I Dreamed A Dream...

...oooh, that sounds like a song title *hahahaaa*  Anyways, last night a very strange thing happened!  I had a dream.  Not that strange really because most of us have dreams... but this was a particularly weird dream because for the first time ever, I dreamt that I was crafting!  And I was making a tag.  And I was using lots of my fave things on the tag.  I was a bit annoyed with my brain when it woke me up before I had finished my project I can tell you... so instead of snuggling back down, I got up, went downstairs and made meself a coffee and drew what I could remember of my dreamy tag.  And then I got all sensible again and went back to bed and tried to get back into the dream... but my brain was having none of it.  Next thing, I was dreaming again and I was eating a giant marshmallow and when I woke up, my pillow was missing... boom-boom... hahhaaa *whoops, made meself laugh again!*  Anyways... all of that waffle is to point you in the direction of The Stamp Attic blog where I have blogged my dreamy tag today. To see it in full and how I made it, please CLICK HERE.  In the meantime, here's a sneaky peek.

COR BLIMEY!  I am about to combust!  I have news!  Like probably the most boring news for you all and you will probably think "why you getting excited?" but... the news is... I have entered the 21st Century!  Oh yesh indeedily!  And how?  Well, I now am the proud owner of a... smartphone!  You see, Grim is the teckernologikal person of the house and he has had a smartphone for about 3 years.  And recently he had his upgrade to a posher, smarter phone.  And he said "would you like my old one?"   And I thought "yes! because my phone is steampowered and very slow and very annoying and I too want to be able to swish my fingers over my phone and make it do magic"   So, last night we decided to spend a few minutes setting it up for me... and showing me how to use it.  Well, those few minutes turned into an hour!  And then they turned into 2 hours... and then, finally, FIVE hours later, at 2am, we decided to quit.  I am up to speed with the basics, I can send texts (hurrah!) and I even know how to answer the thing if it rings!  And... more importantly for me, I can do Tweets without having to sit at the laptop or send one by text message... and I can also get onto yonder t'internet too!  It is indeedily a hurrah and thrice moment!   We hit a stumbling block when we tried to set up the Google account because it wouldn't let me do it because I needed to change my primary email addy to the gmail one.. but then the internet was saying my gmail couldn't be a primary email addy... all because Google ate Blogger... so after much hair pulling and grumbling, I finally changed all the email addresses, fixed up gmail and got it sorted into Outlook (believe me, that makes me tired just thinking about it... ) Anyways... it is sorted now (phew!) Now I just have to remember to charge the phone up regularly (apparently the battery life is rubbish)   Right, I shall away... things on the to do list because... it is now... THREE days to CHA!!!!  Thanks for looking... have a brill day! TTFN

Hels x

I Just Wanna KISS...

...actually, I am not so sure if it is KIS or KISS... I am rubbish with acronyms.  What am I waffling on about?   Well dear bloggers, I have been incredibly slatternly this year and haven't made many Xmas cards... I say every single year that "next year will be different"  and is it? NO!   Anyways, I decided to try my hand at "keeping it simple" and making some batches of cards.   Tis Tuesday so my day for DT at The Stamp Attic... the deets on how I made some batch cards are HERE and here's a sneaky peeking of one of them:

 I also made another card... using the same ingredients as the cards for my DT and I think this one is my fave.  I wrapped the Paper String through the card!  Oh yesh, finally I figured that if I wanted to wrap something straight onto the base card I just have to prick a hole in the fold!  How long have I been making cards huh?  I know, sometimes I astound myself at my incredible intelligence lol    

Anyways... tis a speedy post today because I am in batch-making mode... whilst I have bought cards (shock horror) I do want to make some... Christmas isn't Christmas without me haring about a few days before the final post!   Hope you have a nice day planned... I shall be the one in the corner covered in ink and snippets of Paper String lol   Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Two Ways!

