Sunday Stampers - Week 131 - Sign Of The Times

Goodly Morning Stampers and a very Happy Sunday to you all :O)) Thank you for all the wonderful entries last week, there were lots of beautiful butterflies to see on my travels. Ah, and speaking of travels... my entry this week is actually a sign I made for Ellen for when she arrived through Customs yesterday... but more of that later... tis a tale to tell indeed! Without further ado, the theme for this week is SIGNS. You can use any kind of sign... it could be one you make, it could be a sign post telling Santa to stop here, it could be a road sign... the choice is yours. As ever, all you need to do to join in is make a a piece of art incorporating some stamping and the theme... leave a comment for me here with a linky to the place you are showing your entry and I will hop on over to visit. The challenge will be open until 21:00, Saturday December 4th '10.



So... my sign... I had planned to just print off a piece of card with Ellen's name on, you know like in the movies when someone is waiting at the airport for someone... well, I mentioned this to Andrea who said... why don't you add some Wendy Vecchi flowers to the sign?... What a FAB idea I thinks... cos, after all, it is because of Wendy that we met in the first place. So, I got Grim to print off an A4 size of card with the wording on and then got cracking with the stamping and cutting out of lots of Studio 490 images in Grungepaper. I added Distress Inks to the sign, popped it onto mountboard to make it sturdy and then glued the flowers in place.




Yesterday I requested to the Weather Gods that it be sunny with NO snow. Woke up yesterday morning to... a layer of snow! Typical! Anyways, off I toddled on the train to London and the plan was to get a tube to Heathrow and then stand at Arrivals with my sign, ready and waiting for Ellen to appear thru the doors. However, it didn't quite pan out as I wanted... mainly cos... firstly, my train was late, secondly, on the way into London all the chuffing flowers fell off said sign and I had to buy glue and thirdly... Ellen's plane arrived spectacularly early!!! There I was, buying Superglue in St Pancras, waiting fifteen hours to buy a tube ticket, getting regular text updates from Grim telling me that Ellen was 508 miles away, then she was over Cardiff, then over Bristol almost a second later and then... da, dah, daahhhhh - the phone call saying the flight had landed... oooops; at this point I was at Hounslow Central...I had been sitting on said tube for 900 years - attempting to glue back on the flowers without gluing myself to the person sitting next to me... whom, I hasten to add, was looking a little bit unsettled by this mad woman with a flower fetish sitting next to him!!! LOL SO, I get to Terminal One, fair dash (well, as much as my spakky back will allow) to the Arrivals gate, muttering to myself about please be in Customs, please be in Customs... and... THERE SHE WAS!!! Sitting in the Arrivals lounge, all by herself, surrounded by her cases... How guilty do I feel huh? Poor lass has come 3700 miles to see me and I couldn't even get there on time!!!




However, I think that she forgave me because since then we have barely paused for breath and at one point we did have to centre ourselves and say "calm, breathe in, breathe out, we need food" ROFL We haven't done anything inky yet... last night we just chatted and watched a bit of TV and ate lasagne (I am sure that, in a previous life, I was actually Garfield, such is my love of lasagne LMSO) Ellen has brought me some FAB pressies... and one of them is going to be used today, tis so exciting... and I am planning to blog it tomorrow... I can't wait to get stuck into it... tis a super special kit.. made by... THE Wendy Vecchi! Yes, indeedily, I have a kit from one of Wendy's classes which she has actually touched!!! Anyways... I shall stop waffling now and say... keep warm... have a fabby day and... thanks for looking!! TTFN

Hels x

Bling Me Sunshine...

Ooooh dearie me indeedily, I am really scraping that barrel for original titles for my posts.. however, I can justify this one... cos, I have used heaps of bling on my latest DT piece for The Artistic Stamper which can be found HERE... all the deets etc and more pics are there. *here is a snippet of the thingy wotsit I made*



And... I am praying for sunshine in the morning... cos... well, I may have mentioned this just the odd couple of times but... I have a very special visitor arriving all the way from America... and I don't want it to be raining or snowing or grey and damp when Ellen first claps eyes on England. So... in less that 11 hours she will be here and I have to say I thought I was excited yesterday - nope, nothing compared to right this very minute... I am almost, very nearly, seriously, swallowing my tongue with the excitement!!! I had thought about getting an early night so I am all fresh in the morning... no point really cos I know I am so not going to be able to sleep LOL I have been fiddling about making a little something to take with me to the airport as a little surprise for her... she won't have chance to read this post before she is in mid air so I know I can tell you about it... however, I won't...just in case.. oh and... also, I will be showing it tomorrow for the Sunday Stamper... which will have a different and rather *ahem* original theme... we haven't had this one before and I can't believe I haven't thought of it before... tis a good song too! Anyways... that is all from me... I could waffle on all night about how excited I am but I don't want to bore you all LMSO... thank you for looking... and for all your lovely comments too... TTFN

Hels x

Funky Resistance...

