Sunday 28 April 2013

A FEW DAYS AWAY

Having a little break away as we haven't done so since the end of October.
This is a really nice site with lots to do around and about.


Friday 26 April 2013

THE TROUBLE WITH MAKING PRESENTS

........is not being able to share the process until the item is given away. Being as I'm making Xmas presents, that isn't going to happen for ages.
I have some flowers to die cut from these pieces of card and need a tiny brad so I can hang a tiny metal tassle from the centre of one of the flowers, hence my box of brads on my work space. Apart from that I can't share any more of this project.
Off to the nurse today to have the stitch removed from the biopsy I had. Can't understand why I had to wait a week for this when I had stitches removed after 4 days following major surgery. No idea when I get the results suffice to say, they told me I would be contacted this week which so far hasn't happened. At least the itching and soreness has subsided and I feel so much better especially as I also have a 3 month reprieve on the BP front being as I'm a border case. All I need now is a trip away - oh! I've got one of those too. I'll try and blog but if not, I'll catch up when I return.

Wednesday 24 April 2013

WOYWW #203

Through this past week Spring came and went again. Today is dull and cold and my windows need cleaning after the gales!! That's classed as ho***w*** though isn't it? As a crafter, I don't have much time for that or at least that's my excuse. I wonder whether our wonderful leader of the desk hop, Julia, has time for actually doing any of that unpronouncable word or indeed any of you??
My little work space has been productive but most of the things I have been doing are presents or DT ATCs so I can't show you them - at least not yet. However, I have managed to cover one thing I am working on so you can see some of my desk.
Not much work space but I manage if I keep putting things away as I've finished with them. The DecoArt acrylics are needed for something I'm working on just now as are the flowers. The 'something' is a reasonable size so it's a good way to use the flowers up on because they are far too big for cards etc. You can acturally see a WiP if you look closely but I can't expand on what it is as it's another pressie. However, here is a sneaky peek of a similar one that I completed this week.

That's a good blurred photo to keep you guessing.
Right then, have a wonderful woyww. I have a 'pressing' appointment with this little lot now.

Saturday 20 April 2013

WOW!!

This amazing little beauty came to visit yesterday and allowed me a second to catch it on camera.
What a gorgeous sight.

Friday 19 April 2013

THE RETURN OF THE...........

Swifty Swallow Martins - yippee!!
Summer is on it's way folk because these little birds have arrived again. Not a good photo, but 1 is sitting on the telephone wire whilst a couple more were flying around.
Despite the gales over the last few days, these amazing little birds have made it to the NW Coast. Well done.
I had my skin biopsy this morning. Having waited 12 weeks to get this far the problem had calmed quite dramatically but they went ahead all the same. Just another little wait for the result and hopefully if it gets that bad again at least I hope there will be a cure.
I'm on with a couple of craft projects for presents but managed to complete the box I have been working on . The result is very pleasing and for me, it's a big success.
This is the finished base

the 'in progess' lid
and finally, the completed box

To gain perspective, the whole thing is ATC size.
I'm going to try and use these techniques with different colours but knowing me, they won't come out anything like as appealing. Have to have a go though so watch this space.

ATCs WITH ATTITUDE #38 - APRIL SHOWERS

Many thanks for all your entries to our last challenge and congratulations to our winners. Don't forget to request your images and/or your banner.
This fortnight's challenge is being sponsored by
BUGABOO

The lovely owner Jodie, is offering a massive 7 digis to the winner.
I chose 2 images this time - Ava Umbrella and Ruby Calendar Months, April and made this ATC
I made a distress background with a little stand at the front. The images are about 3.5" high, coloured with Copics and cut out leaving a tiny border so that non of the detail disappears. I used 3D foam and clear accetate to stick the images to the card. Then came the clever bit. I clipped some invisible thread - top and bottom - to the edge of a container on a shelf and began to gently dribble glossy accents down it. Once dry I had very delicate rain drops which I attached to another bit of acetate at the top of the card. They are difficult to see and photograph but look good in real life.
Have fun with your entries and don't forget to pop along to our challenge blog HERE to see what our talented DT have made, one of the DT has actually made her ATC into a lovely greeting card. However, please remember that this is an ATC only challenge and cards are not part of the entry rules.

