On The Tiles...

...a few weeks ago I taught my Mixed Media Masterboard class and for a change, I actually got a class sample finished!  Oh yesh, normally, class samples get half made and then end up bunged under my desk in a bag with the idea that one day I will finish them... yep, one day!   Anyways, I loved the colours I used on this one so much I carried on when I got home and finished off the decorations.

As this is a class sample, I won't go into great detail on how I made it but I will tell you about the colours... aren't they gorgeous?  I used a mix of Cosmic Misting Ink Jade Sea and Dirty Martini Dylusions sprays and blended them together with water to get this washy effect.

The flowers were coloured with Ancient Green and Egyptian Blue Cosmic Sprays with a smidge of Black Marble Dylusions to get some metallic effect onto them.  The butterflies are coloured with Peacock Feathers DI's and painted with a waterbrush to get the blending on the wings... and the sentiment is one of Tim's original woody stamps I have in my collection.

I have had a marvellous few days!  Grim whisked me off to North Yorkshire for a few days R&R = we stayed at the most delightful hotel just outside York called The Sidings.  The rooms are all in converted Mark 1 railways coaches... and they are about 30 feet away from the East Coast Mainline... a real "trainman's holiday" - laying in bed of a morning watching high speed trains whizz past the end of the bed... cool!   Of course, it would have been very remiss of us not to visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway... so we did!  And yet again, I didn't see Sir Nigel Gresley!!! One of these days I will get to see "her" in steam!

I am back up north again now... sitting here in me hotel room in Preston - I am here for a workshop tomorrow and a demo day on Friday at Inspirations.  If you are around on Friday it would be great to see you!  I shall away now, time for my bed!   Thanks for looking, have a goodly day!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 310 - Girl Talk

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy sunny Sunday to you all!   Thank you for all the great altered entries for last weeks challenge - it was great to see so many new-to-altering-addicts joining in :O)   This week the new theme is... GIRLS.  A nice pretty and feminine challenge for you... interpret as  you wish, your creation could feature a girl, be about a girl, be girly, covered in flowers.. you know what I means.   To join in is simples; Make a little something - it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme AND some stamping (even it is only a bit, get those stamps out!)   Please let me know you have joined in by popping back to this post and leaving me a comment with a linky to the place you are showing your entry.  If you haven't got a blog/web-photo-hosty site, you can also join in via Facebook (just tag my name) or by sending me a small res. piccie by email.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 7th June 2014. *hurrah, June! Birthday month! Cake!*

Apologies for being late on parade today!  Normally I am quite organised and have my entry all ready and scheduled to publish at midnight.  Well, yesterday was one of those strange days that very rarely occur.  Oh yesh, it was a FREE day!  Unfortunately, due to a water leak, the opening of Cups & Crafts in Devizes was postponed late on Friday evening.  This meant that I had a day that I hadn't "accounted" for.  I should have been a good gal and got some more samples for the tellybox shows on Tuesday made... well, that was sort of my intention.   Well, it was until I trotted off down the garden and popped my head into the greenhouse and saw that I had very lots of plants that all needed attention.  So, I said to meself that I would spend the morning in the garden... and then do some sampling in the afternoon, taking time to do the Sunday Stamper and schedule it and all that.   Yep, all the best intentions... until I glanced at the clock and saw it was 7pm!  The whole day!  In the garden!  Naughty!  But very nice :O)  I will pop a few pics on later this week of how it is coming along now.

So, back to the reason for the post, here's my entry!  I started this little wooden frame a few weeks ago and once I had covered it with Tim's Tissue Tape and added colour using Broken China and Antique Linen Distress Paints - applying with my finger and smudging the paints over so the tape shows through in patches - I ground to a halt!  I loved the frame but just didn't get what I was then supposed to do with it.  And then I spotted Tim's Found Relative Cards and aha! An idea was born!  The Found Relative was a little too narrow to fill the frame so I popped a bit of vintage lace (my beloved vintage lace that is used very sparingly as I haven't got much lol) along the side.  A project wouldn't be a project without lots of flowers and embellies, so I coloured up some paper flowers with Black Marble Dylusions and Egyptian Blue Cosmic Shimmer sprays.  I then realised there wasn't a single smidge of stamping on the project!  Whooopsie-daisy!  I find that a perfect stamp to add a little extra interest is Tim's Flourish, I just used a smidge of Jet Black Archival and added in a bit of stamping to the edges of the frame.  I then stamped the word Dream *Tim's Stuff To Say set* and added it to an Ornate Frame.

