Lulabelles Place

Darcy's Postcard Challenge Wk 4 China

2012-01-27T00:48:00.000-08:00

Here is my postcard for this week from China.
Hand drawn in charcoal and pastels.

This weeks story continues.

GilBrockman sold every one of his paintings in Brazil!

Hegot talking to some very wealthy people one afternoon who wanted him to painttheir whole family, two of which were in China and two were on the ship theywere boarding the next day. They invited him to join them, he could paint themon the way and add the others when they reach China.

Hewould be stupid not to jump at the chance! So he worked on the painting on theship, they then travelled over land to Peking to join the others.

Giltook the afternoon off to go to a local art gallery, while he was there hesketched a picture of a fisherman (the original by Qi Baishi) he thought ofLavinia wishing she was here with him to share all the wonderful art.

Beforehe left the gallery he wrote on the back.

DearLavinia,

I am now in Peking in China, (painting a wealthyfamily I met in Rio!) in an art gallery, I sketched this fisherman for you, (Ithought he looked like he was thinking of someone he misses). I am so pleasedit is alright for me to send you my cards! One day I hope I will end up in yourbusy London!

Gil x

Laviniaheld the postcard in her hand and stared at the writing. Gil had added a kissat the bottom, her heart flipped!

Shecouldn’t understand why, she had always been completely faithful to herhusband, when he was away from her during the war and after his death. So whydid she feel this way now!

Sheput the postcard with the others in the book on her desk, if he sent any moreshe would have to find another place to put them.

Shewouldn’t answer this one.

Shefelt too guilty.

If you want to join in or see more postcard stories unfold pop over to Darcy 's Blog!

Right I'm off to see everyones postcards!

Darcy's Postcard Challenge Week 3 Brazil.

2012-01-20T00:21:00.000-08:00

This weeks postcard comes from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

This postcard was hand sketched by me in pencil, coloured pencils and a little charcoal.

The story this week.

GilbertBrockman sold a lot of his work in Valencia, so he decided to travel to Brazilby ship.

Ittook a long time but he wiled away the time by sketching and painting the othertravellers on board. He earned enough money to take a few days off when hearrived in Rio de Janeiro, he wanted to see the statue Christ the Redeemer, hehad heard it was the sight to see here, they were not wrong, he sat looking upat the statue sipping tea from the flask cup.

Histhoughts turned to Lavinia, he did not know why every time he drank tea histhoughts wandered to the woman he didn’t even know.

Hetook his pencils and a small piece of paper and began to sketch the statue,when he had finished he turned it over and wrote to her.

DearLavinia

Iam sitting outside having some tea, looking up at the most amazing statue Christthe Redeemer. It made me think of you,( the tea not the statue). I hope yourhusband doesn’t mind my postcards to you, please tell me to stop if he does!

GilBrockman.

He added to the bottom about not wanting toupset her husband, secretly he hoped she would write back saying it was finefor him to keep sending them.

Hewas finding this fun!

Laviniahadn’t heard from ‘her artist man’ for a while. She found herself wonderingabout him frequently, every morning she felt a pang of excitement when sheheard the postman only to be disappointed when he hadn’t sent her anything.

Thisparticular morning she was having tea and toast before she departed for thelibrary when the postman arrived.

Shefound herself almost skipping to the door to retrieve the post. Flickingthrough the bills and other letters she saw the postcard. On the front was apencil drawing of a statue, on the other side was the familiar hand writing,her heart flipped, she felt like a giggly teenager!

Shereprimanded herself “Pull yourself together girl” she said out loud.

Butthe smile on her face was a picture, she read the words, she would look for abook in the library about this statue in Rio de Janeiro.

Butfirst she would reply!

This postcard is a 1945 image from on line.

DearGil

Yourpostcard is wonderful! It looks very peaceful there, not like London (which youcan see from the picture is very busy!)

Itis fine for you to send me your postcards, I look forward to receiving them, Iam sure Anthony wouldn’t mind at all!

Lavinia

If you want to join in or see more postcard stories unfold pop over to Darcy 's Blog!

Right I'm off to see everyones postcards!

Thank you for all the wonderful comments you have left!

Darcy's Postcard Challenge 2012 Wk 2

2012-01-13T00:23:00.000-08:00

Here is my postcard for this week. It is a painting of the Museo de Bellas Artes in Valencia Spain. I printed the picture of the museum and painted around it and over it with acrylics and heavy body matt medium.

The story continues,
Lavinia Loveday could not believe her eyes!
The postman had just delivered her a letter from a man who had found the letter from her darling husband that she had lost four years ago! This was the best Christmas present she had ever received!
With tears running down her cheeks she read and re read her letter then she read the postcard that came with it.
The postmark on the postcard was Vienna, she had never been there so how her letter had got there was a mystery!
And after all this time too!
She had realised she had lost the letter on returning home from the first trip that she had been on.
But that was to Innsbruck, miles away from Vienna!
She wondered how the man had found it there!
Strange.
Lavinia was so very happy to have her letter back!
She went to her desk found a postcard of London, wrote on the back
Dear Mr stranger,
Thank you so much for returning my letter, I thought it would be lost forever, 4 years is a long time! I wonder how it got to Vienna, I have never been there, I was in Innsbruck in 1945 though!
Yours Gratefully Lavinia Loveday.
She grabbed her coat and rushed out of the house to the post office, this was one postcard that needed posting as soon as possible and by her own hand.

Gilbert Brockman received Lavinia’s postcard just 10 minutes before he checked out of the boarding house!
He was on his way to Spain, he had always wanted to visit the Museo de Bellas Artes in Valencia so this was where he was heading.
With all his belonging in a bag and a fair amount of money in his pocket he set off.
The train was quiet and he sat back in his seat feeling contented, took the postcard from his pocket and read the words again. He was a bit of an old romantic and wondered what had happened to Lavinia to make her so grateful to get the tatty old letter back, he had noticed that the letter looked tear stained and very crumpled, like it had been in and out of the envelope hundreds of times!
He wondered if her husband was still with her or had he been killed in the war?
The train pulled into the station he stuffed the postcard in his pocket and got off the train. He was now in Valencia.

As soon as Gilbert settled outside the Museo de Bellas Artes he took out the postcard Lavinia had sent,

He set to work on another postcard to send back.

He painted all afternoon only pausing to take a sip of coffee or water, he was quite pleased with the result. As soon as this was dry he wrote his message on the back and went in search of a post office.

This was his message,

Dear Mrs Loveday, How strange! I have no idea how it got there, wind? I was in an art museum when I found it sticking out from under some seating. Your postcard arrived just 10 mins before I departed for Spain! I have never been to London, I would love to one day though! G Brockman.

If you want to see some more of Darcy's Postcard Challenge pop over to Darcy s blog!

Darcy's Postcard Challenge 2012

2012-01-06T02:06:00.000-08:00

Here is my postcard for this week from Vienna, Austria
To see more pop over to Ms Darcy's.

The back of the postcard.

This is my book that all the postcards will be stored in.

The front pockets hold background information about the
two people who are writing to each other.

Lavina Loveday was blissfully married to Anthony Loveday just 3 months before the war started.
They planned to 'tour the world' together but the war had put paid to that.
They were apart for 6 years.
The end of the war was near, Anthony was in Japan so he would be there for a few months after VE day. Their tour would begin 3 months after he finally came home.The last letter Lavinia recieved came just 2 days before Anthony was due home.
Lavinia was so excited, she began to prepare for his home coming and their tour to Innsbruck in Austria which was their first 'port of call'. She went into the city to shop for the things they would need, she was very well connected and knew where she could find such things and money was no object.
Armed with parcels she made her way up the steps to their beautiful town house, as she opened the door someone called, "Mrs Loveday, a telegram for you." She woke to find her Doctor and her mother beside her, the telegram open on the floor.
Her handsome loving husband had been killed in battle.
Her world had just fallen apart.

The ticket arrived 9 weeks later, in 3 weeks, 3days and 6 hrs they should have been sitting together in Innsbruck planning what sights to see.
In 3 weeks, 3 days and 6 hours Lavinia was sitting exactly where her husband said they would be sitting but she was aloneLavinia had been home just three days when a parcel arrived. She knew exactly what was inside.
She ripped it open, Anthony's personal possessions stared up at her, she could smell the cologne he always wore. She reached out and touched the contents lovinly as she moved the top things she found Anthony's journal.
Lavinia knew he kept one but she had never seen inside it.
She put it on the table, made a pot of tea and sat and stared at it.
Suddenly she grabbed it, opened the leather cord that held it closed.
She heard a voice in her head saying "It's alright, read it."
She read the first page. Anthony had writen how much he loved her and how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with here and as she turned the pages she found lists of things he wanted from life, parties, children and all the places he wanted to take her to, some she was familiar with, some she had never heard of. Under each of the places were notes of what to visit, where to eat and which hotel to book.
A whole years worth of adventure they were going to spend doing together.
Only now she was alone.

Gilbert Brockman was an artist, he traveled around the world painting the wonderful sights each country had to offer.
His artwork took your breath away, he sold all his work as he finished it. The money then paid for his next trip. He was not a wealthy man but he was the kindest, happiest man you could wish to meet.
He would pack his brushes, paints, paper, easel and the few possessions he owned and take the train, boat or bus to his next destination.
It was while he was in Vienna at Christmas in 1949 he found the letter belonging to Lavinia Loveday, the letter moved him, he just had to return it to her, he just knew he had to.

Puffin Pencil Drawing.

2011-12-08T00:53:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at using coloured pencils (I used Karisma colour) I didn't have the correct colours but hopefully I will get some more soon, then I can finish him off!
My teacher the amazing Dede (inkwell) showed us how to use pencil crayons on her U Stream show Coffee and Art in the Morning, thank you Dede for the inspiration!

Tims Christmas Tag #1 2011

2011-12-01T04:05:00.000-08:00

Well the time has arrived!
As you can see I did not have anything for this tag but the tag die!
Everything else I had to cut out myself (apart from the 'cones' which is a flower die also from Sizzix)!
For all the instructions click HERE.
Roll on tomorrow!

WOYWW This Week?

