Welcome to 2019! .......

Happy New Year everyone .......
Let's hope it's a good one!!

Now that all the festivities and New Year celebrations are over ...... (and the headache's gone ...... just!) it's back to business as usual.

The craft room door is open again ...... yeah! You should see the state of the place though ...... it took me a while to find my desk!!  Now everything's on the floor but, at least I have work space ..... which is good, as I have lots to do!
 
Let's get 2019 underway, with my first Blog Challenge of the year ....... it's the Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge.  We've got a real fun theme/prompt for you for January ..... Washi Tape

We all have it ...... rolls of it probably, but do we ever use it?  The answer to that for me is ..... NO!  Not very often.
Don't get me wrong, I love it ....... there's some really pretty designs out there, it's just I never really know what to do with it.  I can't wait to see what you all come up with.  I hoping for some tips!

My inspiration piece for you is really simple but ........ maybe not as 'clean' as it should be.

Looking at the photo, you might be thinking  "she's lost the plot here ..... where exactly IS the washi tape?" 
Well ...... the whole panel is washi tape ..... I said it was simple!   
I've used this gorgeous design from Altenew ...... it's called Painted Fantasy and the roll is mahoosive!!!  It measures almost four and a half inches across ..... and the floral design is so pretty.  You can either use it as I have here, the full width of the tape or, you could fussy cut each of the floral sprays and really make it go a long way (I might try that actually)

I simply cut a piece of white card to size, and completely covered it with the tape .....

I added a few splatters of gold ink over the top .......

and a thin strip of black card along the bottom ......

I stamped and heat embossed my sentiment in gold onto a snippet of black card, and then attached it to the front using foam pads ........ easy, and I love the result.

I also added a little off cut strip of Washi Tape to the inside ...... don't want to waste any of it.

Another quick and easy design is to use the Washi Tape with your cutting dies ......

Same idea of covering a piece of card with the Washi Tape, then I used a fancy edge die to cut the card in two.  This is a great little trick to do if you need to make your topper a little bigger ..... stretch it kind of, to fit your card front

I stamped my sentiment in the gap, bending the clear stamp to follow the curve of the card.

To finish off I stamped and heat embossed the Thanks, and used the co-ordinating die to cut it out

And just because I can't throw anything away .... I used a little left over piece to make a little matching gift tag

I think I shall be using my Washi Tape a little more often now!

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

It's going to be a busy few days in the craft room.  It takes a while to get back into the swing of things, and there's some exciting stuff coming up too.  I'd better clear my desk again!

Cheerio until next time .....

Embossing Washi Tape .......

Happy Tuesday to you,

I hope you had a great weekend and that your week has got off to a good start.  

We actually had a little bit of sunshine over the weekend, so out came the BBQ which was nice.  I got a day off cooking as hubby's the one who cooks outside!

I've got a card to share with you today ...... it's been a while!

I saw this technique on Facebook, from Stamptastic Designs ........ I think I've got that right, I hope I have!

You may have already seen this done but I must confess, I hadn't and I just had to give it a go.

It's simply, using washi tape (we've all got rolls of that!) and an embossing folder ....... how easy is that!  But WOW ....... love the results!!

I've had this roll of Washi Tape forever, so I doubt that this particular design is still available .... sorry! 

It was from Altenew, and it was called Painted Fantasy. 

Now you're thinking ........  how could she possibly remember that!?  Well, I didn't.  What I do remember is, using it once before on a Blog Challenge so, I did a search here on my Blog.  And guess what ...... I found it!  I said I'd had it a while but, really ......... 2019!!!!!!!  Oh my goodness.  Oh well, at least I'm using it now.  I saved it for this very card.

So,  the technique ............. I simply put the washi tape onto a piece of white cardstock.  The tape is nearly 4 and a half inches wide so it's great for making card fronts.

I then took the panel and using the pretty Piped Floral Lace 3D Embossing Folder from Altenew, which has recently found its way into my craft room, I ran it through my Big Shot.

Voila!  How easy is that ....... and the results are gorgeous!

I trimmed it down a little and mat it onto a piece of white cardstock before attaching it to my cardblank.

There's so much detail from the 3D embossing folder,  adding to the already pretty floral design of the washi tape, I don't think anything else is needed.

Except a sentiment of course ......... stamped and die cut. 

