Laura Rumble - Crafter

This is a Do More In October post... more details on Fab 's blog. Daisy Bun a.k.a. Bad Bunny, Bunny Monster, Dudu, The Prettiest Bunny in the World, The Naughtiest Bunny in the World. Sadly no longer around Billy a.k.a William, Bill, Sunshine Face, Feathers, Beaky...  I could go on she had so many nicknames!  She would often join me at my desk. This Do More In October post is a series run by Fab.  You can see all my posts by clicking 'Do More In October' but for lots of other bloggers head over to Fab's blog for the link-up.

Feel like making something really colourful?  I did, and this happened... First of all I coloured a polystyrene ball with some promarkers.  I wasn't a perfect rainbow but that didn't matter as most of it would be covered.  The bits that peep through look nicer if the are roughly the right colour rather than white.  Then I got my entire button stash out and played around, picking the right colours and sizes and generally having fun.  When I had what I wanted laid out I started gluing them to the polystyrene with glue gel.  I stopped half way to let the glue dry.  This way I didn't have to worry about smudging and getting glue all over my fingers.  When the first half was dry I flipped it upside down and carried on. To hang it I used a piece of swiss dot grosgrain and used both pins and glue gel to attach it. All the buttons I used, along with the ribbon, are from Crafty Ribbons . Thanks for stopping by!

This is a Do More In October post... more details on Fab 's blog. Besides craft supplies, which I unintentionally collect, I am an Arctophile or a collector of Teddy Bears.  I have downsized my collection over the years but I don't believe I will ever be without bears! Why would anyone want to be without bears?! This Do More In October post is a series run by Fab.  You can see all my posts by clicking 'Do More In October' but for lots of other bloggers head over to Fab's blog for the link-up.

Um, I'm not very good at tidying up.  I am, as it turns out, very good at keeping every little piece of cardstock because it could be used one day. This card is made from snippets that I had kept.  I do get immense satisfaction from making something from bits that I don't need to re-cut - just use them as they are - but it was getting ridiculous!   These bits of card and packaging were saved in the epic clear out (that has now stalled as my health has, well, stalled too.) I added a crochet flower (by my Pet Crocheter) and some sequins (Pretty Pink Posh, Maggie Holmes and Spiegel Mom Scraps) Linking up at The Playground

What could be happier than a little pig trotting across the road in front of you, and munching on fallen acorns?!  I love the New Forest! Linking up at Friday Smiles

It is challenge tome at Crafty Ribbons Challenges .  We are continuing with our twelve weeks of Christmas and this weeks challenge is to use a reindeer as well as ribbon on your project. I whipped up a tag to be pegged to the top of a gift bag.  I don't like to seal them with tape as it makes it harder to re use the bags, but I also don't like peeping before the big day!! The mdf reindeer is from That Craft Place, the label is from Evalicious, and ribbon and bells from Crafty Ribbons. I've used Christmas charm ribbon and some 3mm grosgrain .  Did you know Crafty Ribbons sells bells too?  You'll find them here .  Or pop along to the SECC craft show between today and Sunday and visit the stall to stock up! Not strictly related but with products from the same companies, here is a super clean simple Christmas card! Thanks for stopping by!

This is the hardest post of the DMIO series for me.  I've considered not doing it but I don't want to quit.  My life is hard sometimes, but I like to keep remembering that compared to so many others it is perfectly fine and liveable. I sleep for 12 hours a night, and perhaps 2-4 hours in the afternoon. I have very limited energy levels - I don't shower, I don't dress myself, I don't make my meals, I spend 95% of my waking time sitting still.  (I have the best carer!  She is a star.) I craft for sanity, taking regular breaks.  I love this about crafting - most crafts can be done even two minutes worth at a time.  Also I don't have to think much about crafting, it comes naturally to me.  Reading, writing, typing take a lot more energy, concentration and focus so on bad days I stay away from these. But I have a roof over my head.  I have wonderful family.  I have the ability to craft a little on most days.  Yes, I have pain, but th...

