Crafty Love n Hugs

Snazzy's DT first ever Challenge!!!

2012-01-30T00:01:00.002Z

Hello Everyone,

This morning sees the kick off for the first ever Snazzy's DT Challenge. Val and Don (The Headmistress and Headmaster of Snazzy's wonderful world) sent the DT members the Darkroom Door 'Love' wordblock stamp to create our pieces for the challenge. If you hop over to the DT blog you will find details of the challenge together with fabulous projects from my teamies for inspiration.

I decided to use the stamp to create a Valentine's card but there are many more ways the gorgeous stamp can be used as my team mates have shown so well.

I kept to a simple black and white colour theme with just a splash of red. I stamped the wordblock onto black card using Versamark ink and heat embossed using the Wow Bright White embossing powder. Perhaps it doesn't look so bright here because of the dull weather but I can definitely say it is the brightest, purest white EP I have used and I love it..... and it's available from Snazzy's along with the kaleidascope of other WOW embossing powders. I created a 15 cm square white base card and then matted black and white card to leave 2.5 mm borders each time. The white matt actually has white 'resist' spots on (it was in my stash and I don't know where from, lol) but I don't think you can see them on here. I then ran a white Versamark inkpad round the edges of my 'wordblock' image layer to soften the edges a little and then placed this on the card towards the righthand side. I cut two Marianne Creatables swirls, one each in black and white card and then cut the flower layers from handmade tissue paper in black and white. I crumpled the flower layers and then layered them with a Nestability small red heart and a 'Love' brad before adhering to the bottom left of the card.

Two little crystal tipped pins finished my embellishment and the card.

I have since thought of other ways I'd like to use the stamp but for now I have to get on with my next DT projects. The Design Team are working with some ab fab products for the coming month so stay tuned in to the blog to see the challenge starting today and Gillian's first project for February next Monday, 6th February. It's bound to be a stunner!

I hope to be back later this week with a couple of tags I made recently for the Chocolate Baroque Alphatag swap I decided to join this year. I don't want to blog them until they have been received. I really hope I can manage all 26 but it might be a bit of a tall order, lol!

Have a really good day.

Lots of love
Lesley Xx

Brand New Challenge

2012-01-29T19:44:00.000Z

Hi Lovely Visitors,

Just a very quick post for tonight to give you a little heads up on a new challenge starting tomorrow. For every month that has five weeks in it throughout the year the Snazzy's DT will be hosting a challenge over on the Snazzy's DT Blog so as January is a five week month the fun starts tomorrow. If you drop by the blog tomorrow you will find all the necessary details plus inspiration from all the DT members. There will be a prize for the lucky winner of exactly the same fabulous goodies that I and my teamies have been playing with throughout January and here's a sneak peek.

So, why don't you call in at the blog tomorrow, we'd love you to join in the fun. I'll also be showing you the details of my project for the challenge on here tomorrow.

Enjoy the rest of your evening.

Hugs

Lesley Xx

Another Snazzy Sneaky Peek!

2012-01-13T20:02:00.000Z

Hi Everyone,

Just a very quick post from me tonight. I managed to finish my second Snazzy DT project for January by the skin of my teeth this week, lol, and I've just posted it over on the Snazzy blog here. Here's a teeny little peek which will hopefully tempt you to go and have a look ;0).

I had hoped to have a couple of photos of our gorgeous Charlie Boy (my has he grown!) but although the indicator said there was still life in the camera battery the darned thing kept switching off so you all have a reprieve until they come down to see me next week, lol!

Have a good weekend everyone.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

It's Snazzy Time!

2012-01-09T12:27:00.003Z

Good Morning Monday Visitors,

A typically English opening from me again today because I just have to mention the weather!!! What is with our weather at the moment??? Last week we had all those scary winds and rain creating havoc everywhere and this week it's like Spring has already arrived which is also a bit scary when it's only the 2nd week in January. I can't help feeling we are going to have to pay somewhere along the line but at least my OH has pleasant temperatures to get all our outside Christmas lights down and packed away. I'm doing the inside and I've got it all packed up ready to go back in the loft till next year. Much as I love my tree and decorations I always love the spacious feel to the lounge when it's all gone................. till next year, lol!

Anyway, now to the business of the day ;-) . It's my week for posting on the Snazzy DT Blog and my first project published on schedule this morning. I always hold my breath when I've scheduled a post wondering if it will work, lol! So far so good! Val and Don sent the DT some fabulous papers and a set of ticket stamps to work with this month and here's a teeny taster of my project.

I do hope you get chance to pop over to the DT blog to take a look at the whole project in more detail and with a bit of luck I'll have another project finished before the end of the week which will show lots more of these wonderful papers.

I'm off to see little Charlie and his big Sister tomorrow. I wonder how much of a change in him I'll notice because I haven't seen him since 27th December. I bet he's grown, lol! I might just have to bore you with some more pics ;-).

Till next time have a good week and thank you for your visit and any much appreciated comments you have time to leave.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

PS Ooooh, I nearly forgot. Keep an eye on the Snazzy DT blog over the next 2/3 weeks because as January is a 5 week month we are going to be holding a little challenge for all our visitors. There'll be some extra projects from the DT and I think the possibility of goodies from Val and Don so don't miss out! Xx

Here he is ............... Charlie (Sunday name Charles) John Ebdon Stobbs

2011-12-30T12:56:00.000Z

Hello lovely Blogging Friends,

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope 2012 will be a kind year to each and every one of you and my wish for all of us is that we can be happy, healthy and enjoy the little things in life because that is mostly what our lives are made up of.

I'd also like to thank all of you for visiting and especially those of you who take the time to leave such lovely comments. This crafting and blogging lark has given me some wonderful really close friends (some of them virtual ones) and for that I am really grateful. My love and a big hug to you all.

2011 hasn't been too great a year for many of us I know and my family included. There have been several sad changes to our lives but ................ it could have been worse and I'm not going to dwell on them. Instead I am going to remember my favourite bits, the main one being the birth of our first Grandson, our gorgeous little Charlie and now I have a new camera, here he is

Isn't he beautiful!

Here he is with his very possessive big sister, lol!

and getting to know his Uncle Jamie!

and his cousin Alexa! (My three precious people)

and his Mamma (me, in case you didn't know, lol)!

He always seems to fall asleep on me ....... I guess

it's the cushioning that does it ;-)

Whilst I'm sort of seeing out the old year I have to tell you that because of the extra demands on my time at home, I very reluctantly took the decision to resign from the Chocolate Baroque DT a couple of months ago, mainly because I felt that I wasn't able to give the 100% commitment that Glenda and her company deserves. I was very proud to serve on the CB DT and considered myself very fortunate to get to play with their beautiful stamps before most other people did and I will really miss it I know. I am still a member of the CB Guild, still consider Glenda and the rest of the team to be my friends and will look forward to receiving my newsletter every month filled amongst other things with the fabulous designs from my ex-Teamies. I'll still be buying their lovely stamps (I already have a couple of sets on my wish list already) and when I have time I will be promoting them on here when I can. Have a great 2012 Chocolate Baroque!!!

