Back home and raring to go!

Hello, I'm back!

Just a quick post to let you know I'm back on Manx soil, and hopefully I'll be back into the swing of all things crafty very soon.
I love taking my trips across to the UK, it's the coming home I don't like.  All that unpacking, washing, tidying up to do, it's just no fun at all.  But I knuckled down yesterday and all the washing is done, the house is clean and tidy again, and the cupboards are full!  Now I can get on with the important stuff - back in the old craft room.

I had a fabulous weekend with my lovely crafty girlfriends, down in London.  We did a little bit of sightseeing.  Had dinner in China Town (nom! nom!).  Shopped in Covent Garden, tea and cakes in Shaftsbury Avenue and of course, the main reason for the trip, the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace.  We had such a ball, we're already planning next year's trip!

I was ever so good, I only bought one thing that wasn't on my shopping list, it was a little on the large side though so I've had to leave it with Susan in the UK for now - I only had hand luggage and there was no way it was going in my case!!!  What did I buy???? ......... well, it's a pocket watch (for BIG pockets!).  It goes with the large clock face you can see in this picture of all my new stash - you guessed it, we went to see the MDF man!!!

I told you I'd been good.  There's not that much there, really.

This is why I bought the pocket watch ........ here's the sample that was on display on the stand .......

How fabulous is this!!!!  Follow this link, it'll take you over to the blog of the lady that made it.  There's details on products and techniques she's used to create this stunning piece of art.
No idea when I'll have the 'time' to start mine, but I've already jotted down a couple of ideas.

I can't wait to get started with all my new goodies.  You can see, I finally gave in and bought a Gelli Plate (thanks to Barbara Gray for that!)  The new JOFY stamps came home with me too, along with some Studio 490 goodies and a few other bits and bobs.  I think the rest of this week is going to be fun, don't you!

I gave you a sneaky peek of some of my Indigo Blu samples, that I left with Kay on Saturday (thankfully they made it down there ok).   Did you see the shows?  We actually watched the morning one from our hotel room before we checked out.  Here's some of my samples in full ......

This one is using the gorgeous Ella Bella stamp and the Bubble Background .........

A very simple card to do.  I lightly inked a piece of white cardstock, using Distress inks then stamped the bubbles around the edges in two shades of blue ink.  Ella has then been stamped in the centre, in black ink, and heat embossed using a clear powder.   A touch of Glamour Dust highlights some of the bubbles, and I added the word Dream to finish it off.

I also decorated one of the Folk Hearts, using the Poppy Meadow stamp set.

The heart was given a coat of white Gee-So then a layer of white acrylic paint.  I stamped the lovely sentiment in the middle, using Black Archival ink, then stamped the poppy around the edges.  I added the colour using a mix of markers and pencils.  There's a touch of Kroma Crackle on there too, just patches here and there, on the front, that have been painted over with white acrylic paint once the cracks had appeared. The back of the heart was painted with the Black Gee-So then I mixed some of the Kroma Crackle with some red acrylic paint, spread that on and let it dry. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the back, but Kay did show it on the telly.

The last one is the gorgeous Elizabeth Bennet, framed using the Vintage flourish.  So pretty!

Hope you like them.  All the products I've used can be found on the Indigo Blu Website.
There'll be more of my show samples over on the Indigo Blu DT Blog tomorrow (Wednesday) if you'd like to take a look.  If you pop over there today, you'll find more inspiration using the Indigo Blu stamp range, from the very talented Jo Rice.

I'm off now to read a bit more of my Dummies Guide, for my Mac Book.  I'm not getting very far, but I have managed to sort out my email, write this blog post (minus the pictures - haven't worked that one out yet!), and of course bookmarked some craft sites.  So, I'm getting there, slowly.

Thanks for popping by today, I'll see you again later in the week.

Cheerio for now.

Linda

xx 

Time to catch up .....

Forgive me Bloggers for I have sinned .........

