It's Showtime!!!

Hurrah and thrice!!! Today I shall be returning to the old tellybox on Create & Craft with ScrapBerry's... show times are 2pm and 8pm and the channels details are Sky 674, Freeview 36, Virgin 748 and FreeSat 813 and you can also watch live online HERE on the Create & Craft website.  Oooo and before I forget, did you know that ScrapBerry's have a blog?  HERE it is... full of fabulous projects from the DT and also a monthly challenge too!  Please do remember to take a cuppa and a packet of biscwits with you tho, you might be there a-while all a-gog at the beautiful creations!

Here are a couple of samples I made for the shows - the first one is using the ever so pretty and gorgeous Summer Joy papers and bunny stamp... there are three stamps in the collection... I love them all (obviously, cos they are bunnies and they are so cute!)   This one is made using the 6 x 6 papers, Bunny is stamped using Archival Ink and then I used a waterbrush and Distress Ink to colour her in.  I added little flowery stamped bits - again watercoloured using DI's and shabbied up the edges with a distress tool and some Frayed Burlap DI.  The bow is made using the shabby ribbon in the kit and the wordage is also in the kit... a bundle of pre-printed shapes, sentiments and more bunnies.  Sir Alan Rabbit tells me he is rather smitten with this little bunny girl :O))

Next up is the Mechanical Illusion kit.   Right up my street because it is all steampunkery and a little bit brown (you know me, I loves brown!)   I altered a little papiermache bookbox...  I just covered it with papers, added some Distress Ink, cut out some of the "oddities" in the paperpack and popped them onto the box along with some of the resin stickers, which are totally fab and match prefectly to the papers.

I really must get a wiggle on and get meself to bedsies... I have been faffing about trying get the old claws to look halfway decent, tis funny how gardening and papercrafting really make ones cuticles manky but it is worth it... you should see the size of my cucumbers already!!! I will try remember to get a photo of them before I scoff them all up :O) 

I hope you can join me for the shows... oh and!!!  My lovely American pals will be pleased to know that I am going to be on Create & Craft USA on Wednesday!!!  HERE is the American website... all the channel details are listed on there: Direct TV is 85/222 and Dish Network is 221...

Right, bedtime!!!  Thanks for looking and have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

Carte Blanche for a New Theme!!!

Cor blimey!!!  Who fastforwardeded June already?  Happy July all... I am here today to let you know about a brand new theme over on the Creative Carte Blanche blog starting right now.  And... I chose the theme *sooo excited!*   You know how much I loves flowers... and I loves books just as muchly so bung the two together and a fab theme of Blossom & Bookpages is born!  To see all the details on how to join in the creative fun, CLICK HERE... I have arranged a First Edition Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone to whizz you across the cyberverse to get there toute-suite.

In other news... I shall be back on't tellybox on Tuesday 5th July at 2pm and 8pm with glorious goodies from ScrapBerry's... more of that later... at the moment I am disappearing in a puff of dust and glitter whilst I try to get my Room of Stash in order as it... um... really has got a little bit... out of hand!

Thanks for looking... I will be back soonly!  TTFN

Hels x

Feathers & Flutters...

Cor blimey and thrice!   I can't believe how quickly this year is whizzing past, June already!!   Which means it is time for me to show you my offering for this month's Creative Carte Blance blog theme of "Winged Things".   Now, it is no secret that I usually managed to bung a butterfly somewhere on my creations and I positively squealed with delight when I saw what Susan had picked for the theme this month!  Hurrah!  Any old excuse eh?   To see all the details on how to join CLICK HERE and you will be transported immediately on the back of a giant bumblebee to the Creative Carte Blanche blog.

I decided to try and bung as many winged things as possible onto my canvas... starting with birds.  I used the most delightful Birds of Paradise papers from ScrapBerry's as a base and being as I'd cut up a lot of them, I used the offcuts, layered them up and created a blocky collage.  Each piece of paper was edged with Ground Espresso Distress Ink to create a bit of a border on them so the layers stand out a bit.  The second bit of the winged theme is beeswax.  Well, it comes from bees... and they have wings :O)   A liberal slap of wax melted in my Melt Pot, all over the papers, adding extra depth in places for a more rustic effect and just set it aside to dry... no re-melting with a heat tool as this will make the wax soak through the paper and spoil the effect.