And to finish my last post of 2011, here is a hanging that I made for the CB DT earlier in the year and which I can't remember if it appeared anywhere. I really liked this piece when I finished it and loved the colours. Hope you like it too after all the Christmas stuff, lol!

The Grungepaper flowers came from the Chocolate Baroque Doodle Butterflies stamp set and the lovely leaf spray is a Marianne die. I painted the background with Viva Precious Metal paint over Gesso (I think) and deliberately left brush marks to give texture. Looking at it again now (it was made back in March) I think I'll have to make another one, lol!

Bye for now lovely friends and I'll see you in 2012 (probably with a sneaky peek at my next Snazzy's DT project)

Lots of love to you all.
Lesley Xx

The Happiest of News!

2011-12-14T07:32:00.000Z

Hello Lovely Visitors,

First of all I must apologise to my blog buddies who I haven't visited for at least a week but I was finally summoned to dash up the A1 to go look after my gorgeous Isabella when her new brother decided to finally make his appearance. 'Dashing' proved a little difficult as of course, it had to be rush hour didn't it, lol! Luckily our Daughter has some lovely friends up there, one of whom looked after Izzy for an hour or so until I could get there. Mel, Jenna and I will be forever grateful you were there, mwah! Anyway, at precisely 10.14 pm on 7th December Charles (to be known as Charlie) John Ebdon Stobbs was born weighing a hefty 9lb 5oz and he's absolutely gorgeous just like his big sister.

I didn't get to take loads of pics (did I hear someone say thank goodness, ;) ?) but my stupid camera has chosen this important occasion to go on the blink and is telling me there are no images on the card ?!**!! I will be heartbroken if that's the case as he will obviously never be 1 day old again but he's here and he's healthy and my lovely Daughter is okay too so that's the main thing. As soon as I get a photo I will show him off to you all.

In the meantime, while I was away I didn't get to show you a sneak peek at my projects this month for the Snazzys Design Team which were published last Friday. Don and Val at Snazzys sent us some fabulous My Minds Eye products to work with which included a set of 12 x 12 double sided papers, some fun clear stamps and some great buttons and brads all from the same set. They only arrived a few days before I went up to Harrogate but I managed to get a couple of cards made with them (would have liked more time to play) and here's a peek at one of them.

The basic card cut and fold idea for this particular design came from a recent issue of Making Cards mag. If you get chance to pop over to Snazzys DT blog you will see some fabulous designs by my teamie, Paula which you will have to scroll through to get to my post but that won't be any hardship as she has made some wonderful projects again this month.

Well, I hope you are all much better prepared for Christmas than I am. I haven't written on a single card yet (and they are all going to have to be bought ones this year which really goes against the grain) and I don't even have my Christmas tree up which is unheard of this late in December! Today I am treating myself to a rest and recuperating day catching up in Blogland before diving back into the fray tomorrow. I hope the day treats you all kindly and you get to do something nice if it's only for half an hour.

With a bit of luck I'll be back with some photos of some description very soon even if it means a new camera!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

My Buddy's had another Celebration!

2011-12-04T17:31:00.000Z

Hi Everyone,

After my friend Judith's Silver Wedding Anniversary a couple of weeks ago, she got to celebrate again last week because it was her birthday. I would have shared the card I made for her before now but for the past 8 days we have had our Daughter Jenna and Granddaughter Isabella staying with us. As quite a few of you will know Jenna is expecting our first Grandson who was due to be born yesterday but as we all know babies come in their own good time don't they and, inspite of a couple of false alarms this week, so far he's not deigned to join us. However, as our Son-in-Law was away on a training course last week we thought it would be wise if Jenna and Izzy stayed here.

Even though baby didn't arrive it turned out to be a wise decision because Jenna had a very scary episode on Wednesday with symptoms which appeared very like a stroke!!! Our local hospital were excellent and after a chat to a midwife on the phone we were told to take her in for tests to make sure it was the migraine we suspected and not something sinister. Luckily we were right and although Jenna felt very poorly for a couple of days I was able to look after Izzy and let her rest more than she would at home. Her Hubby came back on Friday night and they were supposed to go home yesterday but Jenna ended up awake at 3 am convinced the birth was imminent ............................... wrong!!!! The little monkey kept her awake all night only for everything to settle down again by lunchtime but they decided to delay going home for another day just in case. As nothing else has happened and Jenna says she feels he's going to stay put for at least another week (hmmmm???) they went home after lunch today. I now have to catch up on all my chores (nothing got done while they were here, lol) hopefully before I get a call to say baby is on his way for real.

Tonight though I am allowing myself a little playtime starting with showing you Judith's card. I started with a white 21 cm square base card and adhered a slightly smaller square of purple pearlescent card.

Using a Heidi Swapp butterfly mask I blended Versamagic ink over a 19 cm square piece of white card moving the mask around at random. I then stamped the beautiful Anemone corner from IndigoBlu in the bottom right and I used a lovely swirl from Chocolate Baroque (formerly Elusive Images) in the top left to create another corner image, using Archival ink. Before adhering this square to the card base I stamped the quote using Versafine Onyx Black ink. Using the Archival ink I stamped the Anemone Corner once more onto white card, coloured the anemones with Coloursoft pencils and then cut them out. I shaped them a little before adhering them to the main image with Pinflair glue. I then put some Stickles onto my craft mat and used a damp brush to apply this to the anemones and highlights on the corner images.

Finally, I die cut and embossed two butterflies from old book pages using a Cuttlebug duo set, lightly inked the raised areas and then heat embossed with clear EP before adhering to the card leaving the wings free.

I really enjoyed making this card as, like Judith, I love anything with butterflies and anyway, it's always such a pleasure making something for a person who has become such a close and very dear friend as well as someone who you know will appreciate a handmade card.

Well that's my share for today and if I don't get to post anything or make any blog visits for a couple of weeks you'll know it's because my crafting activities have been severely curtailed by a little bundle of joy, lol! I'm off to get my feet up for an hour (oooh, I have missed my l0 minute afternoon cat naps, he! he!) and then maybe I might get a Christmas card or two made ................. you've guessed it ........... I haven't made one yet. I have a feeling most of my cards this year are going to be bought ones!

Take care all and I'll be back as soon as I can.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Congratulations to my Buddy and do you fancy a White Christmas?

2011-11-21T23:39:00.001Z

Hi Everyone,

I hope this morning finds everyone bright eyed and bushy tailed, lol! I can't remember the last time I felt like that first thing in the morning. I think I must have been about 12 years old ;0). I'm at my best at night time not in the morning but I'm not grumpy in the morning, I just take a long time to get my head in gear.

Today is the 25th Wedding Anniversary of my lovely friend Judith and her Hubby Terry so I want to send them my congratulations and I hope they are spending a very special time together today. I can now show you the card I made for them a couple of weeks ago.

I started with a 21 cm square base card and covered it with a silver mirri slightly smaller square. I then took another square of white card, slightly smaller still and blended a lovely blue Versamagic ink over one of the beautiful Prima masks I bought recently from Chocolate Baroque. The main image is a My Sentiments Exactly stamp and one of the first stamps I ever bought. I used it for the first card I handmade for my OH for our anniversary about 5 years ago so it has a kind of sentimental value to me, lol! On this occasion I stamped it onto vellum with Versamark ink and heat embossed with detail silver EP. I trimmed it and then attached it to the centre of my card placing the adhesive just under the solid square.

