Exciting News...

Really!??  I cannot believe that I haven't been and waffled at you for FOUR months!!!  YIKES!!!  I have no other excuse except for life got in the way!  Such a lot has happened this year and not all of it has been very good or very pleasant, in fact, most of it has been pretty chuffing awful and, as a result, Mr Mojo did a bunk (who can blame him with the face I have had on me tho lol)  However, things have started to settle, look up, get better and so on and I have some very goodly and exciting news that I have been all of a dither about...  a few weeks ago, the lovely folks at Tonic Studios asked me if I would like to join their presenting team!  They have some wonderful new stamp releases coming up over the next few months and asked if I would like to come on board and help with the samples and guest presenting the shows on Create & Craft.  What an amazing offer!  How could I refuse?  I am sure that all of you crafters out there know just how great Tonic products are... and I can confirm their stamps are just as fabulous as the rest of the goodies they bring to us.   I am doing my very first shows tomorrow, 1pm and 5pm on Create & Craft, bringing this little fella, Marmalade, to your screens along with his little pals and the various accessories they need to make their world complete.  *please excuse the poor photo quality, I used my phone, I am a rubbish photographer, the original is away at the studio's and this was the only piccie I could find!  Will try harder next time*

Marmalade is a rather cheeky looking bear who really enjoyed the Distress treatment I gave him.  I have coloured him with lots of different colours just to see what suits him, I have paper pieced him, embossed him and also tried the fab Nuvo alcohol markers on him too... as you know, I have always been an inky girl at heart, so this is Marmalade looking very bear-like with his little puppy pal, coloured with Peeled Paint and Forest Moss Distress Ink and a waterbrush.  The panel he is sitting on is a Tonic Essentials circle die set and the words are from the Miniature Moments die "best friends". 

I hope you can join me tomorrow at 1pm and 5pm... I am so excited, nervous, excited, nervous and even a bit more exciteder to be joining the wonderful folks at Tonic Studios, it is an honour to be asked to be a part of their talented team.  Did I say I was excited???    I will also be on again on Tuesday, bright at early at 8am, 4pm and 6pm with a launch of a brand new Nuvo product which has me literally popping with ... um... more excitement!   I shall away now, I need to lay down in a darkened room and do some breathing exercises to calm myself before I am overcome with a full on fit of the vapours!  Thanks for looking and have a grand weekend.

TTFN

Hels x

Carte Blanche for Blossoms & Bookpages!

Goodly afternoon!  Ooh I love it when a plan comes together!  It isn't often that I think of a project and actually make it so it looks like it did in my head.  This project started out in my head looking like... well, exactly like the finished article!  Unusual for me, I usually just slap stuff anywhere and faff around for hours trying to get things to look right.  Over on the Creative Carte Blanche blog, I chose the theme for July, Blossoms & Bookpages.  I chose the theme because I wanted to make this project... and being of slatternly persuasion, it is oft the case I will not end up making something because other things get in the way.  Perfect excuse to get my fingers inky and make something for the living room too.

I bought an old copy of Hans Christian Anderson's childrens stories a few months ago from a charity booksale... it cost me the princely sum of 50p.  One of the stories is Thumbelina.... I have a bit of an addition to fuchsias... well, actually, a lot of an addiction (I have 79 different varieties now *see, told ya, addicted*) and it just so happens there is a new fuchsia called Thumbelina.  I also have the Heartfelt Creations Fuchsia Dies... so... put them together and you get this project!

The shadowbox is from The Range and is 8" x 8", I smidged a wee bit of black paint onto the bare wood, sanded it back and then blended Ground Espresso DI over the surface to get this nice aged look. 

The fuchsias were made by sticking the bookpages onto card, die cutting the shapes and inking with Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet DI's to get the colours and then assembling the blooms.  The stems of the flowers are thin strips of bookpage/cardstock inked with Peeled Paint and the branches were made (very fiddly-diddly) by twisting bookpages around wire then inking with the green ink plus a smidge of Frayed Burlap.  The base inside is more bookpages, collages, knocked back with Antique Linen and Bundled Sage Distress Paint, splattered with Peeled Paint and Bundled Sage Distress Spray and then gently inked with more Ground Espresso to bring the whole design together.

I decided against adding any embellies (I know, what???) and wordage as I want the blooms to really stand out, it is simple but so pretty I didn't want to take away any limelight from those fuchsias.  Anyways... that's it really... I spent ages making this... the blooms are pretty easy to put together but it was the placement of them and the wrapping of the wire and making sure that it looked exactly like it did in my head...  Thanks for looking, have a grand weekend!  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

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

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

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

Sunday Stamper - Week 366 - Imagine

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy  Sunday to you all!  Thanks for your entries into the last challenge... it was nice to see some new peeps entering too, so thank you!  This week is a nice easy theme... just use the word IMAGINE.   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 21st November 2015.

