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

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

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

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

Hels x

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

Favourite Things...

...I have been having a few conversations over the past few weeks about "styles"... you know... like "what is YOUR style?" Or, "that is just YOUR style" Well, I asked myself "what actually IS my style?" I have come to conclusion that I haven't really got one... I am more of a "habit" kind of person. I do like to have my little routines, I have habits but more than anything, I have favourites. I am talking about my whole life here too, not just the arty crafty stuff. I have favourite people, favourite foods, favourite socks, favourite songs... the usual, you know, most of us can admit that we all have favourites. I tend to go through "phases" of doing stuff... I will make tags for a few months, then do cards, then ATC's, altered art... you know what I mean? Well, I admit... I am a bit bored with just doing tags all the time... plus, I have so many here that I am running out of room... so I need to do some more 3d things for myself....


In my arty crafty stuff, my favourites are, above all else, flowers. I have been told a few times that I rarely make something without bunging a flower on it. Well, that is totes-true! Because I LOVE flowers. I love to make something and add a little floral embellishment... be is a big old blousy rose or a little resin bloom, I am not fussy... so long as it is flower. Another favourite thing is the good old fashioned heart. They work their way into my stuff quite regularly too... usually a die cut or on the end of a pin... or a stamp. This one today is a hand drawn and cut out one. And of course, another favourite, albeit a new one, is that paper blocking technique... along with the layering stuff onto card or canvas and then painting over the top.



So, I thinks to meself the other night, I will combine all my favourites and have a play. Which is exactly what I did. I started out by cutting up some snips of BG Capella paper (6 x 6 pad, perfect size) and then popped them onto one of those cheapy IKEA frames that are now discontinued... how rude!!! Fancy discontinuing them!!! I was gutted to go alllllll the way to IKEA just for more frames to find they had NONE. I was right about to throw myself on the floor and have a paddy.... thank goodness I realised that I am in my 40's and throwing myself on the floor would make me look like a nutter lol Anyways... where was I? Ah yesh, the frames. Well, I happened to rummage and find a pack of them in the teeting tower of alterable stuff. So, the papers were blocked onto the frame and then swished over with a babywipe dipped into Traditional Tan paint (THE best paint, see another fave!) Once dried, it had a good coat of Ranger Glue & Seal to... yep, you guessed... seal it!



Next came the heart. I drew half a heart, cut it out and then used it as a template. I am cack at drawing symmetrical things... so the half template works perfectly. That was on plain old cardstock. I then layered up some die cut bits and bobs and some masking tape (which is now hidden lol) and then used Cut & Dry to add Juniper and Cloudy Blue Dabbers to the heart. I then blended some Espresso Dabber mixed with Trad Tan paint to add some browny shading to the top and edges of the heart. Of course, the Stabilo All pencil made an appearance and that did the shading for me on the heart and on the frame too. I cut some card to fit behind the heart and made the edges lighter, lightly tracing where the heart would be and making this a bit darker so it looked like a shadow. Finally, my favourite bit, the flowers... Prima's and paper roses... coloured with a few drops of Bundled Sage reinker in a Mini Mister of water. The addition of stamping onto Masking Tape and a smidge of gold embossing to finish it off.


And there you have it... a few of my favourite things. I am really enjoying doing more 3d arty stuff at the moment - I am not saying I shalln't be doing tags, cos you know me, a creature of habit and all that... Anyways, I have taken up enough of your time for one day, so I shall loves ya and leaves and say thanks for looking... ooh and a new Sunday Stamper theme tomorrow too! TTFN

Hels x

WOYWW... Erm...

...I know! It is a shocking mess of paints, inks, fringing... you name it, it is on there... apart from the kitchen sink that is... cos that would be just daft having a kitchen sink on your workdesk... yep, it is time for me to bare all (thank heavens it is not literally LOL) and show you my workdesk... this is as of a little after 03.30am... insomnia is my middle name... actually it is also cos Grim is on stooopid o'clock earlies this week and I decided to stay up til he went to work... so I am actually just about to go to bed now... which means that I am hoping some lovely kind person will link me to Julia's blog cos it may just be nearer Thursday by the time I get out of bed again LOL... if you are wondering what on earth I am waffling about and have never come across the phenomenon that is What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, hop on over to the Leader of The Desk Inspectors - otherwise known as Julia - all the deets on how to play are on her blog along with a linky thingymajig that makes it really easy to hop around Blogland.




