My NAN..... 24.02.1919 - 18.09.2011

I have to apologies to all the DT's i'm on, the S&S forum and the yahoo groups i belong to.
Last Sunday my precious Nan died..... at home, in my arms just as i promised her she would. I am completely lost without her.... as is my dear Grandad.... they had known each other since they were ten.... 1929..... married in 1943 ( 68yrs ago)
This picture was taken 6yrs ago this very month.... Nan is holding one of my twin girls who were 3mths old at the time..... Nan looked so happy and well then..... the following year in September she had a bi-lateral brain hemorrhage....... i started to care for her (and Grandad, who already had dementia) on the 1st of December on her discharge from hospital.... i brought her home then to die..... she amazed doctors and specialists with her recovery..... although she never walked or even stood up again , she did brilliantly..... then last summer she developed Alzheimer's...... and by September last year she was unable to do anything for herself...... but she survived a year..... she was the best, most generous, most wonderful Nan in the whole world..... and i love her so much. Nan's funeral is on Friday (30th September).... this is my only post this week..... i shall post again for the start of the 31days of Hallow e'en although i dont seem to have any mojo at all.

Nan.... i love you.... i miss you.... and i dont know how i'll live the rest of my life without you.
Love you forever lynda xxx

SMEARED INK NEW RELEASE BLOG HOP

Hi everyone! I hope your week is going wonderfully so far. Today we'd like to share with you that Smeared Ink is releasing some more Halloween images! To celebrate, of course we have to have a new release blog hop!
I was given Carina to play with.... and i used the large group of pumpkins from the 'Pumpkin patch' digi set as well.

I coloured my images with promarkers.... the backing papers are Basic grey.... that i inked and distress.... the words come from another sheet of paper i had in my stash but i dont know whose that is...sorry.

I added a few gems... thats a WOW for me.... but i think they look ok.



Terra

Tori

Black Dragon YOU ARE HERE!

Lady Brayton

Kapree

Sugar

Paula

Ike

Freddie

Celina
Jane

Monique

Heather

Sara

http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/ AUTUMN
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ AUTUMN COLOURS
http://happichallenge.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING TO DO WITH AUTUMN
http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/ AUTUMN
http://magicalmondaychallenge.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES, BUT MUST INCLUDE A MYSTICAL CREATURE.
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ THINGS WITH WINGS.
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ CELEBRATE THE SEASON...ANY SEASON.
http://papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ PUMPKINS
http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-09-12T16%3A22%3A00%2B01%3A00&max-results=7 BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL
http://justtracyscraftschallenge.blogspot.com/ THINGS WITH WINGS
http://thecraftgarden.blogspot.com/ TAKE INSPIRATION FROM THE PHOTO SHOWN.

Thanks for visiting me.... go and check out the shop.... click on my POST TITLE.... it'll take you straigth there. love lynx

DRAGONSDREAM TAG IT ON

Our new song inspired challenge has been set this week by my teamie Wanda... and she's chosen DEDICATED FOLLOWER OF FASHION..... so please create a tag, with at least one real stamp , on the theme of FASHION.
Now anyone who knows me knows i do not follow fashion.... i know nowt about whats in and whats not...if its black i like it...if its not i dont....easy as that!
I decides to go quirky this week.... (and heaven forbid.... Frankie please dont banish me to outer Mongolia just yet) and used an OCTOPODE image.... same image twice up in two different sizes.... i used the larger head on the smaller body, and the larger heart off the dress to make a hat.
I used bright yellow card and used real rubber stamps from NON-SEQUTUER , now at DE-STEMPELWINKEL.... the link is on my side bar....to make my nonsense background..... script and chess pieces from their ALICE SCRABBLE SET..... i inked it and put faux stitching around the edges... mounted it on red then blue card.... my image is coloured with promarkers.
I stamped some more chess pieces and cut them out, mounted them on card and 3D'd them... i wrote out my wording... chopped it up and mounted it on card.... it says....
THE HEIGHT OF FASHION IS TO HAVE A VERY LARGE HEAD AND A VERY SMALL HAT.
I finished off with a few gems and a lovely red ribbon.
I hope you can play along this week.... you dont have to be daft like me.... but i needed to do something 'crazy'!I shall enter this into the following challenges....
http://vostamps.blogspot.com/ PRIMARY COLOURS.
http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ F IS FOR...... fashion
http://totallystampalicious.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES.
http://ribboncarouselchallenge.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES BUT MUST HAVE SOMETHING ON IT THAT COMES ON A SPOOL.
http://someoddgirl.blogspot.com/ STITCHING
http://sukkersott.blogspot.com/ USE A DIGI STAMP
http://forevernightchallenges.blogspot.com/ ALICE THEMED.... FREAKY FINDINGS.
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ YELLOW
http://alteredalice.blogspot.com/ ALICE THEME.... TEXT BACKGROUND.
http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2011/08/gc116-color-challenge-primary-colors.html PRIMARY COLOURS
http://www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ SONG OR FILM TITLE AS INSPIRATION
Thanks for visiting love lynx

