WOYWW

I missed last week's WOYWW over on Julia's blog, so this week I am making up for it with 2 pics, one of my desk which has several bits of ongoing artwork on it, and a picture of the state of my mind! Oh sorry that should say picture of my drawers!

Not not that kind! This drawer is part of my unit built for me by Stig of the Crafting world, and has a brilliant drawer with divisions. Well, the story goes that I thought I would put it all together, and put it away in the new unit , and then fill it up with all the bits lying around. So everything goes in there  ( at one time neatly!), and Stig comes home, and says , ever so nicely, did you know you have put all the divisions in upside down!!! OOOPS! Now it will be a bit of a mission to remove them all, so they have stayed like this, so if you want to come over to mine and tidy it up , please send a postcard! I think the desk isn't too bad for me, and there are several ongoing pieces of work on it!

Thank you Julia for the opportunity to show off my mess! Back tomorrow with some gifts for those snowed in, which at the moment we only have a light covering, but I have been assured this will change! Time for the snow shoes to be brought out!

Hugs

I've Just seen a Face

Over on Hel's blog there is another Sunday Stamper Challenge, and this week it is faces. I have to admit I have lots of faces I could use, including the Gibson Girls, the Children faces,and  a number of ones I have lurking in a box that I have collected over the years, but it has been one of those days today, and nothing spoke to me, so I grabbed a set of Mr Holtz's stamps, namely Mini Classics, an old plain postcard I found lurking near the stamps ( lots of stuff *lurks* in my room! lol), and some distress inks, and my trusty Black Archival ink. I covered the postcard in distress inks, and then spritzed what was left on the non stick sheet with water and smooshed the card in them as well. It gave it a very distressed look. I then inked up the Flourishes ( this is my favourite stamp at the moment , that is until the next favourite stamp!) , and used Distress Mahogany with it.
Then I stamped a number of stamps from the Mini Classics in the black ink on top. Finally I Sprayed (probably a bit too much) some Cosmic Shimmer mist (ancient copper) on top. I haven't tried this before, and was quite surpised by the pure amount of mica in it! Fabulous!

Finally as this is going to a friend ( she may or may not guess!), I added a little faux porcelain rose brooch to it.

Thank you Hels for the challenge.

One World , One Heart starts 25th January

Last year I took part in this wonderful worldwide give-away , and this year Lisa has a magic carpet ride for you to join in. It doesn't start until January 25th, and lasts until February 15th. Last year there were 911 participants from round the world, and this year I plan to giveaway loads of goodies! So if you want to take part, add the logo to your blog, and read Lisa's instructions! Remember nothing starts until January 25th!

So mark your diaries, and see you on January 25th! I will be back before then though..lol!

Happy Blogging!

Faux Porcelain Flowers

While blog hopping last year ( ooh I can say that now..lol), I came across Sherry Cheever's video tutorial on Faux Porcelain, and thought ooh that would be great with grungepaper roses! So I got out my trusty meltpot and tried it. However, I used distress inks on the grungepaper, and unfortunately grungepaper does particularly like UTEE, so I reverted to making a flower from paper. In fact I made a PINK paper flower, and just loved the effect of this. I did make this into a brooch too. I do have several on my desk, but in true David Bailey moment the camera batteries died, -edited to show patterned paper flower :)

I now have to make a rose out of paper and see if that will work...please let there be 48 hours in each  day, 24 for working and 24 for CREATING!! I will be making some more soon, so expect them on my artwork ..lol!
If you would like to learn how to use the meltpot and have a go at making these flowers and making a Canvs full of UTEE goodies, then sign up for my first all day workshop of the year at Pickleberry Crafts. This is just down the road from me, and so easy to find too! You can call Kate too to book a place.
Happy Creating!

New Year, New video!

I love it when there is a significance to a new year, and is 2010 the beginning of a new decade or the end of an old one? Technically there are 10 years in a decade and this is the tenth year, so you see my dilemma? Does it really matter, as this year I shall be trying making more art, trying to be more organised ( ha ha!) , and errr trying to be more tidy! The last one is a bit of a joke, as people who know me, know my tendency to lose stuff, but always claiming to know where it is! How many drawers have I opened last year looking for stuff, only to find I had moved it the week before, and had forgotten!!! I ALWAYS blame the ghost that lives in our house!!
This year will be my FIFTEENTH year as a rubber stamp manufacturer, and we will have lots of new designs, and lots more Mabel for you! Just watch this space!
I was thrilled this week to find out Hels' gorgeous creation using the Stitchels stamps was on the FRONT COVER of Craft Stamper magazine here in the UK, and there is a wonderful tutorial inside showing you how to make grungepaper roses using one of the Stitchels flower stamps.

