Sunday Stamper - Week 358 - Breaking the Law

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Big thanks to you all for joining in with the challenge last week and it was lovely to see so many new peeps taking part too!   The song title this week suggests some kind of naughtiness... and you'd be right for thinking that.. oh yes, with a break from tradition... the Sunday Stamper's theme is...  NO STAMPING!.  You can make absolutely anything you fancy, no stamping at all. *oft easier said than done!*    To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme AND leave out the stamping!!!  And then hop 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 or by leaving me a link to your Pinterest or any other photo hosting site.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 6th June 2015.

So, why no stamping???  Well, I made something a few weeks ago and I love it... and it hasn't a single smidge of stamping on it... and being as I have been a wee bit busy with stuff and what-not this past week, I haven't had a chance to actually make something for today!  Aha, I thinks... let's live on the edge and forget the stamping and go for it with this creation.  I won't go into great detail how I made my entry as it is a class sample and it wouldn't be fair on the lovely lasses who joined me a few weeks ago to make this... but I can tell you there is a truck load of PaperArtsy Fresco Paint, Washi Tape, Tissue Tape and Cosmic Shimmered Flowers to see...

Oh and don't look too closely at the photo's... they are reallllly bad and will make you go boggle eyed... I had just eaten a packet of Pickled Onion Space Raiders and think I had a smidge of grease on the camera jobby on me phone!  Ooopsies!!!

I am being all organised today and scheduling this post (tis Friday, not Sunday, at the moment anyway but by the time you read this, it will indeedily be Sunday - unless I goof up and press the wrong button and you don't get to see this until.......   *uh oh, confooosing meself now*)  You get the idea right?   Anyways, whatever you are up to today, I hope you have a very goodly one... thanks for looking and have a great week!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 322 - Deeply Dippy

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  As ever, thank you all for your fabby entries to last weeks backgrounds challenge - it was great to see some new peeps entering too!   The theme this week is all about getting some dimension into your art... and it is DEPTH & 3D. *I have an earworm already, Right Said Fred have a LOT to answer for*  You can interpret the challenge how you like: make a really dimensional creation, add in dimension and depth and all things 3dness to your art, build up your layers...  the choice, it be yours!  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 *this is THE important bit guys, please remember your rubberstamps!*  and then hop 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 30th August 2014.

So!   My entry this week is actually the sample I made in class yesterday at Daisy's Jewels & Crafts in Coventry.  We had a lovely day getting all painty and messy... and because this is a class sample, I won't go into to great a detail on how I made it.

I can tell you that I used Tim's Harlequin Border and some Martha Stewart punches to make some depth on my canvas... added in some 3d texture with a stencil and the paints I used were Adirondack Juniper (quite possibly my FAVE colour ever), Lake Mist and Espresso Dabbers.  I love Dabbers because of their chalky and creamy finish... very touchable.

The flowers are Ancient Copper and the embellies were treated to some Treasure Gold.  The stamping... the little diamonds are from Catslife Press (I love these stamps and have had them for about 217 years) and the sentiment is from The Artistic Stamper.

Today I am away back to Daisy's for an Exploding Box day... in complete contrast to yesterday, today will be clean (yeah, who am I kidding) and neat (like I said... kidding?)  Oh and a heads up... I will be popping a new date for visiting Daisy's onto Facebook and on here later on... more than likely be a weekend in October ... and... it will be... Melt Pot!  Hurrah!   I shall away now, sleeps to be had and all that.... Thanks for looking, have a great Sunday! TTFN


Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 295 - And Your Bird Can Sing

Goodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all.  Many thanks for all your gorgeous diamond creations last week, it was great to see so many different interpretations of the theme.  The theme this week is rather poignant... more of that later... but first, the theme is... BIRDS.  To join in with the theme is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you like.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here, leave me a comment with a linky to the place you are showing your entry and then I can pop over to visit you. If you haven't got a blog, you can join in via Facebook, simply tag my name... or via emailing a small res pic to me.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 22nd February 2014.

