Santa

Here's a quick card I've made that fits with Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 185 with the theme of Santa Claus.


The stamp is from Tim Holtz's Santa's Wish set and has to be my favourite Santa stamp. It's such a timeless stamp - it can be left clean and simple or you can colour it, distress it, whatever you like. The stamp has enough detail to stand alone I feel. The greeting is from the same set.

I'm also entering this in the "Less is More" challenge with the theme of MUSIC.

Well I'm off to wrap a few more pressies. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and get lots of crafting goodies!!

Christmas Tag

Here's my tag for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 184 with the theme of A Christmas Song. Not sure what song this is... the music is too small!!


My tag takes inspiration from a couple of Tim's Tags. Tag 11 with a background of Distress Inks splattered with a bit of water and then overstamped with the music score and pine foliage from Tim's Mini Christmas 2 stamp set. The flower and leaves were inspired by Tag 7 - alcohol inks on kraft glassine then cut out using the Tattered Florals and Tattered Leaves dies. I've just edged the petals with gold Stickles and fastened with a brad.

I quite liked this technique which got me thinking about using non-kraft/white glassine or maybe vellum to create more pastel embellishments. That's for another day though!!

Life

This is my tag for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 183 with the theme of LIFE.


Well I've had a bit of a disaster with this one and having struggled through it I hunted for 2 hours for my camera cable to upload the photo. Three cameras and a cable later and then the internet went down for the day. What fun!!

It's vaguely based on Tim's tag no 5 - alcohol ink background. That looks OK but then I tried to stamp snowflakes with Archival and wipe off ... well that didn't work too well and I also dropped the stamp ink down on my jeans. Doh! So I stamped the snowflakes again and then didn't wait for them to dry so my tag now has archival fingerprints in places!! At least I can prove I made it! I finished it off with a ruffle of vellum, some fibres and the Life stamp from Tim's Stuff to Say set. Says it all really!!

If only I had more time I'd do it again - it's certainly a technique worth mastering ... maybe one day.

Stars

Well it’s not even December and I’ve finished my first Christmas card!! It’s for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 182 with the theme of STARS.



I’ve used a Darkroom Door Word Block stamp for the background – Thyme Brilliance and then embossed with gold round the edge. The smaller stamp is Tim Holtz’s of course stamped in Plum Archival and with a gold star embossed border.

Having stuck it down I decided it looks a little plain so the next card off the production line with have some Christmassy ribbon lavished upon it!!

Thought I’d get this done in November so that I’m all prepared for Tim’s 12 tags starting tomorrow – not sure if it’s then or Friday depending on the time difference. May have to contain my excitement a little longer!!

Hide and Seek

Here's my lost snowman for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 181 with the theme of SNOWMEN.I thought he looked lost so he's either looking for his friends or he's playing hide and seek!!


I've used Tim Holtz's stamps from Mini Christmas 2, created the icy background with Tim's crackle embossing folder and finished it off with some icy Stickles.

I used a technique I spotted on a blog earlier in the week - I think it was Sue Roddis. I stamped the snowman on the page for his arms and then stamped him again on some spare card, cut off his arms then glued him over the top. I know it sounds cruel but it does save cutting all the twiddly bits!!

Holly & Ivy

Here's my first christmassy piece of the season for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge 179 with the theme of Christmas.


The stamps are Oak House Studio - the Ivy Corner and the spruce twig from the Christmas Collection. I had three attempts at the background using the holly mask from That Special Touch. Has anyone been successful with this? I found it was too thin and flimsy to be blended over and spraying inks just seaped underneath. Turning it over and trying to use the ink left on it didn't work either. I've used the small portion that did indeed look like holly!!

Not sure I feel any more christmassy but at least I've had a good rummage through my christmas stamps ready!!

Spooky....ish!

Here's my entry for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 178 with the theme of Halloween/Bats.

I don't really do Halloween so haven't got any scary stamps but thought Whitby Abbey in the moonlight on a dark menacing night might fit the bill. I'm sure there must be bats living in this gothic place now Dracula has moved out as there's no roof!!

