Simon Says - show a word

I know, I know  -  another post today....   And the word is - wish!

I used my Tim "wish" die in the middle of the baroque die on black metal which I then embossed through one of Tim's texture fades.

Still in an alcohol ink mood, after Grungy Monday, so coloured - or removed colour - with red pepper and oregano.

Fixed the metal to a piece of Kraft paperestack mounted on a square card and added a flower made with mulberry paper and the tattered florals die, and a button from my stash.

The colours don't show up too well - the light is just too poor to take without flash and the flash is kind of distorting the colours - the mulberry paper looks red here, but it's a kind of rusty colour between the mustardy yellow.

Check out a whole variety of words at Simon Says for the chance to win a great prize.

TIO - beside the seaside

Zoe's turn for a theme today at Dragonsdream Tag it on - I do like to be beside the sea.  Well, my parents retired to the seaside village we used to regularly holiday at, and my mum still lives there.

This scene is nothing like her beach - that's stony!! but I love these Stamps Happen images - and they stamp so cleanly and crisply - and this one is a lovely pircture.  The shells come from another Stamps Happen stamp.

Hope this theme inspires you to join in with your seaside memories and tags! Have fun.

WOYWW 108

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Thanks for your birthday wishes last week - I spent a quiet day on Sunday not doing very much at all, but it was the way I chose it!

Got some fab cards from Carmen, Lynne (my SIL, who doesn't blog) and Hels. Thanks girls, appreciate them.

Sorry about the photo - they are still on display on the window cill!


Now, I don't have a lot else to show you - except a rather spectacular bruise on my knee - and if you are of a nervous disposition, look away now!

I did this on Friday or Saturday - kneeling on the floor crafting (as normal)  I don't really know how it happened - but perhaps I should try and find someway to craft at a table!!

I think I probably leant on the bone reaching for something being too lazy to get up.... who knows!

Pretty, isn't it!

So, after I have put you all off your breakfast/lunch/dinner/tea (delete as appropriate depending on the time of day!) I will let you get back to Julia's to check out some desks where something interesting is going on!!   Is anyone going to Artstamps Newbury on Saturday - if so, maybe I'll see you there! I have a little list......

Grungy Monday 13 - Alcohol Inks

Today for the Grungy Monday challenge, Linda has challenged us to use Alcohol Inks as beautifully demonstrated here by Tim in a video for Ranger.

Now, I love AI's and have - erm - lots - but don't use them that often as I am never happy with the results (my fault, not that of the inks)

However, today I had another go - used 3 colours - oregano, sunshine yellow and sunset orange  - with gold metallic, and for once I like the result!  I used Tim's large and small butterflies randomly over the AI background. 'nature' is one of Wendy's stamps, 'to dream..' is a very old Penny Black one.

Turned it into a birthday card using a black card base and gold embossing a greeting down the side (stamp by Hobby Art - and it's one of my oldest purchases!)
Normaly on a Monday I combine this with theSimon Says challenge but it is too hot to think clearly today and I will do something else for that, hopefully soon!

More Than Words - Sunday Stampers

Hi, thanks or dropping by.  Today I managed to make a piece for Hels' Sunday Stampers on the day - instead of at the last minute like Friday!  I used some of my new Art Parts - pocket watches - that I bought for myself for my birthday today.  (Thanks Hels, Carmen & Lynne for the gorgeous cards BTW!)

The theme today is WORDS so I've incorporated a few.

I used a piece of paper from a Tim Paper Stack (this is the Kraft one, part of a dictionary definition) dulled down with a gesso wash, and a light coat of distress ink - I think I used antique linen. Did it this morning and can't remember.... must be an age thing!)   Used walnut stain distress stain on the pocket watch art part.

Stamped the face from It's Face Art in coffee archival and art from Art Inspiration  in black.  Stamped the smaller of the flowers from Live and Make Art on grungepaper and again on clearly for art. Fixed a button to the grungepaper, and a flower from the foliage idea-ology pack which I embossed with peeled paint distress powder to the CFA.  The back of the clearly for art flower is covered - it's meant to be splodgy - with viva gold inka-gold (which was going moldy, I must have used a dirty brush last time I used some....oops!)

I have had a very lazy day today, not been out - it is TOO HOT (that's definately an age thing!!) apart from trying to collect a cd of the photos I finally picked up yesterday of my last trip to Kew last weekend - it is a very long story and the CD isn't ready.... again.   Hopefully they will be available tomorrow and I may finally be able to share them with you tomorrow on the other blog... maybe!

