Sunday Stamper - Week 313 - Green Onions

Goooodly Afternoon Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Thank you for all your fabby entries for last weeks challenge and it is lovely to see some new peeps joining in too.  This week is a another nice easy challenge... GREEN.  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, leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry and I can come see you.   If you haven't got a blog, you can join in via Facebook (just tag me name) or by emailing a small res.pic to me.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 28th June 2014.

My entry this week has seen me return to my true love... oh yesh, it is all about Studio 490.  I make no secret of the fact that I am Wendy's #1 stalker erm, fan and I don't get enough time to really play with all my Studio 490 goodies.  So I treated meself to an evening of all things Wendy and had a total blast playing!   I used Wendy's technique for Archival Re-inkers, CLICK HERE for her fabby video.  I use Surgical Spirit, I think that is rubbing alcohol in the UK... it works anyways so I guess it is right (!)  I also use Ranger's Specialty Stamping paper.. this stuff is the bomb!  It has a coating on it but it isn't glossy... nor is it matte, more of a satin finish and it is perfect for Wendy's technique as the inkyness doesn't soak through the card and sits on top of it so you can move the inks about whilst they are still wet.   The Re-inkers I used are: Dandelion, Tree Branch, Fern Green & Leaf Green.

Once I had the inky background sorted, I set about layering on lots of different stencil images. Apart from the sentiment and flower cluster, everything on the creation has been stencilled.  I used lots of Wendy's stencils and the following Archival Inks:  Leaf Green, Tree Branch, Fern Green, Dandelio and Jet Black.  The butterfly is actually a stencil too, I just cut it out and bunged a little pearl onto the body.  I added Glossy accents to dots I added to the laurel wreath (used a Sharpie to add those) just to add a little extra texture to the background.  The base is a canvas board that I covered with hessian using Multi Medium to stick the hessian down and then colouring with Black Soot Distress Paint. I added the flowers, which are Kaisercraft ones, leaves from Tim's Garden Greens die and voila, finished!

I shall away!  It is Friday morning at the moment, which always confoooses me when I am actually pretending it is Sunday... I am away this weekend teaching at Pickwell Farm in Southampton... and I am reliably informed that the PYO strawbs are ready (cue Hels covered in strawberry juice) and there be cherries too... ohhlalalaaa.. I have already eaten several hundred weight of cherries already this year - must be a good season for them cos they are all delish!  Thanks for looking.. have a grand day!  TTFN


Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 304 - Memories Are Made of This

Gooooodly Morning Stampers and a very Happy Easter to you all!  Big thank you to you all for your great entries to last weeks challenge.  This week the theme will be... MEMORIES.   As ever, how you interpret is entirely up to you... it could be the word memory or memories... it could be something that evokes a memory with you... the choice is yours.   To join in is simples:  make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping then pop back here, leave a comment with a linky to the place you are showing your entry and I can hop over to visit you.  If you don't have a blog, you can also join in via Facebook (just tag my name) or by emailing me a small res. photo.   The theme will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 26th April 2014.

My entry this week is the result of a "playtime" I had the other day.  I have been itching to try this technique out ever since I saw the awesome Wendy Vecchi demo it.. you can see her VIDEO HERE.   She is a GODDESS!!!   I won't spoil it for you... but I will give you a hint: rubbing alcohol in the UK is Surgical Spirit (well, at least I think it is cos it worked perfectly for me!)

As well as the base technique, I was also very inspired indeedily by Wendy, check out HER BLOG .. adding stencilling (all her delish stencils btw) and layering up the background with different colours and stamping.  I also added little puffs of Forest Moss Distress Marker using the new Distress Spritzer.  I forgot how fun using one of these little puffers is!  My stepson had one in an arty kit I bought him yonks ago.  I have to say that the Distress one is much better, you get a better grade of puffage with this one :O)   It would have been remiss of me not to add a big bundle of embellies... so I die cut some greenery using Tim's new die and Distress Core-dinations.  Also in there are some bits of Embellish Your Art, some pearls and a smidge of Idea-ology.  Oh and the rose?  Was actually one I made during a class last weekend and I liked the colours so much I didn't chuck it away.  The whole piece was actually made around the rose!

I must dash... not only am I late posting my Sunday Stamper (was a bit knackered last night so decided to get up early and then decided to ignore the alarm!)  I am also going to be late for the start of the British Touring Car Championship programme on ITV4 - which is starting in ...er.... 2 minutes ago!!!   As ever I am shouting.... GO PLATO!!!   Thanks for looking, have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

Happy Christmas!!!

Gooodly Morning to one and all... and a VERY Happy Christmas to you all... may your Christmas bring all your wishes and dreams come true!  I have been busy supervising in the Room of Stash.  Oh yesh indeedily, a certain little AlfieCat decided he wanted to get Ink on his Paws and make Daddy's Christmas card.  He spent a little while mooching around Tim and Wendy's blogs and decided he wanted to make something similar to Tim's 12 Tags December edition... and add in their fabulous Frosted Film and Clearly for Art technique.  HERE is Tim's post and HERE is Wendy's *worth taking a glass of sherry and a mince pie with you when you visit cos you will be there yonks!*

So.  Alfie is a bit of an inky demon and a few weeks ago I took delivery of the new Tim Layering Stencils, Holly and Diamonds.  AND... they were still in their packets, unopened and uninked!  How very remiss of me but I haven't had a chance to sit and play.  AlfieCat is all for using up stuff that hasn't been played with yet and ripped open the packets and off he went, using Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Walnut Stain DI's to colour the base of the tag and filling his paw up with water and flicking it over the tag to add some distressy splats.  I did the heat tool thing to dry it, last time he went near one he frazzed his whiskers.  He then layered the Holly Stencil over the tag and used Forest Moss and Fired Brick DI's to colour.  Another zap from Mummy with the heat tool to dry the ink and then he layered the Diamond Stencil over and used Frayed Burlap to colour.

