And The Winner Is....

Helllllooooooo!!!  Tis time to announce the lucky winner of the Graphic 45 12 x 12 Raining Cats and Dogs papers that were kindly donated by Jones of Nottingham to celebrate my 7th Bloggy birthday!   There were 54 comments in total and I used Random.org to get a randomly *well, it would be wouldn't it...being as it is Random.org lol* picked number for the winner... And the number it chose was ...

Which tallies with this comment left by Carol.

Congrats to Carol, please can you email me with you address so I can pop your prize into the post for you.


Short n' sweet from me today... Hope you all having a goodly week!  TTFN

Hels x

It's GIVEAWAY Time!!!

...oh YESH!  Indeedily!  Thrice and all that malarkey!!!   I have news!  Special news!!!    Being as it has just passed my 7th bloggy birthday, the lovely guys at Jones of Nottingham have very kindly offered a very special prize giveaway for me to do!   So, if you fancy grabbing yourself a very, very, very awesome prize, read on...

You see the papers I have used on this Candy Box Crafts frame?  They are the new 12 x 12 Graphic 45 Raining Cats & Dogs papers... and...one lucky person will WIN a 12 x 12 pad... all you need to do is leave me a comment on this post.  The giveaway will be open until 21:59 GMT, Tuesday 23rd September 2014 and the winner, who will be randomly chosen from all entries left, will be announced on Wednesday 24th September 2014.   Multiple comments won't be accepted, one comment per person please (and any duplicates will be deleted before the numbers are popped into Random.org)  If the winner doesn't claim the prize by 23:59 GMT Thursday 25th September, the draw will be re-done and a new winner picked.  So!  Whatcha waiting for huh?  Comment away!!!   

These papers are truly gorgeous... they have a very special place in me old heart, the colours and the beauty of the designs just really have grabbed me!  This frame is a 6" insidey bit and about 8" in total with the frame.  I cut up some of the papers - the little gal is just so pretty isn't she?  And I also cut more flowers out and layered them up... and then made some roses and added bits and bobs to finish the frame off nicely.

Look at those cute little puppydogs... aren't they just adorable?  Even AlfieCat likes them!   I shall away now... thanks for looking... and good luck!  TTFN

Hels xx

Sunday Stamper - Week 300 - Dream Lover **With Mega Candy!**

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Many thanks for all your grand entries for last weeks challenge, sure did make me happy to visit you all and see your gorgeous works of art.  SO! Today sees the 300th Sunday Stamper challenge.  And as promised last week, I have been gathering sponsors for this weeks challenge being as it is a special occasion and all that.  Let's start off by telling you the theme...which this week is my "word of the year" DREAM.  Joining in with the challenge is the same as ever... only this week you will be in with a chance of winning some great candy!  The rules are simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme AND some stamping and then pop back here, leave me a comment with a linky to the place you are showing your entry and I can hop over to visit you.  As ever, if you haven't got a blog, you can also join in via tagging me on Facebook on your upload or by emailing me a small resolution piccie. 
To be in with a chance of winning the candy, here's what you have to do:
Make something and join in with the challenge as stated in the rules above. 
Regardless of how you show your entry, you must leave a comment on this post = so if you are joining in via email, for example, you need to leave a comment here, I can't add your comment for you, same applies for Facebook entries.  
Just leaving a comment won't enter you into the draw... so this is the perfect excuse for getting inky and stampy.  
The winner will be picked at random and announced on next weeks Sunday Stamper post. 
The closing time date for all entries is 21:00GMT Saturday 29th March 2014.

You wanna see what you could win?  Firstly, please allow me say to a big mahooosive thank you to the lovely sponsors of this week's challenge: Crafty Bunch Telford, Craft Obsessions, Art From The Heart and Jones & Co Nottingham.  As regular Sunday Stamper fans will know, this is usually a "just for fun" challenge, with me adding the odd bit of candy every so often but as it is a momentous occasion, I figured I would say a big thank you also to all you lovely folks who join in with my challenge.  Right... I kept you waiting long enough... here's what you could win:

From Crafty Bunch Telford: 5 fabby stamp sets from Kaiser Craft!!!
From Craft Obsessions: a £25 voucher to spend on goodies!!!
From Art From The Heart: Dylusions stamp set This Old House, Dylusions Sprays: Tangerine Dream, Pomegranate Seed, Chopped Pesto, Slate Grey, Polished Jade, Ground Coffee **yes, all the NEW ones!!!**
From Jones & Co: Buttons! Lots of delish buttons!!!
And From me: The artwork that is my entry for this weeks challenge, Kaisercraft Stamps, Card butterflies, Spools, Vials, Texture Paste Clear & Silver, Wendy Vecchi Archival Inks in Red Geranium, Potting Soil and Watering Can, Chapel Road Artstamps U/M stamp set and a papier mache hanging board.
This prize package, worth over £100, is offered to one randomly chosen entrant to the challenge. If the winner doesn't claim their prize within 7 days of announcing, the draw will be done again.