I suppose this was a relatively simple card but I wanted something fairly simple in design but elegant as it was for a couple and I was quite happy with the result. I just hope Judith and Terry like it too when they open it today. All the best for another 25 years you guys!

AND now I have to tell you about a challenge from Glenda Waterworth (Mrs Chocolate Baroque) or rather Glenda does because I've actually pasted Glenda's own explanation for you.

How would you like the chance to win a £10 voucher to spend on Chocolate Baroque rubber stamps? Or would you prefer a £20 voucher or how about £50? I’ve managed to talk the owners of Chocolate Baroque into sponsoring a little challenge that I’m hosting here on my blog (they’re a pretty nice couple, so they didn’t take much persuading!) and the more people that play, the bigger the prize.

Basically, I will add £1.00 to the value of the gift voucher for each person who submits an entry to the challenge via the link form below. So if we only get five entries, the prize will be £5.00, but if we get 35 entries, the prize will be £35.00. I am setting a maximum prize fund of £50.00, and the winner will be drawn at random, so you have nothing to lose by having a go and a lot to gain by encouraging all your challenge-holic buddies to join in.

The theme is WHITE CHRISTMAS and how you interpret the theme and what kind of artwork you produce is entirely up to you – cards are obviously welcome but feel free to do anything from ATCs to jewellery, canvas to crochet. As a bonus, any pieces which showcase Chocolate Baroque stamps particularly well will be featured in full on the Chocolate Baroque Design Team blog over Christmas with a link back to your blog.

The closing date is DECEMBER 15TH 2011 and the winner will be chosen at random from the list of entries.

If you want to check it out and/or add your entry click on the logo in my sidebar.

As always, thank you so much for your visit and especially for leaving any much appreciated comments.

Have a good day all!

Hugs

Lesley Xx

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY - to us for yesterday, lol!!!

2011-11-19T07:56:00.000Z

Happy Saturday Morning to you all today,

What do you have planned this weekend? Christmas shopping maybe or catching up on a few chores and maybe catching a bit of R&R? My OH and I are checking our Christmas Lights collection and probably going on a search to replace ones we had to throw out last year. As visitors who have seen my blog posts around Christmas time over the past few years will know, I luuuuurrrve my Christmas lights and although my Hubby pretends to be a grumpy old Bah Humbug type of Grandad, he's worse than me really.

Anyway yesterday, the 18th November was our 39th Wedding Anniversary. We rarely make a fuss over our Anniversaries except the real milestone ones (Hmmm, 40th - Ruby next year) except to marvel to each other how the time has flown, how much we've done through the years, the fact that we've weathered one or two storms life has thrown at us and recently to marvel over our beautiful Granddaughters and the fact that our first Grandson is due any day. One thing we rarely miss though is to send each other special cards. My Hubby did cheekily ask me last week if I could make him a card for 'someone'! My reply was less than ladylike, lol, but I have to say he obviously took time to choose the card he got for me and the sentiments inside are lovely. The card I made for him took me quite a while to come up with because I didn't want to use hearts ............again, lol!

So .................... I went all Steampunk! I made a gold pearlescent 21 cm x 21 cm base card, matted black then pale gold pearlescent (looks grey or platignum on here) leaving a narrow border each time. I then trimmed my final black layer smaller still before stamping the gorgeous Steampunk corners (Inkadinkado - Steampunk clear stamp set) and embossing them with Queen's Gold EP. In the other two corners I repeat stamped a PaperArtsy mini stamp of cogs and gears using Versamagic Wheat and my final stamping was the hot air balloon from IndigoBlu's Grand Tour III which I stamped with Versamark and again embossed with Queen's Gold.

I stamped the balloon once again onto a sheet of designer paper from the Kaisercraft Vintage Timeless pad, again using the Queen's Gold EP and then I cut out just the balloon. I shaped it slightly and adhered it to my original image with Pinflair glue. I added a few pieces of Ideology cogs and gears and finally I cut the letters from a sheet of the Kaisercraft pad to spell 'Thanks for the journey' which I thought was quite approriate because the last 39 years have been a great journey for the most part.

I was really pleased because the card earned the best reaction I've ever got from Hubby for a card I've made him and he even enthused about it to our Daughter!

In a few day's time it's my lovely friend Judith and her OH's very special 25th Wedding Anniversary so I'll show you the card I sent to them once they've opened it. As always thank you for your visit today and before I forget I'd like to say a big hello to my new followers. Thank you so much for dropping by and for any comments you have time to leave. I appreciate your encouragement so much.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

3rd November DT project for Snazzys

2011-11-18T00:01:00.009Z

Good Morning again,

As my post is going to be scheduled I'm hoping as type that the week's weather will be ending on a much brighter note than it started, lol! Fingers crossed!

Today I have a tiny sneaky peek of my 3rd and final project for Snazzys this month. I've had great fun using the Kaisercraft products from my DT pack this month and hope you'll pop across to the DT blog to look at the whole thing and the 'how to' details.

Next week I'll be able to share a couple of the cards I've made recently for some very special friends. Hope to see you then.

Oooh just realised as I was scheduling this post .................. today is a special day for my Hubby and I ........... it's our 39th Wedding Anniversary! Where on earth does the time go I wonder? I think I must be having too much fun because it's whizzing by me at breakneck speed, lol!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

2nd November DT project for Snazzys

2011-11-16T00:01:00.001Z

Good morning again lovely visitors,

Today I'm showing my second project using products from Snazzys over on the Snazzy DT blog so thought I'd share a sneak peek with you again. I hope you have time to pop over for a look.

Unfortunately for my poor neglected blog, everything I've been making recently is for very special people in my life who have special events over the next few weeks so I can't show them on here yet but I will share them soon and speaking of 'Special Events', we are now getting rather excited about the impending arrival of our new Grandson. He's actually due on the 3rd December but his Mummy (my lovely 'baby' Jenna) has been told it could be any time during the week before so as her hubby is away on a training course that week, she (and her bump) and our gorgeous Izzy are coming to stay with us for the week ............. just in case! I do hope he's born while they're staying with us ....................... that way I can be on hand to help out and look after Izzy and still maybe get a few minutes in my craftroom now and then .............. maybe ............ do you think, lol!

BTW I've been meaning to ask, what do you think of the way photos come up in the black gallery now if you click for a closeup? I really dislike it and find it pretty useless because the so-called 'zoom' is usually no bigger or closer than the original photos. I like to be able to look at the details to see how people make their lovely projects and now I can't! Total disappointment and I think Blogger has a blooming cheek foisting it upon us without so much as a by-your-leave.

Sorry about the little rant, lol! Hope you all have a pleasant, trouble free day and I'll be back with my final Snazzy November sneaky peek on Friday.

Hugs to all
Lesley Xx

November DT project for Snazzys

2011-11-14T08:54:00.001Z

Hi Everyone,

On what looks like being another gloomy Monday weather wise, yep, we have more of the blooming drizzle :(, I thought I'd give you a little sneak peek at the project I posted over on the Snazzy DT blog today.