I made some paper roses using Tim's Tattered Florals die (wish I had a quid for every rose I've made... it must be in the thousands now, I am addicted lol)  These were then dipped into the melted wax in the Melt Pot and set aside to cool off.  The wax soaks into the papers a bit so it gives a slightly darker effect to the roses.  I did the same with Tim's Tattered Leaves, crinkling them up before dipping so they keep a bit of shape.  Tim's new Doily die?  You seen it? You got it? I LOVE it!!!  I have them both *greedy* and used just half of one of the cuts to dip through the wax... a waxy doily, how cool!

Of course, I needed a sentiment, so I stamped one of Tim's new wordy stamps, quickly painted beeswax over the top and then popped 3d foam onto the back of it.... the reason for the 3d foam is simples... you need to use hot glue to fasten anything to beeswax surfaces... hot glue would re-melt the wax on the stamped words making them look a bit ugly... the foam prevents re-meltage when the hot glue is applied and also lifts the little word block up and away from the surface of the canvas, making it stand out more.   I stamped a Darkroom Door butterfly, dipped that through the wax too and then popped him onto the canvas too.  A few more embellies to finish and there you go... lots of wings and things!

I shall away now... I am busy with the Ink Buds this weekend... and I also have news of more TV shows so watch this space for times and dates etc.   Thanks for looking, have a grand weekend!  TTFN

Hels x

It's Showtime!!!

Ooohlalaa!!!  I have been all of a dither with the anticipation of today because... I will be on Create & Craft at 1pm and 8pm with ScrapBerry's.  The channel details are: Sky 674, Freeview 23, Freesat 813 and Virgin 748 or you can watch live online HERE.  I've a few samples to show you... three of the collections that will be featuring on the shows - plus the ScrapBerry's DT have been working up a storm to make the most beautiful samples... to see the DT blogs, just click their names and I've arranged for you to be whisked across cyberspace on a huge ladybird :O))

Check out Olga, Mariusz, Maja and Romy.... the DT members who have been creating gorgeous samples for the shows today... seriously talented peeps they are. 

You can also see more delightful things made using ScrapBerry's goodies HERE on the blog and did you know there is a ScrapBerry's group on yonder Facebook?  All you need to do is search ScrapBerry's and the option to join will pop up.... there are loads of members there sharing all their creations so it is well worth joining.

I hope you will be able to join me at 1pm and 8pm.... I am ever so slightly nervous because it has been nearly two years since I was last on the tellybox!  I have no idea where that time went!!!   I shall away now...  thanks for looking and have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

WWWow! Carte Blanche!!!

Cor blimey, you know I loves a good old challenge theme and this month, over at the Creative Carte Blanche blog, Cheryl has set a grand prompt for us all.... to use something Wild, a Word and some Wood!   This one certainly got me all of a dither and I decided immediately to not go down the usual route of a wooden thing to alter but instead to decorate a wooden thing.... and then I completely got sidetracked after rummaging in the Room of Stash and remembering this old wooden spool that a friend gave to me yonks ago.  It has, to be honest, been sitting folornly gathering dust on a shelf, so I took it down, blew on it (rids the fruzzins and dusty bits, that does) and set about scavenging in the garden for something wild.

I have some ok, lots of hardy fuchsias and they needed a tidy up so I gathered together some of the twiggy bits and the idea formed to bung them into the spool.  A passing pigeon obligingly dropped a few feathers on the lawn so I nabbed those up too and popped those into the middle of the spool too. 

I didn't want heavy decorations so I decided on acetate butterflies, perched lightly on the twiggy bits (with the aid of hot glue, I hasten to add) and I added some resin blooms for a splash of colour along with a Word Band to.... add my word!  Voila, done... and whilst the photo's are a bit dodgy, it does look really pretty and delicate in real life.  One of these days I shall get myself a decent photo... until that time I shall keep trying! 

