Monday 20 August 2012

Simon Says.... No Rules!

...Tis a very long time since I had the chance to play along with one of my fave challenges - the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge, all the deets are HERE for this weeks theme, along with all the totes-amazeballs arty stuff from the DT. So, no rules eh? Well, it just so happens that I took a few crafty minutes this morning to sit and play with a new arrival in the Room of Stash - the most gorgeous Holly Hocks stamp by Donna Downey for Unity Stamp Co. I have been lusting after this stamp for yonks and I spied it on that special auction site that always has goodies to be snaffled.



The stamp is a big 'un but... not too big, it fits perfectly onto my Size 8 tag and because the Hollyhock flowers are graduated they are smaller at the top, meaning it will fit on loads of stuff (I already have a little list of things to do with it :O)) I started off by using Mushroom Dabber thru a Crafters Workshop Chicken Wire stencil, just a couple of patches of it. Then once it was dried, I grabbed some Distress Stains: Barn Door, Scattered Straw and Dried Marigold, spritzing the tag completely with water and then pouncing the Stains onto the tag, where they meet the water, they bleed out. Once the tag was covered, I stood it up, let the Stains drip and then dried it.



Next came some more colouring - using a large floral stencil (think it is a CW one) and Forever Red Perfect Pearls Mist, spritzing right over the stencil and then drying off the spritzy bits. Once that was all neat and dried, I inked up the Holly Hocks stamp with Vermillion Archival ink and stamped to the left of the tag. A quick zap with a heat tool to set the Vermillion was the last thing for the background. To frame the whole tag, I lightly blended Black Soot DI around the edges, I think this just closes the design in.



I grabbed a bag of Prima flowers and rummaged to get a nice layered flower to pop onto the tag - using several different colours to make the layers. I then added some paper leaves, some wire twists and a couple of decorative pins to the flower and popped it onto a "banner" I made using Idea-ology Film Strip. Next came the word - an Adage Ticket, coloured with Fired Brick DI to make it match the rest of the design. I used an Ornate Frame for the ticket and then set about adding a few more bits and bobs for decoration. The ribbon at the top is recycled Sari Silk that my lovely friend Barbara gave me for my birthday ( LOVE THIS STUFF!!!) and added a Wire Pin, some pearls and a little File Tab to finish.



I have been in the wars again! I know! I can't go anywhere without sustaining some kind of injury. This time it was on Saturday when we spent a lovely day with Rich, Mary and Jerry the Springer (check out the pic below, isn't he just adorable!) Well, I managed to get right thru the day without hurting myself. And then the dusk came and with it the monster of all Mozzi's... which bit my ankle and made me feel as rough as a bear who's eaten a vindaloo! Goodness knows what it is in my blood that makes them like me so much... I have tried everything - I mean everything, to stop getting bitten... and nowt seems to work! The bite itself is a blister, size of a pea and as hard as a pea too. The swelling, right across my foot, up my leg and as itchy as... well, a very itchy thing! I hankered for a bit of sympathy yesterday so spent the day dragging my leg behind me *well, I have always been one for exaggerations lol* . It worked though... Grim cooked us a lovely BBQ (I keep away from BBQ's: too hot, too dangerous lol)


Right, I shall away... I have a Room of Stash that resembles a pit of dispair... I have been a very lazy slatternly lass this past few weeks and I have now run out of desk space, floor space, shelf space and chair space. Something drastic needs to be done... and soon! If I am not back in a few days you best send out a search party lol Thanks for looking... have a goodly day! TTFN

Hels x

31 comments:

snazzyoriginal said...

Fab tag in fab colours. Who knew Mushroom Dabber could look so fine?
Hope the bitten bit recovers soon xx

Joanne said...

I love what you are doing with paper flowers. So different for you. Soz about the bloomin' bite. But you know what they say - they only go for the best.
Hugs Joanne xx

Jacki Daniels said...

beautiful tag love the colurs and that flower is gorgeous
no idea how to stop the pesky critters biting but try tiger balm for the itching it may help with the swelling of the bite too
Jacki xx

Helen said...

Great tag, I love that stamp too.... must keep an eye out! You do seem to attract mozzies....

Rita said...

Hels, your a true master of art (or should I say Mistress). What a Fantastic Tag. The colours are perfect and the added textures are perfect. Hope your poor foot get better soon. Hugs Rita xx

Words and Pictures said...

What a truly gorgeous tag - stamp, colours, blending, and that amazing flower - beautiful!
Alison x

EmmaT said...

Morning Hels -try vinegar to stop mozzi's biting you, it does work but you smell like a chip shop!!! so maybe not so good (lol)

I love this tag, great colour scheme, love this hollyhock stamp and my minds already running with ideas for it! I love your wire twirls with the flower - must try them too.
Emma

Terry said...

Whahahhahh Hey there Hels, I allways love reading your stories and your words, I allways love your Projects, tis another FABBY Tag and I really love that you found some time to play along with the DT from Simon Says Stamp and Show, Love the colors, your flowers and the BLISS is fabuloso, thank you for playing along Hels, I just love it and hope you will tidy your room of Stash too and hope that the ichy bite will soon be over pffewww Hugs Terry xxxx

Sarah said...

