September's winner is....

No 2, Netty!! My tag will be on it's way to you tomorrow as I  have your addy already (you can add this one to the rest of the rubbish of mine you must have lol).

Thanks to everyone who took part his month and remember October's Art Draw will be a steampunk themed book. I'll upload it on Tuesday.

Look at me, being all organised!! It'll never last.

See ya soon. Cindy x

Fairy Cards

I recently succumbed to Debbi Moore's Christmas Fairy CD because I thought the fairies were so very pretty. I really like the idea of CD crafting for making cards to sell, especially when used in conjunction with the Craft Artist programme and I am getting quite a collection. Unfortunately my printer is rather unreliable for getting true colours, especially in the blue range (hubby is already leaning towards putting a new printer on my Christmas list because I keep making a sad face - result!!). Anyhow I managed to print out a few sheets and these are the first cards I have made with them.

 

Although the CD comes with all sorts of matching papers etc I'm not really a great fan of everything co-ordinating ad nauseum (and the chance of it all printing out the same shade is pretty minimal) so I used some lovely polka dot cards and greetings I got from the Anna Marie Designs stall at Ally Pally.

 

 

This one was part of  the same decoupage sheet as the one above - they are supposed to be the same colour! Fortunately it seemed to match with all these other bits that were in my WIP pile.

 

 

This one came out grey as well, not the colour it should be!! However I think she's rather classy. I need to make a few more of these for my MacMillan coffe morning, I think they'll go down a storm.

 

That's all for now!!

 



Ruby Wedding Card

 

Just wanted to quickly share a ruby wedding card for a friend. I had made a rich red background with DI's and a bit of gilding flakes and thought it would be ideal for this project. I have been waiting to use this adorable LOV image for a card and frankly, I'm a bit fed up with all those layered weddingy embossed pearl cards I've been doing. I don't care if it's a 'young' image, I like it!! (And they must have been together since they were about that big!)

 

I can't decide whether to put a '40' on the front - inside it says their name and  'Congratulations on your ruby wedding'. Whadya think? Or is it rubbing it in LOL?

 

Here are a few tags put together with some of  those bits n bobs that were in my WIP pile, odd images, bits of inky paper and backgrounds that looked promising etc. Quite pleased with these.

 

 

 

That's all for now!!

WOYWW # 173

Morning all. Home today so hope to do a good deal of WOYWW browsing. 'What's that?' I hear you ask (work with me here). It's a weekly bloghop organised by Julia Dunnit of Stamping Ground. There's loads of us, it's fun, you never know who you'll meet so get yourself on over there and join in.

So now for the main event. My workdesk.

Not too bad for me, I really have been trying to stay reasonably tidy and I have been getting a lot done this week. The WIPs have decreased quite a bit but will never, I fear, be completely dealt with. Still got a naked gravy pot, but that is now on my to do list. I was working on a Ruby Wedding card when I abandoned the desk last night and inspired by fellow WOYWWer Jennie at Ally Pally I have got my gilding flakes out (actually I have put them away again but you can see the results). You can also see new Paper Artsy stamps (more of those to come) and the packaging from some new embossing folders and, if you look very hard a new leaf border mask. I have lots of other new toys that haven't been used yet - but I have plans!!

Had a great day at Ally Pally on Sunday although I am not entirely sure I like the new venue. Had the great pleasure of meeting up with May just to say 'hi' - and for us there was no need to wear a rose in our lapel or carry a rolled up copy of Craft Stamper as we both wore our WOYWW badges with pride. Great fun. Happy WOYWW everyone.

Mostly a Tree.....

I don't wan't to give up onSummer - such as it was - but there is a  decidely autumnal feel to the air at the moment. So when I saw that the current Artful Times Challenge was to create something with a tree as the main focus I was drawn to create this colourful tag.

 The background is distress stains and inks (I also used a new leaf mask I got at Ally Pally) and for a change  I stamped the tree image onto black card with versamark and embossed with distress embossing powder although it looks more brown than black in the photo. I really don't know what the two bits of string are doing, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Now, be honest, are my photos getting any better? I am trying to take photos with my ipad which allegedly has a very good camera - they do seem to me to have a bit more depth to them (although I still can't seem to get the lighting right, especially at night) but what do you think?

See ya soon, Cindy

Try It on Tuesday - LAYERS

Here is my DT project for this fortnight for Try It on Tuesday. The theme is layers and I've gone a bit outside the box with this one as it is a digital scrapbook page. ( I could have told you it was a real one - you'd never have known lol).

 

 

I made it using the Craft Artist programme from Serif and there lots of digital elements layered over each other to make up the background as well as the obvious 'paper' images and photo. Hope you like! Lpve this programme though I've stilll only scratched the surface.

 

Anyhow, hope you might take time to come and play with us at TioT. You can make anything you want as long as it meets the theme and you only enter it in four additional challenges. Hope to see you there!!

I Love 2 Read

Thought I'd quickly share a concertina book I made this summer as an example to the kids at work who we were encouraging to make and keep a reading diary. I made a few different styles up to give them ideas (they were all quite simple and basically made from scraps and ceraeal packets!!) but this was my favourite. I got the idea for this layout from a magazine, not exactly sure where now, but I remember that they had very cleverly written the titles of books around the circles. I have to confess I haven't written anything in mine yet but will do so. The book in the picture is 'Her fearful Symmetry' by Audrey Niffenegger which is my current bedtime reading. I am enjoying it, though I don't think it will end well!!

