Sunday Stamper - Week 323 - Mr Brightside

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy *sunny* Sunday to you all!  Thank you all for your fabby entries to last weeks 3d challenge - I have still a few entries to visit and it was fab to see all the depthy projects you came up with.   The theme this week is all about getting colourful... and it is BRIGHT COLOURS. *pretty cool song too, LOVE The Killers!*  You can interpret the challenge how you like: add in a pop of bright colour, go for it and use shocking hot colours, 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 6th September 2014.

My entry this week is a card I made as a little commission for my BFF Andrea's daughter's friends Nan - a 60th birthday using bright colours and a sewing theme.  Naturally, anything with a sewing theme I make has to have Tim's dressform on it, so I covered some Grungeboard with Claudine's sticky back canvas, die cut the dressform and then coloured it with Barn Door, Fired Brick and Vintage Photo DI's and then frayed the edges to reveal a bit of shabbiness of the canvas.

The background of the card was created using a few different techniques with Distress Inks.  Starting off with the Wrinkle Free Distress and Barn Door, Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade DI's, once I had the splashes and speckles of ink how I wanted them, I then inked over the top with the same inks and did a bit of Spritz & Flick to reveal more inky splats, this time bleached out ones.  I stamped the dress pattern in Watering Can Archival and used a waterbrush to add more colour to the outfit... and then used a waterbrush to remove colour from her face, painting water over the face, dabbing with a cloth and repeating until the DI had almost been removed.  I pricked holes around the edge of the card and used a fineliner to add stitches... I would have used a sewing machine but seeing as I am rubbish with a sewing machine, I can't sew straight to save me life, I decided to go for the faux look.  Embellies finished off the card and I used four of my little stash of Tim's Idea-ology Snaps - oh how I wish we could still get them!  I know you can buy them from haberdashers but the colours of his snaps are my fave!   

So!  What do you have planned for today?  I am still under the weather, whatever this gastric thingybug is has me a bit wishywashy so I have a lovely afternoon of Skype with Ellen planned... we haven't had an I Challenge Thee for literally several yonks so hopefully I will be covered in paint and ink come tea-time!   Thanks for looking, have a great day whatever you have planned.  TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 283 - String of Pearls

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Big thanks for all the cracking carmine creations (oooh, la!la!) entered for last weeks challenge.  This week the new theme is.... STRING.  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 with a link 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 on your upload) or via email and attaching a small res pic for me to see (my email addy can be found by clicking on my photo over in the sidebar)  If you wish to view other peoples entries, simply click on their link in the comments box and you will be transported to their blog.   The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 23rd November 2013.

My entry this week is a rather festive tag.  I saw Tim do a fab technique ages ago and I haven't had a chance to play til now.  Basically, you get some rub on's. Rub them on and then ink over the top and the rub on is resisted... so whilst you can still see it, it also has a great light outline around the edge of the image.  I used a Wrinkle Free Distress technique for my tag, adding Iced Spruce, Broken China, Pine Needles and Salty Ocean Distress Inks to the tag... I love the little dapples you get with this technique.   I added some stamping to the base of the tag - firstly, using Aquamarine Archival and a Diamonds stamp from Kaisercraft... and then a gorgeous flourish stamp from a really old Tim Xmas set and Jet Black Archival so that popped from the background.

I used grungeboard to die cut the Pine Tree and then coloured it with Pine Needles and Vintage Photo DI's.  Then I got the old Rock Candy Distress Glitters out and by running Glossy Accents around the edges of the boughs, I made some "snow" for the tree.  I have had this leaping reindeer lurking around on the shelf above my desk for 376 years so I thought I would allow him to become arty... I coloured him with Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain DI's and then again, using Glossy Accents, added Tarnished Brass Glitter to his antlers and Vintage Photo Glitter to his body.  A length of string around his neck with a bell finished him off nicely.   I added some more string to the tree trunk and also to the top of the tag... et voila! 

I am scheduling this post today - Friday - as I am away this weekend... hoping it posts at the right time!  So, if you entered later in the week to last weeks challenge, sorry I haven't had a chance to visit, I shall be on my way around on Monday (tomorrow... )   Thanks for looking, have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

Mr Penny Farthing From The Darkroom...

