Saturday 27 February 2010

TOTALLY PAPERCRAFTS #5


I had a play yesterday and came up with this card for the Totally Papercrafts challenge #5 which this week is a sketch. Check out the link in the side bar.


The image is Sugar Nellie - Manga Girl #2 which I have coloured with Copics (only need RV29 for the full set of ciao). The papers are from my stash, the purple ribbons are DCWV and the green is out of my ribbon box. The flowers are Prima and the beadazzle circles came with them. Not sure where I got the brads from though. I cut the plain circle of card with my Fiskars circle cutter - got the hang of that thing now! - and the scalloped paper was die cut using a nestability frame.


I like it when the challenge is a sketch and this one was a really nice one to complete.

THE HAPPIEST CRAFTY WEEK










It's right, this just has to be the happiest crafty week I have ever had.




All the wonderful goodies from Tim Holtz and Ranger, a workshop with Suze Weinberg, the most amazing QVC craft day ever and my Compendium of Curiosities arrived today whilst I was at Lindsay Mason's demo in Chorley. What more could a girl ask for?????



WELL HOW ABOUT THIS








Lindsay got Tim to make this just for me. I am so honoured and excited.






Not only that, but Claudine Helmuth sent me the mini canvass and
Rachel Greig sent the flower post card.








You can see my grin all over the country, it's that big.

Friday 26 February 2010

I JUST FOUND THIS


I was checking the latest updates on my blog list - see the side bar - and came across this site:



Not only is this lady giving away the most amazing candy, but her cards have 'blown' my mind. So many treats today, I just can't believe it.

FAL LA LAH


This is such a brilliant week!

And - I got a new guillotine yesterday.

HOW UTTERLY REMISS OF ME


I can't make an excuse - well I could but it wouldn't be right to - for not blogging the amzing ATCs I received from Heather's New/Old swap.

Just look at them. Aren't they special? The distressed flower card is incredible and I love every single part of it. No wonder it's good, the talented Sheila (SHE) King made it. Love her work.

The card with the ribbon and Craft Stamper magazine stamp is from Heather. She made a card for all those who took part. I adore this stamp and wish I had bought the magazine just to get it myself.

Now the other 2 cards are from folk I haven't heard of before but hope they join in swaps with Heather again. Betty Boo, by June Benton, may look simple but on closer examination is actually so neat and carefully put together. I love the chipboard star. Alison Brandist made the 4th ATC. She looks like she may be a Tim fan too because she used one of his stamps for the base. I really like this card because of the thought behind it. I admire this type of thing because it's something I struggle with.

I think you may agree that they are all special. Thank you everyone.

Thursday 25 February 2010

COPIC COLOUR CHALLENGE #53


Please click the link on the side bar for the Copic Colour Challenge.

#53 challenge is to use these colours:

YG03 - Yellow Green

Y17 - Golden Yellow

C-7 - Cool Grey no 7

I'm doing well with my Copic collection as I now only need 1 pen so I had these colours because they are all Ciao colours. The patterned paper is one I have had for years and is by Magenta. I thought it time I started to use my 'special' papers and stop 'oodling' at them. The image is a digi one, the frame is a Nellie's frame, the flowers are Prima, the leaf ribbon is from Dawn's store and the rest is from my stash.

I think the colours for this week are super and I enjoyed playing with them.

OH HAPPY DAYS


The picture tells it all.


Yippeeeeee!!!!!!

Sunday 21 February 2010

'MEN' TAG


This piece satisfies 2 challenges - and me 'cos I had a ball again!


1. http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/ aka Sunday Stampers challenge #92 is MEN and


2. http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ challenge #40 is a tag, a ticket or a label.




I used one of the labels that Mario, Tim Holtz's assistant sent me (a request I made at Christmas so I could have the proper base for the 12 tags). First of all, I stamped the pocket watch with Versamark embossed with clear powder. This formed a resist when I used distress inks to colour the tag all over. I stamped the writing with aged mahogany distress ink and then attached the spinners and die cut watch hands with a brad. The chain is simply held at the back with tape. The image is Personal Impressions P1333P and was advertised as 'Odds On' when I bought it, but I've seen it called other names on various projects. Anyway, I've used it in the context of a man in a betting shop hence the numbers and word 'evens'. I stamped him on grungeboard with Archival black and simply cut him out. A bit of distress inking took the grey away before I used 3D foam to add him to the tag.

The whole thing could make a topper for a man's card, but I may just add him to my ever-growing stash.

Saturday 20 February 2010

LOTS OF SPOTS


Lots of Spots is #4 challenge from Totally Papercrafts - http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/

This little card came about when I found the 2 pieces of Nonsense paper from We R Memory Keepers, almost cut to the right size. They were crying out to be used, so I have.

