Jo Firth-Young

Just a quickie post - March Craft Stamper

2012-01-28T21:23:00.000Z

Just a quick post:

Another lovely edition of Craft Stamper landed on the doormat this morning - & gave me an extra suprise as one of the photo's along the bottom (on left) is of one of my projects :o)
The big picture is a project by Linda Elbourne using lots of PaperArtsy stamps- nice..

Go and get yourself a copy - its a cracking edition!
Thats all for today - back to The Project tomorrow.

Take care

ACP Week 4: Grey + D = Die Cutting

2012-01-26T13:58:00.003Z

Week 4 of my Alphabet Colour Project, and is brought to you by the letter D and the colours grey and green. I don't think I use a lot of green which might explain why, when going through the stash, I found a lot of green - lots there that I like!
Look how nice they look together! Quite a calming colour combo.

D = Die cutting machines

... and not just the 'cutting' side of die-cutting more what else can be done with these very useful machines - which is why my first projects is this cute little altered birdhouse - one of my favourite pieces that I've made.

The roof of the house is covered in metal that has been run through the die cut machine (Big Shot) inside an embossing folder - I chose to pain the debossed side because the paint settles inside the impression - giving a limewashed effect - I really like this - lovely and aged.

Thanks for popping by - hope you're as inspired by grey and green as I am! I'm off to get painty... (though obviously I won't be wearing my new apron - thats for clean crafts lol)

Take care

ACP Week 3, part 4: Crowns

2012-01-23T23:06:00.000Z

My last post featured my 'Queen' apron - which by the way is still pristine :o) The crown was die cut from a square of denim... the waste of which got me thinking - it was still a perfect complete negative of the crown and so, not liking to see things go to waste....

I've used it to embellish a bag - love this muchly - very happy with how it turned out - and it makes me smile as the check fabric is one of hubby's old shirts (he loves a check shirt!)- he's well 'trained' not to throw out his old shirts and jeans- I have a plan that one day I'll make a quilt or something out of all his checked shirts.. (its on the list in my head of 'projects that I'll get around to eventually')

The motif is bondaweb'd and then machine stitched to the bag - working around the edges and adding some colour - and of course adding some buttons.

Its a really simple bag that'll come in useful for carrying books, magazines or craft stash!

This is the last of the crown projects - tomorrow it'll be something beginning with D and another colour to go with Grey...

Hope you're all well, thanks for popping by.

ACP Week 3, part 3: Queen of my Craftroom!

2012-01-21T22:31:00.000Z

I am the Queen of my Craftroom! Obviously this is said with my tongue firmly in my cheek - its not as if I sit at my desk wearing a crown or anything! But if I can't be Queen in here where can I be??

I may have stopped short of wearing an actual crown but I have made myself an apron with a crown motif...
I've kept the design quite plain so that it is practical... it looks very clean doesn't it - can't see it staying that way for long! lol (though at the moment I really don't want to get paint or anything on it - maybe this could be my sewing apron...)

The crown is a die cut (sizzix) - I really like using dies with materials other than paper & card. The die went through this denim really cleanly. Love it.

Workshops at Imagine That

2012-01-20T09:00:00.006Z

I'm going to be teaching the workshops below at Imagine That in Upminster. A few places left so if you like the idea of a creative painty day call the shop on 01708 641198.
I look forward to seeing you.

Clearly for Cards

Thursday, 26 January 2012, 14:00-16:30

Wednesday, 15 February 2012, 14:00-16:30

Getting Fancy with Fresco Finishes

Thursday, 26 January 2012, 10:00-13:00

Wednesday, 15 February 2012, 10:00-13:00

ACP Week 3, part 2: Crowned!

2012-01-19T16:03:00.002Z

I'd been looking for a skull stamp for a while and when I saw this skull image on a set of PaperArtsy stamps it was love at first sight - I love it - its a great skull.

I knew straight away I would be putting all kind of hats & headwear on that shiny smooth head!

When I was looking for something the otherday I found a box full of chipboard crowns! *happyclapping*
I knew of a lovely skull that would very splendid in one of those!! So I put the skull and a crown together (well it is crown week!) and I created this:

That lovely mottled silver is created with the Stampendous 'Frantage' aged silver embossing powder. Several layers of that with a stamp (PaperArtsy) pressed in for texture.

The tag is a bit of a PaperArts fest - Tag, Fresco Finish Paints, HotPick stamp (Halloween 01), Crafters Workshop stencils (brocade, harlequin), & the small image on crown is from Crowns & Castles 7. All available from PaperArtsy who are having a sale at the moment - pop over and grab some lovely goodies.

Thanks for popping by!

ACP Week 3: Grey + C = Crowns

2012-01-17T13:28:00.000Z

Its Week 3 of my Alphabet Colour Project, and is brought to you by the letter C and the colours Grey and Blue.
oh! I do love a bit of grey & bue - whether its a duck egg, powder or teal they all seem to look great with grey!

C = Crowns

I'm starting the week with a card (hhhmmm there's a pattern forming here...), the stamped image in the centre is letterpressed rather than stamped...

I like the impressed image that letterpressing creates - has such a traditional feel to it. Love muchly! Well worth the time it takes to create the effect (don't get me wrong it doesn't take hours longer, just a bit longer to set up, position, print, clean up etc etc etc)

I hope you like today's project - if the design or colour combo has inspired you please leave a link to your blog in comments & I'll pop by and have a snoop at your creation :o)

Thanks for popping by!

Craft Stamper February Issue

2012-01-16T17:31:00.003Z

Craft Stamper has published some lovely issues over the last 12 months, this month's (on sale now) is no exception.

I have an article inside this issue... I created something useful... I hope it inspires you.

The publishers of Craft Stamper (Traplet) have a new magazine: Scrap365 - its a really nice magazine - I like it alot - nice modern layout and articles. Get a copy - you won't regret it.

And one last thing - both Craft Stamper and Scrap365 are available digitally - how cool is that! go to http://www.pocketmags.com/ for all the details.

ACP Week 2, Part 3: one last grey & pink post...

2012-01-16T11:19:00.000Z

There wasn't any grey with the pink in yesterday's post I thought I'd make up for it with this additional post:

One of my favourite items in our home is my vintage mannequin (I'm sure it's featured on here before now)... it's a bit more shabby than chic but thats what I love about it.
It stands in a corner of our bedroom, and items gradually get pinned on to it (for want of somewhere else to put them ie the flowers shown in the photo), & recently I've been using it to display clothes that were going on ebay... the pink top shown in the picture is one item I couldn't bear to part with so never made it to ebay (but it didn't make it back to the wardrobe either lol), then a while later I hung a cardigan on the mannequin so it wouldn't get creased...
and look at the lovely colour combo that was created! Serendipity! love it when that happens!

OK, enough of the grey & pink - onto other colours later on today...

ACP Week 2, part 2: can you ever have too much bunting?!

2012-01-15T17:44:00.000Z

NO, you can never have too much bunting! & bunting doesn't have to be mean lines of triangular pennants:

This is a trial bunting line I've just made for a shop valentine window display - oh yes: christmas is over & Valentine's Day is just around the corner..... just saying! lol (next it'll be Easter!)(I'd lay money on some of the supermarkets having easter produce in already!)
The bunting needed to be a big'n'bold(ish) as it will be seen from a distance - so no fine detail - but I couldn't resist some book text!... but it still looks dainty doesn't it - I think this is because the hearts are hanging at different points on the shape, the colours & the spacing... (if all the hearts had be sewn across the tops it would look too regimented, don't you think?)

All sewn onto string for hanging.. not only does this bunting make me happy but it makes me come over all romantic! :o)

Today I deviated from the grey theme (I was multitasking)(unless we count the book text as dark grey?) - back to the strict(ish) plan tomorrow when grey will be back with a different accompanying colour and theme.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

ACP Week 2: Grey + B = Bunting

2012-01-12T14:47:00.003Z

There were so many crafting options to choose from beginning with the letter B including bottles, birds, bleach, buttons (of course! lol), bottles tops - but on this run of the alphabet this is my choice.

B = Bunting

I think I've mentioned several times (at least lol) how much I like (love!) bunting - it makes me smile - its such a happy joyful decoration - village fetes, christmas,etc etc etc... I have several projects lined up this week featuring bunting...

I teamed grey with pinks for todays project- pink and grey seems (to me) such an 80s colour combo but like everything else 80s its seems to be making a bit of a comeback....

Today's projects are nice, cute, & simple cards.

Stamps are Purple Onion & papers are Basic Grey (6x6 Bittersweet) & card is from the stash.

I hope you like today's projects - if the design or colour combo has inspired you please leave a link to your blog in comments & I'll pop by and have a snoop at your creation :o)

Thanks for popping by!

Prepping for classes!

2012-01-09T12:28:00.000Z

I have a workroom at home where all my creative 'stuff' can be shut away from the rest of the home and I can be as messy as I like (which is good as I live with a very neat person! lol)(and the cats can't get to all the bits and pieces that cats would find interesting... )

My one of the presents my lovely hubby bought me for christmas was a TV for the workroom - I'd explained to him I would get more done if I had TV in the room as I wouldn't need to stop work to watch a fave tv programme.... & so far its worked - I'm on a roll baby!! lol The tv also has freeview so I can listen to the radio when I work which I haven't been able to do recently as the reception here is more than a little bit rubbish! and its got a dvd player so I can watch MGM musicals to my hearts content while working (& sing/howl along too obviously lol!) I'm feeling quite spoiled :o)
And seriously: I am getting more work done! Love it.

In the next few months I'll be teaching classes, some of which will feature PaperArtsy's Fresco Finish Paints - LOVE these paints!
Please come and join me - the more the merrier - dates will be added to the side of the blog in the next few days.

Pictures on this post are of some of the 'playing-with-the-product' samples that are piling up at the side of the desk!

The above photo is of some tags that I was playing with the new translucent paints - love how they change the colour of the base paint, and the image is visible through the paint.

Right I'm off back to the painting table - lots of prep to do - hhhm I think can hear 7bridesfor7brothers calling me....

ACP Week 1: Grey + A = Aperture

2012-01-08T19:00:00.000Z

The letter of this week is A, & I'll admit it is skidding in on the last day but that's because I was busy posting all the introductions to the project I've started - next week: less talk, more projects :o)

Throughout the year I'll by putting the main colour together with other colours - and grey has been a nice colour to start with - I like grey a lot - and colours seem to go with it really easily.... today's project uses grey with yellow.

A = Aperture

Today's project is quick'n'easy! This is a card design I've used before (taught it as part of a class) and I really like it - simple but effective (and using 3 types of paper its a great stash-buster!) - I like that the aperture becomes a window: I covered the aperture with acetate - makes a great space for mounting something - this time a fabric flower that I added a sparkly button to the centre of (more of those later in the month)... The die used to cut the aperture has to be one of my favourite Spellbinder dies - Labels 1.

The funny little mannequin to the side is a Lego piece - I came across it on Ebay and couldn't resist it - it just makes me smile - I have dressforms/mannequins in several sizes - life size all the way down to Lego size - got it all covered! lol

Aaaaanyhoo back to the project.... if the design or colour combo has inspired you please leave a link to your blog in comments & I'll pop by and have a snoop at your creation :o)

Thanks for popping by!

Jo

Alphabet & Colour Project Part 1: January's colour is.....

2012-01-04T19:07:00.000Z

GREY..GREY..GREY..GREY..GREY..GREY

My BIG Blog Project

2012-01-04T13:09:00.001Z

I decided that this year I'd be a bit more proactive with my blog - a bit more organised about how I blog - no more of this 'I can't believe its been soooo long since I last blogged' nonsense.

I have set myself a 'project'... something that will challenge, inspire & prompt me to:
a. blog on a regular basis
b. create something on a regular basis
c. attack and use the mountain of stash that is in my workroom! (oh yes, the stash pile has been upgraded to 'mountain')

So after lots of thinking and planning (trying to keep it SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely)...
I have settled on using the alphabet to prompt a theme every week; find something to do with crafting for every letter of the alphabet - all 26 of them (no skipping X & Y & Z!) which ties in very nicely with the 52 weeks of the year! (love it when things like that happen!) -the alphabet will be repeated twice in the year.
Also, each month will be allocated a colour that will predominant through the month while working with all the prompts of the alphabet!
Not making this easy for myself am I! lol
(& you are all following this aren't you... lol)

And so is born the Alphabet & Colour Project (ACP) - not the snappiest of titles I know but it does what it says on the tin!

The plan is each month I will create a moodboard of the chosen colour (I love making moodboards! lol), and then (Sesame Street stylee):
January will be brought to you by the colour GREY and by the letters A, B, C, D
February will be brought to you by the colour RED and by the letters E, F, G, H
etc etc etc
Posting approximately 2-3 projects a week - some big, some small....
Simples! I'm really excited - can't wait to get going!