...cor blimey and thrice indeedily! It is Tuesday already which means that it is my day for The Stamp Attic DT.  This week I have been playing with those gorgeous Jo Firth-Young stamps, I loves them lots I do!  To see what I have been up to, please CLICK HERE for the post over on the Stamp Attic blog.   Here's a sneaky peeking of what I did.

And... you will notice, they are cards!  Oh yes indeed! I have been polishing my halo muchly because I have now made some more Xmas cards!  I reckon at this rate I will have enough to send to at least 6 peeps this year rofl  I know, it is terrible isn't it?  All this Xmas stash, papers, stamps, sparkly bits and still I faff and fiddle and am always rushing, last minute like, to finish off 60 odd cards.  I blame that Tim Holtz you know... if he didn't get me so excited about tags, I would have tonnes of cards... ahem... yes, quite!  Actually, I had thought about putting tags onto cards but... because I do have a tendancy to overload tags they would be way to heavy and bulky to post.  Anyways... the simplicity of Jo's drawings mean the stamps are so easy to use... but they are in no way boring... there are so many different things you can do with just one stamp.. I have lots more ideas... they will be done once I have got my shows out of the way this week.  I am on tomorrow at 9am on Create & Craft with a Melt Pot show... and a possibility of another show at 6pm or 7pm, as soon as I find out I will pop it on the sidebar :O))    I am then on again on Friday at 8am and 6pm on Create & Craft with some Tim Holtz goodies!   And at 10am on Friday with another Melt Pot show!   With that, I shall away, I have demo's to prep and get organised!  Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Woooooshhhh...

...did you feel the speed of that?  Tis my fingers, whizzing over the keyboard in a super speed typing fashion!  I am time poor today so am whizzing on to pop a quick post to point you in the direction of The Stamp Attic blog - tis my DT day and I have made a tag... here's a sneak peek.... oh and HERE's a link to the full post.

And the reason for me speed typing?  Well, I needs to get myself all orderly, organised and ready for tonight.... I have been waiting patiently for this evening for a yonk and a half... because... tonight I am going to see Magnum... a rock group that I have long loved and finally I am getting to see them play live... how excited am I???  Anyways... I shall away... I will write more tomorrow (if my ears aren't ringing too much lol)  Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Bling It Up....

...cor blimey, am I crabby today or what!  Why?  Well, my stoooopid internet is on the goest slowest ever in the world.  Thing is, I take the internet for granted, I know that... I expect that I can get online anytime I feel like it, like it is there, nice and quiet in the background just waiting for me to push a few buttons.  Alas, ours in not playing fair at the moment and my grumpyness is getting even more grumpy! There aren't many things that make me grumpy but lack of internet?  Gah, it gets me!  Anyways... all that waffle about slow internet (when I say last night it was like 0.70mb you will get how slow it is!) well, it made me late to post my Stamp Attic DT piece... it just took me over an hour to get the pics uploaded! So whilst it is still working, I am speed typing to show you a sneak peek and show you the link to the post too! which is HERE!

I have done two tutorials using Metallic Stains... and there are step by step pics too!  Check out how clean my paws are too... I know!  Thems be the cleanest they have been for a yonk indeediily!  Anyways... enough waffle... time for me to really get inky now... some of the new Distress Stain colours have literally just arrived through my door, thank you to Wendy from The Stamp Attic for sending those... they are LUSH... I have got Seedless Preserves and am away right now to play with it... I LOVE that colour!  Thanks for looking... hope the tut's are easy to understand and you have a play! TTFN

Hels x

Blingetty-Bling...

..more blingyness from me this week over on The Stamp Attic blog.... I have done a tutorial showing a cool technique for using the new Metallic Stains.  All the deets are HERE and here's the tag that I decorated afterwards.... all the deets on how I did that are there too!

I am embracing all things Christmassy this year... I think it is made easier by all the gorgeous Christmas stashly goodies that are out there at the moment though... I am loving the new Snowflake Alterations die... I found it a bit of a fiddle to start off with because you don't fold the pointy bits.. once I got my head around that.. doddle!  I use a dollop of hot glue on my craft sheet and pop the middle of the underside of the snowflake over that and hold it in place... makes gluing it to shape so much easier!   Anyways... I shall away, I have a mahooosive to-do list today... and probably for the first time, cleaning the Room of Stash doesn't get a mention!  I know!!!! It is still tidy!!!  I shall have to root out the Brasso and give my halo a polish at this rate rofl  Thanks for looking... 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

Workshop Time...

