iNk bLOts

Creative Jump Start

2012-01-21T16:17:00.000-08:00

I cannot praise Natalie Kalbach enough, for starting up the Creative Jump Start for January, a different artist every day addresses how they break the hold of the mojo loss, something we all suffer from. Each day has been a different sort of inspiration, but what Dina Wakely said (day 1) was don't wait for inspiration just get some blank paper and start adding to it without aiming or thinking about it, be it paint or paper, you are not looking for a finished product but just to get those creative juices starting to flow.

So last Sunday, having spent the previous week and Saturday procrastinating, by tidying different areas of my craft area I decided to give it a go, I got an A3 piece of white paper and started by swiping three colours of distress stains all over, then working onto them to blend them in using distress ink, I then stamped all over with paper Artsy Fresco paints and using a set of stamps from elusive images of architecture and maps, I added sprays to break up areas and ended up with an interesting piece of card. Which I then die cut with my new Tim die's. And below in order is the work I created using this die cuts as a jumping off point . .

and I still have this pile of die cuts to use on future projects, gonna have to start a box of bits, for when I need extra bits, so I hope you are impressed by my creativity and perseverance.

And a Trio of cards

2012-01-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

Some birthday cards made over the festive period, and heres some photo's I took of my car windscreen one morning

love the look of feathers from the frost.

Trio of pages

2012-01-12T13:03:00.000-08:00

Started this year participating in the Creative Jump Start, organised by Natalie Kalbach, different artist every day talking about getting the mojo flowing, its been really really good so far.

So from that Ive been doing some art in my twilight journal, trying to go with the flow and not overthink things, been using some of my new purchases (oops dont tell Use it Up), got some prismacolor pencils in LB crafts surprise packages, so been experimenting with them, love my new skelli bird and my matt white spray. Did the ABC page because I love nice writing and I thought that's art as well, hee hee.

OH and mentioning twilight have just read The Host, its a great book has anyone else read it.

Use it up

2012-01-02T08:29:00.000-08:00

I know what a wierd idea, actually use my already purchased stash, rather than just keep adding to it !!!!!! Check out Frans Blog for more info on Use it up and pick up you cool button too.

Stampotique saved my mojo

2011-12-29T13:22:00.000-08:00

My mojo had just up'd and left me, I had got some wonderful crafting surprises for xmas, two of Linda of LB crafts mystery boxes, but nothing would come to mind, no matter how long I sat in the craft area . . nothing . . nada, I even balanced the cheque book (scarey), had it gone for ever, was this it . . . , but no Stampotique Designers Challenge came to the rescue with a new challenge "What's your wish for the new year" with some inspiring work from the DT. This is a stampotique stamps only challenge, so had to think creatively, now I love this stamp and I realised that 2012 could only be better for everyone if we all smiled more . . .

. . . dont you agree, used one of my new Twilight Journals, pack of four in a tin with the book cover artwork on them and including sayings from the books, supposed to help me write that one in a million novel, but I reckon that would be a long time coming, so thought an art journal would be good, should keep me busy for a while, LOL

this shot shows the opened book complete with a "Twilight"quote and a mask imprint of the circles I used with watered down white fresco finish paint, am trying to think of something subtle for that page.

Anyways, I shall love you and leave you with all the Best Wishes for 2012, and dont forget how powerful a smile can be . . .

Christmas Cards 2011

2011-12-11T08:13:00.001-08:00

How I wished I was organised and started my cards earlier, have managed to do some for close family and friends, just gotta do my two boys and that will be done for another year . . phewee ... who knew making xmas cards could become such a chore . . LOL

Wishing each and everyone of you who visit me during the year that you . .

Have a very Merry Christmas

and the new year brings us all we could wish,

for our families and loved ones

Jo Capper-Sandon

2011-12-06T10:25:00.001-08:00

Jo was kind enough in my time off work to arrange a class for me to attend, she had us working on a project which she had designed for the Crafty Individuals Christmas Challenge (see here), a Christmas squash book . .

This is it all tied up

Then beginning to open up

Totally open

and the back

I was so pleased with it I decided it would be my OH xmas card, but then I want it back LOL.

Jo is a gem of a teacher and I met some lovely ladies there too, Jo even kindly waited for me to arrive as I took the coastal route to get to her (oops), very scenic it was though. Christmas had also arrived early with fully decorated tree and mince pies to snack on, and xmas vids on Sky to sing along too. Jo was also very lucky I was on my best behaviour, as I could have sat there all day crafting and chatting, (next time LOL).

To see more of Jo's brill work pop over to her blog here.

Tim Holtz Christmas Tags 2011 - day 4

2011-12-05T12:43:00.001-08:00

Here we go, couldn't resist day 4's tag, had to do some replacing of items, but did me best. Again colouring could have done with a bit more practice, and as for my Rock Candy it was in a sorry mess when I opened it up, I admit I haven't been paying it enough attention and it was in a sort of gel like state when I opened it, so I smeared it on with my fingers, LOL. Got some of the effect anyway. (Note to self I am a bad crafter I should treat my lovingly bought products with more TLC) ...LOL

For those that don't know, (where have you been) pop over to here to see the original tag

Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 2

2011-12-03T07:49:00.001-08:00

This is my second year of following and last yea,r I could only wish to be able to have the time to take part, but here I am, I've done one, it may be the only one I manage as back to work Monday, but I really enjoyed doing it, had to veer slightly off season as I only have Halloween Kraft Resist, and not sure I got the inking of it quite right but I persevered and here is my attempt, to see the original Tim Holtz, pop over to here.

Didnt know which photo to pick, flash showed off the colours and dark matched the tag style, so you got both. LOL

December Calendar Challenge

2011-12-01T01:49:00.001-08:00

pheweeeee, I've done it, a year long challenge organised by the super dooper Kate at the Kathryn Wheel for the second year I think. It's been a good challenge, not too overly demanding of your time, and even though as I'm sure like everyone this year has bought some challenging moments, we have survived. I must admit to failing towards the end of the year of writing in the squares daily and having to really test the old brain cells to remember what I'd been doing, notice the two gaps in November, no idea on those days at all (LOL). Through this challenge I've found some great art from other participants, which I will continue to follow, so without further ado, I present the very last month DECEMBER

no real plan when I started this one, just tried different things to add that seasonal feeling, nice cheery blocks of xmas paper to write on, some of them may be a wee bit challenging to actually write on, LOL, and here is my finished November page

to all those who have been kind enough to visit this year and to leave comments, I thank you and wish you all a very Happy Christmas and lets hope 2012 brings the whole country a better year. And to Kate who has also had a very challenging year,but continued with the challenge and creating her great art, oh and two fab DVD's, thank you so much.

Mwah !

Stampotique Challenge

2011-11-15T13:04:00.001-08:00

One more challenge before the christmas card task beckons, this time we are working to a sketch

for more details pop to the post which highlights the last challenge a Poison Bottle, wish I'd been able to do that one, some amazing makes .

Again tried to attack it from a different angle, am pleased with this, and it's my first xmas card, wonder who I'll send this one to.....

Octopode Challenge

2011-11-13T12:42:00.001-08:00

Wow this is my third post of the day, before I unearthed the xmas box, I thought I would have a go at some challenges, haven't done any for ages. This weeks challenge from the Octopode Factory is "Flourishes & Swirls", now I tried to be clever and include another challenge on one piece, I don't know how you ladies manage to get two on one piece let alone more, but whilst trying to fathom it out came up with a great idea, so here is my entry

the other challenge was the stampotique sketch, so I'm gonna go off and have a go at that whilst watching X factor and I'm a Celebrity, have a good week everyone . . xx

An eclectic collection ...............

2011-11-13T05:55:00.001-08:00

.................... of the bits and pieces I've been playing with recently, I thought I would round them all up for you all, as the christmas card task is looming.

First off, I bought this at the Craft Barn on my recent visit, amongst a few other bits and bobs, LOL.

and turned it into this

Check out my cool storage for distress stain and dabbers behind, its a metal cutlery tray stood on its side, works really well as stickers on the top show me the colour and then I just have to pull out the one I want, carefully LOL.

Now some journal pages I've been playing/experimenting with different paint application techniques, this one I used my fingers to pick up distress stain and smeared it on the page, quite a good effect, really messy fingers though, I wasn't actually feeling sad when I made this, but it just seemed to match the background.

Next in my mini journal, lots of different techniques, used a journal pic of a lady in a mac, distressed unintentionally with wax pastels, as I smeared them in the ink came off, liked the effect so used it some more.

This weeks offering, applying paint with wet wipe, oh so easy, then lots of layering on top

loved the lady lying down pic, couldnt bring myself to alter her, did the journalling before adding the leaves, so had huge space on one side, then remembered Dyans lovely on the edge leaf die,so painted a book page and then stamped onto it with the stamps and cut out and stuck to the page.

So that me and what I've been doing, apart from work, which is the pits, but one more week and I'm on holiday for two weeks so hope to have a lot of me time to create. List of other things I need to do though is growing alarmingly.

The Craft Barn Celebration

2011-11-13T05:49:00.001-08:00

Check out this mahoosive blog candy to celebrate over 600 followers, follow this link to find out more.

Jo Firth-Young at the Craft Barn

2011-11-05T15:15:00.001-07:00

Treated myself to an all day class at the Craft Barn with Jo Firth-Young last Sunday. Its quite a drive, fine going there, bit knackered on the way home, kept myself going with the thought of the yummies I had treated myself to. The shop at the Craft Barn is amazing full of so much I needed (like everything), thankfully I don't have a Credit Card so had to exercise some restraint.

Our class with JoFY was using Claudine's stamp range and Paper Artsy Fresco paints, I'd used the paints in fact I have them all because they are lush in a chalky sort of way, had never used the stamps before but they are really easy to use and the effect was really good, so treated myself to the Doodles sets as I thought they would go well with the layering technique I use so much. Also discovered Tando Creative range, managed to only buy three pieces but could easily have bought so much more, a whole wall of them on display and I probably need most of them, LOL.

This is Jo's sample, we were stamping on sticky back canvas, paper and book pages, for ease Jo said it would be easier to do if we all used the same colours as the stamps wouldn't need washing in between, but I'm just not a pink person, don't mind bits of it, but not all over, so had to go slightly off piste, I know I can't help it, but it puts a piece of me into it, so here is mine

It actually involved a lot of work, so had to finish it at home, had done all the stamping it was just the cutting out and the positioning and that took some time I can tell you, I'm pleased with the finished result and I hope Jo is proud of my effort.

We also made a door hanger in the morning . . . .

. . . getting used to using the stamps, I have to admit I wasn't happy with my effort on this, so ripped all the flowers off the next day, shall have to finish it off again another day. All in all it was a great day, Jo is a lovely teacher and as you will see on her blog she manage not to brain herself, though some might say (leandra) it might be an improvement . . LOL . I have to admit it was a great day but I haven't got the stamina any more and could have done with a day off from work to recover, no such luck though.

November Calendar

2011-11-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

wow I cant believe it only one more month to go, I have never got past the middle of January with a diary before so this really is a miracle, without further ado. . . November

and a finished October, a month of ups and downs

to find out more about our fearless leader and the calendar challenge, click here.

FACT: - Mess is good for you

2011-10-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

This week I took a picture for WOYWW, but didnt have a chance to load it, this working full time lark is not all its cracked up to be, no time to do anything else.

So my desk has looked like this since Tuesday, but I actually liked working in a mess, finding more and more things to use and not putting them back, (so not me). I think it gave me a lovely feeling of creativity and freedom, and it seemed the mojo flowed out of me easier this way, normally I sit and stare at a tidy desk and feel I have to force it out sometimes, so today I sat down to finish off the large tag you can see here, I did really enjoy making it, I stole an idea of Kaz's re the jump rings and the glossy accents, all credit to you Kaz brilliant idea. So here is my tag with flash and without, couldnt decided which showed it off better so here are both photo's for you to see.....

