CC101 Challenge - Resist Stamping

Hello Friends

Talk about leaving things to the last minute!  Today is the last day for the CC101 Challenge which I have to admit I have not taken place for some time now.  The Challenge is to use the stamp resist technique with clear embossing powder.  This is one of my favourite techniques, so without further ado here is my piece.....

I have used three Tim Holtz stamps throughout, clear embossing powder, Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks.  A little bit of spritzing of the background and all mounted onto some Bazzill cardstock to mount all the pieces on to the card.

I have made a fold out card with the front panel adhered to the front folded piece.

To finish the piece off I used some of my old book to make a Tattered Floral flower and a brad having inked the pages of the book.

Here is the inside panel.  I was trying to capture the Glimmer Mist which I had sprayed onto the whole card, but no such luck!  You will just have to believe me. Around the edges of the card I used a different flourish stamp which I inked with GT and embossed with clear embossing powder.  The space in the centre has been left in order that I can chose what sentiment to use when I need it.

Snippets were used in the construction of this card with the book as well as some of the dark brown cardstock.  I shall call down to the Playground to show this to the girls.  

Thanks for calling by.  Do please leave me a comment so I know you have been.

TTFN

Hettie

Frilly & Funkie Sunday Share

Hello Friends

Having had a week or so of not getting inky whilst I have been playing with acrylic paints instead, I was having a little wander round one of my favourite Challenge blogs the other day HERE and noticed the last card on the post.  Wow!  I thought.  That is just the sort of card I could make for Gryff, my friend's Hubby.  Off I shot to my Craft Room to create my version, using Artistic Outpost London Elements stamps and also Think and Wonder stamp.  As I was creating this card, I also thought of the pages of adverts in the very old Diary which I rescued from my office some time ago. Hope you like....

I inked a piece of cardstock using Chipped Sapphire, Mustard Seed, Tumbled Glass and Peeled Paints Distress Inks, inking my craft sheet and spritzing water before swooshing the sheet of card through the ink, several times, drying before adding more layers.  With me so far?

I cut a piece off and ran it through my TH Tag die and run it through an embossing folder.  I then added more ink to the tag before brushing with Treasure Gold wax and polishing it up (the only thing I am polishing this weekend let me tell you!).  I stamped the Cocoa Boy onto white cardstock using Cobalt Archival ink and inked the edges with CS DI and mounted it on to the tag.  

Back to the main piece of coloured card, I stamped the Telephone Box and London Bridge (using clear embossing powder on the Bridge image), I also used some TH background stamps before mounting it on top  of an advertising page out of the Diary and then stamped and cut out the Welcome stamp.  

Some ribbon on the tag and lace along the bottom, and hey presto a card for my friend's Hubby, who's birthday it is on Tuesday.  I chose the London theme for his card as when he married my friend they moved to London for a few years before coming home to Wales.

I am going to enter this in to Frilly and Funkie's Sunday Share as the Think and Wonder stamps were purchased from Linda, and also the Artistic Outpost March Challenge.  As I used some Snippets, I shall take it to the Playground tomorrow when Miss opens the gates in the morning.

Thanks for calling by.  

Get Stamping - New Magazine

Hello Friends

I hope you are all having a great Easter weekend!  We at Chez Hettie both had a nice long lie in yesterday and a most gorgeous Italian Fish Stew later in the evening and after several long weeks I enjoyed a nice glass of Merlot too!  Well, what is two days after 41 days of abstination?

I thought I would share some cards with you that I made after wandering through a certain large stationary shop last week and spotting a new card magazine - Get Stamping.  It included a nice sheet of stamps and I just had to set to and play....

This Moustache card quickly got turned into a Thank You card for my neighbour after he kindly took me into work when my car battery was flat one morning. I had not made it with anyone in mind, but I just loved the stamps!

I made these for some up coming birthdays that are coming up, and just because I like them.  

Here are the three together with some Tulips that I had been bought recently.  Three CAS cards for my box.  As I used Snippets in these, I shall pop down to the Playground to show the others.   I am just going to slide under the gate before they are closed!!