Next came the best bit (IMO)  Embellishmenting!!  I make no secret of the fact that I think the more embellies the better and this frame is the perfect size to add lots of little bits and bobs: metal leaves, cogs, Idea-ology, paperclay birdy (treated to Treasure Gold) and jazzy buttons from Jones' (also TG treated) and then a few pearls to finish it off nicely.  Oh and I forgot to say!!!  I used a Milled Lavendar Distress Marker to add a little blush of colour to the black and white photo... I was tempted to go a little darker with the tint but I didn't want to goof it up so I played it safe - you can add it but you can't take it away and all that :O)

I better get a wigglebottom on  now... whilst the sun is cracking the flagstones out there and there be temptation to get my hands mucky, I have samples to get finished and some demo's to prep for the tellybox shows... plus,  my poor old war wound is well and truly aggravated after yesterdays exertions so it is probably for the best that I am inside behaving meself.  Have a grand day!  Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 295 - And Your Bird Can Sing

Goodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all.  Many thanks for all your gorgeous diamond creations last week, it was great to see so many different interpretations of the theme.  The theme this week is rather poignant... more of that later... but first, the theme is... BIRDS.  To join in with the theme is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you like.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here, leave me a comment with a linky to the place you are showing your entry and then I can pop over to visit you. If you haven't got a blog, you can join in via Facebook, simply tag my name... or via emailing a small res pic to me.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 22nd February 2014.

As I mentioned, a poignant theme for me this week... in memory of my dear Aunty June who sadly passed away last week after a short illness.  I could have chosen so many different themes that remind me of her... but birds was the theme that stuck with me because I share her love of our feathered friends, especially owls.  When I was a kid I spent many a happy summer holiday staying with her, my uncle and cousins in "that London"... being a northerner in the south during those hazy summer days whetted my appetite for all things southern and I eventually ended up living in the south.  Aunty June always spoilt me, when I was little her birthday and Christmas pressies were always a little bit special, like a fancy pair of socks with golden threads woven into them, a beautiful red leather purse (which was sadly stolen) and in later years she bought me silver charms for my charm bracelet, all of them had a special meaning too; the Owl & The Pussycat because she used to say that poem to me when I was a kid.   She was a very special woman in my life and this piece of art is dedicated to my Aunty June... and the happy memories she left with me.

I won't go into too great a detail on how I created this canvas as it is my class sample from my workshop yesterday at Neil Burley's The Studio.  Big thanks to the lovely ladies who came along to play and get painty with us... and again to Neil for hosting the class.  I used a selection of Kaisercraft paints to create the background colours - Eggshell, Wisteria and Eggplant... aren't they gorgeous colours?  I don't know what is going on with me this year but I seem to have turned a little purple!  I had actually chosen to use soft mossy tones with smidges of mocha but changed my mind at the last minute!!! And then spent half an hour trying to dull down the purples until I was happy with the colours.  The sentiment is from The Artistic Stamper - available HERE... I love these lovely big wordy stamps - perfect for a mixed media project like this.

I must away now - I am up at stoopid o'clock today (scheduling this late last night... ) to travel to Birmingham for the Stitches Trade Show at the NEC.   I am demo-ing for Creative Expressions for the next three days so I might not be about much (social media might be a bit scarce too as the signal in the NEC is pants!) And as I hinted earlier in the week... I shall be demo-ing a brand new product from Creative Expressions... I am hoping to be able to make up a few samples whilst at the show so I will be able to blog as soon as possible to share all the goss on this fabby new ***** .... whoops, nearly let the cat out of the bag then!   As ever, thank you for looking... have a great day all.  TTFN

Hels x

Favourites...

... I know, we shouldn't have them should we... but hand on heart, who can honestly say that they don't have "favourites"?  Thing is, I have so many favourites that I just think that everything I do in this arty bubble I live in is my favourite!  Anyways... the point of this waffle is to show what I got up to on Monday.  I was invited to teach a private class for two lovely ladies, Claire and Jane, 'round at Claire's house.  Gulp. Me, crafting, in someone elses home?  I was a bit scared that I would end up flicking paint and ink all over the place so before I arrived, I gave myself a good talking to.. "Hels" I said, "You don't have to be a mucky pup you know... "  "Don't I?" I answered myself...  "No, indeedily, you can be the cleanest crafter in the world *said in my very best Jeremy Clarkson voice* if you really try"   So, armed with lots of delish stash to play with, I arrived at Claire's, all ready to show just how neat and clean I can be.

Actually, I did manage to keep things relatively clean... I only got stuff on me, thankfully not on Claire, Jane, the cats, the floor, the walls... which is unusual seeing as you can usually look at my clothes and see exactly what I have been using on any particular day.  We had a wonderfully fun crafty day... altering a canvas with Distress Paints, yep, favourites...   Wendy's Embossing Paste, oh be still my heart, always a favourite indeedily... And lots of paper flowers... aha, more favourites... and embellishments... yippy-yi-ay, favourites.. and... Treasure Gold.  What more can I say huh?  FAVOURITES!!

The colours of DP's I used are Iced Spruce (fave!) Aged Mahogany (always a fave) and Victorian Velvet (new fave!)  Lots of watery drippage and then the embellishing bit.  I used a Crafter's Workshop stencil for my Embossing Paste bit... and of course, adding smidges of Treasure Gold really highlights the peaks and textures.  A big massive thank you to Claire and Jane for making me so welcome, feeding me delish food (why does it always come back to food with me huh?) and making the day so enjoyable!