Sunday Stamper - All Around my Hat

Realised this evening that I hadn't made anything for Hels' Sunday Stamper this week so because Grim chose a song by one of my fave bands I thought it would be rude not to creep in at the last minute (almost!) with an entry. So, whilst watching the tennis - Andy Murray just about to win - come on, don't blow it now - I decide to make a tag and used my new Tim sewing die - fresh from the packet.

I covered the die with mulberry paper and stamped a Wendy background on it, cut a jaggedy edge hem to the "dress" and a Tim trim to the centre. Covered the cotton reel with some glittery thread that I also used round the hat. The hat is a mattboard diecut I have had about a million years and is by Stampendous. I bought loads of these all those years ago - and have used about 2.... including this one!! I painted the hat with twinkling H2O's in teal.  The tag is smooshed with distress ink fromthe craft mat, and some blue perfect pearl for a bit of shimmer.

Hope to have a play tomorrow or Sunday with my new Art Parts... can't wait! (yes, another pressie to myself!)

show me Metal on a Grungy Monday

Yikes, the week is running away with me and I haven't achieved anything!

Truth be told, I did make a card on Monday using this Tim technique chosen by Linda for this week's Grungy Monday theme - but really didn't like the way it turned out, and it's taken till today for me to be able to try again.  And, because time is running away, I have combined it by using metal, with Simon Says for this week's Simon Says challenge.

 I took a piece of paper from a Tim Paper Stack and covered a tag, and applied the technique to the top, using a Heroarts stamp "shaded squares"

I used butterscotch dabber - after taking it apart, cleaning out the top, watering it down with hot water to try and get the paint re-flowing again - grrrrr - I am not sure if the stamp was the best to use because it doesn't seem to have worked too well (or maybe there wasn't enough paint) ..... I think maybe this is a technique that takes lots of practice... and patience, and time, none of which I have.

I used a die cut umbrella man, painted with Paperartsy fresco paint (honeydew) and some idea-ology and a Tim sentiment.
And, you can link it up with the All Things Tim yahoo group here


anyhow, check out Linda's blog for lots of cracking good entries, and Simon Says for some great metal work (there's a prize on offer too).

Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday, that's all I say.... got to go buy myself another birthday present at the weekend!!

TIO - Let's Face It

This week, Wanda has set the theme "Let's Face It" for Tag it On so I was going to use one of my (many) stamps with faces on.... but got stuck!  Then, it came to me.  I have this great Stampendous stamp of a smiling sun - not that we've seen much of that recently!
So, ever hopeful that it will encourage the weather to brighten up for Wimbledon tennis - and my birthday at the weekend! - I made this:

I white embossed the sun and coloured the tag with distress inks and shimmered it with sunflower sparkle perfect pearl spray.

I found some feathers in my stash and the text is a Paperartsy stamp.

Hope you come and join in again this week - it was great to see so many of you joining in.  Just remember to use at least one  real stamp

What's on your Workdesk Wednesday - again ?

Well, I don't like to disappoint, so I have some (more) new stamps today!

This time - for a change, lol - it is a Tim Holtz set - and I am blaming Sioux as I saw her use the sentiment on something and was taken by it - she told me the name of the set and even somewhere I could get it - though I found it here in the UK in the end - so the rest is history!  Thanks, Sioux!

Looking forward to using it!**  My excuse - not that I need one, you realise - is that it's my birthday on Sunday so I owed myself a present! Well, someone's got to....

I have been strangely non-crafty this week - not done anything since last week - though I have some cards I need to get done, and a couple of challenges I have made something for but don't like, so may do it again!

**Used the new stamps - this is my  cousin's birthday card - love that paisley pattern! It doesan't show up very well but it is on a 6x6 base cardstock!

So, as there is nothing else happening around it I will let you get on your way back to Julia's to check out some much more interesting craft spaces to see what's up!







Numbers Game - Tag it On!

Hello again, fellow dreamers.  Today, is my choice of theme at Tag it On with DragonsDream and I challenge you with Numbers.

I used a big wooden stamp by Tim Holtz that I got in a sale grab bag some months ago and following my reorganisation a couple of weeks ago, now has a drawer to live in, instead of a pile on the floor...

I inked it with sailboat blue pigment ink (adirondack) and used chipped sapphire distress for the small Tim numbers for top and bottom. 

Added some chipboard numbers which I covered with viva croco in silver.

I hope you will come and join us again this week - we'd love to see you play with numbers!

