Birds and Pearls

Brrr it's so cold isn't it and we've had no daylight here today, it's been dark, damp and foggy all day so apologies for the photos tonight, I've scanned one and photoed the other with flash to get the best results but nothing like taking them in daylight.

Before I get going with this post I must just say a huge thank you for your support, I was feeling really bad over that cake but I know I did the right thing. Family time is so precious at anytime but more so at Christmas.

Following my last post, I have been asked whether the clear embossing powder sticks to the mica powdered card from the original inking. I made the card such a long time ago I couldn't honestly answer 100% so I had another go last night and found out two things, yes the clear EP sticks but to get the best results with the mica powder you need to use watercolour paper. Not sure why this is but ordinary card just doesn't work. So here are step by step instructions.

1) Cut a piece of watercolour paper the required design size you want.

2) Liberally ink with versamark or similar.

3) Apply mica powders with a large brush until they cover the paper really well.

4) Ink a stamp with the versamark and stamp into the powder. This will remove it to show the stamped design (If you are really organised and have a piece of triple embossing to hand stamp the mica powdered stamp into this so as not to waste it). Otherwise clean the stamp each time before reinking & restamping into the powder

5) Sprinkle clear EP over the whole area and heat emboss from underneath to get a glossy finish.

Hope this helps.

Here is the piece I did last night and a piece of triple embossed chipboard I made after stamping the dragonfly card in the last post.


The Tag It On challenge theme this week is birds and this is what I came up with.


The tag was glimmer misted with various shades of pink. The Crafty Individuals stamp was inked in Brilliance pearlescent Ivy and Crimson and clear embossed. The little hearts were then decoupaged.

I realised after I'd finished it that the stamp is very swirly so I've added some pearls and am also entering it into the Allsorts challenge. Their theme is swirls and pearls this week. You have to be a speedy crafter at this time of year when time is so precious so hope this is ok.

Thank you as always for stopping by and I hope you are all wrapping up well and keeping warm.

Feeling Very Honoured

Yes...I am very honoured today to be the guest designer on Tuesday Taggers after winning the Handbags and Gladrags challenge a few weeks ago.

This is the card I made for them which had to include a Christmas Tree.


This is where the peel off got used from the last card. I sprayed Key Lime, Starfish and gold glimmer mists all over it and let the card dry thoroughly. Crimson brilliance ink was then gently rubbed over just to highlight the design a bit more before the peel off was removed. I coloured some of the baubles with a gold gel pen and added stickles and some gems. The BP was Dovecraft again I think.


I'm pedalling very hard to try and keep up with everything at the minute. Those dreaded Christmas cards have been finished at last. The problem was I didn't like what I'd done and didn't know how to rectify them. A bit of ribbon and a greeting sorted the problem.

My JYC has been started but I still want to have a go at Tim's tags and those gorgeous roses that Brenda has shown in a brilliant tutorial today. You can see them here.

Then there's housework, Christmas preparations and all the other usual jobs to be done. I really don't know how you hardworking Bloggers find time to do everything AND go to work!!

Happy Crafting and thank you for stopping by.

Tags, Bags and Flu Jabs

I am so relieved that I'm at least a bit normal, thank you all those folk who agreed with the handbags and shoes thing!!!

My friends all think I'm nuts!! To me bags are just for stuffing all those things in you can't leave the house without, purse, camera, tissues, keys, wet wipes, phone, pen, tub of mints, carrier bag and many other assorted necessities. I then end up with Hubby's keys and phone when he's got nowhere else to put them and that half drunk bottle of juice we invariably seem to have after having a coffee out. Why can't children ever finish their drinks!! It's no wonder I need something the size of a suitcase that always weighs a ton.

At the end of the last post I promised you the tag for the Tag It On Challenge, the original reason we made the alcohol ink background,(the theme this week is alcohol inks and faces)... so here it is.


I cut the tag shape out of the photo paper and stamped all over with the same script stamp using Brilliance Galaxy gold. The ladies were stamped in Brilliance crimson as with the last card.


