Steven Tyler's dangly bits!!!

I've just completed my entry into a Rock Resurrected CJ "I don't want to miss a thing" about Steven Tyler and Aerosmith. Here's the pics:

The whole double layout pic is followed by a lcoser look at the "dangly bits" on the microphone. The next pic is the front of a mini maze book I made using 8x8 paper. Inside the book are some facts and quotes from Steven Tyler. There's a quote from ST saying the scarves on his microphone would have pockets sewn into them so he could put his quaaludes and tuilins in them so I've sewn a little pocket onto the page and inside it explains what quaaludes and tuilins are. The last two pics are my signing in tour pass. Let's hope the owner likes it

In Pieces

I don't believe in just scrapping happy occasions. I want to leave my scrapbooks to my nephews and I want them to know that life isn't always happy, that it can be heart-wrenchingly sad. But that's ok its all part of the rich experience of life.

Im taking a class called "Pretty Paper Party" by the talented and lovely Shimelle in which she is encouraging us by fantastic prompts to use our pretty papers. So tonight I took the challenge. I used pretty paper, I cut into it and left it in pieces! Which is fitting for my subject.

My husband is often in pieces. He copes with problems many people can't conceive of on a daily basis. Im not sure he was ever given the chance to be whole. But I try to offer him that chance. So I chose to scrap about that.

Here are the papers when they were whole:

 This one is DOUBLE SIDED (see below)

Then I cut them into pieces:

And I came up with this layout:

inspired by Darren Hayes song, "Bloodstained Heart".

All the pieces come together to make a new whole. I think that's what happens when you love someone. You help them pick up the pieces and make themselves a new whole. There's no going back to who you used to be its about finding a way forward with people who won't leave you in pieces.

Pretty Paper Party

For the first icebreaker in Shimelle's class Pretty Paper Party we were asked to upload piccies of our unused pretty paper stash. I have soooo much. Here is my pic

Can there be too much of a good thing?

I teach a ten week scrapbooking for beginners class at the charity I am lucky to work for and as such I always feel the need to keep up my professional development and learn from those who have been doing it a lot longer than I.

So I recently enrolled on a  Create 10 Class called the Collector's Diarywhich involves altering an old journal. Like the author I have many (too many) notebooks that are half filled but I won't throw them out for various reasons and I have one in particular that I bought on holiday in St. Ives and had been feeling bad that I had mis-used it or not used it well enough because its so beautiful - well now I have the chance to alter it and make it beautiful again. I shall keep you posted as to how it turns out...

But one class wasn't enough - I am admittedly obsessed with crafting - thoroughly immersed in the world of altered art and it is all I want to do in my spare time other than spending time with my amazing family. Soooo I joined another class with the ultra talented Shimelle called ""Learn Something New" a class she has been running successfully since (I believe) 2006 and which runs each year.

But... two classes just weren't enough! Her yummy cupcake blog has a whole list of exciting classes so I joined another... this time "Pretty Paper Party" for ideas on how to use all that gorgeous paper we have in our stash that's too nice to use

But... three classes just wasn't enough! So I joined a fourth! Another of Shimelles called "So you think you know me" - is it narcissitic to love to scrap oneself? Well I do. Love to scrap myself that is. I do believe all the personal development work I have done over the last 20 years are a big part of the reason I feel happy now finally in my 30s and learning about yourself is a life long journey. I'd love ot look back on a family member's personal scrapbook and so I hope to leave future generations a personal scrapbook about myself - an ordinary but contented woman. So bearing this in mind this 4th class was of course a necessity!

But... four classes just wasn't enough! Actually Im kidding - its more than enough as Im already doing a years Diploma in Philosophy and a Qualification in Papercraft... that's six

Now my favourite number is SEVEN!

STOP!!!!!

Mini Book Swap

I made ten tags for a mini book swap on UKScrappers some time ago and now I've finally got round to making the covers. I felt a little more relaxed in one way because I get the covers back so I can change them if I don't like them and I don't have to worry about them landing in someone's house that isn't impressed. Here they are anyway - front cover - inside back cover - inside front cover - back cover :

"Whatever" CJ

I'm part of a newbies CJ called "Whatever" as we can do whatever we like. My topic is Serendipity - otherwise known as a happy accident - coming across something amazing quite by chance! I found the base for my front covers at the recent 12 hour crop for breast cancer in Golborne the "pink booby" and I  had an idea of covering it with pink and yellow swirls using distress inks. Needless to say the base didn't particularly like the distress inks but in what I might call Serendipity I quickly coered the mess with cosmic shimmer mist and it looks fab! Here's two shots of the covers - the first is Peacock green and the second is Purple Shimmer:

The After Shots

So now I've embarrassed myself with shots of before the move and tidy hopefully I will redeem myself now with photos of afterwards. I would still like to make my craft table/desk a little emptier but Im happy with how its going...

Craft Room Mayhem

I had recently come to the conclusion that craft rooms can't ever be and in fact shouldn't be tidy. Then we got an email from our landlords saying we were due for an inspection. And funnily enough I changed my mind! So I decided I wasn't just going to tidy i was going to get organised and change the whole room around. After all it benefits me, makes it easier to craft and its respectful to my landlord so everyone wins. I did of course photgrpah the transition for scrapbooking purposes. So here are the before pictures. Try not to cringe - Im cringing!

Rock Ressurected

Well the first posting is TODAY. I completely finished it at 7 minutes past midnight. Here's the front, back, my pages, sign in (rock) stars and individual sign in pockets. The pages are alternatively black and purple as shown at the bottom.