The fabby technique from Wendy & Tim is adhering Frosted Film to Clearly For Art... how cool is this!!  Die cut with the Tattered Poinsettia, Holly Brank and the sprig from the Tattered Pine Cone and then coloured with her Signature Designer Ranger Archival's in Fern Green and Geranium (and Alf added smidges of Olive to add a second tone of green to the holly leaves)  A zap with the heat tool from me to dry the Archival ink and then I did the next bit: flip the pieces over so the Clearly For Art is face up and heat until it starts to flutter... and then shape whilst still hot... once cooled, the Clearly For Art keeps it shape!  Don't like the shape? Simply reheat and reshape!  This technique ROCKS... seriously, you NEEDS to try it!  Just think, you could colour the die cuts with Promarkers/Copics, Alcohol Inks etc.  Once assembled, I added the bits of Idea-ology and the sentiment is one of Tim's Rub On's.  Alf then coloured the card base using Frayed Burlap and the Diamond Stencil so it carries the design through to the base... isn't he clever!!!???

Right, I shall away... tis time to open the pressies that are sitting under the tree.  I have no idea what Father Christmas has brought me this year!  Hope you all got some lovely stashly goodies... go on, do tell, whatcha get???  Have a lovely day everyone!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 273 - That's What Friends Are For

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  White Rabbits btw... tee hee... 1st of the month and all that!  Thanks for all the great entries for last weeks challenge too... I do love to visit and see your gorgeous creations.  This week is a very special theme which has been chosen by a very special person!  Oh yesh, this week the theme is FRIENDS and it has been chosen by my BFF Ellen.  More of that in a mo... but first... to join in with the Sunday Stamper is simples: Just make a little something - it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you don't have a blog/web-photo-hosty thingy, worry not... you can also join in via email - my addy is where my pic is over there *points left* just click the pic... or via Facebook - simply tag my name on your photo and I can pop by to see it.   The theme will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 7th September 2013.

Now, as you may have gathered, just recently I have been suffering with my pain and the old cad Mojo has decided it was high time to go off on his jollies.  Well, I had had enough of walking into the Pit of Doom - the new name for the Room of Stash - and walking back out again in disgust.  So yesterday morning I set myself a challenge to clear some shelf space and get rid of stuff I don't use.  So I did!  Oh yesh, I got rid of tonnes of stuff... only into boxes into the garage but it is a start right?   Next up was a lovely long Skype sesh with Ellen... only 5 hours this time... ahem... but it sure got my Mojo dancing as we had a little I Challenge Thee!  Hence, the title for this weeks' challenge... Friends... cos Ellen helped get my Mojo dancing again!   Here's the recipe for our Art Part Fest:

Using Wendy Vecchi's Art Parts:
3 x 5 1/2" x 7" Large book covers
Large Queen
Wings
Small square Frames
Scroll Leaf
Small Hand
Scallop Borders
Pencil
Crayon
Gears
Plus: Wendy's new Ranger Archival Inks (LUSH!)
Other Art Parts as desired.

What a list huh?  I was a bit afraid because it was BIIIIG!  And I haven't done a biiiig Art Part piece before... but hey ho, Mojo was creeping back slowly... almost like he was playing "What time is it Mr Wolf?"  Everytime I glanced over, thinking I could see him, he slid behind a rubber stamp or scootled under a craft sheet.  Then a lovely warm fuzzy feeling overtook me and voila!  He was HOME!  After grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and bunging him in a Really Useful Box,  I got into my Art Part Fest with great gusto!

I kept the background of the Covers very simple... covering them with the backsides of the Tim French Industrial papers (who snikkered then huh?) and sanding the edges and then blending some Gathered Twigs DI around to make them look a bit distressy.  The frames were covered with Gathered Twigs Stains, dried, sanded and then overstamped with Potting Soil Archival (my NEW FAVE!!!!  LOOOOOVE THIS ONE!!!! THANK YOU WENDY!!!!)  The leaves were coloured with Forest Moss and overstamped with Fern Green Archival, the wing was coloured with Scattered Straw Stain and overstamped with Orange Blossom Archival, the little flower was coloured with Barn Door Distress Marker and overstamped with Red Geranium Archival, the little scallops were coloured with Black Soot Stain and overstamped with Watering Can Archival... so the only one I didn' use was the Cornflower Blue... not bad going though eh?  I love all the new Archivals muchly... they are just my colours and hues... lushness indeeeedily.... you needs them!   You might now be able to see the crayon Art Parts immediately... that is because four of them are actually the "holder togetherers" of the three covers... and then a fifth was cut up to make stabilisers for the layers of Art Parts on the front bits.  Cunning huh!!!   Finally, the addition of some metal bits and bobs and some Embellish Your Art resin goodies were my little decorations... I know they were not on the list but.... if you don't tell, I won't ;O))  To see Ellen's amazebobs piece, CLICK HERE.  Ellen has created an amazing piece of art... and the complete polar opposite to mine... very unique and very Ellen.  

