Get Funky Challenge for May - Master Chef Recipe

Well, its that time of the month again (not that one - the other one) where I post my offering to the DT of my card that will hopefully inspire others in the 'Get Funky' challenge.

This month, Kathy has challenged us to create a card using certain ingredients as follows: 5 flowers, 3 design papers (at least one of these should be a Funky Hand one), 2 buttons and ribbon, with a dash of seasoning (light sprinkle of gems or pearls)...

In my last post, I teased you with a few clip its of my card:

For this challenge, I used papers from the download collection called 'Shabby Saturday'.  Its a lovely mix of pinks and creams with a bit of a dark taupe/brown in - have a look here cos it also has some great flowers to print and cut out, then it has some sentiment toppers too, then a co-ordinating alphabet too.  Its a really great colour palette which can be printed out or used with your graphics programmes.

Here is my card anyway which just 'happened'. It grew and evolved and turned out like this...

If you are up to the challenge - or want more inspiration by looking at my fellow DT members projects, go HERE where Kathy kicks off the challenge and lets you know what you have to do.  She also has put a bit of a tutorial together so its well worth a look - oh, and there's a freebie too (which I have used on one side of both of my card base pieces (its on the reverse of the polka dots).

Remember, at least one of the elements must be from Funky Hand.

While I've not been blogging, I've not been laying idle! I have lots of projects and cards to share - such an eclectic mix of stuff.

If you were asked what your style of crafting was - would you be able to answer that question.  I know I couldn't.  I don't think I have a particular style because most of my cards just 'happen' and evolve - just like the one in this post.

Well, I'll leave it right there and over the course of the next few posts, will update you on what has been happening at chez Paula!

big hugs and stuff

Paula x x x

Wannabe Ottlite Owner? - Read this!

Hi folks

I just wanted to share something with you - because try as I might, i can't keep this one to myself...

Now, if you're like me, you've been thinking of investing in an Ottlite for your crafts or creative area - but either can't justify the expense, or already have a desk lamp and can't bring yourself to replace something that seems to be in perfect working order.  Yep, that was me.

Thing is, (and I may not be the first to discover this whatsoever), yesterday, I sat at my desk (in the conservatory, in the daytime) wondering if it was possible to buy a replacement bulb to fit a lamp that isn't an Ottlite lamp.  Hmm - it appears you can - or rather, if you have a lamp that fits one of their bulbs anyway.  However, if you haven't got a lamp to fit a replacement bulb - you won't have to pay a fortune!  I wish I had a £ for everyone who might read this and go out and buy this now LOL...

I have one of these on my desk:

Its a desk lamp from IKEA - called a Global and sells for £13.99 (I think I got mine for around £12 last year). Product code is 300 185 60

Yesterday, after looking at Ottlites on Amazon, I wondered if they sold a bulb that would fit this lamp as they seem to have one that looks similar.  So, I went on to a couple of websites and found that the Ottlite site itself was the cheapest.  I ordered a bulb with the SAME fittings as the IKEA lamp.  The bulb cost £10 (inclusive of VAT) and shipping was £1.20 - and it came this morning.  My son handed me the parcel from the courier and said that's lite, are you sure there is anything in it - but I couldn't remember what I'd ordered!  Then I saw the shipping note and laughed (and was surprised at the same time!) - it was my bulb - in a bigger than needed box (probably as its a fragile shipment), opened it up, got nervous in case it didn't fit after all my hopes were up - and lo and behold... it does, and it works.

That's why I just HAD to share this with my buddies and anyone in the crafting world wanting to own a daylight lamp, but in these hard times when a full priced Ottlite is out of the question.  I certainly can't afford or justify the purchase of a new one.

Here is the bulb that fits the lamp:

Its an Ottlite 508 Illumination bulb which is reported to last up to 10,000 hours, will reduce glare and eyestrain, and give superior image and colour rendering - and let you "Enjoy life in HD"!!!

I know I can for £12.20 (bulb + Shipping)... when all said and done - I already had the lamp so unless I was going out to invest now, I haven't really included this in the amount it's cost me to get Ottlamp quality lighting - but if I needed both, its going to cost the grand total of £22.20 - and probably your dinner at IKEA (or whatever you usually do when you get there) LOL!!!

Hope this helps... same as I said - I couldn't wait to share this with you.

Please leave me a message if you think this might be something that has helped, or whether you think you will go for it!  I should be on a commission - what do you think?

Paula is one Happy Bunny right now :O)

hugs to all

x x x

WOYWW 25th May '11

Gosh, its been so long since I did a WOYWW post that I anticipate there is going to be a whole new load of WOYWWers - and loads that I've yet to meet!

Well, to those who haven't been here before, I'm somewhat well known for doing rather lengthy blog posts.  However, I think that I must have turned a new leaf - either that, or just the fact that I actually fall to sleep at the laptop all the time - because i've not been blogging at all recently.  I have all on keeping up with my e-mails and reading the things that i've subscibed to.  I haven't blogged or blog hopped for a while - so apologies to all those blogging friends that I haven't visited or kept up to date with - I hope you are all well and that you are all keeping healthy and happy.

Things are still tough with me.  I still suffer pain from my op last year - I await my appointment with the pain specialist to see what they plan to do this time.  I'm on 18 pain killers (controlled) per day, plus now having to take omeprazol due to my stomach lining being inflammed now.  I wake up a lot of mornings with a sicky feeling and the doctor examined me - boy did it hurt when he pressed on my upper stomach - he said it was inflamed so has put me on these additional tablets.  Then there is the paracetamol I take in addition when things get really bad.  My sleeping is starting to get erratic again.  I managed to tame it for a while and even went to bed early a couple of times, but needed to get up about 5am, because my body had had the usual lenght of sleep - well, actually more sleep.