...oh dear, that really is a dire title for this post but... it is sort of right because today is Friday, which means that it is my day for the Bubbly Funk DT. I have been getting inky and messy with some chipboard and made a little notebook using the Dabber Resist technique... to see more about it... please CLICK HERE... I have laid on a very special snowmobile to take you across the Blogasphere complete with reindeer and those woolly, blue eyed dogs that I for the life of me cannot remember the name of LOL




So... in approximately 32 hours time Ellen... will be... in England!!! I have told her to bring her woolly knickers because they have forecast cold cold weather again and I believe that it is nonrmally tropical in America... having never been I don't know but I am betting that it is at least cardigans and an overcoat colder here ROFL So, how excited am I? Well, if I told you that I am debating whether or not to buy shares in Tena Lady's then that is realllly how excited I am!! I have planned a few excursions for Ellen - namely a trip to LB Crafts to take part in one of the ever so slightly bonkers Linda Elbourne's classes (don't tell her I said that, she will ban me!) and of course, it would be plain rude not to have a look in the shop too! Then I have planned that we are going to a lovely country pub for lunch one day... so Ellen can see the countryside and sample our cuisine LOL Oh and we are going to see the Queen and meeting Jennie for lunch at Covent Garden... and the rest of the time... we will be making a right old mess in the Room of Stash and probably driving poor Grim to distraction with our constant yakking and cackling too...did I mention that I am excited? Like more excited that when it is Christmas Eve and Santa pops a little surprise package under the tree... that excited!!! Right... I gotta try and get some Zzzzzz's - can you imagine what I am going to be like tomorrow??? Probably best if you don't eh? LMSO (which BTW, is my new acrony, am bored with ROFL and LOL and LMAO so we now have LMSO which means... Laugh My Socks Off!) Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Simon Says Distress...

...yes indeedily, it is that time of the week to join in with the fun Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge... (click the name to see the DT's art and how to join in) This week the theme is Distress Inks and it would have been just plain rude of me not to join in seeing as these are the only inks I really ever use LOL Oh and before I forget ... HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY AMERICAN FRIENDS!!!!



I am in a tag swap at the moment and this is one of the tags for the swap... lots of inky and messy techniques on it - a bit of dabber resist and lots of different colours: Broken China, Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade, Pine Needles, Aged Mahogany and Walnut Stain... the best thing about DI's for me is that they all go together, no matter which colours you pick out, they all seem to blend really well... and obviously, I love the names of them too :O)) There is a bit of Rock Candy Crackle creeping in there too.. to make the butterflies look a bit ethereal (ooooh, get me with a long word!!!)



So... have you had snow? I can report that it is... in no uncertain terms... chuffing freeeezing here... and last night we had the lightest of dustings of the white stuff... not enough to even consider making a snowman (one of my favourite past times... actually, my snowmen look more like monsters from a Dr Who episode so the less said about that the better) But! Nay and thrice! I DO NOT want it to snow anymore... usually, if there is the remotest chance of a flurry, I will be pacing back and forth, looking out of the window, looking heavenward and praying for a nice blizzard... but not today... nope, it cannot and must-not snow before about 3pm on Saturday afternoon... I want to get Ellen back to the Room of Stash without any hold ups or the usuall travel chaos that snow brings to our roads (although, I do have to question, why are we so ill prepared for snow when places like Canada and Norway manage very well thank you very much!) Anyways... it is now...47hours and 36 minutes until Ellen's flight lands - which means it is about 48 hours until I finally get to give her a real life hug... OMG, I am almost peeing my pants with excitement!!! Oh and.. before I forget... thank you for all the lovelly comments yesterday - answering a few Q's: I won't muck up the Room of Stash before she gets here - promise lol... Thanks for the offer of letting me tidy your crafty space but I think I will decline on this occasion ROFL and... the black scallops under my desk that look like chipboard roof tiles are actually my treasured Wendy Vecchi stamps - which I hasten to add, are under the desk so I don't have to stretch or indeed even move much to get hold of ROFL Right, better go and do some dusting or something (yes, I have turned into a Domestic Goddess... not really but it sounded good!! LOL) Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

WOYWW - 11 Hours Later...

...yes indeedily, I am looking rather pleased with myself today, in fact, I could describe it as almost euphoric! After the past few weeks of scenes of total devastation in the Room of Stash, I can happily report that... it is... TIDY!!! And, it has stayed tidy since Sunday! And no, I haven't been away so it has had some use! Why am I pontificating about my Room??? Well, for no other reason that today is Wednesday, which means it is time for the World of the Blogger to unit in the phenomenon that is known as What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - hosted by Head Hopper in Chief, Julia, all the deets are on her blog... HERE :O))


So, this mammoth tidy up started on Friday - several (and I am not exagerating!) hours later, it looked worse than it did when I started.... for the simple reason that when I moved into this room some seven months ago, I unpacked all... erm... 36 boxes of stash and just bunged it anywhere without a thought for the future.




