That necklace

Yes I remembered at last, here it is, I am pleased with the result too.

 

I also got to finish off the invites, just need to do the inserts now then get them sent out. On top of that I managed a couple of LOs, I am planning to learn how to add a slide show to my blog and will put the best of the Texas trip LOs in that when I have more done.

Book, mag and cards

Not feeling great today so I only managed a short while working on the cards for MIL. I have read through Tim’s book again – some great ideas forming in my head and I really want to have a go. Maybe tomorrow!

 

My April edition of Craft Stamper arrived today, till no sign of the subscription offer so an email has been fired off and a subsequent phone call if I get no response in a few days. There are some great projects in there again and the whole mag deserves another good read. That will occupy my before there is anything worth watching on the TV, could be I will get to read it twice!

It’s here!

QVC have excelled themselves and my order placed on Tuesday arrived today, 3 days WOW. I have had a quick look through Tim’s book and will be settling down to have a good read later. Hopefully I will get to try out some of the techniques over the weekend, well the weather forecast is foul so I won’t be going out.

Oh yes I did it again

I finished a LO, took a photo. Also took a photo of the necklace and then what did I do. Well I got engrossed in preparing the bases and backgrounds for 24 invitations I am making. I cut all the card (forgot the nestie I was going to use!), mixed some Perfect Pearls with some ink and spritzed the white card to tone it down a bit and bring it into the them I am doing. Left that to dry and went down2 flights of stairs to make a cuppa and check emails etc. So what did I forget – to upload the photos and transfer them on the network to tweak and upload here. So watch out tomorrow and see if i can forget then as well!

Blog candy!

The Stamp Man has done it again, take a look at this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love these new colours and you could win them by visiting the Blog.

 

Good luck!

The early bird…..

I am al most always up by 5.30 at the latest, unless I have had a particularly late night of course. Well this morning it was 5.00 but I had the temptation of Mr Holtz on QVC as I had recorded the launch of his TSV and yes I succumbed. The book looks really interesting and will further my wish to learn more techniques.

 

That wasn’t the ‘early bird’ bit, that is to do with the Distress Inks I ordered yesterday. I was watching the launch show and they came on – and they sold out in no time at all so if I had waited till today I would not have got them.

 

I have lots of other stuff to watch and there is more to come tonight. When I will get to try things out I have no idea but the note book is filling up with so much, that is all I seem to do, make notes!

Too busy today

I hate it when I don’t get time to craft in some shape or form and today is one of those days. I have been busy in the office making sure all is done for the end of the month and I have also started a gentle exercise routine – well I can but hope!

 

So I will spend the evening browsing, checking blogs and looking for inspiration.

 

Oh just remembered, I ordered a set of the new Tim Holtz distress inks, I chose the pastels and I have lots of grungy colours and they look great. Thanks to QVC for putting them on the website a day early, I am sure they won’t last long tomorrow, if they make it that far!

Cold and wet

A perfect day to do some crafting. I finished off the necklace and forgot to take a photo of it, note to self – must do that tomorrow. Then I spent a couple of hours making more folders for my stamps and found that they take up so much less room than my old storage which means I will have room for more!!!

 

I still haven’t decided on the covers though. I want something strong enough to withstand the use and it is looking like chipboard so I need to find some 7 inches square, the folders are 6 x 6. I may have to go for 8 x 8.

 

I am about to sit and plan what programmes I want to record on Tuesdays QVC. With the guests they have I could end up recording it all, assuming there is nothing DH wants and Tuesdays can be difficult as there is always lots on in the evening we want to watch, all at the same time.

MIA yesterday – back now

Yesterday just got away from me, didn’t feel too good and then we had a charity quiz in the evening. Never mind I have been busy today.

 

I mentioned the other day that I had found a way of storing my acrylic and unmounted stamps and I have made a start on the ‘matchbooks’.

 

Here are the first 3. I have used some red bazzill – got lots of red and pink and I don’t use it very often so it needs using up.

 

I am trying to theme the folders, these are swirls and scrolls and I plan some where I have collections that go together and some for florals, alphas etc. not sure if it will work out all the time. The idea is to bind them either with jump rings or the Bind It all, then I plan to have small tags on the ends showing what is in each book. I still have to work out what to use for the covers, cardstock is not strong enough on it’s own so I may have to stick 2 or 3 layers together or find something thicker. That is not a priority at the moment though.