As for the magazine, I thought it was a great magazine as all the projects were done in conjunction with the stamps that were with the magazine and were suitable for stampers, card makers, scrapbookers alike, with a mix for both male and female projects.  A little pricey but the magazine is bi-monthly so maybe I will stretch to buy the second one when it comes out.  

That's all for now Folks.  Thanks for popping by.

Hettie

Friday Funny

From Thomas Cook Holidays - listing some guests' genuine complaints during the season 1. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts." 2. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons.  I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time - this should be banned." 3. "On my holiday to Goa in India , I was  disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry.  I don't like spicy food at all." 4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our swimming costumes and towels." 5. "The beach was too sandy." 6. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as yellow but it was white." 7. "Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other women." 8. "No-one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled." 9. "There was no egg slicer in the apartment..." 10. "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish." 11. "The roads were uneven.." 12. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England it only took the Americans three hours to get home." 13. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom apartment to our friends' three-bedroom apartment and ours was significantly smaller.." 14. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the accommodation'. We're trainee hairdressers - will we be OK staying there?" 15. "There are too many Spanish people. The receptionist speaks Spanish. The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners now live abroad." 16. "We had to queue outside with no air conditioning." 17. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel." 18. "I was bitten by a mosquito, no-one said they could bite."  19. "My fiance and I booked a twin-bedded room but we were placed in a double-bedded room.  We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked." They walk amongst us and they vote!!! Be afraid! Be very afraid!

Thank You Ribbon Box

Hello Friends

I am still alive, and I have not deserted you all, though I have been a bit neglectful the last few days.  

You see, Mr Hettie and I have been awaiting a new settee to arrive and have been putting all our efforts into getting the lounge all spick and span in anticipation of its arrival, which involved lots of the wet stuff made by Dulux.  However, today the driver of the vehicle in which the settee was being delivered to put his "jobsworth hat" on and refused to come up our lane!  Boo Hoo!  We now have to get it rescheduled and pay a further extortionate sum of money to get it redelivered in a van of its own!  Not a happy bunny after all the work we have carried out and we are now going to be sitting on the floor or Dobby's cushion over the Easter weekend!  I am not even going to mention the fact that I have not been in my craft room since Thursday!!!!!!!  No I am not!

I want to share with you a box I made recently for a very good blogging friend of mine.  I made some as Christmas presents for a few friends, but forgot to take any photos, so when completing this box I made sure I took some pics so I could share my make with you.....

                                                           

                                                   

I used some mountboard (a little lighter in weight than chipboard, as I was posting it) and covered it with some Bo Bunny and Basic Grey papers which I hoped my friend would like. I thought they were her colours. I did a little stamping on the panels before punching them with my BIA.   Then came the fun bit.....sewing the ribbon through the holes and putting the box together.   I didn't tighten the ribbons until the box had taken its shape in order that I don't get wonky sides.  A good film and a glass of something usually helps!

Once put together I then went about adding decorative  heart strips, flowers and stickles to the box on all four sides and the top, and adding four large beads to the base for feet!  The heart strips were punched using my then new EK Success punch.  

The "love you" is on the paper but came in a lovely place so I did not want to cover it.  

Here is the back on which you can see some of the stamping and the top "hinge".

And here is what is inside the box.  Some Dolly pegs with ribbon on (and some chocolate but I did not photograph that).  What crafter doesn't like ribbon or chocolate?

Well, that is it for tonight.  I am looking forward to having a nice relaxing weekend, with some crafting time included and of course some vino!  Mr Hettie and I gave up alcohol for Lent and I am proud to say we succeeded in our goal.  

I wish you all a Happy Easter and hopefully a warm Easter!!

Hugs

Hettie

Happy Rudolph Day

Hello There

Happy Rudolph Day to you all!  And a cold one it is here in the UK too!  Almost feels like Christmas except there are Easter Eggs in the shops! 

Here is my entry into Rudolph Day pot today....

