Sunday Stamper - Week 324 - Lavender's Green

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Thank you all for your fabby entries to last weeks bright challenge - it was great to see all those eye popping summer colours on display.   The theme this week is colour based one... this time, USE PURPLE TONES.  You can interpret the challenge how you like: go for deep purples, add a smidge of violet, a little flash of mauve, 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 13th September 2014.

 My entry this week is actually the very first page of a new "I Challenge Thee" project that Ellen and I started last Sunday during our Skype session.  We have a recipe to follow and over the next few months we will be making pages and then altering covers to make a special little book.  The main ingredient is Studio 490 - it has been too long since we both got our heads together and did an homage to our Wendy...   My base is a bit of manila cardstock, measuring 7 x 5" (ish) and I coloured it with Milled Lavender, Tumbled Glass, Dusty Concord and Tattered Rose Distress Paints... I made a nice smooshy background and then once dried, I set about adding more layers using lots of inks and stencils.  All stencils used are Wendy's... and the inks are Wendy's Archivals.  Starting with diamonds and Cornflower, moving on to dots and Hyacinth.   I made up my own colour embossing paste - popping a couple of drops of Hyacinth and Cornflower Archival re-inker's into Wendy's white embossing paste and then spreading it thru the stencil (can't remember the name of this one)  Now, the embossing paste colour is shown better on the butterfly - that was the colour I chose... and then once I had used it for the flowers, it looked tooooo pale, so I rectified that and use Hyacinth Archival to colour over the embossed flowers - I just popped the stencil back in place and inked over the top so I didn't get any overspill inky bits on the base card.

I added the wreath, inked in Fern Green Archival, adding dots and Glossy Accents and a sentiment to finish off that bit... I wasn't happy with the overall look tho, it looked bare!  So I did some "second generation" stamping, using Wendy's massive script background and Watering Can Archival and randomly stamping onto the background.... ahhh, better!   I added some embellies - Wendy's Embellish Your Art and some bits of ribbon and lace and stuff and that was about enough for this page.  At the moment, the page is curling up - it will be glued to the next page finished and flatten out then... I made a schoolgirl error tho, I didn't punch the holes yet... ooopsies... I might have to fashion a fastening if I can't get the holes lined up properly!  I won't be making that mistake again.

I am excited today!  We are away to Rockingham to watch the British Touring Cars.  This is the first live meeting we have been to this year and I can't wait!  I need to feed my inner petrol head!  As ever, I shall be cheering along and shouting GO PLATO!   Thanks for looking, have a goodly day!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 304 - Memories Are Made of This

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

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

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

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

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 301 - Brown Girl In The Ring

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Cor! Blimey! A hoooge thank you to everyone who entered into last week's challenge.  I had a whopping 45 entries!  Seriously, that is the most entries I have ever seen... like ever!  I will let you know more about the candy winner in a few moments... but first, on with this week's challenge.  The theme is BROWNS... my fave colour combo's!   To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme AND some stamping and then pop back here, leave me a comment with a linky to the place you are showing your entry and I will hop on over to visit. If you don't have a blog, you can email me your entry by attaching a small res. pic or alternatively, you can join in via Facebook - simply tag my name.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 5th April 2014 (April! Already!)

So, I have kept you in suspense long enough.... you wanna know the winner of the mega candy?   So, I fed the number of entrants into Random.org.... pressed the button and the number he chose is.... #30  which tallies with the comment and entry from Barbara Cady!  Congratulations Barb, please pop me and email with your address and I will have your goodies into the post for you.

My entry this week is a little MDF heart that I have covered with scrapbook papers and then jazzed up with Distress Inks.  The papers are Teresa Collins Creative Expressions ones and my fave ones in the pack are the neutral tones.  This background paper is fabby for just that, using it as a background.  I used a couple of That Special Touch stencils, blending Frayed Burlap and Vintage Photo DI's through them... I love overlaying stencils and using more than one design to add extra interest.  The stamping behind the floral bunch is a dandelion stamp from Butterfly Wishes Eco Green set... and then I got crazy with the Heartfelt Creations flowers... stamping lots of different sizes onto the papers, cutting them out, edging with Vintage Photo and then layering up.