It's been 7 days since my last blog post.  Where has the time gone?  I'll tell you where it's gone .........
we had another visitor at the weekend.  My good friend Sue was over from the UK, and boy was she determined to have a good time!
She arrived first thing Friday morning, and we didn't stop until she flew back to the UK on Monday morning! We had a fabulous weekend.  Any of you who are friends on Facebook will have already seen what we've been up to, but to cut a rather long story short, I think she had a ball!  She's already planning a return trip - soon!

I won't go into too much detail (we'd be here for the rest of the week).  Let's just say we couldn't have crammned more into the weekend if we tried. There was lots of laughing, chatting and catching up (obviously!).  We hit the shops and did the old purses some damage (well Sue did anyway!).
Lots of eating, and drinking went on.  And a shed load of sightseeing - we went all round the island on Saturday.  We started from Douglas and went up to Laxey, to see the Great Laxey Wheel.  Had coffee and a rather large piece of cake, in the lovely tea rooms there.

picture from google.com

Then off up to Ramsey and called in my favourite shop.  Lovely hubby bought us both a small gift in there - bless him!  Then it was off up to the Point of Ayre, the northern tip of the island.

From there it was down to Peel, and a walk around the castle.

picture from Wiki

The seal even popped his head up and said 'hello', which was nice.  Then it was on to Niarbyl, one of hubby's favourite spots.  It is rather beautiful down there, very peaceful.

Then it was down to the Sound, and the Calf of Man, the southern tip of the island.

picture from Wiki

Eveytime we've been in the past it's been blowing a gale but this weekend it was lovely.  We walked out to the cliff edge, and just watched the sea, beautiful!
We ended up back in Douglas and finished the day off with fish and chips from the best chip shop on the island (in my opinion anyway, and now Sue's too)  Port Jack - perfect!

Sunday we spent walking in Groudle Glen, (thought we'd better after the fish and chips)

and finished off with a mahoosive chinese banquet (more food!).  We spent a lovely evening meeting up with some more friends of Sue's who also live on the island (small world!).

But, back to normal now.  Busy, busy, busy!  I'm playing catchup for the rest of this week, I've got the usual 'to do' list, (as long as my arm), and I'm going away for a few days next week so most of it has to be done before I go - eeeek!
I did manage to squeeze in a Mother's day card for Stephen's mum.  Well I couldn't not really after the beautiful bouquet she had delivered for my birthday on Tuesday

Which by the way, hubby FORGOT!!!!  But that's another story.  He did eventually remember, before lunchtime.  Don't worry, he's going to pay for this one!  He took me for a lovely meal on Tuesday evening but that's no where near made up for his brief memory loss.  I feel a small(ish!) shopping trip at the weekend maybe (haha).

Anyway, enough of all that, on to the craft.  Here's the Mother's Day card ....... It's a variation of one I did for the Indigo Blu show on Create and Craft 

Isn't the stamp just beautiful, Elizabeth Bennet- it's one of my favourites from the latest Indigo Blu releases.
She's been stamped onto vellum using brown Stazon and I've added a touch of colour on the back.  I've also done a touch of parchment craft (don't laugh!) on the flowers.

Not quite sure whether it's right or not but I think it's turned out ok.
I've finished off with lots of flowers and vintage seam binding ......

And I also decorated the inside ......

The origianl card I did is on the Indigo Blu DT blog with full details.  If you've not already seen it, you can find it here
She's so pretty, I almost don't want to give her away.  She's going to a good home though!

Well I'd better get back to the old craft room, things to do.  I'm working on some samples for Kay to take to the NEC later in the month.  If you're lucky enough to be going to the craft show you may just see them on the stand.  If you fancy a look before then though, pop over to the Indigo Blu DT Blog, I posted a couple on there yesterday.

Thanks for popping by today.  Hopefully I'll be back again before the end of the weekend.
Have a great day.

Cheerio for now

Linda

x