CRAFT ROOM CHALLENGE #1

The new challenge blog from the Craft Room is now up and running with their first Design Team.
In order to start off with something a little less specific allowing the team to settle, their first theme is:
ANYTHING GOES.
The challenge boasts a £10 voucher prize to spend in the Craft Room shop and is open for 2 weeks, closing at 8pm on Monday 13 June.
I made a tag using Studio acrylic paints, distress inks and lots of Tim's stamps, embossing folders and dies. I'll enter it and keep my fingers crossed.

HERE IS MY CHUNKY BOOK

This may take some time, so grab a brew and have a sit down but above all, enjoy.

My gorgeous January page from the super talented Gez.

I was given February for my page. I made this one to remind me of the amazing time I had at Tim's workshop.

April showers is the theme for this months page made for me by the super dooper uber talented friendly famous Lindsay. I know Lindsay does not have Tim's rosette die so all these little parasols have been painstainkingly hand folded. Wow!

The May page is both gorgeous front and back made for me by the extremely clever Elaine. The lily of the valley are hand painted.

Hilda made my June page. This page is so tactile I just keep stroking it. Love the colour.

Just had to show you both sides of my July page. The colours are fabulous and just look at those fibres. The little verse gives me the hope of warm sunshine to come. Thank you Zoe.

Can you make out the detail on the edge of this very clever September page. I know Karen was worried about having September as her page but I'm sure you'll agree with me, it's really clever and so neat. I love it.

Now how did I know that my October page by our super leader of this swap, Sheila, would contain Tim's skeleton? Such a clever page which is full of detail and colour.

How Sonja managed to cut the intricate edge of this mount board page is beyond me. My Big shot struggles even with Tim's dies. I love the tree and all it's leaves falling down the hill makes my November page seem real. Have a look at the back too.

Some fancy distressing there. Brilliant.

December just wouldn't be right without Santa, and Cheryl has stamped this lovely page for me. I think it's really lovely and given me an idea for my own Xmas cards this year.

There you go then, book closed.
A couple of crafters had to pull out and I'm sure they are distraught about that. However, I know one is feeling better now but hope having a look at my fabulous book will cheer them up a bit.
A great big THANK YOU to Sheila for organising this swap, for making the covers and for putting the books together. I'm really happy with mine and will show it off at every opportunity.

YUM

Here's something to whet your appetite on a cold and very blustery day.

I made this the other day, along with 3 more, as an experiment. It's a chocolate and orange cheesecake. Boy was it good and must have been at least 6,498 calories!!!
Yum.

I CAN NOW REVEAL MY PAGES

Today I received my chunky book from sheila's swap, but I'll make you wait a little longer to see it as I have to photograph the pages. It will be worth the wait though.
In the mean time, I can reveal the pages I made for the swap. Here goes.

I enjoyed making my pages and hope they are received with the same joy.

THE ONE BEFORE THE BIG ONE - WOYWW

If my calculations are correct, this week is #103, meaning next week is our wonderful leader Julia's 2nd anniversary of creating WHAT'S ON YOUR WORKDESK WEDNESDAY.
I look forward to each Wednesday so that I can have a little holiday to many parts of the world without having to book a flight, boat, train or coach. But the best part is being able to snoop around the amazing personal craft spaces, seeing the 'tools of the trade' and spying on the fabulous projects and creations therein.
Unfortunately, I have spent many an hour over the past few months, making projects that I have been unable to show because they have been for a birthday, a challenge or, like today, for an anniversary. BUT, today is an anniversary. It's my pal Susanna and her hubby, Mick's wedding anniversary.
I made a little canvass a while ago and made it into a card for them.

The photo isn't as clear as I would like as the card is actually deep purple.
 Right, my desk. Well, it looks like this.

Pride of place goes to my latest purchase, Tim's on the edge die - pennants. I see a few uses - nay - lots of uses for this one. Still on my craft sheet are the remnants of alcohol inks that I squirted on last week to make cards and ATCs following my workshop the Sunday before. Gosh how time flies!
Still thinking about what to do with the 2 tags I experimented with and the dress form die cut awaits further 'playing with'.
Right then, onwards and upwards and off to the great big crafting world for a good 'ol nosey around.
See you next week for the big one.

ANOTHER PAGE FOR MY PAL

I posted yesterday over on Crafting Buddies, the scrapbook page I have made for Toby's birthday, which is today, or should I really say, would have been today. He would have been 21 today, bless him.
I always try and make a page to celebrate certain dates, and this page is for his K & Co blue awning scrapbook.

The photo shows him curled up on the pillows of the back bed in the motorhome during the summer of 2008. We had to make that bed up as he could no longer jump the height of the pull-down bed over the front. Notice he found the sunshine!!
Here are a few close up shots of the page.

Well, the sun has come out and the awful gales have subsided into strong winds so I suppose I had better get the day started.

