Tim's Twelve Tags Of Christmas Day 6 (on day 7)

I was trying to play catch up today and make 2 tags, but these are taking ages to make, so I'll just have to do them as and when 'cos they're taking over my life and Christmas is a comin'. I bit the bullitt and cut through my texture fade like Tim sugested, and it does work nicely :o)  It's a lot bluer in real life, and the gold paint showes up more, but I feel like I'm living in a cave at the moment with only a couple of hours of sunlight a day!
I didn't have any holly, so I've given my reindeer a nice snug scarf. I'm really enjoying these tags, but it takes me hours to make then another half hour to tidy away. How Tim thinks these up every day, photographs and blogs em I don't know! Do we think he's telling porkies and he's been secretly creating them since July lol. Thanks very much for looking, and pop over to Artyjens to see all the other amazing tags x

On The Fifth day of Christmas

....I was already a day behind 'cos it's day 6 now! Here is tag 5 from Tim's 12 tags of Christmas, and I have to say it's my favourite so far. Not a single Timmy stamp in sight I'm afraid, the Santa is Hero Arts, and the holly is Elusive Images. My craft room is so cold now my paint dabbers are solid so I've used embossable tape and tinsel embossing powder around the edges. I didn't have the green crackle paint so I've used mustard seed. Santa's beard has more 'fluffy stuff' on than you can shake a stick at. This comes out every Christmas lol.
 It's the first time I've ever tried to colour metal and I'm really pleased with the effect, and I LOVE the heated organza. I don't remember who's blog I saw it on but they said to heat organza ribbon with a heat gun and it goes crinckly - it looks lovely unless you heat it too much then it melts lol.
I've used a hat pin and some letter beads as I'm running really short on embellishments now - I don't care what the tag is tomorrow, it will have googly eyes around the ribbon 'cos that's all I've got left :o)
Just need to make today's tag now ....
Check out the fab tags on Artyjen's Tim's Splinter Group to see how they should have turned out, and also Jennie's blog at the Artistic Stamper as her challenge this month is Christmas.
Thanks very much for looking x

Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas Day 4

On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me.... another tag!  Lot's of substitutes this time as I don't have the paper pad, the facets, or the bling. Soooo it was an image from my Crafty Images CD, a fragment, a couple of charms,  and some nail art from the pound shop lol.
Santa's weight loss is due to having to be stretched to tag size - if only life was so simple, stick your photo in the computer and stretch yourself to the correct shape. Think I would need to have the ceilings raised though :o)
I didn't think my fragment was working but I kept on adding the alcohol ink and it turned out fine.
I did the wish tag too but thought it looked better without. Tell me what you think.

Now I'm looking at the picture I quite like it :o) Thanks very much for looking and don't forget to check out everyone's amazing tags at Artyjen's Splinter Group x

Tims 12 Tags of Christmas Day 3

I'm really enjoying Tim's latest set of tags, I've discovered that I can die cut tissue tape, but that my  tape flowers need a little working on lol. I think in the video he calls it a pile of garbage - not far wrong there...
I've also discovered that I never know when to stop (too much snow) - actually that's a lie I KNOW that I never know when to stop -  and that when Tim says snip off the branch, he doesn't mean cut the poor birds legs off :o)
A bit more improvising today, I didn't have the correct tree or a nice mossy nest. The only greenery not covered under 2 feet of snow is my aloe vera plant, and she bites! So I've used some prima leaves for the nest and instead of tinsel. And at eleven o'clock there was no way I was dying ribbon (plus I havn't managed to get yesterdays dye of my hands yet) so it can think itself lucky that it's got a bit of organza.
Can't wait for tomorrows tag 'cos this is sooo much more important that real life isn't it lol.
Just need to do the linky thingy at Artyjens Splinter Group then it's off to bed for me. Thanks very much for looking x

Simon Says Stamp and Show Us Yer Tags!

