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


 

Fantastic Washi...

..there's nowt wishy washy about Washi Tape (did you see what I did there... and this early of a morning too!)  Over on the Fantastic Ribbons blog the DT are playing with Washi Tape this month, do nip over there to see the gorgeous things that the other DT have been doing with this fabby tape.  I decided to grunge things up a little and made a collage on a little 4" canvas.  Total freakery-oooh-look-at-that-how-it-turned-out techniquery going on on mine too. One of those... ooh I like that look (although I wasn't trying to achieve that!)  Tis oft the way though isn't it?  Playing, trying stuff out... getting an effect you didn't expect.

Anyways - enough waffle, down to business: I covered the whole canvas with some blue spotty Washi Tape, applying it in long strips across the canvas.  Next I added torn strips of the tape randomly and gave the whole thing a coat of watered down Cloudy Blue Dabber, applying it with Cut & Dry foam.   Then I got some black spotty tape and some black and white stripey tape and added smidges of these over the top - taking an inch long piece and ripping it along to get torn edges and jaggerdy bits (like me new word?)

Then I spritzed right over the top with watered down Purple Twilight Colorwash - my spray nozzle thingy is broken so I just decant some into a Mini Mister and add a bit of water.  I let the Colorwas run over the canvas and then dried it.  Next I gave the canvas a good spritz with Black Marble Dylusions Spray... and used a water mister to get the spray to move about a bit.  Where the sprays have soaked into the painty bits, I think it looks a bit like weathered wood... am chuffed with that!  Decoration came in the form of some paper flowers, spritzed with the same colours and a smidge of Vintage Rose Cosmic Shimmer to add some bling, a couple of fancy pins and an Idea-ology Ornate Frame with an Adage Ticket inside... oh and forgive the cruddy pics, the Glossy Accents I used to fill the frame are still not dry.... think my Room of Stash is a tad cold.

Right, I shall away... bags to pack and journeys to drive today.... thanks for looking.. have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 220 - Green Tambourine

Gooooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all. Firstly, many many thanks for all the amazing Steampunky entries for last weeks challenge. And secondly, many many thanks to Judie from Crafty-Emblies for sponsoring the Sunday Stamper. So. Winner time is upon us. In total there were 63 entries to last weeks challenge. I used Random.org to pick out a number which was 22, tallying with the entry from Julia SW. Congrats to Julia, please can you email me to find out how to claim your prize.


On with this weeks challenge. This week is a nice simples theme, you may have guessed from the song title the theme is... GREEN. To join in is simples; make a little something, it can be anything you fancy. Add in the the theme and some stamping and pop back here with a link to the place you are showing your entry. If you haven't got a blog/flickr/picassa/web-photo-thingy, you can join in by email or on Facebook. The theme will remain open until 21:00 Saturday September 1st 2012.



My entry this week is actually one of the tags that I had altered with Dylusions sprays earlier this week. I spritzed the tag with water and then misted with Fresh Lime and Black Marble Dylusions sprays... whilst they were still wet, I lifted the tag up so the colours dripped down the tag and then I zapped it with a heat tool. The background stamping was done using Sap Green Archival Ink - this goes amaaaazingly with the Fresh Lime colour. I used a script stamp and one of the stamps from the Mixed Media Tim set. I then stamped the chicken wire using Olive Archival and the mini diamond border using Jet Black Archival Ink.


I cut three of the largest flowers from the Tattered Florals die using Specialty Stamping paper from Ranger. This stuff is seriously FAB-U-LOUS because it has a super smooth surface, a bit like glossy card without the glossy - if that makes sense. Anyways, it takes the Dylusions wonderfully.. .so once the flowers were cut, I misted them with water and then spritzed with Bubblegum Pink Dylusions and Sunset Orange Colorwash and then a very small smidge of the Black Marble Dylusions to add a bit of extra something to the colours. Once dried, I cut them to make the paper rose (for deets on how to make the rose, click HERE for my tut) The keener eyed amongst you may notice that the flower has more layers than normal. Aha, that is because I saved the cut off bits and curled them to fill in the gaps in the made rose... that way there's no wasteage and... it makes the rose more blousey.