...ahhh, I do love my job you know.  Today I shall be travelling to Wantage to The Stamp Attic to teach my Christmas Box class.  I have been having tonnes of fun with my Christmas stash... I think it is my most favourite theme of the year... yep, I loves Autumn with the colours and the leaves and Hallowe'en... but my heart is with the vintage side of Christmas crafting.  I totally "get" that some peeps want to do pink and purple for Christmas, me? I loves those deep reds and greens.  Anyways, here are a couple of pics of my class sample... I shall take lots of pics (camera is packed and ready *and this time I won't lose it lol*) because one of the most rewarding things about teaching a class is that this sample started life in my head and grew in the Room of Stash... and after a day teaching, even though the students have exactly the same stash to use, they are all so different... makes me smile biggly that does!

I ventured into town yesterday morning to go and see Mr Morrison's about getting some food for the cupboards and oh my word... it was bedlam in there!  I had to drive around for several yonks to find a parking space for Ferdy.  Anyways, my day was made when a lovely little old lady came up to me in the biscuit aisle (I was there for research purposes only of course *snort*) and asked... "please could you reach me down those biscuits?"   I looked up and there they were, top shelf... and bless her, she was smaller than me... so I reached up and got them for her.  Nothing marvellous about that right?  Wrong! Because... being a bit...erm... vertically challenged I am usually the one asking people to get stuff from top shelves (Noooooooo, not that kind of top shelf!!!!) and I once caused an argument between a chap and his lady when I nicely asked him if he could reach that last packet of Volly cases at the very back of the freezer... she stared daggers at me and when he walked back over to her she smacked him and said he had been flirting!  Akkkk, I am very careful whom I ask for help nowadays!  

Anyways, I guess I should stop with the waffle and start with the snoozles because my bed is a-calling me.  Oooh, and before I go... do check back for the Sunday Stamper tomorrow... ohlalala, have I got a TREAT for you!!!  Oh yesh... I am busting with excitement... like seriously busting... and can't tell you even a smidgey little tidbit, I can't tell you that the Sunday Stamper has a very special sponsor... oh no, I shall keep that one under my hat... teehee.  The post tomorrow will be published at 5am so please don't panic if you haven't seen it at midnight... there is a reason.... teeeeehheeeee..... Thanks for looking, have a FAB day!  TTFN

Hels x

Time to Be You...

..cor blimey and thrice! I was so inspired by the colours of Mother Nature that I got all unnecessary and made a tag using the colours in the Distress range that match what I can see out of the window in the Room of Stash (and no, not murky dirty streaks on the window... as if I would have those... ahem!)   Anyways... wafflings aside, tis my day for The Stamp Attic DT and all the deets on how I made my project for this week are HERE on The Stamp Attic blog.

