Off to a good start

Good afternoon everyone,

Well I've had quite a productive day - sort of!  Even managed a little bit of housework too which is a bonus.
My LIM Challenge entry is done, Twinchie is done, I'll share these with you later. But before that I wanted to show you my first attemps at the Altered Art Dictionary.
I can see this becoming really addictive. There's 1061 pages in my dictionary so it should keep me going for a while. 
I decided to use some of what was already out on my desk and this was my first page .......

KISS

 

 

 

The word was KISS.  The stamps I used are from Stampin Up! (the lips - S.W.A.K.) and Stampotique (the tiny x and the Mwah!) I stamped in Barn Door Distress Ink, and Black Versafine.

I found some Tim Holtz stamps and decided to use the old car ..........

JALOPY

...... along with the cogs from an Indigo Blu set.

And last but not least .......

SUNSHINE

SUNSHINE .......   well I can dream can't I. 
I did this after doing my Twinchie (you'll understand when you see it).  Just a couple of paper masks and Mustard Seed and Dried Marigold DI.
I've also prepped a few more pages ready to colour in at some point.  I just need to go through all my stamps now and see what else I can come up with.
If you're on Facebook, why not check out the page dedicated to this, or better still have a go yourself - you'll soon be hooked!

Off now to spend some time with Mr Grey before hubby gets home.

Bye for now

Linda

x

Monday again!

Good morning,
Happy Monday everyone.  A big Hello to my latest followers too - welcome aboard.  It's nice to have you with me.

Hope you all had a nice weekend.  Mine got off to a lovely start, I was ShowCASed over at Simply Less is More  - Whoo-hoo!  It's the first time and I'm so pleased.  LIM is a very popular Blog Challenge and there's always sooo many stunning entries every week, so to be chosen for the Showcase was a big thing for me.  Thank you so much Mandi and Chrissie, I really appreciate it. 

ShowCASed July 2012

Not sure what's going on in the old craft room this week, there's still quite a list to work through .... Tim's Tag still needs doing (MUST do that this week), and I have to make a special Christening card at some point.  There's Challenge entries to do, and I really need to get my teeth into the scrapbook I'm supposed to be doing for Lauren.  It's taking me ages.  It's my first scrapping attempt and I guess the fact I still haven't sorted out a new printer isn't helping - I need the photographs!
I've got new Craftwork Cards goodies to play with, plus, one of my purchases at the weekend was a dictionary.  Had to pick one up in town after searching high and low in the house. There must be one here somewhere, but could I find it.   Found one in a cut price book shop - 'pocket dictionary' it says on the front.  Someone's got BIG pockets if they can fit this in - it's the size of a paperback, and twice as thick!  Gives me lots of space though.
Whatever does she want a dictionary for?, I hear you all say ........ well ......  it's going to become an  Altered Art Dictionary ..........
Curious?  You can find out more about it here on Eileen's Crafty Zone.  I discovered it last week, along with Twinchies, when I found Eileen's blog (thanks to Maria). You need to go and have a look, there's some fab stuff on there. 
Eileen's also started a Facebook page for the Altered Art Dictionary, check it out here .   It's so much fun and the artwork on there is just brilliant. There's quite a few people doing this and  I can't wait to get started.  It's such a good idea, and it's great how you can just keep popping back to it when ever you like, there's no rush to finish it.  I might even get around to using some of those stamps I just had to have at the time, but haven't seen daylight  since the day they were bought - you all know what I'm talking about.

Oh, I also picked up the 2nd and 3rd 'Mr Grey' books while I was out and about, so maybe none of the above will get done, once I start reading these.  Ah well, it's a good job hubby's away for most of this week.  I'll be too busy to look after him as well. (LOL)

See you all again soon, with some craft hopefully

Enjoy your day

Linda

x

Brand New Blog challenge

Hello again,
Bit of an unexpected post but I came across a brand new Blog Challenge this afternoon and it sounds like fun.
 
I was reading my friend Maria Simm's blog and she was talking about 'Twiniches'.  What are those? I hear you say, I asked the same question.   Well, apparently they're little pieces of artwork 2 inches square - cute or what!
Maria had put a link on her blog to this new challenge so I just had to check it out.  I must say it looks fab.

You'll find all the details and rules for the challenge here.  It's called 'Show us your Twinchies Challenge Blog' and it's currently Week #1 Anything Goes.
The lady behind it all is Eileen Godwin.  Check out her blog here   What a great read, there's some fantastic stuff on there, loads of tutorials and techniques.  A very talented lady.
She also does something called the 'Altered Art Dictionary' details of which you'll see on her blog.  That too looks like lots of fun, may just have to give it a go.  

I had to join in with this new challenge, and as the deadline for this week is tomorrow at 9.00am I had to be quick.

My first Twinchie

What do you think?  As you can see, it is only 2 inches square.
The saying was perfect as the card I've used to stamp on was one of my 'happy accidents' as I call them - things that didn't quite turn out as I planned.  It's white card that has been spritzed with DI re-inkers mixed with water, perfect pearls sprayed on top then cling film scrunched over and left to dry.  I wasn't keen on how the colour turned out so it just went in my bit box, until today.
I cut my twinchie square, splodged some Picket Fence Distress Stain in the centre then stamped over the top.
The stamps I've used are from Tim Holtz, the saying is one of my ebay purchases this week and the little butterfly is from a clear set of minis.  You can also just about make out in the background a faint image which is a LOTV background stamped in Smokey Grey Versafine ink.
It's then been layered onto a piece of black cardstock and a little bit of thread added to make it look like a picture.
This was so much fun to do, quick to.  I'm going to enjoy this Blog Challenge. Thanks Maria for the link.  Why don't you join in the fun .

