Handicrafts by Kate Perry and other ramblings

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

woyww229

Yay! I'm back - for this week anyway. Maybe I need some lessons in time management, because I never seem to have a spare minute these days, to post on my blog, nor to comment on everyone else's. But tonight I have been busy chopping up several bulbs of garlic and a huge bag of root ginger, to make a new batch of my Hot chili and ginger jam. It now has to simmer gently for an hour so I am going to use that time to prepare this post for the morning. Excuse me if I pop back to the kitchen to stir the brew every now and then. And what am I back for? Well, of course it is for the weekly blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia over on her Stamping Ground, so if you would like to see what crafters around the world are getting up to, pop over and join in the fun.

Obviously my 'work desk' tonight was the kitchen table, so here is my desk from the night before, when I actually did do some crafting.

I am so far behind with my Christmas cards this year, and with the way my life is at moment, there is little chance of me catching up in time, so I made the decision to do a batch of digital cards. Not something I have done before, and not my first choice, but it certainly was a lot quicker. I used Photoshop and a digital scrapbook kit called Cameo Christmas by Pamela Rose designs. I chose a backing paper, a frame, and a swathe of flowers and greenery, and constructed my page. I then found a reasonably decent photo of Chris and I that we took to send to our African boy whom we sponsor for his secondary education. I resized it to fit behind the frame and saved the whole thing as a jpeg file. I was then able to use Publisher to size it down to fit on a 12cm square card, and could fit six of these on an A3 sheet of paper. So what you can see here is one of the sheets about to be cut up, plus green and red card for the bases, a very untidy box of ribbons, a sentiment stamp and ink pad, and my tower of stickles glitter glue. And of course a grumpy Arwen who objected to being moved to the end of the table. I have done so little craft recently that she thinks she owns the whole space and is extremely disgruntled when I move her off it.
So in one evening I was able to cut out four sheets of images (two dozen in all), cut score and fold 24 base cards, stamp 24 sentiments, and the worst bit - tie 24 little red bows, and then put them all together. And just to prove I did, here is a later shot of my desk, with all twenty-four cards, spread out while the glitter glue dries, with Arwen banished for an hour!
That is the closest shot you are going to get of them as I haven't decided who I will be sending these to yet. I shall make a list now and see whether I should make a few more. I am also trying to get a few sets of 'proper' cards made for my friends locally. The digi ones will be good for posting to UK, so most of them will go there.
Well that's it for this week. I think my jam is just about ready to bottle up. The kitchen is very pungent right now, but as I said to my sister earlier, at least I should be breathing clearly tonight!
I'll be back tomorrow to link this up and hopefully to visit as many as I can of you.

21 comments:

Deb said...

Oh yum, your jam sounds delicious! I must get my head around preparing some pickles etc this year for Christmas for us and for gifts, I always think about it too late! Great idea to do a huge batch of quick cards! Takes a bit of the stress out of it!
Debxx

Anonymous said...

Happy WOYWW. I am also hugely behind with Xmas cards this year (as always!) and will be making most of mine with the digital method, ie quick design/print/mount onto base cards/post! Still a unique design and much appreciated by my family/friends. Ali x #49

Julia Dunnit said...

Well Kate, you may not feel as if you're getting much done with all the rushing about, but I assure you - you are! Fab quantity of cards, great result. Apaprt from having to banish Anwen..I wonder if she tries even harder to get in when you keep her out?!
The chili and ginger jam sounds wonderful - are the jars to be christmas gifts?

Sarn said...

WOW - that was a marathon card making session you had there Kate. Congrats on getting so many cards made towards your total.

Hugs
Sarn xxx

Annie said...

What a fab batch of cards Kate....think I will be making one design to fit all this year....or buying them!!! No time to spare here either so it will be what I can fit in in the time this year.
Hugs,
A x # 62

glitterandglue said...

Can smell that gorgeous jam from here! Great!! Do you serve it with meat of some sort?
Good idea for the cards - not my first choice either - but sometimes, needs must. I only have about 35 made so far, and I need about 160.... so, some way to go yet. May get a chance this weekend.
Have a great, and busy week.
Margaret #64

Neet said...

That jam sounds delicious - mmmmm...
Great idea with the cards - I too am way behind with everything and mine are going to be diecuts that I bring home from shows. No time for stamping I am afraid.
Hope the jam is bottled up now and you are resting.
Hugs, Neet 24 xx

Uniflame said...

You have a little factory going on here! I would go mad, making all these x-mas card myself, haha. Uniflame - 68

Di said...

Oh wow Kate, that jam sounds wonderful! And well done on the marathon card making session too.

Hugs, Di xx

Jean said...

Great batch of cards Kate,quite a marathon.
Jean x

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Wow, the chili and ginger jam sounds A.MA.ZING! I love all sorts of pickles and chutneys and that sounds a purler!
Well done for doing the cards production line....that was a good job done :-)
Hugs, LLJ 7 xx

Debs Willis said...

Jam sounds yummy. Wish we had smelly vision on computer :-)
I tried making a batch of identical cards one year & nearly died of boredom, vowed never again lol!!
Debs #81

Carole said...

I love the hot bite of ginger root so I imagine the jam will be wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Be well Carole #91

Caro said...

The jam sounds amazing! Love the way the kitty is sat at the side of your desk and had to be banished! Cats love getting in the way of whatever you want to do don't they. Thanks for sharing. Happy WOYWW. Caro x (#74)

Spyder said...

The jam sounds fab, my hubby wants the recipe!! Happy WOYWW!

(Lyn)) #59

kiwimeskreations said...

Wow that jam sounds incredible Kate!!
Love what I could see of the cards =- and well done for reaching for the digital option - I have not started mine yet :-(.
Poor Arwen - of course she owns you and your space!!;-)
Blessings
Maxine

Rennata said...

I am impressed. I always let Christmas plans wait too long. Enjoy your WOYWW.

Rennata #101

VonnyK said...

Now that's a clever way to do Christmas cards. I'm always going nuts at the last minute but I might try this way of doing the cards. Yours look fabulous.
Have a great week,
Von #63

Twiglet said...

mm I think I can smell that chilli and ginger jam - yummy! Those cards look lovely - I really need to get my head round an idea for mine so that I can start my production line. lol. x Jo

Shoshi said...

What a production line you've got going there, Kate - not just with your beautiful Christmas cards, but with the jam making too - that sounds really delicious! I bet the house is full of gorgeous smells.

Thank you for your lovely comment. We are so thrilled with our new house. It will be a while before I'm up and running properly in my ARTHaven, not least because there's still so much unpacking, tidying and cleaning up to do in the rest of the house and I shall feel guilty if I don't get on with it!!

Happy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi #65

The Taming of the Glue said...

Wow...the jam sounds delicious! Great going with the Christmas cards. Sometimes digital crafting is the way forward! Hugs. Pam#38