To join in the fun, CLICK HERE and you will be whisked off to the Creative Carte Blanche blog and you'll be able to see how to join in, where to upload your entry and also, do take a cuppa and a HobNob as you will be wanting to feast your eyes upon the gorgeousness that my teamies have been making this month too.


I shall away now... busy, busy, busy this week... I have news, verrrrry exciting news... all will be revealed very soon... watch this space ;o))   Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Carte Blanche to Box Clever...

...Cor blimey and thrice!!!  Two blog posts in a week!!!  I know, I know, whatever next eh?    I have been playing again for the Creative Carte Blanche theme for April, which is Cigar Boxes.  However, I have had a lot of feedback telling me that us poor UK peeps are struggling to get hold of cigar boxes.  So, I had a little think and decided that whilst a cigar box is preferable (it is the theme after all) I would bend the rules slightly and alter a papier mache box instead.  *that also means if I bend the rules, so can you ;O)*

I have a gorgeous paper pad from ScrapBerry's that has been whispering to me for a few weeks now, it has!  It's been positively yowling to be chopped up you know... and who am I do disregard such a request?  The papers are called Photo Archive and are a 6" x 6" pack... full of lovely muted tones and greens (I have saved those for another project, I do love my greens... altho not kale or any other healthy thing like that of course!)  Armed with a 4" square papier mache box (also ScrapBerry's) I set about the alteration.  Starting with a smidge of Vintage Photo DI all around the edges of the box and then cutting into the papers to make them fit... sanding the edges of the papers, scruffing them up a bit and then popping a bit more Vintage Photo onto them, a smidge of glue and voila, box covered.  Seriously this took about 15 minutes (I love a quicky I do!)

Now to decorate it.  I had intended to go down the old steampunk route and bung loads of cogs and screws and stuff on it.... and then I veered off into a floral fantasy (I spend half my life in a floral fantasy you know) so I just had to use mulberry roses... also from ScrapBerry's - in actual fact, everything on this project is from ScrapBerry's!!!   Anyways, I added smidges of Vintage Photo to the flowers to tone them in a bit, stuck on a pearly swirly, added a twist of waxed linen thread, popped the metal "special" plack, plaq, pl... um, thingy onto glue gel to raise it up and then added the diddy little bottle cap with the resin image inside *how cute are these!!!*   A couple of resin blooms finished my little box and it is now ready and waiting for a few special trinkets to find their way into it *am thinking secret stash of choccy*

That's all from me for today... afore I go I will just let you know that I will be in Preston tomorrow, demoing and Inspirations, with my old mate Pauline -the pair of us, under one roof, demoing... what have they let themselves in for!!!  So, if you are at a loose end, fancy a natter and a watch of me getting down and dirty with some Gelatos, please do pop by... entry is free and doors open at 10am.    Thanks for looking and have a grand weekend!  TTFN

Hels x

Carte Blanche in a Box!

Evening!  Tis that time of the month again when it is my turn to share on the Creative Carte Blanche blog.  This month the theme is "Alter a Cigar Box".  Ooh, did someone say alter?  Whooothooot!  I loves altering stuff!  To see more details on the challenge and where to upload, CLICK HERE and you will be transported on the back of a giant umbrella to the Carte Blanche blog.

So when I heard the theme was going to be altering a cigar box, I got very excited indeedily and headed off to the Bay of E (other auction sites are available!) and started a bidding war on this ratty old box.  I spent hours, poised, ready for the auction to end and, waiting there, finger hovering over the "place bid" button, coiled like a spring knowing that at any second I could lose out and be outbidded....  Ok, ok, I went on eBay, put Cigar Box into the search engine, placed a bid on the cheapest I could find and won it... but it did sound exciting didn't it? 

Once I got my new purchase (which, btw, stinks like a poke of devils and is rather mildewy) I decided that I was going to pretty it up using the gorgeous Birds of Paradise paper collection from ScrapBerry's.  I love the designs and colours of these papers, just perfect to brighten up my shabby old cigar box.
 