I had a bit of a scare yesterday morning you know.  So, the parking here in Wellingborough is free... everywhere is free (thank you Mr Council Bod, makes a nice change!)  Anyways, it would be just plain wrong of me to moan about certain parking facilities wouldn't it?  So, I shalln't moan, oh no, not a moan... more of an.. erm.. observation.  Wellingborough is only a diddy little town and there's not much in the way of high street about it but it does have its very own shopping centre, The Swansgate.  And, attached to said shopping centre (ok, it is an under-cover mall like thing with about 30 shops max, but it is ours and we love it lol)  is a car park, one of those multi-storey affairs, you know the type, you go up a load of ramps in a spiral to get to each level.  Well, it has been noticed by moi (especially me, my parking ain't my finest talent) that the kerbs are rather high on these rampy bits... and being as Ferdy has a turning circle of a Sherman Tank (actually, scrap that, he has a turning circle of a dead Sherman Tank) I am continually bumping over the high kerbs and once even scuffed an alloy *yes, Grim had to be in the car for that event.... he did have the good grace not to laugh though*  Well, yesterday morning was a right old mucky day... roads wet, foggy... basically a typical Autumnal English day.  What I didn't figure when I tentatively drove up the first ramp in the multi-storey was the ASF (what ever the chuff that might be) light to come a-flashing on and for the front end of Ferdy to literally slide away from the direction I was steering.  Thank the Lordy above that I do pride myself on common sense and managed to get out of the slide.  Only for it to happen again at the very next ramp.  Thank the Lordy above and thrice... there was a space on Level 1, phew!  Turns out that the inside of the multi-storey floor has been painted with what I can only describe as greasepaint... add to that the water from the mucky wet cars and whatcha get?  Yep, skating rink.  I very nearly made a buffoon of myself (what again? so soon after the last time?) when I stepped out of Ferdy and my leg went a-sliding away... did you know that 42 year old women who are ever so slightly unfit (ok, VERY unfit) are more than capable of doing the splits? Well, of course, that could only be when hanging on, very unglamourously to a car door.  Upon that bombshell I shall love ya and leaves ya... I have a few sore muscles that didn't realise they were muscles until then that need soaking in a hot bath.  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

Fancy A Flutter...

....nooo, not that kind of flutter. No, this week for my DT piece for The Stamp Attic, I have been playing with those lush Indigo Blu stamps again. All the deets and the bigger pics are HERE if you fancy a peek. Here's a little peek at the card.



I got caught up with the whole flutteryness of my card and decided to make a tag to go with it. It is not normal for me to just stick to one colourway but the Distress range has so many gorgeous shades in the green section that I just needed to use them all. Well, I didn't use them all... I used three of them. And because there are loads of blues, reds, browns, oranges etc I can do more cards and tags, same design, different colour.


Anyways. My tag is a super simple one - not a single smidge of metal embellishing going on. I was attempting the whole KISS thing... I think I need to look again at the whole simple thing, I can't help but add ink around the edges and stick something 3d on anything I make. Ho hum, I will make it my mission to be flat...


I have some news too peeps. Not the best news I would like to share but... it can't be helped and hopefully it will turn to good news soon. My shows on Thursday on Create & Craft have been postponed *sad face* but all being well, they will be re-scheduled for very soon. As soon as I know, I will let you know. Thanks for all your lovely comments/messages about the tv planner, I do appreciate your kindness. Right, I shall away... I have decided to use the time I would normally be making samples to spend a bit of time in the Room of Stash playing... I may be some time :O)) Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Speedy....

..just a quicky post to let you know I have just popped my DT piece for The Stamp Attic over HERE... I have been playing with Dylusions and Indigo Blu stamps again... and who knew... Archival Ink colours go perfectly with Dylusions Sprays! Cool huh? Here's a sneak peek at the tag...




Oh and before I forget, I have finalised all the details for my next batch of classes at The Stamp Attic... they are online and available to book now. All the deets about the classes etc are HERE. I shall loves ya and leaves ya now - I have another "to do" list to...erm... do! Thanks for looking! TTFN

Hels x

Special Day...

...oh yesh, indeedily, tis a very special day today. My little AlfieCat is celebrating his 9th birthday today. But, before I turn into a kitty-bore I shall just tell you about my latest DT offering for The Stamp Attic which is HERE on the blog. That there is a sneaky peeky at the box I altered... all the deets on what I used etc are all detailed on the blog. Oh and before I forget! I have news! Due to a couple of cancellations, I have a few spaces left on my Stampotique Street workshop which is taking place at The Stamp Attic this coming Sunday, September 2nd. As ever with my classes, you will be getting inky using Distress. You will also be playing with Sprays, Masks, stamps and your favourite Stampotique characters - and don't forget, Stampotique isn't just the cute little grungy fella's, there are cutey pie stamps and nature themed stamps too. To book a place, please don't delay - you can book by calling Wendy on 01235 760821 or online HERE. All you will be needing will be provided, including chocolate and coffee/tea, all you need to bring is yourself, your lunch and your scissors. I hope you can make it, I am reaaaally looking forward to this class, tis gonna be fun!




