Long-winded crafting...

This craft lark can really become a bit involved! I started this on Wednesday,  took an age to choose the paper,  then the stamps.   I decided to make a fan,  so more fiddly folding, then glueing, waiting for it to dry.  Needed smooth cream card,  could I find any - no!

Yesterday the fan was dry and well stuck.  Found cream card, hooray...  found lace,  double hooray...   So it was then a case of what went were, and choosing a sentiment.  I was thinking of Hels challenge at Sunday Stampers, so may enter it for that.   I can't say the fan idea was original as I spotted it on CnC, that jogged my memory.

I do like this sentiment,  though I am having a few problems seeing my 'vision',  as the brain feels fogged up. 

The stamps do need a sort out,  and it is time I put away the Christmas stuff.   But first things first I need to clean the oven...   I've given it a good spray with some cleaner, so tomorrow me and it have a date!   Not my favourite job, but then does anyone like cleaning the oven?

It's also stopped raining...  even caught a brief glimpse of some blue sky this morning.  The weather lot are being all doom and gloom, but then last year they said we'd have a drought...  and look how wrong they were.

All for now folks, thanks for stopping by.

Happy New Year

Here we go again...  2013 is up and running.

So to start off this is a picture of a new piece of frantage,  with the Arc de Triomphe stamped into it.   I melted the UTEE onto some card very thickly, then added the frantage powders,   melted them and then stamped into it.   Now I need to make a suitable background for it.

In the meantime I am getting on with my journal. A friend on an FB group posted a 'vision' statement,  it represented all she wished to happen in 2013, quite a few of us were very impressed and have adopted the idea.

 This is the start of mine,  used the French themed tag as the base,  then stamped some tickets, and the car which was embossed then I used a black pen to highlight some areas.  There is lots of stamping on the page as well, but I was frayed burlap so it isn't showing up. This will be a two page, or 3 page spread,   just now gathering ideas for the other pages which I hope I can put together tomorrow.

It's been something of a busy day today,  mum hasn't been very well,  so I found myself helping her to get a shower and getting dressed.   She's pretty much slept all day.  My sister came over for the weekend and there has been a lot going on so think it all caught up with mum today.  Of course this is what the family never see,  pity as they may then just reign back on their inane plans.  The latest has been  to give mum one of those electric scooters - no discussion, they just arrived with it.

I do marvel at their ability to sidestep both me and mum and just attempt to foist anything on us.  I got so angry with the electric scooter farce (that it had been crammed into the bin shed, so the recycling boxes were inaccessible) yesterday that I took myself off for a drive before I lost my temper.   I was happy to see the back of them all,  then I learned from mum that they'd decided she would be better off in sheltered accommodation, which left her very upset,  and then said that we didn't need our small garden so it could be given over to storing this blessed scooter!  The garden is staying put as I enjoy pottering around in it, and mum also enjoys it,  and our neighbour always contributes a few bedding plants.

So it wasn't a very happy end to 2012.   Well it was as they all went  home. 


Last pic,  not sure what this is going to be,  it is a bit of everything at the moment,  just used all my new stuff!   Still need more U mount for the stamps, and crackle glazes...  and... it never stops!  LOL.

Here is to a better and drier 2013...  I mean it can't keep on raining can it?

And that was...

...Almost 2012, a very soggy year.  Just one more day to go and we get to do it all over again.

I decided to start my Craft/Art journal,  I'd already made the front cover so it was time to move inside.   This is to explain what the journal is about, so thought I'd start with Art Room, and made a tag,  lots of stamping going on here using my new stamps, and some faux hinges which were covered with copper embossing powder.  Then lots of stamping on the page itself. I don't want too much white space this time round, and the tags or pieces will be kept as flat as possible.  This took a whole afternoon,  well 2 and a bit hours, with the inking and stamping, waiting for stuff to dry...   

Here is the two page spread,  still got to put in some writing,  think I'd like it to be a poem. This also had some stamping round the edges,  the 'room' tag is a mini tag that has been inked and stamped,  then I added the letters.  The red tag was going spare but I like it so much that I had to add it. 