Anyway I've used Distress Inks dragged across the card for the sky behind the Crafty Individuals Whitby Abbey stamp and used Oak House Studio's Beech Tree stamp for the foreground.

I know it's not very scary but I think it looks moody!!

Autumn Leaves

Well what can I say, nearly 2 months since I last blogged and no real reason for it. Just where does the time go??

Anyway I've made the effort to make a card for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge 177 with the theme of Autumn Leaves/Colours.


We have a rowan in the front garden that is covered in yellow berries - it's called Joseph Rock with deep red, orange and yellow leaves in the autumn.

So this is based on Aged Mahogany, Pine Needles, Wild Honey and Vintage Photo distress inks misted with Copper Perfect Pearls. The Oak House Studio Mountain Ash Stamp was clear embossed onto the background, blended over a little with Vintage Photo and then cut out. The lighter background was just the final mopping up of the inks off the craft mat....waste not, want not!!

Hope you like!!

Crafty Individuals

Well where does the time go - not had chance to do any crafting yet again so my blog has been neglected. Never mind on a happier note my Whitby Abbey bookmark was chosen as a winner on the Crafty Individuals August Challenge so here's my winner's logo.
I'm sure someone out there can tell me so how do you include it down the left hand side of the blog and how do you add a link to it. I've tried but.....

Whilst writing has anyone else had problems leaving comments on blogs using Google Accounts - I seem to end up going round 3 times and then it won't work. It's a shame as sometimes I see other people's creations and I'd like to praise their work.

Any helpful comments would be gratefully received!!

White

Here's my art for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 167 with the theme of WHITE. Thought I'd start a set of A5 pieces that can be bound together to show various techniques.


I had no idea what I was going to do but started off swishing some Snow Cap Dabber on a mat together with some Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress Stains to create a background. I haven't any Picket Fence Stain yet so tried watered down acrylic instead - not sure it mixed well enough but...! On top of that is more Snow Cap Dabber and Broken China Stain slammed on top - love that effect. On top of that is a white acrylic Hessian stamp and one of Tim's sayings in stain again.

Apologies once again for the photo - the light is so bad today, in fact it's nearly dark already. Anyway I'm not sure whether I like what I've done - I'm a bit too exact a person and doing random splodges is difficult. But I guess that is what challenges are all about!!

Well today has been a long day already - we were up early for A level results. Thank goodness my daughter got what she needed so will be off to University to study History. Congratulations KT.

Whitby Abbey again!!

Yes, I know this is the third recent post featuring the Crafty Individuals Whitby Abbey stamp CI227 but this birthday card for my dad is the reason I bought it. My family history research has got back to the 1680s in the Yorkshire Wolds and then the 1700s in Whitby and Fylingdales. So when I saw this stamp I knew I had to buy it!!


I've embossed Whitby Abbey in copper and then tinted it with Shabby Shutters and Stormy Sky Distress inks. I've used Tim Holtz's compass mask on the background and blended over it with Stormy Sky and Vintage Photo.

It's for these sort of cards I'm looking for a map stamp - one that doesn't feature the Pacific Ocean!! Anyone know of any UK map stamps?? Please let me know if you do.

Anyway I'm hoping my dad will like his card and has a happy birthday.

Wish

Here's a card for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 166 with the theme of WISH.


I wish it would stop raining.... having said that the sun is out now but this morning the showers were very heavy!! Not got a lot of time this week so had a quick look in my bit box and found some ready made backgrounds. Tim Holtz's Brolly man and the WISH quote from the Stuff to Say set were stamped onto gloss card that had been sprayed with glimmer mists. Chose that as it looks like rain!! The background is distress inks overstamped with The Artistic Stamper's flourish.

I've linked this to The Artistic Stampers challenge too which this month has the theme of MEN. As it was sunny when I first saw this challenge I thought I'd turn brolly man into parasol man with a nice straw hat and bright clothes. However I think having the die cut would make that a bit easier.... one day I'll have a go!