So... whatcha finks?  Seriously cool prize package right?  Cor blimey!!!  300 Sunday Stamper challenges... that is one heck of a lot of art, stamping, inking and song titles!  Over the years I have been asked a fair few times why I bother to host a "just for fun" challenge when there are so many out there that have prizes every week.  The answer to that is simples: it is all about having fun and getting creative... and when I started this challenge there weren't that many challenges about (yes, 2008 is a very long time ago in Blogland lol)  Another question I get asked is why I don't have a design team for the challenge... that is easy to answer too... cos I am bone idle and it would mean having to plan weeks in advance what the theme will be... seriously, sometimes I don't even know the day before what the challenge theme will be!  One day I will be organised!!! 

Anyways... that is enough wafflings from me.  Again, thank you to my lovely sponsors... and thank you to all of you who join in with the challenge, I don't think you know just how much it means to me that you all take part!  I shall away now... thanks for looking - happy stamping!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 288 - King of Wishful Thinking + CANDY!!!

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Thank you for the fabby entries for last week's challenge.   This week sees the return of a fortnightly challenge - being as it is Christmas and New Year and time in our crafty spaces will be limited!  The challenge for this fortnight is... USE THE WORD WISH.   Also, I have some candy to giveaway to one randomly chosen entrant - my thank you to all my lovely Sunday Stampers for your entries this year.   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 and leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you haven't got a blog, you can also join in via email (small res pic please) or via Facebook by tagging my name.  To be in with a chance of winning the candy, simply leave me a comment on this post - if you ENTER the challenge with a piece of artwork, you will be entered TWICE into the giveaway.  The theme will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 4th January 2014.

 The challenge theme is because during 2013 the word WISH has been "word of the year".  I have loved having this word as my special one... it has brought me lots of inspiration throughout the year and I will be a little sad to see it go... however, the word of the year for 2014 has already been chosen and I will be blogging about that at the end of December.

My entry this time is a papier mache board hanging that I have altered using the gorgeous Craftwork Cards Vogue Collection papers, using the paperblocking technique I lurves so muchly.   Once I had blocked all the papers, I did a very light wash of Mushroom paint over the top to tone the papers in to each other.  I good old coat of Matte Glue & Seal to ... yep, you guessed it... seal those papers and then I added a border around the edges using Black paint.  Once this had dried I got out my Stabilo All pencil and added shading to the paper blocks.  My stamping is the flourish stamp, randomly onto the edges of the base using Jet Black Archival ink.

Next up came some delicious stencilling using Wendy's Dreamweaver black paste and the new to me (hurrah, finally got this one!) "Three Flourishes" Studio 490 stencil.  I spread a nice generous layer of the paste over - I love this stuff... it is the same as the one in the giveaway too :O)  Once this had dried (with a little help from Mr Heat Tool) I started decorating the edges and stencilled bits with Treasure Gold White Fire and Spanish Topaz.  I wanted a bit of a bright colour on my design as the background was quite muted so I picked some gorgeous turquoise blooms from Kaisercraft and layered them up with white paper flowers and then coloured them with Stream Colorwash, Black Marble Dylusions and Ancient Blue Cosmic Shimmer spray for the extra bit of bling.  I keep saying this but I really loves the way spraying the Cosmic Shimmer over Black Marble gives a real metallic effect.  I added lots of bits and bobs of metal and resin embellies - all given a smidge of Treasure Gold to bling them up a bit (check out the ickle spark plug - how cute is that!!)

So, the Candy giveaway package is as follows: Wendy Vecchi's Signature Archival Inks: Watering Can, Potting Soil, Red Geranium and Fern Green, Dreamweaver Embossing Paste, Glossy Accents, Large Cosmic Shimmer glue and a bundle of metal charms too.  There will no doubt be a few extra bits and bobs making their way into the package too :O)  Remember, to be in with a chance of winning, leave me a comment on this post... and if you enter with a piece of artwork, your name will be entered twice.  Closing date/time for the Sunday Stamper is 21:00GMT 4th January 2013.  Entries received after this time will not be entered into the draw and duplicate comments will be deleted to make it fair to all who enter.  The winner of the giveaway will be announced on Sunday 5th January 2013.

Right then, tis time for me to get myself to bed!  I have still not got my voice back... I had a little bit of a croaky squeak earlier but it has gone again... boohoohoo!  Thanks for looking.. and thank you all for your continued support of my little challenge this year too.   Have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

Giveaway Time!!!

...yes indeedily, it is that time again.  As a thank you for all the lovely comments and messages and emails and stuff, I am giving away this little piece of artwork that was prepped as a demo and I didn't get chance to do it live on air... so I finished it off at home and here it is.  To be in with a chance of winning the plaque, simply leave a comment on this post (click on the "inky thinkings" button at the bottom of the post).  The closing date/time for the giveaway is 23:59 GMT tonight, 6th December 2013. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on tomorrow's post.  In the event of the winner not claiming their prize in the next seven days, I will do a re-draw and a new winner will be announced.