Right, I shall away... today I am mostly die-cutting for my Ali-Craft class on Friday... oh and I didn't mention... I have a new arrival in the Room of Stash. Oh yesh, Ernie the EBosser has come to live with me!  Tis my Xmas pressie from Grim, I am soooo lucky! I have had a little play already and I am in lurves, it is sooo easy to use!  I will, of course, still use Victor because I loves him too but it just makes kitting for classes so much easier now, I can have both machines going at the same time!  Multi-tasking die-cutting!   Thanks for looking, have a great day!  TTFN

Hels 

Sunday Stamper - Week 287 - Cracklin' Rosie

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Thank you for the fabby entries for last week's challenge... and also hi to the newbies who joined in for the first time too!  This week is a nice easy theme... another of my fave songs and I happened to hear it on the radio the other day and it stuck in my head... so I used it for the theme this week.  So, on with the challenge, which is to USE CRACKLES.  To join in is simples: make a little something - it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here and leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you haven't got a blog, you can also join in via email (small res pic please) or via Facebook by tagging my name.  The theme will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 21st December 2013.

So. Crackles!  A plethora of possibilities... use crackle paints, crackle mediums, crackle techniques... or do what I did and use a crackle stamp!  My entry this week is a veritable feast of Kaisercraft goodies.  Starting with the papers from the Art of Life Collection, cut to fit onto a Size 10 tag that had the bottom cut off and then re-attached with eyelets and string.  I LOVE these papers... so up my street colour wise and design wise too... perfick!

All the stamps I used are Kaisercraft, the Crackle, Sheet Music (on the band across the middle), the Diamonds and the sentiment which is on the bag of the mini tag.  The backgrounds were stamped with Potting Soil Archival (LOVE this one Wendy, thank you for inventing this colour!!!)  and the words and butterflies were stamped in Jet Black Archival.   Also, on the band across the middle, I popped some Walnut Stain DI'd Flower Trim that I slapped some Glue & Seal onto and then sprinkled Antique Linen Distress Glitter over.. I know, me, Glitter!!! Twice in a week!! Habit!!!

Because (uh-oh, Mrs Johnson, my English Teacher would be scribbling red pen all over this... starting a sentence with *because* baaad Hels!)  Anyways... because the papers are very vintage creams and browns, I decided to add some colour and chose red to be the "pop" I was looking for.  The butterflies are coloured with Fired Brick DI applied with a waterbrush... and the flowers (also Kaisercraft) were coloured with Black Marble Dylusions and Red Firefly Cosmic Shimmer sprays.  I added a few bits and bobs of metal and Idea-ology embellies and voila, done!  This is a DT piece for Jones of Nottingham... to see their website, please CLICK HERE.

I am all excited today!!! Oh yesh indeedily... for today I am actually going to crafty class and I will be a student instead of teacher!  I shall be venturing to Telford to the Clare Chervill class at Crafty Bunch... tis yonks since I did a class.. in fact, the last one I did?  With THE Wendy Vecchi 2 years ago when I was staying with Ellen in Baltimore!! YONKS!!!    Yesterday saw my very last class of 2013!  I am trying to work out how many classes I have taught this year but my old brain is on the blink and my diary is downstairs... I shall have to go and count them up.. must be very lots tho!   Whilst I love teaching and doing what I do, I am really looking forward to having a few weeks off "work" completely and being able to catch up on stuff around the house (yes, I mean those cobwebs!) and getting some *me time* in the Room of Stash too.  Anyways, whatever you are up to today, I hope you have a goodly one!  Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

PS.  Next weeks' challenge will be a two-weeker because of that thing Christmas getting in the way... and there will be CANDY on offer too :O)

Creating with Clutter...

... I don't know about you but I am a teensy bit of a hoarder.  Not often do I chuck stuff away... if fact, nay and thrice, you could say I keep everything cos one day it will "come in...."  You the same?  Well, I have this shelf above my desk and every so often it turns into the Shelf of Doom.  It is the dumping ground for lots of stuff that I have planned to use on my creations but then changed my mind.  I know, it would be easier to actually not be a lazy old bat and actually just put said stuff away but... well, you know what it is like don't you?  (please say yes!)

Anyways... I decided to have a bit of a de-clutter of the Shelf of Doom.  But then I got all pre-occupied with some cardboard bits I had found... namely a corrugated cardboard heart that had been painted red.  I couldn't bring myself to chuck it away... but the red looked really naff.  So, I grabbed another piece of card and turned them both into blue by blending Mermaid and South Pacific Fresco Paints onto them.  Of course, a bit of stamping had to be included so I used that delish new Watering Can Archival from Wendy & Ranger and stamped a Kaisercraft scripty background onto the card base bit.  And cos I could, I used Cornflower Archival and stamped the distressed diamonds (also Kaisercraft) onto the heart.  Actually, you can't really see them cos I then dumped a load of flowers over the top!  Whhoooops!

