Snow Stops Play ...

... Well almost!

Sadly our Christmas feast was disrupted yesterday by the snow and freezing conditions in Kent. Instead of our usual group ... it ended up with just the three of us ... but we still managed to eat ... drink and make merry ... raising a glass to absent friends ... oh and Tina :0)

Luckily my Secret Santa weathered the storm ... so I got to play with some of it today. I have wanted this little Stampotique Crown ever since I first laid eyes on it ... and once in my grubby little mitts ... well I could n't wait to start playing ... lucky I have left my Christmas cards till the last minute again then huh????

These cards really did only take minutes to make ... white card squares sprayed with different Dylusions watercolour Sprays ... building them up and splattering them too ... then stamping and colouring in Rocky ... at least I think he is called Rocky and adding the crown to turn him into a king ... bit of doodling and ta da ... finis!!!

I am off to stroke the IPad that Santa has bought me for Christmas ... it is still in the box ... and I have been told in no uncertain terms that it has to stay in said box until Christmas day ... Talk about torture!

Have a good evening all and stay warm ...

Laters!

Ode to Lord Tim!

I could spend several hours talking about Lord Tim of Holtz ... as you all know ... but this week over at Simon Says Stamp and Show ... we are giving everyone the opportunity to show Tim ... what they have learned from him ... pretty cool huh?

And ... not only do will you have all the fun in taking part in a fabulous challenge ... but you also get the chance to win a $50 gift voucher ... donated by our fabulous sponsor ... Simon Says Stamp ... you gotta admit ... things don't get much better than that!

Anyways ... this is what I made ... packed to the rafters with Timspiration and techniques ... you know Tim ... the man that can conclusively answer if there is indeed life on Mars and communicate with said life with just a spritz of Glimmer Spray and the mere sight of a pair of Tonic Studio Scissors.

My card was indeed inspired by Tag number 9 ... which I believe to be my favourite Timmy tag of all time ... well so far anyways!

A big shout out to everyone that popped by and said hello to me while I demoed alongside the wonderful Lin yesterday at LB Crafts ... I had a thoroughly enjoyable time! Sorry ... I forgot to take pictures!

That's me for now ... don't forget to pop by the Challenge Blog and join in if you can ... but before you go ... don't forget to let me know you have been by leaving a comment!

Laters!

You Learn Something New Every Day!

And today I learned that I am not very good at creating sparkly flourishes ... they just don't flow like they should! And they took blooming ages to do ... not adhesive gems ya see ... had to attach them all with Glossy Accents! Perhaps I should add some of these babies to my list for Santa ... you know the one ... that so far ... only has an ... erm ... IPad on it :0)

Talking of lists ... I plan to start and finish my Christmas Shopping today ... You know 50 odd gifts in one swoop ... just like last year ... I shall take John and his good strong arms ... wish me luck ... actually John will probably need it more than me ... but if you wish him luck ... he won't see it ... so best just send it all my way!

Anyways ... back to the tag ... it is indeed my attempt at Lord Tim of Holtz's tag number 4 ... you know Tim ... the man that writes the list ... then checks it twice ... while working out ... if you've been naughty or nice ... with just the smallest flower from the tattered floral die and a doodad!

It is now 1am here and I really should get myself off to bed ...

Laters!

Mmmm ... Could Do Better!

Okay ... so yes ... I know that the rest of you are on Lord Tim of Holtz's Tag number Three gazillion and Four and this is my lame attempt at Tag number Three but I have been quite busy don't you know! I say busy ... I still have a to do list that is longer than long ... but I am getting there slowly ... or I would be if I did n't have to keep adding things to it :0)

As for the tissue tape rosette ... I promise I watched the video ... really carefully and then I followed the instructions ... really carefully too ... but it just was n't meant to be ... my tissue tape rosette looks more like a screwed up pile of tissue tape and my endeavours to hide it with a blinged up accoutrement ... well ... that has n't really worked. Still it is the having fun that counts ... and I had a great time :0)

I wonder how many people the world over are taking part in Lord Tim of Holtz's Annual Tag Fest ... you know Tim ... the man that can pirouette down the side of Mount Everest while single handedly building a replica Wembley Stadium with ... decent grass ... with just a tiny attacher and a blending tool. I do know some of the other participants are way ahead of me and you can chart their progress by visiting ArtyJen's splinter group here ... Have Fun people ...

Laters!

Holiday Greeting!

Well ... the holiday season is well and truly here now ... and as much as I want to put it back for another couple of weeks ... lets be honest ... that aint gonna happen!

I have written my letter to Santa ... told him I want an IPad ... and to be fair ... I have been pretty good this year ... so I can't see any reason why he won't deliver! Having said that ... every time I mention an IPad to John ... he does that eye ball rolling thing ... but I am not going to let a little thing like that put me off asking!

Anyways ... it's Monday ... which means a new challenge theme has gone up on the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog ... the theme is Holiday Greeting ... and we all know a greeting is not just for Christmas ... it can indeed be any holiday you fancy!

I decided to cover this box frame with papers from Lord Tim of Holtz's paper stack ... you know Tim ... the man that can hang sparkly decorations from the clouds while communicating with the entire Reindeer population with just a Facet and a Bauble.

Talking of Reindeers ... I am loving this Reindeer Flight Die ... and before I forget ... if you have been waiting for the right moment to join in the challenge ... well today is the day because our generous site sponsor Simon Says Stamp is giving us a $50 Gift Voucher prize each week throughout December.

