Crafting Mad :

Bright and Cheerful Greeting Card - Stampin Up / Cartwork Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 09:50:00 +0000

I've made this card recently using Craftwork Cards and Stampin Up supplies I've won through a Facebook competition, yay! My cards are getting simpler due to my eyesight woes but I persevere.

Belated 50th and Being Grateful Post - Daisy Ditsy Dotty by Craftwork Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 12:42:00 +0000

Always Thinking of You Greeting Card made by Fabrizio Martellucci ( CraftWork Cards - Daisy Ditsy Dotty )

Honestly I can't believe I've reached half a century. For those of you who have been there you know the feeling: nothing changes and you kinda feel the same way as you did when you were 18 or thereabout.

I was trying to remember all my good moments and bad experience that happened during my lifetime and yes, most of it is a total blur.

I feel privileged to have reached this age milestone as it's not unfortunately afforded to many and also grateful that I have had a very good life, granted with very steep downs and hilarious highs but then I don't know if that was the fact that I'm bipolar or that I've experienced many countries and people.

I'd like to say to my young self, if I could, that I would be ok at 14 when I was worrying that a new life in Italy, after living almost since birth in Québec (Canada) I would, after all, be ok forging new friendships and that I would reconnect with the lost ones I left behind in the near future thanks to social media.

I wish I was there to comfort myself before I thought that was it when I was 18 and couldn't see any way out and the only option was to walk towards the light, thank you dear sis as you saved me that day with your quick thinking.

I hope that I could be there to encourage my younger me in my twenties to believe more in myself, that I could do it despite the fears and uncontrollable panic attacks I didn't know I was going through as I thought then everyone had them; that the army spell would be almost a piece of cake, that taking the decision to move yet again, this time my choice, in another country would be a blessing.

I so want to be there for my late twenties self to tell me the despite the sadness of a failed relationship and dropping out of uni, it didn't make a bad or worthless person. That new challenges would be there for me to tackle and that happiness was nearly round the corner.

I need to remind myself that turning 30 was when I felt at last my 'real' age, that my exuberance and good nature would show through and that my kindness and almost pathological need to help others would not be in vain although burning out was inevitable because that's how people's souls protect themselves so one can take so many setbacks before one can truly feel that there's nothing out there for them and that life is a gift regardless of that inner despair.

I finally want to say to my late thirties and forties self that healing takes time that the cocoon I had created physically and mentally was there for a reason, that regardless of all the successful people around me I was not a failure and that I am worth it !

Hello Gorgeous Greeting Card made by Fabrizio Martellucci (Craftwork Cards - Daisy Ditzy Dotty )

So now what else is left to say but a big THANK YOU !

To my sister Stefania who's always been so supportive all my life despite the distance and an ocean that separate us.

To Yvon who was my first true friend since elementary school and with whom I'm very glad to have reconnected so that a part of my French-Canadian displaced 'heart' could be mended.

To David who has been there for the past 34 years as we met when we were teenagers; you liked Spandau Ballet and I liked Duran Duran yet we never allowed that to ruin our friendship and to make me endure my Italian 'experience' with ease as I used your place as my second home when things were tough.

To Marzia who's my sister's best friend but secretly prefers me (ahahah) and keeping in touch after all these years...although she's very busy being a wonderful mum.

To Gianni because you helped me discover the difference between what I thought being in love was and just having a crush meant so that I could be thrown in a new relationship with Dan that helped me really realise that I didn't know what real love was, after all, until later when I met the right person many years later.

To my aunts: Marcelle, Lucie, Louise and sadly departed Jacynthe to give me so many lovely memories I'm still cherishing to this day. To my uncle Pierre who's genius was only met by his madness, yet you taught me so much. To my lovely Grandparents Germaine and Camille who will always be my 'beloved bacteria' (Microbes D'Amour). To my Italian Nonna Renata from whom I've inherited my artistic gene.

To London who welcomed me and gave me opportunity and many great experiences, as well as testing my resolve as it can be nurturing as well as very disruptive. It's a love and hate relationship that only Londoners can understand yet I'm proud to consider myself one. To Britain as it helped me forged a new identity because being Canadian stroke Italian wasn't enough ! ;)

To Paula Pascual who was the first professional crafter I met together with Caz that fateful night at a stampin up evening and we've been friends ever since.

