One Stamp... Three Ways...

...corrrr... I do love a nice versatile stamp and the one I have been playing with for todays post has gone into the "faves" list already.  So, it is my Darkroom Door DT day and I have been playing with the utterly gorgeous Pressed Flowers Collage stamp.   To see where to buy Darkroom Door stamps in the UK, click HERE... oh and to see the fabby designs that the DT have made, click HERE for the blog.

 Card 1 is most defintely my "confort zone" of neutral tones.  The colours blended onto the background are Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Walnut Stain.  The stamping is in Jet Black Archival ink and the sentiment is from the Bright Blossoms Wordstrip, cut out and coloured with Distress Ink.

Card 2 is a bit more adventurous!  I decided to use the stamp as a resist image.  Starting with applying Ranger's Glue & Seal to the stamp, stamping onto cream card and then zapping with a heat tool to dry the stamping.  I used Crushed Olive and Broken China DI blended over the top of the stamping to make it pop.  The sentiment is also from the Bright Blossoms Wordstrip (did I ever mention I am highly addicted to Wordstrips?)

And finally, Card 3 sees me getting even more adventurous and getting the old Brayer out!  I do love a spot of brayering and it is something I always seem to forget to do.  For the background I applied Crushed Olive, Broken China and Seedless Preserves Distress Stains to my craft sheet and picked up the colours using the Speedball brayer I have... it is nice and big so picks up more colour.  I repeated the brayering on some more card for the mat.  Again, the words... yep, from the Bright Blossoms... did I ever say I LOVE Wordstrips?


And there you have it!  I shall away now... have a wonderful day and thanks for looking!  TTFN

Hels x

Life...And The Art Of It...

...sounds pretty deep and meaningful doesn't it?  Actually, I decided to call this piece by that name because it makes me sound like an artist (well, one can always have aspirations...)  I actually do just see myself as a crafter... an artist can do drawing and stuff, whereas, if I attempt to draw anything, it looks like a 5 year old has done it... well, apart from elephants, I do draw a good elephant.... 

Anyways... another demo piece from the other weekend... I have no other stuff to show you at the moment... basically because the Room of Stash is STILL a pit.  I know, I keep saying I shall be tidying it... and I have done the sum total of nowt at all.

I do have goodly excuses though... well, food needed cooking... and washing needed doing... and bins needed emptying... and shopping needed to be got... oh and then there's the small issue of the old war wound which, has again, flared up.  I am calculating it it about 3 weeks between "crisis points"  Which is NOT good.  But, hey ho, it happens and I will get used to this degeneration and then it will be bearable for a while... and then it starts again.  Anyways... I am going to "gently" do the Room of Stash today... no lifting and stretching, just removing boxes from the floor and putting away stash... and then, I may just get a chance to play with the Susan's Garden dies that Grim got me for my birthday!  That is my reward ;o))   I shall away now... as ever, thanks for looking... hope you having a great day!  TTFN

Hels x

Sunday Stamper - Week 262 - My Guy

Goooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all.  Big thanks for your entries for last weeks challenge... everyone was lurving the purple theme!  This week is a nice easy week in honour of the special day it is today... Father's Day here in the UK... so the theme is... GUYS.   To join in is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here, leave me a comment with a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If you haven't got a blog, no probs, you can also join in via emailing me or on Facebook (just tag me in your post and I will be able to hop and visit)   The theme will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 22nd June 2013.

