Jeudi Journal - Being Fabulous

"Mostly I just sit around all day being fabulous".  In my head `I was going to use a seated figure but then I ended up with this small standing one as I quite fancied her being in a mini skirt.  I tried three pairs of legs and eventually settled on these although I did slim them down a bit when I cut them out.

As you can see I used my Brusho paints.  This time just two of them and I tried to do the blue on its own just around the edges.  Then I put Gamboge in the centre as it was the yellow that seemed to have most other colours in its mix up.

Still look at this and think it needs something adding but cannot think what - am still struggling with this latest idea of coming up with a quote and making a picture to fit.  Ah well, onwards and upwards - a challenge is a challenge.

A Timmy Type Challenge

Over at Artful Times we are wondering what has gone wrong in that we have very few entries these days.  Only three for our last challenge so this time we changed from what we intended to something which might encourage more people to join in.  Something in the style of Tim Holtz.

Here is what I did following Tim's recipe for this month's tag challenge as closely as I possibly could. Didn't have Distress Paints so used my Adirondack ones but in the same way as he did.  Not as bright a background, maybe I will try again with some brighter colours.  Now I need to buy some TH Distress paints, not sure why I never did as Distress Inks are my all time favourites.

Didn't have the masking material so just used a paper mask and used these three butterflies - a mistake choice as they get swamped with the lettering.  Try again later with something else.  Used the texture paster and embossing powder and left it overnight - did not think it would work.  And if it did - what about the embossed butterflies now bare when I heated the gold powder?

So I set to and made another tag with the left over paint on my sheet.  This time I mixed some Mica Powder in with the Texture Paste - result came out very dull.  Now why has this not come out brighter?

Anyway, both are in the TH Style and the bottom one is great for a "letter M" swap sometime as it has "measure", "Men", "letter M" and contains "Mica" powder - cannot ask for more.

Hope people join in with us as we are getting quite despondent.  If you want to see what Wendy has done pop along to our blog and follow her link.

Incidentally I was very careful heating the embossing powder on the first tag - and the butterflies did not dull.  Phew!  Something went right!

Artful Times - Challenge "A Tag with a Pocket"

Must confess, I forgot all about writing this up on here, my own blog.  I have been so busy and literally had five weekends away - on the trot - so have been a bit like a 'headless chicken' as they say.  I had Harrogate show coming up this last weekend, or so I thought, but whilst I was away celebrating my birthday I discovered it was not to be held Saturday-Sunday as per usual but Friday-Saturday which meant I had one full day less to prepare some samples.

So come Thursday and time to set off for Harrogate I suddenly realised it was Challenge time. A quick hasty look on the admin blog revealed I had done this tag and so I set to and did a quick post.  Turns out I forgot to add Mr Linky and Wendy rang me whilst I was in a hotel in York!

Anyway, late I know, but here it is

I used a Tim Tag that I already had cut out, made a pocket from a rectangle of cardstock which I coloured with my Distress Ink, folded it on two opposite sides like a fan (two valley and one mountain fold on each side) stamped my image, covered the whole lot with Versamark and put UTEE on, heated it and added another coat, and another so that it came shiny like a tile.  This was then stuck down on the main tag which had been stamped with hieroglyphics  and two smaller tags made to fit inside it.

Neither of these have been coloured in as I know who is going to be the recipient of this and I know that she loves to colour in.

I hope we get some entries for this challenge, I am sure it is not too difficult to make a tag with a pocket.  Wonder what Wendy has done?  Pop over to Artful Times and have a peep, then join us please.

Romance Anyone? - Challenge 74 Artful Times

"Love is in the air, 

Everywhere I look around, 

Love is in the air,

Every sight and every sound"

I think that must have been going through my head as I got ready for the 74th Challenge at Artful Times.  It is certainly what materialised in the afternoon that I was "humming and aahing" what to do.

Defeated by my first attempt at making a romantic card for a girl-friend I then thought I would make one for my other half.  Somehow I went in my head for black and red - was that more manly?  No. Well what was it then that was sending me down that road?  Still not a clue but this is what I ended up making ... a box for his pens and pencils on his desk at home.

Uncertain that my box maker would deal with something so long (it is just over 8.5" in length) I decided to map out what I thought was the shape I wanted for the base.  Well, I got that right and it fitted together perfectly despite the cardstock being quite strong (and stiff).

Not so easy with my first attempt at the sleeve to cover it.  Awkward to allow that tiny bit of a difference in the measurements but necessary to allow it to fit snug but yet be easily moved back and forth.  Eventually it was completed - now what to do for the decoration?