Just by fortuitous fortune ( coo that is a long word!), and I truly did not know Hels had made front cover, I had made a video showing how to make Grungepaper Roses, and was planning to upload it today :) Watch out in the video for the Glossy Accents glue bottle which I had cut off the top too, as it had got very bunged up, and so now pours out glue! Much mess was made, and if you look closely you will see inky sticky fingers too! I did edit out the sneeze too..lol

To all my blog readers may 2010 bring you happiness, health and wealth!

Happy New Year to you and the Tagtastic Winners!

I know you have been waiting for me to announce the winners of my little ( actually rather large) giveaway for those who made Tim's Tags, and using Random org, I went through all the names and have picked out 12 winners from the comments and from those of you who emailed me too. I loved looking at all the tags, all of which were just brilliant and innovative , and oh my there are such talented artists out there. So here are the winners..... drum roll please.....

Crafty Creations

Gloria Lansford

Maureen

Glittery Katie

Evelyn S

Valerie Bishop

Joanne

Helen

Tammy Newger

Flutterbycrafter

Inge Bekaert

Wanda H

Please email me your snail mail addresses so I can get your goodies off to you :))

Have a wonderful, happy, merry New Year and see you in 2010!

Hugs

3 Little canvases went to market....

My Husband's three children were due to visit over Christmas, and I thought I would make them a little canvas each, as I couldn't think what else to give them, so I took 3 7 x 5 cm canvases and created different things with them.
The first is my tame version of "steampunk", and I just painted the background with Claudine's studio paints, and then added a little strip of Tim's film strip ribbon, and then added some PaperArtsy clock stamps and one of my own. I love the watch face as it still had a  hand on it. I feel a lot of steampunk (when I get time) coming on. Should I stick my neck out and say it will be 2010's biggest craft influence, or do you think flowers and pretty things will be?? Love to know what you think 2010 will bring...

The second mini canvas was one I had done before , but in minature, using Terra paint, with The Artistic Stamper star stamps stamped into it, and coloured using a mixture of Glimmer Mists and Crafty Notions Sprays.

Finally a rose canvas. Now this is using Tim's Flourish stamp, stamped into Terra, and then spray misted with Crafty Notions and a little bit of gold Glimmer Mist. The grungepaper rose is part of a video I have done which I will post at the end of the week (still editing it, especially the sneeze, that Mr Stig did just as I finished a section!!)

The final day for getting your entry in to The Tagtastic blog candy is today, so if you have made one or two or all twelve leave a comment here, and you have to be in it to win it! These are just fab prizes and just waiting patiently to be won!
Have a great day!
 

Angel Winners!

I do hope you had a very Merry Christmas, and enjoyed your time with family and friends.
I know you want to know the winners of the Angel giveaway and here is the winner of the stamps and angel. Please step up to the podium....

Stephanie Rodgers

Stephanie , please email me your address so I can get your goodies into the post :)

I promised to giveaway 2 more of the heavenly angels, and so if

Lucy Edmondson  & Maureen

can email me, a little angel will be on its way to you :)

Thank you to everyyone who joined in, and please don't forget if you have made ANY of Tim's Twelve Tags of Christmas I am giving away candy here in the next couple of days!

Have a great day!

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas to all my blog readers and followers. I am a happy bunny as my DD is home for Christmas Day only! Yah! So, I have actually made the mince pies , even made chocolates, wrapped the pressies before midnight ( oh joy!), and finished the cards!. One of my favourite things about Christmas is the tree, and this year I thought I would be frugal and use twisted willow sticks... BIG mistake! They looked awful, no matter what I did with them! While I was having a rant ( the artistic mojo had flown off with Santa), a friend phoned up, and I happened to tell her my predicament, and she, in the spirit of Christmas ( which is what it is all about) said would I like a tree, as her husband who sells them had a couple left! Oh boy! my day was made, ooh yes please, and it is a beauty! The old decorations are up on it, the lights are twinkling, and by this evening I will be collapsed with a glass of tipple and a chocolate in my hand in front of a roaring fire!

So in the spirit of giving please have my heartfelt wishes for a great Christmas, be merry and full of food and good cheer! P.S don't forget the candy in the post below..:)
Hugs

Hark The Herald Angels Sing!

