Busy, Busy, Busy...

I have been so busy crafting, that I haven't had time in the last few days to blog anything. But that's a good thing, right? My mojo has returned from vacation with a zing, and I'm raring to go, firing on all cylinders :) I'm making some of the items that will sit inside the new clock case I've finished (yes, I've actually finished the case now) - starting with the 'mini' book.

Trouble is, I'm a messy crafter... as my mid-flow workdesk will show:

What a disaster area! Still, it does show just how 'tight' I can be... and maybe quite inventive too :) I don't have a craft-sheet (and think they are so over-priced too!), instead I have a large cork coaster that my mum was going to throw away, slipped into a plastic bag that some 12x12 papers came in. I can blend inks into papers so easily, and wipe up any mess left on the plastic covering with a baby wipe ready to use again and again :) I even keep the babywipe in a plastic bag so that is stays dampened for longer, so I can use it for days :)

Now I need to find a way of making cheap blending sponges...

I'm even trying to make my workspace a bit more 'green'... by having a recycling bin as well as a 'normal' bin in my craft room. Any bits of discarded card or paper large enough to recycle are promptly placed into the correct bin. Cardboard packaging is stripped of  sellotape and sticky labels and recycled (or given to hubby to re-use for his E-Bay hobby). I'm trying to use little bits of paper leftovers on my mini-book pages... and toying with the idea of turning tiny scraps into whole new sheets of paper - though I have no idea how difficult or easy (or messy!) this may be.

So, what's your crafty-frugality? How do you save money - or the planet - with your hobby?

I'd love to know of any tips and tricks - time to share!

Squiffy Sunday Sneaky Peek

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

Today is a hot sunny day - perfect gin-and-bitterlemon weather.

And I'v had three.

Large ones.

Oops :D

As well as a 'gin day', today is an 'embellish your mini' day for me. It's the mini album I made to go into the mini trunk, and it's supposed to be simple and purple. Trouble is, I think the gin-influence has made me a tad more flamboyant than usual, and I have only two pages finished that are full of flowers, butterflies... and glittery bits! I don't do glttery bits!

So, although it's definitely NOT a Wednesday, I thought I'd let everyone in on a sneak peek of how my workdesk looks today.... squiffy-stylie *lol*

I think my gin-induced creativity has made me prone to messiness (spot the gin and bitter lemon taking pride of place on my desk *lol*)... and at some point this evening I'm expecting someone to have to rescue me from a glitter overload. Once again I say...

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

think I shall pay for this tomorrow *lol*

However... squiffy though I may be, my cutting lines seem to be extraordinarily straight, my lines are relatively well-spaced (and I can't do straight normally), and I'm quite liking the whole OTT look of my mini album :)

Tomorrow I may see things differently... I'll let you know (if I'm able *lol*).