Now I've shared this plan with you all I have to stick with it don't I - lol - I'm excited - come hell, high water or (hopefully) moving house I will do my best to complete the project!

Wish me luck! lol
and if I inspire anyone along the way (which I hope I do) thats a Brucie Bonus! :o)

New Year... New Look

2012-01-02T13:24:00.001Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The year is up and running and its going to be an exciting one here in the UK - among other things there's the small matter of the Olympics!! oh yes!!
I'm actually properly excited about the coming year- its going to be a good one - and its a leap year - I like leap years for several reasons but especially because one of my Grandads was born on Feb 29th! :o)

This is just a quick post to wish you all best for the new year... I'll be back later in the week - I have a few things to sort out which I'm excited about - I'll tell you more in the next post.

Have you noticed anything new about my little corner of the WWW? I've given it a snazzy new look for the new year - hope you like it as much as I do!

Jo

WOYWW...

2011-12-21T09:49:00.001Z

... not much has changed since last week! So this is my messy painty desk - the one I usually post photos of:

Sketchbook on my still-very-clean craft sheet, ink pads, the glass balls on the right of the photo are a lamp I've brought in from the lounge to use with a daylight bulb (the light in my workroom is an old round(!!) flourescent) but this week no Lola on the desk...
and thats because she's here at the other desk! lol

This desk faces the other one (I stand/sit inbetween), and its quite tidy!

Festive accident update - the eye is not 95% back to normal, cheekbone swelling gone done but still painful and bruise on leg still going through some interesting colour changes... so its all good! lol Not to be repeated I can assure you - I've had my share of accidents and incidents this year! Here's to an uneventful 2012! lol

Thats all folks - go and snoop elsewhere - :o) go to Julia's (queen of WOYWW) blog to see what this is all about.

Just in case I don't see you again before 2012: thanks for stopping by in 2011 - it wouldn't be the same without you and I wish you all a

MERRY CHRISTMAS &
A HAPPY HEALTHY CRAFTY
NEW YEAR!!

Things are changing over on the lilypad...

2011-12-16T08:45:00.003Z

... because Banana Frog will be closing the doors to the lilypad at the end of January.
I have really enjoyed my 3 years on the Design Team - 3 years!! Time really does fly when you're having fun!
I'd like to thank Bev (Leader of the Lilypad!)(Top Froglette) for inviting me onto the DT, for being a great designer of stamps, and for generally being a bit of a superstar! lol
And thanks to all the Frog-Followers for stopping by the Banana Frog blog and looking at all the DT's projects, I hope you've been inspired to go and stamp on anything and everything :o)

I've been taking a look at the projects I've made over the last 3 years for Projects of the Days, Blog Hops and for Bev's tv appearances and I thought I'd show you some of my favourites.

One of my favourite stamps sets is 'Scribble Flowers' - *love* this set!

Looking back I've made lots of cards with the stamps sets, and also a couple of lengths of bunting - and I think that I've mentioned how much I like bunting - it makes me happy!

The bunting banner above was created for a Project of the Day, and the one below was made for Bev to take to a Create & Craft filming as a sample... so pretty it makes me smile and feel all christmassy! lol

Its really hard to choose favourite projects, or favourite stamps sets - I like each one for different reasons - here's 'Retro Space' (a really fun set) - I think this card is one of my most favourite that I've created - its soo retro! (and you can't tell from the photo but its dimensional. love!)

And last but not least - CUPCAKES!! These cards are too pretty by far - can't beat pink, sparkles and cupcakes.

I hope you've enjoyed my little look back at projects, if you hop on over to the Banana Frog site there are lots of bargains to be had... though things are going fast so I'd be quick if I were you!

Take care

WOYWW

2011-12-14T11:11:00.002Z

I wasn't going to WOYWW this week until this photo opportunity came along:

This is Little Miss Lola, she's sitting on the only clear part of the desk (I've been busy creating so its a 'little' messy). She sits there because she can't get any further - no clear space.. and she's not as agile as many other cats due to a tricky knee and a certain amount of chubbiness! lol but she's adorable so I thought I'd make her the 'star' of my desk this week.

Speaking of agility or lack of..

Oh yes, that shiner is my right eye! Sustained while decorating the christmas tree on Sunday.
Do I get the prize for 1st festive related injury?
So here is the festive crime scene, and no, don't adjust your monitor- the tree is supposed to be upside down!

So the lesson I learned (the hard way) from this is that you should not step down from the arm of the sofa (should I even have been standing on the arm of the sofa?) onto a cowhide covered (solid) pouf in loose fitting wool socks!
The combination of all those things is that I slipped on the pile of the fur, the pouf went one way, I went the other - straight onto the edge of the metal boxes next to the tree, resulting in a blackened eye, a very sore cheek bone and a bruised leg. Merry bloomin christmas!

I am finding this quite funny because:
1. I never normally do things like this (its been 37 years apparently (according to my parents) since I last blacked my eyes - the last time being 2 days before the photographers yearly visit! Its all in the timing! lol)

2. I could have knocked my teeth out - makes me feel quite sick even thinking about that!
3. I'm quite enjoying watching it change colour - every morning its been a different colour and the swelling has moved...

So, please be careful while decorating your tree - let my black eye etc be a lesson for all of you! :o)
There ends todays health & safety informtion post.

And to learn more about WOYWW go here

and after a post like this how could you not want to follow this blog?! lol It has everything - public information, cute picture of a cat, crafting - oh well, no crafting today but there is normally! So please follow because:

" - I'll be a happy little blogger if I can get up to (or over!) 100 followers by 2012... in fact I'll be so happy I'll have a little blog-give-away in celebration!"

Christmas... part 4...

2011-12-08T13:24:00.000Z

The temperature is definitely dropping, and all the leaves are falling off the trees (which is keeping Mr JoFY and his newly acquired leaf blower busy)(can't get my head round that - he's basically hoovering the garden isn't he! lol) so Christmas is on its way - confirmed by hearing 'last christmas' by Wham! played in a shop - that's how I know its christmas!

Here are the last of my Christmas samples. First up is another Cabinet Card pennant:

this time I embossed the pennant (made from mount board) with the Sizzix 'starry night' embossing folder (see this post for more details.. or just scroll down - its in 'christmas part 2'), coloured with distress inks, distressed with water, added a bit of bling with 'frosted lace' stickles - gotta love those for subtle accents of sparkliness! 'frantage' embossing powder around the edge and I covered the big iron work star (under the rosette) with the same - love that embossing powder! So much so that I applied it to the edge of the rosette too - blinging it up! It is christmas!!

So the pennant is a bit distressed but the next sample I made is more shabby chic but without much shabby! lol
This sample is just.. erm.. well.. hhmmm.. pretty, yep its pretty. I wanted to do something with the rosettes other than sticking them onto something and so I made a hanging decoration:

The main rosette (slightly larger that the die made rosettes- this one's made using a Martha Stewart scoreboard) is made out of Tilda double sided paper - such a pretty spotted paper - lovely soft blue. Its topped with a book text rosette & another ironworks star/snowflake (I'm getting a lot of use out of these dies aren't I lol)

On the other side of the rosette is the pretty rose print, all the fixings of the rosettes are hidden by another rosette, and a Martha Stewart snowflake - bought last year & I still love it!
All blinged up with stickles and a self adhesive gem!

Pretty!

This is the decoartion from the side showing the layers of rosettes:

Once our tree is up - scheduled for the weekend - I'll take a picture of it on the tree....

I'm off to watch my youngest nephew in his Nursery's play - he's 3yrs old and very cute - I may require tissues.... Its all getting very christmassy!!

Wrap up warm and have a nice day..

PS before you go - maybe you could help me - I'm putting together a 'christmas alphabet' any suggestions for the letters v-z?? Please leave any suggestions in the comments! Ta muchly in advance :o)

PPS - Just a reminder: 100 followers or over on this blog by 2012 and there will be a give-away!!
I'm just going to mention this every so often, not every post, or it'll start to sound like nagging! lol

WOYWW & Christmas(ish) part 3...

2011-12-07T09:27:00.001Z

Here's my desk this week with general stuff on it including a new, nice, clean, & uncut craft sheet... & the address book because I've written all my christmas cards - and before you're impressed that on 7th December I've finished my cards - don't be because I bought them! And it was very liberating - I'll make family & hubby's but all other are shop bought.

What I'm seeing in the photo is no difference to the state of my desk even though I spent a good couple of hours the other day re-organising it... how depressing.

Earlier in the year I helped clear and organise the White Shed at PaperArtsy HQ... anyone else think Leandra should/could come over and help clear my work room?

Lets vote - raise hands please...
Right, I'll call her..
ooh, hold on... what's that you're saying at the back?
You'd rather she spent her time bottling paints and pressing rubber than clearing up someone elses mess?
oh, OK fair point..
I'll tidy up on my own - seems right - it is my mess afterall... lol

I'll be round for a snoop later on... and if you have no idea what this WOYWW is all about go HERE and all will become clear..

And now for something much prettier than my desk:

Here's a decoration I made using a whole lot of Tim H's stuff (not something I normally do). A vintage cabinet card turned upside down makes a great penant and the circular part cries out to have a rosette mounted onto it. Then there' a Hero Art stamp, distress inks, Adage tickets, ball chain, and memo pins (they're trickly little beggars aren't they! lol)

I have something else christmassy to show you tomorrow...

Please 'follow' the blog (over on the left-hand-side - I'll be a happy little blogger if I can get up to (or over!) 100 followers by 2012... in fact I'll be so happy I'll have a little blog-give-away in celebration!

Looking like Christmas, Part 2

2011-12-05T17:30:00.005Z

Better pic's of the Craft Barn samples.. This is quite an unusual colour scheme for christmas cards but people liked the colours so here they are, but unfortunately the camera isn't picking up the shimmer on the backgrounds or the shine on the embossing.. :

Tag with embossed snowflakes/stars/fireworks (quite a versatile background I think...), and paper die cuts inked up and embossed with the Stampedous 'aged silver' embossing enamel.

EDIT: The embossing folder is by Sizzix and is called 'Starry Night', its a set with 1 12x15 folder (the stars), a sentiment folder - used on the flourish card, and 2 small motif folders - its a favourite of mine!

I think this might be my favourite card - but its a close call between this and the one below...

The inside background is the debossed side of a white piece of card coloured up with distress inks, while the front of the card blank has the embossed version (I simply turn the embossed piece of card over & use which one suits) - love the background:

I like how the card has a short front so the inside and front panels can be seen together, several layers - and I'm loving those flourishes - expect to see those in a lot more projects.. lol

(the sentiment on the card makes me want to sing the song its taken from - but I'll try not to do that too often or in public....)

Its beginning to look a bit like Christmas!!

2011-12-05T09:00:00.007Z

On the first Saturday of each month The Craft Barn has in-shop demonstrations and this month I was providing one of them... I had a lovely day, lots of lovely peeps came and watched the demos - bought the products I was demo'ing which was great - but in the afternoon it meant that it was as much an improvisation as a demonstration! lol
Here are some sneak peeks of my samples - a few of the originals will go to the shop...

Lots of techniques & products on these - Rosettes - created with Tim Holtz die (I think I've mentioned before how much I like these! lol); Distress Inks (antique linen, frayed burlap, weathered wood, black soot); dry embossing - with Sizzix folders - these give a really good deep impression; die cutting - Spellbinders - great flourishes (love); and wet embossing - covering the die cuts making them look like metal - this effect was achieved using Stampedous 'Fran-tage' embossing enamels in 'aged silver' and aged black (which is a really lovely colour.. we're talking reeeeeeally nice! (& so is the 'aged silver' judging by how fast it sold out!)

Thanks to everyone who watched the demos, I hope you were inspired. Demo's wouldn't be the same without you!

xx

DECEMBER!!!

2011-12-04T12:51:00.001Z

... and when I say 'December' followed by lots of exclamation marks its a not in a 'ooh December, how exciting!' type way.. no, its more of a 'ooh December!! surely not! where did that year go!' type way!! lol

but anyhooo.... its here and so we'd better get busy with:
* the christmas decorations (still in garage, not on tree),
* the christmas cards (that will be bought this year rather than made)(oh the shame! but I'll make the 'important' ones)
* and the general merriment and festivities that the season brings... yay!!

I finished the small flower ball I mentioned in the last post, and here it is:

This was created with 2in squares of book text - very fiddly! lol and to finish it off I glued pearls into the centres. This will go on the christmas tree I think... (not that I've thought about the colours on the tree this year... tho I am liking the fact that all the decs are in the garage rather than in the attic! much easier to get to! lol)

Here are the two balls together - showing the difference in the size.. I think I've got these out of my system now... fun to make..

Paper Engineering, Part 2....