I got a lot of pleasure from making this particular piece and was really pleased with the end result. I hope you have time to pop over to the DT blog for a look at the whole project, If it's dreary where you are too, my project might remind you of summer a little, lol!

Have a good day everyone and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Oooh, Busy week ahead!

2011-10-24T11:02:00.001+01:00

Hello Everyone,

Welcome on this rather nippy Monday morning. This week is the half term break for schoolchildren and although neither of my granddaughters are yet of school age, by necessity they have to attend nursery while Mummies and Daddies go to work and their nurseries are also closed As a result, from this evening I will have Alexa having a sleepover at Mamma's and staying until Wednesday evening and tomorrow she will be joined by Izzy who will be sleeping over until Friday evening. I doubt very much I will get any crafting time to myself :(, I probably won't have the energy either ;) but if Izzy and Alexa have a play with their 'stash' I'll post some pics next week, lol!

I'm so thankful we could manage on my Hubby's salary when our kids were small so I didn't have to contend with the constant juggling mums and dads have to do these days. I would have hated other people seeing/hearing their milestone achievements during those first precious years while I missed out. Unfortunately, most of today's young couples don't have a choice as two incomes are necessary just to keep their heads above water.

Anyway, before I crack on with all the jobs I have to do before they descend upon me (there'll be no housework done for the rest of the week either ........... I don't multi task anymore, lol) I just wanted to share a couple of cards I made recently.

Recently I have been taking an online 'Back to Basics' stamping class with Glenda Waterworth of Chocolate Baroque. If you click on the Chocolate Baroque online community logo in my sidebar and then look down the right side of the page you will see a link to Glenda's online classes hosted by My Creative Classroom. Glenda has another five week course starting on Wednesday this week called 'Terrific Techniques' and I'm looking forward to starting that one but it will probably have to wait till weekend when my little lodgers have both departed.

Although I already know the basics for most of the techniques I wanted to refresh my inkpad knowledge and use the spur of the classes to revisit techniques I've not used in ages. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and still have things I didn't get chance to finish during the course but I have the lessons saved so I can work through them when my mojo deserts me for a while. Anyway, the piece shown above was my very first attempt at creating a background by stippling. I have always used Cut'n'Dry foam to create a similar effect and once in a while I've used brushes but in a sweeping motion not actually stippling with a pouncing action. I was really chuffed with the effect I achieved and then continued by adding the stamped Clarity trees and Chocolate Baroque wild flowers to complete the picture. The poem excerpt is also a Chocolate Baroque stamp.

And finally, I turned it into a card I wanted to send to a blogging friend who needs some TLC at the moment.

My second card was actually made to add to some parcels I was sending out. Way back in January, I joined in the Pay if Forward group of crafters whereby you agreed to send a piece of your artwork/crafting to the first five commentors on that post. You had until the end of 2011 to send them out and I finally got mine parcelled up to send and wanted to make a little card to include. This was the result.

I blended Distress Inks on the bottom left corner, dabbing a little through some sequin waste and then created layers of one leaf stamp using the same colour DIs. Apart from the darkest colour, I stamped off onto scrap once before stamping onto the card. I stamped the sentiment using Onyx Black Versafine. The leaf image comes from a Hero Arts clear set which I bought from Snazzys stand at the Happy Stampers show a couple of weeks ago and the sentiment is from a Paper Artsy set.

It will probably be a couple of weeks before I have anything else to show you of my own so in the meantime, I wish you all a happy time and for those of you with small children, time to enjoy them this week.

See you soon and as always thank you for taking the time to visit.

Hugs

Lesley Xx

Still My Baby!

2011-10-13T22:48:00.003+01:00

Hello Everyone,

About a week ago it was our lovely daughter's birthday. I never did get round to doing the big blog post I had threatened you all with following her wedding in May (I sort of got overtaken by less happy family matters but enough of that) but here's a few photos of what she described as her Perfect Day.

With her new Hubby (note the broken foot!)

With her Dad. I love how happy she looks.

Little Isabella had to get in on the act here.

And now here's the card I made for her birthday. The photos aren't brilliant as I was late finishing it and had to rush the pics before shooting off up the A1 to deliver it in person. It would have been much cheaper to post, lol!

I used another of the gorgeous Prima masks which I bought from Chocolate Baroque recently and the sentiment is one of my favourites from CB too. The lovely main image is from Indigo Blu and called Ella Bella.

I used Versamagic inkpads to blend over the mask to create the background and followed this with some overstamping of a pretty swirly image, again from Chocolate Baroque. I forgot to make a note of which stamp set it is from but I'm sure it was from one of the recently released ones. I then stamped Ella Bella using an Onyx Black Versafine inkpad.

Finally I spritzed with some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist before arranging the flowers and leaves cut with Crealies dies, again from Chocolate Baroque.

Jenna said she loved her card ............ but then she would say that, wouldn't she, lol!

I hope you've all had a good day today. I'm looking forward to a couple of nice weather days to get my washing basket emptied. Mind you, that will only add more to the ironing pile, lol!

As always, thank you for taking the time to visit. I do appreciate it.

Hugs

Lesley Xx

EDIT Just a little message to my Twitter friends. Whilst downloading some photos from my mobile phone last week I installed some updates. Biiig mistake as it's changed everything round on my phone and I don't like it :( but the main problem is it's completely deleted Twitter and I can't find it anywhere. I'm hoping my more technologically minded Son will be able to sort it for me this weekend but until then I'm not ignoring you and I'll be back soon I hope. Xx

Snazzys October DT project - Kaisercraft

2011-10-10T00:01:00.003+01:00

'Morning Everyone,

Just a very quick share this morning as it's my turn to post a project over on the Snazzys DT blog. This month we had some lovely Kaisercraft products to play with including stamps, papers and an MDF piece to alter. I will admit I was a bit fazed by the MDF piece at first but once I started wor ............ er, playing with it I soon started to enjoy myself, lol! I'd be so pleased if you have time to pop over and have a look. Perhaps you can say whether you think I was 'working' or 'playing' ; ).

Here's a little sneaky peek.

I had a lovely time on Saturday at the Happy Stampers North West show at Port Sun light where Val and Don, owners of Snazzys were exhibiting for the first time. It was great to be able to say hello to them. I also got to share the long journey with my navigator and buddy Jo and we met up with a 3rd member of the Craft Stamping Quartet, Judith. As always one of our merry band was missing, namely Elaine and it always makes us a bit sad. Another extra bonus was seeing several members of the Chocolate Baroque Guild which is always a treat. All in all, it's well worth the long drive there and back for such a great show specifically aimed at stampers.

I'll be back again in a few days with another make. See you then and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Christmas???? ................. we still have a little bit of summer here!

2011-10-03T12:44:00.000+01:00

Goooood Mooorrrrnnnnniiing Moooonnnnnndddaayy!!!!

