Saturday, November 27, 2010

Me and my shadow!

are often found wandering around at night ...making cups of tea, and creating silly bits of art in my head while trying not to wake anyone else up in the house! This piece was thought up while sipping one of those cups of tea, and it took a little bit of time, but not hours, and involved melting some clear wax in a meltpot. Use a project pan, as it can burn easily, and one of Mrs Vecchi's Botanical stamps. and of, course the spider!! What art would be complete without the spider? The words are from Mr Holtz's 100 Odds and Ends set, and are so neat, and tidy and just fit anywhere!
I stamped the flower in distress inks, and brushed the wax over them to give a bit of depth, and lightly covered them in Cafe Perfect Pearl's. If these aren't on the website they will be shortly!

Are you gearing yourself up to making Tim's 12 tags of Christmas? Last year I had a blast, and we had a brilliant splinter group courtesy of ArtyJen. If you are going to take part please let me know,so I can come and visit. Love to see what everyone has made :))
Have a very Creative Day
Hugs

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Three birds hanging in a row!

The mojo re-appeared this afternoon, ( not sure where it had been.. somewhere hot and sunny, I expect! lol) and I spent about half an hour or maybe a little more, making a piece for you :))
Here is a little snippet of it:

 If you would like to see how easy peasy it is to make, then fly over (sorry awful pun) to our Creative Team blog, and if you like it a lot, it can be yours too!! :)))
Have a very Creative day!
Hugs

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

woyww...and the case of the expanding fairy!

I have been a really bad blogger, and not blogged since Saturday! you see I tidied up, had the fairy expand my desk to double the size, and promptly lost the mojo! Comes from having too much space, methinks! After last week I decide to tidy up, and thought I could move a few bits and pieces and make more room, so I did. But those of you who visit often, the desk is stil a great mess! a couple of WIP and not much more. So my intention this coming few weeks is to sidetrack you , so you don't notice I am not blogging as much! will that work?.. nah!

If you have just come across my blog by accident or tripped over yourself in your anticipation of finding out what woyww means click here to be transported to the delectable Julia, and be whisked into the world of desks!
Hugs and I will be round to yours later

Saturday, November 20, 2010

King of the Tree!

I love Christmas and the build up to it, and every year I am like a child in a sweet shop, tinsel, baubles, present buying, christmas cards, mince pies and all! This year is no exception , and over on Gingersnap Creations on my monthly tutorial, I show you how to make a decoration for the tree!

I  have my first weekend off for ages, and plan to do a little light retail therapy and a long lie down on the sofa!
Have a great weekend :)
Hugs

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Splattered!

It has been ages since I have joined in with any challenge, and I particularly like Linda's Compendium of Curiosities. This week it is from page 52 of Tim's book, and is the alcohol ink splatter technique.
 I have made 2 tags using a clear tag which had amazing effects, but almost impossible to photograph, and the second one is using Wendy Vecchi stamps. I made them plain and simple. The clear tag used Tim's new Falling Leaf stamps, and I did actually stamp on the non inked side.



Thank you Linda for the challenge, made me think as usual!! I have Hels coming today, so am off to get ready, as she told me that she will be here with the larks!! lol
Have a very Creative day!
Hugs
 

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

woyww..or back to normal!

It's Wednesday again, at least it is in this part of the world! Wednesday's on my blog and several hundred others..lol means only one thing... What's on Your Workdesk! Julia , our esteemed leader has laid down the rules, and indicated that we should show you what our workdesks look like! Well here is mine.


