Why I Made Envelopes

If you saw Monday's post you are probably wondering why I'm suddenly crafting envelopes.  The truth is I like to craft and am currently trying to find ways to be more creative, particularly with paper and fabrics.  This has led me to many new blogs, sites and forums.  However, the envelopes were not inspired by one of these.  It was something I found on my new favourite site, Swap-Bot.

Swap-Bot is a site that is for all us snail mail lovers.  There are groups and swaps for lots of different things (crafts do seem to be a biggie but you can just opt into letter writing swaps if you want) for almost anything you can think of.  And if there's not, you can create your own.  If you love sending and receiving post I would strongly recommend you pay the sit a visit.

Those envelopes were made as part of a swap and I'm hoping that the recipients enjoyed receiving them - I know I loved the ones that were sent to me.

Did you enjoy seeing one of my crafts on here?  Would like to see more?  Let me know in the comments.

Handmade Envelopes

So yesterday I started making some envelopes.  I honestly don't know why I hadn't thought of it before, as I absolutely love sending letters and this is like the simplest paper craft ever.  All you will need is some pretty paper (I used some from a scrapbook stack that I've had laying around for a long time), some glue and double-sided sticky tape.  Okay, actually I didn't use glue as I couldn't find it in amongst the boxes so you can leave that one out if you don't have it (though I would definitely recommend it).

First, I cut out a template.  There are plenty of free ones online, I won't point you in the direction of the one I used as it was actually badly sized meaning that the front and back weren't the same size (I improvised on that bit) or you could probably create one using word or publisher or something (don't ask me, I'm rubbish when it comes to something other than writing or googling!)

Once you've got the template, use it to create your envelopes.  I literally just drew around it and then cut them out.  Make sure you fold in all the right places - it's pretty self-explanatry.

Glue (or sticky-tape) the inside folds, then match it up with what will become the back of the evelope.  This stage is the trickiest which is why I would advise using glue as you will then have a few seconds to readjust if you get it wrong.

Then put a line of double-sided sticky tape across the flap.  Don't pull off the top protective layer until your letter is inside.  And ta-da - envelopes:

As you can see, some of my envelopes are a little dark and I was worried that the addresses wouldn't be easily seen.  So on a couple of them I placed a little address box.  I found these cute 'hello!' ones here.

Hope you enjoyed this quick and easy craft.  Let me know if you try it and feel free to link to any pictures of your creations.  You could always add some patterned paper to the insides to make them extra special or simply draw your own.

Review: Supernaturally

Supernaturally is the second in the Paranormalcy series by Kiersten White (you can read my review of the first one here).  I have to say I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first one, and therefore didn't read it as quickly.  Or, at least, not until two thirds of the way through when it suddenly became un-put-down-able.  Evie is the same as we remember her, but now she is realising that the real world she hankered for so much isn't quite as cracked up as she imagined (though she still loves lockers). 

All characters that we met in the first book stay true to who they are and the way they are evolving is entirely believable.  However, I found the new character, Jack, to be quite predictable throughout - one of the reasons I didn't enjoy it so much as it was a little too obvious what has happening.  Jack does put all of Evie's relationships with everyone else in a bit of peril though and I found myself turning the page to find out whether they would work out or not.

Kiersten makes all the paranormal characters her own.  This time including unicorns in the mix as well as a few other new ones.  I found her take on all these creatures highly refreshing and completely unique which means I will definitely be buying the third and final book in this series 'Endlessly' and am looking forward to what she has in store for us next.

[Disclaier: I read this book on Kindle and have not been asked or offered anything to write this review.  All opinions are entirely my own.]

Passing It On

A little while ago, Michael Nobbs ran a little giveaway for subscribers and I was lucky enough to receive a copy of The Beany and The Hummingbird Bakery - Cake Days book.  I'm sure Michael must have researched me as I love baking (as you all know). 

Anyway, I haven't had a chance to do much baking due to my health, and also I no longer have Chris' housemates to eat them.  Last weekend one of our new neighbours let us know they were having a party for one of their kids.  Instead of complaining I decided it was the perfect opportunity to bake.  I made the vanilla cupcakes using the recipe from my new book (not the most adventurous, but one that is always necessary to try) and covered them in the butter icing recipe recommended.  I used blue dye but as you can see, they turned out green, though still looked delicious.

 

Chris and I tried one each (got to say, they weren't the best vanilla cupcakes I've made but they were still delicious) and we gave the rest to the party.  I couldn't give them myself (Chris had to take them out for me) but I heard lots and lots of thank yous.  To be honest I didn't bake them for the thank yous - I baked them because I enjoy baking and besides, Michael had made me feel so special by sending that enormous parcel, I felt it was only right that I pass it on.