The leaves are Claudine's Sticky Back Canvas popped onto mountboard and cut using the Tattered Leaves Alterations die. I coloured them with Lettuce Colorwash and Fresh Lime and a smidge more Black Marble Dylusions. Drying with a heat tool speeds things up and there's no need to worry about the canvas being un-stuck, it sticks perfectly! I then scruffed the edges and coloured the back/edge of each leaf to make them nicely detailed. A little bend up the middle of each one added some dimension to them and then they were layered under the rose. Finishing touches are the words - on more Dylusion-ed card, a Tim sentiment stamped in Jet Black Archival and some Idea-ology and beads and a smidge of fancy lace for a border at the bottom.


So, there you have it. I really enjoyed mixing my usual Alterations/Tim stamps style with the Dylusions/Colorwashes... I think it is safe to say I am a teensy bit addicted to all things Dylusional now lol



And finally, a quick update about the state of the Room of Stash. Well, you will be gobsmacked to hear that I have actually tidied it up! **above is photographic evidence** BUT! I have to issue a warning to all that cleaning your crafty space is bad for your health. Oh yesh, I finished cleaning on Friday night/Sat morning and woke up yesterday morning feeling like death. I spent most of yesterday in bed (not like me, I am usually found moaning on the sofa when I am sick) Goodness knows what on earth is wrong, I have a "hot" pain around my belly, my neck is stiffer than a giraffe with a...ahem, stiff neck ...and I am absolutely exhausted. I think it is shock, pure and simple, shock at spending two whole hours tidying away and cleaning! Anyways.. on that bombshell I shall loves ya and leaves ya... bed is calling me again, I only left it to drag myself into the Room of Stash to make my entry and write up this post (dedication you see ... also, it begs for sympathy rofl) Thanks for looking.. .have a great Sunday - I will be dragging myself onto the sofa to watch the British Touring Cars at Knock Hill.... Go Plato!!! TTFN

Hels x

Totally Dylusional...

...that is my excuse and I am sticking to it. You see, dear lovely Bloggers, I got kidnapped! Tis true. I was happily starting the Room of Stash clearance (ok, I was thinking about it... still better than not doing anything tho... right?) all of a sudden these bottles of Dylusions Sprays leapt off my desk and flew right into my hands! Then, to aide and abet them, the drawer of Colorwash Sprays sprang open and those bottles started leaping about into my hands too! Fancy!!! Well, it would have been plain rude not to partake in a little play sesh with them, wouldn't it?



Honestly, the lengths I will go to to avoid the Room of Stash clearing is really rather ridikulus. I promised myself on Wednesday that I would get stuck in and do it. Then, of course, I underwent the kidnapping thing and then yesterday (how sad is this) I decided that cleaning Ferdy (my brumbrum) was more pressing than cleaning the Room of Stash. And when I tell you just how long it is since Ferdy was last cleaned you are going to know for deffo that I am a slattern. Tis true... the last time Ferdy had a proper wash was in April last year (yes, that long) and it was Grim who cleaned him for me when I was at Ranger U!



Anyways, I got this hair brained idea yesterday afternoon. I needed to put screenwash into him and had this notion that cleaning him would be a good thing. Well, I was taking Grim out for dinner last night so I wanted to make sure that Ferdy was smart for his special passenger. (plus the fact, Grim says that he doesn't like being driven about in a skip rofl) I have to admit that I did have help - Grim did the whole lifting buckets and cleaning the roof (I am so short, I can't reach) Well, I am paying for it today with the old back pain... I guess that next time Ferdy needs a wash, I will drive five mins down the road to the Polish Car Wash and pay a fiver lol


This post has been punctuated with pics of the tags that I made when I was playing with the Dylusions and Colorwash Sprays. I have realised I need more Dylusions - I only have 5. I have some of the old ones which are still lush but I neeeeed the new ones too! All of them were made in more or less the same way - spritzing the tag with water first and then spraying over it, lifting, dripping, drying etc. The one with the HollyHock is actually a resist I created using Ranger's Glue & Seal - perfect for resisting as it is completely waterproof when dried. Just remember to clean off the stamp immediately, it dries quickly.

The JellyBabies were a birthday pressie, how good am I not scoffing them already!

