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

Sunday Stamper - Week 274 - And Your Bird Can Sing

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Many thanks for all your gorgeous entries to last weeks challenge.  This week the theme really chose itself as all I seem to be doing at the moment is bunging our feathered friends on my creations... so the theme is... BIRDS.   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 the pop back here to leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you haven't got a blog/web-photo-hosty thingy, you can also join in via Facebook - simply tag my name on your photo upload - or pop me an email over with a small sized pic.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 14th September 2013.
 

My creation this week is a tag... long time since I had a proper taggy play!  I started out using some of the new deeelish Laboratorie papers from the Duke of Distress.  I LOVE these papers... the black and whites are just perfection and whilst I ain't a skull kinda gal, I love the backsides of the papers (you know what I mean lol)  The script page I chose to cover my tag proved another fluke too!  Unbeknownst to me, whilst I chose this paper just 'cos I like the writing, when it came to look at my piccies close up I noticed the typeface that says "54 Eagle Street"  How blooming spooky is that!!! I had already picked birds as the theme too... tis an omen!

I used some Antique Linen Distress Paint and drippaged some down the tag and then misted it so it went all smooshy and then once dried, I edged the papers with Vintage Photo and added some stencilling using the Dot Fade and Stars Stencils, also from the Duke of Distress.... love the little dots in Black Soot... how cute!  I added a snippet of the diamond papers... I LOVE diamonds as you know and these distressy ones on the papers are perfect.

I added some birdy and flourish stamping using Jet Black Archival ink and where the paint has dripped down the tag, you can see the Archival Ink is going creamier... I also added a couple of squirts of Espresso Colorwash and then set about the decorations.   In the form of a few little Prima flowers, layered up, spritzed with Espresso Colorwash to tie them in with the tag design and then layered up with a few metal and twiggy bits.  The charms were a pressie my mate Dan got me from Michael's... they are just jzuhjzzed up a bit with some Treasure Gold.

So, whatcha got planned for today?   I am in Southampton this weekend teaching at Pickwell Farm... I know a lot of peeps who live down this way might not be aware of this little jewel of a craft shop... seriously... it is my idea of heaven! Not only is there a Farm Shop (as the name would suggest) but it has Yankee Candles (mmm, my faves) and plants... and... STASH!   Worth a visit if you are in the area :O)  Right, I shall away, todays victims, I mean students (ahem) will be arriving shortly!  Thanks for looking, have a fabby day whatever you are up to!  TTFN

Hels x


 

Sunday Stamper - Week 272 - Titanium

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Another week has whizzed past and I am a little behind on catching all your entries from last weeks' challenge... apologies for my lateness, I shall be around to visit you as soon as poss!  I do appreciate all your efforts and gorgeous entries!  This weeks challenge is a nice easy one... and it is... USE METAL.   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 to leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing  your entry.  If you haven't got a blog/photo-hosty-thingy, worry not, you can also join in via Facebook (just tag my name on your photo upload) or via email by attaching a small size pic (my email addy is found by clicking the pic of me over in the top left hand side bar)  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 31st August 2013.

On with my entry for this week:  As you know, last weekend was a crafty friends weekend away and I did the sum total of.... half a tag!  I know!  For some reason my Mojo has upped and naffed orf again .... probs sunning himself on some sunkissed sand dune whilst sipping Mojito's!  Anyways... this tag took hours to make.  I know, it looks like it took about 5 mins and it isn't my most favourite thing but as I have nowt else to offer... this is it!  Yikes!  Come home Mojo, I NEEEEEED you!

The base of the tag has the Drippy Distress Paints technique (as shown in my Master Class in Sept 13 Craft Stamper)  Once this was dried, I stamped onto cosmetic tissue with my fave Studio 490 background from Heirloom Art using Jet Black Archival.  This was then applied to the tag using Glue & Seal.  I could have stamped directly onto the tag but... I wanted to achieve a more muted look... and I love the way the tissue adds the extra bit of texture.  Once this was dry, I popped some Black Studio 490 Embossing Paste onto it through an Imagination Crafts stencil... I bought that last weekend at the Ross Papercraft show ... (well, I neeeeeeded a new stencil... ahem.... )  Once that had dried, I popped some Treasure Gold onto the paste to emphasize the texture.  And that is as far as I got!   Oh yes, two hours of work to get that... mmmmmmm... 

Next I decided that flowers would be the best way forward, when Mojo naffs orf, I tend to revert to my comfort zone and flowers is tops!  They are pale blue, cream and black and I spritzed with Black Marble Dylusions and Ancient Copper Cosmic Shimmer sprays to add  some sparkle to them.   I also gave the tag a very light mist with the Black Marble so that tied in with the design.  A metal bookplate (maker unknown, it lived in the Bag of Embellishingly Gorgeous Goodies for yonks until I freed it) and an Adage Ticket for the word and voila, one very long and painstakingly made tag... which could have been done in half the time had Mojo been here.... the old cad and bounder!