Stunning tag Hels! Love the colours and the details!

Sarah x

barbiepinkfairy said...

Stunning! Love it!

Candy C said...

Hels, your tag is so pretty! I love the background and of course, your gorgeous flower!!! Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy

Julia S-W said...

I'm so loving that tag and the stamp is gorgeous so I can see why you wanted it! Love the flowers and I think I may have to invest in some myself.
Poor you with the bite. Not sure what you've put on it to stop the itching but I swear by hydro cortisone cream for bites etc. I find it brilliant and I must be like you - rather tasty - teeheehee!!
Gorgeous springer.
Juliaxx

Jenny Marples said...

Loving everything about your tag Hels. Such a beautiful colour combo and I can see why you lusted after that stamp. Hope that leg of yours improves asap (methinks your hankering for a doggy gets stronger too?!) See you when you next emerge from the room of stash. Hugs, Buttons x

Aquarius said...

No rules - that sounds just up my street. This tag is gorgeous and well done for finding that stamp. Hope the mozzie bite subsides quickly.

judith@poppy cottage said...

This is gorgeous Hels, love that hollyhock stamp.The colours are fab, Judith xx

Planetsusie said...

Hi Hels - what a really lovely tag. Particularly like the techniques you have used and the colours. I love the hollyhock stamp.

As for your mozzie bites - be careful with them and don't let them go on too long without visiting your GP - especially if they are itching and any pain is moving up your leg.

I used to be exactly the same with them and was really worried if I visited a country where malaria was about. I found that Superdrug's own brand is the best ever - I took at least 5 cans away with me and I haven't been bitten since I found it. I had some real purlers and they would swell, weep and you name it!!! This stuff was like magic for me. It may suit you as well - you never know!

Take care Hugs Sue P xxx

Lydia Jordan said...

Hi Hels,
A pretty tag love the colours.

Sorry to hear that you are suffering with the bite I'm lucky I don't seem to get many bites and they are never too bad.
Lydia
X

Val in Spain xxx said...

Hi Hels. Great tag. Fantastic paper flowers.
We have mozzies the size of wasps out here in Spain. Completely drained of blood the first couple of years i lived here but they don't seem to bother me now, thank goodness. Perhaps they don't like the wine i drink!

TonyR said...

deelish colours!! the flower is just gorgeous!!

a renowned mossy repellant is avon's 'skin-so-soft' original spray on body oil. [ebay]

and tea tree oil/lavender might help soothe, you poor thing. [im half witch lol]

tonyxxx

rachel said...

ooo Hels - I love that flower - would never have put those colours together but boy do they work well! Sounds like your room of stash is like my attic of mess! Big hugs xx

melanie said...

the tag is stuning ,I hope your leg gets better I to suffer from bites I can`t go outside in the evening ,I re-act like you I ended up in hospital for the night once as the bit infection started to travel up my leg, get to doc`s soon for some antibiotics .Melanie

Lady E said...

Gorgeous tag! Beautiful frame and lovely flower!
Lady E

Redanne said...

Your tag is stunningly gorgeous Hels, I love that DD stamp too (I have the dressform one and it is hu-mun-gus - don't use it, it is a decoration on my craft room wall). The colours are fabulous together and loving your beautiful flower too. Crafty hugs, Anne x

ria gall said...

Hi Hles,
Ooooh a lovely tag,i do love tags I can't get enough of them.
This tag is very pretty, the colours are lush, the flower delightful, all in all a tag that is worthy any award.
Ria

Kaz Hall said...

Ouchy ouch ouch ouch!!! Feeling your pain Hun xox big hugs x love, love love you very gorgeous tag, as always boot-I- ful!! Bernard manning stylie xxx lol

Kaz

Marleine said...

Hiya Hels,
Absolutely love the tag and your explanations. Understanding your pain and reaction to ' mossies' . Really don't know why or what use they are.
Enjoy sorting your stash. Like the stamp. X

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Hubby loves Springers...beautiful dog! Beautiful tag as well...love the pinks and red and those florals!

Patricia Howarth said...

Morning Hels, This tag is absolutely fabulous, I am loving your new stamp and the flower is gorgeous, I love the colours you have used, and the sentiment is beautiful inside the ornate frame.
I, like you, get bitten a lot, they love my blood aswell, the little vampires that they are !!, I read a tip that said to put malt vinegar onto the bite and I have done that ever since, it works fantastically, put the vinegar onto either a cotton wool pad or a pad of kitchen towel and slather it all over the bite area and within seconds it counteracts the itching and last for ages. Hope this works for you. Lots of love from Patricia xx

hazel young said...

Morning Hels loving the tag and i can see why you like, love that stamp xx hazel

Minxy said...

Firstly am mighty gello of said DD stamp, and secondly I'll let you off coz tis such a stunning tag using said stamp :P

Sandra said...

Gorgeous tag! Love the background and that flower is so cool! Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. Hugs, Sandra

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