Merry Christmas Everyone...

...Wow, the day is finally here, after much planning and shopping and decorating and cardmaking and preparing.... IT's..... CHRISTMAS (said that in my best Noddy Holder voice I did lol)   I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas from me, Grim and AlfieCat and say a huge thank you to everyone who has clicked to follow, left me a comment, joined in with the Sunday Stamper and supported me this year.  It means so very much to me to have you all as blog-buddies.

I wish you all the most wonderful time and I hope all your wishes will come true (and Santa brings you lots of lovely stashly delights for you to play with!)  Lotsa love.... and thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

P.S.... 17 days til CHA!!!

Giddy Kipper...

...Yep, that would be me... indeedily I am a giddy kipper today!  And why?  Well, firstly it is Christmas in 3 days and I do loves Christmas and secondly, even more excitingly... I booked my flights last night!  Where am I going?  Only to CHA and then to stay with Ellen for a few days afterwards!  Ohlalalaaaaa...  I am SO excited!  And I do promise not to be a right old pain in the bum, telling you how many days it is til I go (20 days!!!!!!!!!!!)  Also, it will be a reunion for my Ranger Sisters too:  Oh yesh, Candy, Linda, Yvonne, Cheryl and Ellen who is an honorary Ranger Sister will all be there and I just cannot wait to meet up with them all again, it has been so long!  

Anyways... last night I got myself so excited that I couldn't sleep!  I am like a big kid in the run up to Christmas you know!  So, wide awake and fizzing ever so slightly, I decided to take a little trip into the Room of Stash and sketch some ideas that I have been buzzing around my bonce for a few weeks.  The first one is this little cotton bobbin project. I have done a similar one before using Studio 490 Art Part Spools but this time I wanted a more natural look... so I left the tree alone save for smidging Gathered Twigs DI over the ends of the branches.

The little deer is a Movers & Shapers Tim die - cut using Claudine's Sticky Back Canvas and Grungeboard and then smidged with more Gathered Twigs... and the WISH is an Adage Ticket in a Memo Pin which I just shoved into the wooden bobbin.   I cut two Mini Tattered Poinsettia from Grungeboard and coloured them with Forest Moss and Barn Door DI and then added a little beady thing to the middle.   A bit of Jute twisted around the bobbin with a couple of Baubles were the finishing touches.

Right, I shall away... I have a special project that I am now just about to start.... tis tomorrows Sunday Stamper so please do pop back tomorrow to see the new theme... which BTW, isn't a festive one *yay*  Thanks for looking... have a FAB day! TTFN

Hels x


PS... did I tell you  I am going to America???   ROFL

One Day Only Giveaway!

As I alluded yesterday... today I have a special giveaway for one randomly chosen entrant.  A few weeks ago I was asked if I would like to take part in a special promo for Homecrafts.  The remit was they send me one set of these fab reindeers for me to play with and one set to giveaway on my blog!  Well, how could I refuse?  The reindeers are made from papiermache and are really sturdy.  They are available in two sizes, 25 x 22.5cm and 20 x 17cm.   To be in with a chance of winning the set of reindeer, all you need to do is leave a comment for me here and click to follow my blog if you don't already.  As I mentioned, this is a one day only giveaway as I want to get the winner chosen and announced tomorrow so I can pop them into the post tomorrow or Saturday.  How simples is that!   The closing time for the last comment will be 23:59 today... any comments left after that time won't be eligable for the draw.  I will use Random.org to pick the winner for us.   It is worth popping over to Homecrafts as they have a wealth of crafty supplies on their website.  HERE is the linky to the reindeer page if you want to buy some anyway :O))

My reindeer was coloured with Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain DI... and then I smidged a bit of Black Soot around the edges using Cut & Dry so I could get into all the nooks and crannies.  I then spritzed him with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mists and once dried, I dabbed some SnowCap Dabber along his back and antlers and then sprinkled Rock Candy Dry Stickles over so he has a snowy look to him.