My entry this week is a class sample from a few weeks ago.  As you all know, I loves Distress and especially Distress Paints... I love the freedom they give me to smoosh the colours around a project.  I used Mowed Lawn, Mermaid Lagoon, Broken China and Cracked Pistachio Distress Paints on this project... there's Ranger's Texture Paste on there too under the paints, smooshed on thru Tim's Flourish Layering Stencil... I used my magic little Stabilo All pencil to add shading around the stencilling to make it pop from the background a bit.

The decoration is made using Tim's Perspective butterfly, stamped three times, cut out so it is smaller with each layer and coloured with Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron and Spiced Marmalade.   I added buttons, pearls and little star gems which I coloured with Treasure Gold so they were metallic rather than just being any old colour.  I also used the Ornate Frame die, Tim's new Sprig punch (this is FAB) and Tim's Mixed Media diecuts on the canvas and the words is formed of letter from his Alphabet Thinlets dies.   Around the edge of the canvas I did my usual two tone look - I know, I do this all the time but I like the look of it!

That's all for today... I hope you have a cracking day whatever you have planned... thanks for looking and... TTFN

Hels x

Just Crazy 'Bout The Birds...

...I love this particular time of the year as it means it is the NEC Hobbycraft show and once again, I have the pleasure of demo-ing for the lovely Brenda and David from Craft Obsessions on their stand.  I have been shopping with Craft Obsessions since I first discovered, with huge thanks to my then new friend and now BFF Andrea, that there were such things as craft shops on yonder t'internet!!!  Fancy that!!!   This was in 2006 I hasten to add - I might be a bit of a div with all things teckernerolgicals but I certainly know how to add stuff to a basket ;O))    If you haven't visited Craft Obsessions before (where have you been!!!) HERE is the linky to the shop... just a little word of warning tho... there is a tonne of gorgeousness there and you will be tempted *don't say I didn't warn thee!*

Anyways, yesterday and tomorrow (7th November) I am demoing again for David and Brenda (stand E20) and have been playing with lots of lovely stuff... including all things Distress and... Gelato's.  Now I haven't used these before so I gave myself a good long sesh playing with them and coming up with different ways to use them and effects to achieve with them.  I admit when I first started playing I did think they were a bit, well, ummm odd... they look like a lipstick, feel like wax and yet will dilute with water!  Once I had got my bonce around that I was well away... and I loves them now!  I have even been mixing them with Distress, combining two completely different products together is fun!

Gelato's background and colouring for butterfly with Distress Ink edges

As well as the inky side of things, I have also been let loose with the Bird Crazy stamps, accessories and dies... oh ho ho!  I had said to Brenda that I wasn't going to use them... nope, not going to... didn't even really like them! Ummmm... I am the first to admit when I am wrong and yes, I was wrong!  THEY ARE SO CUTE!!!!  As are the little accessory stamps that have been designed to go with the birdys so you can... DRESS THEM UP!!!!   As soon as I saw the bunny ears and the specs I knew I was lost!  This card has been made with a mix of Distress and Gelato's and the left hand bird has been togged up to look a little bit like a 1970's tv detective *obviously I have seen said detective progs on UK Gold, faaar too young to remember them.... ahem*  And his compadre on the right is a bit of a divvy with his bunny ears and hanging around upside down... but he loves his little detective matie... we all have that one friend, right?  *mm, usually me*

So, if you are going to be at the NEC tomorrow (Saturday) please do pop by to the Craft Obsessions stand... it would be grand to see you there.   I shall away now... I have the Sunday Stamper post to schedule now... I am away off to South Shields really early on Sunday so I need to get organised (for once).    Have a goodly weekend peeps... thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 365 - Freedom

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy  Sunday to you all!  Thanks for your entries into the last challenge... sorry I have been hit and miss with the posting of the challenge... I have decided that the Sunday Stamper will now be a fortnightly challenge, that gives me more time in between to visit you all and make the next theme!!!  To start the new regime, I have decided a lovely easy theme... and it is FREE.   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 7th November 2015.

I have been playing with some new stamps... from Carabelle Studio... isn't this birdy just the most delish fella!!!  All the detailing on his feathers and the look on his face, it just appealed to me!  I made an inky background on the tag by blending Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge and Ground Espresso Distress Inks onto the tag and then lightly spritzing a patch of it with water.  I popped a stencil over the top of the tag and misted it with water, removing the stencil carefully, leaving the water to do its magic with the ink and leaving little bleached shapes behind... I love this technique.

I added some more stencilling using Tim's Blossom stencil and Ground Espresso ink across the top of the tag and then set about decorating it... Mr Birdy is stamped onto cream card, cut out and then coloured with Antique Linen and Ground Espresso ink and popped onto 3d foam to raise him up a bit.  The little flowers are Tim's Tiny Tattered Florals... how cute are these!!! Fiddly but soooo cute!!!  I added the word which is another of Tim's diecuts... and then edged around the tag with more Ground Espresso so I had a nice framed finish to it.

