Hidden Journalling Notebook

I was shown how to make this little notebook a few years ago and, on finding it at the bottom of my craft drawer, decided to share it. The photos aren't great as I was playing with my new lens and I didn't take a whole lot of time over editing as I wanted to get it done!

Step 1
Cut two strips of paper, one patterned and one plain. They can be any size you would like but must be 8 times as long as they are wide and the plain one should be a little smaller than the patterned one.

Step 2
Fold the plain piece into 8 equal sections. Each one should be a square.
This is the pages for your book.

.

Repeat for the patterned piece but fold all the creases both ways. Then make the additional folds, again folding both ways.

Step 3
Lay the patterned piece flat on the table with the right side up.

.

Step 4

Fold at fold 1

.

.

Step 5
Fold at fold 2

.

.

.

.

Step 6
Turn the whole thing over.

.

Step 7
Fold at fold 3

.

.

.

.

Step 8
Fold at fold 5.

.

.

Step 9
Fold at fold 4 and tuck the flap under.

.

.

.

Step 10
Turn the whole thing around and repeat steps 4 to 9 for the other side.
This is the cover for your book.

.

Step 11
Turn the cover over and place the plain piece as shown in the picture.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Step 12
Slide the end squares of the pages into the cover and fold in half.

If you would like a pdf version of these instructions, you can download it here.

New Pattern Finished

Oooh! I am all excited! I have finally finished my latest pattern!!!!!

As you can see, its very festive. A range of 5 Christmas frames for scrapbooking. Somebody did comment that it is a bit late for Christmas but, if I know Scrappers, its just at the right time. I bet we all have loads of Christmas pics just waiting to be scrapped.

The pattern is for sale on Rainbow Valley but if you want either the pattern or some of the Christmas frames free, enter the competition! Just click on the flashing button over there <<<< to find out how to enter.

Last Day of Freedom!

Yes, its the last day of term!  I am out for my Christmas lunch with Craft Club today.  I also have to get the tree up.  And the kitchen cleaned.  And the laundry done.  And go to the library.  And I am sure there is a whole load of other stuff!

Mark went up in the attic last night and the decorations are down.  He also got me down two boxes of photos in frames.  I am going to put them in albums and get rid of the frames as we just don't have the wall space here.  I think there is still another box up there as some of my photos are missing.

Benjamin won a colouring competition at a local estate agents.  We went there last night for a presentation of the prizes.  He had a lovely sports bag and art set which were presented by a local celeb boxer called Dave "Boy" Green.  Mark says he was really good in his day.  Of course, he is older now and retired but he does a lot for the local youngsters.

And, of course, I have been crocheting again!  Journalling blocks this time.  Pictures and freebies later!

I have been working on my site this morning to add the new frames I have been making. Its a set of Baubles in different sizes.

What do you think?

I was ever so good yesterday. Despite the power being off for a couple of hours, I finished the last of my Quilted Christmas Stocking orders. Now I just have to get them all packed up and posted!

The next job on the list is the Christmas cards. There are LOADS of them to get done!

However, there is a glorious frost out there and it is soooooooo tempting. Might just have to go out and play with the camera first!

Amost there!

After the panic of last week, things seem to be coming together at last! The OU course is finished and if anybody wants to see the photos I submitted for the ECA they are here.

And, what is more, I have used one of the for Januarys calendar. This is one of my favourites and I thought the frost theme fitted January - even though it was taken in November.

I managed to fit into my dress for Saturday night and my dearest looked gorgeous in his tux! I was careful about what I drank as I really didn't fancy being ill but the very late night left me feeling a bit like a zombie on Sunday. I even fell asleep in Top Gear so am going to have to watch the re-run! I was still tired yesterday and didn't go to C&C as I couldn't find the energy to rush about. We were in bed just after nine last night and I am feeling loads better for it!

Today I am at Chatteris Museum again. This is the second week of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition. If anybody is in the area it is open from 10 to 4.30 Tuesday and Thursday this week.

And on the crochet front, I am working on more Chritmas themed frames. I am going to release a pattern for just the Christmas ones as soon as I am able and then work on some more general themed ones after Christmas.

Still working!

Well, things still seem to be working this morning, so I have some more goodies for you! I have finished the 3 sizes of stockings, taken pics and convereted them to pngs. Whats more, I have uploaded them as well!

