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

Gooooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!   Thanks for your entries last week - very "heartening" to see so many lush creations :O)  This week the theme is a nice simple one to see us into the New Year.... and it is... WRITING.  To join in is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here to leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you don't have a blog/Picassa/Web-photo-hosty-jobby, you can also join in via Facebook or by email.    There will also be a giveaway this week as a thank you for joining in with my little challenge this year.  The prize is this tag that I have made for my entry this week and to win it, simples, just leave a comment and you will be entered: Leave a comment AND join in... you get entered twice into the draw.  The winner will be chosen randomly and announced on next Sunday's challenge post.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 5th January 2013. (wow, I wrote 2013 for the first time! yikes!)

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

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

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

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

Hels x

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

Sunday Stamper - Week 222 - I Predict A Riot

Goooodly Morning Stampfans and a very happy Sunday to you all! Many, many thanks for the amazingly gorgeous floral entries for last weeks challenge - it was so lovely to see some new faces too, so welcome to you too :O)) This week the challenge sees a song title that I never thought I would see here... I mean, really? A Riot? Well, actually a little light bulb went off in my head when I was making my entry, there I was, happily sploshing sprays about and I thinks to myself of that is a .... "RIOT OF COLOUR" So there you are! The theme for this week. Basically it is probably the easiest theme I have ever chosen, just make something that has colour on it! Anyways, to join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy. Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here with a link to the place you are showing your entry. If you haven't got a blog/web-photo-hosting-jobby, you can enter by email or on Facebook. The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 15th September 2012.




I have already alluded to the basics of my creation - sprays. Sprays? Oh yes, those totes-amazeballs Dylusions sprays. I used Fresh Lime and Vibrant Turquoise for the base pieces of my Tag-certina.



I won't go into too much detail on how I made this because it is actually the subject of my class today at Birds In The Barn. I am so excited to bring something realllly messy and fun to the classroom, I have packed my Craft Scrubbie and some gloves just in case though :O))


Oh and did you see my post on Friday? Well, it just so happens that this l'il ol' blog is now 5 years old. So, I have put together a bit of candy in celebration of this milestone. All the deets on how to be in with a chance to win are HERE.



Right, I shall away, it is actually 5am on Saturday morning as I sit and type this... I am being uber-organised and am scheduling this post. Hopefully it will publish! Thanks for looking... have a FAB week! TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 221 - Tulips From Amsterdam

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy September (already!) Sunday to you all. Many thanks for all your magnificent green entries for last weeks challenge... I know, saying it again... I love that you all join in and are so enthusiastic about my little challenge! I didn't really have a theme for this weeks challenge, I was mulling over ideas yesterday evening when I heard about the sad passing of Max Bygraves and instantly I knew that todays challenge title was going to be Tulips From Amsterdam (an oldie but goodie right?) So, this weeks theme is.... STAMPED FLOWERS. To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy. Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here to leave me a link to the place you are showing your entry. If you don't have a blog/picassa/photohostingthingymibob, you can join in by email or on Facebook. The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday September 8th 2012.



Firstly, apologies for the late start of this weeks challenge. I was all set to finish my entry last night... and then I put my back out - big style :O( It has been giving me some real grief for the past couple of days and then last night, AlfieCat decided he was going to lay on the floor in front of me, on his back, and grab my foot as I stepped over him. So, it was either stand on him, which I could never do, or, make a stupid stretchy sideways movement that made me look like I was attempting to breakdance. Well, I felt something "go"... and promptly ended up on the sofa for the rest of the evening. ouch!


Anyways, moving on... in a hobbly kind of fashion... I embellished one of the tags that I had altered last week with Dylusions sprays. So. The background stamp is Holly Hocks by Donna Downey for Unity Stamps. I wanted a resist with this image... but being as I am very tidy (ahem) I couldn't find my Multi Medium. So, I thought "I guess Glue & Seal will work... I shall try!" Which is exactly what I did ... and yep, fabby resist! And because Glue & Seal is 100% waterproof when dried, I could splash as much water and as many Dylusions over it without losing the image. Oh and... if you do do this technique, please remember to clean your stamp immediately... 100% waterproof is on any surface!