That's all for today... I am scheduling this post as I am away to sunny Sheffield first thing for a class... I will hopefully get time during the week to pop pics of the class on here.   Hope you having a great day and thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

Feeling A Little Wilted... Violet!

... I dunno, I turn me back for five minutes and three weeks has whizzed past!  I have been busy playing with some of the new Distress Ink colours that have now arrived in the Room of Stash... I have been longing for a proper grey colour in the range for about 381 years and finally my wish is fulfilled with Hickory Smoke.  I know it has been out since June but I have only just managed to get me mitts on it!  Of course, it would be rude not to give Wilted Violet a new home too...

I made a nice inky background using both these colours in Distress Paints... I love the smooshyness of a Distress Paint and the fact that the colour co-ordinate perfectly with the inks is a bonus too.  Once the background was dry, I used two different Layering Stencils to add Hickory Smoke and Wilted Violet ink over the background for a little added interest.  How gorgeous is that stamp???  It is from Carabelle Studio and is my new fave so expect to see it on everything :O))  I stamped using Jet Black Archival and then stamped again onto cream card and cut out a few of the butterflies, coloured them and then added little twists of rusty wire for bodies.  The tag is not quite finished as it needs a tonne of embellies adding to it but you get the gist!

I will be back tomorrow with a new Sunday Stamper theme.... I have decided that my hit and miss approach to the Sunday Stamper needs to stop and I need to get back to being regular with it... so from tomorrow onwards, it will be a fortnightly challenge... that way I have no excuse to miss a week!  My Mojo is still lurking somewhere on the boundaries of my periferal vision... I am hoping that a good clean and tidy of the Room of Stash next week will prompt some inky action!  Watch this space!  Thanks for looking... hope you are having a grand weekend.  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 364 - Forever Autumn

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Autumnal Sunday to you all!  Thanks for your entries into the last challenge... and apologies for missing a week... time got away with me last weekend and before I knew it it was yesterday!!!  This week the theme is... AUTUMN.   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 the theme AND some stamping. 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 10th October 2015.

My entry this week is a tag I made yesterday during my demo day at Daisy's Jewels in Coventry.  I had a lovely time - thank you to all the ladies who came along to see me getting my paws inky too.
 

The base of the tag has Fossilized Amber, Rusty Hinge and a smidge of Ground Espresso DI blended onto it.... I then did a bit of stencilling using Tim's Argyle stencil and Fossilized Amber and then popped Tim's Blossom stencil over the top and used Ground Espresso to add some more detail.  The decoration is teensy flowers made using the Teensy Tattered Florals dies... how cute are these!!!  I thought they would be a right faff to put together but Tim has cleverly added a quilling tool into the die pack so it was a doddle... and aren't they just so sweet!!!  But where is the stamping???  Aha!  See the top right and bottom left?  There is a grungy little detail there using a Carabelle stamp - I have just discovered this range of stamps (I know, I live under a rock...) and I have to say I am in lurves!! They are delish and on white rubber too....  I think I can see a new addiction appearing!

I shall away now... I am just heading off for a class back at Daisy's... all things Melt Pottery today!  I will be back either tomorrow or Tuesday with a little bit of news... a new arrival in the Sheridan family and I can't wait to share him with you!   On that bombshell I shall say... have a grand day... thanks for looking and... TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 363 - Whole Lotta Rosie

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Thanks for your entries into last weeks nature themed challenge.  This week the theme is... ROSES.   To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something; a card, canvas, ATC, a piece of altered art and add on some roses - be they handmade, paper, stamped, real... the choice.. it be yours! Add in the theme AND some stamping. 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 26th September 2015.

My entry this week is a glass jar *yes, I have been scoffing more pickled onions!* that I altered using the Rock Candy Crackle technique - I love the crackle effect on the glass!  The roses were made using Tim's Tattered Florals die and the Mini Tattered Florals Movers & Shapers die- cutting cream card, inking with Cracked Pistachio and Dusty Concord Distress Ink and overstamping with the Dusty Concord and a Studio 490 background stamp to add a bit of prettiness to them.  There is a tutorial I did ages ago with a step by step on how to make these roses - doesn't matter whether they are the big or little ones... the tut will work for both... tis over there in the sidey bar *points left*

Once the roses were made, I fired up my Melt Pot and melted Clear UTEE into it... then dipped the roses into the clear UTEE to create a faux porcelain effect.  The leaves are the Mini Tattered Leaves Movers & Shapers - also cut from cream card, inked with Peeled Paint DI and overstamped with Forest Moss DI... and also dipped into the clear UTEE.  The sentiment is a Studio 490 stamp, popped onto another of Tim's dies - the Movers & Shapers Labels die.

What a gorgeous day it is here today... bright blue sky and sunshine... which means that I might nip into the garden for a few hours tidying and getting ready for autumn... the old cad Mojo is still not here all the time so while he is away, I shall get greenfingered instead of inkyfingered!  I hope you have a grand day!  Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x