A Kaliedoscope of Butterflies...

...did you know that a "kaliedoscope" is actually the collective noun for a group of butterflies?  I am a mine of useful information you know ;O))   Anyways.  I am back today with another project I have made using the Screen Sensation.  Actually, this is the very first thing I made and I am rather fond of it... I love the verdigris effect I achieved by simply mixing a few inks on the screen as the squeegee pulled them over.

This is a shadowbox that I had kicking around and decided to use my prints in it.  I printed the Bespattered screen onto cardstock using a mixture of Harbour Blue and White ink combined with a smidge of Copper ink.   Once dried, I then popped the Antique Script screen into the Screen Sensation and printed the script in black ink.  It makes for a pretty cool background, doesn't it?

I then printed the Kaliedoscope screen using the same verdigris colours... dotting the different colours along the top of the screen before printing means a more random print so the butterflies all look sooo pretty.

The butterflies were cut out, edged with black ink to make them pop.  I stamped a word and then assembled the whole thing together... oh and the shadowbox?  Coloured with the Black ink I used for the script print... it is such a lovely smooth ink and permanent once dried, it seemed fitting to use the inks for everything I did.

Please do excuse the naff photography... my break away from blogging did not, in any way, improve my photographic prowess! 

That's all from me for today... have a grand day and thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

Carte Blanche for Blossoms & Bookpages!

Goodly afternoon!  Ooh I love it when a plan comes together!  It isn't often that I think of a project and actually make it so it looks like it did in my head.  This project started out in my head looking like... well, exactly like the finished article!  Unusual for me, I usually just slap stuff anywhere and faff around for hours trying to get things to look right.  Over on the Creative Carte Blanche blog, I chose the theme for July, Blossoms & Bookpages.  I chose the theme because I wanted to make this project... and being of slatternly persuasion, it is oft the case I will not end up making something because other things get in the way.  Perfect excuse to get my fingers inky and make something for the living room too.

I bought an old copy of Hans Christian Anderson's childrens stories a few months ago from a charity booksale... it cost me the princely sum of 50p.  One of the stories is Thumbelina.... I have a bit of an addition to fuchsias... well, actually, a lot of an addiction (I have 79 different varieties now *see, told ya, addicted*) and it just so happens there is a new fuchsia called Thumbelina.  I also have the Heartfelt Creations Fuchsia Dies... so... put them together and you get this project!

The shadowbox is from The Range and is 8" x 8", I smidged a wee bit of black paint onto the bare wood, sanded it back and then blended Ground Espresso DI over the surface to get this nice aged look. 

The fuchsias were made by sticking the bookpages onto card, die cutting the shapes and inking with Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet DI's to get the colours and then assembling the blooms.  The stems of the flowers are thin strips of bookpage/cardstock inked with Peeled Paint and the branches were made (very fiddly-diddly) by twisting bookpages around wire then inking with the green ink plus a smidge of Frayed Burlap.  The base inside is more bookpages, collages, knocked back with Antique Linen and Bundled Sage Distress Paint, splattered with Peeled Paint and Bundled Sage Distress Spray and then gently inked with more Ground Espresso to bring the whole design together.

I decided against adding any embellies (I know, what???) and wordage as I want the blooms to really stand out, it is simple but so pretty I didn't want to take away any limelight from those fuchsias.  Anyways... that's it really... I spent ages making this... the blooms are pretty easy to put together but it was the placement of them and the wrapping of the wire and making sure that it looked exactly like it did in my head...  Thanks for looking, have a grand weekend!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 332 - Sharp Dressed Man

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Thank you for your grand entries for last weeks wishy challenge.   The theme this week is SEWING & STITCHES.  You can interpret the challenge how you like: make something out of fabric, add faux or real stitches, use diecuts...  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.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 15th November 2014 - yes this one is a "two-weeker". 

My entry this week is my class sample for my Patchwork Sewing Room class that I taught yesterday at Daisy's Jewels in Coventry.  The base is a Candy Box Crafts mdf frame.... this has been altered to within an inch of its life to make it look like it has been around for yonks (I love doing this to new wooden things, making them look positively ancient!)

