OCTOBER GIVEAWAY WINNER IS......

Lisa!! I have your addy hun so it will be wending it's way to you on Monday morning.

Thanks to all who played, pop back next week for the November giveaway and some giveaway news.

I think it will be something Christmassy!

May Art Draw – Flutterby!!

I know, it’s never been known, the Monthly Art Draw up on the first day of the month!! Well make the most of it, it may never happen again.
So what piece of whimsy have we got for you this month? Well it’s the little butterfly hanging that I was working on yesterday. The base is wood and the wings and handmade flowers are made of paper (no idea who by) and I have attached a string so it can hang although actually it stands up quite happily. 
Usual rules apply, if you would like to go in the draw please say so ON THIS POST before 9.00 pm on Saturday 31st May 2014. Please feel free to link from your own blogs and if you let me know you have I will put you in the draw twice. Overseas players welcome, make sure I have a way to contact you if you ‘win’. That’s it I think. Simples!

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

TioT and August Art Draw - yep, it's early.......

Time pressure means I am having to combine my DT entry for Try it on Tuesday with the August Art Draw. The main  reason being I shall be away at the beginning of September so we will have to have an early draw so it can be posted off before I leave.

The 'frame' is made from distress co-oredinations cardstock that has been embossed and lightly sanded. You may recall seeing the 'clearly for art' flower on a different post and this is what I finally made with it.

Hope you like!! The theme at TioT is Anything Goes this fortnight and we'd love to see your entries. Just remember that you must only link to 5 challenges to qualify for Top 5 nominations and for prize draw.

With regard to the August Art Draw just leave a comment here before 9 pm on Sunday 26th August if you want to enter. Overseas players welcome, feel free to link from your own blogs. 

See ya, Cindy x

Bit Dark......

Just some ATCs. Went a bit off the beaten track with my colours and used a few of my new stamps and masks that have never been touched. Not sure about any of them but was nice to have a play and get inky. The creativity one is a bit tongue in cheek.

Off out to lunch today so better get im that shower. (I can be a right slob at weekends LOL).



Don't forget to join in with the April Art Draw if you haven't already.

Link is top right or just click here.

April Art Draw - steampunk pocket watch

Here at last, a bit later than planned. This month's offering is this Wendy Vecchi Art Parts pocket watch. As usual the photography probably doesn't do it justice.

Had great fun grunging this up with paints and powders. The large cogs are chipboard pieces from eco green while the smaller pieces embedded in crackle glaze are old watch parts. Had great fun texturing the cogs (no I don't have a texturising tool just a hammer - noisy but fun). Used Clearly for Art to make the flowers following a Wendy Vecchi tutorial (I should emphasise hers don't look like this - I must have lost my way somewhere - but they are still kinda neat). It has a little chain so it can be hung or you could just leave it in the box.

So the April Art Draw will remain open until 9.00 pm on Saturday 28th April. All you  need to do is leave a comment on this post and I will include you in the draw (well I don't actually draw it so much as feed the numbers in to Mr Random Generator!).

International players are most welcome and I'd love it if you have the time (and ability) to link from your own blogs. In fact, although I hate sounding like I'm making people jump through hoops, if you do I will put you in  the 'draw' twice, so more chances to win.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll try to return the favour - I am getting better, honest!!

Happy Easter everyone!

Cindyxx

Mother's Day Card (No1 !!)

Well I'm not sure if  this is going to my mum or not as it may go to a commission unless they decide they don't like it. My mum would love it but I am not entirely happy with it. It's a hybrid effort with some digital elements, stamping, decoupage, promarker colouring, nesties and embellies. It sure took long enough for me not to be pleased with it. Just looks a bit unbalanced. Since I took the photo I added a little cross charm under the bow (a cross was in the brief) and I'm a little happier with it (Just can't stop fiddling that's why everything takes me so long).

