Post Comment Love 29-31 October

October 29, 2021

Welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here this week we’re pleased you’re here.

At work during the week I said that I feel like I’ve missed a month or two this year, and I stand by that. On Monday it’s November, and it’s been another funny old year again so far hasn’t it? We’ve only had our heating on once so far this autumn, which is really no bad thing. Both MOH and I were brought up on the ‘put another jumper on if you’re cold’ but we haven’t even had to do that, yet - long may it continue!

I’ve a typically unseasonal photo this week too, it’s from the gardens we stayed in back in August - and these plants are also on my plant wish list. But you know I’m making progress there as this year I finally remembered to buy some alliums in time to plan them, along with some tulips too, so hopefully my spring will be looking more colourful for that.

Crafting experiments with photos

October 27, 2021

I’ve long held thoughts that photos could be used for crafting, but in a much more exciting way than just sticking a photo onto a card - though there’s scope for that too of course. I’ve a pile of photos which through various offers I’ve had printed and have been sitting there waiting for me to get my experimental hat on.

With a few days off and my mind whirring, I pulled out the photos and started to try things out. First up embossing, with mixed results.

The photo in the foreground above was much more successful than the one behind it - from this I learnt that the embossing pattern was key, and often less is more. Pleased to discover that embossing was an option that worked, with careful consideration, I was keen to try something else.

Cutting up photos. But in a more controlled way than that makes it sound. Out came my die cut machine and this was way more successful. To start with I tried a quite intricate design, and am now the proud owner of many glossy cut out cars - it was addictive.

I love how the photos add texture to the design - you wouldn’t know that the majority of these photos were of plants and garden views. I realised as I went on that there was also scope to cut more than one die cut from each photo.

And so with some washi tape more die cuts were taped into place and off I went again, this time butterflies. Again a pleasing success.

The Christmas baubles also worked - the orange/black version is from a Christmassy photo and I think that works better than the bauble with lupins, as much as I love lupins.

Always one of my challenges when making cards is wording, and so I have a few die cuts to help there too. Again pleasing success.

I particularly like the bottom cheers - the grid lines really work, and unless I told you it was one of those index photos you might never know.

So after a few hours experimental crafting, I’m calling it a success - and a box of shapes ready to use already. I’m inspired now to carry on and try out more - I could be a while!

Post Comment Love 22-24 October

October 22, 2021

Welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suz ann e, where you can link any post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here this week we’re pleased you’re here.

This week we seem to have had all the weather - it’s been warm for the time of year, wet and windy and then quite chilly - but with those deceptively blue sunny skies. Walking into work yesterday after a deluge it was easy to see that Greenwich Park was feeling a little soggy, but beautifully so.

In other news the number of Covid cases are rising again, and that’s bringing concern. My concern is how the high number of cases are being normalised, and once again the government are putting the responsibility onto individuals, which if I’m honest isn’t great. The reduction of mask wearing over the past few months, since it’s no longer a legal requirement, is shocking. They’re not perfect, but my view is they’re a small way which we can all protect each other, and if the past few years have taught us anything, then we need to look out for each other. I’m not optimistic I’m afraid about where this will lead, but I’m hopeful that decisions will be taken earlier this time round, as none of us really want or need further lockdowns.

But anyway, back to my photo of a soggy Greenwich Park - it really is as beautiful as it looks (mud aside).