Quick! Quick! Quick!

Evening all,

It's the last day of May (last few hours actually!) so that can only mean one thing ...... it's that time again when I've been frantically searching through all my stash to see what I have and haven't got off the recipe list for my Tim Tag.  What a challenge it's been this month .... so many choices to make .... I'm not good at making decisions (ask hubby!), especially quick ones.  But time's running out so let's get on with it .......

Tim's Tag for May ......

and here's my version .....

Why I'm always doing this on the last day of the month who knows ....... maybe June will be different (yeah right! maybe NOT!)

Anyway, this was fun to do ...... it made me look through all those boxes of metal trinkets and charms, you know the ones that we all collect, to use on those 'special' cards and projects but, when it actually comes down to it ..... we can never bring ourselves to use.  Well ...... here's a few bits and bobs ..... like my last Idea-ology crown (need to replace those ...... fast!!)

One of Tim's fabulous metal Arrows (love those!), and a cute little resin heart, that's had a touch of the Treasure Gold treatment (I actually made a mould of this before I attached it to my tag ..... now I can make some more!)

I had to have a key on there somewhere too ......

And I made my own little pendant charm using one of the Botanical Remnant Rubs covered with a clear dome from the Idea-ology Cash Keys

You'll find details of all the techniques used, and how to put a tag like this together over on Tim's blog, including what you can do with the fabulous new ShadowPress Debossing Folders .......

How cool are these!!

Anyway, I suppose now that the tag is actually finshed I should get it onto the challenge site before the time runs out completely.

Thanks for popping by ...... I'd like to say Welcome to my latest followers too .... thank you for taking the time to visit, it's so nice to have you with me.

Enjoy your evening (what's left of it!) and the rest of the weekend.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Some Birdie Loves You .....

Morning ...... Happy Friday!!

These Bank Holidays don't half mess up my week .... and we've got another one to look forward to next week!  Yes next Friday is a Bank Holiday on the Isle of Man ......  the TT Senior Race Day.  At least it's at the end of the week!
Anyhow ...... what happened to the last 5 days?  In fact ..... what happened to May!?  It can't be June at the weekend, that means it's only 2 weeks before we're off to the Cotswolds and less than 5 weeks until we go to Vegas!  So much for getting organised with blog stuff etc.,  for while I'm away.   I'd better get a move on next week otherwise I'll be packing some craft stash to take with me!!

I'm joining in the fun over at Less is More again this week, and we have a Recipe to follow ......

We have to include a

DIE CUT

Well ..... as it happens I received my goodies from Make the Day Special Stamp Store earlier in the week .......  my LIM Monthly Winner's prize.  Luckily I'd chosen a cute little stamp set along with matching DIES - yeah!!! (amongst other stuff!!!)

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

 

Two cute little lovebirds ..... so tweet!

The stamp set is called 'Love Birds' and has a matching set of dies, by WPlus9 Design Studio. 

How cute are these little guys ......

We used to have an aviary a few years ago, no love birds in there but we had Parakeets, Australian King Parrots, Canaries, Budgies, a right old mix. They all had names too!  My favourite was a Princess of Wales Parakeet ...... called Belle.  She would follow me round at feeding time then settle on my hand while she ate.  We sold it all when we were planning to move to Spain ..... but that's another story!  Maybe one day we'll do it all again.

Sorry ..... I digress.  I added a touch of embossed detail to the bottom of the card and the sentiment ....

Mat it on to some matching green cardstock  and attached it to the front of a 7x5 cardblank.

For the inside I used a bird again, without die cutting him this time, and just perched him cheekily on the branch.

I love my new stamps and dies .... thanks again LIM for choosing me as a monthly winner.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy your day.  I'm off for coffee and a good old natter with a friend this morning.

Cheerio until next time .....

Linda

xx

Rain Rain Go Away .......