Here they are, in their un-altered state :O))

 
 I added some Ferro texture thru a Crafters Workshop stencil for a bit of detailing and cut out three mini Cardinals using Grungeboard and coloured them with DI's and stuck them together so it was thick enough to sit on his back.  The garland around his neck are some little berries that I got yonks ago, can't remember where from tho!   This altering took me about 30 mins... seriously quick or what!?  The larger one is going to be altered much more slowly, when I have a little more time to play... I have plans for him!

Right, I shall away... apologies for the slightly later than anticipated time of blogging, we are experiencing bad probs with our internet again... tis the trouble with living somewhere that doesn't have cable... and I am sure someone around here is doing a whole lot of downloading every night lol   Don't forget, to be in with a chance of winning, just leave a comment and click to follow if you don't already.  That's all for today... thanks for looking and have a good one!  TTFN

Hels x

Pretty Poinsettia...PLUS... A Heads-Up

...now, shall I offer you some sunglasses?  I think it would help because my halo is a-shining brightly today you know!  Why?  Oh, just a small matter of me actually getting ALL the Christmas cards made and written - albeit most of them made and some of them bought - well, I set a goal, I got to the goal and then I spent a couple of hours writing the cards... and licking those chuffing envelopes... why can't they make envelope glue taste of cherries or something huh?  What with my lacerated tongue too!  It is marginally better... not 100% healed and I tried a packet of Cheesy Chester Cheeto's yesterday and had to stop and give it up as a bad job!  That's baaaad isn't it!

Anyways... being as I am halo polishing, it is also my intention to get the majority of the Christmas shop done today.  Oh yesh indeedily, I am going to don armour and a happy face *that may not last very long tho lol* and get as much as I can... so that on Christmas Eve, all I need to do is get veggies and milk.  A cunning plan indeedily - I just hope that no one else has the same idea lol     On with todays offering.   A card I made for my lovely in-laws... I usually make a card for them at Christmas and because I can, I use pearls and pretty stuff because Mum-in-Law loves things like that.  The poinsettia is my Spellbinders die that I bought last year, used once, stored away somewhere safe and couldn't find last month... and yep, you guessed, as soon as I didn't need it, I found it... in the Alterations storage tower... yep, that would make sense... storing dies with dies right?    The papers are Basic Grey I think... the cover has gone from the front of the book ... that is also probably somewhere safe!

Right... here's some news!   Tomorrow, for one day only, I will be running a special giveaway.  I will explain more on tomorrows post, suffice to say, it is a cracking giveaway and the reason it is for one day only is because I want the winner to get it before Christmas... does that give you any clues?  Aha, all will be revealed then so please do hop back over tomorrow.   I shall away now... I needs to get me some beauty sleep so I am properly rested in readiness for the Battle of Morrison's.... wish me luck, I may be some time!  Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 236 - The Holly & The Ivy

Gooooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all.  Many thanks for the gorgeous entries you all made last week... they sure had me feeling festive.  Following on with another festive theme this week sees one of my fave Christmas songs being the title... and the theme is.... HOLLY.  To join in is simples: make a little something - it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here to leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you don't have a blog/picassa/web=hosty-thingy, you can also join in via Facebook (simply put a photo onto your FB page/wall and then leave a comment here for me so I can come visit) or via email, just bob and email over to me with a piccie attached.   The theme will remain open until 21:00 Saturday December 22nd 2012.

My entry this week is a tag!  This one is a larger size than normal, a size 10 in fact.  I love the bigger tag sizes, means I can put more stuff on them!  The Cardinal is cut out of Grungeboard and coloured with Distress Ink.   My embellishment of holly and sprigs is made from various Sizzix Alterations dies... I love to layer up the diecuts and make a nice big embellishment.

The pine cones were a gift from my friend Miriam... they are real ones and whilst I love the Tattered Pinecone die, for me, you can't beat the real thing!  The big dangly bell at the top of the tag was also from Miriam... and it jingles... love it!   The background was created by blending Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Forest Moss DI's over the tag, spritzing with water for a bleachy effect and then edging with Walnut Stain and finally giving it another spritz, this time with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearl Mists.  The Merry Christmas is from the StackedWords Alterations die... cut from the Fired Brick colour Kraft Co-ordinations and sanded lightly.  I cut the two words apart so they fit perfectly along the tag and finally added a Christmas Adornment to a Memo Pin so the reindeer is all of a-gallop on my tag.

