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.

WOYWW - MINI ALBUMS!

Well it is so long since I lasted posted 'What's on your Workdesk? Wednesday'. I have missed it, as I love looking back to see the state of my workspace what projects I have been working on.  I enjoy looking at other workspaces too, and I see Julia is starting to collect mugs on hers....  a sign of business perhaps?  Julia is the host of WOYWW so do pop over and see what others have been up to and to say hi. But for now here's my floor rather than my workspace:

I came back from a creative residential this weekend and so far I have not unpacked.  Well, not wholly true.  I had almost completed a mini album and wanted to finish the last few pages, so while packing away I left this and materials I needed to hand.  Just a few last pages and it is done!  Pheww!

 

Now if this was Journal Your Christmas 2012 I would be very excited.  But actually it is 2011... (hang head in shame).  I didn't even attempt an album this year because I have a lot of UFO'S (unfinished objects) and really do not want to keep adding to the pile.  And so I took them along this weekend with intention of completing some of them. 

 

 

And .... I did! 

Here I posted about a mini album that I started to make at my monthly crop.  And now it is finished and I am so happy with it.  I don't often make albums about 'me' so I loved thinking about some of my favourite things:

 

And there is more!  I also completed not one, but TWO 'Learn Something New Every Day'  albums!2011 and 2012.  I learnt from making my first album and this time I prepared pages and embellishments in advance.  During the summer it is lovely to sit in my campervan during my lunch break and to create while I am at work.  A mini album is perfect for this, especially if everything is organised and at hand.  But I started other projects and the album was left unfinished.  And when I
look through my albums I remember how much I enjoy creating them and what they mean to me.  So there is a want to finish them and not leave them undone. And as I worked on these two albums I recognised some similarities:

2011 - floods while camping in Wales

2012 - floods while camping in Yorkshire

 

 

2011 - I waited a long time to find the boots I wanted

 2012 - This trip to Yorkshire with our son had been a long time planned 

 

And so not to disappoint - here is my workspace today.  Actually these tables live in my cabin but we swapped them at Christmas so we could comfortably fit the family round the table for dinner.  I can't currently get into my cabin to work - there are new kitchen worktops balanced on the table and it needs a really good tidy and de-clutter. Oh dear......

But this year my one word is TRANSFORMATION  and this is what I am planning!!  And with a week off work I am making a start right now. I have new bookshelves in my study and I have been busy re-organising this morning.  Time now to crack on!

Hoping to be a regular here again and have a good day what ever you are doing!