Challenge 04

This weekend Shimelle Laine is hosting a Scrapbook weekend over and www.shimelle.com. It is a great event with lots of Challenges and Chats. This is my version of Challenge 04; scrap in Yellow, Grey and one other colour, for me that is a soft pink. This is not at all my usual palette, but I am pleased with the result. Pop over to:
http://www.shimelle.com/paper/1445/scrapbooking-colour-challenge-yellow-grey-one-other-colour/
To see the full challenge.

Shimelle Scrapbook Weekend - 13 - 15 April 2012

Have you heard the news? Next weekend there is an online scrapbooking weekend being held here:

http://www.shimelle.com/paper/1434/online-scrapbooking-weekend-coming-soon

At a craft table near you. No packing required, just log on and enjoy the fun!!

I hope to spend a lot of time joining in, hope to see you there.

My New Storage Solution

I had seen a video in You Tube for a storage solution for craft punches, and in particular Martha Stewart's. This used Cafe rods and Pin Board (hardboard with holes drilled all over it). I had seen another version using Bygel rods from Ikea.

My version uses 8 x 55cm Bygel rods and a piece of Pre cut 3mm MDF, 610mm x 1220mm. The fittings are picture frame fittings and, as we have a house with picture rails, it is hung from picture rail hooks. I drilled holes as needed, leaving 5 inches between the rails for the smaller punches and 6 inches for the larger ones. I fitted the rails with M4 x 12mm nuts and bolts, these were the shortest I could find and in fact anything shorter would have been a real fiddle to use (but you could use M5 bolts).

Because I wanted a coloured background I painted the MDF after I had drilled the holes, but before I fitted anything. I found the cheapest way to get the paint was to buy a Dulux colour match sample pot, these are 250ml and give enough paint for three good coats when applied with a mini roller. Because I was going to store, mostly, Martha Stewart punches I chose a colour that is similar to her blue.

I am really pleased with the final article, it took about a day to complete, although much of that time was literally watching paint dry. I have now got a really smart home for my punches, where I can see what i have got, and a whole shelf freed up in my cupboard. I am really pleased.

FYI, if you have some odd shaped punches you want to store, you can get little baskets that hang from the rails which would hold these. Obviously they only work on the bottom rail, but worth remembering. I may have to go back to Ikea to get some.

Back to the Real World

After an exciting December that included not only the usual Festivities, but a trip to New York with work, yesterday saw life getting back to a more normal position. The alarm is now set for 6am again and breakfast and lunch are meals to be eaten at one's desk.

But it is a New Year so there are bound to be new challenges, so I am sure much of it will be good.

Here's to a great 2012.

Happy New Year

So 2011 is well and truly over and 2012 has started.

Last year was certainly one to remember, both personally and globally. It was the year I left an employer I had worked with for 20 years and joined a new employer, which so far seems to have been a really good move, long may that continue. In a global note, it was the year of unrest in the Middle East, earthquakes in New Zealand, flooding in Japan an Thailand, not forgetting Pakistan. New countries in Africa. The Eurozone on the edge of collapse. A new leader in North Korea. What a year.

2012 could be a pivotal year. There are elections due in a number of major countries. I think it could be the year of make or break for the Euro. Scotland may vote to split from The Union. Who knows what natural disasters the year could throw at us. And London has the Olympics.

Here's to 2012 and fingers crossed it treats us well.

I am so special!!?

I know this is the season of goodwill to all, BUT. Did I miss the memo that said, if you have been Christmas shopping all day and have a pushchair full of child and shopping and are late for 'your' train, that it is OK to run down the platform pushing people out of the way and yelling at them to 'Mind out!' in order to get on to, not a carriage where there is space for you and yours, but the fullest carriage you can find, where it would be a squeeze to get just Mum in, and then proceed to push said pushchair into innocent bystanders' shins and demand that they find room for you, that clearly is not there.

Sorry, but that is just rude and self centred.

The Lights Are On

The lights in the trees outside our offices are on and twinkling in the dark of a crisp Winter's morning. The Christmas festivities have started. Christmas Lunch will be available in the staff restaurant next week for those who want as many Turkey dinners as they can get. I will not be there to partake. I will be the other side of the pond, visiting our offices in the Big Apple.

I wonder how different the build up to Christmas will be in NY. Next week I will find out.