Made using lots of  Snippets so I shall be taking it over to the Playground too.

What have I done?  The velum on the bottom layer has been in my Snippets box for ages.  Then on top is a piece of watercolour paper which I stamped with my Hero Arts stamp and then inked with alcohol inks.  I did this when I first started with alcohol inks so you can take a guess how old it is.  I then stamped a Papermania stamp twice, coloured them in with my Copics, cut out the poinsettia on one stamping, curled it a little and then popped it over the other image to make it 3D.  (Sorry, forgot to take a sideways photo for you to see it, but trust me!)  I then put little white spots of Sharpies pen on each berry before adding glossy accents to them and the centre of the flower to make them nice and shiny.  A Snippet of ribbon and hey presto a card!

I apologise now for not being around much this last few days.  We have a new settee arriving at Chez Hettie this week and of course, I wanted the lounge redecorated before it comes!!  So out came the paint brushes and all the fun and frolics of removing the old settee into the Den, pictures taken down, curtains down and everything moved hither and yonder!!  Let me tell you, painting a wall that is 21 feet long and 7 feet high and is a stone wall, so has plenty of nooks and crannies, is not easy.  I have to do the other wall later tonight in order that I can put the curtains back up before the delivery men arrive!  Poor Hubby had the unenviable task of painting the wooden ceiling! Let me tell you, I would rather have been crafting!

I hope you have a good week!  I am glad to see that Lent is nearly finished so I can celebrate the new settee's arrival with a Baileys or three over the weekend!!  Hurrah!! 

Do join in the Rudolph Day challenge with my dear Blogging Friend Sandra!

Hugs

Hettie

Friday Funny

Nymphomaniac Convention

A man boarded an aircraft at London 's Heathrow Airport for New York , and taking his seat as he settled in, he noticed a very beautiful woman boarding the plane.

He realised she was heading straight toward his seat and bingo - she took the seat right beside him.

"Hello", he blurted out, "Business trip or vacation?"

She turned, smiled enchantingly and said, "Business. I'm going to the annual Nymphomaniac convention in the United States ."

He swallowed hard. Here was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen sitting next to him, and she was going to a meeting for nymphomaniacs!

Struggling to maintain his composure, he calmly asked, "What's your business role at this convention?"

"Lecturer," she responded,” I use my experience to disprove some of the popular myths about sexuality.."

"Really", he smiled, "what myths are those?"

"Well," she explained, "one popular myth is that African-American men are the most well-endowed when, in fact, it's the Native American Indian who is most likely to possess that trait.

Another popular myth is that French men are the best lovers, when actually it is the men of Greek descent.

We have also found that the best potential lovers in all categories are the Irish."

Suddenly the woman became uncomfortable and blushed. "I'm sorry," she said. "I really shouldn't be discussing this with you, I don't even know your name!"  

"Tonto," the man said. "Tonto Papadopoulos, but my friends call me Paddy."

What's On Your Workdesk 198 - Paint and Lace!

Hello Friends

It is Wednesday again and in the Blogging World that means it is time to show off your desks for the biggest nosey blog hop that takes place every week in the world!  As the Boss herself says, gotta keep this brief!

So without further ado here is my usual desk......

I am in the middle of creating some more backgrounds for my paintings.  On the left are some chipboard pieces (recycled of course) with their first layer of paint and in true Blue Peter style, on the right are some after they have had their crackling done!

Unfortunately though I am spending less time at this desk at the moment as I have another major project on the go which has a completion date loooming every closer.  That is my Niece-to-be's Wedding Garter.....

I love the fact that it is now on a roll, as that means there is some length there.  I have completed about 12" so far and at around 2 1/2 hours per inch, it takes a fair amount of time to complete.  Hopefully the Bride will like it when she gets to see it.  Michelle does not want to see it until she gets it!!  That makes me nervous!   Need to find some blue silk ribbon at Ally Pally next month, so don't let me forget!