Thanks for looking!!.

Bright and Beautiful

Here's a bookmark I've made for the Crafty Individual's August challenge with the theme of Bright and Beautiful.


I was inspired by Helen Chilton's use of Stazon as a bright background - here I've swiped Cactus Green and Sunflower Yellow across a piece of glossy card and then dabbed Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick and Stormy Sky Distress Inks through a handcut mask to create a sunset effect. I've used Crafty Individuals stamps - Whitby Abbey CI227 and a bracken from CI207 - and tried to make it look as if you were viewing the Abbey across the moors.

Hope you like!!

Sunset

Here's my piece for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 165 with the theme of Sunsets. It's inspired by a post I saw on the Chocolate Baroque blog about sunsets and the Crafty Individuals latest challenge to use bright colours too.


It's very simple - I just swiped Green and Yellow Stazon across a piece of gloss card and then sponged Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink (as I don't have an orange Stazon) through a hand cut mask to create the sun's rays. Whitby Abbey is a Crafty Individuals's stamp inked with Jet Black Archival.

My first attempt had Whitby Abbey elevated off the ground so I had another go - then I've just matted the better version over the top of the mistake to give a frame. I'm leaving it as it is so I can write on the back and send it as a postcard.

Hope you like it and thanks for looking.

Journalling the Olympics

Decided today to have a play with a new set of Journalling Circles from Oak House Studio. It's a set of 7 stamps - 2 solid circles, 2 journalling spots and 3 circular frames - that all co-ordinate to provide endless possibilities for cardmaking and scrapbooking. Here's the stamps you get quickly inked in black.

It's one year till the London Olympics 2012 so I'm sat looking at all these circles and thinking how easy to make an Olympic Flag ready for next year's scrapbooking album. I've just used one of the circles and stamped in Brilliance.


Whilst playing I've also done some kiss stamping in Versafine. I've taken the largest solid circle (fits a 2" punch) and swirled ink on it then kiss stamped with the dotted circle. Other examples are first and second stampings. Definitely a two handed job and very addictive.

Great for making backgrounds and journalling spots. Off to play some more!!

Back to Black

Here's my entry for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 164 with the theme of Black. A sad week all round so the card is very simple with Memories as the key point.

The background is Fired Brick and Wild Honey Distress Stains slammed onto the card in a random fashion - love the splatters but not necessarily those that are now on my T-shirt...doh!! I've black embossed the foliage stamp from Tim's Fairytale Frenzy set and Memories is a 7gypsies stamp.

Hope you like!

Isle of Wight

One of the reasons for the lack of posts has been work but also we've been away for a week to the Isle of Wight. We've never been before but it's certainly somewhere we'd go back. We had glorious weather for 5 days so who could ask for more.

The first hot day we decided to go to The Needles and walked along the cliffs to The Old Battery. This is the view from the look-out post right at the end.



The next day we went to Osborne House - the summer home of Queen Victoria. The house was lovely but no photography was allowed so we spent a lot of time in the grounds, the walled garden etc. There were loads of statues including this angel - those of you who watched that episode of Dr Who... well don't take your eyes of her!!


Another day we visited the Tiger Zoo in an old fort just outside Sandown. My daughter has wanted to go for years ever since she heard they walked the tigers on the beach. Anyway they have a selection of big cats - lions, tigers and jaguars - who have all been rescued from circuses etc and just give them a lovely home. We spent all day here.




We walked up and down cliffs, round castle walls, along the coast etc. We saw most of the island and took loads of photos for scrapping. Definitely a place I'd recommend.

And now back to crafting!

Build Your Own Flowers

Can't believe it's over 2 months since I last blogged. Excuses... well life got in the way I guess - exams, work, holidays etc etc. I'll save the details for another post.

Just thought I ought to start making things again so here's a Dimensional Flower for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge with the theme of Build Your Own Flower Embellie.


