ten minute tuesday...

hello, I'm back for ten minute tuesdays...finally. It's been a hectic summer but now the kids are back in school things are slowly starting to return to normal. I'm enjoying peaceful days but oh boy - where'd the sun go?!

Anyhoo - creative talk now. Project Life more specifically.

Just before we took our summer holiday I ordered 154 photo's from Photobox. Lots of them were Instagram shots which I ordered on 4"x6", making them 4"x4". Honestly though - what a pain going through and clicking "shrink to fit" on every single one.  For some reason that was the only way I could get it to do it. Ugh.

So, here I am with 154 photo's, destined for my Project Life album. Ha - lots of gaps to fill in too as this is from March to July. Eeek. so where did I start....by buying a new printer! LOL.

I've quickly come to the conclusion that if I'm going to record our lives again, I need a printer.
We used to have a fabulous printer, but it died a death and we replaced it with an amazing printer - but it's an office one, and in all honesty, printing photo's on it really isn't the best. They are ok, but not what I want.

Enter a Canaon Selphy C900.

Wireless. Yeah right. Not in our house.

We work for ourselves, and have a lot of security set up on our network and clearly this little baby doesn't like hanging around for you to type in very long passwords...  Oh the joys. So, I've just plugged it in to my laptop. I'm not upset about it.

So far I love it! But. Warnings.....  

I usually print onto matte paper. The selphy packs are gloss and they are waterproof prints.Great if you have a coffee spill, not so great for my pens. My regular pens don't adhere to them, even my micron pens. Arrgh! I have several sharpies, one has worked. A regular old sharpie with an extra fine tip at one end.  If you don't write on photo's then it won't be an issue for you.

Second issue was Instagram photos. Although the Selphy comes with print size options, and a custom option. It didn't really do for Instagram. I want to be able to print them at various sizes, from 4" to 2".

Back to the drawing board then. Noooooooooo.....

I have had a couple of apps suggested to me to get over this. While they may work for other people I don't want to fiddling about on a tiny phone screen with an app. My eye sight isn't what it used to be you know... LOL. And, more importantly I just don't have the patience. But I do have PSE7. yay. Problem solved!

I do find PSE a bit of a faff most of the time, but this was quick and painless.  I back up all my Instagram and camera shots on our network as a matter of course, so they are all there ready for me to print.

HOW TO.....

• open your instagram image in PSE and select "image" "resize" . I then select the size in inches. As you can see from above image 4", 3.75", 3" and 2" sizes. 
• Do this for all the images you want to print - especially important for the smaller sizes so you have them all selected at once to fit on the sheet. 
• Select "File" "Print multiple images", with PSE7 a new window opens. 
• For multiple images on one sheet make sure you select "contact sheet" print type (dropdown 2)
• Set the number of columns - two should be enough for images 3" and smaller.

There we have it - all ready to print out my Instagram images ready to use.
Project Life album under way.
 I'm not putting myself under pressure to catch up with everything for it. I'll start with the big events and days out and gradually fill in inbetween, but from this week I can start recording things weekly (ish).

Where does the ten minutes come in? errm, well now I have the printing issue out of the way, I can spend ten minutes writing up the cards for the album in my "war on the photo mound".

Please do share with me what you have been up to in your bid to catch up and/or get creative ten minutes at a time.

Thanks for stopping by!
Vicki 

summertime photography scavenger hunt…

I’ve revisited the list this morning and realised I haven't really casually come across many items on the list. Still got a couple of weeks to find some more, now that the kids are about to go back to school and the daily grind kicks back in… ahem, we shall see what happens. Maybe I should carry the list – revise with it to help me remember! Maybe it will turn in to an Autumn scavenger hunt list..

So, from our trip to Crete I present…
Item No 5 “a sunset”

  

We drove for an hour and a half along some stomach churning roads – think lorries, narrow, sheer drops…on our side, to get these.  We sat in a lovely taverna on the beach and watched the sun go down. I have a few shots of it slowly going down. After a day on the beach it was a lovely end to the day.

Not quite Item No. 11: An animal in a zoo, aquarium, nature preserve, etc
I say not quite because we haven’t been near a zoo, aquarium, nature reserve or an etc for this one. So this is one of the critter that shared the pool at our villa with us.

This is where I really regretted not taking my DSLR with me, just my compact. Crawling round on my knees trying to get as close as possible with the sun shining in my eyes for hours!
How’s your scavenger hunt going?  Don’t forget to pop across to see Rinda’s blog and add yourself to the list.  She has some fabulous photo’s from the list.
Tatty bye for now then!
Vicki

design team call…..

We're looking for a scrapbooker and 2014 Guest Designers!

Entry deadline 30th September 2013.

We have an opening for a scrapbooker on the creative design team! So if you are a scrapbooker, maybe you also dabble with project life/ pocket style scrapbooking, have lots of tips and idea's to share read on!

Ideally you should be based from within the EU, and would commit to an initial six month term.