I must away!  I have fair worn myself out with all this creativity... but seriously, it has been tooooo long since I actually made anything.  I have never had a barren stretch like this before.  I don't think the pain has helped but I know for sure that the old Mojo is well and truly home (I can hear him hammering against the lid of the Really Useful Box as I type!)  Today I plan to get inky again and see if I can actually manage to blog during the week for a change!  I still can't believe that I haven't blogged from one Sunday to another... this is a first for me... 6 years of blogging and I haven't ever been so quiet!  I shall remedy that PDQ!   Anyways, thanks for sticking with me... I truly appreciate your support you know!   Thanks for looking, as ever, have a fabby day!  TTFN

Hels x

I Challenge Thee - Finnabair Stylee

..cor blimey and thrice!!!  Thank heavens for unlimited t'internet because on Sunday last, I had a very muchly needed Skypey catch up with my bestie Ellen.  SIX hours!!! Yes, SIX!!!  Well, it has been too long since we had a chance to catch up properly and we had both said that Sunday was the day we both needed an I Challenge Thee.  If you haven't heard of our special recipe challenge before, basically,  a few years ago we were doing a Sunday Skype sesh and Ellen said "My Mojo has gone!"   So, I said "I challenge thee to make.... " and then listed a load of stuff she could use... like a proper recipe!  It worked a treat so it is a little something that we do whenever we get the chance because, whilst we both use the exact same products (colours too sometimes) the things we make look totally different.  Tis all in the interpretations I guess.   A couple of weeks ago, Ellen went to a class with Finnabair (Ania Dabrowska).  And not only was she doing a class with the wonderful Finn, she was also sitting next to none other than THE Wendy Vecchi!  How Peeled Paint am I?!!!   Anyways... Ellen shows me the art that she made on the class and I am like "ooooh, I neeeeds to try that.... "   We put together a list of goodies we could use and here it is:

• Large rectangular canvas - mine is 12" x 9" deep edged (bargain £2.99 from the Works!)
• Dimensional embellies - to include Finn's Mechanicals line from Prima
• Paint
• Stencils
• Finn's 9th Wave papers (omg... LUSH!)
• Stabilo ALL Pencil
• Treasure Gold
• Wendy Vecchi's White Embossing Paste
• Paper Flowers 

 

So, it wouldn't be fair to tell you exactly how this creation was made because this is Finn's technique... tbh, if I had the dosh I would be going to one of her classes when she is here later this month... but I haven't, so I won't be!  Anyways.... all I will say is that it is FUN!
I have long since admired Finn and the art that she makes is just simply breathtakingly beautiful.  Now, if you haven't heard of Finn (that won't be many of you I know) or even if you have heard of her... check out her amazing blog HERE.  Seriously, before you go, get a cuppa and a packet of HobNobs and settle in for hours of eye candy.  I had the pleasure of meeting Finn at CHA in January... she is adorable and totally unaware of just how amazing she is... brilliant artists are oft like that I have found... Wendy Vecchi is another...  which links me in nicely to the Wendy Vecchi part of my canvas.

Now, I make no secret of the fact that I am Wendy's Numero Uno stalker ahem, fan.  And being as I had a couple of weeks of crafty barrenness (not sure that is a word but I likes it) I was itching to incorporate some of her stashly goodies into my creation.  So, the Studio 490 White Embossing Paste was the first thing.  Hey!  Have you tried it???  I LOVES it.  It is kind of whippy looking and spreads beautifully... and what I did was a goof up that turned out happy accident.  I only possess 6" stencils because working on such a large piece is positively unheard of for me... so I am using the checkerboard stencil from Finn's last release and 490 paste.  And I not only stick my elbow into the already pasted bit but I drop the stencil too!  Because it was warm in the Room of Stash, the paste already had a "crust" on it... oohlalalaa... I loves that look, it has already part set but because I had goofed up, I scraped the goof bits up .. and it left an imprint... verrrry happy with that I was!

And of course, any chance to chuck a ton of embellies at something makes me verrry happy.  So, out came the Mechanicals embellies (these are sooo gorgeous) I added in some Junk Yard stuff from Prima, some old embellies from my stash and of course, my Embellish Your Art from Wendy Vecchi (see the theme here?)   Once I had got everythng done, I used my Stabilo pencil to whip around the textured bits to add shading... and did the same with the embelllies just so they popped a bit more.  Of course, I added my two tone border to the edge of the canvas (I do this all the time I know but it makes me happy).  Finally I dry brushed Treasure Gold all over the canvas and then smudged parts of it with my fingers.  This then meant the canvas was BLING!  So I used some black paint, applied with my finger, to just dull it all down again... Personally I wouldn't chose these colours again as they are waaay too bright for me... so I am going to have another go at this fab technique using my fave browns and creams... but it is good to step out of the comfort zone right?   Oh and... I personalized this canvas for me... the numbers are my birthday and the plaque is... erm... the age I will be in... ahem... 22 years!!!  *yeah right!*   To see Ellen's amazing creation, CLICK HERE... it is LUSH!!

I shall away now... we have a very special visitor coming to see us today and we needs to get the house sorted.  Oh yesh, Rich and Mary are coming over for dinner and Jerry the Springer will be coming with them... I will get some pics of him and pop them on here tomorrow.   And I know you will be thinking "what about AlfieCat!!!"   Don't worry, he will be safely ensconsed in his usual position (our bed) with a tin of tuna and water and toys in case he gets a bit peckish and fancies a play.   As ever, thanks for looking... have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

Rules To Live By...

