Under The Sea...

Hello there

Last year I made one of my Stencil cards HERE for my friend for her birthday.  That started it!  Rachel started to ask me about the stencils and how-tos and I sent her to Sweet Poppy Stencils to have a look.at the stencils available.

Rather than let Rachel buy all the equipment I invited her up to my Craft Room over we had an enjoyable evening of pizza and stencils and fun!  Rachel was smitten!  Rachel ordered some paste and other paraphernalia the next day and kindly bought me a stencil to say "thanks". I am not sure her Hubby feels the same way.

Well whilst the equipment was out so I set to and made a card for my friend's daughter.  I was told quite categorically that she is no longer into "cute" so I hoped this didn't fall into the "cute" category!

 

I made the background by smooshing some DIs onto my craft mat (Mowed Lawn, Broken China, salty ocean) and then added some water and dipped a piece of watercolour paper in, dried it and then dipped again.  I had a tag handy so dipped that with the leftovers.  Once it was dried (and ironed) I stamped my Ryn stamp that Miss Di had sent to me some time ago, with Memento ink.  I also stamped the corners with Cavallini stamps in the same DIs used. 

Then came the fun bit.  I used my new stencil and Pearl embossing paste and left it overnight to dry

I stamped both sides of the card using some TH stamps and my Ryn stamp. 

I found a tiny piece of paper that was enclosed in a papercraft magazine many many many years ago that was the perfect colour aka a Snippet.  I die cut a silver edge die, layered it and hey presto, my card was born.  And it passed muster so it isn't "cute"! Phew!!

Thanks for calling by.  Off down to the Snippets Playground to share this.

Hettie

Friday Funny

Two aliens landed in the Arizona desert  near a gas station that was closed for the night.  They approached one of the gas pumps and the younger alien addressed it saying, 

"Greetings, Earthling. We come in peace. Take us to your leader."

The gas pump, of course, didn't respond.

The younger alien became angry at the lack of response.

The older alien said, 'I'd calm down if I were you.'

The younger alien ignored the warning and repeated his greeting.  Again, there was no response.

Pissed at the pump's haughty attitude, he drew his ray gun and said gruffly, 

"Greetings, Earthling. We come in peace. Take us to your leader or I will fire!"

The older alien again warned his comrade saying, 'You probably don't want to do that! I really think that will make him mad.'

'Rubbish,' replied the cocky, young alien. He aimed his weapon and opened fire. There was a huge explosion. A massive fireball roared towards him and blew the younger alien off his feet
and threw him in a burnt, smoking mess about 200 yards away in a cactus patch.

Half an hour passed. When he finally regained consciousness, he refocused his three eyes, straightened his bent antenna, and looked dazedly at the older, wiser alien who was standing over him shaking his big, green head.

'What a ferocious creature!' exclaimed the young, fried alien. 'He damn near killed me! How did you know he was so dangerous?'

The older alien leaned over, placed a friendly feeler on his crispy friend and replied, 'If there's one thing I've learned during my intergalactic travels, you never mess with a guy who can loop his penis over his shoulder twice and then stick it in his ear.'

 

Well I needed a roll....

Hello there

Sorry I haven't been around much over the weekend.  Our internet has not been playing ball.  I could visit sites but when it came to leaving comments or uploading any pictures, or writing a post our bandwidth was so low it was not playing ball.  Mr Hubster spent a few happy hours on the phone to India trying to explain that just because we have a working phone line, as it is raining our internet is not good!  Grrr.

Anyhoo I am back in the land of civilisation so I can share a post which I had previously uploaded (when the weather was sunny) for you.

I was going to my friend's house with my paints and Sheena Douglass stamps for a painting day and realised I had no tin or box or suchlike to transport my paintbrushes in safely.  So I set to and made this...

And opened...

I know the pink will not stay untainted for long but it was there, as with both fabrics they were left over from previous projects and just enough for what I wanted to make now.  So I guess they class as Snippets.  That is a little of my fabric mountain reduced too!  Yippee!!