Now, seven months later, eveything (well, almost) has a home and I have even spent hours making little labels for my blending tools so my Craft Spinner is organised! Well, I had to feed my inner OCD a little bit.



So.. the 11 hours later in the title... is actually how long it took me to get my room looking better... memo to self - do NOT allow it to get into such a state again!!! LOL On my desk today (apart from being totally spotless and ink free) are some Grungepaper flowers which I am half way through cutting out - these will be inked and layered and popped onto something later this week... not sure what yet, but I have this love of cutting out Grungepaper flowers because it is a bit therapeutic! (again, feeding the inner OCD) Anyways... that is about it from the new look Room of Stash for one day. Have a very goodly day! Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

PS... only three days now til Ellen arrives all the way from America... I so have to keep things neat and tidy until then lol

Curiously Doubley Distressed...

...mmm, no prizes for guessing what the theme for the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge is this week LOL Hosted, devised and beautifully represented by the lovely Linda Ledbetter, this challenge is... curiously addictive (see what I did there... curiously!) If you would like to see what I am waffling on about today, please CLICK HERE to be transported, as if by magic, to see Linda's blog.



So... I made another tag... that is 23 tags made so far... I had planned to layer them all onto a big piece of wood and then pop them up onto the wall.. I even saved some wall space in the Room of Stash *note I am using the proper name for my good old room... but more of that later :O))* Anyways, you should see them all now - they are on two book rings and I will need another before the challenge is thru - but they are a really good "aide memoir" (oooh, get me, being all French!) and I have remembered to label the back of them with the technique of the week ;o))



I mentioned the Room of Stash and I am busting with pride now because... after THREE arduous days, it is... TIDY! Seriously, I know that doubters will think that I have just tidied up the desk and that .. but, nay and thrice, I have not only tidied both desks, I have also put stuff away, sorted out all my Distress Ink tools into colour order *be calm my inner control freak*, organised all my Alterations, sorted out the eBay stuff that I am selling at the moment... and... I have even... *please sit down if you are of a nervous disposition* used... the vaccuum!!! Admittedly, it was a bit of a "one whizz is all it needs" job, but hey, it looks better! I will pop some pics on on Weds for the WOYWW - oh and I nearly forgot to say... whilst I was tidying, I was also sorting out all the drawers cos they had just been stuffed with what-not when I first unpacked ROFL



I am getting more and more excited as the week passes... in... FOUR days *not including today cos we are already in today and it sounds better if today isn't included LOL*... Ellen will be here with me, in the Room of Stash with me... and I am like a kiddie waiting for Christmas!!! I seriously cannot wait... we have already had several "separated at birth" moments... so goodness knows what it will be like when we are actually together... actually, I do feel a bit sorry for Grim... he is so not gonna know what has hit him ROFL Right... I have got my crafting head on so I am going to make the most of it and go and make... something.. not sure what yet LOL Thanks for looking... have a very goodly day! TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stampers - Week 130 - Like A Butterfly

Morning Stampers and a very goodly day to you all... many thanks for the gorgeous entries last week, there were so many jolly Santa's out there... I didn't realise that there were that many stamps to choose from :O)) This week is an easy peasy (blimey, how old am I???) theme which is... from a song from my childhood by Mac & Katie Kissoon... BUTTERFLIES. As usual with the Sunday Stamper, all you need to do to join in is make anything - a card, ATC, tag, hanging art... tis up to you! Include the theme and some stamping and then once you have blogged it, leave a comment for me here and I will be able to hop on over to see you :O)) The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 27th November `10.



For my entry this week I have altered a 5" x 7" canvas, adding lots of texture to it using Viva Terra and then painting it with acrylic paints. I know I have said this before but... I loooove that Terra stuff... if you apply it sparingly it goes all warty when you heat dry it... loving that look!



The butterflies are made from an Artistic Stamper stamp with Grungepaper, Claudine's Canvas which was stuck onto metal and coloured with paint and the new Clearly for Art from Wendy Vecchi - WOW!! I have a new fave stash item! This stuff is FAB - stamping on it is easier than I thought, I thought the stamp would squish about but it didn't, I stamped using StaZon and then cut out the butterflies, I overstamped with a background stamp and then popped a thin layer of Gold Dabber onto the back of the butterflies. Once this had dried off, I used a HeatGun and gently heated the butterfly - then once it started to move about, I curled the wings with my fingers. I made some ickle bodies for the butterflies with some beads and wire and then stuck them in a swathe up the canvas...