Right, I shall away.  I am scheduling this post as I will *hopefully* be in the Land of Nod come midnight as I am up early again today.  I was up early today for my teaching at the Busy Bee's Dabble Day in Sheffield (when I say today, I actually mean yesterday as you are reading this today... but I am typing it today so I mean... erm... today?  Confoooosed??? Me too! ROFL)  And today (yes, Sunday lol) I am heading off to Mansfield for the first day of a two day set of classes at the MDF Man's gaff.... so it will be a bright and early start!   So, after all that waffling and confoooosingness... I shall say... Thanks for looking, have a fabby day... I promise I will be catching up with you all soon!  TTFN

Hels x

PS... although I will miss the BTCC races today, Grim will be texting me results... so... GO PLATO!!!!

When A Box Isn't A Box...

...don't worry, I haven't gone stark staring tonto... well, not quite.  No, I thought very carefully for about 30 seconds about todays post title... believe me, that is a long time (I usually just type whatever comes into my head!)  Anyways, the box isn't a box anymore because I have been doing a smidge of up-cycling.  I seem to get a lot of cardboard boxes passing through the Room of Stash (all for work, obvs... ahem) and I am forever flattening them and bunging them into the green bin... so I decided to utilise all this free cardboard and use it for a wall hanging piece.  I saw Leandra from Paper Artsy demo-ing using cardboard as a base and thought "what a brill idea" so thanks for the inspirations to Leandra.

I used a Stanley knife (yep, I am very careful with that baby, it is sharp!) and a metal rule and cut a piece of cardboard to measure about 4" by 8" and then peeled away some of the top layer of paper from the cardboard, revealing the corrugations.   Next up, adding some texture... so I used a Crafter's Workshop stencil and Grunge Paste, I spread on a layer with a palette knife, dried it off and then popped the stencil back into place and spread another layer on as I wanted quite a deep stencilled effect.

Next up was a good paint application.  I used Fresco Paints... starting with mixing Snowflake and Mermaid together... pouncing this all over the piece with Cut & Dry foam... and then adding in Mermaid around the edges... a smidge of South Pacific blended lightly over the raised bits and then a smudge of Mocha Mousse around the very edges.  Once dried, I popped a little bit of Little Black Dress around the edges to make a frame for the design.  I loves my Treasure Gold and used Pewter and White Fire, applying it very lightly over the raised bit and around the edges of the base.  My floral embellishment is just a bunch of paper flowers, some have had smidges of Treasure Gold applied and some left plain.  The sprigs are Prima (had these years and never dared to use them before... duh? Use them!!!)  Alpha Parts for my word of the year... and a clear butterfly to finish.    I am entering this piece into the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge this week which is "Into the Woods"  *a musical I LOVE... I was introduced to this fabulousity by my friend Dan... if you haven't seen it... you needs to!*  Anyways... HERE is the link to the deets on the challenge... and my "into the woods" bits are the woody sprigs and the cardboard, which, after all, comes from wood originally!

Anyways... I have news of my little predator.  Oh yesh, he has been up to his tricks again.  And, it is all our fault, we laughed at him the other day when he was trying to stalk a pigeon that was having a little rest on our lawn.  Alf hasn't really "got it" when it comes to the stalking of birds... he wags his tail, chatters his chops and wiggles his bum too much, they see him coming, laugh at him and then fly off.  That is until he decided to change tactic... and went for a baby Collared Dove!  And... to make things worse, he brought it home for Mummy.  Why he does this while Grim is at work is beyond me.  I was actually having a chat with Grim on the phone when Alf arrived, baby dove in chops and proceeded to run into the living room and dumped said dove on the rug... which I have to admit is where all his toys are, you know, like catnip mice... and sticks with feathers on (I know, it is my fault... I have taught him how to catch a bird!)   Anyways, Baby Dove was still alive... so I went to grab Alf, who promptly dropped the dove, which then flew into the hall.  In the meantime, I am trying to talk to Grim, slipping along the carpet on my knees with a rather cheesed off cat in one hand and trying to talk to Grim with the phone in the other... well, it was going to end up messy so I and ended up dropping the phone, letting go of Alfonse and rushing off after the him as he was in hot pursuit of the poor birdy.   I managed to grab Alf again, and, to his disgust, shut him in the hall.  I figured the poor dove would be dead... but no, it was still alive... so I held it for a few minutes (ok, more like half an hour) while it (and I) calmed down... and then released it back into the Spinney and Alf was then on lock down. For a day!  I have since seen said baby bird sitting in a tree so I am rather chuffed that I managed to rescue it.  And Alf?  He decided to adopt his full name for the next day... Lord Alfonse of Sheridan - oh he ignored me, huffed at me and even took a gnash at my passing ankles!  He has forgiven me since.. he knows which side his bread is buttered... not to mention who gives him food and snuggles!    Right, I shall away... thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 249 - Brown Eyed Girl

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all.  Big thanks for all your grand entries for last weeks challenge... on with this week which sees a nice and easy "colour" theme... to use... BROWN somewhere on your design.  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 a comment with a link to the place you are showing  your entry.  If you haven't got a blog or web-photo-hosty thingy, you can also join in via email or on Facebook.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 23rd March 2013.