And finally a card that I made for my sister in law, love this stamp just got it recently, and I just love the detail it has, so I just used it very simply with one of Dina's fab stamps.

Tomorrow I have to unearth my winter shoes as flip flops are getting a wee bit chilly, especially in the morning, (bye bye summer see you next year), even put the heating on today, but I, also hoping to mess the desk up again, yes I must admit I tided it up after the tag was done, soz, have a good one everyone.

October 2011 calendar page . . .

2011-10-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

. . . at last I have done it a personal record to be 9 days behind, on this challenge, time is so hard to find now but I am determined to make it to the end of the year. This month the background was finger painted with acrylics, I wanted to get the effect of a autumn dusk and then to add the halloween images. So without delay ta dah . . .

and Septembers page completed.

to see more pages check out Kate's blog The Kathryn Wheel

Taylor is 18

2011-10-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

Quick post showing my lovely son Taylor's 18, that I made for his 18th (funny that . . aye), the paper is from his many purchases online from All Saints, (basically if its not from there its just not hip, LOL) its a lovely scripted paper so may have to steal some more for some other art. Tried to keep it quite simple as he is a very picky boy and I 'm hoping they may stay on display in his bedroom.

here's a little piccie of my little man on his eighteenth, LOL

and here is on his first, (awwww)

much as I moan about my kids, they are both lovely children/men and I am proud of them really.

Ledger meets ink . . .

2011-09-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

My first bit of ink on the ledger, I'm liking the effect but not sure where to go with it, so moved on to another page, perfect for Sunday when I was in a major grump (I blame it on the hormones), so I just got inky, started off very dark and as my mood lifted it got a bit lighter, not too much mind . . LOL

Here is my friends 40th card, Im a bit ashamed off it as I think I could have done better, but time was an issue, she loved it so thats what matters

and then Rusty moved house so I made her a stampotique style card, which she also loved, phew!!!

This weekend is my ES 18th, so think I shall end up a bit behind on my October 365 calendar page, but am hoping he has a fab day, see you all soon.

PS anyone who doesn't think I'm old enough, can be my best friend forever, LOL.

The A-Z of me

2011-09-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

A. Age: 48
B. Bed size: King
C. Chore that you hate: Picking up after my messy kids.
D. Dogs: Not for me, though I love my SIL dog Nelson and he loves me.
E. Essential start to your day: A lie in.
F. Favorite colour: teal/silver/lime green/purple
G. Gold or Silver: Silver.
H. Height: 5’2″
I. Instruments you can play : I played the cello in Junior school, before it got broken . . oops
J. Job title: Personal Banker.
K. Kids: Two too many, as I'm fond of saying. Taylor, 18 on October 2 and training to be a hairdresser, very handy and Evan 13 "Mischief maker in training."
L. Live: Maidstone, Kent.
M. Mother’s name: Margaret.
N. Nicknames: My name doesn't shorten too anything nice, in my twenties "She bonks em," don't know what they meant
O. Overnight hospital stays: Both babies and staying with them in hospital.
P. Pet peeves: Just plain rudeness and people who think they are better than me, we are all equal.
Q. Quote from a movie: FREEDOM (braveheart)
R. Right or left handed: Right with left tendencies.
S. Siblings: One sister and two brothers.
U. Underwear: Not a good look.
V. Vegetable you hate: Gotta be brussels and tomatoes.
W. What makes you run late: Snooze button or my husband just having to pop to the loo.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Teeth,pelvis.
Y. Yummy food that you make: Hot chicken and bacon salad.
Z. Zoo animal: Penguins, elephants and giraffes.

Copied this from Dyan's blog why dont you have a go, link it back to me so I can have a nosey.

A collection of cards . .

2011-09-18T06:38:00.000-07:00

. . . or could we call it a cacophony, no that's a noise, though I do like my cards to stand out from the crowd of shop bought cards on the mantlepiece . . . any ideas anyone . . .

So from the title you would be right that I have some cards to show you, first up is my mums birthday card, I loved this stamps and had to buy it and as it is my mum, I made an extra big effort with it and stamped it on some cotton cut it out and coloured with distress stains and marker pens. My artistic gene comes from my mum, I remember getting a beautiful babydolls cot when I was young, which mum had made out of a fruit crate for me, wish I still had it, perhaps it's in mum and dads loft, mum is still creative and at her local fete designed the cake stall for her ladies group, with hand made pennants, and uniform along the lines of the Ace of Cakes, and great big cards of the King Queen and Jack all hand made . .

next is one of my best friends, who has two kids and fosters three brothers under 7, hence the saying . .

and last but not least my firstborn niece was 21 yesterday, I must have only been 3 when she was born LOL, and she is studying fashion journalism at Southampton Solent, so I tried to reflect this in her card

today Ive got a 40th to make, hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

General Ledger 1957

2011-09-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

I've had my eye on this book for some time now and I finally got to bring it home. It's a bank General Ledger, dating back to 1957, it is such a great size, 8 inches wide by 18 inches tall, with numbered pages and writing on virtually every page (nothing personal), and the heading are just beautifully lettered. I'm going to use it as a journal, but am going to make sure the original shows through in places as it would be a crime not to.

Having got it home though I have loads of cards that need doing before I can play, my niece is 21 next week, my BFF is 40 the week after and the week after that my ES is 18. . . .OMG, and I havent done anything for any of them yet.

So here are some pictures of my new love . . .

Can't wait to get painty with it, have a great weekend everyone, I'm off to make a 21st card.

Stampotique Designers Challenge

2011-09-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

The challenge this time is a bookmark, using Stampotique stamps, I've never attempted a bookmark before , I loved the DT's projects, especially the little corner ones, decided not to attempt that yet, just a straight one would be enough, me thinks, so here is my entry, one shot shows the tassels and the other shows it with the tassels off to one side, amongst all the stamps I used to create it.

Hope you like it...x

September Calendar page

2011-08-31T14:05:00.000-07:00

woweeee, September in 2 and a bit hours, where does all that time disappear to. On Saturday I will have been married for 23 years (you wot, I know I am too young and awesome to have been locked away in marriage for so long . . LOL). Dinner is booked for the local pub and perhaps a drunken stumble home, hehehe.

Being so organised before returning to the dreaded work I got my September page done, under the water theme with the fab mermaid stamps from stampotique, ( have you seen the new stamps, oh my I have an urge to buy lots and lots of them) : )

and my finished August page.

Was aiming to be no 1 link on Kate's page (she who organises us sad ~~junkies~~/~~floozies~~/stalkers), but she hasnt done the link yet, is too busy showing off her skills using the new stampotique stamps (green eyes burn into her page) LOL, Love ya really oh supreme one . . . xxxx

TOFF Challenge

2011-08-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

Over at Lily's place the theme this week is Steampunk, here is my take on it, in journal page form.

Nearly time to go back to work . . . :(

2011-08-27T08:41:00.000-07:00

Well my two weeks off is nearly done, truth be told it hasnt been the best holiday I've ever had, there has been pain, PMT, teenage hormones, crap weather and that's just me (LOL). I have however managed to get some craft shopping done, visited Pickleberry and she had the Dina Wakeley stamps, I just couldn't resist them, when I got some time I made a master board using distress paints and masks, cut out some tags from them and decorated with my new stamps, I'm so impressed how good they look, I think it must be because the stamps are just so brilliant. I'd cut out four tags all together so played around with some stampotique and holtz stamps as well.

I had one card to do for my baby bruv's birthday, really hard to think of something different to do for male cards, doesn't help that his wife Debs is also a crafter, so a bit more pressure to produce something she will like too, doubly hard when the mojo has left the building and refuses to return, so this is what I ended up with, havent rung for a comment yet, tee hee.

Also over hols have had major blogger probs, so I have been reading all your posts but have not been able to comment, grrrrrr. My photos have loaded ok today so cross fingers again that this will post.

Right next two days are going to have lots of allocated crafting time, have bribed mojo back into building by buying some new stamps and ordering some more of the new distress stains, check out Craft Obsessions they are on offer at £3.89 and free postage over £10, a bargain me thinks. So gonna try a challenge or two and make a couple more cards for upcoming dates.

So nice to be back blogging.

September Craft Stamper

2011-08-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

The front cover of Craft Stamper grabbed my attention as soon as a I saw it, and I just had to have a go, co-incidentally I had just bought the Paperbag Studio set, so I flicked through to find the right page, and found it was the lovely Jo F-Y whose article it was, really simple instructions nice and clear to follow, I was really pleased with the result which I turned into a card for my new managers birthday, she is a lovely person and I am very fond of her already, so nice to have a manager that cares.

I then had an idea for using it for this weeks Octopode Factory challenge "girls", didnt work out quite like I had imagined, but hey ho, its my zombiefied Alice . . . LOL

August Calendar

2011-08-06T05:25:00.000-07:00

Wow haven't the months gone quickly, hope this month goes slower as we have our two weeks off in it, only 5 more work days, not that I'm counting LOL.

August has quite a big blank area on the left hand side, dont know if I'm gonna fill it in or not, shall see what inspiration comes. If you want to see more of these pages check out Kates blog, she who is responsible for starting this. LOL

My finished July page, I love the colour of this one, in fact I think that it is my fave so far.

BTW this has taken me all week to get it posted, grrrrr to blogger, sort out your problems please.

Happy August everyone. x

Not doing Art is not good for you !!!

2011-07-30T03:19:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy recently, that time at my art desk has been miserably short and when I do get there, nothing, nada :(

However it is only two more weeks then its holiday time and I cannot wait for the break from the stress of every day life, made worse by Blogger being a real bu**er, couldnt comment, couldnt post, couldnt load photos...........aargh I need blogger, its my down time.

Anyways a while ago I got Kate Cranes DVD's and I love them, this is the first (and only) piece I started after being super inspired by them

and after adding an image

this is as far as I have got, and it is now buried under a pile of other stuff, (well it will keep flat if nothing else . .LOL)

Also I have been making some birthday cards, both my brother and BIL turned 50 last week, as per norm they get variations on the same theme for their cards, I played with my new die, (tims car) bought specifically for cards of the male kind

and one other card for an aunt

a supa quick easy make, think I need to make a stash of these to save time.

OMG it seems to be working, pictures loading OK, cross fingers when I post it works.

Now Artsycraft have posted their new classes and can you believe my new friends from NI, you know who you are, (yes Gillian and Jeanette. . you) booked to come without even asking or telling me, well thanks guys, so am now trying frantically to get some time off work and find the money so I can come and play too. Now my nose is not out of joint at all, and if I manage to get their I shall snub you both .... . LOL.

Anyways time to go OH wants to go out to Morrisons, yes it is an exciting life I lead,happy weekend everyone. XX

Hope this works . . . .

2011-07-16T05:37:00.001-07:00

Last weekend my OH was working all weekend so after being a good wife cleaning the house from top to bottom and also weeding the garden, I went blogging, and on PaperArtsy there was some feeds of their last Artsy Crafts events, so I decided to try and replicate what they had done, I'm afraid mine went off on a tangent and looks nothing like what was produced at the event, but I had a great time and very messy fingers at the end of it. Hope to get to another one of these events next year. Here for all to see is my complete entry for the Octopode challenge, see post below for first attempt,

And finally a picture of the birthday card my DS received this year.

Now as to the title of the blog have been trying to post on here without success all week, have tried Firefox, clearing cache, checking I hadnt used all my data storage, its has been so frustrating, wish I was techy genius, but Im not, so have tried doing it by loading pics onto new Picass aalbum and then loading from there. If you can see pictures and text then yee hah it has worked. If not then Im am very stuck as to what to do next.

Octopode Factory Challenge numero uno

2011-07-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

Yay the supremely talented Lily of Octopode Factory fame has started a challenge blog, see here for the challenge and here for her fabby blog.

The first challenge is Alice in Wonderland, and here is my attempt

as you can see having major probs with getting a picture on blogger, thought I would post anyway a) to show you I tried to participate & b) so you could let your imagination run riot over whats underneath, needless to say it is brilliant LOL

Hope the rest of you have better luck.......