2011-11-30T09:30:00.016Z

I recently started to follow Phiona Richards (@rarenotions) on Twitter (quick question - what did we do with our time before we tweeted? lol - don't bother answering...) who made/showed something that reminded me of an origami flower ball that an NCFE Student at SACC made a few years ago and it prompted me to make one (it was on a 'must try that when I get 5 minutes' list that was tucked away in the recesses of my brain), and here it is in all its origami-button-embellished loveliness.. really happy with how it looks - all 12 flowers, 60 petals of it!
Phew thats a lot of folding and sticking!

Loved making this - great project for making while you're sitting in front of the tv, folding & sticking, folding & sticking...

I really like the button centres....

This flower ball is made from 4in squares of paper, I'm currently working on one where petals are made from 2in squares - teeny tiny - I'll post a picture when its done. ;o)
On twitter, where I posted the pictures yesterday, people asked for instructions (waving at you Jean!)- the flower ball is not my design and I found the instructions on the web - there are lots of them out there - this is the one I used:
http://folio-love.com/diy-2/diy-paper-flower-tutorial/ This is the instructions for the flowers and then I guessed/played/looked at photos of how to stick all the flowers together to form a ball - which is quite easy to work out (or there may be another tutorial out there for that.

Paper Engineering, Part 1: Me, Martha & some sheets of paper....

2011-11-29T09:30:00.000Z

I love a bit of paper engineering - I find it relaxing (when it works!) - the methodical manner in which the pieces are cut and pieced together..
a couple of weeks ago I tweeted this:

I made it using the Martha Stewart 'party crafting template' a great tool which gives guides for cutting the individual pieces - no measuring - LOVE tools like that - its not that I'm a lazy crafter but if there's a tool that makes life/crafting easier then I'm interested!
This star was cut from one of my favourite papers - My Minds Eye - spots on one side and typed text on the reverse - LOVE! and I love how the star turned out - much nicer than the similar star that turned up on the front of 'Making' magazine the following week! lol (in my opinion anyway! lol)
The star measures 16inches top to bottom - I'm going to make some in a single colour to go on the christmas tree - I know 16inches sounds big for a tree decoration but the tree is 7ft tall, and it'll look great with these wooden snowlake decorations that we already have:

I think they're about 8-10inches - I really like big ornaments on a tree (as well as the little ones) statement pieces!

Where do I start!

2011-11-29T08:08:00.000Z

Its been a while since I posted - again - and lots as happened and I'm not sure where to start soooo
lets start at the very beginning
its a very good place to start
when you read you begin with A.B. C..
When you craft you begin with.....
Paints from PaperArtsyyyyyy

Those clever-paint-making-wizards at PaperArtsy have expanded the range of Fresco Finish paints - I love these fantastic matt finish acrylic paints - if you haven't used them before get yourselves over to the PaperArtsy site - HERE - and buy some - you won't regret it!

The new colours are brighter but still have the lovely matt finish and some are Translucent which means that you can layer them up with other colours, or paint over the top of a stamped image and that image will show through... genius - its made the range of colours really versatile.

Loving using stencils with stamping - something I used to do but have moved on to other techniques (like we all do) - so happy to be revisiting it - thanks to Lynne Perrella & Leandra for the reminder and inspiration.....

The above tags are samples I made when I demo'd the Fresco Finish paints (& PaperArtsy stamps) at Birds in the Barn (Marks Tey, nr Colchester). I had a nice time demo'ing, talking to customers, and putting faces to names - waving at you lovelies Tina & Shirley! lol
I have a couple of days of classes planned at the shop in the New Year. Hope to see you there.

So thats the update - I have a few others but I'll save those for another day...

xx

Project of the Day :: Wrap it Up :: Banana Frog

2011-11-16T18:06:00.001Z

Typepad is not in a happy mood and is not letting me load up my Banana Frog project of the day - so I'm blogging it here and linking across - so instead of the usual sneakpeek I show on here this month you get to see the whole thing! (I need to blog it somewhere and here's as good a place as any! lol)

My project of the day is made with three things in mind:
1) Attacking the stash
2) Recycling
3) Gift Wrapping - christmas is only 40 days away!! :o)

Through the year I've bought several packs of Sizzix Embossing folders and they come in clear plastic pillow box - no printing or embossing on them - great for recycling! :o)

I got out a couple of my favourite Banana Frog sets - Backgrounds & Cake Greetings:

I cut deep strips of paper - about 9x30cm - and stamped along the length to create a decorative background.

Then I punched some decorative borders and attached them to the back of the above strips.
I stamped up a greeting strip and stuck that on top.

I'm still working my way through the pile of rosettes I made a while back so picked out ones that worked with the colourschemes and used them as a focal point for the wrap.

I stamped and punched motifs & attached them to the rosettes that I then attached to the wrap with glue dots. I wrapped all of this around the plastic pillow boxes, added some bakers twine (love!) and stuffed with tissue paper.

I really enjoyed making these - reduce, reuse and recycle - and are such a cute way to wrap something. All they need now is a gift inside.

For more details on Banana Frog products go here: http://www.bananafrog.co.uk/

WOYWW....

2011-11-02T10:22:00.001Z

Good morning all you lovely snoopers! lol

What's on my worktop this week - well not much really so you can actually see the worktop (fanfare please!):

BUT, the only reason the desk looks this clear is because I put all the cr*p, ahem, sorry the box of lovely bits of paper I'm saving for later(!) on the table in front over here:

see, now I'm just spoiling you - thats two desks you can snoop around if you feel so inclined!
& check out that box of lovely PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints! and there's new colours bottled and waiting - how excited am I?!?! I've seen them- and I want them.. no I neeeeed them....

OK, that's quite enough - off you go to snoop elsewhere... I'll be around for a snoop tour later

(ps.. I'm ~~quite~~ very embarrassed at how unorganised and messy my room looks - I'll be around for a snoop once I've cleared up (cleared out) my stuff (hhm so that could be next tuesday)... now where did I put the rubbish sacks...)

Seasonal & Sirs

2011-11-01T17:30:00.001Z

I'll be teaching two classes at the lovely Imagine That in Upminster on 16 November, there are still some places available so if you want some inspiration for mens cards or christmas cards then come along!

Here are the sneak peeks:

The classes include distress (products - not you or me! lol), die cutting, stamping... all in the surroundings of a shop full of lovely products! What more could you ask for?! Oh, you want tea & coffee? Yes, you get that too!!

Otto & Adelaide!!

2011-11-01T09:00:00.020Z

I've finished my two projects from the Lynne Perella/ArtsyCrafts weekend...

First up is Adelaide (the Adventurer)

When I was making this piece I had to make up a back story for her to make sense of what I was putting in the piece so that (for me) it all made sense.... So, here is Adelaide, an Edwardian, educated, Lady who has a taken a pile of the Family money and gone travelling. On her travels she has become interested in nature and has a particular fascination for birds. To give here a slightly sassy look I cut off her hat and repositioned it over one eye - gives her an air of mystery or a polite 'I might be a gentle woman but don't mess with me' look lol
I couldn't decide whether to put Adelaide behind glass or not - I like it being open because of all the elements but then Bertie (cat) took an interest in the bird on her hat and the other feathers and the decision was made - she's safely behind glass! lol
I really love how this piece turned out - it's so gentle and calm but still with a lot going on (all the layers), and it was a great image that Lynne Perrella gave us to work with.

.. and now for Otto!! I love Otto! - He gets his name from the book cover page that I used on the background of his assemblage.

So Otto's back story is that he was once a famous concert clarinetist - he played all over the world, was famous and adored by fans.... but now his star has faded and he makes his living tutoring people to play the clarinet... (I gave him this story because I felt he has such a proud but slightly sad face - but he should be proud - passing on his gift of music to others.....)
(he's not behind glass due to the twigs sticking out over the frame but he is up on a high shelf where hopefully my furry fourlegged friend can't reach him... fingers crossed lol)

So that how things work in my head - paper people are given stories so I can create an assemblage for them out of this'n'that... lots of fun! (but maybe I overthink these things rofl)

A 'bloomin' marvellous day at the Craft Barn...

2011-10-31T22:12:00.001Z

Yesterday I taught for the first time at The Craft Barn - I've demo'd there a few times but yesterday was my first class. The 9 lovely ladies made this (and another project):

I luuuurve this canvas!! - so cute'n'pretty! Here are a few of the ladies working on their canvasses - up to their elbows and well covered in PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints - love those paints!! They painted the flowers (Claudine Hellmuth 'Blooms') onto Claudine Hellmuth/Ranger sticky back canvas which means that sticking all the flowers down onto the base canvas is a doddle - just peel of the backing and stick down! Sticky-back-canvas - another product that I love!

The classroom is great: light, airy and in the roof space of the Barn which means there is a bloomin great big horizontal beam running through the space - I managed NOT to hit my head on the beam (which is covered in several 'mind your head' signs but even so more than once my head was only about an inch away from the beam before I saw it! lol)
Thanks to everyone who came to the class - great to see some familiar peeps and meet some new ones. It was a good day - I'm looking forward to teaching at the Craft Barn again soon - but before I do that I'll be demo'ing there on the 3rd December - projects with a Christmassy theme - Oh Yes - Christmas!!! its only about 8 weeks away!!!!

Whoosh!

2011-10-27T13:47:00.000+01:00

No, that's not the rate at which I'm getting through my to-do list (though I wish it was!).. Whoosh! is the training centre in Chelmsford where I'll be teaching a Christmas themed course in couple of weeks.
I'm really looking forward to running this course - getting ready for christmas & making lovely fabric stockings ready to be filled with even lovelier presents... but have you been naughty or nice?? 'cos Santa's got a list and he's checking it twice .... but I don't mind what side of Santa's list you're on - it'd be great if you could come along for a bit of festive crafting. I'll bring christmas tunes & maybe even mince pies!!
Hope to see you there..
Here are the details:

Get Ready For Santa!

Christmas Stockings & Decorations!
In this wonderful 2-week course you will learn how to sew your own Christmas stockings (small, medium and large) and tree decorations for family members to hang by the fireplace, at the end of your bed or wherever Santa may be expected! From baby's first Christmas, to children's and grown-up designs too, you can have fun creating your own beautiful and unique handmade designs. All learners will be required to purchase a basic starter kit direct from the trainer on week 1, to which you can add your own embellishments, adornments and ribbons from home for week 2.
CODE ART12E05

Where: The Whoosh! Centre, Chelmsford (Blue Room)
When: Saturday, 05 & 12 November 2011
Time: 11.00am - 3.00pm
Cost: £20.00
You will also need to buy a basic starter kit direct from the trainer at £7.50.
Call to book: 01245 256079

Class at The Craft Barn!

2011-10-24T18:00:00.001+01:00

On Sunday - 30th October - I'm teaching a class at The Craft Barn - I'm really looking forward to it - here's a sneak peak of one of the pieces we'll be making.

So if you fancy getting all painty with me ring the shop and see if there are any places left, the more the merrier!

Helloooooooooo... is there anyone there??? Helloooooooo???

2011-10-24T16:29:00.000+01:00

Are you out there still? If you are then thanks for popping by, sticking with me because its been a disgracefully long time since I last blogged - shameful! Just over a month!! Shocking. I've missed blogging- missed interacting with all you lovely peeps out there on the www - I shouldn't have stayed away so long!

But I'm back, quite a few things have happened and quite a few things had to be put on hold because I was not a 100% but I'm better now so here's a quick round up:
I've.. erm... welll I .... hmm its a bit hard to know where to srart so I'll ignore all the little things and move straight onto the big stuff:

ArtsyCrafts with Lynne Perrella!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
omg - how much of a great time did I have at Lynne Perrella's workshops?!?!? Bloomin' marvelous!!
An 11 hour, 400 mile round trip to get there - & it was worth every single mile & moment!
I went for 2 of the 3 days - made 2 projects - which I'm still tweaking - yeah yeah yeah - I know, me tweaking a project, who'd have thought - but they'll be finished very soon and when they are I'll put up pictures - the PaperArtsy site and video has pics of them as works in progress - I'll leave you to guess which are mine...
Here is me with the FANTASTIC Lynne Perrella - she is a fabulous, funny, talented teacher - really generous with her ideas and time - brilliant.

She showed us how to get the most out of stencils & photocopies of vintage photos & illustrations, I barely touched a stamp during the whole weekend! We collaged, stencilled, glued, repurposed & painted.

A brilliant weekend.

This is Lynne P's demo desk on Saturday night when she was showing how to add colour to a picture (of Edgar Allen Poe) with a bespoke stencil - I love how she effortlessly adds colour to alter the tone of a picture.

It was a really fabulous weekend - I learnt lots of things that I'll use on future projects- but mainly I'll take away that you don't have to have all the latest this'n'that - rummage through drawers, repurpose things, paint things, & photocopies are versatile (I know that already but it was well worth revisiting) etc etc etc...

Finally 'Thank you' to my lovely hubby who bought me the weekend as a birthday present!

Introducing Agatha - My She Art Girl!

