Sunday Stamper - Week 353 - Freeze Frame

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy sunny spring Sunday to you all!  Thanks for your fabulous blue makes entered into last weeks challenge.  The new theme this week is... PUT A FRAME ON IT.  You can interpret the challenge how you like: be it an altered frame, framework dies, stamped cartouches, a scribbled frame around the page... the choice, it be yours!   To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme AND some stamping *this is THE important bit guys, please remember your rubberstamps!*  and then hop back here, leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry and I can come see you.   If you haven't got a blog, you can join in via Facebook (just tag me name) or by emailing a small res.pic to me or by leaving me a link to your Pinterest or any other photo hosting site.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 18th April 2015.  

I had a lovely day yesterday; I was demo-ing at Jo Channon's Let's Create in Tattershall - all things Melting Pot and Studio 490.  Thank you to Jo and Mark for having me and to Jo's Mum who always keeps me well fed and watered too :O)  And... a big thank you to all the lovely ladies and gents who came along to see me getting inky and messy.  I think we have a few new Melt Pot addicts too.  During the day I was demo-ing different Melt Pot techniques and popped together a few finished samples... my entry this week is one of them.

The base is a Studio 490 Art Part rectangle frame with an Art Part heart a-top it.  The heart was covered with Tim's Wallflower paper and then a beeswax collage over the top with a smidge of Mica to make it a bit blingy.  The frame was painted black, sanded and then Walnut Stain DI was blended over the top to make it a bit more vintage.  And because Art Parts are so robust, they will take a whole lot of distressing and beeswaxing.  I made a rose using the same papers and dipped it into beeswax to give it a lovely shabby vintage look and did the same with the sentiment which is a Studio 490 stamp (yes, it is the only stamping on the project but... it counts lol)

Much mirth and merriment here today!  A few weeks ago I got busy in the greenhouse and planted lots of seeds... all of them have poked their heads through and now it is time to "pot on"... which is what I shall be doing once I have stopped waffling here.  I keep going on about how I love this time of year... and I do... Spring is most definitely here Chez Sheridan and it is making my heart happy!  Whatever you have planned today, I hope you have a good one!  Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 302 - Mother Nature's Son

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  A big thank you to everyone who entered into last week's challenge.   The theme is NATURE.  You can interpret the theme in many ways: nature's colours, insect, animals, plants... the list is endless!  *and yes, I have had this theme before... and yes, it was the same song title - this doesn't happen oft unless it is a particular fave theme and song!*    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, leave me a comment with a linky to the place you are showing your entry and I will hop on over to visit. If you don't have a blog, you can email me your entry by attaching a small res. pic or alternatively, you can join in via Facebook - simply tag my name.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 12th April 2014

 My entry this week is all about nature.  Starting with the beautiful new Wallflower papers from Tim Holtz.  I have always loved the designs that Tim puts into his paper stacks... but this one, well, it surpasses all the others (and that is saying a lot from me, the self-confessed Crowded Attic freak!)   These papers are absolutely stunning... I highly recommend you save up some pennies and buy a pad for yourself... you won't be disappointed :O)   So, armed with these delish new papers, I set about making something naturified *uh-oh, new word alert!*   I started out with a rectangle Studio 490 Art Part frame, covering the frame with the papers and then making a little piece to go in the middle, adding some torn bits to create a bit of texture and then popping a couple of Tim's Layering Stencils over and blending Distress Inks over them.  I used Doily and Bubble Wrap stencils with Forest Moss and Walnut Stain DI.  I cut some more paper and stamped the sentiment (from Tim's Stuff to Say) and added some little dots from the Dot Fade Stencil, again using Forest Moss.

The flowers are Tim's papers stuck onto Clearly For Art Blackout modelling film (used Glue & Seal to stick them down)  The stamps are Tattered Flowers by Heartfelt Creations, stamped in black Archival, cut out, inked with Faded Jeans and Victorian Velvet DI's and then heated up from the blackout side and moulded into shape whilst warm.. I love Clearly for Art... did I ever mention that???   The leaves are cut from Kraft Core-Dinations using Tim's new Spring Greenery die... those ivy leaves are fab aren't they?   I added some embellies (don't I always!) the butterfly and sprig are from the new Adornments Idea-ology *swoon* which I painted Distress Paint (Victorian Velvet and Tumbled Glass) onto, dabbed off the excess and then buffed up a bit.  The ickle heart is a Heart Charm (Idea-ology) and I used a Remnant Rub to add my own little piccie to it and the buttons and pearl spray are new Creative Expressions goodies.    I am a bit cross with meself though!  I had planned to make this little frame into a hanging... but I am thick (and forgetful) and didn't punch holes in the Art Part before I assembled it... so I am planning on getting some mini bulldog clips, chucking them in a baggie with some Rust Alcohol Ink and then once they are covered, tying them with string.   I didn't do that yet though because I am out of time for faffing...

Speaking of out of time... tis now time for me to get myself to my bed... I am scheduling this post to publish as I needs to be up early in the morning, which, by now, is today... so actually I am probably already up and about and off on my way to Telford to Crafty Bunch to do an Indigo Blu card making class with Pauline Wheeler, tis going to be a grand day!   Hope you have a great day too... thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 298 - A Stitch in Time

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Thanks for so many fabby entries to last weeks challenge, it is a pleasure to hop around to all your blogs to see your grand creations.  This week the theme is... STITCHES/SEWING.  The theme invites you to add any kind of stitching into your creation, be it faux with stamping or doodling... or actual real stitching either by hand or machine!  To join in with the challenge is simples - make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here to leave me a comment along with a linky to the place you are showing your entry.  If you haven't got a blog, you can join in via Facebook - simply tag my name, or by emailing me a small res. photo of you creation.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 15th March 2014.