The patchwork is cardstock, coloured with Distress Ink and a selection of Studio 490 and Kaisercraft stamps adorn the patches.  Checkout Tim's dressform... this was diecut from a gorgeous faux suede paper that Daisy's sell... backed onto mountboard for sturdiness! 

As you will have noticed, this is a two week challenge this time... I am still not feeling 100% and next week I am going to be a busy gal - demoing at the NEC for Craft Obsessions on Thursday and Friday and then I am teaching at a the Craftstation on Saturday for their first Dabble Day... so it is time for the Sunday Stamper to have a little breather!  I better get a wiggle on, I am back at Daisy's today teaching the lovely ladies all about the Melting Pot... tis going to be fun!   Thanks for looking, have a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

Curiously Tinted...

Gooooodly Morning to all you lovely Compendium-ers!  Today sees the start of a brand new Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge.  To see all the details on how to join in with the challenge, CLICK HERE.  Also, if you pop across to Linda's blog, you will see all gorgeous creations that my talented teamies on the Curiosity Crew have made... well worth taking a cuppa and a packet of Digestives :O)    The challenge is sponsored by the Funky Junkie Boutique this time... so you will have a chance of winning a very generous Gift Certificate to spend there.  As ever, Tim & Mario have very kindly donated goodies for an extra prize... which will be awarded to the "Curiosity Crew's Choice"... so you have two chances of winning fabby prizes!  If you haven't got your Compendium book just yet, you can order a signed copy directly from the man himself... HERE.  And... Linda has also done a FAQ page for you.. HERE it is... all the info you will need is listed there.   This week we are turning to Page 41 of the book and playing with Distress Photo Tinting.  Now, as usual with the Compendium Challenge neither I nor the Curiosity Crew will be posting the technique instructions and participants must not do so either. We all want to encourage people to buy Tim's awesome book; giving away the instructions wouldn’t be fair to him. Linda will have no choice but to un-link any entries that don’t follow this rule. 

My entry this week isn't a tag!  The main reason for this - as actually it did start life as a tag - is because once I had the photo tinted, it was just too special to bung on a tag which would then be hanging with a load of other tags.  And what makes the photo so special?  Well, allow me to introduce you to my Grandma!  This photo was taken on 26th June 1929, making her 16 years old at the time.   Another special reason is it would have been her 102nd birthday yesterday.  So this little shadow box is in memory of my wonderful Grandma who taught me so much about life, the natural world and how to make a complete mess of every available surface in her flat making Christmas cards using glitter, a dab of Gloy glue and cotton wool.

As detailed in the book, I did the technique on the photo and then mounted it onto black cardstock, scuffing the edges of the photo to make them a bit shabby to give the photo a bit of age.   The shadow box was painted with a mix of Antique Linen and Brushed Corduroy Distress Paints, sanded back and then inked with Vintage Photo to add a bit of a distressy feel to it.  The insert is a piece of Wallflower Vellum, popped onto cardstock to give it a plain background and then I used my good old harlequin stamp to add a few diamonds to the background.

Next came the embellishmentising:  when I was little, Gran and I used to go for walks along the Leeds/Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, both of which ran close to where she lived.  We always came home with a jam jar of tadpoles, a bunch of wild flowers or pockets full of acorns and conkers, depending on the season.  One particularly chilly day, it must have been late March/early April, we arrived back home with that pink cheeked look one can only get whilst walking in the cold air.  To our dismay, we saw two baby blue tits had fallen from a nest that was a-top of an out building and were on the path outside Gran's bedroom window.  Never one for ignoring such things, Gran quickly looked for the Mummy bird and she was no where to be seen.  I remember her saying that these little babies would "perish of the cold" if we didn't do something, so she bustled off and found a shoebox, filled it with and old towel, some cotton wool and some leaves and after donning a pair of gloves, she lifted up the babies and popped them into the box.  She said it was important not to touch their feathers as Mummy might come back and she would smell us on them.  After a few hours, the babies were still alone and Mummy bird was no where to be seen so in came the shoebox and so began a late night vigil... a vigil that lasted weeks!  And sure enough, as soon as those little babies were big enough and strong enough to fly, off they went.  And back they came... daily!  Oh yes, the little birds came back daily to dine on fresh lamb fat (off the chops, cooked of course!), bacon rinds (fried just for them!) and morsels of her rather delish cakes and pastries.  My Gran was a character - she was a one in a million special lady who gave me such a good grounding, she was a sage, wise old owl who knew a fair few curses in her native Welsh tongue - a few of which were directed at me when I was being cheeky or naughty but my lasting memory of my Gran is her laugh, we used to laugh 'til tears ran down our faces... so this little piece of art is for her... for my Gran.