No tidy fairy this week, just a sort of pile I am working on ..trying to work on.. big fat mess! I did swing slightly to the left as well. Note the packet of unopened biscuits,( I thought my willpower was quite good as they have been there for a week! Tea and biscuits anyone?) and for those of you who are wondering that is my guillotine under the papers and book. Fo rthe sharp eyed of you , I did actually take the pictures at the same time, but picked up the birdie who had unceremoniously fallen over and move the Halloween papers at the back, as it is now almost Christmas!
I have actually gone out and bought some fab new really useful boxes, and today will be trying to tidy up the desk , so that I can work on it! I am feeling that the area I work in is getting a little small, so may be asking the fixit fairy, or should that be pixie? to perhaps enlarge my working area. But that is just a thought, as it would mean I would have a bigger space to make more mess in!!!
If you haven't a clue what I am talking about, and think I am completely nuts, then pop over to Julia's for the weekly take of desks!
Hugs

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Shrink and show me!

I have finally finished my long summer and Autumn of shows and workshops! I have one more workshop  on December 4th using Claudine's gorgeous eclectic stamps, and a wonderful make and take at Pickleberry , in aid of Demelza House on the 2nd December. We would love to see you there and you get to make one of my wooden angels, sample the mulled wine ( hic!) and gorge out on mince pies!

I was up at Pickleberry this afternoon, and just had to show you what Kate created over the weekend. I just adore the use of the inspiration jars and lightbulbs using shrink plastic (courtesy of Julie) . How sweet are they?


Have you made anything fab with The Artistic Stamper stamps, as I would love to see and perhaps feature you on my blog. Please contact me if you have...

Have a Creatively good day
Hugs
 

Sunday, November 14, 2010

41 Days to Christmas

I have been royally told off about counting days lol, so in my final card for the week,  I am showing you one of my favourite techniques first shown by Wendy Vecchi on her blog, which I have used time and time again! This technique is fiddly, and you need the patience of Job to do it, but boy the results are stunning!  Firstly you need the Rosette die, and I do have some more coming in stock next week, so you can pre-order by emailing me if you wish. Cut 7 rosettes,( I used the Retro Grunge Papers) and make them slightly different widths by cutting off the straight edge. Then gather them up so they are in a half rosette and secure one of the little rounds to the folded edge. This is quite a difficult bit as they spring apart, but with patience you can do it! Cut half of the round off when dry.You will end up with 7 little pleated skirts in ascending sizes. I didn't get time to photograph, so there are no step by steps. I edged all the elements in gold dabber.
I covered the card in different size stickers from the Seasonal Stickers , but you could easily use the new Seasonal Papers. Stick the tree elements onto the card using glossy Accents ( the mini bottles are in stock now!) . Add a star to the top of the Tree!

Old fashioned, and reminding my DH of Christmas's past ... he has asked for this card for himself!!!
This is the final card in my collection, and I have kind of got into making them this year, so more may come out of this marathon!!
Have a great Sunday, and be Creative!
Hugs


Saturday, November 13, 2010

42 days to Christmas!

Today I am off to Cambridge for a workshop tomorrow, and a shopping trip today! Is that Christmas shopping you ask? Of course! lol I certainly won't be shopping for Christmas cards.. I mean I have them, don't I? I have at least 6! and here is the latest one... This is a technique involving masking, and distress inks, and some glitter!
I stamped the Father Christmas image in the middle of the card, and also stamped him on a post it note. Cut out the post it note carefully, and place over the stamped image. Distress ink round the edges of the card, starting with the light colours, and building up to the dark colours gradually. . Remove the post it note, and carefully distress ink the Father Christmas if you want to. I left his face blank.
I then inked up one of Tim's stamps in white Dabber, and inked it lightly round the edges.
Vintage style card!
Have a very creative Saturday
Hugs

Friday, November 12, 2010

43 days to Christmas....