 

 

 

I'm putting this one into the current TOFF Challenge where the theme is BOOKS. Perhaps a scrapbook is not  the usual kind of thing they have over there, but I'm sure someone will put me right if it doesn't fit the profile!

What's on Your Workdesk, Wednesday? # 172

I've been disciplined this last couple of days (Now that doesn't sound quite right but I guess you get my drift - I mean in a good way). I have a tendency to accumulate a vast amount of bits and bobs on my desk that are in one way or another a WIP. They seem to rotate from space to space until I am quite fed up of seeing them. So, inspired by yesterday's completion of the Steampunk book which has been a WIP since about March (see previous post), I piled up all the said bits and bobs and worked through them making some cards. Two of them were I swear the quickest cards I've ever made!!


 

The rest of my work area  is pretty tidy. To achieve this I
1. Worked on one thing at a time
2. Put everything away (and I mean everything) before I started on the next one.
and 3 - Julia, if you are about you  may want to stop reading now -
3. Cleaned up my stamps as I used them and put them away. (To be fair I only used two, so not that onerous a task).

I have spread them out so you can see but they are all ready (complete with envelopes,  in itself a minor miracle) to go into little protective bags and be stored. After which my desk will be all tidy ready for my next session.

I have to say, I actually find this a much less stressful way of crafting. I haven't lost my pokey tool once, and the air is significantly less blue than it usually is. So I will try to take note, but I doubt I will be able to keep it up. I was feeling particularly zen today. There is still a small pile to the left of the desk still to be dealt with. More worrying is this...............

The top of the cupboard may be clear of rubbish but that plastic box is full of WIPs. That's me sorted for the next three months then. Oh I've just thought of another one - I meant to alter that gravy container ...... I'd never noticed it until someone pointed it out last week and now it's all I see.
So many projects, so little time....

Well I have rambled a bit more than intended and if you are from someplace in the blogosphere who has not heard of WOYWW then you may be a little confused. Suffice it to say every week we crafters have a little show n tell, all run by the wonderful Ms Dunnit of Stamping Ground. Pop over for the full list and join in, I dare you. Leave me a message and I'll pop over and you can show me yours.

So to speak. Happy WOYWW everyone. Woking today so expect me on the even tide.

Oh, and if anyone is at the BSSBS at Ally Pally this Sunday let me know. Perhaps we can can say 'hi'. I will be wearing my WOYWW badge anyway - just in case!!

Steampunk re-visited

Earlier this year I had a bit of a steam punk vibe going on and started making some steampunk 4x4s to make in to a book.They've been languishing around the craft room on various stages of completion for months, but here are the results.

 

 

 

I did two of each design so I could keep one myself and give one away in the monthly Art Draw.

Here's my completed book. I'll save the other for now, although I will upload it for the October giveaway. To be honest it doesn't look that much different!! The current Art Draw is still running, go here for a chance to win. See ya soon.

Just a quicky..

Couple of projects to share that were birthday gifts I now know have been received.

First a little hanger made with digital images fomr my polkadoodles Studio12 Picknix CD. Kind of obvious who that was for!!

And another little hanger made from an inverted canvas and using one of my clearly for art faux metal flowers. and a Tim Holtz inspired mosaic butterfly.

That's all!! Must get on. Cindyx

 

September Art Draw - Vecchi inspired Tag

I was browsing yesterday when I came across this tutorial that Wendy has done for the Simon Says Stamptember challenge. (Do have a look, if nothing else the start will make you smile!). I thought it looked rather cool but of course I didn't have all the right bits. I used Paper Artsy Fresco Finish paint (Honeydew) for the main stamping and then coloured with distress inks. Watch the tutorial,the rest is pretty much the same.
 
SO.......... as I am struggling with finishing what I originally had planned and the days are marching on, I have decided to offer my attempt up as this month's giveaway.

Also quite pleased with the photo which I took with my ipad and managed to upload. (Just to be clear, I'm not saying it's a great photo, I'm just pleased I  managed to a) take it b) upload it to my pc. You know what a technophobe I am).

So if you want to enter the draw you just need to add a comment on this post before 9.00 pm on Sunday 30th September.

International players welcome, feel free to link from your own blogs if technically able to do so.

Thanks for playing!!

Cindy

Whoaaa, It's 'What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday, #171'

Back from hols, slowly getting myself back in the groove, but a bit all over the place as OH and I are having a week at home pottering.... suddenly realised it'sWednesday! Not only that, it's Wednesday afternoon before I even gave it a thought. Been doing boring paperwork all day, plus a catch- up visit to mum, now taking a minute to sit down and have a nose as I seem to have been AWOL for such a long time!! Here it is then,.....

Nothing much new to show, just the usual mess. I was playing last night and getting inky, trying to finish off a slide mailer project and I still have to do this month's giveaway which I didn't complete before flying off to Spain. Had to put a piece of white paper under the mailer as I painted it black and couldn't see it sagainst my new work top cover!! Lots to do but before I get bizzy, am going to come and play catch up. If  you want to join in, pop over to Stamping Ground and read all about it. Bet you can't resist!!

Hugs, Cindy xx