SMUDGY ANTICS

We have a new challenge for you today..... its a goodie too! It is.....PAINT!


One of our favorite mediums! Splosh it, drip it, spread it around, or water it down...just use it and you're good to go! Remember you must use at least one SMEARED INK IMAGE for this challenge.... RUBBER OR DIGI.... we dont mind!
Now i have gone all VINTAGE..... Girly Vintage at that..... i know i am going to get my leg pulled by some.... but i just had to 'go with the flow' on this one.... and my mojo is .... shall we say.... on vacation? Or just in hiding?
I painted a quaint little box dark brown, when dry i coated it with a thick coat of pva glue and as it was just tacky i painted over it with antique cream paint.... i let it dry over night and i had this lovely cracked, distressed vintage look.... its one of my favourite techniques with paint.... quite impressive but oh so easy.

I put gems around the lip of the lid.... bling! and not black bling...pretty girly bling! I used some fabric to make ruffles and leaves..... silk leaves i heat embossed....very carefully.... i have had them shrivel up to nothing in the past..... ribbon roses, and lovely sheer ribbon bow.... a couple of beaded pins....and a silver coloured butterfly.

The cameo is a SMEARED INK IMAGE..... from the SMITTEN digi collection..... shes coloured with promarkers and triple embossed for a glass like shine.

I made the circle frame from 4 layers of card... 4 circles of decreasing size with the centres cut out of the smallest 3.... i layered them up stuck them together then painted them the same way i did the box.... but started with cream.... then pva, then brown.

I hope you'll find time to play along.... or come and join the SMEARED AND SMUDGED FORUM and take the micky out of the old dragon going soft!

I shall enter this box in the following challenges............

http://scrappyfrogschallenge.blogspot.com/ VINTAGE

http://www.papercreationsink.com/ VINTAGE/DISTRESSED

http://jffchallenge.blogspot.com/ VINTAGE

http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE ....pretty things are not my usual thing.

http://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ PRETTY PASTELS

http://pattiescreationschallenge.blogspot.com/ GIRLY THINGS

http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ TAKE INSPIRATION FROM THE PHOTO ON THE BLOG.

http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ MAKE YOUR OWN FLOWERS...ribbon ones.

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ SHARE AND COMMENT

Thanks for visiting me...love lynx

Macabre monday

Its Monday so yet again its time to be Macabre..... and our new challenge is....

........................................"The Seven Deadly Sins"......................
Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy,
and Gluttony

You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween-based art piece
that uses or includes one or more of the Seven Deadly Sins as inspiration.
There's seven to choose from so there has to be one that
strikes your fancy!