What's on your workdesk? I got shopping...

Welcome back and thanks for all your kind words last week.  I was incredible to see so many wonderful PIF gifts last week - what a talented bunch you all are! Catch up with some more great desks at Julia's

Now that I know my PIF partner Ohhhsnap (Sally) has received her giant tag I can share it with you.

 I did it so long ago now I can't remember what colours I used but it's probably traditional tan by claudine hellmuth - and there is a bit of this and a bit of that! Metal, paint, die cut flowers & butterflies, stamping, tissue tape....

and the one I made Julia (which she shared last week as it didn't have so far to travel!)

Same idea, different colours!

But for ME this week, there are some treats - well, I had to didn't I! The dies arrived on Friday (good job they were wrapped in plastic as they were left on the doorstep in the rain...

and the stamps arrived today (Tuesday being WOYWW prep night!) so at the time of typing I haven't inked them up yet...  probably should have taken the protective bag off to avoid the glare... Its the Steampunk set - so now I can get to this week's Sunday Stamper challenge which has a theme of - steampunk!

So, has your PIF arrived yet?  Do you like it?  Share it with us - and check out loads more tidy (and some untidy) desks at Julia's Stamping Ground

P.S.  Had time to play - made a card (8x8) for Hels' Sunday Stamper challenge -  base paper is Graphic 45 and the stamps are from the new set above.

Double Monday again!

Hi everyone and welcome to another week of challenges!

Today I managed to combine two of my favourite challenges again - Simon Says show us distressed/ torn edges - and Linda for the new Grungy Monday sends us to this great Tim technique from 2008 -

I made a card and have some torn and some distressed edges!

I don't have a craft iron so have to remember to turn the steam setting off on my domestic one!!

For the Grungy Monday challenge, I used the Wendy stars for the technique with bundled sage ink, and victorian velvet, stormy sky and crushed olive for the tag.

To meet the Simon Says challenge, I distressed the edges of the tag with my tonic distresser and layered it on some torn Kraft paper on a blank card.

Make sure you check out both blogs for some amazing talent and at Simon Says, the chance to win  a fab prize.

Altered arches

The other day these little pretties fell into my basket and I also needed to do something with those glassline flowers I made the other day.

So for the last couple of nights I have slowly been 'creating' this

outside
(there will be a better photo later on!)

inside

I started by painting the arch with the baltic blue and then a very pale layer of vintage lace mixed with haystack over the top, smeared with a babywipe.  Stamped the Wendy script stamp on both the front and back

Stamped the Wendy vine leaf randomly over front and back inside and outside and painted it with guacamole paint.

stuck the glassline flower/leaves to the top corner and the bird (also Wendy's) to the back.

The inside is finished with a couple of butterflies and some Wendy sentiments. I seem to have forgotten to take one with the drawn in antennae! In fact they are very badly drawn so perhaps it is as well!

 I kind of want to put some idea-ology on it somewhere but maybe it's ok.

Dragon's Dream - Tag it On - Winged Things

Welcome to another week of dreaming with DragonsDream.

At one stage I thought I wasn't going to get a chance to get this week's tag made, which is not good so soon into the design team, but I made it!  This week's theme, hosted by Elizabeth is "winged things" and I went with (Paperartsy) moths and (tim holtz) butterflies!

My favourite distress inks, of course and some fringed fibres from a pack of mixed fibres.

Short and sweet from me today, but pop over to Dragon'sDream and play along, please?  Pretty please?   Thank you!

WOYWW - PIF received

Hi all, and welcome to another Wednesday.  What a great time it was last week - I made it to all the desks, apart from one which I couldn't get the link to work.  Not sure I can promise the same for today though I will try! Anyhow, it's time for What's on your Workdesk Wednesday - 2 years and counting!

My PIF arrived on Tuesday from the wonderful Carola - a beautiful tag and a card with one of her amazing photos (which was very hard to photograph but I tried)

It was taken in the Antelope Canyon, AZ - what an incredible sight!

and this is her wonderful tag! Thanks again, Carola.

Also on my workdesk is my "bling" entry for the Everything Wendy Vecchi yahoo challenge (closed now) that I jsut got in azt the deadline. You can't see it very well as I had problems with the flash bouncing off the perfect pearls spray I used!
I painted the circle with Paperartsy Fresco paint (honeydew) before spraying it with the pearls. I stamped the Papillon background (Tim Holtz) in bundled sage and the butterflies are die cut in claudine hellmuth's sticky back canvas, sprayed with adirondack and.or perfect pearl sprays, before being glittered and having some little blingy centres for the bodies.