The sentiment is from a Creative Expressions stamp set (think it is Thoughtful Ssentiments but I can't remember lol) and look at the scribbles around the edges... it makes me very happy to see sewing on paper projects.. but as I am a very lot rubbish with a sewing machine, I use a fine liner pen to do them myself.  One day, I will be able to thread a sewing machine, get the stitches to stitch and not break it... one day lol And do you see the buzzy buzzy bee?  He is a Studio 490 Embellish Your Art fella... I love him, along with the Crow, he is my fave EYA piece.

I shall away now... today has me very muchly excited!  Oh yesh, it is the first meet up of the British Touring Car Championship 2014.  We were thinking of driving down to Brands Hatch and spending the day watching it live.  Then we both came to the conclusion that whilst it is a great day out, both of us have an enlarged Idle Bone at the moment  and decided that the day, spent indoors watching it on ITV4, whilst consuming several hundredweight of snacks and nibbles and spending some of the ££ we have saved on a rather delicious looking leg of lamb, is a much better idea.  And.  We didn't fancy the 5am set off to get there in time to get a decent place to park and view!   Thanks for looking...have a great day... TTFN

Hels...

PS.... GO PLATO!!!

Nighttime... Playtime... Take II

...cor blimey!  Another great night of getting thoroughly covered in ink and paint, I am a happy bunny!  Just like the other night, last night I had a little playtime in the Room of Stash... and being as I am a slatternly persuasion, my desk still had all the stuff from the previous nights foray into the World of Nighttime Crafting.  So, why bother tidying up when it is all there, ready to play with?  Time saving too!  Here's what I made:

More brayering going on using Fresco Finish paints, this time I used Vintage Lace, London Night, Very Berry, Chocolate Pudding, Blood Orange, Claret and a smidge of Squid Ink.  I love the way the paints go on using the brayer, a lovely built up effect with them gives a very interesting background... plus, I have found, if I goof up the layer, I can dry it and then brayer right over the top! Cool!  Here's the background before decorating - more Grungepaste through a stencil - and because I wanted to get Treasure Gold only on the raised bits, I popped the stencil back over the dry Grungepaste and applied the TG through it, easy peasy!

The decorations this time are in the form of lots of Studio 490 stamped images.  The flowers and leaves were stamped onto cream card and then I used Seedless Preserves (perfect colour match!) and Antique Linen DI's for the flowers - overstamping with Jet Black Archival.  The leaves were coloured with Forest Moss DI and then overstamped with Fern Green Archival and shaped to give a bit more dimension. 

The sentiment is another 490 one - stamped onto cream card, edged with DI's and then popped into that cute ickle frame, how sweet is that!!!  A stamped a butterfly onto Clearly For Art and popped that onto the design too, along with lots of embellies and a UTEE birdy.  Smidges of Treasure Gold White Fire and Rose Quartz for finishing touches and there ya go... another after dark creation :O)

I must away now - I have my Sunday Stamper post to schedule now as I am away to South Wales to Dandie Crafts today and won't be back until late tomorrow night so I am being organized!!!  *for a change!*   Thanks for looking and have a great day!  TTFN


Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 297 - All Things Bright & Beautiful

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Thanks for so many fabby entries to last weeks challenge, it is a pleasure to hop around to all your blogs to see your grand creations.  This week the theme is... USE BRIGHT COLOURS.  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 comment along with a linky to the place you are showing your entry.  If you haven't got a blog, you can join in via Facebook - simply tag my name, or by emailing me a small res. photo of you creation.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 9th March 2014.