2011-11-29T23:35:00.001-08:00

For some reason I am a day out it seems, I am posting this on Wednesday 30th November!
I haven't been working on my desk this week I have been in the kitchen!
Not just making meals but felt too!
Below is my first attempt at making 'wet' felt from a kit from Crafty Notions, well the background anyway (green base, blue and lilac stripes) was made by wet felting after it was dry I added the other lines of fibres with a needle felting tool, the centre red/orange circle was made by the needle felting technique.
This was just a practice piece (approx 4x4 ins) I might add some other things to it and make a small hanging.

This is my second piece. Much larger this time (10x10 ins) made in the same way as before (background and inner circle 'wet' felted and the rest needle felted).

Thanks for popping by!

To see more desks go to Julia's place by clicking HERE and you will be transported there in an instant!

Happy Mail and a Page in my Journal!

2011-11-24T01:11:00.000-08:00

This is the page I made from one of the napkins I was sent by a lovely cyber pal Maria!
Maria sent me loads of beautiful napkins, this bear one reminded me of a song my dear Dad used to sing to me when I was little, (I was poorly a lot when I was little) called 'Me and my Teddy bear' by Rosemary Clooney and this song always did the trick to comfort and send me to sleep!
The background is acrylic paint matched to the background of the napkin, the bear was torn from it and applied to the page with matt medium and then covered with it too.
The pocket is jst a scrap and painted the same as the background, inside there is a tag with the story of why that song is important to me!
The little baby with it's teddy bear is a stamp from The Stampsmith.
The word were stamped straight onto the page with Archival.
Around the edge I have writen in white pen 'Me and my Teddy Bear'.

These are the lovely Christmas napkins Maria sent!

And these are all the other gorgeous napkins Maria sent. Thank you so much Maria!

WOYWW

2011-11-02T01:03:00.000-07:00

This is my desk this week, I have been making moulds! My desk is very messy, this is just the tiny space left in amongst the clutter I have to work in!

But I felt the need to show you other areas which in my defence are tidier! This is where I have my Big shot and my guilotine.

The draws are full of ink pads, embossing powders, stamps, rub'n' buff and stuff like that. The glass jars/pots are full of found treasures, buttons, feathers, door knobs, chains, bits of broken jewellery and there are jars of brads, eyelets and charms. There are a few little 'arty' pieces dotted around too!

The printers tray is 'a work in progress' this was an amazing car boot find!

Oops this pic should have been next to the 2nd one, this holds all my dies and embossing folders at the bottom and my dvd player and i pod dock and fan on the top!

So as you can see I'm not as messy as my desk indicates, the rest of the room is still a bit on the messy side but 'Rome wasn't built in a day' as the saying goes!

Thanks for popping by and if you want to see more or join in click HERE to been transported to Julia's blog!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2011-10-31T02:11:00.000-07:00

A Halloween tag! A found photo (I think it was on a Tuscan Rose cd) pumpkins are a Cuttle bug die (painted), the cat, a cover stamp from Craft Stamper with a moulded moon face (painted black), wings die cut, the little pumpkin at the top is the same pumpkin die in shrink plastic , coloured and triple embossed.

Halloween cat. This cat started off as a wooden Christmas bell left over from last year! I painted it black added another larger moon face added details, ears, tail and wings.

My first witch! she was made from a wire egg cup (from a Christmas cracker!) added card ribbon reels, cork another moon face, cord and lots of ribbons and strips of material! Hat is paper cone and circle, broom is a twig and some raffia.

This witch was mad the same as the other witch, her cauldron is foam.

The skelletons in the pumpkin patch. This is a Tim configurations thingy painted black, stamped, pumpkins as before, skelletons and other halloween stuff from local shops.

A close up of Miss Witch!

And the pumpkin patch!

And this is one my 7 yr old Grandson made! His is full of 'blood' dripping down the 'walls'. He had a great time making this! I think he did a really good job!

WOYWW This Week?

2011-10-12T00:21:00.000-07:00

WOYWW this week? More than mine I'll bet! I have been working on a few things but nothing is finished! The pens are there because I have been doing some stuff in a journal, (I ran out my white Posca in a few weeks in the middle of a page so it was hubby to the rescue on his way home from work!) The other pens are Pitts and Sharpies. This is an art doll I am working on, (she does have a face but she was feeling camera shy!)
She is made of thick grey board and embossing powder, tripple embossing? more like 5 or 6 layers! I then stamped into it with a torso stamp I have had for ages but I don't know who it is from.
Hopefully next week there will be more to share!
If you want to see more or join in pop over to Julia's place HERE.

Thanks for looking, have a great day!

WOYWW This Week?

2011-10-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

What's on my desk this week? Not a lot! The reason? Not because mojo has been on hols but because I have been making pressies and swaps and none have been given out yet so I didn't want to spoil it for the recipients!

But I did make this little birdie! He is made from a cork, a bead, wire, feathers, card and grunge paper! Oh and 2 googlie eyes! The cork and bead I glued together before painting then added all the other bits!

I made him for this little cage (which I made a while ago!)

He now lives on the top of my storage on my desk along with fairies and flowers!

That my desk for this week if you want to see more or join in click HERE to be whisked off to Julia's!

Thanks for looking and have a great week!

What a bad blogger! WOYWW and A Pink Glittery Tag!

2011-09-28T03:37:00.000-07:00

I Don't Do 'Pink and Glittery'. This is a tag I made for 'The Stash Buster' competition on UK Stampers, I really don't do 'pink and glittery' but I did have loads of pink glitter (it must be at least 15 yrs old!) so I thought I would 'step out of my comfort zone' and have a go!
Well it started off well, I die cut all the flowers, dress form (painted it and attached all the trimmings) and decorated the tag, then it was glitter time! I covered all the flowers in 2 way glue and started to glitter tipping off the excess onto a peice of scrap paper, everything still going good until I started to pour the excess back into the pot, paper mid air nearly over pot and ACHOO the biggest sneeze ever!!! Think pink glittery mushroom cloud! I swear it was all in slow motion, I watched as the glitter came down, I was covered, the desk, the floor all had a pink glitter haze about them!
Well need I say I was not pleased, it took an age to clear up!
That night we had pink glittery tagliatelle with meatballs for dinner, the stairs, lounge, bathroom all looked like they had been visited by a fairy and everytime I moved I spread a little more around, even my hubby and son didn't get away without having a little bit of sparkle on them!

WOYWW!

On my desk is a whole load of Hearty clay pieces, mostly faces, a few buttons and a mans chest! Why so many? Because I have learnt from experience that if I don't use it all at once I'll forget about it and it dries out!

This is one of a pair of earrings I found in a little second hand shop.

And here is what I did with it! It is a book mark. (sorry about the shine, too loads of photos, this was the best one!)

Thanks for looking, if you want to see more or join in click HERE and you will be taken to Julia's!

My Names Book and a Canvas.

2011-08-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

I have been working on this little names book, it is ATC size and it is for holding all the names of my cyber friends, their names, blog addresses etc.
The cover is chipboard covered with craft resist paper, this I coloured with distress stains, the flowers are from Prima and are coated with UTTE, corners are metal painted to look rusty as is the book plate.

Inside the pages are alphabeticly ordered (tabs and domed stickers).

This 8x8 canvas used up sprayed tissue paper for the background, I added extra sprays for the drips and the bottom is stenciled, the trees are also scraps and the bird is hand drawn.

The words at the bottom say 'Lifes Pathway'.

Thanks for looking!

WOYWW

2011-08-17T00:41:00.001-07:00

It's Wednesday! I have missed taking part in WOYWW, school hols bring lovely grandsons to play at Nana's 3 times a week, one of the days being Wednesday. Today they are in a quiet mood, so it gives me a chance to play a long this week!
Haven't done a lot of arting the last few weeks, have to catch up on chores when the boys aren't here!
Desk looks pretty tidy 'til you look at the next photo!

And then you see all the 'stuff' around the little tidy area!
The canvas is something I started yesterday so hopefully I can work on that tomorrow!

This is the first page in my journal, it is much brighter than this in real life! Lots of blue and browns and texture! These are a few of my favourite things!

I really need a few lessons in photo shop!

These pages are spritzed with colorwash, cosmic shimmer and then sprayed with white to make it 'dreamy'.

Lots of orange and yellow sprays on this one I don't usually use these colours so it was a challenge for me! It was then stamped in rusty hinge all over with lots of different stamps!

The 'balloons' are world stamps on tissue, the baskets are hand drawn on tissue, the TH birds were around the wrong way so they are stamped on tissue too!

More spritzed pages, masked and stamped. The images are pieced together using various collage images.

All these pages are gessoed before sprays are added and are in various stages of completion.

If you want to see more desks join in the fun at Julia's place HERE.

Hope to see you next week too!

WOYWW 112

2011-07-26T07:56:00.001-07:00

Here is my desk this week! Not a lot on it as I have had to knit more chickens (for my 2 grandsons and my daughter), I did make the white canvas and cut out a template.

Here is the canvas, this was so hard to photogragh! It has lots of Rock Candy crackle paint and silver rub and buff on it! The flowers are cut from hand made paper with Tims tattered flowers dipped into UTTE, the middles have dazzles in them.

Last week I showed what is to the right of my desk, this is what is to the right! the wooden cubes have papers,books andin the cupboard are 'naked things' waiting to be papered, painted and grunged in various ways! (I would open it but everything would fall out!) on the top more papers 12x12 and boxes of chipboard letters. Next to the cubes is a trolly, on the bottom mags, the Ikea drawers have stamps and inkpads in them.

Storage jars have lots of 'bits' in them (buttons, feathers,beads, eyelets lots of odds and ends I can't bear to part with!

The othe side of the window more storage cubes draws have tins, empty ribbon rolls,bits of material, postcards, old photos and images. Boxes more of the same.

This trolly has my guillotine on it, the wire drawers have tools in them, more art bin boxes with paper in them. The drawers to the left have white card, acetate, canvas paper, shrink paper and watercolour paper in it.

Well thats me for this week!

Thanks for looking and if you want to join in or have a look at some more pop over to Julia's HERE , there is always something yummy to look at!