It is a little known fact about me... you know, that I loves brown (ok, everyone knows it is my comfort zone lol)  Anyways, when I got my Snazzy's DT pack last month I fair did a whoop-de-whoop because it was the Engraver collection from Prima... and lots of browns and neutrals in the colour palette.  I had hoped to be able to get this particular piece finished before today but alas, I ran out of time.  So, instead, I finished it off last night after my class and decided to use it for the Sunday Stamper.

You will see my fave paper blocking technique going on, this is a really cool way of using up all those ickle scraps of paper you have kicking about in your crafty stash.   The blocks were just glued onto the canvas with a bit of Cosmic Glue and layered as I went to add in some depth.

The stamping is a little bit frugal on this piece but it still qualifies because if you look closely you will be able to see some script on the metal Graphic 45 butterfly... I did that with Jet Black Archival and then heat set it... and also the little black dotty patches... that is a brand spanking new stamp from the genius that is Finnabair (HERE is her blog) and it just so happens that Snazzy's have some of her new Sunrise Sunset collection fresh in stock.. ooohlalalaa... don't tell anyone but... ahem... I have a little basket sitting there, FULL of the new goodies... and they will be coming home with me later today!  Teehee!  Well, it is compensation for my terrible disappointment with the gorgeous shoes that were made for pixie feet... I got the refund... so ... erm... I spending it on... stash!  Like I said before... stash doesn't have to fit rofl

Anyways... that is more than enough wafflingtons from me for one day... I shall away as I am up early again for my second class at Snazzy's... thank you to the lovely ladies who came along to get all hot and bothered in my Melt Art class today, was lovely to see you again/meet you!   Have a fabby weeks peeps.... Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

PS... don't forget my giveaways... scroll down for deets :O)

Snazzy Delight...

...cor blimey, Mr Blogger must have been hungry because I scheduled a post to publish at midnight... and it isn't here! Gah!  Anyways... today is another Snazzy DT offering day... and HERE on the Snazzy blog are all the deets on how I made another tag using the Prima Engraver collection... here's a little photo of it...

Today is going to be a busy one... I am prepping demo's and a few last minute samples for my tellybox shows tomorrow... so I won't hang about and waffle on too much being as I need to be organised and get myself moving!  One thing I will mention afore I go: I am teaching at Snazzy's in Swindon this weekend and there have been two cancellations on the classes... so that means there are two spare places now.  If you would like to join in with me this weekend, please CLICK HERE for all the deets!  Right, I shall away... thanks for looking and have a fabby day... TTFN

Hels x

Snazzily Arting...

...which is what I been doing!  Oh yesh, tis time for my Snazzy DT, this month we have been using the gorgeousness that is the Prima Engraver collection... oh my word, do I love this collection - the papers... they are... brown!!! And cream!!! And beige!!! Totes my faves indeedily.   HERE is a linky to Snazzy blog where you can see this creation in full detail along with how I maded it :O))

So. Did you all have a loverly Mother's Day?  I got a card!  And pressies!  My little AlfieCat is getting ever so clever you know, he went shopping and got me a lovely card and a little bear that is holding a heart... and... two boxes of Maltesers... he knows how to treat his Momma :O))   A very short and sweets post from me today... up to my eyes in sampling for the shows later this week... more of that tomorrow!   Thanks for looking.. have a grand day...TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 238 - Everyday I Write The Book **PLUS GIVEAWAY**

Gooooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!   Thanks for your entries last week - very "heartening" to see so many lush creations :O)  This week the theme is a nice simple one to see us into the New Year.... and it is... WRITING.  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-photo-hosty-jobby, you can also join in via Facebook or by email.    There will also be a giveaway this week as a thank you for joining in with my little challenge this year.  The prize is this tag that I have made for my entry this week and to win it, simples, just leave a comment and you will be entered: Leave a comment AND join in... you get entered twice into the draw.  The winner will be chosen randomly and announced on next Sunday's challenge post.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 5th January 2013. (wow, I wrote 2013 for the first time! yikes!)