A bit of lace (cardstock) to cover the marks I had made when I went "off piste" with my bone folder on the board.  Oh Gosh!  This is looking 'tarty'!  Hearts?  do I have any small enough to go in the gap, and if so how do I fill the long central gap?

Two 'birds' later I cut out the word "love" with my favourite alphabet die (Memory Box from Oyster Stamps) then wondered if I could fit in the lyrics that kept going through my head.  In for a penny I decided to cut the rest of the letters out and there you have it.  Or rather there he has it.

Not entirely happy with my finished product but still with no other ideas coming up that has to be it. So if you wish to see something much better I suggest you pop along to Artful Times and see what else there is to show.  Something new on there as well as what Wendy has made but I am keeping 'zipped up' so as not to spoil it but it is worth popping along to see us.

Late Night Edition:

On looking for inspiration to paint/decorate this heart (first picture underneath) which I must have bought three or four years ago at Michaels I wandered on to Pinterest and quite liked the look of a box someone made.  However, I was "boxed out" so I made mine into a card instead (second picture underneath).  All made with Spellbinders dies - hope you like it.  It's a card where you put the die to the fold.

Think I will keep the box and just give him the card - it's a bit more masculine!

Artful Times Challenge - Time

Well I didn't do the first challenge of the year, left it all to poor Wendy (and she had the flu) but when I saw it I was already in America and short of cutting my friend's cards up I found it difficult to enter. Hoping I am forgiven I quickly dashed off this card for the current challenge and then promptly lost track of the days (again!) so although it is Friday here it is Saturday early doors at home.

Sorry - here is my card

Shock Horror I had to use my friend's rubber stamps to make this.  As I am living in a stamp shop that should be overwhelming but to be honest I didn't want to buy any more stamps for this theme as I have loads at home and it isn't a topic she is particularly endowed with in her personal stamps.  

So I took a slightly different stance with it and based it around a Tim Holtz sentiment saying that time is a companion going with us on a journey.  Of course I used my favourite Distress Inks and had a wonderful time.

Hope you find time to join us with this one - please. - see you at Artful Times?

Artful Times Challenge 70 Wrapping Paper

Wendy chose "Design your own sheet of wrapping paper" for our final challenge of the year.  As usual I was last minute with it, had an idea in my head and was reasonably happy with the result until the other half looked at it with obvious disapproval.  Well, "like it or lump it" as they say, he will find his Christmas present wrapped up in it.

I just used some copy paper and scrumpled it all up and then undid it and swiped all over with Brilliance Peacock Ink pad (tri-colour greens and blues).  Then I scrumpled it all again, opened it up and went over with the Brilliance Gold.  Then the iron came out next day and I smoothed it out on the wrong side.  Next I stamped some tiny holly leaves in black because nothing else seemed to be showing and went over the berries with some red Stickles.  Still not jolly enough for himself so I went around each holy leaf and the centre vein with a green Gel Pen.  "Needs red" says he, so I stamped some words in Red Rocket and said "told you it wouldn't show'.  Here it is:

Feeling a bit more like trying again this morning I took a large, really big, sheet of paper and my Brilliance Jade Green ink pad (what's all this with Brilliance all of a sudden?) and stamped these images in a brickwork pattern all over.

Sorry about the photo but I guess Brilliance and a bright utility light don't work very well.  This was the best of the bunch.

I lined the stamps up (you need stamps of similar size, I messed up with the snowflakes) and stamped them in order, moving two along to the other end after each row.  Didn't take too long to do but it kept wanting to roll up so masking tape was the order of the day.

He liked this one - still not bright though for me this time.  Wonder what Wendy has done?  Wonder what you will do, and whose gifts will be wrapped in your own paper.  Hurry over to Artful Times and join us with this challenge - please.

In the meantime I would like to thank those of you who have joined in with the challenges during 2014, special thanks to Sam for helping out and always being there when I was down - and to Wendy for coming along and joining in.  Two good friends!  And now:

Here's my "C" card for you all

Merry Christmas!

Artful Times Challenge - A Triptych

For our challenge over on Artful Times this week we have chosen a Triptych.  (NO matter how many times I type that word I transpose the 'y' and the 'i') and I chose these stamps for my rendition.  Then I realised it was "cute" and we don't do cute on Artful Times so I had to start over.