...aha! Yesh indeedily, it is time to show you another my of Darkroom Door DT pieces... this time I have been playing with Mr Penny Farthing.  Isn't he a handsome chap?  I love this collage style stamp... there's enough going on in the background that it is interesting without overpowering the image of Mr Farthing.  To see stockists for Darkroom Door stamp, CLICK HERE and to see some gorgeous creations from the rest of the DT, please CLICK HERE.

My take on Mr Farthing was, of course, to turn him into a hanging (being as I am addicted to all things wall-arty)   I started off with a piece of mountboard and gave that a quick coat of Black Soot Distress Stain, drying it, then sanding it back a bit to reveal the board underneath and then blending Walnut Stain DI over the edges to age it.  Mr Farthing is stamped onto cream card using Jet Black Archival and I then coloured in using Antique Linen, Forest Moss and Walnut Stain DI's.  He was then popped onto a piece of corrugated card (Thank you to Mr AlfieCat for letting me upcycle his food packaging!)  which I tore back to reveal some of the corrugations and painted over it with cream paint.  I then added some Frayed Burlap DI to tone the colours in and smidged around the edge with Jet Black Archival Ink.

The decorating was fun!  I die cut a couple of cogs from Grungeboard, coloured them with Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain DI and cut them to fit onto the base board.  Holes punched and eyelets set ready for some rusty wire for the hanging bit and then I started on Mr Farthing himself.  Adding the Ornate Plate over the top of him, some little wire swirls, a bit of a Journal Ticket and some twine around the corrugated card... and then my new fave Tissue Tape (diamonds - LOVE them!)  I added some metal cogs and a few bits of Idea-ology to finish the project off.

That's all from me for today... busy busy busy as usual... you will be pleased to hear that I finally tidied up the Room of Stash though... it is like a new pin now!  (not for long I guess lol)  Thanks for looking, have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

Tick Tock Time Challenge...

...cor blimey!  My old Mojo decided that he was going to take a trip to sunnier climes!  The very cheek of it!  Anyways, being as I have a free afternoon, I decided to tempt the old rascal back with a Time Challenge.  Basically, I adopt this method when my Mojo beggars off... in the vain hope he will be tempted by said challenge.  He is a perculiar chap is my Mojo you know, he can be here, quite happily disturbing my sleep, waking me up with his daft dreams and then when I really need him, he clears off!  Anyways... here's the challenge I set myself:

Max 45 Mins start to finish
Tag - Size 8
New Tim Papers (these are LUSH)
Masculine theme
Colours: Brown & Red
Chit Chat Stickers to make sentiment
Journal Ticket
Idea-ology & Prima embellishments
Treasure Gold - Florentine
NO FLOWERS!!!!

 Yikes! No pressure then eh?  Mind you, no point setting a challenge if I am going to make it easy right?  The no flowers was the easiest thing for me to panic about so I had a few moments to wrack my brains to think of what I could possibly do.  "I know!"  I thoughts to myself... "I will use cogs instead!"  So the start was the cutting of the cogs from Grungeboard and the Gadget Gears Alterations die.  I coloured these with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then used the Treasure Gold to highlight the teethy bits.   The base of the tag was created by covering it with some of the new Tim papers (did I say... LUSH!) I then used a different design, tearing it into strips, edging then with Gathered Twigs DI and then layering them over the paper base which I had also stamped, using Coffee Archival, with a script stamp to add some interest between the rows of torn strips.

The guy - whom it has been pointed out has no trousers... so I shall call him Lord Knickerless (thanks Bette for that on Facebook, made me hoot) is on the fabby stamp set designed by Brett Wedele for Tim Holtz.  Isn't he a handsome chap!?  *I mean Lord Knickerless... not Tim, although he is a handsome chap too... I shall shut up now... ahem... rofl*  Anyways, he was stamped in Jet Black Archival onto more of the gorgeous papers and then coloured using na waterbrush and Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs & Fired Brick Distress Stains and then once dried, I blended Walnut Stain DI around the edges to age him.  I made up a phrase for Lord Knickerless... that is using Chit Chat Stickers, popped onto card, cut out and edged with Walnut Stain DI.  The Journal Ticket has been cut into just to make it fit and then the cogs were layered on.  I set about the embellies... using Sunrise/Sunset metal cogs and clocks... some Junkyard brads and of course, my favest new Idea-ology lovelyness... the new Collage Keys which had a bit of Treasure Gold applied to tone the metal in.  And there you have it... I finished it in 43 mins!  WOW!  I didn't cheat on time either!!!