The colours are a mix of Squeezed Orange and a couple of the old Dylusions (the Altered Originals ones, I love these so much too) namely, Pomegranate and Burnt Orange. I spritzed the tag with water and then sprayed the colours over the top, standing the tag up so the colours drip down together. I used a Crafters Workshop Chicken Wire mask and spritzed more Squeezed Orange over, dried it, and then went in with the Circles Dylusions stencil and used a baby wipe to remove some of the colour.... and then moved it a bit and lightly misted Pomegranate. I coloured a piece of Specialty Stamping paper with more of the same colours and then stamped a load of flowers from the How Does Your Garden Grow Dylusions stamp set, cutting them out, curling the petals and layering them onto the tag with DewDrops for centres. Usually I colour the back of my flowers but I left these white so they toned in with the sentiment... which is from the Quintissential Quotes set.



So there you have it! Apologies again for the lateness of this post... hope that the challenge theme was worth you wait. Thanks for looking... I am off to lounge on the sofa again... and I have a lovely Skype sesh planned for this afternoon with Ellen. Have a good day! TTFN

Hels x

Believe In Something Absurd...

...I have been playing again this morning. I have some of those lush Dylusions Sprays and haven't really had a chance to have a good old faff with them. So, when I should have been clearing out the Room of Stash, I was sitting getting inky instead. More of that in a mo.... So. The Sprays. The colours I used are Bubblegum Pink, Fresh Lime and Black Marble. I have been after a black spray for several yonks - using Black Soot Re-Inker in a mini mister of water works but for a proper pitch black spray, the Black Marble is the best. And the sprays... are... L.U.S.H!!!



I spritzed water right over the top of the tag and then misted the pink and lime colours onto it - where they mix they marble... cool effect (you can do that with Colorwashes too) A good old zap with a heat tool dries it all and then I got a bit exciteable and used a Dylusion Stencil (the one with the dots) and a baby wipe to remove some of the colour - it gives a bit of a bleachy effect. Once that was done I used the Dylusion diamond stencil and lightly misted Black Marble Spray over the top. I was very gentle with this bit because I didn't want to over-do the black. Once that had dried, I used the floral bit of the dotty stencil and went along the bottom of the tag with more Black Marble Spray.




The flowers are Prima's and I bobbed a little brass flowery thing in the layers too. Check out the leaves... they are a Crafty-Emblies wooden embellie that I coloured with the Fresh Lime spray - ooh and that reminds me... the Sunday Stamper this week is sponsored by Crafty-Emblies and there's a prize to be had! For all the deets, please CLICK HERE. Anyways... back to the tag. I used Jet Black Archival to stamp the sentiment onto a piece of card I had done the same spray technique on so it matches in. Each bit was cut out and layered onto 3d foam. The buttons are also Crafty-Emblies, coloured with the sprays. The final bit of spraying was the ribbon - it started out as white crinkle ribbon so I sprayed it and now it is black... cool huh?



So. The Room of Trash! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I seem to have developed a very good avoidance routine, meaning that for the past three days I have been whitting on, saying I will tidy it... and nope, not done it. Yesterday I found myself re-arranging the kitchen cupboard, the lengths I will go to to not start on my room is baaaaaad. SO. I have taken the bull by the proverbials and decided to show you just how bad my desk is... that way I will have NO excuse what-so-ever to not have it nice and tidy to show you tomorrow. Well, that's the plan, I may well be back here with head-hanging lol


Right, I shall away to give myself a good talking to, fancy having a lovely room and allowing it to get into this state! Thanks for looking... have a looooovely day! TTFN

Hels x

Butterflies & Masks...

...cor blinking blimey! You should see the state of my paws! I am covered in ink again... I have been playing this morning and have made my DT piece for The Stamp Attic - I have just blogged over HERE on the Stamp Attic blog. All the deets on how I made my tag are over there so you can see how I made it... and... links to the shop so you can get there nice and easy too (am good like that!)


Because I was enjoying myself so much, I decided to make a card to match the tag too. I used the same techniques for the card as I did for the tag. I stepped right out of my comfort zone and decided to do a "snatch and grab" of the Distress Stains. Normally I will consider the colours and make sure that they are all in the same family... with the snatch and grab method, all you need to do is shut your eyes and grab the first one you come to. I did that a few times and got a smidge disappointed when I saw Pine Needles. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely colour - just not "me" IYKWIM.


Well, I am happy to say that I have changed my mind (again) and I am now lurving Pine Needles... I expect that you will be seeing a lot more of it very soon lol For the base of the card I used some Dylusions Stencils and added some pattern using Distress Ink blended thru the holes... something a bit different than leaving the base blank - which I normally do.


