Day 44

Spent time with family today.  I did go to the post office and mailed a few raks and swaps.  I finished off the dominoes.  I didn't like leaving the sides white so I used alcohol inks. I also made little tags for them and put them inside little jewelery bags.They are not as great as the others on the mb swap, but I don't think they are half bad especially for a first attempt.

day 43 Friday

So bad, so so bad.  I will stick with the claim that it was all on a gift card that I got for my birthday.  I went hog wild or a little wild at the store and got some things for swaps.  I had way too much fun.  I then crafted into the wee hours of the morning with Joan.  I finished the SS swap.  I re-did the journal.  I so did not love the original one I made.  I made really nice items (or at least decent) and then one that looked like an afterthought.  I just couldn't send it.  So I made a nicer one.  I started remaking the box for the altered matchbox swap, because I just wasn't loving version 1.

Kel

day 42 Thursday

I had to study and and then I spent some time with Josh.  We cought up on a few missed episodes of shows.  We love America's Got Talent (without the commericals) and our guilty pleasure - Love in the Wild.  Afterwards, I did craft.  I started making a box for my altered matchbox swap - wasn't loving it though. Long day, I just put it aside and decided to sleep on it.

Kel

day 41 072769

Today was birthday day.  I ended up having dinner with my sister, my mom, and Josh.  Then for dessert I went to Michael's with a gift card. Gift cards do not count towards shopping :)   At least that is my theory and I am sticking to it.  I had friend stop over with a card and flowers (orange). Thanks Vanessa.  Then another friend came by with cake and flowers. Awesome - Thanks Joan.  Lots of well wishes that day.  Then I topped off the night with crafting with Cindy by Skype.  I mostly just sorted and messed with beads.  It was a pretty good day.

Kel

Day 40

Exciting...wooo hooooo day 40.  How fun is that.  Actually I have been really having a good time at this.  I have had crafter's block for a really long time.  I have been joining quite a few swaps lately, some out of my comfort zone, but they have been great for my creativity.  I have been trying new things.  I have my love and passion back for the art of it all.  I also love the theraputic qualities it has over me.  I have a very stressful life, and this gives me a peace I desparately need.  I am also making new friends on the message board - hi everyone and of course my wonderful friends that I can create with personally. 

Tonight I spent more time on the mb rather than crafting - bad girl I know.  I received a gift card from josh for Michaels.  Wooot woot - I guess that doesn't count in my saving money and using stash because I am not spending my money - it's a gift right?  My logic sounds good anyway.  This challenge is yes more about saving money by using stash than spending, but it is more about getting more creative.  I am certainly doing that.  Granted not all pieces are works of art or come out as planned....(I have made my share of hideous creations) but i am having fun doing it.

I did my crafty thing by finishing off the rest of the dominoes I made last night by putting magnets on them.  I know - not much but it still counts.  I shall be more crafty later in the week.  Have a great day.  Kel

Day 39

Finished off dominoes and added magnets.  Loved making those so much I made a ton more tonight.  They are so much fun.  I love getting through the layers of paper to reveal the design.  I like the look of the crack medioum over the top it seems too keep the briliance of the photos beeter than the glossy accents, but still giving it an aged feel. I need to go to bed at a realistic hour tonight...today was a long day. 

Tomorrow I need to hang my picture that my dear friend Shanna made me.  I love the sign - it has owls.  I laughed out loud because it had a picture of me through the skinny mirror.  I actually look not dimensionally challenged which those mirrors tend to make you look like.  (I look tall and skinny) I want one of those mirrors in my house.  Who am I kidding.  I would wall paper the walls with them.  I would look good eating that candy bar without any guilt :)

Have a great night.

K

DAY 38

Today was an AWESOME day.  Shanna made me feel like a princess.  She came and brought me an awesome sign wich I will post tomorrow, crackle accents, a magnabilities neclass, and an owl stamp. So today I got lots done: I finished the purse album, finished my altered matchbox, and altered journal and the other box for my Secret Sister on the Cricut message board.  I included tons of rosettes, paper flowers, stick pins, altered bottle caps, butterflies, and threaded buttons. I was hopped up on coca-cola - the real stuff today, no Sprite zero today. Must be why I was so productive.  I tried out my alcohol inks and started on my domino swap.  I did five alice and wonderland and five inked dominos.  After they dry I might do more to them tomorrow to see which I like best for the swap.