So... does anyone know the collective name for butterflies? I think a swathe of butterflies sounds nice... or a flutter of butterflies... I shall have to go and ask Mr Google if he knows :O))



A quick update on the state of the Room of Trash... well, I spent some more time yesterday tidying away and had a bit of a sort out too... and I am happy to announce that the room is erm... still not finished!!! Well, I had to break off to make the Sunday Stamper... and watch X Factor (nuff said about that) and then I had to watch I'm A Celeb... blimey, that Gillian can't do anything can she? Can't walk, can't move, can't do it in general... but she could pull her top down when she had fainted... miraculous ROFL Anyways... enough of my waffling... thanks for looking... have a fabby day! TTFN

Hels x

Oooo, ooooo, I have just been to ask Mr Google what the collective name for Butterflies is... I am in lurve with this... it is... a Kaleidoscope of Butterflies... how perfect!!!!

Challenge Hels...

...don't worry, you won't have to see action shots of my backside wobbling as I run about for clues like the Challenge Anneka programme... nope, this challenge thingy that I have started is proving not only to be fruitful (in as much as I actually get cards made) but also... it is rather addictive! So, you know that my Room of Stash is actually a Room of TRASH at the moment... well, I decided to spend the best part of *ahem* seven hours yesterday trying to tidy it up... it is still not quite finished and to be honest, I am getting bored LOL I spent hours making little labels for my Blending Tools in the Craft Spinner...I am two tools short of a full set (that sounds wrong on so many levels ROFL) Anyways... (off I went on one of my waffles...sorry) I decided to have a little respite from the *cleaning.. ssssh... * and made a card.




The challenge was simples: to be made in under 30 mins, Christmas themed, must be a card, must have heat embossing on it and it must be flat for posting. The result is quite a...erm... flat card... which I don't really like - it needs something else, like layers for the sentiment and more bling... but, it was a challenge afterall. All the stashy bits, inks, stamps etc are available at The Artistic Stamper. I used Distress Inks, smooshed onto the craft sheet, spritzed with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls mists and then the card was dunked *I love that word... dunked... if you say it loads of times it sounds really funny...mmm, just me then LOL* into the inky mix. I dried it all off with a heat gun and then edged the whole piece with Brushed Corduroy.



The heat embossing part... do you know what? I hardly ever do this anymore and I don't know why cos it is like magic, seeing the powders melt into the image *actually, one of the big reasons why I started stamping is cos I loved seeing those powders melt... before that I was a strictly peel offs and stickers girl ROFL* Anyways... the layout of the card is an idea I picked up from the Duke of Distress himself after seeing some tags on his blog... he is so clever isn't he? The little pine cones are stamped and cut out and then blinged with Rock Candy Stickles (which don't show up on the pics)



Guess what? I got another pressie in the post today... look at him, isn't he just the cutest thing ever? Laura picked up that I looooove hares, I have a lovely collection of them which have featured here before.. well, bless her, she has made me a hare... he is a knitted character with a gorgeous little sweater that has an H on it... I think he is just perfect! I wish I could make something like this... I can knit (well, after a fashion - scarves mainly ROFL) but I would never know how to make a little fella like this... anyways... I just wanted to sHare (!) him with you. Well, I have waffled and gone off on tangents and now... I have to go back and get that room sorted... well, I have got a goodly reason why I need to get it done now... because.. in exactly SEVEN days... Ellen will be here, all the way from America!!! Actually, this time next Saturday I will be actually with her at the airport... OMG, I am peeing my pants excited and this room needs to be perfect and tidy for us to be able to come in here, make some art... and trash it up again LOL Thanks for looking.. have a fabby day... oh and there is a new Sunday Stamper theme tomorrow... TTFN

Hels x

Simon Says Be Happy...

...Tis that time again... time for the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge which this week is... Whatever Makes You Happy. Oh-ho, I could have spent literally all week adding things to my tag that make me happy but then you wouldn't have actually been able to see anything because they would have all be squished together... so instead, I settled for my fave Distress Ink combo's, my favest Tim Holtz stamps, my favest Tim Holtz Alterations die and my favest Idea-ology.




Actually, I think it would have been easier if I had just said... all things Tim Holtz make me happy - except for those freaky clowns which drive me nuts because I have the stamp set but only got it for the Freddie Mercury look-a-likey stamp. Anyways... I got inky and messy with Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany and Walnut Stain DI's - blending them all together onto a tag (oooh, which also make me happy... loooove tags!!!) I added some stamping using Aged Mahogany and Walnut Stain and then got cutting with some old book pages, running them thru the Bug with the Tattered Florals die (think I have used this one more than anything else) and then inked up the flowers in the same DI colours to make them pretty... layered together with a metal button and then edged with more Walnut Stain.