I love these MDF Rectangular Plaques.  This one is the largest one and I painted it with a layer of Lake Mist Dabber... and added the edging in Pitch Black Dabber to give it a frame.  The stencilling is the gorgeous Fuchsia That Special Touch mask... I loves this mask muchly seeing as I am collecting Fuchsia's at the moment and now I have my new greenhouse, I can keep them over winter too!  Anyways, once I had popped the mask into position, I spread a layer of Gold Pearl Texture Paste through it and then allowed it to dry.  I tend to pop things onto the radiator to dry - I am impatient!  You can gently heat dry the paste, just make sure it has formed a "crust"  on top of it to start with otherwise it can bubble and distort.

The decorations are made from flowers stamped onto the lush Teresa Collins Creative Expressions papers... the flower stamps are from the Studio 490 Live & Make Art set... loves them muchly because they have so many petals, you can make them more 3d.  I added some hand cut leaves that I lightly coloured with Forest Moss Distress Ink and then bunged a few embellies onto the plaque too... the buzzy bee is an Embellish Your Art resin piece (how cute!) and the key is a Creative Expressions Assorted Keys embellie... and the ickle bottles are Glass Vials which I filled with Persian Dawn Gilding Flakes to add a smidge of bling.  The words are a combo of stencilled (Always from the Classic Words Stencils for Art) and the Be You is a stamp from the Art For You 490 set.

Right, that is all from me for today... I am tackling my "to do" list ... starting with the dreaded trip to Morrison's... oh how I love doing the grocery shopping... not!!!  Wish me luck, I thinks it might be a bit busy in there!  Thanks for looking... have a grand day!  TTFN

Hels x

It's A Giveaway...

...I loves a good giveaway I do!  Last weekend I ventured to Craftasmic in Taunton for a weekend of demo's and teaching.  On Sunday two lovely groups of ladies joined me to make Christmas in Burlap.  Now, I already had my original class sample... and then I made another one during the morning class... and another one during the afternoon class.  I left one sample at Craftasmic and brought two home.  And I don't really needs two so I figured I would do a little giveaway!  This is the Burlap Panel that you could win:

To be in with a chance of winning is simples: click to follow this blog (if you don't already) and leave me a comment.   If you haven't left a comment before,  you needs to click on the "inky thinkings" button at the bottom of this post.  Leave me a comment, if you haven't got a blog/Google account, you will need to make a Google account to leave a comment as I don't accept anonymous comments. (just put "Make Google account" into Google and follow the steps)   The closing date/time for the giveaway is 23:59GMT, 24th November 2013 and the winner will be announced on Monday 25th November. The winner will be chosen at random, if the chosen winner doesn't come forward to claim their prize after 7 days, I will re-draw the giveaway.

Those there pics are from the giveaway panel... and the following is of my original sample (which I am keeping lol)  If you haven't had a play with Tim's Burlap Panels yet, you are missing out!  There are lots of different sizes to chose from too.  There's the big one which is 6" x 8" and then this size which is 4" x 6" and then there are four diddy ones in a pack (which I have and am planning my project for them already!)   The colouring of the Burlap was done with Distress Paints... and the embellies are all from Tim's Alterations dies and stamps.

I guess I had better get myself moving, I have been a little bit lazy this week already... and that to-do list is still looking a bit long (ok, it is as long as my arm and so far I am at wrist level lol)  so sitting here waffling isn't getting things ticked off now is it?   Oh and speaking of ticks... I'm A Celebrity... I am watching... it is going to be a classic year...   Thanks for looking, have a grand day!  TTFN

Hels x

It's A Giveaway!

...oh yesh indeedily, tis that time again.... time for me to do a little giveaway.  Firstly, thank you all for your lovely support during the Melt Art Pick of the Day and Tool Shed shows recently.  It makes my heart happy to know that so many of you are getting addicted to all things Melt Potty... and I love seeing all your fab creations, so thank you for sharing and please keep on sharing!  To say thank you for all your support, my giveaway is a little something I made during one of the shows last Sunday.  To be in with a chance of winning this Bezel necklace, simply leave me a comment on this post (click on "inky thinkings" at the bottom of the post and it will pop up a box for you to fill in your comment)   Because of unwanted and sooo much spam, I have had to change the settings on my comments, so in order to be able to leave one,  you need to have a Google Account/Blog.  If you haven't got a Google Account, simply pop "make Google Account" into Google/your search engine and it will take you through the simple step-by-step registration.  Then you can pop back and leave a comment and be in with a chance of winning.  The closing time for the giveaway is 23:59 GMT today, 13th November 2013 and the winner will be announced on tomorrow's post.  In the event of the winner not claiming the prize within 7 days of the draw, I will re-draw the giveaway.