 This week I have been stealing time from the middle of the night!  Oh ho yesh, I have sussed out that time during the night is not only "free" it also appears to be when my Mojo is in full steam and I am at my most creative.  Mind you, it isn't hard to be creative when you have the right stashly goodies.  Of late, I have sadly neglected my Studio 490 stash, mainly because I haven't had time to play with it all.  So, during my nighttime playtimes, I have been dusting off the 490 stash and getting thoroughly covered in ink and paint.  This creation is a hanging piece I made, the base is chipboard that I covered with some new Kaisercraft Papers (Timeless collection, nom!) and then I got crackling... *see what I dids there? teehee*   Recently, the marvel that is Wendy Vecchi added a brand new embossing texture paste to her already great range. *click her name to be transported to her blog for amazing inspirations*  And if you saw last Sunday's Sunday Stamper you will have already seen this fabulous Crackled Texture Paste.   This time, instead of just slapping it onto the base "raw", I added a few drops of Geranium Archival Re-Inker to colour it.  Ohhhhlaaaalaaaa!  Check out those crackles!  I started by popping the Heart Stencil For Art onto the base, smidging on a thin layer of Black Embossing Paste and once dried (super fast as it was a thin layer) I replaced the Heart over the top and spread a nice thick layer of Crackled Paste over the top.  It was nice and dry and ready to use about an hour later... and whilst I loved the bright red, it was just a smidge too bright for how I wanted the piece to look.  To fix this, I grabbed some Cut & Dry Foam and blended Geranium and Watering Can Archival Inks over the top... voila, a grungier effect.

Now for the decorations.  The base looked fine but... a bit bare.  So after rummaging through my 490 stamps, I found the stitched scallop and stamped that around the edge of the base, then used Antique Linen and Gathered Twigs DI's to add a vintage look.  I stamped a few flourishes in Watering Can at the top of the heart (look closely, they are there, hiding under the flowers lol)  And then... ART PARTS!!!  Now, I love Art Parts more than most other things in my stash! They are sturdy, easily altered and they just add that perfect amount of dimension to any creation.  So, the leaves were painted with Forest Moss and Crushed Olive Distress Paints and then overstamped with a cool background using Fern Green Archival ink.  The Art Part word started out saying "wishes" but I didn't want the "es" so I chopped them off, slapped a layer of Rock Candy Cracklepaint onto the word and then once crackled, applied Black Soot DP over the top... subtle crackle on top of mega crackle. 
  

And now for the decorating bit!  It is no secret that I loves a nice flower bundle... in fact, the majority of the things I make have flowers on them.. and the Studio 490 stamps are just perfect for making said flower bundles.  I stamped all the flowers onto cream cardstock, cut them all out and then overstamped them with Geranium Archival and lots of different background stamps - again all Studio 490.  They were then inked with Antique Linen, Fired Brick and Gathered Twigs DI's.  I used the mini dotty butterfly and Jet Black Archival to stamp out onto Clearly For Art.  Now, Clearly For Art is one of the bestest things you can have in your crafty stash - it is a heatable modelling film that can be left clear, covered with papers, fabric, inks, die cut, stamped etc and once it is heated and moulded, it keeps its shape.  And if you hate your moulding? You can reheat it and it goes back to flat again!  Genius indeedily!  The addage of little pearls to the flowers and butterflies was my finishing touch, I didn't want to add any more embellies as I liked the look as it is.. and I know how mental I can go with the old embellies!

 I have had a great time this past week playing late at night... and this coming week I actually have a weekend off so... that means more time to play during the days too!  As ever, have a wonderful day... I hope you like the theme and get a chance to play along.  Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 273 - That's What Friends Are For

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  White Rabbits btw... tee hee... 1st of the month and all that!  Thanks for all the great entries for last weeks challenge too... I do love to visit and see your gorgeous creations.  This week is a very special theme which has been chosen by a very special person!  Oh yesh, this week the theme is FRIENDS and it has been chosen by my BFF Ellen.  More of that in a mo... but first... to join in with the Sunday Stamper is simples: Just make a little something - it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you don't have a blog/web-photo-hosty thingy, worry not... you can also join in via email - my addy is where my pic is over there *points left* just click the pic... or via Facebook - simply tag my name on your photo and I can pop by to see it.   The theme will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 7th September 2013.

Now, as you may have gathered, just recently I have been suffering with my pain and the old cad Mojo has decided it was high time to go off on his jollies.  Well, I had had enough of walking into the Pit of Doom - the new name for the Room of Stash - and walking back out again in disgust.  So yesterday morning I set myself a challenge to clear some shelf space and get rid of stuff I don't use.  So I did!  Oh yesh, I got rid of tonnes of stuff... only into boxes into the garage but it is a start right?   Next up was a lovely long Skype sesh with Ellen... only 5 hours this time... ahem... but it sure got my Mojo dancing as we had a little I Challenge Thee!  Hence, the title for this weeks' challenge... Friends... cos Ellen helped get my Mojo dancing again!   Here's the recipe for our Art Part Fest:

Using Wendy Vecchi's Art Parts:
3 x 5 1/2" x 7" Large book covers
Large Queen
Wings
Small square Frames
Scroll Leaf
Small Hand
Scallop Borders
Pencil
Crayon
Gears
Plus: Wendy's new Ranger Archival Inks (LUSH!)
Other Art Parts as desired.

What a list huh?  I was a bit afraid because it was BIIIIG!  And I haven't done a biiiig Art Part piece before... but hey ho, Mojo was creeping back slowly... almost like he was playing "What time is it Mr Wolf?"  Everytime I glanced over, thinking I could see him, he slid behind a rubber stamp or scootled under a craft sheet.  Then a lovely warm fuzzy feeling overtook me and voila!  He was HOME!  After grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and bunging him in a Really Useful Box,  I got into my Art Part Fest with great gusto!