It's taken my a few days to clear my desk, lots of rests, lots of procrastinating, lots of lectures - I do not need any more stuff!  It's not nearly clear or tidy but it is so much better and I needed to create.  So, here is a layout I made with the sweepings of my desk! I made it with Show Us Your Stuff 's challenge in mind - no people plus a handmade embellishment. I've used bits from Elle's Studio, Cocoa Vanilla, Like For Ever, Pretty Pink Posh and Crafty Ribbons. This tissue paper was the wrapping of a LFE kit that I used to mop up spare ink. My handmade element is a cocktail stick flag made with the Summer Festival Message ribbon from Crafty Ribbons. The pink enamel dots are from Cocoa Vanilla and really are the perfect shade of baby pink.  I can't really tell you where all the other little bits and bobs come from, other than on my desk top! Thanks for stopping by today

A few weeks back I made a dream catcher.  A few readers asked if I could show them how I made it, so, here is my attempt at a tutorial! First up weaving the web. 1. You'll need a hoop and some ribbon/thread/yarn on a bobbin. 2. Attach the ribbon securely to your hoop. 3. Take your ribbon over the top of the hoop... 4. and up through the loop you've just made with the ribbon... 5. so you have a cross over. 6. Continue steps 3-5 until you reach the knot. 7. Now instead of going over the hoop you will crossover the ribbon 8. and through the loop you've just made to give a crossover. Continue on in this fashion until you get to the middle. You need to leave a hole in the middle as this is where the good dreams get through!  They then run down the tassels/feathers/any other hanging decoration and on to the owner.  It should look something like this.  You'll need to play around with your tension until you get a firm web. Now for the tassels - I like...

This is a Do More In October post... more details on Fab 's blog. Can someone fix this for me? Wishlist: Health - energy, strength and stamina Love - between everyone for all things, and a special someone for me Cuddles - from babies, little ones, big grumpy teenage ones, adult ones...  Happiness - not happiness brought by all of the above but an inner happiness whether the wishes come true or not Or 'Material Things'... Good quality chocolate Sequins , lace , enamel dots, washi tape and ribbons - I don't need any but you know! Gelatos - both the art supply and the ice cream ! This Do More In October post is a series run by Fab.  You can see all my posts by clicking 'Do More In October' but for lots of other bloggers head over to Fab's blog for the link-up.

This is a Do More In October post... more details on Fab 's blog. Bucket lists are hard when you have M.E. like mine.  So many things that I want to do are not achievable, and then you are left with a list of things that pull you down.  This list is realistic... Drink Hot Chocolate outside of my house (either in the car or a cafe) Watch the wildlife.  (Even if it is just from the window!) This Do More In October post is a series run by Fab.  You can see all my posts by clicking 'Do More In October' but for lots of other bloggers head over to Fab's blog for the link-up.

This little box frame has been hanging around in my 'to alter' pile for quite a while.  When I saw this meadow ribbon from Crafty Ribbons I knew I wanted to extend it in to a picture... I gathered a few buttons, my butterfly punch and a blue Inktense colouring pencil. I cut a square of watercolour paper to fit the frame and very faintly drew some cloud lines and blended it out with a water brush. I added the flower buttons as if they were growing from the ribbon.  I added one butterfly with dimensional glue and suspended the other on thread. Quite simple, effective and very fun to make!

Here are a few of my favourite quotes.  I've taken a tiny moleskine and prepped the pages with a little gesso, then used my water brush and Inktense pencils for the colour.  The pen is a Graphic Liner.   The aim is to fill this moleskine up with quotes whilst practising my writing! This Do More In October post is a series run by Fab.  You can see all my posts by clicking 'Do More In October' but for lots of other bloggers head over to Fab's blog for the link-up.