Anyways... if you fancy a challenge, please do feel free to have a go at making something like this... you can add in your own recipe bits if you don't have the same as me... but remember... 45 mins... MAX!  Please do let me know if you try it too...   Right, I shall away... my back is being particularly annoying this week and the pain is driving me nuts so I plan to flop onto the sofa and watch a bit of telly this evening...   Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 239 - Come Fly With Me

Gooooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all.  Huge thanks for the gorgeous entries for last weeks challenge.  I will announce the winner of the tag in a mo... but first! This weeks challenge.  Well, I am about to spontaneously combust with excitement because this week is THE week that I fly to America to CHA and to meet up with Ellen and my Ranger Sisters.  I am feeling a bit of a giddy kipper now because I have realised it is THIS week!  So, with that in mind the challenge for this week is THINGS THAT FLY (see what I did there huh? you know, cos I will be flying THIS week *snort*) and all you need to do to join in is make something that includes stamping and the theme.  Once you have made your creation, pop back here with a link to the place you are showing it - if you haven't got a blog, worry not, you can also join in via any web-hosty photo-jobby and also by emailing me direct with a photo or via Facebook - simply leave me a Facebook message and I can come and visit you.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 12th January 2013.

Anyways, I have kept you in suspenders for long enough... the winner of the tag I made for last weeks challenge has been picked.  We had a total of 85 entries, so I fed that into Mr Random.org and he gave me this result:

Which tallies with the entry from KEZZY.  Big big thanks to everyone for joining in... and Kezzy, please can you email your addy to me so I can pop your tag into the post :O))

So, my entry this week.  Well, as you know, I have been fighting the Battle of the Doom of Trash since early Wednesday.  Yes, that's right... a whole FOUR days is what I have spent in my Room of Stash, bringing order and cleanliness back to my life.  You see, as well as my resolution to find the positive in all things and have a more positive outlook, I have also decided that it is high time to become a grown-up and get organised.  I have never really been one for orderly things... but when it comes to booking classes and demo days I needed to get my act together so I know what I am doing, where I am doing it and when I am doing it!  So, I have become a veritable paragon of virtue and have made myself a book for...erm.. bookings (fancy!) and also added pouches to it so I have an "at a glance" thing for each month too!  So as well as clearing out old crud and getting rid of 543 tonnes of cobwebs (yep, there were that many) I have brought some order to my life.  And I have to say, I feel rather good about it.

So good that being as the Room of Stash is now clear of trash, I decided to get out all my Studio 490 stamps (I am lucky to have very lots of them) and had a good old play with ink and Grungepaper, stamps and embellies.  The tag is a #10 size so it is a big 'un.  I started by colouring it with Antique Linen, Victorian Velvet and Frayed Burlap DI's, flicking with water to add some blotches and then edging with Walnut Stain.  The overstamped background is one of my favest 490 backgrounds and it was stamped with Rose Madder Archival Ink.  I then added the wordy strip in Jet Black Archival and sized up roughly where my floral embellie was going... and then stamped some flourishes in Coffee Archival so they look like they are appearing from behind the flower.

Speaking of the flower - four different flower stamps make up the main bit - Funky Flower Art has to be one of my most used sets - the half flowers are my fave, perfect for breaking up a design without overpowering it.  All the flowers and the leaves were stamped onto Grungepaper using Jet Black for the flowers and Olive Archival for the leaves.  A quick zap with a heat tool to dry off the ink and then I cut them out.  Next I overstamped the flowers and leaves with background stamps, both front and back, to add some more decoration.  I stamp the back so when the Grunge is curled up, you can see more pattern, no ugly plain bits.  The same applies for inking the Grunge... always do both sides - that way you don't get ugly grey bits and it also covers the cut edges too.   The butterflies were stamped onto Grungepaper and Grungeboard three times each.  I cut out the Grungepaper ones in full and just the top wings and body for the Grungeboard... then coloured them with DI and stuck them together.  The body bits are little resin buds which were white... so they got the Treasure Gold Brass treatment to colourize them.

