Giveaway winners for February

Well I'm just sitting here so I may as well do the draw!!

The winners this month are Sandy, Princess Judy Palmer and Meggy May. All very regular commenters on my blog which is nice - my turn to send you some lurve!

Your hearts will be winging their way to you very soon. Thanks for playing!! March giveaway will be here around the 10th as I am away for a few days. Hope to see you again soon.

Sue Wilson inspiration…

I  had a 70th birthday card to make and wanted to do something a bit different – hopefully using one of the dies I keep buying! So where else to go for inspiration but Sue Wilson’s blog Participate in Craft.

I haven’t been keeping up with all the new die releases and was blown away by some of the stuff on her blog – awesome!! Once I had stopped drooling over all the yummy new products she was showcasing, one card in particular caught my eye (here) and I thought I would try and CASE it as it didn’t look too elaborate…... I think I had a pretty fair stab at it

– I did however shy away from using an embossing folder as that would have meant extending it (have read the instructions and watched someone do it but still haven’t attempted it myself) so I added the texture with a mask but it’s a bit so so. I do however love the glitter background – very blingy!! I have a 60th to do next so I may just do a variation on a theme now I’ve worked out how to do it.

Total sum of stash used for the first time: 4 flower stamps, 1 adhesive sheet (well I might have used that before but there was a whole unopened pack at least a year old) and labels 32 die.  Result!!

Try It On Tuesday - Handwriting

Having to use my own handwriting on a project always fills me with trepidation (I sometimes think even signing the card ruins  it!!) but that is exactly what we are challenging you to do this fortnight at Try It On Tuesday.

Handwriting to me always shouts ‘journalling’ and I thought I would turn to my ongoing altered book/Alphabet journal (It’s been three years and I’ve still only done 7 letters). I’m aiming to finish it before I retire…..

I have a lot of DECISIONS to make at the moment and when I realised that the next letter I had to do was ‘D’ I decided this would be the theme of my piece. So out came papers, glue, paints, tissue paper, texture paste rub-ons – I had a good old play. I am none the wiser as to my decisions but I feel a little less stressed and some of those decisions don’t seem so big – well they do say art is good for the soul!

I finished my page off with a Prima doll and a quote from Ben Stein copied out in my best handwriting. So there we are, hope this has inspired you a little bit but if you want more then hop on over to Try It On Tuesday to see what the rest of the team have been up to and to link your own project. See ya there!!

Crafty Cardmaker’s and More…..

 

Viv is hosting today's challenge and the theme is 'Come Fly With Me'. She would like to see either birds or something bird related, ie birdcages/houses, as the MAIN focal point of your project.

I have had a little distressed tag on my desk for some time now, and I decided to try running it through my cuttlebug in an embossing folder with this lovely bird design. I added some more distress ink to bring out the design and decided it didn’t need much more than a word and a ribbon.

There are some great ideas for bird related projects on the Crafty Cardmakers and More blog so do go over and have a look. Simple or sumptuous we’d love to see what you come up with!!

The sun has got his hat on….

and I actually ventured into the garden for about 10 minutes today while hubby filled the bird feeders. DD has still not left home as there were problems at the last minute with the house they are hoping to rent and I still don’t know what’s going on at work but I’ve kind of got over that for the moment. Waaaay above my paygrade and I refuse to worry about it any more. Told you a bit of sunshine would do it.

I’ve also been busy in my craft room. Unfortunately I keep forgetting to photograph things before I put them in the post. Doh. But here’s a little card I made that wasn’t destined for anyone in particular, just trying to use up some ‘STUFF’.

Hope the day is bright wherever you are, now I have another commission to finish!!

A luvverly giveaway for February….

At least I hope you’ll think so.
I’m feeling incredibly ‘blocked’ creatively at the moment. I know it is because I am in limbo with loads of stuff at work (where will I be working? How many hours? who with?doing what exactly?) and a little bit anxious about my DD leaving home (as well as excited about the possibility of a larger craft room!!) and until both these things have actually happened and I know where I am I’m feeling kind of blahdeblah about everything. (A bit of sunshine wouldn’t hurt either).
So when I was alone yesterday instead of retreating to my craft room I popped the tellybox on to find the lovely Hels Sheridan demoing on C & C. At the end she made a simple one layer heart and I was inspired to go upstairs and play. So thanks Hels for the motivation to get out some inks and stamp!