These are a set of three stamps I was given by my friend Mary over in the USA.  They are wood mounted and she had them bequeathed her and let me have them because I liked them so much. I stamped the images and then spent ages enjoying colouring in.  You know how sometimes you just want to sit, listen to the radio and chill - well that is what I did, with Promarkers to hand.  I am no colourist but I did enjoy myself.

As that was 'cute' I set to and made this one for the blog

Cheating somewhat I just used a script stamp on the background but I did like these lady pictures that I had in my stash and they lent themselves to cameo shapes.  Below is the outside of the triptych with Spellbinders Parisian motifs on.

Then to hold it closed there is a lace garter

Wendy and I are off to Harrogate for a couple of days, leaving the men to sort themselves out, which means this post has to be scheduled as we won't be back in time.

Please think about entering our challenge, no prizes at the moment but you can get our Blinkie and have fun in sharing your Triptych if you are a winner.

Artful Times Green Challenge

The challenge this time is to make something using the colour Green.  It must be predominantly GREEN so I am showing you a brooch made from a piece of Stampbord which is honestly, very green but must be catching the reflection from the purple velvet it is set on.  I think you can tell that most of it is green from the photograph.

For this I used Adirondack Inks on my Stampbord and finished it off with some of those dangly bead fringes.  It then has a coat of Ice Resin over the top to give it a shine and hopefully protect the surface.

Now if you pop along to Artful Times Blog you can see what Wendy and Sam have made.  This is Sam's last challenge as a Guest Designer so a big thank you from Artful Times and an even bigger one from me.

We really are getting down on numbers but we are going to carry on with the challenge for the time being and just hope that numbers go up.  I wonder if it is Facebook that is stopping the blog entries as I notice some others are affected as well.

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine - Challenge

This is my piece for the Artful Times Challenge which is "Sewing". Now if that Challenge title does not give you lots of scope I don't know what will.  You can papercraft something, journal it, use fabric, do some embroidery - anything your little heart desires to do.

I originally decided I would actually make something with fabric and then time ran out.  So here I am with a journal page.  I have had this dressmaker's dummy with the utee (plus some mica powder to give it colour) ready for something for simply ages.  What an opportunity this challenge gave me to make something.  Paper tickets, paper packets, paper lace and a paper tape measure - a bit of Honey and Rusty Hinge Distress Ink and there we are.

Hoping you join in with us, pop along to either Wendy's blog for her lovely book page or to Artful Times to see her page and then join in. We would love to see your entries.  Remember to abide by the rules and guidelines above to be in with a chance to win in our monthly prize giving of a £10 voucher for Oyster Stamps.

Artful Times Challenge - Kinetic Anyone?

This time our challenge is to make a Kinetic Card.  What is the meaning of "kinetic" - well, it is all about 'motion' or 'movement' so we want you to make something that has a moving part.  Maybe these samples will give you an idea or two.  This is the birthday card I have made for Chas (not romantic - and the reason for "Best Wishes" is a joke which I hope he will understand.

Quad Easel Card Open

and closed

and now for some I have received/made over the years

Renate's Beautiful Spinner Birthday Card to me

I think lovely Christmas Card was from Janet

This is one opened that I made when Spellbinders Stacey and Kim came over in the early days of Spellbinders.  If memory serves me right it was Kim who showed how to do this

You really need to see this in action

Am hoping this video works and then you can see the last three cards in 'motion'.

If for some reason it doesn't I will try to sort it out on Saturday evening when I get back - yes, I have been having a few days away - and that means away from the computer too.

In the meantime why not pop along to see what Wendy has made and then have a go yourself - Artful Times is waiting for your cards.

Artful Times - Wooden Challenge

I think it was Chrissie who chose this challenge before she left and it was to make something on wood (eg box, plaque/embellishment).  Must admit at first I was a bit "eek" but then I remembered I had lots of wooden things bought from Leandra at the various workshops I attended a year or so ago.

Out came this little arched plaque (it can't be a triptych because there are only two so I don't know what you call it) `and I painted it with Lumieres and then stamped on it.  Having got the urge to do some Poe type stamping (I so want a Poe image) I used an owl and these other stamps.

the front

inside

the back

Hope you find time to join in with us and hope you enjoy entering.  Remember there is a £10 voucher from Oyster Stamps, our sponsors, for one lucky winner each month.  You need to read the rules to be in it to win.

Artful Times Challenge - Clean and Simple

It is very rare that I do my cards with a large amount of white space surrounding the image but when I started making a card for this challenge I could have gone on and on making more and more.  I so enjoyed myself.  I have no idea why I have not been joining in the challenges on Less is More, I used to but then I haven't been doing much lately. Think that is going to have to change - Chrissie, you are going to see more of me, I have decided. (fingers crossed I remember).