Right, I shall away, leaving you with pics of my desk area, worse than the other day... but tomorrow I shall be showing off my neat and clean desk. I have made a pact with myself that I am not allowed to play with anymore stash until the other stuff is put away. And... I am even going to get the *whispers* vacuum.... I shall be positively glowing upon my return! And hopefully, I will have had a chance to add some decorations to the tags too... they needs some stamping and stuff... Thanks for looking... as ever, have a FAB day! TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 219 - I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker

Gooooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy sunshiny Sunday to you all. Many thanks for the gorgeous entries for last weeks challenge. This week is a very special challenge because it is sponsored! The lovely folks at Crafty-Emblies are kindly sponsoring this weeks challenge. There is a £10 voucher to spend in their shop as the prize up for one randomly selected entrant. The theme for the challenge this week is.... STEAMPUNK. To join in and be in with a chance to win the prize is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy. Add in the theme and some stamping and pop back here to leave me a comment. If you don't have a blog/photo-web-hosty-thingy, you can also enter by email and on Facebook. If you leave a comment here you will be entered - if you leave a comment AND enter the challenge, you will be in with a second chance of winning. The winner will be announced on next Sunday's post. The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 25th August 2012. Entries after this time won't be entered into the prize draw.



My entry this week has lots of the gorgeous Crafty-Emblies bits and bobs. Let me first tell you about them if you haven't seen them before: they are GORGEOUS! They are little embellies made from precision cut wood, the detailing on them is amazing and you will LOVE them all! I especially love the honeycomb piece - I used this as a mask and also as an embellishment - it is about 5" square in size, I just snipped into it to make it sized to fit my project.




The cogs are fab and whilst they are uber sturdy, I managed to snip through these too so one is cut in half. Colouring them is easy - I used Rusty Hinge DS and then a smidge of Espresso Colorwash Spray with a bit of gold embossing powder to add some shine. The leaves were coloured with Peeled Paint and Forest Moss DS too... fab or what!!!


The base of the piece is a 7" square canvas board, painted using Eco Paints - Birch, Lake and Clam Shell and a smidge of Traditional Tan paint for goodly measures. The sentiment is an Artistic Stamper image and the flowers are Prima. I added some Idea-ology and a few brass charms to the piece for a finishing touch.


To recap: the competition is open until 21:00 Saturday 25th August 2012. I will use Random.org to pick a winner. Leave a comment you will be entered: leave a comment AND enter the challenge you will be entered twice. Entries after the closing time won't be eligable for the prize draw. And the prize is £10 to spend in the Crafty-Emblies shop! That's all from me today... Thanks for looking, have a good week! TTFN

Hels x

Bliss & Birthdays...

...tee hee, isn't it just bliss eh? To be able to have a little play with favourite goodies and make something that (to me) could be edible. Ok, I am probably pushing it a bit but I am in the mood for coffee cake, hence the coffee colours on my latest DT creation for The Stamp Attic. Here's a sneak peek of my tag... and all the deets on how I made it and what I used etc are HERE.



So, I mentioned birthdays in the title.... whose birthday is it? Only my lovely American BFF, Ellen Vargo. I am sure you will have heard my wafflings and seen our "I Challenge Thee's" and our "Recipes" but HERE is her blog... go and have a look - I recommend you take a cuppa and a nice caramel digestive with you, you may be there some time because her art is... ohlallaaa, gorgeous! Ellen is a constant source of support and inspiration to me. There aren't many peeps in the world who will accept someone for who they actually are, warts n'all. These people are rare, no hidden agenda's etc... but Ellen is one of those rare peeps. We met a couple of years ago because of a stamping artist that is Wendy Vecchi. Wendy posted a piccie of a piece I had made on her blog. Ellen saw it, popped over to see my blog, joined the Everything Wendy Vecchi group, and the rest, as they say, is history. I have been incredibly lucky to be able to actually meet Ellen in the real too. Oh yesh, yonder t'internet may make the world a smaller place but to actually meet someone and really get to know them... and still love them for who they are.... well, it is an honour and priviledge to be able to call her my mate. See from this pic... I think I have finally found someone who is dafter than me... and it took me several decades to achieve that... daft as a brush the pair of us lol




We have been lucky - four visits in a year... and now it is nearly a whole 10 months since we were last together... time flies so quickly doesn't it? Still, that will be remedied soon because we have a trip planned for the New Year... I am saving like a loon for it... I will be going there... and I can't wait! So, after all that waffle, I guess all that is left for me to say is ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ellen... I hope you have a day as special as you hun.. wish I could be there to share that cake (not to mention the Cheesy Chester Cheeto's) This pic was taken on Ellen's first visit to England....