2011-09-21T16:17:00.000+01:00

I recently took Christy Tomlinson 'She Art Girl' online class. I love how she builds up layers of background, and creates these 'art girls'. My one, Agatha, is created on recycled mount board (6x12in) - I'm proud of the fact I didn't use a pattern - I just drew her, cut out the pieces and stuck them down - normally I would make sure the everything was symmetrical (like her dress and body shape) but ooh no this time I just stuck the bits down! Very liberating.

I really like her boots! - she was going to have slouch socks too but, ahem, I forgot to stick them on before the boots! oops - nevermind - I'll just use them on another Art Girl.

I like the fact that she doesn't have a face - if the face is wrong it can spoil an image - so best to leave it off. :o)

I thought I'd show you Agatha and her sketch - it helped to sketch it out so I could see where everything would sit on the canvas and how/if it would look balanced (I reeeeaaally like the sketch! - its just pencil on a board - I might sketch over it in pen & keep it...)

Yellow!....

2011-09-17T10:55:00.001+01:00

... as in:
1. BANANA Frog Project of the day.
2. a colour I don't 'like'
3. the colour of the page I made for LSNED - Day 15

All the stamps used on the above page are Banana Frog - from the 'circus stories' and 'all about... journaling' sets. I'm telling you this because Typepad wouldn't let me upload ANYthing over on the BananaFrog blog where I would normally put Banana Frog projects and information. ggggrrrr.

Yellow
I'm not a big fan of yellow.... - I don't wear it, I don't decorate with it and on the whole I don't craft with it... but this week (and last week come to think of it)(lol) I was in a phenomenally bad mood - seriously bad mood but I still had to make a page for my LSNED scrapbook - making a bad mood page didn't seem like a very positive thing to do so I set out to create a page that was so ridiculously sunny, bright and perky that it would be the polar opposite of my mood. This is how the yellow page came about... it may be the only yellow page in the whole album - we'll have to wait and see...
I like how it turned out - threw on some of my favourite things (Buttons! couldn't resist).. and the page has sort of worked in relation to my mood: the colour is so not me that it makes me smile.
Who knew. lol

LSNED...

2011-09-08T10:45:00.001+01:00

...LSNED = Learn Something New Every Day.
Shimelle's online month long class. I took part in this a couple of years a go and my month started quite dramatically - but not in a good way! One of our tennants set fire (accidentally) to the decking in the backgarden! by 9.15am I had a burnt fence, a flat full of smoke and a garden full of firemen!
So you can understand my relief when September 1st this year was nice, quite and nothing really happened at all.
The biggest challenge I've set myself this year is to work on 12x12 sheets. I usually make books, projects, cards & 'scrapbooks' that are much smaller - like 1/4 of the size! But I'm finding myself more often thinking I want to use an image or an embellishment and finding that its too big for the page.
BUT....LIGHTBULB MOMENT!! followed by a chorus of HALLELUJAH!! lol.....
I suddenly realised that its not my embellishments that are too big - its my pages that are too small! O.M.G! Simple when you think about it.
So I bought myself a 12x12 album (blimey they're big) and here are my first pages. I made myself laugh when I relooked at these - same small pieces but in the middle of a great big sheet! lol - BUT I really like how these look - I like that the pieces have room to 'breathe'...(I resisted the urge to doodle or draw a line around the edges - save that for another day!)
Everyone has different scrapbooking styles but I think I'm definitely in the 'less is more' camp (not a big fan of pages where there's so much on it you can barely see the photo or journaling)(though I do admire them)

This year I'm approaching the project in a much looser way - I haven't premade the pages, labelled the days etc etc etc. It doesn't have a colour scheme - though I will consider how the pages flow (how facing pages look side by side) and I'm not a strict scrapbooker - I don't mind if its not archival, lignin free etc etc etc... if I like something then its going to be included (within reason! lol))

AND, I will be using only supplies I already have (attacking the stash!).. well apart from the album and page protectors I had to buy... Damn it... Fell at the first hurdle! lol... OK, from now on - ONLY using supplies I have in the stash...

Oh and the other big realisation for me for this year is that every entry doesn't have to be monumentus, profound, hugely important or include a photo - this project for me is going to be about creating a page each day. I really do think that you learn something new EVERY day - it could be really small, funny or trivial - but something is learnt every day.

Right, I'm off - got some creating and learning to do!

WOYWW

2011-09-07T10:08:00.001+01:00

Morning!
Welcome to my creative bombsite... whats on my desk this week?? - 'stuff' and lots of 'this n that':

When I took this picture (came into room, took picture - no moving things about, no prettying it up) I thought it looked a bit messy but now I look again it seems quite tidy (comparing it to previous pics! lol). I can actually see the worktop!!!!!!

New stacking baskets - storing upwards - cunning use of space I thinks! (works on the walls of the workroom so why not the desk.. 'if in doubt get shelves')

Latest copy of ClothPaperScissors - lovely issue - very interesting (as usual).

Tags on top of magazine are for my journal/scrapbook for Shimelle's 'Learn Something New Every Day' (LSNED) class. (yesterday's bit of learning was why 'Teddy Boys' of the 1950s were so called. OMG - was all I could say - brilliant - Oh? You want to know why they were called that?... Well the 'Teddy Boys' were so called because their jackets and trousers were based on the clothes worn by men in the Edwardian Period, and what is the name 'Edward' often shorted to...Yep - you win a pize if you said 'Teddy' (actually, no prizes today, sorry) I laughed out loud when I heard it - soo simple and quirky - I seriously had no idea why/how they got the name! (and I'm a mine of useless information! lol) Best thing I've learnt so far this month during the LSNED project.
(btw I'm still chuckling when I think about it - so obvious when you know why!!)

Anyhooo, be gone with you - go snoop around the other desks :o) Thanks for visiting.

Please feel free to follow my blog - I can't guarantee I'll supply you with useless bits of information (like the above) on each of your visits but there's always other stuff to see...

;o)

A Journey...

2011-09-06T18:26:00.001+01:00

... or two - PaperArtsy style:
I recently received some of the lovely, quirky, steampunky new HotPick stamps. Here are pic's of all 6:

1106 1107

1108 1109

1110 1111

I made some quick pieces with the stamps - just wanted to play with the stamps - a card and a tag (the tag might get a bit more attention (its missing 'something', but I'm not quite sure what yet....).

I had a lot of fun looking through a book and cutting out random phrases - I have quite a few lined up so expect to see more (I prefer to cut them out as they read in the book rather than make them up ransom style (or to read down the lines as opposed to across) )

(there's one that says 'the cops with curious hindquarters' that made me laugh out loud but as yet I have no idea where/when I would use that - but I'm saving it just in case.....)

My Mojo Monthly Interview

2011-09-04T16:33:00.000+01:00

September I've been chosen as 'artist of the month' over at My Mojo Monthly, there's an interview I had with the lovely Sarah who is the blog's creative force & she has some really lovely work on there - you should definitely go and take a look (hit the pic' above to take you there).

Thanks Sarah, for asking me take part.

"its nice,.. but what is it? What is it for?"...

2011-09-04T12:02:00.001+01:00

... which prompted the response -"its a little house... and it doesn't have to be for anything does it??" Which prompted a further discussion about whether 'things' have to have a purpose, or use. Can't it just be an attractive/cute/pleasing-to-the-eye object. (in my head i was already thinking 'its something I made that's going to sit on the mantlepiece so I can look at it (proudly) and think 'I made that'. :o) )

Here's the 'house' that prompted the conversation:

I was at my parents house and my dad let me loose with his scroll saw (supervised I might add, lol) (& add 'scroll saw' to the birthday/christmas list) and I cut of some bits of wood that were there - wasn't sure what I was going to use them for but something'll come to me...
So, its a house - or a potting shed that time forgot and the plants took over. The metal leaves are a Habitat lampshade that has been many things in our house but never a lampshade - its thin die cut metal and I've used it as a stencil & mask, I wrapped it around a coloured ball in the bathroom.... and now I've added it to a house..- actually these pieces were laying on the desk - they're the sort of fiddly bits and pieces that are hard to file and tidy away so end up in a corner of the desk getting in the way - turning them into a piece of 'art' seems a much nicer place for them.

Its a small piece - only stands about 8cm high, the base is stack of buttons, and its covered in Basic Grey papers & corrugated cardboard.
I can feel a whole lot more of these coming on...
Continuing of my 'obsession' with houses...

Happy Birthday!!...

2011-08-26T22:11:00.001+01:00

... to my Hubby - who turned 40 yesterday - here's the card I made him - quite simple. I love this card structure - deceptively simple...

So its fairly simple but it took quite a few bits of equipment - the big numbers are cut with the Slice, the panel they sit on is a Nestabilities die, the big 'happy' is a new stamp by Imagine That (love those stamps - they have a great 'christmas' set of the same design), 'happy birthday' is a Hero Arts stamp... I think that's enough for one card! Oh no, hold on, 'happy' was stamped in silver ink & I brushed Perfect Pearls over the top. yep thats all.
I love/chose the colours for the card because my Hubby has a fondness for shirts that have a blue check pattern! Seriously - I think he might have cornered the market in them! lol

Take care - enjoy the long weekend.

A this'n'that catch up.... Part 2

2011-08-23T10:00:00.003+01:00

Here's another random selection of stuff that I meant to show you before now:

Ranger have brought out some more Distress Stains!! Squeeeeel! Love this product.
Thank you for the lovely messages I had about my article in this month's Craft Stamper - glad I inspired you. I bought a few more of the Stains and played with the bleach on these too:

No great surprises in the remaining colour once bleached (eg walnut stain that has a great purple when bleached) but I do like the pale yellow thats left in the black soot - nice.

I bought Milled Lavender after I'd made these samples - it wasn't one of my favourite Distress Colours (not sure I even have it as an ink pad) (a bit of a 'non-colour) but the Stain is a really lovely soft pretty colour. I'm converted.
Picket Fence!!! ooh thats a good one - its more opaque than the other stains - great for a white wash look over a surface.. very versatile.

------------------------------

October ArtsyCrafts!!!

Oops - can't believe I haven't blogged about this before now!! - well I might have mentioned that it was running but what I haven't mentioned is that its going to be another exciting event with another guest teacher!!!

In addition to the usual top classes by Leandra & Lin, Lynne Perella will teach 3 days of classes - a different one each day.

How fabulous is that!

Aaaaaand its very exciting for me because I'm not going to be working at the event* - I'm going to be taking 2 of the classes!!!!!!! Beyond excited.
(* don't get me wrong I love working at these events)

------------------------------

aaaand another exciting event - so much arty learning will be going into my head in October I may implode (but don't worry if I do it will be sparkly and there may be buttons..lol) - I was lucky to get a place on the Dina Wakley classes at LB Crafts!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Again, beyond excited! lol I love Dina's artsy, splashy, colour rich, sprayiness (yes, I know that's not a word but I'm excited so forgive me! lol)

Dina Wakley. www.dinastamps.typepad.com

So many new exciting things to be learnt in October ( I love learning new things) I may have to lay in a darkened room for the whole of November! lol

-----------------------------------

In my workroom there are lots of boxes with supplies in them, & it's sort of organised (& getting better, its an ongoing process) - I have several Moppe boxes (from Ikea - love these but apparently they don't make them anymore! The shock!) but these boxes aren't very interesting to look at - so I pulled out some of my current favourite scrapbook papers and covered the drawers in those!

I like looking at scrapbook papers!
I like storage.
Its a win win situation. I deliberately kept them simple and embellishment free so that if I get 'bored' of these papers I can easily change them.

Take care

So many rosettes, so little time....

2011-08-22T17:19:00.002+01:00

Love how this tag turned out - I used Tim Holtz stamps, Nestabililies dies, and the 'cafe' set of Perfect Pearls powders - the Cappucino colour is LUSH- a deep brown.

Last year I made a group of cards (of which these are some - I'd show you more but I can't find the photo's on the pc, grrrr):

and as usual punched out extra pieces which I've now used on these:

(I don't think they're nearly girlie enough - really should try harder.. lol)

(maybe I could make them a bit goth by using Basic Grey's Scarlet's Letter paper - all red black and grey... - embrace my inner goth!! lol)(cut the wings to look sharper and they'll start to look like bats instead of butterflies.. mwahahhaaaa (that's my evil laugh in case you were wondering!)
(no butterflies were harmed in the making of these tags & embellishments)

Take care

I've got spray paints & cartidge paper and I'm not afraid to use them.. Part 1

2011-08-20T10:00:00.000+01:00

.. & not afraid to make a mess either! Embracing the 'throw paint at it' approach.

I mentioned before that I gave up my studio space and everything there had to come here which meant a big sort out was needed. I have been sorting out, throwing out and its been a really worthwhile experience - I've rediscovered all kinds of things -
lots of things to alter
lots of babywipes
and lots and lots of card blanks!
but more importantly lots of inspiration!!

Its a win win scenario - more space, more inspiration!