My friend's daughter liked it so much she wanted one so now I have to make another one!

Off down to the Snippets Playground with this to show all the girlies.  I wonder who else will want one now?  (Having just seen Miss Di's post today, it seems that she is in need of some company to deter her from talking to a die cut cat!)

Thanks for calling by.  Hopefully Mr BT will have sorted our broadband out now so I can visit you all later.

Hettie

Rudolph Day August 2014 ...NBUS...Special Thank you...

Hello There!

Happy Rudolph Day and Happy Wet Bank Holiday for all you UK Peeps!  Great day for crafting don't you think?

First in today's post I would like to thank a Special Person who has been the provider of part of today's post.  You may or may not recall that I was lucky enough to be a Winner in Darnell's NBUS prize giveaway a little while ago.  Well I ponder and procraftinated as to what goodies I would buy with my vulture from Countryview Crafts for a little while.  I knew I wanted to buy something that I would be able to remember where and how they were bought so inks and paper were out as they once they were used they would be gone.  After some pondering I decided on these...

 I had seen and fancied them for some time but I hadn't bought them as I thought they were a bit spensive.  However I decided that as I didn't expect to see this money I would buy something that I rather liked.  And here is the first card I made using them.  This is Hubby's favourite...

For the background I used plain cream card and stamped a TH script die.  I cut a Snippet of green card to make the TH doily and the MB music and coloured over with Forest Moss DI.  The music was given to me by a friend.  The Sentiment is an old K&Co chipboard.  Then for the ornaments.  Inked with Versamark and embossed with gold embossing powder.  Cut out using the new SB die and then dangled with gold cord.

 And now for no. 2...

For the background I used some VOS DCWV paper.  I used the MB edge die and embossed with WOW Sparkling Snow embossing powder.  I cut out the ornaments with bright pink metallic card and then again with vellum.  I embossed two with TH embossing folder and the third I stamped with versamark and Hero Arts stamp before embossing with WOW Brilliant White powder.  The bows are VOS from Papermania and the dots are also VOS from QVC.  The ornaments are hung using some snippets of star trim - don't even ask where I got that from.  I added some VOS stars to the top right corner.

No. 3 (I love this one)...

The background is a piece of DCWV paper which I doodled around the edge.  I stamped all four of the stamps with Versamark and inked with WOW powder.  I cut the shapes and strip and then took some VOS white ink and smudged the edges, and doodled around the sentiment.  I attached the sentiment with brads and the ornaments with foam pads after using some silver cord to hang them.

 No. 4...

 The background is another piece of the above paper.  I inked the purple Snippet and then embossed with silver powder.  The ornaments are held up with silver cord and MB bows.  A little Snippet of red cardstock was cut into heart strip using EK Success punch and then embossed with clear powder.  Another strip of brown card was punched, again with EK Success punch to create the row of reindeers along the bottom.

 No. 5 (another favourite one of mine)...

 

I stamped the larger stamp with white SU embossing powder (it smells of vanilla) and cut it.  I layerd up some striped paper onto the card and embossed a piece of white with SU embossing folder.  I took a Snippet of ribbon to hang the ornament with some foilage cut from TH die and snippets.  The bow is left over from those used in Christmas Album a few years back.  The sentiment across the bottom is a Snippet of red card which I stamped with Penny Black stamp, stitching the edge and adhering.

And finally No. 6 - my outright favourite...

The paper used on the front was in a pack on the Help Yourself table at the last WOYWW Crop.  I adhered it to the front of a gatefold card and I used two Snippets to cover behind the gatefold.  (If you look close you will realise one is horizontal and the other vertical.  I didn't have enough to cut them both the same!) I then carefully cut the front of the card to make the peephole.  The rosette was in my Tin of Shame.

Open it up and here is what is inside...

The Santa stamp is a NBUS!!!  I used some other TH stamps inside.  All inking is done with Gathered Twigs DI.  There is another piece of the paperpack used on the front but I haven't taken a photo - doh!