So you see, when I saw this sheet of Tim's Wallflower paper had the little blue tits printed on it, I just had to cut them out and add them to my memento box.  Along with the blue tits, I added a few bits of Idea-ology, some off cuts of lace and a couple of paper flowers, layering them all up and finishing off with a little acetate butterfly.

That's all for now - don't forget, you will have two weeks to enter the challenge... and a bat at the chance of grabbing the Crew's Choice prize which is a mahooosive haul of stash donated personally by Tim & Mario... so if you are joining in, remember to comment on all the Crew's blogs and you will be in with a chance of winning that too *believe me, this is one gigantic pile of goodies*!   I will just say a big thank you to every one of you who has taken part in the challenge so far, it has been great to visit your blogs and see your wonderful interpretations of the challenge themes!  Thanks for looking, have an inky inspirational day!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 308 - Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Many thanks for all your beautiful pink entries to last weeks challenge.   This week the theme is a nice simple colour one.... Use Brown & Blue.    To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.   Include the theme and add in some stamping and then pop back here to leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry and I can come visiting.  If you haven't got a blog/photo-hosty-thingy, you can also join in via Facebook (just tag my name) or by sending me a small res. pic via email.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 26th May 2014.
 

 
 My entry this week is actually a DT piece I made for Jones of Nottingham.  Today I am teaching at their retailer event - how exciting!!! Showing the shop owners all the gorgeous goodies available from Jones - I will be focussing on Kaisercraft and I will show you the project they will be making today a little bit later in the week.  Anyways, this shadow box is from Candy Box Crafts - it is really easy to put together, I used Cosmic Glue to stick the base together and then gave it a slap of black paint.  I cut a piece of the gorgeous Marion Smith Nirvana papers to fit inside the shadow box and then I covered the frame with more papers that matched perfectly. 

The insert paper has been inked with Tumbled Glass and Vintage Photo DI and then I did a bit of stamping with Kaisercraft stamps - the diamonds and bubble wrap and done with the same DI's and the dressform and butterflies with Watering Can Archival.  The sentiment is stamped in Jet Black Archival and popped onto some black card to make it pop.  I also stamped some butterflies and cut them out, adding them to the insert with a smidge of glue and a jewel for the body (from the delightful little Junque and Jewels embellies from Marion Smith)   As I seemed to be on a sewing theme, I covered a bit of Grungeboard with Claudine's  stickyback canvas and die cut the dressform (Tim's Sewing Room Alteration die) colouring lightly with Frayed Burlap DI and then scruffing the edges of the canvas and going around the edges with Walnut Stain DI.

And now for the embellies!  I had some cotton reels kicking about so I inked with Walnut Stain to age them and added string around and popped some little pins into them... the flowers are Kaisercraft blooms (more gorgeousness) and the rest of the embellies are from Marion Smith Junque & Jewels sets... check out that ickle push bike!  Nowt to do with sewing but it is so cute, I couldn't resist!

That is all from me for today... again, I am scheduling this post as it is really Friday night and I am just getting ready for my bed... up early in the morning (that is now yesterday) to travel to Hessle for my class at Craftique... and by now it is Sunday so I will be heading off to Nottingham.. I don't half get about!!!   Hope you have a great day, enjoy the sunshine!  TTFN

Hels x

A Vintage Journey...

...I did do a few squeals when Brenda from A Vintage Journey challenge asked me if I would like to be a Guest Designer.  Mmm, now let me think about it!  A blog dedicated to the Duke of Distress and all his wonderful products... like a nano second to think and a very fast "yes please!"   So, today is the day that my project is being aired over on the A Vintage Journey blog... CLICK HERE for all the deets on how I made it - I won't say it all here as I have already said it over there and you would get bored having to read all my wafflings twice :O))   Anyways, here's my creation:

The theme I was asked to use was "words"  which is perfect seeing as I love to talk very lots... and I likes to use words on everything I make too.  So, I started out with the idea of making a nice 6" square card using a Found Relative card - one of the new Tim's Idea-ology thingy's.  However, as I was flicking through the cards I fell in lurves with the backgrounds of them too!  What to do!! I want to use a photo side and a backside (snort)  Ahahahahaaaa!  I will pick my least favourite photo from the cards and use that... which is what I did!  Now, readers of this old blog will know that me and sewing machines have never had the best of relationships.