So lots of masks were rediscovered (while putting away the ones I already had)(putting things away - how novel lol) - I was distracted from tidying up to quickly cover a page in my sketchbook:

I really like how the scrap paper looks when you move it away from the project - love that big clean space with the colour around it.
Then one thing lead to another: I left the sheet on the desk and used it while playing with more stencils and masks... (I've been looking at the work of Roben-Marie Smith of PaperBag Studios, Christy Tomlinson, Dyan Reaveley (Art from the Heart), and Dina Wakely and how they use colour and layers in their work. I don't want my work to be as colour heavy as theirs but I enjoy the free-ness (is that even a word?!) of what they do.)
This was definitely a 'throw-something-at-it-and-see-what-happens' page - just playing with the masks - positive and negative versions of...

added a bit of detailing around the edges - this silver pen is FAB - a Faber Castell Indian Ink pen (Christy Tomlinson got me onto those)

.. bit of 'journaling' - saying: I made this, its mine and I 'own' it (ie it came from me and I should stand by it...)

The sheet is quite big (a2) and so I decided it was going to be more useful to me cut down to postcard size than an A2 sheet! So now I have yet more postcards waiting for.. erm.. something.

For the curious ones of you out there- this is the cartidge paper I'm using (rediscovered in the move - yay!), Windsor & Newton. Its a really nice weight to work on - doesn't get soggy too quickly...

(smaller pads are available lol)

A Rosette tutorial...

2011-08-19T19:59:00.001+01:00

There areother tutorials out there on the www (Tim Holtz has one on his site - bit tricky to find but maybe that's because I was looking on the ipad (!!) lol) but I had a few questions /comments about the rosettes after my previous post (as they can be tricky little devils, getting them to lay flat etc etc) & I thought I'd just share with you how I do them - other people may do it differently but this is how I make them....
I hope you find it helpful.

Die cut the rosettes - I've used the original die and the second die with smaller rosettes. (btw when I'm die cutting them I put a bit of sticky tape at either end of the paper to hold in place on the die - stops it wandering/slipping).

I don't use the seals from the dies - I punch out circles seperately (from standard card (Papermania 12x12 packs)) that measure 1" (for the smallest rosette) and 1.5" (for the largest and middle rosette). These will form the base of the rosettes and give them stability.

Run a line of sticky tape along the wrong side of the rosette - it protects the perforation - prevents them from tearing/splitting.

Fold the rosette & press it firmly between fingers - it helps to keep the folds tight.

Attach slim (5mm) double sided tape to the first panel of the rosette strip, cut to size, remove backing and lay the last panel of the strip over the top (I prefer to use double sided tape rather than glue - quicker drying time)

Work on a piece of acetate (or a craft non-stick sheet) for the next few stages - working on a slippy surface makes it much easier to push the rosettes down into their final shapes (less resistance).

Use a hot glue gun to attach the base to the rosette. Run it around as shown - don't put the glue in the centre - you don't want it coming up through the hole in the centre & you might want to add brads through there and they'll be difficult to put through glue. Also because its liquid it allows time to wiggle the folds into place, get them evened out.

Position the rosette ring over the base.

Gently push down into position.

Just in case that's as clear as mud here's a little video of the last stage!!
(I thought it might help to show how I position my fingers on the rosette to get an even spacing of the folds)

I hope you find my little (& first blog) tutorial helpful - if you have any questions please leave them in the comments & I'll get back to you.

Bev asked what background paper is it that I use in photos - its vintage book pages glued to an A2 sheet of card (& Bev, you know how I like vintage book pages! lol)

Happy rosette creating. I warn you- it can be addictive!
I'd love to see what you're doing with the rosettes you make- so please leave a link - or follow the blog.

A this'n'that catch up.... Part 1

2011-08-19T10:00:00.004+01:00

... so lots of little bits and pieces going on & being made/created and I've been a bad blogger and only been putting things up on Twitter - cos its so quick! 140 characters and its done... but that makes my blog a bit dull for you lovely peeps out there who aren't on twitter and so stop by this blog (and to be honest with you I'd get more done if I wasn't on twitter lol) - and I'm very grateful to you for popping in. :o)

Right here's the this'n'that round up:

It was my lovely god-daughters birthday last month so I made her a bunting banner with her name on it..
It started off life like this - a lovely little dress that I bought at the charity shop (reduce, reuse, recycle!), washed and ......

....ta-daaa!! its now very cute bunting for a very cute girlie. Her favourite colour? yep- pink! of course! lol

----------------------

I've started teaching a few classes at Hobbycraft in Chelmsford, only a few, its good fun... different style and products to the other classes I do.
First class was a 'Die-Cutting' class aimed at people considering buying a machine or who had one but wanted to know more. It was a mix of demo'ing the machines (cuttlebug & bigshot) and teaching. 2 hours of fun. Lovely ladies who went home happy (and inspired) - job done!
Here are a couple of the cards we made:

I'll be doing a couple more classes soon - I'll keep you posted.

---------------------------

I haven't bought stamps for a while but in the past few weeks I seem to have bought ~~loads~~ a few - some I've bought just because they're soooo useful - like these from Papermania - big numbers.. You don't get plain numbers like these very often do you? they're about 3 inches tall - really versatile - just the outline - great for journaling, paper piecing etc. I bought all of them (£2.00 each and buy 2 get 3rd free! kerching! love bargains like that)

so i settled down on the sofa and just doodled inside the numbers - just to see how it felt, how easy it would be to fill the numbers with just black ink. like these a lot - just good simple BIG numbers. I'm sure there are lots of other filler patterns but they're for another day....

Thats all for now - thanks for stopping by - please 'follow' the blog - its nice to know who pops by & it'd be nice to visit your little corner of www.

Attacking the Stash!!...part 2!!

2011-08-18T18:06:00.000+01:00

Oh yes - the stash busting continues...
Mainly by creating rosettes using the Tim Holtz dies {love}. I showed a picture of my desk on Wednesday of the rosettes in progress and people asked what I was doing with them.
I think making these might get a bit obsessive - 50 and counting - I'm just making the basic rosette (different sizes), putting them in a box and saving them for later... its all in the planning lol (its a sitting in front of the TV sort of job)

Here's batch 1... I started laying them out to look at them and think about what I was going do with them - it became a great way to see how different colour combo's worked together:

Waaaaaaaay back in June 2007 I posted this picture...

..showing how I'd cut a strip of all my sheets of 12x12 so I could flip through and see what I had instead of going through the stash.. seemed like a good idea at the time... but did I do that? ...did I heck! ...no it just hung on the wall looking pretty (at the studio)... so as part of the big studio-clear-out and the reduce, reuse, recycle plan I've use those to make these:

(OK these don't even dent the pile of paper strips but a)the others are going to be used for punching borders & b) you've got to start somewhere! lol)

OK, I think thats quite enough rosettes for one day - but I'll just show you a few pics of what I've done with them so far:

Also I colour the mountain folds of the rosettes to disguise the white core of the card/paper thats revealed when folded - love how that looks

(I'm also thinking that rubbing over it with versamark ink and then brushing with Perfect Pearls would look v pretty.. but thats for another time....)

A little compare and contrast for you: left rosette plain... right rosette with colouring of the mountain folds - nice isn't it! (and gives you another colour to match with background papers and images..

There's more on the desk with all the elements laid out but not stuck down - they're for another day.

Inspiration can come from anywhere....

2011-08-17T19:00:00.002+01:00

... like the metal sheet of the barbeque:

.. or a soaking roasting dish ...there's quite a lot of congealed stuff in there (I'm quite glad this wasn't my dinner)... great pattern & textures though...

Take a look around - inspiration can be found in the strangest places.

Long time no WOYWW!!.... but I'm here now!

2011-08-17T10:12:00.002+01:00

Shocking how long its been since I posted pics of my desk... so here it is in its usual messy glory:

To the untrained eye its looks like there was a direct hit from the creative bomb (& to a certain extent that is the case), but under those rosettes-in-the-making it is newly cleared and organised!! Honest.

I hope you are all well - I'll be around for a cuppa and a snoop later.
Take care - thanks for stopping by!

Attacking the Stash!!...part 1

2011-08-16T17:57:00.001+01:00

... its an ongoing task - to attack/use the stash I've accumulated (all part of 'reduce, reuse, recycle') - and over at Banana Frog today I've created some 'scrappy' cards

Thanks for stopping by

Well where do I start?!?!

2011-08-11T16:21:00.000+01:00

It seems ages since I last blogged (bad blogger, bad blogger) and now that its been.. ahem.. 19 days since the last post I don't quite know where to start! So maybe I should keep it short, brief with bullet points & random pictures along the way...

* We haven't moved... House fell through at exchange - turns out banks don't like lending against houses where the vendor has only owned it for less than 6 months(something to do with potential money laundering blah blah blah)... and our vendor only had it for 3 weeks when they put it back on the market. So that was that - back to square one... but its OK we've now found a much nicer property (as everybody said we would) which is going through at the moment. We REEEEAAALLY like this one so I'm not saying anything else in case it jinxes it, and am keeping fingers crossed.

* I'm still destashing 'stuff', gave notice on my studio space which meant that everything there had to come here (that was 'interesting' - the shelving units cleared the ceiling by about 2cm - that was eeeek moment! lol) but its now all in and sort of unpacked and sorted but I've stopped that because I'll only need to do it all again when we move - I seem to have spent the last 4 months packing and unpacking...
* I'm growing plants which is 'fun' (the seeds are not growing nearly fast enough), and I've planted flowers in pots in the garden - some lush dahlias - LOVE dahlias - such 'juicy' blooms:

The bungalow we're in is rented and we have no idea what plants are in the ground and so we can't take the credit for any of the interesting plants that keep appearing - like these:

So pretty... I might have to take a cutting/dig one (or 2) out before we go...
But the bind weed that keeps coming up is NOT PRETTY OR INTERESTING - it is relentless - I asked my Dad how do you get rid of it and he said 'you move' lol I've checked the garden at the new place - no bind weed (actually there were very few plants)

I think that's enough rambling for one day - I might remember some other things that have happened or interesting bits that I've unearthed in the big tidy up and if so I'll be back tomorrow (hopefully not another 19 days - it would be plain rude to leave it that long again!)

ooh - there is one more thing - September Craft Stamper - my project is the main image.. *skips off doing a happy dance* in the shops now...

ooooh I do love a box canvas!!...

2011-07-22T09:17:00.001+01:00

... but I'm not fussy - I think canvas (any type) may be my new favourite surface to work on...

Back in June I showed you this:

and teased you that I'd made something else but couldn't show you what it was... well I think that was a bit rude of me! and so here is what I created.....

Its a box canvas created with Claudine Hellmuth's Bloom stamps - clear and foam. Love these stamps. Paints are PaperArtsy's Fresco Finish.
It makes me smile each time I see it - so summery and pretty... and I think, judging by the amount of rain we've had recently, this is as close to summer as we're going to get at the moment! lol

When is a tshirt not a tshirt??...

2011-07-21T13:26:00.002+01:00

... when you've read the latest copy of Molly Makes ( @mollymakes ) and it inspired you to turn it into a scarf!! (and possibly wrist warmers/cuffs):
Before, tshirt's nice but was going to charity shop as sleeves were a bit short (you know that point when they're not 3/4 length and not quite full length (annoying!!))

After, cut up as per instructions - can be worn once around neck, or twice... not too bad for a first attempt!

no tshirt is safe! lol I was left with 2 arms from the tshirt which I'm thinking might make nice wrist warmers - bit of gathering, some buttons.....

Good Luck!!

2011-07-16T10:37:00.001+01:00

... is the theme of my Project of the Day over at Banana Frog.... Click HERE to go there.

A little bit of Sherlock does you good!

2011-07-15T09:30:00.002+01:00

Loving the look of this - shame we have to wait until December!!

Get inky painty with me...

2011-07-14T12:35:00.000+01:00

... at my next set of classes at Imagine That (Upminster)...
I have 2 classes this term - not as many as previously - had to factor in some time for a house move. (fingers crossed! lol)
Damsel in Distress is a class using the ooooh so lovely Distress Stains (did you hear that Ranger/Tim Holtz launched 12 new colours at CHA this week - be still by Distress Stain loving heart! lol) - we'll be making 3 cards with several techniques, this time with a much 'daintier' finish....

In Fresco Finish we'll be using PaperArtsy's Fresco Finish paints to decorate a frame (and card)... we'll be working with the Crackle Glaze - this is a fantastic product that gets great results every time... LOVE it!

The classes are on July 27th & September 22nd - hope to see you there! Contact ImagineThat to book your place.

x

Exciting Plans...