 I made some roses using the papers and Tattered Florals die.  Next I layered the papers onto the box lid and sides, shabbying them up a bit with an edge distresser and some Vintage Photo Distress Ink and ensuring I didn't cover right to the edges as I wanted the original edges of the box still showing - to me it just reminds me what the base is and how old it is too!

In the paper collection is a sheet of birds ready to cut out and a sheet of sentiments... so I picked the ones I wanted, cut the birdy out, edged with Vintage Photo and then curled him with my fingers to get some shape into him, the sentiment had the same treatment as the papers so it matches in nicely.  Once I had the bits and bobs all done, I glued them to the box and added a few ScrapBerry's embellies to finish and made some ickle footsies for the box by gluing bingo counters together and colouring with ink and Treasure Gold.

Apologies for not blogging for the last four weeks.  Things have been, well, how can I say this, pretty chuffing awful here at home since I last blogged...  Grim's life has, yet again, sadly been turned upside down in the course of his duties at work...  so real life has taken priority. However, thanks for all your lovely comments and messages and apologies for being absent... normal service will resume sometime soon hopefully but in the meantime, both of us do really appreciate all your kind thoughts that you have sent our way.  Thanks for looking and have a grand weekend.

TTFN

Hels x

A Carte Blanche Recipe!

Ooohlalaaaa.. I loves a recipe I do!!  This month on the Creative Carte Blanche blog, Candy has set us a delicious recipe to use lace, metal and corrugated paper together on our projects.  I had the best fun playing, getting covered in ink, paint, glue, texture paste and generally making a mess of my nice tidy desk!  To see more details and upload your own entry, please CLICK HERE for the main CCB page... and please do pop on over HERE to see what the rest of the girlies have been up to this month.

My creation is a 16" x 12" canvas oil board that I have had my eye on for a while now... just waiting for the project to arrive in my head... which it did, the other night, in the middle of the night!  I love it when I dream my projects!   Starting off with some lush papers from Ken Oliver, I cut into them *they didn't squeal... much* and layered them onto the canvas board.  (as usual I forgot to take step by step pics during the making of this... oopsies)   Once I had the papers layered on, I added my lacy bits... I have a massive bag full of vintage lace, so I used a few snippets of that, along with some lacy trims, overlapping them as I glued them down.  I grabbed a stencil and some Ranger Texture Paste and added dimension around the edges of the canvas board.

Whilst that was drying, I knocked back the papers with a smidge of cream paint and then die cut them using the Tattered Florals die and made three blousy roses.  I used corrugated craft card to die cut some Tattered Leaves and painted those with Forest Moss Distress Paint.   Once the paste was dry, I liberally pounced cream paint all over the canvas board and used a babywipe to remove some of the paint from the papers to reveal the patterns on them.  A quick zap with a heat tool and then I used the scraped paint technique to layer on some paint that I wanted to be perfectly co-ordinated with the colour palette... so I popped a puff of Orchid Color Burst powder into a dollop of cream paint, mixed them together and then scraped the paint over the canvas.  I wanted a slightly darker shade of paint, so I repeated the process of colouring the paint but added a bigger puff of powder.  I love that the Color Bursts are so vibrant and will mix so easily into any medium.  Once I had added a few smidges of black paint to bring the whole design together, I slapped a layer of Glue & Seal over the top of it all the seal it.  WOW!  That proved a big surprise because the Color Burst in the paint reactivated and really came to life... a happy accident indeedily.

I used a Stabilo All pencil to add shading around the papers and lace and then used a splatter brush to flick droplets of black and cream paint onto the canvas board.  The beauty of using the Glue & Seal means that if I goofed up this bit, I could just wipe it away (tis my safety net!)   Finally I got cracking with the embellishing.   Of course, I love to pile embellies on and Candy's recipe gave me the perfect excuse to raid my embellie boxes and go totally over the top!  Finishing touches were smidges of Treasure Gold on the stencilled areas and voila, a completed project that made me so happy to make!

Don't forget you have until the end of the month to play along with the Creative Carte Blanche recipe... hope to see your entry!   I shall away now... I have a messy desk that needs a lot of attention!   Thanks for looking.. TTFN

Hels x

Carte Blanche to Color Burst!