I took an A4 card and cut it down a bit as I actually find A4 cards a bit too big - we need another size between A5 and A4 I think!!

Part of the commission was for 'lots of words' (you know what mums are like LOL) and so I tried to do a fancy fold up thing in the middle with a sheet of A3 and added my verses but for some reason I couldn't get the colour of the text to change which was a little annoying but it looks OK.  (Please don't laugh at my excruciating verse). Unfortunately I hadn't anticipated that a sheet of A3 folded in half and then in half again is basically A5 sized - so it doesn't cover the whole of the  card. But I'd already done the front so I wasn't going to change it!! Aaah, forward planning.........

And then, because I cut down the A4 card I had to make a box because I didn't have an envelope. I used the green hougie board rather than the enveloboxer thingy that is staring at me because I really have not worked out to use it yet. Of course, I hadn't thought about using a sensible measurement when I cut the A4 card so that was easy (NOT). LOL, I have all the 'stuff' if only I had an ounce of common sense sometimes I would make my life easier.


So it may be for my mum or someone else's mum, I'll find out tomorrow. Would save me a job if they decide to buy their own as I haven't even started on MDC No 2 yet. But there's always Saturday.....

Finally a little plug.... for the March Art Draw. There have been very few entries so far this month so if you've read this far and you haven't entered why not go to the relevant post here and leave your name. You don't even have to say anything much (although that would be nice!!).

What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday # 140

So, just exactly where was I working?
And how many pairs of scissors
does one girl need?

Oh dear.

What a mess!!

ALL my desks were fine and dandy until I got a call to make an emergency card. I recently did a commission for a 'shoe' card (here).

Great idea, use the guillotine as a
storage shelf. Ah, another pair of
 scissors. You can never have too
 many pairs of scissors.

Someone else saw it and asked if I could make another one - first catch, it needed to be there for Thursday, so meant making and posting out on the same day.

Second catch - it was for a guy!!

I'm saying nothing.

Good job I've got another one
(guillotine I mean)

But this is what happens when I'm in a rush and my crazy takes over. So this is my workdesk this Wednesday. The thing I was working on before I got the call is buried. It will stay like this until Friday now, think I'll just shut the door.....

Why am I telling you this? Well, it's all down to Julia of Stamping Ground who hosts this weekly blog hop known as WOYWW. Hop over first to Julia's to read what's what and find out how to join in.  
Oh, here's the card:- 

Do you think he'll like it LOL? (I actually like it better than the original. And it took me half as long to make. Perhaps I do work better under pressure. Or to unusual briefs.(!?!))

P.S. February Art Draw is open.
Have you entered? If not, why not?
Go on, you know you want to!!HAPPY WOYWW.


February Art Draw - it's Luvverly!!

If I do say so myself. Not often I'm tempted to keep my giveaways and fob you off with something else but am quite pleased with the way this turned out ...... but I'll stick to the original plan, especially as I already gave you a sneak preview before I went away.

My original inspiration came from two projects in February's Craft Stamper Magazine - 'Their Hearts Connected' by Louise Crosbie (AKA Zuzu) and 'A Splash of Paint' by Trish Latimer. The minute I saw them I knew I wanted to make something similar and get very painty and inky!! I had already decided to do something romantic with hearts using my canvases - it is February after all - and originally tried a red, and then a red and purple colourway (you may remember the red canvases from waaaaaay back).


Somehow it ended up too harsh looking so I softened it with gesso, some pink and added a touch of turquoise and I like it much better.

I really like using canvases 'backwards' for the possibilities they give as a kind of shadow box and I had two hanging about waiting for a project. The only trouble was they are quite small - about 7 x 10 cms - so finding teeny tiny things to go inside was a bit of a challenge. For the main message on the front which I wanted to be clear I stamped on to tissue first and then adhered with gel medium - I always find this works really well.

I did wonder at one point if I
had over mixed my metaphors so to speak as I seemed to have some funky paint effects going on and then went all vintage with a cherub and some tiny paper roses - but I decided  the colours held it all together.