2 More Chooks!

2011-07-22T00:23:00.001-07:00

Meet 2 more chooks I have knitted! These are rather funky ones!
The green one (think Inka gold green) is sparkly!

And this little lady is very 'furry' she does have eyes which in real life are easy to see!

I just had to try other yarns that I had, (they take less than 50g to make for the body), I still have a few different sorts of wool left so I may have to knit some more!

I think my house will be over run with chickens soon!

Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken Lay a Little Egg for Me!

2011-07-21T01:20:00.000-07:00

Last week when I was blog hopping courtesy of all the great people that show their work spaces on WOYWW I came across some knitted chickens on one of them. I left a comment on the blog and a lovely lady called Famfa very kindly said she would send me details of how to knit them!
Well yesterday she visited my blog, we exchanged e mails and later that day Famfa send me instructions and I just had to make one!
So here she is (or is it a he)! I love it and I think I will make some more! Maybe funky ones with bright combs and tails!
I think they would look great on a dresser in the kitchen or as I don't have one I will put them on my pantry shelves, (sure to make me smile everytime I go in there!)

WOYWW 111

2011-07-19T23:47:00.000-07:00

Wednesday just keeps coming quicker and quicker! I know it doesn't really but it seems too!
Well as you can see my desk is not that different from last week so I thought I would show 'the wider picture'! This proved to be quite difficult as my room is only about 7 ft wide and I couldn't go back far enough to get it all in!

So I went back as far as I could for this shot but you can't see that much more!

This one was taken with the camera up against the opposite wall!

The dresser is really meant just for display but as you can see some cups of brushes, pens and crayons have crept into the space too!

I couldn't get the whole run of the wall in (about 9ft) but there is not much the other side of the desk only a table which my lamp, iron and a large box full of paper, mainly tissue and a 12x12 paper storage folder is on.

So thats me for this week! If you want to see more or share your work space go HERE to be wizzed over to Julia's place!

Happy WOYWW, thanks for popping by!

WOYWW 110

2011-07-12T05:42:00.000-07:00

Here is my desk for this week! Lots of half finished stuff as usual!

A closer look at the right hand side of my desk. Lots piled up on top of each other waiting for 'the finishing touches!' Right at the top, the backing from a felt sticker which I used as a mask on my journal page.

Here is the journal page I was working on, it is quite a bit brighter in real life. Her wings look white but they are very shimmery!

If you want to join in and show your desk or have a nosey at lots of others hop over to Julia's HERE.

Have a fun day!

Aged Metal Tape Hanging.

2011-07-12T01:04:00.000-07:00

This hanging is made from the metal tape you can get at the DIY shops (mine was acquired from my hubby, just hope he doesn't need any at work this week cos I still have the little bit that is left in my studio!)
I was watching a lovely lady on U Stream called RachO113 who gave me the idea for this piece.

The first layer is just the back board from an old pad of paper, to this you add chipboard words, die cuts, sequin waste whatever you want really.
Over this just add the metal tape in small pieces in a random patchwork way, it doesn't mater if some overlap. When completely covered go around each letter/embellishments with a paper stump and an embossing tool, along all the 'seams' of tape make 'stitch marks' with a pointy tool.
Cover the WHOLE thing in black acrylic paint, wait a few seconds then start to wipe off with tissue, the amount you wipe off is up to your own personal taste and the look you are going for.
When dry (this really doesn't take long at all) apply a couple of colours of rub and buff or inka gold to give it more depth and sand in places where you want to have the silver show through.

A little closer, you can just about see the 'stitching' in places. This is more prominent in real life as are the two colours of r&b and inka gold (blue and green) I used.
I didn't have an ornate die cut (top and bottom) so I used a brought felt border (which I cut through the middle) although it was a bit 'squidgy' under the metal tape it gives a wrought iron look that has been painted a lot over the years, cool!

WOYWW

2011-07-05T23:40:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday again! This is my desk for this week! I have been quite busy! The 2 things on my desk are not finished yet!

This 'book' started life as a carrier bag (snaffled from my daughter while helping her move at the weekend, 'what do you want that tatty old thing for Mum?') well thats why! Inside (I'll share when it is finished) are pages and pockets waiting to be worked on.

I thought I would share (rather shamefully) my ribbons, large basket full of reels and cards and a massive bundle of messy gorgeous ribbons! I have tried to sort them and as soon as I use any this is what happens! I have seen some of how you store your ribbons but for me this works, not pretty but I am a rummager!

If you want to see more desks or put me to shame showing how you store your ribbons beautifully then pop over to Julias HERE.

Have a great WOYWW and thanks for coming to see me!

WOYWW

2011-06-29T00:36:00.000-07:00

This is my workspace for this week! I have been quite busy (see post below too) this last week, the door stamp is still on my desk, I think I will make something for my daughter who is moving out of her 'rooms' at Uni into a shared house this weekend, not sure what yet but I think the door stamp may have to be used!

Here is a closer look at something I made with it.

And a tag I made using some alphabet stamps from Dunelm which were only 99p a set!

Well thats my desk for this week, why not pop over to Julias HERE to see some more or to join in!

Thanks for looking.

A Page in my Journal and A Book for Quotes and Sayings.

2011-06-28T02:40:00.000-07:00

I found this stamp by Darkroom Door and fell in love with it! I love doors, doorways and gates (not sure why does that make me weird?) Anyway I thought I would do a journal page with it and this is what I came up with.
The door is stamped onto tissue paper (each door is painted a different colour using Claudine Helmuths paints while these were drying I put some white gesso onto the pages in my journal dried with a heat gun and added some butterscotch paint dabber with an old credit card.
The house numbers are from Tims bingo embossing folder (silver tape onto card, embossed and painted, left about 30 secs and wiped with a tissue).
The tissue doors were applied with multi medium (under and over the top).
The words are stamped straight onto the page with PSX pixie alphabet stamps.
I love to write down quotes to use on my work. So I thought I would make a book to put them all in!
The covers are covered chip board (patterned paper from K and Co covered in white gesso and ink) the clock is a Tim embossing folder (sprayed with colourwash and cosmic shimmers in blues/turquoise, the stamp is from Creative Expressions, the flowers are Prima hydrangers sprayed with the same sprays as before and lots of bling and beads too!

All the pages are sprayed with the same colourwash and cosmic shimmers as before.

Each has some saying or quotes added either on tags, directly to the page, some are hand written, some on the computer (on Saffmat), some are stamped.

There is still lots of room to add more!

All sorts of bits will be added as I add more quotes/sayings.

All the main pages have tabs on the sides.

Some will have pockets to hold things too.

And lots of the tags can be moved to reveal other quotes underneath!

I had lots of fun making this and everytime I find another quote/saying I will add it to the book!

Thanks for popping by and having a look!

WOYWW this week?

2011-06-21T23:40:00.000-07:00

This is my desk for this week, not much different from any other week apart from what I am working on at the moment, which is a book which is going to have pockets for tags with quotes on (I think if I don't change my mind).

Also for the last week I have done quite a lot of knitting!

When I went to our local carboot a couple of weeks ago I found some wool the lovely lady almost pleaded with me to buy it, 'You can have the whole lot of £1' she said. There was 2 carrier bags crammed full, well I didn't really want all that but I thought 'Oh what the heck' and payed her a quid. This was on the Sunday by Thursday I had finished the above throw and made 3 cushions! I think I have caught the knitting bug!

I still have loads more wool and I am just finishing another cushion for the swing chair in the garden.

So whats on your desk this week and what else have you been up to?

If you want to share some more desks click HERE and you will wizz over to Julias the home of WOYWW!!!

Thanks for looking!

This Weeks WOYWW in Two Parts!

2011-06-15T00:21:00.001-07:00

This is my desk this week. Messy but productive!
I spent Friday last week sorting out my Dabbers, some were ok, some were very thick and needed water, some were dried up completely! I used the end of a paint brush to stir the ones I could and being a bit thrifty I wiped the paint onto card then swooshed over it with an old credit card and made some pretty grungy backgrounds!

There are a couple of them on this closer photo, (amazing there is a little space to work on)!

The finished results are further on into the post (the second part I think).

This tag and pocket was inspired by the man himself Tim Holtz! On his blog he said that ink only dries on glassine if you heat set it and something special happens (I'll not spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet)!

Well I tried it and this is what I made!

This is the tag inside the pocket, cream card swooshed with distress ink stain vintage photo and tumbled glass, the white is gesso swooshed on with a credit card and overstamped with a TH stamp and lots of flowers (sprayed with cosmic shimmers) ribbon (coloured with distress stains and screwed up and dried) and a mulitude of beads! The blue bead at the top of the tag is stamped with a little bird from a Crafty Individuals stamp.

This Weeks WOYWW! Part two!

2011-06-15T00:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry it is two parts Blogger wouldn't let me post all my photos on one post.
Tag is Tims crowded attic paper covered in distress stains. The house is Paper Artsy (stamped onto a couple of different printed background papers). Flowers are Prima sprayed with cosmic shimmers, ribbon coloured with distress stains as is the flower border.

A little 4x4 canvass still needs finishing!

This is one of the tags I made from the background papers I made when soting out my dabbers!

Not quite finished but getting there!

Another tag from background painty papers, just need a little finishing!

And another one!

Another one! This one I ran through the big shot in an embossing folder and swooshed an archival ink pad over it (the black bits). Added a couple of tickets and a game piece, not sure what else to add yet but I'm sure I'll think of something!

Here is the last tag for today! Another painty background, I toned down the colours a little with some distress ink (brushed cordroy) ran it through the BS in an embossing folder (umberella man) added archival to the raised area and quickly poured clear embossing powder and heated.

The words were done the same way.

If you are still awake after that enormous post (sorry) and you want to join in pop over to Julias blog and see whats going on!!!

Thanks for looking!

WOYWW

2011-06-08T00:30:00.001-07:00

What happened to last week, I missed it and I'm so sorry! I wanted to be here with everyone celebrating but it was not to be, my other half had different ideas, he decided to have a few days off work as a supprise! If I had known I would have at least scheduled my post!
Here is my desk for this week, hasn't really changed much apart from a couple of finished pieces and a couple of flowers. I didn't get into my studio much last week so I am making up for it this week!