July Calendar Page

2011-07-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Ta dah . . . July page prepared, another month where I have started off with one idea and veered totally off course. June is also all finished and I ended up not doing anything else to it, like the simple weathered look of it.

For those that want to know, my monday meeting did not go too bad, but did lead to some restless nights last weekend fretting about it, I am now working in the beautiful village of Cranbrook, the bank is in a timbered old tudor ( I think) building and the customers are very well to do, just like me LOL. On the minus side the village has lots of little treasure trove shops and I have been out spending in my lunch hour twice so far this week, so this could be an expensive move.

If you would like to see more of this challenge work, pop over to Kate's blog the Kathryn Wheel to see all the other participants, I would encourage anyone to do it, it has been great fun, without being too time demanding.

happy July!!!!!

Catch up time

2011-06-25T04:03:00.000-07:00

Well what a couple of weeks, I've had ups and downs like you would not believe, and to top it all my mojo went walkabout. So in frustration I spent last weekend making flat pack shelves for my craft area and I now have a desk instead of a dining table, now returned to it's rightful place in the kitchen. The organisation of all my stash has taken me all week and some stuff has just been shoved into a box for me to contemplate another day, but it's looking very nice, if I say so myself.

My secondment finished this week so its back to branch on Monday, after a meeting with my Local Director, who doesn't like me, so I am really looking forward to that, NOT. But on a brighter note I attended a class this week, run by Jo C-S (yes the one and only Jo Capper-Sandon) and it was brilliant, set in a lovely village hall with great views through the rain, and some lovely ladies who get to attend most of Jo's classes, (slight tinge of green there). We made little houses, (kindly sawed by Mr C-S) using a master sheet and building up with stamps, as is typical of me I liked everyone elses efforts more than my own, here is mine before I took them home.....

and then after a bit more work, the finished article....

The class has really set my mojo going and Ive got some great ideas, also ordered some more of Jo's stamps as loved using them. When I got home I was inspired enough to make a card for the FIL, it was his birthday that day, so slightly behind, but hopefully he will forgive me...

also made a birthday card for Rusty Cage, the week before, again it was late, (what am I like!!!)

oh and here is a picture of me with Jo, getting quite a collection of me with the Crafting Greats LOL,

Apologies to everyone re my non commenting, I have been looking at everyones posts but blasted blogger wont register my comments, some of them were really funny too, LOL. Think I've got it sorted now, was told to untick the keep me signed in box, which seems to be working, but think I need to get Mozilla firefox as well, as have been using Windows explorer, which has loads of probs apparently.

Oh and final confession havent written on my calendar since 14th June, so a slight bit behind, shall have to try and remember all my interesting bits of life this pm, also have got Kate Cranes new DVD's and shall be watching them this pm.

Toodles

June has arrived, but where has the sun gone ! ! ! ! !

2011-06-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

am sitting at home, freeeeeeeeeezing, have turned the heating on for an hour to take the chill of the house, that in itself is a luxury as it hasnt been working for blimmin' ages. Life has been so so busy recently that I haven't been able to do any art for over two weeks, I've been sat at my craft desk surrounded by my lovely stash and been doing work work and more work non-stop, I've got some more to do after this little break as well. So my first task when I had managed to find some time for me was to do my 365 Art journal June page, see Kate Cranes page for more details.

This page started off totally different in my mind and under the cream is an awful lot of invisible paint, things just didnt go according to plan, so I went for simple instead, coloured some cream card with distress stains and water and cut them up for the days, dont know if I will doodle around them or not, shall see how it develops, might add a bit more to the page over the month, but here it is for now.

And here is May finished, for peeps interested in my life check out the 27th, if you can read it LOL

Now I need to do a bit more work and need to think of an idea for my OH birthday card, its on Thursday, so really need to pull my finger out.

Odd one out

2011-05-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

So things are getting super hectic at work, but have managed to do this journal page over the last week. I like the way it has turned out with so many different layers of colours, I used Dylussion and adirondack paint, and some dylussion sprays as well.

Love the way using the pink has made all the other colours zing, am desperate to do some more art but don't think I'm gonna have much chance over the next few weeks, must do OH and DS birthday cards though, otherwise there will be trouble LOL. Hope you all get time to play, have fun and think of me working really hard. :(

Birthday Card

2011-05-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

Made this card last month, but couldnt blog it as didnt want to ruin recepients surprise. Luckily she is now a year older, in fact two years older as she had miscalculated, PML

Used the technique Lin (of LB Crafts fame) demo'd at Ally Pally, using fresco paints as a resist against DS. If you havent tried the fresco paints yet from Paper Artsy I highly reccommend them, they are beyond lush.

Grungy Monday 06

2011-05-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

Have been meaning to try and do this challenge since it started, some weeks its been time, and others because I haven't got the required product, (shock, horror, I know there is so much I still need....LOL).

Anyway this week was a new technique on me, sort of weathered wood look, decided to go for high contrast colours, which may not have been the best decision, so not liking this much but as I have managed to finish it, I shall post it, whilst hanging my head in shame, LMAO.

For more info on this head on over to L3 Studio and of course Lord Tim's page.

Happy Daze Challenge

2011-05-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

After a week off I finally managed to do something crafty last night, I decided to have a go at the Happy Daze Challenge on Facebook for anything in Black and White. I tried to do something a bit different and stamped using Lord Tim's waterstamping technique, then added a line stamp in black on the white card, LOL, then embossed in white a saying. My OH says he cant see the image very well, so Ive picked the best photo for you to see.

Also as my last day of holiday today, we drove out to Rye to poke around in the bric and brac stores, but on the way spotted an "antique store" in an old garage. They had some lovely stuff in there, most of the things I like are way too expensive, one item we asked about was £140, needless to say we didnt get that, but OH asked about printers trays and he had one and I got it for a tenner, think it might take me a while to alter it though, also has letter blocks somewhere and is going to ring me when he finds them, dont know if we will ever find our way back though, it really was out of the way. Also found a porn book from the 1940's, think todays kids would find it a touch too mild, just very artful booby shots, LOL, would have got it but it was a tenner as well.

So happy weekend everyone, and Jeanette Happy Birthday on Sunday. MUBT

sinking but not drowning LMAO

2011-05-09T05:19:00.000-07:00

Hellooo peeeeeeeeeps

how you doin'

Had a really busy week last week at work and then coming home to sort out all paperwork involved in OH redundancy left me little or no time for anything else, :(

good news is I'm off this week, so will be doing some crafting and spending some Q time with OH.

Does anyone else have crap weeks like these last few have been, apart from OH redundancy, car broke, boiler broke, mended and broke again, oven broke, straighteners broke, sons bed broke beyond repair, oh and OH popped into old work today to get them to sign a form and discovered other two people that were made redundant were back at work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ........... got to keep smiling :)

anyways here are a few bits I have managed to do, keep meaning to do challenges but run out of time, oopps

played with the beautiful new distress inks and paper artsy fresco paint, and my Wendy vechi stamps, throwing in some paper artsy and tim holtz stamps for good measure.

also made this card yesterday with my new stampotique mermaid stamp, now do you think non arty people will appreciate this card or will they think it is just plain wierd LOL

Have a nice week everyone and keep smiling :)

365 Calendar . . . MAy 2011

2011-05-01T05:02:00.000-07:00

Wow what an April I've had, so much has happened, job wise my OH is now unemployed, but we are trying to remain positive that he finds work again soon. We've done the redunduncy route before in the 90's, my OH was out of work and I fell pregnant with our eldest child and got made redundant two weeks later. Well we are still here and my eldest is 18 this year, so what might seem like the worlds end at the time, soon enough becomes history. Thats what I'm thinking anyway.

Now my job has changed with this temporary secondment, its so exciting to be doing something new and it has reinvigorated me, alas it is long hours, which dont leave me much time for me or art. The four day weekends have been a godsend, pity we are on the last one for another year, but hey ho.

Quick mention for the Wedding, didnt they do our country proud, Kate looked so serene it bought tears to my eyes as she walked down the aisle, they look so in love with each other and comfortable in their own skin, I wish them long life and happiness.

Right enough natter, I stayed up late last night and did my May page for the 365 calendar challenge, see Kate's page (not the Duchess of Cambridge) who is our leader and bringer together (great english..nach) of all the participants.

So here is my May page

here is it before the days were added

and here is my finished April page

Thanks you to everyone who has commented on my pages, I love reading comments from people old and new and apologise if I havent got to your blog yet, but I will try my best this month.

Happy May everyone..

2011-04-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

So I have just had the busiest week in a long time and havent had a moment to even look for my mojo let alone use it. So yesterday I looked at some of my new play things and decided to make a card as I need quite a few new ones for girlies in May.

I added fresco paint to the base card and added some stamps for background, cuttlebug'd a tag and added Inka gold to highlight, used some DS and water on a craft mat picked up onto some card and then stamped the image over it, cut out. Then I searched for the bottle caps I knew I had somewhere, used my new texture hammer to flatten them out then added a stamped image from Tim's Haberdashery collection (I ummed and ahhed about buying this set, but am really glad I gave into the shopping devil on my shoulder) LOL.

I have got another busy week ahead but am really enjoying my job, which makes a change, its so tiring though as its travelling to London everyday, my poor calf muscles have finally remembered why they are there.

So have a good week everyone, I am finding time to blog hop in the week so keep it coming. mwah :)

Forced to shop until I dropped......

2011-04-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

LMAO :)

yes today was Ally Pally day, so missed not going yesterday, but Sunday is so much quieter, we actually left early,
a) because my feet hurt
b) we had done it all, and
c) I'd run out of money LOL

SO as requested I have taken some pictures of my day and then some photos of the stash trawl, my good friend Sue manage to spend only £20, gawd knows how, she is far too restrained I feel I must buy more to make up for her, (tee hee)

Anyway, first we hit LB Crafts to see Lin and Sweet Pea, Karen and Mark. Lin made me a great demo tag using fresco paints which I have been desperate to get and today I got some, MWAH ha ha

oops forgot to get a piccie of Sweet Pea, now I do have a stunning video of her from Artsy crafty, but not quite sure how to load it, have no fear though sweet pea, it will appear on here one day..

Also managed to catch up with Minxy, I accosted her to see her tattoo, its the Gorjuss Guardian Angel, such a great image, (peeking out from under her sleeve) then asked if she was Minxy and yay she was, so we had a photo taken together

then took some photos of Hels (Sheridan) demoing, she was very popular though so only managed a quick hello with her, apparently she hates having her piccie taken, but I think this is a nice one, hope she agrees..

Now for my overseas readers, some pictures taken from Ally Pally over London, one of the view, a bit hazy but that is Canary Wharf etc in the background

then a shot to show how high up we were

I have been going to Ally Pally for about 6 years now and it is always a fab weather, so If you fancy getting married in April, pick the weekend of the Stamping show, hmmm now Ive said that Ive jinxed it for next year.

Now what you have all been waiting for my purchases, I got all the rest of the Distress stains, cos I love them so, some more DI's,only 2 more to go and Ive completed the set, In the background is the tag Lin made for me, and I was very good and only got 5 of the paints,they are so lush, highly recommend them, the texture hammer and a brill huge stencilling brush and pens for my silhouette

Next up is the stamps I bought, I ummed and ahhed about buying the Tim sewing set but I do so love that dress form, the Bo bunny ones were in the sale and I thought they would be great for backgrounds to add texture

Some more of those frames from my last post, lots of new stencils, modelling film, mask sheets and some humongous tags, stickers for bottle caps, which Lin demoed for me.

And finally some tools, adornements and metal yummies.

