WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC #62 - FAIRY HOUSES

I am a little late this week with my entry to the WW challenge, but then time is alluding me at the moment. The theme fairy houses reminded me of a workshop I did some time ago called Fairy Doors which was run by my friend Lindsay Mason and whom I am trying desperately to see before Xmas. We made a little door from bits of grungepaper and decorated it to our own design. They were supposed to go on your skirting board so that fairies could come and go as they pleased. I thought I would try and make an ATC - sized one, but the pieces were just too small and fiddly and over powered the card, so I came up with this instead:

Here is a little fairy wondering whether to buy the house over the meadow. I'd stick to the one she's got, it's more modern and has out buildings!!!!
Well, only 2 more challenges from WW for this year. I've enjoyed each week and am looking forward to next year and hope I can join in each time again.

WICKED WEDNESDAY #59 - MYTHICAL CREATURES

I love the themes that the WW DT come up with each week, this one being no exception, especially when they pick me as a top 3 which happened last week. Thank you guys.
I pondered over what to use for my card this week so I waited to see the samples that the DT had made just so that I knew I was on the right track. My image is a stamp designed by my friend Lindsay Mason who is not only a freelance designer but is Ranger educated too. You can guess how wonderful her creations are.
Here is my little mythical chappie:

I stamped him onto cream card, coloured him with distress markers and very carefully - and fussy - cut him out. The background is 'one I made earlier' by mopping up ink from my craft sheet. I just scribbled the lines around the edge. I used 3D foam to stick little elfie down, stamped his greeting, inked over that and stuck that too.  It looks better in the flesh as taking photos yesterday was a nightmare as it poured down all day and hardly got daylight at all.
Well, hubby has gone to our garage and is having a go at the brakes on my car. The parts were only £50 so if nothing else is wrong then it's a cheap repair. Fingers crossed again. To add insult to injury, we are now being plagued by a heron who comes each morning to have a good look in our big pond. GO AWAY. You are not eating my fish. My finger is still sore under where my ring was (cut off 2 weeks ago - ring that is not my finger, lol), and now I have a bad bout of what I think is psoriasis. I think I'll rub myself out and ask Lindsay to draw me again!!!!
See you next week for another challenge.

BIRTHDAY GIRL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

today to my lovely friend Lindsay.

Just some of the wonderful magazine articles and samples Lindsay makes for her demos.

Here she is at this year's Stitches trade show surrounded by samples made with her new stamps where she was able to demo to all the showgoers from her very own booth, next to Tim Holtz on the Personal Impressions stand. See, I told you she is good.

FILM STRIP ATCs

Several days ago, before my neck packed in on me and my stomach started a fight!!!! I made a few ATCs with some Darkroom Door film strip. They are nothing special, just some cards for my swap box. My lovely friend Lindsay Mason kindly gave me the strips as they were 'spares' and I'm sure she would have made far better cards than me whilst demoing with Darkroom Door goodies.

this one used some bits from my Sizzix drawer,

Right, off to do some of that ho*****rk, yak................

COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES VOL 2 - PAGES 33 & 34

The current challenge from Linda runs for 2 weeks because it's a biggy.
Either start a new configuration box or tray or continue with one already started, either way, so long as you follow the instructions on pages 33 & 34 of Tim's book, you can enter this time round.
I have a large box which I started ages ago but keep pinching bits off and adding other things. The latest bit that was added is a small compartment to the top made by my friend Lindsay Mason. Here is my box to date:

I have a special little shelf in my bedroom where I keep my box. It's a constant source of memories too. I love it to bits.
I used all sorts of Tim goodies including papers, tissue tape, Idea-o-logy, etc and added my own personal trinkets such as a photo of my 3 boys taken nearly 40yrs ago, my pram mobile - which is Victorian and was given to me by my god Mother, my school badge, oh! and a little frog that one day I hope to kiss so it turns into a Prince LOL.
I wonder what I shall do to my box next.........

