Why?

A couple of days ago a group of very very talented scrappers announced that they had started a brand new business. They call themselves The Design Collective and will be doing online classes, These will cost £10 a month for 12 classes. This is a brand new venture for them and i wish them luck. To find out more you can read about it on Inspire me and their own Blog.
Now the reason i am posting about this here is that there has been quite a bit of bad blood about this from a couple of people. I understand about freedom of speech and i'm all for it. What i don't like it when someone is openly mean. I have read a bit of what was said and it has really got to me, when i read it i was screaming at the computer "bloody hell, silly stupid cow" and alot worse. Someone has said to effect that this is a crap idea and why pay for this when you can get it all for free. The truth is you really can't get the input that these ladies put into there work for free. Yes you can buy scrapbooking magazines but there are only two now when there used to be at least five. The magazines just don't show the techniques and have the wow factor that so many people want. If you buy a magazine it costs at least £4 and doesn't have much in it and because of this i have just stoppped subcribing to a magazine that i have brought since it started. You can look at lots of layouts online that have the wow factor but it doesn't give step by step intructions on how to do it. There are free cyber crops but they always push the need to buy kits to used and more oftan than not you do need this kit to do the page as the stash you have just isn't right. The recent couple of CC's on one site just didn't inspire me at all. I love CC's that are inspiring and i have taken part in CC's on one site that really inspired me and every class i went wow and if i had had the stash and photos i would have done every class.
There are other people and places that offer online classes that have to be paid for like Big Picture Scrapbooking and Shimelle Lane so why is this any different?
As the old saying goes nothing in life is free.
What i don't get about this person is that they are on several design teams so she gets to play with brand new stash in return for doing projects for the shops. So she/he can make LO's with stuff that is just out. (Yes alot of people work for design teams and do a wonderful job showing us what we can do with it i have seen amazing work.) It could be a case of sour grapes as a couple of the people in the DC have been/are on the same teams. This person asked for a debate on this subject to and then gets upset when people disagree, Why? If you think that something is a bad idea fair enough but to then go on and bad mouth it and expect sympathy and hugs because there are people that disagree with you for goodness sake grow up.
Yes we all have our own opinions and that is a good thing as it would all be boring if we were all the same.
I wish the girls the best of luck with this new venture.

This is brill

A friend of mine has a very talented husband. Angela told us about this amazing idea that her husband had had. He had solved a problem that we all have with our AMM totes. When the tote is full and you want to use the draw it sags and then its difficult to get the draw back in. Now that can be over forever with this handy little box. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on one. It costs £6 + £2 p+p and they will sell to people in the UK only (will let you know if this changes). If you want to order one she is a member of NPLH and you can contact her there. I know everyone will want one.
I am happy to pass on any messages if need be my email is bellatheboss@yahoo.co.uk
or contact Angela direct angela@bandlem.com

Art Journal Journey WEEK 6

This is my take on the prompt for Emily Falconbridges Journal journey. The prompt was love, love, love.
I painted the card with red nail polish, added the Rik rak. The heart was cut out and painted with red paint and then gone over with copper nail polish. this was the glued on. I stamped LOVE ME on the card and finally added drops of cream nail polish.


I'm pleased with it.

(Picture is better now 22/3/07)

Photos

These photos should have been up earlier but I've been a bit lax. This is Dom on Christmas with his new Gameboy. It was such a big hit and he already wants new games. The good thing about that is that its nearly his birthday.

I've been chatting to my Step mum which is the reason I have finally put these up as they are the most up to date photos of Dom that i have. I think I'll have to sit him down and get some more in the next week or so.
Anyway Amalia (my step mum) was talking to her sister Liz and it reminded me of what an amazing time I had when I met her when I went to Peru. It's strange to think that I was 18 when I went out (I'm 30 this year). One day i hope to go back. Liz showed me an amazing time while I was there and I'm really grateful for that. I spent the best New Years Eve of my life there. Nothing has ever come close to it.

Lush

Don't they look good together?
Tortie and Marmalade Sky.

Dolly Beads

Jaq has uploaded more beads to her shop A String of Beads. They are so lush and she is getting better with them all the time. With my left over Christmas money I got this beauty called Marmalade Sky. This is so the colours of my fur babies Zoysha and Magic and a reminder of their beautiful mum Kira.

Here are my girls. Don't you think it matches them? I'm really looking forward to seeing it in the flesh. Mother will be wearing it till I get my bracelet for my birthday.

Valentines ATCs

I'm in an ATC swap on the Pad ( a private forum I'm a member of). This swap is valentines and this is a sneak peek of what I have done. I'm quite pleased with them, I just hope that other people like them. What do you think?
I have another set to do and a jigsaw piece for swaps on NPLH. But I have a little while to get those done.

Blog things

Your Personality Cluster is Introverted Thinking

You are: Objective, honest, and credible Intellectually curious, with many diverse interests More inclined toward ideas than people Fiercely independent and unapologetically unconventional

What's Your Personality Cluster?

What Your Sleeping Position Says

You have a passion for everything - including sleeping. Outgoing and brash, you tend to still shock those who know you well. You tend to be selfish. You are the most likely type to hog the covers. You gravitate toward comfort and don't like extreme situations.

What Does Your Sleeping Position Say About You?

You Know a Lot About Blogging

You got 5/8 correct! Your not a total blogging geek yet... give it time.

How Much Do You Know About Blogging?

You Are 16% Hypochondriac

While your physical health isn't always perfect, you don't freak out about it. You know there's only so much you can do, and worrying doesn't change anything.

Are You a Hypochondriac?

Bracelet

I've been looking at lots of different sites for silver beads to go on the bracelet I'm planning to have. At the moment I have my eye on these three. They are Aries for me. Pieces for dom and the mother and child for our family unit. I do love silver.
This bracelet is going to look lovely. I know that it will take awhile and that can be a good thing as it will mean so much more.
At least with this I can just tell people this is what I want without having to think about it. So for Mothers Day, Easter, my birthday and Christmas I will hopefully got lush new beads to wear.


Mother got a bracelet for Christmas and is already wearing hers lots. At the moment she has a Troll Bead and 2 Dollies, I think there is a silver one as well. I know that she wants them all to have meaning. From now on she'll be easy to buy for (not that i had a problem, that was the rest of the family).

A new blog

I must be completely mad.
I have just set up another blog.
This blog is called Cropping With Friends and is for my crop. This will be full of all the information that you'll need. It will have photos from the crops and chat. This a team blog so you'll see every ones views
All classes done at crops will put on here.

If you live near enough I hope to see you sometime.

Dolly Beads and Troll beads

If you look at alot of scrappers they all seem to have Troll Beads. They are very popular at the moment and you can buy them in lots of places. Alot of the are lovely but they are made on a large scale.

I have a friend called Jaq who makes the most wonderful unique beads called Dolly Beads. Jaq's website A String of Beads is so lovely and is getting very popular.
This is the bead that i have just ordered. I just love the colours and i can't wait to see it in real life.









I just now need a bracelet to go with it. I've have a look at the sites and i just love this lock, its called the Lacelock. Don't you think it's lovely? It will go on this chain.
This is what i hope to get for my 30th in April. Well it is an important birthday.

I'm in lust

I've just seen this alcohol ink storage case from Tim Holtz and Cropper hopper. I really really like this. I know it it won't be in this country for ages so maybe i can have it for my birthday. I'll just have to wait and see.
I got my set of inks for christmas and they are fab, this will be perfect to keep them in.