Ohlalaaaaa and thrice!  Firsty, goodly morning!!!  Secondly, I am SOOOO excited... can you tell?  Practically fizzing with excitement I am!   Remember a few weeks ago I told you about the new Creative Carte Blanche blog?  And remember I said that our theme for this month is so try something new?  Well, how about that eh?  Try something new!  There I was, scratching my head thinking "I have done it all.. been crafting several yonks now and I have really tried it all" until I began to think properly and stopped being all old and daft and realised that actually, I have tried hardly anything really and there was a tonne of stuff to chose from.

Guess what I chose to be my "try something new"?  Go on, have a little guess?  If you follow me on Facebook you might have noticed that the past few days have been sooo good because I finally got to do a class with Ken Oliver at Daisy's Jewels in Coventry and finally got to play with his fabulous Color Burst Powders.. which are absolutely brilliant!  WOW!  What a fab teacher Ken is but not only that, he also made me sit back, relax and realise that I do have freedom in what I make and his Color Bursts are just so easy to use, so colourful and also extremely addictive!

Dotted through this post are a few of the things I made in class and a very special thank you to Ken for allowing me to use these samples to show you my "something new" and also a few bits and bobs I made just fiddling and playing and letting the relaxation of Color Bursts wash over me.  I got to play with the new Caribbean colours which are absolutely gorgeous... you know me... I loves a bit of blue and green but mix in a smidge of purple.. cor.... I am in lurves!!!!

Color Burst Powders aren't just for sprinkling onto card and spritzing with water though... oh ho no!  Guess what I also learnt to do!   Watercolour!!!  Yes, armed with a paintbrush and an expert tutor guiding me through the process, I managed to create this beautiful card... just look at the colours of that poppy!!  Wow!   *I know, I keep saying WOW... and I also keep saying gorgeous... but that is cos it is true!*

Now... have you seen what my Creative Cohorts have also been up to this month?  Please do pop over to the Creative Carte Blanche blog HERE and have a scroll down to see all the delightful creations they have made.   Also, have you joined in yet?  Have you tried something new and want to share it and join in with the Carte Blanche fun?   CLICK HERE and you can upload your creation and we can all come and visit and see what you have been up to.

I shall away now... it is the Stitches Trade Show here in the UK and I have some serious stalking ahem, walking, to do because Ken is demo-ing there... and of course, it would be very rude of me not to go and stare um, watch him making delicious magic with his Color Bursts!

It is no secret that I have been pretty unwell for a long time now and only just very recently  have started to feel a smidge better.  Alas, during those long unwell months, my Mojo had upped and left... run off with a much healthier model I do believe.    The Creative Carte Blanche ethos is to have freedom in your art and creativity... and you know what?  I have had my Mojo re-awakened... my creative sparkle is returning... and all because I tried something new!  Thank you Ken for relighting the old creative fire in me... I shall be sure to keep it burning now!     Thanks for looking everyone... have fun!  TTFN

Hels x

A Brand New Arty Adventure!

... I am SO excited to be able to finally share with you all some news that has been getting me all of a tizzy for a few months now.  And what is this news?  Only a brand new challenge blog to tantalise your artyness and excite your inkiness!   Firstly, I have to say I am so honoured to be a part of this new adventure and am most humbled to be amongst such talented girlies;

Annette Green

Candy Colwell

Cheryl Grigsby

Linda Ledbetter

Susan Mostek

Yvonne Blair

The new blog is called Creative Carte Blanche... and it offers you just that... carte blanche to create the things that makes you happy... the freedom to embrace your creativity.

To see more details about our new adventure, hop on over to the new Creative Carte Blanche blog where all the challenge information and details and stuff in general has just being posted... I hope you are able to join us all in this brand new and very exciting arty adventure!  Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

The Ink Buds!

...Cor blimey! I am soooooo excited!!!  All of a dither in fact!!!  Pauline and I have just announced our next Ink Buds Weekender!  The weekend is 12th & 13th March 2016 and the venue is at Inspirations in Preston, Lancashire. 