 and I am into number 2 card:))
This was one of the most easiest and most effective cards I have made for ages. I used the Townscapes On the Edge die, and used it a couple of ways for these 2 cards. The first card has a separate piece of gold card cut out and fixed to it. I cut the die from gold card, and literally slid the townscapes over the front of the card, and the negative part of the die is just glued from behind. I did cut off a very small portion of the front of the card to allow the bit of the houses to be there. ( does that make sense?)  Perfect fit ! I added some gold embossed Snowflakes, and Santa's your uncle!
For this card, I actually put the edge of the card through the die and cut. I popped out all the windows and doors. The snow is created by just brushing an embossing ink pad over the tips of the houses and around the bottom and pouring on white embossing powder. Heat. It doesn't have to be perfect! It is snow! lol  I  added a small sliver of gold card to the back. The words are from a die I found at Pickleberry Crafts. Cut out in gold card and white heat embossed for snow. Add a Tim Mini Reindeer in White Snow cap ink, and you have card number 3 of the collection!
I do hope these are inspiring you....Christmas is coming!! lol
Have a very Creative Day

Thursday, November 11, 2010

44 days to Christmas...

I had absolutely no idea that Christmas was so near! If you say it quick, then it doesn't seem so near.. does it? 44 days!!! ( I did research this time element , just in case you wondered, and this is the number of days until Christmas day!) My heart is pounding at the thought that I haven't bought any presents, or made my lists.. I make lots of them!! Have you made your cards.. probably.. I never make mine before Christmas Eve, and then they get sent to arrive nearer New Year than Christmas! But I am organised this year! I have made them..ok, I have only made 6! Actually I made them for my Christmas cards with a Twist workshop, and I had great fun doing them too. I have shared two with you already , and I thought I would share a few more with you this week. Then you can be organised like me!! rofl.

This is one of my favourite cards, and was so simple to make. I used the Winter Wonder Alterations die from Mr Holtz, some alcohol inks, a tiny piece of Ten Seconds Studio metal, and a few snowflake stamps from The Artistic Stamper.
Cut out the die from Glossy card, and alcohol ink in light colours. Add a few splodges of blending solution to lighten the colours.
I stamped the snowflakes on the card with Snow Cap Pigment ink onto the snowman.
I made a sandwich of metal with Humungo Tape and card, and cut another snowman and a snowflake out too. Make sure that you cut the snowman exactly the same way as you cut the first one, otherwise the hat will be the wrong way round! I ran both through the Snow Flurries Texture Fades , and in fact did them upside down so the snowflakes were indented rather than raised. A general tip is that the texture fades will emboss upwards if you run it through the machine with the Sizzix words on the fades upwards. I do have a couple that this doesn't work like this, so I would test them first.
I lightly sanded the metal and cut out the hat to fit, and glued on with Glossy Accents.
Attach to the card with foam pads.
I liked the idea that you could make a Christmas card with pink and purple!
Watch this space for another one tomorrow.. at this rate I will have enough cards to send out to my friends :))
Hugs

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

woyww...the fairy has been...

and whisked my desk into the place where it will be magically tidied up and sent back to me all clean and tidy! Actually it is buried under piles of uncut rubber and last years Christmas tags and more, and really is too disgusting to show you, so instead I have shown you my wall of stamps ( taken with my phone camera, so apologies for the slightly out of focus shot) . These are my stock, so that when anyone orders, I can whisk them into the envelopes or box pronto! It is like having a shop, but sadly it is only stock with no visitors :((((


This week's wonderful insight into those places you never thought you would see is brought to us all by Julia every week on a Wednesday come rain or shine! Never joined in, then you must! I insist!! lol
I am doing a bit of my blatant advertising here today too, and we have a couple of spaces on my Christmas Curio workshop on Sunday at It's Crafting Time just outside Cambridge, and you will get a whole lot to do , and a  wonderful lunch too!

 If you are interested please either call Nina at the shop 01763 262417  or myself on 01795 531860. We would love to see you there:))
I did manage a few of the woyyw desks last week, and aim to do more this week...so see you at your place :))
Hugs

Monday, November 08, 2010

Do you believe in Angels?

