We're heading home .......

Happy Thursday ......

What's this .... no tag?
No, I've got something a little different today ...... Artist Trading Coins. 
If you're not familiar with these, they're just like ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) except they're circles.  Two and half inches in diameter and, as with ATC's, they can have any design on them or be any theme, and they are mean't to be swapped.

I recently became a member of an ATC/AT Coin group on group on Facebook, started up by the lovely Kylie (Addicted to Stamps and More).  There's quite a few of us on there now, from all over the world, and the idea is we swap our little works of art with each other. 

There's a swap going on for November, we have to create a set of three Coins with a Christmas theme.  This particular set will be winging its way to Australia very soon!

These coins are made from MDF, which is a great surface to work on.  They can be made from card though ..... perfect if you have a 2.5 inch punch.

I gave the coins a quick coat of white gesso then painted them with a PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint. The stamping has been done using a brown Archival ink.

Santa ......

Rudolph ...... (just look at those eyes!!!)

and I had to give him a shiny nose .......

and finally the poinsettia, which has been stamped in Versamark ink, and then heat embossed in copper, and coloured using one of the paints again

If you're on FB and fancy joining in, check out the group .... we're a very friendly bunch!
You'll find all you need to know about making AT Coins and ATC's and how to get involved in the swaps etc.
I will warn you though .... they are very addictive, and so much fun to make.

I've gotta dash ... we're heading back home today, on the afternoon ferry.  Fingers crossed it's a little calmer on the water than it was when we came over.  Although, it sounds like its a little windy out there so maybe not!

We've still lots to do this morning though, including the packing! I'd better get a move on.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and I'll see you on the other side.

Cheerio until next time ....

Guest Designer of this year's 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll and Friends

Happy Wednesday evening ......

Yes it's me again!   As you all probably know by now, and if you don't then where have you been?!!!! ....... it's the time of year when the lovely Loll Thompson hosts her 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends

It's year number 5 for this fun event, but sadly, this is the final one.
So, whether you're a regular to this event or, you've never played along before, this year is your last chance!

We're at Day 10, and there's been some amazing tags so far ..... so much gorgeous inspiration. Check out the blog ......  I promise you, you won't be disappointed.

As you know I've been playing along all week, but today, I'm thrilled to say it's my turn to be Guest Designer ...... thanks for having me again!

 

When Loll invited me to share in the event, this little guy had just appeared in the craft room. 
He's called Bundled Up ..... he's from Penny Black ....... and he's just sooo cute!!! I love him .... can you tell!

I've stamped him here onto Kraft cardstock using Distress Oxide inks and I think he looks fab!

I did use my MISTI,  stamped one colour at a time,  and built up the image gradually. 
So, I stamped the hat and his eyes with Black Soot, added the holly and the berries using Peeled Paint and Festive Berries, his carrot nose with Carved Pumpkin,  then I did the scarf with the red again ..... you see what I mean.

Once I was happy with the depth of colour, a quick blast with the old heat tool to make sure the ink was dry, and then I went over the top of the inks using Prismacolor Pencils in the same shades, to give a more solid, detailed look

To colour his face and body I used PaperArtsy's Snowflake Fresco Finish Acrylic Paint mixed with a little water, and finished with a white Prisma pencil over the top.

I heat embossed the sentiment across the bottom ......

A little bit of white ink dusted around the edges of the tag, lots of chunky white embossing powder to give the snowy effect, and some crystal glitter for a little icy sparkle to finish.

 
The festive red berries are Nuvo drops ......

I've had so much fun playing along with all the 12 tags events ..... thank you again Loll, for having me as one of your Guest Designers ..... it's been an absolute pleasure.

I do hope you can join in the fun, and make this final event the best one ever!
Full details, and a list of prizes up for grabs can be found over on Loll's Blog.

There's still lots of time to play along.  I know we're nearly at the end of the 12 Days of inspiration tags but, the actual link where you can add your own tag is open until November 23rd.

Happy stamping!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your evening.

Cheerio until next time .....

I'm keeping up with this year's 12 Tags ......

Good morning!  Happy Wednesday ......

It's the middle of what is proving to be a very busy week.  So much to do and only a couple of days left to do it in!
In between spending time with the family, we're trying to fit in as much as we can whilst we're over in the UK ...... we don't get here as often as we would like.

I've time for a quick blog post though.  This morning I've got my tag number 9 for this years 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends (I'm amazed I've managed to keep up!)

It's another CAS(ish) design, using one of the new festive stamp sets from the lovely Julie Hickey. It's called A Winter Scene, and I just love these cute little houses .....

They were stamped directly onto my tag and heat embossed using a gold EP.  I then embossed one of the stamps again, this time onto a separate piece of white card.
I coloured the houses using ZIG Markers and then fussy cut around the top edge of the ones on the separate piece of card.
Shades of blue Distress Inks have then been blended across the top of the tag, and splattered with a little water over the top to create a snowy looking backdrop before finishing off with some chunky white embossing powder.

A simple sentiment stamped in gold ink on the fussy cut layer, and a touch of sparkle from some crystal glitter .....

This was then layered over the top of the houses which had been stamped directly on the tag, cut down to size to fit the tag, and then attached using foam pads to create a little dimension .....

I really must start thinking of gifts to put all of these festive tags on.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.
I will be popping back later on though!

Cheerio until next time ........

Tag number 8 for this year's 12 Tags event ......

Happy Tuesday .......

It's tag time again, and I think this is one of my favourites so far .....

I'm definitely going for the CAS look with this year's designs.

I must admit, I am a bit of a traditional gal when it comes to Christmas ...... festive red's and greens, and I love the frosty looking metallics with pretty gold and silvers.  Saying that, I may have to change my colour scheme just a little bit this year, if we end up with the Christmas tree I have my eye on!!

This is my Tag number 8 for the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends

I'm having so much fun playing along with this year's event .... have you joined in yet?

White cardstock for the tag ...... gold and silver metallic inks for the snowflakes .....

with one beautiful, large snowflake heat embossed over the top .....

A little bit of ink splattering on to the background ..... I used the same gold and silver inks that I stamped the snowflakes in

And then a simple greeting on the bottom ..... stamped in black Versafine

I love how this turned out!

We had a bit of a change of plan yesterday. 
The main reason for our trip across to the UK, for those of you that don't know, is my father-in-law had to go into hospital last week for a major op.
It's been a worrying few days but, I'm glad to say everything went well, and he was released from hospital yesterday, earlier than we expected, so that was great news. 
He's now home and taking things easy ..... hopefully (he's not one for sitting around doing nothing) ...... and fingers crossed, he's on the road to recovery.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time ....

Is it time to put the tree up yet? .......

Happy Monday .....

I hope you've had a lovely weekend, and that it wasn't too wet and windy where your are. The sun is shining here this morning so finger's crossed it's going to be a nice week.

We're staying in a cosy little bungalow called Robin's Nest.  It's so cute, has everything we need. We've been settling in over the weekend, as well as catching up with family.

It's the start of a brand new week.  Only 6 more to go ..... and it will be Christmas Eve.  Just saying!!
We were actually looking at Christmas trees over the weekend .... not that we need a new one, but ..... they were soooo pretty!

I'm starting this week with another Christmas tag ...... I'm really getting into the spirit of things now .... Ho! Ho! Ho!  

I'm playing along with the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends

I'm up to Day 7 ....... and I've gone for the CAS look again.  (I'll have to make do with this Christmas tree for now!)

If you've been following this years 12 Tags event you will have seen all the fabulous, festive designs from Loll and her Friends, along with all the gorgeous tags in the link up gallery ..... there's so much inspiration, and we all need tags at this time of year!  Go on ..... join in the fun!

As I said, I've gone for the CAS look again, using one of my favourite embossing folders ..... SU's Softly Falling

I stamped the tree first onto my tag, using Olympia Green Versafine ink, and then ran it through my Big Shot using the EF

A touch of glitter on the branches, and random 'snowflakes' adds some festive sparkle.  And of course a little greeting on the bottom .... and that's another tag done.

I'm getting quite the collection now.

I might even have some parcels to put these tags on later.  We're off to the Christmas Markets in Manchester later this afternoon ........ I'm so excited!  Gluhwein and bratwurst, delicious hot chocolate and Stollen, and hopefully a few nice bits and bobs to fill Christmas stockings.

photo from the Manchester Evening News

There won't be too much mulled wine though ...... we're meeting up with some friends there later and then we're off to a Brazilian restaurant ..... I think its Brazilian anyway.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time .....

We made it!!!

Happy weekend folks ........

Yes, it was a little touch and go there as to whether the boat would sail yesterday but ...... we made it! Despite the torrential rain and the hoolie of a Force 8 gale that was blowing, the ferry left on time and we arrived safely on the other side, ahead of schedule. 
I won't deny it was a little on the bumpy side ........ and I was very nervous as we left (my sea legs are not that good!)   We'd booked a cabin though so we were fine.  As we left Douglas we snuggled down and let the boat rock us to sleep.  We woke on the other side, with the captain announcing we were ready to dock ..... phew! 

So ....... it's back to business.
I'm a little early again with my tag number 6 for the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends
(I'm not sure how today's going to go so I thought I'd post it now while I have the chance!)

Yesterday Loll and Christine, her guest designer, posted two gorgeous cute designs so I'm following their theme today with a whole load of cute snowmen.  Hmmm ..... I wonder, what do you call a group of snowmen?  Please leave your answers below!

I stamped the snowmen (Newton's Nook Frozen Fellowship) onto a piece of white cardstock and fussy cut around the top edge

I added some colour using ZIG markers and little bits of sparkle here and there with some fine crystal glitter.

I then inked around the edges of my tag using shades of blue Distress Inks (Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire) and splattered with a little water. 
I let the water sit for a few seconds then mopped up the excess with a paper towel, leaving what I think is a great, easy to do, snowy sky effect

I stamped my sentiment and heat embossed with WOW Platinum EP, and then attached my snowmen towards the bottom of the tag, using foam pads to add dimension .....

Well, that's another one done.  I might just even find the perfect gift for it to go on whilst I'm over here in the UK.  There will be some Christmas shopping done at some point, I'm sure of it!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.

Cheerio until next time .....

We're going on a boat ......... hopefully!

Happy Friday .......

Well the bags are packed, my craft room door is closed, and we're nearly ready to go. 
BUT ...... the weather is a bit of a problem.  We've got rain, wind, and more rain!  Delightful ....... especially when we're booked on the boat!!  Oh well ..... the weather is one thing we can't control.  Serves us right for booking a ferry trip in November I suppose. We'll just have to sit tight and hope the storm passes quickly. 

In the meantime, I'm playing along with the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends again. 

I'm a little early for the official Day 5 post but, here's my Tag number 5 ........ and we're going a little bit vintage for this one

I do love poinsettias at Christmas .... but as I think I've told you before, I'm not very good at keeping the real ones alive!

This one looks healthy enough though ...... stamped ones I can cope with!

This beautiful bloom has been stamped and heat embossed in gold, onto the bottom of my tag and then again onto separate pieces of cardstock, and fussy cut so that I could layer up the poinsettia to add dimension

I coloured each of the layers using ZIG markers and sprinkled the petals randomly with Chunky White Embossing Powder ...... love this stuff!

Before layering the flower, I masked off the image on the tag and used a music stamp for the background, before adding my sentiment

I used various shades of brown Distress inks around the edges, splattered a little water on the top, then finishing off with a touch of Walnut Stain around the very edges

A little more of that Chunky stuff gives a really snowy look.

Thanks for popping by ...... I hope the weather's a little nicer where you are.  Enjoy your weekend.

Whilst I've been chatting, it's actually stopped raining.  It's still blowing a hoolie though! I'm not getting too excited just yet, I've checked the website for the ferry sailings. The morning one was definitely cancelled, but at the moment the Harbour Master is saying, that there could be possible delays to the evening one, we have to wait for the forecast later.
We have to check in at the normal time and hope for the best!  Whatever happens it's going to be a bumpy ride.  The joys of living on this beautiful island, in the middle of the Irish Sea!

See you on the other side ..... I hope!

Cheerio until next time .......