Feeling Broken

 

A Captivating Blog Train- This is Me- Stacked Papers Freebie

The Captivating Sistas have joined Rachel to celebrate her birthday this week!

If you haven’t seen all the fun and games visit this post on Rachels blog Here!
Her store is still on sale for 30% off until May 29th, and the freebie links to the ‘This Is Me’ Alpha on her blog and the ‘This Is Me’ Papers on her Facebook fan page are still active until Sunday only!

Plus a little birdy tells me that if you missed the freebie from the Newsletter on Thursday (‘This Is Me’ Elements), if you sign up by 2pm EST on Sunday May 29th it will be sent out again one final time to all new subscribers so sign up if you haven't already!

The 'This Is Me' Full Kit will also be available for sale in the store on June 3rd for everyone else who missed it after these freebies end!

Rachel and the Sistas have been creating some pretty awesome stacked papers for you with the This Is Me Kit, you can download all nine papers free by following this fun train!!

You can download my portion of this freebie HERE, and then follow the blog links below from the list to the next freebie. All participating Sistas have been noted in the list so if you’ve got lost or missed a paper check all of the blog links below for the freebies!

Don’t forget to check out Rachel’s Sale and enjoy the freebies and leave us some love in the comments while you are here!

These Stacked Paper freebies will only be available for thirty days so snap them up while you can!

Rachel
Christie
Lynn
Ellie
Tammy
Melissa
Carrie
Tamara
Andrea
Lita < You are Here

Happy scrapping!

Lita xo

What’s on your workdesk?

It’s time for another WOYWW and I actually remembered! So here’s a look at what I’m currently working on, and is therefore sprawled all over my desk lol

I’ve signed on to Christy Tomlinson’s new workshop, She Had three Hearts, and have started working on the first spread in my journal. I’m loving the class so far, but not gonna lie, I’m feeling more than a little intimidated lol

Last week, a couple of you asked for a closer look at the goodies atop my desk. Well, I had planned on sharing it sooner, but clearly I didn’t lol I have finally taken some pics to share with you and here they are!

Also, a closer look at the pieces sitting behind my flower jars – a mini canvas, an altered tag and an art journal page just waiting to be glued into an actual journal.

Thanks for popping by today – I can’t wait to nose around everyone else’s blogs!

Happy crafting!

Lita xo

My anthem for today

Love this song, and the clip makes me giggle lol

Happy crafting – or lazing about!

Lita xo

Thrifty Thursday – Upcycled books

Anyone that knows me knows that I can never resist a bargain, anything vintage, or any form of upcyling. I also cannot stand to waste anything – all those weird odds and ends that most throw away, I will generally find a use for. What can I say, I’m a thrifty girl! Though I am  NOT a hoarder, lets be clear on that lol

Anyway, I recently started using a lot of book text in my artwork, which had me scouring the web looking for a good source of lovely old vintage books. My word, I was NOT prepared for the prices attached, and just couldn’t justify the cost for something that was gonna to be torn, scrunched and covered in paint! So I head to the op shops (that’s thrift stores for my OS friends). I found some absolute gems at next to nothing, and even managed to score a bundle from the half price table!

This is only about a 5th of the pile I have stashed under my desk hehehe

I then came home and starting ripping pages out, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Of course, once you use the papers up, you’ll be left with the covers. I mulled it over, trying to find a way to keep the thriftyness going and then inspiration hit – why not use them in place of canvas panels? And so, a tutorial, of sorts, is born!

What you’ll need:
Thrifted books – choose those that have a hardcover. My favourites are those with a fabric feel to them, as this gives a more realistic canvas look.
Craft knife or scissors
Gesso, paint or paper to cover – whatever your heart desires!

Using your knife or scissors, separate the cover from the inner pages.

Your cover will most likely have a rough edge, with frayed fabric, and torn paper etc. It is entirely up to you if you wish to neaten this up or leave the rustic look . Btw, don’t throw out that extra spine piece – it makes an awesome bookmark!