On my desk this morning is a half finished project I am working on for class samples... I know I have already mentioned them yesterday but... I have some more classes starting at The Stamp Attic... if you fancy having a day getting inky and messy (not to mention chocolatey) click on the name and it will transport you on a magical helter skelter ride to the page you need to see all the deets on :O))




As well as having THE messiest desk I have ever had... I am not even going there and showing you the other desk... which, I hasten to add, is in serious need of clearing and very soon cos it is now only 25 days til Ellen arrives at Chez GrimHels... I am getting more and more excited as the days go by!! So, where was I? Ah, yes, the poor excuse for a desk I have ... well, in fairness to me (for that, read pathetic excuse) I did take a tumble down our stairs on Saturday (again, pathetic excuse for sympathy LOL) bouncing on every step with my backside and you know what? I can't sit down properly... nor can I bend over too good either... a goodly excuse for not tidying away? I don't think so but it is worth a punt LOL




Finally (ahhhh, breathe a sigh of relief - if you are still with me) is the card I made for my Dad's birthday the other day... it was his 65th - bless, I have always called him Aged P(arent) *a character in Great Expections and it kinda suited Dad* and he is an OAP now... well, sort of, he is actually fitter and more sprightly than me! Mind you, that doesn't take a lot LOL Anyways, I like to make Dad nice simple cards with not too much clutter on them... not easy for me being as I love to over embellish... you would never have guessed that would ya :O)) The sentiment is a Penny Black stamp, the paper is Basic Grey with a Tim stamp in Tumbled Glass and the butterfly is the very first stamp I ever bought - and still a fave. Right - I better get to bed... thanks for looking and have a FAB day! TTFN

Hels x

In Stitches...

...Did you see it? I very nearly missed it cos Mr Virgin has removed Create & Craft from our TV listing...so I had to look at T'internet to see them...but...one of the Stitchels set of designs I did last year were on there...with some Sakura pens...which I haven't got enough of...but then again, I do have enough other stuff...so do I need them too??? Anyways...I spent last Thursday making some cards ready for the Sunday TV show...sent them off Special Delivery...and lo! They didn't get there in time...grrrr...what am I waffling on about??? If you fancy a little looksee at my Stitchels stamp designs if you click HERE you will be transported, as if by magic, to The Artistic Stamper :O)) Anyways, here is one of the cards I made;




Using a combo of Basic Grey papers, Martha Stewart punches and a Penny Black sentiment, I stamped up loads of the Stitchels flowers and cut them out, 3D'd them onto the card and added a couple of Maya Road pins behind them....voila! The little pearl centres are those fabby Prima E-Line packs...really good value and they are lush looking too! Another quicky post from me ...my flipping back is giving me some right jip :O(( so I am away for an early night and hopefully when I wake up the pain will be more bearable...not long til the MRI scan results. Until later, thanks for looking....au revoir, adios & ciao...see, betcha never knew I was multi-ligual :O)) *ah the powers of Mr Google ROFL*

Hels x

Another Page In My....

....nope, not Diary...but Calendar :O)) *or am I reallly showing my age referring to this song title...which, BTW is one of my favest songs ever :O))* This is the June entry for Andrea's calendar...it is taking me ages to get the whole thing blogged...I am determined to do it before the end of January though!




Made with a Tilda - she is my fave one I think - coloured with ProMarkers and some Basic Grey Wisteria papers, which were cut into 1 1/2 inch squares...and some Prima's...and some fancy pins that I threaded with some silver charmy things which I couldn't work out what they were for...but I think they match the Tilda with the wings...if you know what I mean!




No more mishaps today...been a quiet day...tried a few new to me techniques and I have the filthiest fingers...hopefully I will be able to finish the thing I am making and post it tomorrow :O)) Thanks for looking...short n sweet today....bit like me LOL

Hels x

Favourite Colours...

...Remember when I made that calendar for Andrea? Well, one afternoon I was colouring in some of the images ready to put it all together and Andrea phoned me...so I said...."what are your fave colours....?" and she said....Purple and Turquoise...so I coloured this one in with those colours using ProMarkers...



I used some Basic Grey Euphoria papers, teamed with some lace and Prima flowers and paper roses for the embellies, adding in some leafy bits made with a Martha Stewart punch...and then used some jazzy thread to make a wrap around bow thingy *please note; my descriptions are as great as ever*
The sentiment is one of my faves...by Penny Black and I use it on practically every card I make at the moment LOL I added in some little fancy head pins with beads threaded on as a finishing touch.



Thanks for looking...I hope that you are all safe and warm and the snow is not too bad for you...we still have a fab covering...but just clock these icicles which are hanging from the neighbours houses....



typically we haven't got a single one on our house *sulks* ... I will sound like a right mucky pup now...but when I was little me and my friend Elaine used to go picking icicles and suck them like ice pops....goodness knows what was in the ice, I shudder to think but I am still here so I guess a bit of muck doesn't hurt ROFL

Hels x

What a Smacker!

...Now, I have put that title but...does everyone know what I mean???? A "smacker" is a kiss for those of you who don't understand HelsSpeak LOL Here is February from the Calendar that I made using Tilda's for Andrea.