I did say in my previous post today that I would post more candy, and I had the most wonderful find in my local charity shop this afternoon, and thought I would share it with you. I was rummaging through a box of Christmas decorations, and there peeping out at me was a whole bag full of these gorgoeus angels. They are minute, about 1 1//4 inch high, and were hanging on a gold bauble chain. I am not sure if you are like me, but if I see something I can alter I grab it, and these little ANGELS were in my grubby inky paws before you could blink. I have altered one with gold Precious Metal Colour, and the other is how it comes.

So to share my good fortune, and because it is Christmas, I am giving 1 of them away to you., along with another set of Christmas mini stamps.

I used the Merry Christmas from this set on some tags I made for pressies for the family and friends. I distress inked the tags, stamped with distress ink , and the words in Black Archival, and then used Rock candy crackle paint on one of them. I then brushed gold Perfect Pearls over the crackle.  I left the other one plain.

So, if you would like the stamps and the angel, all you have to do is post a comment, and for another chance add the candy to your blog, and Bob's your uncle! Well, if you have an Uncle Bob please wish him Happy Christmas from me!
I will leave this post up until Monday 28th, and because I love giving stuff away, I will even give a angel to two more bloggers. . They are just divine.. litle cupies, I think!
A very MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours,
Hugs

Blog Candy Winner!

I hope you have wrapped those presents, made the pudding, bought the turkey, hung the decorations, and sent out those cards,because if you have can you come round to mine, as I have done none of those! ok, I lie i did get a turkey, but am still making the cards, and as for wrapping the presents, well that will be as usual , on Christmas Eve!
I know you would like to know if you have won the blog candy, (done by random org).... so drum roll please for

SHERRY!

Please email me your snail mail address, so I can send you your goodies. If you made Tim's Tags I am not choosing the blog candy winner until just before New Year, so you have plenty of time to enter.
I may be back later with more goodies, so stand by your reindeer!
Hugs

Christmas comes but once a year

and I love giving stuff away, so today is no exception! Yesterday a few people commented on the card that was on my desk, and I thought I would show you a couple of versions of it, and giveaway BLOG CANDY too!
I used the small Father Christmas on the Mini Christmas Plate 1, and stamped him in Black Archival ink on a piece of chipboard or mountboard. . Then I carefully inked him and the surrounding card in Distress inks. The actual card was stamped using Gold Dabber on Tim Holtz's Fabulous Flourishes, allowed to dry and then distress inked over the gold. Make sure that you clean your stamp off thoroughly after using dabber as it dries and then is impossible to remove! I then carefully dabbed off the distress ink off the gold paint. It gives a great subtle effect. You should try it, so simple.

I would love to give someone the chance to use the Mini Christmas Plate

 

from all the comments I get between now and Monday. If you post it on your blog too, you can get an extra go in the draw! I will even trow in some gold dabber , some Kling-On cushioning and a Christmas Card too from me!

Don't forget the Tagtastic Blog Candy too , but you have to have done at least one tag!

Good luck to everyone, and I will post worldwide too!

Hugs

Christmas WOYWW

Today is WOYWW and true to form here is my workspace, (actually there are 3 piccies). The first one is a of a pile of card some stamped , some not, ready for Christmas card making . I am actually making them this year,( unlike last year when I ran out of time!), the second is of a great big mess, and the third is of a piece Hels made yesterday while messing with some new paints I had received samples of.....

The desk always looks relatively the same as usual, as some stuff never gets moved!
Thank you Julia, for the challenge..
oh and for the eagle eyed of you.. the Christmas card is in a pic! lol
Hugs

Tagtastic Blog Candy!

I have had the most wonderful fun, joining in with Tim's Tags, and making a new one everyday. Oh, the joys of getting up early, seeing the tag, and making it in the day to blog on the same day! I am absolutely exhausted!! lol
 I have made some wonderful friends through this, and seen some gorgeous tags worldwide! I am absolutely positive that I have not seen them all, so this post is for you to tell your friends to come and visit me, and show me their tags! I said tags!! lol
I thought, it being Christmas, and the season of goodwill to all men, and women, of course, that I would give away blog candy! Tim's blog candy to be exact!
This was quite difficult to work out, as I wanted to give away to as many people as I could who had done the tags, be it one or the twelve, so I have
12 giveaways, and they will all be chosen after Christmas. So, if you have made any tags, be it the complete twelve or just one in Tim style , you can enter. To have a 2nd entry, post the link to this on your blog too, (don't forget to comment to let me know).