Right, enough of that... and now onto the special little kitty. My little AlfieCat is 9 today. He has started the day by having a whole tin of tuna (his favourite, I get the "in spring water" stuff for him) and he has had a slice of ham, his other favourite human food. He has a new collar - he lost the other one... again and hasn't brought it home yet and I got a packet of catnip for him to stuff his mouses (he has three, very icky, very soggy looking creatures they are lol) so he has been spoiled.





A couple of photo's of him, indulge me do... he is my little furbaby after all ;o))





Thanks for looking, I hope you will be able to make it to the class on Sunday, the more the merrier :O)) TTFN

Hels x

Butterflies & Masks...

...cor blinking blimey! You should see the state of my paws! I am covered in ink again... I have been playing this morning and have made my DT piece for The Stamp Attic - I have just blogged over HERE on the Stamp Attic blog. All the deets on how I made my tag are over there so you can see how I made it... and... links to the shop so you can get there nice and easy too (am good like that!)


Because I was enjoying myself so much, I decided to make a card to match the tag too. I used the same techniques for the card as I did for the tag. I stepped right out of my comfort zone and decided to do a "snatch and grab" of the Distress Stains. Normally I will consider the colours and make sure that they are all in the same family... with the snatch and grab method, all you need to do is shut your eyes and grab the first one you come to. I did that a few times and got a smidge disappointed when I saw Pine Needles. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely colour - just not "me" IYKWIM.


Well, I am happy to say that I have changed my mind (again) and I am now lurving Pine Needles... I expect that you will be seeing a lot more of it very soon lol For the base of the card I used some Dylusions Stencils and added some pattern using Distress Ink blended thru the holes... something a bit different than leaving the base blank - which I normally do.


Anyways. All good plans of tidying the Room of Stash went slightly askew yesterday - mainly because I decided to clean out the laundry room instead... it sounds posher than it is, it is teensy... but it still took hoooours. I am the worlds best avoider you know. Avoiding cleaning the Room of Stash - and it really needs it. Today I am thinking I might have a go at the kitchen... which is also teensy so won't take too long. Anyways... I should get a move on. Before I do go though - hoooge thanks for your suggestions about the mozzi bite - it is a lot better, still a bit red and itchy and the bite itself is still like a hard, pea-sized blister but... phew, I feels better in myself too! Thanks for looking... have a good day ... TTFN!

Hels x

Ruby Tuesday...

..ahaha, I am making meself laugh, never a good sign... why Ruby Tuesday? Well, it is Tuesday (for once I know what day of the week it is lol) and... I have some ruby slippers going on on my latest piece for The Stamp Attic DT. To see all the deets on how I made it, what I used etc... please CLICK HERE.



I am on a mission today... oh yesh, I spent yesterday lounging about watching telly - although I did do battle in Sainsbury's because we had literally no food in the house... and, more worryingly, we were out of Diet Coke, never a good thing for me lol Anyways... my mission today, after being a lazy old bag yesterday, is to make my Room of Stash sparkle again. I had thought about chucking a load of glitter all over it but then that would defeat the object... I need to tidy up... there, I said it. I may be some time... if you haven't seen me in a few days, send out a search party! Have a fun day... TTFN!!

Hels x

Bliss & Birthdays...

...tee hee, isn't it just bliss eh? To be able to have a little play with favourite goodies and make something that (to me) could be edible. Ok, I am probably pushing it a bit but I am in the mood for coffee cake, hence the coffee colours on my latest DT creation for The Stamp Attic. Here's a sneak peek of my tag... and all the deets on how I made it and what I used etc are HERE.