So, on with how I made my Bezel.  Starting out with clear UTEE melted in the Melt Pot, I added Midnight Black Melt Ink to it... about 6 drops makes it as black as night.... once stirred in, I added the tip of a teaspoon of Gold Mica Powder... and once this was stirred, I poured it into the Triangle Bezel.  Simple as that!  Really... simples!  I have popped the Bezel onto a piece of golden ribbon but that can easily be changed if you win this and decide it needs a proper chain.    I shall away now... I have been playing in the Room of Stash with all manner of what-have-you and I am currently sparkling gently thanks to a little dabble with Distress Glitters!  Check back tomorrow for the results of said playtime!   Thanks for looking... good luck with the Giveaway!  TTFN

Hels x

It's A Giveaway!

..teehee... I do loves a giveaway and being as I want to say a mahooosive thank you for all your support and messages, Tweets (think I replied to you all) and emails (same again) I figured I would do a little giveaway as I didn't get chance to do one for the Craft Clinic show.   So... here's the "original" for the inspiration I used for the first demo on yesterday afternoon's show.

As you can see, I have been rummaging in the recycling and used some cardboard for the base of the wall hanging.  This is more of the dishwasher-tablet-box that Dawn "outed me" for lol  Usually it is cardboard from Lord Alfonse's food boxes but the size of this Finish Powerball box was just too delectable to resist.  It is ginorous so I have got a fair few creations out of it!  Can you believe, I actually walk around the supermarket and Costco looking at the cardboard packaging?  *mmm, no hope for me!*  Anyways... I used Clear Texture Paste spread through the Tulip Silhouette mask and once this had dried, I blended Bundled Sage, Broken China and Forest Moss Distress Paints over the top, using Cut & Dry foam to make it nice and smoothly blended.

The black "pop" around the stencilling was done by using my trusty Stabilo All pencil, I LOVE this pencil, it is THE best bit of kit for adding shading to any surface... as it says on the label "all" really does mean all!   Stan Spider is from the Botanical Art Studio 490 stamp set... as is the brilliant saying.... being a bit philosophywotsitacal here... we really are the designers of our own dreams!

Anyways... to be in with a chance of winning this wall hanging all you needs to do is leave me a comment on this post.  One randomly picked commenter will win this and the closing time/date for the giveaway is 23:59 GMT Wednesday 9th October 2013 - the winner will be announced on Thursday 10th October 2013.   I am afraid that I don't accept comments from Anonymous sources anymore (after shedloads of junk appearing daily) so if you would like to leave a comment and haven't already got one, all you needs to do is make a Google account...and that is a doddle, put "make Google account into... Google"  This will take you step by step through the registration process and then you will be equipped to leave a comment :O)  *hope that makes sense!*    I shall away now... I am fair pooped after the excitement of the shows and it is bedtime (again, I am scheduling this post on Monday evening... which means that it is now really Tuesday morning... which is tomorrow... and not today at all..... confooosed?  Mmm, I am!)   Thanks for looking... have a fabby Tuesday!  TTFN

Hels x

It's Giveaway Time!

...cor! blimey!  Where did this week go???  One minute it was Monday morning and the next... it is now!  Anyways... as promised last weekend, I am doing a giveaway today to celebrate my bloggy birthday which was actually September 7th but being as I do like a celebration, I have drawn the whole bloggy birthday thing out!   So.  The Giveaway!  Well, I have this tag here for one randomly picked commenter on this post.  That's all you needs to do... leave a comment on this post!  Simples huh?   The giveaway will close at 23:59 on Sunday 15th September and the winner will be announced on Monday 16th September '13.

So, seven who years ago I began this blog!  I started it because I had a Photobucket (do peeps still have those?) and when I tried to type out how I had made something there were never enough characters left to write everything down (and you know my propensity for yakking right?)  My first steps into this world we call Blogland we relatively tentative... until I realised that there are lots of peeps out there who also blog and want to share the art they make.   Sometimes I will click on the archive label and go back through the years and see how my creations have changed.  One thing that has not changed is the waffle that always seems to accompany any post I do... well, like I always say, I have a captive audience and waffling away just seems to come naturally to me. 

Seven years ago... such a lot has happened in the past seven years... some good and some bad... I guess we can all say that though - all part of this rich tapestry we call life.  During the darkest days, when I lost my career to ill health, I used to creep onto my blog and pretend that all was good in the world... and to be honest, it really helped.  It was cathartic to just sit and type and be silly... and put out photo's of stuff I had made... that was the most rewarding and positive thing because I received so many encouraging comments it gave me a sense of purpose and took my mind off the nasty things I was experiencing in my life.  I have also made some very dear friends through blogging... that was one thing I never expected and I am thankful to Blogger for opening up this world of ours and making distances just the blink of an eye.