So... I don't think it has photo'd well but... there is a little bit of velvet ribbon on this tag - which was originally cream in colour and is now Spiced Marmalade... which happens to be a happy accident... basically, being as I am such a lazy slut and haven't tidied away for weeks, nay and thrice.. months! I had re-inked my Spiced Marm pad and popped the Re-Inker onto the shelf in front of my desk, which just so happened to have the velvet ribbon on it too. The bottle fell over (I was oblivious to this) and leaked (also oblivious to this) and it leaked into the ribbon... phew, can you imagine the mess if the ribbon hadn't been there soaking up the ink? I shudder to think! But.. it looks nice and it matched, so I used it :O))



I still haven't tidied up the Room of Trash, if anything it is worse now than this morning and I am in need of help! I think I will have to bite the bullet on Friday and clean it up... it is getting silly, I have more stash on the floor than I do in the cupboards and drawers... in fact, I have forgotten what colour the carpet is ... well, I haven't really but it sounded dramatic ROFL Right, time for bed for me... I am going to see Jennie tomorrow and have an early train to catch... thanks for looking... have a goodly Thursday! TTFN

Hels x

WOYWW... OR... WOYFW...

Mmmm, I know, I have said for weeks now that next week the desk (and room) will be tidy... eeeerm, Room of Stash? More like Room of Trash LOL So, what am I on about? Well, being as it is Wednesday it can only mean.. it is time for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, a marathon hop around the blogasphere, noseying, I mean looking, at everyone's desks. The hop starts at Head of the Dept for Curious Desk Inspectors, Julia, all the deets are on her blog for you to be able to join in, tis great fun ;o))


*please excuse the dodgy camera angle... same as last week, no room in front of the desk LOL Oh and... the stuff on the desk, all from yesterday's crafty session, not tidied away and my sketch for my CCC tag too... lazy Hels!*

So... the WOYFloorW today is actually showing the little route from the door to the desk... I have bags not unpacked from the weekend of classes, mountboard that needs to be put away and stuff that is awaiting attention... I am so going to tidy up today... I am ... I need to, I can't find my Mojo when the room is this bad!



Also on my desk today is a rather GORGEOUS pressie that came all the way from Annette in Canada. It is a little list holder made from a BIA wire - I have been using one just as it is for storing notes and lists on my desk and Annette did the same, so she, being uber talented, made a little box for it to stand on... and inside is a gorgeous little book of saying, which is perfect. Also in the parcel was a little package for AlfieCat who now lurves his Aunty Annette because there were treats in the box for him. In fact, he loves them that much I have had to pop them on the top shelf of the cupboard because he was opening the door and trying to help himself!! (not to mention that he "helped" me unpack my pressie and then shoved the box around the kitchen with his nose... sniffing out those treats!)




Anyways... time for me to get that *whispers* vaccuum and sort out the mess in my room, wish me luck, I may be some time LOL Thanks for looking... have a brill day! TTFN

Hels x

Curiously Splattered...

... I may have mentioned several (hundred) times that I love the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge... why is this I wonder? Is it because I get to do a different technique a week? Maybe. Or is it 'cos I get to use my fave Ranger and Tim Holtz products? Probably... but... the real reason is that I get to play with ink and rubber and get thoroughly messy, which is what I have just done this morning. So.. the challenge... hosted, devised and organised by the wonderfully lovely Linda... if you click on her name you can see what I am on about :O)) This week is another excuse to get out the Alcohol Inks and, in my case, get totally covered in ink (again)



I really must get dressed before I start to craft of a morning... a few weeks ago I had a minor mishap with some Metallic Mixatives (mainly, they ended up on my face and on my nighty) Well, today I had this idea what to do for my entry and instead of being organised and getting dressed first, I hit the Room of Stash still in my nighty. Big mistake... huge mistake *I love that line, Julia Roberts telling those snobby moo's in Pretty Woman* ... cos now I have a rather lovely blue stain on it, mainly because I am clumsier than an bull in a china shop and I ... erm... dropped a bottle of ink... it is such a good job that Grim bought me that floor protector for under my chair... I shudder to think how bad the carpet would be LOL




I think when Linda told us that the theme this week is Alcohol Ink Splatter, she didn't mean I should splatter my desk, nighty and *don't tell Grim* a tidge on the carpet (oooops!) Anyways, as well as re-colouring all manner of what have you, I have made a tag... week 22 of the challenge already and I have now got two book rings with tags on... I really didn't think this through before I started on the "let's make a tag a week" malarkey... Oh and... I forgot to mention before... a few weeks ago I won a prize from this challenge... and it arrived the other day! Many thanks to Linda x I so promise not to be insufferable and mention that I have a signed by Tim set of Flourish stamps LOL



Right, time to venture out into the freeeeezing cold frosty day, tis one of my fave times of year, frosty mornings and a bit of foggy mist... makes everything look so pretty... thanks for looking... have a goodly day! TTFN

Hels x

Getting Arty & Artsy

...ooooh, COR BLIMEY... I have had great larks playing with some new stash... Art Parts... and Paper Artsy papers... which, I have to tell you, are totally DEEEEVINE and beautiful and heavy and gorgeous .. oh and they smell lush too LOL I altered some of those utterly perfect Art Parts to make a hanging *erm... yep, me, a hanging, that sounds about right ;o))* All the deets on how I made this piece are over on The Stamp Attic Blog... which is HERE... and if you click on that there word (HERE) I have arranged for a fox to trot with you over to the blog for a nosey (mmm, you can tell i have been watching too much Strictly LOL)