My new stuff from crafty individuals also arrived on Friday. 

Very happy with it,  I'd forgotten what I'd ordered!   Lots of stamps, of course, and a carriage clock that has to be decorated.  That will be some project for me as I want to try lots of new stuff, like crackle glaze and other techniques.  I decided that the stuff from crafty individuals would be paid for out of my Christmas money.   They also sent me a few mini stamps as a thankyou for my order,  rather like the craft barn, but a lovely touch.  Just need the Umount now,  which of course I should have ordered at the time... I had enough to back two stamps.  Just hope my craft shop has got some in,  it is something they run out of. 

This tag is made up of another new set of stamps, all Paris orientated.  I used TH distress inks on the tag,  brown and red, don't ask me what silly name they have on them! 

Then I had an experiment...  with the UTEE and frantage powders. I melted some UTEE and then poured it onto a tag, made of thick card.  I spread it out with the heat gun,  then added the frantage,  a bit of everything, then heated it from below.  Once it had taken I could heat from above,  then I softened it all and stamped into it. I did take a photo, but it is rubbish so I'll have to retake it, but it did work!    I am now starting to get the hang of the frantage,  the chunky bits are also nice,  I'll add to my collection as and when I can. 

This is a grunge board heart, that had the distress ink daubed on it, not as messy as I thought it was going to be.  Then I left it to dry thoroughly and then embossed it.  I'm liking the effect. So now need more of those! 

It's never ending this craft lark.   I have been seriously tempted by the CnC sale, but had no pennies to spend.  There were a few bargains to be had if you were quick enough.   I also enjoyed the bloopers,  I did think that the Bibster had tempted fate when she said there were no bloopers of her, then proceeded to provide two in two days!    I've also enjoyed Leonie's ad hoc demos,  most worked, one or two certainly didn't and even she agreed!   Nice to know the experts can also get it wrong.

Well I've got a few bits on the go,  all needing to be finished off tomorrow... I hope.  My sister is here at the moment,  not required to keep her entertained,  but even so you do feel obliged to be polite (sort of).  She brought mum one of those scooters, which I frankly don't think is a good idea,  but the 'idea' is that mum will only use it when my sister is here.   I think that will be the case as I don't think mum has the confidence to go out alone on it.  It is also too cumbersome for me to put together, there is also the small matter of charging the battery.   I'm not entirely happy as they didn't consult with me,  and I am the one who has to deal with this stuff on a day to day basis.    There is also the thorny issue of were the thing will be stored,  it cannot stay in the bin shed,  that has the recycling stuff in it, plus the gardening bits and bobs.  They just don't think this stuff through.

I should be back tomorrow to wish you all a Happy New Year...   one resolution I do have - can it stop raining?

And that was Christmas

I hope Santa brought you lots of goodies and that you had a lovely day.   Very quiet here,  and very damp - will this rain ever stop?

I got lots of vouchers, which as you can see I have put to good use and I still have money left over :-))   Todays haul included a new glass cutting mat,  in the sale,  string (reduced),  two new sets of stamps,  embossing folder and U mount - for stamps.  Oh and Creativity, Do Crafts Mag, cos it had some lovely stamps.

Here they are in close up,  just couldn't resist them.  Will come in handy for backgrounds.   The string is just well, string,  3 balls of it,  white, black and white, and some rafia, all for a £1.   The other stamps were from Crafty Individuals, and Creative Impressions,  the latter is a French set, but it had a nice postcard.  So very chuffed with that lot.  The new cutting mat is a dream,  smooth, flat, no lumps or bumps,  so stamping is now a breeze.  My other craft mat had seen better days,  it also had a few lumps in it caused by me using the heat gun on it - oops.   Was almost tempted by the two speed heat gun, but I'm slowly getting the hang of the frantage stuff so may just stick with my old gun till it packs up.   I've also got vouchers to spend on Amazon,  decided I'd get practical stuff from there, like craft mats. 