It's the most magical time of the year.....
when Tim does his 12 days of tags. I've never even attempted these as they look sooooo complicated, but this year I've got a couple of days off (maybe more if it keeps on snowing:o)  so I'm going to try and give 'em a go.
I havn't got any cut and dry felt, so I had to improvise with an old sanding block and some ordinary felt to make my inkpad,  and it worked fine. It's a brilliant technique so of course I've ordered the real deal (at 8.30 this morning - I bet you can't get hold of this now for love nor money :o)  )
I've had to play a few substitutes with the stamps, but I'm pretty pleased with the result - in fact it's the first time I've actually enjoyed making something in ages, and that is what it's all about isn't it!
I'm entering this into the Simon Says Stamp And Show challenge which is tags, and  also linking it to Artyjen's Tim's Splinter Group.
I wonder what Himself has got in store for us tomorrow, I for one can't wait to see.
Thanks very much for looking x

A Distressing Tim Holtz Christmas

Oooh I really struggled with this one - the first 2 attempts went in the bin (on the floor and stamped on actually). I know that Tim is meant to be grungy but it's Christmas - and that means happy and sparkly, so here's what I've ended up with.
I made this card for the Stampman Tim Holtz Christmas, and the Simon Says Stamp and Show Distress Ink challenges.
The background is just a hugh foam snowflake stamp stamped and white embossed, then inked over with shades of blue distress inks.
I've embossed the trees texture fades onto velum then cut out. The 25 is also part of a texture fade. I've stamped the snowman with my new favourite, Chipped Saphire this is just sooooo nice. I waited till it was nearly dry then added a bit of sparkly embossing powder that only caught in patches. There's more torn vellum behind.
The chandelier drops are from Craft Obsessions and they are lovely!
Thanks very much for looking x

How Much Is That Moggy In The Window - Stampsmith Challenge'With Gratitude'

As soon as I saw this stamp from The Stampsmith I had to buy it, because this IS my mog! She's 10 years old now but still has no idea that she's actually a cat. She sits on top of chairs, sleeps on our bed and is always the first to be fed :o).
It's getting really had to craft now, 'cos I do all my stuff in the conservatory and it is soooo cold  (well it is snowing outside) that my glues won't stick. In fact the only thing that is flowing freely is my nose! I know, far too much information there
My Princess Perfect tag will go on a gift to my lovely neighbours who feed her when we go on holiday. Obviously in her mind it should be them that thank her :o)
I've just choped the stamped image up a bit to insert the pillow, and given her some jewels (in real life it's a flea collor lol).
The tag and frame have been cut using the Tim Holtz die. This is great because it cuts throgh chipboard (and pizza boxes)
Thank very much for looking x

Inkurable Stampers - Shabby Chic Christmas

Here's my entry to this month's Inkurable Stampers Shabby Chic Christmas challenge. I must admit I'm not really sure where shabby chic ends and grunge begins, but I hope this is OK. It's got a bit of lace on so that's shabby chic right?? :o)
My Christmas Angel is by Lost Coast Designs, and I got her from Happy Daze.
I hope that glitter and velum is shabby chicy 'cos there's lots of both here.
Thanks very much for looking x

Three Muses Challenge - Shoes

Here's my entry to this weeks 'shoes' challenge by The Three Muses.The background was inked and stamped, and the quote is from Ginger's House. This is such a brilliant blog you must go and visit.
The girl is from Stampotique, and I got the stamp from Happy Daze.   I've had the shoe stamp for ages but I don't know where it came from.
Thanks very much for looking x

So - How Many Men Does It Take To Change A Lightbulb?? Take A Word 4

Here's my entry to this weeks Take A Word challenge,which is Men, and it's asking that age old question...
I've brayered and bleached, and stamped and embossed my canvas background, then added lots of men.
Obviously there's a woman there to oversee proceedings, but it seems like none of them can change the lightbulb!
The stamps are by Paper Artsy, Scrolls Work, Artistic Outpost, and Crafty Individuals. The US Mail has also made a contribution in the form of Mr EA Poe.
I really enjoyed this challenge, and thanks very much for looking x

She Was A Girly Girl

Here's a card I've made for the Stampotique (Girly Girl), Basic Grey (Wings) and Sketch Saturday challenges. The background paper is by Blonde Moments, and is so vibrant in real life.

I've dressed Marcy in Colour Me Silly, and the buttons are Urban Prairie.

