To Have and To Hold ........

Happy Friday!

Wow! This week's gone fast ...... and this month, can't believe it's the 1st September on Sunday.  It's not been a bad month, the weather's been great, we've spent time with the family, the football season has started - yeah! (my boys are top of the league for now!) and ...... I've had 2 magazine articles - whoo hoo!!!
Twice I've been doing a merry dance around the craft room, and there's not that much room in there to be dancing let me tell you!

The latest one is in the current Create and Craft Club Magazine.  I did mention it last week I know - sorry to go on about it! But I've actually got my hands on a copy of the magazine now, thanks to my teamie Clare.

It's an article about making your own Wedding Stationery, and they've used a whole load of my samples in the pictures.

the latest edition of the Create & Craft Club Magazine

The main part of the article, and the step by steps all refer to this set I made using the gorgeous IndigoBlu Anenome Corner (available now as a Duet set)........ they do look a little different from the magazine, these have no sentiments on them -  but they're definitely my card designs in the mag!

 

I didn't get the set of Wedding Words stamps in time so I had to send all my samples off for the show, and then Kay actually added the words to them for me.
It's a beautiful pair of stamps for making Wedding Stationery, very elegant I think, and I love the cream, gold and black combination.
Here's another set that I made, this time with the words ......

Another set they've used, which they've called 'Feminine Fairytale' is this one .......

Again, Kay has added the sentiment to one of the cards in the magazine.  These have been designed using the beautiful  IndigoBlu Love Is stamp (again available in the Duet Version - isn't the small one just adorable!).  I've used one my favourite techiques for colouring the background card - spritzing white card with Distress Inks, using the re-inkers mixed with water, then spritzing Perfect Pearls over the top.  You get a  lovely delicate shimmery effect, perfect for wedding stationery  Just look at all the detail in the stamp too.

And finally, they also included my monochrome set.  Really quick and easy designs to do, but I think they look really elegant and classy.  And lets face it, if you are making a whole set of Wedding Stationery, from the Save the Date cards right through to Menus, place settings and favour boxes, you want them to be as quick and easy as possible, but still look like they've cost a small fortune. 

 

I used the gorgeous IndigoBlu Vintage Flourish stamp for these - love this stamp!!!  I've added just subtle hints of gilding flakes on the cards, using the ultra tacky, red, double-sided tape - simple.

Again Kay added the sentiments for me.  I suppose her name should have been on the article too - thanks Kay, you did a great job :)

Create and Craft have also included a couple of cards from other designers too, using the same IndigoBlu stamps, just showing different ways of using the images to create beautiful wedding stationery.

It's the first time I've read the C&C magazine (I'm not a C&C club member, so I don't get a copy normally).  It's not a bad little read, loads of ideas in there with tips and techniques from all those talented craft experts that do the shows.  There's an interview in this month with the lovely Anne-Marie from Hunkydory, I haven't seen her in ages, we used to work together before I moved to the Isle of Man -  oh happy days.

There's even a couple of my designs on the Crafty Christmas Countdown pages, along with some from Clare and I think Kay might just have one in there too  ......  OK OK  I'll shut up now!!!

latest edition of the Create and Craft Club Magazine

So, all in all, not a bad month.  Looking forward to September though, it's going to be a busy one.  Chris goes back to Uni, we've got 2 weeks in the UK spending time with family and friends, lots of crafty get togethers hopefully, and then I'm back over again at the end of the month, for the Happy Stampers Show at Port Sunlight.  And in between all that I've got the usual stuff to do - bring it on!!

Thanks for popping by today.  Have a lovely weekend.
I'll be on the Craftwork Cards Blog briefly tomorrow, to announce the winner of my mini book giveaway from Tuesday....... Good luck if you've left me a comment!

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

At least I've given it a go ........

Hi everyone,

Yes it's me again, two days on the trot ....... things must be looking up!