In return you get free goodies and a discount on your purchases!

We’re also looking for Guest Designers who can commit do joining our team for a month at some point during 2014.

If you’re not familiar with the store go take a look, we have everything from scrapbook papers to jewellery making supplies and lots of art supplies. These are the products you would be working with as a member of our design team.

Have a read through the requirements and the benefits (here) and get in touch with us by the 30th September 2013 if you are interested.

Don’t be shy! If you have any questions then email us at dt@asprinkleofimagination.com

oops – nearly wet myself!

hello all!

apologies for the radio silence. Well, I say that, but I’ve been taking a summer break with my family and the run up to it was majorly hectic. Loads of days out with trips to Harry Potter Studio’s, Buckingham Palace and Edinburgh as well as all making sure everyone had enough knickers to go in the suitcase for our trip to Crete. 

Anyway, in amongst all of that I have had a huge order of photo not appear in the post… not too pleased about that, but I have been assured a second batch will be printed and sent out to me. I hate the thought of someone else getting their sticky mitts on my images so here’s hoping they’ve just gone via New York rather than heading to York.

While we were away we received a delivery of the new Darkroom Door stamps… oh be still my beating heart. Look how adorable these new stamps are…

These Carved Birds, designed by Godelieve Tijskens (aka stampingmathilda) are my absolute favourite.

I also LOVE the new Quote Stamps. I haven’t tried yet, but I’m thinking what cool project life cards these stamps would make (IF I ever get my blooming photo’s!)

For now though I’d better back to the post holiday washing….boo hiss… I was just so excited about the new stamps I needed to share. I’ll save the gorgeous boxes of more new Prima stash for another day!

Thanks for stopping by and “listening” to my excitement!

Vicki

summertime photography scavenger hunt : Item No 5 “a sunset” (part 1)

I’m saying part one as I hope to gather a few more sunsets, especially while we are on our jollies. This one was the view from my bedroom window.

ten minute tuesday with a WOYWW twist..

hello, welcome. Sorry about being missing recently.

Where to start… “ahhhh” seems like a good place right now.

Having the kids at home is having a bigger knock on effect this year than last.

Last year, they played quietly. This year they have to be constantly reminded of what indoor voices sound like.

Last year they got on. This year they argue, scream and shout at each other over the smallest things.

Last year I could work happily with them in the background. This year it’s proving to be very stressful.

How many weeks until the schools are open again? We really should have summer camps like they do in the States. I know I’m a slight workaholic. You have to be when you work for yourself. I know I add self induced pressure to the mix. I know I am overdue a nice long break. Right now a Pimms will do!  Oh well, The Better Half finishes up on Friday for the rest of the summer and the full on family fun starts in earnest. Warnings have gone on the shop, just need to add holiday dates as well. (you can still order, but I won’t be popping back to pack them).

Right – creatively I’m been working on secret squirrel projects. Stuff I’d love to share, but can’t.

This is my desk pad. It’s been used for a wee bit of brainstorming. The rest of my desk is full of ink pads and stamps, invoices, pre-orders and stock lists.  I’m not sharing that as it looks like a fax machine has puked up on it. I kid you not, paper mountain, avalanche danger to all who enter. I have three weeks left before we head off on our jollies and I’m wondering how I’ll get it all done. I will though, because I have to. The Better Half will be here to ease the pain and allow me to get on with what needs to be got on with.

Just going to leave you with this picture, taken on my phone before the clouds wondered on. I love the crisp white edge to the clouds… a silver lining perhaps. A good omen.

brand new 7 Dots Studio!

Good morning everyone!

Not a lot of creativity going on, mainly because I’ve been paper stroking….

The first of the new releases we shall be stocking has arrived this morning. 

For your pleasure we have the two new collections from 7 Dots Studio.

  

Both collections have 6 double sided 12x12 papers, 6x6 paper pads, collection kits, die-cut elements and alpha sticker sheets.

Click on the images to be whisked away to shopping pleasure!

Happy Creating

Vicki

questions, questions

this may sound a little odd, but I went blog hopping around my own blog. Could that be considered a hop. No, probably not. A trip down the old posts then.

While I was there, back in 2009 (I didn’t even realise I’d be blogging that long!) I found a post “questions, questions”. It made me wonder if anything had really changed. One way to find out. Answer them again. It’s funny as I was taking a break from trawling through oodles of photo’s.  What’s on my to-do list – yep, trawling through oodles of photo’s.  Maybe life doesn’t change much after all.

The idea is you answer each one with just ONE word. No qualifying your answers… you can do that silently in your head if you wish, but go with your first response.