2011-07-11T19:00:00.000+01:00

Back in May I went to Spain for a few days to discuss teaching residential courses at Artizan... This is a new venture, run by the lovely Karen Dawton, to offer a variety of residential courses based in Gerona (in Catalonia, Spain).
The venue is a fabulous Spanish farmhouse set in a valley of lush forest where the only noise is birdsong - seriously - no. other. noise! Apart from, when classes are in session, the sound of a good time being had by all! lol
The venue is easily reached by air - only a short flight (2hours). (I travelled with Ryanair who were good but don't get me started on the 10k of carry-on luggage - 10k!!!!!!!! imagine me pulling 'the scream' style facial expression... lol)

The farmhouse has been beautifully refurbished - 12 rooms most with en suite - and when its time to relax after (or before) a 'hard' days crafting a quick dip in here will do wonders...

I'm going to be teaching mixed media classes - the first course is planned for September. This residential (all inclusive) course will be for 3 days (4 nights) and among the projects we'll be creating is a box canvas, and a masterboard to use as a base for other projects.
A trip to the nearby beautiful Mediaeval town of Besalu could also be factored into your time at Can Jan - its well worth a trip!

Here are some sneak-peeks of the canvas options to wet your crafting tastebuds :o)

If all the above sounds tempting go to the Artizan website for more information about the courses, venue and area http://www.artizanonline.com/
I'm really looking forward to teaching these courses - hope you can join me!

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish....

2011-06-23T19:09:00.000+01:00

... so just in case you haven't seen all the lush Fresco Finish paints in all their rainbow glory here's a colour wheel I made for the demo weekend at the Craft Barn.
I made it by using the PaperArtsy Large Oak Leaf die to cut lots of leaves from white card and then painting them with each of the colours (its better to do it that way than to paint and then die cut the shape - avoids white cut edges).

Apologies for the slightly grainy image - hopefully it doesn't distract from the loveliness of the all those colours!

I found these...

2011-06-22T19:10:00.000+01:00

... when I was looking for something else.. and this happens to me a lot! I lose ItemA, can't find it, I lose ItemB and while looking for ItemB I find previously 'lost' ItemA - I lose and find items in rotation! Like yesterday when I was looking for a moneybox I found a pair of trousers I thought had been taken to the charity shop! yay! - OK so they didn't fit and I still haven't located the moneybox but I still found something that I thought I'd lost so Yay!! (in JoLand this is a good thing! lol) (and bearing in mind we are still living out of 1/2 unpacked boxes this is good!)

aaaaanyhoo that isn't the 'found' that I wanted to show you - I was looking for a photograph (which I'm still looking for) and I found these which I should've shown you much sooner:

These are samples I made for PaperArtsy earlier in the year using the PA Metal Card & Fresco Finish Paints - love the flowers with their 5 layers of metal - an idea that Leandra had for flowers made up of stamped, embossed and painted (with Fresco Finish) layers. Lush! (made into brooches)
The birds on hearts are based on my brooch (seen here) - where I've die cut a heart (PaperArtsy die - obviously - lol) and added stamping and embellishments. The birds are cut using the new(ish) small bird die. The birds: L to R: Stamped, details embossed onto metal, wiped with Fresco Finish; stamped onto black card & brushed with Perfect Pearls; stamped onto metal, outline embossed - again made into brooches.

Hope your day has been sunny not rainy - mine has seen a bit of both!

Plants & Postcards

2011-06-18T09:30:00.011+01:00

Art Trail in Leigh last week - the Studio gets cleared, prettied up and ready for the public to come and look at the work that's been produced over the last year... Tricia, Tessa & Bronwyn had some really lovely work on show.

Bronwyn, as well as her gorgeous photographs & prints (go here to see more), has these adorable little plants planted in vintage china (tea cups & saucers)... I really like the colours and the layers of the 'leaves':

I think the bottom right is my favourite - the way the colours fade from green to that aubergine/lilac colour.....

(and the way the leaves are just the right size on each layer- the repeats are almost perfect... aaaagh my neat and tidy side rears its head again!)

We take it in turns to sit in the Studio while the public visit.. and during my time there I sat and coloured, wrote and doodled these - they're just little experiments - postcards measuring 4x6in - and I just tore things and stuck them down, coloured on top - it was just about freeing up how I do things - not being concerned about whether its right, wrong, straight, smudged - just seeing how it goes....

Each one led to another - kept me quiet for a few hours! lol

I'm off to Chelmsford today to teach, shop, and then back home for a Hen Party - all of which are going to be fun in different ways! lol

Whatever you're up to - have a good day!

A little bit of sewing does you good...

2011-06-17T09:30:00.007+01:00

... don't you think? I find it really calming: sitting and sewing - whether its mending or something creative...
I'm teaching a 4 week class sewing class at the moment with a 'reduce, reuse, recycle' theme - and so have been playing around with this and that ....

This isn't something we'll be doing in class (all though if they want to we can), it was just something that I'd been wanting to try for a while - a simple twisted rag flower.. cute.. and following the theme of upcycling things this one has been made from an old skirt of mine - one I wore on my honeymoon - and its nice because everytime I look at it I think of our honeymoon, and in my head I can see the picture of M&I where I'm wearing the skirt. Its important to keep memories like that and why its nice to create something that prompts (and preserves) the memory - whatever the 'something' is - a scrapbook page, minibook, patchwork.....

I'm off to play with fabric, interfacing, bondaweb and buttons - not necessarily in that order! (because I have to find at least 2 of those items before I can use them! They're in a box somewhere......)

Whatever you're up to today have a good one!

Say it with Flowers....

2011-06-16T09:30:00.001+01:00

Flowers, flowers, and more flowers.... seems to be the theme of my projects at the moment! and over at Banana Frog my Project of the Day is no exception.. head on over HERE to see more..

Thanks for stopping by... or hopping by.. get it?.. frog .. hopping?! oh nevermind...

Sweet Pea Project...

2011-06-15T09:57:00.000+01:00

The flowers from my last post proved to be quite inspiring - I made the above tag (& another project but unfortunately I can't show you that... sorry!).. you must think I spend all my time making tags - I don't - honest guv!
This tag features Claudine Hellmuth's Blooms stamps and PaperArtsy Thorndon Hall papers and Fresco Finish paints (& I've told you how much I luuurve those haven't I?!!) Its sooo pretty!! V girly lol
I thought the tag and flowers were nice and summery - & its JUNE for goodness sake & I'm still putting my heating on!! on Sunday I had on trousers, socks, tshirt, long cardigan and a scarf because I was so cold! its JUNE!!! somebody tell the weather please...
Especially as I'm going to a garden party family celebration on Sunday!! lol maybe I should pack wellies and a mac just in case.....
Hope its summery where you are...

Just a pretty picture....

2011-06-13T08:23:00.000+01:00

I'm working on some bits and pieces that I can't show you at the moment so I thought I'd show you this photo - Sweet Peas (?) from the garden.. the colours are lovely when they've just come out but the colours that the petals fade through when finishing are just as lovely...
Loving the flowers in the garden - its not our garden and so we didn't plant anything and have no idea what's going to come up next - part of the fun of gardening?

'Bloom'in Marvelous

2011-06-09T08:23:00.000+01:00

.. is the way I'd describe the Craft Barn weekend!
For those of you that stopped by after I had managed to get paint on myself (& I was trying to be so clean!)(note to self - make/buy/find an apron!!!) I can report that Fresco Finish (Sky Blue) has come out of my tshirt (dark grey so any residual staining is probably masked by the fabric) and my black linen trousers (tho still a little worked in - but thats 'cos I rubbed at it!)... but lets get this straight - ahem, I intentionally got paint on my self to illustrate that Fresco Finish paints will work on any surface! obviously.... I like to provide a full service demonstration... lol The lengths I will go to for my craft! lol

Four of the tags I made on day 2 when I had to switch to Claudine Hellmuth's 'Blooms' set of stamps because the 'Domestic' sets had sold out. Love these stamps!! Quick & easy samples... Houses tomorrow....

I'm off to Imagine That today to get all inky & painty with 10 lovely ladies - cracking open the Distress Stains, Fresco Finish paints, and Claudine H's stamps again.... the fun in my days never stops....

Have a good day!

WOYWW

2011-06-08T09:03:00.001+01:00

Hello all you lovely desk snoopers! lol Here's what my desk looked like yesterday - yep thats a cat - not much work getting done on that desk (she grumbles if you should be so rude as to try and move her! lol).

but, look - if you look around the lovely chubbiness that is Lola there's all that lovely clear work top!! Shock horror! But don't worry once Lola had wandered off and found herself somewhere else to sleep I quickly covered it in the normal creative ~~mess~~ equipment.

And this might be the first picture of my new workroom (sorry, I've been a bad WOYWWer) - so take a good look because soon we're moving again! Same desk different location!

I'll be around to snoop at you later - put the kettle on - coffee, white, 2 sugars. I'll put the kettle on too so I''ll be ready for when you arrive - how do you take your coffee/tea?

PS - if you've popped by for some other reason than to snoop and have no idea what I'm talking about or why I would want to show pics of my desk go here and all will be explained!

'Working' at The Craft Barn

2011-06-06T14:51:00.003+01:00

... I've put the 'working' in inverted commas because it can't really be classed as working when its so enjoyable.. surely!
Here are some of my table samples - I demo'd PaperArtsy's Fresco Finish paints and Claudine Hellmuth Creative Layers stamps - LOVE both of these products.

You'll have to excuse the lack of quality of the photos - my camera broke earlier in the week (cr#p timing!) so these are photos off the phone. And the hearts are to mask some of the projects - because while I'm quite happy for most of my work to be used as inspiration I wanted to protect these particular projects. Most crafters are lovely peeps but not everyone respects a designer's copyright on the projects that are produced (though luckily those people are few and far between... hopefully... I'd like to think! lol). I love working at these events and showing people what can be done with the products but it saddens me to think that someone may take photos of Demonstrators' work, reproduce it and pass it off as their own.... I think 'do unto others....' comes into play here. lol
Oooh sorry, ahem, I'll, erm, climb down off my little soap box now I've got that off my chest! lol
Where was I? oh yes telling you how The Craft Barn Extravaganza events are sooooo good - people come to them from all over the country, Europe and one lady popped in on her way to Canada from New Zealand/Australia!!!! Now if that doesn't tell you that these weekends are worth a trip I don't know what would! lol
Sandy and everyone at The Craft Barn works really hard to make these weekends a great experience for the customers, & the demonstrators, and it shows. I certainly had a blast! So thank you if you came and sat at my table and watched me play with paint and stamps, I hope you were inspired. It wouldn't be the same without you!!
I'll have some more samples to show you very soon (when the new camera gets delivered and I've had a chance to photograph them - which hopefully will be before the end of the day) (drive faster Mr Delivery man, faster!don't spare the horses! lol) - ones that are there for inspiration and will be up in The Craft Barn in the not too distant future.

Trial & error....

2011-06-03T10:26:00.004+01:00

yay - all seems to be sorted on the ipad v pc posting date confliction!! ....oh thats going to have jinxed it!

Fingers crossed....

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Keeping it simple....

2011-06-02T10:06:00.000+01:00

... was my approach (& as requested) to demo'ing at Hobbycraft last sunday... It was nice afternoon.

...and while demo'ing I was listening to two kiddies waiting for face painting it was like an episode of Charlie&Lola - very cute.
Listening to kiddies asking for what they'd like is very funny - girls want hearts & flowers and the boys want bloody, gruesome scars! Apart from one little chap who wanted to be Spiderman.. he was very sure about that: whatever else he was offered, No, he wanted to be Spiderman and so by the time he left he was a scarlet faced happy little chap!
Oh & I made a card for an Angel - oh yes an Angel - complete with sparkly halo (face painting's a wonderful thing!)..

And it's nice when people who read this blog pop by and say hello (waving at you Liz!! :o) )

Its a lovely sunny day here in Essex, and so when I've finished typing this I'm off into the garden to see what damage our night-time visitor has done - lots of fence crashing last night which was a bit scary (we're in a bungalow) but when we looked out we saw a very determined badger!! Crashed its way through the fence! ..better go and check what its got up to.... Our landlord might not believe that the damaged fence was caused by a badger - sounds a bit too much like 'the dog ate my homework!' lol

have a good day!

xx

Testing again...

2011-06-01T21:59:00.001+01:00

Playing with Claudine Hellmuth 'domestic' stamps

This blogging from the iPad could take some getting used to!! Gggrrrr

Tag number ...??

2011-06-01T09:00:00.003+01:00

.. I have no idea! I must have made lots and lots in my crafting lifetime - never get bored of them! but this one isn't so much about the whole tag more about the detail on it and so that's all I'm going to show you.