WW #39 - LIFE'S A BEACH

I live near famous beaches and this week's challenge at Wicked Wednesday ATC is 'Life's a Beach'.
This could have been me as a little girl on Blackpool beach, glasses and all -

There were plenty of beach huts years ago but not now. However, they are being re-introduced in St. Annes on the Sea at a price of around £40,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Think I'll stick to these little beauties which are some of my lovely friend Lindsay Mason's designs.
The base is mount board covered in mopped up ink from a previous project - don't waste ink on my craft sheet if I can help it. I used some sahara Terra which is gritty just like sand to make the beach and a couple of sand pies. The girl is an acrylic stamp from my stash which I coloured and cut out - wait for this - 'fussy'. I laughed so much when I read that bit on the little tutorial I did for Just some Lines this week. Jenn wrote it in because it means 'close to the lines'. I'm having that as my special word from now on. I also stamped, coloured and 'fussy' cut the beach huts, drew a couple of flags on the sand pies, stuck a few tiny shells at the bottom and 'Bob's your uncle' another challenge card done.
Great fun this.

WOYWW - 3 YEARS PLUS 1 WEEK

Did you all have fun last week then? Julia added the excitement by suggesting we make an ATC and sending it to the person below us on the list who displayed an * after their name. I made my card oh! and a little pocket for it, a couple of weeks before and Cindy received it so I can show you all now what it was.

I so enjoyed making this and hope it is liked.
Well, the saga of the drier (dryer), how do you spell that word?? is over. My DH finally replaced the kitchen sink - which we found out had holes in  it, stainless steel too - the tap and all the water damaged wood, so we were able to move the machine (haha not going through the spell bit again) into the cupboard next to the sink and out of my little work room. More space she cries..............

Well not any more. I moved my wheelie stamp drawers and my lock 'n lock Ranger stacks into the space straight away. At least I won't have to cope with having the window open in the winter so the dr*** nose can go out of it thus letting cold winds blow me out of my room and all my crafty work with me. Result!!
So that's the story so far, but what is on my work desk then?

Well, I am in the process of a DT piece - covered by the piece of paper on the A4 card. I decided to make a card (A5) this time as the digi I chose has a great meaning just now. Colouring it has given me the chance to practice with my Copics, so that is why they are on my work space.  Other than that, you can see my reading specs - totally blind without them - my Copic colour chart, my melt pot and little tub of various craft tools. Nothing different at the back.
I really suppose that WOYWW isn't the place to say why my mojo has come and gone these past few weeks, but I am also sure that Julia won't mind this time if I tell you why. Our lovely crafting friend Lindsay Mason, who I know many of you have met, lost her precious husband David last week. Some of you will also have met David, a cheeky, friendly, caring man who also became my friend. I'm stuck for words now suffice to ask that you could spare a thought for Lindsay and her family, especially Heather, who has been so, so supportive of her. This is a hard time and when she decides that the time is right to return to showing you her craft skills, that you give her support.

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATCs #31 - TOTALLY TROPICAL

I missed this little ATC challenge blog in it's first week, didn't know about it, but once I found it, I've tried to join in each week. So when I saw that this week is no. 31 I couldn't believe it. I have lots of ATC swaps now except for those that I think are better than the others. They are going on cards.
So, Totally Tropical is the theme this time. Click HERE for a quick trip over to see all the details.

I swiped a few distress ink pads on my craft sheet, spritzed lightly with water and dragged my card through it. To soften it a bit I then used a blending tool to make the sand stand out more. The wonderful palm trees are from the amazing Lindsay Mason's Christmas stamps. See, not everything is just for Christmas.. The deck chair was 'pinched' from one of my hubbies retirement cards and that was 6 years ago so just goes to show, us crafters never throw anything away!! The enamelled charm is also from my stash which is ages old.
Just a bit of fun again. x

ANOTHER TAKE ON CREATIVE CHEMISTRY DAY 10

I used just 1 medium on yesterday's tag but today I've used 4!
Glossy Accents
Glue n' Seal
Liquid Pearls
Rock Candy Distress Stickles
Here is what I came up with:

So, how did I do it? Well one bit is a little secret between our Lindsay and myself, and the other bit is from Tim's classes. Looks good eh? The 'impossible' part is colouring with Distress Markers and then stamping the background last. I'll leave you to ponder that one out.

WOYWW #146 and 2 WEEKS OF CREATIVE HAPPINESS

My work space is overflowing this morning because I am in the middle of gathering the supplies for today's lesson with Tim. This is day 3 of 2 weeks crafting fun, well that's the week days not the weekend, that's another story. I had thought I would be able to pop around to yours courtesy of our creative genius Julia, but I may be very late. Will you wait please?
So, here is the latest picture:

I haven't watched the videos yet so I'm not too sure how today's samples have been made, I just searched out some stamps and my alcohol inks in readiness. Need some texture fades I think.
I don't have any of Tim's background stamps because I already have a good supply of them from the Artistic Stamper. They will do the trick. Right, I must get cracking because I have to keep up with these daily lessons or I will never make it to the workshops with Hels at the weekend. Can't wait for those either because some of the 'old gang' from Lindsay's workshops will be there on Sunday. Watch out Hels, I did warn you!!!!