I am going to have to get some more washi tape ........ this technique is soooo cool!  I love how this has turned out and I know exactly who the card is going to! 

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

Are you following the World Cup?  We're huge football fans here so we're looking forward to tomorrow evening, when England play their first game.  There's been quite a few surprises in the games played so far, so who knows what's going to happen tomorrow. 

It's also Royal Ascot this week (I'm a horse racing fan too).  This could be an expensive few days!!

Cheerio until next time .........

As this is the first time I've used the EF I'm going to link this up to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge (Challenge #87)

Products used ......

Embossing Folder ....... Piped Floral Lace 3D Embossing Folder (Altenew)

Stamps ...... Opposites Attract Sentiment Stamps (The Greetery)

Dies .......  Opposites Attract Matching Dies, Opposites Attract Script Dies (The Greetery)

Inks ....... Versafine Clair - Nocturne, Distress Oxide - Picked Raspberry

Other .......  Painted Fantasy Washi Tape (Altenew) no longer available (sorry!)

Finished ........ I think!

Happy Friday .......

Happy Good Friday actually ......... I hope your Easter weekend has got off to a great start.

It's been a bit of a lazy day here ...... a late start, then a spot of lunch in town.  Good food and a cheeky glass of wine or two to get the weekend started.  

I'm hoping the weather gets a little better as the weekend goes on ...... we're having a family BBQ on Sunday.  I want to try out the new garden furniture, fingers crossed we'll need the brolly to keep the sun off, and not the rain!!! (Probably shouldn't have said that ...... oh well!)

I've been busy in the craft room this last week ...... Sweet Poppy are back on TV next week so I've been having a play with some of the new stencils for the show ........ if you love Lavinia stamps then there's something for you in the new releases.  Watch this space ...... I'll show you what I've been up to next week.

In the meantime, I've also been playing in my journal again.  I'm trying to get my desk tidy, and finish off things that have been lying around for ages.  We're also off on another adventure in the motorhome next weekend, so I'm trying to get my crafty calendar organised before we leave ...... as if that's going to happen!!!

One thing I've kept going back to time and time again, and never been able to get very far with, are two pages in one of my journals.  

Well .......... I've finished them (yeah!) ..... I think!

They started out as mop up pages, oooh, absolutely months, and months, and months ago!  

I've no idea whats on there, as far as product information goes, lets just say there's a little bit of everything gone on at some point!   

They were somewhere I used to clean brushes off,  put left over ink or paint, or even try out new colours of paint. 

I do remember having an idea of putting ink or paint in the centre of the pages, and then closing the book to see how it spread ....... I did like that!  I've no idea what colours, or inks I used ..... it's definitely pink though!

I can see I added some left over pieces of washi tape, old book pages and a little bit of embossing powder here and there .........

There's some texture paste on there, used with my favourite brickwall stencil.  A bit more ink and paint over the top, maybe even some gilding wax, and thats how the pages sat for such a long time.

But ....... a quick scroll through Pinterest whilst having a morning coffee, and I was all inspired again.  

I found some die cut hearts in my bits box and set about trying to match the colours

With the help of some scraps of old book pages again, music paper and washi tape, heat embossing and a whole load of distress colours, I think I got there in the end

I added a little bit of stamping onto the background using an old script stamp, and finsihed off with some paint splatters and a couple of chipboard sayings from Tim Holtz

I'm saying it's finished but, who knows I might go back to it again at some point!

That's the fun of journals ..... nothing is ever finished, there's always room for little extras!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day, and have a lovely Easter break

Cheerio until next time ........

Did somebody say cake? ........

Happy Wednesday ......

I hope you had a lovely Easter weekend ....... for once I didn't eat my body weight in chocolate eggs!! Too busy in the craft room trying to find my mojo instead.

I'm playing along with the AAA Cards Clean and Simple Challenge again.  It's game #187 and the challenge is ........ to use Two Quarters of your card. 

I hope this fits the bill .......

I've used the top two quarters and stamped the cute little monster in each one ....... don't think it quite meets with the optional twist though

I've stamped them both off the edge, one each side keeping plenty of white space in the middle, and I used Distress Inks and ZIG markers to add the colour

I added a strip of washi tape across the bottom, and a touch of shading with Distress ink to sort of ground the little guys,  and finished off my card with a fun sentiment.