Anyways... enough of all my wafflings for the moment... I have 101 things to do today and sitting here clacking isn't getting any of them done.  First on the list is the Battle of the Barnet... oh yesh, I needs to do me hair (a job I put off for as long as possible because it takes 251 hours to dry the stuff) and then I have a very special project that I am working on... all will be revealed next week... let's just say... I am very honoured and verrrrry excited about it!!!  I shall away... have a brilliant day and as ever, thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

One Day Only.... It's Giveaway Time...

...cor blimey and thrice!  It is a yonkle and a half since I last did a giveaway so I figured it was high time to do one.  I am giving this Media Mixage large Heart Bezel away to one randomly chosen commenter.  To be in with a chance of winning is simples:  just leave me a comment on this post.  I will give each comment a number in the order the comments are left (any duplicate comments will be deleted so everyone has just one chance to win) and then I shall feed the numbers into a random generator and that will give me a winner.  The giveaway will be open for just 24 hours (well, actually 23 hours and 59 minutes and 59 seconds) so if you would like to own this (IMO) lush piece of Melt Art jewellry, just leave a comment!  **I unfortunately do not accept anonymous comments on my blog, so if you do want to join in, all you need to do is get yourself a Google Account and then you will be able to leave a comment**

Remember last Sunday when I was all of a dither over the brand new Cosmic Shimmer Pure White UTEE?  Well, this is why.... cos when you add just the smidgiest of amounts to any colour, it makes the most wonderful marbling effects.  On this piece, I melted up some Midnight Blue UTEE and then added two very fine lines of White to the melted UTEE and once this had melted, used the tip of my Cool Tool Spatula to marble the colours though each other.  Also, remember what I said about the white?  You only need the most smidgiest amount as it is a solid colour - which means it is white right the way through.  Normal coloured UTEE (save for the black) is actually clear in the middle and has the colour stuck the outside ... so you can melt down some clear, add in your fave colours and mix them together and your clear won't dilute your colours.  However, with the white (and black) they are solid... so less is really more.  If you managed to bag a pot of the Pure White UTEE last weekend and are getting ready to play, it is also worth remembering that you shouldn't melt just white in your Melt Pot... because it is solid white, if you melt just that, your UTEE will be a lot gunkier to work with... so pop in some clear... and then just a spoonful of white (about 10/15ml)   And... I have also found that if I add it to the Clear before it is melted, it stays white.  If you add it to clear UTEE that has started to "amber" ie, been cooked for a while, it goes a gorgeous creamy colour... the darker the amber, the creamier the look, from single cream right through to clotted cream!  Pretty cool huh?  All I did when I made this piece was marble the two colours together, lifted the Pot, poured into the Bezel and moved the Pot back and forth a bit so the molten UTEE filled up the Bezel nicely.  Job done!

Remember... one ickle comment... that's all you needs to do.   I shall away now... I have a date with a rather fluffy pillow and an aircon unit (omg, we bought that aircon unit about 185 years ago and it is worth its weight in gold... believe me, it is mahooosive and noisy but oh my, cooool bedroom = sleepy snoozles = Happy Hels!)    Oh and please do check back tomorrow... there is a new Sunday Stamper challenge theme and the winner of the Bezel will also be announced!   Thanks for looking, have a FAB day!  TTFN

Hels x

It's Giveaway Time... Again...+ A Winner!!!

... cor blinking blimey and thrice!  WOW!  Thank you all for your fabby comments on yesterdays giveaway post.   I used Random.org to pick a winner for me... and the number chosen was #62 which tallies with the comment left by Attic Crafter.  Please can you email me your mailing address and I will pop your prize into the post.  So... another giveaway today... this one is going to run until Sunday night... and here's how to be in with a chance of winning todays prize:  Leave a comment between now and 23:59 GMT on Sunday 9th June 2013 and your name will be entered into the draw.  The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday 10th June post here.   And here's what you can win: my demo sample plus a pot of Royal Gold and a pot of Soft White Cosmic Shimmer Texture Paste.  If you want to copy the photo and pop it into your bloggy sidebar, you can let your friends know about the giveaway too :O))

Oh and here's the screen snip for todays winner.....

And more info on the demo sample that I am giving away:  this piece started out as a piece of cardstock (from the fabby Neutral Cardstock pack) which I spread with Soft White Texture Paste.  I then spritzed one of my all time fave Studio 490 stamps, the florally border from the It's More Flower Art, with a light mist of water.... this was then stamped into the paste at the top edge... I then turned the card and repeated so there's stamping top and bottom of the card.