GOODNESS ME - THE CAMERA DIDN'T BREAK!!

I warned Lindsay that her camera may well break whilst taking photos of me!!LOL  But thankfully it didn't. Whilst at the Stitches show on Sunday, Lindsay took these photos of me and -

MARIO.
He is just the most smiley, warm-hearted, friendly person you could want to meet.

RACHEL GREIG
This was the first time I had met Rachel although she had made me a lovely little card last year. Quite honestly, I felt I had known her for ever, she is so bubbly and friendly.

Oh crumbs! it's ME on my own by the side of that utterly amazing travel configuration box that Tim made on the last cruise he did. You may have seen it on QVC the other day. In real life it's incredible.
I'm still coming down to earth following the weekend. These photos will spark my memories of it forever I guess.
Nothing, even the rotten hotel room will marr that trip, although it did put paid to my little car. DH's car is off the road awaiting a couple of new parts so we took our time by travelling down a day early, in my car. Seeing as it's 14yrs old now and needs a new n/s wheel bearing, motorway travel is pushing it somewhat. However, the little trooper got us there and back. Sadly though, it now needs not only the bearing, but new brake discs and pads. As soon as we get a sunny day, it will get mended. I wonder whether a sunny day will mend my rather old and tired looking face??????oops!!LOL

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC CHALLENGE #20 - ST. PATRICK'S DAY or LUCK OF THE IRISH

I'm a happy bunny again this week having been chosen as part of the top 3 for challenge #19 by Wicked Wednesday ATCs. Thank you so much Jenn and your team.
Their new challenge is St. Patrick's Day or Luck of the Irish.
I had just the stamp for this, one of the Lindsay Mason Xmas Elves. All I needed to do to make him look like a little leprechaun, was to trim off his bobble hat and replace it with a brass top hat covered with green distress embossing powder. Here he is then:

The base card is one from my stash when I mop up ink from my craft sheet. This one fitted the theme perfectly. The word 'IRISH' is cut from an advertising brochure I have kept for ages. Just goes to prove you should never disguard anything!! His little pot of gold is actually a brass flower pot complete with flowers, that I covered with glossy accents and added gold seed beads and gold beadazzles to.
I love this little chap, he makes me smile. Hope he does the same for you. x

MY STITCHES TREAT

Well after a very wet journey down the dreaded M6 to Birmingham on Saturday, we finally arrived at the guest house I found at the last minute. It happened to be on the A45 right across from Birmingham airport! I never expected those planes to be so quiet which came as a big surprise to me. After all, I live over the road from BAE where they manufacture the Typhoon and believe me when I tell you, that darn thing is noisy. The down side was the room, it was disgusting. Oh well, we were only staying for 2 nights so were prepared to put up with it.
Sunday dawned bright and crumbs!! it had snowed in the night, turned to ice and the car park was now a skating rink. My little car was no longer green but white! Poor 'T' had to go and defrost it then take me the 1.4 miles to the NEC. That car park was a million miles away from Hall 12 so after at least a 2 mile hike (me in new shoes - ok I know, but actually they are the most comfy shoes I have ever had) we finally parted and I set off into oblivion. Where to start this amazing day.
You may be wondering how come I got to go to a trade show when I am not in the craft business. It all came about through being a part time member of Lindsay's design team, and this year neither David nor Heather could go so the thrill fell to me. Thank you so very much once again. I had a ball.
Ok, let's cut to the core. Some stands prohibited photos, some I couldn't get near and some were so 'gob smacking' that I forgot I had the ability to take photos. Let's start with the main stand of the show, that's our Lindsay's of course:

This is the wall of tags showing Lindsay's wonderful quirky new stamps that I really adore. They looked amazing on the black background and she hopes to make more throughout the show hence the space below the ones you see. You can see Tim on the other side of the PI stand.

The other side. Just look at the rich colours on those canvases. You can see the wall of  new stamps too.