...well, I have always loved this stamp from the hand of Wendy Vecchi... her Studio 490 stamps are my most beloved (oh, you already know that though right?)  This stamp has oft been the starting point of a creation and today this tag is no different.  You know I said I have the brand new Wendy Vecchi Signature Designer Archival Inks?  Well, I have got thoroughly inky and made a few tags and had a play, you know, just cos it would be rude not to!  This is a quicky tag I made, just trying out the inks on different surfaces and for different stuff.

I had seen on Wendy's blog that she had been using her new Archivals with her Stencils... so being as whatever Wendy does, I have to try, I ...erm... had a try!  Using small squares of Cut & Dry foam to apply the inks thru the Stencil is simples... the inks are a beautiful medium to use and because they are Archival, they won't budge when you then ink with a waterbased ink (like Distress) right over the top.  I started out doing the leaves at the top with Fern Green and added a stripy bit at the bottom with Cornflower Blue.  Little Mr Birdy was added with Watering Can (excuse me whilst I have a fit of the vapours, this is my new FAVE colour... I have oft yearned for a grey Archival... and now we have one... and a chuffing brrrilliant one at that!)

I then gave the inks a quick zap with the heat tool just to ensure they were set and then did some Distress Ink blending with Broken China, Bundled Sage and Forest Moss and added a frame with Walnut Stain.  I squidged Broken China onto my craft sheet, spritzed with water and use the large background from Heirloom Art, dipping it into the inky/watery mix, stamped over the tag and then allowed it to react with the Distress for a few moments... once the ink had started the react with the water, I heat dried the tag.  I love the bleached stamped effect of this technique.  Very delicate.  I made a little messagey bit for the Rules to Live By stamp and then made a floral embellishment. Stamping the flower onto Grungepaper three times with the Watering Can and colouring with Wild Honey and Rusty Hinge DI... and the ickle spiky flower from Funky Flower Art was stamped with Cornflower Blue and coloured with Broken China.  I stamped the leaves in Fern Green and overstamped with the same and then coloured with Forest Moss DI.  Check out the ickle rose in the centre... that is an Embellish Your Art piece, lightly coloured with Orange Blossom Archival... so I think the only one I didn't use was Red Geranium... but I made up for that with another tag I made earlier soo..... 

I must away... I keep glancing at the clock... any second now Mr Virgin is going to turn off our internet... yikes, how will I cope without my internet allll day???   Typically, the day that the internet is changing, Grim is on a loooong job... so when the new jobbywotsitthingymibob arrives from BT today, he will be out ... so the setting up of the new internet and email stuff will have to be done tomorrow night when he gets home... or on Friday.  Whatever, I have a swanky smart phone now and it has 3G stuff (you can SO tell how teckernologikly minded I am right?) so I will be able to get online... I just won't be able to blog.  Hopefully, all will be set up and I will be back blogging over the weekend!  Or sooner!  I am off to sit by the backdoor now and wait until the Lord Alfonse of Dirty-Stop-Outsville turns up.  He snuck out about three hours ago and when I tried to get him an hour ago he looked at me, hooked his tail over his back and scarpered off down the path.  He isn't allowed out at night for this very reason... ie, he turns into a loony!  So, I shall be awaiting his return... pointless me going to bed as there is no way I will sleeps til I know he is home safely... could be a long night eh?  Thanks for looking, have a cool day (gonna be a hot one again I hear!)  TTFN

Hels x

Love Of My Life...

...cor blimey, I don't know about you but I am sure some greater good has their finger pressed firmly on the "fast forward" button... already it is July!  But more than that... on Friday last, Grim and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary!  Come on... really?  ELEVEN years?  WOW!  Where did that go huh?  I don't normally make a card for our anniversary because I am rubbish at making cards, you know, those really special ones that in years to come you get out of a dusty old box and reminisce about?

So, this year was different because I had a pile of goodies sitting on my desk and the card just kind of made itself... well, obviously I had a hand in it, I haven't quite mastered the spell that will make stuff... erm... make itself (yes, dear readers, it appears that I am losing the plot)  Anyways... I made a card for Grim... and here it is today.  It isn't a secret that I love all things Wendy Vecchi (she is an art goddess, click here for her blog)  The Art Part word was the starting point of the card... if you haven't used Art Parts yet, you are missing out... they are brrrrilliant!  So, that was coloured with Treasure Gold and then I set about colouring a piece of cardboard (thank you Alfonse for scoffing more food for Mummy) with Fresco Paints... pouncing the colours on so they blended nicely.

Next up I popped the Heart Stencil (another Studio 490 delight) and spread some black  490 Embossing Paste through the heart, rather like icing a cake (yes, I do have some experience of that... I just have to remind myself it is embossing paste and not chocolate frosting, therefore no licking the spatula...)  Once that had set, I added smudges of Treasure Gold over the raised bits and also around the edges of the cardboard.  I saw a design from Wendy for the last CHA that used the LOVE and some cool Embellish Your Art, so I copied her idea, placing the flowers (also Treasure Golded) around the word... and then popped Mr Crow a-top of the word so he is perching.  The piece was still looking a bit "clean" (IYKWIM) so I edged the heart with a Stabilo All pencil and then gave the whole thing a spritz with Black Marble Dylusions to grunge it up a bit.  I was sooo tempted to bung a bit of wire in the top of the cardboard and turn it into a hanging but no, I was a good gal and matted it onto black card and then made it into a proper card :O)

Right, I shall away... I have an appointment with an ironing board today... and whilst ironing, I shall be watching Homes Under the Hammer (I LOVE that programme... addicted!) and then I will be doing a spot of making stuff in the Room of Stash.  Hope you all have a goodly day!  Thanks for looking, TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 245 - Man of the World

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all... many thanks for the fabby lurve themed entries last week!  This week the theme is one for the guys... and it is MEN.   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 hop 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 or web-photo-thingy, you can also join in via email or on Facebook.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 23rd February 2013.

I am doing a speed-blogging post today as I am writing this late Saturday evening and I needs to get to bed for today I shall be demo-ing for Creative Expressions at the Stitches Trade Show in Birmingham.   I am very fortunate to be able to do something that I loves so much... and I have been making samples and playing with some brand new products including the new Distress Paints and Studio 490 stamps and Art Parts.

The crackle background... wow, isn't that fab?  I saw Wendy Vecchi demo-ing this technique at CHA and fell in lurves as soon as I saw it.  It is a coat of Rock Candy Cracklepaint onto an Art Part piece and then once crackled, applying Distress Paints over the top and blending them to a smooth finish.  How cool!  And... I stamped over the top of the crackle too to add the vintage look.   The guy is a new stamp/Art Part, he is coloured with Distress Markers and the camera, tooo cute!  It too is a stamp/Art Part... the photo's aren't reallly doing it justice, it looks so much more dimensional IRL.  The dot in the middle of the camera is a blob of Glossy Accents.

Like I said... speed-blogging... I shall be back tomorrow with some photo's from today (if I remember to take some lol)  Thanks for looking and have a fabbilicious day!  TTFN

Hels x

C'est Authentic!

...it is a little known fact that I was so atrocious at French when I was at school I was called a dunderhead on many, many occasions and failed my *ahem* O'Level *shows age* with a certain, erm...  je ne c'est quoi.  However, for some ridikkydudalus reason I do slip into a french accent every so often... and whenever I see the word "authentic" I insist on pronouncing it "authentique"  I know, bonkers, pure and simples.     Anyways... here's another page for my loose leaf journal... totes inspired by the wonder woman that is Wendy Vecchi.  Long time readers of my blog will probs recall a time when I ventured into journaling with the greatest of gusto's - buying several moleskine books in all different sizes, even making my own self bound (ok, I used a Bind it All) journal of all different sized pages and card/paper mediums.  And readers of this blog may well recall that I was a total failure at said journaling because I kept getting overwhelmed by ALL those pages... sooooo many to fill... like the amount of pressure I would be putting on myself to get the whole book finished.

Then along came Wendy.  And she showed me that actually, you don't have to do a whole book in one go... oh no, you can do loose leaf pages and then bung them together in an Art Part binder.  Which is when that ickle lightbulb that hovers above my head went "bing".  So, I decided to be a right old copy-cat and do my own individual pages.   This here one was made using Ranger's Specialty Paper.  My word, this is gooooood stuff!  I was asked a few weeks ago to describe it.  Well, imagine how smooth glossy card is?  Well, this stuff is like matte glossy card... if that makes sense!  I used some Cosmic Misting Inks to get a nice smooshy background, spritzing the card with water and then the Inks (can't remember the colour... sorry) and then moving the card about before drying to get the splodgy look.  Then I overlaid the solid part of the Large Heart Stencils for Art and blended Fired Brick Distress Ink around it.  With the solid heart still in place I overlaid the Brick Wall stencil and used Aged Mahogany DI to blend some bricks... taking care not to right up to the edge so no harsh lines.  Next I  spritzed and flicked water to add some paler patches.  I overlaid the Large Heart Stencil (the out-y bit) and popped the Stripes from the Dots & Stripes Stencil over and used Fired Brick DI to add the lines.  This meant that with the open heart in place, it didn't take the lines over the edges of the heart.  I then used Classic Words and more Aged Mahogany DI - using a very fine liner pen to highlight parts of the letters.   Once I removed all the Stencils, I movd the Classic Words down to the bottom and added some numbers in the same way.  I doodled a couple of lines and scribbles around the edge of the heart and the page and then added a twist of rusty wire and a bow to finish.  And there you have it... my Authentique Coeur!  *I do remember some words from my schooling lol*

I had a lovely afternoon yesterday, seeing Aged P after a few months and of course, he brought fish & chips with him (and mushy pea's, can't forget those deeeevine mushy pea's)  We had a veritable feast and I ate every single last scrap on my plate... the fact that my trousers probably won't do up today is another matter... just as well I don't still live up North, I would be eating them everyday (the fish n chips, not the trousers lol)  Anyways, I shall away, I have some beauty sleep to catch up on and then today we are hopefully going to be planting up spring bulbs if the weather stays dry.   Thanks for looking... have a grand day... TTFN

Hels x

Fragile...

...me? Fragile?  Nah... I am made of strong stuff apparently.  Thank you again for all your lovely messages and emails and comments... I am feeling a heap better than I did this time yesterday and I am thinking I am over the worst... phew!  Whatever that buggetty-bug was, I sure am glad it...erm... bugg-ed off!  Anyways... being as the sum total of arty things made this week is a big fat zero, I thought I would share another of my show samples with you.  This time I have used paint to colour the Art Parts... and it just goes to show how versatile they are!  Because they are, in effect, a paper product, they take inks, paints, sprays etc really well.  My chosen paints are Sand, Black and Bronze Eco-Paints... which I lurves because they are so creamy.  Ohhh and whilst I think on... Simon Says Stamp & Show have Inspired by Wendy Vecchi as their theme this week... so I shall be entering this into that challenge.  Do go and check out the blog, there's a F A B couple of tut's on there by Wendy herself... and a discount in the store too! CLICK HERE for all the deets.

I used Cut & Dry Foam to apply the paint... I have developed a cunning way of applying the paints so they blend nicely - otherwise I always seem to get a line between the two colours.  Use one piece of Cut & Dry (be generous, a scimpy square ain't gonna work) about 2" square *you will wash it out after use so it is reusable!* Blend the palest colour right over the piece (be it canvas, card, Art Part etc) and use a "pouncing" action, lightly tapping the paint onto the surface.  While this is still wet, pick up your darker colour on one half only of the foam.  Have the darker colour furthest from you (so it is outer on the foam) and pounce this onto the edges of your surface. This means when you pounce it onto the surface, the darker colour hits the edgey bits and where the lighter colour is still wet on the foam and surface, it will blend nicely.  Hope that helps :O))  Check out the buttons! They are the blue ones from the Embellish Your Art Antique Buttons pack... I painted them with the same Cut & Dry Foam and Bronze paint and then once dried, I rubbed a smidge of Archival Jet Black over the raised bits with my finger.  Cool huh?

Anyways... being as I have been on my death bed all week (1,2,3 awwww) I figured I deserved a little treat.  I have to say, Grim has been an amazing hubby this week *well, he is every week but you know what I mean*... he is good with cuddles and magic hugs and sympathy... and made me a lush dinner last night (he is such a good cook but won't admit it) and he bought me flowers and Strawberry Laces (which I have snarfed already, *the laces, not the flowers lol* I must be on the mend lol)  Anyways... I have been eyeing up a pair of shoepods for several weeks now... and last night they accidently fell into my basket and checked themselves out and are now on their way to live on my feet!  Thing is, I live in Birki's all Spring/Summer/Autumn because they really help my posture, which helps my back when I am standing up teaching or doing shows.  And being as it is now Winter and wet and chilly and yukky, I needed a proper pair of shoe Birki's... and being as I have the mental age of a toddler, I neeeeeeeded these sooooo much.   Aren't they just the cutest!!!!

Right, I shall away.. I have a date with my new book, tis called The Dark Heroine and is about... vampires! I know, more vampires, I am obsessed with them... not long til Breaking Dawn II now!!!  Oh and today I am going to venture out into the big wide world and take some stuff to the Post Office.  Our local one is situated in the Co-Op which is just undergoing a re-fit... which means it is closed... which means I have to drive into town to go to the nearest one.  Which means... yep, another foray into THAT car park, I shall have my wits about me this time though.  If you hear high pitched squealing you will know that it is me, doing the involuntary splits again!  Have a good day all... thanks for looking.... TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 223 - Tie A Yellow Ribbon

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all. As ever, hooooge thanks for all your gorgeous riotously coloured entries for last weeks challenge. This week is a nice simple theme... RIBBONS. To join in is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy. Include the theme and some stamping and then hop 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 enter via Facebook or by popping an email over to me. The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 22nd September 2012.


My entry this week is totally inspired by the creative goddess that is Wendy Vecchi. Now, you all know I make no secret about my hero-worshipping tendancies when it comes to Wendy (yes, I could be described as bordering on the stalker-ish lol) Well, I happen to have a couple of the new 490 stamp sets here in the Room of Stash - along with some deeevine Art Parts that Wendy very kindly sent me. Having had a very busy month so far, I found that I had inadvertantly lost Mr Mojo somewhere on the way home from my Dabble Day yesterday at Busy Bee's in Sheffield. I am imagining that the old cad Mojo is holed up at Leicester Forest Services, sipping a Frappuchino and sniggering darkly to himself. That doesn't help me when I have a Sunday Stamper to make now does it?


Being as I am uber organised (snort) I had already picked the theme for this week after hearing the song on Smooth 70's the other day (and yes, I had a lovely little sing-a-long to it too) Well, what's a girl to do eh? The Cad Mojo has naffed orf and I am here, in the Room of Stash, shoving bits of card about and huffing loudly. Then I spied the insert sheet that comes with the Studio 490 stamps. "Aha!" says I. "I shall recreate that there tag..." Which is what I sort of did. I do have Wendy's new book... but it was downstairs and my bone-idleness gene has kicked in so I just sussed it out for myself. It is a bit of a hybrid of two tags actually. But... that said, I had the best time playing and am even more in lurve with those new stamps than I was before! Big big thanks to Wendy for her continued inspirations...


I used Distress Inks/Stains to create the background (Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge and Gathered Twigs) and used a Black Soot Distress Marker to ink patches of the honeycomb stamp so it was a bit random on the tag. Check out the Tag Topper Art Part... I LOVE these... and need more... they are a brrrrilliant idea, just adding that extra bit of dimension without being too OTT. Apologies to any arachnophobes... there just had to be two spidey's on the tag... because I have two "pet" spidey's out in the garden. They are both proper garden spiders and every night I am mesmerized by the industrious nature of their web making. I have taken to going out after dark with a torch and just standing and watching them... tis a feat of engineering! As for the mahoooosive big black hairy spiders that have decided to invade the house... well, one word for you lot... AlfieCat! He is being a proper little predator and catching them for me, well, better that than a mouse.. or a bird!