Right then folks....off to work....then dancing....then I will be back to visit desks later and most probably tomorrow.  Have a great nosey day! And don't forget to join in with the Hostess HERE!  Thanks for calling by.

Hettie

Scrapbook Tuesday - Forever Friends

Hello Friends

Gosh March is marching on isn't it?  I can hardly believe that we are up to the 19th already!!

Well, as it is Tuesday I have a scrapbook project to show you today....

This started with the central spotted square which was left over from a layout I did some time ago, and I was concerned that it would be crushed and spoilt in the Snippets box.  Then as I was looking for a suitable photograph I noticed that the reverse of the spotty paper matched the colours in Mandy's top so an idea was formed!  I gutted the centre of the paper and flipped it over so I got to see both sides and laid it on to a background sheet - which incidentally comes from the same KandCo paper pad of Blue Awning. 

I printed the phrase onto some SU Vanilla cardstock, on my printer, and then chopped and inked each word.  The flourish on the left was cut using a Sizzix die, run through an embossing folder and inked. 

All the card elements were made from the Snippets box using my SU Flowers stamp set and punch.  the leaves and tag were made using a Tim Holtz die.  The wooden "Forever" is from a set I bought many years ago, coloured with inks, and the "Friends" is from a ancient Basic Grey set.  Some Martha Stewart butterflies and hearts, a TH ticket and some lovely leaf ribbon I bought as I could not resist it.  The photo is mounted onto a  Snippet of KandCo paper and stamped with another SU flourish stamp.

I shall be taking this to the Playground as I have used a plethora of Snippets on there.  

Please let me know what you think!  Have a GREAT Day!

Hettie

Happy Birthday Daisy

Hello Fellow Bloggers

What a strange time we are having with the weather at the moment!  I got up nice and early to see to the Girls and found everything covered in the white stuff....you know.....Snow!!  Did not expect that especially after the way it rained yesterday evening!

Hey Ho!

I thought that today I would share with you the small canvas I made for my Boss' Grand Daughter Daisy.  It is her birthday around now (not sure when, but my Boss is a man after all!).  

Yep.  I have used the Sheena Douglass Daisies using the Paint Fusion technique and made a small piece using a Snippet of Recycled Chipboard and then mounted this on to black mountboard and then again onto a small canvass, again recycled from another project, having painted the leaves and two more daisies on there. I am a little happier with the greens that I used on the canvas itself as they are the Pebeo paints that Sheena recommends, and they are well worth getting.  

I hope you have a great Sunday.  Off to do some of the H stuff that we all dread, as the House Pixie has gone on strike round here!  I am sure you all know what I mean!

Have a great rest of your weekend, whatever you are doing.  

TTFN

Hettie

Oh Yes.  Almost forgot.  I have used Snippets on her so I am going to take it down the Playground for all the Peeps to see.  See ya there!

x 

Friday Funny

I thought I would give you a twofor this week!!

Hettie

Friday Funny

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club.. A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker function and  begins  to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen.  

MAN: "Hello"  

WOMAN: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"

MAN: "Yes"  

WOMAN: "I am at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat. It's only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?"  

MAN: "Sure, go ahead if you like it that much."

WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2013 models.. I saw one I really liked."

MAN: "How much?"  

WOMAN: "$90,000"  

MAN: "OK, but for that price I want it with all the options."  

WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing...the house I wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking $950,000"  

MAN: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer of $900,000. They will probably take it. If not, we can go the extra 50 thousand if it's really a pretty good price."  

WOMAN: "OK. I'll see you later! I love you so much!"  

MAN: "Bye! I love you, too."

The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are staring at him in astonishment, mouths agape.

  

He turns and asks: "Anyone know who this phone belongs to?" 

How Small Can I Go? Twinchie

Hello Friends

The lovely Peeps over at Show Us your Twinchies are asking for Flowers this month.  Well, regulars to my blog will know that I have been dabbling with painting Sheena Douglass style lately so without further ado.....