I have to admit that for the past few weeks my old Mojo has been having a bit of down time and I had to drag him kicking and screaming into the Room of Stash last night.  It is oft the case when I have a few days off that he sneaks off to hide.  Well, I wasn't having any of that so I set myself a challenge, you know, to tempt him home.   The challenge was to make a tag *yes, comfort zone but it is easier that way with Mojo, he is a miserable so-and-so when he wants to be*   Next on the challenge list was use some of the Treasure Gold stuff I got from PaperArtsy at the NEC and haven't really had a chance to play with.  I also had to incorporate some stencils and some texture paste.  *ok, ok, that is all my fave stuff isn't it?  So, erm... really?  A challenge?  Erm... nope, but it helped to whet the old Mojo's creativity lol*   I started by chopping off the bottom of a large tag - tis a size 10 I think.   I then used some of the lush Studio 490 Embossing Paste (this stuff is LUSH peeps) and mixed it with a smidge of Ferro because I wanted a grittier texture.  This was then smooshed though a couple of stencils and set aside to dry.  Tis worth remembering to clean your stencils immediately when you have used Ferro/Embossing Paste cos it dries really quickly and it does stick (oh-ho, there speaks the voice of the lazy moo who thought waiting til later was a good idea lol)

Once dried, which is only a few mins really, I used Liquid Leaf Silver, painting right over the top of the tag.  I then got my brushes and applied patches of different coloured Treasure Gold wax... a quick zap with a heat tool to make sure it was set and then a quick buff with a soft cloth.  Aha!  I am there, sitting, staring at the gorgeousness of the Treasure Gold and thinking "weeeelll, I loves it but... it is too "in your face" for what I want....."   So.  I got some Traditional Tan paint and using my most favourite applicator tool (my fingers) I picked up a bit of paint and kind of massaged it over the tag...  "Mmm, nice"  Says I. *the effect, not the masssaging, that would make me sound like a weirdo lol*   "But it over-powers the background"  A bit of head-scratching goes on and then I thinks "I know, I shall use a babywipe to knock the paint back a bit"   Which I did.  Which worked!  Hurrah!  Now, as many of you lovely folks know, my skills at photography are, for want of a better word, diabolical (actually, that is rather a better word, I could have just said "rubbish" like I normally do lol)  So, it is with regret that you can't really see how the paint has reacted with the Treasure Gold... I did try really hard to get an in-focus shot but...erm... I couldn't. 

Anyways... once I had the background just how I wanted, I added in some stamping (phew, for a moment it was nearly a "Sunday NOT-Stamper" this week!)   It is my fave script stamp of all time, from Letters To Santa which is a Tim Holtz stamp set.  It has to be my most used stamp, it just is totes perfecto.  I also added a smidge of script to the metal butterfly embellie which is from Graphic 45 - I love those butterflies so much and alas, I only have one left, I think I needs to go on a shopping foray to find some more!   I added on lots of paper flowers, all layered up, spritzed (a la Finn styleee) with Black Marble Dylusions and Teal Wash Cosmic Shimmer to add some more bling.   Check out the ickle star - that is an Embellish Your Art Studio 490 piece, I just added some Treasure Gold to it to tone it into the design.  Oh and check out the ickle Crow, he too is a Studio 490 EYA piece... how cute!

Right then, that is all from me for today... what a lot of waffling I did there eh?   Don't forget, just leave a comment and you are in the draw, leave a comment and also join in (ie, make something!) and you are in twice.  If you join in via email or Facebook, please do add a comment onto the post and remind me you have joined in that way so when the numbers go into the hat, you are in there twice too :O)    I shall away... I have been bitten by the crafty bug again after my little play and I want to go and make the most of Mojo being at home!   Thanks for looking... have a great week and... Happy New Year to all my lovely Sunday Stampers!  TTFN

Hels x

P.S.... 12 Days to CHA!!!!! *I actually think I am doing remarkably well by not waffling on alarmingly about my forthcoming travels... mind you, there's still time lol*

And Finally....

...I got it done!   Finally, after much faffing and fiddlediddling I finished my canvas!  Oh yesh, indeed and thrice, it is finished... I am telling myself that because I really want to keep on adding to it and I am forcing myself to walk away from it.  Actually, it is just another excuse to not make Christmas cards! Last year I prevaricated until about 15th December and then did a mad frenzy of batch making and this year, L'il Miss Smug inside me was "ha, I am starting Christmas in September, you ain't catching me out again......"  ERM... wrong!  I am well and truly catched out... to the point that I am, shamefully admitting, thinking of nipping to the local supermarket and buying a box of cards!  I know!  I have tonnes of Christmas stash and just no Mojo to make cards!  