To Brenda Pinnick and Sara Naumann for having taken time out of their busy schedules to meet me on a day out in London.

To Dawn Bibby for her demoes at QVC so that I could embark of this creative journey and to have never looked back ever since. Also for making a wonderful day to remember at Olympia when doing her workshop.

To Leonie Pujol and Carley Duff for that special evening tea for cancer workshop where I met the late Tracy and Paul, thank you for making it so special.

To Julie Hickey for being an amazing source of inspiration through her books I still have to these day.

To my crafting partner in crime Leslierahye and Amanda as well as Dawn, for those precious and fun moments doing our streaming broadcasts, we were pioneers :D

To Maria Given Nerius for giving me the courage and support to make those videos workshops :D

To Catherine Irving for being my shoulder to cry on and my constant support !

To all the Male crafters out there ( you know who you are and where we gather ....shhhh I won't tell lol )

There are many others (too many in fact to list, let's face it the whole of Facebook I'm thankful for) who I need to be thankful for but my mind and memory is not assisting me, so please don't be offended, I really cherish the times we spent together and I'm honestly grateful.

Thank you Greeting Card made by Fabrizio Martellucci (Craftwork Cards - Daisy Ditzy Dotty )

Finally a big thank you to Vince Ballard (my carer), for being there constantly as I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him taking this 'project' on, many moons ago that fateful day in 1999 ! I'm the luckiest man alive to have the honour to have met you and cherish every single moment together.

More Cards Being Published on Making Cards (June Edition 2015)

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Tue, 05 May 2015 17:14:00 +0000

Super excited that three cards of mine have been published in the June issue of Making Cards. I've used the Artful Watercolor Double-Sided Scrapbooking Papers and Artful Affirmations 3D Paper Tole, both by Hot Off the Press plus fun frailest dies designed by Paula Pascual to shape a tag.

Disclosure: I hope I made both companies proud using their products they kindly donated to me for this project.

Here's a small scan of the feature in the mag, scanned a low resolution and small for copyright reasons.

Birds of Valentine Quick Card - Emma's Garden papers

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 15:17:00 +0000

I had fun making this card with a Valentine theme. I call this one Birds of Valentine, using the Emma's Garden papers by Hot Off The Press I kindly received from Paperwishes HQ recently. Thank you guys !

I've used also the die-cuts that accompany those papers and they're so much fun to use, you can make a card in an instant just by layering them.

Christmas Cards Made the Front Cover - Making Cards Mag November 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 15:31:00 +0000

I have to pinch myself once more, not only my cards got published again but this time two of them made it to the front cover page (top middle). Totally stunned and I just want to thank the editor Sally Jarvis for being so patient and graceful with me.

I've used the Hot Off the Press Chalk Board Christmas papers plus Paper Tole (3D Decoupage) together with the embellishments pack that match the collection.

Yes, I do like making triangular cards, it's my only weakness ! Ah ! :D

You can spot the second and third card shown above just top middle of the front cover of the November issue 2014 of Making Cards. Still recovering by the pleasant surprise.

Bicycles cards for Making Cards Magazine - HOTP Bicycle die-cut

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 17:10:00 +0000

First card that got published in Making Cards Mag

Second Card that got published in Making Card Mag July Issue

This my article in the current issue (July 2014), I made the image small as I don't want to infringe copyrights so if you want to read the article you'll have to purchase the issue either the paper or digital one. Making Cards Magazine Website

July Issue of Making Cards click on picture for website and if you live abroad you can order a digital copy.

This is one of the card that didn't make the cut ! :D

This is one of the card that didn't make the cut but I thought I would share both of them here as I used the same Artful Cardmaker Kit : Gumdrops EDIT > This card made the cut too ! YAY ! It's part of a special download in the latest email newsletter issue of Making Card. HERE > http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=786328c544e1d3715b37f933a&id=25f1045ea5&e

I'm so excited that two of my cards using the HOTP Artful Gumdrop kit and Bicycle die got published in the latest issue of Making Cards Magazine (July).

I'm still pinching myself as I can't believe it. You can either purchase a single copy from the UK or a digital version if you're in a hurry from their website: Making Cards Magazine

I want to thank Sally Jarvis and Joanne Garwell of Making Cards Mag for their patience and also Paulette Jarvey as well as Cristina Chavez from Paperwishes/ Hot Off the Press for believing in me.