Apologies for the late posting of the photo's.... and thanks for your comments/entries thus far.  I shall away... I have the dreaded "putting up the Xmas decs" to do this afternoon... I can see myself covered in glitter and chasing AlfieCat when he nicks the baubles!   Have a nice week.... thanks for looking.. TTFN

Hels x

Two Ways!

...cor blimey and thrice indeedily! It is Tuesday already which means that it is my day for The Stamp Attic DT.  This week I have been playing with those gorgeous Jo Firth-Young stamps, I loves them lots I do!  To see what I have been up to, please CLICK HERE for the post over on the Stamp Attic blog.   Here's a sneaky peeking of what I did.

And... you will notice, they are cards!  Oh yes indeed! I have been polishing my halo muchly because I have now made some more Xmas cards!  I reckon at this rate I will have enough to send to at least 6 peeps this year rofl  I know, it is terrible isn't it?  All this Xmas stash, papers, stamps, sparkly bits and still I faff and fiddle and am always rushing, last minute like, to finish off 60 odd cards.  I blame that Tim Holtz you know... if he didn't get me so excited about tags, I would have tonnes of cards... ahem... yes, quite!  Actually, I had thought about putting tags onto cards but... because I do have a tendancy to overload tags they would be way to heavy and bulky to post.  Anyways... the simplicity of Jo's drawings mean the stamps are so easy to use... but they are in no way boring... there are so many different things you can do with just one stamp.. I have lots more ideas... they will be done once I have got my shows out of the way this week.  I am on tomorrow at 9am on Create & Craft with a Melt Pot show... and a possibility of another show at 6pm or 7pm, as soon as I find out I will pop it on the sidebar :O))    I am then on again on Friday at 8am and 6pm on Create & Craft with some Tim Holtz goodies!   And at 10am on Friday with another Melt Pot show!   With that, I shall away, I have demo's to prep and get organised!  Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 235 - The First Noel

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all.  Many thanks for all the tag-tastic entries for last weeks challenge.  This week is a nice easy and seasonal theme... and it is... NOEL.  To join in is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you don't have a blog/photo-hosting-jobby, you can also join in via Facebook or by email.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 15th December 2012.

My entry this week has given me a bad head!  Mr Mojo decided to do a disappearing act just as I was sitting down to play.  How rude!  No matter how much I tried, nothing was working... the theme wasn't working for a start - I oft pick a theme before I make my entry and yesterday it just wasn't happening.  So, I left the Desk of Despair and went on a mooch around the Room of Stash, rummaging in boxes, drawers and cupboards... Nope, still no sign of that old cad Mojo.

I was getting a tad worried being as I had been very tardy with my entry for last weeks challenge, it reallly wouldn't do for me to be late two weeks on the trot now would it?  Well, I issued forth a plea on Facebook and a fair few peeps came up with suggestions of wine and beer and chocolate to tempt him back.  NOPE! Still didn't work!  Actually, between you and me, I can't drink owing to the amount of medication I need to take... and if I do partake of a beverage I am the cheapest date in the World, half a lager and I am sozzled.  So, the booze option was out.  I decided, instead, to go with the chocolate option and a suggestion from Sue - who said "paper blocking".  Aha!  Cool idea... and the chocolate wasn't actually the eating variety = oh no, I know, I passed up the excuse to stuff my face and instead went for the colour.   Now, about 239 years ago I bought some lush Hallowe'en papers from My Minds Eye, put them into a box to be used this year... and just ran out of time to use them (ok, I forgot about them *snort*)   