I must away ... Have a great week all

Laters

Falling Behind Already!

I know ... I know ... How bad is that ... it is only Day 3 ... very nearly Day 4 of Lord Tim of Holtz's 12 Christmas Tags and the Black Enamel Accents has literally just dried from Tag 2! Not because they take ages to dry you understand ... but because it was 10 pm tonight before I actually got chance to make the tag!

There should be a drum roll or a fanfare here or summink ... because after 100 years and ...erm ... a day ... I finally got around to making a customised ink pad ... well two actually  using the felt wotsit from Ranger! If you have no clue what I am on about ... pop over to Lord Tim's blog and take a look at yesterday's tutorial! You know Tim ... the man that could win a bid to host the world cup in his morning tea break while placing icicles in an artistic fashion the world over with just a small length of satin ribbon and a bird charm.

I did actually complete this tag ... I said before ... I plan to make a larger home decor piece with all the tag elements at the end ... but I kind of reckoned ... I could chop it up later if needs be ... and recreating the pine cone will be a doddle ... because I have my customised inkpad don't you know!

Righty-Ho ... I am off to bed ... I shall be teaching my Mixed Media Christmas Class tomorrow ... which means a very early start!

Laters!

This and That!

Catching up on Facebook last night ... as you do ... I found myself tagged in a few piccies and decided to share this one with you ...

There we were sat eating our lunch at the Paper and Co Show ... when Celine passed around the moustache's for the main event photo! Sadly I could n't find mine and had to improvise ... but I rather like this picture of Natalie, Erin, Vikki and myself ... which is a rare event in itself ... me liking the picture .... not Natalie with a moustache :0) ... perhaps it is because half my face is hidden behind a rather delicious semi eaten pear :0)

Well that was the That ... now for the This. The time has arrived ... it is officially Christmas ... and the reason I know this is because Lord Tim of Holtz has begun his 12 Tags of Christmas. You know Tim ... the man that organises the elves at the North Pole ready for the big day while composing multi lingual Christmas Carols with just an "r" from a tape runner and a sprinkling of perfect pearls.

I have decided that this year I will ... of course be taking part with the composition of all the tag elements ... however instead of spending day 13 in a Timmy Tagless depression ... I will indeed use all of the elements to make a larger home decor piece. Until I have seen all 12 tags I have no clue what I will end up with ... but I find the whole prospect very exciting!

Here are my bits from Day One ... I had to improvise ... no white fluffy doodah here ... so I used white enamel accents sprinkled with fine glitter for my snow ... I did n't have any mini tinsel stuff either ... so I made my Christmas Wreath with Grunge paper and the Regal Crest Die .... yes I know it looks nothing like Holly ... but if you screw yours eyes up and tilt your head to the left ... well it sort of does!

I need to get on ... I have a gazillion things to do ... oh and check out Tag Two ... I have been meaning to make a customised Ink pad for the last 100 years ... and get this ... today is definitely the day ...

Laters!

49 days, 12 hours and 53 Minutes!

Oh yes ... and 39 seconds ... if you want me to be really precise! That is the exact amount of time that we have until Xmas ... Don't look at me like that ... Don't do that eye rolling thing ... somebody had to say it ... out loud! It is indeed the time to stop planning all your beautiful designs for Christmas and start making them! I know some of you wonderfully organised people will have made yours already ... and some of you even more wonderfully organised people will be wrapping presents by now ... but some of you ... we know who we are ... don't do ... we plan ... and then every year we get caught out and  have to buy cards that pretend to be handmade and probably cost the earth!

So ... looky here ... I have started the making ... quick and simple ... I am loving the Lord Tim of Holtz's rosette die ... it reminds me of those crinoline paper decorations that used to be everywhere when I was a nipper! You know Tim ... the man that makes and delivers all the Christmas joy the world over while mass  producing plum puddings with just a sprinkle of glitter and a spot of Glossy Accents.

While we are on the subject of Christmas ... I have a space on my Mixed Media Christmas Class on Tuesday in Olney ... tomorrow's class is indeed full ... but if you fancy learning how to do a spot of Christmas home decor ... then call the lovely Karen on 01234 714848.

I must away ... so much to do and so little time ...

Laters!

Starry Starry Night!

See  ... that is a song and for once I actually know who sang it ... Don Maclean!

It rates as one of my all time favourites and I would even go so far as saying ... if I ever make it as a Breakfast Weather Girl ... and get invited onto Desert Island Discs ... well I shall be picking that song ... there you go ... you heard it here first!

I am not a big fan of making my own Christmas cards ... I get bored very quickly ... and to keep changing styles all the time ... well it is time consuming and a tad untidy! So this year I have come up with a plan ... Keep them simple ... yet fun!

This one is all about the background. The sky is Chipped Sapphire ... stamped with Gold Dabber ... and dotted with a Ranger white pen ... then I have Distress Stickled it all over ... very messy ... just the way I like it! Chipped Sapphire is indeed a Lord Tim of Holtz Distress Ink ... you know Tim ... the man that can entertain an entire cruise ship while conversing with the entire population of sea creatures with just a single ticket from his tickets strip die and the P of a pricking tool!

The stamps I have used are the Darkroom Door Christmas Reindeer Collection! Talking of collections ... what collections of songs would you choose for Desert Island Discs? ... I must away ... I am part way through a secret squirrel project ... and I really should get it finished!

Have a fab evening y'all

Laters!