Here is my offering ..... i went with Pride in the guise of vanity.
I used 2 THIRD COAST STAMPS..... and put them together..... the lady gazing at herself in the mirror but the devil look back..... Vanity, pride call it what you will.
My coffin shaped tag is coloured with promarkers and ink.
I hope you'll have time to join in this week.
I shall also enter my tag in the following challenges,
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES.... BUT YOU MUST VISIT OTHER ENTRANTS.
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES
http://quirkycrafts.blogspot.com/ ABAC
http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES
http://irishteddys.blogspot.com/ USE RUBBERSTAMPS.
http://ynschallenges.blogspot.com/ SONG TITLE AS INSPIRATION...your'e so vain
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING BUT SQUARE
http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ 2 OR MORE STAMPED IMAGES.
http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/ ABAC
http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ INSPIRED BY A SONG.... you're so vain
http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ MAKE IT MAGICAL OR SPOOKY...spooky!
Thanks for visiting me.

SMEARED AND SMUDGED MEMBERS BLOG HOP

Some of you may know i am a member of the Smeared and smudged forum.... a great place to 'hang out' if like me you like GOTHIC, DARK, MACABRE, VINTAGE or any of the styles of art other than cute.... we do not do CUTE!
Every month we have a members blog hop and today is SEPTEMBERS BLOG HOP DAY.

The theme this month is Pieces and Parts. Use at least two stamp or digi images combined to make a "new" image or focal point on your project.

Well it had to be Mr Poe...didn't it?



Mr Poe is of cause from SMEARED INK and i teamed him with a steampunk gentleman from CREATIVE EXPRESSION 'Inventor' plate.





Here he is.... STEAMPUNK POE..... DAPPER ISNT HE?


The list of blogs to visit is below.... i cant wait to see what these ladies have instore..... and below that list is my art piece with Steampunk Poe.....

Terra http://www.moresmearedink.blogspot.com/
Black Dragon http://lynsblogger.blogspot.com/
Jane http://jcocraft.blogspot.com/
Kim http://basementstamper.blogspot.com/
Celina http://www.scrapvamp.blogspot.com/
Kapree http://kc-consultant.blogspot.com/
Heather http://stampdetails.blogspot.com/
Lady Brayton http://www.ladybrayton71.blogspot.com/
Kristy http://kristyleesworld.wordpress.com/
Monique http://http://www.phoebekattebeest.blogspot.com/
Lisa http://www.ldfdesign.blogspot.com/
Ike http://www.suzy-ikesworld.blogspot.com/
Jean http://jean-jeansartdolls.blogspot.com/
Dianne http://dkspinner.blogspot.com/
Kelli http://cajunstampingqueen.blogspot.com/
Sara http://welcometomydarkside.blogspot.com/


I (roughly) used the sketch from this months forum card sketch challenge..... all the stamps apart from Poe come from CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS..... its all coloured with 2x shades of blue ink and 2 x shades of brown ink.... lots of distressing.... washers, screw head and plain head brads.... brown and blue card stock.... thats it.... but i am actually rather pleased with the new Poe.... i may use him like this in the future.

I shall enter this piece into the following challenges.....

http://cr84fncolorchallenge.blogspot.com/ COLOUR COMBO...

http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES.

http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ BLUE AND BROWN

http://www.papercreationsink.com/ VINTAGE OR DISTRESSED.

http://diekreativenstempelfreunde.blogspot.com/ CARD FOR A MAN.

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ VINTAGE/SHABBY CHIC

http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/ FOR A MAN

http://jffchallenge.blogspot.com/ VINTAGE

http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ 2 OR MORE STAMPED IMAGES.

Thanks for visiting me today...love lynx

DRAGONSDREAM

This week we are continuing with our song titles as inspiration theme, and have a challenge set by my teamie Helen.... shes a huge Liverpool supporter.... so chose a song to match her favourite teams colours..... RED RED WINE, by UB40...... which means we want to see lots of RED on your tags this week.
I used a CRAFTY SECRETS stamp set that has been unused in my craftroom for.... well it must be 2 years at least..... i keep meaning to alter a wine box for my Dad, but it never gets done. I stamped onto some DP....( moulin rouge) coloured my images with colour soft pencils..... and inked all the edges in 3 shades of red. I then stamped another 4 bottles, 3 glasses and quite a few grapes/leaves.