So with the new goodies, I began to make up the new cover for my new art journal.   I'd been working on the cover for a few days.   I got the journal from Dunhelm Mill, which does have a small craft section,  the sketch book was only £2.50! 

For the cover I used some white card,  that got well and truly daubed with Radiant Rain, the copper and gold.  I then used some ink on bubble wrap and plonked that on. Next was the crackle stamp,  then some random stamps.  Also added the new stamp from the Do Crafts mag.

So next was adding some interest!

Like this.   I used a stiff cardboard tag,  used two layers of UTEE,  then warmed the UTEE up and added some frantage, then slowly heated it from underneath till it 'took',  then finished off with a few blasts on top.  Then I daubed more versamark on and added some copper powder, then some black.  The flutterby is just two wings,  they were covered in black ink and left to dry for a day or so,  then using the crackle stamp I stamped on some versamark then added the copper powder,  smudged some versamark round the edges and added more powder. 

And here it is finished.  There is some music paper on there, plus some crinkly paper which also got a slosh of Radiant Rain gold and rusty hinge ink,   plus a strip of lace.  Used the last new stamp from Craft individual,  this time I stamped it on to a small tag,  then added a layer of UTEE.   Rosette was some left over paper I had,  just pleated and stuck together - plenty of tutorials on Youtube which show you how.  I chopped into it to add the jagged edge, in the middle are some old watch bits.   Add the sentiment, the chipboard frame, and the heart which has a music score on it - that was from another magazine I picked up last week. 

Very happy with my haul and my new journal.   It was also nice to get out today, been stuck in for last few days so I was starting to get cabin fever.   The original plan had been for me and mum to have lunch at the garden centre,   but mum decided she didn't want to go out in the rain,  by that she meant walk to the car!     I even went to the supermarket,  boy was it quiet!  Such a relief to be able to walk around in safety,  we just needed some milk and bread.   The turkey has all gone, used up the last of it in a stir fry yesterday,   I have to say it was delicious, the turkey, very moist,  I followed the instructions,   and let it rest for about twenty minutes.   Did watch Gordon's live cookery show... all that faffing, forget it!    We had a slimmed down dinner,  mum hasn't got much of an appetite these days, just a couple of roasties, one veg,    but even so she did actually finish all of her dinner and then polished off the pud.   It was nice not to feel bloated. 

There'll be more craftiness tomorrow, well I have all my new toys to play with!

It's mad out there!

At 10.15 I was at the supermarket, yes - dangerous at this time of year.  But needs must.  And mad it was,  folk suddenly needing to debate what bacon they want... women dragging husbands with them, or kids, or worse letting kids drive trolleys.   There were the usual morons who think it okay to stop in middle of doorway/aisle to study list/receipt. Plus everyone believes they need to stock up with food/drink cos the shops are shut for one whole day!   I heard that the big stores wanted extended hours for today but it was refused,  how, they bleated would the public manage to get everything ready for Christmas?   You'd think that there had been some last minute announcement that we're having a holiday this week - who could ignore the fact that it is Christmas?   Two more sleeps and then the damp squib. 

Meantime back at the ranch... mum wasn't too good today,  she'd had another minor stroke and was very confused.   Yesterday we had lunch with my niece and her husband,  which was very nice in spite of the terrible weather.  They'd cadged one of those electric scooters for mum to use,  she almost demolished the restaurant!   But today she kept insisting that my sister is buying her one of these scooters,   even tho she was confused she seemed very sure about this.   I'm hopping mad,  we live in a first floor flat, there is nowhere to store a scooter and charge it up,  then there is the small matter of me being able to load it in and out of the car - impossible.   My sister seems also to have forgotten that mum is having these minor strokes, so suggesting mum could use one of these scooters is bonkers.   For the last 3 years my sister has been abroad,  and aside from the odd skype chat with mum she's had very little contact with her.  Now suddenly she is the expert at what mum needs and can cope with!   I was spitting feathers,   if we lived in more suitable accommodation, if mum were healthier then an electric scooter might be a good idea,  but none of those things apply.   So we are in for fireworks on Saturday. 