Well, I knew that I wanted to do something with these papers because the colours are beautiful... and they just so happen to have the most delightful backsides!  I just love doublesided papers, feels like I am getting a two-fer IYKWIM.   Anyways... I did the paper blocking onto a cute papiermache board hangy thing I got from Paper Artsy when I was at the NEC.  Once covered, painted, sealed, edged, I used a Dylusions mask (LOVE those snowflakes) and spatula'd some Studio 490 Black Embossing Paste thru... and then lightly sprinkled it with Rock Candy Dry Stickles... and once dry, I smidged some Classic Treasure Gold over them to make them pop a little.   I added on a couple of diecuts from Memory Box - love this seedhead die lots.      The NOEL is an Alterations die, grungeboard, paint, Alcohol Ink coloured glitter and then dry-brushed with Treasure Gold in Classic and Onyxite because the Espresso Glitter was naff, it didn't stand out enough.  

I made a fancy rose using the papers and the Tattered Florals die, adding in a couple of Art Part Leaves, some Holly Leaves and Branch, some Sprigs and the cutest ickle Red Cardinal - all are Alterations dies BTW.  After much faffing and fiddleydiddling, I realised... whoooops, there's no stamping! Yikes!  So I snuck in a couple of stars in the background and the sentiment which was bobbed into a Memo Pin.   I gave some Idea-ology bits some Treasure Gold action too... the Festive Foliage, Crown and Xmas Wreath all tone in beautifully now - that stuff is totes-amazebobs, it goes onto so many different things! 

Anyways, considering I started this without a single clue where it was going,  I am rather chuffed with the outcome... I have to admit, Mojo is still not here completely... you know what I mean, I can't just go and sit and make something right off, I am having to really think about it... so, I shall get my sketch book now and go and see if I can sketch some designs to tempt the old chap back!   I shall away right now, armed with pencil (and rubber!)  Thanks for looking... have a fab week - I have heard it is gonna be a chilly one so keep warm!  TTFN

Hels x

Tattered....

...Poinsettia's!  Have you got that new Tattered Poinsettia Alterations die?  I have... and I loves it... very lots!  I have used it a few times using papers, Grungepaper and cardstock... so I decided to use it a slightly different way for my DT for the Stamp Attic today.  Being as I am incredibly organised (ahem) my Melt Pot is still sitting on my desk after my play the other day... so I decided to use it again and Faux Porcelain some Tattered Poinsettia's.... oh, I loves the effect of the UTEE on the cardstock, it just looks so clever but it is SO easy to do!  I have a tut on my sidebar from a yonk ago... and it is HERE if you fancy a nosey... the rose that I made in the tut is actually not as easy as the Poinsettia - in fact you could bung any shape into the Melt Pot and come out with a gorgeous creation.  Anyways... HERE is the post on The Stamp Attic blog with all the deets on how I made this tag:

I am planning a nice lazy afternoon today... the old war wound is still playing up... I mean, I took it easy yesterday - well, relatively easy, we went shopping and then to friends for dinner afterwards... oh lalaaaa, I think I may have learned how to make soup - I watched very closely whilst it was being made and I think I can remember it all... I shall be trying that very soon (cooking has never been my strongest point lol) and then after dinner I had a little play with a Melodeon and a Mandolin.  I have always had this idea that one day I will learn an instrument... and I think that the time has arrived.  Our friend Richard is an ace Melodeon player - you should hear him... he is brilliant.  And... I said "can you play the Sailor's Hornpipe?"  He says he has never played it... and proceeded to do it ... yes, he is that clever!  Anyways, the Melodeon is lovely but not for me... too energetic with all that pulling and squeezing... so I had a play with the Mandolin... well, my nails are too long and fingers too sausagey... and there are EIGHT strings!  Yikes!   Anyways... I have come back to the conclusion that I want to learn the Ukulele... so that is my New Years Resolution, to learn how to play the Ukulele.  I am getting a bit excited actually, I might even play it and sing along!   With that terrible thought, I shall say... thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper... Better Late Than Never...