Have you seen the time??? It is nearly 4am and I am still awake, tapping away and chattering on alarmingly when I should be tucked up in my bed... Grim is on those dratted earlies again and he has just gone to work so it is deffo time for me to get my very much needed beauty sleep. It is typical he is on those earlies this week - just when I'm A Celeb is starting, I saw the first five mins of it last night and had to turn off before I got too engrossed laughing my socks off at all the newbies into the jungle... we will be watching it when Grim gets in from work thanks to the powers of Sky+... I suppose I could watch it by myself but it isn't the same is it? Sitting there, taking the mick out of scaredy-cat celebs who are frightened of an ant - nooo, not that Ant of Ant and Dec fame... no, a real ant... you know, one with six legs and nippy nibblers that bite... where was I??? Ah yes, taking the micky.. is so much funnier when you have some one to take the mickey with isn't it?




I just noticed... I am so impatient I hadn't waited for the Glossy Accents to dry in the Idea-ology before I took the photo... and... the way the hand is positioned... it looks like it is poking her in the eye... well, that is better than picking her nose I guess LOL Right... I have to go, I am starting to talk drivel... whatcha mean nowt new there then??? ROFL Thanks for looking.. have a FAB day! TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stampers - Week 129 - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Goodly Morning Stampers and a very happy (albeit chilly) Sunday to you. Thank you all for the gorgeous winter creations that were entered last week - so many lovely icy themed pieces of art :O)) This week I have decided to chose a festive theme and you have probably guessed from the title that it is... SANTA CLAUS. To join in with the challenge all you have to do is make something; a card, ATC, altered art, tag (the choice is yours) and then include the theme and some rubberstamping. If you leave me a comment here with the link to the place you are showing your entry I can hop on over to see it. The theme will be open until 21:00 Saturday November 20th.



For my entry I have made a book - this is no ordinary book though! I have just had two lovely days at The Stamp Attic doing workshops to make a Book of Advent which is what I am entering for this weeks challenge.




Made up from Bazzill card, Fancy Pants papers and lots of Distress Inks and Christmas stamps galore, this little book is ideal for just sitting on the coffee table or a shelf during December and a new page can be turned each day (hence the title of the book LOL) The book is only diddy, measuring 3" x 3" and bound witih mountboard covers and a Bind It All.



I would like to say a big thank you to the ladies who came to play on Friday and Saturday, so without further ado thank you to: Sue, Laura, Anette, Anna, Debbie and Jude for playing on Friday and then to Ann, Julie, Kate, Thelma, Judy and Chris for making Saturday a total blast. Here is a pic of Saturday's class *Wendy is in this one too :O))* check out the face Kate is pulling at me... and poor Thelma was hiding behind the partition and such are my photography skills, well, they leave a lot to be desired ROFL And, the smug look on my face because I did remember take my camera, complete with battery and memory card was soon wiped off when I clean forgot to take any pics of Friday (ooops, it was even sitting on the desk in front of me - so no excuses LOL)




So, what have you got planned for today? I am planning to ... *pauses for effect* tidy the Room of Trash and turn it back into the Room of Stash because it truly is a pigsty in here and I haven't got any room left on my desk to rest on... anyways... thanks for looking... have a very goodly day... TTFN

Hels x

My Favest Stamp...

... is it possible to just have one favourite stamp??? Mmmm, well, I did try to pick just the one fave Tim Stamp, which is the theme over on Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge this week. So, thru this week I have been thinking about the one stamp I could choose... and it all came down to the one stamp that I reach for if I am feeling Mojo-dry... and that stamp is... Brolly Man. Actually, I don't know what his name is but he has a brolly, so he will always be Brolly Man to me... I mean, his name could be Ernest or Wilfred or Wayne... who knows!





Anyways... as well as this card being my entry into the challenge it is also my DT piece for the Artistic Stamper... all the deets on how I made the card are HERE on the Creative Team blog... along with some more pics too.



I erm... had another mishap!!! Yes, whilst I was trying to make this card, I decided to see if Perfect Pearl Mists would look good on the design... so, I got the Heirloom Gold one and gave it a shake and sprayed it onto a test piece of card (hey, I was trying to be careful ROFL) and it came out like a jet! So, not being very happy, I took the nozzle off and went to have a look what was wrong... it looked like the springy bit at the top was blocked, so I sprayed it.. and a whole jet of mist came pouring out and onto my lap... not content with having a lapfull of mists, I then went to brush the worst off and knocked the bottle with my hand... and... the nozzle was still in my other hand... let's just say that I have a lovely pair of sparkly trousers and the carpet is looking... erm... a bit blingy! LOL Anyways... I better go, I have some... cleaning to do ROFL... thanks for looking... have a FAB day and don't forget to check back tomorrow for the new Sunday Stamper theme. TTFN

Hels x

Making It Merry...