I'm sorry to rub it in to those of you who don't have lovely weather this morning, but we have a beautiful day here in Nottinghamshire although we did have a few spits of rain a little while ago and it's obviously not here to stay for long but while it lasts I'm making the most of it to get my holiday washing caught up with. We have a lovely breeze which is drying perfectly.

Last week my Hubby and I had a much needed few days break in Mid Wales. We stayed in a log cabin at a little place called Victoria Wells, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys. It's a sort of log cabin motel and the accommodation is basic but comfy for a short break and includes a full English breakfast and 3 course dinner. The menu choices for dinner were excellent and the food was lovely. The place itself is beautiful and perfectly situated to explore the Brecon Beacons which I have fallen in love with. I think we will definitely be staying there again sometime. When I've had time to download and edit my pics I'll post a few.

In the meantime here's a quick post of a project I made recently using some new Chocolate Baroque Christmas stamps. I made a gift wallet the template for which I found on the Splitcoaststampers site.

The backing paper is one of Glenda's designs and I think might be from her downloadable ones which should be available on the site soon. The stamped images and sentiments all come from the same new set of stamps called Christmas Cheer. I love this set and think there's a really nice mix of images including one particular sentiment stamp which I especially love.

There is still new Christmas inspiration being posted daily by the Chocolate Baroque DT over on the blog (link in my sidebar) showcasing the new stamp sets. My second post for this particular theme is tomorrow so I hope you get chance to pop over for a look.

Right, I had better get a wiggle on (as my crafty friend Judith says) as I have loads to catch up on. Unfortunately, a lot of it is housework chores, yuck!

As always thank you for taking time to visit. I really do appreciate you dropping by.

Have a lovely day and I'll be back soon.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Wonderful Blog Candy ......... Go take a look!

2011-09-21T08:54:00.001+01:00

Good Morning Everyone,

This morning is a perfect example of why I love this time of year because it's a lovely bright, sunny morning with just a slight nip in the air. I hope it's like this next week as my OH and I are off to Wales for a few days and I'm hoping to see some pretty scenery dressed in my favourite colours of Autumn.

Anyway, the main purpose of this post is to tell you about some fabulous blog candy that Hels Sheridan is offering over on her blog to celebrate passing 800 followers. I don't often advertise blog candy but Hels' blog is one of my favourites because as well as being one talented lady she's also very funny and reading her posts always brightens my day. Do drop by and see what you have to do to be in with a chance of winning this lovely booty. Just click on the pic in my sidebar to be transported to her lovely blog.

Hope you all have a lovely sunny day and thanks for visiting.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

This fab blog candy has now been won by a very lucky visitor to Hels' blog ............ and it wasn't me :((, lol!

Birthday Card for a Wonderful Friend (& it fits in with my buddy's friendly challenge)

2011-09-16T13:14:00.000+01:00

'Morning Everyone,

Yay, it's Friday! I hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend even if you're not doing anything special. We're planning a weekend of re-organising 2 of our bedrooms. They're becoming a bit of a dumping ground for stuff that needs to go back in the loft (like the big pedestal fan that I doubt we'll need again before next summer, lol) and stuff that has nowhere special to live so they need sorting out before it gets out of hand and we end up with nowhere for our Daughter and her family to sleep when they visit, lol!

Anyway, enough waffling and onto the crafting. This week has seen the birthday of a friend who has become especially dear to me. Elaine is one of my Craft Stamping Quartet buddies as many of my visitors already know and along with Jo and Judith she has become one of the main 'constants' in my life so making a card incorporating things she likes was such a pleasure to do. Elaine loves nature and has a huge wild garden with lots of mature trees and I know she loves it in whatever coat it happens to be wearing. As it's September, I decided to go with an Autumnal look both with the colours I used and also with the leaf embellishments. Elaine knows one of my favourite things to do is blending inks over masks and as Chocolate Baroque have just started stocking some exceptionally pretty Prima ones which I couldn't resist buying I thought that's where I would start my design. I followed this with some light overstamping using a stamp from an Inkadinkado set called Autumn Fall which I must have had for at least 2 years and never inked up. Shame on me because the stamps are really dainty with lovely leafy swirls.

I then blended inks over a sheet of card and cut out the leaves I wanted using a Shapeabilities die set (again in my stash for ages and never used) using the same dies to emboss and then adding some ink highlights. Another neglected die from my quite substantial collection is the Marianne Creatable doily die, It's really pretty and I've now managed to use it twice in one week :). I cut the doily from the same ink blended card and then spritzed this and the leaves with gold Glimmer Mist before stamping the sentiment in the centre of the doily.

Finally I used a lovely new Crealies die (again from Chocolate Baroque) which consists of separate multi sized petals that you build up to make a flower the size you want. I used all four petal sizes and cut it from Glassine paper, stamped with the same Inkadinkado stamp but this time in Encore Gold ink and then heated it gently for a few seconds to 'set' the ink into the Glassine. I shaped all the petals and joined them together with a pearl brad. I attached the doily with 3D foam pads and the flower and leaves with Pinflair glue.

Now, it just so happens that as I have used a much neglected stamp and two dies to make my card, it fits in with my buddy Judith's friendly weekly challenge called Forgotten Friday so I'm popping over to her lovely blog in a minute to add a link. I haven't seen her post yet today but there's always something lovely to see so do pay her a visit. I have to say thanks to Elaine too because I was in such a hurry to get her card in the post (it still ended up being late :( ) I completely forgot to take any pics, lol! Elaine very kindly emailed some photos over to me first thing so I could do my post. Thanks Buddy!!!

Well enjoy your weekend everyone whatever you are doing and come visit again soon.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

September DT Project for Snazzys Part 2

2011-09-15T00:01:00.000+01:00

Good Morning All,

Over on the Snazzy DT blog I'm showing the 2nd part of my project for this month. Here's a couple of peeky pics and I hope you have time to go over and see the whole thing.

Once again I thoroughly enjoyed working with the fab products from Snazzys' which included Darkroom Door Stamps - Music Collection, Tando Creative Music Mas and chipboard Music Shapes and Tim Holtz Tissue Tape, amongst other things.

Thank you for your visit today. I always appreciate you stopping by.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

September DT Project for Snazzys

2011-09-12T00:44:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Just a little post to say that my September project for Snazzys is being shown on the DT blog now (link in my sidebar). I was sent some lovely products to pl .... er, work with, lol! The stamps are the Music Collection from Darkroom Door and my DT pack also included a gorgeous Tando Creative music score mask, some Tando chipboard music shapes and some of Mr. Holtz' Tissue Tape.

This is a teensy taster so if you'd like to see the rest of it please do pay us a visit over on the Snazzys DT blog and if you have time to leave a comment that would be great. Of course the products I used are available from Snazzys.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Romance and Relaxation ???

