365 Art Calendar Challenge

Phew, that was a big job.  Only got my Pink Pig yesterday as my friend Pat had been all the way to Emiley to buy them to make sure we got them in time and what with the snow and me being away, we only managed to get together yesterday.  I gessoed the double spread, then used Claudine Hellmuth's paints in various colours, bit of stamping, bit of this, bit of that, and Bob's your uncle.  I must say that having now seen it, I will do February differently.  It's amazing isn't it how we are never satisfied and always feel we could have done better.  Anyway, ready to start tomorrow, although I may do a few more alterations until I'm happier with it.  This challenge is being run by the fabulously creative Kate Crane, you must take a look at her blog and of course the various publications her work appears.....even the good old USA!  Jill is doing a more sedate blog and she was the original inspiration, please take a look.  It's not too late for you to take part.  A Happy, Peaceful and Creative New Year to all of you out there in craft/blog land.

Magical......what Christmas is about

Last night we took our two granddaughters to a Nativity play where all the children dress up and take part, with actors doing the speaking bits.  It was nothing short of magical.  To see the children's faces, so intense as they listened to the story.  Lucie was Mary (and got to ride the donkey!) and Charlotte was the Angel Gabriel.

Mary with Joseph

All the children

At the end of the play the children were allowed to ride on the donkey and  cuddle the lambs.

Granddad, Charlotte and Lucie

At this point, the lambs were getting a bit fed up and by the time it was Charlottes turn, he just wouldn't keep still, so Granddad had to help restrain him, you can see the lamb here licking Charlotte, which she thought was hilarious.

And guess who arrived at the end..................

Better late than never

It was my birthday last Friday and I had some beautiful hand made cards from my creative friends, but I've been a bit off colour, so my apologies for not putting them on my blog before.  I was overwhelmed with the creativity and superb workmanship that has gone into them.

From l - r Ann (no blog), Lynne and Pat (no blog)

Jill (no blog)

Sandra, Sue and Mo (no blog)

Sarah (no blog), Pat and Chanelle.

Thank you all for taking the trouble,  I love them all and hope everyone enjoys looking at them.

Christmas Ornaments

I bought some little wooden blanks from Craft Den and decided to decorate them to put them on the tree.  I covered them with gesso, then transparent Viva Croco paint, allowed to dry overnight and then coated reverse sides, allowed to dry.  Sprayed them with various colours of glimmer mists and finished off with Viva precious metal colour in blackberry and turquoise.  These were difficult to photograph, you'll just have to believe me that colours are rich and catch in the light beautifully.

Well, off on my travels again, down my see my granddaughters in their respective Christmas Plays (not allowed to call them nativity!).  Charlotte is in the infants and she has the leading role, or so she tells me and Lucie is in the juniors and has the leading role in hers.  Obviously both talented and take after their Mama (that's me), only kidding, although I did used to be a thespian in my younger days and have actually appeared on the London stage (and not just sweeping up).

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC06

The challenge over at The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC06  was to use the colours green, light blue, dark blue and orange.  I have been given this stamp by my friend Pat for my birthday (which isn't for another couple of weeks), but hey ho how could I not resist using such a fantastic stamp from Stampotique Originals, I had to use it now!

It is difficult to photograph but it is an acetate card, stamped with a snowflake in white Stazon. I used the usual distress inks in spiced marmalade, peeled paint and edged in spiced marmalade.  The image is coloured with Copics, the ivy leaf is a Martha Stewart punch, then  edge it all with glamour dust.  All ingredients used available from Craft Den.

Card for Nancy

This is a card I made for my sister-in-law, who seems to like my style, so I'm sure she'll appreciate this one.  The background is Claudine Hellmutts sticky back canvas, painted with Claudine's acrylic paints, background stamped in black ink, flower and butterfly made out of grunge paper (what else?), glossy accents and Viva copper pen, Studio 490 stamps, coloured with distress inks, T!m's ticket attached with brads and mini attacher, wizzed round with sewing machine and all mounted on blue card.

Back from hols

Got back from Cuba yesterday morning after a long flight and have decided that I'm not doing any long haul flights for the next 12 months, mind you I say that every year.  Cuba is such a beautiful country, but oh so poor.  I've been to quite a few poor countries over the years, but I think, apart from the starving in Africa, that Cuba is quite the poorest.  Yet although the people don't have much, they are so genuine, fun loving, and generous.  We made some good friends and when we left they gave us lots of gifts to bring back home, we felt quite humbled.

Anyway, took my Moleskine journal and only did a couple of pages because I'm afraid the sun, sea and sand took priority.  This is the one I did on the plane going out, as usual the colours don't show too well, particularly the yellow, but I enjoyed doing it and will finish it  at some stage.

Had a couple of lovely surprises too.  I won first prize in the Readers Gallery in this months Craft Stamper and I also won the Gingersnap Creations challenge to use orange/green and brown.  I received two lovely Hero Arts stamps from Craft Stamper and from Gingersnap Creations I've won the Cornish Heritage Farms' Stamp of the Month, The Pines.  I'm really thrilled to bits.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to leave all the wonderful comments, it's very much appreciated.

Card for Sarah

This is a birthday card made for my friend Sarah.  Method:

Distressed ink background on cream cardstock, splashed with water.

Stamped in black with T!m's and 7 Gypsies stamps

Dandelion cut out of grunge paper on Cricut

Spiced marmalade distressed stickles on petals, orange button and gingham ribbon

Made ticket out of card and coloured with frayed burlap, stamped with Studio 490 stamp and then covered with rock candy, attached with mini fasteners

Machine stitched around edges
All materials used from stash or from Craft Den

Time and Tide wait for no one

Decided to enter The Play Date Cafe Challenge this week where you have to use the colours orange, yellow and chocolate.  Here's my entry and what I did:

1. Used an MDF arch which was cut out by my husband
2. Painted with Terra and whilst still wet stamped with PaperArtsy clocks stamp
3. When completely dry, coloured with acrylic paints, using Claudine Hellmutt's yellow and Blonde Moments orange, then went over with Viva copper paint
4. Edged in Espresso acrylic
5. Made the watch using copper metal and PaperArtsy Clocks 3 stamp
6. Cut wings out of grunge paper and inked with brushed corduroy

I enjoyed creating this on a very rainy, dark and windy Sunday morning.

Bean Tin

Loved the bean tins that Linda Elbourne has been doing so decided to have a go, but to use metal for the flowers etc. instead of grunge paper.  Covered the tin in copper metal, embossed on a TSS big daddy mould, sanded off tops of pattern.  I then made the embellishments using Wendy Vecchi stamps, which are absolutely fabulous, out of silver metal and then alcohol inked them with different colours.  Don't look too closely at the third photo because you can see the join, will have to find a way of overcoming that, but I have really enjoyed doing it and maybe will try again.

All products from Craft Den or my stash.

Birthday card

This is a card I've made for a friend whose birthday is next week, getting ahead of myself here!  Acrylic paint background, flowers and stem cut on Cricut out of grunge paper and over stamped with Wendy Vecchi stamps, painted with Adirondack inks, one of T!m's elements in middle.  I made the ticket, attached with mini staples and then put on a coat of Rock Candy.  Stamped side with pink Brilliance ink and added green velvet ricrac.

Gingersnap Creations Challenge

I've never entered a challenge, other than to swap ATC's, so decided to have a go at Gingersnap Creations challenge.  You have to create something using the colours orange, green, and brown. 

I made the background using acrylic dabbers, stamped with T!m's new stamps, I then cut 4 flowers on my Cricut out of grunge paper and stamped with Wendy Vecchi's stamps, as are the stem and leaves, they were then inked with distress inks.  I then stamped the leaf onto copper metal with Stazon, made a tape sandwich, used a scrunchy tool around the edge of the leaves, puffed them out and then decorated with little dots.  I've now just got to work out how to put it on their site with a link to mine.

All materials used are available from Craft Den.  

Wow, aren't I the lucky one!!!

I've just received a blogger award from the lovely Piddawinkle, and I am very honoured to receive it, so a big thanks and hugs.

The rules in accepting this award are:

1.  Thank the person who awarded it to you.

2.  Copy logo onto your blog.

3.  Link the person to your blog.

4.  Name seven things that no-one really knows about you.  Oh, I'm such an open book that everyone who knows me, knows all about me!  Here goes:

1.  I'm gadget mad

2.  I buy all the latest crafting goodie as soon as they come out (for too many for my own good really)

3.  I belong and go to a gym (yes, I know it's not working)

4.  I am quite a good dressmaker but don't do much these days

5.  I am quite good at table tennis, having spent every lunch time playing with my work colleagues on the post room table at my first job.

6.  I don't like olives, disgusting things

7.  I was very good at sprinting at school and won an award (and of course some races)

Phew that was difficult.

5.  Nominate 7 blogs for the award:

Lynne at Craft Den, for being such a lovely, generous, patient, and talented person and who puts up with us every week.

Chanelle who is a very talented girl but doesn't believe it, and she only started crafting a year ago

Pat another one who is talented but doesn't think she is, even with journalling!

Kate who is quite brilliant, does some amazing ATC's and journalling.

June at Dezinaworld who has some fantastic and inspiring digital images, plus an amazing blog.

Leandra at PaprArtsy because she shares her wonderful ideas, plus I had a fantastic weekend with her and Lin.

Dyan last but most certainly not least, she has been my inspiration during my journey into altered art and journalling.  She has  taught me so much and I will be forever grateful to her.

6.  Post a link to each blog

7.  Leave a comment on each blog telling them about the award.

Halloween Blog Candy

The lovely and talented Lynne, at Craft Den has got a super halloween blog candy give away, so take a peak and have a little loooooky.

Blog Candy

Go over to Linda's  blog where she's giving away some fantastic things, plus she's very creative and talented, so well worth taking time to browse her blog.

Dezinaworld Challenge

This is my entry for this months Dezinaworld Challenge, which is lace.  I made the background by painting white card with Moon Glow washes, I then used the same colour to paint a piece of hand made paper.  I randomly stamped the background and then stamped the image onto the hand made paper, edged with broken china, put lace on the bottom, sewing machine stitched around the image, attached one of T!m's philosophy tags with ribbon and a hat pin to card, finished off with 3 pearls.  In 'real life' the card looks much better and you can see all the shimmer showing through.

What a lovely way to spend a day

Had a lovely day today, at Dyan's, as usual.  It is so relaxing now I've got the hang of this journaling lark.  I can see now why Dy has bullied me into restarting it (no, she didn't bully me, she wouldn't bully anyone ;)  I did start at the beginning of the year and couldn't get on with it, but now, hey, I just love it.  Thanks for persevering with me Dy.  There were two new girls today, one was Olive who is doing the same Suzi Blu's Les Petite Dolls, as I am.  Now Olive is obviously much further along with the course than me, probably because I've only done the first lesson, and not bothered since, but Olive says she's going to keep on at me to make me do it!!! Dy has told her what I'm like and will go back to it later on.  Want to know the best thing about Olive......she brought a cake yeah.  I think she said it was a Horlicks cake, so Dy was hoping that it would make us quiet and not give her grief and that we would give her the respect she deserves.  Some hope!!!  However, the cake was fantastic, thanks Olive. Bring on the next class.

Craft Den October Challenge

This months challenge is halloween.  I can't see what all the fuss is about.  I just think it's something we've got from the USA.  When Adam was a lad we just had trick or treat and admittedly we did used to ring peoples door bells and then run away, and other such innocent tricks, but come on, all the big stores are selling halloween costumes for kids, plus all the paraphernalia which goes with it.  Do I really sound that old?  No, don't bother to answer that, I'm being a killjoy.

I embossed T!ms spiders web stamp with white embossing powder, stamped the Stamptique image (don't you just love them all) onto shrink plastic, printed off text from my computer, found a small spider stamp, machine stitched round edge, and hey, jobs a good 'en.

ATC swop

This ATC is, as usual, distress ink background, text stamp, T!m's cobweb stamp, little girl with doll image is from Dezinaworld, added a bit of doodling down one side and a metal rose.

Birthday card for a man again!!!!

It's my son's birthday and we are going to see him this weekend, so had to make a card.  Decided to try something different and came across the inchie card on Joanne Wardles blog, this is a take on her card.  I made the background with Adirondack acrylic dabbers in blues, greens and reds, then stamped various designs from The Open Road plate by The Artistic Stamper.  Cut into equal 1.1/2" squares, mounted on black card.  Made another background with the same colour acrylic dabbers and mounted the squares on this.  My son is obsessed with cycling, so thought it would be appropriate.  Decided not to put any more embellishments on, enough already.  Card and dabbers available from Craft Den.

ATC September Challenge

Only just managed to get this done this morning, cutting it a bit fine, the last day of the challenge at the Craft Den, is tomorrow, and the theme is Travel.  I had a great one in mind, but when I saw one of the other entrants, it was along the same idea that I had.  Serves me right for being so late, I shall do the October one straight away.

Background is distress inks, stamped with T!m's french writing, then overstamped with 'Paris' and clock stamps. Used travel queen image from Lisa's Altered Art, but typed my own title, put wings behind her.  Stamped a butterfly image onto shrink plastic, painted with water colours, shrunk it and then attached to atc with glossy accents. Distressed the edge and edged with walnut stain.