Right then.  That is enough waffle from me.  I am off over to my Mate Sandra's blog to share this in the Rudolph Day Challenge as well as the Snippets Playground as there are snippets a-plenty used in these.  I am also going to share with Crafty Hazelnut who is looking for Mery and Bright and Extra as always Anything Goes over there.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.  I have another project to share using these dies but later this week probably. 

Thanks for looking.

Hettie

Stencilling again...

Hello there!

Brrrrr!  Boy it is mighty cold here tonight!  Not like August should be.  I cannot remember the last time we lit the fire in August!!

One of my friends asked me to make her a card for her friend similar to some I made a little while ago in purple and orange (our company colours).  So I made this one...

I used Spiced Marmalade and Wild Honey along with Dusty Concord and Seedless Preserves DIs and a swirly stencil. 

I used a Snippety Snippet of vellum and cut a tag using a TH die.  I stamped the SU butterfly and sentiment with clear embossing ink and WOW white embossing powder.  I tied some string and then assembled it all together.

I made a spare too.

And you know how it goes...whilst you have the stuff out you may as well make another...

I have left the inside blank for using at a later date.

Right then.  Bank Holiday Monday tomorrow and we have wet weather guaranteed.  Booo.  You know what that means don't you?  No?  Time to play in my Craft Room!!!  Yipppppeeeeeeee!!!

Have a good 'un whatever you are doing!

Off to skip down to the Snippets Playground in my PJs to take these down to the Treehouse!  I am also just about able to link this with Simon Says Stamp's Anything Goes too.

Hettie

Friday Funny

Testicle Therapy

Two women were playing golf. One teed off and watched in horror as her ball headed directly toward a foursome of men playing the next hole.

The ball hit one of the men. He immediately clasped his hands together at his groin, fell to the ground and proceeded to roll around in agony. The woman rushed down to the man, and immediately began to apologise.

'Please allow me to help. I'm a Physical Therapist and I know I could relieve your pain if you'd allow me,’ she told him.

'Oh, no, I'll be all right. I'll be fine in a few minutes,' the man replied. He was in obvious agony, lying in the fetal position, still clasping his hands there at his groin.

At her persistence, however, he finally allowed her to help. She gently took his hands away and laid them to the side, loosened his pants and put her hands inside She administered tender and artful massage for several long moments and asked, 'How does that feel'?

‘Feels great,’ he replied; ‘but I still think my thumb's broken!’

 

T on Tuesday...T is for Happy PosT!!

Hello there!

After yesterday's loooong post I promise this is going to be short today.

As is often the case on a Tuesday I am linking up with my friend Elizabeth and her soul mate Bleubeard for Tea on Tuesday.  And for my cuppa...with my usual morning brew of Glengettie in...

Isn't it just adorable?  Bone china, of course and Royal Worcester no less.  My lovely blogging friend sent this to me last week and I just LOVE IT!  Thank you Debs. I was poorly too last week so it cheered me up no end.  I will show you the reverse side another week.  Hence Happy Post...in two definitions! 

And the other reason this is Happy Post is that I get to share the frock that I was making a while ago...

These photos were taken outside the Church Hall where our Quilting Group were holding our Annual Summer Lunch.  I will tell you that I was a little nervous wearing a hand made dress to an event where everyone was able sewers, but I did have lots of compliments so phew!

And here is how I actually spent most of the day...wearing my Pinnion.  Now I know that they are called aprons or pinnies, however as a little girl my Mum always used to say "now go and get your pinnie on" whenever I was doing a mucky job (hmmmn that could explain a lot!) and so that is what I got to call it...a pinnion!  You might want to blow this piccie up (the piccie not your puter!) so you can see what is actually on my pinnion!

Thanks for calling by.  Please leave me a comment so I know you have been.  I shall call by later after work.