Saturday's class will be a Perpetual Calendar... lots of gorgeous techniques to alter and decorate a perpetual calendar and Sunday will see us In The Frame... decorating, altering and making a beautiful arty frame.

If you would like more information about our Weekender, please drop me an email (my email addy is in my profile) and we will get back to you with all the details on how to book your place.

I am off to squeal a little bit more now and get the finishing touches put to our very first weekender.... which is... this weekend!!! Yikes!  Who pressed the fast forward button already!!! 

Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 370 - Oh You Pretty Thing

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy sunny Sunday to you all!  Thanks for your entries into the last challenge... twas great to see your lovely creations!  This week the theme is  MAKE SOMETHING PRETTY!   To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something; a card, canvas, ATC, a piece of altered art... the choice.. it be yours! Add in some stamping if you want to 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 23rd January 2016.

A card for my entry this week!  Today I am teaching my first class of 2016 at Crafty Corner in South Shields and we are having a Distress Cardmaking bonanza... this is one of the cards I have created for the class.  Bearing that in mind, I won't go into too much detail on how I made it... but.... I can tell you about it! I used those gorgeous Darkroom Door stamps that I so love... the sentiments and flowers go together so perfectly... and the little scroll frame is also a Darkroom Door stamp.  The colours I used are Antique Linen and Seedless Preserves DI's... keeping it simple!

I am scheduling this post... hopefully I have remembered how to do it (it has been a long time, I have been neglecting my poor old blog I know!) so it is actually Saturday afternoon at the moment but by now it will be Sunday sometime.... uh! Confooosed... tis easily done with me tho!  Right, time to get a wiggle on... as ever, thanks for looking and... have a goodly day!  TTFN

Hels x

Whoopsie-Daisy!!

... ooopsies indeedily!  Firstly Happy New Year!!!  I know, a little late!!!  Ooops again, I completely forgot that last weekend should have been a new Sunday Stamper challenge... am getting forgetful in my old age.  What with the mirth and merriment of Christmas and New Year I clean forgot that two weeks had passed since the last challenge.  Where does the time whizz off to eh? Anyways, there will be a new challenge tomorrow... I have already scheduled it and everything *polishes halo*

Today I am showing a card I put together as a class sample for my Distress Cardmaking class tomorrow up at Crafty Corner in South Shields.  This is one of my fave Darkroom Door stamps... I love collage stamps and especially those that have lots of details on them along with a decent sized main image.  And what an image this one is!  Tis no secret that I love trains and whilst I am a diesel girl, I do love to see *and smell and hear* steam trains.  Did you see on the news yesterday that the Flying Scotsman is finally restored and back in steam?  It is lovely to see the old girl back running again... even if she should really be green and not black ;0))

So!  Did you have a cracking festive season? Father Christmas was very generous this year... I got some lovely pressies and of course, it would have been rude not to stuff my face with chocolate... so I did!  Just call me Spotty Sheridan now lol    I shall away now... thanks for looking and have a goodly day!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 369 - Merry Christmas Everybody

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy sunny Sunday to you all!  Thanks for your entries into the last challenge... twas great to see your lovely creations!  This week the theme is a little different - a double theme of CHRISTMAS and NO STAMPING NEEDED (although you can use stamping if you want to, you don't have to this time!)   To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something; a card, canvas, ATC, a piece of altered art... the choice.. it be yours! Add in some stamping if you want to 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 2nd January 2016.

So! The reason for the double theme this week is because yours truly here is a numpty (you knew that right?) and I completely forgot to add any stamping into my entry!  But, I really love this make so decided to go with it anyway and free up the restrictions a wee bit too. Have you tried the new Distress Mosiac Kit yet?  Oh my wordy indeedily!  I am totes in lurve with this new kit.... and am thoroughly addicted to using it.  It is simple to use and gives great results every time... this little Christmas tree hanging was made using a Studio 490 Art Part as a base - it is the inny bit from one of the Art Part frames which are really sturdy - that is the only thing you really need to remember with this kit - use a sturdy base otherwise the grout makes it go wibby-wobbly.  The papers are from Tim's new Yuletide collection (how cute is that Santa?) and I used the Teensy Tattered Florals die to cut some little flowers for decoration and added a couple of Festive Chit Chat stickers to finish it off.

