Sunday 30 October 2011

Mojo Monthly - I Got It Covered!

Good Afternoon Peeps

I hope you are all having a good day and that you remembered to put your clocks back!  Unfortunately my chest infection has not cleared so I have had another day feeling kinda pooped!    Fortunately though I had kinda started on this lickle project to it wasn't too much trouble for me to finish it off ready for the end of the month. 

This project is for Sasa's Mojo Monthly which this month required us to recycle a book cover into art.  So without further ado, here is mine......


As most of you will know by now after reading my blog, I am a bit of a sewing fan and LOVE LOVE LOVE this die set and stamps from Tim Holtz.  This book cover actually came off a Diary dating back to 1953 which I found in the Archives of the firm of Solicitors where I work.  They were destined for the bin so I rescued them.  To me, the cover screamed sewing theme to me so I decided to turn it into a calendar and hopefully I will be able to sell this at the Craft Fair which I am taking part in for Cancer Research at the beginning of December. 


I love this technique of concertinering (is that a word?) the papers and they kind of remind me of the old fashioned Christmas decorations that used to be around when I was growing up.  I have actually borrowed this technique from the Voodoo Vixen.  I hope she doesn't mind me borrowing it.  (Go check out her blog it is fantastic!) For this I used some of the paper that was in the front of the diary, cutting out lots of bodies and then folding them in half and adhering them all together before attaching it onto the model.

I stamped some tape measure stamps, as well as the model and the pattern stamps directly onto the book cover and embossed them with clear embossing powder.  I made some spool labels and adhered these onto the cover as well as some cotton lace and used embroidery floss to tie around the lace.  The little calendar book is from Papermania which I punched holes in and then in the cover and tied on with embroidery floss.  The aim is that when the year is over, this calender can be untied and the picture can remain as a picture even though the year is over.  I used wire to make the hanger after punching holes with the cropadile and tied some fibres.  Some buttons on the top edge and a spritz of Forever Red Perfect Pearls Mist and voila.

I hope you like what I have done and why not join in with the Mojo Monthly.  I am sure Sarah wont mind!

Please don't forget to leave me a message and see you all soon.

Have a great craftey week and stay healthy!

Hettie

Ingredients:  Tim Holtz - Sewing Room die, Sewing Room stamps, Aged Mahogany DI, Perfect Pears Mist Forever Red; Paperartsy - stamps; Craftey Individuals - stamp; Papermania - Calendar;  Embroidery floss, buttons, lace, book cover, wire, fibres, embossing powder.

Saturday 29 October 2011

Grungy Monday - A Whole Lotta Tim Holtz

Good Evening Peeps

I hope you are all having a fabulous and Spooktacular Hallowe'en Weekend!  Don't forget we have an extra hour tonight.  In the case of most crafters I expect most will use it to have an extra crafting hour.  Unfortunately for me I will be tucked up in bed as I am a little under the weather with a chest infection!!  Yuk!!

To give me a little R&R I spent an hour in my Craft Room today so that I could take part in the Grungy Monday Challenge.  The lovely LINDA sent us HERE where we watched the Master of Distress Tim Holtz showing us a fabulous technique with Distress Inks and Perfect Pearls.

Here is mine....


I have to admit, this is actually the second attempt.  The first attempt got sent to File 13 (aka bin) because I tried to stamp the design with different colours but it didn't look good so never mind.  I am afraid that this photo does not show the brilliance of the Perfect Pearls but I can assure you that in real life they are awesome!
Happy Stamping and have a Great Weekend.

Hettie

Ingredients:-
Stamps-Tim Holtz, Hero Arts; Inks -  DIs Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Fired Brick, Wild Honey, Walnut Stain, Archival Coffee; Perfect Gold Pears; Flowers - Hero Arts; Distress Tool - Ranger; Tissue Tape - Tim Holtz;   Ribbon, charm, fibre, lace.

Wednesday 26 October 2011

WOYWW 125 - It is Wednesday Again and what does that mean?

Hello Peeps. 