The flowers were also on the Shelf of Doom... plain white and very boring... so a bit of attention with Dylusions and Cosmic Shimmer sprays changed them to match the base bits.  Of course, I had to use some embellies... and all these were on the Shelf of Doom too!  Now, it makes my shelf sounds massive but it isn't really... it is very very piled high you see ;O))   Once everything was stuck together I popped it onto a bit of black mountboard and added on some Treasure Gold bits of jazz it up and then some string for the hanging bit... oh and the words are also from the Shelf of Doom... I remember the project I wanted these for and I changed my mind... so there you go, I am using up stuff after all!

Today I am venturing off to Birds in the Barn in Essex for two days of inky festive classes... so as I type this, it is actually last night... not today after all (and now we go down the whole, if it is now it is actually tomorrow and not really yesterday... and all of that sillliness.... you know what I means though... )  So, it is time for me to loves ya and leaves ya... don't forget, I have a giveaway (scroll down for the next post) and it is open until Sunday night!  Thanks for looking, have a grand day!  TTFN

Hels x

Play Time!

...oh yesh indeedily! I have finally had a chance to sit and play with my new Distress Paints and the new stamps I got at the NEC last week.  Seems like a yonk since I had some guilt free crafting time so I have made the most of it this week!   Have you seen the new clear stamps from Kaisercraft?  I loves them!  And they are so affordable too (which is always a bonus right?)   So, last night I got a little inky and painty in the Room of Stash and made a couple of tags... and here's one of them:

I did a "partial resist" technique on the base of the tag... how does that work?  Well, use Glue & Seal or Multi Medium to stamp your image - I used a script stamp. Dry it off and then add some colour.  For the "partial" bit of the resist you need Distress Paints as they are opaque when dried.  I used Antique Linen, Scattered Straw and Aged Mahogany (be still my heart! I love that colour!) Distress Paints, smooshing them onto the craft sheet, lightly spritzing with water and then swiping the tag through the paintyness.  As soon as I started to dry the tag, I spritzed lightly with water which moves the paints about a bit.... as they start to dry, go in with a paper towel and lift off some of the still wet paint.  This will reveal the resist underneath... and where the paints are dried, you can't see the resist... hence partial!

I loved the effect of the background so I decided not to add any more Distress Inks to the tag but I did add some more stamping.  Starting with my new Kaisercraft Script, I stamped this in Watering Can Archival (THANK YOU Wendy Vecchi for inventing this colour... tis my new fave!) As it is an oil based ink you will need to heat set the stamping to avoid smudginess.   Next I used the new Kaisercraft Diamonds stamp and Plum Archival to add some more layering to the base of the tag.  The Plum goes perfectly with the Aged Mahog too... like they were made to be together!   Next up came the butterflies... another new Kaisercraft stamp (can you see a theme here?)  Stamped in Jet Black Archival so they pop off the tag, I stamped them again onto cream card, cut them out and used a waterbrush and Distress Inks to colour them.   They were then layered over the original stamped images for some dimension.   I then got all spritzy with the decorations.  Plain white paper flowers, spritzed with Cranberry Colorwash and then zapped with Black Marble Dylusions and Ancient Copper Cosmic Shimmer mists.   A few metal embellies, the word WISH from Alpha Parts and some dangly bits finished off my little tag!

I am all excited today!  I am packing up in preparation for my trip to Taunton this weekend where I will be demo-ing and teaching at Craftasmic... I best get a wiggle on as I have boxes to pack and blog posts to schedule!  Busy busy!  Thanks for looking, have a grand day!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 281 - You Raise Me Up

Goodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Big massive thanks for all the gorgeous rosey creations entered for last weeks challenge... I love visiting you all and seeing the different things you have been inspired to make.  This week is a fun theme... can you guess by the song title?  Oh yesh, this week I would like you to... USE TEXTURE on your creations. To join in is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here, leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry and I can pop and see you.  If you haven't got a blog, you can also join in via Facebook (simply tag my name in your upload) or via email by attaching a small size pic (my email addy is over there *click on the pic of me*)   The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 9th November 2013. 
 

Yesterday I took a trip to Swindon to Sparkle Dreams for a Mixed Media Masterboard workshop.  It was my first visit there and I had a cracking time.  Big thanks to Sandie for making me so welcome (and my gorge pressie) and to the lovely ladies who endured my silliness for about 7 hours.  Yesterday's class was all about making layers and getting balance on a base of a project... and using texture pastes and stencils and then, of course, a whole lot of inking using my fave lush Dylusions sprays.  My entry for the Sunday Stamper this week is my demo sample that I used during the class... check out the bright orange and pink!  I know, I took a little step outside the comfort zone.  The Dylusions are so forgiving though because you can lighten them with splashes and spritzes of water... so the bright colours ain't too scary after all.