And this one was taken on my first visit to Baltimore... oh how I LOVE this photo... actually, I love America... very lots... I can't wait to go back!!! *oh, I said that already lol*



Right, I better get going... remember that pile of ironing from yesterday? Ahem.... still not done! I know, I know, I am going to be getting a reputation for my slatternly behaviour, so I had better go and rectify it (plus, I am running out of clothes lol) As ever, thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Ruffley Ribbons...

Cor blimey, all this sunshine is going to my head and making me want to play in the garden instead of the Room of Stash! I know! Mind you, if you saw our garden you would totally get why it needs some attention... two long years of chopping trees, taking down the hideosity that was the decking, moving sheds, laying a patio (ok, so we didn't actually do that, the nice man who distressed the drive did that for us... picture it now, looking like a Venetian square....) anyways.... all that is left to do is get the patch ready for turf, get the turf down, build a border, plant a border and then... I can get cracking on my veggie patch, although the plan for world domination in all veggie growing contents has gone to the wall, my veggie patch is probably big enough for a pea and a sprout, it has potential though!


In the midst of all this diggery pokery (like what I did there? huh? lol) I am still hunting high and low for Mr Mojo, whom, it appears, has decided to take a sabbatical... a long one at that! So... faced with my challenge for the Fantastic Ribbons DT to make something ruffley, I went in search of projects of old and found some canvases I altered this time last year... and copied the idea, the colours, the diecuts, blahblahblah... and came up with this effort. No matter how hard I try, I can never get Colorwash Sprays to play nice with masks... so ignore the splattery bits... they are there so you can see how not to do it lol


The ribbons are another story though. I mean, I love a good ribbon and Fantastic Ribbons certainly do have tonnes of them... gorgeousness isn't a word big enough to desribe them all... so I will let you suss them out for yourself... HERE's the link to the shop.... oh and... of course, hop on over to see the other girlie's on the teams work.. HERE on the blog... ohhh, lalalaaaaa, all gorgeous! A quicky on how I made mine: Covering a canvas with Destinations papers, using Matte Medium as a resist to streak over the paper, colouring the paper with Colorwash Sprays, edging the paper with Tissue Tape, smudging this with black Dabber, using masks to make a mess, I mean, add decoration (snort) and then bobbing a big old Rosette on there, adding the ribbon in a ruffle and then popping Idea-ology on to finish it :O))


Right... I must away, I have 56 kits to ... erm... kit, in preparation for this weekend's classes... and of course, there's the call of the garden... oh and of course, the search for Mr Mojo, if you do see him lurking about, please shove him back in this direction won't you... I am missing him! Thanks for looking... have a goodly day! TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 196 - Misty... Plus A Giveaway

Goodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all! Many thank you's for the lovely entries that you created for last weeks challenge... and thank you for all the lovely email entries too. I have been thinking about other ways to enter the challenge if you don't have a blog... and have decided that using Facebook to share your entries is a cool way too... so if you want to use FB as well or instead of... fill yer boots! This week sees a very special Guest Theme Setter joining the Sunday Stamper. Last Saturday I was doing some teaching in class and the lovely Barbara Cady looked up and said "How about Misty as a theme?" Oh yesh, indeedily, so I pounced (!) and asked her to be a Guest... to which she very kindly agreed! What a fab song... and... the theme... to use... MISTS. Be it a Colorwash, a Perfect Pearl, a Cosmic or Glimmer, or even how I made my entry... the choice is yours. Please do add in some stamping as well as the theme to your entry and then hop on back here to leave a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry... I can then hop over to visit you. As ever, if you haven't got a blog/Picassa/Flickr do-dah, then you can email me your entry... or use FB! The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 17th March 2012.




So... before I start with the "how I did this" waffle, I will just let you know that my entry for the challenge is up for grabs to one randomly chosen commenter... and if you enter as well, you will be entered twice into the draw. The winner will be announced on next Sunday's post.