Next I dried the Texture Paste.  Tip for drying it - wait until there is a bit of a crust on the paste and then gently heat it with a heat tool... if you overcook it, it will bobble up, depends on the look you are after because I rather like that look too.  Remember to turn the card over and heat from behind too... and the best tip for drying?  Hold the card (careful of the hot-hot heat from the heat tool on your fingers)  If you dry something when it is flat on your craft sheet, the heat tool does a really good job of heating underneath the piece you are drying... that makes it take a lot longer... so, dry in mid-air!  Once dried, I bobbed a nice layer of Aqua Dabber over the top and then gave that a zap with the heat tool.  Then I blended Broken China DI over the top, did the old "spritz and flick" with water and then used Patina Gilding Wax to add some sparkle over the top.  To make the impression pop a little more, I then used some Cut & Dry to apply smudges of Pitch Black Dabber... and then added a smidge more Patina over the top.   The flower is a collection of stamped flowers from the Studio 490 sets I had on the shows... and I used some fabby Embellish Your Art to decorate the flower centre and of course, my fave ickle crow... he is just so cute!

So there you have it.  If you would like to own this piece, plus the two pots of Texture Paste, just leave me a comment here before 23:59 Sunday 9th June and you will be entered into the draw.    I have a busy day planned... lots of crafty stuff to do and then I needs to get all packed up and ready for my class at Birds in the Barn, Essex this weekend... which reminds me, there are a couple of spaces on tomorrows class if you fancy a day playing with all things painty and stampy.   I shall away now... thanks for looking.... TTFN!


Hels x

Giveaway Day!

... oh yesh indeedily, today is giveaway day!   I am giving away this demo sample from Monday's shows... to be in with a chance of winning it, simply leave me comment before 23.59 today, 5th June and I will pick a winner and announce the name on tomorrows blog post.  

This was my first demo on Monday and I have had so much feedback about this one... and it seems you are all turning into Wombles just like me and nabbing all the cardboard before it goes into the bin... well, cardboard is fab to work with .... and... it is freeeeee... always a goodly thing!  The base is painted using Cut & Dry foam and Cool Peri and Eggplant Dabbers, there is a smidge of Texture Paste through my fave Foxgloves stencil and then a whole lot of Gilding Wax to jazz it up.   My fave embellies are the Studio 490 Embellish Your Art range... and these flowers are amongst my fave of those.  I only just noticed that the Small Star Knob on the left isn't in the right place... so they are a bit wonky there... whooops!   Anyways.. .if you would like to own this piece of artwork, just leave me a comment!

I am not stopping... I have just spent the last two hours faffing about cleaning!  I know!  I must be sickening for something!  And now it is time to get messy again in the Room of Stash as I have a few projects that need to be done... and being as the sunshine has deserted us, now is the time to stay indoors and play.  Thanks for looking... have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

It's Giveaway Time!!!

...Cor! Blinking! Blimey! And! Thrice!  Indeedily!  THANKYOU all so very very muchly  for the amazing response to yesterdays Melt Art shows!  Thank you for taking the time to email into the shows (averaging about 60 per show), for your Facebook messages and tags, for your Tweets (I am rubbish at Twitter so apologies if I didn't respond to you) and for your emails to me.  WOW!  As a thank you for your support and you all loving the Melt Pot, here's a little giveaway.  To be in with a chance of winning, simply leave me a comment on this post.  The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday May 13th 2013.

And... here it is.  One of the Media Mixage Sheild Bezels... I think these are my fave.. but then again, I loves the Fleur de Lis' and the Triangles... and the Circles... erm.. ok, they are all my faves!   Inside it is clear UTEE that has ambered and I have popped some Mica Flakes into the pot, stirred it up and poured it out (tis really that easy!)   As I said, if you would like to be in with a chance of winning this pendant, just leaves me a comment... simples :O))

I have got another *to-do* list to tackle today.  I had toyed with the idea of pretending that said *to-do* list had actually blown away on a gust of wind... but no... it is there... and needs attention!  Starting with something else that has indeedily blown away on a gust of wind!  Oh yesh, it must have been blowing a hooley here yesterday because when I got home I noticed that one of my little butterfly lights in the garden was there, minus butterfly!  Goodness knows where it has gone.  They are long stalks and a-top sits a clear butterfly that has an LED jobby in it to make it change colour.  Well, the changy colour thing is still attached to the stalk... the butterfly, however, has disappeared.  I have been out this morning, crawling about looking for it... and nope, nowhere to be seen!  I did think about accusing AlfieCat of stealing it but he wouldn't have reached the top of the stalk (he is reknowned for nicking stuff btw, I am not being mean to him... like the Peridot watch which disappeared, or the hair flower that went missing last week!)  Anyways... the *to-do* list ain't going to do itself so I shall bid you a goodly day and say.... thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

It's Giveaway Time... Again...