You can find them on the Scrapbooking Frames page.

Have fun and don't forget to show me what you do with them so I can put them in the Rainbow Valley Album.

Hello Stranger!

I have been trying to get in and post for what seems like months with no avail! I have no idea why. I have changed settings in IE numerous times and still haven't managed it. Today, I changed even more setting and have finally managed it, although what I have done, I have no idea!!!!!

On the OU front, the course if finished. I have had great fun doing it but did get a bit panicky at the end while trying to choose 10 photos for my ECA. Mark was getting a bit short tempered with me over it but it is all finally done. When the ECA deadline has past, I can post the slideshow to the photos for you all to see.

I have also been doing some crocheting. First, I had to make a shrug to go with my dress for this posh night out. Then I had to get some heads, hands and feet made for the Yo-yo clowns we have made for C&C. And finally, I have been amking more frames for scrapbooking.

I have decided to write this pattern for Christmas frames. So far I have the Christmas Tree, Stars, Baubles and Stockings. They are not all finished and I am planning a range of sizes in each of the designs. This means plenty of more work on them yet. All of the digi versions of the frames will be available as free downloads.

Monday Morning Blues!

Why is it I never seem to have any "Get-Up-And-Go" on a Monday morning? I am supposed to be at C&C at 9.30am and I am still here. And, to be honest, I really don't feel like going but know I have to as they are expecting me to bring the clowns heads I have made.

It was Marks birthday on Saturday and poor thing had to work. Still, I hope I made up for by getting him plenty of beer in for the evening. I also invited some friends around and we had a Chinese. The problem with going out for a meal is that, as I don't drive, he can't drink. And now, with this law banning smoking in public places, he can't smoke either. So doing it all at home meant he could drink and smoke in comfort!

We went out Christmas Shopping on Sunday. Benjamin went to a car boot sale with friends and two bags of toys. He came home with one bag of toys and £10.80. He did quite well and was pleased with it. It was the easiest I have ever managed to get him to sort his toys out to make more for Christmas.

The idea of him going with them was to give us a chance to get his pressie. Thats all sorted now. We also had to get a tux for Mark and a dress for me to go to his posh Christmas "do" for work. Luckily, the dress I got goes perfectly with the shoes I got last year. One less shopping trip! However, having lost a fair bit of weight from last year, I need a new strapless bra to go with it. And the tops of my arms are all saggy so I need a shrug or something to cover them.

All this hassle for one night!

Still, best get off now and get to C&C.

When I am good....

....I am very, very good!

Here is the 10x15cm rectangle frame, complete with a bow.

And what is more, the bow is a free pattern on Rainbow Valley.

December Calender

I have been good! The December calender is up nice and early ready for you to download and have on your desktop on the 1st!

More Scrapping Frames

I have taken pictures of the new frames and here they are. I was really pleased with the Christmas Tree, it took me ages to get right! The flower took almost as long as well and looks much nicer than in the picture, I really need to do that one again.

I have also made a 10x15cm rectangle. That one needs blocking before I can photograph it. I will also be doing square frames and other rectangles in different sizes. And if you want to turn them into pressies, I am working on a bow to go on the top.

And talking of free stuff, have you seen Lilybelle Scraps? Go and take a look!

Playing Catch-up!

I feel like I am sometimes chasing my tail.  I didn't have a good week from a health point of view.  I didn't get any scrapping done.  I left my OU studies till the last minute and haven't done the photo assignments.  I have a few photos of Chatteris for me week 6 assignment, I need one more for the set.  I suppose I could upload the 5 but wanted to do all 6 together.  And it is raining so I can't go out and get the 6th one!  I have only uploaded 3 from week 7 and the weather was far too dark to do the others yesterday.

However, the week wasn't a total wash out.  I felt a bit better by Thursday and went out and had a lovely day with Valerie, the lady I met on the OU course.  I got a couple of photos I wanted for other things but none for the course.  And there was a terrific frost on Friday so I went out early and got some nice pics then.  Not the ones I was aiming for but I was still pleased with them.  I also got muddy knees, a couple of funny looks and rude comments because of kneeling on the floor.

And I finished a Flower frame, a Christmas Tree frame and a 6x4 rectangle frame.  I suppose, all in all, not a bad weeks work.

Crocheting again.