... tis Friday... which means... tis my day for the Bubbly Scrumptious blog and I have been getting sparkly and Christmassy, making a little decoration that can sit on a shelf or on the coffee table... to see all the deets, please click HERE and you will be transported on a gust of wind over to the blog!



So... have you had wind??? Not you personally, as if I would ask that LOL No, I mean, have you had windy weather? It has been blowing a gale here for the best part of 24 hours and it is no better now! And... we have discovered something rather interesting about our AlfieCat... he hates the wind! Yep, poor little fluff kept going to the door yesterday and asking to go out, I would open the door and the gusts of wind would whip around and poor Alf got all upset and cowered and then backed away into the kitchen... so my fearless little soldier is not that fearless after all! Bless him :O) Right... bedtime for me... I have a very busy few days coming up - two classes at The Stamp Attic... I am so excited about these cos the project is one of my all time faves... hope you have a fab weekend... thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Nice & Easel-ly Does It...

...oooo, hoooo, hooooo, I am groaning at that title you know - cos... it is one of my naff puns - but it does kind of work because I have been getting all inky and stampy and have been making samples for my Stampotique Mania class at The Stamp Attic on December 10th.




One of the cards is an Easel card *hence the pun filled title* Trust me, these are highly addictive, I hadn't made a single one before this one... now I have a heap of designs ready to be made into more of them! Simple yet effective - goodness knows why it took me sooooo long to get around to making one! Anyways... that there piccie is a sneak peek at one of the cards in the class... and there are some more deets about other classes over on The Stamp Attic Blog. I have popped a linky into the name so you should just be able to whip across the Blogasphere to see my post :O)) Oh and this here piccie is a sneak peek at my Deck the Halls class which is next Weds, 17th November and I think there are still a couple of spaces on it waiting to be filled up :O))




So... we went to the cinema last night and saw Red *I don't mean that we both got really angry lol* and I was pleasantly surprised that it was a good film and LOL funny in places too - I was more than happy to sit and goggle at, I mean watch, Bruce Willis and I know that Grim was happy to be watching Helen Mirren LOL We went to Nando's afterwards... and oooopsie-daisy, I ordered a HOT Peri Peri wrap.. and erm... I should have ordered the Medium one because if I had had a hat on, it would have been blown clean off my head! My tongue is still tingling... but is was lovely and I kind of got used to it after a couple of bites!! Anyways... time for bed for me... busy day today (seems weird saying today when I am just off to bed, but you know what I mean) So, what have you planned for today??? I have some prepping for my classes on Friday and Saturday and then I have a heap of ironing and the Sunday Stamper to get ready cos I won't have chance otherwise... thanks for looking and have a fabby day! TTFN

Hels x

WOYWW... Two For One...

...Cor Blimey!!! It is Wednesday already and my brain is still way back in Monday! Pathetic excuse time now, I still haven't tidied up - I know, I know, I promised that I would be good and sort out all the erm... crud... from my desk... and I haven't, I have just added to it! On desk #1 is a WIP using Stampotique and Distress Inks to make a card... no doubt it will be here soon :O)) Oh and... apologies for the angle of the pic - this is cos there is soooooo much stash on the floor surrounding said desk and behind my chair, I can't actually get in front of it unless I stand on the chair and ...knowing my propensity for falling down, I didn't think that was such a good idea! *thank you, BTW, for all your lovely messages and comments regarding me taking the invisible stair lift the other day - still got a sore bum but it is better than it was... and... funny or what? That lump in my neck... gone! So, next time it appears I will have to hurl myself down a flight of stairs to get rid of it ROFL*




I have also been adding a generous layer of... erm... stuff, to desk #2 which is just not good enough, I know. I have to get it all sorted but... I have realised why I am having such a bother with it... it is because... my desk #1 isn't big enough - so, I have to get out all my stash and heap it up on the other desk and then on the floor and then I .. erm... *scratches head, thinking quickly for excuses* and then I am working in such a small space that I need to go and rest instead of tidying away. I could have said that the dog ate my homework or I missed the bus but neither of those excuses would have really been relevant... so yep, it is cos my desk is way too small! *does that sound like a goodly excuse??? Have I got away with it for another week???* Ooooo, I just noticed... three of the Tree Decorations for my class at The Stamp Attic next Weds are there... and, if my memory serves me well, we have a couple of spaces left, so if you fancy making your own custom decorations and getting inky and messy with me, please CLICK HERE for the booking deets :O))




Anyways... all this waffling about desks and excuses and such like is cos it is indeed Wednesday and therefore, the Leader of the Department for Desk Maintenance, otherwise known as the lovely Julia, will have the WOYWW linky thingy and all the deets ready for you to read on her blog... actually, I am posting this at stoopid o'clock cos I am waiting for Grim to come home from work, so my bet is that Julia will be posting it all in the morning... try anyway, you never know :O)) So what have you got planned for today? I am in a state of anticipation... Grim is taking me to the flicks tonight and we are going to Nando's after so I can stuff my chops full of super strength Peri Peri chicken... I think we are going to see Red (gratuitous shots of Mr Willis for me and Ms Mirren for Grim ROFL) Have a FAB day! Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Curiously Perfect...