Firstly, I ran the scalloped paper through my Big Shot using the Cuttlebug embossing folder, spots. I shaped the flowery piece one one edge to match and stuck them to a 6"x6" hammered finish white card. The ribbon is from my 'little'!!!!! stash of ribbon.

I had already printed the cheeky elf so I simply coloured her with Copics and added a bit of stickles here and there. She is mounted with 3D foam pads for extra dimension.

Such a simple card but I think it's turned out well thanks to those gorgeous papers.

Thursday 18 February 2010

BLOSSOM


First of all, may I say a big thank you to Artyjen for replying to my plea of where to buy a project pan for my melt pot. I've ordered one from Graphicus and it's already on it's way. Now that's service.

Only 3 more lots of penicillin to go to clear up this skin infection that suddently appeared on my cheeks - face cheeks that is LOL. I thought this year was going to be illness-free after the awful time I had in 2009, but so far, I've had that awful stomach bug and now this infection. Anyway, I will not be pulled down again by illness, just 'cos I get my prescriptions free now doesn't mean I have to have any!!! Onwards and upwards I say!

Back to crafting. The challenge this fortnight on Lily of the Valley #47,(http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/) is a lovely sketch. I love these challenges because, for me, half the work is done. This is my entry. I've used PM papers, Prima flowers, a peeloff I coloured with a white Sakura souffle pen, ribbon and buttons from my stash, my Nellies frames, the beautiful Sugar Nellie stamp - Blossom - hence the post title and my Copics - of which I now have a grand total of 142!!!! Whoopee!

I have used this weeks Copic Colour Challenge #52 colours; C3 - cool grey, R11 - pale cherry pink, G21 - lime green. Click on the link on the R/H of my blog to see their challenge blog and, hey! have a go.

MY MELT POT SAMPLES


I've just been on Facebook to see what Suze Weinberg has been up to at the other workshops she was doing before the NEC show, and found out that she was only in Burnley. I wish I had looked earlier because she was working with beeswax, which is what I wanted to learn how to use in the melt pot. She did tell us however, that really you should use a removable project pan for this technique. Anyone know where I can buy one??

I hope the photo I've taken comes out clearly, - not uploaded it yet - 'cos all my piccies have been rubbish lately. Anyway, here goes:

The first thing we tackled was the small frame. We cut a picture to fit and simply poured clear UTEE into the inside of the frame. Once dry, this can be removed to use again and the embellishment can be used on any project, including a jewellery piece.

The large oval face was fun to make. For this you need a greased cookie cutter which you simply place over an image and again pour clear UTEE into the cutter. Once dry, remove the cutter and trim around the picture. I love this sample.

The shiny mis-shaped piece on the right is actually made from a CD! Heat a CD with a heat gun, stamp an image onto part of it using Archival ink or similar, then cut out a shape. Add a few drop of To Dye For to melted clear UTEE and using metal tweezers, carefully submerge the piece in the liquid. Lift horizontally and allow the excess to drip off before placing on a craft sheet to cool and set. This is gorgeous.

We then added some black UTEE to our pot. The picture of the men is trapped between 2 pieces of memory glass. We then put each side into the front edge of the liquid, dragged it forward, lifted it for a second or 2 before continuing all round. This made a fake frame. It actually looks really good too.

The larger of the frames was fun but had I taken more notice before I began (sometimes hard to watch everything at once in a workshop) I would have known to use a rubber stamp with a lot of deep detail to it. Choose one with detail, place a frame over the part you wish to capture and pour the UTEE into the frame. Allow to cool and set for few seconds before removing from the stamp. You could ink the stamp first to give a different look. We then brushed Perfect Pearls over the image and added stickles and beadazzles.

The fun bit came when we each chose from Suze's bag of trinkets, an image with which to make a mould. I first picked out a cat's head - wonder why I was drawn to that? - but then I saw a white face and immediately thought of masks with feathers and semi-precious stones etc, so I picked that. We then blended together the 2 parts of the mould and pour substances and once ready squeezed it round our trinket. This substance is similar to the stuff dentists use to make impressions. It's ready to remove if a nail print does not make an indent. Then we simply poured UTEE into the mould and waited for it to set before removing the mould which can be used over and over again. I absolutely love the face that came out and will be chuffed to use this mould again.

We then added some colours to our pot and once melted simply poured the lot onto our craft sheet and quickly placed cookie cutters into it. It dried really fast and some lovely pieces appeared. Suze gave us all a brooch fastening so that we could super glue it to the back of our favourite piece and hence we made jewellery too.

All in all a really good time was had by all, plus we got an extra hour's class. Can't wait for QVC craft day next Tuesday, when Suze, along with many others, will be demonstrating her techniques again.

