What! Grungy Monday on a Monday!! Nah!!

Hi Guys and Gals

Well the weather outside is definately like the November we all know and love..... cold and miserable!!  Though at least it wasn't raining here in Wales.

Well, as you may gather from the title of this posting, I actually completed my Grungy Monday project on a Monday!  Yep!  Once I had read the Lushious Linda's posting for this week's Grungy Monday I was sooo excited I came into my Craft Room and got all inkied up! 

Can you guess what theme I chose?  Bet you will find it difficult..... I will give you a clue shall I .... It is a huge event in the Christian calender and it is next month.......

Did you get it right?  Well done if you did.  If you didn't then you are obviously one of those "last minute" people - a man!!!

HERE is where Linda sent us to see the technique for this week's GM.

I truly loved creating my piece(s) for this week's GM.  However, my first project did not look as good as I hoped so I made another tag.  Then I put the first tag under the daylight light on my desk, and ended up finishing it off to make a card.  Glad I looked before I delegated it to File 13 (the bin!). 

If you have seen some of my previous postings on GM you will see that I love making my own inkie mess using reinkers, perfect pearls, water and a mister.  Thanks Linda for this week's GM.  Loved it!!  I can see some more cards in a similar theme coming up.  Watch this space!!

Now before you go, please go and look on the Linda's blog and look at some of the other projects.  You can get there by clicking on the button on the side of my blog.  And if you want any more ideas from the Man himself Tim Holtz then click HERE to be whizzed over to his blog!   

See ya tomorrow Folks for WOYWW!!

Don't forget to leave me a comment! 

Hettie

Ingredients: Tim Holtz/Ranger: Tag die, Reinkers - Forest Moss, Walnut Stain, Red Brick, Perfect Pearls - copper, gold, red, DIs - Dusty Concord, Antique Linen, Black Soot, Vintage Photo, Fired Brick, Embossing, Mask, glossy accents, utee, flourish die, grungeboard, stickles; Stamps - Hero Arts, Craft Individuals, Stampin' Up; ribbon, paper, velum, embossing powders, pearls.

Grungy Monday 26 - It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

Good Evening Folks

Well I don't know about you but I can hardly believe that it is the end of another weekend.  Where did the last week go?

My post tonight is this week's submission for the Grungy Monday Challenge with the lovely Linda.  I can't believe we are on Week 26 - despite having a few weeks of extended challenges!

This week we were taken by Fairy Dust to HERE where we saw the lovely Tim Holtz working on a 2009 tag.  As Christmas is only 42 days away (yikes!) I thought I would follow suit and make a Christmas tag in order that I can use it to make a Christmas card (I don't have many made yet!!). 

So without further ado........

(I have no idea why the tag and the bottom of the card looks crinkly on this photo - it doesn't in the flesh!!)

I have to be honest, this is a second version.  The first was a little fiddly on the edges and did not look good so I filed that one and changed to this one.   Here is a close up of some of the details.  You can actually see here that I used the Distress Stickles! 

The Merry Christmas is a new acquisition which I think I bought when I was on holiday in  Cornwall.  Yes, I managed to find a scrapbooking shop in Camborne!!  Wherever it was I bought it I think it is going to become a favourite.  It is such a lovely design and prints lovely and crisp!

Well, don't forget to pop along to Linda's site (click on the Grungy Monday tab on the right hand side of my blog) and also pop along to Tim Holtz's blog for more wonderful ideas and inspiration.

Please leave me a comment.

Hettie

WOYWW 127 - OMG! A clear desk!

Good Morning Peeps.

Happy Hump Day to you all!!  (After we have got over today it is all downhill to the weekend, hence Hump Day!) 

It is Wednesday so that means one special thing to me - it is WOYWW day with the lovely Julia.  In case you have got to my desk by magic, WOYWW is where a few (over a hundred) crafters show a picture of their desk and then link up with the lovely Julia to blog hop to other desks around the world!

Do not feint when you see my picture.  No!  I haven't had Martians or Fairies in my room.  I TIDIED IT UP!!!

I know this is not a very common occurance, but yesterday evening I decided to clear my desk up so that I could actually see what was in that pile so I knew what projects were lurking under there.   I did have to go and have a lie down for a bit too!  I have already cleared a few projects but knew that the pile may be hiding something I had forgotten about.  There was a fair bit of scraps, one Christmas album, various embellishments, a cut out rosette left over from my Halloween project and two M&Ms! 

So ready for action ey!