Here is the small (4x4) canvas I made yesterday, it looks fine in real life but could I capture it in a photo, it must be the matt medium and the corner has a piece of mica over it, there is a blu feather under the mica. I really need lessons on taking photos!

If you want to see more desks (with much better photograghy) pop over to Julias blog.

Thanks for looking!

Butterfly Girl and a couple of tags.

2011-06-07T02:10:00.000-07:00

Butterfly girl.
This piece just grew from the frame, I had wanted to do something with this frame for a while and yesterday I got it out and gessoed it while I was waiting for it to dry I sort of tidied my desk a bit as you do and I found the piece of glass which is now her head (it is the front of a spotlight bulb which fell off when it blew).
Her face is part of a collage stamp (the same one which is stamped on the frame) which I stamped onto paper using black Archival and attached to the glass with Matt medium making sure there was no air bubbles.
Next I stamped the frame and blasted it with a heat gun and applied distress crackle in rock candy and left to dry.
While waiting I made a collage for the inner panel of the frame from the left over bits when I stamped the face. This I adhered when the crackle paint was dry, I applied a coat of vintage photo distress to the frame to allow the crackle to show through.
Next I cut out 5 butterflies from some TH Kraft resist paper (does anyone else have trouble cutting up paper? I am really glad there are 3 of each sheet in this book, makes it sooo much easier to cut one up!!) These were coloured with distress stains in various colours, some I added some spritzed on perfect pearls (blue).
The largest was attached to the face and the smallest to the inner frame using some acetate. The other 3 I attached to some wire I had added to the candle stick (which was painted with gesso and some tissue tape added around the middle. The flowers are a die cut from Sizzix made from scrap paper.
Everything was attached with Pinflair glue.

The background of this tag is a piece of TH crowded attic paper (the one with the paper pattern on it) the model is Tims stamp, I coloured it with disress ink.
The 'buttons' are a piece of embossed paper I have had for years (and haven't been able to cut into it before now) they look so real!

This tag isn't really finished yet it was just an experiment to see if you could use othe ink pads instead of Stayzon as I only have a black one. I think it is called the bandana technique. I used Adirondack ink pads (they look more vibrant in real life) and cut and dry foam.

Iwas quite pleased with the result cos now I don't need to buy more ink pads!

Well thats it for now, I do have lots more to show but my camera needs new batteries and of course none of the rechagable batteries are charged!

Thanks for looking.

WOYWW Wk 103

2011-05-24T14:45:00.000-07:00

This my desk for this week I have a little bit more space to work in! I tidied and swaped things around a little so now my work area is a little wider (not any deeper though)!
Just a couple of tags I am making on there at the moment, the green one LETTERS came about because I was thinking about how long it has been since I sat and wrote a letter to someone, I really can't remember!
The background is Tims craft resist, covered in distress stains and stamped within an inch of its life with script and nibs and inkbottles!
A few pieces of tissue tape, a bottle top and a nib from Tim.
The other tags have been cut from Tims Crowded Attic and are waiting to be attacked!

Sorry about the rubbish photo I took about 10 and this is the best!
I wanted to share because the background is just some scrap paper I put on my desk when I was spraying with Adirondack colourwash sprays and some other sprays, I just added an alphabet stencil and sequin waste, (which I sprayed through too) and a couple of scraps of paper and a birdie!
Well that's me for this week to join in and see some more desks pop over to Julias blog!

3 Tags.

2011-05-05T08:04:00.000-07:00

This tags background is the scrap paper I used to protect my desk while I was spraying some other backgrounds, it came out rather nice so I made this tag!
It had a couple of numbers on it (from cleaning a stamp) so I added more! Tissue tape, Tim bingo card, admission ticket and measuring tape oh and some grungeboard letter (painted with gesso, dried and stamped with more numbers) were addedand to finish a cotton ribbon dyed with cosmic shimmer and stamped with even MORE numbers!

This was made with one of the backgrounds I was spraying with cosmic shimmers (blue,purple and a little green) when dried I stamped a Crafty Indiviuals 'Friends' stamp on it and embossed in clear. The girls arm in arm is another CI stamp, I used vintage photo distress ink, dried with a heat gun and blended a little linen and dusty concord around it and added some messy cosmic shimmer blobs and circles. More cotton ribbon dyed with the same shimmer mist.

Silver tape adhered to card, cut into tag and embossed twice with Tims texture fades, alcohol inks in pitch and a purple one dribbled over, some script in the right corner (heat embossed). Man is CI stamped in archival. The book plate is from Tim (comes on the tag die) attached with foam tape.

That's it from me today!
Thanks for looking!

WOYWW Wk 100

2011-05-04T00:35:00.000-07:00

Well it's Wednesday again! Happy 100th WOYWW!!!!
They come round so quickly don't they? Not sure what happened to last Wednesday!
Well as you can see my desk this week contains lots of 'stuff' half finished!
This last week has been full of only half ideas! Oh well never mind maybe the rest of the week will bring the 'other half'!

A closer look of my 'almost finished' box just one more little cubby hole to fill!
If you would like to see more workspaces pop over to Julias blog and feast your eyes on all the lovely desks there!
Hope to see you all next week!

Car Boot Finds!

2011-04-26T06:49:00.000-07:00

At our local car boot on Easter Monday I was lucky to find these things!
The Lotto is a complete set and was only 50p!
The tin is packed with wooden cotton reels, ribbon, buttons, cord, lace and a whole reel of white egg shell ribbon (which does the same as Tims ribbon ie takes ink and stays crinkled).
The round things are drawer/door handles (about 25 for £1).
And the book is beautiful! It is about the hand drawn/painted postcards/letters a grandad (Sir Henry Thornhill) has sent to his grandchildren from 1914 -1923, it has so many lovely pics in it, a bargain at £1!
Just need to make something with them now!
I'm not going to cut up the book by the way! (I had such a telling off from my 7yr old grandson when he saw what I had done to the othe book! (allthough he did say he liked what I had done, I had to make a pinky promise I would NOT cut this one up!) So I wouldn't dare, not that I was going to anyway!!!

WOYWW Wk 98 & A Car Boot Find.

2011-04-19T23:55:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday I braved the local car boot and found this book for a quid! Mmm I thought I could do something with that!
It took me 'til Tuesday to wrestle with my conscience (I love books and I have got this book tucked away in a cupboard!) because what I had in mind was to 'gut' most of the pages and paint and 'play' about with the ones that I left in. I got my knife and ruler out quite a few time and then put them away again before I finally plucked up the courage to take out all but 24 pages!
Then I set about changing the cover! I had seen a Utube video earlier that I really liked the look of, using pieces of metal tape pieced together over a surface (with letters under) and then TSS wheels and other tools to decorate around the seams (I had done a similar technique with TSS metal on a mirror a while back).
Here is what it looked like.

And here is my desk for this week with the book on it after I had worked on it a bit more!
I went over the whole book with black gesso and wiped over it 'til I had taken most of it off, then when that was dry I added some Viva Inca gold in green.

The tag is an image transfer of a stone angel (the one my hubby took) (a photo of, not the whole thing!)

And a closer shot of the cover not sure if it is finished yet I may add a bit more paint/ ink and other stuff yet!

So whats on your desk today!

If you want to have a look at some more click HERE and you will find yourself at Julia's the home of WOYWW!

How very weird!!!!

2011-04-15T04:44:00.000-07:00

I have just noticed that all my WOYWW posts have a Tuesday date! How very weird! Come to think of it the time is always wrong at the end of my posts too. Most of them look like I post stuff during the night which I don't ever do. So how do you change the time/date on here, I wonder? Mmmm I am somewhat a techno phob so do I just leave it or do I risk messing everything up trying to sort it?

WOYWW Wk 97

2011-04-12T23:38:00.001-07:00

Why is there a big space (big for me) on my desk? Have a read of yesterdays post and you will find out!

A closer view of my configuration box, I have added butterflies to the fairy compartment and a little birdie in her flower nest, still lots to do though!

To have a look at some more desks pop over to Julia's blog by clicking HERE!

Thanks for looking and have a great WOYWW!!!

An Angel and A Tale of Woe!

2011-04-12T03:53:00.000-07:00

I know it's only Tuesday and I am showing a photo of my desk (but it is not the desk I am going to tell you about, but the box on the right) As you can see I have a box of metal flakes on my desk which is where my tale of woe starts. Yesterday afternoon I took the box out of drawer and placed on my desk as I was waiting for the glue to go tacky on the tag (the one on the top of the pile) I was making, I opened the box, with the tag in my hand I was about to place it in the box to cover the tacky area and.......................I knocked the WHOLE box off the desk, hitting my lap before it landed upside down on the floor! After the big cloud of flakes had settled and I could see again, I found there was I a big pile of metal flakes in my lap. And I'm thinking how on earth am I going to get all that back in the box (which I couldn't reach without leaning into the huge pile on my lap?) Well I won't bore you with all the details but it did take quite a while! Most of it is now safely back in the box but I think I shall be finding it for evermore!!! So just a word of warning for those of you who like me work in the smallest space possible, CLEAR SOME SPACE before you use metal flakes or embossing powder or pearl-ex or water! Oh yes I had done it all and have I learnt my lesson, probably not!!! Here is the Angel part. The background is a 4x6 board, gessoed, painted and spritzed then stamped (La Blanche) in black archival. The angel is a photo my other half took, just printed on paper (I applied some matt medium over it so it didn't smudge), the peddestal she is standing on is a stamp inked with white ink (the dewdrop ones) which I pressed into sculpty, cut out and baked. The wings are Sizzix (I fell in love with these) diecut then put through the Bigshot again in a Tim embossing folder then I rubbed over pearl dabber. So guess what I should be doing this afternoon? Tidying my desk! But I bet I get distracted as usual when I find something I haven't seen for a while oh well there's always tomorrow!!!!

Just a Few Tags!