So I now have enough stash to make some gorgeous art, not much time this week as going to be working full time in London, so probably just sleeping and working this week, but next weekend it will be time to play.

have a great week everyone, mwah.

altered frame

2011-04-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

Got these frames from the Artsy Craft event, and I was looking around for something different to do and they came to hand. I had just got my first ever set of Dylussions Acrylic Paints and wanted to have a play with them, so first of all I took out my sticky back canvas, I've had it for over two years now and never used it. I loved it though so shall be thinking of more ways to use it. I applied gesso then some random patches of acrylic paint, which I stamped over with a paper artsy alphabet stamps, then I used bottle lids to add circles , some dylussion inks sprayed over and then through a stencil. Then I cherry picked my three fave bits to make into mini canvanses for the frames.

As I had used three paints for the canvas I decided to paint each frame in a different colour and then applied white acrylic with a dry brush to create a weathered look.

Once the frames were complete I decided they needed to have some foreground added, so stamped two of my long time fave stamps from Stamps Happen, coloured in with pro markers, carefully cut out and then added matte accents to make them more sturdy, attached to the frame with multi medium and added some metal accents to bring it all together.

ta dah............

and finally some close ups..

So a wee bit excited at the moment as its Ally Pally at the weekend and I'm so looking forward to it, Im going on the Sunday and Ive got a wish list as long as my arm and my leg, LOL. Just my purse isnt long enough, but I'll do my best and I'll be back to show you my haul as soon as I can.

I've been seconded to a new role on Monday so dont know what spare time I'm going to end up with, as I've had to go full time for it and will be driving to all different branches over Kent, so will definetely be interesting, and an opportunty not to be missed. It's also quite timely as my OH has been made redundant, so all extra money will be welcome, he insisted I went to Ally pally though as I have been saving for it, with my birthday money etc, I didn't resist for too long as it may be the last splurge for a while, plus he probably had an ulterior motive as he has got tickets to see Rush in May at the O2, he is going on himself cos I couldnt think of anything worse than sitting through all that row LOL, we have very different tastes in music, but do have a few things we both like, like Linkin Park. I dont think that is mean do you!!!

All set for April

2011-03-31T12:50:00.000-07:00

This month I am super prepared and have my April Calendar page all ready, so here's a final look at March, and then a first look at my April page, which has a certain theme, see if you can guess it.

did you get it.....LOL

To see more examples and the leader of our gang, pop on over to The Katherine Wheel.

Card Making for a change

2011-03-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

Bought this digi stamp for the MIL birthday card then was told my Uncle liked Kingfishers too, so two cards made in one. It's very organised of me' as one birthday is late April and one is July, was also playing with my silhouette machine doing some cutting, so much money for it and used very rarely, so must use it more, I've bought a new cutting mat and gave the silhouette a wipe, covered in unknown stuff but may possibly have been a spiders WC, niiicccccccce.

So coloured in with pro-makers and silhouette shapes and DI used to try and add some depth, not overly happy with these, but hey ho, they'll do. LOL

The dancers card is for my ex BIL, who has got into dancing big time.

Belated thanks to everyone for my birthday wishes, had a meal out with the family on Tesco food vouchers, (god they are brill, only have to pay for the drinks), and got (ok chose myself) a Chamilla necklace and a new bead.

Been a bit of an up and down week, OH job is in jeopardy, seems we just start to recover from one thing and another things crops up, but we have been through it before so hopefully, we will weather it again.

Anyway hope you are all well have a nice weekend. I'm off for a girls night out tonight, gossip, food and alcohol, so better go and get ready, hope my polyfilla hasnt dried out LOL

Stampotique Challenge

2011-03-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

The challenge over at Stampotique Challenge Blog is animals/insects and you dont have to use a Stampotique stamp, if you check the link out you can see some fab DT pieces of work, what a team to be on, free Stampotique stamps, (slumps into daydream, where I get sent all the newest products from everyone). Reality check, Earth to Siobhan, plus to lose the pleasure of buying a few more new arty things and sneaking them in past the OH. Have to admit I do love to shop.

So without further ado, my entry

Fell in love with this stamp at Ally Pally last year, it's just too cute, dontya think. I'll be going on the Sunday this year, due to my friend arranging something else on the Saturday, whatever girlfriend, you so need to get your priorities right and a Zumba day is not no 1. LOL.

Anyway, I am feeling more myself this week and will be heading back to work on Wednesday, so tempting to never go back, love being able to do what I want, unfortunately Life and a mortgage dictate otherwise, LOL.

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 35

2011-03-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

Wow this was a hard one,but determined to do it as it was the last technique in the book, so there I sat watching trash on the tv whilst sewing with a wire.

I decided it had to be a tag as per my previous efforts, but made it hard for myself by embossing and then mvoing all the shapes around into a different order, just because!!! The numbers indicate the challenge and the safety pin says Ideas, which was apt I thought. I am pleased with the results of my hard work, but note to oneself, sewing with wire is possibly not your greatest moment. LOL.

For those that have missed this Phenomonon check out Linda's blog L3 Studio where all is explained,

Also for your delectations (sp) here is my mothers day card, using Tims new Sewing Room die, I decided to do it this week as I know Mothers day is always around my birthday, but dont know the actual date yet.

So if anyone can fill me in, muchos gracias.

I'm loving distress stains

2011-03-10T08:01:00.000-08:00

Watched Tims's video on Scrap Time about using the distress stains and started playing with the selection I picked up when I met Tim the other month (oh did I not mention that already, LOL). I started up buying 3 then went back and bought 2 more, as you do, now I want them all and I want them now. Along with the last five DI pads and all of Paper Artsy new paints, all of Jo Capper Sandon stampotique range, more art parts and stamps from studio 490 and more of Tim's dies, gonna have to wait for them to be released though. This week I have got the Sewing Room die and shall be using that for my mums mothers day card.

Anyway I digress from the demo, it was really good and really kicked my mojo off, tried to use some of my new stash as wll, so my first piece with my Sudio 490 stamps, I do love them, the stars are so cute and then got carried away dying trims with the DS. Such fun I loved it...

Yesterday I was reading the Altered Inkers WOYWW entry, and noticed she has monkeys everywhere, so said I would post a picture of my solitary monkey on his chaise longue. I love Nickys craft room I have stolen lots of ideas for my space from hers. Just yesterday I bought another wire cake stand from homebase, half price at the moment, £4.99 a right bargain for anyone else who has been looking for them at a cheap price, not quite sure where but somewhere on her blog is a walk through video of her area starting at the door and the wire dress form on the door, (Ive got one of those too .. isn't copying the sincerest form of flattery LOL), so for Nicky, heres Monkey

Just to let my mates know I am on the sick at the moment, came down big time from my brilliant Timmy time, came back to disaster areas at work and home and a heavy cold, so my body decided no more, it couldnt cope, so if I have sounded a bit pissed off with life, that is why. Hopefully back to normal next week, or as close to normal as I ever can be. . LOL..

My new crafty friends seemed to have nick named me McFly, something to do with a windscreen, a fly and a car crash, followed by my secret crush on the McFly guys, one of them made a fly >!< for me out of characters on the keybouard, LMAO.

How lush are they, yum yum....

March Calendar Page

2011-03-05T15:28:00.000-08:00

It's late I know, but I do have a good excuse, me thinks. First February's finished page, check out the 25th, yup I took a square for the Lord our master to sign for me.

This is March in progress,

followed by the finished page, predictably went for some nice spring colours in bands, added some texture and then stippled pearl paint through a Crafters Workshop stencil all over. Hope you like and I'll see you in 25 days. For those that dont know follow the link to the Kathryn Wheel, leader of the calendar page challenge.

WOYWW

2011-03-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

it has been just ages since Ive managed to participate in this, but had to participate today, cos its more like "whats not on my desk this week"

the cleared space at the front is so I can get my laptop out, that mess was spread all the way up to the front of the table, LOL. I have been busy finishing my configurations from the event of a lifetime last week, when I showed my OH, he asked if I had perhaps put too much in it, (heathen). In the background is the new CS and underneath is all my stash from the event, which Im dying to play with but had to finish the configurations off first, here is a close up of the finished piece.

Have a happy wednesday everyone and for those that dont know what I am talking about pop over here to our fearless leaders blog.

My new stash

2011-02-28T14:39:00.000-08:00

as requested by Debs, some piccies of what I bought, and I have to admit I went mad, but what the heck, you only live once...

first piccie is what we got free,courtesy of ranger, big thanks to Alain and co and then second picture is what were given to create our box with, third and fourth photos are the new stash

OMG OMG OMG OMG part III

2011-02-26T13:44:00.000-08:00

Now I will try not to bore you too much with my tale of the last three days, as I know other people are blogging the experience too. However I couldnt just ignore it, could I, for a start I have ten tons of new stash to play with, I have shopped till I dropped, that gold sale came in mighty handy. I also have loads of photos to show, some of which are payback for some tweeting of my outfit that went on, they know who they are and they should be very scared, but not today.

I'm just gonna give you a taste of what an absolutely fabulous experience I had, it was fantastic, out of this world, amazing.

So two classes, the first was by Leandra and Lin, ably helped by Millie, Leandra's daughter and JOfY, oh and Sweet Pea was there as well.....LOL...... we made this fantastic piece using Leandra's new paint, absolutely yummy and sold out in the shop, grrrrrrrrrrrrr, colourwashes, metal art, viva decor, grunge board and tissue tape and some lovely adornments.

Then after lunch its T!m time, we had to queue and wait to go in (so british...LOL), and he came out, me being the shy retiring type in my sparkly mini red top hat (it was wear red for British Heart Foundation day), shrieked out Tim, and he went past and said love your hat (aarghhhhhh he spoke to me)... well that was the start of a brief but beautiful relationship. When we got into the class, he was just on his own at the top of the class, so I popped up, (as you do) to give him a small (very) gift I had got for him, Percy Pigs from M&S, and asked for a photo, asked him not too smile though as he always smiles so lovely, so this is what we got, it is particularly fetching of me ROFL

Later on he walked past and asked where my hat was, as I'd taken it off, asked him if he wanted to wear it, that was a NO, but he knew someone who would, Mario who plonked his own hat on me, and Tim ( yes Tim) took a picture on his mobile............aarghhhhhhhh again

This is my configurations box so far, it was the most fun to do and we were given so much free stuff to work with it was truly amazing.

And finally, a pic of me and the two people that helped make it a truly amazing experience, my Sisters from another mother, Gill (who got her leg over Tim) and Janette (who blubbed on him and got a lovely cuddle), hence us getting on like a house on fire, Love you big time girlies (mwah).

So that's it for now, I really need a good sleep tonight, as I am very sleep deprived and it's back to work Monday, (Boo hoo). I'll fill you in on more of the day in another post.

OMG OMG OMG part II . . .

2011-02-22T08:40:00.000-08:00

. . . . unbelievably it is the week of Tim, I leave on Thursday for my class on Friday. I have tried so hard to keep my excitement level down, its been hard especially with the Yahoo group twittering (not tweeting) away all day long. So we arrive at the week and I am feeling unwell, (whattttt) you know that tickle in the throat and that lack of energy, I cant be ill, its not allowed, so am dosing myself up and hope to fight it off at least until the weekend anyway, LOL.

I am on holiday this week, my mojo however took last week off (not even a holiday request from it), I did absolutely nothing, I sat at my desk, I blog hopped, I tidied, but not an inky finger in sight. I did however sell my gold, I had found some broken chains and rings, couple of old gate bracelets, weighed up to about 45 grams, I got £390........ yee hah, so happy, that some tut I had in a cupboard will be buying me so many new craft products, its been really hard but I have resisted spending it, and am keeping it for this week. However I already have a wish list for any money left over, including dylussions paints and stamps and possibly some new stampotiques.

So yesterday I got back to dirty fingers and started a journal page, its close to finishing, I know it needs something else, just not quite sure what yet, so am leaving it to one side and am gonna start on something else.

I have QVC craft day on in the background, now does anyone else find that Craig (presenter) really annoying, I have resisted buying the Vagabond, my reasoning is I have a big shot and think of all the Tim dies I'll be able to buy with that money.

So have a great week everyone, I definitely will, hopefully will have some great photo's to blog after the event.

Another project following Craft Stamper...

