Total Pageviews

Monday 31 August 2015

Taking a break - Monday 31st August

Hello Friends,

Hoping that you are all well...I can't believe it's our last Bank Holiday before Christmas already....and it's raining!

Recently I have posted infrequently - you must be fed up with my apologies for lack of posts and visits to you all! After a lot of thought over the past few weeks, I've decided that I need to take a proper break from blogging, only for the next month, but I need it, in order to come back with renewed enthusiasm and energy.

I have been blogging  for 4 years, but this year for some reason I have found it increasingly difficult. There's no one reason - it has been a busy year outside the craft room indeed and  we have a busy few weeks ahead...they start to build the conservatory this week and in two weeks time we have our holiday - we aren't going away, we will be busy painting, choosing tiles for the floor and pieces of furniture - I have 2 'Annie Sloan'  furniture projects to get on with - and amongst that some day trips to places we love (actually we have some exhibitions of art etc lined up to see).

I have also also found that in the last few weeks, whilst I  decided to put blogging to the back of my mind, my craft time has improved and been more relaxed. It's crazy really, when I was prolifically designing for Sam Poole's Team last year I had no problem in coming up with ideas and meeting deadlines. Over the past month or so, I hadn't lost Mr Mojo, he just knew I had been getting a bit 'anxious' about so many things to get done, so he had decided to shut down for  a while - as soon as I relaxed a little, he bounced back!

This is very hard to say, as I really do love visiting your blogs, seeing all your wonderful work and leaving a comment - as I love it when you visit me, but I think that a break will regenerate my enthusiasm and I will hopefully come back with lots of cards and crafts made, so that I won't be frustrated about 'making' to blog. It's not just been blogging either...I've barely visited Facebook or twitter, except for work.

I've been out with the Owl group a few times now and have really enjoyed getting out in the open and learning so much about Birds of Prey.

Over the next month, I hope to drop by you all from time to time, but I won't be here again until October...so here is my last card for the time being...

Exam Congrats!

Today I am sharing a card I made for a cousin of Tom's (well his dad and Tom are first cousins, you know what I mean) who has got into Oxford University to study law....whoopee! Everyone is of course so proud of him, they are a lovely, close family and he himself is an amazing young man. His sister also just got straight A's and A*'s in her GCSEs!


The card is 7x7: I used a base layer of black card and added a layer of script/map card, the edges of which I inked slightly with Vintage Photo distress ink.

I then die cut the arrows using Tim Holz 'Artful Arrows' for Sizzix, penning 'Oxford' on one of them.  I stamped the Bird Crazy, (which looks like a wise owl to me) and used the die cuts to make it 3D. I coloured it with promarkers. I made the mortar board myself, just drew it and cut out and then added an 'A Level' certificate.

That's it for now, take care all and I look forward to connecting with you again in October,

Love and Hugs,
Carole Z X

11 comments:

  1. I hope you enjoy your break away Carole. You need to go with how you feel and I'm sure you will come back relaxed and raring to go. I've been having a bad time this year too. If I didn't have my DT work I might be temped to do the same ... lol! Have fun sorting out the conservatory. I loved it when we built ours - choosing the furniture, the floor tiles, the blinds, the lighting!!!! Great fun.

    Congrats to Tom's cousin on getting his place at Oxford. He will love the wise owl card you have made him. See you in a month or so!

    Hugs Christine xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Carole my crafty friend your card is fantastic. I do love visiting your blog but I can understand that you need a break. I haven't been blogging for nearly so long. I will keep plodding away. Enjoy your time away I do hope we keep in touch. Hugs Jackie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Absolutely loving your quirky graduation card, lol. Carole no need to apologise as we all need to stop some times and take a reality check and focus on what is the most important to us, one day at a time xxx
    Hugs
    Desíre
    {Doing Life – my personal blog}

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Carole, thanks for the visit. You must do what's right for you my friend. It's easy to feel that you have a responsibility to your blogging friends but if they are true friends they will understand. One thing that I am always conscious of is not spending so long blogging that I don't get stuff made and it's easy to get into that if you are not careful.
    If you have any time to look later in the week you might enjoy the photos I am posting as it was the Steampunk Festival here in Lincoln this weekend but no pressure and you don't need to leave any comments.You have a good rest and we'll see you again soon. Take care and big hugs, Angela x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Carole

    Many thanks for your visit(s) .. .. there is never any need to apologise to me .. .. I feel I must be the worst blogger in the world!! I feel good that I actually manage to get something posted and then bad that I haven't returned all the lovely comments I get left.

    I seem to be all or nothing. But the weddings have to come before anything else and whilst they are so busy then my blog unfortunately suffers.

    Enjoy your month. Blogging should be fun .. . not a chore .. .. so relax and just do what you can when you can.

    Loving the congratulations card .. .. great for a young male.

    Catch you soon and have fun.

    Love Jules xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think you already know what I am going to say Carole! Good for you (and me), it is the right decision at the right time for both of us and let's just hope we come back renewed and refreshed. Funnily enough, now that the pressure is off I have managed to make something today that I actually quite like (for Eileen - just hope she likes it....). Love the card you made with the wise owl, I love him and he is perfect for a graduation card. Hope the conservatory goes well and have fun choosing all the bits and pieces. See you 'on the other side' my lovely friend. Hugs, Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Firstly - this is such a cool card! The perfect way to use the crazy bird. Secondly, I truly hope that you're able to find some peace and relaxation during your bloggy break! We'll be thinking about you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Carole,
    wonderful design card, and perfect for the occasion.
    Enjoy your break, and I do hope all goes well with your building work.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Carole, we all need to step back at times, and just do things that are more important at that moment. Life is to short to be worrying over if you have posted or visited blogs. We will be here when you are ready to come back. I certainly am enjoying just puting things up on the blog if I feel like it,
    Your card is fantastic and he should be so proud of his achievement. Hazel x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Morning Carole.
    A great card, Enjoy your break and I hope you come back with new enthusiasm.
    Lydia
    X

    ReplyDelete