Sunday 22 August 2010

Balloons & Bombers...

...I know... weird title for a crafty blog but... whenever have you known me be "not weird"??? Actually, it's what was in the skies above our house yesterday... from about 6am til 8pm... I spent most of the day neck-craned, viewing hot air balloons which were drifting over us from the Northampton Hot Air Balloon Show... there were some really cool shaped ones and one that was bright red and had Virgin on the side of it... which is the one that my dearest Grim decided he would flash my boobies at... yes, you read that right... the balloon was over our house at about 7am... so he thought it would be reeeeeally funny if he lifted my top up... thankfully the balloon was high up and I managed to cover up before any nips got out... I kid you not! Later in the day it was Sywell Aerodrome's Show Day and there were planes flying in formation overhead... and... best of all... a Lancaster Bomber flew right over the top of our house on his way home from Silverstone... the BTCC was on there *sadly we didn't go to this one cos Grim was working and it is a bit of a git to get away from... last time we went we were over an hour sitting in the car park trying to get out!!!* and it was doing a show flight. Honestly, the sound of that plane made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and gave me goosebumps...





**apologies for naffness of photo's... flash just don't like metal!**
Anyways... enough waffling on about planes and balloons and... erm... well enough said about the flashing thing yeh? I have been faffing about with roses in one form or another for ages now... metal ones, paper ones *paaaaper rooooooseeees, paaaaaper rooooseeeees - sorry, I went all Marie Osmond then!* and Grungey ones... so last night I decided to make some more metal ones... this time with the smallest flower on the Paper Artsy Hot Picks {HP1004} I stamped three of them onto gold metal that had been stuck onto cardstock that I had left over from the other day... and went to my metal stash to get some more gold metal to stamp some more onto... and... nay and thrice, I have no more gold metal!!! BUT... I had already started the first layer of rose #1... so, I was sitting there grumbling and faffing with this first layer which was now five petals... and I accidently tore down between one of the petals... I know, I don't know my own strength LOL... argh... so, to rectify it, I snipped down the other petals and edged the snips with a scootchy tool... "ooooh, I like this look", I says to AlfieCat, so I faffed a bit more and ended up with a coolio looking flower... but it looked a bit bare *bit like my boobies were* in the middle... so I got one of those Idea-ology buttons and popped that in the middle and I said "oooooo" to AlfieCat, "I rather like this"... so, I made two more... same as before but without the tearing.




I needed something to put them onto... "another hangy thing" I thinks to myself (there would be no point thinking that to AlfieCat cos he can't read my mind - at least I don't think he can... or maybe he can, and that is why he knows when he is going to the *whispers.... V E T*) Any road, I got a Maya Road page from a Scalloped Edged book, covered it with Gesso... then covered it with Sahara Terra, then stamped into the Terra with a Paper Artsy coggey stamp... and a scriptey stamp and a diamondey *blimey, what is it with this "ey" thing...y???* stamp... heat gunned it til it bubbled and went warty... popped some Trad Tan paint over it... then some Charcoal Black, then some Gold Dabber, then some more black, then some more gold.. and then finally.. some Inka Gold... Gold flavour.



I added a few leaves, a moth (I lurve those moths) and a sentiment... stamped into the remnants of the gold metal and scootched... then made a hangy thingy for it with ribbon and added some ribbons across the piece and attached an Idea-ology Mini Safety Pin with a Jump Ring and a little Key on it. Anyway, all of the stashy bits used are available from The Stamp Attic.




Right then... I shall bid you adieu cos it is my bedtime... but... I am all a-buzz with idea's for making stuff... why does that happen at bedtime I wonder??? When I have to be up at stooopid o'clock with Grim cos he is on earlies again... and... I really want to get some other coloured metal and make some more of these flowers! Oooooh, and before I go... I found a reaaaallly fab way of getting dried-on black paint (I guess it would work for any colour though) unstuck from fingernails... a Rub It, Scrub It pad... spritzed with water and a smidge of Grim's soap (don't tell him - again, am sure that any soap would work) and rubbedy scrubbedy fingernails into the pad and yep, brilliant... the paint comes off!!! Oh and I know what else I was going to say... Ellen suggested yesterday that we name the two birdy's that are now living with me... see yesterday's post if you think I am going mad... anyways... I think that is a FAB idea... so, if you have any suggestions for names, please erm... suggest away... and I will pick my faves and then send a little something to the one's I like the best... Ellen started this off with Percy & Petunia... so, what do you think they should be called??? Thanks for looking... have a goodly day... TTFN

Hels x

33 comments:

ellen vargo designs said...

Oooh - first YET AGAIN!! I'm loving the time difference! OK, it must have just been the day to use TERRA and INKA! That's how I spent my day, too! This piece is INCREDIBLE! But, more importantly, I literally almost fell over laughing over the "Virgin Balloon Incident" !!!! OMG! Glad you managed to gain control prior to "nip-exposure"!! You are absolutely TOO TOO FUNNY! (*and I would've KILLED Grim....*) TTFN & Hugs, Els. xx

Lori said...

Oooo, I love this metal stuff! And I'm really jonesin for those Paper Artsy Hot picks, I tell you. Just a drooly piece, Hels, I just love it!

Sherry Goodloe said...

Metal flowers . . . oh my! This piece is just another one of your GORGEOUS creations Hels. xo

LisaVeronica said...

WOW!gorgeous!

Scrap-in said...

It's pretty early in the morning overhere and I'm reading your blog.... I almost fall of my chair (laughing) reading about the flashing boobies....Goooood morning monday! This is the best way to start the day. Large coffee and reading your blog.
I love the art you make girl.
The metal flowers are gorgeous.

