Wednesday 25 April 2012

Crafting with Alex (WOYWW)

Some of you have asked how I manage to keep my desk so tidy; well the truth is that most of the time it is a complete tip, but I have to tidy it on a Monday night, because Tuesday morning before school has become a time when Alex and I craft together at my desk...if I leave anything on my desk he wants to use it or play with it so I have found it best to empty the desk and then let him decide what he wants to do in a more controlled and less stressful manner.
Usually he wants to make a card for his girlfriend! He and Ella (who is not yet 5), decided about a year ago that they were going to get married, and he makes a card for her most weeks. This was the card he made yesterday morning for her using punches, stamping and hand drawing.  Inside it has a heart which he drew and the words "To Ella, love from Alex".  Aah, young love!
This is my desk, for WOYWW, as it looked at about 5.30pm yesterday evening when I had got as far as choosing papers and photos for a scrapbook layout. I had managed to trim the photos using the craft knife, metal ruler and cutting mat, and drink half my tea before I had to go and give Alex his tea, do homework, bath, bedtime etc. 
I came back to the layout later on, which features October half-term with my family here in Sheffield, and this is how it looked when I had finished it. The layout followed sketch #210 from Nuts about sketches.  I stamped some of the leaves and the others were made using home-made stencils from two different woodware punches.  I inked through the stencils with pine needles distress ink.  The papers used were Basic Grey and K&Co and the embellishments which have glitter embossed on them were left over from a Cosmo Cricket set I had a long time ago (not sure how well the glitter shows up, but it is there I promise!). The leaves and skeleton leaf add texture to the layout.  As a result this layout fits with Lasting Memories 'stencils', Cards for men 'texture', Tuesday Throwdown 'use some sparkle', Pile it on 'sparkle and shine' and Stamptacular 'loaded with layers'.  That is all from me...I am lecturing for most of the rest of the week, hence preparing this post on Tuesday evening.  Have a great rest of the week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

26 comments:

lisa said...

How lovely to have time to craft together. Alex obviously takes after his Mum and I love the fact that he has a girlfriend at 5. Bet they'll be friends forever!!
Your LO is beautiful. I have that lovely BG paper, it's yummy isn't it.
Happy WOYWW
Hugs Lisax #74

donnalouiserodgers said...

such fun - working with children, they are natural artists,
dx @108

Victoria said...

thank you for the look around your crafting space today
cool work Alec
vicky #104 woyww
http://angeldrummer.blogspot.co.uk/
Ps I also have saturated canary candy on my blog

sandra's crafty corner said...

what a lovely layout, also looks like your little fella enjoys craftin as much as mummy lol,thanks for joining us at cards for men, and good luck, hugs sandra xxx

K Clark said...

love the Lo and the design is fab!!! great use of the stencil! thanks for joining us at lasting memories. I hope to see you next week
kimberly

Karen said...

A great card that Alex has made for his girlfriend, gosh don't they start young nowadays LOL!! A really gorgeous LO too :)

Have a great WOYWW and a fab week, Luv Karen xx #75

TeenaBugg38 said...

OMGosh isn't he adorable!!!! His g/f.....YIKES!!!! My youngest is 7 and hats girls.....you are gonna have a lady killer on your hands....lol. LOVE the layout!!!
Thanks so much for playing along this week at Lasting memories!!!!
Tina (LMDT)

Angela said...

Great use of the sketch. Love the stenciled leaves!

Eliza said...

He is beautiful and such sweet innocent love, oh to be young again. Be careful crafting with the children can lead into a full time habit that they will never move on from. My dear daughter started out like your Alex only to be now 17 years of age and has her own desk and art supplies in my art room. They just never leave....

Eliza #26

Oh I love his card please tell him that.

Eliza #26

May said...

Lovely layouts and fabulous makes from Alex well done Alex, the future Mr Holtz??? Hugs May x x x No10

Caz said...

Oh wow - time to craft in the morning....I wish! What a sweetie making cards for his gf!
Love the layout.
Happy WOYWW #174
Caz
x

Princess Judy Palmer said...

How sweet is Alex wanting to make a card for his girlfriend. He's really going to wow the ladies some day. I understand the tidy desk on Wednesdays thing. I pick up house and clean Monday nights, so usually things are still in control for WOYWW. Love the woodsy layout.

Julia Dunnit said...

Well Caro, am super impressed that you carve out time BEFORE school for Alex to craft with you, how lovely. And have I ever said how brave PI are to use a scalpel ad ruler for major straight line cutting?, I just can't do it!

Astrid Maclean said...

What a great card he made, young love indeed! Your LO looks fab too!!
Happy WOYWW #34

Spyder said...

aw, how sweet, when I was 5 I was going to marry some boy called Andrew, he game be a gold ring (brass curtain ring) and told the dinner lady at school how laughed out loud! In that second, aged 5, I knew Andrew was not for me! Great project being made there! Thank you for my snoop! Have a lovely crafty week! Happy WOYWW!
((Lyn))
Late this week! #102

Suzanne cricutcraftingrammyblogspot.com said...

How fun! I can't wait till my granddaughters are old enough to craft with me. That is so sweet he makes cards for his girlfriend. Love your pics and layout. Love the leaves. Thanks for joining us this week at Lasting Memories.

Céline said...

really stunning, love the layout
thanks for playing with us at stamptacular sunday this week
hugs
céline

CraftygasheadZo said...

Super layouts and how gorgeous is that card from Alex! I remember when my lad was that age too. So sweet! Take care, enjoy this WOYWW, am working my way through the list in shifts! Zo xx 77

SusanLotus said...

Lovely layout! Cozy walking in the forest with a bunch of small folks! ;)

Susan nr 92 WOYWW

Michele said...

AWWWW... this reminds me of my son. He loves to make cards and layouts. I always print mini pictures for him. At this rate, he is ahead of me on his growing up layouts. :-) I love your page!! Perfect colors for the theme of the photos. And the stenciling. Right on!!! Thanks so much for joining Lasting Memories this week!!
Michele
LMDT

Unknown said...

Great layout and I love Alex's card! Thanks for playing in the Tuesday Throwdown this week.

Haven_mom4 said...

I find that I have to clear my space too before crafting with the kids. Somehow they always find the special thing I have set a side for a project in progress. Love the layout and that you made your own stencial with negatives from punches. Thanks for joining us at lasting memories

Helen said...

Fab LO!
Thanks for playing with us at Pile It On!
Helen x

Denise Pustelniak said...

Fantastic lo! Such creativity with the stencils! Thanks for joining us at Lasting Memories

StephG said...

great layout...love all the layers!
thanks for playing at Stamptacular Sunday!

Joynana said...

Tell Alex it is a lovely card. I do love your layout. Great family photos. #121