2011-02-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

from the march 2011 issue, page 56 "Layer it Up" by Katie Crane, I tried to follow all the background work as Katie shows as I love her paint technique, and would love to be able to emulate, so here is my background before I divert away.

and then, I made it my own, decided to image transfer the eye, it was so stunning but too bright,unfortunately it lost quite a bit in translation so I had to ink in quite a bit, I image transferred another eye,but that didnt work at all, see if you can spot the remnants.

Have had a lovely weekend hope you all have as well. I just have one more week to work then Im on holiday for a week, culminating in my trip to see Uncle Tim, its so close I cannot believe it. Went gold hunting yesterday for all my old broken chains and am gonna take it to a local jewellers to sell, all funds will got towards my spend up at Uncle Tims, weighs approx 45 grams, will let you know how it goes, cross your fingers for me.

two challenges in one....

2011-02-11T14:49:00.000-08:00

..... which is a total record for me, I know lots of people manage to make one piece fit many current challenges, but it makes my brain hurt to try that. This has happened by accident, first it is my entry for Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 31, which is following the technique on page 41, rusted enamel. A technique I've tried before and enjoyed using, so by pure coincidence I put an Octopode Factory image on of Alice (check out her giveaway), and there is a current challenge at The Altered Alice using Alice and things that change form, and if Alice has a drink from that bottle she certainly will change.

I tried using lots of different techniques on here, I tried stamping on my embossing folder before embossing, and I used Tissue tape for the first time, took me ages to get round to spending £9 on some tissue tape, but it is yumptious stuff, also made a lid out of ten second metal.

2011-02-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

A day at home today, bliss too wake up to no alarm, bit of breakie and then miracle of miracles I did some clearing up. So then I could sit down virtuosely(sp!!) and craft for the rest of the day, Id even got dinner ready.

I decided to use my new mojo blocks, as per Craft Stamper February issue. I got carried away and made eight of them, so here is the throw.....

as I'de made 8 I've decided (because Im in charge, LOL) I can just pick some of them to help restart the mojo, so didnt feel like altering so decided to break into a journal I'd bought from Paperchase a while ago, isn't it just yumptious.

So this was my first little page, all my other journal pages have been so big, so it was a challenge to think smaller, I also find it really hard to think of things to say on the journal pages, but I am going to use this journal to try and get used to expressing myself.

and here's a close up of my little boot man, I thinks he is dead cute, well once I'd stamped "three in a circle" to use two of the heads I couldnt throw junior away, could I.

and here is scrap page of the other side of the mask, that I can use another time

And finally a lad I work with is 18 this week so I made him a card along the lines of one I'd made in January.

Inchies

2011-02-06T12:33:00.000-08:00

My first attempt at Inchies, after all the lovely comments on my tag on the previous post, I decided to shrink it, literally, die cut some shrink plastic and then tried to recreate the same sort of background.

Also had a good nose at Tim's CHA videos, here, Sherry Goodloe has the link on her page and I spent a happy morning getting more and more excited that I will be seeing him in less than three weeks, whoop whoop. If you pop by Sherry's blog, wish her a very Happy Birthday, its on Wednesday, I only found her blog this year and it was at the start of her battle with the big C, she is an inspiration. Below after being inspired and reminded by Tim, I made some stamps out of my Tim dies.

And finally a couple of cards I have made in the last few weeks.

and a close up on my colouring.

have a really good week everyone..

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge no 30

2011-02-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

This week over at the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge we are onto page 48 "Altered Metal with Paint". Started playing whilst watching Silent Witness, struggled a bit does anyone else have probs getting the dabbers to start flowing!! so resorted to a paintbrush, then had a play with my new die and some DI, and twilight street was born.

February Calendar Page

2011-01-31T10:35:00.000-08:00

Kate Crane is hosting her 365 Calendar Journal page thing again this year, check out her blog The Kathryn Wheel.

So I have done January and gawd what a struggle it is to think of something interesting to write about my life each day in a one inch square, think my writing may get progresively larger as the year goes on, LOL.

Anyway here is February, due to a big date on the 25th, I have made it a homage to our Lord and saviour, Monsieur Holtz. So I set myself a challenge to only use Tim's products, it was tough, so couldnt use sequin waste or paint to add depth, made myself some mica spray using reinker and perfect pearls and sprayed through some chipboard Id cut using his Tattered leaves die, for the background I tried to make a wash out of Wild Honey DI, it was quite hard and went patchy, but defn added to it. Didnt intend to go quite so orange, but hey ho.

Oops forgot to post January's page, not quite completed as I tend to fill it in at the end of the day.

Stampotique Design Challenge no 23

2011-01-30T14:29:00.000-08:00

The theme for this was Orange & turquoise, using a stampotique stamp. See here for more info and some great design team art on the theme.

Hope you like my effort.

Pickleberry Crafts Demo Day

2011-01-29T16:53:00.000-08:00

I didn't decide to go to thisevent until I woke up this morning, as I knew I would spend money, well its virtually a forgone conclusion, but I shouldn't be spending money I'm supposed to be saving for my date with Tim. So was just going to have a look, then Kate only went and had 15% of Tims dies, hows a girl supposed to resist. So a lovely couple of hours was spent at Pickleberry Crafts today.

Here's what I bought, along with some last minute bargains from Hobbycraft.

The lovely Vivien Howard from Creative Expressions (a fellow essex girl) was demonstrating, here she is playing with shaving foam. She did some great demo's using DI, masks, stamps and Creative Expressions embossing powder, paint and mica sprays. And at no time did I ask if one technique was a mistake, and she never took offense at my insinuation, and those are my final words on the subject. Signed Foot In Mouth Girl
LOL, no she was fine, great sense of humour, thankfully, LOL.

And finally a picture of Kate McNicholas and Jane Dean, I did have a funnier one, but am under threat of death if I publish it.

Was so tempted, but have decided to hold onto it for future blackmail. LOL.

Journal page journey

2011-01-25T13:39:00.000-08:00

In case any of you are interested, some photos showing the development journey this page took to completion, so I took a photo each time I finished a layer. Hope you like and if your persevere to the end you get to see the finished page. . . enjoy (on an aside I work for a bank that does "for the journey" LOL)

music sheets stuck down and gesso applied

contrasting paint over circle masks, so some music still shows through

paint through sequin masks (circles and stars)

stamping with art journey broken circle stamp

spraying with dylussion inks

some ink blots, a la Gonzo

more colours of dylussions ink sprays

drew around shoe mask, shadowing added with black acrylic

shoe mask glued down

title added using black uni-ball

journalling added in blank shoes

bottom text added using transfer letters

edging applied using eco friendly paint

heavy black edging using acrylic paint

bar code lines drawn

doodling on letters and lady of the shoe added

final wording on shoe in white sakurafinished page

Hope you enjoyed the journey, I have to thank the wonderful Kate Crane who helped and inspired me to develop, just by blogging her fabulous art.

Valentines Day

2011-01-23T11:22:00.000-08:00

I've had a wierd week with not a lot of crafting, but quite a bit of sorting out. Decided (as you do) that I needed a new storage method for my promarkers, now many people have previously commented on and liked my previous storage, which kept them in an old cd storage case. However that worked well when they were on the desk in front of me, but it's made it difficult to use them now they are off to the side, so decided I needed individual pots for each colour group, so I could pick them up and bring them over to my desk easily.
So went searching through town, tempted in Poundland by some baby beakers, but wasnt quite sure they were tall enough, so off to Wilkinsons, and had picked up two packs of cheap tumblers, then I saw them, pastel coloured metal utensil holders, more than double the price of the glasses, but oh to die for, had to get the utesil holders, £2 each which I don't think was too bad, but as I say, once seen I had to have them, also got a couple of pear ornaments, so cute, forgot to photograph them though. Anyway so here is my new pro marker storage. The ribbons are for the brown colours and the lilac and greys.

Yesterday, I was sorting out old jewellery with a ruthless eye, lots went in the bin, well it was going back to them 80's, but salvaged bits and pieces with a view to using them in the future, some bits I had to keep however tasteless they seem now LOL. Now in case you haven't heard, I'm off to see Uncle Tim in February and we have been told to bring ephemera with us if we want, so some of these bits may well end up in my pile of goodies. It is getting increasingly closer and we are all on a Yahoo group getting excited and counting down the days, sounds like there is gonna be a great bunch there, my phone is constantly beeping at work with new messages from them all, trying to keep the excitement in check is hard, Mario tweeted photos of them getting the stuff ready for it, and then packed up ready to make its way over to PaperArtsy HQ.

Today I have made my OH Valentines Day Card, used a quote I have seen on one of the DT I follow, and really liked it for its simplicity. However not feeling very loving towards OH today, so have just left the quote on the front as "Loved you yesterday", (might make him worry for a bit . . LOL, I can be so wicked) inside it will (well might not) say "love you still, always have and always will".

He better buck his socks up or else. LOL

Stampotique Designers Challenge - Masking

2011-01-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

Masking seems to be popular at the start of the year, have seen it on a couple of challenges, did one for the Tims Compendium challenge, so wanted to try a different method for this one, so used the masking stamps effect, had to use post-its sellotaped together, couldn't find where I've filed away my masking sheets, expect I shall find them tomorrow when its too late, typical, LOL.

So masked two stampotique characters so I could swap heads, then covered them up added a base DI to the backgound and then stamped through a mask with different colour DIs. Made a background paper, using an old book page, sprayed Glimmer mist all over then used same mask to add contrasting colour, highlighted circles using black and white pens, then punched flowers using Uncle Tim's fab die . Hope you enjoy, I love the paper I've made really vibrant, might have to try and make up another batch for another time.

two photos one with flash and one without, flash shows up some to the lovely shimmers and vibrancy of the colours, whilst non flash shows a bit more of the details.

iNk bLOts

2011-01-16T08:25:00.000-08:00

I am so pleased with myself with a bit of advice from OH, have managed to design my own blog header on photoshop, am really pleased with how it turned out, and feel it now feels more like my place!!!!

Well this is post no 3 this weekend, obviously the house is sparkling tidy, cos surely I wouldnt do art instead of cleaning , LOL.

A couple of cards for you to look at, two use the tone on tone images I did with DI, both use stamps that I have long liked from Crafty Individuals but never bought, then lo and behold they were in the Craft Barn sale, well it would have been rude not to. I also stamped my own oriental ribbon and added a bit of DI colouring and finally a really quick card for my nephew, the night before, ooops got so caught up in my other art forgot to check the birthday list, enjoy...... :)

Pay it Forward 2011

2011-01-15T08:39:00.000-08:00

Found Greenpixey this week via WOYWW, and she makes the most beautiful crocheted figures, which is really not me, but they are quirky and funky and I have to have some, fave is the pear, I think or is it the big elf with the dark hair, LOL. Anyway she is taking part in "Pay it Forward 2011"

What this means is that I promise something handmade to the FIRST 5 people who leave a comment here. However, to be eligible, you must repost this status, offering something handmade to 5 other people. The rules are that it must be handmade (or homemade) by you and it must be sent to your 5 people some time in 2011. Ready, set, GO!

So anyone who would like something of mine, please leave a comment. I shall consider it quite a challenge amd will be aiming to make something more than a card or an ATC, which would be easy, but no fun.

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 27

2011-01-15T08:04:00.000-08:00

This weeks challenge was page 60 of Tim's book, "Distress Misting Masks". Something I've tried before but without the instructions from a qualified crafter, so was not very succesful. Really enjoyed this and now feel the need to buy loads of Mini Misters so I can create more of my own recipe mists. This is the tag I produced using the recipe.

to see more of other peoples attempts at this challenge visit the L3 studio.

WOYWW 84

2011-01-12T05:10:00.000-08:00

Day off today so Im hoping to improve on my number position and get to see a few more other WOYWW postings.

This was my desk last night, I have been working on a couple of projects at the same time, which is so unlike me, but Im actually finding it quite good for the mojo, as Ive got more than one thing to think about.