It is that day again.  WEDNESDAY.  So what does that mean in the the Hettiecraft Household?  Midweek change of towels?  Scottish Dancing (not this week as it is half term!)?  The Bin Men come?  Quick tea (not tonight as no Scottish Dancing see above).  Who Do You Think You Are on the TV (one of the few programs I watch)?  Nope!  Forgotten what the special thing about a Wednesday is.  What was that Mr Monkey?  Ahhhhhhh.  Penny drops (listen to it clattering down the stairs!).  It means it is time for WOYWW with the lovely Julia Dunnit!

Here is my desk as at 6am this morning.......


No.  I is not the same photo as last week, it just feels like it.  I am STILL working on Suitcase Journals, although the one I was working on last week is now safely in Perth with my very grateful Cousin Tracey!

As you can see it is another book I am working on with turquoise/blue papers. 

I did spend most of last week trying to complete the Challenge for my Quilting Group and I can show you a very bad picture of it (almost) complete.  I say "almost" because the packet of clear poppers I bought only had 12 in and I need 16 (no more in stock) and so I used my tacking gun to put it all together.  No-one noticed!! Phew!!

Right, I am off up town to get a Thank You gift for one of my colleagues who is giving me lifts to and from work, then I will come back and scoff my lovely home made soup and cheesey scone which I made last night (I did make more and was going to offer you all some but they were soooo nice and soooo few we have eaten them! Next time I promise!)  When I come back I will have a mini dash round to see some of you and then as I have no Dancing tonight (sad face) I will be able to see more of you tonight.  Don't forget to pop by Julia's blog so you my Hop around the World!!

Have a Happy Wednesday.

Hettie.

Tuesday 25 October 2011

Happy Rudolphm Day Everybody!!

Hello Peeps

Yes! You read the title correct - it is Rudolph Day today!!

Every 25th of the month is Rudolph Day!  or at least my friend Sandra at Stampin for Pleasure says so it must be right!!!

Here is my card tonight......

(Sorry they are on the wonk a bit but I am posting from Hubby's laptop and he doesn't have any editing on his computer for me to unwonk the pictures!)

Hope you like it!!  I really need to get more cards done and think I shall just have to sit right down this weekend and have an all day session on making my Christmas cards or else I shall be up until all hours at the end of November trying to catch up!!

Hope you are all having a Happy Crafting Week and off to have my nightly fix of Mr Jethro Gibbs!

TTFN and don't forget to leave me a comment.  Blogging wouldn't be so much fun without your comments.

Hettie

Ingredients:- Ranger Archival Ink Coffee and Fired Brick, Distress Stickles, Papermania cardstock and chipboard, Watercolour paper, Bazzill cardstock, Paper MME, Pearls, Copic pens, can't remember what make the stamps are and Gibbs is now on and I have put the stamps away!  Don't feint!!

Sunday 23 October 2011

Grungy Monday #23 - Tim in Ten!

Hello Peeps


 
The Lovely Linda over at the 3Ls site has come up with a real dooozey of a Challenge this week.  "Make a greeting card-- any theme you like-- using at least one Tim Holtz product, and make that card in 10 minutes or less!"  Not as easy as you might think. 

First, think of a technique which you wish to use.  So I looked at the board of tags in my room and decided on the technique I used in Grungy Monday #8.  Click HERE if you want to see my take on that one. 

Second, gather all the tools and trimmings you need for this Challenge.  I discover I am challenged in that I cannot find my Adirondack Lettuce ink pad so I use my Forest Moss DI instead.

Thirdly, set the timer.

Fourthly, deep breath and GO!



As if that isn't challenging enough, when you stamp the design onto the sheet decide that you like it so much that you want to give that card to your friend and you want to make another one for the tin so start stamping a second card. 

I didn't get to finish both cards in the 10 minutes but I did manage to complete the first card and stamp the flowery background for the second card in the time limit!  I even had to look for my Perfect Pearls mist too!

To save time to cut the background card, I used K&Co Mat Pads which were the perfect size.  Now I just have to determine which card I shall give to Vikki for her birthday tomorrow.  Decisions Decisions!!

I also want to give a HUGE Thanks to Linda and Simon Says Stamp for choosing my little Halloween piece last week as the Winner.  I haven't spent my winnings yet as there are soooo many stamps to choose from and I want to savour the moment.  I will show you when I have chosen them and they have arrived.  It certainly made my week!!
Don't forget to pop over to see the Great Tim Holtz at work on his blog for more beautiful ideas on ink techniques HERE.

