WOYWW... Erm...

...I know! It is a shocking mess of paints, inks, fringing... you name it, it is on there... apart from the kitchen sink that is... cos that would be just daft having a kitchen sink on your workdesk... yep, it is time for me to bare all (thank heavens it is not literally LOL) and show you my workdesk... this is as of a little after 03.30am... insomnia is my middle name... actually it is also cos Grim is on stooopid o'clock earlies this week and I decided to stay up til he went to work... so I am actually just about to go to bed now... which means that I am hoping some lovely kind person will link me to Julia's blog cos it may just be nearer Thursday by the time I get out of bed again LOL... if you are wondering what on earth I am waffling about and have never come across the phenomenon that is What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, hop on over to the Leader of The Desk Inspectors - otherwise known as Julia - all the deets on how to play are on her blog along with a linky thingymajig that makes it really easy to hop around Blogland.




On my desk this morning is a half finished project I am working on for class samples... I know I have already mentioned them yesterday but... I have some more classes starting at The Stamp Attic... if you fancy having a day getting inky and messy (not to mention chocolatey) click on the name and it will transport you on a magical helter skelter ride to the page you need to see all the deets on :O))




As well as having THE messiest desk I have ever had... I am not even going there and showing you the other desk... which, I hasten to add, is in serious need of clearing and very soon cos it is now only 25 days til Ellen arrives at Chez GrimHels... I am getting more and more excited as the days go by!! So, where was I? Ah, yes, the poor excuse for a desk I have ... well, in fairness to me (for that, read pathetic excuse) I did take a tumble down our stairs on Saturday (again, pathetic excuse for sympathy LOL) bouncing on every step with my backside and you know what? I can't sit down properly... nor can I bend over too good either... a goodly excuse for not tidying away? I don't think so but it is worth a punt LOL




Finally (ahhhh, breathe a sigh of relief - if you are still with me) is the card I made for my Dad's birthday the other day... it was his 65th - bless, I have always called him Aged P(arent) *a character in Great Expections and it kinda suited Dad* and he is an OAP now... well, sort of, he is actually fitter and more sprightly than me! Mind you, that doesn't take a lot LOL Anyways, I like to make Dad nice simple cards with not too much clutter on them... not easy for me being as I love to over embellish... you would never have guessed that would ya :O)) The sentiment is a Penny Black stamp, the paper is Basic Grey with a Tim stamp in Tumbled Glass and the butterfly is the very first stamp I ever bought - and still a fave. Right - I better get to bed... thanks for looking and have a FAB day! TTFN

Hels x

One Lump Or...

... two... eeeeewwww, that lump in my neck I was on about yesterday has got smaller... but... it seems it didn't like being lonely so it is now two smaller ones... BUT... there is goodly news from the Room of Stash... I have actually been able to sit on my chair and look at stash... more than I could do yesterday LOL You never know, I may even just play this evening... I am having withdrawal symptoms cos my fingers aren't inky ROFL I will say though... THANK YOU for all your lovely kind comments on yesterdays post... you fair cheered me up... and... I took on board advice about the 2nd opinion... I am waiting on a hospital referral so fingers X'd that will be with me soon so I can get something done... Tell you what though... they'd shoot a horse for less... *who said Giddy Up? LMAO*




So... a few days ago one of my friends celebrated a birthday (don't worry Shazza, I won't tell a soul you are... 40 LOL) Anyways... I have a set style of birthday card that I always seem to go back to cos I love the stamps and I use Distress Inks and blend them, stamp them, spritz with water and generally make a mess - albeit a pretty coloured one!



The stamps are Penny Black Brush Strokes and that Brush Butterfly is one of my all time favest stamps in the whole wide world ever *said in my best Jeremy Clarkson voice* ... the inks were Old Paper and then a bit of Aged Mahogany and Black Soot Distress Ink. Simples card but... I think simples is sometimes as good as cluttered, which most of my other cards seem to be LOL Anyways... I am off to move about a bit... sitting down is a no-no for longer than about five mins... good job I can type quick! Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Happy Birthday Craft Stamper!