Feeling Spring Coming in with a Butterfly - Chocolate Paper Pack

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:49:00 +0000

Amazing sunshine over London today, and that made me want to look for greeting cards I made a while back when I was doing some live craft tutorial streams using either Linqto or Google Hangout.

I feel like starting again so I'm waiting for my broadband connection to be upgraded on the 24th so that I can get a better upload so that you can see a better stream when I finally decide to give it a go once more.

I've used the Hot Off the Press Chocolate Paper Pack and the 15 Butterflies and Dragonflies Template to create this 6X6 square cards and a bit of matting plus cutting two strips of coordinating paper to create the sentiment banner (folding the type and cutting at a jonty angle with scissors).

The sentiment was stamped using Heartfelt Greetings Stamps Set.

Well I'm off to enjoy this sunny day and hopefully it'll get me crafting again :D Have a wonderful Easter everyone !

So nice to win a card making / scrapbook kit by Craft Asylum - Spring cleaning my stash !

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 12:46:00 +0000

"Ooh La La" Artftul Card Kit by HOTP

It's so much fun, getting into the Spring cleaning spirit and I've got the gargantuan task of clearing my paper crafting stash. Like some of those gigantic bridges in the world where when they start to paint them at one end, it's time to start all over again at the other end: my sorting of craft supplies is exactly in the same predicament.

My sister is visiting me from Canada and I'm pleased she came over during Spring time, we're having amazing sunny days over London in the past few days so she's really enjoying her stay.

Today makes it also extra special since I won a fun giveaway by Craft Asylum, a recent discover of mine on Facebook. I made sure I entered their latest giveaway and ....surprise I got it ( you can see the details below in the embedded Facebook post ).

Although I'm a hardcore fan of Hot Off the Press ( Paperwishes.com ) I do like to try new kits from other companies as I'm sure my crafter's followers do think I've gone bonkers with HOTP supplies as I talk about them all the time. Incidentally I do have a blog dedicated to all things HOTP called I Heart Hot Off the Press ( I know original, right ? lol ). Anyhoo go and visit it when you can I'll be posting my latest cards in the next few days on it using their latest kits which were feature this past weekend, on Create and Craft Shopping Channel.

So far I've done one storage unit going through everything and having a good clear out, also realising that sometimes I get too excited and have doubles ! :D ah ! It's cool because that means I can make more cards hurray !

Anyhoo, thank you to all the nice peeps at Craft Asylum for their prize, I'm looking forward to receiving it.

Post by Craft Asylum.

Being Surprised by Your Past Creativity: Going Through my Handmade Cards' Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 00:51:00 +0000

It always amazes me rummaging through my old pictures I've taken of my greeting cards just to re-discover cards I forgot I made.

What's more amazing is that, to the risk of coming across as conceited, I'm surprised by my own creativity and sometimes have to stare at the cards to figure out how I made them.

I'm also glad I started the habit of taking pictures of my own handmade cards for two reasons: as a safekeeping to jog my creative memory and to see how far I've come with my techniques and idea. We all evolve into a certain style and it's fun to see how I've changed over the years (since 2006 ...yikes !).

I also remember how I started this blog and the fun I had (still have) in creating something sharing it so that hopefully it would inspire someone who has just started paper crafting or has lost the proverbial creative mojo.

I would suggest you do the same and go through your past creativity so you can say to yourself : " Well Done " ! It helps greatly on those days you feel totally blah and even feel like you want to pack it in.

I've added to this post a selection of cards I made but forgot I did. They go as far back as 2009 when I started live video streaming online sharing and making cards like if I were at a crop. Fun times which I'm cherishing still.

Also I want to add to finish this post that you shouldn't feel guilty in posting when you can, I leave my blogs free to 'roam' around the internet's pasture knowing that all my posts are not limited by time or space and that they're still valid despite being 'old'; so in a nutshell there's no rule and it's not a competition just post when you can and want, it's your blog after all.

Kite Card for Ann Butler and Unity Stamp Co Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Sat, 04 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

This is the second card I made using the lovely stamps by Ann Butler (Unity Stamps Co), I've stamped with a glue pad and guilded over it, coloured in using panpastels then matted and used a wooden embellishments adding a banner (HOTP template).

This is a picture where you can see the result after guilding the stamped images with guilding flakes.