I added some lace and Gem Clips to the middle of the tag and ribbon and Idea-ology to the top of the tag and made a sentiment using cream card and 490 wordage... how perfect is that sentiment eh?  I coloured the card as before and then just cut out a banner shape.  Oh and Sam Spidey came out for a play too... he has been ignored for far too long, I can't help but love him.  Finishing touches were a light scribble of 0.01 size black pen to add some faux stitching and a smidge of Treasure Gold right around the edges.. and that was it.  I had a lovely couple of hours playing and making this... and because I am so organised, I put everything away (it has a home now) before I did anything else!  I am not sure how long this organisational spree will last but, for now, I shall enjoy it!

So, there are a couple of piccies of the Room of Stash now it is nice and tidy... I haven't take photo's of the main bulk of the work, which was organising drawers and sorting more storage... basically cos whilst I know what is now in them and each has its own genre (for want of a better word) when I look inside them, they look...erm... a bit messy!  Well, crafty stash is never neat... is it?     Right, I shall away... have a lovely day and a fab week.  I am headed for bed now.  I haven't slept properly for three nights now... tis the excitement I am sure... Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

One Day Only Giveaway!

As I alluded yesterday... today I have a special giveaway for one randomly chosen entrant.  A few weeks ago I was asked if I would like to take part in a special promo for Homecrafts.  The remit was they send me one set of these fab reindeers for me to play with and one set to giveaway on my blog!  Well, how could I refuse?  The reindeers are made from papiermache and are really sturdy.  They are available in two sizes, 25 x 22.5cm and 20 x 17cm.   To be in with a chance of winning the set of reindeer, all you need to do is leave a comment for me here and click to follow my blog if you don't already.  As I mentioned, this is a one day only giveaway as I want to get the winner chosen and announced tomorrow so I can pop them into the post tomorrow or Saturday.  How simples is that!   The closing time for the last comment will be 23:59 today... any comments left after that time won't be eligable for the draw.  I will use Random.org to pick the winner for us.   It is worth popping over to Homecrafts as they have a wealth of crafty supplies on their website.  HERE is the linky to the reindeer page if you want to buy some anyway :O))

My reindeer was coloured with Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain DI... and then I smidged a bit of Black Soot around the edges using Cut & Dry so I could get into all the nooks and crannies.  I then spritzed him with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mists and once dried, I dabbed some SnowCap Dabber along his back and antlers and then sprinkled Rock Candy Dry Stickles over so he has a snowy look to him.

Here they are, in their un-altered state :O))

 
 I added some Ferro texture thru a Crafters Workshop stencil for a bit of detailing and cut out three mini Cardinals using Grungeboard and coloured them with DI's and stuck them together so it was thick enough to sit on his back.  The garland around his neck are some little berries that I got yonks ago, can't remember where from tho!   This altering took me about 30 mins... seriously quick or what!?  The larger one is going to be altered much more slowly, when I have a little more time to play... I have plans for him!

Right, I shall away... apologies for the slightly later than anticipated time of blogging, we are experiencing bad probs with our internet again... tis the trouble with living somewhere that doesn't have cable... and I am sure someone around here is doing a whole lot of downloading every night lol   Don't forget, to be in with a chance of winning, just leave a comment and click to follow if you don't already.  That's all for today... thanks for looking and have a good one!  TTFN

Hels x

Tag Time...

...cor blimey and thrice!  It is nearly November!  And... it is Tuesday! (bet you are glad I told you that... hahhaaa) and it means it is my day for The Stamp Attic DT.  This week I have mostly been playing with Metallic Distress Stains and have done a little show and tell HERE along with what I think of them... and a couple of ways to use them.  Next week I shall be doing another show and tell and will be using them in more different ways too.  To see more pics of my finished tag, please do go and check out the post.  Here's a sneaky peek anyways.