Also inspired by Tim Holtz- using Kraft Glassline paper die cut tattered florals and tattered leaves, crumpling them up and brushing with perfect pearls powder, heat setting.  The orange isn't as vibrant as it looks under the flash.  oh, and DON'T open the pot with the lid on the bottom or you will spill a lot of powder......
Just need a project to put them on now!

There is no new stash after all today, as I wasn't able to get to theCraft Barn in the end, we had a bit of an emergency with Mum and I had to look after her at the weekend - and I am aware that sounds begrudging - it isn't really, just disappointment!  Still, next time!

Right, this was meant to be a short post - be off on your way!! See you all soon.

Sunday, Monday, Monday!!

No, I haven't gone mad - just catching up on some challenges! The weekend didn't turn out how I planned it, and I couldn't get to the event at the Craft Barn, sadly.

However, tonight I had time to play - and managed one tag to fit 3 challenges!!

I started by smooshing some wild honey distress ink on my craft sheet, and spritzed it with a reinker/perfect pearl combi (spiced marmalade, perfect copper) and swiping the tag through it.  Inked round the edges with wild honey ink to emphasise the colour.  Stamped the 'journal' stamp (Tim Holtz) in coffee archival, sponged spiced marmalade and rusty hinge through the crafters worksop brick template.

Overstamped the tag with the Paperartsy flowers also in rusty hinge and added the idea-ology bits and prima flower, and some final shimmer in sunflower sparkle perfect pearl spray!

This challenge is for Sunday stampers - happy stash - that's all of it then!  Thanks Hels'
Grungy Monday - Distress Ink-o-rama - check out the great art at Linda's Studio L3 and last but not least,
Simon Says, show a tag.

As always thanks to Tim Holtz for the inspiration and Simon Says for the prize on offer!

Dragons Dream Tag it On - Time Piece

This weeks theme for Tag it On is chosen by Frankie - Time.  Blogger was such a pain last week, so I hope this week more of you get time to visit and join us with this challenge. - we would LOVE to see more of you joining in.

I went with some Paperartsy products - wishing I was at Artsycraft which took place last weekend - I really hope budgets allow me to get on one of these soon!!

Used Fresco finish paints - am in love with this effect - only have a few so far!! and some Paperartsy clocks stamps and a watch face I bought somewhere along the way at a craft show (must track down some junk shops where these kind of things woud be cheaper, lol!)
Used some maya road letters coloured with the base layer from the tag (London night) and some purpley fibres.

WOYWW - 104 - the great PIF

Hi all, hope you are doing well this fine and (hopefully sunny) Wednesday. Ater much building up then, it is finally the 2nd anniversary of Queen Julia's brainchild - What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?

My PIF is all ready to post off to whichever of you comes next to me in the queue and in line with Julia's request I can't show you it till I know it's been received, but....just a sneak peak!

 The weekend just gone was a Bank Holiday in England so I took advantage of an extra day so on Saturday and sorted out my boxes of stamps....

I wanted to get some of these stamps in this blue box and the plastic one under the computer desk reorganised into the main storage drawers along the wall.....

So I pulled out the front layer to reveal the back load...

and took all the stamps out of the two overflow boxed... daunting task, I think you'll agree... (I showed this "during" pic at the weekend, but repeat it here in sequence!)

Couldn't get all of them in the Ikea boxes so some still in here!

Got the drawers more organised now - all my favourite brands now have drawers to live in as you can see!  These units are discontinued sadly, as they are even better than the Ikea ones, but they house my favourite favourites!!

and here too....  couldn't quite get all my Christmas stamps in one place, cos there are too many of them, and I couldn't face moving all of them around - but it's better than it was!
The stamps I use lots are now in the drawers at the front so I won't have to bend down over the top of these to the row behind!


Everything back in order.... one day I will label them but I kind of know what's in what drawer now! Lots of them are by manufacturer, but more of them - flowers, for example, are by type! All in all,
it took me about three hours!

I wanted to stop, but couldn't get out of the room till I'd finished cos I'd filled the doorway with loads of stuff I moved off the top/in front of  the drawers... it's as well no-one came to the front door!

There will be some new stash next week, because I am going to the Craft Barn Extravaganza on Saturday and meeting up with some friends - may see some of you there!

Thanks for looking - enjoy the rest of your PIF WOYWW - thanks, Julia for two years of fun - here's to year three!
Lets hope blogger allows us to play nicely this week!