 

I am off do continue with the necklace now

Time out

The only crafty thing I have done today is some reading. I had quite a bit of work that needed doing in the office and took up most of the day then I got the silk painting book out and had a read up on techniques, not that I can start till I get the fixing pins to attach the silk to the frame. then I did some web research on jewellery and ordered some flat based pins to use on the necklace, they will be a big help with the finish I want. Sadly they won’t be arriving till next week as the suppliers are on holiday.

Am I turning into a weekend crafter

I think I might be at least I only seem to be producing stuff at the weekend. I am hoping that the goodies that arrived in the post today and yesterday will change things. My beads have all got here so that is something I can do sitting in front of the TV.

 

I also now have my frame for the silk painting. It is really easy to use as well and no fiddly bits to loose. Just 4 strips of wood with notches in to slot into each other an tight enough not to slip out. All I need now are some pins to attach the silk to the frame, need to source those.

 

So an evening of beads and chain – see you tomorrow.

Unmounted stamp storage.

I have tried a couple of ways to store all my unmounted stamps, both rubber and acrylic, and none of them has been ideal.

 

I am one of those people, if I can’t see it it won’t get used. So I dismissed boxes with tabs. Lever arch files with cling pages are OK but I found the cling wore out and I would pick up the folder and several would drop out. So imagine my delight when I found another method in the latest edition of Craft Stamper. Over sized matchbooks is the description, with acetate sheets to stick the stamps to so they are all visible and with several ‘matchbooks’ in one book which means I can keep things together. I have plans now and they involve having themed books with small tags hanging off the binding to show what is in the book, also the covers will be stamped with the relevant images. Can’t wait to get started now.

Flowers

It seems that everyone is making flowers at the moment, all sorts of shapes, sizes and techniques. I made some Faux Porcelain ones a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to find some more to compliment them. I came across this Tutorial on the Inspirational techniques and tutorials blog. It uses Grunge paper but I will give it a try on some cardstock first.

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope you have a lovely day.

 

i got to sort out my purchases from the craft show, and from the workshop and I did take those photos so here goes.

 

I just did the ones I like the best

 

This was the first we did with an agate background and a masked stamp and patterned stamp. I wasn’t sure about it yesterday but the more I look at it the better I like it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was fun, using compressed air to blow drops of in about then stamping on top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A gorgeous embossing folder used with metal and then inked for this one. Love the folder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this was amazing to watch – PVA glue spread on a piece of chipboard then drops of ink dripped all over. The ink sank through the glue and created it’s own patterns. I have tried this with Glossy Accents today and it is drying.

 

 

Finally inked a tin, mine needs finishing and I am not sure what I will do with it yet.

A workshop on Alcohol inks.

I have had a great day playing with inks in so many colours with Jenny from The Artistic Stamper. I am really tired now but will sort out some of the samples and take photos tomorrow. There will also be some more information on Jenny’s blog in the next day or 2.

Fun day at Excel

I got to say Hi to the girls from Creative Moments and also get some stamps, alcohol inks and a metal rubbing tool. Then I wandered off to get some jewellery bits, found out later I got the wrong colour  but they will keep for later. Then I did a make and take silk painting, that was great fun, very therapeutic and quite easy to do. I got a starter kit and some scarves to make, now i need to find my frame to stretch them on.

Painting..

well colouring in with Whispers pens if I am honest. I was sorting through my stash of papers a couple of weeks ago and I came across some  PaintabIes I had totally forgotten about.  A couple of snowflakes and a couple of florals, that better than to work on them while I am sitting with my feet up. So I got them out and did just that. The snowflakes I had started so it was a matter of completing the rest. They will be put away with the Christmas stuff. I have also completed one of the florals, it is a border of peonies and leaves and I have done it  in pinks and greens. I see it being used in the summer with some garden pics or for MILs birthday pics of her birthday, she is 90 this year.

 

I still have an all over floral to do, not sure how I will use it when it is done, I think I need some idea so I can use appropriate colours.

Punches ?