I kept the background of the Covers very simple... covering them with the backsides of the Tim French Industrial papers (who snikkered then huh?) and sanding the edges and then blending some Gathered Twigs DI around to make them look a bit distressy.  The frames were covered with Gathered Twigs Stains, dried, sanded and then overstamped with Potting Soil Archival (my NEW FAVE!!!!  LOOOOOVE THIS ONE!!!! THANK YOU WENDY!!!!)  The leaves were coloured with Forest Moss and overstamped with Fern Green Archival, the wing was coloured with Scattered Straw Stain and overstamped with Orange Blossom Archival, the little flower was coloured with Barn Door Distress Marker and overstamped with Red Geranium Archival, the little scallops were coloured with Black Soot Stain and overstamped with Watering Can Archival... so the only one I didn' use was the Cornflower Blue... not bad going though eh?  I love all the new Archivals muchly... they are just my colours and hues... lushness indeeeedily.... you needs them!   You might now be able to see the crayon Art Parts immediately... that is because four of them are actually the "holder togetherers" of the three covers... and then a fifth was cut up to make stabilisers for the layers of Art Parts on the front bits.  Cunning huh!!!   Finally, the addition of some metal bits and bobs and some Embellish Your Art resin goodies were my little decorations... I know they were not on the list but.... if you don't tell, I won't ;O))  To see Ellen's amazebobs piece, CLICK HERE.  Ellen has created an amazing piece of art... and the complete polar opposite to mine... very unique and very Ellen.  

I must away!  I have fair worn myself out with all this creativity... but seriously, it has been tooooo long since I actually made anything.  I have never had a barren stretch like this before.  I don't think the pain has helped but I know for sure that the old Mojo is well and truly home (I can hear him hammering against the lid of the Really Useful Box as I type!)  Today I plan to get inky again and see if I can actually manage to blog during the week for a change!  I still can't believe that I haven't blogged from one Sunday to another... this is a first for me... 6 years of blogging and I haven't ever been so quiet!  I shall remedy that PDQ!   Anyways, thanks for sticking with me... I truly appreciate your support you know!   Thanks for looking, as ever, have a fabby day!  TTFN

Hels x

Love Of My Life...

...cor blimey, I don't know about you but I am sure some greater good has their finger pressed firmly on the "fast forward" button... already it is July!  But more than that... on Friday last, Grim and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary!  Come on... really?  ELEVEN years?  WOW!  Where did that go huh?  I don't normally make a card for our anniversary because I am rubbish at making cards, you know, those really special ones that in years to come you get out of a dusty old box and reminisce about?

So, this year was different because I had a pile of goodies sitting on my desk and the card just kind of made itself... well, obviously I had a hand in it, I haven't quite mastered the spell that will make stuff... erm... make itself (yes, dear readers, it appears that I am losing the plot)  Anyways... I made a card for Grim... and here it is today.  It isn't a secret that I love all things Wendy Vecchi (she is an art goddess, click here for her blog)  The Art Part word was the starting point of the card... if you haven't used Art Parts yet, you are missing out... they are brrrrilliant!  So, that was coloured with Treasure Gold and then I set about colouring a piece of cardboard (thank you Alfonse for scoffing more food for Mummy) with Fresco Paints... pouncing the colours on so they blended nicely.

Next up I popped the Heart Stencil (another Studio 490 delight) and spread some black  490 Embossing Paste through the heart, rather like icing a cake (yes, I do have some experience of that... I just have to remind myself it is embossing paste and not chocolate frosting, therefore no licking the spatula...)  Once that had set, I added smudges of Treasure Gold over the raised bits and also around the edges of the cardboard.  I saw a design from Wendy for the last CHA that used the LOVE and some cool Embellish Your Art, so I copied her idea, placing the flowers (also Treasure Golded) around the word... and then popped Mr Crow a-top of the word so he is perching.  The piece was still looking a bit "clean" (IYKWIM) so I edged the heart with a Stabilo All pencil and then gave the whole thing a spritz with Black Marble Dylusions to grunge it up a bit.  I was sooo tempted to bung a bit of wire in the top of the cardboard and turn it into a hanging but no, I was a good gal and matted it onto black card and then made it into a proper card :O)

Right, I shall away... I have an appointment with an ironing board today... and whilst ironing, I shall be watching Homes Under the Hammer (I LOVE that programme... addicted!) and then I will be doing a spot of making stuff in the Room of Stash.  Hope you all have a goodly day!  Thanks for looking, TTFN

Hels x

A-Tissue....

...mwhahaaa... did you see what I did there... I did a play on words! I know... groanworthingly groaningtons but... I did actually use a tissue (tis true) to make this sample for the Melt Art shows this week.  I am on again today at 9am and 4pm... as ever, all the deets for the shows and how to watch are over in the sidebar.    Firstly.. THANK YOU!!!  *shouted that loud* for all your amazing emails, Facebook messages, Tweets, comments on here and emails into the studio... they are all so very kind and making me very smiley indeedily!  I am so chuffed that you are enjoying the shows.  Now, because we were concentrating on getting as much demo-ing done as possible, we didn't have a chance to read out all the emails that arrived... and the last show at 7pm received an immense amount of them... so... if you sent in a question and I didn't get a chance to answer it for you, please do email me... if you leave the question in a comment here, the only way I will be able to reply is if you have your email addy enabled in your comments.. if you haven't activated that option, just pop an email over to me (my addy is in the sidebar) and I will do my best to answer asap.