Well it's the middle of the week, already!!!  I'm never quite sure what day of the week it is after a Bank Holiday, I just know that the weekend creeps up that bit faster.
 
Things are looking pretty good in the old craft room though, just one thing left on August's list - the Timmie Tag!
I've not been looking forward to this one at all.  I have ....... wait for this ...... NOTHING, well very little on the materials list except the markers, ooh and the Distress Ink pad.   I didn't have the right colours of stain, hadn't got any of the stamps (I have very little in the way of stamps to do with travel so it would seem).  I didn't have the mask stuff that Tim's used, and my Idea-ology box is looking rather empty at the moment.
But, I gave it a go anyway, that's what it's all about taking the idea and doing your own thing with it.  Plus I couldn't miss one, could I!!?!

This was Tim's inspiration .......

in fact he's made 4!!

All fabulous of course - love the one with the ship.  Mine on the other hand, is not up to scratch this month.....

It started off ok, the colours I used seemed to blend nicely, I went with Gathered Twigs, Iced Spruce and a touch of Antique Linen to lighten things a little.  So far so good ........ next came choosing the stamps.  As I said I have very few travel related images, in the end I went for one of my IndigoBlu sets - Grand Tour III, I do like this set of stamps, the balloon image especially, and I love the compass.

I stamped the balloon slightly off the edge of the tag, and the suitcase down at the bottom, and then started to make my masks.  I love doing the masking technique, it really is a great way to build up your finished pictures. 
Once the balloon and the case were all masked,  I then stamped the Eiffel Tower (one of Barbara's Clarity stamps) on the right of the tag and then made a mask for this.
The trees were then stamped along the bottom, using the Pumice Stone Distress marker to ink the stamp.  Next I started to fill in the background around the main images.  I used one of Sam Poole's designs the Postcard Background stamp, and added a bit of colour with the Compass image from Grand Tour III, inked up using the markers again.
I finished off by adding a couple of small Paris postmarks using a Tim Holtz stamp from one of his clear sets.

I love the look of layers that you can achieve with masks, it's not a difficult technique at all, you just have to think before you start.  Whatever you want to be at the front once everything's finished, needs to be stamped first and masked and then everything else stamped after, masking as and when needed - great fun.

To finish off I added colour to the balloon using my Distress markers, highlighted the Eiffel Tower with a touch of Clear Stardust pen, and finally added a stamped ticket to the bottom.

I'm glad that's done!


I've also posted on the IndigoBlu DT Blog today.  For those of you who saw Kay on the telly on Saturday, and those that didn't, I've posted the details for one of my card designs that she did a demo of .......

Thanks also to those of you yesterday wishing Chris well at Uni.  He's not long to go now before it's back to the life of a student, for a while anyway.  I am going to miss him, although it does mean that the food in the fridge will last longer and there'll always be a cold beer.  Not to mention the ironing pile shrinking to something that doesn't remind me of a small mountain.  Speaking of which that's the next job on today's list - oh joy!

I can't quite believe I'm saying this but, I'm actually going to start September's 'To Do' list tomorrow - whoo hoo!  What's the betting I'll still be on the last minute with most things though.  There's no fun in being super organised is there!

Thanks for popping by today.  After yesterday's little blip in the weather over here where we had a spot of rain, Mr. Sunshine is back today.  Maybe summer is going to last a little longer after all.

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

Finally ...... it's finished!

Happy Tuesday!

Did you all have a good Bank Holiday Weekend?  I do hope so seeing as how it's the last one before Christmas.
I spent most of mine in the old craft room catching up with stuff!  Well, there was no point in trying to go anywhere with the Manx Grand Prix roaring it's way around the island.

At least the weather's been good all weekend, so race week got off to a great start. It's raining today though, but I don't think it's a race day so no problems there.  Does this mean summer is over? (sigh!) 