This week my entry has actually been made by the honorable Lord Alfonseroy of Sheridan!  Yes, he got Ink On His Paws indeedily.  First off I cut him some cardstock to fit the background stamp which is an ancient woody from Tim Holtz Stampers Anon (think this was from his very first release)  I loves this stamp and haven't used it for a yonk so Alf decided it needed an inking.  Next, I used Distress Inks (chosen by Alf) and blended them for him... he wanted to help so chewed the end of a paintbrush for me... *yes, indeedily, my marbles have been lost*

One of my fabby birthday pressies is the new Remnant Rubs.. thank you Sue for these... I LOVES them muchly.   Now, I had a bit of a "do" with some rub-ons a few years ago.. namely, I spent a fortune on them, tried to get them to stick to the thing I was rubbing them onto and they failed to release from the plastic... so they went into the bin and I have, since, poured scorn on every other rub-on I have encountered... I am happy to say that these are FAB... like seriously fab... so detailed and dead simple to use... and they stick to an inked surface too... HURRAH GO TIM!!   Next Alf tells me he wants to use the rub-on's on one of the new Idea-ology enamel tag thingy's cos he has seen his Uncle Tim doing that.... Alf, you see, is up on all the latest techniques!  And then, he got some canvas and told me to make a belt to go with the new Idea-ology Buckles. Sir Knickerless was stamped onto card and coloured with DI's and a waterbrush... another thing for Alf to chew.  The funniest thing is that he really was sitting on my desk whilst all this activity was going on!   Anyways... as it is a Father's Day card for his daddy, he wanted me to add the letters... and then promptly beggared off with the A... good job I have another!   I am scheduling this post for a little later than normal so Alfonse has chance to give his Daddy his card before Daddy sees this post... if that makes sense?   

So, whatcha got planned for today?  We, sadly, have to go to the Mobile Phone Shop today... because my brand new swizzy phone is not working properly (insert MEGA sad face)  Hopefully they will be able to sort it out .... it keeps locking up and is sooooo slow.  After that, we plan a day sorting out the garden a bit (weather permitting) and yep, the Room of Stash is STILL a pigsty... no, I didn't get time to tidy it yesterday what with helping Alfonse and the power cut we had last night.  Why is it that for a whole hour and a half that it was off, I kept coming up with ideas for things to do... and everything needs electricity... like "I will get the ironing done.... " Or "I will do some heat setting of that texture paste I just spread onto a canvas...."   Doh!   And on that brainy bombshell... I shall say, have a great day!  Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Make A Wish...

...well, the word "wish" is my "word of 2013" after all... and surprisingly, I am not getting bored of using it all the time either!  Anyways... today sees another demo sample from last weekend... this time I have pushed myself and used cardboard for a base (ahem... quite!)

Lots of lushly Fresco Paints and Grungepaste through a new Crafter's Workshop stencil... I loves this new one lots!  I used the gorgeous Lin Brown stamps, stamping with paint (application is simples, a bit of Cut & Dry, half with one colour, half with the other and pouncing it onto the stamp moving the stamp around in a circle, so it is light in the middle and dark on the edges... easy peasy!)   Anyways... the flowers were stamped onto black card, I have seen Lin do this and it gives the flowers a real "pop".  The leaves were stamped onto cream card for a bit of contrast.  The letters are from the Vintage Market Alterations strip die... love that die lots (and I haven't got it either)  A smidge of Treasure Gold around the edges and over the stencilled bits... and a finishing touch with a butterfly (Studio 490) stamped onto Clearly For Art (clear flavour)  A few bits of rusty wire to add some swizzles to the flowers and for the hanging and there you have it... done!

As I sit here, in the Room of Stash, I am seeing a brilliant blue sky, which makes me want to go and do a spot of gardening... but!  It is blowing a hooley, the trees in the Spinney and bowing down so I figure I will only get radged with the wind blowing my hair about (little known fact, getting my hair blown about by the wind makes me reallly crabby!)  So, I shall stay in the Room of Stash instead.  I have lit a Yankee Candle (today's smell is Lilac Blossoms, my all time fave) and I shall have to make sure I get covered in ink and paint... and then perhaps, later on, I will actually tidy the Room of Stash instead of picking my way over several boxes and bags of stuff that needs re-homing. Then again, I might just carry on playing!   Grim is on a long old shift today *sad face* and won't be home til 11pm so I do have plenty of time to get tidied up (even as I write that, I know I am doubting it will happen lol)   So, I shall away... to tiptoe through my own handmade bombsite to the Desk of Creativity and see what happens.... Thanks for looking, as ever, have a fabby day!  TTFN

Hels x

Fancy a Challenge?