At the back of the desk is a journal page I am working on, I made the base a week or so ago and have been playing around with some ideas to finish it off, well I've now decided and have printed out some images to use, hopefully I will get it finished this week, its to do with my work and the challenges Im having to face there at the moment, I have also taken photos at all the stages, so hopefully will be an interesting post.

On the very edge of the desk is my sky remote, yes my xmas present finally arrived, we have multi room and I can watch all my fave programmes whilst crafting away, I love all those trashy reality programs, currently on in the background is "17 kids and counting", also love medial programs, am a frustrated medical person,when I look back I wish it had been a path I had taken, unlikely to happen now but work near an ambulance station so often think about becoming a parmedic, just dont think it will fit in with where we are now as a family.

Ah well back to the desk, now I havent done much craft sale shopping this season, but did visit hobby craft and picked up some great stamps cheaply, two of them are in front of the tv remotes, a really cute saying and a lovely corner swirl. The other side is my box of Art Journal stamps, a box that will defn need to get bigger, Ive got my eye on some of the other sets in their range.

Finally in the middle, WIP, read on someones blog over christmas about tone on tone stamping, which I had a go at, this one didnt quite work, so I went over with a sakura pen, the others did they were more detailed stamps, so perhaps works better on those types, will post them separately for you to see.

Right better go or Ill have no time to do anything else today, see you at your desk.

Visit here for more info on WOYWW

Compendium of Curiosities 26

2011-01-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

Here is my finished tag, following the technique on page 45 of Tim's bible. Check out here at L3 to see more.

had great fun trying to think up how to use this technique, dont think I got the actual technique quite right, but it looks OK,me thinks.

Hope you like the new blog name, am trying out "Ink Blots", which cover the dining table now, LOL. Shall make my own header when I can work out how to do it, so dont hold your breath, LOL.

WOYWW 2011

2011-01-05T12:10:00.000-08:00

My desk this afternoon, bag dumped after coming in from work and some post including a smear reminder (whoop whoop). Spread across the desk is my start of my Tag for the Compendium Challenge which I did last night whilst watching Silent Witness (great show). Also on the desk is my wheat bag, I had a horrible stiff neck last night and when I went to bed I couldnt get warm, just beginning to warm up and OH got into bed flinging the quilt back, I was not pleased at all.

Also on desk is my ATC from the lovely but definitely loony Donna Rodgers, some bits of xmas cards I'm going to try to reuse and my rubiks cube, I have got it to only three squares in the wrong place, but no further.

So to see more desks pop over to WOYWW HQ.

Wot no name

2011-01-03T13:34:00.000-08:00

I have decided it is time to grow up and rename my blog to something that explains a little bit more what it is about. The only problem is what to call it, some of the blog names out there are so brilliant and I'd love to have a really good one, ie The Altered Inker, Ink on my fingers, they are just so descriptive so I am suitably envious. So please help me one and all and come up with some suggestions.

Some of the options I've come up with are,

Plinkity Ink
Crafting Dreams
Artistic Splatters
Splatters of Art
Inky musings
Organised chaos

let me know what you think, I think I have a fave, but I shall sleep on it...... night night

Back to work . . . yee hah . . . NOT

2010-12-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

I was so pleased to get up to the sound of ringing this am, I have missed it so much, LOL.

had a good christmas, but am showing my age, as so glad its over and done with for another year, bah humbug, but it is so much organising for one or two days. Kids enjoyed themselves, which makes it worth it though.

Anyway found some time to do some art, pre xmas I got my 365 Calendar January journal page ready, really enjoyed looking at Kate's work last year, so am really pleased to see she is doing the challenge again this year, check out her blog here for more info.

Then after christmas when I finally got the ~~dining~~ craft table back, I sat and looked at a blank page for a long time, eventually this is what it evolved into

I say evolved because there are more layers to this than you can ever guess, most of them now hidden under a thick layer of black acrylic. However I was determined not to rip the page out, so made it into a 2011 Priority page (not a resolution page), was mooching around doing this whilst watching the lovely Rpatz in Eclipse, swoon.

Done at last . .

2010-12-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

yes the christmas cards are all done, the presents are bought and just gotta sort out a shopping list for next week, We are having roast beef as the OH doesnt do turkey. Should have had my roast turkey fix today, but my christmas do was cancelled, as was my hair appointment. Was actually quite glad as wasn't feeling on top of the world, afternoon snooze seems to have helped though. Has everybody else got that really annoying cough. I had bought a great secret santa gift though, from Ann Summers, was really looking forward to seeing the recipients face, oh well, will have to wait . Had a great laugh in there with the OH, they had a packet of p***c hair removers, looked a lot like tooth picks, LOL.

Anyway talking about the OH here is his card, my boys cards and a couple of others.

So wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, hope you all get through next week, getting everything that needs doing done with as least stress as possible.

WOYWW 80

2010-12-15T04:22:00.000-08:00

WOW I've just looked back over my previous posts and my last WOYWW was no 72, 8 weeks ago, time has flown but I thought I must pop in to say hi to everyone and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

So here is my desk today

It's as I left it last night, a ten year old card for my niece, just two more pre xmas birthday cards to make and three xmas cards and I will be done and have some time to take myself down some other routes. I have been following Tims 12 Tags of Christmas, but havent actually made anything so might try out some of his creative tips, like his stamp making out of his dies, brilliant, I knew id kept the funky foam for a reason. It's also a great marketing tool as there is so many more of his thing I now need, LOL.

Little boast coming up...... but if I cant boast to you my fellow crafters, then who can I, my work colleagues try to look interested, LOL

For those that dont know I was lucky enought to be a Runner Up in the Altered Artist section of the Craft Stamper of the Year competition, it was with my Jewellery box. I was as you can imagine absolutley flabbergasted to be placed, as the level of skills shown by the other winners far exceeded my own and the winners work was just amazing.

I t has really boosted my confidence and I cant wait to get my teeth into something new to alter.

So for those that have no idea what the phenomonom of WOYWW is, just pop along here to find out.

Tim Holtz blog candy

2010-12-14T12:25:00.000-08:00

the lovely Lin is giving a heap of Tim goodies away to celebrate her year, and it has been a good one, pop here to find out more.

Oh Christmas cards, oh christmas card

2010-12-13T14:10:00.000-08:00

all made and written just got to buy the stamps and seal the envelopes, one of my least enjoyable craft things of the year. This year I went for the same card for everyone, just a slightly different method for the snowflakes. . .

From left to right the methods were, 1) stippled luminsce arts paints 2) ferro texture paste 3) irredescent embossing powder 4) mica paint, which bled too much so traced in white Inkssentials pen 5) ferro paste 6) Inka Gold. All done through a Crafters workshop snowflake mask. The photo was a tree in our garden in last years snow.

Big sigh of relief, just three more special ones to do for my men, and then I can forgot about it, and move onto presents and food. We make a rod for our own back dont we girls.

Catch up time . .

2010-12-11T11:07:00.000-08:00

Llife has been busy, hardly time to craft except for xmas cards and nearest and dearest's birthdays, am looking forward to post xmas then I am gonna indulge and do some journalling and perhaps some canvas work. However I do have a birthday card for a friends birthday, guess what age she is, LOL....

with flash

and without, quite a difference in colour, I prefer the more muted one. Anyway started making this card and it went a bit different from what I was expecting, but I perservered and managed to bring it back to something OK, then gazing around my room for some further inspiration, and the birthday card Flutterby Crafter sent me in March caught my eye. Embarasssingly it is Flutterby's bitrthday today and I have managed to miss it, so no card to send back. . (bad friend).

Anyway hope you are all enjoying the lead up to xmas, I have managed to not buy one present or any food yet, a record I think. In the time of having Credit cards I would start buying in September for the boys and not stop till xmas, then wonder why they had a mountain of presents to unwrap and I was in debt up to my eyeballs. Having to buy what you can afford is not only enlightining (sp!) but is actually quite relaxing, as you cant just buy, because you've seen the perfect present, which then means you have to buy another present for the other one, which costs more, so then the other one needs another pressie and so it goes on and on. All that disappears and so the stress of xmas does as well, I would recommend it. My boys this year have asked for only a few presents each, not totalling more than £50 (eldest) and £70 (youngest), bless them, wish I could buy them more, when you hear what other children get just in their stockings, but that's life and we will still have a great xmas. Sorry that came from nowhere, but I would honestly recommend it.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Birthday Cards, a hard week and a lovely surprise

2010-11-27T05:48:00.000-08:00

Hard week at work, manager has been on holiday and Ive been trying to hold the fort, it was tough, but I am a woman and I can take it, LOL, actually I am cream crackered, hence all I've managed craft wise this week is two birthday cards for my lovely niece Aislinn who turned 18 and my goddaughter Amy who turned 7, both on the 25th, (now why does that number ring a bell). One is cute and sweet and the other one,well my niece is an independant, trendy little arty person so really had to try and think outside the box, so two more different cards would be hard to find.

and as for the surprise check out page 74 of the new Craft Stamper, I've only managed to be runner up in the Altered/Mixed Media Category.

Now I have been very good, because I knew I had been shortlisted a few weeks ago and I managed to keep it to myself, (it was hard, I can tell you), I was so excited and honoured and having seen the winners I consider myself very lucky to have been considered alongside them as they have produced some seriously great pieces of work, and as for the winner, woweee, absolutely fantastic work, and so well done I stand in awe.

Now, I do'nt think I can reproduce the page for you to see, but I can put up the photos that I sent in for my entry, I hope, I sent in two pieces the altered jewellery box and Stampotique Street

Just a taste of the pages of Stampotique Street, think it might be better if a do a blog post showing it all of, gawd knows when though. So this weekend finds me tired, cold and very happy.

Hope you are all having a good one, and those that have already congratulated me, thank you so much xxxx

A blog award for me

2010-11-23T13:18:00.000-08:00

The lovely Ann (Flutterby Crafter), has gifted me this award

I have to tell you 3 things about myself that make me different from everyone else, so here goes:

1 - I am a guilt laden lapsed catholic

2 - I have danced in Trafalgar Square's fountains, (drink may have been involved)

3 - I have only ever done the splits once in my life (again drink was involved)

And then I have the pleasure of passing it on to 5 of my talented and attitude laden blog land friends.

1 Kate Crane of the Kathryn Wheel

2 Debs of Rusty Cage fame

3 The Octopode Factory, for her sheer drawing genius with tons of attitude

4 Lin at Yours Artfully

5 Donna at The Doings of Doone

So enjoy and thank you all for sharing your art with us all in blogland.

I love Tim Holtz

2010-11-13T09:47:00.000-08:00

Had a busy week off but have found some time to play with my new Tim toy the tag die, it is a lovely size to work on so Ive had some fun cutting out different materials, two more to show you, also been playing some more with the Octopode images, Ive heard that theres something afoot with Stampotique and the designer (she is 17 - - wow), I predict big things ahead for her, as you can see she has a lovely kooky quirkiness to her art. She is very prolific and keeps adding new images, will never be able to keep up.

Now my plans for the weekend was to do some chores around the house and find some time to play, unfortunately most of today has been taken up with this . . . .

This is the bank where I work, and at 0338 this am, some people decided to make an unauthorised withdrawal, I was woken by our security team at 0415, because the Police needed a key to get in, hahaha, I had however had a wee drink and didnt have any cash for a taxi, so one of my other colleagues had to go out and sort it out, I have however been there on and off during the day trying to organise things for Monday, we wont be open, in case anyone is wondering. So the start of a nice quiet weekend rudely interrupted. Lets hope for a peaceful Sunday.

Compendium of Craft Challenge 21

2010-11-10T11:34:00.000-08:00

Found this challenge a couple of weeks ago and this is the first chance I have had to participate, each week a technique from Tim's bible is chosen and all you have to do is follow the instructions, adding your own little flair, (if you can), post to your blog and link to the L3 studio blog. Only other rule is that you don't post how to do the technique.