You will see I have made Pine Cones... and... I have found a doddle way of putting them together.  I have tried the cocktail stick and hot glue method, whilst it works, it is a wee bit dangerous for me being as anything molten hot is bound to end up dripping onto exposed skin.  So, when I was making them I had little think.... "wonder if Cosmic Glue will do it???"  Well, it works perfectly for the Spellbinders Spiral Blossoms... so I tried it... and yep! It works!  And... it is forgiving too, it glues the bottom of the Pine Cone pretty quickly, I only had to hold it for about a minute, then I started to bend the petals ( Know they aren't petals... can't think of the proper word...) and then because the base has stuck, you can then get some tweezers and pull the middle upwards so it turns from a flower into a pine cone!  Cool huh?  Anyways... I shall away... I have a very special birthday boy visitor arriving today and I am sooo looking forward to seeing him!  My Aged P (Dad - my affectionate nickname for him) is coming to stay for a couple of days... and... ssshh... he is bringing... Proper. Northern. Fish. And. Chips!  Yes, by the time he gets here they will be clap cold but... pop them onto a rack and into the oven for about 20 mins and they are back to gorgeousness.... and there will be mushy pea's too!  I can't even begin to describe how happy my little chops will be whilst I am scoffing said Fish & Chips, maybe I will get Grim to take a photo lol   Right, time to sign off... thanks for looking........ have a great day and... to all my American friends... PLEASE STAY SAFE!!!!  TTFN

Hels x

Winter Woodland...

...have you seen those new Idea-ology Woodland Trees? I loves them!  They start life as a creamy white colour and you just add your own colours to them.  For these I drizzled a combo of Lettuce and Pesto Alcohol Inks all over them... turned them upside down to get rid of the excess and then gave it is gentle blast of heat from a heat tool... that burns off the excess alcohol fumes.  As soon as I saw the trees I knew I would be faffing with a Studio 490 Art Part Spool... perfect size and height to show off these cool litte decorations.

please excuse rubbish blurry pics... my camera did not want to focus!!!

Anyways... I decided the trees needed some frostyness... so I got some Ranger Glue & Seal and brushed it over the bristles (be careful with this, I have a lovely Glue & Seal splattered top now lol) and then rolled the tree in Dry Rock Candy Stickles (love this, looks like sugar)  And then I did the same again for the ickle tree.  I wanted to use the wreath that comes with the two trees but it didn't fit with the design so that is waiting for another project.

The Spool was covered with music score paper from the MME Lost & Found Xmas paper pad and then blended with Gathered Twigs DI around the edges... sanded to neated up and then assembled.  I made three Tattered Pinecones (Cosmic Glue is the best glue for this!) and added in a mini Red Cardinal (how sweet is he!) and some Branches and Holly Leaf cut from Grungeboard.   The little reindeer is a Movers & Shapers mini die... with a golden bell around his neck. (all Sizzix Alterations dies)  The ickle snowman is actually a tree decoration; my BFF Andrea sadly lost her father-in-law last year and when she was in the process of clearing out the house, she happened across some really old Xmas decs.  When she showed this little fella to me I knew I would be using him for something arty... I also have a little tree and a little angel from the same set which I will be using sometime soon too.

I have been keeping an eye on the weather over in America... and to all my American friends, stay safe, stay dry and stay warm... and praying the hurricane passes by and doesn't cause too much damage.  It is times like this that I feel the distance between us all.  The internet is a wonderful thing... makes the whole wide world so much smaller and accessible... but it also makes me realise how far away I am from my friends at times like this.  

 
That's all from me for today... I have about 462 things on my to-do list today... having had three days sick last week has made me so behind with all my projects... an inky day is called for me-thinks!  Oh and thank you all for the amazing comments on yesterdays post... wowow!!! Over 100 comments.... good luck all in the prize draw!  Thanks for looking... TTFN!


Hels x

C is For...

Christmas!!!   Oh yesh, I have been playing for my Stamp Attic DT today - all the deets are HERE on the Stamp Attic blog.  I usually am the one who is haring about like a loon on December 1st, no stuff made and all that.  Well, this year I am being super organised and am getting ready early!  Well, my crafting is getting ready early, not so sure about the rest of it yet lol   Here's a sneak peek of the tag I have made... please do pop over to see the rest of it :O))