Happy Saturday evening folks,

How's your weekend going?   Would you believe we had a lovely day up until about 5 o'clock this afternoon, when the sun did his disappearing act, the skies turned a horrible shade of grey and the rain started.  And boy did it rain!!  Just in time so that the first TT practice and qualifying session had to be cancelled.  Let's hope things go a little better on Monday night!

Just a quick post this evening with my latest festive make for the Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge

This week the ladies have gone all floral ....... the challenge is 

Use a flower or flowers

I've gone with the very traditional Christmas bloom ..... the poinsettia

I decided to use my lovely Clarity snowscene again .... I do like this stamp and it's so quick and easy to use.

I stamped the image using Onyx Black Versafine ink and then cut around to give me a nice square panel.
I added the greeting from the Tim Holtz Deco Christmas stamp set and the pretty cluster of poinsettias.

A touch of fine gold glitter to the centres adds a bit of sparkle ..... well it is a Christmas card after all!  And of course some crystal glitter for the snow

I stamped around the edges of a piece of red cardstock using the poinsettias, attached the snowscene to the centre using foam pads before adding it to the front of a 6x6 cardblank.

The same image was used inside the card .....

...... and I added a sentiment, that I think I've already used a couple of times on my Christmas cards, from the Penny Black 'T' for Transparent  Christmas Cheer.

And that's another card done for the festive box.  What am I going to fill my time with in November/December ....... I'm sure I'll come up with something!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Say it with ..... Flowers

Happy Friday folks,

It's the weekend ..... yeah!! and it's a nice long one again too.

After going AWOL from the old craft room yesterday (well we all need a break every now and again!) .... I've got a bit of catching up to do over the next few days.  So much for getting organised and on top of stuff before the holidays!!

One job I have done though is my card for this week's Less is More Challenge.

I got a nice surprise last weekend to find out that the monthly winner from February had generouly passed on her prize, and that I'd been chosen as the new winner for the month - whoo hoo!!  Thanks ladies, it's most appreciated.  My prize has been well spent!

Great little online store

It's Theme week this week and we've been given ...

FLOWERS

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

Hope I've left enough 'white space' ..... I started off by using the Memory Box Honeycomb Stencil and some Distress inks - Scattered Straw, Wild Honey and Worn lipstick

I then cut my flowers using the Penny Black 'bashful' die.  The whole thing was cut twice from green cardstock,  and then just the flower head  twice again this time from hot pink

I layered the two together and added some Mustard Seed Distress Glitter to the centres.  They were then attached over the stencilled honeycomb ..... nice and simple.

The sentinment is from Stampin Up! .... it says it all

And for the inside I used the honeycomb again, and the left over piece from my die cutting as a stencil  ..... waste not, want not!

It's the start of the Isle of Man 2014 TT this weekend

  

Things are beginning to get a little busy over here.  We were over in Italy this time last year, we got away from it all.  But, we've decided to stay put this time and join in the 'fun'.   Practice Week gets underway tomorrow .... weather permitting of course.  The sun is shining at the moment so fingers crossed everything's good.

Well that's it from me today ... the little man has just arrived so I'm on Grandma duties now.  It's all strawberry milk and trains for the next few hours.

Thanks for popping by ..... you can also find me on the Creative Studios DT Blog today if you fancy a look

Enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend ...... Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Spent up ..... again!!!

Happy Thursday to you ..... what's left of it!

It's been a busy, expensive, non crafty day today ..... I haven't even set foot in the old craft room, except to look for an envelope for a birthday card!

The day started with a family trip to the dentist ..... wish I hadn't bothered!!  Not only did it cost a small fortune what with check-ups, x-rays, the hygenist etc., etc., but I have to have a filling too ... oh no!!  I suppose it had to come eventually ...... it's my first one ..... ever!!!  I'm quite proud of the fact that I've got to 52 and the worst I've had is a scale and polish!

To make up for the trauma of first thing, Lauren and I hit the shops ...... mother and daughter out for a little retail therapy .... always expensive!  Lauren's good at spending money ..... especially mine!

I did my fair share too I suppose ..... there wasn't much left when I got home .....