Anyways, I have waffled enough for one day. I reckon it is just about my bedtime now - I am a smidge late with the posting on account of me spending an hour searching for Mojo. So, what do you have planned for today? I have a Skypey sesh with Ellen this afternoon, I thinks we might be tempting old Mojo home with a recipe or challenge. Whatever you are doing today, I hope you have a good one. As ever, thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Inspired By...

...todays offering is totally inspired by the one and only Duchess of Distress, Wendy Vecchi. If you are new to all things Studio 490, allow me to point you in the direction of Wendy's blog so you can browse and be inspired yourselves. Did you know that Wendy has written 6 books already? I am a lucky lass and own them all and use them regularly to get inspiration and ideas. This piece today is a show sample from last weekend; made using the new Large Pages Art Parts, a Small Square Frame and a Scallop... along with some Grungepaper and Clearly For Art... oh and yes, a flower from the Not Just Flowers Art Parts set.


I won't go into great detail on how I made it because it is detailed in Wendy's Book #6 (available HERE) The papers I have used to cover the pages are my most treasured Jenni Bowlin papers, I LOVE LOVE LOVE these and every time I spot them in a shop, I whip them into my basket... they come in 12" and 4 x 4" - the ones I used are 12". I used Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear glue (THE best IMO) to pop the papers onto the pages and then inked the Art Part frame and scallop with Frayed Burlap and Black Soot Stains respectively. The floral Art Part is coloured with Fired Brick Stain and overstamped using the smaller flower from Accents for Art. There's a Grungepaper flower, which is the same flower stamped in Archival and coloured with Fired Brick DI. I then added a Clearly For Art (clear flavour) flower to the layer and then a goooorgeous Embellish Your Art button to the centre.



Speaking of Embellish Your Art.... have you got yours yet? I spent a happy hour squealing and bouncing about this morning because I was chosing which ones to bring onto the next shows on June 2nd... all I will say is that they are LUSH! Can you imagine? Standing over all these boxes of Embellish Your Art goodies, I had to drag meself away I can tell you lol


Oooh and... Grim let me play with his power tool this morning! No, that isn't a euphemism, it really is a power tool... tis a whirry saw thingy that looks mighty vicious. I have to admit that I was very tentative and kept my hands, arms, feet, legs and hair out of the way, knowing how much damage I can inflict upon myself with a pokey tool, I know how dangerous I could be. I was a right wuss though and only cut one piece of wood and then handed it back to Grim, he is much more capable than me! And why were we cutting wood? Ohhhh, you will have to wait til the weekend to find that out... Right... I gotta go, there's some sunshine out there and a little spot that I need to occupy along with my scissors and a pile of Grungey flowers that need cutting out.. Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

A Thank You & A Winner and... A Giveaway!

Yay! A giveaway for today...more of that in a mo... Because.... brrrr, tis fair nesh outside... I mean hello? After a very mild Winter who went and flicked the frost switch huh? Tis colder than a Polar Bear's paw out there... thankfully, I have a day of insideness planned... apparently we are in for some snow later (the little kid inside me is fizzing ever so slightly at that thought... you know, snowmen, snow angels, snow ball fights....) But enough of me being typically British and talking about the weather... on with the giveaway! But first! I see that this blog now has over 1000 "members" when did it change from followers to members (must have missed that) Anyways... thank you all from the bottom of my heart for clicking to follow my inane wafflings... it truly makes my heart happy... so... THANK YOU!!!! Ooh and yes, my PomPom tag giveaway from last Saturday... there were 34 comments... and Mr Random.org picked Lucky 13 to be the winner which tallies with the comment from CRAFTIMAMMA.... please can you email me your addy? :O))


This is one of the Art Parts samples from Thursday's show... I have to say, how much fun I had... I felt a lot more relaxed this time and yes, I managed to goof a couple of times... especially when trying to stamp a heart, I mean, how hard can that be? Obviously very hard because it was green and not black... but... never mind... that is just the type of thing I do in the Room of Stash (I really must try harder!) Leonie is just the sweetest lass... and she made me feel really comfortable... I loved being with her, her enthusiam just shines right through. And poor Dave, bless him, with his croaky throat... when he said "over to you"... aha, the usual over talkative and waffling part of me decided to get shy... hence the "hello everybody" comment... oooh, really original lol




Anyways... this here piece that I am showing you was made with Art Parts, Crowded Attic Papers, Distress Inks, Studio 490 stamps, a smidge of Clearly For Art and Idea-ology... oh and a bit of Grungepaper thrown in for goodly measures. The large circle frame has been covered with the papers and I sanded the edges to neaten them up and add a bit of white in there. There's Art Part Florals and Leaves, coloured with Distress Inks and overstamped with Archival Ink to add a little pattern.... the Scallop Trim has been covered with paper and sanded (I use an emery board for the fiddly inbetweeny bits) and then I added some stamping to the background... added a sentiment (I love this one) and a little Grunge butterfly with the Locket Lock over the top of it (another of Wendy's very cool and fab ideas - wish I could think of things like that lol)



Check out little Stanley Spidey... he is too cute to be scared of... and I promise he won't escape and chase after you (I love spiders but totally get that some peeps realllllly don't like them so you could always chop him off) The flower also has some Clearly for Art Clear flavour, covered with paper and stamped, cut out, heated and then jazzed up with an Accoutrement.