You have until December 30th midnight to email me a pic or post a comment with a link,  to be able to enter. You do not have to have a blog either!
I hope I have chosen goodies you will like (in fact I know I have!)
We will choose the winners by Random integer on New Year's Eve.
This is open to anyone worldwide, so get out your inks, stamps and tags, if you haven't done so already and CREATE!
Happy Tag Creating!

Tagalicious!

The day has come for the last of Tim's Tags,( what will we do every day now?) and of course it is none other than my favourite, grungepaper roses! It has been one of those days, where I saw the post this morning, got out all the supplies... went to work ( ugh on a weekend!), thought....I will do the errands after work, and get back while it is still light to make the roses. They do take time to glue on the tag, especially with glossy accents. But.....the best laid plans never work.. DH asked me to go for quick trip to get a electric switch, and the shop didn't have them, so muggins here went off in the other direction to another branch of the shop to get one, while he attempts to finish one corner of the kitchen. Will it be ready for Christmas I ask myself?...
Anyway I finally sat down late this afternoon, and did the tag. You might ask what I used on the grungepaper? I was very lucky this week to get some samples of Crafty Notions Creative Colour Sprays ( similar to Glimmer Mists) and boy are they gorgeous colours. I used Orange Lustre and Poppy on one flower, and Delphinium and Kingfisher on the other. The most concentrated colours and they are just are fab! They will be in the shop in the new year.

Don't forget to pop back tomorrow for a BIG and amazing giveaway, probably the biggest I have ever done! getting excited about it.....
hugs from a very inky fingered

Tag-a-long with me!

and you will find a tag inspired by Tim, and made extremely quickly by myself! I don't have a brad maker (guess a few of us don't!) , so I covered some Laura Ashley big brads in distress ink, and then stamped on top of them,(the ink hadn't dried so may redo them tomorrow, and used a small reindeer instead of the big one, but I do have them as they will be in the shop in the morning!.

 I have had a very busy day,with an even busier weekend, so will leave you with the promise of a HUGE give-away on Sunday on this blog, for those of you who have been taking part in Tim's Twelve Tags, so if you have thought about it, have done a few, have done them all (well almost, last one tomorrow), get out your inks and stamps, and pop back and watch out for the blog post on Sunday, as you are in for treat!

On the tenth Day of Christmas..

my true love gave to me... a T!m tag!! This probably is my favourite tag so far, simple easy to make, no stamping! lol
I do have the pens, but then I am a Ranger Educator :), so should have at least one! I now have three! I didn't add the black dabber as I didn't feel it needed it, and the scan really doesn't do it justice.

I can't wait to see what everyone else has done today!
Happy Creating!

WOYWW? Tags of course!

What a silly question Julia is asking me..lol! A tag of course, but in this case, I am just going to show a very bad , bit out of focus pile of stamps amid all the other "stuff" I gather on my desk, including my glasses, which sadly I need more and more so I can see the little stuff!!!

Will be round soon to see what you have on yours:)

As for Mr Tim's Tag , I managed to start it before I went out, and finish when I got back. I am quick driving to London these days!!

Here is Tag no 9. ooh only 3 more tags to go, and I am amazed I have kept up!

This one features a photo of my dear (now departed) dog, Summer and my DD who dressed her up for a doggie party many years ago! I darkened the picture down, and really am not totally sure about this tag....However if you want the elements to make it I have them all in the shop. Instructions to make all the tags are on T!m's blog.

                                           

Have fun!

Key to my Heart!

Today Tim's Tag, contained a stamp I definitely don't have and I didn't have time to draw anything, so I used a door from Architecture Plate 3 , and all the elements are the same except the Music which also comes from The Artistic Stamper. The little wreath came from a glass bauble found in a junk shop, and as I clumsily broke the bauble, the wreath was perfect for the door.

Think this qualifies for the"Splinter" group!
Roll on tomorrow, and as I am off up to London, hoping I get time to make the tag before I leave or when I get home.
Happy Tagging!

Whoops..there goes a Tag!

Today's tag, or should I say tags did not go according to plan! I may be tired, after all keeping up with them is hard work..lol I followed all Tim's instructions, substituting the Father Christmas with one of The Artistic Stamper's, and the music and snowflakes, the same. The first tag I did, I forgot to use black distress ink for the  overstamping..whoops! That archival ink just seems to fall into my hands when I don't need it! Then for the second tag, I really didn't like the gold embossing, and the stamp was not straight, and by the time I got to the third one, I was tired!!! This is by far the best, and felt it didn't need the Merry Christmas! So, hopefully tomorrow I will get my stuff together and do better!

Looking forward to yours....