2011-09-03T10:52:00.000+01:00

Happy Weekend Everyone,

Sorry, I've got to be very English here and mention the weather because it's glorious this morning where I am. Beautiful blue sky with whispy clouds and bright sunshine. At the moment the temperature is just right but it doesn't bode well for my craftroom later, lol! I may have to brave the heat though as I've been away for a few days looking after little Izzy before nursery reopens next week and I'm getting withdrawal symptoms! On Thursday I took Izzy to Newby Hall in North Yorks and we had a really fun filled day. I haven't been in the hall but the gardens are lovely and there's a really great adventure garden for kids (which is where we spent most of the day, lol). Izzy isn't four until December but she is such a daredevil and she spent the day making me a nervous wreck watching her daring exploits. My Daughter said I would have been okay to sit and watch her from one of the many seats but as her Mamma I felt I had to be 'right there' to catch her if she fell, Ha! Ha! I don't know who was the most exhausted at the end of the day but we did have a good time and I would recommend Newby Hall as a lovely family day out with something for all ages. Oh yes, there's a really good restaurant too where I tried their very nice Beetroot and Spicy Parsnip Soup ....... delicious!

Anyway, on to the crafting now. Finally, I have something I can show you on my own blog. Everything I've made for quite a while has been DT stuff that I can't blog on here, at least not yet. However, my card today was made for my lovely friend Jo's birthday a few weeks ago and I couldn't show that until now because I used some lovely new Chocolate Baroque (formerly Elusive Images) stamps which have only been released this week. There are two new A5 stamp sets called Music Fanfare and The Art of Chess and if you check out the DT blog (link in my sidebar) you will see lots of inspiration from the Design Team. Please scroll down over the last few days as Glenda has been publishing our draft posts since the middle of the week and she kicked the launch off with a look at the two stamp sets, some inspiration from the Queen of Stamping herself and a hint that there might be a random give away. I would guess that means the more comments you leave on the DT blog and the teams individual blogs the more chances you have!

The colours I used for Jo's card were rather delicate shades of Versamagic ink blended over a lovely Tando Creative music score mask (mask available from Snazzys). All the stamped images are from the two new Chocolate Baroque sets and the flowers and leaves were left over from the decorated initial I did for the Snazzy DT launch which fitted in with my colours perfectly. The little violin charm (from IndigoBlu) was originally an antiqued brass colour so I rubbed some silver Inca Gold into it.

I always forget to mention that most of my photos are clickable, once to zoom and again to get a real 'in your face' closeup, lol! I always like to look at closeups on other people's creations to get a better idea of the texture and dimension. It's the next best thing to actually touching them I think.

Don't forget to hop over to the Chocolate Baroque DT blog as there are some beautiful creations to see.

Have a lovely weekend everyone and thanks for sparing time to visit.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

PS I thought it was time I gave a bit of explanation for my lack of posting in recent months and lack of commenting on my favourite blogs to some extent too (I do drop by them often though). Unfortunately we have had a few family trials and tribulations which are likely to be ongoing for quite sometime and these are also the reason I haven't managed to do the blog post I intended on Jenna and Tony's Wedding. Around the time of the wedding I had set in motion an assessment of my 83 year old Mum and what we suspected has been confirmed, she has Alzheimers and we are now waiting for an ECG next week to see if she is able to have the drugs which will hopefully slow down the effects of this awful disease. It will be October before she sees the consultant to get the prescription though so that's another month for the deterioration to progress. The other event which as a Mum and doting Mamma is occupying much of my time and thoughts is that our lovely Son's marriage has ended. I know it happens all the time and is not the end of the world, it happened to me over 40 years ago but thankfully, I had no children at that time and could quickly move on with my life. Jamie has a little girl (as my regular visitors will know) who he adores and the effect this is having on both of them is the really upsetting (to put it mildly) part. Anyway, that's the situation put very simplistically and I'm trying hard to recover my normal rather leisurely rhythm, lol! I'll be back a bit quicker next time I hope but in the meantime thanks for bearing with me. Lots of love Lesley Xx

Snazzys DT project #2 ............ and 2 of my special people.

2011-08-08T00:01:00.001+01:00

Hi Everyone,

I hope you've all had a fab weekend with some time to do something nice. We had our son Jamie and granddaughter Alexa for lunch yesterday which was definitely a happy few hours for us. Also over the weekend I got to download some photos we took last Sunday when all our family had a day out at the zoo so I thought I'd share a couple with you.

This one is Jamie and Alexa

and this one is Izzy (Isabella) and her Daddy (our SIL Tony). She just had to have a quick nap to restock the energy levels, lol!

Finally, I just wanted to remind you that it's my turn to post my first proper DT project over on the Snazzys DT Blog. If you would like to have a look click on the picture of Snazzys in my sidebar. Here's a little peek.

I hope your week is good to you. I really appreciate your visit.

Hugs

Lesley Xx

Beautiful Grasses

2011-08-03T15:46:00.001+01:00

Hi Everyone,

All I am going to say about the current weather is PHEW!!!!!! lol!

Today I have a card to share with you that I made using the lovely Home Sweet Home set of stamps from Chocolate Baroque. This particular stamp is my personal favourite from the set simply because I love grasses but all the stamps in the set are lovely.

Although it looks a relatively simple card it did take a bit of math to work out the positioning of the embossed lines separating each image (and math has never been my strong point, lol). I used three different colours of ink, mostly Distress Inks, to blend around the edges of each of my squares and a co-ordinating shade of either Versafine or Archival ink to stamp the images. I rounded the corners if each square and matted them onto co-ordinating coloured card leaving a narrow border round each one.

Before attaching the brown square to my base card I tied some wired paper cord round it and then attached the word Hello on a little tab with 3D foam pads.

I used a Cuttlebug die and embossing folder set to cut and emboss the butterfly from perlescent card and just attached it by the body to the wings could be shaped and left free.

I was really pleased with this particular card, possibly because I got the embossed squares right first time, lol!

Don't forget you can still give yourselves extra chances to win this gorgeous set of stamps by leaving comments on as many DT members blogs and the Chocolate Baroque Design Team blog as possible. Glenda will be drawing a random winner soon.

Have a lovely afternoon everyone.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

The Changing Seasons!

2011-07-29T11:10:00.000+01:00

'Morning Everyone,

It's almost weekend and according to our local forecast it looks like being a pleasant one weather wise which is good for me because we are having a family weekend and hope to have a trip out somewhere on Sunday.

Over on the Chocolate Baroque blog you will find Glenda has just launched a lovely new set of stamps called Home Sweet Home. These are really lovely (as are all the CB stamps, lol) and are very much in the quite distinctive style of Clarice Cliff. There are some really useful stamps on this A5 set too and my favourite is one of grasses silhoutted against a sun/moon. Glenda is doing a giveaway of one set of stamps and the winner will be taken at random from the commentors on the Chocolate Baroque DT blog, Glenda's own blog and any DT member's blog posts using this set of stamps which will be published over the next few days. All the details are on the DT blog here. I've already done a post over there with an acetate card I made for the DT and now I'm going to share a different project on here.

In my cross stitching days, a friend of mine did a set of round cross stitched wall hangings all done in the Clarice Cliff style using blocks of bold colour and when I saw these stamps that's what sprang into my mind immediately. I remembered I had bought a set of coasters which were meant to have cross stitched pieces of work inserted into them. They had been stuck in the cupboard for at least 12 years, ahem! so I got them out and made inserts using the lovely house stamps. I decided to create one for each of the seasons and drew in some extra hills in the rather childlike fashion that mimmicked my friend's cross stitched pieces.