Day 35, 36, 37 Combined Post

Oh my goodness. I am a BAD girl.  Yesterday I worked all day, then a friend came over around 9 pm to craft.  I stayed up until 5 am crafting.  So much for going into work first thing this morning.  I had major crafting mojo and didn't want to swap.  I have been working on stuff for the last three days.  So love making my current project. Hope to finish it either today or tomorrow and I will post pictures.  I have to go clean house, get ready for company, study for the CPA exam, and get some work done before I can play.  Better go get started.

Have a great day everyone. 

Day 34

So I am a little late posting.  I got some crafty time in tonight with Shanna.  I made some fun things today using the old stash.  Awesome........I have a tendency to buy things (especially tools) and stick them in a drawer for months before using them - if I ever do.  Welll part of my challenge is using my stuff not just the consumables.  So I pulled out the Tim Holtz rosette die.  I thought at first why did I buy this, I can make my own rosettes.  I did make some without the die and they came out okay.  Then today I used the die and they came out beautiful and perfect.  I made 10 of them.  They are so much easier with the die - pre scores all the lines - much faster.  I also made some altered paperclips and I altered a cricut box to hold the embelishments I am making my secret sister.

I am really having fun with this swap - and it is using some stash.

Day 33

Long day...very long day.  Now I get to work some  more.  I just blinged half of my butterflies tonight as my crafty thing.  Today there is just no time.  I try to craft for at least 1 hour each day.  It is a way for me to unwind and relax.  However, that darn working thing and studying for the CPA exams gets in the way.   So on the upside today I received one of my albums from the mini album swap today.  LOVED IT. And she used Basic Grey.  I more than love it, I am in awe of it. She did such an awesome job - oh so love it.  Didn't have time to take to many pictures (and these certainly don't show all its awesomeness), but here is the general idea.

Day 32

Wow...I did go a whole month of crafting.  Now if I could just do that with dieting. I would be in business.  So anyways, I did several partial projects...waiting for things to dry...these are not done, but in progress.  Hope to have finished pics tomorrow.  I have a few more things I am working on, but am waiting until I progress further to post.  The bottle caps are from my coke fixes at work, spray painted ballerina slipper pink and then pattern paper covered with Diamond glaze.  I am turning one into a book mark, one is a decoration for the cover of the mini album I am making for SS and the other is going into the goody bag for ss for decorations in pink and brown.  The butterflies will get some bling once they dray.  I made 20 something tags for Cindy for the dress form swap.  I worked on the the altered match box.  I made an ugly ribbon flower that is going in the trash.  They usually come out really cute.  I think it is all the ribbons fault. :)  I got quite a bit accomplished tonight.  I feel good.  Now I can go to bed.

When I dream tonight, I am going to think of what I could do if I won the lottery.  I could craft all day and not have to go to work.  Oh what sweet dreams.

Day 28, 29, 30, 31 combined post

Sorry everyone for not posting daily.  I have to get better about that.  Good news...I have crafted everyday at least something small.  In the last four days, both mini albums are done, I spray painted some projects for a swap to prep them for the next step to alter, and I have practiced with stick pins that I am doing in a couple of swaps.

Here are some pics

Day 27

Woot...almost have made it a month...just 11 more to go.  I have had a bit of a rough day...I am off to finish the mini album or at least try.

Kel

Day 25 and 26 combined post

Sooooo...it is time for me to go to bed.  It is late.  I only worked for a tiny bit on the baseball album tonight....will post pictures soon.  Have a good night.

Kel

Day 24

Finished the summertime album last night about 2 am.  Had some obligations this morning, but manged to make significant progress on the baseball page.  There was a 6 page minimum (front & back) = 12. Which gives you a front cover, back cover, then that gives you 10 actual pages to design for pictures.  I did 22 pagues which is 42 pages plus covers.  I must be crazy.  It is kind of cool - just time consuming.  I have a ways to go before I finish, but I hope I can get a big chunk done tomorrow.  It is all interactive and a gate fold.  Will post pictures soon.

Kel

day 23

Here are some snapshots of the Summertime not-so-mini album I did for a swap.  Just finishing this one up tonight.  Just a few sneak peaks in case my partner is looking ;0 Tomorrow is crafty day with Shanna - yippee.  Before she comes though I have a bunch of stuff to do work, study for CPA exam, go to gym... no playing in the morning if I want to play in the afternoon.

Happy evening to all.

