Andy Skinner at Craft Den

Had a wonderful two days at Craft Den taking Andy Skinner workshops.  Gee that guy is awesome!  Friday was taken up with using the gelli plate and we used some new techniques.  

Saturday saw us making this...

this picture certainly does not give the piece justice.  We learnt some fantastic new techniques, now just want to keep on playing.

What a great bunch of ladies to spend some creative time with, I think everyone of us thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  Thanks Lynne, and of course to the lovely Jill for making the drinks and keeping us well supplied with clean water, lol.

Can't wait for the next one...bring it on!

Andy Skinner

Long time, no blog.  I'm afraid my COP is back and have now been told it will never go, so increased chemo and see how things go.  At least that explains why I've not had any mojo.  Anyway went to an Andy Skinner workshop at Craft Den yesterday and wowser, what a fantastic day.  He's so talented and shared so many tips with us, things I would never have thought of, so if you get a chance, I urge you to go on one of his classes.

We did a Cracked Secret Drawer Book...

Front

 

Spine

Back

I'm booked to go on two more and just so excited, can't wait.

Right I've got 2 circle journal, journals to do, so hopefully after the inspiration from Andy I should get them done today.

Happy Birthday

Here's the birthday card I made for my daughter-in-law.

The background is some of the new DI paints, and the flower is a Wendy Vecchi stencil.

It's a very murky, foggy day here, no sign of the sun, think it's disappeared altogether, lol.

Late again!!!

I always seem to be late with the Art Journal Calendar, which is hosted by the very talented Kate Crane, here's my February page

You can see I've gone for the traditional pink and Valentines theme.  Both the background and the squares are done with my Gelli plate.  The background is done with Golden paints, but the squares were created with the new Distress Paints, which are fabulous, more runny than Golden.  February is cut out of distress card with Tim's wordplay die.  

February's Play Day

For our February Play Day we decided to do a small sewing project based on an article which we'd seen in Sew Somerset by Kristen Robinson.

Some free motion machine stitching and some hand stitching.  I'm in the process of making another two of these, each one slightly different, then I'm going to mount them and hang them together.

First quilt finished

I've made this quilt for my granddaughter Charlotte's 10th birthday.  She knew I was making one but didn't know what colours or what fabric, any way she was thrilled to bits with it and it's now pride of place on her bed.

The fabric is from a range by Basic Grey, which actually matches their paper range.  This is the first quilt I've actually finished, not the first I've made, but the only one to be completely done.  I've got another couple on the go, so hopefully they will be done before the end of the year, lol.

I bought the material from Craft Den and would like to thank Lynne and Bob for all their help in choosing the fabrics, helping to cut the pieces (thanks Bob), general encouragement, and of course for Bob's wonderful cheese sandwiches, he makes the best I've ever tasted, don't know what his secret is but believe me they are ace.  I'm so pleased with the final result.

Birthday Wishes

It's my granddaughters birthday today and Charlotte is 10.  I missed her this morning and she's just phoned me to tell me all that's happened today, and what presents she's got.  We're going down to Essex tomorrow to see my granddaughters and she'll get her present tomorrow.  Here's the card I made for her, which she tells me she's 'thrilled' with, lol.

The background is done with my gelli plate, as is her dress.

Off quilting tonight, couldn't go last week because it was snowing, haven't actually had any snow today, it's not gone yet, but at least the roads are now clear.

Brrr it's cold outside

This is a card I've made for a friend whose birthday it is this week

The background is done with my Gelli plate and Golden paints, image and text is Stampotique, all available from here

This is my patio this afternoon, it's stop snowing at last and there isn't anymore forecast....still I've been able to make a couple of cards, do all the ironing, clean the house, be glad when it's gone, fed up with all the housework.

Hope you're all having a creative day.

First birthday card of 2013

My first birthday card of the year and decided to use fabrics instead of paper, paint and inks.

My friend is more into sewing than paper cards so I'm sure she'll like it.  Hope you do too.  Looks a bit wonky on the photo but in real life it isn't, lol.

End of another year

It's the end of my third year joining in the 365 Art Calendar Journal, run by the most talented mixed media artist, Kate Crane.  Here are my November and December pages which I haven't blogged before...