These i coloured with pencils , then fussy cut... and used foam pads to add depth to my tags.

I then used red and grey ink on a course sponge and gently dabbed over the 3D images to blend them in.

I finished off by using slightly larger red tags to mount my image tags on and fine red ribbon.

I know i'm greedy but i couldnt decide which to show... so i'm showing both!

I hope you can find time to play along.... you dont have to do red wine.... just RED..... but whats better than a little red wine.....?

Please dont answer that!

I shall also enter these tags in the following challenges,

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ B...IS FOR..... bottles.

http://www.stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ FRIENDSHIP.

http://ribboncarouselchallenge.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES.

http://thethreemuseschallenge.blogspot.com/ WORDS

http://jffchallenge.blogspot.com/ WORDS

http://stempelsonne.blogspot.com/ FRUIT OR HARVEST.

http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING BUT A CARD.

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ NOT A CARD.

http://www.ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/ STAMP ONTO PATTERNED PAPER.

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ RAISE YOUR GLASSES.

http://desertislandcraftschallenge.blogspot.com/ USE AT LEAST 3 THINGS FROM THE LIST..... my things are a little green, nature inspired, dimention and a sentiment.

Thanks for visiting me... love lynx

MACABRE MONDAY

We have a new challenge for you and its.....


"P.M.S. Psychotic Miss Silver"

You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween-based art piece
that uses or includes an angry/crazy/psychotic woman and silver.
We've all been there. Some weeks are better than others. Make her crazy. Make her angry. Make her silver. Well, not literally, but use silver somewhere on this project.

This is my project..... i have used 3x SMEARED INK images (2xrubber and 1x digi) 2x CRAFTS AND ME rubber stamps and a DELICIOUS DOODLES digi image. .... and of cause CHERRY PIE stamps to make up the background.
I also used MS graveyard border punch, promarkers and distress inks to colour, and silver miri card as well as black card stock for the base. I finished it off with some black gems, silver rub on metallic paste and little metal flowers i made, with punched leaves.

I looked up PSYCHOTIC......
1.depressed mood most of the day nearly every day
2.noticeably increased or decreased sex drive
3.loss of interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day nearly every day
4.significant weight loss or weight gain, OR decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day
5.insomnia OR hypersomnia (sleeping excessively) nearly everyday
6.psycho motor agitation (moving more quickly) OR retardation (moving more slowly) nearly every day, so much that other people notice
7.fatigue OR loss of energy nearly every day
8.feelings of worthlessness OR excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)
9.diminished ability to think or concentrate, OR indecisiveness, nearly every day
recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent ideas about suicide without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or specific plan for committing suicide
10.delusions or hallucinations
11.increased and intense daydreaming

....... and maybe ..... i am! I have tried to convey as sense of sadness and desperation (hence the tears) as well as the self serving smirk on the nearest images face and the aggression that the women with guns portray. Deep? Very DEEP! Thats how i'm feeling at the moment.... very mixed emotions going on in my head..... normal maddness will resume shortly..i hope!
.

I shall enter this piece into the following challenges.....

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING

http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES
http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.com/ PINKS GREYS BLACK AND WHITE..... hope the hair colour doesnt count!
http://heartsonginspirations.blogspot.com/ DISTRESSING.... the edges and the subject matter.
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ USE A DIGI .... i have used 2.
http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/ 'QUIET COLOURS' ..... all very muted and understated, except the red hair.....
http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES...DO SOMETHING YOU WOULDNT NORMALLY DO. ..... i have tried to express emotion in pictures....
http://forevernightchallenges.blogspot.com/ DEVILISH INTENTIONS.... oh yes!
http://funwithshapesandmore.blogspot.com/ DIES OR PUNCHES...MS border and leaves
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ USE A DIGI 2x images
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ PUNCHES...MS border graveyard and leaves
http://smudgyantics.blogspot.com/ USE METAL.... the little flowers
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ BORDER PUNCHES ....MS graveyard
http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com/ USE SOMETHING DIGITAL ...2x images

Thanks for visiting me...love lynx

DELICIOUS DOODLES IS BACK.............