Has anyone ever surprised you with something you weren't expecting, something that made you feel special and loved?  Did you pass it on?  Let me know in the comments.

Change of Outlook

As you've probably noticed, I've changed my blog.  Again.  (If you haven't noticed then I appreciate that you are drawn straight to my words but really, not noticing is not a good sign or appreciating life in general.) 

After writing yesterday's post, I really wanted to change my blog design to reflect me as last time I simply settled for a design that was alright, but not quite right.  Turns out there was a reason I settled.  Finding the right background, something that truly reflects me, is bloody difficult.  No, seriously, it took me over two hours to find this background (which, by the way, I found here).

The problem was, I didn't really know what I wanted it to reflect.  Sure, I enjoy crafts so that was the first thing I looked for.  But just because I enjoy it doesn't mean it can reflect me.  There was also an awesome food/cooking background but as this is blog is not about cooking it didn't feel right - in the same way that this blog isn't about crafts.  There may be elements of crafts and cooking in this blog, but that's not what it's about.  It's about me.  And I am not crafts or cooking.  I'm not entirely sure who I am/what I want which turned out to be the problem.

In the end I went for something that made me feel how I want to come across.  Yes, it is a ploy for you to see me in a certain light, but that is true of everything we do online.  This background, to me, suggests serenity and beauty, something natural yet made by humans.  And I guess that's who I want to be.  I want to be serene in my outlook.  I want my words to be beautiful.  I want to show that I am part of nature, and yet a product of others (society, upbringing, etc).  I don't know if this is what I am.  It's just what I want to project.  Therefore, it made sense to me to use my blog as a place to show this and hope that in projecting it, I will become it (after all, I'm a true believer that if you wear a mask, sooner or later it stops being a mask).

I am curious though as to how you, my reader, see me.  Are you nodding your head in agreement with the above paragraph?  Or do you think I'm wrong about myself?  Seriously, I want to know.

Waiting

Ever since I handed in my final piece of work for uni, I have been waiting.  To begin with I was waiting to get keys to our new place, then it was to move my stuff in.  Then it was to go back to my parents' to pack up my stuff.  Then it was waiting for the actual graduation.

And now there is nothing left to wait for.  Except I still feel like I'm waiting.  Like I'm waiting for my life to begin, waiting for it to start falling into place.  The problem with this of course is that if I just sit about and wait, nothing is going to happen. 

Even knowing this doesn't help.  Because I'm full of excuses.  I'm waiting for us to be completely unpacked (which at this rate maybe sometime next year!).  I'm waiting for the perfect idea.  And the biggie...I'm waiting for my health to improve.

This last one is the biggest hurdle for me.  I have plans, I have ideas, but I don't feel capable of putting the majority of them into practice as my M.E. is at a very low point (okay, I realise it's not as low as many people have to deal with - I can still get out of bed and onto the sofa most days - but it's almost the worst I've ever been, and certainly for the longest time yet).  I'm struggling to believe.  I don't know if I can believe in myself anymore.  And I don't know if I can believe in happy-ever-afters either (or at least, life without too much difficulty).  That is the true reason I have been avoiding this blog.

But, no more.  I am refusing to let this beat me.  I know it will take a lot of time and more effort than I'm sure I'm willing to give.  But I have decided - I am going to get my life back.  I don't know quite how yet.  But I know it starts with this blog.  I will be sharing my life with you and with it the responsiblity to have something to write about!  Now, don't panic - I'm not going to force my body to do things it's not ready for.  But I am planning on making an effort.  I know I might fail.  But I can't let that stop me.  (And please can I not use 'but' at the beginning of every sentence in future posts? - You know you were thinking it!)  Connection makes us strong, and blogging is one of the most connective activities I've ever taken part in.

Right, now I've written this long, hyped up post, I think I'll pop over to neopets to play a few games and relax!

I'm Still Here

I realise I haven't posted in a while.  And I did consider giving you all sorts of explanations but I know you are worth more than that.  Simply put, I haven't been in the mindset to blog.  I have the ideas for posts, I just don't feel like writing them right now.  This may sound terrible, and if I was getting paid to write here, believe me, I would be churning out those posts as fast as I could.  But you deserve more.  You deserve more than words I force out of myself without care or thought.  You deserve my attention.  You deserve my passion.  You deserve me at my best.  So for now I am just going to leave you with a few pictures (all from WeHeartIt) until I can devote myself fully for a proper post.

This picture reminds me of the fairies in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' - my favourite Shakespeare play.

And this is my favourite summer treat.

Hope you're enjoying the summer wherever you are.