As I mentioned, a poignant theme for me this week... in memory of my dear Aunty June who sadly passed away last week after a short illness.  I could have chosen so many different themes that remind me of her... but birds was the theme that stuck with me because I share her love of our feathered friends, especially owls.  When I was a kid I spent many a happy summer holiday staying with her, my uncle and cousins in "that London"... being a northerner in the south during those hazy summer days whetted my appetite for all things southern and I eventually ended up living in the south.  Aunty June always spoilt me, when I was little her birthday and Christmas pressies were always a little bit special, like a fancy pair of socks with golden threads woven into them, a beautiful red leather purse (which was sadly stolen) and in later years she bought me silver charms for my charm bracelet, all of them had a special meaning too; the Owl & The Pussycat because she used to say that poem to me when I was a kid.   She was a very special woman in my life and this piece of art is dedicated to my Aunty June... and the happy memories she left with me.

I won't go into too great a detail on how I created this canvas as it is my class sample from my workshop yesterday at Neil Burley's The Studio.  Big thanks to the lovely ladies who came along to play and get painty with us... and again to Neil for hosting the class.  I used a selection of Kaisercraft paints to create the background colours - Eggshell, Wisteria and Eggplant... aren't they gorgeous colours?  I don't know what is going on with me this year but I seem to have turned a little purple!  I had actually chosen to use soft mossy tones with smidges of mocha but changed my mind at the last minute!!! And then spent half an hour trying to dull down the purples until I was happy with the colours.  The sentiment is from The Artistic Stamper - available HERE... I love these lovely big wordy stamps - perfect for a mixed media project like this.

I must away now - I am up at stoopid o'clock today (scheduling this late last night... ) to travel to Birmingham for the Stitches Trade Show at the NEC.   I am demo-ing for Creative Expressions for the next three days so I might not be about much (social media might be a bit scarce too as the signal in the NEC is pants!) And as I hinted earlier in the week... I shall be demo-ing a brand new product from Creative Expressions... I am hoping to be able to make up a few samples whilst at the show so I will be able to blog as soon as possible to share all the goss on this fabby new ***** .... whoops, nearly let the cat out of the bag then!   As ever, thank you for looking... have a great day all.  TTFN

Hels x

Favourites...

... I know, we shouldn't have them should we... but hand on heart, who can honestly say that they don't have "favourites"?  Thing is, I have so many favourites that I just think that everything I do in this arty bubble I live in is my favourite!  Anyways... the point of this waffle is to show what I got up to on Monday.  I was invited to teach a private class for two lovely ladies, Claire and Jane, 'round at Claire's house.  Gulp. Me, crafting, in someone elses home?  I was a bit scared that I would end up flicking paint and ink all over the place so before I arrived, I gave myself a good talking to.. "Hels" I said, "You don't have to be a mucky pup you know... "  "Don't I?" I answered myself...  "No, indeedily, you can be the cleanest crafter in the world *said in my very best Jeremy Clarkson voice* if you really try"   So, armed with lots of delish stash to play with, I arrived at Claire's, all ready to show just how neat and clean I can be.

Actually, I did manage to keep things relatively clean... I only got stuff on me, thankfully not on Claire, Jane, the cats, the floor, the walls... which is unusual seeing as you can usually look at my clothes and see exactly what I have been using on any particular day.  We had a wonderfully fun crafty day... altering a canvas with Distress Paints, yep, favourites...   Wendy's Embossing Paste, oh be still my heart, always a favourite indeedily... And lots of paper flowers... aha, more favourites... and embellishments... yippy-yi-ay, favourites.. and... Treasure Gold.  What more can I say huh?  FAVOURITES!!

The colours of DP's I used are Iced Spruce (fave!) Aged Mahogany (always a fave) and Victorian Velvet (new fave!)  Lots of watery drippage and then the embellishing bit.  I used a Crafter's Workshop stencil for my Embossing Paste bit... and of course, adding smidges of Treasure Gold really highlights the peaks and textures.  A big massive thank you to Claire and Jane for making me so welcome, feeding me delish food (why does it always come back to food with me huh?) and making the day so enjoyable!

Right, I shall away... today I am mostly die-cutting for my Ali-Craft class on Friday... oh and I didn't mention... I have a new arrival in the Room of Stash. Oh yesh, Ernie the EBosser has come to live with me!  Tis my Xmas pressie from Grim, I am soooo lucky! I have had a little play already and I am in lurves, it is sooo easy to use!  I will, of course, still use Victor because I loves him too but it just makes kitting for classes so much easier now, I can have both machines going at the same time!  Multi-tasking die-cutting!   Thanks for looking, have a great day!  TTFN

Hels 

Sunday Stamper - Week 287 - Cracklin' Rosie

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Thank you for the fabby entries for last week's challenge... and also hi to the newbies who joined in for the first time too!  This week is a nice easy theme... another of my fave songs and I happened to hear it on the radio the other day and it stuck in my head... so I used it for the theme this week.  So, on with the challenge, which is to USE CRACKLES.  To join in is simples: make a little something - it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here and leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you haven't got a blog, you can also join in via email (small res pic please) or via Facebook by tagging my name.  The theme will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 21st December 2013.