Thursday 18 April 2013

5 YEARS OLD TODAY

My blog is 5 today, wow! that's a lot of waffling and quite a bit of crafting too.
I started my blog when our Toby was still with us and because he was such a special pal, I thought it would be a nice way to record his time with us together with giving me a notice board for my craft hobby.
This is one of my most favourite photos. Such a handsome boy.

Whilst I am still, and probably always will be, an amateur at this crafting lark, I have made some lovely pieces over the years all thanks to the professional crafters whose demos and workshops I have attended, plus the super magazines available today, especially for me, Craft Stamper.

So I've gone from stuff like these above to things like this below

I wonder what the next 5 years will bring??

Wednesday 17 April 2013

WOYWW #202

It's not Wednesday today Julia, it's Sunday or perhaps Monday, isn't it?? I just cannot believe that last Wednesday was 7 days ago. Where have they gone?
At least that awful bug I had has gone - actually it's only gone to my hubby and he now admits to feeling sorry for the way I felt 'cos he's got a good dose.
So then, craft desk.
There's a little bit going on. I mixed some blue acrylic paint with black to make a darker blue which I'm in the process of using over some masking fluid on a tiny papier mache box. The lid is in the background drying as that is covered with modelling paste and I can't do anything with it until it is perfectly dry, perhaps tomorrow. Other than that, everything is as it always is apart from my new distress metallic paints which I have yet to play with.
I finally altered all 4 curtains and they look nice and bright against the new wallpaper. Just a couple of little painting jobs to do and a bit of scraping old paint from the glass brick wall and once the bathroom floor gets attention and new tiles, the porch area will be ready for a new carpet before next winter. Job done. However, the lovely red tv went back to the engineers last week because a DVD stuck in it and refused to come out again. It's due back tomorrow and hopefully won't go wrong again. Not looking good as this is the 2nd tv!! Watch this space on that one.
Right, I'm going to get the day started so I can spend between 2pm and 3pm watching Hels on Ideal World.
Happy WOYWW.

Tuesday 16 April 2013

PERFECT SERVICE

Even though I have a rather large craft store about 14 miles away, they tend not to always stock the latest products that I require for my crafty pleasure. I therefore have over the last few years, bought online.
The very best online shop I have found to be Craft Obsessions.  Not only do they keep up to date products but they also offer free postage on orders over £10 and their delivery is quick too.
The personal service is also second to non. Just look at this little pile of free fibres that always come with the compliment slip
I have found many uses for their fibres over the years.
So why am I singing their praises at this time? Well, I ordered the new Distress Metallic Paints and as usual my order was promptly dealt with and the paints arrived within a couple of days. Eagerly, I opened the package but found this

a lovely pewter and a lovely brass but a not so lovely bronze. Somehow the bronze paint had leaked and I had no idea whether this had happened in trasit, at the factory or wherever. I didn't open the cellophane on the bottle and immediately contacted David and Brenda to see what to do.
The reply came back at once that a new bottle was in the post and I should keep the faulty one. Not only that, but I was given instructions on how to clean up the bottle so that it could be used. I wanted to return the faulty item so they could obtain a refund from Ranger but they wouldn't hear of it.
So that is why I am singing their praises.
CRAFT OBSESSIONS is truly the best online craft shop.

Friday 12 April 2013

A GET WELL WISH

I have been really under the weather for several days but am relieved to say I feel much better today.
My lovely friend Barb has sent me some very welcome good wishes in the form of a gorgeous bunny card. It takes pride of place on the shelf in the front room along side another of Barb's special cards.
Thank you so much Barb.