I have been on my death bed this past week! Oh yesh, I have been beating the Grim Reaper off with a snot filled hanky and a chesty cough... I am happy to report I made it through and am feeling muchly improved now.  I hate having a cold... that awful cannot-breath-or-smell-or-taste feeling... yuk!  It is completely my own fault tho.  Grim had a cold last week and I was all "oh it is yonks since I got a cold, I rarely get them...."  Haha, famous last words!   We went to see Simply Red last Sunday (they were amazing) and I fear that the nice bloke behind me who was hacking and sneezing onto the back of my head may well have shared his germ with me.  How kind! NOT!

Are you all set and ready for Christmas?  I am happy to report that for the first time ever, I am!  No rushing around like a complete loon trying to post cards and wrap pressies.. oh ho! I am all prepared, all I need to do is buy veggies on Christmas Eve and ta-dah... done!   As this Sunday Stamper spans the Christmas and New Year period, I will just take this opportunity to say a mahoosive thank you to all of you who have joined in with my little challenge during 2015 and I hope that Christmas is all you wish for and that you have a marvellous 2016.  That's all for now... thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 368 - Pipes of Peace

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy blustery  Sunday to you all!  Thanks for your entries into the last challenge... twas great to see your lovely vintage makes!  This week the theme is ... PEACE.   To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something; a card, canvas, ATC, a piece of altered art... the choice.. it be yours! Add in some 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 19th December 2015.
 

I have made a tag for my entry this week - it is a size 8 manila and covered with Tim's gorgeous new Christmas papers - these colours are right up my street for Christmas and the patterns are so vintage and nostalgic looking.  Once the tag was covered, I knocked back the print on the paper a little bit rubbing a bit of Antique Linen Distress Paint over and smudging with my fingers... then blending Fired Brick and Ground Espresso DI's around the edge.

I used the new Distress Splatter Brush to add speckles of Peeled Paint Distress Paint to the background (my new fave tool!) and then die cut some flowers - Tattered Florals as usual to make the rose which was edged with Fired Brick DI and splattered with Antique Linen DP to add speckles... and some leaves using the Winter Greens Thinlets die and the same papers.  I made a bow using Crinkle Ribbon coloured with Fired Brick DI and popped a few little resin roses and some pearly swirls on to add a bit of extra dimension.  The sentiment was stamped onto one of the little labels in the paper pack and 3d'd onto the tag.

As usual I am rushing around so a short and sweet post from me today... please do check back soon tho as I have been playing with the new Distress Mosaic kit and having a right old ball!   Thanks for looking, have a grand Sunday!  TTFN

Hels x

Indroducing.... The Ink Buds...

Cor blimey and thrice!!! I am so excited to be able to share with you some grand news!!!   My very dear friend, Pauline Wheeler, and I have joined together to form The Ink Buds.   Our aim is to travel around the UK teaching Weekender Workshops, bringing our love of all things inky, messy, arty, painty and crafty to venues local to you.

Our very first Weekender is to be held at Daisy's Jewels and Crafts, Exhall, Coventry on 23rd and 24th January 2016. There will be two classes over the weekend - we have decided that you can book the classes separately if you cannot make the whole weekend - that way you don't have to miss out. If you are interested in joining us for our very first event, please pop me an email (my email address is in my profile on the left hand side) and I can send all the details over to you.  Spaces are filling up fast so if you are looking for something to banish those January blues, please do let me know.

I do hope that you will be able to join us - and if you are interested in us visiting your neck of the woods, please do drop me a line to let me know... and we can add your area to our list of places to visit!

Thanks for looking... ooooh I am so excited I could squeak.. ok, I did squeak... several times.... loudly!!! I even did a little jig too!!   TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 367 - Just An Old Fashioned Girl

Goooodly Afternoon Stampers and a very happy  Sunday to you all!  Thanks for your entries into the last challenge... I loved seeing all your gorgeous entries!  This week the theme is ... VINTAGE.   To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something; a card, canvas, ATC, a piece of altered art... the choice.. it be yours! Add in some 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 5th December 2015.