Please leave me a message as to whether or not you like my project.  I will try and get around to seeing more of your pieces this week but the ones I did see last week were beautiful. 

Have a Creative Week.

Hettie

Ingredients:  Ranger: DI Forest Moss, Glossy Accents, Perfect Pearls Mist Heirloom Gold, Adirondack Cranberry and Latte; Penny Black: Flying Stars, Happy Birthday; Paperartsy: Happiness stamp; K&Co Mat pad; Scotch ATG; string, button, card.

Wednesday 19 October 2011

WOYWW 124 - Another Week - Another Mess

Thinking of the song - Another Suitcase Another Hall!!

Wow – how quickly is the year flying by now and how cold has it got this week?  It hardly seems like a week has gone by since last Wednesday.

As you know Wednesday means one thing to a bunch of crafters – WOYWW with the lovely Julia which means we take a photograph of our desks, some, like mine, messy desks, and then link up with the Desk Jockey and we hop around the world via desks.  It is a lovely way of keeping up with blogging friends and at some desks there really is some inspirational work to be spied!

Without further ado here is my messy desk……

I know, I know, it looks no different from last week though I assure you it is different.  For a start there are a load of stamps on there waiting to be cleaned (woops!) and put away.  Monkey has now removed his hand from the pot and is supervising. 

I have achieved some work in the meantime.   I have made another suitcase journal for my cousin who is off to Australia next week as part of her celebrations for a big birthday.  I will not share her age with you but think “Hawaii…..”.  She doesn’t look it though – honestly!  I thought it would be nice for her to keep a journal of her trip.  I know I really enjoyed completing mine when I was in Cornwall (note to self - share my Cornwall Journal with you next week – pinky promise!).



I have also been concentrating on trying to finish my sewing project.  Remember THIS post?  I showed you some fabrics I was using for a new project.  Well these are the blocks I was /am making.  It is for a challenge at our Quilt Group.  It has to be finished by Saturday morning!  Yikes!!  I will hopefully show you later this week if I finish it.  
 
(Oops - sorry about having to turn your screen to the side, typing this in work and no photo editing suite on this computer - don't worry it is lunchtime!)

You may recall that I mentioned a tacking gun which I was using.  Well you can see it on the right hand side.  I know I had a few enquiries about it including the lovely Jan.  It really is an invaluable tool and so much better than using safety pins to fasten the three layers together when quilting a project.  If you enlarge the photo you should be able to see the little black tabs which can be snipped when the quilt/blocks are quilted.  They also go under the machine without any problem and no risk of snapping the needle!!

Well, I am off to spot a few more desks whilst eating my lunch, then will try and catch up tonight once I have been dancing. 

Don’t forget to pop along to Julia’s blog so that you can blog hop too.

Have a great week and see you all soon.

TTFN

Hettie


P.S.  We have some new babies coming on Sunday so will share some piccies very soon.


Sunday 16 October 2011

Yeay! Grungy Monday is Back - No. 22

Hello Peeps

I am soooo happy that the Lovely Linda at 3Ls is back with the Grungy Monday.  I cannot believe that I missed it! 

This week Linda chose the theme of Hallowe'en and told us we were to make something using any Tim Holtz products and techniques which we wanted to.  As I have recently bought the lovely Rosette die, I just had to incorporate it into the project.  So without further ado this is what I got inky with for Hallowe'en.....



I used a 7x5 canvas board which I sprayed with the colours I made on THIS project.  I really liked these colours and they show up so well on a white background and sparkle beautifully.  I cut out two rosettes using orange and purple co-ordinations papers and stamped them with my lovely TH Flourish stamp.  I made some Lotions labels using my Silhouette machine and also cut some TH Flourishes using another new die.  Punching some small circles I stamped some simple words and also cut some bats out with a Sizzix die.  I clear embossed the bats and the flourishes, stamped some images on the base before adhereing the bats, flourishes, labels, rosettes.  I punched some holes for the wires, twiddled some wire and added some funky fibres. 

I hope you like what I have done and if you wish to see the Master Tim Holtz at work, then click HERE to be whisked by magic to his blog. 

Please don't forget to leave me a comment.  Off to check on the Sloe Gin which I made today.  What a beautiful day it was to go out picking sloes.  I believe we are heading to colder weather as of tomorrow but at least I got to enjoy it with Hubby and Dobby on a lovely long walk.  I think I might just have a sip of last year's Sloe Gin whilst watching a little Downton Abbey.   

TTFN

Hettie 

Wednesday 12 October 2011

WOYWW 123 - Missing In Action

Hello there Peeps

I have been a Bad Blogger - Very Bad Blogger (think Harry Potter chastising a certain Dobby voice!).

Unfortunately, things are not running smoothly in the Hettiecraft Household with various things and unfortunately my blogging has suffered as a consequence.  I promise I will do my utmost to rectify my slack blogging of late! 

However, as my header suggests, I have not totally abandoned my room, it is just that I don't seem to be able to be in here as often as I would like (or ought!).  I do hope I will be forgiven.  However, today is Wednesday and I could not let the day go by without joining in the WOYWW with the lovely Julia.  I am sure that you all know what this is about so without further ado here is my desk......

Yep.  It is quite honestly a big mess.  I must have about 10 projects underway all at the same time.  It is quite honestly a case of what I need to do soonest gets turfed out and worked on otherwise it is a case of whatever is on top gets done! 

Mr Monkey is heading operations and I am sure there must be some Peanut Butter M&Ms in the bottom of that tin as he seems to have his little hand in there!  (If you haven't tried Peanut Butter M&Ms you must.  However, I can only find them in the US so anyone going, please bring me some back!)  I am sure he thinks I can see him doing it but I know you know!


I can also show you a lickle project which I finished on Sunday night....


Hubby decided that it should be a "purple grungy gothie teenage girl" thing!  I hope you think it matches what he suggested.  I cannot do real goth but hopefully someone will buy it when I have my stall at the Christmas Craft Fair at our local Church for the Cancer Charity.  I also hope I can make enough stuff before then to sell too!

Well, off to have a look at some other desks now and then watch "Who Do You Think You Are" and then another few desks before I hit the Pit (aka bed!).    Don't forget to click HERE and you can go bloghopping too!

Please leave me a comment as they mean so much to me.

See ya soon.

Hettie

Wednesday 5 October 2011

WOYWW 122 - Hi Guys I am Back!!

Hi There Peeps

Sorry Julia, I missed last Wednesday, I was on a fabulous holiday in South Cornwall.  Julia is the lovely host of the WOYWW held each week on a Wednesday.  Usually we show you pictures of our desks and then link up to Julia's so we can look at other peoples desks. I hope you don't mind if I don't show you my desk today as it is pretty boring anyway.  I thought I would share some of the photos I took last week.  We stayed in a lovely little cottage in Sancreed and just took pot luck at where we went on any given day.  No itinerary, no agenda, no idea!! 

This is where we were last Wednesday........

Levant Mine.  Look at that sky.  Wasn't it just fantastic?  We certainly chose the best week to be away. 


The  "Intrepids" were myself, my Hubby and Dobby (first time we have ever taken a dog away on holiday). 


For those of you who like to see flowers.......

I have never seen white Hydrangea before and am now going to look for one.  This was at Trevarno.  A beautiful day to spend our Wedding Anniversary.  The weather was beautiful on that day too. 

Fergus enjoying a Cornish Pasty at St Michael's Mount....

.... A Veggie one of course!

And here is something I spotted at Cape Cornwall......

I can hear you all go "Awwww" now!!

Lizard Point (most Southerly place in UK).  I stood for ages trying to get a good spray shot.  I think it was worth the wait!

Mullion Cove - the best Rum 'n' Raisin ice cream as recommended by Hels Sheridan and Me!

Well, I hope you like seeing some of my piccies from Cornwall. (I actually took 397 and I haven't even had chance to look at Hubby's camera yet!!)  It just goes to show that you don't need to go to some foreign country to enjoy yourself, if the weather is good then Great Britain is fantastic!!

Off to stop by some desks before I have a dancing lesson this afternoon, then back to stop at some more desks before I go dancing again this evening!!  I should be fit by the time I go back to work shouldn't I?  Don't forget to have a womble over to Julia's page to see other desks.

See ya!

Hettie