As I said I've been busy trying to catch up with stuff.  I realised that it was my day to post on the Craftwork Cards DT Blog today and I had nothing prepared (oops!)  Yesterday was spent making a cute little mini book with the Time Flies Collection
Here's a little sneaky peek ........ if you'd like to see more you'll have to pop over to the Craftwork Cards Blog

Over the weekend I also got around to finishing a birthday card for that very special little man that visits over here regularly .......... Alex.  He's three in a little over 3 weeks ...... boy has that time flown!!
What do you think?

It's actually a Melanie Heaton design, done on one her Cricut Workshops I went on earlier this year - back in March in fact!   As soon as I saw what we were making I knew exactly who mine was for.  It's perfect for him.  It's taken me a while to get around to finishing though - good job I took pictures at the workshop otherwise I would have never remembered where all the pieces went!
The whole card front has been done using the Cricut machine along with the Nate's ABC cartridge. And in true Mel form there's lots of layers and lots of dotting and dashing. It was a very busy workshop, she doesn't half make you work.

This little guy moves around - he's on a wobbler, so cute! 

I've changed mine a little from Mel's original design, it's slightly smaller to begin with,  which meant that everything couldn't go on the outside, but ....... I put it on the inside instead ....

I do like to decorate the inside of my cards as you know.

All the lettering has been done using the Cuttlebug Alphabet dies - Olivia, and the balloons are cut using the new Penny Black die - uplifting

Now I just have to find, or make an envelope big enough.  I think I may just wrap it instead!!

It's the big countdown this week for our eldest - Chris.  He finishes his job on Friday, ready to go back to Uni in Sheffield the weekend after (sigh!).
 

Next week is going to be chaos getting all his stuff ready.  I'll be washing and ironing for England, and no doubt there'll be a shopping trip sometime during the week, that's going to cost a small fortune.  Not to mention the Leaving Do at the weekend, that's going to get messy!   Oh well, it's his final year, hopefully it'll all be worth it at the end.

Thanks for popping by today.  You'll be seeing me again later in the week, I've still got my Timmie Tag to do.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

Playing catch up again .....

Happy Friday!

What's this ...... twice in one week, I'm spoiling you.

Not much crafty stuff today I'm afraid, as you know this little guy took up most of my time over the weekend.

 We had to have a trip to the playground of course

Carousel rides with Grandad down in Silverdale Glen  (the carousel is powered by a water wheel, it's really cool)

We had to try out the big slide too.  And then of course there was the party on Sunday .......
lots of running around playing football, bouncy castles galore, and the biggest bouncy slide I've ever seen (for such a little guy).  He did get up there though .......

Wasn't too sure about coming down again ........

until he tried it .......

then we couldn't get him off ....... except for the face painting that is .......

Then is was straight back on there ....... (sorry about the picture quality - he was going at some speed!)

He's such a little sweetheart ....... and so chatty now.  He's given me a list of what he wants for his birthday (September), with Buzz Lightyear being at the top of the list (Good job he hasn't changed his mind - Buzz is all wrapped and ready to go!)  Then he's listed everything he wants Santa to bring for his train set.  Seems I'd better start shopping now!!

I have been busy with DT stuff since he went home.  I told you Kay was back on the telly this weekend.  IndigoBlu are taking part in this Bank Holiday Giveaway thingy on Create and Craft.  She's on at 10am and 4pm (I think that's right - check your TV guides to make sure) on Saturday 24th.  That's Sky channel 671/Freeview 36/Freesat 813 and Virgin 748.

It's a Christmas show with all the latest stamp designs, new samples to give you more ideas on how to use the stamps, and brand new demos from Kay, with lots of great tips and techniques.

Here's a couple of sneaky peeks of what I sent over yesterday .......

 

 

 

Speaking of Create and Craft, I'm in the new club magazine - whoo hoo!!!  My IndigoBlu Wedding Stationery designs have been published.  That's twice in two weeks ....... I'm absolutely over the moon!