I stamped the swirl in the corners, covered the ladies with a mask and sprinkled gold embossing powder over the rest of the tag and very very carefully heated it. Photo paper buckles and bubbles really easily under heat but I got away with it... just!!!!!

I've really enjoyed playing with the inks and these stamps, they are something a bit different for me but I will definitely play with them again soon. It's been nice to get away from the Christmas thing for awhile. I've still got those cards to finish!!!!!! Keep finding more interesting things to do!!!!!

I hope your week is going well so far. Mine has been stressful, have you ever tried to get a flu jab appointment from a doctors receptionist. It's harder than getting into China!! My Mum is on the list of vulnerable people and has the flu jab every year but her surgery didn't contact her and she forgot this year. I also said it was a good idea if she has the Swine flu jab. She's on medication which means she has no immune system. Anyway, to cut a very long story short, when she rang to get an appointment yesterday, they said the earliest appointment she could have was for the next flu clinic in 2 weeks time!!!!
This is not good enough me thinks!! She could very easily catch flu in this time. After several telephone calls I ended up speaking to the practice manager who told me they hold flu clinics every day but these were totally full of chronically ill people. I appreciated they were very busy but pointed out the differing stories I was being told. She then said she had just noticed they had an appointment today at 9.30am!!! What is all that about!!

Anyway it's all done with now. Sorry to rant. I don't get upset often but when I feel an injustice is being done I can't leave it alone.

Thank you for stopping by.

A Hint Of Green

This weather is certainly perfect for crafting and not a lot else, although we did have a lovely morning shopping in Harrogate yesterday.

Lots of little bits of secret Santa shopping needed doing so plenty of sneaking into shops while creating a diversion was going on. Freya is very good, we can get away with buying things when she's with us and saying it's being sent away to Santa, although she will be getting plenty of surprises so don't worry!

It was thick fog and drizzly rain while we were out and by the time we got home the wind had got up and it was pouring. A perfect excuse for a crafting afternoon.

Freya and I had a play with alcohol inks, her results were better than mine, I was too heavy handed so I did them all again. Fancy being shown up by an 8 year old. Anyway this was all in aid of Frankie's Tag It On Challenge which was to use alcohol inks and faces. I have made my tag but you'll have to wait to see that one 'cos I had so many bits of inked paper left I decided to make a card and while I was putting it together realised it fitted the Tuesday Taggers challenge this week of red, gold and green. I have to confess to having to think hard how to get the green in but if you look closely you'll see the little green gems!!!


We made the background by putting the alcohol ink onto a craft mat and squirting it liberally with blending solution and then twisting some cheapy photo paper around in it and just kept going until we had something we liked. The gold ink was added in the same way at the very ink. I think I used Cranberry and Denim Blue for the card.

The Crafty Individual ladies were stamped in Brilliance Crimson and the background was a script stamp also from Crafty Individuals which was stamped several times and gold embossed. I gold embossed the chipboard swirls to match.


I was also honoured by receiving this lovely award from the very talented Rhonda who lives in beautiful Vancouver and makes gorgeous tags.

Apparently, I have to tell you 5 interesting facts about myself, how hard is that!!!!

Well here goes-

I'm very grumpy first thing in the morning until I've had my first cup of tea, which my lovely hubby brings me in bed every day, how lucky am I!!!!

I love to be outside in the sunshine, it just makes me so happy, which is why Spring and Summer are my favourite months.

I can't understand people with a handbag and shoe fetish, I only have one bag and a couple of pairs of shoes for Winter and Summer, but I absolutely love buying plants and craft stash instead.

I love my music. Music of all kinds, I don't really have a favourite. Some music makes me happy and want to dance (not very well I hasten to add) and some just makes me want to sit and listen. But I have music on all day!

I adore silly American dramas like Everwood, Brothers and Sisters and ER and cannot miss them, yes I know ER has finished now. I shall be in mourning for ever. If I'm going to miss an episode I'll go to any lengths to see it!!! Sad I know.

Blimey that was a struggle.