Can you hear me singing Robbie William's song? You really don't want to, I am all out of key and flat as a pancake, but it is a very appropriate song for this card which is for the Something hidden challenge over on The Artistic Stamper's Creative Team blog. It is one of the cards that I made for Saturday's Christmas Cards with a Twist workshop, and we had such a great time, and some wonderful cards were created by the girls. Thank you for giving me pleasure teaching you all.


Here is a sneaky peek of the card which you can find over on the Creative Team blog, and instructions on how to make it.
Have a very Creative day
Hugs

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Jingle bells.. jingle bells..

I have been busy making Christmas cards for my workshop today, and all the while I have been singing in my head Christmas songs! Santa baby is a frequent one! I love Christmas and the build up to it, and this year is no exception. I just wish that the days weren't so dark so early, and that the sun shone a bit more, but in Santa's words..hey ho!!
My ladies are in for a treat today, and if you are reading this early and want to come along, there are a couple of places left. Just come to Pickleberry Papercrafts near Faversham for 10am.
I always play with all mediums when creating for a workshop, and this one has Ten Seconds Studio metal  in pink and coloured with some Viva Decor paints for a base, some of Tim's Alterations , and an on the Edge die. The stamp used is from Tim's Holiday Wishes set.

If you would like a treat we have 15% off all orders on the website this weekend in honour of Guy Fawkes, you know the man who started fireworks, and bonfires! lol
I am off to get myself dolled up to meet my public.. that is getting on my old jeans, an old shirt and my apron, so I don't get messy!! you didn't expect me to come in my party dress, did you? rofl.
Have a very Creative and Christmassy day... she says singing Santa baby to herself!


Thursday, November 04, 2010

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC54

I was very honoured to be asked to sponsor this week's Play Date Cafe, and to join in too! The brief was to use colours stucco orange, celery and white


 I chose to use those colours ( well almost) on a mirror. I painted the mirror in Orange paint from the Studio range and mica sprayed it too to added a bit of glitter! The Tick Tock flowers and a butterfly were made from Basic Grey Papers that I have in my stash. I used some of the Steampunk stamps I stamped the white flowers in Studio paint gesso which if applied thick to the stamps makes a great dimensional image. Don't forget to wash your stamp thoroughly and quickly after using it to prevent the paint hardening and ruining it.



For more gorgeous artwork hop over the net to the cafe, and check it out! I would love to see what everyone creates and a very big thank you to Julie and Lisa for letting me play along. It has been a great pleasure.

 

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

woyww..has the tidy fairy been?

Welcome to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday chez Jennie. This week the push it back pile it high , make enough space to prepare a workshop fairy has been! I really haven't had time to completely tidy up the mess that is my workspace but, kind of put it all in box and made enough space to work! On the desk is one of the cards for Saturday's workshop, and in truth I have reverted to my other space to work on!

 Hoping to get time to pop by your mess, sorry tidiness to see you, and if you have ever wonderd what Wednesday  are about pop over to Julia's for a look see!
Have a very Happy WoyWW!
 

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

A grungy time was had by all

Last Saturday I taught a class using grungepaper at Sharon's Card Crafts, and although we were a very small class.. just Kathy, Kay, Eileen and Diane, we had fun as usual, and wow! did the girls make the most brilliant pieces! Sadly there were no broken wires or exciting tales to tell you, but just a lot of mess and die cutting and metal mania!




I am teaching this weekend at Pickleberry Papercrafts near Faversham, and we are making Christmas cards with a Twist, and if you know me,not one of the cards will be normal!! There are a couple of spaces left so if you fancy a fun day call Kate at the shop, or book online.
Have a very creative Tuesday
Hugs

Monday, November 01, 2010

Winner of the Warrior Women blog hop


We had such a great response to Linda's blog hop for Sherry Goodloe's fight for cancer, and today is the day I announce the winner of my candy! I used random.org and
you are the winner! yea. Please email me so you can choose your prize :))
I absolutely loved all the entries for the blog challenge, and you can see them here and Sherry has announced the winner here!
We will be back next year championing those who fight the fight!
Hugs