So for my first attempt it was Perfect Distress, page 38 of afore mentioned book. Well I tried it last night and it was all looking great until I added water, just a spray honest, then it all seemed to dissolve before my very eyes, boo hoo, gave up then and went off to bed so that I could do my nightly snoring to annoy my OH. (he misses me if Im not there, LOL).

Then this morning had another go and I present to you my succesful attempt at Perfect Distressing, showing two photos 'cos one shows up the detail and the colours as they are, the other is with a flash and shows up the glimmer, and I couldn't choose between the two.

So for those that follow me on my blog, I can report a succesful attendance at my course last week and I am now licensed to lend money (form an orderly queue, LOL). I used to travel up to London every day for work, dont know how I did it , it is exhausting and dirty and my poor feet hurt so much. The course was opposite St Pauls Cathedral which was nice as I'd not worked at that end of town before, so did my touristy bit from the station, stopping to take in the sights, nothing to do with the fact I was running out of breath, I am so unfit, and this must change, it was embarrassing, having to pace myself to make the walk, whilst my tongue lolled out the side of my mouth and I had taken off everything I could to try and keep myself from overheating, being overtaken by Chelsea pensioners. Totally didnt have the sophisticated city worker look.

Anyway it is done, I have this week off and then its back to the grind until xmas. Hope all is well with everyone.

Bah humbug !!!!!

2010-10-31T04:17:00.000-07:00

Yes its halloween, but all this trick and treating is an american tradition, not ours, I think its just another con by the retailers to make us buy lots of tut, bah humbug.

ROFL

How miserable am I........ :(

Anyway, busy busy week, am on a bank course next week and have a ton of things to learn before I attend, they make you do a test as soon as you arrive and if you fail you are sent home, how embarrasing, so am working really hard to avoid that scenario. Also dreading the travelling as it is in the City for three days, so I've got to be up at the crack of dawn each day to get there. So will definitely be AWOL next week, unless of course the embarrassing scenario happens, (please god noooooooooooooooooo)

This week I have done some more purchasing, its Dyan's fault who did a link to some great new digi images, by The Octopode Factory, I couldnt resist and bought the Alice inWonderland set, decided to do a journal page, trying some new techniques, like the edging, how hard is it to get a black pen to work over acrylics, think I killed my black sharpie, ended up using a uni ball which flowed lovely,what pen does everyone else use?

I am pleased with the result the sort of grungey pastel effect, have even put it as my background image on my mobly, its my own personal art gallery, haha

Anyway wishing you all a brilliant week and cross your fingers for me on Wednesday.

Pink Ribbon Warrior Woman

2010-10-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a great day at Pickleberry Crafts with my friend Sue and the lovely owner Kate, first things first, sarnie in the fridge then straight onto the shopping, I uhmed and ahhed over the Stampotique stamps, so having put them in my basket, I decided to think about it whilst playing in the studio, had a great time playing with all Tim's dies and was able to decide which ones I would want and I have to admit tattered Florals is a must. Then onto the shopping, I even put some of the stamps back then thought oh what the hell and bought all the ones I had picked, and a few other things :)

Now I've finished my entry for Craft Stamper, so can get on with other things and the Pink Ribbon Warrior Women blog hop was one of the things I had on my list, decided to use some of my new stamps and will be adding it to the Flickr site, it is in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness month and also has the lovely Sherry Goodloe as a focus, whom I have been following recently through WOYWW, who is braving her own battle against the Big C at the moment, to find out more click on the links, here however is my entry

Have really enjoyed doing this and enjoyed my week off, tomoz Im off to see the S-I-L another crafter so may have to pop into her local shops, and of course it would only be polite to make some small purchase, LOL.

Have a great weekend everyone.

WOYWW

2010-10-20T02:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday everyone, well not for people trying to join in at 5pm for two hours, they are disabling upload photos for maintenance, what are they thinking about its WOYWW, dont they know what they are doing, millions of (hundreds ok then tens of) crafters will be trying to put their post up, whats wrong with the middle of the night . . . doh.

OK rant over, I would now like to submit my desk for inspection, ta da . .. . .

and its taken today,as I am off for the week, am loving it, trying to finish my entry for Craft Stamper and then found Ive got to write something as well, aarrggghhh, anyway this desk shows me ignoring the dealine fast approaching and doing a new journal page, its to be happier than the one in the post below (yesterday), but I might have gonna a bit bright and need to knock it back a bit, here is a close up, with a flash to show glittery pen, (im no fool).......

And also I have been doing some spending this week, and this is a photo of my purchase from TK Maxx, I think Minxy has one on her door, and I decided if Minxy can have one then so can I, gonna make it an art display, copying Minxy again, love you Minxy hope you are feeling better.

Now I have been having a wardrobe clearout this week and found a beautiful dress of mine, simular size to this, that I used to fit in, boohoooooooooo, why cant I be slim again, nurse at GPs makes it all sound so simple to lose weight, but it s not, every morning I wake up positive and by lunchtime its all fell by the wayside and I grab whatever I can to eat with no thought for goodness or badness. I even used this to photograph some dresses Im gonna sell on ebay, (very clever of me if I say so myself), they looked good, unlike what they look like on me, thats if I could get into them, double grrrrrrrrrrrr.

So anyway went to ASDA clothing this week and got some great jewellery bargains for altering (see post below) and bought some bra's cheap, whoop whoop mine are normally £20+ and some trousers, now Im thinking I bought them because I could do them up rather than for the style factor, so as Im going into Maidstone today shall see if I can get something a bit more stylish, though we have to face facts girls, you cant dress up a sows purse (or something like that). I am however quite cheerful about it, A) because Im spending money and B) because thats all Ive got to work with for the moment.

However I am meeting the great Tim next Feb ( just to remind you all) and I think he deserves to meet a slimmer me, so I shall see what I can do, watch this space.

And finally, for those that have asked about my ink pad storage, it was another Charity shop find and I think it must have been a cassette holder, but it is ideal for ink pads and for DI's there is space for your cut n dry as well.

Right sorry its only been a quick one this week, LOL, enjoy and dont forget your linky no.

It's catch up time, or TALOT

2010-10-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

TALOT = take a look on tuesday, its one and only appearance LOL

So some bits and pieces to show you, first of all just had to sign a permission form for my youngest to attend an open evening tonight, nothing like advance planning

now do you think the new strict headmaster will be amused, considering his latest edict is that male and female pupils must never be closer together than 12 inches , WTF :)

Now I have some purchases to show you, I've been to ASDA again and got some bargains in the jewellery sale, they were on necklaces and cost me £2 each

Now dont they look lush, I bought three of them and am thinking maybe some alcohol ink, some utee, paint, wax, gonna try and take a mould to see if I can replicate in UTEE, dont you love the art scarred table , its the dining table , oooops

Now for my next bargain, it was a sewing box with loads of sewing items in it all for £5, but my beady eye thought I could come up with a much better use for it, so ta dah "metal accessory storage"

each tray detaches for access and each division within is kept separate, the lid area can take slightly larger pieces and take that out and there is room for three little tins with more metal accessories, brilliant dont you think, now I really must start to use some of them.

And finally a journal page I did a couple of weeks ago, at the start of a depression, dont you hate them, all self pity and self loathing, but am out of it now, thankfully, so it was definitely a feeling sorry for myself, once I've done this post am gonna do another one with a more positive note

which you might see tomorrow on WOYWW.

WOYWW 71

2010-10-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

Hello peeps, hope you didnt miss me too much last week, we had internet issues, like no access. My OH was like a caged lion and spent virtually two days on the phone to the phone company and the internet provider, trying to get it sorted out. I just got on with other things, though I did miss taking part in WOYWW.

My desk this week is just a mess of things, I have been trying to finish up Stampotique Street, so if you are canny you can have some sneak peeks of WIP. And I have been painting my IKEA cabinet, we only got it ten years ago, so didnt take me long to get around to it, LOL

Anyway short one this week as I am so behind, dont forget your linky no if you leave a comment and I will try to do the visiting tomoz. happy Woyww

WOYWW #69 (titter titter)

2010-09-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

Yay its Wednesday and as usual I am languishing in the bottom part of the list, but numbers don't mean anything unless you are adding it after your comment and then its incredibly helpful. Poor Julia is feeling a bit left out as she has no number, :( but we all know her, dont we, but if you want Julia, you can use zero, hope that helps.

So quite a few pictures this week for you, thought I would start to show you around my drawers of stuff !!

Shot 1 is a straight on shot of said drawers, on top of the drawers is a spare drawer from a broken set, I love buying these plastic drawers as you can often pick them up dead cheap, anyway the extra drawer has a filing system, yes it does honest, it has masks in it, on no it doesn't I moved them (oops). It has all my transfers, 3d stickers, flat stickers and also some letter books. Stored on their side I can pull the drawer out onto my lap and have a good flick through for what I want, I must admit some of the stuff in this drawer is of the strokable status, I love them so much can't bear to use them. Next drawer has all my embossing powders, which I used to use all the time on everything but havent really used for a while, but am getting back into using them more now. Plastic bags are distress powders that I shared with a thrifty friend.

Next drawers are slightly more boring, there is the envelope drawer, can never have too many of them and the junk drawer, which has sequin waste, music sheets, pics Ive pulled out of magazines, clothing tags, pattern paper, basically anything Ive thought may come in use again some day. So thats it for drawer set 1, come back next week for another exciting installment. LOL

This what I made out of last weeks desk and is a card for my sister in laws birthday, I tried to be a bit more creative rather than just sticking the picture down, so played with Tim Holtz stuff and some Viva gunk, had really messy fingers by the end, but I enjoyed myself.

And finally my desk, have got creative this week and am making a mini book, called "Stampotique Street", (close up below). This is the front cover of a Holtz ruler book so I have about 10 pages to fill inside of it, have started doing this but nothing to show yet of the insides, but the clue is in the name LOL.

So for all that don't know and I can't believe there are that many now, this is the link to find out what I am yapping on about, press here.

Enjoy the journey through WOYWW land.

WOYWW 68

2010-09-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Well welcome back all those lovely people who pop by and visit me to see what I've been up to, last week was very dry so this week I've taken a number of photos of my workspace to show it does get messy, (well by my standards anyway, LOL). For those that have no idea what I am on about, visit here, WOYWW HQ. Where the lovely Julia explains all, and where the incredible Mr Linky is. Last week I found it really worked having peoples Linky no, so I could visit them without having to go through blogland and getting diverted by loads of other things, so if you can do the same again this week, I will be eternally grateful. Though I have to confess, I forgot to add mine on a couple, sorry, will try and do better this week.

Right without further ado, the photographs

First picture is my desk on Monday,when I panicked over the jewellery cabinet I was gonna enter into Craft Stamper competition, as I though it ended 28th Sept and still hadnt finished, so to work I went with stamps and paint and things, got it looking really good, until alas, I went, not one step too far, but perhaps three or four, b******s

So have begun trying to rescue it, dont know if it will work or not, hence no actual photo of the shameful piece this week, am so annoyed with myself and then when I checked the competition information, it ends 22nd OCT, not sept, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, so had plenty of time, also discovered need to do two pieces for the entry, so have been playing around with different techniques, difficult cos you dont want to outright copy peoples work, but you may like the technique or finished result, so trying to amalgamate all the things I like on one piece, perhaps I should think about a Dogs Dinner, LOL.

Above piccies virtually the same, one last night and one this pm, what a difference the light makes, playing with Dyullisions lovely spray inks, some paper artsy stamps and a stencil from The Crafters workshop, middle image is actually the negative of the stencil but came out better that the positive (cut that to ATC size) and then decided to add white pen to create effect that Ive forgotten name off, you know the one I mean, on cowboy scarves etc. Was thinking of this for a background for other work but just a slight bit too busy, had great fun and lovely inky fingers by the end of it, and shall see what I can create out of all these bits, need a couple of birthday cards in the next couple of weeks.