Isn't this photo super? Lindsay is holding up her art journal, open at pages that have been coloured with the new Martha Stewart paints (which are lush) and depicting one of her new quirky stamps. Most enquiries of the day were about her new 'on the shelf' designs. These stamps used to be wooden mounted but are now being produced in clear and include new designs of kitchen, garden shed and boy's stuff or office as that one has things like computers, lava lamp, headphones etc on it. All in all, a fantastic display and one she can be very proud of.
You all know I am a Tim Holtz fan and Tim was right next to Lindsay. What a day being able to 'hop' between my most favourite guys.

I just loved his shirt! Black with sparkly shoulders.

Oooh! Sizzix squeals of happiness.

What a lovely display.

I got to hold a complete container of the new Distress Markers AND I had a go with 3 of the colours. Tim was demo-ing with them and believe me, they are fantastic. I also got to see every page of his new book and Tim said he hopes to publish one every 2 years. Also, watch QVC at midnight because it may just be the TSV. There will be markers on too and if you can't wait for them, jump in because even the US don't have any. The first batch have been sold out and the next shipping won't be for a couple of months.

The Stamp n Cut display. Far too expensive I'm afraid.

This was a general Sizzix display. It is just fabulous.

Look who else I found, Hels Sheridan together with all her wonderful and amazing Studio 490 samples which I got to both see and touch. She had also been given a full set of Distress Markers to play with at the show. I offered to look after them for her but unfortunately she had to give them back.
Well, I saw crafters I recognised, crafters I know and now some I have had the pleasure to have a photo taken with. Lindsay has on her camera photos of me with Mario and photos of me with Rachel Greig. I've met the highly talented Andy Skinner, some of the lovely Personal Impressions crew, I've seen Stephanie Weightman, Paula Pasqual, Sheena Douglas, Joanna Sheen, I had a cuddle from our Leonie a short conversation with Tim, oh it goes on.
After the most marvellous day I've had in a very long time, we decided that another day in that awful guest house was not on so we packed up and drove home. It's raining again today but the great big grin on my face makes everything ok.
WOW.

AND A CRAFTING WE WILL GO trala la

Any one who has any involvement with the craft industry and shows will know the madness that surrounds the build up to the UK Stitches show at the NEC, which by the way, is only next week!!
Without wanting to sound patronising (how I hate that word) which I am not being, I have the enviable pleasure of knowing and being a friend of one of our top designers, Lindsay Mason. Not only that, but I am in the same position with her sister, Heather Fenn-Edwards, who is an amazing bead artist and who makes incredible jewellery and associated pieces.
Yesterday we all got together to help Lindsay make samples for the Personal Impressions booth at the show. What a wonderful day. I so wish I could share the pieces that the girls made, but secrecy has to abound for a few more days yet. I have been blown over by how paints, stamps, card and glue have come together. You will love the new designs, trust me.
We made a bit of a mess -

Can you spot the fluffy slippers? I wonder who owns those?

Haha, now I know.
I have to admit to being really tired last night and would like to say it was because I had been so creative throughout the day, but in actual fact, I only managed to make a couple of tiny embellishments, 1 card (with a lot of help) and ruin another. The real reason was because I had been so excited to see the girls (Sister Act - my pet name for them) that I hadn't slept much on Sunday night. I have an open invitation to go back to 'help' again which I will.
However, you will get a sneak peek at some of Lindsay's designs if you pop over to the QVC site and look up the programme which is on at 5pm today. I have seen the samples Lindsay made with these stamps and believe me when I tell you, they are fabulous.

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATCs #16 - FAIRY TALES/NURSERY RHYMES

This weeks challenge over at Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge blog is fairy tales/nursery rhymes.
I started off by searching the web for downloadable images because I didn't really have anything suitable, even in my image folder. I found this site :
loubyloocreations@sbcglobal.net
On there I found 2 that I thought I could use, Humpty Dumpty and Little Red Riding Hood, so I bought them both. I started to make my entry using Humpty - and may still make him - but in the end decided on the other.
Here she is being chased by the big wolf (actually, my wolf is good and doesn't chase anything!!):

 I've just realised that I haven't 'grounded' her with a bit of shading, but I will do that. I made a step card in order to make everything pop.