Decoration is provided in the form of my very favest ever in the whole word butterfly stamp from the wonder that is Wendy Vecchi (tis on Art for You if you are interested :O))  I used Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade to colour them and then popped some Walnut Stain behind the wings so they look more real.  I added lots of metal bits and bobs and of course, my flowers, these started out as plain white and I just blinged them up with more Dylusions and a smidge of Cosmic Shimmer sprays.  The sentiment is stamped onto plain card using mini alpha stamps.  This sentiment was taken from a woody stamp I have of Tim's from 217 years ago... love the words though :O)

Right, I shall loves ya and leaves ya.  Today Grim is going to be building the greenhouse!  He has spent hours making the ground right, building a base frame, filling it up with gravel and today is the day that the thing is put together.  Because I am more of a hindrance than a help, he has enlisted the help of Jerry's Dad... which means that Jerry the Springer will be coming to see us too (can't wait!)   Don't worry, AlfieCat is going to be snoring his little noddle off in the bedroom because I think he would go a bit bonkers if he saw Jerry again... last time he got all unneccesary and went about three times the size, all puffed up and hissing like a loon!  Bless him.   Hope you all have a great day!  Thanks for looking, TTFN

Hels x

Like A Sieve!!!

...oh yesh, that is what my memory is at the moment!  Tis shot!  I can't remember anything so my life is now one big list!  A list to remind me what to do on any given day, a list to remind me to phone someone, a list for the shopping, a list to remind me to write a list... you get the picture lol   Anyways.... the point about discussing my much beleagured and much missed memory is that I "found" this canvas that I made as a workshop sample a couple of weeks ago when I taught at Craftstation in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.  And how can one forget about a whole canvas?  Wellllll, erm.... I hadn't unpacked a box (ok, I hadn't unpacked two boxes!) and thus it lurked unassumingly in the bottom of said box. 

Anyways... here it is! I have decided that it isn't finished, it needs extra flowers or something and obviously there isn't the requisite ten ton of embellies on it so that needs rectifying too... a little job for me for later on perhaps.

Oh and... much excitement in the Room of Stash yesterday when I took delivery of the stock for my Melt Pot Pick of the Day which starts on 29th October and runs through 30th October.  You should see some of the lush new colours... I am in UTEE heaven! 

With all that going on.. plus my Middlesbrough retreat next weekend, I won't be about as much as usual... busy kitting for the workshops and trying to find a magic wand that will make Ferdy bigger.  The amount of stuff I needs to take with me... and Ferdy is only tidgy... mmm, I think I might have to bat my eyelashes at Grim and see if he will lend me Gordon instead (who is much bigger... and faster too which is why I need the eyelash batting going on because I inadvertantly told him that I had been going a little bit fast, well, all that power and my heavy left foot... teeheee)  Anyways... enough of this waffling, I shall away to carry on with the prepping and stuff and things!  Don't forget to check back tomorrow though, brand new Sunday Stamper theme!  Thanks for looking, have a brill Saturday!  TTFN

Hels x

Take It... Make It!!!

...oh yesh indeedily, today sees a brand new theme start over on the Craft Stamper Take It, Make It challenge.  Do you fancy having a little play?  There's a cool gift (I wanna win it! lol) for one lucky entrant and also... we teamies chose the Top 3 entries and the winner of that will have their creation published in Craft Stamper Magazine!  How brill is that!!!  Although I am a lucky DT member for Craft Stamper, every time I am published in it, I still do a little happy wiggle.... there is something so amazing about seeing something that started life in your head out there, in colour, in a magazine!   Anyways... as well as my entry, the fabby gals on the team have been making some seriously stunning art.... HERE are all the deets for you to see.  The theme this month is based on Paula Whittaker's splatter technique article in the November Issue.  I, being one to love a spot of a splatter, leapt at the chance to join in... and here's how I made my tag:

I used a Momma size tag, this one is a Size 10 (the size 8 being Bubba size and the size 12 being the Daddy size) and used Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Gathered Twigs DI's to blend ink right over the surface.  I then filled my hang up with water and splattered it onto the inky surface.  Once dried, I chopped a couple of inches off the bottom of the tag and then edged the whole thing with Walnut Stain DI to give a nice frame for the design.   Now, I was lucky enough to treat myself to some of Tim's Layering Stencils the other day... thanks to Jennie from The Artistic Stamper for the, as usual, great service!   I used the Splatter Stencil to add some...erm... splatters!  Using Frayed Burlap for starters and then smidges of Gathered Twigs to darken the outer bits of the splatter.

No self respecting tag would be repleat without a smidge of stamping... so I brought in the very first Tim Stamp I ever bought... and this one was also signed for me... oh yesh, the very first time I met the Duke of Distress I mithered him to sign a stamp for me!  It is a woody too and although I loves my UM stamps, I do loves my original woody's.  The stamping was done using Jet Black Archival so it "pops" more from the background.   I added some more splatter using the plastic tube thingy from the inside of Cherry Pie and Black Marble Dylusions sprays.

I piled up some plain white flowers and sprayed them with Melted Chocolate and Cherry Pie Dylusions and then once assembled together, I added splats of Black Marble Dylusions and then some jazzyness with Red Firefly Cosmic Shimmer sprays.  Finishing touches with metal embellies and a sentiment and voila, one splattery tag!

Today I shall mostly been scaling the dizzy heights of Ironing Mountain... now, I loves a spot of ironing but this lot has been lurking around since we came back off hols.... well, I have been ver, ver busy since we got back *my excuse, sticking to it lol*  and I also have three episodes of Wentworth to catch up on, guess that is my afternoon sorted!   I shall away now... wish me luck, I may be some time!  Thanks for looking, TTFN

Hels x

Love Bird...

... cor blinking blimey and thrice!!!  Not only did my Mojo come home, he decided to stay! Which is just as well because today starts my week of DT projects for Snazzy's.  Last month I was on the cusp of losing my Mojo and didn't manage to do a particularly good job of my DT thing... which I hate because I do need to be able to do me best... IYKWIM.  Anyways... Mojo is home, he is still locked in the Really Useful Box, I am taking noooo chances on him beggaring off again but... my cunning plan for keeping the Room of Stash tidy and therefore, in turn, Mr Mojo happy, seems to be working.  For, you see, I have turned over a new leaf... well, for the time being... I have given myself a good old talking to and now, unless it is a matter of life and death, I am not allowed to remove my personage from the Room of Stash until I have tidied up after a crafty sesh.  If I am half way through a project then it is ok to leave it be... but I am not allowed to go to bed with mess everywhere!  

Well, it appears to have worked because yesterday I got all inky and messy with the gorgeous DT kit we have had to play with this month.  The new 7Dots Studio 9th Wave Collection from Finnabair (these papers are deeelish) and a set of Hero Arts stamps and stencil to match.  Ohhhlallaaaa... I was all excited when I found an old photo frame lurking around the other day so I decided to alter this for my DT project.  CLICK HERE to see the thingywotsit in full with all the pics/deets etc.  As I said yesterday, thank you all for hanging on in there and keeping on visiting even though the "out to lunch" sign was hanging on the door... I do appreciate you all!  I shall away now, I am getting a little misty!  Thanks for looking, have a goodly day!  TTFN

Hels x

It's Crackle Time...

....ohlalalaaaa... I am a lucky lass indeedily you know.  I am fortunate to be part of the 2013 Darkroom Door DT and this month sees the release of some fabby new stamps.  I have been given the new Crackle background to play work with and I came up with a mixed media canvas design.    To see the new stamps that have just been released, CLICK HERE and also, do take a mo to pop over to see the artwork from my talented teamies who have been busy making eye candy for us all to see... HERE.

The canvas is an 8" square, coloured with Claudine Hellmuth Studio paints, using my fave Traditional Tan for the base and then using Sable Brown mixed with Traditional Tan to make an in-betweeny colour and then the Sable Brown on its own for the darker colour on the top layer.  I used the scraped paint technique to apply the paints, I loves this technique and it goes perfectly with the new Crackle stamp.

To add the stamping to the canvas, I first got a Kleenex tissue and de-plyed it so it was a single layer.  The crackle was stamped using Jet Black Archival Ink and zapped with a heat tool to dry the ink off.  I then tore pieces of the image and applied it to the canvas using Glue & Seal Matte to collage over it.  The reason I use a cosmetic tissue is that when it is torn on the edges, the Glue & Seal kind of melts it into the canvas so it doesn't just look like it has been plonked on there.

I set about adding some texture, using a Claudine Hellmuth stencil and some 490 Embossing Paste (black) and once this had dried I went right over the top of the whole canvas with more Glue & Seal to provide a nice waterproof coverage to it.  Out came the old Stabilo All pencil to add some shading to th textured parts and once I had blended this part, I painted my two-tone edges - yep, I am a smidge addicted but hey, there's nowt wrong with being addicted to paint right?

I added a pile of flowers (coloured with Dylusions sprays and Cosmic Shimmer spray) and then set about embellishing the canvas.  The large metal butterfly is actually a Graphic 45 embellishment, I simply jazzed him up by stamping the crackle background over him using the Black Archival Ink and then heat setting it - remember, you needs to heat set Archival Ink as it is oil based... but totally waterproof when set... perfect!   The word is actually one of the new Sizzix Alterations Stacked Words dies from Tim Holtz... the whole word is ARTIST but I only wanted the ART bit so I snipped into it and then used Treasure Gold to color the black card it was cut from.   I also added Treasure Gold (liberally lol) to the rest of the embellies and textured bits.   The finishing touch is the little orange butterfly which is also a Darkroom Door stamp - he is from the Wings set.  And there you have it... one finished mixed media canvas... and pretty simples to create at that :o))

I shall away now as I am scheduling this post ahead of our trip away and I have packing to do... feels weird talking about something that hasn't happened yet as if it already has... confoosed?  Me too lol   Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

A Little Cracked...