Mum is now feeling better, she slept most of the day, but has just tucked into some food.  I'm knackered, shopping,  ironing, washing...  stripping beds!    Just managed to squeeze in one quick card make, the one above,  yep it is that poinsettia again!   Also had a sort out of the desk, so it is now a bit more organised,  and got tempted to go spend money at Crafty Individuals.   So hopefully by the end of the week I should get my parcel of stamps and something very different!

Just had a pop over to ABAC to see what the new challenge is...  well it has whetted the appetite!

All for now folks, hope you are all ready for the big day,  and that you are all safe. 

Thanks for stopping by

Challenged!

I'm hoping I've managed to fulfil the criteria for the ABAC challenge.

This has taken me all week!  I guess it might help if I had any clue as to what I wanted to do when I start  - like that will happen: NOT.

This has essentially been put together with bits and bobs that have been sent to me, at least most of the papers,  plus some inspiration from other sources, and two freebies.

I started with the stamp,  which is by Crafty Individuals, who can be found on the internet: www.craftyindividuals.co.uk   Though I got the stamp from my local craft shop, it really is gorgeous and quite versatile.

Here she is in close up,  I like the use of the word 'imagine'.  The little girls face is also delightful,  sad in some ways.  It was stamped and then I added some UTEE to give it a nice glossy enamel finish.

The the spellbinders poinsettia, the die I was trying to buy from ebay!  It arrived yesterday.  I made good use of it,  cutting some from red card for this and some in just white for my mum's card.  The red ones got a good coating of UTEE and then some thick white powder

Finally these cute little candles, which came as a freebie from the Craft Barn,  that was for placing an order over £25, but it was a lovely surprise and a nice touch.   I frantaged these,  all three had the same powders sprinkled on them but all have come out different.   Loving the frantage thing,  was very tempted to grab one of the melting pots from CnC last week.  You almost tempted me Hels,  loved what you were doing, but with Christmas coming up I had to say no...  oh well next time my order will go in!

  
Thanks for stopping by,  your comments are always appreciated.

Finally...

The marathon that was the Christmas swap is completed - I was even organised!    Cut the card,  blending,  then embossing each piece,  cuttlebugging them,  stamping, backing and the finishing touches...  no wonder I'm knackered.   Even sorted out the envelopes. 

I also managed, while the light was good, to take a better photo of that tag.  Sadly what isn't showing up is the white embossing :-(   But I do love my new stamp!   Was really spoilt for choice,  oh for an unlimited bank balance. 

Today was also an upsetting day,  mum didn't have a good night,  and had an 'accident',   which always leaves her embarrassed.  I had been hoping to meet up with a few friends for an hour or so,  but that was out of the question when I saw how low mum was.   So the usual boring Sunday,  broken only by the SBB, Sunday Bacon Butty - which is a must.   We'll have a nice roast in the week as I've got a very nice piece of beef,  and the following day we'll have scouse!   Just the sort of food you need on these grey days.

I also need to get my act together and complete the Christmas food shop,  been getting bits and bobs, the Turkeys will be in on the 19th,  we just need a smallish Turkey crown.  I'd prefer it not to last much longer than Boxing Day.    Just not been feeling enthusiastic,  I usually manage to summon up some eagerness,  but just a short way into the shopping my leg is really sore which isn't helping.  I had hoped for an immediate improvement, but it seems I'll have to wait till everything settles down.  Ho hum.   Got cards sorted,  just about,  see I said I was short on enthusiasm!   Just hope that bloody die finally arrives tomorrow,  never will I go back to that seller! 

Sports Personality is near the end,  my feeling it is going to be Wiggins,  a really tough field to choose from,  really I think Andy Murray deserves it for having ended the run of 76 years since a Brit won a Grand slam. 

More crafting tomorrow I hope,  enjoyable stuff...!