So. Crackles!  A plethora of possibilities... use crackle paints, crackle mediums, crackle techniques... or do what I did and use a crackle stamp!  My entry this week is a veritable feast of Kaisercraft goodies.  Starting with the papers from the Art of Life Collection, cut to fit onto a Size 10 tag that had the bottom cut off and then re-attached with eyelets and string.  I LOVE these papers... so up my street colour wise and design wise too... perfick!

All the stamps I used are Kaisercraft, the Crackle, Sheet Music (on the band across the middle), the Diamonds and the sentiment which is on the bag of the mini tag.  The backgrounds were stamped with Potting Soil Archival (LOVE this one Wendy, thank you for inventing this colour!!!)  and the words and butterflies were stamped in Jet Black Archival.   Also, on the band across the middle, I popped some Walnut Stain DI'd Flower Trim that I slapped some Glue & Seal onto and then sprinkled Antique Linen Distress Glitter over.. I know, me, Glitter!!! Twice in a week!! Habit!!!

Because (uh-oh, Mrs Johnson, my English Teacher would be scribbling red pen all over this... starting a sentence with *because* baaad Hels!)  Anyways... because the papers are very vintage creams and browns, I decided to add some colour and chose red to be the "pop" I was looking for.  The butterflies are coloured with Fired Brick DI applied with a waterbrush... and the flowers (also Kaisercraft) were coloured with Black Marble Dylusions and Red Firefly Cosmic Shimmer sprays.  I added a few bits and bobs of metal and Idea-ology embellies and voila, done!  This is a DT piece for Jones of Nottingham... to see their website, please CLICK HERE.

I am all excited today!!! Oh yesh indeedily... for today I am actually going to crafty class and I will be a student instead of teacher!  I shall be venturing to Telford to the Clare Chervill class at Crafty Bunch... tis yonks since I did a class.. in fact, the last one I did?  With THE Wendy Vecchi 2 years ago when I was staying with Ellen in Baltimore!! YONKS!!!    Yesterday saw my very last class of 2013!  I am trying to work out how many classes I have taught this year but my old brain is on the blink and my diary is downstairs... I shall have to go and count them up.. must be very lots tho!   Whilst I love teaching and doing what I do, I am really looking forward to having a few weeks off "work" completely and being able to catch up on stuff around the house (yes, I mean those cobwebs!) and getting some *me time* in the Room of Stash too.  Anyways, whatever you are up to today, I hope you have a goodly one!  Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

PS.  Next weeks' challenge will be a two-weeker because of that thing Christmas getting in the way... and there will be CANDY on offer too :O)

Creating with Clutter...

... I don't know about you but I am a teensy bit of a hoarder.  Not often do I chuck stuff away... if fact, nay and thrice, you could say I keep everything cos one day it will "come in...."  You the same?  Well, I have this shelf above my desk and every so often it turns into the Shelf of Doom.  It is the dumping ground for lots of stuff that I have planned to use on my creations but then changed my mind.  I know, it would be easier to actually not be a lazy old bat and actually just put said stuff away but... well, you know what it is like don't you?  (please say yes!)

Anyways... I decided to have a bit of a de-clutter of the Shelf of Doom.  But then I got all pre-occupied with some cardboard bits I had found... namely a corrugated cardboard heart that had been painted red.  I couldn't bring myself to chuck it away... but the red looked really naff.  So, I grabbed another piece of card and turned them both into blue by blending Mermaid and South Pacific Fresco Paints onto them.  Of course, a bit of stamping had to be included so I used that delish new Watering Can Archival from Wendy & Ranger and stamped a Kaisercraft scripty background onto the card base bit.  And cos I could, I used Cornflower Archival and stamped the distressed diamonds (also Kaisercraft) onto the heart.  Actually, you can't really see them cos I then dumped a load of flowers over the top!  Whhoooops!