Marcy's wings are by Heidi Swapp, and her crown is again by Blonde Moments.

Thanks very much for looking - now I have to go and iron :o(. Enjoy what's left of the weekend x

Another Christmas Card

Here's a card I have made for The Stampsmith's Oval challenge and Sir Stampalot's Christmas Traditions. What could be more traditional than fir trees and snow!I have shamelessly stolen the technique from Donna's blog - she explains each stage perfectly so even I could follow it :o). What she didn't say was to a) not use your craft knife on your new non stick mat, and
b) don't find you scisors by sticking your thumb through them, then
c) bleeding all over your white card!! Haloween came and went without spilling a drop of the red stuff when really that would just have been going the extra mile for your art lol, but now we have red snow :o)
The lovely lady is from The Stampsmith, various embossing folders, and Movers and Shapers die.
Thanks very much for looking x

So Here It Is Merry Christmas Aaaaggghh

Ooooh it's the middle of November and I havn't even begun to THINK about Christmas yet!! But never fear, I've got ONE card that I made  for The Stampman Challenge! I've been wanting to make a stepper card for a while so I decided today was the day.What a faff! Measuring... cutting with a craft knife... no good ever came of this, THEN sticking with foam tape - I swear as soon  as I touch foam tape everything goes on the wonk. Is this straight? yeah course it is.. NO, it's not within waving distance of straight so why have I stuck it down with that ***** tape! The only way to move it is with a chissel :o)
Anyway.... the lovely robin stamps are from The Stampman, I was lucky enough to win them in their recent blog hop. I've coloured them with Twinkling H2O's The Let it Snow is from Creative Expressions, these are clear stamps but they stamp really nicely - no squidge!
The bit at the back is a Tim Holtz mover and shaper die I really like these, you just need to work out what's top and bottom and back to front lol.
I'm really glad I made this card, but would I make another - you're having a larf!
Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of your weekend x

The Bird is the Word -Take a Word 2 Angel

Marie's word of inspiration for this week is Angel, so here are my 2 guardian angels. As soon as I started colouring my birds I had an image of Peter Griffin singing Surfin Bird, so if I had to have this, here you are too, say thank you to You Tube
I've inked and stamped my canvas, then bleached certain areas -  I love doing this 'cos you never know how it's going to end up.
My 2 guardian angels are from the Octopode factory. Just about everything has been coloured in with H2O's today. I'd forgoten how nice these are to us, so I sat there, stuck my tongue out and painted :o). Then along came surfin bird Aaaaagh......
My tree,  houses,  and bird are all from Art From The Heart, while the beautiful Marci is by Stampotique, and I got her from Happy Daze.
 If you look really carefully you can see my writing around the tree - now you know why I rubber stamp, I never learned to do joined up writing... :o)
Thanks for looking, enjoy what left of the weekend, and remember..... everyone's talking about the bird, the bird, bird, bird is the word!

The Stampman ATC Challenge - Take a Letter

These are my ATC's for this month's Stampman challenge. They're the first ATC's I've made in ages, and I really enjoyed myself. What I don't get is as they are so small why have I made SO much mess??
The stamps are a mixture of Stampman, Tanda, Prima and Clarity. Thanks very much for looking x

Showtime

Here is my entry to this weeks Three Muses challenge, which is Showtime. My background is much brighter than it looks, being made with red and yellow paint, but my computer has decided that it doesn't want to take my memory card any more so I've had to photograph on my phone :o(. My dancin' gal is by Kanban and I've dressed her appropriately in feathers and (please don't judge me) white 'fluffy stuff' I remember buying this to go with a sheep stamp I bought years ago. It also comes out every December to go on Santa's beard!

I'm sure she could put on quite a show in the Moulin Rouge.

Thanks very much for looking x

And Here's Another..