2011-04-11T02:34:00.000-07:00

Over the last week or so I have made quite a few tags, all of them different, using lots of different themes, none that really 'go' together. Do you make 'collections' of tags, atcs etc or are you quite random? The first tag is the new Tim Holtz glassine paper, stamped, screwed up, then ironed. Tims roses were added to the bottom and a ribbon bow at the top. This one is a tag covered in printed paper a small ripped piece at the bottom and one of my birdies coloured in Aqua tones. And a little stamped crown.

This one is a brought tag coloured with distress stains, script stamp and the corner stamp (Tims) was stamped with distress stain. The Paper Artsy stamp at the botton was stamped onto tissue and applied to tag with modge podge. The house is encased inbetween two pieces of microscope glass, the edges were dipped into black molton ultra thick embossing enamal (in the melting pot). The words I found in an old book (not sure if you can see them clearly, they say 'Reaching the open door, she slammed it shut. As the door was closing she yelled out.')

This background is gessoed over using an old credit card, then a layer of distress inks (squidged onto craft mat and spritzed). One of my most favourite stamps is this dragonfly one which I stamped in black Archival. All I then added was some mica and some staples to hold it on.

I can't remember the last time I went to the beach! I think I must be missing it!

This tag I made yesterday while sitting in my garden with the sun beating down!

The background was gessoed in white, then spritzed with red, purple and bronze sprays (sorry I don't know make and real colours, I just grabbed a few mini misters that already had some colours decanted in them!) Everything dried really quickly (even for someone as impatient as me!) so no need for a heat gun! A couple of bits of old book were added.

The stamps used are from Crafty Individuals, the 'beach' flags are raised up with bits of 3d foam.

Well thats it for now, still haven't quite finished my configuration box, thank goodness I chose a small on to do, I am having trouble deciding what to put in the 5 little cubbie holes, lord knows how long it would take if I had chosen a larger one!

WOYWW Wk 96

2011-04-05T23:34:00.000-07:00

Where has the week gone? It's Wednesday again! So as you can see the desk is pretty clear! only cos I need the space for the configurations box I am working on ! Remember the pinky/lilac 'thing' that was on my desk last week? No? Well I'll tell you about it anyway! It is the blobby thing to the right of the pic, some pour and mold. Last week it was on the top of some glass. I was taking a mold of the glass knob which is on the top of one of my many storage jars/pots. If you look at the top of the configurations box you will see what it looks like! (at one point I didn't think it would release from the mold but as you can see it did!) I hope to be carrying one with the box today so hopefully it will be finished soon! Here it is a bit closer. If you want to join in and see more desks click HERE to go to Julia's place! Thanks for looking!

Another Birdie Page!

2011-04-05T01:20:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of messy fun making this page! The pages in my journal are quite thin so I always gesso before I do anything. When dry (I heat dry, I am not patient enough to wait!) I added pieces of book pages and a peice of invoice paper from 1938, such lovely thin paper! I then spritzed with some orange, yellow and red and copper sprays (sorry I don't know what make or colour, they were ones I decanted into mini misters ages ago and thought I had better just use them up!) I held the page up so they would run down. Heat dry again! Along the bottom is a stencil (well actually it is the backing to some sticky ribbon I had used way back) I used rusty hinge distress ink. Then I rummaged through my basket of bits and found some scraps of background paper I had made from papers I didn't really like! I drew flatened circles onto it and cut out so you can see the black line. The trunks are made in the same way. These were stuck to the background using a glue stick as was the birdie the words are stickers. Oh and the little tab on the right side is a piece of Tims ribbon which I coloured with the same red spray as I used on the background. (it was then I discovered this red was an Adirondack colour wash spray and it is permenant, I still have a hint of red on all my fingertips inspite of scrubbing with my big boys stuff which gets their hands clean after a hard days graft and doing all last night washing up and this mornings breakfast things!) Oh well I had fun and thats all that matters!

WOYWW Wk 95

2011-03-29T23:06:00.001-07:00

Well it's Wednesday again! Where do the other days between Wednesdays go? On my desk this week is a few of the things I got at the weekend and something I made with them! I also got Tims yummy papers Crowded attic and the resist kraft papers!

A closer look! The little glass 'thing' has mould and pour on the top.(I took the photo while waiting for it to set) I will share later on when I have made something from it!

These are little 'buttons' made with polymer clay baking in my melt pot! (the lid is only off to take the pic!)

And after 'cooking' I painted them black and put rub n buff (silver ones) and Inca gold (gold ones) over to pick up the detail.

This the flower (cut from Tims Tattered florals die) from the glassine paper, I love the old look it give when it is 'screwed up'.

This is the tag I made from all the things above!

So what's on your desk this week? It you want to see more pop over to Julia's blog and have a nosey! It's great fun!!!

WOYWW Wk 94

2011-03-23T01:02:00.001-07:00

Wednesday again! The weeks are just flying by!
On my desk this week is my journal and some more of the little birds that seem to have taken over my life at the moment! (I wish I could remember where I got the inspiration for these little chaps from but I really can't, I looked at so many books, blogs, websites, magazines over the last few weeks when I was feeling really poorly and couldn't drag myself to my studio to actually make anything!)
My journal is not something I share readily with anyone but yesterday I did blog the entry I did (it has one of my little birdies on it).
In this photo my desk looks quite calm.

This one shows a different story! I am back to just a small space to 'work' in again, looks like I will be tidying up before I start another project!

A closer look at the little birdies!

A journal covered in K&Co paper over stamped with a Paper Artsy swirl in black Archival ink. A little birdie coloured in reds and oranges, a ribbon attached on the back cover to close the journal and a shrink birdie and some beads at the bottom of the ribbon.

If you would like to see more desks pop over to Julia's at the Stamping Ground. Happy WOYWW!

I would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has visited my blog this week!

If I were a song......

2011-03-22T06:36:00.001-07:00

If I were a song I would be 'Blackbird' by The Beatles.

This song sums me up perfectly!

My eldest son has learnt to play it on the guitar just for me, (he played it for me on Sunday, this morning I heard it on 'Heartbeat', it seems everytime I hear it once I hear it several times, I think someone is trying to tell me something).

Everytime I hear it, it makes me smile, makes me sad or makes me cry. One day I WILL be able to 'mend my broken wings and learn to fly'!

So the song inspired me to do this page in my journal.

The background is black gesso swooshed on with an old credit card, dried and spritzed with a Tattered Angel bronze spray. The words I typed and printed. The white swirls are hand drawn with an Aquatone pencil as is the bird and crown.

Not a rubber stamp in sight!!!!

If you were a song which one would you be?

Look What I Recieved In The Post Today!!!

2011-03-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

I won this amazing piece of art from Dyan Reavely called Beetle Crusher Tim! How lucky am I?!!
Thank you so much Dyan!
To have a look at Dyans blog click on the link at the left hand side!

WOYWW Wk 93

2011-03-16T00:50:00.000-07:00

Hi WOYWWers! Not much been going on on my desk for the last couple of weeks, I have been feeling poorly, (sinus trouble and really bad migraines) but I am feeling much better and yesterday was the first day I felt like doing anything (shame it HAD to be sorting out and doing all the HW I hadn't been able to do).
The odd half hour I did sit at my desk I only managed a couple of things (none of them finished),
I did try a couple of image transfers (the skulls), stamped on a domino, and painted a few birds, oh and started a few ATC's but other than that nothing.

A close up of the pile of painted birds. I say painted they are coloured with Aquatone pencils and watered.

Dominoes, alcohol inked and stamped and the image transfered skull.

The skull domino and an atc with another image transfer skull.

A pile of unfinished atcs and a little book made from 1 sheet of 12x12 paper, instructions on Tim Holtz's blog (valentines book).

So that is it for this week, if you want to see more desks which are much more interesting than mine pop over to Julias Stamping Ground and feast your eyes on loads more!

WOYWW Wk 91

2011-03-02T00:41:00.001-08:00

Well it's Wednesday again so it is time for WOYWW! Pop over to Julia's to see what it is all about!
On my desk today is, well as you can see just a few un finished things that have been there a few weeks as I have to find my mojo again! It has gone awol! So another day of chores if I can't find it! (Any sugestions? All these chore days are getting me down!)
I usually just make a few background pages but I have so many I really need to do something with them!
Oh well, I hope you all have your mojos attached firmly to you and are creating wonderful art!
Hopefully I might have something to show next week!

A Tag

2011-02-10T00:19:00.000-08:00

I made this tag yesterday. I had one of those days. You know the ones. When you just can't think of anything to make. I just sat there in my room and stared at my desk for what seemed like hours. I reached for a tag, pushed play on my dvd player (it has the new Take That cd in it) turned it up loud and this is what came out!
Along the bottom is sticky backed silver tape which I ran through the Big Shot in one of Tims folders,then inked with a swoosh of black Archival, the left side has text paper (from an old book) which I gessoed and inked and stamped and masked and spritzed.
The diamond border is a free stamp from a Craft Stamper a long time ago, the stamped text is La Blanche.
The flowers are prima.
I am quite pleased with how it turned out!

WOYWW 88

2011-02-09T05:13:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday! So time for WOYWW! On my desk this week is my unfinished page for a journal page challenge on UK Stampers. It is nearly finished now (I had a little play while I was waiting for my silly internet to sort its self out so I could post this) I still need to put a photo on it but the only one I have is blured and in a scrapbook so I am thinking of scanning it and 'doing something' to it but not sure quite what yet!

A closer look at the page, the background was inspired by Liesbeth Fidder in this months Craft Stamper (pg 46), as we had to include masks/stencils I used sequin waste and the backing from a border sticker I kept cos I thought it would 'come in handy sometime'.

Hopefully I will finish it today and blog it tomorrow!

If you want to see more pop HERE to Julia's blog and see whats going on!

Journal Challenge.

2011-02-02T04:16:00.000-08:00

This weeks journal challenge on UK Stampers is Perfect Day.
The ingredients this week are 1 What is/ would be your perfect day?2 Include a picture on your page.3 Use some stamping on your page.
The background is the one from the post below.
The 'music tissue tape' I made by stamping onto tissue and ripping into strips and randomly pleating as I glued it down, the birds were stamped onto an old book page and coloured with distress ink and pencils, the moon I stamped onto card which I had painted with pearl dabber.
This is my page minus the picture as I don't have any ink left in my Picture Mate so I can't print the pic I wanted to use (and I know I won't be able to print it for a couple of weeks) so I thought I would share it unfinished rather than very late.
I also wanted to add some words in white pen (about my family) but my white pen didn't like the background at all, so they will have to wait too!