I've used the things I had on my table - TH's Tattered Florals cut out of card that I'd randomly misted with my new Cosmic Shimmer Chalk Mists. Eventually got round to taking out a Craft Stamper sub and they were the free gift this month. May have to get used to the pastel chalkyness of them as opposed to the glimmer mists and deep stains I'm used to. A friend also sent me a new stamp to play with (Walesby Flourish by Oak House Studio) so I've stamped that on the flowers with Gold Brilliance. Apologies for the photo - the light wasn't good yesterday!!

Well I've made the flower but inspiration went out of the window as to what to do with it - male birthdays next so I'll put it to one side and use it later!!

Bye for now - hopefully I'll get round to blogging a bit more frequently.

Free as a Bird

Thought I'd have a play with some mail art for Crafty Individual's Monthly Challenge with the theme Free as a Bird.

The photos are not good for some reason - maybe the impending thunderstorm had something to do with it. Anyway I used Crafty Individuals bird CI 180 to make the postage stamp on shrink plastic - it's coloured with promarkers and then cut out with fancy scissors to give the perforations.

The envelope is coloured with Distress Inks and then overstamped with various stamps:
Crafty Individuals CI 207 - the grasses stamped in various greens
Tim Holtz - Birds on a wire
Oak House Studio - Hessian background
7gypsies - bird and butterfly from the Nottinghill Set.

Guess I'll have to take the stamp off to use the envelope - just got to wait for the next birthday and we'll see if Royal Mail like it!!

Stars and Stripes

Here's a quick ATC for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge with the theme of Stars and/or Stripes.



It's a rainbow of alcohol inks for the background, swiped across glossy card and then some blending solution squirted on. I then overstamped with some Hero Arts stars and PSX Celtic Alphabet.

I've never had a go at Tim's tartan technique and obviously couldn't for this challenge as the theme is Stars and Stripes not Stars and Tartan!! However while I have the alcohol inks out I think I might have a play.

May already!

So where did April go?? I was doing fine in March, blogging regularly and my last post was my 100th. But then life got in the way I guess.

I've had visitors and days out. A lovely walk around Wakehurst Place taking photos of the water gardens.


Had a great day visiting Ally Pally and the Big Scrapbooking and Stamping Show. We had a picnic in the park then hit the stalls - it was a bit busy in places but I found a few bits and pieces to buy - some Fresco paints, Distress Stains and some masks. Also bought some steampunk brass charms which are gorgeous. Since then I've treated myself to some Crafty Individuals stamps. None of it has moved much since I bought it except to start a birthday card that still needs finishing.


DH went to India for a few days and brought back an elephant - apparently Delhi Airport has a lifesize wooden elephant in the foyer but he hadn't room for that in his case!!


Then there's been Easter and all the Bank Holidays. The lovely dry sunny weather means there is gardening to do. We also bought a new caravan so that's needed attention - repacking stuff in it, making sure everything works and trying the awning up. For some reason we chose to do that on top of the North Downs on a windy day.... good practise though!!

Now everything is getting back to normal but exam season is fast approaching. I have one DD doing A levels, one doing GCSEs and me doing a variety as an invigilator. The good news it's more stash money: the bad news is I'll have no time to play with it.

My next task is to start entering challenges again and keep up the blogging....well I'll try!!

Fade Away

Here's my entry for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge 147 with the theme of EMBOSSING.

I've made a little folder to hold my winning lottery tickets...well today it is holding one worth £10 but it's so long since I actually won anything I was about to give up. But then you have to be 'IN IT TO WIN IT' as they say.

I've rubbed a Blue Breeze Kaleidacolor ink pad over a Numbers Cuttlebug Embossing Folder to create the front - not only does that fit with the embossing theme but the ink colour fades too!! Is that double brownie point?? And why don't you get double scout points?? Anyway I digress! I thought I'd be clever and ink the high points...which would have been fine if I'd not then used the numbers folder...which obviously came out back to front...doh!!

The stamping down the side pocket is a Tim Holtz stamp and the alphabet letters are PSX. I found some raffia to tie it together to keep my ticket safe!!

Hope you like and thanks for looking.

Bargains!