C is also for.... cruddy internet!  I am grumpy today because yonder t'internet has been playing up biiiiig stylee this past few days.  Yesterday it was practically non-existent and today it is sporadic.  I just did a broadband speed test... it was 0.79mb.  I know, slower than dial up right!  Tis the trouble with this daft old ADSL rubbish that we have to put up with.  I so wish that Mr Virgin or Mr BT would dig up our road and bung some cable in... we were spoilt at the old house and even now, 2 1/2 years later I miss it.  (tis the only thing I miss about that house though lol)   Anyways, enough of the whinging about my lack of internet and onto what happened yesterday!   Right, so Grim has gone to see his BFF for an overnight stay.  I am full of ideas what I am going to do to keep myself busy and all that.  So, after dropping him at the station, I came home, settled to watch Strictly from this weekend so I wouldn't have to avoid the radio all day.  Watched that, corrr, wasn't Denise amazing!  And Colin Salmon, of course, he was the best (snort)  Once I had finished watching that I decided to go and get a shower and spruce meself up a bit.  This was 11am. Well, I happened to notice the bed and how inviting it looked.  Well, 40 winks won't hurt will it?   Aha, yep, actually it turned into more like 40,000 winks.  I woke up at 4pm!   And then went back to bed at 11ish last night and slept right through til 9am!  I think I must have needed to re-charge the old batteries.  The fact that I look like I have slept for that long isn't helping.  I have an almighty pillow-scar down my cheek, very attractive eh?  With that delightful image, I shall say, thanks for looking.. TTFN!

Hels x

Curiously....

... cor blimey and thrice! There was me, saying I would be back yesterday (actually, I didn't say yesterday, I said "tomorrow" but I meant yesterday.... confoosed? me too!) Anyways... then I got hit by the dreaded lurgy. I can only think that it was those blinking pesky mozzi bites that did for me. Needless to say, I spent most of the day either shivering like it was mid-winter or sleeping on the sofa! I am feeling a bit better today but still not 100%... although I am not going to let a few mozzi bites ruin today... because... don't tell anyone but... tis my birthday! Oh yesh, tis National Cake Eating Day once more and I for one will be snarfing back more than my fair share. But, before all of that... I have my entry to the Compendium II Challenge. Hosted by the ever lovely Linda Ledbetter, based on the book by the Duke of Distress, HERE is the challenge and HERE is Tim's website for you to go and have a nosey.


This week is all about Pocket Watches... which I just so happen to have one here that I haven't done anything with yet. SO, I made a travel themed watch and popped it onto a tag so it goes with all the other tags I have made. All the deets on how I made it are HERE on The Stamp Attic blog.




So. Cake! Pressies! Cards! Oh yesh, a lovely nice crop of all of those.... here are a few pics of them:

Grim made a lovely job of baking my cake.....

Gorgeous blooms from Grim....

Fab birthday cards...thank you :O))

And... check out this fabby pressie from my dear old Dad. Some proper copper bottom pans. I know, I know, saucepans, for one who doesn't like cooking? Well, every time we have been on the boat, I have moaned that I love their pans (so much easier to cook with) and how cruddy ours at home are... so, a brand new set to play with. Don't tell anyone though - I have a reputation to keep and I don't want peeps thinking that I actually cook...



Thank you for all your birthday wishes on here and on Facebook and Twitter... wowzers! I am grinning like a loon reading them all... and speaking of reading... CLICK HERE, it will take you off on the back of a giant birthday butterfly to Ellen's place... she has done a lovely birthday post for me... and, even better, she just phoned me... all the way from that America, which is a very long way away... the miracles of the modern world eh?



Oh and when I was clicking the camera, Alf got in on the action.... shame my photography skills are no better now I am a year older... but isn't he just the cutest!!! Right, I must away... I have an afternoon of lovliness planned... and later... chinese takeaway... mmmm, nomnomnomnom..... Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Curiously Collaged...

...tis time for the Compendium of Curiosities II challenge... I LOVE this challenge!! I know, I say that every week but it is true! Invented and hosted by the ever lovely Linda Ledbetter, the challenge focuses each week on a different technique from the Duke of Distress himself, Tim Holtz. This week the challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie so there be prizes too! Check out all the deets HERE on how to join in.



This week I had heaps of fun with Tissue Wrap, another fave product :O)) All the deets etc on what goodies I used are HERE on The Stamp Attic blog. I used Juniper Dabber, this was the first ever Dabber colour I ever bought, I love it because it can change colour depending on what you put with it... if you add bluey tones it goes bluey and if you add greeny tones it goes more...erm... green! (well, in my eyes it does lol)


I am speed blogging today because I am still tackling that "to do" list and it seems to be ever growing! Yikes! Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Branching Out...

