Finished at last!!! .......

Happy Halloween ...... or Hop tu Naa as it's known in the Isle of Man,

I hope you're having a good week. 
Things are a little less busy here ........ thank goodness.  Although saying that, it's November tomorrow, and we all know what happens at the start of a new month ........ lots of Blog challenges, so you'll be hearing from me quite a bit in the next few days.
I'll also try and catch up with all my Blog visiting too.   I do apologise if I haven't made it over to see you yet ..... I will get there, I promise! I don't want to miss anything!

It's been a nice week actually .... the weather's been good, although I think all that's about to change.  I was in town this morning and it was a little bit cold and grey.   Fingers crossed it stays fine for this evening ....... there's a little velociraptor that's looking forward to going Trick or Treating (I've had to stuff a tail this morning ..... but we won't go into all that!)

Last weekend was workshop weekend ...... the last of the calendar pages  Whoo hoo!!!
Not everyone could make it unfortunately but, the ones that were there finished all three pages. 
I'm so proud of them, they've all worked so hard over the last few months to get their calendars finished and I think they were all pleased with the results ........ here's a little look at some of their favourite pages .......

Sorry but I can't remember which page belongs to who but there's ...... Carol W, Carol J, Lyn, Mandy, Jenny and Ruby.  Well done, your calendars all look amazing!

We had just three pages to do.  On the two calendars I've been doing I had August left ...... we used stamping and simple masking techniques, watercolouring and acetate smooshing.

November ........ I'm loving these new large stamps from the Colorado Craft Company.
More masking, this time masking off the background to add colour to the leaves using Distress inks

I also did some stamping with different coloured inks ...... very autumnal!

And we finished with October .......

The calendars have been a big project but, I do think it's been worth it.

The final workshop of the year is in November ...... and it's Christmas themed ..... Ho! Ho! Ho!
I just need to get a move on with my finished sample.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day, and have a fabulous Halloween or Hop tu Naa
Happy trick or treating!

See you in November! ........

Products used:
Stamps: Butterflies, Sentiments (Inkylicious); Elements of Style (SU! - discontinued);Handpicked Bouquet (Altenew); Big & Bold Oak Leaves & Acorns, Jack-o-Lantern (Colorado Craft Company); Trendy Leaves (STAMPlorations); Maple Leaf (Clarity)  
Inks: Various colours of Distress Inks and Distress Oxides; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
Others: 2020 A4 Calendar (Papermill Direct); Clear embossing powder, Gold Embossing Powder (WOW!); 

A quick catch up ....... well maybe not so quick!

Happy Tuesday ........

Are you well?
What a busy old month October's been ....... I can't believe it's almost over!
Since we went away on holiday at the beginning of the month, life's been going at 100mph!  Not that that is anything unusual here but ....... I need to catch my breath before we head into the festive season.

Santorini seems such a long time ago .........

It was just what we needed ......... a week of total relaxation staying at a lovely hotel, amazing views,  good food, nice wines and beautiful warm sunshine. 
The suntan may be fading fast but, we have some fabulous memories.

While we were out there we visited one of the many wineries on the island ........ well, it would have been rude not to wouldn't it! 

We had a great day, starting with a tour of the winery itself ......

The place was huge ...... just look at all that wine!

Some ageing very nicely .......

Considering the climate they have and the volcanic 'soil', it was interesting to see how it goes from these little babies ..........

to this .......

We did a fabulous wine tasting whilst we were there ......... what they call a 10 Wine Flight

10 taster sized glasses of a selection of wines they produce, with food.  Maybe we over indulged just a little, but it was fun. 
We spent the evening watching the sun go down in the company of Meryl Streep ........  in other words Mama Mia on the laptop!  We know how to party! 

Since all that it's been non stop.  We came back from holiday for a few days, then we were off to the UK.  One reason was to see the family ..... father-in-law isn't very well again.  He's having treatment so we're keeping our fingers crossed.

The other reason was to go to the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham.
Hubby's been talking about getting a motorhome for a few years now so we thought we'd pop over and take a look ..... we weren't going to buy one, we just wanted to do a bit of research that's all.
We walked miles that day, saw many, many motorhomes .......

We talked to a few people, decided what we wanted and OK ....... we bought one!!!
It'll look like this .....

It's not ready until around the end of March next year so watch this space ......... we'll be going a road trip or two!!!

We got back from that little trip and it was still non stop.  Blog posts, a new release from Uniko, I had a workshop at the weekend (more about that later), as well as all November's projects to finish.

We had another wine tasting last Thursday.  Not the same views as the last one we were on but the wine was just as nice and the food was delicious.  Hubby and I were joint winners of the evenings competition too ......  it appears I know more about Rioja than I think I do, either that or we spend far too much time in Wine Down!!

We also went to the ballet last Friday ...... a first for us but we really enjoyed it.
The Russian National Ballet performed Swan Lake at the Gaiety Theatre, and it was amazing!

Well I think that just about covers the last few weeks ........ normal service will resume shortly!
 
It's half term on the island this week so I've had company in the craft room today.  Didn't get much done but at least my desk is tidy.

I'm having a day off tomorrow and going up North ...... Maughold to be exact, for a lovely crafty get together.  I'd better go and get my bag packed ...... now where did I put my Gelli Plate?!

Thanks for popping by ...... enjoy the rest of your day.
We're having a quiet night in this evening ......... I'm cooking, so I'd better get a move on!

Cheerio until next time ......

Uniko New October Release ........ Blog Hop and Giveaway

Happy weekend everyone .......

Yes I am still here .... sorry I haven't been around much lately, things have been so busy around here since we got back from holiday ...... the last couple of weeks have gone by in a bit of a blur! 
Don't worry I'll fill you in on everything once things have calmed down a little!