My entry this week has been borne out of my love for all things Studio 490... starting with the brains behind Studio 490, the wonderfully talented Wendy Vecchi.  To see all of Wendy's art and amazing tips and design inspirations, CLICK HERE.  Now, it is no secret that I am Wendy's number one stalker of course, I mean fan (ahem) and have been avidly collecting all the products and stamps that she designs and brings to market.  This creation features tonnes of her stuff... and a whole lot of inspiration from her too.

A few days ago I came down with the snots - yes, I am still resembling Moomin Mamma - and when I get all stuffy and blocked up of nostrils, I can't sleeps.  So, early on Friday morning, like stoopid early 4am, I crept into the Room of Stash for a little nocturnal dabble with a new stashly goody that arrived in the Room of Stash in the past few weeks... and I hadn't had a chance to open the pot, let alone have a play!  And what is this stuff?  It is the brand new Crackled Texture Paste from Studio 490. **available from Art From The Heart HERE**  Now, I have been stalking staring watching... ok, all of those, I have been viewing Wendy's blog over recent weeks and seeing all her demo's and tutorials for the new paste, I thought "aha, Sheridan, you have some FREE crafting time... "  So I got crafting!

Firstly, I will just say this... I haven't thought up a single thing about this project apart from the layout.  The colours, stamps, stencils, inks, pastes etc are ALL Wendy.   I splodged a generous dollop of Crackled Texture Paste onto a piece of grey board that I had splatted some 490 Black Embossing Paste onto... and then edged over the top of the black with White Embossing Paste so the crackles then have white and black underneath them.  As Grim has been on nights, it meant that I could secretly whack the heating on which meant my radiator was nice and toasty... so I popped the greyboard onto it to speed up the cracklage... ooooh my! It was fascinating, I literally sat there and watched the crackles appear!  Once the piece was completely dry, I used Cut & Dry foam and Wendy's Signature Archivals for Ranger and blended Fern Green, Orange Blossom and Cornflower inks over the crackles... ooooh.... mega swoonage going on here!   
 

I wanted to add a real zing of colour so I went for Barn Door, Rusty Hinge and Wild Honey Distress Inks to colour the stamped flowers and butterflies and Forest Moss for the leaves.  You see the tiny flowers nestling under there?  That is the same flower are the one next to it, I just made the petals shorter when cutting it out. Stencilling was done using more Archivals, Watering Can and Jet Black and more Cut & Dry foam to blend... and then I set about assembling it all.  As you can see, there's a little birdy sitting there... isn't he cute!  Well, he has been roosting in my stash for over a year now.  When I went to CHA Winter 13, I followed Wendy around whilst she was demoing... oh yesh, such is my obsession. Well, she was demoing away and everyone else was getting a bit of her demo art from her... except me... so I cheekily asked if I could have the ickle birdy she had just coloured with Distress Paints... and *to shut me up/get rid of the irksome Brit/whatever* bless her, she said yes!  Hurrah!  I have been saving this ickle birdy for THAT long to use on something special.

Anyways... enough of my wafflings for one day!  I hope you have a great day and you get a chance to hop on over to Wendy's blog to see her gorgeous art... she is such a giving designer too and you will find tonnes of hints and tips there too.  *can you tell I loves her?*   Right, I shall away... thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 296 - Anyone Who Had A Heart

Goodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all.  Many thanks for the fabby entries for last weeks challenge - it was grand to see some newbies too!  The theme this week is a nice easy one ... and it is... HEARTS.  You can interpret the theme as I have, using a heart shape, add a hearty word or add some stencilling or stamping with hearts.   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 linky to the place you are showing your entry.  If you haven't got a blog, you can join in via Facebook, simply tag my name or via emailing a small res photo to me.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 1st March 2014.