... is something I seem to say a lot!  Anyways... regular joiner-in-ers of the Sunday Stamper will have noticed that there was a whole load of waffle and not a lot of entering going on for me yesterday.  Apologies that I haven't managed to get my entry blogged until now - I have very good excuses (although it is a smidge embarrassing that the hoster of a challenge is so late with their entry!)   Firstly, pain.  Plain and simples, tis out of control!  Secondly, a much needed and long awaited Skypey sesh with Ellen - it had been ELEVEN weeks since we last Skyped! Mental!  And finally, a Christmas works meal out in the evening last night... and a small case of over-eating and being unable to actually move upon arrival home lol   Anyways.. here's my entry for this week = the theme is TAGS btw, and the main post is HERE for you to do your linky bits :O)

I have been after doing some Faux Porcelain Pine Cones for a yonk and a half and I got chance to have a play and made these, got a little bit carried away and Faux Porcelained the twigs, holly leaves and the branch too... but I love love love the effect you can get from simply dipping the card into a Melt Pot full of clear UTEE!  Another thing I like to do is scrunch the Faux Porcelained bits up, so they crack and look even more distressed.... cool huh?

The background of the tag was made by spritzing it all over with water and then pouncing Bundled Sage, Evergreen Bough and Brushed Pewter Stains over it, lifting it up and letting them drip down the tag and then drying.  Where the metallic stain mixed with the colour it gives a really lush effect... which I then promptly covered up with my rather large embellishment.  I used Evergreen Bough DI to overstamp the script and then edged the whole tag with Gathered Twigs DI.  I copied the 12 Tags from the Duke of Distress for the Joy To The World - fabby idea putting it onto a Journal Ticket... to see Tim's tags, CLICK HERE - there are prizes to be had too!

Anyways... that's all from me for today, Grim has this week off! YAY!  which means we actually get to spend some time together and catch up on all the telly stuff we have recorded and not had a chance to watch... there has been some mention of decorating too... I think I will keep out of the way of all of that though, knowing how dangerous I am with ladders and paintbrushes lol    Thanks for looking... don't forget, to join in with the Sunday Stamper HERE are all the deets etc.   TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 233 - All Those Years Ago

Goooooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Many thanks for all your fab face entries for last weeks challenge.  As you will recall, I was doing a little giveaway - in total I had 82 entries and having fed that into Mr.Random.Org he said #57 is the winner... which is the entry from...*drum roll* Barbara Cady.  Thanks Barbara and congrats, please can you email me your addy and I will pop your candy into the post :O))   On with this weeks challenge... the song title is in memory of George Harrison as it is the anniversary of his death this week.... and of course, being as he was my fave Beatle and being as I lurve this song... the theme is... VINTAGE   Tis a nice and easy-peasy one this week isn't it?  To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you don't have a blog/photo-web-hosty-jobby you can also join in via Facebook or email.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 December 1st (yikes! December!) 2012.

My entry this week is my class sample from yesterday's class with the JoLLie StaMpeRs, a fab group of crafty ladies in Lancashire.  I chose a Christmas theme for my Patchwork Shadow Box but there was also a non-Xmas option if that ladies fancied that too.  The patchwork is dead simple to do, just a case of cutting card into ...erm... a patchwork (!) and colouring, stamping with some Xmas stamps from the Duke of Distress and then popping it into a shadowbox and bunging a hangy framey thing on it

The embellies... well, check out Santa... he was made by Lou from a mould of something or other, using something or other else (brain fog can't remember lol) and then I just gave him a good brushing with a few colours of Treasure Gold wax... which I am now addicted to... not to mention the goooorgeous smell it gives off.

The 3d bits are Alterations die-cuts, coloured with Distress Inks and then formed to make a Christmassy decoration.  Finishing touches are some cute little bottles from Creative Expressions - how cute are those diddy ones!  And they are filled with Rock Candy Dry Stickles... love that white sparkle.

Right, I shall away... tis near my bedtime, I am staying with Joan - a big thank you to her for organising this fab weekend... and for putting me up and feeding me THE best quiche I have EVER eaten... I so need that recipe!  Back into the workshop in the morning for another day of crafting... ahhh, tis a hard life... not!  Thanks for looking... have a good week and stay safe in all the horrid storms that are forecast!  TTFN

Hels x

Step Out of That Comfort Zone...

