Saturday 20 August 2016

WHAT AN AWFUL WEEK

Awful but not  because of the weather which was glorious up to yesterday. 
To begin with, my sewing machine threw a wobbler and being unable to get it sorted I had to buy another so I could continue with the 100 days 100 blocks challenge. I was up at 5:45am on Thursday trying to sort it but it still played up and chewed the spool thread. 
I rang a shop and explained everything and he agreed to look at it. When I got there he refused because it's a computerised machine. I told him that on the phone!!!!
Yesterday I rang the main outlet of the firm I bought it from and we took it to them. I did manage to sew a couple of blocks with the new machine but my heart was in my mouth the whole time. 
Anyway, the shoo lady, Tatiana, plugged it in, checked the spool and top thread set it all going - AND IT SEWED PERFECTLY!!!!!!!!
Saved me a fortune - apart from the new machine - and I was so happy. I could have hugged Tatiana I was so happy. She said sometimes they just need re-threading.
So clever Mr man the day before, you just lost money because you could have done that instead of threatening me saying the mother board could need replacing. 
That was my little drama but the worse part of this week was hearing that my step son had been knocked off his motorbike on the way to work on Thursday and had a broken leg. 
He is home at last but his leg is in plaster from his toes to the top so he can't even bend down. They have told him it could take 12 weeks to mend and he narrowly missed an operation to plate it. Needless to say, his lovely bike is a right off. 
I can't end on bad news so will post a few photos of the blocks I've been making.











Sunday 14 August 2016

REALLY ENJOYING THIS BREAK

I'm having a ball. 
3 days crafting to my heart's delight, what could be better.
Friday I prepped a Xmas present, yesterday I did a bit of hexie sewing and today I've been prepping in order to take part in making 100 blocks in 100 days.
 
I need to get ahead because I'm away again in both September and October and the 100 block challenge starts this Wednesday. Besides that, I'm also trying to complete the 1930's block challenge. So much to do in such a little time!!
It's good for the mind and soul to set yourself some challenges especially when the years seem to disappear in a matter of hours these days. 
My little crafty den looks like this today.


I'm trying to be quiet, despite all the noise outside with planes flying and folk packing to leave, because hubby is enjoying his usual holiday afternoon nap, so sshhh! 


Saturday 13 August 2016

ELVINGTON LARGE MODEL AIRSHOW

We first came to this show last year when we were entertained by the Vulcan bomber. 
This year even the models are struggling to fly as the wind is so strong. I'm happy doing a bit of crafting. I've prepped a Xmas present and today saw me stab my fingers several times whilst hand sewing the hexagon - dare I call them - antimacasas.
 Friday on the airfield. It soon filled up and was packed with campers by night fall.


The first of 4 hexie seat back toppers.


My little corner of fun today.
I may prep something different tomorrow and join in #100blocks100days which starts Wednesday on Instagram. Not decided for sure yet but I've brought yards and yards of lovely Moda fabric with me, just in case!!!

Wednesday 10 August 2016

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY

Today this little fella turns 13.

I used lots of techniques from CC103 to make his card.


But as I haven't managed to buy the crazy dogs stamps, I used my crazy birds instead.


They are each coloured using a different technique.
The card turned out OK although I doubt Huxley will give it a second glance!



Monday 8 August 2016

CREATIVE CHEMISTRY 103 - DAY 6

What a wonderful creative week culminating in a day 6 mashup.
Tim set us a challenge to use any of the week's techniques on a substrate other than card. Before I attempted that I had just one more birthday card to make and the recipient will be Huxley the Tibetan Terrier who will be 13 on Wednesday.

I used 7 different techniques on this and had a blast doing it.

But, on to Tim's challenge. I have already used some of CC103 techniques on bottles in the past without knowing they would be taught properly last week.


From left to right -
Alcohol ink inside the jar
Distress painting
Distress paint with luminous mica
Remnant rub resist

My challenge piece is however, a 6" X 6" canvas.


I've used
Distress stain rub resist
Distress paint resist
Texture paste resist.

It's a colourful little piece which would brighten any dull day and raise a smile. Thank you Tim for this class. I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Saturday 6 August 2016

CREATIVE CHEMISTRY 103 - DAY 5

I love alcohol inks, can you tell?
So today's class was super exciting for me. Having said that, I did have a couple of failures. I just couldn't get my stamped resist to work at all. That technique is to die for so its something I will keep practising until I get it right.
I made a couple of Yupo backgrounds and used a stencil over each of them.


Bit gorgeous eh?

So my challenge technique incorporated the above background plus alcohol ink painting. However, I decided to stamp my images on ordinary card and cut them out. A bit of a task but worth it. I now have another family birthday card made.



Friday 5 August 2016

CREATIVE CHEMISTRY 103 - DAY 4

This class was long awaited. I finally got to learn the full magic of Distress Crayons. A little secret too - more are about to be released, yippee!
For my card today I had a go at distress crayon textured resist. The idea was to use cogs for my background and then add some 'found' embellishments that my step son finds for me to use in mixed media projects. It's his birthday next month so I felt using some here was appropriate. The #46 relates to Valentino Rossi the GP bike super hero and as my step son has always ridden a bike, this was appropriate too.

Thursday 4 August 2016

CREATIVE CHEMISTRY 103 - DAY 3

I enjoyed today's classes, but then, I've enjoyed days 1 and 2 also. It was a struggle to put my sewing machine away last Sunday and ready myself for these classes, but to be honest, I will struggle to put all my crafty stash away to sew again after the things I'm learning this week. Tim has awakened my love of inkyness and thinking outside the box once more. 
On with picking a technique from today and creating something using it. I decided on trying texture paste embossing plus a bit of distress marker spritzed watercolour from yesterday.
 Another card to add to the 6 I need to make.
 I wish you could sniff this card because the embossing powder is scented. Lovely. 
Today will be really exciting because Tim is showing us all the magic we can achieve with distress crayons. Cannot wait.

Wednesday 3 August 2016

CREATIVE CHEMISTRY 103 - DAY 2

I chose one of the techniques from Day 2 and used it to make a colourful background for a birthday card.
This really really was so much fun. 


There is a good chance the person who is to receive this card will see it beforehand so I apologise for that, but this online class is giving me ideas for all the greetings cards I need to make for the next few weeks. Thanks to Tim for getting my creative juices flowing once more.

Monday 1 August 2016

CREATIVE CHEMISTRY 103 - DAY 1

Tim Holtz began the third online workshop in his Creative Chemistry series today. You have to have completed both parts 1 and 2 to be able to take part. Having done that each time they were released, I just had to complete part 3.
Today I decided to make a card using a technique that Tim has named ' Distress Off-Set Stamping'.
For obvious reasons, I am not telling you what that means or how to achieve it, but will show the little card I've made instead.

These next few days are going to be such fun.