On with todays offering... which is one of the large Square Art Parts (Studio 490) as the base and some of the Art Parts from the Heart, Love & Stars set.  I LOVE Art Parts.. you all know that anyways... and I especially love that they are so sturdy and the perfect base for a nice beeswax project.  As I mentioned in my guffaw inducing (ahem... quite) post title, I indeedily used a tissue to make this piece.  You know those little packets of pocket tissues you can buy that are all jazzy and posh?  They make THE perfect thing to collage with beeswax!  Oh yesh... this one was 3 ply (told you it was a posh 'un) and I pulled the plys apart so I just had a single ply.  You need to do this for two reasons: firstly, the beeswax kind of melts the tissue away so you are just left with the image, so the thinner the better... and secondly, two layers invites air bubbles... which are ugly and I disuade air bubbles from my arty stuff :O)  The Art Part base was painted with Mushroom Eco Paint and then I used a Tim Holtz script stamp, stamping onto one of the other tissue plys, tearing out the images, beeswaxing them on and buffing the wax once it had set.  The hearts were done in exactly the same way, using Black Eco Paint on a bit of Cut & Dry foam to add a frame around each piece.   The butterfly... well, he is a Studio 490 Embellish Your Art piece.. I only have one of him so I decided to make a mould of him from Mold & Pour, I painted him black (the UTEE was the old bits of amber coloured clear) and then used one of those gold liquid leafy pen jobbies to add the border and the dots... I love him and can see the possibilities in using him with different colours of UTEE... pretty!

Right, I shall away.. I have another early start in the morning so I am scheduling this, although it is gone 11pm now... so please do excuse the excess baggage I will be carrying under my eyes later lol   Thing is, I get myself all excitable and my brain is a-buzzin ('scuse the pun, beeswax... buzzin... ah, just me then lol) and I then get to thinking about demo's on todays shows and by the time I realise it, the alarm is going off... and while I sit here waffling that will be sooner than I want... so, as ever, thanks for looking... and thanks again for all your support, you are all stars!  Have a great day... TTFN!

Hels x

Sneaky Peekingtons....

...cor blimey, I have been having the best fun, playing ahem, working, in the Room of Stash, with my Melt Pot and all the lush goodies I have on the Four Day Deal next week.  After being a bit of a meany yesterday and not showing you any of the samples I have made, I figured today I would be show you :O)  Only a little piccie so I don't give too much away but, nay and thrice... is that an Art Part I see before me?  Aha, yesh!  Not saying anything else ;O)

Much excitement and merriment in the kitchen last night.  Well, you see, cooking isn't my...erm... best attribute.  In fact, I would go as far to say that I have a few tried and tested recipes that I have invented myself and I tend to stick to them.  I can't follow a recipe and I do tend to bung stuff into a pan and hope for the best.  One of the tried and tested recipes is my lasagne.  It is one of those dishes that I quite enjoy making, you know, making the sauce, layering up the sauce with the cheese and the pasta and stuff.  Yes, with the pasta.  Which is where it went a little bit wrong.  I went shopping the other day to get the ingredients for said lasagne. And forgot the tomatoes.  And the pasta.  And didn't realise. Ahem.  Quite.  So there I am, halfway through making the sauce and went to the cupboard to get the squished tomatoes *they have a proper name but it evades me at this moment when I need it most lol* I usually use and they weren't there.  Oooops.  So, being as I had already added most of the ingredients, I improvised.  I did have two tins of plum tomatoes.  So I decided that I would squish them myself, I mean, how hard can it be?  Cue me looking like I had murdered someone, the kitchen descending into tomato hell and the sieve taking a bashing.  I thought that I could squish said tomatoes through the sieve.  Wrong. The pips were irksome. *and they are a nightmare to get out of ones hair*  So I decided to squish them in my hands instead. Did you know that if you squeeze a plum tomato it squirts its juice for miles, literally covers cupboards, floors and a stupid woman in juice.  Anyways, long story short. I did the whole squishing of  the tomatoes and put the sauce on to cook for a few hours.  Then it was time to make the lasagne up. So I went to the cupboard to get the pasta and erm... yep, it wasn't there.  Because I forgot it.  There were, instead, 5 sheets left over from the previous one I made.  So I decided to just go with it and snapped them into pieces and just kind of chucked them into the dish.  When it was cooked it looked as lovely as ever... but I knew it would not taste as good being as it was a bit light on pasta.  But believe this or not, Grim said "I think this is your best one yet!" And he went back for seconds, so I know he wasn't just being polite (so did I but I am not going to tell you that cos then you will think I am a pig lol) Blimey!  How about that then!!!   And on that bombshell I shall love you and leave you... more samples to make!  Thanks for looking, have a goodly day!  TTFN

Hels x

Distressingtons...

... oh yesh, I am still with the "ingtons" going on the end of every word... and today be no different as I did, indeedily, go to distressingtons when I was playing and making this little Studio 490 Art Part piece.  In fact, you could say I got inkingtons whilst distressingtons this taggingtons... yes, quite!     Anyways... playing with the new Distress Paints sure has kept me happy and combining them with my fave Studio 490 goodies, well, a very happy playtime it was.   The background of the Art Part Tag was painted with Antique Linen and Bundled Sage DP, splodging the paint onto the Art Part and then blending them together with a piece of Cut & Dry foam and whilst they were still wet, adding some Forest Moss DP in patches with the same Cut & Dry so they were nicely blended.   I grabbed a couple of the new Stencils For Art - the Diamonds and Stripes ones... using Stormy Sky DI to blend the patterns onto the tag base... I loves combining stencils ... just a hint of a diamond here and there and the odd stripe to balance the background.  The leaves are another Stencils For Art - the Forest Moss DP was applied again with the same C&D foam and I gave it a quick zap with a heat tool to dry the paint off and then added some ickle lines with a fine marker to give the leaves a smidge of definition.  

