Saturday 30 July 2011

Mojo Monthly - Love this Stamp!!

Good Evening Fellow Crafters

Hasn't it been a lovely day today?  At the Quilting Group I go to we had our Annual Summer Lunch today where THIS little book, made by my lickle hands, was won in the Raffle by the lovely Maureen.  She had the pick of the prizes on the table and she chose my book!  That made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!!!

Something else has also made me feel warm and fuzzy tonight that is I now have a few more followers in the last few days.  Welcome and thank you for following me.

Tonight though I am joining in with Sarah's Mojo Monthly.  Click HERE if you wish to see what it is all about.

Sarah suggested taking inspiration from what is around us and to hand.  So I have been racking my little brain cell to think of a project I can make using Sarah's write up on her blog and my mind kept wandering to this lovely stamp.  I bought it a few weeks ago after spotting it on THIS website.  You see the lovely KIM used this stamp on my PiF present.  And as soon as I saw the stamp for sale I knew it would be a well loved and used stamp.

So I sat and pondered for a while and hey presto this little idea came up of inking little 1" Eco Art Board blocks with Broken China DI and then stamping over using the stamp and Faded Jeans DI, then embossing with clear embossing powder.  Simples!!

I then used the stamp again on the corner of a card and then stamped my Penny Black Happy Birthday and inked the edges. 

Hope you like it and I hope that Sarah thinks it worthy of her Mojo Monthly Challenge.

Thanks for looking and please leave me a comment.

Friday 29 July 2011

GM 17 - Christmas in July

Happy Friday Crafters!!

Ooo!  It feels soooo good that it is Friday evening and great that I have a fabby weekend lined up.  So I shall start my weekend by sharing with you my Grungy Monday Challenge for this week.

This week the Lovely Linda sent us HERE to view the Master of the Distress Kingdom T!m Holtz showing us how to get schparkly with Rock Candy Crackle Paint and Rock Candy Distress Stickles.  How could I resist the idea of a Snowman?  So here he is - my first Snowman of 2011.....

Boy have I used a plethora of Ranger goodies to make this tag.  I first of all used the lovely Tag die to make a Tag.  I then used DIs in Fired Brick, Red Barn, Peeled Paint and Forest Moss which I inked on my craft mat before spraying with some water using my Mini Mister.  I then swooshed the tag through the lovely inkey stuff on my mat and I heat dried it after each swoosh.  Whilst I was trying to find a mini mister with just water in I came across one with well I don't know quite what in the mini mister but I think it was water with Kiwi Perfect Pearls in!!  I knew with all the schparkliness it would look good whatever colour it was!!  I wasn't disappointed let me tell you.

Once that was all dried (and ironed!) I went about making Mr Snowman.   I used the Sizzix Snoman die and chipboard (recycled of course).  Then I painted all the fiddly little bits with Snow Cap (of course!!) Acrylic Paint.  Once dried I painted the main body with Rock Candy Distress Crackle paint and the fiddley bits with DIs Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Dried Marigold and Black Soot.  I ran Mr Snowman's scarf through the Big Shot with an embossing folder and then inked the edges of all pieces (except the buttons and eyes) with Black Soot before covering them with Rock Candy Distress Stickles.

Once Mr Snowman's body was dried I rubbed DI Weathered Wood into the cracks but not too heavily and then started to put Mr Snowman together using Glossy Accents.  The eyes and buttons, once they were adhered I used Black Enamel over the top to make them 3D and bright and shiny.

Whilst Mr Snowman was drying I turned my attention to the tag.  I stamped a Penny Black branch stamp with DI Forest Moss on the top left and dried the tag.  I then used the Believe stamp from Crafty Individuals using DI Black Soot and embossed with clear embossing powder.  I then stamped part of the stamp again on a piece of cream card and again embossed it.  I tore the Believe word, applied DI Pumice Stone and distressed the edge with Forest Moss and placed over the stamped image.  A little bit of ribbon and a bellat the top, a little washi tape and baker's twine at the bottom of the tag and I was ready to adhere Mr Snowman using foam and then a few red Stickles for berries.

One happy Mr Snowman I think!!

Please let me know what you think of Mr Snowman - I am sure he would love to hear from you!!  And don't forget you can visit Mr T!m Holtz HERE for more ideas and inspiration!

Have a great crafting weekend!

TTFN

Hettie


Wednesday 27 July 2011

WOYWW 112 - Poor Abby

I am afraid that I have to start my WOYWW this week with an apology and some sad news.

Last Wednesday whilst I was hopping around the desks, one of our chooks, Abby was taken and no doubt murdered!  Despite the valiant efforts of Hubby chasing Mr Fox in the hope that Abby was dropped, alas it was to no avail.  Abby is no longer with us.  After all the commotion and trying to calm five very stressed chooks I was not really up to carrying on with my desk hopping.  I am in no doubt that if Hubby and I had not been on the scene so quickly we would have lost more than Abby.  So sorry to all you ladies who I missed visiting last week. 

Abby is to the left of the above photo.  She was named after the character in NCIS because she had distinctive black feathers going down her back.  (Abby in NCIS is tattooed!)  Perhaps in hindsight I should have called her Kate.  Anyone who watches NCIS will know what I mean!  After being shaken up for a few days the remaining chooks are now back to their normal selves.

In complete contrast however, my desk for this week is, I am afraid, all set up for a Christmas project!  I actually started this project last year but time ran out before I could complete it.   The numbers and the “CHRISTMAS” were all printed and cut out using my Silhouette.  However, I have discovered that I have lost one number – 20!!  I shall have to “fiddle” this!!

They will all be mounted onto the canvas after I have stamped flourishes on to the canvas, and I will be adding “schparkly bits n pieces” into the gaps which you can see.  Hopefully I will be completing this on Sunday when my friend is joining me for a Christmas crafting session, on possibly the warmest weekend of the year so far!!  Thank goodness I have air conditioning in this room!!

If you want to know why I am showing you pictures of my desk it is part of the weekly phenomenomanomanon called WOYWW.  Click HERE to see lots of other like minded (aka “Daft”) crafters who all link up to the wonderful Julia Dunnit’s desk to share how their desks are looking this week.

Incidentally, if you would like to see the book finished that was on my desk last week, click HERE to see it.  The draw is this Saturday so hopefully the recipient will like it!!


TTFN

Hettie

Sunday 24 July 2011

Grungy Monday 16 - Is it really?

Good Afternoon Crafters

I am just about under the wire on my Grungy Monday Challenge this week, but can hardly believe that it is Week 16!!  Wow!!

The Lovely Linda has chosen this week that we include some Grunge Board or Grunge Paper in our challenge this week and this week I have again chosen not to make a tag!!  Eeeek!!  I needed to make a Raffle Prize for next Saturday's Annual Summer Lunch at the Quilting Group I belong to so decided I would make something using my lovely Tim Holtz Sewing Die and Sewing Stamps.  The last couple of years I have made little note books which have been snapped up in no time so this year I have made a book a little bigger....

The covers were made using a mixture of Creative Imaginations paper for the front cover, plain pale green cardstock for the back and Laura Ashley for the inside covers.  They were all inked with Distress Inks and stamped with a plethora of stamps using DIs and Dabber paint. 

I used the technique of painting with Perfect Pearls as we did in an earlier GM Challenge, the buttons were painted with dabber, inked, stamped and triple embossed. The sewing bits were stamped on a mixture of cream and kraft cardstock and embossed with clear embossing powder. 

Fibres and ribbons were used to make the book closure and decorate the wires.  The whole book was put together with my BIA and brown wires.  

The pages were all stamped with various stamps.  The paper used is watercolour paper so that the receipient can decide how they wish to use the book when they win it.

Off to do some gardening then will be back to look at the other Crafters who have joined in with the Challenge.  If you wish to have a peek then click HERE and you will be taken to the Lovely Linda's blog where you can see the other entrants.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and have a good week.

TTFN

Hettie

Ingredients:-
DI - Barn Door, Fired Brick, Brushed Corduroy, Forest Moss, Peeled Paint; Die - Tim Holtz; Stamps - Tim Holtz, Elusive Images, Crafty Individuals, Paperartsy, Boofle; Grungeboard - Ranger;  Dabber - Ranger; Perfect Pearls - Perfect Gold - Ranger; Cardstock - Bazzill; Papers - Creative Imaginations, Laura Ashley;

Wednesday 20 July 2011

WOYWW 111 - Is It Really Wednesday Again?!!!

Good Evening lovely Fellow Crafters

As my question in the title suggests I cannot believe that Monday has come around sooooo quickly.  It only seems like a day or so ago since I was here with my desk last week!  Yikes!! 

Here is my desk.....

You can see I am working on yet another album.  I need to supply a raffle prize for the Quilting Group I go to for our Annual Summer Lunch as I am a Committee Member.  The last few years I have made little note books which are usually snapped up at the beginning of the Raffle, but seeing as I now have the Sewing Stamps and Die I thought I would make a bigger book using these.  Rather apt for Quilters don't you agree?  I am using acid free papers so they can use the book for photos, journalling or making shopping lists - up to them!!

The book also ties in nicely with my Grungy Monday Challenge this week which is to use Grungeboard or Grungepaper!!  Another week without a tag - well I never!!!

If you would like to see the book I was making last week, please click HERE and you will see it, but have a cuppa ready as it is rather long in the photos!!

In case you don't know why I have put pictures of my desk on my blog tonight then whizz along HERE via the Grunge Express and you will reach our lovely Desk Jockey Julia where lots of other (mad) Crafters are doing likewise and you will get to travel around the Globe via craft desks!!

TTFN

Hettie

Friday 15 July 2011

Grungy Monday 15 - Pack Up Your Troubles!

Evening there Crafters

I don't know about you but this last few days have been long and hectic!  Never mind ey!  It is the weekend!!  Yippeeeee!

You may want to go and get yourselves a glass or mug of something as I am afraid that this posting is a little picture heavy! 

The lovely Linda at Studio 3L took us HERE to see the Master Tim Holtz in operation back in 2007.  So off I set to work at my desk to create something using the technique Tim had shown us.  I made a tag, as is my want, however, I was not too happy with it.  The background looked really lovely and I was pleased with it, but the rest of it I was not happy with and because I used cream cardstock for the tag it just wasn't heavy enough.

However, the lovely Linda's creation had sparked a little thought in my mind, and her using the suitcase die made me want to take my lovely new one which I had for my birthday of my lovely Buddy Mandy, set it free from the packaging.  So off I went on a little tangent from tags and made this little mini book!   I hope you like it as much as I do!!
















The cover was made using the technique which we were sent to view and for the inside pages I have used a mix of techniques which I have learnt on this Grungy Monday journey. I have used a plethara of stamps including Tim Holtz, Darkroom Door, K&Co, Crafty Individuals, Paperartsy, Stamping Up and Hero Arts.  Distress Inks throughout.  The papers are Bazzil, DCWV, Tim Holtz and the preprinted cards all came from a sheet by Cosmo Cricket that I remember buying in my very early days of scrapbooking.  The diecuts are Tim Holtz and Sizzix.  The tiles stamp is my newest favourite and I came across it quite by chance on Tuesday evening.  I ordered it there and then without any second thoughts and it was in my palm on Thursday!  Thank you to the guys at Blade Rubber in London!  It was used on my PiF gift from Kim and I fell in love with it.  You may also spot some lovely old bus tickets which I picked up on Wednesday from a local market!  Couldn't not put them in here!  The little map stickers are made by Cavallini.

Now I have a lovely album ready to put pictures and journalling it when my Hubby, Dobby and I go on holiday at the end of the summer.  I have an instant printer which prints 2.5 x 3" photos straight off your camera or phone so will be ideal to go in here.  I also made some extra embellishments which are in the pocket ready for when I want to use them.  The pockets were made from a long envelope which I "acquired" from my office!!  It was going to go into the bin!!

Right folks, sorry this has been a long one!  I was going to cut some out but what the heck!!  You would not get the full effect of all the stamping and distressing if I took some out!!

Off to bed now as I have an early start for a pamper session with my friend in Bath tomorrow!!   I don't envy the poor girl when she sees the lovely ink and gold stuff embedded in my fingers!!

TTFN and don't forget to leave me a comment so I know you have been!!

Hettie

Wednesday 13 July 2011

WOYWW 110 - In the middle of something

Hello there Peeps

It is Wednesday – again!!!!  It only seems like the other day since it was last Wednesday!!  And what does it being Wednesday mean to us crafters?  Of course, we all join in with the phenomonomonomon that is known as WOYWW hosted by the lovely Julia herself who can be found HERE.

Well, without further ado, here is my desk….


I know.  I know.  It is a mess!  But please cut me some slack! I am in the middle of something and a girl cannot be expected to undertake a task without making some sort of mess!!!

What am I doing? Well, let me tell you a story. I take part in the Grungy Monday Challenge (click on the box over there if you want to know more about it – but not quite so quickly!!).

What was I saying? Oh Yes. I went to the place that Linda sent us to, where we were to see the Great Man Himself, Mr Tim Holtz, undertake his magic and then we were tasked with making something, reflecting what we had learnt. I made, as usual, a tag. But to be honest with you, I am not happy with it as I don’t think the colours are bold enough and also the cream cardstock I made the tag out of, well, quite frankly, didn’t stand up to the task in hand – quite literally. I left it for a few hours and it looked more than a little limp!!!!

So last night, inspired by the lovely Linda, I got my lovely new die out of it's packaging and, using the skills Mr Holtz had taught us, I started to make – not a tag – but a little suitcase, in the hope that it will turn into a little Travel Journal!