And at last a use for one of those little corked bottles!! Bought them a year ago and they have been languishing in my stash ever since. Filled it with tiny silver stars as I couldn't find any tiny hearts in my stash.





Anyhow, enough of my waffling. If you would like to enter the Art Draw then leave a comment on this post before 9.00 pm on Saturday 25th February.

International players are very welcome. It always seems a bit cheeky to say this as I am not very good at any of this technical linking stuff but I would be very happy for you to link from your own blogs  - the more the merrier.

Finally, as I have been catching up in Blogland I have noticed there are a lot of challenges out there to do with Valentine's, hearts, romance..... there's definitely something in the air. So I'm linking this project to Snazzy's Design Team Blog Challenge # 1, Love/Romance. There are prizes!!! I've also linked in to the Link Party at Cindy Adkins' blog if you would like to join in as well. It also fits the theme for a new9ish) challenge blog  that I have come across - 'art with no boundaries'

I'm still waiting......

to crash through that 150 followers mark :0(.  Obviously my 'goodies' aren't enough to tempt you, we shall have to do better!! I also haven't heard from my two new followers - I have tried to contact you but sorry ladies, if you don't get your addies to me somehow I won't be able to send you anything!!

I shall  be offline for several days, but the January giveaway will continue through to the 4th Feb as advertised - you just won't see your comments until I can get back on to approve them. So do join in, leave a comment on this post, or on the original here, and I'll put you in the draw.

We are also waiting with great anticipation for a final date for the new  creative blog celebration being organised by Lisa Swifka of A Whimsical Bohemian. I know Lisa has had a few teething problems with this new venture but it is sure to be awesome. The event will be called 'Our World Our Art' and will be 'an International Blogwide Celebration of the Arts and its Artisans' to quote the lady herself.

To find out more click on the picture or pop over to A Whimsical Bohemian. The likely date for the event is March, which will of course be upon us in next to no time. If  you have an artistic passion you might even want to sign up yourself!!

I won't personally be taking part this year but I shall definitely be taking a look round once it starts. I'll keep you posted when I know more.

What's on Your Workdesk, Wednesday #138

Another week has whizzed by. Hardly needs saying does it? Had a great day today (it's Tuesday as I am writing this, well technically Wednesday as it is well after midnight, but I digress..) did HW, shopping, mum visiting, made two cards for men (just the hardest!!) ordered some prints using machine in store (a first) and bought and set up a digital photoframe. Feeling very productive, especially as I have had a really fun splodgy messy session at my desk as well.

I offered to send a RAK to a 'newbie' ATC trader but it's hardly worth just making one is it so there are four WIP here in various stages of completion. This is what I call messy, arty farty, faffing about crafting, using layers, stamps, gels and paints. It's real fun. I'm really loving the way the fairy one in the middle is coming along. Need to let them all dry off properly before I do any more to them though.

While I've been waiting for these to dry (and vice versa) I have been busy getting NEXT month's giveaway prepared. I am determined to get ahead of myself. Here's a sneaky preview. The little hearts are covered in crackle glaze that is drying. They were also covered in stamped words but they seem, ahem, to have come a bit adrift. It's probably a lesson in using the right inks or setting it but as I can't remember which ink pad I used and I thought I did blast them with the heat gun, it's obviously not a lesson I am going to get top marks in. Hopefully it will all come out in the wash, one of those 'happy accidents'.

OK you must know by now why I'm rambling on about what's on my desk this Wednesday. No? Well, it's all down to Julia of Stamping Ground who hosts this weekly blog hop known as WOYWW. Hop over first to Julia's to read what's what and find out how to join in. It's easy, so go forth, nose about, leave a comment, make a friend. But I should get yourself a beverage and use the facilities. It may take you a while.

January Art Draw - and Happy New Year to you too!!