Mr Birdy (another new Art Part) was given a reallllly cool technique that I saw Wendy Vecchi demo-ing at CHA: slap Rock Candy Cracklepaint onto your base piece, in this case I used Mr Birdy.  Once the Rock Candy is dry and crackled, splodge some DP onto the crackles and rub in with a finger, adding different colours as you go and smooth out the colours together so they blend nicely.  Cooool technique or what!  The floral embellishment was made up of Black Clearly For Art, stamped with Gold Dabber and Clear Clearly For Art that was covered in a bookpage and then stamped and cut out... the ickle resin rose is an Embellish Your Art piece, coloured with Broken China DP and then gilded with the new Creative Expressions Gilding Wax.  I did the same with the little Star Knob too, adding some more gilding to it to make it pop.   Did you spy the ickle skeleton leaves?  They are the Creative Expressions Metal Leaves, simply cover with Peeled Paint DP, start to dry, rub off the wet bits and voila, a perfectly painty and grungy altered leaf!  Simples :O))

I am very excited today because I have a VERY special visitor joining in me in the Room of Stash!!!!   Nay and thrice, not only is he joining me in here, he is also going to be making some art with me too!  Who is this tall dark and handsome stranger I hear you cry?  None other than my Grim!   I have finally pursuaded him to come and have a little play with ink and stuff... I can't wait to get him all inky (mmmm, that does sound wrong on so many levels but you know what I mean lol)  Anyways, I shall away, I have things to attend to before he can come and play... like clearing a space for him and moving all the crud from under the desk so he can actually get his legs under... ahem... best get a move on!   Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

In Stitches...

...aha! A play on words today - yep, still coming up with exciting and witty blog post titles (not lol)  Anyways... yesterday was Day 1 of the Stitches Trade Show at the NEC in Birmingham and I spent the day playing demo-ing for Creative Expressions with the gorgeously delectable new Distress Paints along with the latest and fabulously wonderful Studio 490 stamps, Stencils for Art and Art Parts with a few Blossom Bucket Embellish Your Art goodies thrown in for goodly measures.. and here is one of my demo samples:

One of the new Art Part tags - looooove these, perfect size, perfect shape and the little scallop trim makes a cute addition.   I started by covering the tag with an old book page and using a palette knife to spread Antique Linen Distress Paint over it in patches.  A quick zap with a heat tool and then Bundled Sage DP, another zap with a heat tool and Broken China DP spread over the top... and then one of the brand new and brilliant That Special Touch Masks... big big thanks to the Mask Queen herself, Ali Reeve for giving these to me... check out her blog HERE for more inspiration... the new dotty mask was popped onto the top of the tag and I used Cut & Dry foam to sponge and blend Black Soot DP through it.  A quick smidge of Black Soot around the edges to frame the design and then I set about making the embellies.

The stripy flower was made using the new Stencils For Art Layered Flower stencil, first using Broken China DP through it and then using the other flower on the stencil and Chipped Sapphire - this is so cool because once you have your first colour down, you pop the next flower over the top and it masks the first layer at the same time as being a stencil too... genius!  This was then cut out, edged with more of the Black Soot and embellished with a Star Knob Blossom Bucket embellie... I added some of the brand new Creative Expressions Gilding Wax to the centre to tone it in and finally, after colouring and adding the scallop trim, I coloured another Star Knob for the top of the tag and an EYA rose, coloured with Broken China DP.  Oh and the word, I almost forgot the word... again coloured with Black Soot DP, sanded, coloured lightly with Gathered Twigs DI and then all stuck together with Cosmic Glue.  Oh and I forgot the leaves!  Creative Expressions metal leaves... painted with Forest Moss DP... look how it sticks to metal too! So versatile!  

I had a fabby day, it was great to see so many peeps... and I get to do it all again today!  Hurrah!   I shall away... another scheduled post, another early start... another night panicking that I have slept through the alarm... so tis time for my bed!  Thanks for looking... have a fab day!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 245 - Man of the World

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all... many thanks for the fabby lurve themed entries last week!  This week the theme is one for the guys... and it is MEN.   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 hop back here to leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you don't have a blog or web-photo-thingy, you can also join in via email or on Facebook.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 23rd February 2013.

I am doing a speed-blogging post today as I am writing this late Saturday evening and I needs to get to bed for today I shall be demo-ing for Creative Expressions at the Stitches Trade Show in Birmingham.   I am very fortunate to be able to do something that I loves so much... and I have been making samples and playing with some brand new products including the new Distress Paints and Studio 490 stamps and Art Parts.

The crackle background... wow, isn't that fab?  I saw Wendy Vecchi demo-ing this technique at CHA and fell in lurves as soon as I saw it.  It is a coat of Rock Candy Cracklepaint onto an Art Part piece and then once crackled, applying Distress Paints over the top and blending them to a smooth finish.  How cool!  And... I stamped over the top of the crackle too to add the vintage look.   The guy is a new stamp/Art Part, he is coloured with Distress Markers and the camera, tooo cute!  It too is a stamp/Art Part... the photo's aren't reallly doing it justice, it looks so much more dimensional IRL.  The dot in the middle of the camera is a blob of Glossy Accents.

Like I said... speed-blogging... I shall be back tomorrow with some photo's from today (if I remember to take some lol)  Thanks for looking and have a fabbilicious day!  TTFN

Hels x

Taggingtons...

... I really MUST stop with the adding of "ingtons" onto the end of every available word I can think of.  It all started with Alfie.  He talks you see... sometimes is in so foul of mouth I have to cover my ears but for the most time, we have lovely little conversations.   Well, being as I am home most of the time we have got ourselves into a little routine when it comes to Alfie's meal times.  He has his "breakie" and then comes the next meal... lunch,  or as I started calling it, lunchingtons.  And it has kind of stuck.  If I say to Alf "you want some lunch?" He just looks at me.  If I say to Alf "you want some lunchingtons?" He leaps up and looks very happy to see me!  And when he does his business in his litter tray, he has very oft been to "dumpingtons" or "poopingtons"  *depending on the severity lol*    See what I mean?  It is so easy to add "ingtons" onto the end of words.  Which is why I titled this post "taggingtons" because "tag" is just too short and not at all imaginative for a blog post title.  With all of that wafflingtons (snort) out of the way, here is a little tag(gintons) that I made whilst staying with Ellen.  I can't believe it is a whole week since I set off for home! Where did that go huh?  Oh and yes, the jet lag is almost over.. thanks for asking, it has been a nightmare(ingtons) *ahem*

