Wednesday 29 February 2012

WOYWW #143

Well, Julia, today I thought I would show you what's in my cupboard rather than the clear space on my desk.
I have been busy making cards etc but as I always  try to clear away after one ready for the next, and as I have completed cards for the next few weeks, my space is tidy. So, here is my cupboard - plus the reason for one episode of tears yesterday:
Do you see the suitcase - alias - Vagabond?????
I went to see Hels Sheridan demo-ing at my local craft store yesterday, and my DH (somewhat embarrassingly) plonked this on my knee! Now I very rarely wear any makeup apart from a bit of mascara and lippy, but yesterday decided to go the whole hog and slap a bit of face paint on. Needless to say, I probably ended up with white lines down my cheeks. What a sight.
So, you can guess what I will be doing today, making use of all those dies on the shelf above. I must point out here that I generally ask for craft vouchers for my birthday and Xmas, so my wonderful Sizzix collection is growing thanks to my lovely family.
I wonder whether Tim will use a die cut on his tag for March or the catch-up one for January. I do hope so, hehe.
And - A VERY HAPPY LEAP YEAR TO YOU ALL

Tuesday 28 February 2012

HELS CAME TO MY TOWN

That's right crafters, Hels Sheridan came to Inspirations in Preston today to demo at their 2nd birthday celebrations.
She brought some of her gorgeous tags with her and made more whilst we sat 'agog' watching.
Hels used Ranger products in the main, but she also made a gorgeous piece using the pocket watch Art Parts by Wendy Vecchi. I had a tremendous morning which brought me tears, not once but twice. More about that tomorrow when I show you whats on my workdesk. 'til then I'm playing happily.

Sunday 26 February 2012

WHERE DID THOSE APPEAR FROM?

You know that feeling when all your dreams come true? Mine came true on Friday and Saturday when my order of the new Distress Markers arrived. After all, they are a 'need must have' item ay fellow crafters? I had a little play yesterday on a GDT piece so unfortunately can't show you what I was up to.
However, because I bought them in colour groups, I don't have a container for them so that is now my next project - sort out some storage for them.
Righto, I'm off to play with them again.

Saturday 25 February 2012

DESIGN TEAM CALL

Saturday, 18 February 2012DT CALL

Fat Pages and Cards With Attitude and ATC's And Cards With Attitudes are looking for new team members
We are in search of a few new members to add to our DT. You will need to follow the theme and requirements for challenges.
Requirements are as follows:
* Depending what Blog you are on, create 1 Fat Page 4" x 4" or Card every fortnight or create 1 ATC 3.5" x 2.5" or Card every fortnight
* You must have a blog/if you don’t have a blog don’t worry it is simple to create, We can help you with that it is not a problem. You also need to have an email account.
*This is a wonderful friendly group of very talented ladies and gents
*You will need to promote your projects on your blog and on any other sites you belong to.
* you will need to comment and visit every person that enters as we all like to have comments for our work
We have some fabulous sponsors The owners of the blog Myself (Abbie), Caro, Leah work together with the sponsors. Every two weeks we work with digi images which if we are given these images we must use. On some challenges we don't have images to work with and you are free to use anything you like from your stash as long as its within the theme.
To apply:- (You can apply for either blog or both, Please state which you are applying for)
Please provide us with the following information:
• Your full name

• A link to your blog (we will work on that if you don’t have one)

• A list of any design teams you may belong to.

• a project or 2 that best displays your creative style.

• A little intro telling us why you would like to be a part of our team
Please send your application to: abbie721@googlemail.com be sure to put Design Team in Subject line. Only those selected will be contacted via email.
We look forward to receiving your applications

Abbie, Caro, Leah ( Founders of FAT PAGES WITH ATTITUDE and ATC's With Attitude)

Friday 24 February 2012

GOODNESS ME - THE CAMERA DIDN'T BREAK!!

I warned Lindsay that her camera may well break whilst taking photos of me!!LOL  But thankfully it didn't. Whilst at the Stitches show on Sunday, Lindsay took these photos of me and -
MARIO.
He is just the most smiley, warm-hearted, friendly person you could want to meet.

RACHEL GREIG
This was the first time I had met Rachel although she had made me a lovely little card last year. Quite honestly, I felt I had known her for ever, she is so bubbly and friendly.

Oh crumbs! it's ME on my own by the side of that utterly amazing travel configuration box that Tim made on the last cruise he did. You may have seen it on QVC the other day. In real life it's incredible.
I'm still coming down to earth following the weekend. These photos will spark my memories of it forever I guess.
Nothing, even the rotten hotel room will marr that trip, although it did put paid to my little car. DH's car is off the road awaiting a couple of new parts so we took our time by travelling down a day early, in my car. Seeing as it's 14yrs old now and needs a new n/s wheel bearing, motorway travel is pushing it somewhat. However, the little trooper got us there and back. Sadly though, it now needs not only the bearing, but new brake discs and pads. As soon as we get a sunny day, it will get mended. I wonder whether a sunny day will mend my rather old and tired looking face??????oops!!LOL

Thursday 23 February 2012

MY PAL'S BIRTHDAY

Yesterday was my friend Sylvia's birthday. She is the lady who makes the most amazingly gorgeous patchwork quilts - amongst other beautiful things. She has a quilt on the go at the moment and has promised to send me a photo of the finished article so that I can blog it for you all to share her magic.
Well, as she is so talented, I really bit the bullet and made her a configuration box for her birthday. I used a sewing theme, but was really nervous that it would meet her standards. As it was, she was thrilled to bits with it.
I hope she had a super day in her beautiful home county of Devon.
Mwah Sylvia xx

Wednesday 22 February 2012

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC CHALLENGE #20 - ST. PATRICK'S DAY or LUCK OF THE IRISH

I'm a happy bunny again this week having been chosen as part of the top 3 for challenge #19 by Wicked Wednesday ATCs. Thank you so much Jenn and your team.
Their new challenge is St. Patrick's Day or Luck of the Irish.
I had just the stamp for this, one of the Lindsay Mason Xmas Elves. All I needed to do to make him look like a little leprechaun, was to trim off his bobble hat and replace it with a brass top hat covered with green distress embossing powder. Here he is then:

The base card is one from my stash when I mop up ink from my craft sheet. This one fitted the theme perfectly. The word 'IRISH' is cut from an advertising brochure I have kept for ages. Just goes to prove you should never disguard anything!! His little pot of gold is actually a brass flower pot complete with flowers, that I covered with glossy accents and added gold seed beads and gold beadazzles to.
I love this little chap, he makes me smile. Hope he does the same for you. x

WOYWW #142 -

This is my space this morning. No crafting going on but plenty of smiles and happy memories. I got to go to the Stitches show you see and the brochures you see are from there. Also you can see a little note with a list of alcohol inks that Tim Holtz said yesterday on QVC were his favourites. I know he may just have been saying that, but then again, he did put that kit together so why not be his favourites. I wrote them down because the combination turned out beautifully.
I'm late in posting today so guess I shall be around the 100 mark. Our lovely Julia has certainly grown a success with this woyww lark eh? It's such good fun too. Thanks Julia.

Monday 20 February 2012

MY STITCHES TREAT

Well after a very wet journey down the dreaded M6 to Birmingham on Saturday, we finally arrived at the guest house I found at the last minute. It happened to be on the A45 right across from Birmingham airport! I never expected those planes to be so quiet which came as a big surprise to me. After all, I live over the road from BAE where they manufacture the Typhoon and believe me when I tell you, that darn thing is noisy. The down side was the room, it was disgusting. Oh well, we were only staying for 2 nights so were prepared to put up with it.
Sunday dawned bright and crumbs!! it had snowed in the night, turned to ice and the car park was now a skating rink. My little car was no longer green but white! Poor 'T' had to go and defrost it then take me the 1.4 miles to the NEC. That car park was a million miles away from Hall 12 so after at least a 2 mile hike (me in new shoes - ok I know, but actually they are the most comfy shoes I have ever had) we finally parted and I set off into oblivion. Where to start this amazing day.
You may be wondering how come I got to go to a trade show when I am not in the craft business. It all came about through being a part time member of Lindsay's design team, and this year neither David nor Heather could go so the thrill fell to me. Thank you so very much once again. I had a ball.
Ok, let's cut to the core. Some stands prohibited photos, some I couldn't get near and some were so 'gob smacking' that I forgot I had the ability to take photos. Let's start with the main stand of the show, that's our Lindsay's of course:
This is the wall of tags showing Lindsay's wonderful quirky new stamps that I really adore. They looked amazing on the black background and she hopes to make more throughout the show hence the space below the ones you see. You can see Tim on the other side of the PI stand.
The other side. Just look at the rich colours on those canvases. You can see the wall of  new stamps too.
Isn't this photo super? Lindsay is holding up her art journal, open at pages that have been coloured with the new Martha Stewart paints (which are lush) and depicting one of her new quirky stamps. Most enquiries of the day were about her new 'on the shelf' designs. These stamps used to be wooden mounted but are now being produced in clear and include new designs of kitchen, garden shed and boy's stuff or office as that one has things like computers, lava lamp, headphones etc on it. All in all, a fantastic display and one she can be very proud of.
You all know I am a Tim Holtz fan and Tim was right next to Lindsay. What a day being able to 'hop' between my most favourite guys.
I just loved his shirt! Black with sparkly shoulders.
Oooh! Sizzix squeals of happiness.

What a lovely display.

I got to hold a complete container of the new Distress Markers AND I had a go with 3 of the colours. Tim was demo-ing with them and believe me, they are fantastic. I also got to see every page of his new book and Tim said he hopes to publish one every 2 years. Also, watch QVC at midnight because it may just be the TSV. There will be markers on too and if you can't wait for them, jump in because even the US don't have any. The first batch have been sold out and the next shipping won't be for a couple of months.

The Stamp n Cut display. Far too expensive I'm afraid.

This was a general Sizzix display. It is just fabulous.

Look who else I found, Hels Sheridan together with all her wonderful and amazing Studio 490 samples which I got to both see and touch. She had also been given a full set of Distress Markers to play with at the show. I offered to look after them for her but unfortunately she had to give them back.
Well, I saw crafters I recognised, crafters I know and now some I have had the pleasure to have a photo taken with. Lindsay has on her camera photos of me with Mario and photos of me with Rachel Greig. I've met the highly talented Andy Skinner, some of the lovely Personal Impressions crew, I've seen Stephanie Weightman, Paula Pasqual, Sheena Douglas, Joanna Sheen, I had a cuddle from our Leonie a short conversation with Tim, oh it goes on.
After the most marvellous day I've had in a very long time, we decided that another day in that awful guest house was not on so we packed up and drove home. It's raining again today but the great big grin on my face makes everything ok.
WOW.

Saturday 18 February 2012

A JOURNEY DOWN THE M6

That's what I'll be doing soon, driving down the M6 to Birmingham and the STITCHES show at the NEC.
Not sure how many photos I will be allowed to take, but I'll show you them next week.
Must finish packing now. x

Friday 17 February 2012

ATCs & CARDS WITH ATTITUDE #7 - ANYTHING GOES OR BLING

The design team were given a free hand this fortnight to make an ATC or card with BLING.
I chose to make a card this time and here it is:
This fortnight's challenge - BLING - gave me the opportunity to make a 'pretty' card. I chose an 8"x8" white card, distressed one edge in blue, wrapped around some gorgeous paper after having punched one edge, used a Tim Holtz die cut dress form cut from fancy cardstock and set to embellishing it all with paper roses, ribbon, gems, die cut leaves, gem stems, stickles and a little butterfly.
Our sponsors are Di's Digi Downloads this fortnight and all the deets for our challenge can be found here.
Please remember though that we are an ATC or CARD only challenge, so although you may have made some absolutely beautiful art eg. an altered tin, it will not be judged so please don't enter it.

Thursday 16 February 2012

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATCs #19 - QUOTES & WORDS

This week's theme of Quotes & Words will suit so many people. I mean, which word or famous quote jumps to your mind? Wicked Wednesday ATCs have certainly thrown a cat amongst the pigeons this time - oh dear! was that a quote?  LOL.
Here is my interpretation this time:
So very simple but there is a technique on my card that I am keeping secret until it's been tested a bit more. Having said that, it worked a treat for me this time. Sorry to be a tease. (no pun intended hehe!)
Simple background, stamping and colouring. Notice the acetate wings, they really make the bees pop.
I enjoyed making this one and whilst I was on a roll, I made next week's too because Jenn has put up a list of forthcoming themes for us, just in case we are busy any particular week and need to get ahead. Thanks for that Jenn, it does help.
Righto, I am eagerly awaiting a message on DH's phone to say that mine is back from the engineers - for the 2nd time in just over a week! I have missed having my social networks on the go and can't wait to get it back. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Wednesday 15 February 2012

WOYWW AGAIN!! CAN'T BE SURELY.......

It is isn't it? It's another of those Wednesdays when  we all sneak about looking in each other's drawers LOL, and through cupboards, boxes, scrapbooks, old shoes... well not quite in old shoes, not sure I could stand that, but you get the drift. I doubt our leader Julia could stand poking about in old shoes, but she is a dab hand at getting us to spend half the week sneaking about in fellow crafter's stash and seeing what they are up to. I have to admit that I didn't manage to call round very many at all last week, I do hope I can call round this week. I'll do my best.
Here is my workspace right now:
The remnants of yesterday's activity whilst making the February tag for Tim's 12 tags of 2012. Yippeee! am I a happy girl. I adore the 12 tags of Christmas but do have to work that busy time of year around them. That was particularly rushed last year because we went away on the 19th. To have the excitement of making a Tim tag every month will, I hope, get me stimulated to craft more in the 4 weeks that follow each one.
Can I just point out the pack of honeycombe paper on my space. Tim used this to make a heart. Me, being me, went straight on the web and found this at Hobbycraft, so off I popped and got some. Too late for my tag but it will be there for the future.
For those of you interested in what my DH has been up to since he sold all his metal working machines and tools and turned his shed into a music room complete with 4 Fender Stratocaster guitars, here is the latest pic:

Oh goodness! Who said 'oldies' don't have a life eh????

Tuesday 14 February 2012

WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE - 12 TAGS OF 2012

You just cannot have missed this, Tim is doing 12 Tags of 2012 beginning today.
What a wonderful Valentine present for all Tim followers. Of course, I just had to have a go.
Once again, I used the same as Tim if I had the stock and then 'made up' the rest. The little cupid is from some pre-cut grungeboard sheets that  I have had for years. How lucky I still had him. The heart is very special because it's one I made at a Suze Weinberg melt pot workshop. I have been so reluctant to use it but as I keep all my 'Tim' tags, this seemed the appropriate time. Still struggling with making baubles but I'm not going to give up instead I intend to master this bending wire into a ring - thing.
Now every month will be special, not just December. How lucky are we??

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

A VERY HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY  to you all.
XX

Saturday 11 February 2012

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATCS #18 - LOVE/HEARTS OR VALENTINES DAY

I'm playing catch up today. Just one more card to make then I'm on top again. This ATC is for this week's Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge.
I thought I would use some of my stash for this one, so out came my grungeboard sheets. I started by using picket fence distress stain over a swirl stamp which I stamped on a cream base card. Over this, once dry, I blended victorian velvet, aged mahogony DIs and blended the edge with walnut stain. (Thanks Hels for today's tutorial and the reminder of this fab technique). I used gold dabber on the letters and edged those with walnut stain also. The heart is coloured with fired brick distress stain and the key with walnut stain distress stain. I stuck everything down with glossy accents including the red rose.
A simple card but I enjoyed making it and got my fingers covered in ink........well, that's all part of the fun eh?

GRUNGY MONDAY #35 - A HOLTZIAN ATC

I'm a bit late this week but I've made it just in time. Having said that, I don't always join in with Grungy Monday which is the brain child of Linda Ledbetter, but I try if I can. This weeks challenge is to make a 'Holtzian ATC' using at least one of Tim's products or techniques.
Here is my card:
I used a grungeboard butterfly,
vintage photo and aged mahogony distress inks
blending tools and foam pads,
paper from some of Tim's Idea-ology range
glossy accents.

Friday 10 February 2012

MOJO - COME BACK PLEASE

I made this, but don't know what to do with it now!!!!!

Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. I hope to have a 'play' today because I am sooo behind after spending 2 days taking my phone back to the shop 'cos it wouldn't charge, then picking it up again. I think my Mojo doesn't like my clean and tidy 'more space' work room. I will just have to make a mess me thinks. xx

Wednesday 8 February 2012

IT'S A FREEZING COLD WOYWW #140

Brrrrrr.. turn up the heating, get your woolly socks on and make a brew, then sit down and surf the crafting web for fellow WOYWWers courtesy of our leader, Julia. Can I say a great big thank you to Julia and everyone who offered me advice last week on washer/dryers. I took everything that was said on board, made loads of enquiries and went round several stores before deciding that this type of machine is not all it's cracked up to be and therefore I won't be buying one.
With that decision made I had to re-think my workroom plans for more space. In the end all I did was move one 12" shelf and quite unbelievably, I now have more light - which means I shall be able to sit down to craft, - plus, much more space to work on. What do you think?

This is my main bit where I have to stand. So much space here.

This is the right hand bit where I sit to compute. The shelf I moved is the one holding my Big Shot. It was between the tv shelf and the one above it before and held my Alteration dies. However, the weight of them was a bit too much and the shelf started to lean causing my strip dies to fall off - twice!! No problem with them now because they are in a cupboard.
Finally, this is the best I can do to photograph it all together.

This one shows the glass wall and all the extra light I now have. I took this one the other day whilst still making the changes. I have no idea what that mucky yellow bit of cloth is!! LOL.
Righto, I'm off to get dressed now. Happy woyww everyone. x

Tuesday 7 February 2012

AND A CRAFTING WE WILL GO trala la

Any one who has any involvement with the craft industry and shows will know the madness that surrounds the build up to the UK Stitches show at the NEC, which by the way, is only next week!!
Without wanting to sound patronising (how I hate that word) which I am not being, I have the enviable pleasure of knowing and being a friend of one of our top designers, Lindsay Mason. Not only that, but I am in the same position with her sister, Heather Fenn-Edwards, who is an amazing bead artist and who makes incredible jewellery and associated pieces.
Yesterday we all got together to help Lindsay make samples for the Personal Impressions booth at the show. What a wonderful day. I so wish I could share the pieces that the girls made, but secrecy has to abound for a few more days yet. I have been blown over by how paints, stamps, card and glue have come together. You will love the new designs, trust me.
We made a bit of a mess -
Can you spot the fluffy slippers? I wonder who owns those?

Haha, now I know.
I have to admit to being really tired last night and would like to say it was because I had been so creative throughout the day, but in actual fact, I only managed to make a couple of tiny embellishments, 1 card (with a lot of help) and ruin another. The real reason was because I had been so excited to see the girls (Sister Act - my pet name for them) that I hadn't slept much on Sunday night. I have an open invitation to go back to 'help' again which I will.
However, you will get a sneak peek at some of Lindsay's designs if you pop over to the QVC site and look up the programme which is on at 5pm today. I have seen the samples Lindsay made with these stamps and believe me when I tell you, they are fabulous.

Saturday 4 February 2012

ATCs and CARDS WITH ATTITUDE #6 - FLOWERS OR ANYTHING GOES

Following a change to our name and theme, we had a wonderful response to our last challenge. Thank you everyone who took part. Pop over to the blog here and see if you are a winner but also to get the details of our challenge for this fortnight.
Once again you can make either an ATC or a CARD and our theme is FLOWERS.  If, however you don't want to join in with the theme, then make yours Anything Goes.
Our sponsor this time is - Fresh Brewed Designs. Below is my ATC.


I chose 'Love Blooms' to work with. The background card is hammered white card stock with 'mopped up' spare ink and perfect pearls from my craft sheet. I printed the image onto white card and again onto printable acetate, coloured them both and cut them out. I layered them both using 3D foam adding the foam pads to the acetate behind the heart gems only. I off set the images for a more dimensional look. A couple of heart stick pins and some iced spruce distress ink around the edge of the card, finished it off.
Looking forward to seeing your entry.

Thursday 2 February 2012

WICKED WEDNESDAY #17 -MERMAIDS

Wicked Wednesday ATCs challenge this week is - Mermaids.
I decided to use one of my downloads from PollyCraft because she is just so lovely. This is what I came up with this week:
Having spent a wonderful couple of hours today watching the talented Hels Sheridan on our national craft channel, I decided that one of the techniques she showed us was just perfect for the background to my ATC for this challenge. Splatters of picket fence Distress Stain blended over with Chipped Sapphire distress ink pad. I had already printed the image onto acetate, coloured most of her with metallic Sakura pens and covered her tail with silver metalic foil. A few seed beads and some tiny silver brads and that was it - done.
I had fun - again....

Wednesday 1 February 2012

WOYWW #139

It's that day again. You know, the one where we all wonder where the other 6 went then go on about crafting in a mess or blaming other things like cl***ing or ir***ng or sho***ng for getting in the way of our pleasure that is anything inky or sticky or painty. Well, that's my view on life anyway........ For all that, I do enjoy Wednesday when we hop around to each other's to have a good old nosey about. Thank you Julia once again.
I managed another few charity cards and will be taking a bag full today to the NW Ambulance shop after a visit to get my bird nest hair sorted. This is the last one I made.
The angle makes the butterfly look off centre, but it's not.
I actually took a couple of photos last night of my little space because I am quite pushed for time this morning.

Gosh! one daylight desk lamp and night setting on my camera and the photo is better than any taken through the day. The light has been so bad this month that maybe I should have used that setting all along. Nothing to show as you can, or should I say, cannot see. Here's the other angle:

You can tell it's the evening. The glass of wine gives that away, because I haven't started drinking in the morning - yet!!! LOL.
There are some major changes planned for my workroom which also include some to the kitchen. I just have to find the money for a new washer/drier first. However, if anyone knows of any reason why I shouldn't buy a combination machine, I would like to hear them. Until next week then my friends. x