You can find my previous card using the very same Ann Buttler's stamps here.

Have a great Blog Hop ! You've reached N.11 Fabrizio Martellucci the next blog to visit is N.12 Jen Goode. (see the list below)

Material Disclosure

Quilling Card with Ann Butler Mini Stamps - Diamond & Plaid, Leaves All Over

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:18:00 +0000

The lovely Ann Butler sent me a couple of her latest gorgeous mini stamp sets : Diamonds and Plaid plus Leaves All Over.

I've created the background combining the square stamps and also created the banner. Then I embossed in white with the triangular matching leaves one, on the turquoise cardstock so I could create a flower with the various triangular shapes !

It's definitely a different type of card and I appreciate it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I've enjoyed the process and I hadn't 'quilled' for a while so that got me back into doing that again.

You can find the stamps at www.unitystampco.com !

disclosure

Mimic Creations Cards for The Card Hut - Samples for Create & Craft - CD GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:36:00 +0000

I was honoured and tickled pink to have been asked by the lovely Hayley West and Nigel to make the samples for the new launch of their brand new CD Mimic Creations with a myriad of fun characters/caricature of well known celebs and actors. It's great for all ages and if you're stumped when making cards for young adults or teenagers then you'll reach for this paper crafting CD again and again.

I had a hiccup with my printer and couldn't print the background papers so that pushed my creativity to the limit to come up with something decent, I've shown this cards already on my facebook page and they were well received. I hope you won't miss the opportunity of winning your very own copy of Mimic Creations and you'll have up to the end of May to enter, the more tasks you do (twitter post, following on twitter etc.. the more entries you gain so more chances to win really lol).

Good luck and enjoy my samples hoping they will inspire you ! :)

NEW MIMIC CREATIONS GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Recycled/Upcycled Food Contaner - Leslie-rahye's Earth Day Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

I had so much fun doing this project because it was for ME ! I badlly needed something to put my pens and what-have-yous in and after watching Leslie-rahye Crafty Gig on Ustream one night, I was inspired to re-purpose an old milk powder container using décopatch glue and some brown packing paper (in the background), I also picked these funky I love London postcards from Paperchase (a chain of shops in the UK) and cut them into strips or square to make it easier to apply them over the tin/can. American crafts red and blue ribbon finish the upcycled container nicely. I hope you like my almost 'swingin' sixties inspired' pen holder ! Enjoy the rest of the blog hop (scroll down) for the other craft mates wonderful creations for this special Earth day !

I used the container on the right (Milk Powder)

Glitter Beads Stamped Flower Card - Panpastel Challenge 5

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:39:00 +0000

The theme this week on the Panpastel UK Blog Challenge is 'Glitter and Glitz'. I struggled a bit as I couldn't find any of my 50's toppers with glitzy ladies on it, yes my craft corner is like Narnia...never ending, ha ha !

So this huge Stampin' Up stamp came to the rescue and I also used the dotted one to make a fun and glitzy background. The ribbon was a good match I thought.

If you don't know what Panpastels are, where have you been ? I used three shades to colour the flower and used a fixative so the colours stayed put.

I hope you can join the challenge you have up to Sunday to have fun creating something with glitter & glitz.

Flower Power Card - Panpastel Challenge 4

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:57:00 +0000

So pleased how this card turned out, I had this idea brewing in my head and I knew I could use my old trusted Xyron Personal Cutter (the fisher price of die-cutting machines) and cut the petals using some leftovers paper and brown packing kraft paper.

I urge you to visit the Panpastel UK blog challenge as you can see all the other wonderful creations of my DT panpastel mates. Incidentallly if you wish to partake using these lovely pastels just get your browser to this UK retailer : Your Creativity Store .

I used the panpastel to create the shadow on the edge of the card and the petals to give them dimension. I find pastels easier to use than ink funnily enough so I'm totally sold for shading. You need to use fixative though as it's very pigment rich and I tend to be a mucky crafter so, a quick spray will avoid happy accidents :)

Autumn Colours Card with Kanban Stamp and Panpastel Challenge #3

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:16:00 +0000

Wow time flies, Challenge #3 Autumn colours is up already on the Panpastel UK Challenge since Sunday, wonderful samples by all the Panpastel DT team.

I've used Panpastel and a fixative plus I stamped with a Kanban tree stamps and guilded the branches. Paper is Rich & Spicy from HOTP.