So, if you would like to own this piece, all you need to do is leave me a comment for me on this post... I will get Mr Random.org to do his bit and announce a randomly picked winner on next Saturday's post. I need to do a catch up on blog hops and emails because I spent the whole of yesterday being a very lazy old moobag, snuggled on the sofa with AlfieCat, a very nice relaxing pyjama day indeedily. I shall away now... to stare out of the window to see if it is snowing yet... oh and yes, the Sunday Stamper entry... need to make that too! Thanks for looking... and again, thank you for following... bless you all! TTFN

Hels x

Spinning Around...

...oohahahaaa... tis always a bad sign when my blog post title makes me snort... spinning around... cos I have a spool to show you... ahah! Anyways... enough of me and my clever wordsmithery (ahem...) So... another show sample, this time featuring on of my favest types of Art Parts, the Spool. These are such fun to play with, really simple to put together and there are sooo many different things that you can do with them. As with yesterday, a list of ingredients for starters:




Art Parts - Spools, Florals, Leaves & Pocket Watches
Dimensional Rose Art, Live & Make Art & Make Mine Mini Art Stamp Sets
Gold Dabber
Lost & Found Paper
Clearly For Art - Clear
Grungepaper
Gold Dabber
Coffee & Jet Black Archival
Idea-ology - Tassels, Foliage & Memo Pins
Wild Honey, Forest Moss & Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Glossy Accents


So, to start with cover the two flat circles that will be the top and bottom of your spool with Lost & Found Paper... blend the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and then use an emery board or a bit of light sandpaper to smooth off the edges. Use Wild Honey Distress Ink to blend lightly onto the "stem" of the Spool. Ink up the long border from Make Mine Mini Art with Coffee Archival, carefully roll the "stem" along the stamp, picking up the design until you are back where you started; repeat at the top of the stem too. Cover teh insidey bit of the Pocket Watch with more paper, stamp sentiment onto more of the paper and mount on 3d foam and pop into the middle. Using Gold Dabber, pounce onto the frame of the Pocket Watch so it leaves little peaks and is textured... dry with a heat tool. Once completely dry, gently pat the Coffee Archival ink over the top of the paint... you will see the ink stick to the little peaky textured bits... this gives it a fab faux rusty look.




Stamp the large flower from Live & Make Art 3 times onto Grungepaper and the small one, once. Cut out and colour using Gold Dabber and the same technique as just mentioned. You will have fabby rusty looking flowers. AS with the "rose" tutorial, on flower one, snip out one petal and bring the two edge petals together, glue and clip together til dried. Repeat this technique on the next two flowers, cutting out two and three petals respectively. For the small flower, snip away just the one petal. Once all the glued petals are dry, snip the bases to neaten up and assemble into a layered flower, using strong glue to stick the layers together. Pop the centre from one of the spools into the middle of the flower, ddab with Gold paint and attach a little Idea-ology Foliage piece to the middle.



Finally, stamp some mini butterflies onto Grungepaper, colour both sides with Wild Honey Distress Ink... stamp more butterflies onto Clearly For Art, dry, cut out, heat, curl, glue over the top of the Grunge one and pop them onto the assembled spool. The ickle Memo Pin has been made into an Epoxy Embellishment. This is one of Wendy's techniques and I think it is fab... use a little punch to make little circles - I have punched out patterned paper for this... Pop a strip of red line tape (or the like) onto a craft sheet. Lay the Memo Pin onto the craft sheet so the back of the circle is flush with the sheet. Pop the punched out piece behind it. Now fill the Memo Pin up with Glossy Accents... leave to set completely... how cool!!!






Anyways... I am bursting to tell you all about yesterday!!! Cor blimey and thrice alive... we had the best time!!! We had a Groupon voucher jobby for The Bird Of Prey Centre - CLICK HERE for deets - and oh boy, what an experience it was. From start to finish the guy who was our "tour guide" was full of information, telling us the names of the birds, where they usually live, a little about the birds background, how old they were, what their temperaments were like etc and his whole demeanour just enthused and you could see that he truly loves his job - so refreshing to see and hear such passion for these amazing creatures. So... to start off with we went and met some eagles, yes, they were a little bit scary... and there was THE cutest owl EVER called Mikey... and a really snooty looking Lanner Falcon called Clyro who did this... just as I was taking his pic!



After meeting up with the scary looking Red Faced Eagle... although he wasn't quite as scary once he was sitting on my arm (!) much... we went off to the arena and got the chance to "fly" some of these most beautiful of Gods creatures... starting with a sweet and teensy little Barn Owl who LOVED me so much she pooped on my foot! Then came Disney, a rather bossy Owl who was more interested in showing off to start off with but she did come and land on my arm and made some really cute noises!




And then... the one I fell for... called Marshall... just have a look at his most beautiful face... and I learnt stuff too... I didn't know but if an owl has yellow eyes he is most likely a daytime hunter... and if they are golden they are most likely to be a night-time and crepuscular hunter. (I actually did feel ever so slightly chuffed that I knew that crepuscular meant dusk!) Marshall was really entertaining and he just lurved flying in for the little tasty snack of day old chick legs (I know, ikkk, but... tis nature ... )



And finally, here's Sniper. He is a juvenile Harris Hawk and he was really funny... he kept swooping off in to the nearby trees and then launching himself out ready to land on the gloved hand and have a little snack. All of the birds looked really happy and you can tell that they are so well loved and cared for. All in all it was a really grand day out... and all that fresh air... well, a little nanna nap on the sofa was called for!



Right then... enough of my wafflings... time for me to get off and resume the mammoth task that is clearing out and cleaning the Room of Stash... oh dear, I may be some time!!! Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x