Yep.  A Mini painting of Daisies.  My friend wants this as a brooch so I am trying to figure out how to turn this into one for her, maybe using UTEE?  Any ideas I would be grateful.  

Thanks for calling by.

Hettie

Same stamp - different colours

Hello Friends

Brrrrr!!

Do you remember the lovely Paperartsy stamp I was lucky enough to win recently?  You will remember that I made some cards in muted colours for some peeps HERE.

Well, just to prove that the stamp works with brighter colours.....

It was a Special Couple's Anniversary recently and Mandy does like her bright colours.  I will never forget the kitchen in their previous home being Bright orange, Sunshine Yellow and Lime green!!

They loved this card!  As it is made using a plethora of Snippets I shall take it along to the Playground!  The blue piece is another from the bottom of my spray box and it has a lovely shimmer on it.  Hope they have the fire on in the Treehouse!

Hugs

Hettie

Scrapbooking Tuesday - Macro Peonies

Hello Friends

Tuesday is here again, and a pretty cold Tuesday it is here in the UK.  I am extremely envious of a good friend of mine as she has a Crafting Day today aka Snow Day!  I hope she has fun and wish I was with her!

So without further ado here is my layout this week.....

The Peonies were photographed early one morning still with some dew on, whilst I was taking Dobby for his morning perambulation.  I never planted them, but rather they appeared after we transferred some soil from Mum in Law's garden when we were levelling part of her garden to extend the lawn.   

The layout is a kit which I have tweaked to add an extra photo and I have included some stamping and embellishments.

The punch I have used on this top right corner, and indeed all of them, come from a punch which I have used for the first time.  My friend was laughing at me when I was using it as I had to put it on the floor and push down putting all my weight on it (or as much as I could)!!  Talk about being difficult to use.  All the punched pieces and the word "macro" have been glittered with a fine shimmery glitter, but it is not really noticeable on these pics. I did not want it to detract from the photos so am fine with that.

That is it for now folks.  Thanks for calling by and thank you also to my newest members Lauren, Shana and Irene.  Thank you for following me. 

TTFN

Hettie

The Black Cat - Birthday cards

Hello Friends

Brrrrr!  It is a cold one this Monday morning!!  The snow is coming down and looks like polystyrene balls instead of the usual flakes.

I just checked in to show you a couple of Birthday Cards I made for two Cat loving friends last month.  

Almost the same, but not quite.   All paper parts out of the Snippets box so I will take them to the Playground to show the others.  I assure you, they were straight in real life.  I must sort out my tripod one day and get it set up properly so I don't get any more wonky photos!!

The stamp was a freebie off Craft Stamper and the HB is from a Papermania stamp which I had to do a bit of jiggerypokery to fit on the tags.

Wrap up warm if you are going to the Playground.  Think I shall take a bucket of coal for the brazier too!

Hugs

Hettie

Happy Mothering Sunday...

Hello Friends

May I wish all Mothers a Happy Mothering Sunday, whether you be mother to two legged people or four legged people!

I want to share my Mothering Sunday cards which I have made for both my Mum and Hubby's Mum...

As you can see I have put my new found Paint Fusion techniques to use here.  They are ATC size and I have layered them onto hand made cards (i.e. cut from a large sheet of card to fit envelopes, instead of using blanks).  The white cardstock is recycled Dinner Dance invitations and the card base which I have painted the lavenders on are recycled chit pad backs so a truly hand made card.

I went to see my Mum and Dad yesterday to take Mum's card and flowers and they could not believe I had painted the Lavender.  Dad was really impressed with the background too and thought it was some special card I had bought.  I really like the fact that they all come out differently every time!

I also made a couple of ATCs to send to two dear Blogging Friends and they have told me they liked them too.  

I am going to take these over to the Playground as they are made from Snippets.  Why not make use of your Snippets and join in with the fun and frolics of the virtual Playground.   The peeps are very nice and we all play together nicely - well most of us anyway!!  There is even a virtual pond with ducks on!!

I hope you have had a lovely weekend.  Just a shame it goes so quickly!

Hugs

Hettie