Can't believe it's a week since I last blogged - whilst the spring weather makes me feel like crafting more, it also makes me feel like gardening and going out!! That's my excuse.

Anyway I happened to pop into town yesterday and came home with some bargains. The Works were selling 8" square board books for 99p so I bought a couple of those to alter. The stupid thing was I was dithering between the polar bear, penguin and monkey ones when I was just going to paint/cover it with papers. How daft is that!!

I also found this tiny stapler and coloured staples in WHS for £1.99 - beats getting the alcohol inks out!!


Finally relating to my last post, Katie has been wearing her charms dangling from her jeans all week and the yellow Sharpie colour has disappeared already. So has anyone any suggestions what to colour it with now???

Oh well off to do some h**sew**k or maybe finish my piece for the Sunday Stamper challenge - what do you reckon??

Good Luck Charms

Well I managed to finish off DD1's good luck charms last night so thought you might like a look.



The owl stamp is an Elusive Images one and the four leaf clover is from Oak House Studio - they are both stamped in black Stazon on shrink plastic and then coloured on the reverse. They're attached to a TH Idea-ology Swivel Clasp and Muse Token.

I used Promarkers to colour the four leaf clover but heating it made it stick itself to the acrylic block I used to flatten it so that was probably not a good idea. DD1 coloured the owl with Sharpies - I'm still waiting for DD2 to colour her's but she is in the middle of her GCSE Art exam and spending 5 mins colouring an owl at home was obviously just too much.

Anyway today is going to be another lovely sunny day so I'm off out to enjoy it!!

Die Cuts

Here's my diecut for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge 146 with the theme of DIECUTS!!

I started making some shrink plastic owls and four leaf clovers as good luck charms for my daughters for their forthcoming exams. Then to fit this week's theme I decided to diecut a K with my Sizzix Bigz Sassy Serif out of black shrink plastic. It's stamped with a selection of oriental stamps from Oak House Studio in gold Brilliance. It's shrunk to about 2" high so its a bit big for a charm but I'm sure it'll get used for something else.

Then my daughter Katie decided she liked the outer waste better so I decorated that and shrunk it but.... one of the inner bits tied itself in a knot and I can't get it to lie flat. I guess it's my fault for naming her with a K but at the time I wasn't thinking of shrink plastic...in fact I'd never heard of it.

Anyway I'm hoping to get the rest of the charms done later in the week so pop back and take a look!

Brown (& Blue) Eyed Girl

Here's my entry for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge 145 with the theme of Brown Eyes.


I've made a gatefold sort of ATC which features a photo of my daughter who is one in a million in that she has Heterochromia Iridium ie. one blue eye and one brown eye...hence the title. We went to a prizegiving on Saturday night and she collected the Clayton Rosebowl for winning a target shooting competition. We also won a Taz in the raffle which is why he's sat in the bowl!!

Anyway the background is swooshed Old Paper, Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo Distress inks with gold perfect pearls. The stamps are Darkroom Door and The Artistic Stamper. Hope you like!!

Spring has Sprung

Here's my entry for The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Challenge which has the theme of Spring. The sun has been shining quite a lot recently and Spring definitely makes me think of the garden. After the snowdrops, every garden seems awash with the yellows and purples of the crocus so that's where my inspiration came from.


I've made an 8 x 8 scrapbook page featuring photos of the crocus in my front garden. On the background I've lightly gone over Tim's clock mask with Shabby Shutters Distress Ink and the loopy strip is a die cut painted with Eggplant Dimensional Pearls. I've used a Flourish Swirl stamp from The Artistic Stamper behind the photos and Spring is stamped using my Mobe Century Gothic alphabet set.

Hope you like my bright and cheery page and thanks for looking!

Nature

Here's a little card for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge 144 on the theme of NATURE. Great choice of music this week!!



I think I'm stuck in a bluey/green phase. I brayered Thyme and Sky Blue Brilliance onto glossy card and then stamped this Crafty Individuals blackbird stamp over the top in Archival. The words are done with my trusty PSX Celtic alphabet.