My entry this week is one of my demo samples from Stitches... I haven't had a chance to do any crafting this week (!) and all goodly intentions of getting the Room of Stash sorted have gone out of the window!  That is a job for tomorrow now methinks.    Anyways, the heart is a Pronty MDF heart, covered with Teresa Collins/Creative Expressions papers and then I got going with the decorating.  I did a smidge of stencilling using Texture Paste and a new That Special Touch mask.  I added some stencilling and Wendy's Archival Inks for the Fleur De Lys and then spritzed the whole heart with Black Cosmic Mist (love the new Cosmic Mists... they are fab!) The floral decoration is made up of Heartfelt Creations flowers, stamped onto more of the papers, cut out and then inked with Wendy's Orange Blossom and Cornflower Archivals - don't forget, you can blend with Archivals with Cut & Dry foam :O)  Smidges of Mustard Seed Distress Glitter for the flower centres and then some Embellish Your Art and metal embellies finished the floral assemblage.  I added scrawled lines around the edges of the heart with a Micron pen and voila, done!  This is the piece I made for Tanya, one of the CE reps, I promised her a tag last year and never got it done so this year I made sure I did something special for her!

That's all from me for today... I hope that you have a great Sunday and you like the theme this week.  Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 294 - Shine On You Crazy Diamond

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Many thanks for all your fabby black and gold entries last week.   The theme this week is DIAMONDS - how you choose to interpret this is entirely up to you - add in diamond stamping, stencilling, diamond embellies, real diamonds ...   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 comment along with a linky to the place you are showing your entry.  If you haven't got a blog, you can also join in via Facebook (tag my name on your upload) or by emailing a small resolution piccie of your creation to me.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 15th February 2014.

My entry this week is one of the samples I have made for todays tellybox shows.  I will be on at 12pm with Dean for a two hour Tool Shed and today I will be using lots of 3D stuff so you can see how easy it is to create nice bits of art for your home.  This frame is part of a pack of three that I have split down into individual frames.  The frame is paper covered, the gorgeous Teresa Collins for Creative Expressions papers, sanded, edged with Rusty Hinge Distress Ink and then cut up to make a piece for the middle that was coloured with more Rusty Hinge Distress Ink.  I overstamped the inky paper with a gorgeous diamond stamp from the show - Heartfelt Creations again :O)  using Wendy's Signature Archival Ink, Orange Blossom colour (which goes perfectly with Rusty Hinge, love this colour muchly)

 See, I am now a bit addicted to making these mahoosive flowers now and here's another one... and I will be doing a full step by step photo tut tomorrow on how to make them from the Flora Grande Heartfelt Creations stamp.  The leaves are also Heartfelt Creations, and yes, I cut them out!  A bit fiddly but so worth it as they are really pretty and delicate, these were stamped with Wendy's Fern Green Archival Ink.  A little pile of embellies hidden around the flower including Embellish Your Art and some metal bits and bobs finished off my frame nicely.

 
I really must stop gabbing and get moving... I have got a couple of boxes to pack up and pop into Ferdy so we are ready for the off in the morning.  I hope you can join me at midday and again at 5pm... all the channel deets etc are over in the left hand sidey bar.  Thanks for looking and have a great Sunday!  TTFN

Hels x

Sample Time!!!

...uh-oh... again, here I sit, waggling around on the chair singing "sample time" to the tune of Hammer Time.... I do it every time!  Now I have an earworm for the rest of the day.  Mind you, it is better than the song I woke up with that was embedded in my bonce, that was "Never Do A Tango With An Eskimo!"   Seriously, I worry for myself, my sanity and my dreams if that is the calibre of song I wake up with!!! EEEEK!!!     Anyways, today I am showing one of the samples I have made for Sunday's tellybox shows.  Now, as ever, all the channel deets/times and how to view are over there *points left* and I hope you can join me for a 2 hour 3d craft-fest at midday on the Tool Shed and again at 5pm for an hour of more 3d-ness.  This fella is SO cute!  I have had my beady eyes on him in the catalogue ever since I first started demo-ing the Pronty MDF and I am well chuffed that I have finally managed to catch him and put him into the tv shows.  He is THE perfect size, not too big, not too small... just right.