WOYWW 87

2011-02-02T00:30:00.000-08:00

Just a few things on my desk this week! A bit of mess and some backgrounds. I have really been in to making background this last week!

A bit of a closer look.

An almost finished tag, (just needs a few ribbons and a hole punched in the top).

This is the rest of the background from the tag above. I was inspired by this months Craft Stamper, Mixed Media Masterboard by Rachel Jackson (pg 74) to make a background on water colour paper!

This piece is going to be the background for this weeks Journal challenge on UK Stampers. I will blog later, when it is finished!

Another one inspired by Dyan Reavely (but this time I used stamps spritzed with water to stamp with instead of stencils) The white journey and the feathery bits are stamped with white ink.

This one is all stamped with water and water spritzed through sequin waste.

If you want to see more desks or join in go over to see Julia on her wonderful blog!

Been Messy again!

2011-01-28T07:07:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the naff photos! (These are SO much darker, richer, lusher in real life).
I have been playing again today! Dyan Reaveley showed on her blog a day or so ago a great technique so I thought I would have a go!
I don't have any of her Dylusions so I used Ranger Adirondack colour wash sprays instead.
Dyan explains it so well I am not going to.
But I did have great fun!
The only thing I did different was some inking through a stencil in a couple of places where I thought it needed it (the numbers on the right side and the dots under the set of masks)
On the next one I used it on the top set of masks, (the middle one didn't come out at all). I will try and get a better photo tomorrow!

Old Papers?

2011-01-26T07:50:00.001-08:00

Over on UK Stampers we have been talking about our old papers, do we still like/stroke them or if we have some that we really would never use what would we do with them?
Above are some of my papers that I know I would not use as they are (not that there is any thing wrong with them) so I decided to 'alter' them and here is the results!

Here are the papers in the same order after they have been inked, spritzed and screwed up!
Much more useable for my taste.

Here are the tags I made from them. (Silly me didn't put them in the same order) The 1st is paper no 3, 2nd tag is no 2. 3rd tag is no 5.

The 4th tag is no 6 paper and the 5th tag is no 1 paper.

You may have noticed that there are only 5 tags and 6 papers well I had a little accident with paper no 4 I spilt a cup of tea all over my desk when the phone rang and made me jump and the tag got completely ruined! Oh well never mind I had a fun afternoon!

WOYWW 86

2011-01-26T00:52:00.000-08:00

Wednesday is here again!
Well the desk has kept quite tidy this week (and I have used it every day!) Just the stuff that seems to 'live' on the desk with just a few extras! This is a work in progress. I had a great book for Christmas, Layered, Tattered and Stitched by Ruth Rae, it is so inspirational! Not sure what this will turn out as as yet (maybe a book or a hanging, mmm not sure yet), the background is a tag which I have distressed into an inch of it's life, I crumpled and soaked and spritzed and inked and stamped(Tims wings and text) and waxed it! The girl stamp is from The Queens Dresser Drawers and the quote is Tims 'it's never too late to find out who you want to be' which I stamped onto silver tape/card, around the edge I used a TSS wheel.
If you want to see more desks click HERE to be transported to Julia's blog!

Weekly Journal Challenge. 4

2011-01-24T05:53:00.000-08:00

This weeks Journal Challenge on UK Stampers Efemera set us the challenge of remembering the sweets we used to love when we were little, (such a long time ago!) The 'recipe' was 5 kinds of sweets, where we brought them and a wrapper (I didn't have one so I cheated).
Well the only stamping that went on this week was words around the edges, the title and the stamping of my feet when I was trying to remember the names of some of the sweets that I shared some happy moments with!
The Kalli Fish cut free hand from card I had painted as near to the colours as I remember and then applied rock candy over the top. When dry I used pencils to add details. The paper bag was also cut free hand.
The jar I cut from acetate, black card for the lid, the sherbet painted and just a smudge of glitter.
The Mo-Jo wrapper (I didn't have a REAL one so I made one from paper (I melted wax over it cos thats what the felt like).
The background paper is some HOTP paper from way back (baby I think, it has tiny hearts on it in pastel shades), after everything was adhered to it I went around the shapes with aqua colour pencils and a water brush, I also coloured over the 'sweets' in the same colours.

What sweets can you remember from your childhood? Did you have Kalli fish or Mo-Jo's? I think every body had rainbow sherbet, did you eat it by sticking your finger in the bag about a hundred times, leaving a lovely stained finger and a sore tongue when you had finished?
Can you remember Spangles, Sugar Mice, Opal Mints and when Starburst were called Opal Fruits and tasted oh so nicer than they do now?
Most of my sweets were brought on the way to or home from school from a lovely little shop called 'The Coffee Tavern' have no idea why it was called that though maybe it was a cafe before I went in there!
So many memories........ can you imagine how much 8 chews (which I got for 1 old penny) would cost these days?

Memo Pad/ Shopping Lists

2011-01-24T05:46:00.000-08:00

I made this clip thingy to go in my pantry to jot down any items needing replacing.
A wooden peg painted is the clip and I attached a few bits to it using silicon glue!

WOYWW.

2011-01-18T23:44:00.001-08:00

WOW look at all that space!!! Yes I have a bigger (than a 6 inch square) place to create! It is so nice to be able to spr e a d out a bit! So after I had tidied up I had a littl play (well it would be rude not to now I have the space)! If you want to see more or show us your desk pop over to see Julia on her blog!

Just a couple of creations using distress inks and the 'bleaching out' method and using distress inks to 'water colour' parts of it.

A couple of tags!

And a canvas.

Lots of paint, aqua crayons and ink for the background. A wooden heart, grunge paper rose, glass adornment, texture paint, mica, tissue tape and a couple of stickers!

My Heart Nuts.

2011-01-18T23:38:00.000-08:00

Remember my heart nuts? Well I have finally filled them with glossy accents, (I let them dry out for a few weeks) and have made one of them into a pendant!

Weekly Journal Challenge.

2011-01-17T03:48:00.000-08:00

This weeks journal challenge from Efemera on UK Stampers is School days. The 'recipe' for this week is 10 random things, use lined paper, add ink blots and doodle in the margin.
Well here is mine!
I did get that comment from some of the teachers, yes I did get ink spodges and smudges on my pages and yes I really did fall over during a fashion show wearing a very short pinafore dress I had made and yes it was in front of the hottest boy in the school and yes I did go very red when he helped me up!
Those were the days!

This the front of my journal, it's not quite finished, its too 'clean' for me but I am sure it won't remain that way for much longer!!!

Here is last weeks. The Best and Worst gift. The 'recipe' recycled packaging, made background.

WOYWW

2011-01-05T00:54:00.000-08:00

Wednesday has rolled around again! This is my desk this week! Not much room to work (as usual) but at least it is all easy to move!
In the little coloured plastic boxes are all my jump rings, eye pins and flathead pins etc (got them for 44p each from hobbycraft).

Ok I tried to get in the whole run of one wall but my room is not wide enough for me to be able to. On the other end of my desk (left) is a stack of 'cubes' (3 in total 1 for papers (in storage folders that havent seen the light of day for a few years! 1 book shelf and 1 cupboard full of 'blanks' books, tins, anything naked) on top of the cubes is a stack of paper which I use.

Desk is in the middle, then my dresser which is full of made projects and a bit of an overflow of pencils in cups, in the drawers and cupboards there is more stash!

Go over to Julia's place at The Stamping Ground Blog and show us your work space!

Strange?

2011-01-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

But true!
I cut open this pepper and inside was a baby attached to the inside! I have never seen this before so I had to share!

And the next day I cracked open a wallnut and there was this heart!

Sorry about the rubbish photos but I wanted to share!

Weekly Journal Challenge.

2011-01-04T04:02:00.000-08:00

This is my first Weekly Journal Challenge page. Over on UK StampersUKStamper Efemera has set us a weekly challenge to make a journal page using a 'recipie'. This week it was to make a background, list 3 goals for 2011 and use a photo. Here is the link UKStampers art journal challenge .
Not sure I will be able to keep my goals but I will do my best.

WOYWW wk 80

2010-12-15T01:18:00.000-08:00

Wednesday is here again!
My desk is still in Tim mode, I haven't put away my Tim bits yet!
I know I said I wasn't making Christmas cards this year but I though I might make just a few!
So that is what I will be doing later today.
If you want to see more desks pop over to Julia's blog and you will find more!

Yippeee!

2010-12-13T06:06:00.000-08:00

The postman has just been!!!!! AH I am so excited!!!!

Inside the jiffy was a parcel!!!

This is what was in there. Oh my goodness!! What a wonderful prize!!!!! I don't have any of these at all!!!!

I know what I'll be doing for the rest of the afternoon!!!!!
Thank you Tim and Mario!

Tims Christmas Tag #11 &12

2010-12-13T04:24:00.000-08:00

Here are my last two tags!
#12 proved difficult as I didn't have anything!
So I have used what I had. I made the bauble and pine cones. The background and the stamp are Crafty Individuals, the corners and letters are WRMK.

I didn't have anything the same for this tag either!
The tree is hand cut, the background stamp is from La Blanche, the plaque is made from a plate and two corners and I didn't have the believe tag so I used stickers!
I have really enjoyed making these!
What am I going to do now they are all finished!

Tims Christmas Tag #10

2010-12-10T02:41:00.001-08:00

This tag was so hard to photograph! So apologies fo the rubbish photo (this was the best of many)!

Well I didn't have the snowman so once again I had to cut my own! I didn't have the snowflake embossing folder either so I used a swirly one, I used eyelets instead of washers and brads (I haven't used eyelets for yonks) didn't have the charm at the top either so this is a WRMM big brad (with the back squished) and hung from the ribbon with a chain.