...well I never, Monday crept up on and whizzed past while I was preoccupied with all things eBay (am getting rid of all my Tilda and cute stamps, I don't use them any more so why keep 'em LOL *ahem, plus the fact... sell old stash = ££ which in turn = new stash... mwahhahahahhaaaa!!!*) So, I spent Monday being all efficient and doing listings and when I finally realised the time it was Tuesday already... so what is all this waffle about days of the week? Well, it just so happens that every Monday there is a brand new theme on the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge... if you haven't heard of this phenomenon, please click HERE to be whisked off to Linda's blog where you can see all the deets you need and see the lovely prizes on offer too...




So, this week is one of my fave techniques and I just love the way the effects take place, like magic, when doused in a bit of water. And cos the name of the technique is Perfect Distress, I decided to make the actual tag imperfect, full of scuffed bits and looking rather worse for wear... like a juxtaposition between the "perfect" theme and the "imperfect style" Please don't worry, I am the real Hels typing all this and I haven't gone all philosophy-wotsit... I just like the word juxtaposition and like to drop it into sentences whenever I can LOL




So... do you like my Rosette??? I didn't want the Rosette to be solid cos this covers up half the techniquey bit, so I decided to pull the perferations apart to make the Rosette more flower like - I quite like it .. I could have done it neater but then it would be as shabby as I wanted... I embellished my tag with Idea-ology - lots of it, love Idea-ology (no? never? you would never have realised that wouldya? ROFL) and I popped a Ticket image into the Bracket Plate.

Right then, all this chattering about all things long wordy has me needing my bed... if you haven't seen the challenge before do head over to Linda's to see all about it - tis a FAB challenge! Oh and before I forget, all the stashy bits on my tag (including plain tags) are available from The Artistic Stamper. Can you hear that??? It's the sound of my hot water bottle calling my name... I had better go and keep it company :O)) Thanks for looking.. have a... FAB day! TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stampers - Week 128 - Walking In A Winter Wonderland

Goodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to y'all! Thank you for all the lovely Autumnal entries last week... and for your lovely comments about my meeces and pumpkins :O)) The theme for this week is... WINTER. Following on from a seasonal theme last week, the temperature has dropped a lot this weekend and it is fair nippy out there... in fact, I can quite confidently say, it is ... nesh! *Northern readers will so know what I mean LOL* As ever, to join in, all you need to do is make something including the theme and some rubber stamping, leave a comment for me here along with a linky to the place you are showing your entry and I can hop on over to see you. The challenge will be open until 21:00 Saturday November 13th '10.



So... for my entry I altered a wooden box, painting with two coats of Claudine's Blank Canvas white paint, then popping some Picket Fence Cracklepaint over in patches. Once this had dried, I used Perfect Pearls Mists - the blue one, can't remember the name though - and spritzed this over the crackley surface, heating as I went to get the mist to dry quickly. I used my finger to apply a bit of Silver Dabber over the top of all of this - just to highlight the crackles. I then added some Marshmallow Glimmer Mists to make it sparkle even more.




The inserts of card were stamped and resisted with some of Tim's snowflakes and then coloured with Distress Inks. I gave these a right generous splosh of Mists too... you can't see the sparkle on the pics but it is there :O)) I made a moon for the scene using my finger to make a circle of white paint and then using the lid of the Glimmer Mist to make a circle around the moon in Silver Dabber. I stamped some of Tim's trees - firstly in Brown and then in Midnight Blue StaZon... so they look like they have some perspective.




I went over the top and spent no less than two hours making some Fimo Snowmen and a... well, it is supposed to be a tree and if you squint a bit and cock your head on one side, it does kinda look like one! The snowmen were supposed to have top hats on - which turned into Stetsons... but I think they look a little bit cute anyway. The tree... well, that started off in a cone shape and I was trying to get it to be a bit branchy and it ended up as a spiral.




Finally, I added some Maya Road Snowflakes for embellishment and popped the word Winter onto the front... which I stuck on cock-eyed... that is going to be rectified later... and I am going to try and get better photo's in the daylight cos these are truly baaaad! I made this with Christmas in mind - because I will pop this onto the mantle as a Christmas decoration... once I have fiddled and refined it a little at least LOL Anyways... Thank you for looking... have a FAB Sunday... TTFN

Hels x