Thanks for looking

Linda

x

Gold!!

Hi there,
I really should have gone back to bed this morning.  I don't like Friday the 13th at the best of times, but today just isn't going well at all, but that's another story! 
I managed to throw a cup of tea all over my craft desk - trying to be clever, carrying too much and doing what we women are suppose to be good at - multi-tasking!  Luckily there was nothing on the desk, but the tea splashed everywhere.  So before I could even start this mornings task I had to clean up - great!

As usual, I'm on the last minute with a Blog Challenge entry. I really am going to have to stop this, I hate rushing things. And in true Friday the 13th fashion it's taken me 3 attempts to get something that I'm reasonably happy with.

Eventually I've manage to do my entry for this week's challenge over at Less is More .
It's a colour challenge this week, and as the title of this post says, the colour is..........
                            GOLD

I don't really use a lot of gold, except for Christmas cards I suppose, but here it is .......

I've used my favourite Stampin Up! flourish from the gorgeous 'Everything Eleanor' set, and stamped it directly onto the card using Versafine Vintage Sepia ink.
The little gold hearts are, get ready for this ......... stickers!!!  Yes, that's correct.  I've actually used a peel off (OMG! shock! horror!).  They're double-sided adhesive stickers that I have had FOREVER and I've covered them with gold gilding flakes.  I think they look quite pretty.   I used one the other day on my bank card - strange thing to do I know but I have 2 different accounts with the same bank, and both cards are exactly the same.  So that I can tell which one is my current account, I havde to mark the card in some way.

Anyway, back to my challenge entry.  I've used tiny gems to 'hang' the hearts and the sentiment on the bottom is from a Penny Black clear set of stamps, not sure what it's called, again something I've had in my stash for ages.  The 'Happy Anniversary' is from Craftwork Cards, and that is mat onto a piece of gold mirri card. 
I'll also own up ...... (I said I wasn't having a good day) ....  the tiny heart at the top of the flourish was a last minute add on.  I'd just finished the card when I noticed I'd somehow managed to get ink on it - Argghhhh!
I really didn't want to start all over again, on a fourth attempt so, hence the extra heart.  I think it looks ok.  You problably wouldn't have guessed if I hadn't mentioned it would you. Ah well!

That's it for me today.  Off for some lunch then I'm going back in the craft room to play.  Not sure what with yet but I'm sure I'll find something.

Have a great weekend whatever you're up to, and thanks for popping by.

See you soon

Linda

x

Pretty Little Prints - in full

Hi,
Hope you've all had a good day.  Has the weather been nice where you are?  We actually had sunshine for the second day running ..... let's hope it lasts.

As promised here are the full pictures of my DT cards I sent to Craftwork Cards last week.  They were all made with the gorgeous new Pretty Little Prints Project of the Month kit, available here .  It's a fab little kit and you can get so much out of it.  See what you think.

This card was made using one of the die cut frames and the outside part (the bit that's left over) of the die cut sheet, layered over one of the designer paper, on an 8x8 card.  I've inked the edges slightly to highlight the beautiful embossing.  Added some punched flowers, layered with candi for the centres. 

This one is so simple, just a little bit of matting and layering, some co-ordinating ribbon and a hand-made rose to match.

This card is sooo cute, and it's a way of using up all those little bits of these gorgeous papers, well you can't throw them away now can you!? 
I've just cut squares and arranged to give a quilted look, added some lace to the bottom edge, and used some of the new matching candi and a little bit of glitter glue to finish off.

One of the printed sentiments has been cut down a little and 'tucked' into the top of the quilt.

My favourite one, I think.  I love the gingham and the floral print together.  Again, a very simple card to make, just panels of the designer papers, inked around the edges a little, and mat and layered to give a nice layout. 
To make the rosette you need 2 strips of paper (approx 20cm x 3), edged with a fancy border punch and scored at 1cm intervals.  Concertina fold both strips, and join them together to form a circle.  Place a dot of glue (I find a hot glue gun best for this) onto a small bit of card and flatten the circle over the top to make your rosette shape.  Place one of the circle sentiments over the middle and you're done.  Attach to the front of the card and finish off with some candi.  I've also gone around the edge of each of the panels with some faux stitching.

Next is a tag card.  I love large tags as some of you already know.
Again there's nothing complicated here.  I've used one of the embossed sheets - the butterfly design, inked around the edge to bring out the design.  Made a pocket on the front from one of the papers for the tag to sit in. 

I've decorated my tag (both sides), added some butterflies inked and cut out from the embossed sheet, and some co-ordinating vintage seam binding. 

 Last but not least .......

Another card you could make from your left over pieces of paper.  Don't throw anything away!

I really enjoyed working with these designs.  It's so easy to get great looking results just by using what comes in the kit.  Go on, treat yourself while it's still available. 

Well I think that's it for tonight, it's getting late.  Hope you like my designs.

Thanks for looking.

See you again soon

Linda

x