Difficult to photo again due to the glossy card and the sun streaming through the window but I'm not complaining!! Long may the sun shine and birds twitter in the trees.

Paris

Back to the old routine this week and I've managed to make a card already...hooray! Anyway here it is on the theme of Paris for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge 143.


I alcohol inked some glossy card with Stream, Lettuce and Stonewash, then used Tim's stamps for the french images and a PSX Celtic alphabet set for the words. For another Paris card check out my last post.... this one is vaguely based on that design.....slightly messier but really just as quick!

Suffering again with reasonable daylight to photograph it properly but hope you can see all the colours. Thanks for looking!

More Projects

Two posts in two days! Must be going down with something!! Seriously I was sorting out all my goodies from Stitches and thought I'd get them photographed and on here before I forgot.

Firstly some Darkroom Door cards designed by Rachel Greig. The first one I did manage to finish - it was so quick and easy just using Darkroom Door Film Strips and Word Strips with just a little background stamping.


The second card I still have to complete but I love this seaside image and how just simple tinting brings it to life.


This next piece was done in Lindsay Mason and Andy Skinner's workshop using Decoart paints, perfect pearls and PI Stamps on a bisque heart. Looking at it now, I'm not sure the colours go but in a 45 minute workshop it's a case of using whatever is in front of you to get all the different components painted, stamped and dried.


For further info about any of these products then check out the teacher's blogs and be inspired!

New Ideas

Just spent a few days away re-charging the old batteries and spending some money. The main purpose was to go to the Stitches Trade Show at the NEC to source some new products for Oak House Studio workshops and the summer school. But before we got there we had to have a trip to Ikea to buy some mirrors and frames etc.

We spent 3 days walking the show, bumped into loads of friendly faces and spent some time on the Personal Impressions stand watching Lindsay Mason, Rachel Greig and Tim Holtz demoing. We did several workshops - fimo modelling, jewellery, painting bisque and crackling frames and of course stamping. As the workshops are only 45 mins long, most of my projects still need finishing off. But I did manage to complete this wire wrapped Swarovski Crystal ring.


I've never done any wire wrapping before but even I managed to make a ring that does actually fit. Don't you just love the bling!! It's certainly something I'd like to have a go at again when time is not so short.

I have a few Darkroom Door cards to finish so watch this space!!

Time Flies

I keep reading blogs and everyone keeps saying where does the time go. Well that's me this week. I was hoping to enter the Sunday Stamper challenge but really I'm not going to make it.

Besides not feeling well, I'm packing to go away for a few days with Lynnda from Oak House Studio. We live about 200 mile apart and don't get to see each other very often so we have 5 days of retail therapy planned. The main purpose of the trip is to go to Stitches Trade Show at the NEC to check out new products for the Summer School but also we get to watch loads of demos - Tim Holtz, Lindsay Mason, Leandra from Paperartsy, Rachel Greig from Darkroom Door etc.

But before that we have a few places to go on the way including a quick trip to PDA Card and Craft to see what their shop is like and probably a longer trip round Ikea to pick up some mirrors and frames for decorating. And then maybe a Craft Centre on the way to Brum.

My throat is sore now; I hate to think what it'll be like after 5 days of talking!!

Mini Book

Well we're having a fun week here .... three of us coughing and spluttering, keeping medical companies and tissue manufacturers in profit!! And its grey and drizzly outside!! So whilst I did make a start on my mini book for 2011, not a lot of progress has been made.


To keep some sort of fluency throughout I decided to buy a Basic Grey 6 x 6 pad for the pages - this one is Curio - don't you just love that paper! That rose is on my front cover and will be embellished later. I've sorted a few photos and found a vintage calendar that matches this year... so I'm all set to do January .... once my head's stopped throbbing.

Happy Days!

Time Flies

Here's an ATC I've made for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 140 with the theme of TIME.