As ever, my fave techniques seem to come out all over my samples and being as I have the gorgeous Teresa Collins paper pad on the show (you know I loves that right?  what, you hadn't guessed?  teehee)  I decided that all those ickle bits and bobs of paper I have saved up because they are just too special to bung them in the bin needed using so I adapted the paperblocking technique... and guess what?  I found ANOTHER use for the Creative Expressions Clear Texture Paste!!!!   OH YESH!!!  You know I have used it to stamp with for a cool resist, use it on its own for fab textures, through a stencil, coloured with mica/paint/dye inks... as a collage medium to apply tissue... and... finally... as a SEALER!!! Oh yesh, my little old "wonder if..." nodule in my brain said that to me the other night... so I thought I would give it a try... and there ya go, PERFECT!!!

The flowers are more stunners from Heartfelt Creations and I coloured up some of the TC papers using Peacock Feathers DI.  Normally this kind of colour has me lifting my skirts and running for hills, scary bright colour that it is... but, as ever, it is Distress so it just doesn't frighten me 'cos it blends so beautifully and still has that muted tone that I loves so muchly.  You will also spy some Embellish Your Art and some Creative Expressions embellies... oohlalalaaaa, wait til you see what else I have on the shows too!!! *ya wanna hint?  Ok, remember the "owl clock" from last year? He might just have swooped back into stock ;o))*  Whilst I am a-waffle, check out what the uber talented Sue Wilson has been up to.  Oh yesh, our Sue has her very own die line for Creative Expressions that have literally just been released... she is a awesome designer, one day I hope to be able to create a card as good as hers are (think I will be waiting very long times for that though, I just don't have the co-ordination to make them so perfect lol)  Wanna see what I am going on about... CHECK HERE for Sue's blog and her special news!

I shall away now, today I am mostly up to my eyes in sample making for Sunday (erm yes, last minute Annie as ever, I blame the *bug* I had at the beginning of the week, fair did for me for three whole days!)   I shall sign off by saying... as ever... thanks for looking, have a fab day and I hope that the storms don't cause you any nasty damage!  TTFN

Hels x

Always Be You...

...today is the day!  I am back on the tellybox at 8am and 1pm with Dimensional Art shows.  I have been having a whale of a time playing with all the goodies from the shows... my very fave Studio 490 stashly goodies along with the cool Pronty MDF and some delish Creative Expressions delights too... the show details are over in there *points left*.  Don't forget, if you aren't in the UK, you can also view online, the deets for that are also over there *points left again*  I wish I could help you out with time differences etc but I have enough trouble remembering what time it is here in the Room of Stash (my brain is numerically challenged... along with other challenges too lol)

When I was younger, my dear old Dad always dispensed sage advice... and one of the most important pieces of advice he ever gave me was "just be yourself!"... if I had a job interview I used to get meself in a right old two and eight, and Dad just used to look up from his Daily Telegraph and say "just be yerself love".  Bless him, he was right though!  All those years I thought that I had to be the person that someone else expected me to be.  As I have got older, I realise that actually, no, I am me and being true to yourself if the most important thing ever.

When I started making this Shadow Box, this sentiment was bopping around my head.  The "Be You" part is a Studio 490 stamp (from Art For You) and the "Always" is from the Studio 490 Classic Words Stencils For Art... marry the two together and there you have it.  So, the frame is paper blocked using my fave Creative Expressions Teresa Collins papers... I loves these papers and it is a pleasure to be able to use them again.  The colours are just my thing, muted, natural and quite masculine... but prettied up with the addition of flowers (of course there are flowers!) but the cool thing about the papers is that there are two other colour ways in the set too.. result!  And, as ever, no self respecting paper flower is complete without a zap of spray ink and Cosmic Shimmer mists... I used the Antique Copper one for this... another match made in heaven.

