TIME FOR THERAPY

Retail therapy, that is....  and I don't want to think how much I have spent this year on craft materials because it is only February!  Sometimes I can be frugal but other times I just n-e-e-d to replenish and give myself a boost of creativity and inspiration. 

And what better way than go to the Stamparama Show with a good friend? Now Pauline is a bad influence... I mean, we have the same taste, same enthusiasm, and when your friend is piling her bags full, what is a girl to do? We did hold back though! With some stamps we compared and bought different sets so that we can share and have even more. What a great money saving idea!! 

Here is a selection of my new stamps. I bought lots of others bits too but these are what excited me most. I desperately wanted the PaperArtsy Christmas stamps last year but knew I would not have time to use them to make cards.  But as they were reduced they were hard to resist.  And it's 10 months to Christmas, so surely I'll have time to use them this year?!

 

I loved this new range of flower stamps designed by Jo Firth-Young.

And after watching Leandra from PaperArty demonstrate how to use them... well... they just jumped into my basket!!

 

I can't wait to use them and meanwhile Pauline emailed me with a photo of 2 pieces of art she made today with her new stamps. She has now posted these on her new blog so welcome to blogland Pauline, it took you a long time but so glad you finally joined the party! I am VERY impressed and I know where to go if I need some top tips! Do pop over and see her amazing canvas's.

And what's more PaperArtsy have some excellent tutorials on their blog. 


Thanks for visiting and have a good week!
 

WOYWW - Silhouette Cameo

This post is part of a weekly sharing of what is on your workspace.  Only this time it is not MY workspace but a good friends. You see

I have ordered a Silhouette Cameo machine and it is on it's way from the States.  Meanwhile, my friend told me she had one still in it's box unopened so she invited me over to experiment.  We both have die cutting machines already, but found ourselves frustrated and disillusioned to the point that they sit unused. 

 

A bit of moral support was much needed! 

 

Though tinged with apprehension I was also feeling excited, because I know two people who recently bought Silhouette Cameo's. They speak highly of the machine and I have seen what they produced.  They did not talk about frustration... or wanting to throw the machine out of the window, so I turned up at my friend's with hope and enthusiasm. 

 

After lots of chat and coffee, we started to unwrap the box.  Can you believe this machine has sat in it's wrapping since 11.11.11!

 

But I understand why....  after a bad experience it can feel daunting to start over with a new machine. So it was good to have someone to do this with.  

  

Our first attempt was unsuccessful.

So we experimented with depth of blade and thickness of cardstock, and it wasn't too long before we had a result to be proud of!   

 

With confidence growing we decided to experiment with 'print and cut'.  We used one of the images that comes with the machine and  downloaded a YouTube video to guide us. Our second attempt had us happy dancing, and by now our confidence was soaring... 

So we decided to use a digikit and an imagine copied from Google Images. I didn't take photos of these, but I will be using them in projects over the next day or two, so I will post these next time.

 

  Now I really can't wait for my machine to arrive! 

 

I have started a new album on Pinterest for the Silhouette Cameo and no doubt my workspace will be busy over the coming weeks trying out new ideas and starting new projects.  And my friend and I will certainly be meeting up again to share ideas and learning.  Do you have a Cameo?  I'd love to hear any tips or ways you use your machine. 

And over at Julia's you can find out what other people have on their workspace today.