Don't forget to visit the DT blog and all my teamies (the link is in my sidebar) and leave a little comment. Wish I could invite you all for coffee to christen the coasters but I've passed them on to Glenda, lol!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

I HAVE EXCITING NEWS !!!!!!!

2011-07-28T09:00:00.001+01:00

Good Morning Everyone,

Wow, do I have some fab news today. I'm really excited and happy to give you some news I've been keeping under wraps (with great difficulty) for several weeks now. I have been invited to join a brand new Design Team for Snazzy Stamping and Scrapbooking Ltd.! I first discovered this lovely company and the fabulous stuff they sell two years ago at the Artisan show and saw them there again last year. I 'spent' quite a long time watching and enjoying Val's demos and then did a different kind of spending using my plastic friend, lol! Since then I have kept an eye on their website waiting and hoping for an online shop and it was on one of my 'web checks' that I saw the DT call. I decided to apply and was completely taken by surprise and very thrilled when I was offered a place on the team.

Unfortunately Val and Don, the owners of Snazzy's are experiencing some technical difficulties with the online shop so have had to delay that launch for a short time but have decided to go ahead with the launch of the brand new Design Team Blog. The blog is opening with an introductory post from each of the four DT members starting today with our illustrious and very talented DT Co-ordinator, Gillian, with my post tomorrow, Paula, whose work I have long known and admired, on Saturday and last but most definitely not least, Astrid on Sunday. On Monday, Gillian will kickstart the posts of the projects we have been making and we do hope that you will pay us a visit, be inspired by our creations and leave us a comment.

I'll leave you with a little taster of something that will be revealed in my post tomorrow and hope to see you on the new blog.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Watch Out .................................

2011-07-15T11:54:00.001+01:00

..................... for a blog fest on the Chocolate Baroque Design Team blog. Myself and my DT buddies will be posting some of our recent makes over the coming days and there are some lovely ideas and lot of inspiration to be seen. Keep your eye on the blog to see the gorgeous Chocolate Baroque stamps in action.

Have a wonderful weekend doing what you love best.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

On The Cover ................. CSQ post

2011-07-07T00:01:00.000+01:00

Hi Everybody,

Just to let you know I've posted my project for this month over on my shared blog, Craft Stamping Quartet. Here's a little taster and more pics and details are on the CSQ blog if you'd like to pay us a visit.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

CHOCOLATE BAROQUE HAVE AWESOME BLOG CANDY .............!!!!!!!!!

2011-06-19T12:15:00.000+01:00

Happy Sunday Morning Everyone,

Well, it's definitely going to be a very Happy Sunday for one lucky commentor over on the Chocolate Baroque DT Blog. Glenda is giving away one full set of two A4 and two A5 stamplates! These new sets are all being released tomorrow and they are absolutely stunning. Pop over there now and check them out. You definitely won't be disappointed and keep an eye out over the following week for some stunning makes by the DT members.

Good Luck everyone. I'd be so chuffed if one of my visitors won them!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Oooh! New Goodies ........

2011-06-14T11:29:00.001+01:00

Hello Everyone,

I really ought not to be playing on here as I have loads to do before I go to get my hair cut in an hour's time ............. and Boy! does is need it!!!! However, on Sunday I went to the Stampmagic show at Doncaster Dome and had a fab time with my Craft Stamping Quartet buddies Judith and Jo. We do always miss Elaine though but the distance for her makes these shows impossible. We were sorry that a few old favourite exhibitors weren't there this time but ....................... the advantage was that it made room for one fabulous new company called IndigoBlu who are only just a few miles from me. My friends had introduced me to their website a couple of weeks ago so I was really pleased when I found they were going to be showing their gorgeous range of stamps and other goodies. I have to confess that the visit to their stand (I went back 3 times, lol) was not good for my debit card and couldn't wait to have a play with some of my purchases. This is my first make with IndigoBlu stamps and alterables and I know there'll be many more.

I have only used part of the image of this lovely lady from the Music Hall plate and the beautiful little flourish plus the music background and the quote are all lovely stamps and very useful. I also used a separate crackle stamp of theirs which is really nice and fine and a good big stamp so handy for backgrounds too. The stamps all gave lovely clear images on card when I tried them out and have done the same for the effect I wanted on my little altered box.

I used Eco Green acrylic paints, stamped with Archival Sepia ink, added a bit of clear Crackle Paint here and there before rubbing in a little Distress Ink. The little roses were from a very cheap headband bought from a wellknown High Street store and the wired paper string came from a package I received and the metal rose I bought on my Ally Pally visit. I love that string stuff and have used it all now so must do a search to see if I can buy it anywhere. If anyone has seen it for sale I'd appreciate a tip off, lol!

Right, I must get my skates on now or I'll be late for my hair appointment.

Have a lovely day everyone and I hope the sun is shining on you. It's glorious here!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

It's Only Words ................

2011-06-07T01:14:00.000+01:00

Oooh, Bee Gees! I love that song. I think I might have to get the LPs out tomorrow and give them a whirl on the old turntable, lol!

However, what I'm really referring to in my title is the card I have to share with you. Debbie, one of my fellow DT members for Chocolate Baroque suggested a friendly little challenge a couple of weeks ago which was to make a card using only word stamps and this is what I came up with.

I used a variety of script and word stamps from Chocolate Baroque (formerly Elusive Images) and even the border down each side was made with a lovely script stamp from CB. I made the flowers from layers of Tim Holtz Ideology Kraft Glassine and some lovely burgundy tissue paper in which my lovely Daughter's wedding flowers were nestled. Needless to say I couldn't let it be thrown away, lol! After scrunching the layers and assembling the flowers I spritzed them with Chocolat Glimmer Mist.

I really enhjoyed myself making this card so thankyou Debbie for the challenge.

As I'm doing a post I'm going to do a bit of proud Mum boasting and point you in the direction of my Son's blog. He's not posted anything for a while now (real life got in the way a bit, lol) but he's recently posted some pics of his latest paintings and I think they are well worth a look if you have a few minutes. Like all of us I know he would appreciate a few words of encouragement if you think they are merited.

Well, I'd better get myself off to the Land of Nod as I can't have any lie-ins at the moment. I have my Mum staying with me following a cataract operation last Friday and she has to have eyedrops 10 times a day. I am the lucky (?) person charged with the responsibility of making sure she get them administered correctly. I'm fed up with the job already and we have another five and a half weeks to go yet!

Nite, nite All,

Hugs
Lesley Xx

New Shoes!!!!

2011-05-28T12:03:00.001+01:00

Happy Bank Holiday everyone.

I hope the weather is nicer where you are than it is here where it is cold, windy and rainy. All I can say is thank goodness Jenna and Tony got married last Saturday and not today, lol!

Well, I'm back sooner than I expected with another post because this month's Chocolate Baroque Guild Newsletter has started arriving on member's doorsteps (I got mine this morning) and one of the articles in there was a fun challenge Glenda gave the teamies a while ago .................... to make some paper shoes!