So, my creation (I sooo want to say "tag" but you know what it will turn into... tis a compulsion) is a cacophony of new stuff!  Starting with the base, which is a new Studio 490 Art Part.  You all know my lurve of tags and how much I love Art Parts... so the GENIUS that is Wendy Vecchi has made tag from Art Part material!  Like I said: GENIUS!   I decided to give myself a time limit on this tag... Ellen and I had been making art Studio 490 stylee and I was finished with my piece but Ellen was still in Creatingtons (see what I mean, you can make a normal word a place name!) so I decided to do a super quick Art Part piece and finish around the same time as her.  Right, where was I?  Ah yes, the tag base, covered with new papers I got in Michael's.. they are lushingtons aren't they?  They are by My Minds Eye, the colour palette is so me... and muted enough to be able to add inking and stampingtons (this is getting a smidge daft now right?)  So the top part of the tag had the new gorgeous background from Heirloom Art overstamped in Coffee Archival.  I can see lots of possibilites with this background stamp, tis now a new fave!  On the bottom half of the tag I stamped out some of the new mini flourishes in Coffee Archival (from Daisy Art). 

The floral embellishment... well, what can I say?  Mrs V has excelled herself with the designing of this batch of Art Parts - she has only gone and designed etched Art Parts!!!  And yes, I am bouncing with excitement... not only are my fave Art Parts intricately cut and detailed, there's etching in them to add more dimension!  See, told ya she is a GENIUS!  The flower/leaf Art Part has a co-ordinating stamp... again from Daisy Art... I didn't use this on the Art Part basey bit though... what I did was covered some Clearly For Art with some of the MME papers and stamped the flower in Jet Black Archival and then cut that out, coloured it with Barn Door Distress Stain and gave it a zap of heat to dry it.  I then smudged a smidge (smudged a smidge? huh?) of Gathered Twigs DI on the edges. 

 
The base Art Part had the leaves coloured with Forest Moss DI and then I overstamped another new stamp - the chevrons (love them) in Olive Archival.  The flower/leaf Art Part is a two layered one, so I coloured the flower layer with more Barn Door, edged with Gathered Twigs, overstamped a lettery background with Jet Black and then sanded the edges to shabby them up a bit.   I heated up the Clearly For Art flower - from the CFA side as trying to heat through the paper takes a yonk - and curled the petals whilst still warm.  The flower in the centre is an Embellish Your Art resin bloom, coloured with Fired Brick Distress Marker and dried with a heat tool.   I stamped some wordy bits... the sentiments are in Jet Black Archival and of course, WISH had to be on there being as it is my word of 2013!  **btw, WISH is the Sunday Stamper theme this week... HERE are the deets!**    I painted the scallop trim with Pitch Black Dabber, dried it, sanded it, edged with Gathered Twigs and then overstamped with a dotty border stamp.  The ickle spidey is one of my fave 490 stamps, he just sits on any design perfectly.  I added little dashes around the edge for faux stitches and then added some pearly bits to finish.  

 I still wasn't happy with it... a bit plain I thought... so I grabbed an Idea-ology Curio Knob for the top of the tag and then finally... see the ickle black flower?  That is actually a fridge magnet!  Wendy Vecchi has teamed up with Blossom Bucket again and designed some home decor!  And I have seen the new stuff at CHA and I neeeeeds it all!  Anyways, the ickle flower... I picked it up in The Queen's Ink and knew I was going to be loving it... shame there weren't any more, I would have got them all!  I removed the magnet from the back and used Cosmic Glue to stick it onto the scallop trim.  And there you have it.  And yes, Ellen finished her Art Part piece looong before I had finished faffing lol

AlfieCat has been so cute this morning I have to share a couple of pics of him.  He is a typical cat, nose into everything and owns everything in the house... including my Room of Stash.  So I am halfway through doing some packaging up stuff to post and he decided to help... looking ever so innocent... right?  Yeah!! lol 

Right, I shall away!  I am suffering a smidge with the old war wound at the moment so I think I may need to go to *ahem* Relaxingtons today!    Thanks for looking... have a goodly day yourself!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 241 - And Your Bird Can Sing

Goooooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all.  Many thanks for all your fab entries for last weeks challenge - sorry I was a little late visiting... I have been a smidge preoccupied (ahem).  This week I have chosen the theme to be BIRDS - two reasons, firstly it is the perfect excuse to use my brand spanking new Studio 490 Art Parts and Stamps *hurrrrrahhhhh*  and secondly.. it is a very special day today in Baltimore because the Baltimore Ravens footy team are playing a very important match which could see them heading to the Super Bowl and being as Ellen's hubby Jack is a Raven's fan, I thought the theme fitted perfectly.  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, pop back here with a link to the place you are showing your entry and then I can pop and visit you.  If you don't have a blog/web-photo-hosty thingy, you can also join in via email or on Facebook.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 26th January 2013.

As I said... I got some of the brand new release Studio 490 Art Parts and stamps whilst I was at CHA (thank you muchly Mr Stampers Anonymous!)  And because they were practically screaming at me from my bag to be used, I decided to get inky with them.  The base of the piece is an Art Part Journal Cover which I paper blocked with My Minds Eye papers and dulled down with Traditional Tan paint wash.  The middle bit is a Small Art Parts Page which I covered with more of the MME papers which I then edged with Gathered Twigs DI and then sanded the edges of them both. 

I used Glue & Seal to ...ahem... seal the papers and then got all excited with the new Studio 490 Stencils for Art - the one I used is Lovely Leaves and I applied some Black Embossing Paste through the leaves and made them a bit textured.  The birdy is one of the new Art Parts and he is coloured with Barn Door Distress Stain and edged with Gathered Twigs and then over stamped with one of the new 490 background stamps using Jet Black Archival ink.  I did the same with the spout Art Part, using a different new background stamp.  The umbrella and branch were painted with Pitch Black Dabber and once dried, sanded and distressed with Gathered Twigs.