Day 22

So I think I may take a break from mini albums tonight and play with some imagine cartridges.  I ordered - (before my scrap diet) - 3 imagine cartridges: Buckaneer, Enjoy the Seasons, and Country Carnival.  The said thing is I haven't played much with the imagine and I have had it over a month.  I did order one last thing that I am hoping will be here tomorrow: a how to video on exploring the imagine with tutorials. 

I have a Celebration of Life to attend tomorrow for a gentleman at work who passed away.  Then we will see what the rest of the day holds.  Sunday will be a scrappy delicious day.

Kelley

Day 20/21 Combined post

OOPs got off on the days.  Now I am on track.  Woot Woot - 3 weeks solid of doing something crafty every day.  it actually feels good.  I was cleaning my craftroom last night.  I found an owl page...that means I sent one short. OOPS again.  It should be good because I will be getting 3 books back and they can just short me one o and I can put it in after.  Good part is I have a picture.  Keep in mind....this was a throw together in a split second hurry for a swap as an angel.  I got to use my stash, I didn't buy any thing, and I really enjoyed it. I am still working on mini's.  I will be done with both by Monday (cross fingers) so I can get them out to my partners. Hope they will like them.

Next I have a secret sister swap and a tag swap to do.  I'll get those done first, then I have one last swap - an altered matchbox.  I am a little nervous on that one as I have never made charms, stickpins, paper flowers, etc.  I did try to practice with a stick pin and it wasn't very pretty. Back to the drawing board.  I may take sometime after that before doing another swap and try some challenges and getting some scrapping done.

I do have a couple of special gift projects I want to work on as well.

Have a great night - I am off to go scour the cmb then work on some projects.

Kel

Day 19

Yes I posting this a day after the fact.  So I decided to take one more day and work on the owls some more - the orignial design was awful.  Yes, awful. Seriouly awful. The owls were cute, the branches wer cute, just the page just did not work. It's hard to work with a 6 x 6 because everything has to be precise or it throws it all off.
I didn't get a picture before submitting.  I will take a picture when I get the books back.

Off to go work on mini albums.

K

Day 18

Sometimes, I don't know what I get myself into.  I am already have 5 swap items to make, but I volunteered myself to be an angel for the alphabet book swap.  I already did two letters, but I couldn't pass up O - owl. Such a glutton for punishment.  i thought I could finish them today - ha - forgot about the two picnics, the fireworks, and all the prep that comes with it.  I had to put crafty Kelley on hold while mom Kelley took over.  So I will mail on Tuesday.  The owls are cute, but the pages - not so much.  I need to rework the layout.  Sometimes a 6x6 is harder than a 12 x12.  I do love the owls though - how can you go wrong with Create - a - critter.  So I will get to working on those.

To my dear friend Shanna - I am so sorry for your loss.  I am hear for you any time.

Good night everyone;  I am going to try to get some sleep.  Good luck to me; the neighbors just started their fireworks.  They have been starting for the last several days after 11 pm and going to about 3;30 in the morning.  They got mad at me because I asked them Saturday after midnight if we could call it a night.  Arg.  Thank goodness it is almost over.

Kel

Day 17

So I joined MamaC's challenge where we go to the end of August without buying anything.  I definitely need to do that, but my main goal is still to do the 365 days of crafting and using my stash.  I am still working on mini albums...hope they will love all the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into these.  I am having fun with them thouigh.  I may not be as talented as some of the people on the cmb, but I certainly put a lot of effort into what I do. :)  I will probably post some pictures tomorrow.  One is really close to being done.  So excited. 

I did try to make some stick pins as practice for a swap.  I should stick to papercrafting or practice more...they are hideous.  (Don't worry partners...you won't get these ones.  Unless you want to just laugh hysterically.)

Kel

Day 15 and 16

Happy 4th of July weekend.  We started off the day awsome - at breakfast at Biscuts.  Went  to the sale at craft warehouse.  Had some awesome 4O% and 50% discounts - I even got a little something to send to a friend on the MB.  We went to Walmart to get fireworks and provisions. We got a bunch of chores done today - planted flowers, stained the deck, housework, washed the car...I'm pooped.  I am going to order pizza for dinner then scrap a little - then bed.  I worked on the albums yesterday and today.  Coming along nicely.  One is almost done - getting excited. I'll share some pics when completed. I may have to try the paper flowers my friend on ohwhatthescrap.blogspot.com posted. Until tomorrow....Kel