deck finished on time tomorrow. That was FIL’s goal… and the other FIL arrives sometime tomorrow from California. Just in time for major rain. I think I need a new crochet project to work on to manage my anxiety while he’s here. He’s not the easiest person to be around and I’m not sure what we’re going to do with him if the weather is terrible 😬 The rest of the fam don’t get here until Mon night iirc. Oh well. I have crafting to do! Cards to share! (Cleaning can wait til tomorrow) Have a good day and get all that adulting done
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Post by joblackford on May 29, 2024 23:20:53 GMT
The pictures in her stories are graphic - she has a warning about that, but I'll just add my own warning too, in case anyone goes looking. Especially as the first stories might expire and take the warning away with them. Not for the squeamish. Golf cart accident not on a golf course, a lot of road rash, and some bad facial lacerations. Awful, but not as awful as it could've been, thank goodness.
I feel for the family, going from celebrating graduation to this nightmare.
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Post by joblackford on May 29, 2024 17:46:17 GMT
I can't help locating one but I can help posting a picture... (hopefully this is the one you mean)
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Post by joblackford on May 29, 2024 17:43:35 GMT
Oh, yes - Panic would make sense for back then. Thank you! Shakti Fingers and toes crossed the in-person interview went well (if you decide you want to work there again??) as well as the other ones. joblackford Well that was fast! I'm so curious to see what the old paper pad was. I'm looking forward to seeing them. grammadee Sounds like a good day! Have you always done gardening or was it something you started after retirement? I'm not sure what I'm going to do today. I typically get up at 9 and make a latte. I'm drinking it now while sitting on the couch, with the cat curled up beside me. I should start a load of laundry and unload the dishwasher to begin with. I ordered a metal file from Amazon that should be delivered today, so I guess I need to go to the PO box today, too. I pulled apart the paper pad right away to force myself to use it since it's not exactly my style and it was an impulse purchase - easy to forget I had. It's actually not that old - Simple Stories Simple Vintage Life in Bloom, 2023. It had an $7.99 original price sticker on the back and the previous owner hadn't used a single sheet of it. It had enough cut aparts to get me halfway through it without using any other items. I'm still deciding what I want to get done today too. I need to dig up my dahlias and move them or give them away, so I better put on my big girl overalls and get outside. The sun came out but I see the showers pushing in...
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Post by joblackford on May 29, 2024 17:36:18 GMT
Went very well today! I think the hiring manager would've made me an offer last week. The VP stated outright at the end of my interview with him today that he had had reservations about me after my first meeting, but felt much better after today. I told him I had gotten that sense and was very grateful for the second chance, since one often doesn't get one. Then I had lunch with the recently resurfaced friend, who I met when we worked there together 25 years ago. She is somewhat incredulous that it sounds as good as it does, but admits that it does.... Good news. I'm glad you were able to reconnect with your friend. Hopefully things are looking up (for both of you).
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Post by joblackford on May 29, 2024 17:33:29 GMT
I don't have one but I have spent many hours over the years watching people do cool things with them! Hope you have fun with yours Can't wait to see what you make!
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Post by joblackford on May 29, 2024 4:04:33 GMT
If anyone has gel press videos that they recommend, I am ALL EARS. I don't get to youtube really, unless someone has suggested a video to watch, so just searching for "gel press" may get me way too much to sort through. Thanks girls! yes, I think you'll be overwhelmed very quickly searching for gel press videos - so many people use them for different kinds of art - but there are a few card makers I can think of who use them who have videos. Ardyth Percy Robb has developed from using them with basic stamping inks to using paints and more techniques Playlist: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B52yA0Yt8I&list=PLGLSuElJ3ywhdmbFYO2l2iw8ZCW78RFC1Tiffany Solorio is another person I think of using gel printing ~Tiffany~.Solorio/playlists" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/ ~Tiffany~.Solorio/playlists and Julie Fei Fan Balzer is the first artist I followed who used it, but her focus is more collage and not cardmaking www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy5RH1BZql4Ky1-9jmIdjUL26ImM1p2FYJennifer McGuire has dabbled youtu.be/cfwbp-NtdGg?si=ShcPsp0qKnOZqVecand I saw a SSS video come up when I was looking for another one. I'm sure YT will take you down a rabbit hole
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Post by joblackford on May 29, 2024 3:44:37 GMT
I got a malware warning using that link to her site did anyone else?