Unfortunately sleep prevailed last night, and being a school night, I had to go to bed so will hopefully finish the project tonight in amongst hopping around desks. 
You may recall that a few months ago I was making a Bee Book for my Hubby.  If you would like to see it finished then please click HERE to see it.

Please leave me a comment as I do love to read them.  They usually make me laugh!!

Hugs

Hettie

P.S.  For the Lovely Julia and Jan’s benefit, the little pot of sticks that were on my desk last week, used to be used for the purpose of applying hot wax to various parts of my body in order to remove unwanted fluff.  I got rid of the waxing pot after my mother-in-law gave up her salon, as I could no longer obtain the wax which was not available to the public, but I kept the sticks in case I should ever have a use for them.  I do!!  They are very useful for holding lickle bits of grungeboard down whilst you are heating them with the heat gun and stopping my lickle fingies getting burnt.  They also come in handy for stirring paint around and wax in my cauldron (aka Melt Pot!) but not at the same time!!     Being a little bigger than the sticks you get with your coffee they tend to stand up to the task a little better!

 

Monday 11 July 2011

Bee Mini Album

Good Evening Peeps

I hope it has been a good day for you all and the weather has been kind to you.  It certainly has been a lovely sunny day in South Wales, not that I got chance to see much of it being a working day!

For those of you who follow WOYWW you will remember that I was making a Mini Album for my Hubby who is a Bee Keeper, and that I promised that I would show it to you.  Well, after sorting through some photos on my computer to upload for printing I came across the pictures of the Bee Album and remembered that I have never put it on here for you all to see so here it is....










I have used a plethora of techniques ,most of which were from from Tim Holtz' Compendium book.  The papers were MME Stella Rose and also papers created by leaving card in the bottom of my spraying box!!  Stamps are a mixture of Tim Holtz, Stampotique, Paperartsy, Hero Arts and Blade Rubber Stamps.  I have also used embossing folders by Tim Holtz, too many DIs to list, Perfect Pearls and gold embossing powder.  The tags were made using a Tim Holtz die (well worth it's weight in gold as I don't have to keep buying tags).  Ribbons, buttons and bling from stash and bound with my BIA.  I have also used my Silhouette for a few bits and pieces as well as Martha Stewart punches.

I do hope you have enjoyed seeing the finished album as much as Hubby enjoyed seeing it when he opened it on his birthday.  I also would like to thank my sister for giving me the idea of a "Quote Book" when I asked her for a suggestion.  I just adapted it to a Bee Quote Book.  The quotes I found on the Internet!

Please don't forget to leave me a comment so I know what you think of my little album!

Happy Crafting!!


Sunday 10 July 2011

Father's Day Mini Book

Good Afternoon Peeps

I hope you are having better weather where you are on this Sunday afternoon than I am here in South Wales.  It started out promising but since I put the washing out it has rained very heavily in bursts of about an hour at a time.  Just when you think it is going to be safe to put another load out down it comes  again!!

So I thought I would sit down and write a post on this here Blog and let you see the little Book which I made for my Dad for Father's Day.


No I haven't made a mistake and bound it back to back, my Dad is left handed so I thought I would make it for a leftie so that he didn't have to try and write in it over the ring binding!!  There is method in my madness you know!!



The papers were what I had left over from the layout I did HERE and were by Paper Loft.  As I was making the layout I had the idea of making something for my Dad with them as I thought they were masculine. 




I used the Sizzix die to make the tabbed pages inside and for the covers I just measured the inside pages and added a little extra all round.  Once I had covered the dividers and covers I then stamped them with a plethora of stamps, including Paperartsy, Tim Holtz, Craft Stamper, Autumn Leaves, Crafty Individuals, Hero Arts, Darkroom Door, Cavallini, using Black Soot DI.  I also used Sizzix dies to make the arrow and text.  A little doodling around the outer edges of the books and hey presto job done!!

For the actual pages I bought a book of art paper from Ryman and cut it up with the guillotine.  Bound it all using my lovely BIA, using 1 1/4" bronze wire and then decorated the binding with various fibres and ribbons.

I keep meaning to look for an outlet of this paper as they are wonderfully thick so therefore great to make mini albums out of as they won't wear too quickly.

My Dad was very pleased with the little book as it means he can keep it near his chair so that he can always grab it when he wants to make a note of something.  I just hope he does use it.  I know I have made things in the past for people who say that things are "too nice to use".  That's what I intend them for and can always be replaced if they run out!!

Thanks for looking and I hope you like what you see.  Off to make some Pineapple Jam which recipe I saw HERE on a recent WOYWW.  It sounded soooo scrummy I copied it down so that I could make it for us!!  I will let you know how it turns out - or not!!

TTFN.

Please do not forget to leave me a comment so I know you have been.

Hettie.