It's Monday so it's CoC Time

I just got in from work and was about to watch the England game :o) when I realised NO MORE FOOTBALL wayhey. So thought about doing the ironing and cooking tea, then decided to order a pizza and make a tag!

This weeks CoC challenge set by the every so funny Linda (funny in a good way not the weird guy over the road funny) is Mono Stamping with mud. Timbob calles them alcohol inks my attempts - mud!

Anyway, got out 8 colours, put 5 back mmm....could this be wher I'm going wrong.... and I'm very pleased with the result. It may not be brilliant but it's not mud.

My bit of cord at the top started off about a foot longer - need some sharper scissors...

I also need some of the brighter alcohol inks - I only have the original colours and brown /rust seems to feature heavily, along with dark and darker still blue.

I've looked at some of the entries and the fab art that can be done with the alcohol ink and I'm determined to keep practicing. Must buy rubber gloves....

Apparently Brazil have just scored - bet we could have beaten 'em lol.

Thanks very much for looking x

Lots To Do Challenge - Architecture

Better late than never, here is my entry to this weeks Lots to Do challenge which is architecture.
Lots of paint and ink for the background, the main images are stamps from the Artistic Stamper. I've dug out my Perfect Pearls from the bottom of a tote bag. These were my favourite thing a couple of years ago, but once they got put away they never came out again. They give quite a nice patina affect around the shirine/temple/thingy, and that's what my god and godess are stamed in.
My handsome gargoyle is from Stamp Camp, and the Bricks and Mortar is from Paper Artsy.
I am ashamed to say that history passed me by at school, so I don't know if I have mixed my Greeks and my Romans lol.
Thanks for looking, it's back to work tomorrow - where do Sundays go ?......

Want To Play A Game...CoC Challenge 2

I'm loving Linda's new challenge blog over at Studio L3,based on the Tim Holtz book A Compendium of Curiosities.
Without giving away any secrets, the challenge is on page 62 and it's Fragments Basics.
So I took out my fragments, - yes I had to unseal them first, stamped, cut , and stuck, then realised that I'd made a Fragment Charm (page 64)!!!!
Well, silly me thought I (and the rest :o)) sooooo I put all the bits and bobs away - really I did - I know just where they are, so when it's charms week just give me the nod :o)....
The background paper and acetate are by Creative Imagination, various distres inks, TH tickets, and my new favourite Clarity stamps.
I'm really enjoying these challenges, I've always loved the distress inks and things, but I've never really got to grips with them, so it's good to have a go.

AND we won the footie!!!!

Thanks for looking x

Play Date Cafe

Here's my entry for The Play Date Cafe Challenge which is 'Colour Splash' The main image stamp is from Katy's Corner, and the little diamond stamp is from Clarity.

I find it really hard to know when to stop, so this has been a great challenge for me 'cos I'm not allowed to over embelish.

Thanks very much for looking x

Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea (over 50's only)

Here is my entry for this week's Sunday Postcard Challenge which is Sea Voyages. I was a bit stumped on this one but then I remembered (this is where the over 50's bit comes in lol) the TV series that used to be on every Saturday. It was in black and white (actually everything was), and every week the intrepid crew would encounter sea monsters and aliens and after much rocking of the submarine would emerge triumphant! Bet they couldn't cope with the Big Brother household though :o)

Many thanks to Google Images, Stamp Camp Stamps, acetate, stazon, and rather a lot of Mod Podge and glitter.

May I say that no sea monster or aliens were harmed in the making of this postcard.

Thanks very much for looking x

A Fab New Challenge Blog

Sitting at my computer looking through the crafty blogs (it's a dirty job but someone has to do it lol) I happened to come across Linda at Studio L3's fab new challenge site. It's based on Sir Tim's Compendium of Curiosities book. The only problem was it involved actually using the book rather than just stroking it lovingly then putting it safely back at the side of my bed. Now I don't know about you but my craft room is no fit place to take a book. I'm the messiest, inkiest and 100% clumsiest person I know, and to put fab book, water, and me together - what was Linda thinking :o).


