I didn't get started on anything today as trying to load my Serif Craft Artist cd's back on the laptop after it being at PC world it took ages due to the amount of discs and freebies that you can download.

I have also done a bit of digi scrapbooking before on photoshop but Mum bought the serif craft artist on Create and craft as she thought that this looked easier when she saw a show and thought she would learn this this year as a challenge she had a second copy of the software and gave a copy to me.

Had a play with it and came up with these -

I started off with a template of the page and amended it to suit the photos and added in some extra embellishments and the text, doesn't really take that long to do its a lot of drag and drop with the templates
Also did this one

Thought I'd also share a few few past projects on my blog as well as the new -
My mum and me started our own challenge at the beginning of the year - my dad has been in a nursing home for over a year and mum now on her own on the Wirral so loads of miles between us but we both craft and enjoy scrapbooking and although we have different styles we decided that we would set challenges each month - either something we wanted to try or a scraplift from a magazine and that we would do A4 size so that we could scan a picture to send to the other
I am actually behind (I managed  to do the 2 pages in Jan and have done one of the ones from Feb)

This challenge was to use texture and a scraplift from scrapbook magazine issue 59 pg 34, you cant tell from the picture but the bricks behind the phone are done using texture paste then coloured with distress inks.  This is a really old photo taken in 2000 at conway castle that I thought I would use - it is of my husband and my eldest Macauley (Mak who is now 16!) just thought the brickwork went fab with this

This was a scraplift from the same magazine pg 44, this was to use tags as mum hasn't done this before, this is a lovely photo of Mum and Callum (CJ) my youngest at Llangollen on the walk back to the car after a trip on the train peeking through the trees at the river

This is the one I have done for Feb - this was to use an oversize photo. I have used a photo of CJ as don't have that many of Mak these days (teenagers!!)  was taken when we had that small amount of snow earlier in the year we went sledging in the fields at the back of us.

I will catch up with Mum on this as have enjoyed doing it.  She is very good and up to date she is also managing a weekly scrapbook challenge of a picture a day (like the 365 app you can get on smartphones) and doing a weekly page.

Anyway its later than I thought - have fun what ever your doing to keep out of the rain!!

Ok so not done much as been in work the last couple of days but have lined the inside of the drawers

and have been thinking that the middle drawer with the key in needs a key fob so thought this may do - obviously it needs to be distressed over the weekend

and found this book - Steampunkery polymer clay and mixed media projects it has some great ideas that I can use for the cage

So what else am I planning this weekend well I have these couple of frames that I thought I would have a go at doing something with and a bird (sorry he didn't photograph to well) that may go with the bird cage frame some how - I have the perfect picture planned for inside it so just hope my ideas come together 

Anyway enough from me - enjoy your weekend and hope you enjoy whatever you have planned 

   Rachel xxx

Kaisercraft set of drawers

Ok trying to keep to my word and show what i'm up to - started work on this on Sunday night its not finished yet as still deciding what to put in the cage!

I've had this sitting on my desk not made up for sometime and would normally have covered them in just paper but after doing the timeworn workshop decided to see what they would look like painted - I love them! (photos don't do them justice nor does the messy desk in the back ground!)

Will post the final picture when they are finished (hopefully soon)

Pop over to Neil Walkers blog  http://neelzexpressionz.blogspot.co.uk/ to see what he did with his (they are a different set of drawers) - which I didnt know he was doing until last night - his is much nicer - l love the new Tim Holtz folders he has used (I bought these on Monday at the Craft Barn and have yet to use them!)

Anyway my new sewing machine arrived today courtesy of a 4 day deal on create and craft so off to unpack it and have a play

Enjoy the rest of your day xx

Andy Skinners Timeworn Techniques online workshop

Ok I am still overwhelmed but I hope I make sense - oh and I had a drink to celebrate so may waffle!!!

I have been doing Andy Skinners timeworn techniques workshop online over the last few weeks it has been well worth doing (no Andy is not paying me to say this!!) details can be found at

http://www.andyskinnercrafts.com/

Andy taught us paint techniques to make things look timeworn - rusty metal, chipped paint antique brass (love this one although I have done so much I need some more gold alcohol ink! It was an incredibly enjoyable few weeks and sad that it has come to an end, there is a forum that runs alongside the workshop to share work, and chat to other delegates this has been great fun sharing and learning - there has been some fantastic no spectacular work shown on here great for inspiration.

Anyway the reason for my post tonight is that there has been a competition that was optional we could work towards and Andy surprised us last week that he had managed to get 3 judges the guys at Decoart Inc. Stanford Kentucky, we used a lot of decoart paint, Louise Crosbie and Tim Holtz!!

Well after I heard this my project changed and started work on my new project - even worked through the night on Friday to finish it

anyway this is what I came up with (Andy did the montage)

The results cam out tonight and I came second!!!!

I really still cant believe it - my eldest had said to me the other day "don't take this the wrong way mum but I don't think you are going to win!" well he was right but it was close! I won a Tim Holtz tote bag from the idea-ology range!!

Well there you go - I have learnt a lot from Andy and the Guys on the forum and want to thank you all I couldn't and wouldn't have done it without all your support and this blog will hopefully start to show what I am capable of!

Hi and welcome to this my first post on my blog.
I may at times have periods when I don't get time to blog - as I would rather be crafting than on a computer and then times when I add loads and loads of pics and share what I have done, all I can say is I hope you enjoy what I make!
It may not be original and will probably be something that I have just learned but you maybe have known for a while but hey I'm no Tim Holtz!!!
Anyway Enjoy!