As February is the month of LURVE (yeah right) I thought these might as well be the February Art Draw. Yeah, this month there will be 3 winners. The one above was the practice piece, which kinda turned  out OK so I mounted it on card.
Next the one I was trying to make – it kind of ended up very like Hels’ one (even though I used different colours!) so I added the pink.

And then there was a bit of the paper I ‘smooshed’ (and you know how good I am at that) left over so I found a smaller MDF heart and made a third.
 
My hands are now rather inky and but is a small smile on my face.

If you want to be in the draw just leave a comment. If you tell me that you have linked from your own blog then I will put you in the draw twice. Closing Date: 9.00 pm on Tuesday 25th February – a quick turn around as I need to get them posted out before the end of the month for once.

That’s all folks!!

WOYWW #244 – What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday

Oh yeah, it’s Wednesday again…….

again? Ooer, haven’t really achieved a lot since last week but I have plans and here is my desk.

Centre stage a sample of a little book I am making with the kids on Saturday 8th for National Library Day. Yes, I know I said I wouldn’t be doing all these kids activities anymore, but I am. Well just this one. Well, just at half term. Actually Just this month…. ……… Anyhoo we have three storytelling sessions, two craft activities and an author planned and that’s just for the children. If you still have a library don’t forget to drop in and tell them you love them this week. Yes, awful as things are since we were outsourced, I’m still a believer. (I didn’t however say anything was prepped yet so I expect a few more grey hairs by the weekend. GRIN.)

Also lots of lovely paper pads and two boxes to alter, I can feel a February giveaway coming on (YES, I know I’m behind AGAIN).

Here’s a piccie of my new storage system for my spectrum noir pens (they were a real bargain….. and I have no willpower) and my not-so-new promarker storage. I was going to splash out on a flashy plastic one but think this works quite well and cost nowt. There are also a few copics which actually are my favourite alcohol markers but these are quite old now and I probably won’t replace them as they give up. (Leaving more room for additional SN colours……. nature abhors a vacuum).

 

Right too many words. If you want to know more, go to the home of WOYWW here and Mrs Dunnit will explain. Join in why don’t ya?

Working today so expect me on the eventide………..(Addendum: never even got a chance to post this until late evening. Expect me tomorrow?)

Try It On Tuesday - Travel

It’s that time again folks and this fortnight at Try It On Tuesday we have a nice easy theme – travel!

I had a hankering to make another book for my DT piece and here is my (hopefully) weathered looking travel journal. Simple card and tissue paper with paint, inks and a bit of rub-on to highlight the wrinkles.

The spine is hand stitched as is the bit of grungeboard I used to reinforce the spine – I actually thought it cracked quite a lot on the fold (I thought it was supposed to be flexible?) but I guess it only adds to the general look. The inside pages have lots of travel themed stamping but there is plenty of space to write or embellish. There are also a couple of pockets for those interesting bits of memorabilia. Unfortunately I only have the one picture as my ipad is resting and I need to get this posted.

Hope this will encourage you to make your own project on the theme and hop on over to Try It On Tuesday where the rest of the DT have as always done a superb job.

See ya soon!!

Crafty CardMakers & More Challenge #109 – It’s a Man’s World

Oh yeah, this fortnight we want thinking about projects for all the guys in your life.

Carole is hosting this challenge and the the theme of 'This is a Man's world'.So anything suitable  for a man or b

We are sponsored by  FLOURISH WITH A BLING and also by THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE. Check out the Crafty Cardmakers and More website for full details and to link your projects.

My offering this month is an altered spectacles case done with tissue paper inks and stains. Here's the top and the 'bottom'.

Hope that doesn't stop you linking your project and checking out the rest of the DT.

 

And the January Winner is.....

I'm a little later than planned as I really wasn't very well yesterday and it kinda slipped my mind what day of the week it was never mind the date!!

I use the random number generator to choose my winners and often think that it must be a pain to be the first commenter - that never comes up. But I am pleased to announce that on this occasion the winner is no 1, Carmen. I will leave a message for you but the quicker you get back to me the quicker you will get your prize. I will be able to post Monday or Friday this week.

Thanks everyone for joining in - the February draw will be along shortly. Meantime, time to check out that February tag!