Just noticed that I forgot to put December on the page, doh! You'll have to look very closely to see the Christmas tree down the right hand side, although I think you can see the 'lights'

On to a new year and a new journal, this time I've hand made the journal, following the idea and instructions from Christine, and this has been done with my Gelli plate and Golden acrylic paints.

This is my 4th year and I'd decided not to bother in 2013 but at the last minute changed my mind and I'll go for another year.

Christmas Journaling with Kate

Had a fabulous day on Wednesday Christmas journaling with Kate Crane at AFTH.  Managed to finished two pages and had a fabulous day as well.  Kate is such a good teacher and her classes are so relaxed, if you get a chance to go to one of her classes I promise you'll have a wonderful time.

This one is done in my Dylusions journal

and this one in my old ledger

We used Dylusion inks and a mixture of Dylusion and Stampotique stamps.  Just realised you can see how I get ink all over, it's even on the envelope in the journal, ha ha.

Get Well Soon

My daughter-in-law is very ill at the moment, is off work and cannot get out of bed and is having to be looked after.  She's in a lot of pain so thought I'd make her a get well card to try to cheer her up a bit.

The background is created with DI's in what is still my favourite combo of broken china, spiced marmalade and mustard seed, with walnut stain around the edges.  The seed heads are made from card, coloured with the same DI's then the white one (can't remember it's name) swooshed over the top.  They are then cut out with a Memory Box die.  It's the first time I've used one of these dies and it's taken a few attempts to get the sandwich right, but I do love this one.

Another birthday card!

This card is made in exactly the same way as my last post but using different colours of DI's.  The recipient has now got it and she loves it, that's what counts.

Can't decide which I like the best, different colours give a totally different effect.

Birthday Card

This is a birthday card I've made for my Aunt using the Studio 490 flower stencil.

Background is created with DI's, put texture paste through stencil and dried with a heat gun, this makes it fluff up a little.  Coloured flower with distress markers, stamped a text stamp onto flower and leaves, then sprayed a bit of water over it all, this helps blend the markers.  Used another stencil to put the DI through to make the lines on the side, then put bits here and there of metallic distress stains.  Bit of stitching around the edge.  I love the way this has turned out, so made another couple in different colours.  I must thank Wendy Vecchi for the inspiration.

Well, the roast lamb is calling, just need to pop in the Yorkshire puddings...yum

Birthday Card Dina style

It was our Ladies Who Lunch Play Day last week and we did a Dina Wakley project and I turned mine into a 40th birthday card for my son

Front

Back

It folds up into a little concertina book. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this, lots of Dylusion inks, stencils and some of Dina's stamps. My son love it, but then again he does tend to like everything I do, perhaps he's a bit biased, no I'm sure he's not, lol.

October already

Here's my finished September page for the 365 Art Journal Calendar

and here's October, already done, gosh don't know what's come over me to be ready on time, lol.

If you're wondering what I'm talking about, pop over to Kate's blog to see some really great artwork.

September Play Day

Not been doing much recently, very busy with life plus my creativity seems to have deserted me.  This is what I did at the last Ladies Who Lunch (and we went to the pub again!!!).

A few of us went to the Happy Stampers Show earlier in the year and Jennie of The Artistic Stamper had decorated some frames with her new house stamps.  We bought them, then had to use them of course. 

On time for once...

I think this is the first time I've finished a page on time and managed to post it.  So here's my August page for the 365 Art Calendar hosted by the talented Kate Crane

Haven't even started September yet and I'm off down to Essex to see my grandchildren.  My eldest starts a new school on Wednesday and it's her birthday on Sunday so it will be brilliant to see them again.

Summer Distress Pads

I've had to make a few birthday cards this week, plus I've also managed a few Christmas cards and it's only August.

ATC

All the backgrounds are done with the summer distress inks.

It's so humid here this afternoon, just been out with the dog and got wet through, lol.

A little late with August calendar page

I know I'm a little late posting this but been very busy

I decided to go with the Olympics theme and of course there could only be one image to use and that is of Jessica Ennis who also comes from Sheffield.  I need to overstamp her with GOLD.  As usual Dylusion ink sprays through Dylusion stencils for the background.

I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the Olympics, even watched the cycling and rowing, everything was so enthralling and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part, whatever part they played in making London 2012 an unforgettable and marvellous experience.

Pop over to Kate's blog to see what it's all about.