Nay and thrice, I was chucked out of Needlework classes when I was at school for not only being inept but also breaking a couple of the machines.  Ahem... quite! I ended up being the only girl in the Woodwork/Metal Work class.  Ham-fisted of nature is my problem when it comes to sewing machines.  Grim bought me a diddy little mini machine a few years ago and I went bonkers with it for a few months, wonky sewing all over everything... and then I put it just out of reach on a shelf and there it stood, gather dust and whatnot.

Well, I decided, in my infinite wisdom, to traverse the pile of stash that has formed in front of the said out of reach machine... nearly breaking my leg in the process... and plugged it in.  And, being as I am clever like, I thought "I shall have a trial run, sewing the backside card first, for if I go wrong, I can hide it..."   Yes, I did that... yes, it was a little wonky but hey, I can just sew two lines right?  Well, I then decided that I would mount the front card onto cream card for a little border.  Yep, looks great!  And then I started sewing it.  And erm... the thread snapped... and I re-threaded it and it snapped again.  I re-threaded it, adjusted the tension a bit and started again.  And the thread snapped... again.  As did my patience.  So, after giving the machine a very good talkin to, I finally got the blighter sewing.  Hurrah and thrice, I persevered and it paid off.  Only, um.. my sewing is even more frightful and wonky.  Ah, I will nip around the edges again and it will look like I meant to do it.  Yes, well, that would have worked had there been enough thread on the bobbin thingy... but there wasn't... and I couldn't find the cotton... so gave it up as a bad job and hoped that by flinging tonnes of embellies at it, you wouldn't notice it lol   *you did notice it didn't you?*

So, now I am stuck because I have a not neat and rather dog earred looking Found Relative card and a 6" card just ain't going to cut it.  Right, time to go bigger then!  I grabbed an 8" square shadow box and went a little bit mad with the embellies, Idea-ology, Tim products and such like... well, the whole thing is "inspired and influenced by Tim" so I was at least, on the right track! 

Please do pop over to see A Vintage Journey - there be a prize for one lucky entrant into the challenge... and also, take a cuppa and a packet of Hobnobs with you because you may be there some time... the GORGEOUS art by the Design Team is so inspiring... I tell you what, tis a very long time since I took time out to play with all my Tim stash and make something like this, which is very me and makes me very happy... so thank you to Brenda for inviting me... and for making me remember where my real crafty heart lives :O)

I shall away now... I said I wasn't going to waffle didn't I?  And I did... oops!  Have a great day and thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 233 - All Those Years Ago

Goooooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all!  Many thanks for all your fab face entries for last weeks challenge.  As you will recall, I was doing a little giveaway - in total I had 82 entries and having fed that into Mr.Random.Org he said #57 is the winner... which is the entry from...*drum roll* Barbara Cady.  Thanks Barbara and congrats, please can you email me your addy and I will pop your candy into the post :O))   On with this weeks challenge... the song title is in memory of George Harrison as it is the anniversary of his death this week.... and of course, being as he was my fave Beatle and being as I lurve this song... the theme is... VINTAGE   Tis a nice and easy-peasy one this week isn't it?  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 with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you don't have a blog/photo-web-hosty-jobby you can also join in via Facebook or email.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 December 1st (yikes! December!) 2012.

My entry this week is my class sample from yesterday's class with the JoLLie StaMpeRs, a fab group of crafty ladies in Lancashire.  I chose a Christmas theme for my Patchwork Shadow Box but there was also a non-Xmas option if that ladies fancied that too.  The patchwork is dead simple to do, just a case of cutting card into ...erm... a patchwork (!) and colouring, stamping with some Xmas stamps from the Duke of Distress and then popping it into a shadowbox and bunging a hangy framey thing on it

The embellies... well, check out Santa... he was made by Lou from a mould of something or other, using something or other else (brain fog can't remember lol) and then I just gave him a good brushing with a few colours of Treasure Gold wax... which I am now addicted to... not to mention the goooorgeous smell it gives off.