I don't normally pass awards on, it's so hard to choose but because I'm nosey and some blogs especially make me smile I'd like to pass this award to the following.

Jill (Mrs Stampman)
Sarah (In The Zone)
Polly
Kathy
and Ei for her wonderful e-mails.

and everyone else who'd like it.

Well I hope you are all having a lovely weekend. I'll be back soon with that tag. I think I've wittered on enough for one day.

Thank you for stopping by.

Flowers Galore

I hope you are all enjoying the weekend. I know the weather has been a bit wild and woolly for some of you, hopefully things are calmer today.

We have been quite lucky. It was breezy yesterday but quite bright and today has been absolutely lovely. I even got to spend the morning in the garden tidying up all the dead leaves and cutting things back ready for the spring and it felt almost hot in the sunshine!! I don't know about you, but I always feel so much better when I've managed to get some fresh air.

The challenge over at Tuesday Taggers this week is to create something without using patterned paper. Now this is right up my street as I don't tend to use a lot of patterned paper anyway on my cards.

After a long awaited visit to The Stampman a few weeks ago I treated myself to Kay Carley's Funky Flowers stamp set and at last I've managed to have a play with them. After watching Jill on C&C recently I had lots of new ideas to try out.


I stamped out the flowers and coloured round the edge of them with the Sakura stardust pens and then spread the colour with a water brush. It certainly makes your pens last longer and I love the soft effect. I then used one of the single flowers to stamp all round the edge in orange. This was then matted onto some printer paper that had Shabby Shutters Distress ink wiped all over and then stamped on in the same colour to create a background paper.


Around the main card I used a stalk and leaf stamp from the Funky flowers and stamped in Brilliance pearlescent rust and galaxy gold.


I made the flower embellishment by stamping two of the single flowers in different sizes and cutting them out. They were coloured with watercolour pencils and some stickles added. The leaves were punched out of the distress ink BP and I added some extra stamping to darken them.

Tiny jewels were added to the corners to finish things off.

I'm learning lots of techniques for card making from all your lovely blogs and am beginning to find putting them together much easier so a big thank you for all your inspiration.

Thank you as always for stopping by.

Up Up and Away

What a way to start a Monday morning. I was drinking my tea, minding my own business listening to the radio when dear old Terry W made his announcement about leaving the Breakfast Show. Now I know this is not earth shattering in the scheme of things but I am one of those people who was brought up with Tel in the'70's, he then accompanied me to work in the 90's and since 2001, when I became a stay at home Mum has got us going every morning with many a smile. He will be sorely missed in this household. Mornings will never be quite the same. We wish you well Terry.

Now down to crafty things. The theme for this weeks Tag It On challenge is Up Up and Away. My first thought was hot air balloons, but I have no stamps of them so I'm afraid I resorted to the trusty dragonflies again.


I glimmer misted the background and then stamped the Stamptivity lady in dark blue brilliance ink. I silver embossed some more of the flowers on the same stamp on the bottom, embossed some dragonflies on scrap card and cut them out and attached them and then added a bit more foliage in black down the side.


Freya has also done a tag this week with a different lady from the same sheet. She painted her background with cosmic shimmer watercolours and stamped just the lady (missing of the rest of the stamp) with crimson brilliance and the butterflies with the Marvy shades of sunset blending blox.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Craft at Last

It's taken awhile but at last I did some crafting today.

We came back from hols last Wednesday feeling full of life and brimming with good health and by Friday my lovely hubby was struck down with a horrible cold and decided to share it with me over the bank holiday so although the creative juices were flowing the body wasn't willing. Thankfully we are both much better now and something has been created. Goodness I've missed my stash.


This weeks Tag It On challenge was to create a bookmark with any theme but using at least one stamp and I've just managed to scrape in. I really enjoyed doing this and will use it now instead of the old plant labels and shopping receipts I usually use.


