It's Monday again ........

Happy Monday morning .....

I hope you've had a good weekend.
Are you ready to start the week with a little crafty project?
Why not pop over to the Uniko blog,  as I've got a Design Team Inspiration post on there today, using the gorgeous Pure Florals - Peony stamps, from the last Uniko release,  to create some pretty Artist Trading Coins

Even though the peonies in this stamp set are quite large, you can still use them on smaller projects.  Pop over and let me know what you think.

It's going to be an other busy week coming up ...... we have more birthday celebrations.  It was Lauren last week ..... my little girl is all grown up!

And Chris's turn this week ..... another night out! 
I have lots of stuff to do in the craft room, and we're celebrating Burn's Night on Friday ..... I'm looking forward to that one.  The owner, and chef, at one of our favourite restaurants is a Scotsman so it should be a good night.  Delicious food, paired with the perfect wines, and no doubt a wee dram, or two.  I wonder if I can get hubby to wear a kilt!?
What are you up to this week?

Time for a quick coffee now I think, before I get started.

Thanks for popping by .... have a great week.

Cheerio until next time ......

Let it Snow Artist Trading Coins .........

Happy Wednesday .......

A very wet, and very windy Wednesday here in the Isle of Man .... or as we say over here 'it's blowing a hoolie!!'  I have to go out in it later too, not looking forward to that!

Let's quickly talk Artist Trading Coins again shall we ......... circular pieces of artwork, measuring two and a half inches in diameter, and like ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) they are made to swap.
If you haven't made any yet, trust me when you do you'll be hooked!

Here's set number three ....... Let it Snow! made for a Christmas Swap that's currently going on on Facebook ...... 

They're made from little MDF circles, painted with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic Paints, and then I've stamped and heat embossed the snowflakes (from Tim Holtz Swirly Snowflakes) using a sparkly white embossing powder ......

The words (from the Happy Little Stampers Let it Snow stamp set) have been stamped using Black Versafine ink and heat embossed in clear, so that the ink is set and won't smudge

And I've finished off by adding a few dots of White Enamel Accents onto the backgrounds

Why not check out the Facebook group and join in the Christmas swap.

I'm also sneaking in before the deadline for November's Country View Crafts Challenge which is all about Artist Trading Coins.

Thanks for popping by ...... enjoy the rest of your day. 
I'm off into town shortly ...... I won't be staying long!  Well, I have a date with Mr Buble and this to decorate when I get back ...

It's been up since Monday so I think it's time it was filled with pretty baubles don't you!

Cheerio until next time ......

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.

EDITED ........ to link up to this month's Country View Crafts Blog Challenge which is all about Artist Trading Coins.

Cheerio until next time ....