Friday 11 January 2013

The Giddiest Kipper...

...blimey... and thrice!  Tis today! Already! That came around fast!  Oh yesh, I am the giddiest kipper in the world (said in my usual very best Jeremy Clarkson voice) because it is today that I am jetting off to the US of A.  It seems a long time ago since Ellen and I first met when she came to stay here at Sheridan Towers (makes it sound grand, it ain't... although I do have a very special Ellen Vargo suite here *aka, the spare room*)  Anyways, the first time Ellen came to visit we were musing about how fab it would be to go to CHA together.  And now it is actually happening!  I am posting this in real time - no scheduling going on here.  Be it because I am over-excited or a smidge nervous, I don't know, but I cannot get to sleeps so I thought I would do some crafting.



I had a few bits and bobs sitting on my desk that were rejects or experiments and I decided it was high time to use them up.  The rose is made with the largest flower on the Alterations Tattered Florals die, cut three times and inked with Seedless Preserves Stain (gotta love that colour!) I made it the day I got my new Stains which is a while back now and it was too big for the thing I was making... so it was bunged on the shelf of rejects... but you know how much I loves my roses and how much I loves Seedless Preserves so it was ideal for my creation today. 



The tag was done on Wednesday when Caz came to play - I was showing her how to use the Treasure Gold with a brush (thank you Leandra for her Demo at the NEC and sharing that with me).  The background was made using a Crafters Workshop stencil and the amazeballs Studio 490 Embossing Paste mixed with a smidge of Ferro to add some grittiness to it.  I heated it up to dry it so it went nice and puffy and then applied various Treasure Gold to it... and then gave it a buff so it went nice and polished.  To finish the tag, I added the rose, some Creative Expressions metal leaves (addicted to these too), an Adage Ticket with my word of the year inside an Ornate Frame (also Treasure Gold-ed) and some embellies to jazz it up.




Anyways... I shall away... I am going to try and get 40 winks before I need to "get up" = the alarm is set for 03.45!  I am all packed and ready, just the last minute bits to put into the case and once I have finished waffling here I am packing up Lionel Laptop into his case ready for the journey.  Grim has to work today :O(( and his booking on time is right when I need to be at Heathrow so he is taking me to the station here and then I am being let loose on the unsuspecting commuter travellers of London - I have packed light too!  I know, I never pack light but this time I have been very good and haven't packed 32 tee-shirts and 19 pairs of socks.  Plus, I am rooming with Ellen so I am going to be pinching her shampoo and hair drier so that is less weight to cart across with me.  Needless to say, there are several bars of Cadbury's nestled within the case... I must remember to declare those - unlike when I went to Ranger U and got searched at Customs going into America because I hadn't ticked the box that said "snails, food, grains"  I didn't realise that chocolate was food!  Well, I did, of course... but I didn't think that Easter Eggs counted rofl  Oh and last time I went?  Baltimore airport and the Customs guy (they never smile do they?) said "anything else you are bringing into the country ma'am?" So I said... "oh just my stash"   His face! Picture! Not a pretty picture either, especially when I started waffling saying "I mean my arty stuff, the crafty stuff I am bringing with me to play with whilst I am here.... " and then in a vain attempt to win him over I said "well, I am meeting THE Wendy Vecchi this weekend and taking some classes with her, I needed my scissors and pokey tool"   He just stamped my passport and waved me through... I think he then went off to lay down in a darkened room!  Which is what I really must do.  The plan is to be as tired as possible when I get onto the plane so I sleep for the 9h 30m I am flying so it feels like that leg of the journey is only five minutes... wish me luck!  Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

PS... Tis... CHA... TODAY!!!!

29 comments:

Candy C said...

Hey Hels!!! I can't sleep either!!! I'm all packed and ready to go!! I can't wait to see YOU! :) Your tag is so lovely. Being excited brings out some of your best work! :) Love it! See you soon. Safe travels across the pond hunny bunny! <3 Candy

ellen vargo designs said...

Nope! Can't sleep here either! And I'm all packed too!! It won't be long! Hope your travels go smooooooothly with nooooo delays. Don't forget to ask for help lifting that case onto / off of the trains/tubes/etc. No wrenched backs, please! :) CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN PERSON!!!! LATER TODAY!!!! (for you... it's Friday already!) big hugs! Els xxx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Make that three of us!!! You have me cackling about the customs guys!!!