We've had snow here on the island the last couple of days.  In fact, over the Easter weekend we've had weather for all four season's of the year!!  The Isle of Man weather is changeable if nothing else! 

The end of last week we thought Spring had definitely arrived.  The sun was here, and it was warming up nicely.  We took full advantage and mowed the lawns, pressure washed the patio and got the garden furniture out. We cleaned the barbeque, and even filled the hot tub! 

Saturday/Sunday we thought summer had arrived.  Glorious sunshine and it was warm.   We had a lovely, socially distanced of course, get together with the rest of the family, now that we're allowed gatherings of up to 10 people outside, and we enjoyed our first barbeque of the year.

Glad we made the most of it when we did ..... what a difference on Monday.  It was sooo cold, it felt like winter again.  The wind was howling, and the snow came on Tuesday.  Thankfully it didn't stick around.  We had some today but again it disappeared as fast as it came.  We just need the temperature to go back up now.  Don't think we'll be using the hot tub again just yet ....... brrrrrrr!!

Another bit of excitement over the weekend was ....... the world's largest sailing yacht has been sat in Douglas Bay ........

                                       (photo taken from Facebook ....... Isle of Man by Drone)

Apparently it's owned by a Russian billionaire, cost an absolute fortune, and it is HUGE!!!  I think it's been sheltering from the weather but, who knows!  The can't come onto the island as our borders are still closed!

                                       (photo taken from Facebook ....... Isle of Man by Drone)

                                        (photo take from Facebook ....... Isle of Man by Drone)

Just to get a sense of scale of the yacht ...... look at the guy checking the mast!!!!!  This thing is huge!!!

Thanks to Isle of Man by Drone for the photos ...... hope they don't mind me taking them from Facebook!

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

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:

Stamps: Monster Love (Concord & 9th); Birthday Messages (Mama Elephant)

Inks: Versafine /Clair - Nocturne; Distress Inks - Salty Ocean, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed

Other: ZIG clean Color Brush Markers; Washi tape from my stash

Have you taken up the challenge yet? ........

Good morning folks ..... Happy Friday!

This is a scheduled post as I'm currently across in the UK.  Probably drooling over my new craft stash purchased yesterday at the Stitching, Sewing and Hobbycrafts show in Manchester!!!

I just wanted to remind you about the latest Take It Make It Challenge over on the Craft Stamper Blog ...... it's all about Stamping on Tissue this month.

As always there's a fab prize up for grabs ..... and this month our sponsor is Julie Kirk!

Check out her online store to find some fabulous, unique craft supplies like these .......
Washi Tape Rings .......

How useful are these ..... and for the prize this month you get TWO of them ...... yes TWO!  Not only that, you get the Washi tape as well ..... all 13 rolls!  (The gorgeous purple tote, unfortunately, is not included in the prize, that belongs to our lovely Trish ..... sorry!)
The DT will also check out all the entries and choose a Top 3.   The overall winner will not only get the fab prize from our sponsor, but their work will be published in the Craft Stamper Magazine (whoo hoo!) AND they'll be invited to do a Guest Designer Spot on one of the future challenges ..... so it's worth entering.  Get that tissue paper out!!

Stamping onto tissue eh! ...... this is so much fun to do, and there's so many ways to use the technique.
Last week I showed how to use ordinary man-sized tissues and cover an MDF piece.  This week I've used actual tissue paper .... you know,the stuff you use to wrap gifts.

I've decorated a plain white, inexpensive, church candle and turned it into a pretty Autumnal gift, with a matching card.

I stamped the leaves directly onto some white tissue paper, using a mix of colours of Archival ink. cut around the images and then placed them onto the candle.  Using a piece of waxed paper to hold the tissue leaves in place, I then used my heat gun to 'melt' the tissue into the candle wax.  This doesn't take very long, you can see the stamped images change slightly through the waxed paper and the tissue disappears into the wax completely ...... cool or what!?

I added a pretty ribbon bow to the bottom and some seasonal foliage ......

I used the same stamps to create the matching card ...... the pretty Maple Leaf Clear Stamp set by Clarity

I masked off a panel across the card and used Distress Inks to add the colour ....... Peeled Paint, Wild Honey, Festive Berries and a touch of Aged Mahogany.
With the mask still in place I spritzed the ink with water, let it sit, then mopped up the excess removing some of the ink, to give the spattered look.
I then stamped the leaves, still with the mask in place, using the Archival colours again.

