craft fancy – SparklyTurtle Creations (and Ramblings)

So, where have …

So, where have I been?

I have been belly dancing with some awesome ladies.
Started and finished watching Lost.
Finally finished Dancing with Dragons by George R R Martin
Getting crafty tonight

I was able to complete this task tonight at the crop at Craft Fancy, which was awesome. I got a bit of a late start there due to work, but it was nice to actually be able to finish something that I had planned on doing. I got a bit inspired and wanted to continue, but it was getting a bit late there (yes, it is a bit late now, but I even got inspired to post.) I decided when putting things away when I got home to finish another task I wanted to work on.

I finally picked up a 6×6 scrap album from American Crafts. I have decorated the cover, although it needs a little something more. This might actually be a size that I can work with. The pages have one or maybe two photos that I can add, and then I can work from there. It is kind of my style, so with that I made some pages. Of course, what I thought was going quickly actually took a couple of hours, but it is a start.

OK, well that’s a post. Now I need to go to bed to get up and dance in a couple of hours.

The ultimate plan – updating everything starting with photos

Okay, so I am updating it all. I took a class from April (who is @creativeapples on Twitter) at Craft Fancy. We worked on me learning to get better photos of my jewelry to help sell items better on etsy. So, I sat down and started retaking all the shots for the items that I had posted, and the new items that I have yet to post (cuz posting is a drag). Strangeness happens that this is also the time when my listings have expired, so right now the shop is open. I have relisted two items with their new and improved photos.

Next step is that I am going into my Flickr account and removing the crap photos and adding in the good ones. I often send people a link for Flickr, so that they can see what I have made in the past as well as currently. This would make me believe that I should probably put the better photos on there, so people actually see something good and consider going further.

Third step is to go through iPhoto and remove the crap ones and only leave the good photos. So, I am going to be streamlining the process with one or two pieces at a time.

Oh, and due to getting a nice interest rate of 12 months no interest, I also updated my camera today to the Canon Powershot SD4500 IS. It is spiffy. Of course, I am noticing that through the clearer photos, some of my items need some fixing up or discounted cost. Sheesh. It is always something. Makes me think about how the newscasters felt when their shows went HD and every flaw on their faces were now visible to the world. Yeah, it is kind of like that.

when creativity sucks, take a class

So, my creativity was on one of those lulls that just has you frustrated as you sit down at your craft desk and stare. I set this place up, I have the new apartment, so now where the hell is my creativity.

I took the watercolor class at Archiver’s, which sparked the Valentine’s day cards that I had made when Caitlin was over, but this time I went over to Craft Fancy to take a class by Martha Bonneau, where we made this awesome altered book.

I need to learn to create outside the lines, so this was an awesome experiment. I am going to try to continue to create in this book without measuring (much) before setting it up.

I was also proud of myself for being able to make a card in about 30 minutes during my lunch break on Friday. My friend has been home recovering for too long, so who can stay unhappy when presented with rainbows and ice cream?

I used an idea from CPS 104.

I am starting to get the grasp of using a sketch once in awhile to spark something.

I also have gotten going on an order for some cards and a journal. The cards are going to take some thought, but when I came across this cute kitty paper at Archiver’s, I was sparked.

Plus, I came across these adorable American Craft Thickers, which seemed to keep the idea of the fun going.

Finally, for my last piece, I was back in the altering mood. My friend Anne recently got me interested in Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, which has these awesome perfumes. You can get larger bottles or little samples, which they call imps. Anne gave an initial dose in an Altoid tin, but when I found a similiar tin at Archivers (by Art Bin, I think), I had to nab it to alter, so I came up with this. Oddly enough, I did not plan to use quite so much Stickles, but due to a clog and then a burst of glitter, I couldn’t let it go to waste. I think it worked, though. I love how the alcohol inks worked. I just hope that I don’t end up scratching any of it off.

In the meantime, when not crafting. I just finished Patricia Brigg’s Bone Crossed and have just started on Stephenie Meyer’s Host. I have really been loving the reading and crafting thing lately.

Well, off to watch Chuck and Heroes. Gotta love Mondays!

Trying to keep busy

Beyond finishing up the 40 invitations for my brother’s wedding, I am working on a collection of 50 cards for a church outing. What is up with these huge projects, even though they are cool to finish. I need to take some pictures so I can post them.

For fun, I made a card, which I, of course, immediately put in an envelope and sent out to a friend as a RAK. I also made this new LO for my little fluffy face (the “f” in face seems to get a little lost, but it is there). It makes me smile when I think of how she will look when her hair grows back from her summer trim.

I am also including two cards I made a little while ago, one of which uses that cool corner punch, which I may start using more. The cake is Cuttlebug die cut and the sentiment is a rub on.

Oh, and although I don’t have a snapshot of it, since it went into the envelope, can I just say how cool Maya Road rub-ons are. They are smooth and come right onto the paper how you want them to. There isn’t any shifting or difficulty, and what is left looks awesome. I highly recommend them. I was introduced to them at the local store Craft Fancy. Very cool place.