Anyways... forget about Christmas... see, more prevaricating (hahahaaa) and on with the canvas.  So, a few weeks ago you may recall I travelled up to Rochdale to spend the weekend with the lovely ladies of the JoLLie StaMpeRs craft group.  This was our Sunday project, a big old canvas and some fancy papers... and a bit of imagination.  The thing I loves most about this technique is that you can use any kind of paper and it really doesn't matter if it is trendy, new etc... this paper is actually an ancient Basic Grey collection - I thinks it is Stella Ruby but I might be wrong... and it is yonks old... and I just chopped it up, layered it on and then got messy with some Texture Paste and paints and stuff and then got all excitable with the embellishments.

I do love to over-embellish stuff... I have been doing it for years - if you check out some of my old tags you will see how much Idea-ology I can bung on one thing... and now that Prima and Artemio have started bringing out even more embellies, I am, so to speak, in embellishment heaven.  I started out a few years ago with a compartment box for my Idea-ology... then the Duke of Distress added more to his line... and another box appeared... and then there was more... so I got another box... and now I have... FIVE boxes!  I know!  I am a bit of a neat freak (don't laugh, I am ... sometimes) and I like each thing to have its own little compartment.  However, with the Prima stuff, I have Really Useful Boxes... and bung it all in there... I am loving those Zippers... just how cool are they!  And the ickle birdies!  So... Tweet... ahem *groan*   I used Treasure Gold wax to colour some of the resin embellies... and added smidges of it around the edge of the canvas to tie it all in.  The stamp has got to be one of my fave ever stamps... a real "go to" word... by The Artistic Stamper... fab isn't it!

Anyways... I shall away... I am scheduling this because we have an early start today... we are away to visit Grim's Mum & Dad and they live on the other side of the world... ok, Norfolk, but it is a beggar to get to... there are no motorways you see... all A roads, all of them usually full of lorries and tractors... so early starts are necessary.   Oooh, I nearly forgot... my friend Caz is having a bit of a giveaway... her clever son has made her a proper website HERE it is... and she is doing a giveaway... do hop over to see her, the website is looking fab and the candy is rather nice too...    Right, am away... thanks for looking... have a goodly day!  TTFN

Hels x

Be My Guest...

...actually I am the Guest!  A few months ago, Lousie asked me if I would like to be a Guest Designer on the Calico Crafts blog.  Oh yesh, please!  I had a whole heap of fun getting very painty and embracing my inner altered self (I love altering things but I haven't had much chance in the last few months.)  So, I chose a papier mache book for my first piece.  All the deets and more piccies are HERE on the Calico blog, please do hop over for a nosey :O)) oh and while you are there, you might want to scroll down because there are some totes-amazeballs projects there to feast your eyes upon!  Here's a sneak peek of my project - I went all Christmassy again! 

I am scheduling this post to publish, I am reaaaaally hoping that it works, this new Blogger interface (ok, I have had it for nearly three weeks now) is still foxing me.  Not difficult to fox me at the best of times... I am sort of getting used to it but have lost count of the amount of times I have turned into a screeching banshee everytime I hit the wrong button lol   And the reason I am scheduling?  Well, I am up early early this morning because I am driving up to Coningsby to Jo Channon's Let's Create store for an in-store demo day.  I shall be playing with Distress, Studio 490 stamps, Art Parts, smidges of Grunge and Idea-ology will be thrown in for goodly measures too.  If you are coming along please say hi and introduce yourself... I love to put faces to blog and Facebook names.   Right, I shall away... I can smell dinner burning... again lol   Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

PS.  New Sunday Stamper challenge tomorrow!  Another scheduled post... finger's X'd eh?

A First....

...guess what???  I have just completed my very first commission!  Oh yesh indeedily.  A few months ago, lovely Joanne spotted a piece on my blog and asked if I would make her something similar... and she was commissioning me!  Get that!  A commission... am still grinning like a loon about it now!  Anyways... I have just handed my finished effort to Joanne... and I think it is safe to say that she likes it. (either that or she deserves an Oscar rofl)

Anyways, the base is an 8" square canvas, this is a shallow edge one, I would prefer a deeper one (ooherrrmissus) but for the life of me I can't find any unless I want to buy a box of 193 and pay through the schnozzle for 'em.  So, this here shallow edge canvas was painted with acrylic paints... a mix of Decoart and Dabbers, all applied with Cut & Dry foam so I could get some nice blending going on.  I painted the edges with Black Dabber (I have to say, I lurves Dabber's because they are matt when dry... I no like that they are in ickle bottles though... I always want bigger ones ...another oooerrr, but I am sure you know what I mean *snort*)   

As I have been heavily influenced by the artist genius that is Ania Dabrowska (click her name to be whizzed off to her blog on the back of a Prima Flower) it is time to admit that I have turned into a bit of a squirrel.  I have always been a bit of a hoarder (as my wardrobe, loft, garage, Room of Stash, shed, dining room... you get the picture... will confirm) and when I saw these new Prima embellies, I started my latest craze... hoarding bits and bobs that will go really well onto canvases and big projects.  The Prima lightbulbs are a fantastic idea... and they are really substantial too.  Oh and the Prima Gears too... mahooosive ones and ickle ones alike.  Check out Sam Poole's Creative Studio's for deets on these babies.

Whilst at Ally Pally last Saturday I did a spot of speed stash-shopping... literally 5 mins from the end I dashed to Paper Artsy (always a fave shop) and did one of those highspeed, gasping for breath dashes around the new Artemio embellishment range... those ickle studs on the canvas are actually brads, I just chopped their legs off!  And the metal butterfly is from Graphic 45... I am lurrrving those... wishing I had got two packs of them now too!  The flowers are again from my stash of paper flowers... I added to it recently, visiting Wild Orchid Crafts and nabbing some new paper roses and some plain white blooms, as well as the cute brass dragonflies.  The metal leaves are new from Creative Expressions (and you can get these in Sam's store too)  Finally, the words... the Imagine is an Artistic Stamper word, gotta be my fave ever word stamp, I love the grunginess of it... and the wooden "remember" is another Prima embellishment.  I guess all in all I wanted to make this piece a bit special... well, being as it is for a very special lady, I wanted to add a bit of lurve into it too... so a lot of my fave things are included on it.  Now I just need to figure out how to add some Studio 490 into the mix and I will be complete!

Anyways... I shall away... I am in my hotel room in Preston... scheduling this post because I am fair pooped.  I had a bit of a journey down here... setting off with plenty, plenty time to get to Inspirations to drop all my kit off and then have a moozie about the shop.  Best laid plans and all that.  There was an accident on the M6 - I was hoping it would be clear by the time I got to the site... nope, there was another accident in the accident bit so it meant the motorway was closed.  A quick (handsfree, Blue & Me) call to Grim asking which exit should I take to avoid the closure... and onwards I goes.  Until the exit I needed and there was a Police car there, closing the slip road.  Another accident had happened there!  I finally made it to Inspirations about 5.15pm so it literally was a quick hello, drop off the stuff, back in the car and onto the hotel.  Where I made a complete burk of myself.  So, I needs to use the facilities.  And the bathroom light won't work.  Grrr.. weeing in the dark is not the best fun right?  Anyways, I decides to pop the telly on to get the radio (tis freeview jobbywotsits) and I had a "no signal" thingy show up.  So, off I sets to reception to ask if I could get a light fixed and a telly that works.  The lovely lass on reception was most apologetic and offered to move my room... nope, I just unpacked, can't be bothered with all that... so she offers me free internet... I just paid for it.. and then she offered me a free breakfast.  Thank you very much, don't mind if I do.  And then she said "you did put your door key card into the slot on the wall?"  Errrm... "nope"  *I had the grace to blush*  She tells me that to get the power and lights in the room you need to insert card into said slot.  "Oh and btw" she says... "is the aeriel in the back of the telly?"   Turns out the aeriel wasn't in the back of the telly and yes, key card in slot on wall means I can wee with the lights on rofl   With that delightful image I shall say... thanks for looking... if you are in Preston today please do pop in to Inspirations and say hi, I will be the one with the red face and inky paws!  TTFN!

Hels x

Simon Says... A Tutorial

...as promised, I am back today with a link to the tutorial I have done for Simon Says Stamp & Show. All the deets are HERE. The challenge is open to all and... don't forget, there's candy to be had for one lucky entrant. I have to say again, thank you to the lovely peeps at Simon Says Stamp for allowing me to be a Guest Designer on their fab challenge blog... I am so chuffed... and ver, ver honoured.



Being as all the deets on how I altered the frame are already on the SSS&S blog, I thought I would just do a quicky on how I finished my frame. The frame is one of those RAM ones from IKEA, you know, the fabby wooden ones that are now discontinued *sad face time* Once I had covered my frame with the Tissue and Washi Tape collage, I moved onto decorating the insert. I cut a piece of card to fit inside and painted it with the same bit of Cut & Dry I had used to do the frame. I left this plain so the heart embellishment would pop more but I did add some darker colour paint where the point of the heart would be sitting so it adds shading to it.




I cut a heart out of thick card - I have made myself a little template so I can get a heart to be equal on both sides. This is simples, just draw half a heart on the edge of a piece of card and cut it out. Then when you come to make your heart, draw around the half, flip it over and draw around the other side, that way you get the same shape on both sides. I added strips of tape across the heart along with a border punched bit of card and then painted over the top with the same bit of Cut & Dry I used for the frame. I added some darker paint around the edges, blending it in so there was some more shading. Once this was dry I added a smidge of gold embossing powder around the edge to make it a bit fancier. I popped some Prima flowers onto the heart, along with some metal bits and bobs to jazz it up a bit and spritzed with Cosmic Shimmer spray to add some bling. I like to make things that have words on them (yep, as well as flowers lol) and Tim's Idea-ology Chit Chat stickers are perfect to add that little something that doesn't overload a design. I have stuck mine onto card, edged them with a black Paint Sharpie and then bobbed them onto 3d foam. I know I have said this very lots of time but... I am totes inspired by Finnabair - I don't think I have ever seen her make anything that I don't like - click her name to see her blog.




And there you have it. A simple collage technique that looks really pretty. And you don't just have to do this on an alterable piece, you can use it on cards, tags, ATC's - the list is endless :O) The majority of the goodies I used are available from Simon Says Stamp.

As ever, thanks for looking... I am still suffering today *grrrr* so I have planned myself a day in the Room of Stash *yayyy*... a good old play with ink and stuff always makes me feel better. Have a good day yourselves... TTFN

Hels x

Simon Says... Be My Guest!

...Excited? Me? Oh yesh, indeedily.... very excited! And why? Well, a few months ago May, who is the DT Leader over at Simon Says Stamp & Show asked me if I would like to be their first Guest Designer. Of course, I needed time to think about the invitation.... and about 0.01 seconds later, I emailed right back and said... yes please! I am very honoured to be asked to be a Guest over on my fave challenge blog. All the deets etc for this weeks challenge are HERE along with all the cool DT creations and info on how to join in.



The theme this week is Tape It Up. I toyed with several ideas on what to make, I started out with a tag but it just wasn't big enough for the technique I wanted to use... so I altered a frame instead. On Wednesday this week a tutorial I have done for my entry will be published over on Simon Says Stamp & Show so I won't go into tooooo much detail now on how I altered my frame... but I can say that all the tapes, paints (whooops, was I supposed to mention that I used paint? *teehee*) I used are available at Simon Says Stamp.



Oh and... when you enter the challenge there is a chance for you to win a voucher to spend at Simon Says for $50. I will pop a link on my post on Wednesday so you can nip over to see the tut then :O))



I have an update about that Old Cad Mojo. He slunk home sometime during the night on Saturday and I am pleased to report that he is back to normal (whatever that may be lol) I had a mahooosive crafty Skypey sesh with Ellen yesterday... and Grim went and caught me out big stylee. So. We had been Skyping for about 3 hours and we decided to have a little refreshment break. Then we were straight back into more Skypeyness, for about 3 more hours. Anways, I hears Grim say that he had just had an email from Virgin saying that we were nearing our limit for the downloady-do-dah-thingy-wotsits (my words, not his, I can't remember exactly what he said, you know, like the teckernical speak) So, I am sitting there at my desk, with Ellen perched on the other desk.. (tis ok, she was inside the laptop so she was quite safe) Where was I? Oh yes, justifying our Skypey-ness. "We have Skyped for longer before" says I. "Well, that's what is says.... " Says Grim. And then I hears a little snort. Oh yes, he was indeedily winding me up. Hoooharharharhaaa.... yes, funny... erm... well, a bit lol


Anyways, I shall away. Remember Jerry the Gorgeous Springer? Well, he is bringing his Mummy & Daddy to see us this afternoon and he has a very swishy tail... so I am going to move everything that is in tail-swishing distance. I can't wait to see him, he is so gorgeous, those big soft eyes... ah, tis lurve. Here's Jerry looking very intelligent, I think he was just contemplating 11 down of yesterdays Telegraph crossword lol


Oh and I am cooking too! I have been frantically searching cookery books and yonder t'internet - I stoopidly said "Homemade Crumble and custard for afters" The crumble isn't a problem, that's a doddle, oh no, it is the custard. I can't make custard! Last time I tried it had the consistancy of day old concrete only with more lumps. Maybe I should feign a migraine and get Grim to make it instead (either that or open a tin rofl) Anyways, I needs to get moving... custard making skills to research and all that... Thanks for looking, have a fab day. TTFN

Hels x

Sweet Dream...

... this is going to be a super speedy fast as lightning post... simply because I am running late; and why am I running late? Well, blame it on AlfieCat. You see, he has developed a bit of a habit. And this habit? He has taken to sleeping on my head. Goodness knows why and all that... but... he indeedily was sleeping on my head last night which meant that I didn't hear my alarm. (I know, any excuse eh?) and... my hair now resembles a haystack that has been attacked by mutant badgers.



Enough of the excuses... like I said, speedy post just to show you my latest creation: a mahoosive tag that I have snipped the bottom off (learnt this from Ellen) and then decorated with as much stuff as possible.



The base is some Kaisercraft paper from the Hunt & Gather range (love these muted tones) and I added loads of flowers that I spritzed with Melted Chocolate Dyslusions and Vintage Cosmic Shimmer Antique Green.


And the tonne of embellies - well there's some Prima bits and bobs, some metal stuff from my stash and some gorge Studio 490 Embellish Your Art... oh and a smidge of Idea-ology too.


We had a fab day yesterday - The Sweeney was brrrilliant... so much so I want to see it again! Nando's was yummy (I went for Medium and had a smidge of Hot on the side - I am now a nutter!) And today we are off on a jolly to the seaside... tis a yonk and a half since we went to the seaside and I fancy myself a nice hot sugary donut (see, tis always about the food isn't it? lol) I will get lots of pics to bore you with tomorrow lol I shall loves ya and leaves ya... short n sweet today (bit like me lol) Thanks for looking, don't forget to check back tomorrow to see if you won the candy giveaway :O)) TTFN

Hels x

Birds In The Barn...

... I had a wonderful weekend at Birds In The Barn in Essex. I love that shop - tis chockful of gorgeousness and owner Janet is a brilliant hostess. Over the two days I did two completely different classes. Both were fully booked - so hooge thank you's to all the lovely ladies who came along and got messy with me, especially as it was the hottest weekend we had this year!



Saturdays class was all about getting painty. You all know how totes inspired I am by the wonder that is Finnabair (click her name to see her art) Well, the class subject was a 9 x 12" canvas, lots of textures and layers applied and then painted over. And then came the decorations. This is my favest part... cos you all will have sussed by now that I do lurve metal embellies and of course, flowers.



Mixing the two together makes me very happy... add in the use of Dylusions sprays (yep, addicted to that Black Marble) and some Perfect Pearls Mist (Turquoise) to jazz up the Prima Flowers and I am positively ecstatic! I did a smidge of spritzing onto the canvas too just to tie the background to the embellies. Check out the ickle knife, fork & spoon... Janet has loads of these little goodies in the store - I just love how the fork was manipulated... I had, indeedily, a Uri Gellar moment lol


Anyways, these here pics are of my canvas. Strips of punched and die cut watercolour paper, strips of canvas, smidges of lace, tonnes of flowers and flashes of bling. Thank you to Janet for having me teach at her store again, we are getting our heads together to have another weekend before Xmas - as soon as we have the dates, I will pop them into the sidebar :O))


Right, I shall away... I have decided to take a day off today. I have a special date with a gorgeous hunky bloke (Grim) - he is taking me to the cinema to see The Sweeney (can't wait) and then maybes a little meal in Nando's (loooove Nando's, I am a "medium" girl... what about you? Hotter? Or milder? Grim always has a "hottest" he is a nutter lol) As ever, thanks for looking.... TTFN!

Hels x

Recipe: One Frame, One Technique, Two Friends...

...just add a few giggles and snorts and you are on your way! What am I on about? Well, it was time for me and Ellen to get our heads together and Skype out a new recipe challenge. So, our Skype sesh on Sunday was scheduled and we had got our art books out and were all set for a crafty afternoon when I got a dose of the "feels like poo and needs to sleep". So, our Skype sesh was cut short (sad face) but we did agree to carry on and make the recipe with our agreed ingredients and today is the day we are blogging. To see Ellen's creation, CLICK HERE, you will be whisked off on the back a giant blending tool to her blog.



Anyways. The recipe. A very short list of stuff:

Wooden photo frame
Metal Foil Patchwork technique
Distress with Paint
Embellishments of choice
The same photo of us
Texture Fades


Aha. Ahem. Erm... well... I kind of forgot the Texture Fades step... whooooops! Instead I just slapped a load of metal foil over the frame, overlapping where the bits met and then used my Ten Second Studio tools to add little rivets and detailing. I then slapped a load of Pitch Black Dabber all over it and wiped off the excess with a paper towel. The embellies are flowers (did you expect 'owt else though?) And... I used our fave colour scheme... believe it or not, both of us LOVE black and white with a dash of lime green (you should see the curtains Ellen has in her studio... I have curtain envy!) I also added a couple of those deeellish Prima embellies - they are little flat backed lightbulbs with the filaments showing and... bestest bit... words on them. The top one is a diddy one and is says US which could mean us as in the two of us or... US as in United States, which is where we were when this pic was taken. It was right after I finished Ranger U last year, we were in Applebee's, drinking cocktails and swapping stories with the other girlies I shared my Ranger experience with. Oh and the bulb at the bottom... well it says FRIENDS... which is what we are!


Believe it or not, this is the easiest recipe we have done I reckon, and yet it took me yonks because I wanted it to be perfect for our special photo. Anyways... I shall away... please do pop over to see Ellen... I can't wait to see her finished frame so I am off to camp out outside her blog and see if she will let me in early lol Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x