Right, on with the waffle; so, I started a canvas, bodged it, slung it across the Room of Stash in a huff... started another canvas, bodged that... so that went the same way as its predecessor. And I reverted to what I am comfy with when the Mojo is threatening to walk out... I made a tag! I have just treated myself to the new Tattered Garland Alterations die so... it would have been rude not to play and make some diddy little roses (oh boy, they are reallllllly small... tidgy in fact... and fiddly, but worth it!) And combined with the new Destinations papers they look fair dinkum. Because they are delicate, I needed a delicate colouring for the background... so I mixed Distress Re-Inkers with water in Mini Misters (Tumbled Glass, Aged Mahogany and Spiced Marmalade) and a droplet of Purple Twilight Colorwash into a Mini Mister of water to make a paler version spray. They randomly went onto the tag and I let them drip a bit... then dried with a heat tool.





Next I used a gorgeous That Special Touch mask... oh, this is my fave ever I think, so delicate and pretty.. matching in with the mini roses and colour scheme. I used the different Misters to spritz over the mask and then dried them... and made another piece of card the same way to stamp the sentiment. A couple of leaves, some Idea-ology and some Maya Road pins finished off the tag nicely.





Here's a sneak peek at Barbara's gorgeous creation... to see it in full and also how Barbara made it, CLICK HERE and you will be whizzed off to her blog on the wings of a bumble bee (having seen several in the garden yesterday, I is a happy bunny for Spring is nearly here!)



Anyways... that's all for me for today... thanks for looking... don't forget to leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning the tag (if you like it that is... lol) Have a fab sunny Sunday! TTFN

Hels x

Challenge Ellen...

... cor blimey and thrice, I am a lucky lass indeedily because when the chips are down, or rather, when the Mojo naffs orf, I have a lovely friend who will step in and try to help out... namely Ellen... her blog with all her lush art is HERE btw in case you haven't see her stuff before. Anyways... being a I am Mojo-less at the moment, Ellen set about giving me a challenge. It has become a bit of a tradition between us, this old Challenge thingy.. and usually it works a treat. Ellen chose some stashly bits we could use... and then we set off making our tag. We decided to do a simultaneous blogcast of our tags btw, so Ellen's will be on her blog now too.... Here's the stuff we could use:

Dylusions Stamps: Around the Edge, Basic Backgrounds, Quintessential Quotes
Giant Tag
Any colour Colorwash Spray
Perfect Pearls Powders - to make into paint
Gesso & Craft Scraper
Stencils
Rosette Alterations Die - any size
Embellies of choice
White Pen
Easel Alterations Die (if needed)



So... that there tag is my effort. Actually it is my THIRD effort. Now, I love those stamps and I love using Gesso and I love Colorwash Sprays... but mix all three together when the old Mojo has naffed orf... forget it. The first two tags were right holy shows, so bad they couldn't be resurrected ever. I have never been able to get the proper effect using a stencil, I always end up with more of the sprays on me than on the tag... so I used Gesso to squidge through the stencil.. worked a bit easier but still...messy lol


I am a bit chuffed with the way the Rosette went.. I sprayed some card with Colorwash Sprays, die cut it, assembled the Rosettes and then stamped and cut out loads of leaves and then glued them under the Rosette. Oh and... the words... I cut them into strips and used a Tiny Attacher to staple them on... I like the "pillow" effect, I did this by curling the strips of card thru my fingers, it made it just a bit dimensional.



So... there you have it. THANK YOU to Ellen for trying to get my creative juices going... sadly whilst it was fun to get inky, it hasn't lured that old rapscallion back yet... am still after rummaging through old stash to see if that sparks something! Don't forget to hop on over to Ellen's blog... her tag using the same stash is there for you to see! Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Colorwash Crazy...

... I am a lucky lass indeedily I am! This past three months I have had a special mini series published in Craft Stamper magazine... focussing on those delightful Colorwash Sprays from Ranger. Whenever I do a piece for Craft Stamper I always like to make an extra set of things, just incase the piece I submit doesn't fit in with the magazine... and these two pieces were ones that weren't used. The technique used is the one from Part 1 - Marbelling. I have to say, this is one of my favest techniques and even though it is a bit messy you can get some really good effects with it.