Prepare your  ‘canvas’ for your project. Cover it in paper, or gesso to create a primed surface, ready for painting etc. You could also leave it as is for a fab vintage look! FYI, I know my gesso’ing here is shoddy. It needs another coat for sure! And no, that’s not mustard in the background – it’s my gesso bottle lol I use Matisse brand (though I am NOT a fan of the quality) and it comes in a big tub that is awkward for me to use, hence the squeezy bottle.

You can now decorate as you please! Evidently I’m big on limited palettes and one word sentiments at the moment lol

I hope this little thrifty tip was helpful for you! If you decide to give ti a try PLEASE link me up, I would love to see your creations!

Happy crafting!

Lita xo

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday

I stumbled across this post and have decided to take part. The voyeur in me loves the chance to get a peek into others creative spaces! So here i am, with my first WOYWW.

 
First up, this is just a general shot of my workdesk. Generally, the laptop isn’t there, adn in it’s place is a pile of goodies such as my paint palette (fancy word for baking paper with blob of paint on it), my current creation or my art journal, and usually a bucket load of stamps, inks, trims, glues – you name it, and I’ll have it crammed on there!

For today though, my desk is set up for some serious work lol I have recently decided to get back into my digital design business, and opening day is very close indeed! SO I have my laptop, my diary and ideas notebook and the ever present can of fizzy drink lol To the left there you can see my much neglected art journal, just begging for some attention, and to the right, the latest addition, my teensy succulent. I’m looking for a name for it and will welcome any suggestions! What ….. normal people don’t name their plants? What exactly are you implying? :P

Ok, enough from me, I’m off to nose around the other WOYWW participants blogs!

Happy crafting!

Lita xo

Tuesday Tute – Flower Girl Leaves

While browsing my favourite blogs, I came across this tutorial. Traditionally, flower girls scatter rose petals in the brides path, and while it is quite pretty, why not try something different? Check out the sweet flower girl leaves in this fab tutorial from Janae & Kendra, as seen on A Beautiful Mess.

Happy crafting!

Lita xo

A New Creation

I’ve been playing around with mixed media and canvas, and paint and generally just getting messy, and wanted to share a creation with you. I came across this gem over on Christy Tomlinson’s blog, and fell in love. Take the time to watch the video – the way she works is amazing. I love her style and would happily watch her videos all day.

Anyway, I loved this canvas, and was inspired to get to work on one of my own. However, I don’t have the fab Faber Castel goodies Christy was using. So, I set myself a little mini challenge, to try to replicate her canvas, using my supplies. It was so much fun, and I LOVE the result (though not as much as I love Christy’s hehehe ). I still want to add some words but am holding off until I can come up with the right sentiment. I welcome all suggestions!

It just goes to show that you can take any creative idea and adapt to suit your materials. Lotsa fun!

Christy’s next workshop, She Has Three Hearts, starts very soon and since I’m already signed up for it, I can’t wait! It starts May 23rd, so still plenty of time to register if you want to learn from this amazing woman!

Time to head off for now, and feed the wild animals. Until next time…

Happy crafting!

Lita xo

Neglect

Wow it’s been quiet around here lately! I haven’t forgotten about this little blog, but life has been busy of late with some big changes on the horizon.

Most of you probably don’t realise, but I used to work as a digital scrapbook designer, but ultimately ‘retired’ from it in November due to health and family issues. Well, life is looking up, and since I’m really missing my design life, I have decided to get back to it! Cue the frazzled look, greying hair and all round business of preparing to re-open lol My artsy stuff has fallen to the wayside a bit (just until I am ready to launch) and as a result I haven’t felt like I’ve had much to share here. But I thought I’d at least pop in and let you know that I have not, in fact, disappeared off the face of the earth, I’m just a wee bit busy lol
Head on over to my design blog if you’d like to find out what the heck I’m talking about lol
 

I have been mulling over a new feature for the blog, that I hope to start sharing as of next week. Thrifty Thursdays will be a series of posts sharing my budget friendly crafting tips, and I have to say, my first post is a wowser! I’m a wee bit chuffed with myself i must admit lol *toot toot* <--- Yep, that was me, tooting my own horn lol I plan to get back to my regular Tuesday tutes, and sharing of my personal artwork also. I am in desperate need of some artsy time with paints and inks and lots of messiness. In fact, I think I’ll head off now, to do just that!

Happy crafting!

Lita xo