I added the sentiment underneath, and finished off by adding a tissue paper leaf directly onto the card

Now it's your turn.

You have until midnight on Wednesday 24th September to get your entries in, and our winner will be announced on the Craft Stamper Blog on Friday 26th.  Good luck everyone!!

Thanks for popping by ..... have a great weekend!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

My first Craft Retreat

Good morning everyone, 
This is actually a scheduled post, written by me in the early hours, as there isn't enough time during the day to fit everything in. I thought you'd waited long enough to hear about the rest of my craft week away.
I'll apologise now as it's rather a LONG post - quite a few photos I'm afraid.  So grab yourself a cuppa and away we go.

As most of you know I was lucky enough to go on the recent Secret Craft Retreat run by Indigo Blu.
Wow! Wow! Wow! is all I can say - When's the next one?, and book me on it!!
I had a ball.  It was two days, with overnight accomodation, absolutely crammed with craft (with a little bit of mischief and fun thrown in too!)
It was all organised by two lovely ladies Kay Halliwell-Sutton and Sarah McCrossan.

Kay

Sarah

Ooh mustn't forget Alfie too, Kay's hubby, who worked very hard in the onsite IB shop and coped extremely well with 27 females who wanted to purchase just about everything in there!

We stayed at a beautiful place called Stephen Park in the heart of Gisburn Forest.  I could have stayed there all week it was so peaceful - well apart from us!
My first day was spent with Sarah, and she had two projects for the group ....

 

 ........... a lovely notelet/writing set and a canvas.

Everything in the writing box was handmade, notelets, gift tags, we even made some decorated tissue paper and put some of that in here.  It was so much fun, and by the end of the day, even though we'd all done the same, everybody's projects were different.

Here are my creations ......

Everything was decorated using the fabulous Indigo Blu stamps (of course!) and you can find them all on the website, along with a great range of wooden stuff to alter.

The second half of Sarah's workshop was the canvas.  This is where the tissue paper came in ...... we used the stamps to decorate plain white tissue then once it was dry we covered a plain canvas with it, and what was left went into the writing box.

I must confess that I didn't get this project finished on the day - the tissue was on and a couple of the squares were done but I put the final touches to it last Sunday! 
By the time it was finished there was a bit of everything on the canvas - here's a closer look at some of the panels.  

embossing with UTEE

 

 

heat embossing

lots of rubber stamping

Well, that was Day 1.  Busy or what!  I was ready to relax I can tell you.
After a lovely meal, we all met in the lounge for a quiet night in - Yeah!  That happened!  We were up until the early hours - some longer than others - drinking and playing games.  We did all sleep ...... eventually.

Day 2 was spent with Kay, and it was a workshop full of techniques.  We got messy, with paints, and Flitter Glu and flakes, it was fab!
This was Kay's project .....

This is sooo sweet, I love it.  We started off by painting the houses in one colour then each one was decorated using various techniques.  We used Flitter Glu and flakes, stamps, PanPastels, acrylic paints, mini canvas, old book pages, the new Indigo Blu Wishi Washi tape (love that name), beads, trinkets.   Again once we'd all finished (or nearly finished .....) each one was completely different. 

I decided to go completely out of my comfort zone and use colours that I wouldn't normally go for.
This is how it turned out .....

There's a little bit of bright blue on there, turquoise, and orange!  I quite like the result and I had so much fun making it.  Here's some close ups of the houses ....

We even decorated our own beads to hang on the bottom, using the Wishi Washi tape, which is fab by the way, and comes in loads of different colours and designs.


Ooh, almost forgot to say, we were all given a goody bag when we arrived, which was full of fabulous Indigo Blu stuff,  but THE BAG .... it's going to become a collectors item within the craft world for sure .......

how gorgeous is this ....

There you have it, my 2 days in the middle of Gisburn Forest.  I can't wait for the next one, which I believe is sometime in March next year.   My name is already down on the list, (along with a few more I think) and the idea of a three-day retreat next time was put forward - watch this space.

taken on the 2nd day........ that's me sat on the step!!

If you're still with me, well done! and thank you.   It's nice to know that it's not just my other half that reads my Blog.

Have a great day, and I'll be back again soon.

Linda

x