Wednesday 10 April 2013

WOYWW #201

Another week has gone by since Julia opened up the desks of the world for us to have a snoop around. I didn't manage to take her up on that last week as I began the decorating I had planned and then when I was in full swing and making progress, I was struck down with a cold. Having said that, I have never been so poorly in a very long time and still feel rotten this morning.
Not wanting to give in I managed to make Tim's April tag from 12 tags of 2013, finish a DT ATC and play my part as the Team Leader for our little challenge blog. However, there is no craft on my desk - again so I have this to show instead which was taken on Monday because I did have to give in yesterday and take to my bed.
I hope today is a better one.
Happy woyww.

Monday 8 April 2013

12 TAGS OF 2013 - APRIL

Tim promoted his new metallic distress paints for this month's tag, but being impatient and always wanting to make my tag as soon as he posts it, I can't wait for them to come to the UK so have improvised again this month.
I used distress paint for the base but added metallic distress stains as the paint substitute. It worked really well although I do admit to forgetting to go over the tag with distress inks afterwards and that's why my water splashes don't show up. I used Tim's stamps Steampunk CMS 107 and a dragonfly stamp from my stash. The Clearly for Art is a favourite item of mine so I played happily with that to make the wings.
I searched my Ideology stash for the cogs, pen nib and token and my grunge stash for #4. The metal corner was from another box of goodies. All altered with the distress paints. The crinkle ribbon was made following Tim's tutorial.
All in all, it turned out ok and the background is one I shall be using again with all sorts of colours.
Right, off to starve this darn cold and try to prevent the oncoming cough.

Friday 5 April 2013

ATCS WITH ATTITUDE - #37 - ADD SOME SPARKLE

Hello everyone. This fortnight's challenge is here again over at Atcs with Attitude.
The winners from out last challenge need to follow the instructions and claim their prize. And well done by the way.
Our theme this time is - ADD SOME SPARKLE.
Now who doesn't like a bit of sparkle on their ATCs? Just to tempt you, our wonderful DT have made some samples from our sponsor this time round - Sassy Studio Designs.
Sassy is generously offering 4 digis to the winner.
I chose the beautiful image titled - Bella Bride, and came up with this:
Couldn't resist making a 'girly' pink ATC this time.
Being a bride, my church door stamp came in really useful. I stamped it on mount board and then used some Terra to make the stone work around the doors. This added a bit of depth as well as some texture. Distress ink in various shades of brown coloured the doors. I sized the image to look ok in front of the doors (note: she is standing a bit away from the doors and will not bang her head when she goes through them!!!!)
I coloured the bride with Copics, 3d foamed her to the card and then added flowers, MS heart confetti, 2 tiny brass bells and some stickles before standing the finished ATC on a stand and scattering more flowers around the base.
You just have to agree that this image is so lovely and I hope the DT samples urge you to have a go at our challenge this time around.

Wednesday 3 April 2013

WOYWW #200

200 episodes of Julia's What's on your Workdesk Wednesday, congratulations. Just think how many desks that means we have all been snooping around, millions probably.
Thank you Julia for coming up with this world excursion and long may it be popular.
My little space in in limbo this morning:
You can see the remnants of my ingredients for the Book of Ruination, now complete see here for a post about it, a couple of containers of beads, some invisible thread (I'm trying to make rain drops) and some cut offs of card from my DT piece for the end of the month.
At least the decorating has begun and I managed to paint the kitchen ceiling on Monday. A lot of prep work today, you know, filling holes etc. then I can crack on again. I need to finish it all this week as things are moving on a little more to warmer days, MOT for the motorhome, new shed roof, fence panel maintenance etc. etc. Plus, later this month, I have to go see the doctor for my blood test and ECG results re. this BP malarky and then I have to have a biopsy on this skin problem. It's all go just now.
So I had better get a move on and start the day. Anyone want to come to mine to do the i***i**??
Happy woyww.

Monday 1 April 2013

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WISHES

to my beautiful step-daughter Paula and her handsome husband Quentin (my web designer).