Today though we're starting the weekend with a fun Blog Hop and Giveaway over on the Uniko Blog.
There's a brand new release ....... if you were lucky enough to go to the Happy Stampers Festival at Port Sunlight earlier in the month you'll have already seen the new goodies.  If not, check out the New Arrivals section on the Uniko website, they're all available on there now!

There's some new stamps ........ a brand new stencil design and, some gorgeous new dies all with a festive feel.
Here's one of the new stamp sets ..... Festive Sentiments Outlined.  These are going to be so useful.

I've used a whole bunch of the sentiments together here, to create a cute Christmas Tree ......

I simply lined up the sentiments on my MISTI, stamped and heat embossed them in gold and then coloured in the letters using ZIG Markers

A few dots of glitter glue here and there for added sparkle ......

And a simple hand cut from Kraft card, tub for the tree to sit in .....

There's a great selection of sentiments in the set ...... this is one of my favourites

I've stamped with a black ink ...... using first, second and third generation stamping to get that fade out look

Instead of adding colour to the letters, this time I used a Quickie Glue Pen and sprinkled fine crystal glitter over the top.  This goes perfectly with the gorgeous new Uniko Sparkling Snowflake Die ...... how pretty is this!

I die cut the snowflake from white cardstock (twice) and again from silver mirri card.  The silver mirri layer I then coloured using Alcohol Inks.

I finished off with a layer of crystal glitter to give the snowflake a real frosty look.

I layered all the snowflakes together to give it some dimension and then attached it to the front of my card using foam pads.

This is just two items from the latest Uniko release, carry on through the Blog Hop to see the rest.
All the details can be found over on the Uniko Blog.

                                                                             Carol 
                                                                          Hannelie
                                                                              Izzy 
                                                                             Jane 
                                                                             Julie

Linda (that's me!)

Rahmat

Sarah P

Happy hopping!

Thanks for popping by, enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.
It's a busy one here today, I have a workshop so I'd better get a move on ...... time for a coffee first though I think.

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:
Stamps: Festive Sentiments Outlined (Uniko)
Inks: Versafine ink;Versafine Clair ink - Nocturne; Alcohol inks - Stonewashed, Sailboat Blue &  Snow Cap Mixative 
Others: Sparkling Snowflake Die (Uniko); Gold Embossing Powder (WOW!); ZIG Clean Color Brush Markers; Gold Glitter Glue; Fine Crystal Glitter, Quickie Glue Pen

CAS Stencil Challenge Reminder .......

Happy Friday ......

It's time for a quick reminder for the October CAS Stencil Challenge.  There's still time to play along if you fancy joining in.

Loll is our host this month, and the theme is all about using Patterned Papers with your stencils.

We all have stacks of patterned papers, some we just look at and stroke occasionally (please tell me I'm not on my own there!).  We have our favourites that we go to all the time,  and then there's the ones at the bottom of the pile, we don't use them but we can't throw them out.

Well, why not use your stencils over the top and give them a completely different look .......

Here I used a leftover piece of patterned paper that has a vintage script design (not sure of the brand as it was in my bit box). 

I stenciled over the top using Black Archival ink applied with a sponge, building up the depth of colour gradually so that the ink didn't bleed underneath the stencil

I didn't want to cover the patterned paper completely, I quite like the script, so I kept the stencil to one side and off the edge.
I also like how the script shows through the black ink, it's like the design on the paper has acted as a resist

I added a few drops of  glitter glue .....

and finished with a simple, heat embossed sentiment ......

Check out the CAS Stencil Blog for more inspiration using stencils and patterned papers.  The Design Team and our Guest Designer Gundi have some fabulous ideas for you.

Happy stenciling!

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

Cheerio until time .......

Products used:
Stencil: Black Orchid stencil (Sweet Poppy Stencils)
Stamps:  Hello stamp  
Inks:  Black Archival ink; Versamark ink
Other: Patterned Paper; Gold Embossing Powder (WOW!); Nuvo Glitter Drops

We're off again! ........

Happy Thursday .......

I hope you're having a good week ..... it's been a little crazy here.
I don't seem to have done much other than washing and ironing this week ..... the joys of coming back from holiday!  It doesn't help that we're off again this evening, although we won't need a summer wardrobe this time!

We're off to the UK to see family.  Fingers crossed the weather's good because we're taking the ferry across.  Looking at the forecast though, it could be a bumpy ride.  Luckily we've booked a cabin so we can sleep all the way there.

There's another reason for our little trip ......... wait for this ........ we're going to the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the Birmingham NEC!!!
Hubby's been after a motorhome for years, and our little trip around Scotland earlier in the year convinced him even more.
We know nothing about them so we thought the show would be a good place to start ..... have a look, decide what we want, do a bit of research before we take the plunge.  I have a few ideas on what I want so it could prove interesting ........ there needs to be room for my craft supplies!

Speaking of which, my craft room doesn't know I'm back.  I haven't had chance to get in there this week.  I've got a whole bunch of new stuff too, and haven't had time to play. 
We're only away until Sunday evening so next week things will be back to normal ...... a workshop to prep, blog posts to schedule, a Blog Hop coming up next weekend for the Uniko new release and of course Christmas!  It's going to be a busy week.

Before we went away on holiday I did finish another spread in my Art Journal .........

 
Acrylic paints, stenciling, pages from an old music book ......

Embossing powders to add texture ......

Rice papers ......

And the words are from a napkin ......... I do love this saying

Oh well, I'd better get a move on, the suitcase isn't going to pack itself.  Coffee first though I think.

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

Cheerio until next time ...... I'll let you know how we get on at the show!