The colours I used are Sunset Orange, Red Pepper and Wild Plum... bright and vivid to cheer up a dull December day! You can really see the marbelling on the little ticket on this tag... and there are Step by Step instructions in the magazine on how to achieve this effect. The card was made in the same way... lots of bright colours again and I used the Sprays to colour some diecut cardstock and some seam binding too.




Today is D day at Chez Sheridan... yes, time for us to get the old Christmas tree decorated and for Grim to wobble about on a ladder putting lights up outside... well, I say wobble about... he doesn't wobble at all... but because I will be there holding the bottom of the ladder for him and, knowing how easily distracted I am, there's a fair chance that might happen this year lol





I don't know about you but I can't seem to get into the festive spirit... the 12 Tags usually kick-starts it but... I am still lamentably so far behind with them I fear I won't ever get them done. And, I have just done a quick Christmas card list... and I need to make about 70 cards in two days... I can see that I will be doing super quick ones... why oh why do I always leave it to the last minute? I recall the "I am going to get them all made by the end November" promises I made last December, when I was in the same position and hastily licking envelopes (yak, don't you just hate that taste!) so they got into the last post before Christmas... all help will be gratefully received by the way... so if you find yourself without a thing to do you could always help me out lol


Right... better get myself to bed seeing as I have a busy day ahead.. oh and... we went to see Grim's Mum & Dad yesterday and... we have presents... and... they are wrapped... and... I reeeeeally want to give them a squeeze... I am soooo bad, I don't want to open the present... no, I have the patience to wait til the big day but... I wanna know what is under that wrapping paper... I think I will go and sit on my hands... only another 10 days to wait... (argh, 10 days..... yikes, I haven't even got the turkey yet!!!) Thanks for looking... have a fab day! TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 175 - This Wheel's On Fire

Goodly Morning Stampers and a happy Sunday to you all. First of all, many many thanks for the wonderful Mojo-themed entries last week... I certainly appreciated all those hints and tips too :O)) The theme this week has been chosen by Gillian... who, along with me, was totally inspired after attending a fab class with Dina Wakley on Friday. Dina taught us about the principals of the Colour Wheel, primary, secondary and tertiary colours and how they work together. So... to narrow the challenge theme down, Gillian has chosen for the theme to be using the colours BLUE & ORANGE together. The challenge is open to all, tis easy to join in - simply make a little something, add in the theme and some stamping, leave a comment for me here with a link to the place you are showing your entry and I can hop on over to see you. The theme will remain open until 23:00 Saturday October 15th 2011.



So... my entry is actually some of the pages of the mini book I made in class. I am not going into detail about how I achieved the looks on the pages because they aren't my design to waffle on about and it wouldn't be fair to Dina... however, I will say... I LOVE HER STAMPS! And now I need them all lol




If you ever get the chance to take a class with Dina... go for it... she is an amazing teacher, really chilled out and hilarious... and she had a way of getting me to learn this stuff... believe me when I say I am thick when it comes to anything to do with art and colour and now I know about the colour wheel and how it works!




That there is a Colour Wheel... and you will see that the primary colour is blue... and the secondary or complimentary colour is orange... which is why the work together so well. I can't wait to see the things that you make... I am going to go off and have a play and make something else using these principals. Right, enough of the old waffle from me... time to get painty and inky again... thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Men!!!

...yes indeedily, I have had men on my mind this week! Well, three men inparticular, namely; Uncle Fester, The Beast and Jack, who are all residents of the Octopode Factory... where the Friday challenge theme is... MEN! And, I am incredibly honoured to be asked back to Guest Design again for this fab challenge. Now... I know I have said this before but... I was a snob when it came to "digi" stamps... thinking that a stamp is made out of rubber and you have to add ink to it to see what the image is. Ahah! My snobbery was well and truly dispersed when I first happened across these delightful digi's from the fair hand of Lily Chilvers, who happens to not only be an incredibly talented artist but also... get this... she just turned 18 yesterday! So... HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Lily! And... if you do prefer to use rubber... Lily has now had some of her Octopodes made into rubberstamps... result!!! Anyways... HERE is a linky to the challenge blog... where you will be inspired I am sure, by all the gorgeous arty pieces from the Design Team :O))