ATC CHALLENGES BLOG #2

The second challenge over at the Atc Challenges Blog is entitled - Beach or Seaside, and you must include some height eg, decoupage etc..
I've had a go using some of my precious Brixham shells.

I used a couple of image downloads this time. The sea has been painted over with a mix of multi matt medium thinned with perfect pearl mist. I spread some glossy accents and black diamond stickles over the lower rocks and stuck the shells into it. A sprinkle of coarse gold glitter added extra sparkle.

The plane is a brass charm coloured with souffle Sakura pens and the little sign is a bit of fun.

I'll just pop over to their blog now and enter it.
Do have a look if you get chance as there is a little prize on offer.

A SUNDAY HUG

That's what I've just had from the ever lovely, jovial Leonie Pujol.
Leonie is demonstrating today at Inspirations in Preston, so I just had to pop along to see her work her magic as I missed her the last time she was here.

Fantasy fibres, magic plastic, stamps, moulds, Leonie was 'playing' with it all.

I've never used the plastic but was amazed by the little embellishments she was making. The fibres and plastic used with a cookie cutter were the best. Leonie made some tiny flowers and they looked like they had beads stuck to them. The result was spectacular.

Were we all in stitches at some of her stories of craft that 'went wrong' and she is still the lovely bubbly person she has always been. I believe she will be 'up north' again soon, ie next month I think, so hopefully, I shall see her again then.
What a lovely day.

ALCOHOL BACKGROUNDS

I posted on WOYWW yesterday,  about the backgrounds I had been making following my wonderful workshop last Sunday with Amy and .Lindsay.
Lindsay showed us the most marvelous card - I had admired this card since she showed it on her blog as one of her samples -  and boy, was I chuffed that we were to make it. I thought it would possibly make into an ATC, so I had a go and - 8 atcs later, this is what I ended up with.

A bit nice eh?
The other best bit about these ATCs is the fact that the little tree stamps and words were a Xmas present from Lindsay's sister Heather.
Just keeping it in the family girls.

WOYWW IS IT REALLY 1 WEEK TO GO?

I cannot believe that 2 years have passed so quickly and that during that time (not the whole 2 years I hasten to add - I was a late starter) I have nosied around your craft spaces, poked in your cupboards, drawers and boxes, and enjoyed looking at the amazing creations going on in your space. What an adventure. Long may it continue. All thanks, of course to our wonderful leader Julia, without whom none of this travel would be possible.
I have a little surprise this week. My craft space is not bare. I've been getting inky and enjoying myself following a big dose of a craft workshop last Sunday.

I rummaged through my alcohol inks to find the blues, greens, a yellow and an orange in order to make ATC-sized matts.

Each one turned out different as you can see.

I put them to one side, chopped down an early flowering clematis, made tea, watched the news then made an atc.

Ooops! rumbled. I did all that yesterday. But, my craft space looks like this this morning.

Still in production, but there is a finished card to be seen.
The other day,I had a little request from a friend about how to use 7 Gypsies gaffer tape. I've never come across this product so can't advise her, can you please.
Right, I'm off to do some visiting now. Roll on the very exciting next week.

FROM DEAR FRIENDS

Inspiration comes from many sources, mine comes from anywhere and everywhere. However, my crafting pals supply mine on a regular basis. I am so very lucky to know such talented lovelies. With that sentiment I would like to let you share the latest wonders that have come my way.
As you know, my DH had a big birthday last Tuesday. His cards are still up as he always says it's his birthday week. Somehow though, this one has lasted 11 days so far!!!! He received a multitude of cards from the special greeting type to the hilariously funny, but these are the ones I want to share.

These beauties are from my special friend Sylvia, who lives in beautiful Devon. The card on the left is an anniversary card - it was our wedding anniversary on the same day. The edges of both cards have been subtly distressed and just take a look at the peel offs. So neat. She is my peel off queen. I love the spirelli as the threads Sylvia uses are so sparkly. Sylvia is a very talented all-rounder and can accomplish all sorts of crafts in the most professional way. You should see her needlework projects, especially her hand-made quilts. Absolutely incredible.
Now this card is by a new talent.

Considering the elements on it are all recently released, you would say they had been making cards for years. The colours are super, the construction is well planned and the whole thing is neat. I would be proud to have made this and I've been paper crafting for around 15years. Well you won't ever guess so I'll tell you, this card was created by no other than David Mason. Ok I know he lives with one of the greatest artists ever and attends umpteen workshops and demos, but he doesn't take notice of most of it, now do you David???? This is a hidden talent that I think we should see more of. Anyone agree??
This little box was a pressie to 'peg leg' from both Lindsay and David.

The front shows the 'buxom' wench on the inside - who is that then???? and the reverse shows a pusscat, there is an obvious meaning to that for him - and me.


All in all, he has some gorgeous treasures all made with the warmest wishes and friendship, as said at the beginning - FROM DEAR FRIENDS.