Busy, busy, busy!

Is it really that long since I last posted????? I just don't know where the week has gone. I think that as you get older, the days get shorter!

But I have been rather busy. First of all, the OU course starts next week. The info and programs for it came through last Friday just as I was about to go out for my walk. Of course, I had to open it and ended up being late and missing it. The online stuff has been available from Monday. So I have spent a bit of time working on that. I have to read it all online as it is interactive but, as I prefer to read on paper, I have downloaded and printed off all I need so far and there is loads of it. I also have photo assignments to do.

However, photo assignments are just going to have to wait. I must be mad, but I agreed to look after a friends puppy for a few days. She is driving me loopy!!!!!! She doesn't know what "No" means and when you call her, she wags her tail and runs in the opposite direction! I end up having to chase her to catch her when I take her for a walk. Got no time to think about taking pics.

At least I got out on my walk this morning and my legs are aching! I used to go every Friday but lately "things" just seem to happen that stop me going. I have been cycling as much as I am able but walking uses different muscles so I am aching in different places! I ended up taking Millie with me, I figured on the "kill two birds with one stone" thing. However, she pulls a lot and so my back is aching as well.

I went for a job interview on Monday which, unfortunately, I didn't get. I am also trying to get an Aran poncho done. And it is the 1st on Monday so I need to get the newsletter done.

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Of course, practising with PSE5 means getting plenty of digi scrapping done. This is another of the Ad Challenges. The little pic is the original ad. I learned to make a bsic template and then fitted the photos behind it. This was Benjamins first time in the sea at Porthkerry Beach in Barry.

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Here is the original ad for this one.

These pics are from about the same time. I dressed him up as a Tiger so he could take part in the arena with the Brownies at the Scout and Guide Fete. He loved it. I know his face looks like he is crying but he was laughing! I didn't get exactly the effect I was looking for with this one but I did learn how to make the shaded gradient layer to go over the tiger paper.

And finally, this weeks team challenge on UKS.

At Last!!!

I finally managed to sign in. Been having problems all morning and I wanted to post the link for my new freebie, a crocheted heart frame. You have already seen the lovely LO from Fi and the free pattern for it. So now here is the free download. Enjoy!

New Puppets!

I am so pleased, I finished my Jungle puppets pattern. This didn't take me long as, instead of starting something new, I was ever so go and dug something out of the wardrobe to finish off!!!!

So here are Arnold Alligator, Sidney Snake and Petula Parrot. This is my 11th set of puppets. I am thinking of making another set to round it up to 12 then call it a day. I have added it to my site but haven't sold any yet. However, I have had some enquiries as to whether I sell the actual puppets!

Scrap, Scrap, Scrap.

Learning to use a new program is a wonderful excuse for loads of digi scrapping!

I decided to have a go at another of the ads posted in the Ad Challenge. This one is a bit different to my usual style. I did learn where a few more buttons were though. The Denis outfit is one a made for Benjamin a couple of years ago. He was just getting to like reading and was encouraged with Beano comics! Well, whatever works. He didn't like wearing it much thought because people laughed at him. He couldn't get to grips with the fact they were supposed to!

I discovered how to "cut out" part of the photo in this one. I used free papers from Scrapgirls. The font is a long story which I have no intention of telling! However, if you really, really want it, you can buy it for £29 somewhere online!!!!!

And while I was on a roll, I decided to enter the House Challenge on UKS. Very different from my normal style. Paper and overlays by Dawn Inskip. A crocheted Sun by me. A handwriting font from a site that does a whole load of them that all start with "Pea" and I really should have bookmarked, and a "Raindrop Splash" free font filled with a free paper from Scrapgirls. I am sure there must be a much quicker way than the way I worked out how to do it though!

The Sun is a freebie on the Scrapbooking Elements page.

Finding the Buttons

I have been finding where some more of the buttons on PSE5. I am finding it slow going as i keep trying to do things the way I did them in PI and it doesn't work. Sometimes I am tempted to go and do it in PI but that would defeat the whole purpose.

My latest creation is in response to an "Ad Challenge". An advert is posted and you have to use it for inspiration. Whether you stick strictly to the layout of the ad or just use the colours is entirely up to you.

Three were posted and this is the one I chose. I started with one of the pictures of the weir that I took. I decided to take sections of the photo and adjust the lighting to create the same sort of effect the blocks of colour had in the ad. However, the colours were just not vibrant enough to take having the light played about with. So I switched it for one of the fantastic sunsets we get around here. After spending far too much time on it, I managed to find out how to adjust the lightness, put borders around the sections and draw additional lines.

Do you like it?

If you don't recognise the song, its from "Fiddler on the Roof".

Getting to grips with it.

After spend nearly all day yesterday on here, I am starting to get the hang of PSE5. I have done another two layouts. I started the first one yesterday and decided to "go it alone" rather than a template or tutorial. I use a free digi kit called Twinkle Toes from Peppermint Creative and played with some of the tools on there. I managed to copy the stars from the backgrond paper and make them into a new layer. Took forever to get it right!