Tims Christmas Tag #9

2010-12-09T03:25:00.001-08:00

Tag #9 is finished!
I don't have the rosette die so I had a go at making that this morning, didn't turn out too bad!
I used vintage market letter as they're the only ones I have! As they are larger I couldn't fit as many pretty bits on (which is a good job cos I am running out of them).
Also I didn't put glossy accents over the letter as I am running out of that too!

Tims Christmas Tag #8

2010-12-08T04:14:00.001-08:00

Well for todays tag I only had the distress inks and the tiny atacher!
No clock face so I used the clock mask instead (I don't have the santa mask either), nor do I have the houses di so these I cut free hand. My swirly stamp is from La Blanche. The banner is hand writen (I really like that dymo tape one though).
I thought I had a lot of Tims things but it seems not!!!

Tims Christmas Tag #7

2010-12-07T05:48:00.000-08:00

Here's tag #7!

I used a different embossing folder (I don't have the bark one) and sticky letters and also I didn't have the little dangly thing with 25 in it so I used a paper clip on that I have had for ages (I think it may have been free with a magazine once). Apart from that all techniques are the same as Tim's.

I had a little trouble with my sprays especially the red one this morning, I got it everywhere so I am now sporting love red fingers/nails!

Tims Christmas Tag #6

2010-12-06T03:37:00.001-08:00

Another tag with more improvising!

I didn't have the tree embossing folder so I hand cut some trees and adhered them to my background tag, the deer I had to draw and cut from grunge paper, the plaque was made, the tissue paper (one of the ones I don't have is the music one) was stamped and glued, the wreath I made from scraps of hand made paper, frilled and wound around some wire.

All the techniques are Tim's.

Well we are half way through and I am loving making these!

Can't wait for tomorrow!!!

Tims Christmas Tag #5

2010-12-06T03:32:00.000-08:00

It is easier to say what I had for this one! I had the right coloured distress inks and the 2 and 5 and that was it!!!
So everything else is either different or made.

Tag #4

2010-12-06T03:22:00.000-08:00

Lots of improvising on this tag too!
I don't have Tim's pad with the Christmas papers in (sad face here) so I used a stamp instead! Santa was stamped onto tissue paper and coloured from the back with crayons and his beard was painted with snow cap dabber (using my finger) this was left to dry.
The background paper is from Crafty Individuals Christmas backing papers 6x6 pad.
Santa was adhered to this with a glue stick.
then I added bling and ribbons as Tim has instructed on his blog!

I am SO excited!!!!!

2010-12-06T00:54:00.000-08:00

I AM SO EXCITED!!! My comment has been 'picked' on Tim's 12 days of Christmas!
Have had my conformation e-mail from Mario and a prize is on it 's way in the morning (their time).
I NEVER usually win anything, so I am SO excited!!!!

Off to make today tag and then I will blog Sat, Suns and today.

Tims Christmas Tag #3

2010-12-03T03:25:00.000-08:00

Here is my #3 tag!
Would you believe it I don't have a red alcohol ink!!!!!
The 'branch' I used is from La Blanche, the little 'poster' is part of a stamp from Crafty Indiviuals.
The lace I coloured using bundled sage distress ink, my 'tinsel' is eyelash fibre sprayed with Adirondack colourwash spray lettuce, (another compromise), I did have tissue tape so I made the flower!

Tim Tag #2

2010-12-02T03:27:00.001-08:00

So here is my Tim tag #2.
All the same techniques but none of the same stamps. To see Tims and get the instructions go over to his blog.
The bird stamp I used is from Crafty Individuals, the flourish is from La Blanche, I did use Tims dotty stamp too (I do have some of Tims things, honest, just not the right ones for these tags it seems!)
The 'Merry Christmas' is alphabet stickers coloured with barn door distress ink.
I used some pearls and glass beads for the embelishment and some ribbons to finish off.

Just Typical!

2010-12-02T03:12:00.000-08:00

I only used this georgous birdy from Tim Holtz yesterday on this pendant I made! Then I find out this morning Tim has used it on his #2 Christmas tag! (Another improvise come on then!)
The pendant is one of the wooden hearts I have been making Christmas decs from (I pulled out the string and added an 'eye' screwy thingy in the top). Stamped a flourish from Paper Artsy in black archival on the left side and added the bird and the flower with silicon, the key is just free on the throng.
Attached on the bottom with another 'eye' thingy is 3 small and 1 larger crystal beads.
Around the edge of the heart I rubbed a small amount of Incagold in green.

Tims Christmas Tag #1

2010-12-02T00:03:00.000-08:00

Here is my tag!
I don't have the house die or the picket fence die from Tim so I cut my own.
the house was just cut free hand in grunge paper and the fence is wood veneer cut into pieces and assembled using glossy accents and painted with dabbers and glittered. I also made the wreath from hand made paper and the berries are Claudines Studio paints (red) blobbed on with a ball embossing tip.

It's Wednesday Again!

2010-11-17T01:06:00.000-08:00

This is my desk this week, not much on it eh? Not much different to last week, just a few more 'Christmas hearts' and some tissue!
Last week someone dared me to show all my desk as I usually only show the work area bit so here it is!

As I said last week it is a total mess! Everything I have used gets shoved to the side which is why I only have such a small space to work in! Even under the desk is full of boxes and papers (mostly all the things I use regularly) so they are there on hand ready and waiting for me.
I have tried to be tidy and it just doesn't work for me, I'd spend half my time just looking for what I wanted if I put everything away!

Here is how my wreath (inspired by Leandra in her article in Craft Stamper) It looks a lot brighter in real life! All the flowers are made from metal,corrigated card, cream card and accetate all stamped, grunged, painted and stuck to the circle with silicon glue!

I also 'tarted' up my pantry this weekend. It really needed it and now I have freed up 1 whole cupboard and 1 shelf in another to squirrel away 'goodies' ready for Chirstmas!

If you want to see more desks pop on over to Julia's, just click here.

Happy Wednesday!

WOYWW

2010-11-10T00:54:00.000-08:00

This is whats on my desk this week! I found some georgous wooden hearts at a local garden centre at the weekend (yes I went out, yay!).
So instead of making christmas cards this year for my family I am going to give them a decorated heart! Also on my desk (which looks quite tidy in the photo but don't be fooled you can only see a little bit of it and the rest is.. well.. very messy!) is some of my new Tim stash given to me by my hubby for my birthday (I aslo had some stamps and some aquatones from my lovely son and lots of non crafty things to!)

A closer look at the hearts 2 christmas ones and 2 birthday ones. The little flower at the bottom is a sizzix bigz die (comes as a flat flower which is cut spiraled and you form the flower by rolling it around a paint brush or kebab stick).
If you want to see more desks or join in then hop over to Julia's blog here.

WOYWW this week

2010-11-03T01:13:00.000-07:00

Well I don't know where the last week went! (well I do, grandkids off school, hubby off work so there was no chance of doing anything crafty, well not for me anyway)!
So I am making up for it this week!
Although not much has changed on my desk, there are a few flowers appearing here and there! I was rather taken with Leandra's (from Paper Artsy) wreath in this months Craft Stamper. I won't say too much so I don't spoil it for those of you who haven't got your copy yet!
So I have decided to make my own version of it! Here is a closer look of my flowers.

I need lots more yet!

Anyway to see more desks click here to be transported over to Julia's place!

WOYWW

2010-10-20T01:02:00.000-07:00

Well it's Wednesday again! My desk is still a mess, I could make excuses, (have had a horrible cold, time's flown by again, been too busy) but I won't. All of those are true but I could have found time to tidy if I had wanted to, I just couldn't be bothered!
And the only things I have made this week is a birthday card for my sis and an anniversary card for my hubbie and the charm that is still on my desk! Not a very productive week at all!
The box on my desk is another carboot find (you must think I spend all my time at carboots but you would be wrong! I suffer from agrophobia and I don't go out very often, during the last 10 months I have been out about 30 times which is LOADS for me, I have been lucky that my 5 visits to the carboot have been very rewarding finding brilliant stuff everytime!)
Anyway the box has been lined with Tim Holtz papers and the top has Tensecond studio metal on it and is filled with lots of 'bits' (Tim's and other things like Mica, keys, wire, cork and lots of other things) which I sometimes have trouble using cos I like them! Does everyone have trouble using the pretty little things you buy/find? Or is it just me?

A closer look in the box!

The lid of the box. A collage of different plates from Tensecond studio and Sizzix and the centre is a stamp.

The finished piece. A book plate with paper and acetate, corner, flower brad, jump rings, beads and a key all attached together with glossy accents.

To see more desks go over to Julia's WOYWW here.

Printers Tray.

2010-10-13T04:01:00.000-07:00

I found this printers tray at our local carboot for just a couple of quid a few weeks ago and couldn't resist it!
I have been making little pieces of art for it ever since (they are just proped in there at the moment, they will probably be moved around a lot till they find their final resting place).

Here are a couple of closer pics.

There is still a long way to go but one day it WILL be full!

WOYWW

2010-10-13T03:46:00.000-07:00

Wednesday is here again! Not much going on this week just a few backgrounds made with my new Tim Holtz embossing folders, apart from that not much is different on the desk this week!
If you want to share yours or see more desks click here to be transported to Julia's place.

WOYWW Wk 60

2010-10-05T23:39:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday! time to show your workdesk over at Woyww! CLICK HERE to join in in the fun! Here is my desk this week quite tidy for me! Only cos I forgot to take a photo before I started to tidy up!

A closer shot! Mmm something extra has appeared!

Must get some more silicon glue, not much left in that one and when I went to use it I found the lid had split and the glue had dried in the top! Every silicon I have brought has had something happen to the lid, they either split or the end (where the peircing bit is) falls out, is it just me or does this happen to everyone?

Well happy Wednesday everyone!

Home Sweet Home.

2010-10-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

This was a box frame found at our local carboot, which I took apart cos I just wanted the 'box' bit.
The inside was painted with white gesso, (the outside I left because it was a light wood and I wanted the wood grain to show through the finished piece) the two outside sides were painted with distress crackle paint in frayed burlap and left to dry. The front edges were swooshed with expresso dabber paint.
The inside back wall is 6 inchies adhered to a piece of card painted with black gesso and inbetween each inchie I scribbled lines with coloured pencils.
The nest is made from wire, inside I put a flower and the bird is one I have had for years. (These were all stuck together with silicon.)