TTFN

Hettie

The Creative Blog Hop

Hello there

Last Monday my mate Diane Wray, aka Miss Di nominated me to take part in The Creative Blog Hop (TCBH) along with Elizabeth and Mary.   Now TCBH was a brainchild of a blogger some time ago.  A blogger is tagged along with two others who then answers some questions and introduces three other bloggers the following week and so on and so on.  There are no rulz, so I can see, as to who you invite or what art the blogger you choose undertakes whether it be cooking. painting, cardmaking, scrapbooking, writing or anything else.  

This could mean a lot of bloggers eventually become involved in this blog hope.  I am not even going to try and do the maths!

Background

I have been crafting almost all my life.  My Mum was a prolific dressmaker and she would give me scraps of whatever she was working on and I would make "outfits" for my dollies.  Funny enough, by the morning my "outfits" would fit better than when I left them!! Magic!!

On a Sunday afternoon you would find Mum, my Sister and myself watching an old black and white film embroidering.  When we started to embroider on Aida in school, I apparently complained that the Aida we were given was "for babies".  It was a course weave and I was used to finer.  When my Grandad died my parents found the first tray cloth I had made in his drawer and he used it whenever he had visitors.  It was threadbare and well used.  I was very close to my Grandad and this thought makes me smile and I try to live up to this tray cloth.

Right on with my post.   

A little word about my tagger, my Mate Diane.

Most who know her as Di.  Aunty Di to my chikkin Miss Di, who was named after her.   She is keyholder of the Snippets Playground.

I first of all met Di's desk through WOYWW which is a weekly blog hop hosted by Julia Dunnitt. Within a few visits Di and I were following each other and becoming regular visitors to each other's blogs.  

Julia hosted a crop in Burbage in October 2013.  That was when Di and I  got to meet each other in real life, something we try to undertake as often as possible.

The day was full of giggles and from there we coined the term "punch poo" on account of my working on a Christmas Album and creating a lot of bitty litter around me from the punches I was using.   (This was before I knew about a certain person who uses these bits to create cards!)

When Di took over the infamous Snippets Playground I became a regular at the Playground using up those pesky Snippets left over from scrapbooking layouts. I am convinced they breed though as no matter how many bits you use up there is always lots in the drawers/box/tin.

Di and I also met up at Ally Pally with some other Playground buddies.  Rachel, Sandra, Miss Di, Mrs A and myself with Fergus.

Again we all spent the day giggling and getting to know each other.   This is also where I overheard the conversation with Mavis, of yesterday's post.

Right the questions...

1.  What Am I Working On Now?

How long have you got?  I am a typical Gemini...I have lots of UFOs (UnFinished Objects) on the go at any time.  At this precise moment I have on the go:-

•  A quilt waiting to be quilted.
•  An Anniversary quilt only just started. 
•  Scrapbook albums awaiting finishing (including a mini of our wedding).
•  Several x-stitches.
•  Some summer tops I want to make (maybe with the current weather I shall wait until Spring).
•  A dress waiting to be altered.
•  Some mini albums waiting to be started.
•  A bag waiting to be finished.
•  A crotchet bag waiting to be assembled.

Is that enough for now?  I have probably missed something out.

 

2.  How does my work differ from others in my genre? 

Now this is a difficult question for me to answer.  I think part of the reason why some of my lovely friends follow me is that they never know what they may see next on my blog.  Whether it be my Girls, an unusual papercraft project like this one, some cards, Christmas cards, quilting, scrapbooking or my passion...mini albums.

3. Why do I create what I do?

Hmmmn!  That is a tricky one.  Some of my work is used to decorate my home.  Scrapbooks are because I like to record things as history, some are given away as gifts to friends and family.  Scrapbooking to me is telling a story of what happened and the story around that particular photo.  I am also trying to trace my family tree and so try to scrapbook about this too.

I enjoy creating things.  I am also lucky enough to have a room of my own where I can spend hours creating things for my pleasure.  It is known as Santa's Workshop from about this time of the year onwards and also the Solar Room on account of it being of a south facing aspect.  

My Hubby also works nights so I spend many a happy hour keeping myself out of trouble whilst listening to music, sometimes working until well after midnight on a school night!!  Some of my past quilts have also taken inspiration from my surrounding area.  I live in the Brecon Beacons in South Wales surrounded by rolling hills and woodland.  Bliss!

