Wanted more hours in a day

My paper crafts finally arrived. Yesterday it was all about them. Unpacking, organizing and finding a place for all my stuff took me half a day. It was good because is something I like to do, it was not so good because it cut into my time of painting beads. Today it will be all about beads; and tomorrow also, and the day after that. Hope my papers and embellishments won't be too upset about this neglect they had to endure since the beginning of June. Until I will finally get time to scrapbook, here are some more Moon Beans that just want to be pretty and smile for the camera.

Meet Victoria Rose and Five bean chilly waiting to become bracelets and then set sail to see a friend in the US.

Holidays and days off

Yes, the packages that should have been here on the fifteen are not here. Yet. No big deal, it was a holiday in this country. And since Thursday was off, why not let people have Friday off too since the weekend was just another day away.
More time for me to practice my new learned hobby. Here there are some patterns I though looked cute on beads. From left to right resting in some jewelry boxes are the Tracy pattern, the "love you to the moon" and my first ever Lovely clouds.

Some green beads at my mom request. This patter is called Daisy. This small batch will become a bracelet for one of the ladies from my church group. There are about twelve lovely ladies in this group so expect eleven more patterns in the next three weeks. 

On one of the beads I wrote "Moon Bean" but more abut that in my next post.

Impatient

Being patient is a good thing. But sometimes not being patient is just as good. My scrapbook supplies and papers are still on the road and my mind and hands need something to do.
Luckily, one of my crafty friends came to rescue me from death by boredom. She made the beautiful clay bead earrings you see in the background. She is not only talented but also patient enough to teach me how to make these beads.
One day, last week, we shopped for the clay. Latter that day I made my first beads. This evening I decided that the first batch was dry. The lack of paints, varnish and hardware supplies did not stopped me from trying my hand at decorating. I used some washi tape, glossy accents and some copper wire to dress up my first ever bead. I named it Lovely clouds. It had pink hearts and white clouds on a pale teal background. 

Now I hope I'll have patience to decorate enough for a whole necklace.

While I am waiting

Lately I have been doing a little bit of traveling and no scrapbooking. I have not transferred all the photos I took from my camera to my computer but I dread the moment because I take too many pictures. It is either many shots of the same thing or many attempts to capture something that, to be honest, it is outside of my camera's abilities. So I end up with ten photos of the some flower, about five self portraits of me and some friend/relative and at least a dozen of some blurry landscape captured through the dusty windshield of the moving car. Selecting the right picture to print and scrap is half of the scrapbooking work, or it is for me. If I would only have one perfect photo... One time I did and this layout came out in less than hour:

In the Beginning... (3)

While my first album is safely transported across the ocean with the rest of my craft goodies, I stumbled upon some snapshots of somewhat finished layouts.
No matter how hard I try, the hoarder in me wins. Another five photos on one page. Tough habit to break...

Fighting for food?! Some layouts are all about the photos, no need for embellishments. No butterflies or glitter can make these guys look better; and they are not gear and grunge people either.

 Part A of a double spread I envisioned long time ago (about two years). Part B still a work in progress.

 Finally three photos per page.

 But it did not last for long. What can I say, I had a little to many photos with birds. Now I can see at least 3 layouts with these photos.At least I am learning something...

Speaking of firsts...

I am not much of a card sender, or card maker for that matter. If it wasn't for BoBunny designer call I would have never attempted to make even a thank you note using my supplies. I did buy a magazine on card making, and I watched plenty YouTube videos on cards yet my interest was still at flat line. One of my explanation for this lack of interest is the absence of a photo. Most of my albums and layouts are greatly inspired by the content, theme and especially the colors in the picture I try to highlight. Without further rumbling on the subject, here it is my very first card:

 

BoBunny Coral Vintage dot

BoBunny Enchanted 6x6 pattern paper

Recollections orange card stock

Studio g stamp

Black ink

Acrylic paints mixed to match the coral paper

Several X-Acto templates for the hearts and borders

Scalloped scissors

Runner dots and foam tape 

 

In the beginning... (2)

So my first ever project is still a work in progress. I do not know why some albums just do not want to get themselves together. Then, I look over my photos and it seems I need to buy another set of page protectors. Will see how that is going to work out. Here are some pages that are somewhat done.

Another attempt to a double page. I had the red dot paper left over from another project and I like it well enough to make it a part of this album.

Not vacation is complete without a stack of maps, brochures and other memorabilia; and, since I cannot commit to cut into it, I end up glue it down on a page and call it day.

Another one of my first pages, with part of the church bulletin. I had no plan in mind when I started the page and in the end the elements are somewhat disconnected.

Another attempt to a double page. I especially liked these photos and I had no idea how to add papers and embellishments without taking the attention away from them.

And, of course, another crowded page. I thought that more photos per page would help me finish this album faster, instead it became a huge challenge. Note to self: three photos on one page is enough.