Right. First giveaway of the year and I'm late. And I have an idea that is going to make you happy or fall asleep before you get to the end of this post. Still, read on!!

First, two altered slide mailers, one of these will constitute the main prize for this month's art draw. As you can see I've gone a bit oriental in honour of Chinese New Year which this year signifies the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, one of the most auspicious of the chinese zodiac.

The one on the right has an acetate front which may/may not be hard to see from the photo. Lots of gold embossing powder and a bit of gilding flakes. On the reverse there is a chinese proverb/quote (allegedly anyway according to Mr Google).

I am not quite sure what it means but it sounds like pretty good advice, should you happen to know a local dragon.

For the one on the left I got out some sadly neglected embossing paste and a bamboo stencil to decorate the back and front. Came out pretty well (but oh what a mess you can get into!!!)

I used some of my inca gold to highlight and was quite pleased with the result. Finished off the front with the large coin that just happens to have a dragon on. (I don't just throw this stuff together you know).  Inside I have used the slide 'niches' to add some pictures and another inscrutable chinese quote. More good advice to start the year!!

I did get rather carried away with my general paintiness and inkiness - feels like an age since I've had a chance to be messy - and I was doing a bit of 'resist' work because that is the challenge over at TIOT this week. So I also made a CNY tag which will be part of the giveaway and which is my entry to the challenge. I hope the DT at TIOT won't be cross with me for burying it in the middle of this post but I can't be bothered to do it all separately.  The dragon is the resist bit in case it's not obvious!!

Right usual rules apply. If you would like to be entered in to the art draw please make a comment on this post before 9.00 pm on Saturday 4th February. (I am extending it a bit because it is already the 15th, and also I know I won't be able to get to the pc to do the draw before then). International players welcome. please feel free to link from your own blogs.

Now I am going to make it a bit more complicated. The draw will be for 1 slide mailer, unless we get over 30 entries, when there will be two winners. I will also make another tag and box to be fair (it'll never happen!). First drawn will get first choice. Simples?

Oh what the heck, it's New Year and I'm feeling generous. As I say I got carried away and I also have three tags and three ATCs (most but not all are resist technique as well). So the next six new people to 'follow' me will get one of them as a RAK. (We are currently at 147 and, yes, it's really bugging me that that follower tag has not gone over 150 yet!!).
So there are potentially 8 prizes on offer this month and I hope they will tempt you to join in. Don't forget that although you do not need to have a blog of your own I must be able to contact you if you enter. Good Luck, and
Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Watch the Birdie!! November giveaway is here

Was trying for a Christmassy feel for the November giveaway , not sure I pulled it off!!

As usual, my mediocre photography skills let down a rather cute little bird house. It is very small, about 3" high and is basically an altered chipboard house. I just used some paints and metallic rub on (also used the PVA technique on the roof to get the distressed look) and finally found a use for the littleshrink plastic leaves I made a month or so ago - there were just enough!! The tiny seed beads which were once in a glue like medium that has long since dried out were the perfect size to use as berries to add a bit of colour and my little robin (you may need to use your imagination as his red breast kinda disappeared) was made using shrink plastic and a Tim Holtz die.

I have just realised I took the photo befor I put back his little hangy bit. This little house does come with a hanging loop so it could go on the tree - or wherever you want really!!        Anyhow, usual rules apply, you need to leave a comment on this post before 9 pm on Sunday 27th November to be included in the draw. International players welcome, feel free to link from your own blogs. Thanks for looking, and hopefully for playing along.                     Cindy x              

And the winner for April is.........

Laura.... so glad I haven't been to the PO with that ATC I owe you yet, now I can send both things at once!!
Oh, gotta have a photie, so here is a card I made for a little girl who's very poorly but been very brave. See, I can so do cute!!



The next giveaway will be ready to upload around the 7th/8th May so don't forget to pop back. Happy Bank Holiday everyone and if the sun doesn't shine - CRAFT!!!