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Post by joblackford on May 29, 2024 3:43:02 GMT
I'm almost done turning a 6x8 pad I got for $1 at the 2nd hand shop into a big stack of cards I just need to do some more sentiment die cutting.
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Post by joblackford on May 28, 2024 16:12:10 GMT
Thank you so much but I was telling my plight to my sister and she's sending me her 2" die. Great minds like alike! YAY!!
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Post by joblackford on May 28, 2024 16:10:40 GMT
A little surprised to discover that I am hoarding cutting plates. I think it's due to a reluctance to dump them into landfill. joblackford , I think you are far more conscientious than I about sustainability in crafting...how do you deal with worn out die cutting plates? They go in the trash with a shrug and a sad face. I think most of mine have ended up cracking - at that point I can't keep using them. I have had some that I kept thinking they would be backups but most got so warped and cut into that they were really awful to use. I don't have any ideas for clever reuse or recycling Your room looks great!!
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Post by joblackford on May 27, 2024 23:37:39 GMT
I was going to suggest the passport photo punches too. I checked eBay quickly and it looks like $25-30+ with shipping, slightly cheaper or about the same as amazon. I used to love the PL pages with lots of 2x2" squares but it drove me bonkers that my 2" squares were always slightly different sizes. I never found a punch for them though.
ETA I checked my dies and I do have a plain 2" square die from a set that came with my Big Shot. I never use it. Would be happy to mail it to you, either just the 2" one or the whole set. PM me!
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Post by joblackford on May 27, 2024 17:13:07 GMT
Good Monday morning, everyone. I have this next five days here at home with a couple of to-do lists--one scrappy and the other for everything else--to accomplish before I leave for first ten days in June. On my scrappy list: last tweaks for dgd's album, put together one page and a bunch of cards, pack a go-bag. Other: clean house, do laundry and pack for 2 formal days & 8 casual with family, and finish planting the garden. Did you manage without a crafty go bag this weekend? Hopefully it didn't drive you totally around the twist. Hope the weather cooperates with your garden plans. We have family coming into town at the end of the week. I guess I had better make a list of things I will wish I could be doing when they're here and do them while I have the house to myself 12 hours a day. My husband is pushing hard to get FIL's deck built before everyone arrives. That's FIL's goal, but he doesn't make it easy... yesterday FIL said he had clamped a post that needed to stay straight and level while hubby laid out a railing, but he didn't actually clamp it to anything, he just put a clamp on it. doh. Hubby is so done. Just say no to doom boxes Shakti! My decluttering teacher (Dana K White) talks a lot about 'take it there now' - not making piles, not setting it down to deal with later, but just taking what you can hold in your hands, going to the place where you would look for it first, and putting it all the way away. Then it's done and when life (or brain) interrupts, you've actually made progress. Her voice lives in my head now, and sometimes it actually works!
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Post by joblackford on May 27, 2024 0:05:45 GMT
Bumping this thread because I just finished moving my 2013 DD/JYC from that one Studio Calico binder (anyone else remember the scandalous upside down stars?!) to a Storyline Chapters notebook for ease of storage. It was the one year I bought the SC DD kit, and the only year I did a full album inside page protectors. They're so cloudy and they slumped because the ring mechanism was too high off the base. Plastic pages add so much weight. I've been disappointed by that album for years. The content was pretty good though. Little nibling was 4yo and loving the massive snow village at grandma's (it needed its own bedroom for storage) and I had a new camera with lovely bokeh. Pasting it into a notebook was the best way to preserve the (slight) craftiness while ditching the plastic bulk. I didn't have the energy to try and make it into a photobook. It's better than it was, and that's good enough for me rn. May share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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