Wednesday 17 February 2010

MELT POT WORKSHOP

I so want to show you the things I made at Suze Weinberg's workshop yesterday, but my camera is playing up again and only taking blurred piccies. The light is no good now so I will have to wait 'til tomorrow.
The workshop was really good and I learnt such a lot from the lovely Suze. She has a busy week planned leading up to the long awaited QVC craft day next Tuesday, when she will be on air together with her colleagues from the US, but also, our very own Lindsay Mason.
I for one just can't wait for the day to come.

Monday 15 February 2010

LOVE




Challenge #91 from Ink on My Fingers Sunday Stampers is themed 'Love'.


Check out http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/ not only for details of this challenge, but for some incredible, amazing, jaw-dropping creations. I'm hooked on this particular blog. It's right up my street - wish the creator was!


Anyway, having made rather a lot of cards lately with another batch to do, I thought I would make an ATC instead. The background is one I made at Xmas whilst trying to emulate Tim's 12 tags, and is easy to do. Simply ink up an ink dabber pad with a choice of alcohol inks and swipe over some glossy card. I edged it with some Archival black to make it stand out a bit. The letters and base heart are grungeboard which I coloured with various red distress ink pads. I then applied some distress stickles to the letters and sprinkled some silver bedazzles to parts of them. The metal heart is from my stash, coloured with cranberry alcohol ink, and the little silver heart came from Courtyard Crafts near Poole, Dorset. Both the lace and black bead lace are from my stash also.


I was reasonably happy with it all once stuck (I used glossy accents) until I realised I hadn't done any stamping, oops! There was just enough room for the swirl stamp from one of Tim's collections so I inked it up with Archival black and stamped away, without a block though which wouldn't fit.


It was another bit of fun until I came to taking a photo of it. Neither my camera nor my hubby's have done a good job, must be the light today, which is awful again. Anyway, I hope you get the idea of what I've tried to do.

MONKEY PUZZLE


I hope you all enjoyed yesterday and were spoiled rotten by your other halves, (what day was it?) You may guess, I didn't receive a card, flowers, hug or a kiss. Must be the cold weather LOL. Never mind eh!

Anyway, I did make a card for the Dare U 2 Digi stamp challenge #31 - Punches. Check out the link on the R/H of my blog in my blog list.

The cheeky monkey is a digi image which I tried to colour with Copics. The paper is from Creative Imaginations apart from the handmade piece which is from my stash. I've used 3 punches. I tried to punch the 2 corners with one of those punches that takes a nick out of each side so that I could wrap some string up and down the card, but one worked and the other didn't, so I chopped each off using part of a circle punch. The jig saw pieces are made using a Woodware punch and the grass is made with my MS icicles edge punch.

It was a bit of fun to make. Off to have a go at another challenge now.

Saturday 13 February 2010

3 CHALLENGES - 1 CARD


Following on from the Copic workshop I went to last Saturday, I've had a go at colouring with red. It seems that together with black, red is one of the hardest colours to blend. Any colour is hard for me just now until I get in more practice, but the worse bit is judging where the light is angled and therefore where to shade. Funny really that I am struggling with this because in art at school, drawing still objects and getting the shading right was the only thing I could do with any success and even had a piece of art on the wall!!! Mind, it's a wonder I can even remember that far back!


This little card is for 3 challenges:


The Copic Colour challenge #51 - R29 - lipstick red, RV23 - pure pink and B12 - ice blue


The Totally Papercrafts challenge #3 - buttons and bows


The Allsorts challenge week 39 - A recipe with a difference - 3, 2, 1 - I've used 3 papers, 2 flowers and 1 image


Check out the links on the R/H side of my blog for all these challenges.

Wednesday 10 February 2010

DANCING ON ICE


I've been trying to photograph this ATC for a couple of days without much success. It's mainly acetate and the light just shines back making an unrecognisable picture. I hope you can make this one out.


I stamped some swirls on acetate using a white Brilliance ink. Once dry, I 'blobbed' alcohol inks in various places on the reverse. The bottom third or so is in blue to emulate the ice rink, whilst the rest is bright to look like the studio setting. I then 'smudged' glossy accents over the ink and sprinkled some fine glitter into it before 'scrunching' up some tissue paper which I then pressed into the glossy accents. (Are you keeping up with all the crafty expressions?)


Once dry I stuck the whole thing to a piece of pink card to give it some strength. I then stamped some leaves on acetate using red Ancient Page ink and filled each in with 2 colours of stickles. I stuck these to the bottom corner with silicone and added a sparkly gel dome to hide the silicone which was quite visible.


I've had this ATC in mind for a few weeks now but wasn't sure how to go about making it. One of Lindsay's demos last weekend soon sorted my problem. Thanks Lindsay.