So, I mentioned birthdays in the title.... whose birthday is it? Only my lovely American BFF, Ellen Vargo. I am sure you will have heard my wafflings and seen our "I Challenge Thee's" and our "Recipes" but HERE is her blog... go and have a look - I recommend you take a cuppa and a nice caramel digestive with you, you may be there some time because her art is... ohlallaaa, gorgeous! Ellen is a constant source of support and inspiration to me. There aren't many peeps in the world who will accept someone for who they actually are, warts n'all. These people are rare, no hidden agenda's etc... but Ellen is one of those rare peeps. We met a couple of years ago because of a stamping artist that is Wendy Vecchi. Wendy posted a piccie of a piece I had made on her blog. Ellen saw it, popped over to see my blog, joined the Everything Wendy Vecchi group, and the rest, as they say, is history. I have been incredibly lucky to be able to actually meet Ellen in the real too. Oh yesh, yonder t'internet may make the world a smaller place but to actually meet someone and really get to know them... and still love them for who they are.... well, it is an honour and priviledge to be able to call her my mate. See from this pic... I think I have finally found someone who is dafter than me... and it took me several decades to achieve that... daft as a brush the pair of us lol




We have been lucky - four visits in a year... and now it is nearly a whole 10 months since we were last together... time flies so quickly doesn't it? Still, that will be remedied soon because we have a trip planned for the New Year... I am saving like a loon for it... I will be going there... and I can't wait! So, after all that waffle, I guess all that is left for me to say is ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ellen... I hope you have a day as special as you hun.. wish I could be there to share that cake (not to mention the Cheesy Chester Cheeto's) This pic was taken on Ellen's first visit to England....



And this one was taken on my first visit to Baltimore... oh how I LOVE this photo... actually, I love America... very lots... I can't wait to go back!!! *oh, I said that already lol*



Right, I better get going... remember that pile of ironing from yesterday? Ahem.... still not done! I know, I know, I am going to be getting a reputation for my slatternly behaviour, so I had better go and rectify it (plus, I am running out of clothes lol) As ever, thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Sneaky Peeks....

... I am whizzing on here for another super fast, fingers flying post. I am in a hurry... oh yes, I have a To Do list today that has 291 things on it!!! I know!!! That many!!! Anyways... just a super quicky to point you in the direction of The Stamp Attic blog HERE. Today is my day for the DT and I have been playing with some gorgeous Fresco Paints and Indigo Blu stamps and I made a card.


I know, get me.. .making cards! You never know, it might become a new addiction! Anyways... I shall away... and say, as ever... thanks for looking!!! Oooh, and I did just remember... I am doing a giveaway tomorrow so please do pop back :O)) TTFN!

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 215 - More Than Words

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all! Many thanks for the gorgeous embellished entries for last weeks challenge... wow, there were some new peeps joining in too... welcome and thank you! This week the challenge is based around a song that is a favourite of mine and Grim's... and it was playing on the tellybox the other day, I heard and thought... aha! a good theme for the Sunday Stamper. So, the theme is... MORE THAN WORDS. Which basically means, use more than just a word on your entry - a phrase, a greeting or a sentiment... whichever you fancy. To join in is simples; make a little something - it can be anything you feel like. Add in the theme and some stamping and then hop 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 or web photo hosting thingy, you can either email me or join in via Facebook. The theme will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 28th July 2012.




My entry this week is a Tando Printer's Tray that I altered and was the subject for yesterdays class. I coloured the outer layer with Black Soot Stain and dried it, sanded it gently and then blended Vintage Photo DI over the sanded bits to age it. Then I took a piece of cardstock and blended Antique Linen Stain over a mask, you have to be quick with this so it doesn't soak too much under the mask but it does give a really cool aged effect. This had a zap with a heat tool and then I took several DI's and That Special Touch and Crafters Workshop masks and layered up the colouring. I just did random patches of each mask/colour for the layering... am loving the haphazard effect of it though. I did some stamping using Indigo Blu and Paper Artsy stamps using co-ordinating Archival Inks, I just love that the Archival colours work so well with the DI's. While I was doing the background for the main piece, I also did an extra bit so I could use it to stamp on for the words etc.