Speaking of shops ...... fresh on newsagents shelves this morning is the latest issue of Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine .... Issue 124.

Guess who's in it? ........... yours truly, along with Lisa Baker, another of the IndigoBlu DT members and the lovely Kay Halliwell-Sutton (the Boss!). 
We've been busy creating home decor projects for an IndigoBlu 'Off The Page' feature ..... there's even a sneaky peek at mine on the magazine cover .... so excited!

Oh well, I'll need to get an early start tomorrow to make up for my 'day off'.  There's still a little bit left on the 'To Do' list before the weekend starts.

Thanks for popping by today ..... and thank you and welcome to my latest follower, I really do appreciate you all taking the time to visit and read my little old blog.  It's kind of nice reading all your lovely comments too!! 

Enjoy the rest of your day ..... and cheerio until next time.

Linda

xx

All that Glitters .....

Happy Wednesday evening,

How's your day been?  Mine .... has been one of those days for getting things done!  DT stuff sorted and blog posts done.  Paperwork gone through and dealt with and the house is tidy ..... even the craft room.  Well, it was until I made a start in there again this afternoon, now it's back to square one with that one I'm afraid.
I have crossed a couple of things off the 'To Do' list though so it's fine ..... I can tidy it all again tomorrow.

Time is running out to get my entry in for the Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge .... 2.  A two weekly challenge based around the fabulous techniques found in  A Compendium of Curiosities Vol 3 ...... the latest of the Compendium books from the Master of Distress himself.

The sponsor for this challenge, and all even numbered CC3 Challenges is The Funkie Junkie Boutique

There's a fabulous $25 Gift Certificate to spend in the store, for one lucky winner and there's also a  collection of  Tim Holtz goodies up for grabs, courtesy of Tim himself and the lovely Mario.

Challenge 2 is all about Tim's Distress Glitter Technique, details of which can be found on page 56 of the book.

Here's what I did with it .....

I started by making my tag base ....... using Distress inks to colour a Size 8 Manila Tag.  I used  Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold and Worn Lipstick and blended them all over the tag.  I then flicked a little water over the top, let it sit for a few seconds then dried off the excess with kitchen roll.
I then added the look of another layer using Tim's Clockwork Layering Stencil with a touch of Tea Dye Distress ink.  You can't really see it on the finished tag, but trust me it's there.

I then stamped over the top using stamps from one of my favourite Tim sets ..... Papillon.  I used the large background stamp all over the tag, and the butterflies down the edge .... you can just see these peeping out.

Then on to the fun part ....... I die cut some butterflies, using the Movers and Shapers die, and the weathered clock from grunge board.  The clock I painted using a metallic paint,

and the butterflies were done using the Distress Glitter Technique ..... I won't go into detail, you'll have to refer to the book for that!

Aren't they pretty though .....

I've used a few colours here ..... Spun Sugar, Tumbled Glass, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint.  There's some Black on there too .... made by colouring the Clear Rock Candy dry glitter with a little Black Alcohol ink.

I finished my tag off with a few metal Idea-ology Cogs, some paper flowers from my stash and some leaves cut from the Garden Greens die.

The letters are from a pack of the Idea-ology Signmaker Alpha-Parts .....

Phew!!! ...... all done in time for the CC3C challenge .... in fact I'm entering this into TWO Challenges .... the second one is over at Country View Crafts.  Their theme this month is  ......

NATURE'S GLORIES

I think it fits don't you.

Thanks for popping by ...... I'm off to curl up with my book and have an early night.  Hubby's out on the town on someone's leaving do so I'm not expecting him home this side of midnight!

Cheerio until next time .....

Linda 

xx

I've got the Blues ...... the IndigoBlu's

Happy Wednesday folks!

It's the 21st of the month again .... soon comes around doesn't it!   Of course, that means it's time for a new theme over on the IndigoBlu Challenge Blog.