... today see's the 10th Birthday edition of Craft Stamper magazine... and it is a copy that you realllly need to get your mits on - I have mine already and it is chock full of fabby tutorials and a really cool Masterclass on how to use a Bind It All by Linda Elbourne. The contributors for the mag were asked to make a card for the web Gallery - which if you click HERE you will be magically transported to - there are some divine cards on the Gallery so it is worth taking a look... not to mention the Web Extra's too.




My card was made using the usual - Distress Inks and Grungepaper and a few Tim Holtz stamps... and the Idea-ology Type Charms say CS - which is for Craft Stamper :O))



There is a great article in the magazine also about which is your favourite project from the past 10 years - I chose one by Carol Quance which really prompted me to start stamping and also to get a Bind It All machine ... Happy 10th Birthday to Craft Stamper and here is to many more years of this fabby magazine! Gotta dash now ... I have started something that I shouldn't have... unpacking boxes...which are now all over the place... and I am sitting here typing away when I should be fettling ROFL TTFN... oh, and before I dash off... there will be a brand new Sunday Stamper theme on Sunday... with a little bit of Candy too :O)

Hels x

Helllllllooooooooooooo...World!

...The Gingersnap Creations team have a fab thing going on each month...every day there is a "Reason to Stamp"...which means that us crafters who might have a Mojo block going on get a really good excuse for getting inky and messy...today is no different and is World Hello Day.




I made a card for this reason...using a cute ickle Kitty by Penny Black which I coloured with ProMarkers (these are my FAVE things at the moment). I paired up the colouring with some DCWV cardstock, ran it thru my Victoria 'Bug folder and then sanded it to get some of the core colour through.




The little message is actually a die cut message which is also a Cuttlebug invention...I added a teensy pearl for the dot to the i (cos I lost the original card dot on the mess that is my desk LOL)

Thanks for looking...don't forget, there are a few more hours to join in with the Sunday Stamper this week...and a brand new theme will be set tomorrow...

Hels x

Monochrome...A Question!

...There is a brand new challenge on the Gingersnap Creations blog today...and the theme is Monochromatic...I know some peeps think that this means black and white, others think that it is one colour and white or cream...what do you think?




I think it means black and white...and I made a card using some fab cardstock from Paper Temptress along with some Agapanthus stamps (can't remember the maker) and my fave Brush Butterfly by Penny Black. I stamped the images with Black Soot DI and spritzed the stamp with water to get a splotchy effect. A few brads, some pearls and some ribbon were added for embellishment too.




If you get chance, hop on over to the Gingersnaps..they have some FAB art on there and great tutorials too. Thanks for looking...have a good day!




Hels x

Button It :O))

...The theme of the new Gingersnap Creations challenge is Buttons...now, I don't know about you but I have hundreds of the little beggars and never remember to use them...so this was a great excuse for a rummage in my button tin :O))




I used some Crafty Individuals papers to stamp my Stitchels Dotty Dot flower onto, using all three of the sizes to make three big flowers. I used Jazz Blue and Turquoise Glimmer Mists to colour the background for stamping a Penny Black sentiment onto and then added a bit more colour to the actual card base. I used some scrummy cardstock from Paper Temptress (who are sponsoring the Gingersnaps this month) and matted the background onto this.




To make the flowers and their centre buttons blend, I spritzed Glimmer Mists over and also onto three more buttons, just so they matched a bit more. I finished by using a McGill punch to make some little ferny fronds for behind the flowers.

Thanks for looking...and for a fab challenge! Have a good day...

Hels x

I Thank You....

...Today sees a brand new theme for this week over on the Gingersnap Creations Blog...and the theme is Thankfulness.