 My entry is a whoppping mahooooosive canvas (12" x 16") I decorated... it was my class sample from my Melt Pot class yesterday for Ali-Craft in South Hykeham... we had a glorious day getting all hot with the Melting Pots... you all know how much I love anything with a smidge of beeswax slapped on it and this canvas sure is covered in it!

The papers are from Prima's Archivers collection - they are beautiful... the colours are right in my comfort zone... and I just edged them with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink to give them a bit of oomph.  The flowers are made from Tim's Tattered Florals die... they are my fave flowers to make - you'd never have guessed that right?  I just edged these with Aged Mahogany to give them a bit of a pinky tone and then dipped them right into beeswax to coat them... I did the same with the leaves which are Tim's Tattered Leaves... and then I added a butterfly - stamped onto the same card and also dipped into the wax and pearls added for his body.  The birdy is my Carabelle Studio FAVE bird stamp EVER *and I have a lot of birdy stamps!* ... he was stamped onto the same papers and cut out, inked and then glued down before I waxed so he looks part of the design.  The little embellies are moulds of UTEE poured from the Melt Pot and then generously coloured with Treasure Gold - I am loving the flower... the different metallic colours look so pretty IRL.

Thanks for looking and have a great rest-of-the-day... I am about to bung a leg of lamb into the oven (yes, the Domestic Goddess in me is alive and kicking today) and I shall be serving it with cauliflower cheese (nomnomnom), swede and carrot mash, roastie spuds and sweetheart cabbage.  A few Yorkshire Puds will also put in appearance along with my special mint gravy too... ohalalaaaa... and wait til I tell you what is for pud!!!  Mmmm, I am positively drooling and having to sit on my hands so I don't go and nibble at it already... my favest raspberry cheesecake and..... double cream!!!  I can hear my hips saying "please no" but today I shall be listening to my mouth which is saying "give me something tasty!"   Well, it is a well known fact that raspberry cheesecake and double cream is actually completely free of calories if eaten after lamb... they cancel each other out you see... *ahem*    Right, I shall love you and leave you and say.... TTFN!

Hels x

P.S.  Now... I have some verrrry exciting news to share but I will keep you in suspenders for a few more hours... check back tomorrow when I will be letting you know about a grand new adventure! 

Those Crazy Birds!!!

...uh-oh!  It has happened!  Yes, I have succumbed to the lure of the Crazy Birds!   Last week I spent a couple of days at the NEC on the Craft Obsessions stand having a ball playing with all things Distress, Gelato's and Tim stamps and stencils.  Thank you to all who popped by to see me, it was lovely to put names to faces and to see your enthusiasm for all things inky and messy too.  Also a big thank you to Brenda and David for putting up with me too!   So.  These birds.  They have accessories!  So you can dress them up! All of a sudden I "got" them... I mean, come on, who wouldn't want to put bunny ears on a bird right?  Anyways, here are two of the samples I made during the show... First up is Mr Painter Bird and his mate who is looking rather jealous of Painter's rather splendid brush in his chops. This was dead easy to make... Spritz Distress Spray onto card, blow like billio *yes, I nearly hyperventilated* dry, spritz another colour, repeat with the blow like billio *stop for much needed oxygen hit* and then stamp, die cut and colour all the components.  The brush is just soooo cute isn't it?  Well, Brenda saw this sample and said... you could use the bristles to make a moustache!  Hey! What a grand idea!!! 

However, with this second card I got thoroughly carried away and instead of a moustache... he has... a flat top!!!  This little fella is all about the Gelato's.  The background is Gelato blending through a few stencils and he is painted in with them... check out his jazzy bow tie too... that's using the metallic Gelato's.

Right, that's me for today... I am about to set off to Preston for my class tomorrow at Inspirations... I am not looking forward to the M6..... hope it isn't toooooo busy!  Ha, who am I kidding!!!   Thanks for looking and have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x