The papers are Basic Grey and the images are coloured using ProMarkers...a collection of Prima flowers and some paper roses to jazz it up a bit too. I used the Edwin and Tilda for February's page because of Valentines day...clever huh?




Blimey, you should see the snow here...it started at 4pm and it is still falling...it is soooo deep now! Hoping you are all keeping safe and warm. And..don't forget the Sunday Stamper and the massive blog candy giveaway...click here to see the post :O)) Have a good day!

Hels x

Allsorts & Buttons

...The theme on the Allsorts Challenge this week is Buttons...and...as I seem to have hundreds of them, I thought I would pop a few onto my latest Tilda creation.




I used Basic Grey Wassail papers, these are so lush that last year when I bought them I just sat stroking them for a few hours and couldn't cut into them...this year, I am the same with the Eskimo Kisses...so I got to use the Wassail after all :O)) So fickle!!




The Tilda has been coloured using ProMarkers and then I added some Sakura White Pen dots for highlights. I added some buttons to the top of the card and also for the centres of the Prima Poinsettia's. And..the Tilda also has some buttons on her coat...so I guess I really have...buttoned it!! LOL




Thanks for looking...have a good day...I have been struck down with a stomach virus so yesterday was spent feeling very sorry for myself...thankfully, it seems to have passed now though...don't worry though...I haven't been put off my food LOL

Hels x

Pretty Pixie Painting Posies....

..Aha, try saying that when you have had a tot too much LOL...yes, today is a very exciting day over at The Artistic Stamper where we see the launch of three brand new Mabel Lucie Attwell designs...and they are all as cute as this one I have chosen to play with today :O))




The card is made up of Basic Grey Papers, some Stitchels flowers which have been layered and blinged up and of course, our little Natures Little Helper which has been coloured with ProMarkers.




I chose the colour scheme to match in with the Play Date Cafe Challenge which this week is Blues, Silver, Lilacs and White.




Thanks for looking...have a good day :O))

Hels x

Allsorts of Furry Friends

...Over on the Allsorts Challenge blog there is a new theme - Furry Friends.




For my card, I used Basic Grey papers for the background and coloured the Mabel Lucie Attwell image in with ProMarkers and Copics. The flowers are from the Flower Power set as are the leaves, both stamped onto paper and overstamped with the Houndstooth and Chicken Wire background stamps...and all of the stamps used are from The Artistic Stamper.




I added a few dabs of Glossy Accents to the little girls shoes and decoupaged the teddy and the puppy so the card has some depth. I used a Nestie to make a circle for the image and then used a scalloped one to make a mat for this to sit on. Finally, I added a sentiment to the card...which is another one of those Artistic Stamper greetings :O))



Thanks for looking...have a great day...tis wet and yukky here so a day indoors relaxing for me I think :O)

Hels x

The Turtle and the Mouse

My very first Christmas card of 2009!!! One down, 200 to go LOL

The Gingersnap Creations team are being sponsored by Cornish Heritage Farms this month and I was over the moon to receive the cutest Christmas stamp ever...so I had to play immediately and make a card using it.




The image, called Turtle Sled actually launches today so you can buy one...I hugely recommend you do...cos I had such a great time with this one...and have used it more too! :O)) I used ProMarkers to colour the image, and even though the stamp is cling mounted, those clever peeps at CHF put a colouring guide in the pack...so I copied it LOL The little sentiment is also from CHF and is on their new Friendly Kritters Holiday Expressions plate




The paper is Basic Grey which I made a fancy border on using a Martha Stewart punch and cardstock by Bazzill and then a Prima fancy poinsettia flower to garnish!

Thanks for looking, have a fab day

Hels x

**apologies for the wonky photo's...something is seriously wrong with my camera...either that or I need to take more water with it ** ROFL

Basic Grey Challenge Sketch #1

Hey Peeps,

The Basic Grey Challenge is back!! This is a sketch by Tara G and my interpretation of it:



The papers are by Basic Grey - just look at those lush colours...am so loving oranges this summer! The little girly is a Whiff of Joy stamp and I coloured her with ProMarkers and then cut out using a Nestie.




I used some antique lace instead of ribbon cos the only ribbon I had is bright orange and it looked well rough LOL and I know the sentiment is the wrong way round but I just got this stamp last week and couldn't wait to use it!




The flowers are made up of a couple of paper ones and then one I punched from the paper set, adding a few leafy things behind and a paper rose to the centre. I used a little flower headed pin threaded with some ancient beads to pop behind the flower embellishment and used a Martha Stewart border punch for the strip down the card...and stuck it down the wrong way round so it isn't really visible....dur!




Thanks for looking and hope you have a great day!

Hels x

Tilda With SomeBirdy Special!