I guess I should stop with the waffle and start with the packing of the boxes for today.  I am rubbish at packing... and I do tend to prevaricate when it comes to the deed.  I am an excellent list-maker though, so the list of stuff-to-pack is ready and waiting to be ticked off (not as in, told off.. no, I tick things off as I pack... brain like a seive at the best of times!)  However, actually putting stuff into boxes and then moving them into Ferdy is just one of those jobs that deserves a smidge of prevarications :O)   I hope you can join me today and please do email into the shows if you can... I love to read all your emails and if you have any questions, please do fire away... I will try and get as many answered as possibles.  Have a great day... Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Arty Collections...

...tis that time again!  I am on the tellybox again tomorrow, this time with some gorgeous Dimensional Art goodies.  I have been playing working my fingers to the bone (ahem) in the Room of Stash, making samples and experimenting with different products... one is brand new to me too, never used it before and I am having fun getting me and the rest of the house covered in said stuff... all will be revealed tomorrow though :O)   My show times are 8am and 1pm on Create & Craft.  All the channel deets are over there *points left* in the sidebar.  I hope you will be able to join me! 

This is one of my larger samples.. it is an MDF Collection Box and comes flat so it is a doddle to paint or paper cover because there are no nooks and crannies to try and paint (or paper cover) and putting it together is simples too!   The back piece has been painted and stencilled and stamped and faffed with to make it pretty... and then I just popped the sections in and glued them into place... so easy!

I have some lovely little trinkets on the shows too and you know how much I loves to embellish stuff... I am happy, happy, happy that the little Glass Vials are back in stock too, they are so versatile... do you spot a different use for the diddy ones?  Pretty cool huh?

I have had a bit of a... errrrm... mishap... with my hair!  I know I am not the cleanest of crafters, in fact, I do tend to "wear" the stuff I am playing with on my tops... be it ink, paint, glue... I am not choosy, just as well I now have special crafting tops to wear.  However, I now seem to have adopted "crafting hair" too.  Oh yesh, a nice dollop of Texture Paste has lodged itself onto my head... Lord alone knows how I did that!  I have tried teasing it (not like "ner, ner, ner..." teasing, I mean the gently trying to remove said texture paste without removing a clump of hair lol)  And I have tried rinsing it out with cold water... ahem... I thinks that "set" it!  So, if I look a bit perculiar tomorrow, it is entirely, ahem,  unintentional.  

I shall away now... time for me to go and try to get a few snoozles.  Grim is on nights... and whilst I rather like being able to spread right out across the bed, I don't half miss him and weirdly, when Grim is on nights, Alf sleeps on his bed in the Room of Stash or on the landing outside Grim's study door.  Normally he is vying for bed space with us... strange little fella!   Hope you have a great day... thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 276 - Lock & Key

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Thank you for the gorgeous entries for last weeks challenge.  This week is going to be a slightly different than normal challenge... because it is going to be a TWO week challenge.  Oh yesh, for the first time in 4 years, the Sunday Stamper will be taking a week off... fear not though, it will be back again on October 6th.  On with this fortnightly challenge theme though which is... KEYS.  To join in is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme AND some stamping.  Once you have made your creation, 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 also join in via Facebook, simply tag my name on your upload... or by email and attaching a small resolution piccie for me to see.  My email addy is over there *points left* where my photo is, click on that and you can get the deets :O)  Remember, this is a two week challenge and will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 5th October 2013.

My entry this week is one of my show samples... I have been so busy making samples and such like that I didn't get chance to do any other art for the past couple of weeks.... and I know that sometimes we don't get a chance to see the samples close up so I thought I would share a few with you this week, starting with this one.  It is made from the 3 board hanging set and it is MDF based.  I love love love this set... perfect size and of course, being MDF is always going to be a winner.

The base was painted with Lake Mist Dabber and then I layered up some That Special Touch stencils... Scattered Straw blended through the Trellis stencil... then Broken China through the Flower mask and then the Sunburst stencil... LOVE this one... that is Seedless Preserves DI blended through that.  The stamping is done with Watering Can Archival Ink (LOVE this colour, tis my new fave.. thank you Wendy Vecchi for making this one happen!)  I used the Creative Expressions Textures stamps.. the top and bottom panel have the crackle background randomly stamped and the middle has that gorgeous french text stamped.