My 'New Beginnings' London Box - Panpastel Challenge #2

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:11:00 +0000

New Beginnings indeed, that's what happened to me back in 1991 when I moved to the UK, namely London. Life has never beens so sweet and I never looked back. Hence my Twinings tea box salvage. Panpastel was invaluable to stain the edge of the lid. I used decopatch glue and glitter glue plus London papers and poxy stickers.

So don't forget to check out the Panpastel UK Challenge Blog as this week's theme is 'New Beginnings'

I had so much fun making this and was showing step by step on my Facebook so for those of you who want to subscribe to my Facebook feed, you're more than welcome, I post all my crafty things update publicly so you don't have to add me as a friend if you don't want to, just hit the subscribe button.

After I covered the box in white decopatch basecoast I was ready to add the nice funky paper from ....yep you guessed it decopatch but not before I added the panpastel red colour to the lid.

I really enjoyed creating this box and that made a change from my card making. So what are your new beginnings creations like ?

Do I need to add a fake barcode on my cards to make them acceptable ? - Why a handmade card has that personal touch !

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:31:00 +0000

On one of my previous post 'Now that I'm bloggin...' the lovely Lindsay Mason left me a comment about her frustration with people who don't get handmade cards. I leave you to pop to that post to see her comment but in a nutshell someone told her 'Why would I make a card if I can just easily buy one from the shop for 1 pound (dear American friends just read 1 buck).

I totally understand where Lindsay is coming from and I commented that we're losing the appreciation of the slight imperfection yet beautifully crafted and heartfelt outputs artisans and crafters alike have been producing for generations.

I coined this new term of Ikea-ism, where everything is perfectly designed, mass produced and basically even if they make you believe that you're buying a unique 'individual' lifestyle, well we end up owning all the same stuff and our homes are starting to look the same.

Memories of going to my Italian grandmother's house are still fresh and seeing some objets d'Art she used to buy from local artisans in her various trips around the 'boots'. I use to envy their uniqueness and their extra value because there was also a story or a funny anecdote attached to these mementos which my gran always relished telling at length.

I don't have anything against Ikea but it's obvious that unless the person operating the till was extremely amusing or chatty, you just know you bought that decoration because it might match and that's that...

Now what about card making ? Why is it that some people are so incensed to receive a handmade card believing we are being cheap or we couldn't be bothered to go down the store ? I tend to go for the 'once bitten, twice shy' attitude with them, once I know they don't appreciate they get the cheapo card and I don't even try to explain to them that the material alone I used for my cardmaking is well above what one pays in any of those mass produced cards in stores.

Handmade Stamp from CuteTape.com

One of my relatives who shall remain nameless is like that and doesn't get it. I remember putting a fake barcode on one of my cards a few years back and for a split second this person was pleased as punch I 'bought' the card. It was hilarious when the deceit was uncovered and the praises for the card were actually for me, not an unknown manufacturer.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this short blog post from Heaven 'Store bought cards are ugly anyway'. Obviously I don't mind at all receiving shop bought greeting cards as not everyone is a card maker.

But please people out there when you receive a card which isn't a folded piece of cardboard which was printed by a press and instead you receive something that is lovingly hand stamped, or layered with different papers, ribbons etc.. Don't turn up your nose at it: someone took the time to give you that extra 'I care about you' spending their time making you a unique, not to be repeated card. And that's worth more than ugly barcodes of shop bought ones...

Sorry for your 'Job Loss' greeting card, Is that a bit too much ?

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:38:00 +0000

According to this CNN article ' Hallmark is sorry for your loss - your job loss ' the manufacturer feel there's a demand for this type of card. They will start rolling out 'Job Loss' themed greeting cards in most of their stores pretty soon.

I'm in two minds about this type of cards as it can be seen as insensitive if you were to send this sort of greetings, like if it were a joke and it could be taken the wrong way by the recipient. Having said that, if it's a close friend and you want to let them know you're there for them, I guess that could be a nice friendship token.

What worries me is that people seem to need 'pre-fabricated' feelings on cards so that they don't have to deal with the person feelings and avoid the interaction. I'm not saying that people are avoiding some issues just sending off a card for any occasions but I feel there's a tendency of having a plethora of cookie-cut cards that will do the job and that's that.