Tuesday 9 February 2010

BITTER SWEET


The absolutely lovely Lindsay Mason, who I saw last Saturday at a local demo, has lent me a couple of books. The first is called 'The Cat Who Went to Paris' and is about a man who hated cats until one very special feline came into his life and changed his attitude forever. I managed the 1st chapter before bursting into tears as every single word related exactly to our Toby. However, tears dried I have now managed a few more pages and am eager to read the whole book.

The 2nd is 'Dewey' and is about a small town library cat whose ever growing fame touched people world wide.

I am grasping at spare moments to read these books but will get there slowly. The picture is of my 2 ornaments of cats which mimic in every way some of Toby's poses, notice Toby's mouse? They take pride of place in my craft room.

Monday 8 February 2010

ROSES


This weeks challenge from Sunday Stampers is Roses. Pop over to their blog for details: http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/

Here is my entry. I chose a pink A5 base which I covered with K & Co paper. The stamped image is a gorgeous one I received last week from an image swap which I simply coloured with watercolour pencils before using Antique Linen distress ink to age it a bit. The ribbon is from Anna Griffin, the peeloff is coloured with alcohol ink and the little butterfly is from some charms I bought from Courtyard Crafts just outside Poole in Dorset.

It made a change to make a vintage style card and I enjoyed doing it.

Friday 5 February 2010

BOYS


Having just received this lovely Sugar Nellie image - Manga Boy - I had to have a play, just as I was able to have a little play with my new grandson yesterday when he made his first visit to our house with his daddy. Magic!!

Anyway, I've used a mixture of papers together with a few bits that a little boy may just have in his pocket, ie. string, buttons and a frog! What fun this was to make.

I would like to enter it in the Craft Garden February challenge - Boys,
and the

Totally Papercrafts challenge #2 - 3 embellishments, - 2 papers, - 1 image.

Thursday 4 February 2010

HEARTS AND VALENTINE


I thought I would have a go at making a Valentine card this year. I've made ATCs in the past but this celebration is one my hubby and I don't do anymore. Not because we don't love each other, I suppose it's just that we don't give each other cards for Feb. 14. I wonder whether he will buy me a card this year after reading this though??


Anyway, I thought I would enter this one in 4 challenges:


Lily of the Valley challenge #46 - a Valentine card


Sunday Stampers challenge #89 - Hearts
Totally Papercrafts challenge #2 - 3 embellishments, 2 papers, 1 image
Copic Colour challenge #50 - colours, E18 - Copper, E42 - Sand White, E77 - Maroon


I had to use different Copics because I don't have any of this weeks colours, so hope the ones I chose are ok.

Tuesday 2 February 2010

A FABULOUS DAY


It could have rained all day because I didn't care or notice. I met my lovely pal, Sonia, at the train station and we scurried along to Inspirations - the new Cardcraft Plus store - to see our Leonie.

The car park is massive, but we couldn't find a space, so DH dropped us at the door and we fought (not literally) our way through the crowds to where Leonie was sat. I think I choked up a bit because it's ages since I've seen her.

She was demoing distress inks and alcohol inks and every single example was a masterpiece. Both Sonia and I picked up some new techniques and I hope to make some ATCs and/or cards using them in the next day or two.

When Leonie finally saw me she jumped up and gave me a big hug - I deffinately choked up then. She looks really well and is all smiles and her usual bubbly self. Her new job is a big success and everything is on the up. Wait while she tells everyone on her blog about her new digs!!!!!!

I managed to persuade her to make me an ATC and I swapped 'Friend of One-Eyed Peg' with her. All in all a fabulous day.

POLLY CRAFT DESIGNS

Pop over to the Polly Craft blog:
http://pollycraftdesigns.blogspot.com
for a great giveaway of their gorgeous new fairy stamps. You will be amazed at these images and the lovely cards created by their design team.

Monday 1 February 2010

DARE U2 DIGI STAMP CHALLENGE #30


I've had a go at another challenge. This one is from:

http://dareu2digistamp.blogspot.com/ and is entitled - Hearts/Valentine.


Anyone can enter so long as you use a digi image on your creation. Also, the image can be anyone's whether a free download or one you have purchased.

I started this card yesterday and have only just completed it! I am useless at making them quickly. Apart from anything else, I have so much paper that it takes hours to go through and find something suitable and matching! Oh crafters, you know what I mean don't you??

I cut a 6"x6" base card which I covered with K & Co papers. The pink stripey one is punched with my MS doily lace punch - it's gorgeous. The beautiful ribbon is from my 'little' !!!!!!! stash as are the bows with hearts. The chipboard heart is from some stash I bought from a famous friend and the rhine stones again are from my stash. I coloured the image with copics and the background is 'washed' with Sakura tiara so it sparkles just a bit. I know it's all a bit simple but I thought that if I kept to just a couple of colours, it may just work. Hope you like it.