I made it as a sample for the Craft Barn Extravaganza weekend which is this coming weekend - really looking forward to it... I'm going to be demo'ing PaperArtsy's Fresco Finish paints (fantastic paints - really good!!) and Claudine Hellmuth's Creative Layers stamps... Its going to be so much fun. It'll be much more fun if you come along and see what everyone is doing - there are going to be some great demo's going on - LOADS!!
For more information go here

Tidy it. Finish it

2011-05-31T16:07:00.000+01:00

Today I decided to blitz my workroom... mainly because I couldn't see the wood for the proverbial trees or to be more specific the desk top for the inkpads, stamps, paper, bottles of inks & sprays etc etc etc - if you've ever seen my desk on WOYWW you'll know exactly the sort of things that are on my desk (&sometimes there's even a cat!)
While I was tidying up I kept seeing a project that is 90% finished - just tweaking needed..... in my head I could hear my little inner critic shouting "just finish it, for the love of all thinks inky FINISH IT!! Move on - its not permanent if you don't like it 6 months take it apart, change it - JUST FINISH IT"
so here it is:

(nb - I don't like the butterfly - wrong paper its days are numbered .... & I didn't need my inner critic to tell me that! lol)

and the workroom is still needs tidying! lol

Ribbit...

2011-05-30T09:54:00.000+01:00

Happy birthday to you

Hoppy birthday to you

Ribbit birthday dear Banana Frog

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to youuuuuuu

May is Banana Frog's birthday, so get your party clothes on and hop around the lilypad for our birthday themed blog hop - next stop Audrey - no need for pressies at each lilypad but leave a comment and maybe we'll give you a pressie!! :o)

Enjoy the rest of the lilypads! Thanks for hopping by!!

Ready for Father's Day?....

2011-05-27T13:39:00.001+01:00

Are you? if not you could come by Hobbycraft's Chelmsford store on Sunday, I'll be there demo'ing card making with a 'dad' theme... I haven't demo'd at these shops before so am looking forward to it....
So if you fancy coming along to heckle (no fruit/vegetable throwing allowed!) or get some ideas I'll be there between 11:00 -15:00. Directions/location can be found HERE

(this wasn't the post I had planned for today - that one will have to wait until tomorrow - its about a trip & plans for courses in Spain!! check back tomorrow. Adious!)

"I'm going to throw some paint at it & see what happens"...

2011-05-26T10:37:00.000+01:00

...was my not very scientific answer when asked what I was doing... Sometimes its the approach you have to take - and its all part of my free-er, less planned, mistakes-are-good-for-learning curve at the moment.

So I created the above, after this photo was taken I added black drawn line around the hearts and circles, added some phrases.. but it wasn't working for me and so I cut it up - nothing wrong with that - making something better (hopefully) - I tell myself 'its mine, I can do what I want with it!'
It might not have ended up as planned but thats not always a bad thing is it..... (yep, it ended up as tags - & you must know by now that I do love a tag or two.. lol) (they're quick and good for reference)

At the same time I was "throwing some paint" at these I was doing the same with different types of paper I'd just bought - pads of watercolour & acrylic painting papers - good to try/play with different media & papers to get the most interesting results.. pushing your own boundaries and knowledge.

So that's my experiments of the other day - Now its your turn - Go on - go and 'throw some paint at it and see what happens!' Its just paper and paint - not rocket science - and its FUN!!

What I did on holiday.... Part 2

2011-05-25T09:00:00.047+01:00

So here's what else I did on holiday.. (as well as laying in the sun, reading books (4), feeding iguanas (who are fond of bananas - who knew!) and drinking cocktails)(responsibly, obviously).... I created these with my holiday art kit (see previous post)... Tags: decorated, simply- with just sketches & colour.

Each one has a memory attached - its ~~part of~~ my holday scrapbook - I think my favourite is the skull wearing a hat - makes me smile - a nod to the Mexican 'day of the dead' and its to remind me of the day I felt like death after getting heat stroke after 3 hours looking at Mayan pyramids!

No worries- these episodes all add to the holiday experience don't they (not that I'm recommending getting heat stroke - oh no no no.... what I would recommend when sightseeing is an umbrella to shade from the sun, lots of water, loose clothes (fully covered) and not walking around in the bloomin' mid day sun for 3 hours!! lol) It was worth it though - the Mayan pyramids at Chichen Itza - amazing structures, I wouldn't have missed visiting those - how did they build them!!! Amazing.

... and to give you an idea of their size look to the right of the pyramid - the small white rectangle with red circle at the top - thats a person with a brolly.

What I did on holiday.... Part 1

2011-05-24T09:00:00.006+01:00

.... normally when we go on holiday I take some art 'stuff' with me (because I start to get twitchy in a 'I-can't-lay-on-this-sunlounger-for-much-longer,-I-need-to-be-doing-something' type way) and sometimes the kit doesn't get used, so this holiday I pared down what I took: 1 ink pad, set of alphabet stamps, some blank tags, neocolor watersoluble pastels, black pen, white pen, waterbrush, scissors, rubber, & a pencil. ooh and a small light sketchbook... now that might sound like a lot but it isn't really - quite a basic kit... and more importantly - NO RULER.. nope, nothing to draw a straightline with - and I like a straight line - I like neat... but I have been embracing my messy, just-go-with-the-flow side recently- and its been very liberating.

It took 'til about day 10 of this holiday before said twitch started (thats good for me) and so I created this, inspired by Kate Crane's grid calendars.

She uses a block of colour for each day but I wanted the grid to be coloured and the boxes to be white/pale.... for me the most important piece of this was to create a freehand grid - no ruler and not being too concerned if the boxes weren't square, level or central.... focussing on the grid rather than the blocks.

Love NeoColor water soluble pastels - vibrant colours and really easy to work with... and oh, not only was I drawing grids without a ruler but I was sketching too! actual sketching!

and all this with a pencil in one hand and a cocktail* in the other! .. multi-tasking!!

* speaking of cocktails I can't recommend a 'godmother' cocktail enough - vodka & amaretto!!!!!!!!!!! How have I got to the age of 40 without having tried one of those! A very tasty tipple.. possible too tasty.. lol

xx

Fun, Fabulous, Fabric & Whoosh!

2011-05-23T22:10:00.000+01:00

The holiday is over, the moving boxes are unpacked (well, the ones we need), and so its back to work - which is no real hardship because I love what I do!
I have a few new things planned (more about those later in the week) - the first of which is a four week course I have planned at the Whoosh! Centre in Chelmsford called 'Fun & Fabulous Creations in Fabric'.
To give you an idea what its all about:

'Do you have a tin of buttons, a fabric collection or a box of bits 'n' bobs? Then this course is perfect for you! Get ready to design your very own handmade creation as a gift, something for your home, or a garment to be worn.

We will 'reduce, reuse and recycle' by altering existing pieces and up-cycle fabrics by using your saved bits 'n' bobs to create new items decorative and practical items. Don't worry if you don't have anything already to recycle, we'll have some exciting pieces for you to work with! Expect sewing, gluing and even some painting to inspire your creative streak! Suitable for men and women of all abilities!'

The course is about taking what you have and making something new out of it- upcycling, revamping it.
Sounds like fun to me - I'm really looking forward to it.

First set of classes starts on Wednesday, 1 June 2011, 14:00-16:00, 4 weeks.
Second set of classes starts on Saturday, 11 June 2011, 13:30-15:30, 4 weeks.

There may still be some places left so if you're interested in coming along give them a call on 01245 256079, or go to the website: http://www.whooshcentre.com/.

Banana Frog!!

2011-05-16T10:05:00.000+01:00

Hello!!

Yep its me! and this is a blog post - oh yes- an actual blog post with a picture and everything!! and just when you'd probably given up on me and gone to find something else on the web to look at...
Thank you for sticking with me and popping by if you've been doing that - I appreciate it - where would I be without you! (technically I'd be sitting here chatting to myself which lets face it is not really healthy, & there's only so long I can entertain myself.. &/or the cats, and they're quite easily pleased to be honest: food, tummy rub and a bit of ball throwing and they are pretty much happy!

Aaaaanyhoo enough waffling - its my day over on the pond that is Banana Frog HQ, so if you would be so kind as to form an orderly queue and hop on over to the blog to see what I made this month.

Thanks again for stopping by

Banana Frog Blog Hop

2011-04-30T15:54:00.000+01:00

Oops!! There's been an error. Sorry I don't have anything interesting to show you because I´m not currently here! - I'm sitting on a lilypad somewhere sunny toasting my tush and waiting for freckles to appear! - so please hop on over to Katy´s blog where she DOES have something v nice to share with you!

Enjoy the hop - make sure you leave comments - because comments can mean prizes!!

See you next month!! (on the 16th & 30th - if not before!!)

... now where did I leave that cocktail....

Craft Stamper E-Zine

2011-04-04T13:27:00.000+01:00

This lovely e-zine is now available by going to Craft Stamper website HERE, its full of great projects from last years issues. Nice, very nice!

Banana Frog :: Blog Hop!!!

2011-03-30T09:53:00.001+01:00

Welcome lovely Blog Hoppers (or non-blog hoppers - those just checking in like normal - thanks either way!)

This month's theme is Birds... and I chose to work with the cute birdcage from the 'Hiya Chick' set of stamps - love these!! and I've been a little bit efficient & multi-tasked - I designed 'bird' projects for you peeps to enjoy and my 'change of address' cards all at the same time! Ta Daaaaaa!! *pats self on back*

These cards are very simple - best to keep them that way if you have to make loads (learned that the hard way!!) & that the beauty of these stamps just a couple of images can be enough.

Right off you hop on your tour round the lilypad - next pad is Beki's where she'll have something lovely waiting for you.

Remember to leave comments on all the sites around the hop - there are prizes to won!!!!!

Have a great day!

Decisions... Decisions... Decisions...

2011-03-25T08:10:00.000Z

... moving house is full of so many decisions - is it the right time/ right property, will everything complete on time, what to keep, what to throw out, when do you order the van, has the packing stuff arrived, what do we do with the cats while we move so they're not freaked out or trodden on... (or packed in a box somewhere - you know how cats love a box!!)

... and when clearing out our home getting ready to move, my approach is little & often... shoe boxes on the top of the wardrobe were dealt with the other day - 15(ish) of them and they've been up there for ages judging by the depth of dust laying on them (shameful housekeeping I know but out of sight out of mind).... aaanyhooo I came across these:

These are known as my 'honeymoon shoes' .. because I bought them to take on... yep.. you guessed it.. our honeymoon... and cute as they are (I think I was having a 1950s bride moment) the little kitten heel was not entirely suited to the cobbled streets of Ravello! lol I've barely worn them so they're in good condition - the flowers are a little crumpled but I think they started out that way!...so I'm trying to decide:

a) save them for sentimental reasons

b) sell them - bootsale or ebay

c) cut the cute little flowers off (they're sewn on, not glued - yay!) and use these on something crafty and send the shoes to recycling (or.... oooh create new 'arty' embellishment for the front)(anyone else imagining a Tim Holtz rosette on the front there??)

aaaanyhooo I'm swaying towards c) but its seems a shame to not pass them on to someone else to enjoy... but then again if I remember rightly they weren't the most comfotable shoes (but then then prettiest shoes often aren't - the price we have to pay!! lol) too hard to decide at the moment so I'll just put them back in the box (for another 5 years lol)

OK, less about my house moving decisions (which is good because if I think about it too much I start to panic slightly!)(2 weeks away - 2 freeeaakin' weeks!!!!!!!!)(the bungalow we're renting for a while doesn't have a dishwasher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know that its not essential, but anyone who has one will acknowledge that to then NOT have one is hard!!)(& I should just shut up because there's only me & him - its not like I'm washing up for a family of 4 is it, rofl)(and breeeeaaaathe... in... out... in... out.....) aanyhoo less of me being a spoiled brat-

here is a picture of something I've been playing with, sorry can't show you the whole thing

Hope its sunny where you are, have a great day...

Sun, Sites & Stamping anyone??

2011-03-24T15:09:00.001Z

ARTIZAN

Anyone else think that the combination of sun, sites & stamping would be just a little bit fabulous?? Yep thought so! That's why I was really pleased to be asked to run a residential art/craft class in sunny Spain!!

The course is aimed at crafter of all levels and over the 3 days there will be stamping, painting, gluing and all round crafting loveliness.... did I mention that its based in a fabulous house in Spain?? (with a pool - not that you'll have time to go in there - no, you'll be too busy crafting, or sightseeing or tasting local food dishes!) (only kidding - you'll have time for a quick dip & tan top up!)

Further details can be found on the WEBSITE under the 'creative crafts' button

I look forward to seeing you there!!

Banana Frog day!!

2011-03-16T09:36:00.000Z

Tags but of a different type - over on the Banana Frog blog ... aaaah so many tags so little time....

Oh be still my 50s design loving heart!!....

2011-03-15T07:55:00.000Z

Sanderson's have a FAB.U.LOUS 50s designs range!! I've resisted looking because I wasn't thinking about decorating, but now I'm starting to and some/one of these designs will be cropping up somewhere in our home - even if its just as cushions (the Festival print (below) would great on our black leather sofa!)....
here's some eye candy for you so that you know what I'm getting excited about:

I wish this blog had sound - you could hear me happy clapping and squeeling a little - LOVE these designs! I really like the 50s surface designs.