...mmm, many of my friends may well say that could be me... but no!  Today the "little cracked" is actually what I have made!  So, Darkroom Door have just released some gorgeous new stamps, and being as I am uber lucky to be on the Design Team, I have just received some of them... my fave being the brand new (and mahooosive) crackle background.  I have had this project in my bonce for a yonk and a half and haven't had a chance to really play... so when I saw the crackle stamp I knew I could combine the two!

Starting with a papiermache hanging board for a base and Fresco paints to colour it - I used Ice Blue mixed with Snowflake to make it lighter, this was pounced right over the top of the board and whilst it was still wet, I blended some Bora Bora and then a smidge of South Pacific to make the edges darker.  A good old zap with the heat tool to dry the paint and then I used the same Ice Blue/Snowflake mix and Little Black Dress to add the two-tone around the border (yep, am a teensy bit addicted to doing these borders!)  I then used the brand new Crackle background stamp and added patches of the crackle image using Jet Black Archival Ink... instead of using an acrylic block to mount the stamp onto, I just held it in my paw and only little bits of the design hit the board... cool if you want that patchy look.

Next I added some more crackles... this time using a mix of Grunge Paste and Black Puff Paint, spread through the new Prima Crackle stencil... I then heated up the stencilled bits, I looooves puff paint as it goes all bumpy which then just begs to be touched up with some Treasure Gold - I used White Fire and Pewter to highlight the crackles and then smudged it around the edges of the board to bring the design in.  I wanted to add a bit of a grungey look so I used Black Marble Dylusions spray to add a bit of extra detail to the background.

The butterflies are from the Wings Darkroom Door set, stamped onto Clearly For Art Blackout that had been covered with old book pages... and coloured with Distress Stains.  Once cut out and heated, I moulded them into shape so they look like they are fluttering.  The words are from a Darkroom Door Art de Fleur Word Strip, cut out, edged with black paint and then popped onto 3d foam to raise them up.  I toyed with the idea of adding "bodies" to the butterflies but I am liking the more natural look at the moment, I can always go in and add some pearls later on if I change my mind.

Isn't it a beeeeautiful day!!!  My heart has been telling me to get outside into the garden, relax and read a book... but my other heart has been telling me to make the most of the tidyness of the Room of Stash and get up to date with DT stuff... what to do huh?  So, I have done some "work" this morning and now I am going to get the old lounger out and take my book and catch a few rays.  I could really get used to this sunshine you know, it just makes me feel happy!   Anyways, enough wafflings... hope you all enjoying your Monday... Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Feeling Tattered...

...yep, that be me...but more of that in a mo!  But ... that also be the canvas I have to show you today.  So, last month, the one and only Duke of Distress (aka Mr Tim Holtz) issued forth a challenge... he said "make something using the Tattered Florals die".   Well, never being one to shy away from a challenge I decided that because the Tattered Florals die is my most beloved and used die from the Alterations collection, I would, indeedily, join in.  After all, it is a challenge and Mario (Mr BTS) also had hinted there be prizes!  Well, I had this planned out and sketched three weeks ago.  I know!  Three whole weeks.. that is 21 days of having the sketch sitting there, waiting to be made into something real.   I knew I would be coming to this canvas in dribs and drabs because of work commitments.  What I didn't factor in was my stoopid war wound flaring up and rendering me unable to even sit and make a rose!   And.. the deadline for the challenge has been and gone... alas, I didn't get it finished in time but... I rather like it so thought I would share it anyways.  (plus, being as I have been crippled with agony for the past week or so, I ain't got 'owt else to show you lol)

So.  My usual paper blocking (addicted.... to see the original genius who invented this technique CLICK HERE... her name be Paula Cheney and I have a craft crush on her art and genius ideas)   Anyways, paper blocking with some Bazzill Aged papers and then a nice coat of Mushroom Eco Paint to blend the papers together.  The next coat is my "safety net" layer - using either Multi Medium or Glue & Seal not only gives the papers a coat of protection, it also means that if you goof up any spraying or stencilling you can wipe it off and not make the papers yukky.  I used my Stabilo All pencil to add black lines to emphasise the layers of paper and then gave the canvas a smidge of a spritz of Black Marble Dylusions spray.  And, because of the sealed layer, if you do goof this bit up, simply wipe it off with a babywipe and try again.  Good huh?

