And the winner is........

no 3. That's Georgina, georgy girl or GG as we are both known lol. Will get it in the post asap Georgy.

I have been really busy this week (not sure doing what though) and I apologise for not getting around the blogs - I just haven't had time during the day, and in the evening I find that even though we have a super dooper allegedly ultra fast connection, when my son is also playing his games on line my pc just slows to snail's pace ... or maybe I just need a new pc lol. Do you think Santa might be listening? I also have thanks to post for some interesting looking christmas packages that have come through...... will try to get a message to everyone concerned this week.

Right, off to chase son out of the house to take his mock exam.

Oh Christmas tree....

me again, quickly saying hi. I checked out the challengw at Tuesday Taggers and see it is to use a christmas tree image - ironic really, as I am so behind I did a production line type thing with a tree card/ornament which I am sending out this year, but forgot to photograph it/them. However, in the spirit of participation I made a quick card with this clarity stamp from a couple of years ago which I love.



Simple, but effective.

December giveaway time.......

is here at last. It's been a busy week for me as it was my birthday and I had arranged plenty of days out and dinners (managing not to cook for a week lol) so I am now extremely fat and exhausted. A lovely end to the week was a visit to the Christmas Fair in Lincoln (beautiful cathedral) a long but enjoyable day with some girlfriends.

I was also overwhelmed by the gorgeous cards and artwork I received from my amazing internet buddies, I will try and post some photos so you can all share but you know who you are and I thank you all very very much!! The talent, kindness and generosity of my fellow crafters never ceases to amaze me.

Now, for the giveaway.....


This wasn't at all what I intended to do, but you may remember that a couple of weeks ago I joined in a fabric image transfer swap on Artful Ideas. This one came out very well, but she called to me to do something more than just an ATC, and she also seemed perfect to fit in a gothic arch - so here it is. Maybe not a very jolly item for a Christmas giveaway but I think she looks very peaceful and she is holding a cross so there is a tenuous seasonal connection!

For the outside of the arch I tried out Carol's 'faux metal' technique which she described on her blog recently. I was working with quite a limited surface area and didn't use quite the same materials but like the effect created. Thanks Carol!

The image itself has been padded and the little dangly bits are made from airdried clay covered in paint and embossing powders.

As it is Christmas, the lucky winner will also get a little goody bag and in order to try and get it in the post before Christmas (I am very bad at getting to the Post Office) the draw for this will be Monday 14th December at 8.00 pm. Bit late for an overseas winner I know but please don't let that put you off. You know the drill, leave a comment on this post to take part.

B is for.......

BALLERINA. Yes I have just finished another page for my ABC art Journal/Altered Book. Am I allowed to say I am very very pleased with this one? Because I was so intrigued with the Lynn Perella 'painterly' technique I was challenged to use on the altered jigsaw swap, I decided to have a go with this journal page. I thought I would keep it pretty simple and have just repeated the same gorgeous image (from Itkupilly!!) with layers of acrylic, a bit of crayon, gel medium, gesso....

The thing is, I am basically a very simple soul at heart, and when I started off I had a lovely turquoisy blue painted page, which I stamped over in grey versamark to knock the colour back a bit and add a bit of texture. Then I placed the ballerinas etc and was actually quite happy with that - it was pretty!! Took me a week to start adding layers over the top. I am not sure what it is about my psyche but I am always reluctant to trash (OK alter) a lovely image. It seems kind of presumptious, an assertion that what you do with it might be better. Or maybe just different? I have to talk about this kind of stuff to those of you out in the ether as someone might understand what I mean, nobody here does lol. The point I am trying to make is that I find it very, very hard to do - but I'm glad I did, it's kind of liberating. There was a point about halfway through when I hated it, but after a while it all becomes rather interesting.......

Have I bored you enough now? The only bit I am not entirely happy with is the lettering, I was going for a kind of printing block style but didn't really think that one through, limited by the things I've got to use.....and it probably isn't really radical enough for a true Lynn Perella style. Still the nice thing about these pages is that I can always go back and add another layer (or two!!) if inspiration strikes. But for now, this will do.
The next letter is Z. Now whatever will I do for that?......