Inkypinkycraft said...

Oh I a sure you will all have a ball..I would be giddy as a kipper too!! Back to dreaming...have a ball Hels! Hugs trace x

Kyla said...

The story about the customs guy made me laugh....surely chocolate is one of the essentials of life, like air?!
Safe journey and hope you have a fabulous time
Kyla

Mary said...

Have a safe trip! And I love the tag. I'm actually not a huge fan of the stains (gasp!) but I may have to make an exception for Seedless Preserves. =) Have fun at CHA!

Helen said...

What a great tag!! Am sure you are in London now waiting at the airport, so have a safe trip and much much fun at CHA and with Ellen. xx

Patricia Howarth said...

Morning Hels, I adore your tag, the colours are gorgeous, loving the tattered rose, and the metal embellies are gorgeous, loving how you have used the paste.
I wonder where you are now ???? I had to laugh at your tale of a previous experience with flights, I can just imagine him regaling the story to his colleagues ha ha. Have a safe flight and hope you manage to get some sleep on the plane. Have a great time with Ellen et al. Give my love to King Tim ha ha.
Lots of love from Patricia xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Some leftovers! It's gorgeous! Have fun! Hope you can sleep on plane! Chrisx

Marleine said...


Hi Hels,

Love the tag. The rose is gorgeous .

How lucky are you. Have a fun time. X

Kirsten said...

Oh, the joys of US customs!!! :) Hopefully the first part of your journey went well & you're at Heathrow by now. Have a safe flight & the most fabulous time at CHA & with Ellen - don't need to tell you that, do I?? Can't wait to hear all about it.
Your tag, of course, is completely beauteous.

Anonymous said...

Hi Hels. Lovely, lovely tag. Have a great time at CHA.

Val in Spain xxx

darcydaydream said...

lol.....have a safe journey and a great time
Christine in Essex...x

nannapat said...

Woohoo!! no wonder you're excited Hels - have a GREAT GREAT time. Love the colours in your tag - it is absolutely beautiful. Pat x

Artyjen said...

Have a great time...I'm sure you will ;)
xoxo Sioux

Joanne said...

This is an amazing trip Hels and to be sharing it with you is just as though we are going too. I look forward to the photos and stories with the great happiness that you will be enjoying. Have a ball.
xxx

EmmaT said...

Morning Hels, good luck for the trip and enjoy your time at the CHA. Lovely tag and yippee i got around to making one of these roses with TH tattered flowers. So thank you for the inspiration. Emma

Caz said...

Love how the tag turned out - that treasure gold is beautify stuff!!
Safe journey - bet you don't sleep!! Have a fabulous time!
Lotsa!
xx

rachel said...

your tag is just stunning - beautiful work! Enjoy the CHA hun xx

Barb Cady said...

I do wish you luck hon, and a fabulous trip-I know you will have a wonderful time! xx

betjunroe said...

Beautiful tag Hels--love the color of that rose! Wishing you a wonderful time at CHA with Ellen and looking forward to all the gorgeous creations to come using all the new products! Bette

The Hardy Stamper said...

Ooooo - have a fabby time Hels and don't eat too many Cheesey Cheetos! I wish I could go too (turns Mowngrass green here). Looking forward to hearing all about it.

Words and Pictures said...

Such a pretty, elegant tag... so envious of your adventure, but I know you'll have an absolute ball!!
Alison x

Carole Z said...

Oops thought I'd commented this morning! Your story made me laugh..safe trip and fab time, Carole Z X

Kathy/NorthCarolina said...

Gorgeous colors, and beautiful rose. Have FUN at CHA!

Redanne said...

Hi Hels, I loved your story about the Customs man! Your tag is simply gorgeous, one of your best in my opinion, must be the excitement.......hope you all have a wonderful time, I envy you meeting up with Anita and Candy, two other people who totally inspire me!! Have fun, don't hurt yourself (your back) and come home in one piece...... Hugs, Anne x

LoraineC said...

Beautiful tag, have a great time x

Craftychris said...

Stunning tag, I need that colour stain and distress ink! Have an amazing time and I hope you sleep ok on the flight xx

Karen Petitt said...

OMGee Hels rofl!!! I get stopped and bag searched whenever we go away - in fact it's always on our return to the UK lol!
I'm very jealous but hope you are having fabulous fun with your lovely friends too! Gorgeous tag too have loads of fun and good food Karen x

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