The little house and trees are from 'Build a Snowy Scene' stamps designed by Lindsay Mason and distributed by Personal Impressions. See, Christmas stamps can work at other times of the year too. I made the sky with distress inks and coloured the little girl with Whispers pens. My other exciting news, which follows on from my previous post and the happy yesterday, is that I was picked as one of the top 3 for Wicked Wednesday again last week. However, not only that - if that wasn't enough - they also made me cry tears of joy by asking if I would be a guest designer. How exciting is that eh? To say I am thrilled is such an understatement. So folk, watch this space.

DEMO AT FLEETWOOD

I have just arrived back home after a wonderful day at the Crafty Company craft shop in Fleetwood. Not only did I get to see more top class demos from the ever talented Lindsay Mason, but I also caught up with my pal Sonia who came all the way from Liverpool for the day.

The photo shows Lindsay's demo table which was overflowing with beautiful samples of all sorts of cards, ATCs, configuration boxes, canvases, etc. We all bombarded her with crafty questions and she made samples for us using stamps, inks, glues, tissue paper and a whole lot more. The shop owners even made cups of  tea and sandwiches for us all. How nice was that then? Of course I had to buy some craft, well it would have been rude not to eh! I purchased 3 bottles of perfect pearls sprays which were offered for the price of just 2. Also, I finally bought 2 sets of Darkroom Door stamps which were offered for £10 less.
A really good day out.

SDC #42 - SKETCH

The Stampotique Designers challenge this time is a sketch:

You can use any stamps this time round and have until 22/11 to enter.
I've had a go and made another Christmas card. Well, it was a good opportunity.

I had the papers in my stash and found they were a perfect match for the new winter distress inks which I used on the Lindsay Mason elf stamp. The red matt is punched using a round the page punch from Martha Stewart and all the liitle snowflake punchouts make a super embellishment.

A GORGEOUS DAY OUT

We decided to go for a drive up to Kendal yesterday. From ours, it's a lovely trip up the A6 if you want to avoid the motorway. It's also one of my favourite journeys as the scenery is stunning. Better still, the day was gorgeous too. Blue skies and relatively warm sunshine. Super all round.
2 reasons for going. The first was to try and find some furniture and the second was to visit the Paper Warehouse who were having their Christmas spectacular and celebrating with lots of demos. Couldn't miss the chance to catch up with some of the latest samples, but more especially, see the lovely Lindsay Mason sharing her expertise.
I'd seen some of her latest samples on her blog but seeing them and touching them is more special. They were stunning up close. I bought some black card - completely run out - some good quality printing paper and a set of Lindsay's stamps - Christmas Post. Hope to have a play with these today.

PS. still looking for the furniture!!!!

A BIG XMAS CARD

First of all follow this link to Andy Skinner's post.
The tag card he has made using a set of his new stamps - Winter's Tale - is just stunning. You will note that he does say in his post that you may make this card following the instructions, so that's just what I have done. Please remember though, I am no artist so I did find the snow shading a little difficult - actually - a lot difficult!!!!
Here's mine then.

I love these stamps, they interact with another set of Andy's stamps I have - Back to Nature - and, they can be used with Lindsay's new Xmas stamps too.
This was fun this morning.

WOYWW AND I WON AGAIN

The incredible artist - Laura Carson - from Artfully Musing blog fame, hold a draw every month to win her art. I was so lucky that random org picked me at the beginning of the year and I received an amazing winter scene ATC. This time, I have won this one:

Another to deck my walls.
Well today being another Wednesday of What's on your Workdesk Wednesday fame run by desk-hopper extraordinaire Julia, means we get to do a bit of travelling and poking around other like-minded crafter's space. Mine started off like this:

A couple of packets of dagger beads and some beading thread. to the left of these are the 3 packs of stamps I bought on Sunday at Lindsay's workshop:

The 2 larger packs are some of Andy Skinner's new stamps. I adore the trees which cane be used for all sorts of projects and will also mix and match with that pack of Lindsay's stamps.
Left again are all these:

Little packets I have made up from my odds and ends drawers of children's beads, confetti, tags etc. This is the start to my major clear out (which may take months I hasten  to add). I need the space!!! How many of us have said that then??
Anyway, the tiny bit of space I generally work on look like this this morning:

The beginnings of more Xmas cards based on the ones from the weekend workshop using Lindsays stamps. I think that little elf is so cheeky.
Well, the sun is shining today so it's time to get some washing done because I have no doubt that the rain will be back again tomorrow. Have fun  today and watch out for me calling round.