...Cor blimey and thrice, what a lot of loverly comments on my paper block canvas that is my entry for the Sunday Stamper this week - scroll down to see more deets.   So, being as I made three very similar canvases the other day, I thought I would do a little giveaway.  I have had a few questions asking me to do a tutorial on the paper blocking technique.  I have already done one, so if you click HERE you will be able to see it and all the pics that go with it :O))  To be in with a chance of winning this canvas all you need to do is leave me a comment... the closing date/time for entrants is 23:59 Weds 24th April - the winner will be announced on Thursday's post.  And here it is:

One of the most asked questions I get is "can you show me how to make those roses....."  Well, yes, I can... and if you call back tomorrow, I will have a full step by step photo tut on how to make them :O))

Which means, I better get a wiggle on... after spending all day yesterday gazing at the British Touring Cars, today is a catch up day... starting with the re-organization of the Room of Stash - which yet again, is untidy!  And... I dropped a cup of coffee into a sample box the other morning (the air was blue!)  Seems that this dropsy thing that I have is getting worse... thankfully the samples were UTEE so they wiped clean... not so sure about the ribbons though, they are ... ahem... a little icky now!  Grim reckons I needs a Tommy Tippee... and I have to agree!  Right, I shall away... thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

It's Giveaway Time!!!

...cor blimey! and thrice! indeedily!!!  Firstly, a mahoooosive thank you for all your amazing emails, comments, tweets etc and for your support of the Melt Pot shows on Wednesday!  WOW!  The response was awesome and it seems that you all loves the Melt Pot and the new Media Mixage goodies!  As a thank you, from me to you.... here's a little giveaway for you.  All you need to do is leave a comment here... tis that simples... and then I will randomly pick one comment to win the pendant, the closing date/time for the giveaway will  be Tuesday 23rd April at 23.59 and the winner will be announced on next Wednesday's post.  And here's what you could win :O))   It is the large triange Media Mixage bezel with  a mix of the Metallics Mica Powders a a marble of black UTEE running through it.

So, as I said, thank you... the response was overwhelming indeedily... and what makes me reaaaaaally chuffed is that you are all embracing the Melt Pot and it is almost as if it is having a revival, which makes me smile biggly as it is a wonderful piece of kit!  You might remember me showing off these two pieces on the shows... first up is my AlfieCat.  Well, most peeps would use a photo of their baby or grandkids... and being as I have neither, I used my furbaby instead.  He is a little sausage and such a poseur when it comes to having his piccie taken.. as you can see from this one.  I used the large Circle bezel and clear UTEE.  I wish I could take the credit for the printing of the photo but, alas, the resizing bit was foxing me, so my Tech Guy (Grim) stepped in to help!   The background of the papers was stamped with the funky little Button Florals images... and I used the Silky Crush ribbons to add some black and white - seeing Alf is black and white!

Next up is Jerry.  Readers of old will remember my photo's from last year, the day we spent with Jerry (and Rich and Mary who own him... or is it the other way round lol)   Jerry is a little sausage indeedily... he is the most beautiful Springer spaniel (I know, his name... too funny)  and he loves his Uncle Grim... which makes me a smidge sad because normally I am a dog/cat/bird/duck whisperer *more about that in a mo*  but Jerry seems impervious to my charms.  And everytime we see him, it is Uncle Grim whom he goes to straight away.  I have tried winning him over with toys, treats and even juicy bones, but nope, Uncle Grim all the way.  He does allow me to play with him occasionally and... I think he is doing all of this to make out like Grim is his fave when it is actually me... 'cos Mary was watching me on yonder tellybox and Jerry recognised me (my voice I reckon) and sat and watch with her... how sweet... he loves me really lol   Anyways... again, Tech Guy Grim printed out the pic, the large Heart bezel was used and again, clear UTEE.  So, what to do with this large embellie?  I don't do scrapbooking... so I had a lightbulb moment and made a photo album, covering greyboard with patterned papers, using the Bind It All to ...erm.. bind it... and then adding Silky Crush ribbon to the wires.  So now Jerry has his very own photo album... am thinking that Rich & Mary will be adding the pics cos Jerry might struggle and glue on is paws (you don't want to live in my head, it is a smidge scary)   Oh and the duck whispering thing?  Last year we went on the Broads for a weekend... and we (I mean Grim) were parking (or whatever the real word is) at Salhouse Broad when a couple of ducks landed on the roof of the boat.  I was hanging around at the back of the boat (again, not proper terminology, it is called the ...erm... *scratches head*... stern!) and these two duckies were waddling about on the roof of the boat, so I grabbed some bread and they were eating out of my hand!  Oh yesh, Duck Whisperer, I rather like that title!  Like when I went to Ellen's for the first time.. her kitty cat India was a bit scared of hoomans and didn't like sitting on laps and suchlike.. until she met Aunty Hels and oh yesh, she was two paws and a leg on my knee by the end of the stay... and Ellen said I am a Cat Whisperer... you see, there must be something in it... just not with Jerry lol 

Right, after all that waffling, I shall bid you good-day and away to the horrors of the supermarket... wish me luck, I hate shopping (unless it is for stashly goodies) but the cupboards are bare... and I am getting mighty low on Diet Coke lol   Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

It's Giveaway Time...