Do I need them. I don’t really think I do. I have been watching QVC and they had some Martha Stewart ones on today. They have some lovely ones and the demos showed some great ideas but, if I were to really get on with it, I could design them for my Robo. There really is no reason why I shouldn’t – just sheer procrastination!

 

So note to self for later this evening – try designing a border with open work that would look as if it had been punched.

Getting out of sync

Yes this is Tuesdays post. We had our youngest grandson for the day and he is pretty demanding at 2 and with me not feeling 100% I was exhausted by the time he took his nap. I did manage to watch a couple of craft show on the TV. I had recorded them so I was able to whizz through the bits I wasn’t interested in. I made a few sketches for cards from the ideas shown and tat was it for Tuesday. Wednesday is Martha Stewart day on QVC so I may get some ideas from that.

Another day in the armchair

I did manage a bit of work this morning but was ready to take my place snuggled up in the armchair by then. It was snowing gently too so I was really pleased I didn’t have to go out anyway.

 

I caught a craft show this afternoon and they were showing Melt dust paper and powders so i did some research and it looks as if the same effect can be achieved using printable and heateable vellum, it comes out of the printer wet enough to sprinkle with normal embossing powder and then heat. So this is on the list of things to do when I get back to normal.

Sundays post

I am really struggling with routine at the moment, still really uncomfortable and taking pain meds is not helping.

 

So yesterday I did manage to get into my craft room for a while, nothing like the time I wanted to spend there but I got a pendant made from UTEE, just need to work on the frame to soften it down a little. I can get that done later I think. I also made a start on the Texas album from I have been dismantling. You wouldn’t believe how terrible the original one is, the only embellishments are on the cover!

 

Here’s hoping I get another post done late, and maybe some photos.

I’ve been to a blog party

I am still not feeling too good so I have been taking it easy and sitting with my feet up, lap top handy and I have joined in a blog party at http://www.your-creativemoments.co.uk which I didn’t find till this morning or I would have posted a link before.

 

I am hoping that I feel better tomorrow and can sit at my craft desk and use some of the inspiration I have found today.

Oh no!

I didn’t get here yesterday, we were out for a lot of the day with work and byu the time we got home I was so uncomfortable I didn’t feel like doing anything. All I did in the way of craft was to check the blogs I am subscribed to and save some links to some for inspiration. I hope to get something done today.

Just a reading day today.

I have been in a lot of pain today and am on strong pain relief so can’t concentrate on much. I have spent the afternoon curled up in my chair reading my Suze Weinberg book, at least i should be able to work on the techniques when I feel better.

More UTEE

The wonderful Sheena Davis was on Create & Craft this morning and I managed to watch it online. I just don’t understand why we can’t get it on our cable service! Anyway she was playing with UTEE and I just had to play my self. This method was really easy. First melt 2 or 3 colours of UTEE in the melt pot.

 

Find a metal frame then find a stamp with a bold image that is bigger than the frame, this is so the UTEE stays inside the frame. Ink up the stamp with Perfect Medium or Versamark. Put the frame on the stamp, place it so the image looks good inside. Fill the frame with the molten UTEE and leave to set.

 

Once set remove it from the stamp and dust with pearl mica powders, these will get into the crevices and stick to the ink. I used 3 different colours .

I also got a LO done, this is a hand tinted photo of my Grans little brother who didn’t live for much longer after the photo was taken, I have a larger version of it which is in better condition and decided this was the best way to preserve it.

I have done some journaling  but it is hidden and just says who he is and when and where the picture was taken, and by who. The bigger one has the photographers name and address on the reverse.

It’s arrived

that’s the book I ordered from the States. I wanted a copy of The Art of Rubber Stamping and it wasn’t available here and the only ones I could find were used. I am blown away, it is in perfect condition,I don’t think it has ever been opened. So you can guess what I am doing this evening.

 

Let you know tomorrow how it is going.

Learning Curve

I use a Wacom tablet on the PC in my craft room and I have been searching for a course I found some time ago, today I got a newsletter from Creative Techs and there it was. So I have downloaded it and watched part of it already, the rest will be watched later – for the first time. Knowing me I will watch it again then move it to the PC in the attic and put into practice. There are lots of little things to learn so I am sure I will get things from it.

 

i have also been dismantling an old album and re writing the journal, all from our Texas trip which I am sure I have already mentioned. That is it for today.