...I do love a good challenge you know... and when the lovely Trish Latimer asked me if I would like to take part in the brand new Craft Stamper Take It, Make It challenge which starts today, I say "oh yesh"  ... especially when I found out what the theme is for this one.   If you have already received your latest copy of Craft Stamper (July 13 issue) you will have happened across an amazing technique and project from Birgit Koopsen.  Check out Pages 30 & 31 to see her fabby step by step pictorial and stunning creation.  Skip across to HERE to see the new challenge post and artwork from some of the other Craft Stamper DT... and have a play, there's a prize in it too!  The Design Team will also have a look at all your gorgeous work, and choose their Top Three..... and the overall Winner will get published in Craft Stamper magazine! Yep, the winning entry will appear in the UK's number one stamping magazine! Did you see our first winner in print? Jo's stunning card was featured on page 59 of the July issue..... that could be you!

I have never heard of this kind of technique before... so I decided to follow Birgit's step by steps... and they are really easy to follow... and I made a bookmark (I know, I am a copycat!) the only difference is that I made mine and cut it into a heart shape.  My stamping was done with StaZon and I used a Stampotique Grass stamp for the background, a Darkroom Door butterfly and... the FAB new free cover stamp from the July issue of Craft Stamper, designed by Visible Image.  I love the sentiment, it is very special to me because that is what my lovely Dad said in his speech at our wedding.  He is a man of few words is my Dad... but when he does speak, you can guarantee he will come out with some pearls of wisdom.... bless!

Yesterday was... A.MA.ZING!  Seriously, I have THE best day.  Not only was I thoroughly spoiled... I also felt very much loved from all the lovely messages, Tweets, texts, emails, cards and lots of hugs dispensed by my *boys*.  We went to the Garden Centre yesterday afternoon and you know what garden centres are like, they have lots of goodies inside that aren't necessarily plant related... like some gorgeous nougat... (nomnomnomnom) and some Yankee Candle votives to add to my collection.  I am a bit of a Yankee addict you see... I spend sooo much time in the Room of Stash that I usually have a candle burning when I am in here (most days)  And... my fave smelly ones were all there at the garden centre... so they kind of fell into Grim's basket (teehee)  

 

 And... you will be relieved to hear that my nagging and sulking paid off, Grim got me a big bag of seed for the birdies!  And... he also got me some new plants for our summer tubs.  One is a fuchsia I have been after for yonks called La Campanella.  It is a dangly one... what is the word?  Oh my poor old brain has gone for a snoozle... well, it is one that dangles its branches over the side of the pot... you know what I mean!   Grim has very kindly sorted my new phone out so I can now take pics, do yonder t'internet thing and text... I still need to find my way around it but... I LOVES it!!!  Here's a pic I took on the old phone (not sure how to get the pics off the new phone, I needs Grim here to show me how to lol) my pressies.   TRAILING!  that is the word lol

Look at Mr Rusty Cat.. isn't he just the cutest! His tail is on springs too... keeping me amused

Today I am having a day playing in the Room of Stash, I have a few DT projects to get finished and then... I am going to play with my new Susan's Garden dies that I got yesterday.  Hope you all having a good day... tis time for me to inky so I shall away and say ... Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Another Year Older...

...and most definitely, another notch on my doolally-belt!  Well, just because the years are a-passing and old age is a-creeping, doesn't mean to say I have to act any older does it??  Anyways... first up, THANK YOU for all the lovely birthday wishes... it means so very much that you all have taken time to wish me a Happy Birthday!  Facebook has gone fair bonkers... and my Grim & Alfonse have well and truly spoilt me!