Next came the die-cutting... those Tattered Floral roses I make are my fave... I love the big and blousy nature of them (ahem, bit like me right?)  I made three big roses from the largest flower on the die and then 3 smaller roses using the smaller flower on the die.  If you have not made roses like this before or are struggling, there's a photo tut in my left hand side bar.   Now, you all know I am a disciple of the Goddess of Embellishing, the one and only Ania Dabrowska (HERE is her blog) and I just took delivery of lots of her new embellies (actually, ok, I got the whole lot - stamps, stencils, papers, the lot... well, I sent those pixie fitting shoes back... the refund was well spent lol)   So, I used one of the new stamps that is also part of my Snazzy DT pack this month (HERE are some of the gorgeous creations from the other teamies)  I stamped the dots in black Archival and then heat set it - we got that sealed layer remember... and Archival needs heat setting on anything that is shiny or waterproof.  Next I set about adding leaves, cut from the Tattered Leaves set and then came the fun bit... the embellishing!

Now, I make no secret of my "word of the year" which is WISH.  And because I plan to hang this canvas in the Room of Stash, I figured that this word would do very nicely, so I die cut the letters using Grungeboard and the Word Play Alterations die... then painted the letters black and gave them a good old coat of Glossy Accents - which fits in with the Sunday Stamper this week ... and there's candy for an entrant too... deets HERE if you fancy a chance at winning some nice stashly goodies.    I used Florentine and White Fire Treasure Gold to add blingy metallics to the embellishments... check out the butterfly - that is a Graphic 45 metal butterfly, stamped using another of Ania's stamps using Black Archival and the little nut in the middle is an Engraver (Prima) embellie and it says... ART! Pretty cool huh?  Anyways, once it was all assembled and dried, I bobbed two Screw Eyes into the back and added some wire so my canvas can hang nicely in the Room of Stash....   I just wish I had got it finished sooner but.... 

So.  This old war wound has been getting me down for a few weeks now and countless phone calls to get an appointment at the Dr's finally paid dividends today when I actually got in to see him.   Seems I am in the middle of a "crisis" at the moment... because it is a degenerative disease, it means that I poddle along coping with the pain levels for a while, then it gets worse, I feel more pain, I then get used to the worsening pain and so the cycle begins.  This time though... I swear, sitting, standing, laying down, walking... you name it, it has been a.g.o.n.y!   Well, the Doc has said that it is another "crisis" and he has given me some more meds to take with the cocktail of meds I already take.  I have taken two so far and within about an hour of the first one, I felt able to sit and finish the canvas!  Yay!  I admit, I do feel ever so slightly squiffy... which isn't going to help me when I need to drive but if I can get the pain back in its box, I will be able to work around that.   Anyways, enough of my wafflings on about negative stuff... and onto the positive... I am getting myself ready for the Four Day Deal starting on Monday (yep, 1st April, I am not even contemplating any April Fools' = I am fool enough lol)  If you haven't seen the sidebar, I am doing a special Melt Pot thingy on Create & Craft.    Should be good!   Right, I have kept you long enough with my ramblings, I shall away to get some more art made before the pills wear off!  Thanks for looking... have a great evening... TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 249 - Brown Eyed Girl

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all.  Big thanks for all your grand entries for last weeks challenge... on with this week which sees a nice and easy "colour" theme... to use... BROWN somewhere on your design.  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 and leave a comment with a link to the place you are showing  your entry.  If you haven't got a blog or web-photo-hosty thingy, you can also join in via email or on Facebook.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 23rd March 2013.

It is a little known fact about me... you know, that I loves brown (ok, everyone knows it is my comfort zone lol)  Anyways, when I got my Snazzy's DT pack last month I fair did a whoop-de-whoop because it was the Engraver collection from Prima... and lots of browns and neutrals in the colour palette.  I had hoped to be able to get this particular piece finished before today but alas, I ran out of time.  So, instead, I finished it off last night after my class and decided to use it for the Sunday Stamper.

You will see my fave paper blocking technique going on, this is a really cool way of using up all those ickle scraps of paper you have kicking about in your crafty stash.   The blocks were just glued onto the canvas with a bit of Cosmic Glue and layered as I went to add in some depth.

The stamping is a little bit frugal on this piece but it still qualifies because if you look closely you will be able to see some script on the metal Graphic 45 butterfly... I did that with Jet Black Archival and then heat set it... and also the little black dotty patches... that is a brand spanking new stamp from the genius that is Finnabair (HERE is her blog) and it just so happens that Snazzy's have some of her new Sunrise Sunset collection fresh in stock.. ooohlalalaa... don't tell anyone but... ahem... I have a little basket sitting there, FULL of the new goodies... and they will be coming home with me later today!  Teehee!  Well, it is compensation for my terrible disappointment with the gorgeous shoes that were made for pixie feet... I got the refund... so ... erm... I spending it on... stash!  Like I said before... stash doesn't have to fit rofl

Anyways... that is more than enough wafflingtons from me for one day... I shall away as I am up early again for my second class at Snazzy's... thank you to the lovely ladies who came along to get all hot and bothered in my Melt Art class today, was lovely to see you again/meet you!   Have a fabby weeks peeps.... Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

PS... don't forget my giveaways... scroll down for deets :O)