I knew it wouldn't be long before the urge to get creative crochet-wise would take over. As much as I am enjoying this course and learning how to do all this stuff, taking photos just doesn't have the thrill that creating something with a hook does.

I am working on a new Scrapbooking pattern. This time it is frames. I did post the large heart one in a previous post. Here is the lovely layout by Fi.

However, now I have created a new smaller heart and two different sized stars as well. The large one is about 20cm diameter and the small one about 14 cm.

Mary has done a lovely layouts using a digi version of the large star. You can't see the true size on this as with digi you can make them any size - and use as many as you want!

I have just finished a flower and next on the list is a Christmas tree. If you have any suggestions for more shapes, please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

All of my Scrapbooking patterns are available on Rainbow Valley

Organised??????

I managed to get 2 weeks worth or reading and videos done last week with the intention of getting some free time this week to do some scrapping.

It started off well.  I did the weekly challenge with the photos I took of the fireworks on Saturday night. Using some newfound skills, I merged them to make a montage and found something suitably sparkley for the writing.  I went to C&C, then came home and spent ages cleaning the kitchen to get rid of puppy hair etc.

Tuesday dawned bright and sunny so I thought I would go out.  However, I got sidetracked with Christmas cards so didn't manage to get ready to go out until lunchtime.  Then, just as I was organised, I had a call from the school.  Benjamin had broken his specs.  This meant taking his spare pair to the school and taking his broken ones to be repaired.  And that was the afternoon gone.  I did go out last night to try to get some night shots of Chatteris. However, there was one I particularly wanted and the light was off.

This morning, off to Tesco on the free bus.  My photos I ordered were still not there despite having an assurance from online customer service that they had been re-ordered.  The woman in the customer service in the store isn't very helpful.  She managed to lose the email that I had given to the other lady last week.  So when she asked for a slip this week, I reminded her she had lost it.  I now have to email the online customer service yet again and tell them what I think of their photo service.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I have been neglecting you but I just have so much on at the moment that I don't know where the time is going!

This OU course is wonderful fun.  I have learned loads.  I have the perfect excuse to go out skiving and taking pics.  And I am taking better pics.  I don't use the camera on just auto any more.  I play about with the settings until I get what I want.  This months calender is one I took recently.  Just look at those colours!

I would recommend it to anyone.  As part of the course you get PSE5 and loads of videos to learn to use it.  Of course, it doesn't suit everybody.  It is totally online so you have to be proficient with the computer to get the most out of it.  There are no tutors, you are expected to work through the sessions on your own.  However, there are forums with professionals as moderators and you can learn so much from both their comments and those of other students.  All of this means there is no professional feedback on the photos you post.  However, there are plenty of other students both better and worse than you who comment.  You can lean a lot from them. And you lean a lot from other students photos.  The whole course is designed to make you think and look at your photos in a different light.  It encourages you to take photos of things and in ways you would never have before.

It isn't for you if you want you hand held through it, if you can't cope with a lot of time spent on the computer and if you can't set aside some time each day to study.  There is a lot of on screen reading (although I printed mine off and read in peace on the sofa) and activities.  It isn't for you if you expect "expert" opinions and advice all the way through.  And it certainly isn't for you if you can not share both your photos and experience (or lack of it) with your fellow students.

However, I am loving it!  Can you tell?

On top of that, Christmas is coming.  Orders are coming through slowly and I haven't started my Christmas cards yet!  I am also puppy sitting - Why did I say yes?????  Scrapbooking has taken a back seat, along with a quite few other things.

Winter is almost here!

It is dark in the mornings when I get up now.  A sure sign that winter is nearly here!  The days are still relatively warm but the ground doesn't hold the heat and the nights are cold.

But rather than a dreary winter desktop for October, I choase a summer shot of water.  I was quite pleased with this one.  I originally tried just using the automatic sports action on the camera but it bleached out the bubbles - which was what I trying to capture.  So - I read the damn manual! I discovered that by using the creative settings I could get the camera to meter just a portion of the scene rather than the whole area.  I managed to get it metering the water rather than the surrounding area which meant the bubbles were not bleached out.

However, I had forgotten that it was set on monochrome from when I had been playing about with the filters.  So my "perfect" picture came out in black and white.

I still think it looks impressive though.

Just click on the small pic on the left to download the picture and directions to add to your desktop.  There are also directions on how to add the link to your blog to share with even more people.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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".