Then, for the UKS weekly team challenge, I found a template from Happy Scrap Girl and used yet another freebie from Miss Mint called Lilac Garden. I had to change some of the colours to fit the challenge.

Of course, all this made me late for Craft & Chat but at least I got there! Which was just as well as I sold some puppets. One of the newer ladies was looking at the ones I was working on last week so I took some others in to show her. As it happens, she was wondering whether it was cheeky to ask me if I would like to sell any. Cheeky???? Not at all. I was delighted to oblige!

PSE5

Thanks to somebody on UKS, I found some really easy PSE tutorials by Misty Cato. Not only does that lovely lady write them so that any fool can follow them, she even supplies some of the digi elements used. I did her first two this afternoon. The first one was a "Quick Page" and she supplied the page. I have to admit that while I was not entirely happy as using somebody elses design, as it was my first attempt with PSE5, I took the easy way out. Not a lot of creativity involved either, apart from all the creativity it took to find the right buttons!!!!The colours on the page are lovely. I suppose that as she has a son she doesn't do much pink either!

The second was a template. Bit more creativity here. I used pictures of the weir from our visit to Llangadog. All in all, not a bad days work!

Learning Curves.

Life is just one big Learning Curve - no matter how old you are! And I have a few steep ones coming up.

The major one is an Open University course I have signed up for. As I have never done one before I am understandably nervous. It is a photography course and the idea is that I learn to use my camera better. I will also be getting a copy of PSE5 with the coursework - which I have never used. So, being brave, I downloaded a trial version of it from the Adobe site. However, being not so brave, I haven't attemped to use it yet! I think this calls for a giant google of PSE5 tutorials!!!!

Another one is Frontpage 2003. I have been using Frontpage 2000 for some time and have been getting reasonably proficient at it - with the aid of a great book form Peachpit Press by Nolan Hester. I borrowed this book from the library and renewed it 3 times before I decided that I really ought to buy it.Then I updated to 2003 and they have changed a whole load of stuff. I have to start learning it all over again. I have borrowed the 2003 verion of the same book but have yet to venture into its pages. I had better do it soon as lack of funds prohibits the purchase of it just yet!

Another thing I need to learn is to write begging letters - for a job! There is very little around here for a Mum who can't drive. I have a C&G Adult Tutors certificate but can't seem to use it. I have signed up to teach a number of classes since moving here - only to have them all cancelled "due to lack of numbers". So now I need to try a different angle. I fgured the worst people can say id "no" and then I won't be any worse off than I am now.

On a brighter note, I have finished designing the Jungle puppet set. I just need to finish writing the patterns then remake the puppets to check them. Then I will have another load to store in the wardrobe!!!!!

"That" Auction Site!

eBay has a 10p listing day today. Great news for small time sellers (like me) and even better news for bargain hunters. I have been listing a few patterns and scrapping motifs this morning. Even thought I prepared most of the stuff in advance it is still time comsuming and pretty boring! However, I find eBay makes for good (and cheap) advertising even if I don't sell anything. I may put some more on later. Is it too early for Christmas stocking??????

Something else I really need to do is check out the OU site. I registered for the Photography course in May and had all the relevant paperwork through in June but haven't even tried to access the site yet. The course work will not arrive for another couple of weeks. Maybe I should get it out and look at it!

I have also been debating about downloading the trial version of PSE5. I will get a full version with the course but, never having used that particular software before, it may be to my advantage to have a go first.

Sigh! So many things to do and so little time! All of this and job hunting as well.

Getting organised?????

Maybe not!

My get up and go seems to have got up and gone. I did the weekly team challenge for UKS. Not one of my best but I just can't seem to get back into the swing of things. Maybe its because I haven't done it in so long. I tried making a new header for the blog but didn't like it so put the old one back with a caption underneath. Its a bit like that "Monday Morning" feeling but its lasting all week. It just seems too quiet around here.

I have been working on the parrot pattern though and its nearly finished so at least that is one good thing.

Peace At Last!!!

I thought I would enjoy it! However, I am wandering around like a lost soul with no where to go. It is soooooooo quiet. And that isn't because I am deaf any more. My ear infection has not completely gone but at least I can hear now.

And it isn't even as is I have nothing to do. Apart from anything else, the dreaded housework awaits. I have got two loads of washing out and a 3rd in the machine. I have prepared tea - just need to remember to turn it on later and do the spuds to go with it. But I have a whole load more.

I decided, rather than start something new, to see what is in the wardrobe part done for my next pattern. I found a half made puppet set so am carrying on with that. I also found a whole load of scribbled notes to go with them. But it is so long since I did these in fact, its quite a while since I have made any puppets at all, that they are taking some deciphering.

Oh Well, best get on and try to make it look like I have done something!