I cut the bookmark from an old cereal packet so painted it with olive green acrylic paint to get a good base to stamp on. The swirls were from creative expressions and were stamped in both white brilliance and peeled paint distress ink. The quote was from my old faithful elusive images inspiration themeplate and the flowers were petaloo foam flowers that had a bit of a swirl stamped on them in crimson brilliance.


I must also say a big thank you to Anne who has a lovely blog well worth a look. I won her 100th post blog candy while I was on holiday and she has been very patient with me, for which I shall be eternally grateful. Anyway, her candy arrived this morning, which was a beautiful handmade notebook and I shall certainly make very good use of it. Thank you again Anne, I love it.

Crafty Sunday

Yet again I sit here typing listening to the rain. Still mustn't grumble, we had a wonderful day out in The Lake District again yesterday and the sun shone all day. We had planned to visit Sizergh Castle near Kendal, trying to avoid the really popular areas as the traffic was very heavy and we didn't want to sit in the car all day when the weather was so nice.

Unfortunately, the castle was closed on a Saturday!!!! How daft is that. Well let's try Levens Hall I suggested, that's only 5 minutes away. Guess what, that is closed on a Saturday too!!!! Not to be put off we headed for Lakeside and the Aquarium and had a really lovely day. We had lunch overlooking the lake, saw a steam train, enjoyed the Aquarium and then went to look round the other side of the bay where we could see lots of people and discovered Fell Foot. This is National Trust parkland with lovely access to the lake, the children were all paddling quite safely while parents picniced on the grass. There are lots of boats moored and beautiful views, well worth a visit if you are ever in the area. We had a very welcome pot of tea and yummy cakes sat outside on a terrace right on the lake enjoying the last of the afternoon sunshine. Pure Bliss. I had to be dragged away for the drive home!!

We were so glad we made the most of the weather yesterday because it's been wet, windy and cool all day here. Perfect crafting weather and for once I had a really productive afternoon.


For weeks now I've been trying to find time to enter the Tuesday Taggers challenge, but just somehow always ran out of time so this week when I saw it was Swirls and Curls I was adamant I would have a go and so here is yet another tag!!! I promise something different next time.

I used part of a tattered angels mask to get a swirl on the edge and over sprayed with sapphire glimmer mist and the stamped round with a swirly inchy in faded jeans distress ink and then again with my favourite Heidi Grace swirl in black. The wording was from elusive images and the chipboard swirl was inked with brilliance pearlescent orchid and a dark pink chalk ink.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and lets hope the sun is back tomorrow.

Rhubarb Crumble and Custard

Goodness what another weekend of weather. It has poured down here all afternoon and we went swimming this morning so it has been a very watery day all round. Still I got lots of crafting done so I have no complaints really.

Today I have done my entry for the Tag It On challenge which this week was Rhubarb Crumble and Custard. (Pink for the rhubarb, yellow for the custard and texture for the crumble). It had to include at least one stamp and two embellishments.

I have to ponder these challenges for a few days and in the end decided on triple embossing for my texture, which I love doing. I've used 2 different shades of reddish cosmic shimmer embossing powders, Blue raspberry aurora and blue maroon aurora and stamped with gold brilliance ink, not strictly yellow I know but hopefully near enough. The stamp is one of my favourite Heidi Grace flourishes. The little dangly embellishments were made also using a Heidi Grace stamp stamped onto shrink plastic with gold and crimson brilliance inks and shrunk. I've had a lovely afternoon with the heat gun!

I've had a bit of a nightmare photographing it properly so that you can tell it actually is pinky and not blue, it's been hard not to get too much reflection even with all this dark weather!!!!

There are some stunning entries on the Dragonsdream site and they are well worth a look.

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend. Hopefully the sun will shine tomorrow.

Sucess At Last

I hope you have all had the glorious sunshine we have had today, it was so warm we even had our lunch in the garden. A perfect end to a lovely week, although it'll be really hard to get back to normal tomorrow with work and school.

After hours of pondering and then giving up and re pondering after asking for Blog land help my computer whizz of a husband has just solved my comments picture puzzle in about 30 seconds. Don't you just hate it when that happens. He's a star when it comes to sorting out technical things.