There's a new challenge blog in town, so I had to have a little play. It's called 'Take a Word' and each week we are to be given one word to take inspiration from - never mind words gimme lots of pictures and detailed instructions :o)

The word of the week is 'Time', so here's my 2nd journal page. The background is a mixture of Starburst Stains from The Stampman. These are beautiful, such rich colours - these are from the Autumn collection. There's also lots of moon glow embossing going on in the corners with the Heidi Swap damask and clock stamps.
The main image stamps are from The Artistic Stamper - again beautiful stamps which I seem to be adding to weekly! If I buy any more the cat will have to go on e-bay. Only joking mog - or am I..... :o)
I struggled with this page and it's still a work in progress, but then I never did know when enough is enough lol.
Thanks very much for looking x

Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead

Here is my first attempt at an art journal page. It's on the Dia de los Muertos theme which I love - all those bright colours :o) This is a Mexican holiday which is on the 2nd of November, and celebrates the lives of those no longer with us. I've never seen so much white space as the first page of my book. The background was painted in various Dylusion paints from the lovely Dyan at Art from the Heart. She was kind enough to demo these for me at Doncaster Dome, so it would have been rude if I had not bought some lol. She taught me how to apply them with great care and precision (slodge with a wet wipe) and they are lovely, you can layer up the colour and they dry to a matt finish.

The stamps are from Third Coast and they are fab. They're unmounted and have so much detail. I love the dog and the donkey lol. I can really recommend a virtual visit.

The skull is a digi image from The Octopode Factory. Lily has some lovely quirky images - even die hard rubber stampers like me couldn't resist.

Thanks very much for looking x

Stampsmith Challenge 2 Black and White and One Other Colour

This is my first entry to a Stampsmith challenge, and for this fortnight it's black and white and one other colour, and you need to use at least 1 Stampsmith stamp.
I don't have a great many of their stamps, but I can see myself getting some more because they stamp beautifully. I've stamped onto silk artcard (from Clarity Stamps) and found this gave the best result. The papers are by Stampin Up - they're double sided and a really good weight.
The flower is Sir Tim's die cut, and the leafy thing is a Wendy Vecchi stamp. Thanks very much for looking x

With Apologies To Kitty and Mr Stripes....

Here's my entry to the latest Stampotique challenge which is 'treat containers' I don't know what got into Mr Stripes, but the thought of Halloween sweets seem to have brough out the worst in him!

I just need to hide this away now from my son - he's 17 but he still doesn't share!

Thanks for looking x

The Stamp Man Blog Hop

I've just spent a very enjoyable half hour taking part in The Stamp Man's blog hop. There are lots of fab prizes along the way so give it a go.
You can find it here

It's All Change - Well Simon Said To Alter It!!

 I have always loved looking at altered art on other peoples blogs, but it's something I've never had a go at myself, so when I saw in advance that The Stampman were going to have a Altered challenge I thought it was the perfect time to have a go!
So my weapon of choice was this,

it's a cutlery tray from a discount store. Why I couldn't have started with a wooden spoon I don't know :o)

I sanded and painted with black acrylic paint, then sprayed inside and out with purples and orange glimmer mists. It's the first time I've persevered with the glimmer mists and I'm now a convert!
Now came the small task of filling it - again why not a wooden spoon!!.
So I made some atc's, microscope slides, and then my new Alteration dies landed with a thud on my mat, so these were used immediately :o) on Coredinations card, and sanded.
The inks are a mixture of distress and dye, and a wee bit of embossing has gone on as well.
It's by far the most adventurous thing I've ever made. I'm officially the slowest crafter in the world, and this has taken me days  weeks, but I've really enjoyed watching it come together. Though as my DH says 'What are you going to do with it??'  Men!!
The stamps are by Artistic Outpost and Cherry Pie.
The images are by Itkupilli and Moonlight Journey
I'm entering this for Stampman's Altered challenge
Lot's to Do - Alter it
Sunday Stampers - Paint it Black
Simon Says Stamp and Show Sanded/Distress.
Theme Thursday - Dark Gothic/Halloween
Thanks very much for looking - I'm going to tidy up the conservatory now 'cos it looks like we've been burgled (again!!)

Goodbye Norma Jean

Here's my entry for this fortnight's Stampotique challenge which is Vintage. This was a real challenge to me as it's a Stampotique stamps only week. Now I'm sure Mr Stripes would look lovely in lace, but I thought I would go with Amy Wilson Wellenstein's   beautiful Marilyn stamp. So,  I set about making a pin board (What could be more vintage, takes me right back to my mums, with my school paintings :o)
When I was looking through Google images it made me realise just how beautiful Marilyn was - especially when she was just being herself rather than full on glamour. She had a real presence - not just some wannabee celeb, but don't get me started on this one lol.
Lots of photo's and articles care of Mr Google, and apologies to my place mat which has been well and truely pinned.
Check out the Stampotique blog for lots of fab entries, and thanks for looking x

Phew - In The Nick Of Time....

I've been meaning to do my entry for this weeks CoC challenge all week, but here I am, last push again :o) This week page 65 has all the answers on...Grungepaper flowers. As mine are rather blue they also fit in nicely with Hels' challenge for the Sunday Stampers, so who says being late isn't a good thing :o)

I'm sworn to secrecy by Linda and Tim himself about how this was made, but I started with 3 beer mats that I stole borrowed from the pub last night. Hands up those who know that a beer mat is the exact size of the largest nestie circle.  Oh you knew, and you and... well I didn't but I do now :o)  Ok hands down now,  no one likes a smart a*se you know lol.

I went to the Papercraft show in Harrogate yesterday - wow I could have spent a fortune on the first display (actually I did but that's our secret right). Then today my heat gun went to crafting heaven (big green bin) I've had it since day dot and it's one of the long ones that blows the embossing powder everywhere so I'm thinking of changing to the 'heat buddy' type. Any opinions would be most gratefully accepted.

Have a lovely Sunday evening, and thanks for looking x

I Can Sing A Rainbow

....but only if we were being burgled 'cos my singing would make anyone flee :o)
The monthly challenge over at the Artistic Stamper is Rainbows, so here's my piece.

I covered a piece of mountboard with canvas then stamped the Tim Holtz stamp and covered with tea dye distress ink.

I then took 8 microscope slides and coloured them in the colours of the rainbow - maybe I took the challenge a litttle too literally, I'm just not very good at thinking outside the box.:o(

These were stuck down with Glossy Accents, and then taped around the edge when dry.

The stencil is one of Tim's.

I really enjoyed making this AND there's not too much of a devistation to tidy up wayhay!!

Have a great Sunday and thanks for looking x

Marci & Wilbur Get it Together

Stamped that is :o)
As the queen of stamps that have never got dirty,  it's always a joy when they get their initial inking.Why is it that I love 'em, have to have 'em, then don't use them??
Anyway the challenge at Stampotique is Not So Sweet 16, and at Sir Stampalot it's All Distressed, so here's mine...

Though how anyone can say that Marci and Wilbur arn't the sweetest couple I don't know.

I love these stamps, they really make me smile, and Mr Stripes is the most handsome spider ever.

I've also used some of Jo Capper-Sandons range, the French Text, Small Bee and Splatter. If you havn't seen her blog you must go and look, her work is gorgeous.

The door hanger has been in my top drawer for as long as I can remember, and the paper on the numbers is the  Basic Grey white 6x6 pad. This is fab, lots of white backgrounds with a hint of different patterns.

Lots of distress inks acrylic paint and Modge Podge for the background, which has been roughed up nicely with a TH distresser. I thought I would use blue and yellow, but I ended up with er.. green..... who'd have thought!!

When you see this in real life it's distressed to the point of tatty, so definitely not so sweet lol.

Sorry if the font size is hurting your eyes, but I'm not a good typer at the best of times, and I can't even see the little stuff anymore -  Mother Nature up to her bee-atchy best again :o)

Thanks very much for looking and have a fab weekend x

Simon Says Layer It

Can you believe it's September already, where did August go??? Seems like ages since I've trashed my craft room, :o) but a fortnight away, then the washing,  then Leeds Festival (no not for me, for DS,who came home smelling of camp fires and hot dogs) and that's a month gone by.
Anyhoos I've been catching up on the new challenges that have started without me lol. This weeks Simon Says Stamp and Show is Layer it up, so here's mine.

Firstly big thanks to Sharon for her great tute on how to make a shaddow box. As I'm not the sort of gal to measure in 1/4 inches I've started with a piece of 12x12 and taken it fom there.