Thanks to everyone that entered the challenge last month.  We had some fabulous entries for Words are All You Need.
Congratulations to the winner ......

Number 17 ......  Gwen

Enjoy your prize.

Don't forget to check out the Challenge Blog to see if you're entry was chosen as one of the DT's Top 3 for the month too.  

On to this months theme ....... 

MONOCHROMATIC

It's all about using one colour, or shades, tints or tones, of one colour.

I went with ......... BLUE

I love this little Wild Flowers stamp, it looks fab whatever colour you use.

I started out by masking off the edge of a square piece of white cardstock, then added colour using Distress Inks - Stormy Sky & Faded Jeans.

I then flicked some water over the top and used kitchen roll to mop up the excess

With the masking still in place I stamped the Wild Flowers across the bottom of the card, using Majestic Blue Versafine ink

I coloured in the flowers using the same Distress inks I used for the background.  I applied the ink directly to my craft sheet, spritzed with a little water then used a paint brush ..... quick and easy.

The masking tape was removed, and I added some navy blue satin ribbon across and finished it with a bow.  The final touch was my sentiment ...... from the Grand Tour II set, again stamped in the Majestic Blue Versafine.

The whole thing was then mat onto some navy card and attached to the front of a 6x6 cardblank. 

Here's a look at the inside too .....

Go on .... get out your IndigoBlu stamps and give the challenge a go.  There's a great prize up for grabs again this month ...... with a little something extra added on ..... oooooh!!!  Curious?  Then hop over to the Challenge Blog to find out what.

It's also my turn to post on the IndigoBlu DT Blog today ..... why not head on over there later to see what else I've been up to ..... here's a little sneaky peek at today's project ......

Thanks for popping by........ enjoy your day.

Cheerio until next time

LindyLou

xx

Seeing Stars .....

Happy Sunday folks .....

Hope you're enjoying the weekend ........ I'm looking forward to a nice quiet, relaxing day today.  It's been a a busy week with one thing and another.

The weekend got off to a great start on Friday night, with a bit of a do!  Did anyone see The One Show on BBC ....... live from the Villa Marina on Douglas Prom? Yes, the one and only Chris Evans and Alex Jones were up on the balcony at the Villa, hosting the show.  It was all to do with the handover of the Queen's Commonwealth Games Baton, which arrived on the island on Friday.
There was also a Gala Dinner which we had invitations for ...... ooohh!

Out came the posh frock, hubby in a tux and off we went ...... It was a lovely evening, a fundraising event for the Isle of Man team competing in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year.
Champagne reception, and a fabulous meal.   Tim Stimpson .... ex England and British Lions Rugby International was the after dinner speaker ....

And BOND, the best-selling string quartet in the history of the music industry brought the evening to a close.

Oooh .... and some of the guys from the Full Monty were on stage too.  The show opened on Friday night at the Gaiety Theatre in Douglas and they popped in and did a 'performance' ...... say no more!

We had a great night, lots of fun and more importantly lots of money made for the Manx team .... Good luck in the Games!

(Yes .... the flowers off the table found their way home with me ..... well it would have been a shame to leave them!)

I was even up bright and early on Saturday .... because I had a day of crafting to look forward to in the company of a bunch of fabulous ladies .... wasn't going to miss that!

I even found time yesterday to do this week's festive card for Merry Monday
The latest challenge is ...... to use Stars

I've used just the one ...... 

Classic ivory and black cardstock with the gorgeous Christmas Star from Stampin Up!

It's been stamped using IndigoBlu Flitter Glu and then gilded using the Manchester Tart Mega Flakes

Then sentiment is from Penny Black (I think!) and again it's been gilded, this time using IndigoBlu's Chariot of Fire Mega Flakes

I don't seem to have many Star rubber stamps ..... this is as close as I could get for the inside ....
I think it works.

Hope you like it.

Thanks for popping by today ...... second coffee of the morning coming up.  Then we're off out for Sunday lunch ..... told you I was having a lazy day.

Enjoy your Sunday
Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx