The Introverted Crafter

I finally have something besides cross stitch to show! But first - the cross stitch! As you can see I am coming close to completing it now. I really want to finish it, because this is my first task/reward item, and I have already chosen my reward. I'm not rushing it though, as that is when things go wrong. I have been toying with an idea of a canvas project since getting the first craft box a month ago, when I saw the globe postcards, so I decided to make it this week. The first background I did went wrong, so I started again, and ended up with this. Unfortunately I have not got the hang of using sprays yet, at least not when it comes to backgrounds. I started off by getting an old piece of card, that was originally from a Christmas stash, and used a script stencil with texture paste, sprinkling embossing powder on it and using a heat tool to dry. Once that was done I started laying things out. I covered a snip art piece with black gesso and wax for the background,...

Haven't really got anything to update with this one, as I have not done any crafting apart from stitching. There is a couple of reasons for this. Number one is that it was hell week at work (should that be a capital h?). It doesn't mean that it was a particularly bad week at work; on the contrary, it was quite a productive one for me, and for at least one portion I could definitely see the effect that the recent training has had to improve my work. It's just the term we use for the longest stint we have. It leaves you a little tired after all the shifts, and not really in the mood for doing anything apart from vegging in front of the telly with bad food (which is another thing I have not being doing great at recently.) The other reason is the fact I have been rearranging my bedroom, both to incorporate the new furniture I bought myself, and to organise my crafty stash a little bit better. I now have a two metre desk to work on, which has a chest of drawers on both sides, ...

So I finished the Tiger in the Heavens stitch finally. I have decided not to put the sequins on it, as to be honest on reflection it makes it look a little garish, and not right for the intended recipient. So, one is finished and the next one has started. I have to say I am loving my cross stitch floor stand. It makes it so much easier, even if it is a bit cumbersome getting it up and down the stairs sometimes! Below is the next project. I have had at least two people remark that it looks like a pair of boobs in a bikini top in the middle, but you can see from the rest of it that it isn't that - that is, unless Wallace and Gromit has suddenly become X-rated! I've also made a card this week. I haven't been able to do much, as on Saturday I got a delivery of some new furniture, so my room is a little bit of a mess to say the least. Still, I got my G45 papers out and had a bash at a card. As well as the G45 papers, I used a couple of SnipArt...

Before I get onto the crafting, I want to sum up February. Savings wise I had about £500 saved, and I had 16/28 days that were no spends at all, which is pretty good. Payday came around though, and as usual I spent too much. All of it was somewhat necessary though, as I have decided that my current desk is not fit for purpose anymore, so bought a new one from Ikea. I also managed to get some new things, thanks to birthday money. I have got my eye on something, but at the moment I feel it is too expensive to splash out on. I won't bore you with what I have bought, as I feel that keeping track of it myself is probably better to do. Weight wise I have had a bit of an overhaul after a particularly poor end of the month (why oh why does Asda sell Ben and Jerry's for a pound?!) I have downloaded my fitness pal, and am filling it in diligently, and keeping as close as possible to my calories. After a successful 10k steps a day last month, I have now upped it to 11k daily this mo...