I thought I would pop some pics on of the Studio 490 Curio Shelf class that I did on Saturday at Birds in the Barn.  Now, I make no secret of my lurve for all things Wendy Vecchi... and it was so nice to play with Art Parts and stamps and ink and Grungepaper - it has been a yonk since I had chance to have a proper play (I was working though... ahem...)   Big thanks to Janet for hosting the class and to Karen for prepping all the class kits and doing the cutting outy bits... and to all the lovely ladies who joined me for a day of Studio 490 delights.

So... d'ya wanna knows what I got for my birthday then?  I am SO excited!!!  Grim had been asking me for a couple of weeks what I wanted for my birthday... so I says I wanted a big sack of birdseed... I loves to see the birdys arriving on the feeders *and Alf ignores them... for some reason!*  But NO, Grim said he wasn't going to get me a sack of birdseed!  So, I asked for the last two DVD's from the Twilight series as I haven't seen them.  I also asked him to get me a new iron 'cos mine leaks from the handle and drives me nuts.  He point blank refused to get me an iron and I have it on good authority from several friends that I am insane for asking for an iron for my birthday (yep, that be me!)  So... I cheekily asked for some of the Susan's Garden flower dies from Sizzix.  Well, I am CHUFFED because I got the DVD's... and I got three of the dies (I am SO lucky)... and... and... and... the surprise of all... he got me a new... phone!!!  The last new phone I had was in 2009 and since then I have always had his old phone when he has upgraded.  I finally left the old steampowered phone behind at the beginning of the year and went onto the swizzy HTC phone that was his old one.  But.  It has less memory than me (yep, that low!)  Anyways, I was over the moon this morning to open up a surprise pressie... and it is a new Samsung Ace 2... how swizzy is that!!! I have sort of figured out how to use it... so if you get any weird messages from me, you will know I am trying it out!   I also got some gorgeous pressies from my friends including tote bags, stashly goodies, choccies (they know me too well) and a host of beautiful cards... I shall pop a pic of those on tomorrow. 

Anyways... I shall away, we are off to the Garden Centre this afternoon where Grim has promised me he will buy me said sack of birdseed!  Hurrah!  Oh and... classic or what... Grim said to me this morning "Anything you want today, you just tell me... ."   SO, I said "what, like you are my slave for the day?"   He says "yes...."   My response... "well, my toe nails need clipping.... "   Funnily enough, that isn't in a slave's remit!  Fancy!  Anyways, on that rather revolting image, I shall say... thank you for looking (and for all the greetings)... have a fab day!! TTFN

Hels x

J'Adore.....

...ooh get me, going all Francais!  That is about my limit for speaking French though... being as I am rubbish at languages (except English of course, although that has been brought into debate of late!)  Anyways... today sees another one of my demo pieces from Sunday at Birds in the Barn. 

The base is another bit of cardboard (no surprise there eh?) and a piece of gorgeous kraft coloured card that I used for the texture more than the colour on this piece.  One side of the card is textured, the other is smooth... cool huh?  Anyways, more goodliness in the form of Fresco Paints... some Grungepaste through a Crafter's Workshop stencil and then a whole lot of layering.

The beautiful tulip stamped in black was actually stamped onto a piece of tissue and then collaged onto the base using Glue & Seal (from Ranger)... I love how cosmetic tissue just disappears under the Glue & Seal... opens up a whole range of ideas for adding collaging to a project.

Today I am mostly going to be Nursemaid.... poor old Alfie has to go to the *whispers* V E T this morning... he is having his annual boosters and MOT and also... tis tick-removal-day.  The thing has not grown since I soaked it with Frontline... but it is hanging on in there.  I am, at the moment, trying to "act normal".... because for sure, he knows when he is going in his box.  Said box is still in garage and said AlfieCat is now skulking about in the bedroom... how does he know!!!   And... poor old Grim has had to go to the *whispers* D E N T I S T today... broken tooth :O((  I have told him that when you get to  a certain age, these things happen *not a lot of help am I?*   So, I shall be donning my nursey hat today and dispensing lots of sympathy... only for today though... cos tomorrow... it's my birthday!    And on that exciting bombshell, I shall away to squeal out loud in excitement!!  Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x