My background has plenty of layers, paints, inks stamps, and a ****** great blob of  green glimmer mist!!! Really needed to cover this up so I stamped a text stamp with bleach. Scared myself silly when I stamped it for the first time, but I love it :o)

I forgot to photograph it before I stuck anything down, but I was really chuffed with my background.

Then lots of stamping, and cutting out. My Gears in the background is from The Artistic Stamper, and I know that this is going to be a favourite. All the others are from Artistic Outpost, from the Stampunk and Paris Exposition sets. Thanks Happy Daze, If I just send you my salary will you drip feed me with more of their stamps :o).

The fab papers are Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante. I chose the 8x8 pad 'cos there's 2 sheets of each so I can use 1 and keep 1 for ever and ever and ever and ever.... They are gorgeous, so I cried a little inside when I had to cut 'em up.

My lady on the microscope slide thingy is by Itkupilli. I love her images, but this is the first time I used anything this size and it looks fab in real life.She's hanging on for dear life to the flying fish???                     The gears thingy is one of Tim's (I call him Tim - he doesn't call at all).... and it's nice and layed 'cos I chopped the end off my foamy paint  brush and it fits perfectly. Alas poor Stumpy....

Just to prove I've done the layers lol

I really enjoyed this challenge, and it's good to be back in the blogosphere x

Thanks for looking. x

A Little Bit of Summer

A really quick post today 'cos it's late and it's a school day tomorrow, but I can't bear to watch Top Gear any longer. I think the Hamster is lovely, but I want to rip Clarkson's arm off and beat him with the bloody stump lol.

I don't normally like to combine challenges, but time has got the better of me this weekend, and I wanted to enter both so.... here's my entry for The Sunday Stampers and Artistic Stamper which is Something Old Something New, and Lots To Do, which is The Scenic Route.I'm hoping this counts as a Summer scene.

The something old was the childrens Pairs cards that I've altered. Now my two are 19 and 17, but I'm sure we still have most of their old toys. I suppose it's our fault 'cos we still have Neil's original Scalextric in the loft (it's so old the cars have gone from classic to vintage) and I've still got my old bear, which used to be bigger than me, but now alas I have far outgrown him.

I've used lots of gesso to cover the cards, and distress inks in shaded of yellow and green. The stamps are by Simple Expressions, and I always struggle to stamp these, but they look so nice if you can get them right. The something new is my lovely Clearz that came in my Blog Candy from The Stampman. I've tinted it with alcohol inks and stuck down with glossy accents. My bee's antena is my first attempt at wire work lol.

Hope the kids don't notice that there cards have gone missing :o) The paper on the front is from Tim's Lost and Found stack, which I've just got from The Fruit Pixie. This paper is gorgeous, but it's made me want the other stacks too now.

Clarkson's just about to drive his car at a lorry so I think I'll watch this bit :o)

Thanks very much for looking x

Sue The Iron Goes Bad Ass! CoC 7

It's Monday so it's time for Linda as Studio L3's Compendium of Curiosities Challenge. This week its's page 55, which is Tinted Vision Fragments.
Now Tim is the master of all things grungy - he's modern and edgy -  a bit unconventional, so obviously to create something in his style I needed to call upon the bad boy of the crafting world, - so here it is.... felt!. Yup a challenge in the style of the grungmeister and I've used felt lol.
I have to say I was quite suprised when it went through my Cuttlebug, and I didn't like that nasty snappy sound, but it cut through my bad boy a treat.
Sorry about the rubbish photo (even worse than normal) but it was so late when I'd finished that I had to use flash. Damn work, it really gets in the way :o)
The stamps are by Bombshell, and they have been seriously underused.
Lots of inks, and some Creative Imaginations paper and rub on's.
I really enjoyed this challenge - I think this was a page I overlooked when I first got the book before carefully putting it away from all those dirty inks and glue.