Good morning.... All.... its Friday and DELICIOUS DOODLES is back..... we have a easy-peasy challenge for you this time ........ FRESH NEW START.

Try something new, have a new theme, use your new stuff, whatever! As long as you let us know what is new or fresh to you that's OK by us!!

I have used a new image.... EVIL SKULL.... it'll be on sale next wednesday...... think you'll see a lot more of this with Hallowe'en around the corner!.... and i have used new papers from the wonderful Susan.....
http://www.craftychaosdesigns.co.uk/papers.htm the set is called ABSOLUTION DEFERRED . I used MOJO MONDAYS sketch..... 3 different papers from the set mentioned above..... inked them and stamped flourishes in the corners....added white high-lights.... used a brown leather effect card as base and matting.... distressed it to death..... used an MS border punch..... COBWEBS.... then onto the EVIL SKULL...... Teri has a collection of wonderful creepy images in her shop.....http://deliciousdoodles.blogspot.com/ and this skull will be there soon.... i printed it out 4x .... coloured 'em all with ink, then cut bits out to decoupage it up......

I hope you can join us this time.....

i'll enter this piece into the following challenges.....

http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com/ SKETCH.

http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ PUNCHES...... i used MS cobweb border punch.





http://irishteddys.blogspot.com/ FLOURISHES.... stamped on the background papers.





http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES.





http://cardsformen.blogspot.com/ 'G' is FOR...... grungy, grey, gross ( thats what one of my twins called it) great (thats what the other twin called it!.... they dont agree on anything!)





http://www.mymumscraftshopchallenges.blogspot.com/ EASY AS 1, 2, 3.... 1x digi image, 2x rubberstamps and 3x backing papers.





http://scrapbooksisters.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES.





http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ BORDER PUNCH





http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/ FOR A MAN





http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/ FOR A MAN

http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/ HALLOWE'EN

Thanks for visiting love lynx

SMUDGY ANTICS..... HURRY...HURRY....

We have a great challenge going on the SMUDGY ANTIC blog at the moment...... so hurry, hurry, any of you who like to do something that little bit different..... as the theme is........


UP IN FLAMES


We're going to let you play with fire this week! Channel your inner pyro and burn, singe, or scorch a project. Or, take the challenge and use it as a theme, it's your choice.

I played with my 'burnie' tool..... and a lighter ( for the latter i did stand at the kitchen sink as i wasnt sure how quickly this old veneer would burn!)



I used the rubber set LONELY BOY, from SMEARED INK, stamped using very pale grey( i just wanted to be able to see the image) onto oak veneer ( borrowed from my grandads shed.... he used to do marquetry) cut to atc size.


I then burned all the line detail in using my 'burnie tool' with a fine point attached.... then i tried to shade in some more detail using a small ball tip...... the one of Lonely boy...alone.... sounds strange hey?.... i painted around him with cream acrylic.... as i'd boobed a bit with some of the lines.......

....and i painted in all the whites of the eyes as the oak was to dark for eye-balls.

When i'd done with my little tool.... i stood at the sink and used the lighter to burn the edges.... this wood has to be nearly antique.... it burned so fast.... glad i was at the sink!......

It would be great if you could come and join in this week but be quick...times running out!.... and somewhere on your piece you must have a SMEARED INK IMAGE....either digi or rubber.... either will do.

I shall enter this set of atcs into the following challenges....

http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ AUTUMN COLOURS..... shades of brown (wood and burnt wood!)

http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ HALLOWE'EN/AUTUMN/FALL.

http://take-time-for-you.blogspot.com/ ABAC

http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ NO BACKING PAPER.

http://www.stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ ANYTHING GOES.

http://jffchallenge.blogspot.com/ SAY IT WITH WORDS..... rest in peace lonely boy!

Well thats it.... thanks for visiting me today.... keep safe love lynx