I made two cards for this challenge...one is a "reverting to type" card ... very much in the style that I make general cards to send out or give to Charity. The other is a bit more my style "now" cos, as you will see, it is featuring my fave Studio 490 stamps.

Card 1




As I said, my old faithful Brush Strokes stamps feature on this one, I just love the Brush Butterfly, it has to be my most stamped stamp ever ... I have used it so many times it is looking rather grubby and a little bit shabby but still gives a great impression. I used Distress Inks and the watercolour technique with the Fuchsia stamp and then added a Penny Black sentiment. The butterfly is jazzed up with Dewdropz and I added some to the side of the card too.


Card 2




Did I ever mention that I just love Wendy Vecchi's stamps and her style? I may have done on the odd occasion LOL Here is a card I made...Wendy provided all the inspiration behind this one...I made a little background piece of card ... stamping with Distress Inks, backing with Bazzill and then using a Maya Road frame for the sentiment, to which I hung a little flower charm. The big flower is made from Grungepaper (what else eh?) and the centre is from an old bracelet that has been butchered in the name of ART LOL

Thanks for looking...enjoy your day and have fun with this great challenge :O))

Hels x


PS 'Scuse the rubbish pics, I am sure my camera is on the blink ROFL

Tilda Goes All Creamy :O)

Hello Again,

I am really keeping up to date with my Blogging which is good 'cos that means that I think that this Sunday coming will see the return of the Sunday Stamper...I think I am over the worst of that nasty bug that has had me laid up for so long and I reckon I will be up to setting a new challenge. I just wanted to mention that I really appreciate all the comments and emails I have received regarding the Sunday Stamper and hope to see all you regulars back again after the enforced absence - and of course, new peeps if you want to join in too :O))

Anyways, on to today's offering;



I made a card - yes another Tilda card - but this time kept it simple and stuck to cream and black as a colour scheme...which wasn't hard cos I have the most divine DCWV cardstock to play with!



I coloured Tilda using ProMarkers - just Greys and Skin Tones and then popped her onto a scalloped oval Nestie, cut out some of the cardstock...ouch, I know, it is sooo nice...almost too nice to cut....and then added a couple of ribbony bits and a ribbon slider and then made a floral embellishment using a combination of paper flowers and a beautiful little beady butterfly that I can't remember where I picked up but it is sooooo lovely :O)) I wish I could say I made the butterfly but my metal and beady skills ain't up to much LOL




Thanks for looking and have a great day - whoops again, forgot to mention that the sentiment is by Penny Black :O))

Hels x

Inky Birthday To You!

Hey Peeps

My friend Bee celebrated her birthday the other day so I made a card for her using the inky messy technique using Adirondack pads and water....I posted about this a few weeks ago - you remember, those tags that I altered???? :O)) Oh, and I used some Cut N Dry foam too :O))




Anyways, to go with the card, I made a little card pouch that I put a scented sachet drawer liner thingy into...I didn't like the original packing so I changed it :O))





Using Penny Black Brush Strokes stamps and Wild Plum, Lettuce and Butterscotch Adirondack pads for decorating I then added a few DewDropz and some fringing to fancy up the card.






Thanks for looking, have a good day all!

Hels x

Bookmark It!

Hi Peeps,

Here is a bookmark that I made for a swap I was involved in a couple of months ago.

The base is mountboard and I coloured both sides with Dusty Concord and Faded Jeans Distress Inks. I added scratches to the surface using a little bit of white paint and the edge of an offcut of mountboard.

Side 1

The stamping on this side was made using black Versafine ink and some clear Inkadinkado stamps, they are so lush and lovely to use! The sentiment is from Stamp Attack.




I used a white pen to colour in some of the details on the stamped image to lift it slightly as it did appear to be a bit dark.








Side 2

For side 2, I used a Penny Black sentiment stamp and then randomly stamped the dandelion head from an Art Journey u/m stamp sheet. I added some glitter Diamond Stickles to bling it up a bit.