Sending greeting cards are felt differently and the customs varies between cultures for example being half Italian, I found it very strange being handed a Christmas cards by my colleagues at work as cards are sent when you cannot give the greetings personally to your friends, family or in this instance by your co-workers. In Italy, greeting cards are only used as a last recourse if you know you can't contact your loved ones so it's reminder that you're thinking about them.

In the UK because of the huge Victorian tradition of sending cards someone just needs to sneeze and they will receive a greeting cards....only joking ! I know I'm exaggerating but I find it really nice that people want to let their loved ones and close friends that you're thinking about them sending a card.

Now as a cardmaker I can create my own themes to suit any occasions but I wouldn't personally write as a sentiment 'Sorry for your job loss', personally a 'I'm there for you' or 'Thinking of you' would make a more sensitive and sensible card to give to a recently jobless friend or family member.

So what do you think ? Is it a step too far to send greetings about losing one's job ? Do you feel when you go into greeting cards stores that they overwhelm you with too many occasions and not enough variety for the main ones: birthdays, wedding, anniversary etc... ?

How do you research a new card making technique, especially with a new medium ?

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:16:00 +0000

For those of you who don't already know, I was selected to be part of the new Design Team (DT for short) for Panpastel. My excitement turned into panic when I realised:

I haven't used pastel much in the past (apart from using pastel pencils)
I'm not an artist, I know how to assemble elements and hope that it will look good enough to make a decent card but that's about it.
I didn't have any clue where to look to see what other crafters were using them with...

Now, I thought let me look at the manufacturer in the States and the site was very thorough and lead me to a few videos on youtube. This was great because I tend to forget about youtube and how it's chocoblock full of demos etc. It's kinda a visual smorgasbord of anything from funnies to music videos...and also cardmakers/scrapbookers sharing their love of paper crafting.

I also did a search on Hubpages (where I wrote a few articles about cardmaking myself) I really like that resource site as the quality of the article is usually very high. I wasn't disappointed; a few artists were showing how they were using panpastel and how to go about it.

I finally started to search on Google but as I feared it was full of retailers selling the stuff instead of how to use them etc... Obviously I need to modify my keyword search and this is where you come in helping me.

What are you favourite keywords to find how to use new techniques ?
What are your favourite sites apart from Google and Blog Google to take you to interesting finds ?
Do you use only manufacturers website or even online retailers to see how to use some new mediums you never came across before ?

Please leave your thoughts and comments I'd really like to see how you go about it ?

Now that I'm blogging (writing more about myself) what's this blog 'mission statement' ? (how grown up!!!)

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 02:04:00 +0000

On my previous post I explained how I'm going to use this blog as my sounding board and express myself as a crafter with mental health issues. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but as I said there are 7 other blogs of mine if you only want to see cards without my 'dross'. I almost had an epiphany when I read this blog post from Christie 'Getting passionate about your blog'. She talks about a mission statement for your own blog.

Now to me it sounds all grown up and very corporate but I do understand where she's coming from (she mentions a few resources about blogging that seem very interesting so do check out her blog). I believe what Christie means is the personal mission statement or in my case: what's this all about, Fab ?

And it suddenly dawned on me that it's all about sharing my personal experience as a paper crafters: the many self-doubts, moments of 'I'm going to pack it all in' extremes, the daily quest of sorting the paper craft stash in a practical way ( I started to tidy up my corner and it's still work in progress after a week).

So be prepared this is about card making, papers (and cuts) ...hopefully with less despair. I hope I'll make your smile more than cower thinking that I'm totally nuts ! LOL So fasten your seat-belts because it's going to be me warts and all. I started this blog back in 2007 just to share my cards that I've made but now I feel confident enough to share a little of me for posterity.

I came across these bloggers' posts who have read the same post from Christie and decided to give it a go at explaining to their readership and themselves what their blog's direction might be:

So what's your own 'mission statement', in a nutshell why have you started a blog (if any) ?

'Riding the wave' distracting myself with card making, how I cope with my depressive phases

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:30:00 +0000

You're probably wondering why I write more about myself and how I feel recently. Well it's because I thought this blog of mine needed a new direction. I have 7 other blogs (listed on the right hand side) about different niche of card making, although I'm still featuring cards on this one too it's going to be also about me and how I feel about the card making process and my daily life. I won't write everyday but when I feel like I need to express myself and use this blog as a sounding board I will do so.