My lovely DT buddy Clare is also in there, along with a couple of cards from Jo Rice.  Can't wait to get my hands on a copy and have a read.  Clare has kindly put one in the post for me, as I don't get a copy -  I'm not C&C Club member (hang my head in shame!)

Thank you for popping by today, sorry I've not had much to share with you, craft wise.  Over the next couple of weeks I'm going to try and get myself organised a little.  Well, I'm off across to the UK again on the 6th, and I need to get all my DT stuff done and ready to go.  I will be taking craft stuff with me this time though (we're in the car, on the ferry, so I can load up the old craft trolley and take it with me) I'm hoping to spend some inky time with my crafty buddies while I'm over there.

Oooh........ I do have some crafty stuff ..... I've posted on the Creative Studios DT Blog today if you fancy a look.  It's another Christmas Design using Sam's latest stamps.

Well, that's me done for this week.  We've got the Manx Grand Prix going on at the moment - 2 weeks of chaos again.  Practice Week finishes tonight, and Race Week starts tomorrow (joy!)   That means the roads will be closed from about lunchtime while the races are on.  We're right in the middle of the course so, unless we get out before they close the roads we won't be going anywhere.  I think a quick trip to the supermarket in the morning then it's off to the old craft room for the afternoon.  I can't think of a better way to spend the weekend ..... can you?!

Hope you have a lovely weekend, whatever you're up to.

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

It's Wednesday ....... it's the 21st ....... it's challenge time!!

Morning everyone,

Happy Wednesday!  It's the 21st of the month again, and the start of a brand new Forever 21 Challenge over at Indigo Blu.  First though, Congratulations to (drumroll please) ...........

Norma A   

our fab winner from last month.   Thanks to everyone that entered, there were some great Christmas designs.

Onto this month though, and the new theme is ........

Shabby Chic

What exactly is 'shabby chic'?  Well, if you're not sure, you can find a description on Wiki   My idea of 'shabby chic' is vintage style, distressed yet feminine looking, something that's been treasured for years.  The look of worn paint, with hints of ribbons and lace.  Lots of flowers and pearls.

What do you think? .......

 

I found this lovely photo frame in a little shop in Broadway, in the Cotswolds. (I actually bought a couple as they were really cheap - wish I'd got more!) 

I removed the glass panel and just did a touch of dry brushing on the frame with some of the Indigo Blu English Cottage Artist's Acrylic Paints - Pink Iced Gems and Frosty Sky, to give that aged look.

I then lightly rubbed over the frame in places, with some Flitter Glu and added Winter Dawn Mega Flakes
(my favourite of the flakes I think ....... apart from Chariot of Fire, Royal Peacock, Autumn Blaze .... oh well, I guess I just like them all!)

The stamp set I used is called Music Hall.  This was one of the first sets of IndigoBlu stamps to find it's way into my collection - I just love the words.

I cut a piece of white card to fit inside the frame, then added some colour using Distress inks - Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and a touch of Pumice Stone just around the edge (I'm loving this colour at the moment!).  You can see I left the centre of the card white as I wanted the words to stand out a little once the frame was finished.

I stamped the words onto a Post It note, cut around them and made myself a mask.  With the mask in place, in the centre of the piece of card, I stamped the sheet music from the Music Hall stamp set using Onyx Black Versafine ink, second generation stamp.  I then removed the mask and stamped the flourish in two opposite corners using FlitterGlu and the Winter Dawn Flakes

 

The actual words have been stamped onto the front of the glass panel, using Black Stazon ink, then both the glass and the stamped card were put back into the frame.

To decorate the frame, I added lots of paper flowers, resin roses, and metal leaves.  I've added a couple of pearl hat pins, some vintage seam binding and a pretty metal bird cage charm. 

The final touch was the banner across the bottom.  The words are from the Music Hall stamp set again, stamped onto a scrap of white card, cut into a ribbon shape and curled to add the look of movement.