The finishing touches are the Raven which was coloured with Chipped Sapphire Distress Paint (yes, I have a couple of them and they are... DEEEVINE!) and the roses are coloured with Fired Brick Distress Marker.  I added some little pen stitches around the edges to finish it off nicely.  I am LOVING the new Studio 490 goodies and I can't wait to get my inky paws on the rest of them too.

Right, I shall away... we have an evening of inkiness going on here with Ellen's friends Connie, Patti and Terry and we are covered in paint and ink... fun times!  Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

**GO RAVENS!!!**

It's A Lurve Thang....

...dooodooodooooo... aha, I have been listening to some 60's music today and have this song running around my head and it just so happens that I have a hearty  offering for you today :O))   A little later than I had planned... simple reason being I had to face the hoards in the town this morning and when I got home I had to have a little Nanna nap on the sofa!  Actually, town wasn't as bad as I thought it would be... one of the bonuses of living in a little town is that most peeps go to the bigger towns nearby to get their shopping.  And whilst out on our little trip, Grim insisted we went to Iceland!  Well, not the real Iceland the place - that would have taken a smidge more than an hour I think lol   No, we went to Iceland to get some of those mini Cheesecake Swirls jobbies that we saw advertized ont' telly.

Oh dear... if you get them you won't be disappointed, they are lush indeedily.  However, when we got home they were going a bit soft so we decided to defrost them all and have a piggy day.  After reading the instructions on the box, Grim was taking the micky, it says "after 5 minutes remove them from the packaging... does that mean after 6 minutes they won't be edible... "  Famous last words. Because, after forgetting about them for about 30 mins we returned to take said mini cheesecakes out of their packing and erm... they were all defrosted, therefore floppy, therefore impossible to get out of the little plastic pots they are packed in.  "Ah so that is why we needed to take them out after 5mins... because they are still firm and removable"   Well, the mini cheesecakes had to be removed with a spoon ...actually, they are delish but just fiddly... so, if you do have mini cheesecakes for your Xmas spread, remember... 5 mins!  **not to mention the several tonnage of biscuit crumbs that ended up on the floor lol**

Anyways... todays offering is a Studio 490 Art Part creation that I made for the Melt Shows last Wednesday.  The hearts are from Hearts, Love & Stars Art Parts and I gave them a quick covering with Sand coloured paint.... then once that was dry, I peeled apart some fancy napkins and used Beeswax to apply the tissue to the Art Parts.  Check out the ickle birdy at the bottom of the smaller heart... isn't he cute!!!  He is a Long Tailed Tit, one of my fave garden birds - we have a colony of them that arrive every couple of days to eat up the bugs and stuff on the branches of the trees in the Spinney, they are tiny... and look like little Liquorice Allsorts.  I added the LOVE, painted black, and then coated it with Glossy Accents to make it a bit fancier.  The sparkly bits at the top of the hearts are Creative Expressions Mica Flakes... I love these, you can add them to beeswax and then heat them and they don't get affected by the heat... cool huh?  (or hot!)


I have a confession to make!  Oh dear indeedily, I have had to buy some Xmas cards... I know I am just not going to have time now to make 50 odd cards and get them posted out in time... so guess what I am doing this evening.. yep, getting writers' cramp whilst I write them all out.  I do feel a smidge guilty for the buying of the cards but... needs must right?   Thanks for looking... hope you having a lovely day!  TTFN

Hels x

It's Giveaway Time!

..Hurrah and thrice indeedily!  I am still buzzing after the Melt Art shows yesterday... WOW, you all are amazing with all the support that you gave me... thank you all... I so appreciate every single message, email, Tweet, comment... Indulge me do please; it means everything to me that you all like the demo's and samples that I make.  I do still have to pinch myself that I am fortunate enough to be able to share my enthusiasm and passion in this way... I am truly a lucky gal.  I wouldn't have said that a few years ago mind, in those dark days when everything was ever so slightly bleak, when it felt like I had had my future taken away from me.  For followers and readers new to my blog, you probably won't know that I am actually a Train Driver by profession.  A rather nasty collision with a 42 tonne truck (not my fault btw) put paid to that, leaving me with this degenerative injury... and after I had been medically retired, I really couldn't see a way forward.  I have always been a career girl and was a wee bit lost, floudering about wondering what to do next.  Without the support of Grim and my best friends (you know who you are) I would never have had the courage to find a new dream to follow.  Anyways, I guess what I am trying to say is that I am ever so humbled by your support, like I said, I treasure every single comment...  Which brings me to the giveaway bit:

So... there was a problem with the email system yesterday which meant that there wasn't a cup of chance winner on the 6pm show, so, I thought I would do a little giveaway here instead.  Remember the hairclip that I wore?  Well, that was to be the giveaway and ... it wasn't given away!   Then I figured that I would add a little something to the hairclip giveaway as a thank you to you all for your support, so I am also giving away this Studio 490 Art Part piece that I made for the show.   To be in with a chance of winning the clip and Art Part piece just leave me a comment here... simples as that.  I shall use Mr Random.org to pick a winner on Saturday 15th December.

The Art Part Circle is one of my fave samples from the shows... I loves Studio 490, as you know and I loves my Melt Pot... add the two together and I am uber happy!   There is a Faux Porcelain embellishment on there... if you missed the shows or haven't seen yesterdays post, CLICK HERE for a tut!

Right, I shall away... I have got my Tim Holtz Crafting shows tomorrow... 8am and 6pm on Create & Craft = all the channel deets are over there *points left* on my sidebar.  I am busy prepping samples and demo's in readiness so I really should stop waffling and get inky!   As ever, thanks for looking... have a good day! TTFN

Hels x

Sleeping...