Morning peeps,

Blimey, I cannot believe how much better my hand is ... only a couple of weeks post surgery and already it is usuable and not hurting...the stitches are out so am more or less back to normal with the crafting too...which leads me on to a card I made yesterday using those heavenly new Tilda stamps...




The papers are by Basic Grey .. Wisteria Collection...Tilda is coloured with ProMarkers and Frosted Lace Stickles added for a bit of bling. Aren't those ickle birdies soooo cute! The mats are made using the Bug and Peony Nestie's...and the flower is made up using Flora Doodles and Prima's.




Thanks for looking..have a great day...tis raining here ... again...so another day indoors for me!!

Hels x

Juicy Lucy - Gingersnap Creations Challenge 17 - Citrus

Hey Peeps,

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

What?

Excitement?

Yah!!!!!

I managed to make a card today....using my right hand too!!!! It hurted a little bit but I had my wrist support on so it was ok.







Over on the fabulous Gingersnap Creations there is a brand new challenge - I love challenges but rarely get the chance to join in, so armed with my new hand and some bright coloured ProMarkers, I set to making a card. The stamped image is a Paula Best by Stamps Happen, I fell in love with this stamp the minute I saw it and had to have it, and it was my birthday that day, what an excuse eh?




The backing cardstock is a huge 8" square card..I love this size cos I can fit more on to it LOL The papers are Basic Grey Lime Rickey - I only have the 6" pad...sob...but that is better than nowt I guess. I added some juicy coloured ribbon and a little charm and then made a phrase using a Hero Art stamp and a couple of brads.




Finishing touches were sanding the DCWV cardstock, curling the corner (bad habit I have there) and making a bloom embellishment.




Thanks for looking! I am seriously hoping that the hand is truly recovering cos that means I will be crafting daft very soon!

Hels x

Tilda On A Watering Can

Morning!

Oh dear, I seem to have had a severe attack of the "cuties" this week...I am in a cardmaking and colouring in mood you see!




I used some Basic Grey papers from the Lemonade range, coloured Tilda and her Watering Can in with ProMarkers and then used the 'Bug to cut some Nestie shapes.




I added a couple of Prima flowers to the card and popped some jewelled flowers into the centres just to add a bit of sparkle. Am really loving citrus colours at the moment so these papers were just perfect.




Thanks for looking...have a great day... and please don't forget that there is still time to be in with a chance of winning yourself some mega Blog Candy on the Sunday Stamper theme which, if you click HERE, you will be able to have a look at.....:O))

Hels x

Tilda Goes Green & Pink

Hi again.

Another attack of the cuties and another Tilda card today:



Using Basic Grey papers for the background mats and colouring Tilda in with ProMarkers, I added a couple of Nestie shapes and a birthday sentiment by Penny Black. The flowers are Prima's which I layered together and then popped a paper flower in the middle of each one.




I added little drops of Glossy Accents around the Nestie and also onto the flowers to make little dewdrops.

Thanks for looking :O))

Hels x

Tilda Says It With Flowers

Hey Peeps

I have made a few cards recently, here is one of the new Tilda ones I made:




I used ProMarkers to colour in the Tilda and then using Stitchels stamps and co-ordinating papers, stamped, cut out and layered up the flowers to make some embellishments. I added a few little paper flowers to the middles of the Stitchels just to finish them off and added drops of Glossy Accents to make little dewdrops on the flowers.




The papers are from Basic Grey and I used a couple of Nesties to make the background mats for the message and Tilda to sit on. The sentiment is a Penny Black stamp.

Thanks for looking

Hels x

Strike a Pose!

Hey Peeps

I made a card for one of my fellow Paper Dolls' birthday and the theme for her tag book was Fashion. Yikes, I have absolutely nothing fashion related in my stash...apart from a Tim Holtz stamp that I have never used cos it is HUGE!




Well, I decided to use some old BG papers from the Scarlets Letter range which have a print over them which looks like an old dressmaking pattern.




I stamped the image directly onto the papers, and then re-stamped parts of the stamp so I could decoupage the image of the woman so she looked like she was wearing a different coloured suit and also to tone her face to more fleshy colours.

Once I had cut out the bits, I popped them onto 3D foam and then placed them over the original image.




I used Tim's Staples to add a little bit of effect to the design and that was it! I also used some vintage lace that I have in my stash, cutting out the little flower details and popping a fancy pin threaded with beads behind it - I used a great dob of silicone glue so the pin would sit nicely in there! I also added a little press stud from the Idea-ology range to the tag - well, it was sort of fashiony!




I am so chuffed because Liz, the recipient of the card and tag, was over the moon with them....it always makes me happy when I have made something that the person it is intended for likes!




Thanks for looking and hope you all have a grand weekend. Oh BTW, this is now my new fave stamp!!!

Hels x