4. How does my creative process work?

Ahh!  Now you are asking.  As Hubster says I "have a mind of a flea"!.  I sometimes see something in a magazine that inspires me to create something, or a photo in the case of scrapbooking.  I often see something on blogs that inspire me of I may think "Ooo I have that stamp or die, why didn't I think of that?".  Also, I do sometimes join in on challenges that are on the internet and that sometimes inspires me to create something.   Inspiration is all around us, it just needs to trigger us at the right moment. Or as in the case of yesterday's post...an overheard conversation floating around your brain just as you are rummaging around in your stamp drawers!

Now enough about me, I would like to introduce you to my three maties who kindly agreed to join me on this blog hop.

In no particular order...

Kim

Kim was my PIF on the first WOYWW anniversary I took part in.  We became good friends instantly and within a short time we were skyping and exchanging emails.  Last year Kim and her lovely Hubby Mike came to Wales and spent two very short but fun filled days with us.  Later this year my Hubby and I are going to be visiting US and we will be spending a little time with Kim and Mike.  

Kim says...I’m Kim Young, and I’m so humbled to be included for this creative hop by my friend Hettie! 

I have always been creative…starting with candles, then running amok with candies, leatherworking (which stopped once I realized that making my own saddle wasn’t going to get me a horse! But still one of the best money-making hobbies I’ve ever had), music (I was a flute major in college-still play in a community orchestra), and photography (with my own darkroom and everything!)  I’m also a role player/gamer, which is what brought me to my current and all-encompassing hobby…Rubber Stamping/Card making.  You’ll just have to tune in to see how that happened! 

I have been making cards and altered art pieces now for almost 18 years.  While I started with the “Clean and Simple” style—I just don’t do cute— along the way I was introduced to the Distressed Look and a Mr. Tim Holtz…My husband I’m sure still regrets that! 

My Blog, Kim’s Creations http://kimmcyoung.blogspot.com/ was started in June of 2010 so I could join my first blog challenge, The Compendium of Curiosities Challenge at Studio L3.  I honestly didn’t think it would go much further than that.  But Blogging has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people from around the world!  It is such a wonderful way for the creative community to inspire and support one-another.  While I used to be a regular poster, nowadays it seems I’m lucky if I get a challenge piece in. The “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” hop from The Stamping Ground sometimes is my only motivator to get in the craft room some weeks to snap a quick pic! Sad that I’m counting down to retirement already so I have more free time…14 years, 11 months and 3 weeks to go…

Debbie

Debbie and I met at the second WOYWW crop that Julia hosted.  We met at the bring and buy stall and bartered me for a Spellbinders die and Debbie for a glass cutting mat.  We became buddies straight away.

Debbie says... I have been crafting in one way or another since I was little, starting with old fashioned sugar paper scrapbooks, crochet, knitting, cross stitch & dressmaking. Then a few years ago I discovered card making & Papercrafting & I was hooked!

Since then I've been a member of various Design Teams, and become a regular designer for Making Cards Magazine. I enjoy lots of different Papercraft techniques, but rubber stamping & paper engineering - unusual cards with movement - are my faves.

I'm thrilled that Hettie asked me to join in on this blog hop, as I love the variety of her work and I can count on her for a giggle every week!

Elizabeth

As yet Elizabeth of Crafty Robin have not met despite the fact that we both live in Wales though unfortunately at opposite ends.  Hopefully we will get to meet in the next few months, maybe at a halfway point.  Elizabeth does some beautiful work both paper crafting and fibre work.  

Elizabeth says...Hi my name is Elizabeth Robinson and I am lucky to live at the seaside in beautiful North Wales, UK. I have crafted all my life, learning to sew, knit and paint with both my Mum and my Nana. I was also inspired to try new crafts by a fabulous teacher at Primary school, she taught us lots of mixed media including lino carving and printing.