Greetzzz Scrap-in

Helen said...

Oh, so it was YOU that made the news .... only kidding.
Love this - and the story to go with it. It has brightened up what is a frankly NAFF day cos it's Monday AND wet AND I'm at work.
Names for the birdies? Hortense and (I was going to say Horace, after my grandad, but it's been done) so Horatio.

Daniele said...

someones been busy again such a lovely piece love the lacey effect background.....didn't realised you live fairly close to me in fact I'm just off to a clas ar Lynn's shop so will be passing by, might pop in for a cuppa.....lol
hugs

Jennie -The Artistic Stamper said...

Sounds like a great day ande specially for the balloonists!! psml.. what's he like? lol
As for the meatl flowers fab, but am really liking the birdies.. names? Bertie and Bettina.. don't ask just popped into my head. If you choose the names do we get to keep the birds???lolol
Hugs x

A Hovel to Home said...

Lovely lovely hangy thing .... I think birdies should be called Preston and Paulie!

Sandy said...

WOW WOW WOW !!!
No more words Hels for your incredible creation. This rock yeah. Love it.

Joanne said...

I can't see your metal flowers and moth 'cos I still have my eyes closed after seeing your flashy bits!!!!
Those scrummy birds are definitely Queen and Freddie.
Poor Alfie cat has some things to put up with!!
Luv Joanne xx

Fliss said...

Fabulous artwork as always Hels and your tale about the flashing has made me laugh so much I nearly spat my tea out - not good for the old laptop!
What a naughty Grim!!!
Still thinking about your birds. Nothing sprang immediately to mind.
xx

Jacqueline said...

Stunning work Hels, and on the subject of names how about Tim and Wendy? - Jacqueline xx

Nicki said...

Oh WOW this is absolutely stunning! it is totally gorgeous i love it!
couldnt ever get me in a hot air balloon! eeek!!!!
take care
Nicki
x

craftimamma said...

OMG Hels, this is absolutely stunning. Love those flowers ....no scrap that ............. I love everything on this gorgeous piece of art.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Kathy Eddy said...

lovely metal goodness! Those flowers are to die for. I am wondering if the balloon has landed yet and if he is trying to figure out your whereabouts. LOL

Stampersue said...

Got a fit of the giggles reading about your flashing experience. Very funny - I hope you you slapped hi. lol

You should call the new birds Messy & Inky

Stampersue x
http://stampersue.blogpot.com

Stampersue said...

Got a fit of the giggles reading about your flashing experience. Very funny - I hope you you slapped hi. lol

You should call the new birds Messy & Inky

Stampersue x
http://stampersue.blogpot.com

TinaB said...

completely stunning!! Brilliant work Hels xx

Hugs Tina xx

DonnaMundinger said...

Oh Hels, I'm speechless! I'm sorry to have been away for so long. Your creations are always breathtaking and make me want to fly across the pond and move in with you so you can teach me all there is to know about EVERYTHING you do! LOVE this! xxD

Unknown said...

Hels - Glad you took time out from your flashing to create such beautiful metal flowers. (all that faffing paid off!!) Amazing! I love your birds too. Living across the pond the names that came to me were Lucy and Ricky. They were quite a flashy pair.

KAT said...

Hels this one is drop dead gorgeous - love all the texture on the metal flowers and really love that background technique!!!

Pat said...

That is just lovely, Hels! I enjoy all your work, but this metal one is special.

Anonymous said...

Oh Hels, I love this. I'm still giggling about the 'boobies' too! S xx

Art By Wanda said...

Wow!!! I totally love this... the flowers are GORGEOUS!!!! Well, really the whole piece is GORGEOUS!!!

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Ooh absolutely stunning hun, love it :-) Your birdie for SS is splenidissimo ;-) I'll try to do something for SS but am off on me jollys on Friday.
Anne xx

Morti said...

Oh, I think as a nod to those Divas of the eighties, you should call the birds "Hinge and Bracket". Or, if you would rather go for their christian names, Evadne and Hilda....

Karen said...

Wonderful metal gorgeousness!

I'd have killed Grim but could also imagine my hubby trying to do the same thing! Men! lol

Surely the birds have got to be Tim and Wendy ?

Anonymous said...

Humm. Do I go all John Mellencamp and say Jack and Diane? Do I go with Brain and Blue (as in Bird Brain and Blue Bird)? Do I confirm the already brilliant suggestions of Tim and Wendy? No, I think I will have to pick the two most inappropriate rock-star-kids names EVER - Fifi Trixibelle and Dweezil. No matter the name they are simply brilliant.

Mary Anne

Kat said...

I think it's got to be Tim & Wendy (I just wish I thought of it,
my sugestion is Peaches & bluey

there are some grate names already, I think your going to have a tough time picking the winner (good luck with that lol)

Kathleen x

Val said...

This is just fabby Helen - Love everything about it.

Made me hoot on your Virgin incident. You never know they might have had binos!!! So you won't have got away with it ....

As for your birdies Bertie Blue and Honey Bun.

Hugs
Valxx

Netty said...

My names are CLAUD and MAUD, not very romantic I know, but they are my tophole favourite names for these fab birds.......Annette x

Joanne Leddy said...

Your birds are fabulous! I love them. I would suggest building off the initials on the block...SVH. They obviously are a couple so they must share a last name. Also, being blue and yellow their name has to fit their color. I think "Mr./Mrs. Periwinkle and Sunshine Van Hels." would be perfectly appropriate. Or ... based on your recent experiences maybe "Mr./Mrs. Periwinkle and Sunshine Van Hooters." Enjoyed your site and I'm so glad to have found you!

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