..flipping flip and the flippers!  You know I said yesterday how I crashed out on the sofa and slept for 11 hours? Well, I have gone one better than that... a total of 15 hours asleep in 24 hours!  I know! Madness.  I think it is probably the old CFS rearing its ugly head and telling me to get some zeds, all the same... how much sleep!  Anyways, even though I have woken up looking like a gorilla has been nesting in my hair (yes, it is THAT bad!) and with pillow scars crisscrossing my chops (you can just see it can't you... pretty sight... not!) I am feeling a lot more human.  Honestly, give a girl a telephone call with her crafting hero and she promptly sleeps for the rest of the week!  I have come to the conclusion that all that excitement at my age is something I just can't handle without the odd Nanna Nap thrown in.  Poor old Grim, we planned a day together, I slept most of it away!  

So.  Remember the other day I did a schneeky peekings and showed you a smidge of a bird? Well, here he is in all his glory.  Isn't he lovely?  And SO simples to make too.  The Bird Art Parts didn't get on air because we ran out of time but... I had made the sample so I figured I would show him to you.   If you haven't seen Studio 490 Art Parts before you have been missing out.  **check out Wendy Vecchi's blog HERE for tonnes of inspirations, take a cuppa and a packet of HobNobs with you tho... you will be there a yonk and a half!**  Anyone who has used them knows how easy they are to use and how fab the things are that you can make.  Out of all the samples I made, this is my fave. I just love that he is going to be hanging on my wall at Christmas... a different kind of ornament... think of the possibilities though... not just festive, you could decorate him pink and girly for a party, or brown and grungy for a boy's room, add a name to the body and you have a door hanger!

This one was covered with papers from the Holidays Past stash, looooooove these papers (think I may have said that a few times lol)  Because the papers are double sided you have a cool patterned side and then flip for a co-ordinating plain side - although it is far from plain with all the shabby distressed looks on the papers - like Tim said on the phone, it is like vintage oil-cloth.  I added some Paper Strings for the hangy bit and around his neck with a Christmas Muse Token and finally, to the wings, some Festive Foliage and a Mini Gear... oh and I almost forgot the feathers for his tail!

Anyways, I best get a shift on... I am prepping for my classes at Busy Bee's Dabble Day in Sheffield tomorrow... I am, as ever, excited....  it is three classes of ten peeps each time, same class each time and we go on a rotation so there are three of us teachers and 30 peeps in total... we have some painty and inky alterings going on... gonna be fun!  Although I do feel a smidge sorry for the peeps who sit down for the last class, if last time is anything to go by, I was getting tongue-tied, tripping over my words and generally speaking Swahili at them... but bless, they are Yorkshire peeps so they got it.  Right.. I shall away... thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

Winter Woodland...

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

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

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

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

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

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


Hels x

Fragile...

...me? Fragile?  Nah... I am made of strong stuff apparently.  Thank you again for all your lovely messages and emails and comments... I am feeling a heap better than I did this time yesterday and I am thinking I am over the worst... phew!  Whatever that buggetty-bug was, I sure am glad it...erm... bugg-ed off!  Anyways... being as the sum total of arty things made this week is a big fat zero, I thought I would share another of my show samples with you.  This time I have used paint to colour the Art Parts... and it just goes to show how versatile they are!  Because they are, in effect, a paper product, they take inks, paints, sprays etc really well.  My chosen paints are Sand, Black and Bronze Eco-Paints... which I lurves because they are so creamy.  Ohhh and whilst I think on... Simon Says Stamp & Show have Inspired by Wendy Vecchi as their theme this week... so I shall be entering this into that challenge.  Do go and check out the blog, there's a F A B couple of tut's on there by Wendy herself... and a discount in the store too! CLICK HERE for all the deets.

I used Cut & Dry Foam to apply the paint... I have developed a cunning way of applying the paints so they blend nicely - otherwise I always seem to get a line between the two colours.  Use one piece of Cut & Dry (be generous, a scimpy square ain't gonna work) about 2" square *you will wash it out after use so it is reusable!* Blend the palest colour right over the piece (be it canvas, card, Art Part etc) and use a "pouncing" action, lightly tapping the paint onto the surface.  While this is still wet, pick up your darker colour on one half only of the foam.  Have the darker colour furthest from you (so it is outer on the foam) and pounce this onto the edges of your surface. This means when you pounce it onto the surface, the darker colour hits the edgey bits and where the lighter colour is still wet on the foam and surface, it will blend nicely.  Hope that helps :O))  Check out the buttons! They are the blue ones from the Embellish Your Art Antique Buttons pack... I painted them with the same Cut & Dry Foam and Bronze paint and then once dried, I rubbed a smidge of Archival Jet Black over the raised bits with my finger.  Cool huh?

Anyways... being as I have been on my death bed all week (1,2,3 awwww) I figured I deserved a little treat.  I have to say, Grim has been an amazing hubby this week *well, he is every week but you know what I mean*... he is good with cuddles and magic hugs and sympathy... and made me a lush dinner last night (he is such a good cook but won't admit it) and he bought me flowers and Strawberry Laces (which I have snarfed already, *the laces, not the flowers lol* I must be on the mend lol)  Anyways... I have been eyeing up a pair of shoepods for several weeks now... and last night they accidently fell into my basket and checked themselves out and are now on their way to live on my feet!  Thing is, I live in Birki's all Spring/Summer/Autumn because they really help my posture, which helps my back when I am standing up teaching or doing shows.  And being as it is now Winter and wet and chilly and yukky, I needed a proper pair of shoe Birki's... and being as I have the mental age of a toddler, I neeeeeeeded these sooooo much.   Aren't they just the cutest!!!!

Right, I shall away.. I have a date with my new book, tis called The Dark Heroine and is about... vampires! I know, more vampires, I am obsessed with them... not long til Breaking Dawn II now!!!  Oh and today I am going to venture out into the big wide world and take some stuff to the Post Office.  Our local one is situated in the Co-Op which is just undergoing a re-fit... which means it is closed... which means I have to drive into town to go to the nearest one.  Which means... yep, another foray into THAT car park, I shall have my wits about me this time though.  If you hear high pitched squealing you will know that it is me, doing the involuntary splits again!  Have a good day all... thanks for looking.... TTFN!

Hels x