The finishing touch was a little tassle to tie onto the bookmark....I used white embroidery yarn and and just wound this around my fingers, tied it tight together and added a length of yarn as a tie.

Thanks for looking!

Hels x

Pretty in Pink ... & Purple!

Hi peeps :O))

It is MIL's birthday today so I made a special card for her.




I used Crate Paper from the Kaitlin collection, stamping onto the paper using Violet StaZon and Stitchels stamps from the DashyDot and DottyDot range and layering them up.




The main sentiment is from Penny Black, I love the words, they make me feel happy!




I added little stitches, using a white pen, to the Stitchel flowers and butterflies and popped a few DewDropz into the middles of them and stuck them to the card using silicone glue.

I used three flower headed pins, threaded with beads, to embellish the flowers.

I hope MIL likes this card and has a very happy birthday too!

Thanks for looking....

Hels x

Before The Mojo Left.....

Morning Peeps,

Before my Mojo went AWOL, I made some cards, mainly as thank you's for the lovely flowers and pressies and messages that my friends sent me after my recent accident.

Little Lass Thank You Card:


I used a tall card for the base and stamped the little lass which is a gorgeous stamp from Stamp Francisco. I masked the image and then overstamped using one of the new backgrounds from The Artistic Stamper. I used Timber Brown StaZon for the stamping and then used a waterbrush and painted in the little lass image using Fired Brick Distress Ink. The sentiment is a clearly yours one and I made the little mat for it using the background stamp again and some Bazzill. The folded corner is done on purpose, I quite like the look of this and a card I had made a few days earlier had a crumpled corner, so I had folded it to cover up the error.



Charming Gardener Thank You Card:



I used Penny Black Stamps for this card - they are my favourites for making cards as they give such lovely images and the florals from the Brush Strokes range are just heavenly to work with. The Brush Butterfly makes another appearance on this card - but then again, he usually does find his way onto most cards I make LOL



I used Dusty Concord and Peeled Paint Distress Inks for the images, spritzing with water to make the images a little smudgy. The little pearls were added using Glossy Accents as adhesive.


Friendship Warms The Heart Thank You Card:



Another similar stylee to the one above, using Penny Black stamps for the main images and the sentiment is by Hero Arts. The colours are the same as before - in fact, no prizes for guessing that I made these two cards a few minutes apart!!



To give the Brush Butterfly a little bit of depth, I curled the wings using my fingertips and then applied two to the card, just to add some extra detail to the card.


Dreams Come True Birthday Card:



This card was made for a friend who loves purple colours and flowers. The stamps are all by Penny Black (can you see a theme building here? LOL) The colours are achieved using Worn Lipstick and Dusty Concord Distress Inks, spritzing the inked stamp with water before stamping to make a little watercolour effect to the image.


And a final outing for the Brush Butterfly - this time I added little DewDropz to his body and also to the flowers on the card and as embellishment on the sentiment mat.

Thanks for looking - I thought my Mojo had come home earlier today but nope, still nowt!! Am still waiting patiently for its return though :O))

Hels xx

Challenge Mojo ... An Altered Canvas

Evening Peeps,

So, where has it got to then? I have searched high and low, in all my cupboards, drawers and even in those dusty old corners that time forgot (or more like, what my hoover forgot!!!) What am I looking for? My Mojo!!! It has gone AWOL!!! Actually, I know exactly where the blighter is, it is on holiday, probably in the Caribbean, sipping cocktails with its best Mojo friend who belongs to Linda....actually, check that, it is probably quaffing "Mojito's" ... *groan* LOL

Anyways, Linda and I were chatting on't phone earlier and reminding each other about the last time this happened, about a year ago - anyways, Linda came over to my house armed with only Canvas, Chalk Inks, Stampbord and a few stamps. So we decided that as this had worked before, we were going to do the same again :O))

Here is the Challenge Canvas I have made:




It is an 8" x 6" canvas, a size new to me (ooooerrrr) and I have used a selection of Stampbord shapes and sizes.