The 3d bits are Alterations die-cuts, coloured with Distress Inks and then formed to make a Christmassy decoration.  Finishing touches are some cute little bottles from Creative Expressions - how cute are those diddy ones!  And they are filled with Rock Candy Dry Stickles... love that white sparkle.

Right, I shall away... tis near my bedtime, I am staying with Joan - a big thank you to her for organising this fab weekend... and for putting me up and feeding me THE best quiche I have EVER eaten... I so need that recipe!  Back into the workshop in the morning for another day of crafting... ahhh, tis a hard life... not!  Thanks for looking... have a good week and stay safe in all the horrid storms that are forecast!  TTFN

Hels x

Snazzily Steampunk...

...did you know that there is a steampunkery competition going over on the Snazzy Design Team blog? Aha, oh yesh indeedily... and... even better, there's some lush prizes too! All the deets and the rest of the teams artwork etc are HERE but afore ye go, here's my little offering for the DT. It is a 6" shadowbox with a little hanging frame dangling from the inside.


The box was simple to alter... slap some Frayed Burlap Distress Stain all over it, using a paintbrush to apply the Stain in the insidey bits (to get the Stain out of the bottle is simples: press the valve onto your craft sheet, squeeze the bottle and drag it towards you, the Stain puddles out... perfect!) Anyways, the Stain was left to soak in a bit and then I gave it a helping hand and dried it with a heat tool. Then I used Gathered Twigs DI and blended smidges of this over the frame to add some shadey bits. Then I spritzed water into my paw and flicked it, where it landed it bleached the Stain out a bit... so it looks nice and old. Finally I used a dry-ish black Dabber and dragged this lightly around the edges. I did the same for the ickle frame too.



The centre piece is card that I used a That Special Touch mask on (penny farthing) and Old Paper DS, smooshing it all over - this means that the image is less crisp but that is the look I wanted, so it was in the background - shame it doesn't really show in the pics lol Next came some stamping: using the Chocolate Baroque Steampunk set and Black Archival, I stamped three images, making masks for the two outer ones so they were all overlapped nicely. I coloured them with Stains and a waterbrush and then set about making a banner for the bottom of the card. That was a doddle - Stain card with Old Paper and then stamp the word repeatedly, cut out, edge with Gathered Twigs and stick on. The insert for the ickle frame is one of the larger wordy stamps, again onto the Stained card and cut to fit. Check out the hat! Isn't that super cool? That hat itself is an Embellish Your Art Studio 490 embellie, I added on a Tando wing (painted with Black and SnowCap Dabber) and then a cornucopia of Idea-ology cogs and stuff. All of these are glued on with the Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue - tis amazing stuff see! Finally, popping all the pieces into place, I added some more embellies to the shadowbox and voila... finished :O))



I stayed up til 01.30 this morning playing in my Room of Stash, I do love late nights in the Room of Stash! We spent the evening stuffing our faces with Indian takeaway (nommetty-nom: chicken tikka madras, chicken tikka masala, pilau rice, naan and free bombay potates) and watching Peter Kay on the telly - oh boy, my jaw is still aching from all the laughing, that guy is the funniest man in the world! If you haven't seen his Tour That Didn't Tour - Tour you must see it... Right, I shall away, things to do and all that and my hair desparately needs styling, which takes an hour for me to wrestle with it so it doesn't resemble feathers lol Have a lovely day peeps... TTFN!

Hels x

Milestones...

...Cor blimey and thrice, I am scraping in by the skin of my teef here because the t'internet has been wonky all day!!! Anyways... as promised, pics of my gift for Grim for our 10th anniversary. But first, a few words... indulge me do :O)) Ten years ago today I married Grim. The man of my dreams. The love of my life. My very best friend. My better half. It took me a fair few years to find him, I admit that a few frogs were cast aside before I found my Handsome Prince, but I endeavoured... and I found him....