I love any type of crafting but papercrafts, mixed media and felting are my passions! I am an independant demonstrator for IndigoBlu, a member of the Craft Stamper's Challenge DT and also look after a little challenge blog called the Dragons Dream TIO. Somehow I also find the time to teach classes for the WI and am very involved in the county shows.

Right that is my Creative Blog Hop for today.  Please call by my fellow nominees Mary and Elizabeth. 

And as for those rumours about me working on a Trabbi they are all true.  Here I am trimmng the roof lining with my Tim Holtz scissors earlier today.

TTFN

Hettie 

One Stamp...Four Ways...

Hello there

Is it me or does it seem rather "Autumney" today?  We now have lovely warm sunshine outside, but I notice that we now have blackberries and some of the leaves are changing and it just feels like Autumn.  No problem as it is my favourite season anyhoo.

Right then, onto today's post.

Last year whilst on a Playground outing at a Craft Show, I was looking at some goodies on a stall when I overheard a conversation that went like this...

"So then Mavis, are you going to buy that die?  It is so you and I know you will do a great job of it".

"Well Agnes.  Whenever I buy a die or stamp, I try to think of three ways in which I might use it.   If I can't I don't buy it.  I am just thinking as so far I only have two."

I turned and nodded my approval on Mavis' method of thinking and since I have tried to do the same...mostly.  

Well the other day I was rummaging through my drawers looking for something or other and I happened upon this stamp Elegant Butterfly by Stampington and Company which was a kinda impulse purchase...it was sitting on a table just over from where I was working at a scrapbooking retreat...however, I don't very often use it as it does not really lend itself to being played with.  Or so I thought.  I then thought about Mavis' conversation and set about finding three alternative ways to use it.

So here is Option 1...

 I stamped it as it was onto white cardstock with Archival ink in Cobalt.  Once it had dried I scored around the edge of the cut piece and then carefully with my sharp knife, cut around the butterfly and then mounted it onto a piece of navy cardstock.  I then scored around a square card and mounted the navy onto the card.  Hey presto one method.

Option 2...

 For this option I stamped the image as above then sliced horizontally at 1/2 cm (or thereabouts), making sure that you keep each slice in the right order, then cutting horizontally at 1" sections, starting the second row at 1/2", again keeping each piece lined up so they don't get mixed.  (Yes I know I changed increments between cms and inches, but the size I cut the image wasn't divisible in inches!)  After inking around each piece using Pumice Stone DI I then attached each piece to a navy background.  I don't worry about the pieces not being exactly straight as I live in a 16th Century cottage and so have not got one straight wall or corner!  That is MY excuse and it is MY card!!

Option 3...

I inked the stamp with versamark and white WOW embossing powder which I heated.  I then inked the background with Peacock Feathers and Faded Jeans DIs.  I spritzed and flicked and distressed the edges.  Once it was dry I mounted it on white card and then navy before mounting this onto some woodgrain card (NBUS and very old).

And now for Option 4...

Here I tried the chalkboard effect.  Not something I have ever had good results with before but this one kinda turned out how I like it.   I used a really old, not very good white ink pad to stamp the stamp.  Then I added WOW white embossing powder and heated.  I then took the same white ink pad and dipped the corner of a cloth in it, but not too much, and then gently rubbed around the image to make it look like an old board.  I then drew around the edge with lines and kisses and mounted it onto a tan card (handmade).  I scorred the card top and bottom, added some TH tissue tape, some Maya Arts string and a button.  This is currently winging its way to a special friend.

Well, I hope you like my take on Mavis' idea.  I cannot actually remember what their names were, only the gist of the conversation, but I am so glad I had overheard it.  I shall have a rummage and try doing this with some other underused stamps.  I hope this post inspires you to try the same too.

I am going to take these cards down to the Snippets Playground as they do contain some Snippets.  I am also going to take it down to my friend Mrs A's Butterfly Challenge as it contains Summer  Butterflies.

Thanks for calling by.  Don't forget tomorrow I will be joining in the Blog Hop and so I will be pleased if you call by then.

Hettie