This is a Do More In October post... more details on Fab 's blog. Along with lots of relaxation and 'help-you-get-to-sleep' tracks the most listened to artists on my iTunes are; Will Young Faith Hill Backstreet Boys Seth Lakeman JC Chasez I'm not sure what this says about me... perhaps I am still a teenage girl obsessed with boybands..!  Seth Lakeman is definitely worth a listen if you've not heard of him before. This Do More In October post is a series run by Fab.  You can see all my posts by clicking 'Do More In October' but for lots of other bloggers head over to Fab's blog for the link-up.

This is a Do More In October post... more details on Fab 's blog. I am not much of a reader. I don't read fiction books at all. Nor do I watch movies. (I 'll happily watch quiz shows, sports, documentaries...) My favourite books are: The Oxford Dictionary of English.  I love to look up the origins of words, and discovering new 'quirky' words.  Kerf?  Why, that is the indent or notch made with a saw to mark where to cut.  Twitten?  A narrow path or passageway. Raptors of The World... or pretty much any other bird book!   I am a bit of an ornithologist, I don't retain tonnes of information but that is fine because I get to learn it again! The Bible NCV.  It feels right to give this book a mention, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but I find it quite useful :) This Do More In October post is a series run by Fab.  You can see all my posts by clicking 'Do More In October' but for lots of other bloggers head over to Fab...

It's week two of Crafty Ribbons 12 Weeks of Christmas challenges.  This week is Christmas Carols.  Now I had intentions of making a layout but it didn't get made...  Instead I am using this sewing hoop... The Christmas song Let It Snow surely has to be one everyone sings along to - even if it is just those three words! I've used the Snowman Trio of ribbons and buttons and some Pretty Pink Posh sequins.  The base is some thin white cotton with some subtle land and sky added with an Inktense pencil and water brush. I hope you'll join us over at Crafty Ribbons Challenges this week!

Are you feeling a bit chilly?  Grab a hot chocolate in your favourite mug and wrap it up in a hug! It's fairly easy to whip up a mug hug.  I've used the sleeve of an old denim/fleece sweater that had passed its best.  I've decorated with camper van ribbon from the Summer Festival range, spotty ric rac , and a couple of heart buttons . I tried to use ribbon for the button loops but failed (twice) and switched to elastic. Me in my Monkey World hoodie and my mug hug... you can tell I wasn't high in energy levels here as my nails are bare! Thanks for stopping by!

I made this card for a commission.  I had a good old play on the background!  Watercolours, Shimmerz, alcohol hand gel, and Inktense.  If you drop alcohol on to wet watercolour you can get really cool effects.  I don't have any of that type of alcohol so I experimented with hand gel.  It does work but you need the watercolour to be wet and juicy to get the best effect.  This is subtle but it works as a background. The sequins are from Pretty Pink Posh, and are strung on some cotton.  Like For Ever are the only UK stockist of Pretty Pink Posh products, so I get my sequins there - saves on postage from the US. For the sentiment I used my Dymo.  I always start of enthusiastic, I love the effect and you can get all sorts of coloured tapes.  After about 10 clicks and twists my wrists start complaining I remember why I don't use the Dymo that often!

This is a Do More In October post... more details on Fab 's blog. - birds - creating any kind of art/craft - flowers - nature - my Girls and my Neph.

This is a Do More In October post... more details on Fab 's blog. Scrapbooking: Ashley Calder , Vickie Rich , Missy Whidden   People who inspire me in life: Tanni Grey Thompson - why let a wheelchair stop you for doing things.  My Mum - without fail puts her family first. Art and Craft: Ali , Sandy Allnock , Steven Cronin .  Photography: Best Bird Shots , Macro Mood This Do More In October post is a series run by Fab.  You can see all my posts by clicking 'Do More In October' but for lots of other bloggers head over to Fab's blog for the link-up.

Linking up at Annie 's

This is a Do More In October post... more details on Fab 's blog. Laura, 30, severe M.E. sufferer, Aunty, big cousin, daughter, artist, crafter, scrapbooker, Liverpool FC fan, tennis fan, chocolate fan, messy, tired, list maker. This Do More In October post is a series run by Fab.  You can see all my posts by clicking 'Do More In October' but for lots of other bloggers head over to Fab's blog for the link-up.