The flowers were also on the Shelf of Doom... plain white and very boring... so a bit of attention with Dylusions and Cosmic Shimmer sprays changed them to match the base bits.  Of course, I had to use some embellies... and all these were on the Shelf of Doom too!  Now, it makes my shelf sounds massive but it isn't really... it is very very piled high you see ;O))   Once everything was stuck together I popped it onto a bit of black mountboard and added on some Treasure Gold bits of jazz it up and then some string for the hanging bit... oh and the words are also from the Shelf of Doom... I remember the project I wanted these for and I changed my mind... so there you go, I am using up stuff after all!

Today I am venturing off to Birds in the Barn in Essex for two days of inky festive classes... so as I type this, it is actually last night... not today after all (and now we go down the whole, if it is now it is actually tomorrow and not really yesterday... and all of that sillliness.... you know what I means though... )  So, it is time for me to loves ya and leaves ya... don't forget, I have a giveaway (scroll down for the next post) and it is open until Sunday night!  Thanks for looking, have a grand day!  TTFN

Hels x

Play Time!

...oh yesh indeedily! I have finally had a chance to sit and play with my new Distress Paints and the new stamps I got at the NEC last week.  Seems like a yonk since I had some guilt free crafting time so I have made the most of it this week!   Have you seen the new clear stamps from Kaisercraft?  I loves them!  And they are so affordable too (which is always a bonus right?)   So, last night I got a little inky and painty in the Room of Stash and made a couple of tags... and here's one of them:

I did a "partial resist" technique on the base of the tag... how does that work?  Well, use Glue & Seal or Multi Medium to stamp your image - I used a script stamp. Dry it off and then add some colour.  For the "partial" bit of the resist you need Distress Paints as they are opaque when dried.  I used Antique Linen, Scattered Straw and Aged Mahogany (be still my heart! I love that colour!) Distress Paints, smooshing them onto the craft sheet, lightly spritzing with water and then swiping the tag through the paintyness.  As soon as I started to dry the tag, I spritzed lightly with water which moves the paints about a bit.... as they start to dry, go in with a paper towel and lift off some of the still wet paint.  This will reveal the resist underneath... and where the paints are dried, you can't see the resist... hence partial!

I loved the effect of the background so I decided not to add any more Distress Inks to the tag but I did add some more stamping.  Starting with my new Kaisercraft Script, I stamped this in Watering Can Archival (THANK YOU Wendy Vecchi for inventing this colour... tis my new fave!) As it is an oil based ink you will need to heat set the stamping to avoid smudginess.   Next I used the new Kaisercraft Diamonds stamp and Plum Archival to add some more layering to the base of the tag.  The Plum goes perfectly with the Aged Mahog too... like they were made to be together!   Next up came the butterflies... another new Kaisercraft stamp (can you see a theme here?)  Stamped in Jet Black Archival so they pop off the tag, I stamped them again onto cream card, cut them out and used a waterbrush and Distress Inks to colour them.   They were then layered over the original stamped images for some dimension.   I then got all spritzy with the decorations.  Plain white paper flowers, spritzed with Cranberry Colorwash and then zapped with Black Marble Dylusions and Ancient Copper Cosmic Shimmer mists.   A few metal embellies, the word WISH from Alpha Parts and some dangly bits finished off my little tag!

I am all excited today!  I am packing up in preparation for my trip to Taunton this weekend where I will be demo-ing and teaching at Craftasmic... I best get a wiggle on as I have boxes to pack and blog posts to schedule!  Busy busy!  Thanks for looking, have a grand day!  TTFN

Hels x

Like A Sieve!!!

...oh yesh, that is what my memory is at the moment!  Tis shot!  I can't remember anything so my life is now one big list!  A list to remind me what to do on any given day, a list to remind me to phone someone, a list for the shopping, a list to remind me to write a list... you get the picture lol   Anyways.... the point about discussing my much beleagured and much missed memory is that I "found" this canvas that I made as a workshop sample a couple of weeks ago when I taught at Craftstation in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.  And how can one forget about a whole canvas?  Wellllll, erm.... I hadn't unpacked a box (ok, I hadn't unpacked two boxes!) and thus it lurked unassumingly in the bottom of said box. 

Anyways... here it is! I have decided that it isn't finished, it needs extra flowers or something and obviously there isn't the requisite ten ton of embellies on it so that needs rectifying too... a little job for me for later on perhaps.