...yikes! I don't know about you but... I do have a little comfort zone (ok, more of a big one) around me.  I know what I like, I like what I know and all that.  So. There I was, demo-ing away the other Sunday at Birds in the Barn, playing with all things Xmassy and of course, because I do have said comfort zone, all things Xmassy were indeedily, red and green. Then a lovely lady says "can you do something in turquoise for me please?"    Ahahaaaa, erm... of course *gulp* I can, I says.  I then went and had a little fit of the vapours whilst I panicked about doing all things Xmassy and...erm... turquoise!  But, not to be beaten by a little thing such as doing the wrong colours for Xmas, I took the holly by the horns and cracked on.  And... I hate to admit this... I rather enjoyed doing something turquoise... and I faffed and fiddled ... until I realised that actually, my tag had no resemblance to Xmas at all... At all indeed!  Never mind, I shall try again, I says to meself....

And I came up with this matchbook.  Tis one of those cut from the Alterations Matchbook die... I haven't got the die but Janet had kindly diecut some for me to play with.  And a lovely lady who was sitting yakking with me says... "can you use bright pink and purple please?"   Ahahaaaaa, erm... of course *double gulp* I can, I says.  So out came the Dylusions Sprays... I happen to be in lurves with them anyways which always makes it easier to use... still... bright colours!   Yikes!!!   And off I went, making something... erm... Xmassy from bright pink and purple... ok, so there's very little resemblance to anything Xmassy on this little creation... check out Jo Firth-Young's TOTESAMAZEBALLS new stamp designs though, the baubles (lurking at the top) and the writing... I loves them all...and wanted to buy some to come and live in the Room of Stash but... there were none left!  I shall be scouring yonder internet looking for them later btw.   Anyways... adding a big old blousey rose made this look even less Xmassy... well, the thought was there, it just got lost in translation!

Anyways... I was sitting there and I thinks, "I am not letting this get to me, I shall make something Xmassy right now, using bright colours...."  And I made this!  I know, not a smidge of bright about it... I have come to the conclusion that me and bright just don't mix... and me and bright and all things Xmassy really don't mix.... see, stepping out of your comfort zone ain't all it's cracked up to be you know... really... it isn't... ahem!

Right, I shall away... I have just one last thing to share... if you haven't seen already of Facebook... I had a smidge of a mishap yesterday afternoon.  Well, I have been known to do things a bit...erm... wrong... but this one took the biscuit.  I was using Sail Boat Blue Colorwash Spray... and I couldn't get the blighter to spray.  I was pressing and pressing and pressing and nothing, not even a smidge.  So, I thinks, look and see if there's any air coming out of the spray... knocking said spray thingy onto the desk to loosen it a bit, I turned the nozzle to face me and pressed... and ended up with a full on Braveheart make-over.  Quite!  It has more or less washed off my chops but...erm... the fringe?  Well, I think blue is my colour... it will not budge!   So the motto of today's post is... when you step out of your comfort zone, be sure to remember to bring your common sense back with you when you step back inside it!  

 
With that... I shall say... thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

1500..... And Still Going Strong!

CORRRRR...blimey and THRICE!!!  You will never guess what!!!  This is my 1500th blog post!!!!  WOW!!!!  That's one serious amount of yakking isn't it?  When I first started my blog I had nooo idea that it would lead to some amazing opportunities, that I would meet so many lovely peeps, make some lifelong friends and turn it into the thing that has kept me sane during somewhat darker days when real life was a bit too tough to give my full attention to.  I have been blogging for over 5 years... when I first started I blogged sporadically because I was working full time shift work as a Train Driver. 