We have had some amazing times... and we have had our fair share of crappy times too during the past 10 years... but one thing that has seen us through all of that is our ability to do exactly what my dear old Dad said during his speech at our wedding. He said "May you live, laugh and love". Which is more or less what we have done (yes, for once, I did as my Dad said!) Wise words that have stood us in good stead for all that life has chucked at us. So. This is my little message to Grim; thank you for being YOU, for being with me for the past 13 years, 10 of which married. For being a constant source of support, love and laughter - I know, without you beside me, I would have not coped during the hard times nor would I have enjoyed the good times as much. I love you Grim... you are my all and everything.


I was Skyping with Ellen on Sunday and we decided to do an "I Challenge Thee" because we haven't had a good old crafty sesh together for a yonk and a half. The rules were pretty simples: Shadow Box, mini canvas, paper blocking technique, Texture paste, paint, stamps, stencils and embellishments to include Corked Vials, Screw Eyes and whatever else we fancied. I had a plan in my noddle that I was going to make something for Grim for our anniversary but wasn't sure what. As I went on with the making of this piece it became more apparent to me that it was actually what I was making for him. There are some special bits n bobs on the piece that make it more special for us... and he has told me that he loves it... that's the main thing eh? To see Ellen's finished project, CLICK HERE, it is ... totes-amazeballs.... LUSH, is what it is!!!


Of course, as well as the pressie, I needed a card... so I used the same papers etc to make a card, adding on the little phrases (HOW CUTE!!!) - the papers are Prima BTW, I LURVES them... and then I added some Embellish Your Art bits to add a bit of specialness (word? made up word? whatever lol) to the finished look.



Well, I shall love ya and leaves ya, I am fair pooped with all this excitement - plus we have had another lovely day out in the Dales, the weather was a smidge better - and we have just had THE most amazing meal in the hotel... oooohlalalaaaa... we had a trifle for pud and NEVER have I had such a wonderous pudding... the fact that I can hardly move is neither here nor there. A couple of pics of us... I have more but they are on Grim's camera so I will need to nab that and faff with the pics (in need of photo-shopping methinks lol) I have tonnes of pics from our adventures today so I will try to get those on tomorrow... don't worry, I won't become a holiday-photo-bore... much hahahaaaaa




Thanks for looking... I am off to bed now... up early for our trip home, of course, a little stop off at Art From the Heart might be in order, well, it would be rude not to wouldn't it? Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

PS... THANK YOU For all the lovely comments too... I haven't had chance to reply yet, I will do that when I get home and have a quicker internet connection :O))

Sunday Stamper - Week 208 - Her Majesty

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Jubilee Sunday to you all. Firstly, many thanks for all the gorgeous wordy entries for last weeks challenge. This week, here in the UK, Jubilee fever is upon us. (as usual, the good old British weather has turned... wet and windy!) Anyways, in keeping with the festivities, I have chosen a royal theme this week but so everyone can join in, the theme is RED, WHITE & BLUE which means that covers loads of different possibilities. To join in with the theme is simples: 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. You can also join in using Facebook/Picassa/Flickr etc or bob an email over to me. The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday June 9th 2012.


My entry this week is a smidge patriotic, using Papermania papers (couldn't resist these, I know, I am not supposed to be buying papers but.... ) I covered an 8" shadow box and added a little frame to the insidey bit, also covering this with papers. I added some hand cut bunting to the top inside of the box and to tone it all down, used a piece of Cut & Dry with some watered down SnowCap Dabber. The stamping was done with SnowCap Dabber, using my favest script stamp and those diamonds that I seem to use on everything too... appropriate this time though, being as it is the Diamond Jubilee :O))



I added a few more diamonds in the little frame using Vermillion and Manganese Blue Archivals. The rose is from "that" Studio 490 flower stamp, on Grunge, coloured with Fired Brick DI and popped onto the little frame with a couple of diamond pins behind it. There's a Cash Key dangling, using Screw Eyes and a bit of stamped paper to make it dangle. I finished by adding a few more bits of Idea-ology. Check out the ickle date stamping... it is the ancient one that Grim found in the loft; seemed perfect to add it to the frame.