Which is probably why I like this artist so much (her lino prints are delicate & gorgeous!) and find her work really inspirational:

And why I reeeeeaaaally like Claudine Hellmuth's 'Creative Layers' stamps... the combination of foam & clear rubber stamps allows you to create the slightly offset lino/screen print look of 50's illustrations..LOVE..LOVE..LOVE!!
This is the first tag I created using the Dwelling stamps set... keeping it quite simple (but not completely simple: two colour on the foam).. The tag was created with Sticky back canvas stuck to a chipboard tag and stamped using PaperArtsy's Fresco Finish paints (LOVE these!) which went really nicely onto the canvas (another surface they'll work on, but I don't know how stable they'll be for washing (I'll ask PA) so maybe just use them on decorative items for now....)

Little book of things with wings.....

2011-03-14T09:05:00.001Z

Another ArtsyCraft sample.. and the last... a little tag book (gotta love the tags!) ... measures 12x6cm.... using distress stains, Paperartsy stamps, Tim Holtz embellishments, Claudine Hellmuth canvas.....

The bindings on this book are Tim Holtz 'Hitch Fasteners' - cute little things! and great for binding a slim book.. & also on this book they work really well becuase they something to hold onto while you flick through!

I really enjoy making things like this - they're quick (-ish) and such a cute little size.. maybe I should work up to making bigger things which I do try to every-so-often but I'm much more comfortable making smaller things...

Page fronts:

Page backs:

The samples of work I've shown over the last week have been quite simple, 'quick & easy' - I do make more comples things - honest guv'

Have a great day

Tags... Part 4...

2011-03-12T08:30:00.001Z

Love the Tim Holtz 'Haberdashery' stamp set its right up my street!! (anything with a sewing/ mannequin theme really!) (in our home there are 3 vintage sewing machines & umpteen mannequins (not all of which are full size I hasten to add!))
I really like how this tag turned out - that the image of the mannequin is faded out - like a ghost sign or fresco on a wall.... and the nice scrunched tag with bling and motif - its like a little swatch of a long forgotten design idea.... like a mood board (and I LOVE to make mood boards!! - it was one of my favourite things to create when I was studying interior dec' techniques.. pulling together all the bits and pieces to conjur up the 'feel' of a room...)
aaaanyhoo - that's all the tags I have to share now... I think... tomorrow its a mini book (again, created for AC)..
Enjoy your weekend!

You can never have too many hearts....

2011-03-11T08:30:00.002Z

When I get a product I like to try it out on & with anything I can get my hands on... The above are what I made before (and after) I went to ArtsyCrafts with one of the new PaperArtsy Heart dies - like this one a lot...
So these dies cut through:

Claudine Hellmuth sticky back canvas

Brooch I made with the stickyback canvas mounted onto Grungepaper for stability (might even've been grunge board?!?)

Grunge Paper

PaperArtsy's Metal Card

Metal Card embossed with a Tim Holtz embossing folder (its also been painted with acrylic paint, sprayed with Perfect pearls in several colours and sanded back)

Card stock (stamped with PaperArtsy images and coloured with distress inks)

Card stock (stamped with Fresco Finish paint & coloured with distress stains (Fresco Finish paints resist the stains! lush)

Shrink plastic x 2

Just wanted to show you how versatile these dies were (and no prizes for guessing which of the hearts were cut from shrink plastic! lol)

ooh - corrugate cardboard - cuts through that too... how could I have forgotten to show that - I do love a bit of corrugated cardboard! lol

Tags... Part 3

2011-03-10T08:30:00.003Z

Today's tag is decorated with the lovely new PaperArtsy OakLeaf dies - love how they've made them in 3 sizes!

Went a bit old school with this tag - scrunched up and distressed the tag - haven't done that for ages - I liked it! - Looks the tags been under a leaf pile for ages.. lol
The word 'nature' is printed with the PaperArtsy Words plate 2.
I've always wanted to use the plate to create words, and toyed with the idea of cutting the plate up to use as an alphabet, but I really like to use it as a background and so didn't want to cut it up. But, after seeing Joanne Wardle use it to create words it made up my mind - I bought another one and cut it up - really glad I did!! ("its only rubber - cut it up!" said the little voice in my head!!)
So now I have 2 - one for building words and 1 for creating backgrounds! Ta Daaa. Simples! lol
The leaves are sticky back canvas stamped with the co-ordinating images for the dies, and coloured with distress inks - very autumnal. Little leaf is attached with a Tim Holtz teeny tiny safety pin, the big leaf with a clip. The tag is also stamped with a Tim Holtz image - from the new Papillon plate.

WOYWW...

2011-03-09T09:08:00.002Z

.... hello! its been a while since I WOYWW'd - my desk isn't any tidier - at the moment it seems covered in ink & paint bottles - and there's nothing wrong with that is there! lol

To understand what WOYWW is all about go to http://www.stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ where all will be explained,

and if you like my blog/ramblings please click the follow button down on the left hand side, thanks! :o)

Have a great day!

Tags.. Part 2

2011-03-09T08:30:00.003Z

This tag, created again for demo'ing at the AC/TH event, is a bit of a sampler:
the tag has been partially embossed accented with Distress Inks & Lava Gold 'Goop' (love that stuff - so shiny!!) (& versatile) (and now comes in smaller pots - yay!)
painted & water splashed Distress Stains (top blue half)
Die cutting (the flourishes)
Tim Holtz tissue tape & Adage Ticket
and a distressed flower created with the spiral technique - I flatten/ distress these by hitting them with a small hammer... which is quite satisfying! lol

2 tags down, 2 tags to go... see you tomorrow.. same place same time.....

Getting all the ducks in a row...

2011-03-08T21:49:00.000Z

... not literally, its just about getting everything ready - each day I do a bit of sorting out in preparation for the looming (in a good way!) house move... today amoung other things (and because I was in the work room and needed space) I went through the small 1'' square ink pads...
I don't use these much anymore and so there was a bit of a cull, but being ever organised and 'thorough' I had to test them all first (duh! really! did I have to test them??! no, not really but it was fun & I rediscovered some great colours!)

so here they are in the sketchbook looking really quite lovely!! - I almost wish I'd put them on a seperate piece of paper now so I could stick it on the wall!

Tags... Part 1....

2011-03-08T08:30:00.009Z

... well not technically Part 1 as I've put up a lot of tags during my time on this blog but its part 1 for this week - there are going to be 4 tags going up this week!!

This is one of the tags I made for demo'ing at the ArtsyCrafts/Tim Holtz event (& how freakin' good was that!!!)(the event not my tag & demo'ing lol)

The bird is the small bird die and co-ordinating stamp - one of the new PaperArtsy dies. I trimmed off its legs so it can sit on the branch*, which is actually the Tim Holtz tree die turned on its side (tilt your head to the left.. there you go.. now you can see it! lol)** and trimmed! (the other off-cuts made it on to a smaller tag that was a page in a mini book I created - more on that later in the week). Background is painted in Distress Stains & inks. The bird is 3d mounted to give a bit of depth, branch is cut from Thorndon Hall with a bit of Distress Stickles added for texture...
All stamps are PaperArtsy.

The weather here in Essex today is glorious sunshine (but frosty! who'd've thought!) but not a cloud in the sky! Love that! Gives me such a positive feeling.... And its perfect for taking photos so thats what I'm going to do before I have to start working through my 'to do' list!
I hope its nice where you are!

* Don't worry no birds were harmed in the creation of this tag!
** It makes me chuckle to think that everyone reading this blog post will be tilting their heads to the left... thinking 'oh yes' and straightening up again..lol ... its the little things that make me smile...

Beautifully Distressed & Bleached!!

2011-03-07T12:13:00.002Z

oooh be still my paint lovin' heart!! or actually my Distress Stains lovin' heart!
I was lucky (and very grateful) to be given a set of Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Stains (thank you very much - you know who you are!!) but was still unsure how the stains would be better/ more versatile than distress ink in pads - O.M.G!!
They are sooooooooooo fab - seriously.. really versatile - colour goes on really generously (not too generously - nothing being wasted) and smoothly - I worked with them on tags (its how I 'test' out everything - 'put it on a tag' lol) and the ink looks sort of satin-like... love it!
I tried all the usual things - water splashing, salt etc .. and then I thought lets try bleach!!.. just household bleach.. nothing fancy... and look at the stunning effect the bleach has!! Because the Distress Inks/Stains are dyes the bleach takes out the lightest colour in the mix and then goes to white depending on how much bleach is applied to the stamp!!
(to stamp with bleach I fold up a piece of kitchen towel (into quarters and then again) so thats its quite thick and then pour bleach on - creating a sort of inkpad but with bleach in place of ink... then use exactly as you would normally when inking up a stamp)
How fab is that - I have to tell you that happy clapping ensued and I had to reign myself in not to try this on all 12 colours! lol (.. that may still happen! but other things had to be done so I'm saving it for another time...)
I really like how it removes colour rather than adding colour as we would normally do when stamping.
The Stain colours I used were Walnut Stain (such a good brown), Peeled Paint & Fired Brick.
I used a red rubber stamp (PaperArtsy Mini22) - its best to use red rubber when using bleach - & make sure you wash it off when you're finished. I don't know how bleach would affect clear stamps so I avoid using it on those (better safe than sorry!!)
NB: I still need to test out what happens when I stamp another colour over the top of the bleached image - I think if its a pigment ink the colour will be OK but possibly not dye... I'll let you know...

Monday Moggies...

2011-03-07T10:26:00.000Z

can't resist posting these photos I took of our cats..
Bertie (the black one) wants to be friends with Lola (the tabby) but she's not overly keen & so spends a lot of time avoiding him... and so to see them like this together is lovely - and requires photographic evidence that they don't dislike each other all the time...

and what makes me really smile about this photo is that they're both squeezed onto the box...
but the box is on a chest.. where there's loads of room.. but oh no!.. got to sit on the little box..

Pop back later when there'll be an actual craft/stamping/creative post.. yep seriously - actual creative samples... not pictures of cats... actual painted samples... featuring distress stains, Fresco Finish paints & tags!! lol

Craft Stamper April Issue

2011-03-05T06:31:00.000Z

I have an article in this month's issue - chipboard book using PaperArtsy stamps, Tim Holtz dies and my favourite colour scheme - Pink & Green. Here's a sneek peek but to see the whole thing you'll have to buy the magazine - and why would you not want to do that?! - its another great issue with lots of lovely projects and a cute cover stamp!!

Yes I was indeed at the computer at 06:20 in the morning!
Lots of stuff wizzing around in my head - so I thought I might as well get up.
I'm teaching at Imagine That today - distress/ butterfly themed cards using a new 'favourite' colour scheme of Dusty Concord & Peeled Paint (or shabby shutters if preferred) - purple & green - v calming......

Going back to bed now to catch those zzzz..zzz..zzzzzz ...zzzz..zzz..zzzzzz...

Stop the world......

2011-03-01T16:44:00.000Z

.... I want to get off - well I don't want to actually get off I just want everything to slow down a teeny bit so I can get a grip and make a plan! lol

The last 8 days have been a bit fabulously surreal:
* Had a great few days at the ArtsyCrafts / Tim Holtz event - bloomin marvelous!! met the man himself and saw LOVELY peeps that I've met at previous events, and chatted with on Twitter (great to put faces to names) ... waving at all of you!!
* Started demo'ing at AC at 7:30am!! Loved it! Used PaperArtsy's new dies - v nice - more about those later..
* Went to the Ballet - Matthew Bourne's Cinderella - it was beautiful - & brilliant - like watching a black & white war movie.. fabulous
* I'm consumer testing this:

.. its a great machine (not very fast but maybe thats a health & safety thing) ... it definitely takes the effort out of die-cutting... now I've just got to play around with layering of shims etc so thin dies can be used through it (and thanks to David at Craft Obsessions for some pointers) (apparently they'll (sizzix) be bringing out an extra plate - if it isn't out already). (The Engineer in the house (ie M) gave it a good look and thought it had been well thought through, and then I moved it away from him before he could think about taking bits apart to see how it went together! lol)
* but what put the surreal label on this week was this:

both flats sold on the same day!!!!!!! We are really pleased but didn't expect the top flat (one we live in) to sell quite so fast! lol ... 8 days on the market!! wth! *insert slightly hysterical laughter here!* lol
I cannot get my head around the fact that soon I won't live here anymore - its been my home for nearly 16 years and so much has happened.. and.. and.. erm .. sniff... sniff.. someone pass me a tissue please! (I'll stop now or I'll start to sound like Gwyneth Paltrow accepting an Oscar! lol)

I've also decided that 28th February is an EXCELLENT day:
*my grandad's birthday (well actually he was born on a Leap day but 3 years out of 4 he celebrated on the 28th)
*date of my first date with M
*the day we sold the flats
!! 3 reasons to make this officially 'an excellent day' - I might start a campaign to make it a public holiday! lol

So thats it - my wierd & wonderful week - fingers crossed please everyone that everything goes smoothly with the sales!

Tomorrow I'll post some pictures of arty things.....