Then the bad thing happened and I didn't have the full time shift work anymore... and for a while I stayed in my Room of Stash, licking my wounds, feeling ever so sorry for myself and basically letting life slip me by.  But, apart from Grim and Alf (of course) the one thing that kept me perky was my crafting.  I meet a lot of peeps who have started crafting because of illness or sadness.  It is the universal thing that links us all together because even if you didn't start because of illness or sadness, I just know you will have suffered some of those things during your crafty time and I am pretty sure that crafting is the thing that kept you sane.  It sure kept me sane... and being able to come to my blog and waffle on alarmingly about things that weren't too heavy, that weren't too hard to talk about gave me the bit of ooomph I needed to get through those dark days.  I think the act of writing all about how I made something, of something daft that I have done, that little something ever so slightly mental that I might have said... well, it is the lighter side of life and I could focus on that rather than on how much pain I was in, how sad I was feeling.  Yes folks, I am at the conclusion that blogging is actually like therapy.  I have re-read some of the posts I did around that time and I actually found myself laughing... here's a classic post that I must have written whilst under the influence of very strong meds.... (nowt new there then lol)

Anyways.... enough waffling from me... the post is punctuated with some pics of a demo tag I did a couple of weeks ago at Birds in the Barn... not had a chance to show you the photo's of what I made yet... I can't believe that this time last week I was getting all set up in preparation for my tellybox shows... where did this week go???   And that means that it is now Wednesday and I need to get some stuff done before the weekend so I shall say... as ever... thanks for looking (and for you support over the years, your comments mean a very lot to me) and TTFN!

Hels x

Bling It Up....

...cor blimey, am I crabby today or what!  Why?  Well, my stoooopid internet is on the goest slowest ever in the world.  Thing is, I take the internet for granted, I know that... I expect that I can get online anytime I feel like it, like it is there, nice and quiet in the background just waiting for me to push a few buttons.  Alas, ours in not playing fair at the moment and my grumpyness is getting even more grumpy! There aren't many things that make me grumpy but lack of internet?  Gah, it gets me!  Anyways... all that waffle about slow internet (when I say last night it was like 0.70mb you will get how slow it is!) well, it made me late to post my Stamp Attic DT piece... it just took me over an hour to get the pics uploaded! So whilst it is still working, I am speed typing to show you a sneak peek and show you the link to the post too! which is HERE!

I have done two tutorials using Metallic Stains... and there are step by step pics too!  Check out how clean my paws are too... I know!  Thems be the cleanest they have been for a yonk indeediily!  Anyways... enough waffle... time for me to really get inky now... some of the new Distress Stain colours have literally just arrived through my door, thank you to Wendy from The Stamp Attic for sending those... they are LUSH... I have got Seedless Preserves and am away right now to play with it... I LOVE that colour!  Thanks for looking... hope the tut's are easy to understand and you have a play! TTFN

Hels x

Another "Velope"

Ah you know me.... how I lurves to make "Velopes" - thus far (huh? I just stepped out of a Dickens novel obviously lol) we have had the Tag-Velope and the much maligned Box-Velope (that died a death before it went to blogland lol)  Anyways... I am cheesed off!  Why? Well, because I a ruuubbish at buying pressies for difficult to buy for peeps... you know who you are... can't get you this, can't get you that yada-yada.  Well, you can't fox me, oh-ho-no!  This year I have been making Gift-Velopes... so instead of giving you money in a naff store bought gift card envelope, I shall be giving you money/giftcard/voucher in a rather stylish (even if I do say so meself) Gift-Velope.  Do you want to know how I maded it (please say yes, otherwise I shall cwy and cwy)  Well, check out Snazzy's DT blog HERE... all the instructions/measurements etc are on there because... tis my first day of my DT week there. 

That there be a sneak peek of the Gift-Velope.  I am on a roll too... I have measured out a fair few already and they just need putting together.  I had to stop myself sneaking into the bedroom and snaffling my Christmas stash box from down my side the bed... **I know, I have NO room in the Room of Stash for seasonal frivolities**  Grim is asleep - he is on stooopid early-early shifts this week and I just know he wouldn't be appreciative of being woken up by his daft wife trying to struggle with a big box of festiveness... I shall wait til the morning and get them then!  Anyways... pop over to the Snazzy blog and please do let me know whatcha fink!  Will you be making some.. or it is just me (sob)   Right, I shall away... I have itchy fingers... time for me to make more Gift-Velopes!   Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

PS... no more sightings of the Panther... but there was a very suspicious smelling *ahem* squirt up the back door this morning... mmm, me-thinks he has been a-visiting.... Jeyes Fluid is a marvellous thing isn't it!