The flowers are stamped onto Foundations papers using Aquamarine and Blue Violet Archivals and then cut out, curled, layered and decorated with pearl middles.  I love adding lots of goodies into a bundle of flowers which is where the fabby Embellish Your Art pieces came in handy... and of course... glass vials filled with the delicious new Broken China Distress Glitter...well, it had to be done!  I LOVE that new glitter!  Shhh, don't tell anyone though... being as I am a non-glittery kind of person normally lol

Right, I shall away... hope you all have a great day planned... I am away to Telford to teach at Crafty Bunch today and tomorrow.  Thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

Dream Keeper

...COR!! Blimey!!! And!!! THRICE!!!   BIIIIG thanks to you all for your amazing support for yesterday tellybox shows!  I loved reading all your emails and thank you also for those who sent in photo's of your creations, I loves seeing the stuff you make!  Three whirlwind shows and lots of happy peeps who are now sitting on their doormats eagerly waiting to pounce on Postie... for those of you who managed to get your goodies, well done and... have fun playing!  I should also add that a couple of people who phoned their orders through and missed out on the Owl Clock were reliably told by customer services that I will be back on screen next week with more MDF goodies... erm... I won't be, so apologies for that... but I will hopefully be back soonly with more MDF loveliness :O))

Anyways... being as I like to be organised (who snorted?) I always get my demo's all prepped up and ready to go... and always make sure I have more than I needs.  Well, the demo's for yesterdays afternoon and evening shows were all prepped.  And then the Owl Clock sold out.  And then the birdhouses sold out.  So, I thought I would do a Shadow Box demo instead... and then that sold out too!  Yikes!  I spent a bit of extra time in the studio and prepped up this demo for the 4pm show but we ran out of time so I used it for the 7pm show instead.

If you managed to catch the shows then skip this next bit as I am repeating meself (haha)  I used a large plaque that Grim had very kindly drilled holes in (I just do not trust meself with a drill... I can do enough damage with a craft knife, let alone something that spins very fastly and would probably smart a bit if it came into contact with a hand)  Starting by covering the plaque with Lake Mist Dabber and then once dried, overlaying the Trellis mask and applying Scattered Straw DI though it.  Next up I popped the Grid mask on and used Forest Moss DI through it, making sure the ink only went on it patches.  Finally, I added the Blossom mask and popped Walnut Stain DI though it.  Now, you can see the DI goes almost pastel when it is applied to paint... I love this muted soft effect.   A bit of stamping using the crackle Texture stamp and Jet Black Archival Ink... and then the finishing flourish with ... erm.. a flourishy swirl from the Swirls stamp set.  Zap the stamping with a heat tool to set the ink and stop inky smudges.... always a good thing to remember to do that :O)  Decoration was provided by stamping Funky Flowers onto the gorgeous Teresa Collins papers (Oh how I LOVE these papers... and they were so cheap too!!!)  As you know, I have a bit of an addiction to all things Studio 490 and I added some of the fabby Embellish Your Art pieces.  Voila, done!  However, the stamped word I popped onto the piece fell off on the way home... so I used Alpha Parts instead as they happened to be on my desk... I do love an Alpha Part you know :O)

So, what you got planned for today?  I am getting ready for my classes at Crafty Bunch in Telford tomorrow and Monday and then I shall be seated in front of Lionel Laptop and Skyping with Ellen... not sure we will get any art made today though as she has a much more important appointment at lunch time... one which leaves me Peeled Paint in colour.  Oh yesh, she is going to Queen's Ink (I LOVE that place, shame it is 3700 miles away!) and she is seeing ... THE Wendy Vecchi.  Green? Moi?  hell yes!!!   Thanks for looking, have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hels x

I Challenge Thee - Finnabair Stylee

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Hels x

Rules To Live By...

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

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

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

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

Hels x