Anyways. All good plans of tidying the Room of Stash went slightly askew yesterday - mainly because I decided to clean out the laundry room instead... it sounds posher than it is, it is teensy... but it still took hoooours. I am the worlds best avoider you know. Avoiding cleaning the Room of Stash - and it really needs it. Today I am thinking I might have a go at the kitchen... which is also teensy so won't take too long. Anyways... I should get a move on. Before I do go though - hoooge thanks for your suggestions about the mozzi bite - it is a lot better, still a bit red and itchy and the bite itself is still like a hard, pea-sized blister but... phew, I feels better in myself too! Thanks for looking... have a good day ... TTFN!

Hels x

Ruby Tuesday...

..ahaha, I am making meself laugh, never a good sign... why Ruby Tuesday? Well, it is Tuesday (for once I know what day of the week it is lol) and... I have some ruby slippers going on on my latest piece for The Stamp Attic DT. To see all the deets on how I made it, what I used etc... please CLICK HERE.



I am on a mission today... oh yesh, I spent yesterday lounging about watching telly - although I did do battle in Sainsbury's because we had literally no food in the house... and, more worryingly, we were out of Diet Coke, never a good thing for me lol Anyways... my mission today, after being a lazy old bag yesterday, is to make my Room of Stash sparkle again. I had thought about chucking a load of glitter all over it but then that would defeat the object... I need to tidy up... there, I said it. I may be some time... if you haven't seen me in a few days, send out a search party! Have a fun day... TTFN!!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 217 - Patterns

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all. Many many thanks for all the gorgeous golden entries for last weeks challenge... and it is lovely to see some new faces joining in too! Welcome! The challenge theme this week is... PATTERNS. (I had to use Mr Google to help me find a song title... tis a Simon & Garfunkel song, who knew!) To join in is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy. Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here to leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry. If you haven't got a blog, you can join in using any web-hosting photo thingywotsit, via Facebook or you can email me a piccy of your entry. The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 11th August 2012.


This week the challenge is revolving around a piece that I have made Grim for his birthday. Yes, there's some stamping on it (only just) but what struck me most about it is all the different patterns. The blocks from the paper blocking technique, the textured bits from masking and then the stamping with the honeycomb and diamonds. I have a picture heavy post so will keep the waffle to a minimum :O))


As I said, it is my "made" gift for Grim's birthday, so there are a few relevant to him bits and bobs on there... the numbers for his birth date, the initial and the 50 for his age (oh how I am not going to let him forget that he can now go on a Saga holiday lol) I wanted to make something that was quite masculine but not OTT with cogs and gears etc, which is what I always go for when making something for a chap. The colours are quite masculine I think... and whilst I have added flowers, they are similar tones and have black in them too. As you can see, more influence from Ania with the spritzing... yep, got brave again and used Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Green and Black Dylusions... I LOVE that metallic effect of the two combined!


The texture paste was mixed with Birch Eco Paint so I got the green tones for the stencilling - basically, using a spatula and spreading the texture paste thru masks - I used a Crafters Workshop chicken wire and a Dylusion diamond mask for this... I wanted a random look but one that made all the elements link up so there are no "floating" bits... IYKWIM.


I added in some Prima bits and bobs - the birdy - how sweeeet, the tile, little wooden heart and some of the flowers... and then added in bits of Idea-ology, some Chit Chat Stickers that I 3D'd... a UTEE heart, some Film Strip, some more of the ancient metal jobbies that I got for a bargain at Ally Pally 83 years ago when Andrea fair forced me into buying them... ahem... *wondering if Andrea will comment on that lol*


The stamping is using the honeycomb/chicken wire stamp from Tim's Mixed Media set and the mini diamond stamp from one of the mini's sets that I can't remember and it is right over the other side of the Room of Stash (oh yesh, all those miles away... ahem) so I can't reach it. I added some Alphaparts to the piece to personalise it a bit more... the G is for Grim (obvs) and the 50 to remind him how old he is... *snort*




Right, I shall away... as ever, thank you all for your lovely comments and support - it truly does mean a very lot to me... and thanks and welcome to all the new followers, it makes me smile big to see you all! (I had better shut up now otherwise I shall be blubbing....) Have a lovely day.... TTFN!

Hels x