Anyway for those that are interested carpet is lush, didnt realise what a difference it would make, and the good news is they ran out of the underlay we ordered so supplied next one up, so have to step down to get into bedroom off lush carpet onto manky old hard as nails carpet, so guess what the next plan is, yup recarpet ours and eldests bedrooms, does it ever end......

H A P P Y W O Y W W

WOYWW 67

2010-09-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

This week, I'm afraid the workspace is very bare for WOYWW, I can only apologise but its been a bit of a busy week and I have managed to blog on days other than wednesday (gasps in amazement), from my prev blog you can see that on Monday evening I was very busy getting a Tim Holtz ticket, and then yesterday I was sorting out my finances, bah humbug, I added one deposit in twice, which means that the new carpet we bought for our stairs and is being fitted this weekend, we couldn't actually afford!!!!!!, oooopss. . but we have been without carpet for coming up for 2 years, so we had to bite the bullet at one point, how expensive are they, even the reasonably priced ones, the upshot is we will be living out the kitchen cupboards this week as no money for food, I get paid Monday at least, oh and before you ask I paid for Tim ticket out of my own money.

Now if you look up by my DI pads you can see a lovely ATC I won on Minxys blog, it is gorgeous, (and sorry I havent thanked you yet Minxy, I will, I promise) the drink with a straw in, because I have just been to the dentist (more expense) and also on the other side a new stampotique stamp designed by the lovely Jo Capper-Sandon. So I am going to have to cut back my spending as need to save for hotel at Tim Holtz do and petrol and spending money, so will have to draw horns in a bit, better not do it too far it could be painful.

Now to my lovely commenters, please can you just add your Mr Linky number at the end of your comment, then I will be able to return the visit more efficiently, I know its a bit a**l, but I cant help myself, and if I cant visit anyone else I like to visit you, will do the same on all my comments this week, you never know it might catch on.

Have a great week you all and please let me know if anyone else is going to see Tim in Feb.

OMG OMG OMG

2010-09-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

I got a ticket to go to Tim Holtz ArtsyCrafty class on Feb 25th, the 10.30 am start, I am sooooooooooooooo excited, did anyone else get lucky.

Art Journey

2010-09-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

Here is my entry for Art Journey's first blog competition, you had to use mainly their stamps and the subject was "Friends", used some DI blending technique and their lovely fern unfurling (or unwinding) stamp, also Relax and Friends are theirs as well. I discovered their stamps last year through Jo Capper Sandon I think, and treated myself to two sets then and I've just been back for two more. Incidentally I ordered some other stuff from UK based shops the same day and Art Journey delivered from the Netherlands before them, impressive aye. Anyway hope you all like.

Genie in a bottle

2010-09-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

Well for those who have been following I have been having a bit of tution on my half finished card from Doone, see below post and comments. So today I have tried to finish the card, as it is required next week, so I unveil it to your criticism.

dont be too harsh pretty please :)

WOYWW 66

2010-09-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

Its a miracle just one picture this week, I've been tidying again thanks to lack of mojo. But once all was tidied I still needed a mojo boost so I flicked through new Craft Stamper for something I wanted to try and had the items required to hand. Came upon Sunset silhouette by Joanne Wardle, using DI to make graduated backgrounds, now I have increased my Di's recently by 6 new ones so was ready to play. Well following Joanne's instructions, it was super easy and I thought super effective. Tag card was my first effort, then decided to use mask to add shapes, tree card demos this, then had a play on an ATC (available), then last night decided to read article properly and discovered gloss card had been used, so had to have another go, used Tim's umbrella man (wouldnt stamp properley, felt sticky, had to do it three times to get image, does anyone knows what causes this, or does it simply need a good clean?), then used one of my fave Paper Arsty ones, think i will use these as toppers on cards or ATC's. It was great fun, very quick and the results I think were great.

Also in the background was my genie in the bottle card, suposed to be for my 20 year old nieces birthday, but having done image have got stuck with what else to do with it, might be on the wrong card, will have to think on it, perhaps a bit more burlesque is required.

So thats my craft for the week, had a lovely visit to Craft barn on saturday and manged to go right up to my od limit, OOPS, but such fun and silly not to buy whilst I was there, dont you agree girlies.

Hope I get round to seeing a few more of you this week, and to those that visit thanks so much and I will try doubly hard to return the visit, toodle pip . . .

oops here is the link to WOYWW 66

WOYWW 65

2010-09-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Yay it Wednesday again and time for another splash of WOYWWThis was my desk last night, I decided to show WIP by taking two shots, first is mask in place with liberal spray of Glimmer mists in Frost, Pink Bubblegum and Rum Raisin, second shot shows mask has been removed and I have endeavoured to get reverse mask effect onto spare card, think it lost something in translation !!!!!

This is my OH anniversary card, 22 years on friday, doesnt seem like 1, ROFL . . . Decided to do two puzzle pieces fitting together on gatefold card, (2 pieces of the same puzzle.. aaah . . you are allowed to make loud gagging sounds now, LOL)Then decided to add some random lettering and more random leaf vines, forgot to mention put music paper on puzzle pieces sprayed with Dyan Original Ink sprays and distressed with some DI (pumice stone) and then decided to clear emboss a Tim stamp, doesnt show up brilliant and expect OH will never notice, but I made the effort.

This is the finished card, put prev photo on cos showed up detail better, final bits were some Enamel Accents in black. So that was last night quite industrious I thought,This last pic is an altered thimble display case that I made last week, glued fabric samples that I picked up from M& S (ok sort of stole :( ) onto back then pin tacked together after painting with various pinky colours and then distressing with lots of bits to get rid of all the pinkness (should miss out the middle man and paint it the colour I want to begin with) but what would be the fun in that LOL.

BTW think I am going to enter Craft Stamper Stamper of the Year, Altered artist with my Jewellery box, which I am still working on, but it is coming along, does anyone know if its ok to have blogged it unfinished or not?, or does it have to have been unseen. . .

Anyways thank you all for visiting and leaving such lovely comments, I am sorry I dont get around to many each week, but I do try to visit different sites each week,

WOYWW 64

2010-08-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

Well here I am again, set the alarm to get up early hoping to get lower than position 100, ROFL, no I am only joking, still on holiday, and today we are going to Bluewater, so had to get up early. Today my desk reflects that

I have my phone and tesco vouchers, we are treating the in laws to lunch today, a birthday card for in laws sister and in the background one for my mum, both are reaching a significant milestone, but I decided not to mention it on the cards, just to gloss over it, Im sure they will be grateful. LOL.

Thanks to everyone for kind wishes re my mums op, glad to say spoke yesterday and she is recovering very well. Also on my desk is my new crafting friend, can you spot him, I'll give you a clue, he is pink and wearing a fetching tin foil number, he also makes a lovely sound, (hewww bu bu . . . ), yes you got it its a Clanger, got him yesterday from Past Times and he makes the sound, he is so sweet, originally going to give to OH, but love him too much so agreed to share him, we know what that means dont we, he is mine . . . haha (evil laugh).

Eldest got results of GCSE's yesterday and came in with 2 x A, 7 x B amd 1 x C, so we are all very happy with him, might have to treat him.

Below are two close ups of the two cards for anyone who wants to look. Right must run, got to harvest my crops before getting in the shower, have a lovely WOYWW.

heres the link.

WOYWW 63

2010-08-18T05:20:00.000-07:00

Yes its Wednesday and if I dont do any other blogging all week I try my hardest to be part of this, it also makes me stop prevaricating and get on with things so I have something to post, Julie you have a lot to answer for LOL, heres the link for the beginning of WOYWW.

So this weeks am on hols with family, at home but out and about exploring the countryside, had a brill day yesterday, made our way down to Faversham and a shop I simply had to visit, yes it was a craft shop, Pickleberry Crafts, and I think I have found my second home, Katie and Jane were so welcoming making drinks for the OH and SS and keeping them amused whilst I shopped and diverted the OH when I paid. I will defn be going back there, they do my kind of art and classes too, yee hah.

Then went on to a local foodie market with lots of yummy produce, then heathens that we are went to MaccyD's for lunch. . .haha. Anyway lets get on with it, here is my desk . . .

Now first of all you can tell Ive been to McD's as there is a handful of coffee stirrers, (very useful) and ketchup pots, (great for putting paint into, then you can throw away . . not water though, leaked out over time, oops), On the desk and the close up is my brothers birthday card, used brown paper bag from pickleberry, background was created by pressing used masks on whilst creating another background, which i ruined and is in bin, but liked this, stamp is from 3d Jean, so hope brother likes the card and his wife more importantly (a fellow crafter), we ring each other up for comments on the cards, LOL.

Quick update on the jewlellery box, I took the majority of opinions last week and outlined the circles, but that is all I have done since. I think it works. . . dont you?

And finally, been to the charity shop again, on my desk got a little two shelfer, which my ink pad holder stands on and gives me a bit more room, and then right next to me got this brill video holder which is double sided and mounted on ball bearings, its excellent I love it and only £4.

So happy 63rd WOYWW and as I am off will try and get around as many as poss in the next couple of days.

ASDA Bargains

2010-08-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

You see here the results of a foray into the jewellery sale section at ASDA, that cost £5.50 for £52 worth of jewellery, the skull and heart-wings were earrings, I have been busy snipping off the unwanted posts and there are a few missing, they are on the floor somewhere, sure I will step on them barefoot and cry "Yippee Ive found them" . . . LOL. The buttons were a necklace, and the rest of it was bits hanging off necklaces, I have already made a mould of the big wing and will be using that for my melt pot work, the pack of ribbons cost me £4 from TK Maxx, gawd I lurve that shop, could spend a fortune whilst saving a fortune, and they do craft stuff now, yee hah and yummy handbags. On the same park is also Hobby Craft so it can be quite an expensive trip.

Only down bit of the day heavens opened on way back to car and got absolutely soaked, on the way back home had to drive through a flood on a bridge, how wierd, its a very high bridge and it isnt over a river!!!!

So on two weeks hols now so looking forward to chilling out and having some nice days out with my family, cross fingers for some improvement on the weather front.

WOYWW 62

2010-08-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

Yay I'm back, well for this week at least, mum is at home recovering from hip op, which hopefully seems to have gone well, though she was a bit wierded out that they didnt do a general it was an epidural and and a local, now my mum hates the sight of blood so she must have absolutely hated that, all being well she'll be dancing in the aisles before too long. I really missed having access to my craft space, but each day went really quickly, but I must admit I was so grateful to come home, the saying is true . . there is no place like home. . especially when that is where your craft stuff is, LOL

Well having been away I came back to not much mojo but had been prepping the jewelery box before I left so took up where I had left off, apart from that been OCD'ing on the organisation of my area, (so sad I know). The box is not finished but getting there, colours totally changed but hey thats art for you. Top and bottom are still just gessoed, not sure whether to just gloss them up to highlight other paint or to do . . . well I dont really know, we'll see as it evolves. On the drawers and the circles used Adirondack Pearl which just has a lovely glimmer to it. So there we are, more work to do, now do I add black doodling around the circles etc, what do you think. I really like it as is , but dont want to stop too soon or go to far, what do you all think.

For those who have no idea this is part of Whats on Your worktop Wednesday, go here to find the start.

See you all soon

2010-07-27T02:57:00.000-07:00

I am now off the internet for a week or so whilst at my mum and dads, bad news not only no internet, no sky, no dishwasher and my dad expects cooked breakfast and dinner, aarrgghhh. So just to keep you going in my absence, two birthday cards for my and OH brothers, they always end up with a variation on the same card, no I dont think thats mean, they will never know, LOL. So this time played with some of Dyans yummy new inks, mounted up and embossed one of Tims stamps on the front.

Now last week I had a bit of a need for some ink so have added to my collections of tats, what do you think of them, cherry blossom on foot and a take on a Dark Dude on my forearm, was going to get stampotique, three heads in a round but couldnt find a good place to put it, yet!!!!

Hope you all enjoy WOYWW tomorrow, if Im still down there next week might get to meet our great leader, cross fingers.