Something spurred this soul searching I discovered a blog through seededbuzz (google it, wink) and I felt like that post was talking to me.

Ginger (The Seamstress of Avalon) is sharing how her mother's depression affected and how she has to cope with it now. In her own words '... I had always felt that being in any kind of pain and letting it show was a sign of weakness that others would despise me for '... and it's kinda how it felt in my own family too. I had to look inward and show total indifference as a coping mechanism during my teenage years. Music was my saviour then and discovered years later when I was diagnosed with bi-polarism that most manic-depressive need something to distract them (some of those distractions are disruptives, I'm glad I picked music).

I've been card making for a few years now and I noticed that most crafters use this hobby as coping/healing distraction to their disabilities either physical or mental. I also realise that most of them are very vulnerable to criticism (me included) and we tend to kinda jump the gun. I guess in my case when I have one of those 'foggy' days I need just to craft and ignore what happens around me.

It's no easy and I don't have a magic solution, some days I'm capable to cope with some know downs and not being able to craft, others I feel super sensitive yet I can craft for England so to speak. I'm sure that makes an interesting individual albeit very erratic.

Ruth Weal has a five steps resource for dealing with depression on her blog and as she mentions that's what works for her. As for directing your energies and dealing with your own creative depression, Melissa Shell opens up with her own view about it.

I hope you can ride through the wave as I like to call it when I feel well enough to paper craft !

Are you a hoarder of your leftover bits when paper crafting ? Confession of a card maker !

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 14:29:00 +0000

So the big questions is... What do you do with your leftovers bits when paper crafting ?

I, personally, can't bear to part with even the most minuscule leftovers ( I know 'sad' ) but there's a method in my madness: I always believe that they can be useful for Artist Trading Cards (commonly referred as ATC). As you can see from the pictures I use small plastic containers to store them or plastic bags even worse I stuff them into cellophane bags meant for the cards I make. It's an illness !

Are you ruthless (and if so can you 'cure' me ? lol ) with your bits and offcuts ? How do you manage your ever mounting stash of papers ? And the most difficult question to answer is what is the smallest allowable size of paper you can keep: 2X2 square inch can always be used for a topper as a mat...but then 1 inch is also good for an 'inchie' (minuscule art form for the very patient). I despair of my sorting indecisions so when in doubt I keep everything. I need serious help !

I need your input, how do you cope are you like me saving every single piece ? Or once you've taken your scissors to a nice 12X12 sheet of paper, you just trash/bin what's left (oh the agony) ?

What's your practical side telling you that isn't working with me ?

Please help !

Signed

A hopeless hoarder (who's still tidying up his craft corner after 4 days of moving stash from A to B) LOL

Panpastels are cool and I made it into the Design Team ! Hurray !

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 02:44:00 +0000

I'm very excited to tell you that I'm part of a very talented team of crafters for Panpastel. Their weekly challenge for the UK market is starting tomorrow (Sunday Sept 25th) and this is my contribution for this weeks' challenge. You can see more infos on their blog :

http://panpasteluk.blogspot.com/

You can also purchase the panpastel in the UK at 'Your Creativity Store'

http://www.yourcreativitystore.com/categories/PanPastel/

Now I've been playing with them and will make a full demo live in one of my future craft webcasts on papermood.com please check the fanpage on Facebook for when this will happen. Papermood on Facebook

Here's another picture where I've started to play with these panpastels, they're very light and high in pigment they have almost no binders and a little goes a long way. Also they have almost no dust residue when using them. The clever tools that you should use with them are sponges specifically created for a velvety application. I simply love them.

I received a 9 colours and the applicators from the lovely Berni at Panpastel UK but I was so persuaded by their practicality and ease of use that I purchased 3 more colours to expand my palette.

I've been trying with a few techniques and I'm enjoying them. Please watch this space or my other card making craft blogs to see how I've used Panpastel.

leslierahye.: LIVE EVENT Saturday Sept. 17th

noreply@blogger.com (Fab) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:51:00 +0000

leslierahye.: LIVE EVENT Saturday Sept. 17th: Join designers all over the world as we create cards for our soldiers to send to their loved ones. Saturday September 17th 2011-- 3:00-6:00pm Eastern / 8pm-11pm UK / 9pm-12am Central European Time