A Little bit of Hocus Pocus!

2010-10-05T04:56:00.000-07:00

A 6x4 card swooshed with black gesso, stamped background (Judikins) in versamark and seafoam white embossing powder.
The 'witches' are printed on photo paper from a Tuscan Rose cd (they were actually skipping in the photo) witches hats cut from white card and coloured black as was the cauldron, the 'flames' are a scrap of fantasy film.
Letters are cut from Tims vintage market die.

Journal page Just a number.

2010-10-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

I don't usually share my journal pages cos most of them are sort of personal to me and my life. Although this one is in reference to all the birthdays we have in this family during the next 2 months I loved how the background worked out so I thought I would share it!
I have been making lots of backgrounds using lots of 'bits' from my un-used scraps of stuff I have made and not finished!
So the background is made from scraps of paper, card, embossed card (tims folders) all stuck to the pages with glue stick, washed over with watered down gesso and coloured with paint in places and dried.
Distress ink in frayed burlap was smooched around in places.
7 Gypsies tape, sticky numbers, stamps, stencils, rub ons and small pieces of corrigated card were added.
Black pit pen doodles and coloured pencils were added.
Lastly a little boy sitting on a table from a vintage image cd from Tuscan Rose, with added wings and a crown.
I had a lot of fun making this and my 'bit' box is getting used up too!

2 small canvas boards.

2010-09-30T01:45:00.000-07:00

Lots of paint splodged onto a canvas board. Dots are dimentional paste through sequin waste. Angels body is Tims stencil pieces (I ran the actual stensils through the big shot onto TSS metal, squiggled around the letters and then sanded) these were adhered to some card the head is a small round mirror with a rub on face (La Blanche) I left a small piece of the mirror showing at the top to create a 'halo' effect. The wings and crown has been cut from card with silver tape on top from a Spellbinders die set. The angel was attached to the board with silicon glue.

This board has lots of 'bits' stuck to it before painting (Tims texture folders and papers) the paint is Claudine Helmouths in various colours (red, orange, white and yellow) When dry I swished a black archival pad across the textured parts. The bird is from Crafty Individuals and the crown is as before. The stamps are Paper Artsy.

Wednesday 29th Sept

2010-09-29T01:26:00.000-07:00

Here is my desk this week. Lots of stuff on there this week. Had a little spend at the weekend! Only things I really needed of course! Needed wire, (had used all I had on the bird cages I have been making), needed book binding glue, more mini misters, a few fancy brads (crowns, fleur de lys and flowers) and some of Tims hangy things just fell into my basket and found their way to my desk, also a spellbinders die set with angel wings found its way too!

Just a bit of a close up.

Well thats my desk for this week, to see lots more go over to Julias and have a look at who's Woywwing this week.

WOYWW!!

2010-09-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

Wednesdays just seem to roll around so quickly! I really don't know where all the other days go!
Here is my desk for this week. Lots of wire on it, garden wire, it was soooo stiff to bend! I wanted to give my birdie a home, a cage with no door so she could fly out when ever she wanted.

A close up of the cage.

And here is my little birdie in her new home!

Go over to Julia's place click here if you want to see more desks!

WOYWW wk?

2010-08-25T01:27:00.000-07:00

How did a whole week go by without me noticing? Not much creating went on on my desk so I'm showing you one side of my room which I changed around to 'make more space' mmmm not sure that happened!
The wooden cubby holed thingy is a carboot find it's about 2' 6'' square and I will do something with it soon!
The cases are full of stuff I've either made or stuff that is waiting for me to do something with!

Lots of drawers (full but in need of sorting out now I have moved them).

The kitchen trolly thingy is my cutting station (not that you can see my guilletine cos it is covered in 'stuff'). I really need a sort out (but the trouble is I won't be able to find a thing if I move it!).

On the small chest of drawers (containing card, shrink plastic, acetate and any other stampable surface that is flat) is my dvd player and my ipod docking station (so I can listen to what ever takes my fancy at the time).

So thats mine for this week find more desks, drawers and other places where people create at 'The Stamping Ground' Thanks for looking!

Its WOYWW again!

2010-08-18T00:19:00.000-07:00

Wednesdays seen to come around so quickly! So what on my desk this week? Paper patern for a little birdie! I was a very lucky girl a few weeks ago, I received a lovely little boy birdie in the post from Efemera (see further down this post for a pic). Well he looked a little bit lonely so I decided to make him a friend! (there she is in the background) All I need to do now is find some wire for her legs and make her a swing so she can join him!

Here she is a little closer.

And here is the beautiful birdie from Efemera!

Click here'The Stamping Ground' to see more desks and to share yours!

My Little Book is finished!!

2010-08-12T02:59:00.000-07:00

This is the little book that was on my desk yesterday finished, (well I may add the odd saying or word or embelishment or tweek). Lots of metal, Tims stuff , Paper Artsy stamps and a few other makes in there!

Each tag has a word or saying stamped on the back.

It's Wednesday!!!

2010-08-11T00:48:00.000-07:00

Here is my desk for this week!

A few things going on this week, I have started making a small book (5x3'') using lots of Tim's stuff but more of that when it is finished! Other than that I have only made a tag and the dragonfly thingy standing up near the pink pot. This was made with the waste from the dragonfly on the tag and a piece of spritzed paper. So thats my desk for this week! Pop over to Julia's http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/to see more desks!

WOYWW WK 59

2010-07-21T02:05:00.000-07:00

Really messy desk this week, just mess nothing else, mess on , under and in (the drawers)!

Bad arthritis this week can't hold an inkpad or a stamp so not much art done this week! I hope all you who play along have had a better week than me. To share pop over to Julia's click here and show your creative space!

The Bunting Has Grown

2010-07-21T02:00:00.000-07:00

The bunting I am making has grown. Just by 4 tags though, not been a good week for me making anything as my athritis is really bad at the mo.

Here are the 4 new tags a little bigger!

Get the Bunting Out!

2010-07-15T01:26:00.000-07:00

Tags are now flags!
I decided to make bunting with my tags. These I shall add to when as I make more backgrounds from Tim's book Compendium of Curiosities.
Each of the tags have been mounted to the flag background, (which I cut from coloured card about an inch longer at the top to make a channel for the ribbon to go through) and stamped on the 'pointy' bit.
I will be hanging these in my studio for inspiration (some I shall write on the back of so I have a reference as to which technique was used).
As my bunting gets longer I will share with you here.

WOYWW Wk58

2010-07-13T23:43:00.000-07:00

Another week has flown by! This is what is on my desk this week. A few finished tags waiting for me to do something with them. What do you do with the tags that you make? Do you make tags? I like to use tags to 'try things out' but then what do I do with them, well usually I 'string' them all together into a tag book for reference but I would like to do something different this time. So any sugestions?
Here is a closer look at what is on there. A bit of a mess but never mind! Under the scissors are a few first goes with Tims new texture plates, I love these! Haven't acually done anything with them yet just ran them through the Big shot and added some distress inks to see the effect. I am going to play properly later today hopefully!

If you want to see more click here it will take you to Julia's The Stamping Ground where it all happens on a Wednesday!

And the Finished Art.

2010-07-13T02:32:00.000-07:00

Text stamp embossed in clear embossing powder and heated, barn door, lipstick and victorian lace distress inks applied over the top. The word 'heart' was done using the waste from Tims letters die and barn door distress ink.
The embelishment is a heart glued to an eco board (2x2) then paper adhered over the top , inked and stamped and 'love' hand writen in silver foil on card.

Stamp 'inked' with white (snow cap) dabber dried and distress over the top then wiped over with a damp tissue to remove distress ink from stamped area. The bird is encased in layers of tissue held together with wax. The 'sing' embelishment is made by adhering Tims letters (die) onto card cover with foil tape and decorating with TSS wheels and other tools.

Black embossed with blue dabber swiped over the top then the excess wiped away with a damp tissue. Tims film strip with La Blanche rub ons in the apertures, the 'journey' embelishment was made the same as before.

The bottom half is distress ink on a craftsheet and spritzed the top is embossed using a cuttle bug folder in the Big Shot and distress inks, the man stamp (Crafty Individuals) the crown and K embelishment is Grungeboard embossed in Tims 'Patchwork' embossing folder through the Big shot coloured with black soot distress ink and gold dabber (crown) and glossy accents (K and the club).

The distress ink on craft mat.

Stamped with black Archival ink with 2 of Tims stamps and a metal embelishment.

A Bit of a Background Play!

2010-07-13T02:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a bit of a play making some backgrounds from Tims Compendium of Curiosities.
These are what I came up with. A couple of distress ink on craft sheet and spritzed, stamping with water, clear embossing with distress ink over the top, stamping with Snow Cap dabber then distress ink over the top, black embossing with dabber paint swiped across it, distress ink stamped and perfect pearls over the top and embossed in an embossing folder and distressed.

'I Love You Fred'

2010-07-08T02:24:00.000-07:00

First I'll explain who Fred is. Fred was anyone in our family when I was little, my Mum, bless her was so bad at names she called us all Fred quite a lot, it was her way of not upsetting anyone because she had forgotten their name.
So this 'tag' only came about because when looking for a piece of paper to do the heart embelishment (Tim showed this on his blog a few days ago) I came across this piece, which brought this memory flooding back.
Firstly I cut a heart from grungeboard, this I attached to some card, using Claudines Multi Medium I adhered the book paper over the top taking care to 'mold' it around the heart. Leave to dry (or if you are me hit it with a heat gun!)
I cut a piece of sticky note to cover the words then applied broken china distress ink with an aplicator. This was then stamped with a Paper Artsy swirly stamp.
The background has been run though the Big Shot in an embossing folder twice (first with a caligraphy folder, this I inked with distress and then run it though the Big shot again in fleu d'lis embossing folder then inked this in another distress ink).
The bottom of the tag is an image transfer (the same as the tag in the last post).
The childern is a stamp from The Queens Dresser Drawers which I just cut the children out.