So, there you have it... a very patriotic entry... however, you don't have to go down this route if you would prefer to make something that is just red/white & blue then that is fine too. It is blowing a hooley outside my window and I am just hoping that it clears up before this afternoon... one of the greatest spectacles to ever be seen on the River Thames will be happening this afternoon... I am nabbing front row seats in the living room... I cannot wait to see Her Majesty on her Royal Barge... tis very exciting indeedily! Right then, I best go... I need to iron my best frock and dust off the hat - well, I need to look my best for Her Maj after all! Thanks for looking.... have a fab week! TTFN

Hels x

PS... how very remiss of me to forget to mention that the song title is another Beatles song - last song, side 2, Abbey Road... just in case you were wondering lol

Sunday Stamper - Week 200 - I Got Your Number **Plus CANDY**

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very Happy Easter to you all! Many thanks for the fabby transportational entries for last weeks challenge! This week sees a milestone for the Sunday Stamper, we have reached our 200th anniversary... where did that time go huh? The challenge started off on January 27th 2008 with me picking a theme and there wasn't anything really specific about it, apart from to use stamping. Within a few weeks I had added in the extra element which is that every theme has a song title attached to it, that in itself makes it a challenge for me sometimes lol. This week the theme is NUMBERS and I also have some goodies to giveaway for one randomly picked entrant. More of that in a mo. Firstly, I should tell you how to join in... which 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. I can then hop on over to visit. The challenge is open to all, if you haven't got a blog/Picassa/Flickr/Facebook, you can enter by email... if you do send me an email or enter by Facebook etc, please can you leave a comment in the comments box letting me know how you have entered, that way you will be certain to be entered into the candy draw. To be in with a chance of winning the Candy, please leave me a comment AND pop the candy picture into your sidebar, linking back to this post... if you leave me a comment AND enter the challenge, you will be entered into the draw twice. I am going to be a bit strict with the entry requirements this week because this candy is my thank you to everyone who has supported me, this blog and the Sunday Stamper over the years. Believe me, you all make me smile big with your lovely comments :O)) So, if you are a Candy Only blog, please do not leave a comment, you won't be entered into the draw... like I said, this is my thank you to those who have been loyal supporters. I will be popping around to check that comments have been left by genuine bloggers and not Candy Only blogger too (cor, I feel all school marm-ish now lol) The challenge will remain open until 21:00, Saturday 14th April 2012 and the candy winner will be announced on next Sunday's challenge post. If the candy is not claimed within 7 days of the winner being announced, I will re-draw and a new winner will win the candy.



So... my entry. I wanted to make something to commemorate this milestone and decided to alter a shadow box. This is an 8" square variety and I had tonnes of fun playing and adding all the elements. I started by painting the box with my very favourite Traditional Tan paint (have you noticed that I haven't mentioned it for a few weeks? Well, that is cos I had run out!!!) Once the paintwork was dry, I sanded over the top so it went back to the wood... and then got inky with a blending tool and Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I then lightly spritzed the box with water, dried it all off and then got a splatty stamp and used Coffee Archival to add some splats. The centrepiece is a patchwork of cardstock. This is a doddle to make, simply cut a piece of card to fit inside the aperture and then using a pencil and ruler, mark out a patchwork pattern. I use a pencil to mark approximately on the back of each piece a number - in this instance I did 1 - 13 so, when the pieces are cut up, you know where they are supposed to fit back into. I also add a little arrow pointing upwards so I know which way up the pieces are supposed to be. I used Old Paper DI and coloured all the pieces... and then used Frayed Burlap on some and Fired Brick on the rest and then edged them all with Vintage Photo.



The stamping was done using Coffee Archival - I used a load of Tim Holtz Mini's and then used Vermillion Archival for the "red" pieces and a small chequer stamp and for the "brown" pieces, I used Sepia Archival and a small sequin waste stamp to add some extra bits to the design. I stamped the sentiment in Jet Black Archival so this stands out a bit more from the background. Once all the pieces were completed, I used Cosmic Shimmer glue to pop them onto another piece of card, cut to the same size as the aperture and then edged right around with Vintage Photo. This was then glued into the aperture.