Thanks for looking, and see you next week x

Sunday Postcard Art - Owls

Here's my entry for this weeks
Sunday Postcard Art challenge which is 'Owls'  I only own 2 owl stamps, one is this rather large beauty from Elusive Images, and the other is a cutie from Dawn Bibby.
I decided that more is more and went with the bruiser owl.
I've done the 'caught in crystal technique, which I've been meaning to do for years but never got arround to. The floor polish was still under the sink - untouched :o) I've used distress ink refills and lots of glitter. It's strange how crafting has it's 'in' thing - it used to be mandala stamps and glitter - I still have the glitter lol.
The background has been brayered and sponged, then Tim's tree and plant stamps used. I have tried to do the background in the style of Michelle Zindorf who is the brayer queen.
The glitter on the owl shows up much better in real life - just the thing for a butch old owl.
Thanks very much for looking and enjoy what's left of the weekend x

'Twas The Night Before Christmas SDC#11

It has to be said that I do love all thing Christmas, but Christmas crafting - Ah - thats done last minute, in December, then packed away in various boxes, tubs, tins (and even an old suitcase I do believe) and flung back up into the loft till next year.
BUT my love of  Holly (and I so wanted to enter the Stampotique Christmas in July challenge)  made me brave the wobbly loft ladders (this isn't artistic licence they really ARE wobbly lol) push past Boris the spider and family, and find Christmas - Scrooge kept Christmas in his heart - I keep it in the loft, just over the living room :o)
After stamping Holly (who stamps beautifully 'cos she a proper wooden stamp) I thought lovely, but there's gonna be a lot of  (gasp) white space ... So Kitty to the rescue and here we are.
The papers are all Basic Grey, my Christmas lights are an old Sizzix die, and everythings been coloured with Pro Markers. My sentiment was computer generated, and Kitty's mouse tail is real brown felt lol.

Just look at that face - is it the face of a killer.....  oh yeah!

Mr Stripes felt a little bit left out, so I let him star in the insert....

Thanks very much for looking x

Enter At Your Own Risk CoC Week 6

The lovely Linda has chosen page 66 this week which is Multi Medium Collage. Now this challenge blog is costing me a fortune, every week I have a nosey around everyones blogs, and they've full of gorgeous inkpads and bits and bobs,  - well what's a girl to do other than spend,spend, spend lol.
This weeks purchase was a Chipped Saphire distress inkpad which is totally yummy.
My tag (yes I know another tag, but I want to make 'em all on a tag) has a swooshy blue background, then comes the mystery bit.....   then the embelishments..the end! :o)
The people in my house of fun are by Paper Artsy, the chipboard house is from Crafty Individuals, and the cat is by me.. well, not just me, I used an icing mould and UTEE.  I tried to use my melt pot but this didn't work so I had to keep sprinkling and heating with my heat gun. 10% melted and 90% flew over the conservatory lol.
Another excellent challenge and I can't wait to see what next weeks is x

The Stamp Man Challenge Week 1

To celebrate the start of a new challenge blog over at The Stampman I challenged myself to a first and did a canvas. I've used  the sticky backed stuff  before to do the odd stamp, but I've never used a full canvas before. It really is a steep learning curve, it's a lovely surface to ink up, but I found it quite dificult to stamp into the middle portion (the bit without the wooden frame behind)
I've used yellow and orange distress inks and a Tim Holtz music stamp for the background.
The dragonfly is an Aspects of Design, again using DI's.
The flower, butterfly, and sentiment have been stamped onto tissue and stuck down with beeswax. Again a learning curve, I forgot that the reverse of the book page would show through when the wax was applied, but I'm gonna pretend that I meant to do this lol. I don't know what possessed me to start with a 6x6, it's a HUGE area to cover, so there are a few empty bits, but we've all got to start somewhere.
I really did enjoy doing this even though I was well out of my comfort zone!
Thanks very much for looking x

I'm a Believer

Yep I've finally lost the plot and made a Christmas card in July.... No this isn't me being organised it's just that the challenge over at the Sunday Stampers is Journey/Believe. Well I really do believe in Santa Clause, and if anyone in our house says any different they get one of my 'looks'
All of the images are from the same Tim Holtz set so how easy was that!
I'm really loving the distress stickles, but I keep forgetting that they come out in a bit of a blob, so my tree's well covered.
I was feeling reckless today so I've stamped straight onto the card rather than cutting and sticking lol.
You can't really tell here, but I've stamped Santa twice and coloured him in with promarkers, so he's nicely pink and jolly.
I really enjoyed making this but I don't think I'll make any more Christmas cards till mid December :o)
Thanks very much for looking x

