One Sketch a Day

This year I've been practicing my drawing with one of these One Sketch a Day books. "Improve my drawing skills" has been on pretty much on every goals list I've written in the last few years, but I was finding that I was never very inspired to actually practice. This little book has been an amazing motivator! The boxes are quite small, so they don't feel intimidating, it always feels like I have time to squeeze in a little sketch every day. I've attempted a few 365 projects over the last few years - mostly with photos - but this is the longest I've managed to keep one going. Now that there is a good bank of material there, it's more and more satisfying to keep filling up the book one little box at a time. 

Anyone else doing a sketch a day? Or any other 365 projects that are still going strong? I'd love to see! 

x Rachel 

Card Making Essentials

I spend a lot of my time making cards for people... I love giving people something that I've spent a bit of time over and that is completely personalised to them. Also it's really fun! Here's a few of my essential "ingredients" in my card making supplies: 

//Stamps - probably my most used design tools. I use these alphabet stamps and also these flowery initial stamps to create messages. I also have a growing collection of vintage style stamps (some of which I have used in my blog design - see the little bird?). 

//Ink Pads - I'm gradually building up a variety of colours, although I am yet to find a really good white ink... Maybe it's just not meant to be... Does anyone have any suggestions?

//Stickers - I have always loved stickers and you can get so many pretty ones now! Paperchase is my go-to sticker hoarding paradise. The google-y eyed ones are always a winner. 

//Pretty Papers - I have a kind of get out of jail free card when it comes to disciplining myself with paper purchases... If I see it, I usually buy it, my excuse being that I will always use it. It's kind of true, I do go through a lot of patterned paper! 

//Watercolours - sometimes, when I am feeling a bit more adventurous, I will illustrate and paint a card for somebody... This takes a lot more time but is very rewarding. 

That's all of my most used materials! Although I have been known to use all sorts of silly bits and bobs... Sweet wrappers, scrabble tiles - whatever is lying around really... 

What are your card making essentials?

x Rachel 

I Love My Personal Planner!

A little while ago I won a giveaway on Things You Remember (hooray - thanks Dilan!) and got to design my very own diary from Personal Planner. Now I have always been a loyal Dodo Pad girl, but who says you only need one planner in your life? My Personal Planner arrived a couple of weeks ago and I have been using it as a blog scheduler ever since - I'm loving it! 

Designing the planner online was really easy, and it was fun to be able to choose from lots of options for both the inside and outside! I love that I could upload my own design for the front - definitely the biggest plus. Also, I could choose which month I wanted it to start from, so it doesn't matter what time of year you order - great for me as I took ages to actually get around to order mine!

I chose the largest size (22 x 14cm) and it's perfect for planning out blog posts as there is plenty of room to write down ideas, little doodles and reminders - but it's still small enough to fit in my handbag. It also comes with a little detachable ruler and a plastic wallet to keep things in. Is there anything better than fun stationery?

x Rachel