I spent a happy hour faffing with Idea-ology and trinkets I have in my stash... starting with the 200... which are Numerals, triple embossed with white embossing powder and then muckied (is there such a word???) up with Pitch Black Dabber. I found four backgammon counters in my junk box, so I sanded them a bit and gave them the black Dabber treatment and then glued these to the bottom of the frame so they act as feet for it. I added little Screw Eyes to the holes in the Plaquette so I could dangle some Chain Tassells and Baubles from them and finally I got sticky messy with some beads and a Corked Vial... I wanted it to look like the beads were falling out of it, so I used THE best glue in the world (IMO) which is Cosmic Shimmer glue... seriously, I know I keep on saying this but... it dries totally clear and matte and... it is super strong too! The beads are glued onto the frame with this glue... and they are stuck fast now. Cool! Oh and ... I nearly forgot, I used a couple of Screw Eyes to make Mona a pair of specs too... bless her, she does get some weird eyeware!



On to the Candy! What's in it? Here goes: Idea-ology: Chain Tassells, Plaquettes, Pen Nibs, Memo Pins, Roll of Tissue Tape. Sizzix Texture Fades - Poker Face. Maya Road: mixed bag of chipboard shapes, Scallop Mini Book, Assorted Ribbons & Trims, Country Home Flowers, Velvet Pleat Flowers, Velvet Resin Blossoms, Trinket Tin. Want to Scrap Chip Album Kit. 2x Canvas Boards. 2x Canvases. 10x 8pt Manila Tags and a little Alterable Wooden Box. So, to recap, to be in with a chance of winning the candy, please leave a comment and take the picture below, pop it into your sidebar with a link back to this post. If you enter the challenge as well, your name will automatically be entered into the draw twice. The challenge will close at 21:00 Saturday April 14th and the winner will be announced on next weeks Sunday Stamper post. **please, no Candy Only blog as you won't be entered into the draw!**




Right... that is more than enough wafflings from me for one day.... Again, THANK YOU each and every one of you who has joined in and left me comments over the past 200 weeks. I truly do appreciate every single entry - and it makes me smile big to know that you are still enjoying this "just for fun" challenge. Thanks for looking... as ever... TTFN!!

Hels x

The Key To Love... *and the taggy winner*

...do you ever get that "made-those-once-need-to-make-them-again-right-now" urges? You know those little roses I made yesterday from the Mini Tattered Florals die? Well, I am officially addicted... as I also seem to be turning several shades of pastel! What is going on huh? I hardly ever do the whole palepink/babyblue but this week for some reason I have it in my head to use the Vintage Shabby papers from the Duke of Distress *who... is in THE SAME country as us!! Huzzah (oh, just thought, if you are not in the UK then he isn't in the same country... but you know what I mean right?)*


Well, I have this ickle 4" shadow box in my stash for several eons and decided it was high time that it got some lurve in the form of Paper Artsy Fresco Finish paints... the base colour is Sky Blue, then some of that super crackle medium... and then Snow*** White (oh I can't remember the name of the white one... and it is put away and neat and I am lazy so... erm.... it is the Snow something or other white ... whatever it be named, it is lush) Where was I? Ah, yes... crackled box... white with blue... looked like "blah" in my face and not at all the shades I wanted... so.. I went in with the Weathered Wood Distress Stain, dabbing it on and drying as I went... and then smidges of Pumice Stone Stain to make it a bit shabbier.... and then... Blue Smoke PP Mists (nearly out of that one *sob* I use it all the time)



Next came the roses... cut from the "grey" shades of papers in the Vintage Shabby stack...hey, did you know... the die fits into the little 2" snip designs on the papers... cool huh! I made three roses, blending Stormy Sky over the edges and then sanding them. The sentiment is another Tim stamp... and the 2" snip fits perfectly into the centre of the box! I added some Idea-ology to embellish and some Hitch Fasteners for feet (am gutted... these have been discontinued from the Idea-ology range... booohooo)




And here I am waffling on... and I nearly forgot to tell you... I have a winner to announce for last weeks taggy giveaway!! I had 60 lovely comments and Mr Random.wotsit picked #57 as the winner... which belonged to the comment left by DEE. Please email me your addy and I will pop the tag into the post for you :O))

here's the giveaway tag

I had better get a move on... tis 11am and I am still sitting here in my nighty, I know... slatternly behaviour indeedily... I fancy a nice nostril deep bath to go and sink into... I live a decadent life don't I? lol Thanks for looking... don't forget... new Sunday Stamper theme tomorrow! Have a lovely day!

TTFN Hels x