To start the ball rolling on here now that there is only Wendy and myself posting I made this card

Quickly followed by this one

Both of these were using Distress Inks for the background (background?) which I stippled on (aka Iain of Ali-Crafts).  The images were just stamped in black Archival Ink and then had clear ep on top.  The top one I used a piece of card with the squares already cut out as a kind of stencil and the bottom one I used masking tape (previously stuck to my jeans to de-stick a bit) in two strips.

The next three are also stamped in the same way but have a touch of colour on them - Twinkling H2o's. They are all cards from a pack which have a fancy border on the edges of them.

That's it from me folks so pop along to Artful Times and join in the fun.  Remember there is a £10 voucher from Oyster Stamps on offer each month for the winner but also remember to check the rules - MOST IMPORTANT.

Challenge 56 - Artful Times - Owls

This week we are asking you to include an owl somewhere on your project be it a card or something else.

I decided to use shrink plastic again and made a teeny weeny pair of ear rings.  You should be able to judge the size (if you are in the UK or familiar with the pound coin) from the photograph below.

I just got some cream shrink plastic and using Coffee Brilliance Ink I stamped my little owls.  Left them overnight to dry.  Then I cut them out carefully, put two holes in the top and shrunk them down.  A couple of jump rings, some ear ring fixings and voila!  All done and ready to wear.

Wondering what the other members of the Design Team have made?  Pop along to Artful Times and follow the links from their pictures to their blogs.  Enjoy - and have a lovely weekend.

Artful Times Challenge 55 Mail Art

A challenge is something that makes you have to think - right?  Now I hope this is a challenge for you all but not too difficult a one that you cannot think how to do it.  We would love lots of entries.

In Somerset Studio they used to have lots of decorated (hand-stamped) envelopes at the beginning of the magazine.  I don't get it anymore so have no idea if it carried on or not.  Anyway, here we are asking you to decorate an envelope.

I recently had a birthday and I got a card with the envelope also stamped and coloured with the same little owls that the card contained.  It was so nice to see and so I am hoping that when I send something out in the envelopes below they give as much pleasure to the recipients as Renate's envelope gave to me.

This one is similar to some I have done before using my Alice stamps and colouring in with Twinkling H2o's.

You will see I have left room for the address to go in the centre of the envelope and for the stamp to go in the top right hand corner.

With this one I masked out a rectangle for the address and one for the stamp before commencing colouring with Distress Inks all over in Mowed Lawn and Picked Raspberry.  Then I just put random stamps over the top, leaving the masks still in place.

There's lots of ways you can decorate an envelope.  it doesn't have to be all over the front as in mine above and you could use magazine pictures cut out in a careful collage if you don't want to rubber stamp.  Go on, you know you want to try.

Pop along to Artful Times and see what the others have done on their blogs - do leave a comment if possible, we love to receive comments just like you do.

Artful Times Challenge 54 - Make a Badge, Button or Brooch

This week the Challenge is to "Make a badge, button or brooch, as long as it is fastened with a pin". This is what I made

and the reason for my hand being in the shot - to prove it has a pin on the back.  

I used Shrink Plastic for the face, cutting a circle and stamping the image on.  I then coloured the back so it would not be overly pink (it was translucent)  and made some tiny holes in the top where I wanted to put the wire.  Next hit it with the heat gun (not literally) and shrunk it.  

Then I got various colours of wire and twirled them around a cocktail stick and wove them into the holes for her hair.  That's it!  A pin on the back and it was finished.

Why not pop along to Artful Times and see what the others have done - am sure you will be delighted with their makes before you embark on your entry - there are lots of things you can use as a base - I might even do another with a bottle cap!

Go on you know you want to make something - Give it a Go!

Spray Away with Artful Times

Well, the challenge this next two weeks is for you to get out those sprays.  I have oodles of them and bought some new Dylusion ones at Port Sunlight from Ali-Craft but haven't opened them up yet.

At weekend when I was working for Oyster Stamps the lovely Tracey had some new products - sprays by Lindly's Stamp Gang which is what I am using today.  My friend Mary stocks these in America, she knew Lindy and this year got Carole to take me to introduce me to Lindy's two daughters who have carried on the business since Lindy so sadly died.  If you like Mica - you will love these sprays.  They do have some fabulous products and are popular in the USA.