Hope you like it.  Are your inspired to create something 'Shabby Chic'?  If you are, you have until 8pm on the 20th September to get your entries in.  I can't wait to see what you all create - Good luck!


I'm also entering this into a couple of other challenges that are running at the moment ......
There's one over at CountryView Crafts, where the theme is Quotations and Sayings  I think it fits the bill there.
And then there's Our Creative Corner.  Their current theme is Words, Words, Words, again I think it qualifies, don't you.
Not bad eh, 2 challenges and a DT piece in one! Whoo Hoo!!

Thanks for popping by.  Enjoy the rest of the week.  Mine's going to be a busy one, I need to get back in the old craft room and get some work done! 
I've had my hands full for the last few days, with this cuddly little monster .......

...... no time to craft, what with train rides, looking for pirates, carousels, walks on the beach and an exciting day at a party, there just wasn't enough hours in the day. 
He went back home yesterday (sigh), so it's quiet again around here.  Lots to keep me busy though.  I need to get samples done for the weekend (eeeek!) - Kay's back on the telly on Saturday.  I'm not sure of the show times yet, I'll check on that and get back to you.

Oh well, can't sit around here chatting I'm afraid. It's time to grab another coffee and lock myself away for the rest of the morning.  See you later.
 
Cheerio for now

Linda 

xx

Golden celebrations

Hellooo,

How is everyone? It's been a bit of a funny old week.  The weather is definitely changing (sad face), the heating actually came on a couple of mornings this week so it must be getting chilly.  Typical though, I've got Alex and Lauren coming over tomorrow, and we've a party to go to on Sunday so the weather was bound to change wasn't it!  Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

I've actually got a card to share with you today - whoo hoo!  It was the in-laws 50th Wedding Anniversay on Saturday - Congratulations Mum and Dad.   That's a Silver wedding and a Golden wedding in the space of 2 weeks, that's a lot of wedded bliss!  They're actually away at the moment so they haven't seen the card yet - don't think they'll be checking my blog whilst they're celebrating on their Rhine River Cruise do you (hope not anyway)

I decided to keep it relatively clean and simple.  I used the Hero Arts Leafy Vines stamp and the sentiment is Today Tomorrow from Inkylicious   Both stamped using IndigoBlu Flitter Glu and then flaked in Chariots of Fire Mega Flakes - simples!

Now, would you believe I had to to the 'Happy Anniversary' on the computer.  Could I find a stamp in my stash - NO is the answer.  I don't have a 'Happy Anniversary' stamp - unbelieveable!!  Guess what I'll be buying at the next Craft show!  Anyway, I added the 50 and used the flake again.
A little bit of matting and layering, a pretty organza bow, with a resin rose and a couple of hat pins in the centre give a nice elegant finish, I think.

They're back home on Thursday, so hopefully it will be behind the door waiting for them.  They can keep the celebrations going a little longer.

Speaking of celebrating, I did a happy little dance around the craft room on Monday when this popped through the letterbox .......

Why? ........ well I'm in it this month.  Yes, I've been published (page 66) using the fabulous IndigoBlu products .... I'm so thrilled.

 

Oh well, must dash.  I've still a lot to get through before trouble arrives tomorrow.  No doubt Alex will want to spend time with Grandma in the craft room at some point.  That means all DT stuff needs to be finished or put out of the reach of small hands.  I'd better get a move on.

Just a couple of reminders ........ Craftwork Cards launch on Create and Craft today - 1pm and 7pm and also 5pm on Ideal World.

And Sam's on the telly too with Creative Studios ...... she's back at 2pm this afternoon on Ideal World.  It's all go!

I've also posted on the IndigoBlu DT Blog today, if you fancy some more crafty inspiration ....... 

Thanks for popping by today.  I'm not sure if I'll be back this week or not, I'm going to have my hands full ....

I'd better go and clear the desk.

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx