What a lovely surprise

I have been asked by Lynne at http://www.craftden.co.uk/ to be part of her design team and I have accepted with great honour. I have made this card as the first of what I hope will be one of many cards and projects for Lynne. I call it "Paper Artsy meets Copics". I love the Paperartsy stamps and have just started to use the Copic pens so I thought I'd try again to mix the two. I used the new Paperartsy Spring & Sprouts paper, bricks and mortar stamps, dewdrops and Copic pens, all of which can be purchased from Lynne. I did some messy stitching because I wanted to have an uneven effect. I can actually use a sewing machine having spent all my years growing up with a fantastic Mom who was a dressmaker, so we were always surrounded by sewing of one sort or another and she made sure I could use a machine and sew straight. So believe it or not I have great difficulty in stitching wavy cavy. Wishing Lynne and the other members of her design team all the best and hope we manage to inspire you, even if just a little.

New projects will be coming soon at http://wwwcraftden.co.uk and will be on Lynne's website sometime during the week.

I just love playing around

Had a good day yesterday with my friend Sandra, we decided to make some ATC's. As usual both styles were completely different, we like different colours, I like sewing, she's not bothered etc. etc. Here are 3 of the ones finished, still some more to finish off of course, but the sun is shining and we're having a bbq, so must start doing something about the food and drink....

Very different styles and themes

Is it ever going to stop raining?

Woke up at 5.00am with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. Felt really good so decided to take Charlie for an early walk. By the time I'd got ready it was blowing a gale and clouds were looming. I thought, good, with wind and sun I'll soon get my washing dry....I should have known, by the time the first load was finished it was raining cats and dogs. Needed cheering up so went in my craft room and made this card, just to make me feel better. Hubby was out working, so dried all the washing in the tumble dryer, what the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't grieve over. Maybe I'll do a card about what the eye doesn't see next.....

Happy Birthday

Today is my husband Maurice's 65th birthday. He's not keen on altered art and prefers simple cards, not too fussy, so thought I better make a card he would appreciate. Then I thought, what the heck, I'll make one I shall enjoy doing. Here's the result - he said 'that's nice, thank you' and then put it down, but he smiled at the photo of himself. I think it looks a bit like a prison photo, I should have put some strippy paper on it!

We're off for a long walk as soon as the sun comes out, Charlie (the dog) is getting really annoyed because I've usually had him out by this time. Our son is coming for the weekend and we going out for a meal with my aunt and uncle (in their 80's), on Saturday night, to celebrate his birthday. Can't go out tonight because we're doing alcohol inks at http://www.craftden.co.uk/

Paper Artsy Card

Bought some new Paper Artsy stamps and papers from http://www.craftden.co.uk/ from her new stock and decided to make this card. Just playing around really, blended Adirondack inks for the background, stamped around the edges and coloured the main image with Copics. As you can see I'm not very good with the Copics, have had them for a few weeks, had a lesson, and never touched them since, so I decided that it was time to give them an airing. I'll have to go for another lesson with Lynne at Craft Den. Cut a couple of flowers out of Grunge paper, coloured with Adirondack inks, doodled the edge with white gel pen, stuck it on with a brad and curled the petals.

Alcohol Inks

Made this attractive wall hanging at http://www.afth.co.uk/. It is a project designed by Tim Holtz and he's very kindly allowed Dyan to teach it at her studio. We had a lovely day and messed around with the new lights and brights alcohol inks and made some cards which Dyan had designed. Thanks Dyan, had a lovely day as usual.

If you like the idea of using alcohol inks but never tried them, why not pop along to http://craftden.co.uk/ on Tuesday night at 7.00pm where we will be having a good old dabble with the inks.

Does this face look stressed?

Went to http://www.afth.co.uk/ yesterday and had a wonderful day (as usual). When I arrived I told Dylan that she was looking particularly stunning, she looked young, full of energy and raring to go. Just look at her at the end of the day, does she still look full of enery? I think not. We were a, shall I say, challenging group, as usual we didn't listen when she gave us instructions, she kept saying "you're not all listening" and we would reply, "yes we are", but of course we weren't. I seem to remember that she had to shout a couple of times. However as they say in art circles, the face says it all.... note the scarry red eyes. Thanks Dy for a wonderful day (we all love you really).

Here's a couple of the cards we made. We also did a stunning Tim Holtz poject, but will put that on later.