...well, not me... that would be far to energetic! No, I am beginning todays waffle-athon with a tag made using my new Bird Branch Alterations die... this has been living in the Room of Stash for nearly a month now and... tis only the second time I have used it! The first time was on my 12 Tags of 2012 "April" tag... oh and if you haven't seen about this... click HERE to whizz off to the Duke Of Distress' website... all the deets are there.


I don't know about you but... I sometimes start thinking about projects just as I am about to fall asleep... I should keep a little book in the bedside cabinet so I can draw my ideas down and then feel free to zip off to the Land of Nod with a clear imagination... but no, I don't have suggested book (although I may just make one) and being as I couldn't get off to sleep last night, I figured I may as well get up and get inky. For some reason, I always find crafting during the night to be the most fruitful... even though I have been tippytoesing around so as not to wake Grim (and yep, guess what? I dropped said Bird Branch die onto the floor... cue frozen statue like stance and face holding a wincing expression... phew, thankfully I didn't wake him, although Alf was none too impressed as he was asleep on his bed and it made him jump *payback for all those times he has taken a flying leap at my toes in the middle of the night lol*)


Where was I? Ah, yes, insomnia... well, I have choices for these nights of insomnia, I could sit and read my book, watch the tellybox, try to get back to sleep or... get inky. You should see the state of my paws now! A rather fetching shade of purple they are! Can you see the background stamped onto the tag? It is from the new Mixed Media set - I stamped it in Coffee Archival onto the Texture Fade and then embossed it through Victor (who was not being quiet!) I love this technique and I really do need those Reflections stamps (next on the wishlist!) Once I had done the inking - Shabby Shutters, Broken China and Seedless Preserves, decorated the tag with bits and bobs, I decided to try out another of those Gem Clips. Now, I have used four so far and am trying to be frugal with them but... I love 'em. This time I added a Jump Ring and some Foliage to the clip and bobbed it onto the side of the tag.


This here card that I am showing...well, I was asked by my lovely neighbour if I could make a card for her dear friends birthday. Sure, no probs... it gives me an excuse to go "pretty" and make a "proper" card. I say proper because the cards I usually make end up more tag-like. I have used some cream cardstock and made it into an easel card (yes Caz, I tried the stepper card thingy and got cross... I am stoopid, tis official *must try harder* lol)



The papers are Basic Grey Capella which I have had for a yonk and a half and only stroked... and the flowers are from a packet that the lid has fallen off so I have nooooo idea who makes them or if you can still get them. I bought a shed load of paper flowers several yonks ago when I was into *dare I admit this....* cute cards. The thing is, I see talented peeps making cute cards all the time, I marvel at their layering skills, their colour finesse but when I try to create something like that it just turns out all inky and stampy. I shall stick to what I am comfy with I reckon.



Anyways... I just checked the time and it is nearly 7am! Which means that I should really go and try to get 40 winks... then again, there's that other thingywotsit that I was thinking about last night, I could go and make a start on that... ahh, decisions, decisions! Thanks for looking... have a loverly day! TTFN

Hels x

Wascally Wabbit... Plus Tag Winner

...Isn't it the best time of year? With all those acid greens and yellows popping out of branches and the ground, Spring is my fave season.. so inspired by the colours of the new leaves budding on the tree outside my window, I have made a tag. But first, to business! Last Saturday's taggy giveaway had 57 lovely and muchly appreciated comments... and I hopped over to see Mr. Random.org to ask him to pick a number for me... which he kindly did... and that number was #24, which tallies with a comment left by MINXY. Please can you email me your addy so I can pop the tag into the post for you!


I don't know about you but I tend to see colours in the real world and marry them up with colours in the Distress range... so we could have a lovely Rusty Hinge and Aged Mahogany sunset... or a Wild Honey and Worn Lipstick sunrise. (please tell me it isn't just me that does that... is it???) Anyways... Scattered Straw, Crushed Olive and Pine Needles made up my colourful background, all blended and spritzed with water, then edged with a very teensy smidge of Black Soot to frame the design. The butterflies are Wild Honey with Rusty Hinge and the Wabbit... well, he was coloured direct to rubber with Distress Markers, stamped onto Grungeboard, embossed with clear a few times and then overpainted with Snowcap Dabber and a waterbrush.