1. Where is your cell/mobile phone? Desk
2. Your hair? needing
3. Your mother? better
4. Your father? absent
5. Your favourite food? Homemade
6. Your dream last night? busy
7. Your favourite drink? Water
8. Your dream/goal? Less chaos
9. What room are you in? Study
10. Your hobby? Creating
11. Your fear? Loneliness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? surrounded
13.Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren’t? skinny
15. Muffins? No
16. Wish list item? beach
17. Where did you grow up? Midlands
18. Last thing you did? finances
19. What are you wearing? glasses
20. Your TV? kids
21. Your pet? fluffy
22. Friends? Few
23. Your life? good
24. Your mood? exhausted
25. Missing someone? Yes
26. Vehicle? Car
27. Something you’re not wearing? tutu
28. Your favourite store? Lakeland
29. Your favourite colour? teal
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? tuesday
32. Your best friend? Chris
33. One place that you go to over and over? School
34. One person who emails you regularly? chris
35. Favourite place to eat? Piccolinos

If you answer them and share them on your blog, let me know, the nosey side of me would like to, well, take a nose!

ten minute tuesdays…

hello, and a very late welcome.

Isn’t it sooo good to have the sun out, for more than an hour. Not that I’m much of a sun worshipper….

that’s me… legs out, hiding in the shade of the tree’s on the school playing field waiting for my youngest to be released to me.

It’s a prep week this week. My little boy is growing up and I have a birthday cake to create! He doesn’t know it yet, but so far I’ve purchased a bigger tin to bake it in and this little lot..

All the colours of the rainbow! This time next week I’m sure I’ll be in baking hell.  Next on the list is a cake tin and base big enough to store it.

I’m also working on this weekends flash sale as part of our store’s birthday celebrations. 2 years old. Amazing. If you’re a scrapper, you’re gonna love the next one, but you’ll have to wait until Friday to find out what it is!

It’s the last week of term here next week so there won’t be a ten minute tuesday post from me. With birthdays, end of term Church services, parties, school disco’s and whatnot I won’t have time to do anything other than curse while decorating this cake.  I’ll try and remember to take photo’s if the cake works out and share that with you next time.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Vicki

words that speak to me…

…and I am no exception!

**NEWS FLASH**

 It's our birthday, and we're celebrating! 

All Darkroom Door Unmounted Stamps 

are reduced for this weekend only!

summertime photography scavenger hunt : Item No. 8 “a sign”

…that the little devils are close by….

My son told me to go and see it. Insisted I see it. I am so so glad he did. I laughed my socks off when I saw it. How perfectly apt.  I do have one problem with it though.  I have an overwhelming urge to paint the red triangle back in at the bottom to neaten it up!

Don’t forget to drop by Rinda's blog for all the details if you want to join in with the scavenger hunt.

ten minute tuesday

hello there! 

Summer seems to be coming in fast and the school holidays are a mere three weeks away for us. 

I dread them. 

Not because I don't love my kids, or spending time with them, but. Yeah, but.  I get nothing done while they are home so much. Working for myself becomes very hard and as for time to create, well, yeah, you can almost kiss that one away. 

On the plus side I'm lucky enough to have dearest darling hubby at home with me for the bulk of the school holidays. As a result, this year we have planned oooooodles of days out to keep the kids amused and get them nicely knackered.

 Its a plan.

 That means most of my ten minutes have been spent dreaming up and booking up some great days out. 

It had better work! I couldn't cope with a summer full of grizzles. 

I did manage some more traditional creative time this week, with my art journal. 

Confession....

• I spent about twenty minutes drawing on this... in one go. 
• I've been backwards and forward to laying down the colour for at least an hour at a time. 

So , not strictly ten minutes. More a gathering of ten minute sessions.

You can probably tell I used a page that had gesso on it. Why? It was the next page in my journal and I didn't give it a second thought. I've done the drawings using Pigma Micron pens (here in the shop) and Derwent watercolour pencil (I don't sell them as I you can get them cheaper elsewhere than I can get them!)

I've had a new set of Derwent Coloursoft pencils arrive today so I'm off for a play with them now.

Happy Creating and don't forget to link up if you've joined me this week. Links run until midnight next Monday. 

words that speak to me....

This quote needs to make it into my art journal. 

Sometimes it's hard to accept that I can't do it all, even though deep down I know that.

ten minute tuesday...

Blimey, tuesday again. Already! 

I swear I never agreed to that. 

Sort and sweet this week as not a lot has really gone on here since last week. 

I've been having a short play in my art doodle love book, and completely ignoring the prompts! 

At the moment I want to develop my 'flowers' or should that be my abstract flowers, and art doodle love was close at hand. Calling to me. Maybe it's been feeling a bit abandoned. (yes I know I'm talking about it like its a living creature, but that's ok). 

I'm at the point of sketching them out with a pigma micron pen (love these babies) and my intention this week to take evenings off work and colour them in.  I might go over the outlines with a pen other than black first. Not sure yet. See what happens when I sit down to do it. 

  I had already started to doodle on this page, but it was pant so I doodled over it. As you do!

Well I've shown you mine, you gonna show me yours? 

Being brave and testing/adding out a linky....
Its an experiment as I've never used one before and there are plans afoot!
 I thoroughly expect to be a billy no mates on this, but consider the bullet bitten and a red face later. Hey ho!