Yesterday I had to go to a medical examination, then in the afternoon, I had another appointment and I think the anxiety I suffered while waiting for yesterday to come along and have these appointments and it took it out of me.  I went to rest on the bed because my feet were like Shrek's feet so took my new craft magazines to read and ended up falling to sleep.  Came down and never went back to bed!  I feel that I haven't got anything done today, but i've felt a bit 'spaced out'.  Sometimes I get this feeling when I have changed my morphine patches - like i'm getting a 'hit'.  I felt so weird earlier that I had to cancel going to my card class that I started.  I've fallen to sleep twice sat at the laptop today and feel like that now, so i'm gonna leave my post right there for today. 

I'm looking forward to hearing from new people to my blog - everyone is welcome to get in touch - unknown bloggers are strangers waiting to be friends...

Here are some pics of the craft room starting with my desk - a bit boring, some free stamps on.  The baby oil bottle for those beedy eyed of you was so I could see whether I could blend some colouring with artist pencils (Derwent).  They did blend a little bit - but then I started to want gamasol, then I started looking for Prisma pencils (really want some!)

I recently bought the camping table in so a friend could have somewhere to craft along with me too.  However, this has become a semi-permanent feature in my craft room - and actually, it means that I can leave the desk to do admin stuff at and designing on the laptop - then turn 90 degrees to the right and i'm at the camp table crafting and facing my large flatscreen TV enabling me to watch Create and Craft all day!!!

On the camp table (which needs a bit of a tidy), I have a box at the back which contains all my Tatty Teddy stuff which I bought last week.  The green caddy has some unopened stamp sets in (this is a temporary measure until I find them a home), and the blue caddy is a bit bin for scraps while I am at the table crafting.  I have all my promarkers out at the moment because I've been colouring in some Funky Hand digi's I printed out from the Papercraft Factory CD's.

Here is a pic of my sofa where I sometimes retire to when I want to watch TV or the mojo has gone again - regular home of Katy Kitten so loads of hairs under the brown throw which is not where she lays - she lays on a blue throw which matches the cushions LOL.

These are the cats spread out on the sofa - which makes me smile cos of the Keep Calm cushion - oh don't worry, they're calm alright:

 

Above is a view back at my desk to show you how I've stored my dies.  A couple of DVD shelves fastened to the wall with all my dies in thin DVD cases where I've put a strip of magnetic sheet to keep them secure.  I've made coverslips for them using Microsoft Publisher making sure that the name of the die and manufacturer was printed in the right place so it landed on the spine.  Each manufacturer has a different colour printed on the spine so that I know where they all are.  It was one of those jobs that niggled away at me until I completed it.  I was so relieved when it was done and the final case went on the shelf unit (sad or what?)!

Right, I'll leave my post right there and go join in the fun... its literally months since I was on woyww with Julia - a fantastic host, I know that a lot of people appreciate what she has done, because there are no other incentives to join in other than getting a right good nosey around all over the world, and making friends.  Better than a bag of ribbon any day of the week!  Over now to link myself up on Julia's blog.

Looking forward to your comments and perhaps meeting new crafting friends

Hugs and stuff

Paula x x x

erm, is any body there... it's me, Paula!!!

Wow... its been so long (so it seems) since I last blogged, that I'm hoping I remember how to do it LOL.

I actually started a post on Good Friday, which turned into me continuing it on Saturday - and thats as far as it got.  I think I need to get my blogging mojo back - I think I'll file a 'missing mojo' report at the local police station cos i've not seen it for a long time.

Well, I do have a reason for blogging and hope that my followers will still read my post and even make a comment (how i've missed hearing back from you lot)!!!

I'm here with my head hanging in shame really because I didn't post my last DT card that I did for Funky Hand last month.

The theme had been set by my fellow DT member Debs who asked us for spots and stripes in our projects.

I loved this challenge and was inspired by the fact that around the time of me making my DT card, it had been St. George's day - and the Royal Wedding was fast approaching at that time.

So without further ado - this is what  I conjoured up for the challenge, which can also be seen on the Funky Hand challenge blog 'Get Funky' HERE

This design actually took ages to make as the triangles are different sizes and to get the angles and positioning right was a nightmare - however, i'm quite happy with how it turned out.  After I got the pattern right, I attached acetate to the front so I could put my sentiment on this rather than placing it directly on the card.

 

Here is a look at the back of the card - I covered where I'd attached the acetate with a strip of paper which I punched with my EK Success scalloped doily punch.

ooh- reminds me of a punch and judy tent a little huh?!!!

I had printed the inside of the card in stripes leaving a blank space to write a greeting inside:

If you are interested in the polka dots paper - which matches the striped paper (same colour palette), you will find them both as downloads on the Funky Hand website - you'll find them in the download section here.  Check out some of the other downloads while you are there - they're stunning and as a fan before I became a DT member, I had almost everyone of them!!!

On the Funky Fifteenth of May, the DT kicked off another challenge.  This time it is a recipe concocted by Kathy.  She's asked that everyone includes the following items (ingredients) on their cards:  5 flowers, 2 buttons, 3 different FH papers and one ribbon - then a pinch of glitter and/or gems!

My effort is ready and will be posted here and on the Get Funky challenge blog on the 27th.  Hope you can come and join in with this challenge - it certainly gets the ol' grey matter working!

Here are some sneeky peeks of my DT piece:

Thanks for looking and reading - would love it if you left me a message to let me know you still read my stuff...

Hugs and stuff, Paula x x x