It's a bit of a strange colour scheme for me - pale blue and orange - but I had a scrounge through my bit box and they just seemed to go with the gold watch case. I love this Artistic Stamper stamp - I borrowed it off a friend to use!! It's just stamped in stazon on acetate and then painted on the back with polished pigments mixed with glossy accents. Very difficult to photo due to the flash - it's very shiney in reality!! Anyway I stamped the watch stamp that was free with Craft Stamper in pale blue on the background and finished with the words TEMPUS FUGIT....and it certainly does!!

Well despite everyone around me coughing and spluttering it is feeling more like spring today with clear blue skies and sunshine. I spotted one snowdrop in my front garden on Saturday and today the crocus are out.... roll on Spring!

Sentiments

Here's a card I've made for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 139 with the theme of SENTIMENTS. Having had a rummage through my stamps I decided on this one of Tim Holtz's - one, because I like it and two, because my daughter has just spent 3 days sorting out her final displays for her Art GCSE with the mantra of quality not quantity.


The swooshy background is Bundled Sage, Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo distress inks with a gold perfect pearl mist. The owl is an Elusive Images stamp coloured with Gold Brilliance on shrink plastic. Now I'm sure I've used Brilliance on shrink plastic before but this time there was horrible smoke coming off it - not sure why!! I just stepped back a pace and carried on!! He's such a sweet owl don't you think - almost looks like he's smiling....that's if owls can!

Anyway I've been blogging for a year now and only managed 86 posts - that's not very good is it, not even two a week.....must try harder!!

Buttons

Here's a little card I've made for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge 138 with the theme of Buttons.


Still busy with exams at school so my crafting time is a bit limited, however I just thought I'd make a little card which would be suitable for a birthday or a thank you. The fabric hearts and button stamps are from Oak House Studio's Stitch in Time set.


Whilst we're talking about buttons I've just received this little piece in the Craft Stamper Trade It swap. It's by Sarah Ford, but there is no other information so if you ever read my blog, thank you Sarah - love the sentiment!!

Textures

Here's another ATC for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 137 with the theme of Texture and/or Feelings.

I treated myself to TH's chequerboard and crackle embossing folders in the sales so thought I'd better use them. I crackled some red card and then highlighted it with silver. The metal at the bottom was chequerboarded and then alcohol inked with reds and purples. I got so involved in the textures, I forgot the stamping so I just stamped the word love which covers the feelings part of the challenge and added a red heart.

I'm afraid the photo is not that good - the light today is abyssmal - but I hope you like. Hopefully the weather will brighten up this week and I can get some scrapbooking done!!

Diamonds

So, who pinched the last week. Not sure where the time has gone although I have been working ....that's my excuse. It's exam time again so I've been in the local school looking after all the happy smiling children doing their exams!! By the time I've stood up for 2 hours watching them yawning etc my creativity seems to have done a bunk out of the window. The light or lack of it doesn't help either.


Anyway thought I'd better get my act into gear and do something for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge 136 with the theme of DIAMONDS.

Just a simple ATC using a Harlequin stamp so I presume that covers the diamond aspect. Are harlequins diamonds? I guess they are shape-wise but how often do you get diamonds that are diamond shaped?? I think I've digressed!! Anyway the harlequin is stamped in Pine Needles distress inks and I've mopped up Broken China and Spiced Marmalade spritzed with a mist of green perfect pearls. The words are Tim's of course.

So I've actually made something this year and now I'm happy. Looking forward to more of Tim's sneaky peaks especially his new stamps.......oh and more exams to help to pay for them!!

Happy New Year

Just a quick post today wishing all my followers and readers a very Happy 2011 - I hope the year is full of crafting and inspiration!

I've not done any crafting for about two weeks mostly because we've been away and then needing the dining table for eating so I've had to pack my stash away!! Anyway this year I'm hoping to get more done and start scrapbooking again. Still undecided as to whether to join in a 365 day journalling challenge (but have a feeling I may not get past January) so think I'll stick to a 6 x 6 album with a double page for each month which is enough to give a flavour of my year. So having written it here, I must away and sort out some covers and pages etc.

Have a great day everyone and a great year!