It's A Kind Of Magic

Here is my entry to this weeks Sunday Postcard Art challenge which is magic. I was all set to do a magical mystical piece using my Merlin stamp, but all I got was lot's of white space. Aaagh nothing scares me like white space lol.
The background is chalk inks on semi glossy paper, so they smooshed together nicely. Then a bit of stamping and embossing, them more stamping. I dried it off with my heat gun - Mmm glossy paper starts to smoke very quickly...
My Knights of the Tound Table/ puddy cats, are fab downloads from
Lisa's Altered Arts These print up beautifully and I bought loads of  pages 'cos she's got a sale on. My wizard is from a sheet of Tanda stamps, and he has appeared on many an ATC of mine. The words have just been stamped, stuck, and mod podged.
Thanks very much for looking and have a fab Sunday x

It's All Hearts and Flowers

The theme this week over at Lots To Do is In Stitches. Now I am not a stitcher - I remember as a kid my mum passing me needles to thread 'cos she couldn't see the eye in the needle. This will never happen to me I thought smugly....Well Mother Nature can be such a witch!!
So after my daughter had threaded several needles for me lol I cut out my ATC base in brown felt, and stitched on various felt die cuts.
This was quite relaxing actually, I usually do my crafting tucked away in the conservatory, but this time I joined the rest of the world in the living room and watched Midsommer Murders as I stitched. Honestly who would ever want to live in Midsommer, you wouldn't last two minutes :o)
Thanks very much for looking and have a great weekend x

Who'd Have Thought - Another Tag...CoC Week 5

It's Monday again so time for Linda's CoC challenge which this week is distress embossing powder. I have to admit I have never got on with these, but I think thats 'cos I was trying to use them as ordinary embossing powders, I didn't realise that they came into their own when you inked over the top of them.
No details allowed about the tecnique, but I've used a big and juicy ink pad in Soothing Sunset - lots of lovely colours on this one from yellows through to purple.
It was all pretty pretty until I beeswaxed my bird definition, then I thought it needed tattying up, so I punched the sides with a Stampin Up punch and tied my tag on with a piece of string - extreme uh :o)
I must have looked a real fool then cos I was wandering round the garden with a tag and a camera trying to find a patch of light to take my photo in.
I really enjoyed this weeks challenge and I will definitely use my embossing powders more now that I know how nice they can lool - they're really touchy feely too.
Thanks very much for looking x

Song Sung Blue The Sunday Stampers

Here's my entry for this weeks Sunday Stampers challenge, which is 'Blue'. I've been trying for ages to make these grungy flowers, so I put on Leandra's video on Paper Artsy's You Tube channel and tried to get my head round it :o)
The stamps and dies are from Paper Artsy, I've used card and Grunge Paper for the petals, and the leaves are metal. I'm really pleased with the result, so it's all credit to Leandra, as it's a step by step copy of hers.
It's been a lovely challenge, and thanks for looking x

Our House In The Middle of Our Street

 

Here is my entry to this weeks Lots To Do challenge which is people/and or places. I deciced to use one of Crafty Individuals little wooden houses. It's been gesso'd, painted, sanded, stamped and finished off with distress stickles. None of this really shows in the photos but never mind. I really liked the shabby chic technique I tried earlier on this week, so I've used this on my roof. Lots of TH distress inks and stickles to match. I didn't really see the point of these stickles (as I bought about 12 bottles :o) ) I couldn't see that glitter would go with the grungy TH style. But I do like 'em, they are not tooo blingy, and you're allowed to put them on with your fingers!. I've been really adventurous and made myself a metal picket fence. My vintage family have been aged and UTEE'd. I'm still on a masive learning curve with my melt pot, like it cools instantly, so there's no point in making a pool in the centre of your image and expecting it to swoosh around. uh uh sets solid in the middle, but a blast with the heat gun melts it down again :o)

Thanks very much for looking, and enjoy the World Cup Final x