So... Men! A very easy subject for me as I always seem to veer towards the more masculine things in this world we call creativity... the colours, images, themes etc... so I challenged myself... make something with a bit of colour.. and a flower... so I did! The shadow box is 8" square, so that means the centre piece is about 6" square. To get the little men images onto the cardstock, I resized them (I did make an emergency phone call to my IT guy (ahem... Grim!) but his phone was switched off... so I panicked and pulled a few hairs out whilst stomping about on the laptop... til I sussed it... tis easy really) Anyways, I have resized the little fella's and printed them out.. then cut them out.. then coloured them with Distress Stains and a paintbrush... and then got very busy with some Colorwash Sprays.



I used Red Pepper, Sunset Orange, Butterscotch, Stream and Sail Boat Blue... then whacked some Bronze PP Mists over the top and let the colours merge together before blotting off the excess. I added some circles and lines using a craft scraper and a bottle top and then set about placing the images onto the card. It was then that I sat and stared at it... mmmm, needs words... but what words? I was going with Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil and See No Evil... cos it does look like each of the fella's would fit one of these categories.. but the words ended up being too over powering... so I then though...aha, there's three of them... so.. the Three Wise Men idea was born. I used "This Charming Font" to make the words, printed and cut out and coloured with Pumice Stone DS.



The frame was easy-peasy... I wanted a contrast to the centre... so that stood out more... and being as I am rather partial to a bit of black and white, I set about painting the frame with white Gesso and Charcoal Black paint. Once it was dried, I used a little charcoal pastel stick and smudges around the white so it isn't so bright... and then went around parts of the images to add some depth. Phew.. I think that is all... Cor blimey... I had a whole heap of fun making this... don't forget to hop on over to see Lily and her DT to see the amazing art and all of the amazing Octopodes too.



Well, that's me for now... thanks for looking... have a lovely sunny day! TTFN

Hels x

Bouncing Baubles...

...a few days ago I spotted an AMAZING idea that Annette had come up with for using the Sewing Room Alterations die... and having seen what she had done, I had a brainwave (don't worry, I was seated lol) and I have tried out the brainwave idea and... it works! To see the fabby things that Annette has made, please CLICK HERE... seriously COOL art!



Anyways... my idea was to make one of those paper baubley things that we used to have in the 70's... you know, they are flat, then you open them up and they are all papery and pleated... if that makes sense. Well, I used the Carved Ornaments Alterations Die.. cutting the larger of the baubles in mountboard and then loads of book pages... and then I set about folding them all in half...


Several yonks later, all the folding and gluing was done... and yep, they looked ok... but a bit boring... so I got spritzy with Colorwash Sprays (you should see the state of my hands lol) and generally covered the folded pages with colour... and then added some Perfect Pearls Mists to bling them up - that doesn't show on the pics too well though.




My fave one is the upside down one... next time I will cut the pages the right way... and the writing will be the right way up... I could get seriously addicted to making these... and have ideas for adding charms and bells and stuff to hang off the bottom of them. SO... thank you to Annette for inspiring me :O))




Last night I was faffing on yonder t'internet, as you do... when I became aware of being watched... you know when you get that feeling... that someone or something is watching you... well, I turned around and there was Lord AlfieCat Sheridan, sitting on my desk...and as I looked at him, he looked away. So, I turned back to look at the t'internet... and could feel him watching again... so I turned to look, he looked away... so this went on for about 10 mins, him looking, me looking, him looking away, me looking away... you get the picture... well, actually I did get the picture... here he is, looking nonchalant. He isn't allowed onto the desk because last time he went on there he knocked a full cup of hot coffee all over a near finished Art Parts project... which was ruined... I can't stay mad at him for long though, he has me wrapped around his little paw!




Right... time to go... got the new Sunday Stamper theme for tomorrow to do... ah yes, and... I have *ahem* something new in the Room of Stash today too... yes, indeedily and thrice... the new Seasonal DI's are here. I hate to admit that I did say that I wasn't going to get them... and then Ellen and I decided to share them because I am not fussed for the orange one but NEEDED the brown one... and the purple one was going to go on eBay. Well, the purple one is... LUSH! It is a keeper lol Ooohlalalaaaa... am well chuffed with it... tis a very regal purple!! Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x