Tag Time...

...cor blimey and thrice!  It is nearly November!  And... it is Tuesday! (bet you are glad I told you that... hahhaaa) and it means it is my day for The Stamp Attic DT.  This week I have mostly been playing with Metallic Distress Stains and have done a little show and tell HERE along with what I think of them... and a couple of ways to use them.  Next week I shall be doing another show and tell and will be using them in more different ways too.  To see more pics of my finished tag, please do go and check out the post.  Here's a sneaky peek anyways.

You will see I have made Pine Cones... and... I have found a doddle way of putting them together.  I have tried the cocktail stick and hot glue method, whilst it works, it is a wee bit dangerous for me being as anything molten hot is bound to end up dripping onto exposed skin.  So, when I was making them I had little think.... "wonder if Cosmic Glue will do it???"  Well, it works perfectly for the Spellbinders Spiral Blossoms... so I tried it... and yep! It works!  And... it is forgiving too, it glues the bottom of the Pine Cone pretty quickly, I only had to hold it for about a minute, then I started to bend the petals ( Know they aren't petals... can't think of the proper word...) and then because the base has stuck, you can then get some tweezers and pull the middle upwards so it turns from a flower into a pine cone!  Cool huh?  Anyways... I shall away... I have a very special birthday boy visitor arriving today and I am sooo looking forward to seeing him!  My Aged P (Dad - my affectionate nickname for him) is coming to stay for a couple of days... and... ssshh... he is bringing... Proper. Northern. Fish. And. Chips!  Yes, by the time he gets here they will be clap cold but... pop them onto a rack and into the oven for about 20 mins and they are back to gorgeousness.... and there will be mushy pea's too!  I can't even begin to describe how happy my little chops will be whilst I am scoffing said Fish & Chips, maybe I will get Grim to take a photo lol   Right, time to sign off... thanks for looking........ have a great day and... to all my American friends... PLEASE STAY SAFE!!!!  TTFN

Hels x

C is For...

Christmas!!!   Oh yesh, I have been playing for my Stamp Attic DT today - all the deets are HERE on the Stamp Attic blog.  I usually am the one who is haring about like a loon on December 1st, no stuff made and all that.  Well, this year I am being super organised and am getting ready early!  Well, my crafting is getting ready early, not so sure about the rest of it yet lol   Here's a sneak peek of the tag I have made... please do pop over to see the rest of it :O))

C is also for.... cruddy internet!  I am grumpy today because yonder t'internet has been playing up biiiiig stylee this past few days.  Yesterday it was practically non-existent and today it is sporadic.  I just did a broadband speed test... it was 0.79mb.  I know, slower than dial up right!  Tis the trouble with this daft old ADSL rubbish that we have to put up with.  I so wish that Mr Virgin or Mr BT would dig up our road and bung some cable in... we were spoilt at the old house and even now, 2 1/2 years later I miss it.  (tis the only thing I miss about that house though lol)   Anyways, enough of the whinging about my lack of internet and onto what happened yesterday!   Right, so Grim has gone to see his BFF for an overnight stay.  I am full of ideas what I am going to do to keep myself busy and all that.  So, after dropping him at the station, I came home, settled to watch Strictly from this weekend so I wouldn't have to avoid the radio all day.  Watched that, corrr, wasn't Denise amazing!  And Colin Salmon, of course, he was the best (snort)  Once I had finished watching that I decided to go and get a shower and spruce meself up a bit.  This was 11am. Well, I happened to notice the bed and how inviting it looked.  Well, 40 winks won't hurt will it?   Aha, yep, actually it turned into more like 40,000 winks.  I woke up at 4pm!   And then went back to bed at 11ish last night and slept right through til 9am!  I think I must have needed to re-charge the old batteries.  The fact that I look like I have slept for that long isn't helping.  I have an almighty pillow-scar down my cheek, very attractive eh?  With that delightful image, I shall say, thanks for looking.. TTFN!

Hels x