I have a hot tip for you lovely ladies who make cards, I went into Partners/Rymans on Monday and they have their packs of 50 cards (5x7 or 6x4) on BOGOFF!  At £6.99 a pack that is a good saving, especially at this time of year.

Right then guys, off to have my shower, feed chickens, take Dobby for a walk and then work.  Then home, Scottish Dancing and home again.  I will try to visit as many of you as I can in between work and Dancing, but I may not see some of you until later this week.  Wednesday is such a busy day for me (the only evening I go out) but I do love to come and visit you when I can.

Have a happy (and hopefully crafting - yes I am jealous if you can craft today) Wednesday.

Hettie.

Mojo Monthly!! Changing Faces

Good Evening Peeps

Now do not feint!  I know it is only the 7th day of the month, but I, yes I, have completed my Mojo Monthly nice and early!!  I actually completed it yesterday but it was far too late to take photographs unless I used a flash, and as you will see from the last two photographs, I really prefer not to use a flash where I can.

The theme of the lovely Sarah's Mojo Monthly is "Changing Faces".  You can read the post HERE.  Please do go along as this month Sarah is interviewing Jo Capper-Sandon and it is a great read.

Sarah was talking about how you can create totally different results by the way you use different inks or backgrounds, but using the same stamps.  Or at least I think that is what Sarah is trying to say!!  (Sorry if I have gone off on a tangent Sarah!!)  So here is my take on the subject.

Here I have used a background of canvas board, which I have inked with DIs (what else ey!).  Then using more DIs I have stamped some of my favourite images in varying layers and styles.  I have also used Distress Embossing Powder with the clock image. 

For the piece with the sentiment on I firstly used clear embossing powder with a clear image, then used DI to colour the piece in before ironing the embossing powder off (this is the only time I will happily use an iron!).  I then stamped the sentiment over the top using Archival ink.

For my second version.....

I used alcohol inks for the background and then stamped the same images again.  As I only have two Archival inks (Coffee and Black) I was a little limited to the colours I could stamp the images, however, I am still happy with the results.  The Umbrella Man was inked using Espresso AI with Gold.  (Note to self order some black AI as well as another colour of Archival ink - oops I did last night!!  Shhh - our secret!)

For the sentiment piece, I splashed inks onto my craft mat and then swooshed the piece through it.  Two of the colours were the same as the background piece.

The reason I have put little eyelets on the bottom edge is so that I can attach calenders to them.  I did not want to permanently adhere them, because once 2012 is over, I did not want the piece to be thrown away.  All that has to be done is to untie the ribbon holding the calender and hey presto - a piece of artwork instead.  It just shows that my work is hopefully not just for Christmas!!

(Sorry about the top picture, but the photo was taken in the evening with flash!)

I hope you like what you see.  Please leave me a comment and don't forget to pop over to Sarah's blog to see more work and maybe you will have a go!! 

TTFN

Hettie

Ingredients:- Ranger/Tim Holtz - DI Dusky Concord, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Mustard Seed, Fired Brick, Forest Moss, Walnut Stain; Dies - Altered Edge, Umbrella Man, Tattered Florals; Stamps; Distress Embossing Powder - Peeled Paint; AI Red Pepper, Citrus, Sunshine Yellow, Terracotta, Copper, Gold; Stamps - Hero Arts, Penny Black, Pink Paislee; Embossing Powder, wire, fibres, brads.

Grungy Monday 25 - Special People

Hello There Peeps.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend wherever you are.  Here in Wales we are having a lovely dry day - or at least so far.

I decided this morning that before I started doing any real work I would make my piece of artwork for the Grungy Monday Challenge with the Lovely Linda.  Click HERE to see the full article.

We were asked this week to "Use your favorite Tim Holtz products to create a loving tribute to a friend, relative or inspiring person who's passed away". 

Well I have to say that my favourite and most used Tim Holtz products has to be ink and stamps so this morning I set about making a scrapbook layout using a blank piece of Kraft cardstock and first of all chose my photograph. 

This photograph is of my Grandparents on my father's side.  I do not have many photographs of my Grandparents and this is one of my favourites because of the lovely grin on my Grandmother's face.  She is actually knitting for my father.  I am guessing the beach is Clacton-on-Sea as it was their favourite place to go for many years. 

I used a Heidi Swap mask on the right of the piece to make a circular design down the side of the layout.  I then used a TH mask over the top to add a little more depth and decoration.  I sprayed over the layout with a mini mister containing Red Barn reinker, Red perfect pearls and a little water (one of my favourite uses of TH inks). 