Next came the "more than words" bit - namely from a fab set of Dylusions stamps - I love these words and I also love the different fonts and the boxes around the words to frame them. They were cut up and then popped into the compartments of the tray, some are flat onto the background and the main one is raised up on 3d foam. I added some embellishments - check out the gorgeous Embellish Your Art Studio 490 pieces. These are made by Blossom Bucket, designed by Wendy Vecchi and are made of resin. They are STUNNING... and what's more, they are all flat backed so they can fit flat onto your artwork too. Both of these are plain light colours and I used Veridian Archival ink to colourize them and then gave them a zap with a heat tool to set the Archival ink. Just a tip: Archival Ink is a permanent, oil based, waterproof ink. I use it all the time for my stamping - it gives a lovley crisp image and won't be affected by waterbased products/inks/sprays etc. With this in mind, I always give anything I stamp a quick zap with the heat tool... this ensures it is dry - heat does the setting of the ink - which means no accidental smudgey fingerprints :o)



Right, I had better get a wiggle on - I say that every night I know but I do need some more beauty sleep = I have another class today at The Stamp Attic... getting painty with canvas, I am looking forward to having another fun day. I would have blogged pics from today's class but... alas. I have lost my camera. I am gutted, it was a really good one (remember the video's I did?) I think it must have fallen out of my bag when I got out of the car this morning, by the time I realised it wasn't with me a few hours had passed, I went back to the car to check but nope, not there. So, I am back to using my dreadfully old and ever so blurry old camera... poor old thing, it has taken nearly 8000 photo's so you can kind of understand why it is tired. I need a nice win on the Lotto so I can replace my other one... in the meantime I shall continue to kick myself for being so careless! Anyways... have a lovely day... I hear it is to be sunny! WOW, two days on the trot!! Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Bitten By The Bug...

...mmm, yes, again... a bug bite... or should I say, three mahooooooosive bug bites - probably mozzi's... and you should see the size of them - they are hurting, hot, bright red, swollen and, I am feeling ever so sorry for myself! (plays for sympathy... of course lol) Anyways, HERE is my entry for this weeks The Stamp Attic blog piece.... can you guess what it is?


I am not going to stop of waffle because a) I don't feel well (awwww) and b) because I don't feel well I am not feeling as chattery as usual (must be bad huh?) Thanks for looking... I will deffo be back tomorrow with something that Ellen and I cooked up between us last week (when I was well and not at death's door and all that..... *still playing for sympathy!*) TTFN!

Hels x

If I Had A Box Just For Wishes....

...ahh, a line from one of my favourite songs, Time In A Bottle by Jim Croce. Well, I have had this little alterable box for a yonk and a half so I decided it was high time that I... erm... altered it! It is my DT offering this week for The Stamp Attic. To see all the deets on how I made it, altered it, embellished it and the goodies I used, please CLICK HERE to be magically transported on the back of a humungus dandelion clock (I used Indigo Blu stamps on this box, hence the dandelion reference... )



Anyways... that there is a sneakily peekily at the finished piece. I know... it is ... PINK! Whatever is happening to me eh? Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a wee young lass who adored pink. She had pink hair streaks, a pink mobile phone, a pink camera, a really cool pair of pink suede boots (actually, I still have them and I still lurve them and don't care that they are sooo out of fashion lol) Where was I? Ah yes, the girl who loved pink. You know, she loved pink so much she even named her blog after her nickname at that time, which was Pinkle. So began the crafty blog "pinkleart". Then one cold and frosty morning, she awoke and realised that her world had become black and white and grungy. So she cast aside her love of all things pink and turned her back on the colour that she had so loved. Several years intervened where she avoided all things pink at all costs. Then one day, she awoke and realised that actually, pink is a rather nice colour... and there are so many "pretty" shade of pink that they should be embraced and used.... maybe not on everything but... it's a step in the right direction.

Anyways... enough of my inane wafflings... don't forget to hop over to The Stamp Attic... I have done links and all that stuff so if you fancy yourself a nice little bit of retail therapy, they are all there, at the click of a button.... am good like that yes? Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x