...yeeeehawwww... I am back!  Did you miss me?  *whatcha mean you didn't even notice I had gone rofl*  Two days without blogging, positively unheard of I know but I have a very goodly excuse - I was on my death bed!  I managed to catch a bug over the weekend and had a couple of days feeling very sorry for myself... and then spent most of yesterday kitting and prepping for my classes this weekend... so, no time to blog!  Bad form indeed, I shall try to be a better blogger!   Anyways... as the title suggests, today is giveaway day!

Fancy getting your inky paws on the very latest Creative Expressions Project Book?   Look no further for I have one to give away!   And, as a little extra, I have also added this Studio 490 Art Part piece I made for the Stitches Trade Show into the giveaway prize.  To be in with a chance of winning simply click to follow me (if you don't already) and leave me a comment.  Closing time and date for this giveaway is 23:59 Monday 25th February and the winner will be chosen at random and announced here on Tuesday February 26th 2013.   I have had a few emails about how to leave a comment for me... tis simples: just click on the "Inky Thinkings" button at the bottom of the post and that will pop you to the comment page.

I had the pleasure of playing with the brand new Distress Paints over last weekend and this sample was made using them... they are lush, I am in lurves with them... and I love the soft and subtle effect that can be achieved with them... I even used them to lightly stencil onto the background on this piece... as well as painting the birdy, the word and the branch too.  Oh and check out the ickle housey... that is a Studio 490 Embellish Your Art piece... toooo cute! 

Right, I shall away... I am scheduling this as I will be in the Land of Nod at midnight when this publishes... I am driving up to Rochdale early, early today (praying for NO snow!) and I have a weekend of playing with lots of different goodies with the JoLLie StaMpeRs craft group.  *and there's talk of proper Northern Fish n Chips too... what more could a gal wish for eh?*  Thanks for looking, have a fabby weekend and please do check back for tomorrows Sunday Stamper.  TTFN

Hels x

Love... and a Giveaway...

...today would have been my Grandma's 100th birthday - I so wish she was here to celebrate this milestone, although quite what she would have made of this crazy world we live in now I really don't know.  In honour of her 100th birthday I have decided to have a little giveaway.  This Studio 490 Art Part piece is made from a haul of new goodies that I was demoing at the weekend.  To join in with the giveaway all you need to do is leave me a comment here.  I will announce the winner, who will be chosen at random, next Wednesday, 3rd October 2012.

The base of the piece is two Art Part hearts, coloured with Distress Inks and Stains and then overstamped with a really cool honeycomb background stamp from Art For You... I love that background stamp loads... I can see me using it time and again.  I added some Stencils For Arts bits and bobs on the base and sanded the edges to make them a bit shabby.  The rose is stamped three times onto Grungepaper and then decoupaged, coloured with Fired Brick Distress Ink and assembled with a diddy resin flower for the centre.  The LOVE is from the Hearts Art Parts pack... coloured with Fired Brick Stain, dried, sanded to age and then popped onto the stalk of the Echinacea flower - I chopped the leaves off the bottom of this piece and used some of the offcuts to shore up the underneath of the LOVE... so it had something to sit on at the same depth as the stalk (if that makes sense lol)  The butterfly was stamped onto more Grungepaper and coloured with Wild Honey and Fired Brick DI and then shaped to sit a-flutter on the bottom of the heart.  I punched a couple of holes in the top of the heart and added some wire for a hanging.

Indulge me do please... a few words about my lovely Gran.  Everyone always says that they have the best Gran in the world... and mine really was.  She spoiled me with her time - we used to go for lovely walks along the river where she would point out wildflowers to me and taught me all about nature.  And the long walks along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal which was just by where she lived - we used to take a jam-jar and a little fishing net and bring home tadpoles.  We used to catch Sticklebacks and Minnows but she would never let me bring those home.   She used to take me out in the summer holidays on trips to Otley - and every single time, without fail, I would fall into the pond and get my pants wet.   We used to go for walks near Charlie Parker's farm - I remember one time she got caught short... and needed to do the necessary.  In a field of bulls. I never saw her move so quickly, haring across the field with a herd of bulls starting a stampede.  And once we were safely out of the way we couldn't stand up for laughing. Happy memories.

My Gran was quite a reserved woman, not one for public displays of affection... but I didn't need that because I knew that she loved me, the way she would spend so much time playing, teaching me, making cards (ok, covering her in glitter and Gloy glue), telling me stories of the olden-days when she was a yong girl growing up in Wales.  I remember coming home with my O'Level results - not doing as well as I should have.  Instead of berating me, she simply said "you can re-sit them".  

She was a very wise lady -  she had her own fair share of hardship during her life and I think that her aim for me was to give me as much knowledge as possible so my life was easier.  I am sure I am the woman I am now because of my formative years with my Grandma, I just wish that she was here to see how my life turned out.  I was 17 when she passed away, I was never going to be ready for that day and when it came it truly felt like a part of me died too. So. To my dear Grandma, Happy Birthday, where-ever you may be, I will always carry you within my heart and my memories.

That's all for now peeps... thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x