I also used another TH mask on the left hand side.  I then stamped using a TH stamp on the right hand side and also stamped sentiments on the right hand side and also embossed with clear embossing powder.  I then layered the photograph with a piece of red PP (from my scrapbox) and the large brown piece of cardstock I stamped my TH stamp and brushed Bronze perfect pearls over. 

I used a bought tag and stamped the TH stamp with clear embossing ink and powder.  I then inked and sprayed the tag before ironing off the embossing powder (another favourite technique).  Whilst working on the tag my Hubby brought up the parcel which had arrived by post in which contained my lovely stamps which I bought with my winnings from Simon Says Stamp (thanks guys!).  I realised that this was perfect timing and that the Love Wish Dream stamp was just what I needed for the tag.  I added a rocking horse and ribbon and the tag was complete. 

A little ribbon across the bottom of the photograph and two roses which I dipped into the Melting Pot and added perfect pearls to the edges and I was ready to start to put the whole layout together. 

I also used a Jenny Bowlin tag for journalling. 

I hope you like my layout.  I will have to do another similar one to use another photograph I have like this, only this time my father is on the photograph and my Grandmother is knitting for my Aunt!! 

Off to make my Christmas Cake now so will see you all later.

Have a Great Weekend whatever you are doing.

Hettie.

Ingredients:-  Tim Holtz/Ranger: DI - Antique Linen, Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Embossing; Perfect Pearls, Red, Bronze; Masks; Reinker - Red Barn; Stamps; Distressing tool; Heidi Swapp - Mask; Jenni Bowlin - Tag; Hero Arts - Sentiment stamps; Prima - flowers; Ribbon, Charm.

WOYWW 126 - New Balls Please!!

Happy Hump Day Peeps!

Yes, it is Wednesday, hence we are now over the hump of the week and downhill to the weekend!!  I cannot believe we are in November - where has the year gone?

Today's the day when a large number of (daft) crafters show their desks, floors, dining room tables, ironing boards and other crafters hop from one desk to the other to see what they are up to.  All of this wonderful phenonomonon is the brainwave of the wonderful Julia Dunnit!!

Here is my desk........

Not much different you may think, but those keen eyed crafters who have been here before will spot that the pile of "stuff" at the back of my desk has decreased and there is a new project on the go.  This little project was started a little while ago and was buried under the stuff on my desk, but I finished the suitcase albums, moved the scraps out of the way, and then dug out this little project. 

It is a mini album of my chookies when we first had them.  It is a "me" project that will have to be put to one side again as I have my Craft Fayre looming ever closer!!  I also learnt today that a Craft Fayre that I have been involved in before has a table for me - two days after the other one! Yikes!!  Hopefully I will be able to have a good session on the weekend, which plan was scuppered last weekend due to me being a poorly bunny!

If you would like to see my little suitcase I did whilst on holiday in Cornwall, please click HERE to see it. 

I know Halloween is over but I could not resist showing you the pumpkin Hubby and I did this year.  It had to be a joint effort as I was not up to doing it all myself!!

Off to work I go and then dancing and after that I will be able to fly over to your desk for a peek!!

TTFN and Happy Crafting!

Hettie.

Cornwall Mini Album

Evening Peeps

I have had a few reminders recently from people who wish to see my lickle suitcase mini album that I used on our recent holiday to Cornwall.  You might want to grab yourself a coffee (or something a little stronger here, as this is pretty photo heavy!!

In case you want a reminder of it here are some pictures of it when I finished making it.......

And here are some pictures of it complete with pictures.....

The printer I used is a Polaroid Pogo, which prints photo 3 x 2" and is portable (about the size of a compact camera).  You can either print photos straight off your camera (via a lead if you remember to take it with you - doh!) or you can send photographs via bluetooth off your mobile phone.  You can guess which option I took (the pixies hid the lead from me!!).

I am not showing all the pages as this would bore you too much, and also there is alot of journalling in there which you don't need to read!!

I hope you like my album and it gives you some ideas for albums of your own.  I can honestly say that I loved making the album and then using it on holiday and I have made a few for other people, including one for my Cousin who is (hopefully) using it in Australia as we speak!  Happy Birthday Tracey!!

I don't mind if you wish to borrow any of my ideas, and if you do, please remember where you saw them!  Let me know so that I can see what you have done!

Don't forget to leave me a comment!

TTFN

Sam