So I tidied up first just so I could find the table, and set to work. Just to prove the point that all stash should be kept intact,and never used, I had to take the wrapper off 2 of the ink pads, and both of the stamp sets. I'm forbidden to disclose the method used, but for those with the book, see page 35.I don't think I'm cheating by putting a photo of my 'recipe', but if I am please feel free to sent Tim round in person to tell me off :o)

This was a great challenge, it's made me use the stash I had to pawn the kids to buy, and it's made me realise that the stuff in the book is achievable (this just shows how good a teacher Tim is) Looking forward to next weeks challenge.


Have a great weekend and thanks for looking x

Mojo Monday on er Friday

Mmmm seems like Father's Day has snook around again (yeah OK I've known for months but I work better under pressure NOT!)

This is my entry for Mojo Monday's challenge, I knew I had to make my Dad's card and this sketch gave me the kick start I needed. The stamps are Penny Black clear stamps, they are really cute, and as the dog is wearing a tie it has to be for a guy card right lol. The sentiment is a rub on as I hate peel off's even though I have enough to start a shop. The paper flower is from a tutorial by Claudia Rosa. I was a bit doubtful about puting it on my Dad's card, but it looks so nice (and really easy to make - thanks so much Claudia) so in my usual throw the kitchen sink at it attitude, on it went!

The background papers are from an old QVC TSV kit - come on you know the one, you've all got it, came in three parts in its own little cardboard cabinet...

My appologies for the weird layout but I sent the picki using my new toy (mobile), and me being such a computer expert as wot I am lol I can't do anything about it :o)

Thanks for looking, and have a blogtastic weekend xx

Sent using a Sony Ericsson mobile phone

Tuesday Taggers

Here is my entry for this weeks Tuesday Taggers challenge, which is vintage bookmarks.

I've used a few stamps that I've had for ages, real wooden ones rather than the clear stamps that I tend to buy these days.

The bookmark is a chipboard tag, that I got from Graphicus, so it's a good sturdy weight.

I've used a mixture of dye and distress inks, a prima flower which has been stamped and UTEE'd.

The tassel is from Joanna Sheen.

I'ts been nice to make something that I'll use myself, and I've really enjoyed making it.

Thanks very much for looking.

Roses Are Red

Here is my entry to the Sunday Postcard Art challenge which is Roses this week.

The stamps are all Paper Artsy, and have been embossed with a mixture of clear and white embossing powders (yup I tipped the white into the wrong pot lol) it gives quite a nice vintagey finish and I quite like it.

The handsome guy in the corner has been stamped onto a piece of memory glass. This has been in my stash for soooo long, I thought it was time to dig it out.

The prima flowers have been UTEE'd (I'm loving the melting pot, definately a good buy). The flower er rose :o) is one of Sir Tim's alterations dies, some Co-ordination's, and an embossing folder.

I realise I'm still suffering from a bad case of 'I really should have stopped 2 embelisments ago', but hey....:o)

Thanks very much for looking and have a great weekend x

Messing About With Beeswax

Here is my entry for this weeks Lots To Do Challenge which is Beeswax. I've been uming and ahing about buying a meltin pot for ages. I love all things gadgetry, but I have been know to leave them in the box when I've bought them, and just dust 'em occasionally. The little pot definitely won't fall into this catagory 'cos it's fab. It does what it says on the tin, it melted the wax, and kept it at an even temperature, and I didn't have to mess about with heat guns and mince pie tins. (boy those mince pies were good though)
I brayered a tag in blues and greens, and covered with tissue using the melted wax.
I've used some Tim Holtz stamps, and some of his film ribbon (love this stuff)
I've also used the wax to attach some Beadazzles, postage stamps, and the wood chips. I've put rub on flowers onto these and coated again with wax.
I'ts good to be dipping my toe into crafting again, and I really enjoyed this challenge.