I didn't have my comments section on a separate page and now I do the pictures appear as if by magic-Hurray!!!!

My cards tonight are yet more cuttlebug creations. I shall bore you to death with these.

For the first one I inked my folder with the Marvy Blending Blox shades of sunset ink and ran it through the cuttlebug once for a dark impression and then spritzed the ink that was left on the folder with water and embossed again and this was the result, a lovely pale hint of ink.

I stuck pink gems in the middle of the flowers, inked the backing card with a color box peony ink and stamped the wording in the same colour to tie in.

The second one was for my sister's 12th Wedding Anniversary, which is today so I can post it now, although I'm not sure whether she reads my blog or not.

The heart and greeting was swiped after embossing with brilliance ink pearlescent orchid, which I also used to ink the background card to match and I stuck tiny pink gems on the swirls.

The ribbon was from DCWV. By the way, it is stuck on straight although it looks wonky. My polka dots were not quite straight, but this was my 3rd attempt at getting them straight and so they were near enough!!!!

Hope you have a good Monday.

Flower Power

We got up to an absolutely beautiful day here, clear blue skies and warm spring sunshine. You could almost see the flowers opening. I took my mug of tea out and sat in the garden this afternoon and it was bliss to feel warm sun on your face. I hope it was as good where you are.

Well back to crafty things.

I managed another cuttlebugging card, this time using the build a flower embossing folder and dies. I thought just using 3 petals looks a bit like a tulip so I wiped pink brilliance ink over and then used pink gems to create a stalk. The background is sprayed with Amaryllis Burgundy Starburst stain which leaves a lovely gold sheen when it dries and then I stamped a butterfly all over with crimson brilliance ink and used that again for the greeting.

I seem to be a bit cuttlebug obsessed at the minute. I think it must be time for a change!

Tim Holtz Inspired

The weather has been lovely here for the last couple of days and today has been a Training Day so we have spent the whole day outside having a wonderful time. My daughter Freya, has been planting seeds and generally having a good time playing, and I have been trying to knock the garden into shape after the winter. I also managed to take some photos of the beautiful spring flowers. The daffodils are just beginning and we have a bit of blossom opening.

I have managed some crafting tonight and have been playing with tags. I discovered Tim Holtz's wonderful blog from a link from Glenda Waterworth at Christmas when he was doing his 12 Tags of Christmas project.

I have lots of inks and screens and stamps and have never used them properly and here was a way of trying out all sorts of things in a small way, perfect.



This was my first attempt.

The background was inked with a pale blue ink and then a small Tattered Angels glimmer screen was placed over and a green ink pad was wiped over the top with a Crafty Notions yellow ink sprayed over the top of that to build up some layers. The screen was removed and the text from the Artylicious Inspirations themeplate was stamped on in the same dark green ink and finally the border and corners were stamped in Brilliance Mediterranean Blue.

The dragonfly (Aspects of Design from The Stampman) was stamped in the same blue, cut out and coloured with an ink pad and coloured in with Sakura Starburst pens. Finally, green craft wire was curled and attached and then the whole thing was stuck on just by the body to give a 3d effect.

I had a lovely play, got thoroughly messy and ended up with something completely out of my usual style. It may not be quite up to Tim Holtz's standard but I shall hopefully use it on a scrapbook page in the future so that it doesn't just get put in a drawer and forgotten.

A COMPLETED CARD AT LAST

Well after a weekend of snatched crafting I have at last completed my Mothers Day cards. I always seem to struggle with card making and they take me ages whereas I can do Scrapbook Layouts quickly, not sure why this is. Anyway, I took the inspiration for these cards from the latest edition of Do Crafts Creativity magazine.

I stamped the flowers with gold Brilliance ink and clear embossed them. They were then painted with Twinkling H20's, which gives a lovely pearlescent effect. The greeting was made with coloured peel offs. I then matted the 4 squares (each one being 4cm) on dark green card and then the whole onto the Distress inked backing papers I made previously.

I hope both my Mum & Mum in Law like the finished result.