gingerandgeorge

Twit to who?

Twitter is my new social-networking site of choice. Come and join me, won't you?

A million possibilities (or thereabouts)

I promise it's not my intention to make regular mention of Jim Carrey here or, for that matter, to rhyme so inadvertently, but the project above and the downloadables below are at least partly inspired by his story. You probably know the one – he wrote himself a post-dated $1million cheque to help him stay focused on his goals (becoming an inordinately wealthy and successful actor). All things considered, it hasn't worked out too badly for Jim, so a few weeks ago, I decided to have a stab at something based on similar (although prettier) principles. At the time, a set of 'please, please make us an offer' cards would probably have got more use around here, but in the spirit of positive-thinking, I went for 'we're moving' instead. Not being wholly into delayed gratification, I printed off a more generic version, too, and used the flowers from this über-cute Kitschy Digitals kit to decorate the bottom of both.

And then I thought it might be nice to share a little bit of the useful-notecard love, whether you're moving, lovely or something else entirely. Sound good? Here's the info.

::  Altogether, there are eight different messages – 'we're moving', 'hello, lovely', 'have I told you lately…', 'aide-mémoire' (a posh sort of 'don't forget'), 'what's up, Buttercup?', 'with love', 'hey you', and a scrap-happy, 'so, here's the thing'.

::  There are two printed on each page, sized to fit A4 and/or 8.5x11 sheets of printer paper (because near here or over there, I love you equally) and ready for you to trim to size. Finishing them off with a corner-rounder is entirely optional.

::  You don't have to use them as notecards. They'd also work as journalling spots for scrapbooking or, if clipped together, smart notepads and shopping lists.

::  The bottom of each card is left blank, either for you to add a digital element like I did, or to decorate by hand. As well as the Kitschy flowers, the fruit, feathers and woodland kits would all work beautifully, or you could try some cute rub-ons, stamps or stickers.

::  If you're in a tearing hurry, I've also created a second, smaller set of cards, each featuring a simple icon instead of a blank space at the bottom.

You can download both sets here: 

Download Printable notecards (Set 1) 

Download Printable notecards (Set 2) 

When I get a moment, I'll also work out how to add a link in the sidebar. If, in the meantime, you use the cards to make something pretty, I'd love to see it.

And, just in case you're wondering, it looks like I may yet have need of the 'we're moving' cards (although typing this with my fingers crossed is tricky). We won't have made anything like a million, but as soon as I find my chequebook in amongst the chaos, I'll be post-dating one, made out to 'cash'.

x

Oh, l'amour

Or maybe I mean oh, l'ife, because it's been an overwhelming few weeks. Some good (a birthday), some not so good (an infection) and some in between (lots and lots of flat-viewings). But things have been a bit calmer over the last day or so, and I've finally managed to sort out a couple of fun things to share with you. Starting with this little picture project inspired by February's challenge over at the Banana Frog blog.

The theme is 'love' and I spent a few hours playing with various stamps to come up with my take on the challenge – polka dots from the Backgrounds set to decorate the fabric dress, Concentric to make the aqua hood, and Circus Stories to stamp her skinny legs and heart-shaped balloon. I think my favourite thing about the finished project is how the picture creeps out beyond the background. I can't tell you how deliciously wrong it felt to be drawing and pasting around the edges of the mount.

Whether or not delicious wrongness is your bag, there's still a little bit of time for you to have a go at the challenge. It's open until Monday, so if you feel loved up and creative over the weekend (because you know it's not all about Valentine's Day), get your Banana Frog stamps out and make something love-ly. Post a link at the blog, or on the spanky new Flickr group, and Bev will pick a winner later next week. 

And if a week sounds like too long to wait for cool free-ness,  check  back here on Sunday. I might just have something that'll tide you over.

x

Sunday pretties

If you haven't come across Julie Arkell's amazing work before, it's well worth a look. I was reminded of her adorable creations by this post at The Make Lounge, and so sad that I missed out on the workshop. Maybe next time. Until then, I'm contenting myself browsing the images on these lovely Flickr streams. That, and dropping boulder-sized hints about wanting Julie Arkell: Home for my birthday next week. Are you listening, Mr P?

x

The Great Winter Weather Caper

 

It's been a snowy week here in London, although if you live in the UK, you can hardly fail to have noticed. Looking out of the window or trying to get to work didn't give you the hint? Not to worry, because every other radio station, newspaper and TV show were breathlessly updating you on the timeliest details of the week's weather drama. My admirably dedicated man ended up walking to work on Monday – ten miles into the middle of the city, in 25cm of snow, at 6.30 in the morning. It took almost three hours and cost him some aching muscles, much exhaustion and a full day of fielding questions about his mental stability. It also left me at home on my own with the heaviest, prettiest and least-likely-to-melt-by-lunchtime snowfall we've had since I moved here. With no one to fire snowballs at, or to go for a cold and crunchy walk with, I resorted to an icier version of what I do most days – making stuff, then taking photographs of it.

These paper hearts were inspired purely and simply by the fact I love snow, and was feeling so very appreciative of how beautiful our garden, and the rest of the street, looked. I cut them freehand from old book pages, then pushed a piece of jewellery wire through the top of each one. After bending the wire round into a loop, the ends were twisted together, so I could hang the hearts on random twigs and branches outside.

They've been surprisingly hardy, surviving not only the continued snowfall as I was taking photographs, but also being looped over various hooks and handles indoors throughout the week. If you're the romantic, Valentine's-celebrating kind, they'd make a lovely, inexpensive and really simple decoration for your house this coming weekend.

The paper flowers were my second project of the morning, and a tiny bit more complicated to make. As everywhere was looking so very white, I wanted to add a splash of colour for a few, more dramatic shots. Using these fun stamps from Banana Frog, I stamped two different flowers on to pink and orange cardstock, then cut around the outside of each one. I scuffed and generally battered up the edges with scissors, then added dark brown button centres, fixing them in place with more jewellery wire. The wire ends were twisted together, making them strong enough to support the flower heads and stand upright. Once I got outside, it was a simple matter of pushing the wire stems down into the snow and snapping away.

However much fun it was planting flowers in the snow, you're obviously not limited to doing that. Similar blooms would work just as well tied in a bunch with some ribbon and displayed in a pretty glass bottle, or used on greetings cards and scrapbook layouts. And if you like the Banana Frog-ness of them, check back here on Monday for another fun stamping project.

Have a happy, happy weekend, wherever you are and whatever the weather.

Listing lazily

 

Inspired by the ever-marvellous Hula Seventy, and posted here in the hope I'll be more likely to live up to it, please say hello to The List. Twenty things to do before the end of oh-nine.

:: Visit Tate Modern

:: Sew a quilt

:: Watch a meteor shower

:: Send a surprise through the post

:: Sleep in a room with a sea view

:: Spend an afternoon at the V+A

:: Subscribe to Marie Claire Ideés

:: Take Alex to visit a working windmill

:: Learn to crochet

:: Go to a concert

:: Open (and use) a savings account

:: Visit The Button Queen

:: Grow something from scratch

:: Go on a London photo-walk

:: Make Moo cards

:: Own a box of Crayola 64 (again)

:: Throw a party

:: Visit Ryantown

:: Buy and wear something yellow

:: Take a road trip

Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye (and find mosaic photo credits here).