Wonderful Day

Had a wonderful day at AFTH today, Dy started showing us some different backgrounds which we haven't done before, and I love it.  In fact I loved everything about today, and am really fired up about journalling again.  The above double page isn't completed yet, still more colouring to do, but it was so relaxing and I just didn't want to leave.  

I was so pleased to be able to see Kate Crane's journal, take a look here to see all her wonderful artwork.  The journal is so touchy feely on the outside and what she's done on the inside it stunning.

Thanks Dy, had a fantastic day, and yes, you do look better with make ;).  As usual spent too much, booked on more workshops, so will spend even more money, oh well, can't take it with me.

Dezinaworld Challenge

Here is my entry for the September Dezinaworld Challenge, which you can see here.  I heard the record (do they still call them records???) on the radio the other day, 'I believe I can Fly' and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind.  So, this morning decided to do this little bit of art work.  It is Margot Fontayne dancing at the Royal Ballet.  I just loved to watch her dancing (on tv) and would have loved to have seen her dance live.

Third time lucky!

The last time I tried Fimo wasn't a great success so never bothered again, until this week.  I decided to make some buttons.  Prepared the Fimo, made the button shapes, stamped with a text stamp, looked on the back of the packet for the instructions re baking them.  Popped them in the oven for the said 30 mins and waited.  Went back in kitchen after 30 mins and could not see across the room.  When I opened the oven door, all the smoke alarms went off and black smoke puthered out.  Burnt to a crisp.  Couldn't understand what I done wrong.  Made some more, put them in the oven again but this time looked at them after 15 mins.  Again burnt to death.  I just could not understand what I was doing wrong.  With the last bit of Fimo made some more when my hubby asked if I was sure I'd got the temperature right.  I said of course, it says 230c, he laughed his head off and had a look on the back of the packet and guess what?  It was 230f or 110c.  What a dope I am.  Baked at correct temperature and above is the result.  I've painted some of them with Claudine Hellmuths paint.

Last night at Craft Den we made this pretty little tag book, used Paper Artsy papers and stamps, made flower and butterfly out of grunge paper using Wendy Vecchi stamps.

Angels ATC

Here is an ATC made with a digital image from Dezinaworld.  I just love angels, and this particular image inspired me.  Originally the image had wings on, but I cut them off!  Background of various distress inks, stamped with a cracked stamp in black, stamped wings from T!m, added ric rak and Viva pearl pen.  Added digital image and text.  Everything available from Craft Den with image from Dezinaworld.

Metal Work

I loved the little box that Joanne Wardle made in Craft Stamper this month, to store all the free stamps, so decided to have a go. Instead of stamping, I used metal around the outside of mine. I'm quite pleased with the result.

I can do cute!

Suddenly remembered that it was Bank Holiday weekend and it's my granddaughters birthday on Wednesday, so I need to get the card in the post tomorrow to make absolutely sure that it arrives by Tuesday. That's because she's off on a school trip on Wednesday for a few days to Norfolk. She's really looking forward to it and they have to be at school early on Wednesday, so I thought if she got it Tuesday she could open it before she goes on her travels. She'll be 9 and it's the first time she's been away from home on her own, other than staying with family - I'm sure she thinks she's staying in a 5* hotel, I think she's in for a a bit of a shock!!!

Dezinaworld Challenge

I made this ATC for the Dezinaworld Challenge. I thought the girl looked very exotic on her wedding day and as though she had been left at the alter, waiting for her groom who never turned up. She looks so sad.

Altered Tin

We are doing an altered tin at the Craft Den at our usual Tuesday evening alcohol ink class. Here's just a sneak preview, it's still a work in progress. We will be using alcohol inks, triple embossing, stamping, digital images, lots of different techniques on this tin.

Wow, aren't I the lucky one!!!

My son, David, has come to stay for the weekend.  He is a keen cyclist, in fact he's just recently completed in the Etape du Tour  race, part of the Tour de France.  He came 2 hours ahead of Chris Boardman (he of Olympic gold medal fame) but 2 hours behind James Cracknell.  Anyway, I digress, he knew I had been wanting a new computer, and since both he and my son in law have Apple Macs, of course that's what I wanted and needed desperately.  Anyway this morning he went on a long bike ride and around 12.00 I got a phone call from him asking if I'd pick him up in Holme Firth (about 20 mins from us).  When I arrived, he said the reason he didn't want to complete the bike ride because he wanted to take me to the Apple Store in Meadowhall and would I like a new computer for my birthday/Christmas pressy combined.  Well is the Pope a Catholic (hope I don't offend anyone), how could I refuse.  So off we went and here's the result.  I've spent all afternoon playing and am thoroughly enjoying myself, whilst David and his father are having a real needle match playing golf a la Tiger Woods on the Wii.  We've managed to have a BBQ in between, as well as consuming 4 bottles of wine between us, and I caught a few minutes of the X Factor before being thrown off the TV.  No space for it in my craft room, so on kitchen table for time being.

Marlene Dietrich

I just love the new digital images from June at Dezinaworld and as soon as I saw her new Painted Ladies, I had to have it. I just love Marlene's voice and admire the look she had in her younger days.

I stuck some music paper to background (which doesn't show on the photo), coloured with dusty concord and worn lipstick, over stamped with Crafty Individuals music stamp, stamped the PaperArtsy crown onto a bit of telephone directory paper, stuck on some lace and gold jewels, printed off text from my computer and doodled round it. I have painted her lips bright red, but again this doesn't show up on the photo. Everything used in this piece is available from Craft Den with digital artwork from Dezinaworld.

Girls, girls, girls!!!!!

We've just had a fantastic time at our daughters in rural Essex, looking after our grandchildren, 2 horses, 4, yes 4, Labradors, and 4 chickens, whilst their parents went on a jolly to France. The weather was fantastic, some friends came over at the weekend from Hampton for a BBQ, and the kids were brilliant. They did nothing but torment us, particularly my husband who had forgotten to take his swimming gear with him, so went in the pool in his knicker knockers (as they call his underpants) and the girls spent most of the time trying to pull them down. What is it that fascinates children about underpants????? Got some brill photos, but he's barred me from putting them on the blog, spoil sport.

Had to come back to reality and make a card for my friend Jim's birthday. I seem to be making boys cards all the time. Still next birthday is my granddaughter, Lucie, 9th birthday and she's requested a girly (she's not at all girly, more tomboy) tag card with her favourite photos in it.

I used Ranger distressed background, as usual, various stamps from The Artistic Stamper, Artistic Outpost, Crafty Individuals and of course T!m's, oh and of course some machine stitching.

Here's a chance to win some great blog giveway

Craft Den ATC Swop - Mystic Meg

This months ATC swop at Craft Den is Star Signs. Well I'm not into things like this, so have had trouble coming up with something. I e mailed June Macfarlane at dezinaworld and she kindly sent me some of the images used on this ATC. I coloured the background with Ranger Distress inks, stamped with a star stamp I received as a freebie from somewhere, used Maude image from http://www.moonlightjourney.com/, cut out and stuck on the zodiac signs, stitched some gold ribbon to top and gold rick rac to bottom. Added some crystals round her neck.

Hey, check this out

Just found this fantastic blog, June, who does wonderful digital downloads which you can purchase, but she also has some freebies. I've just started playing with a few of them and will blog when finished them. Check her out here http://dezinaworld.blogspot.com/

ATC

I would like to share this gorgeous ATC I have received from my friend Pat. I think it is so lovely - this piece of art really brightens the heart and makes me feel good. Pat is very creative, but I don't think she really believes she is. I've tried to pursuade her to get a blog so she can show her work, but she's not taken the plunge yet! Thanks Pat I just love it.

Get Well Jane

A friend of mine has just been in hospital for an operation and cannot walk for a couple of weeks, so she's feeling really miserable and is starting to suffer cabin fever. Jane makes lots of beautiful jewellery and bead work, so made her this card to cheer her up a bit.

Used Ranger crackle paint and distressed inks, stamped with T!m's stamps, all from Craft Den, stuck on some sequins, put jewels in the centre and machine stitched round the edge. The image and text came from Lisa's Alter Art.

Grandchildren, aahh!!!!!

Have had my two gorgeous grandaughters staying with us for 10 days, and they're going home tomorrow. We shall be really sad and I shall shed some tears. It's been hectic, done something everyday and this afternoon we're off to cinema to see G Force 3. I was wondering if I could take my book and a little torch so I could have a read but have been barred from that. I've warned them that if I start snoring they must wake me up!

Took them to one of the many childrens art activities taking part at Craft Den over the summer hols, and they made these beautiful cards. Here are a couple of pics showing them hard at work and the finished cards. Here's Lucie who is 8

and Charlotte who is 6. I think they did extremely well, particularly with the cutting out and sticking the tape on and positioning. Thanks Lynne, they really had a wonderful time and can't wait to come again.