Dare 42: String

The Aussie Dares blog has been updated so I can now show the finished product. For more information you will need to go to the Aussie Dares blog site. There are some really lovely ideas there. I love Edleen's and Michelle's layouts. Two creations that have inspired me are Sarah's and Bec's.

I can't wait to get started on some more fun. I need to tidy up a bit though - again, as per usual! I have no excuse not to go into my craft studio anymore. My wonderful, wonderful Uncle has put up a reverse cycle air conditioner so that when it is 40 degrees outside it's not 55 degrees in the shed. It was also raining the day that he did it and it meant that half his time in Perth visiting was taken up with finding, purchasing, and mounting the air-con.

This now means I need to get to work organising the shed in a way that I can also store all my mixed media stuff as well. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I currently have a stack of racks that store my papers but that takes up sooooo much room.

Anyway I promise more photos on the way of some of the things I have been working on.

String Teaser

Why are weekends so short all the time? There are just not enough days to have a decent weekend. I think there should be law that says we work for 4 days and have 3 off. The world would be less stressful then,

I went to my Journal Junkies afternoon today. It is fun getting together with everyone. Carmen taught me how to use soot in my art work without burning the building down (photos another day). Vivian dropped in to say hi. Joanie is back from Canada (she mean - she didn't take me with her). We would have all been there if Suzanne hadn't gotten herself sick yesterday.

Anyway I spent the first half of the afternoon completing my string challenge for Aussie Dares. I have put some teasers below before I show the finished product

Instructions:

1. Think of how you can manipulate different types of string and then come up with a design to incorporate them.
2. Cut out the shape of your design from some thin card. In pencil draw internal external lines of your design onto some thing cardboard and then cut it out.
3. Place wax paper on top of some firm foam and place your design cut out on top
4. String Circle - I used cotton string for this as it is nice and fine however any string will do depending on how big you want the circles. Put a drop of glue onto some wax paper; pin one end of the string in the centre of the glue. To stop the string from spinning around when you form your circle place another pin in the paper close to the first pin. This allows you to wrap the string in a circular motion until you have achieved the size you want. I used another pin or reverse end of a pencil to push the string into the glue. When the glue is dry, remove the pins and pull the circles away from the wax paper ready for use in your design.
5. In the below picture I have two other techniques aside from the circles. First I took some packing string (twine), frayed it and then cut it into fine slivers which I then sprinkle onto an area of glue. The second technique (shown below the circles) is making use of three types of string: twine (brown), fine cotton (green), and a loosely woven household type of cotton string (white). I cut the green into two lengths and knotted them at one end before I secured it to the foam with a pin anchor. Both the brown and white had various lengths all cut the same. One at a time fold each length in half and tie the green around it a short way from the loop. Repeat for the next colour placing each length close to each other on the green. Once you have enough, fray each end of the string so that it opens up nice an full. A pin will be sufficient to do this.
6. To block out a whole section I would put some glue on the cardboard design, pin the end of the string and move it in an up and down motion to create lines. At the top and bottom of each row I would use a ping to hold it in place.
7. I also plaited the string and also just glued down plain cut lengths.
8. WARNING: This is very time consuming and not good if you have bad wrists.

Any ideas as to what it is? You only have today to guess because I am sure the finished product will be on Aussie Dares tomorrow. Oh if you were at the Journal Junkies you are not allowed to tell.

Has it been over a week ...

I can't believe it has been that long since I sat down and blogged something. I have been creating but I am not sure if I can put it on my blog because I am doing something special for my ex boss that involves his baby boy. Yes the one who thinks Scrapbooking should not have the letter 's' in it. Would you believe I showed him my ATC's that I have created and he actually liked them. If I had had a thermometer with me I would have handed it to him and tell him to shove it somewhere because I don't think he was at all well.

I would have posted some of my ATC's on here but mum has gone out for the day and taken the camera. After all it is hers. I would use mine but it is not good with closeups and doesn't take a small shot very well. Anyway instead here is a gorgeous pup I receive in my inbox yesterday.

New Look

I thought it was time for a change. Considering I love vintage images at the moment I thought this was the best option for me right now.

Have a great weekend everyone

starting again

My diet has taken a bad dive over the winter months. Jacob's ladder became a non event after I was sick for a week and then winter rains fell upon us. Three weeks ago I decided to give Light and Easy a go. Oh my God is the food delicious or is it delicious. About 10 years ago I tried trim Away and even though I stuck to it and managed to lose a lot of weight the frozen meals were not that nice. In fact the potato was always soggy. I then tried Jenny Craig but even then the frozen meals tasted a little like cardboard as well (plus it was expensive and I still had to prepare the veggies - I am lazy). Angie recently started on Light and Easy so I decided to give it a go. You can try it for as long as you like without any contracts. In three weeks I have lost 3.5kg and that is with barely any exercise. The meat is succulent and tender it is just like someone cooked it and didn't freeze it. The lunches are nice as well. You can even choose from a large variety. Don't take my word for it though. Give it a go yourself.

I have even managed to get mum outside the last two nights for a walk thanks to the warmer weather. We drive down to a park nearby and let the dogs run free. Last night Tess was a little excited but tonight she would not stop whining. It was continuous. If she could speak she would have been asking if we were there yet before we even got into the car! Every time we stopped at lights she would get agitated expecting us to get out any minute. Of course on the way home she is nice and quiet.