I used Mint Green and Warm Violet Chalk Ink by Colorbox and coloured the whole surface of the canvas and the Stampbord.

I used Penny Black Brush Strokes stamps which I bought from Craft4Creation, a fab online shop that has literally hundreds and hundreds of Penny Black stamps....well worth a visit :O)) and stamped the images in Black StaZon.




I used a scratchy tool to do the scratchyness, emphasizing the brush strokes and then covered all the Stampbord pieces with two layers of clear UTEE which is from The Artistic Stamper.




To tie the canvas in with the stylee of the Stampbord, which I had edged with a metal file, I used a blending tool and foam and white acrylic paint and made streaks around the edges of the canvas. Suffice to say, this is the only streaking I am ever likely to do LOL




Anyways, this is the end product - I am fairly pleased with it but wish I had been a bit more adventurous with the colour as I always seem to go for these combinations. Perhaps now my Mojo is returning from its sojourn, I will be able to crack on and get more inky and messy again.




Please pop over to Linda's place to have a look at what she made, I haven't seen it yet, but I just know that it will be perfect.

Thanks for looking

Hels x

Altered Art - Hanging With Friends

Hello,

I have made a hanging board ornament based on the theme of friendship. As I mentioned in an earlier post this week, I used a technique new to me to achieve the background of the piece.



I took a piece of mountboard and painted it with a mix of acrylic paints as I wanted a dusky pink and I haven't got the exact colour; I mixed Wild Plum, Cream and Mushroom colours and covered the entire surface with this. Once this was dried, I painted on PVA glue and immediately painted cream acrylic paint over the top of the wet PVA. This is the magic bit because as the PVA and the acrylic paint dries they separate and you end up with a fab crackley scratchy effect that reveals the original colour underneath.




I stamped over the top of the background using Penny Black stamps for the main image, the decorative border and the sentiment.



I used a few pieces of Grungeboard from the Nature collection and coloured them with Distress Inks and then covered with Distress Stickles. The word "friends" is also made up of Grungeboard and coloured in the same way. I added a black border to the whole piece, for which I used Black UTEE.



Finally, I added a little fancy beaded tape to the bottom of the piece, added ribbon and beads for the hanger and touched up the birds and the sentiment with Glossy Accents.

I am so loving this new technique - it really does work and I think the effect is really cool :O))

Thanks for looking - oh, and please pop back after 7pm if you can as I have a special blog post that will be posted then :O))

Hels x

Friendship ATC's

Evening Peeps,

I have taken part in an ATC swap where the theme was "friendship" and the rules were to add a 3D embellie and ribbon to the ATC.

I made three ATC's for my entries and have discovered a new technique which I used on two of them....oooooh, it is going to be a fave of mine, probably ancient and everyone already knows about it but I am really slow on the uptake sometimes LOL





ATC 1 was made using mountboard and Gesso and then Distress Inked, stamped using a Penny Black Brush Stroke flower and adding a 1" piece of Stampbord I had stamped and scratched. I used another PB stamp for the sentiment and added some ribbon thru an eyelet. I edged the whole ATC with white acrylic paint to tie it in with the scratches and the Gesso.




ATC 2 was made using a crackley technique I have discovered and stamping over the top with some stamps by ArtJourney. I added a couple of flowers made using the Claudine Hellmuth sticky canvas (yes, I am addicted to this fab product!!) and again, some ribbon thru an eyelet.




ATC 3 was made again using the same crackley technique and a couple of stamps from the Clearly Impressed range from Stampington. I added a PB sentiment and then again I used the Claudine Hellmuth (yes, totally nutty about this product) canvas and layered two flowers and added a little pearl to the middle of it. More ribbon thru an eyelet to finish.

Thanks for looking! I am working on a larger piece now using the same crackley technique so hopefully this will be finished in the next day or so, pain permitting.

Hels x