I had better get going... I have my Sunday Stamper entry for tomorrow to make... oooh, it is the 200th week of challenges, so there will be candy up for grabs... please do hop back tomorrow to check it out!! Thanks for looking... and Happy Easter! TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 199 - On The Road Again

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all! Many many thanks for all the gorgeous birdy creations entered into last weeks challenge, it is so heartwarming to see so many entries each week! On with this weeks challenge... the theme is picked because of what I am up to today... more of that in a mo though. So, the theme is... TRANSPORT. To join in is simples: make a little something - it can be anything you like. Add in the theme and some stamping and then hop back here and leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entries. If you haven't got a blog/picassa/flickr etc, you can email me with a pic of your creation too... oh and you can also join in on Facebook - just publish your pic and pop over to leave me a comment and I can come and have a nosy. The challenge will remain open until 21:00, Saturday 7th April 2012.


So... the theme this week... well, today is all about cars for us because it is the start of the British Touring Cars season at Brands Hatch... I love the Touring Cars more than any other sport and cannot wait to hear the roar of the engines and smell the burning rubber... and of course, as ever, we will be supporting Jason Plato **shhh, don't tell... I swoons lol**



Anyways... enough waffling about that... and on to my entry; it is a tag *how original* lol This one is slightly different because I made a bit of a feature for the background, using Rock Candy Cracklepaint and a Tim Holtz Mini Mask of a Compass... spreading the Rock Candy through the mask and setting aside to dry... once dried, I went over the tag with loads of Stains and water - Old Paper, Weathered Wood and Crushed Olive and then blending Faded Jeans and Black Soot DI's over the tag too.



The car is stamped onto Grungeboard, embossed and cut out and then coloured with Pumice Stone DI and attached to the tag with 3d foam. I added some background stamping onto the tag, made a little message to pop inside the Ornate Frame and then got handy with some Idea-ology (am in lurve with those new Mini Cogs!)



Right then... this time next week the Sunday Stamper will be 200 weeks old! So, there will be a special theme and a giveaway too... I will keep you in suspenders til then though (meany lol) I must away... things to do, like scrubbing my hands so they are ok to be seen in public... sarnies to make and nails to be painted... Thanks for looking... have a wonderful day all... TTFN

Hels x

A Balloon & Bambi...

Ohhhlallaaaaa... I love getting surprises and yesterday when the doorbell rang, there stood a chap with a mahooosive box... which was as light as a feather! Having taken delivery of said light as a feather box, I was in a rush to see what was inside... and nope, I haven't ordered anything (honest, I haven't.... well, apart from one thing but that is a Christmas pressie so it doesn't count lol) Anyways... imagine my surprise when I opened up the box and out popped a big balloon! Isn't it fab! And how kind... it is from Joanne... what a wonderful surprise Joanne, thank you SO much, I love it... it made me smile very lots and... the choccies in the box too... mmm, nomnomnomnom... Here's the balloon, it is a helium filled one and has a little anchor on the end of the string so it doesn't float away. AlfieCat isn't even bothered by it... I would have thought that he would have gone a bit bonkers with the string but nope, he is being as good as gold... I think he is saving his energy for when the Christmas tree goes up!




Anyways... hands up who is having a ball with the fantabulous and wonderous 12 Tags of Christmas from the one and only Duke of Distress himself, Tim Holtz! (click his name to see what I am on about!!) Yesterdays tag... ooooh, I lurve this one... covering Grunge with Claudine's Sticky Back Canvas... brrrrilliant i-deer (ahem.. grrroan) My brads at the bottom went a weensy bit wonky... not sure how I managed that but never mind...and I think I overdid it with the PP Mists too lol Tis all a learning curve though... I mean, I had never thought to colour one patch of the Kraft Resist card with DI's... how lucky are we that Tim does all these techniques on a tag for us to learn... so... THANK YOU Tim!




Right... I had better get a wiggle on. I had to take Ferdy to "hospital" yesterday... he has been making really baaaad noisy, like a screeching metallic noise from the back wheels. Well, Mr Mechanic has said that a piston had stuck in the brake caliper and it needed releasing, Ferdy needed new pads and then he should be ok. Anyways... Ferdy has been restored to good health (hopefully) and Mr Mechanic has some dosh towards Christmas so I had better get over to the garage before they shut! Thanks for looking... oh and don't forget, a new theme for the Sunday Stamper tomorrow! TTFN

Hels x