Oh and... much excitement in the Room of Stash yesterday when I took delivery of the stock for my Melt Pot Pick of the Day which starts on 29th October and runs through 30th October.  You should see some of the lush new colours... I am in UTEE heaven! 

With all that going on.. plus my Middlesbrough retreat next weekend, I won't be about as much as usual... busy kitting for the workshops and trying to find a magic wand that will make Ferdy bigger.  The amount of stuff I needs to take with me... and Ferdy is only tidgy... mmm, I think I might have to bat my eyelashes at Grim and see if he will lend me Gordon instead (who is much bigger... and faster too which is why I need the eyelash batting going on because I inadvertantly told him that I had been going a little bit fast, well, all that power and my heavy left foot... teeheee)  Anyways... enough of this waffling, I shall away to carry on with the prepping and stuff and things!  Don't forget to check back tomorrow though, brand new Sunday Stamper theme!  Thanks for looking, have a brill Saturday!  TTFN

Hels x

A First....

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

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

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

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

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

Hels x

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

Being Demonstrative...

...tis a good word that isn't  it?  Demonstrative... rolls off the tongue.  Bit like pamphlet... if you say that enough times it really is a silly sounding word... and a bit like fang, which so happens to be my favourite word of all.  Fang.  Did you know I have a pair of fangs?  Completely unnoticed by moi until I spied a rather ridikidudalus photo of me... and yep, I have fangs. Maybe I am a wampire in my spare time!  Anyways, enough of the mad waffling... on with todays offering which is another demo tag from Saturday, this time featuring some gorge new Studio 490 goodies.

The tag is made from Ranger Specialty paper... seriously folks, this is an amazing cardstock to play with... it takes ink beeeeeautifully.  I have that tag die of Tim's (well, not his actual one, he might be a bit miffed to see me nicking his stash, mind you, can you imagine how cool that would be... rummaging thru his stash)  As ever, I digress.  So, the tag die... I am a complete donut and decided to stick punched circles of brown paper to the card before cutting the tag shape... lordy knows why, I thought it would be easier.  Mmm, check out the wonky hole!  Maybe I should make a feature of it so everyone will want a wonky hole lol   The tag was liberally spritzed with water and then spritzed with Cosmic Misting Inks (a new fave product) The colours were Summer Haze and Blue Lace - gorgeous together.  Once I had dried them, I gave another couple of mini spritzes to intensify the colours and dried them again.

Next I got the new Studio 490 Stencils For Art Spots and Stripes and misted the blue over the spots and the Summer Haze over the stripes.  I love the smooshiness this created. Once dried I blended some Salty Ocean Distress Ink around the edges and then edged with Black Soot to create a frame.   I have that new grass stamp from Original Art so I stamped that with Aquamarine Archival Ink (yum).  I used another new Stencils For Art and added the word REMEMBER along the bottom using Black Soot DI.  The butterflies were stamped onto scrap card and misted with Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Rose spray... I say scrap card cos... between you and me (don't tell anyone) the back of the butterflies have Merry Christmas stamped on them from an earlier demo where I was checking a stamp for straightness... well, they are unique if nowt else!  The finishing touches are an Ornate Frame with a word from the Wildflower Art set and a Trinket Pin and a couple of Baubles.  I haven't had a proper chance to play with the new Stencils much so it was nice to be able to try them out properly the other day.  Yet again, the wonder that is Wendy Vecchi has brought us another totes-amazeballs product!  Check out her blog to see some amaaaazing creations ... HERE.

I have decided that it is time for me to go and bite the bullet... and tidy up the Room of Stash.  I know it seems like only two weeks ago that I was bemoaning the mess in here... actually, it is!  Thing is, I have a room full of boxes at the moment, all the demo stuff and workshop stuff that needs to go back into their homes... I have been putting it off all day but I can't actually get to my desk at the moment and I have a project in my head I need to get cracking on, not to mention kits to get ready for my class at Inspirations in Preston on Saturday... yikes, I really need to get organised!  Does anyone know where I can buy some time from?  I shall away..... well, after I have checked Facebook and emails and other blogs and stuff lol  Thanks for looking... have an inky day! TTFN

Hels x

Simon Says... A Tutorial

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



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




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




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

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

Hels x

Simon Says... Be My Guest!

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



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



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



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


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


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

Hels x

Sweet Dream...

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



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



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


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


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

Hels x

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