Do they clog up?  Was asked this question a few times on Sunday but I was honest and said I didn't know as I had only used them over the two days.  Now, five days later I have taken them down from the shelf and used them - no clogging!  So what did I do?  I stamped and diecut some flowers and then put some of them on wires so they waved gently as you move the box.

Another box from WRMK

trying to let you see the mica

This time I cut a hole in again, put some card behind with hares stamped on and some little chicks fussy cut across the base.  This is for my friend's little girl for Easter.

Those are the two sprays I used (from the pink and the blue set) and this was my attempt to let you see the mica left behind on the cardstock after spraying the flowers.  Loved how it puddled in the middle of the card so had a real good spray afterwards to get a deep colour on my cardstock.

This looks much better irl and I am going to use it to cover a book I want to make.  Here's another shot - love those runs

I took oodles of photographs of the card but won't bore you with them all.  It really is a gorgeous colour but has to be seen to be appreciated.  Photographs just do not do those sprays justice.

Anyway, why not pop over to Artful Times and see what the ladies have done - you will love their work.  Then get your sprays out whilst the weather is condusive and spray spray spray away.

WRMK Gift Box Maker, Lindy's Srays, Heartfelt Creations Dies and matching Rubber Stamp all from Oyster Stamps.

Artful Times - Heavy Metal

It is ages since I worked with metal but I decided to do one of my usuals - cover a cat food box!  The cats have gone now from next door (sad face) so we no longer buy cat food but we do have one or two boxes in the garage (empty ones).

This box had been Gessoed ready to paint so I decided it might make a better surface for the metal to stick to so I went ahead and covered it with pieces - yes, I used up some left over bits rather than go into the sheets that are a tad expensive.  Afterall it was a recycle job!  Just hope Lyn or Leandra don't see it.

Long side - three embossing folders and purchased strips

other long side - mold, embossing folder and strips

two sides - both embossing folders

I mainly used my Artisan Explorer alongside my embossing folders as it gives a good image.  The two end pieces were not the usual metal but a much stronger sheet that I have had a long time.  The owl one I heated to give variety in colour.  I like that finish.

The strips you see have been in my drawer for years.  I never have used them until now and when I too them out the backing just dropped off.  I can only presume they were self adhesive at one time.  'Make Me; More than Memories' and 'Kars' are all on the packaging so I am assuming they are from my early days of teaching. 

As the Challenge was "Heavy" Metal I thought I would show you some jewellery I have made using bought pieces of embellishments which might give you some ideas on how you can use up some of those odd pieces you have.  I think the one on the left was done at CHA with Tim Holtz stuff

Just finished off the right one

Cannot find the others I have but if I do find them I will upload them at a later date.  What can you do with your heavy metal embellishments?  Great jewellery - and pull old jewellery to pieces - the two end pieces above are from old jewellery.  Just another idea for this challenge.

Pop along to Artful Times to see what the others have made and look here and the posts below it to see my faux metal class a while ago.  If you still have time this is my favourite metal piece.

Arful Times Challenge - Game Pieces

Today we are asking you to enter our challenge using Game Pieces.  Dominoes, Mahjong Tiles, Poker Chips, Jigsaw Pieces, Playing Cards, a Dice - all of these readily spring to mind but I bet there is someone out there who can think of something out of the ordinary and use it to make something.

Well, that is our challenge for the next two weeks on Artful Times Challenge Blog,  We look forward to seeing your entries so pop along to our blog where you will see we have grown.  Yes, we have a new member on our Design Team - a Big Big Welcome goes out to Wendy (Kirk) who has been a loyal follower since day one and has given us some lovely challenge pieces to drool over.

So there is some inspiration from Chrissie, Von and Wendy for you to look at and here is what I did:

looking from front over inwards

other side of pages

I originally made a little book using a large jigsaw piece as my cover and drawing around it to make the pages.  I wanted to get away from my usual colours (and my Distress Inks - Oh NO!) and so I went back to those old favourites - Brilliance Inks.  I used one of the trio ink pads, Aurora, which is yellow, orange and pink, thinking "hot hot" colours for summer.

Then when I found out that Wendy had made a book cover using a jigsaw piece I quickly used some children's dominoes (wooden) to make this little box to put some bits and pieces in.  It is just wooden dominoes painted with Lumiere's Paint, stamped in Stazon and then coloured with white paint.  So simple to glue together.  I have a pink one somewhere that I made years ago and it still stands and has never broken, as yet!

I have left the base so that you can see what the dominoes look like

I hope you enjoy this challenge - please can I remind you to read the Rules and Guidelines to be in with a chance of being our Winner.