Now, I have to admit that I was not amused when she gave us this challenge, lol! I am definitely not into this sort of thing normally but I got stuck in to give it my best shot and I ended up having so much fun. Glenda asked us if we could add more pictures to the DT blog. My buddy Judith did her post last night and I've just done mine so if you'd like to pop over there using the link in my sidebar you can see some better pics of what we came up with.

I've just decided while doing these posts that I'm going to make one of these for my Mum in lieu of a birthday card. It's just the sort of thing she will appreciate although it will of course mean I have to look at it for at least the next year, displayed on her dresser, Ha! Ha!

Oooh, I forgot to mention that there is a free downloadable shoe template on the Chocolate Baroque website (link in my sidebar) if you'd like to have a play. Leave us a comment on the DT blog if you do as I'd love to come and see what you make.

Thanks for looking.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

PS Thanks to those of you who left messages yesterday wishing me better from my virus. Your wishes must be working because I had a much better night's sleep and the cough finally seems to be subsiding, Yay!!!

Normal Service Resumed ?!?

2011-05-27T15:55:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all feeling fine and dandy .......... 'cos I'm not, lol! No seriously, I have been a bit under the weather since just before our big day last Saturday. I caught some sort of virus from one of the little ones and have had a really nasty sore throat and chest. My voice virtually disappeared, which our granddaughters thought was hilarious and they took great delight in getting me to sing to them with my squeak, Ha! Ha! Lullabies have never sounded so truly awful. Things are finally settling down a bit so I'm hoping the weekend to come will get rid of the bugs completely.

I thought I'd just pop in a quick post to say hello while I'm waiting to get the photos of Jenna's wedding. They should have the cd very shortly and as they will own the copyright I will be able to share some of them with you. Much better than our amateur snaps! As my only makes other than wedding stuff have been for design team work I haven't anything to show you just yet so I'm going to show you the wedding invites I made plus some postcards.

This is actually a picture of the 'prototype' as the photo of the final article seems to have gone missing. The only difference though was a natural shell button with a tiny bow made from thread in the centre of the rosette and there were four sets of colours, dusky pink, dusky mauve, pale blue and a pale greeny yellow. The reason for the sweetpeas was because when Jenna was little, every week through the summer my late Mother-in-Law used to send her home with a lovely posy of sweetpeas from her garden for me so this was Jenna's way of including her in the wedding.

This was a 'poster' which Jenna asked me to make to put up in her office at work to save me doing about 20 separate invites.

and these were a few of the 80 odd 'postcards' I and my lovely Craft Stamping Quartet buddies made. Thankyou girls! Jenna borrowed a vintage suitcase from a friend for guests to deposit their cards, etc., in and we scattered the postcards around the case and asked people to choose one and write a message to the Newleyweds on the back instead of a guest book. Everyone thought it was a lovely idea.

We had a wonderful day but I'm not going to say anymore until I have some proper pics to show you.

Hopefully I'll be back very soon either with the wedding photos or something I've made.

Have a lovely bank holiday weekend everyone.

Love and Hugs
Lesley Xx

At Last ....... a post from me on Craft Stamping Quartet

2011-04-24T11:38:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend. We're off to meet my new great nephew later on today and little Connor makes nine great grandchildren for my Mum who's going with us. My SIL says we should take our ear plugs because when he cries he has the loudest cry she's ever heard! Hopefully he'll be in a good mood for us.

I thought I'd just let you know that I have finally managed to make a project for the blog I share with my three lovely buddies. We have all had rather a lot of interuptions to our blog crafting due to various family occurances and this is the first project I have managed so far this year. I'm really hoping I can get to some serious crafting for myself once Jenna's wedding is over in four weeks time. Yesterday I spent several hours making bunting from pretty chintzy wallpaper. I managed about 20 yards, which is about halfway, before a thunderstorm stopped play and I had wanted to take a photo of my whirlygig (spinning washline) in the garden as I was pegging it all on there to dry and to stop it getting tangled (which is a job and a half I have discovered). It's looking okay and will supplement the proper hired bunting beautifully I think. If I get chance I'll take a photo when I do the other half.

Anyway, here's a little taster of my project and if you want to see more hop over to Craft Stamping Quartet to see the whole thing. My buddies aren't too far behind me with their projects so they will be revealed very shortly too.

Have a happy day.

Lots of love
Lesley Xx

Let Your Heart Sing

2011-04-17T12:39:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone,

Oooh, I hope you have the same weather we have today. It's absolutely perfect for me - lovely sunshine but slightly hazy so it's not too blindingly bright or too hot. I love it and so I thought I'd post a card I made for Elusive Images (now the gorgeous Chocolate Baroque) last year. One of the stamp sets I used is called Let Your Heart Sing which is what a day like today makes me feel like.

I also used Artylicious paper in the background and another set of EI stamps called Earth Spirit . Check out the Chocolate Baroque website to see if these stamps are still available. I really enjoyed making those flowers after a quick tutorial from my CSQ buddy, Judith.

The colours for the Let Your Heart Sing image are blended Distress Inks and the colours on the smaller image are done with a brayer using a Big and Juicy inkpad.

Well, you are all being spared my usual waffle today as I have loads to do before another trip up the A1 this evening. I'm staying overnight so that I can sort out a few of The Wedding makes with my daughter ................ no not THAT WEDDING, lol!!!! The Wedding that is far more important to me and my lovely 'Baby' which is only five weeks away now! I am now convinced that unless I miss lots of sleep before the day, I will definitely not get everything done.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Lots of love and hugs
Lesley Xx

Chocolate Baroque blog candy giveaway!

2011-04-11T00:44:00.002+01:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope you've all had the most glorious weekend. Mine has been a lovely one from the fabulous sunshine which we have had all weekend to a wonderful day at Alexandra Palace with my three lovely crafting buddies followed by another special day today shared with my son and his family. What could be better?

Well, I don't know about better but something special is also going on over on the Chocolate Baroque Design Team Blog. Glenda is giving away a set of each of the newly released stamps.

Doodle Butterflies

Doodle Birds

Butterfly Dreams

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning one of these beauties is leave a comment on the DT blog and if you want to increase your chances leave me a comment here and also visit the other DT members to leave comments on their wonderful creations made with these gorgeous new stamps. Throughout the following week we will all be posting some of our projects made with the new stamp sets both on our own blogs and on the DT blog. I have to say I love these new stamps and they are already amongst my favourites. Winners will be chosen at random and the more blog posts you leave a comment on the greater your chances and the draw will take place on Friday, 15th April 2011.

This is the second of my makes.

I used the Joseph's coat technique for the squares on this card and these stamps are perfect for it. In fact, they lend themselves equally well for many popular techniques as you will see if you visit my lovely team mates' blogs. Links to the DT blog, the Chocolate Baroque website and the busy and very friendly CB social site are all in my sidebar.

I did say last week that I would let you know how my search for The Wedding Outfit progressed. Well, I am extremely happy and relieved to tell you that I found just what I was looking for last Monday. I am still quite shocked by how much I spent, especially on the shoes and bag but they are fabulous and I'll only be Mother of the Bride once so what the heck, lol! I'll let you know where I found my outfit, etc., including a web site when I do The Wedding Post at the end of May but if anyone is struggling as I was to find just what they want drop me a line or mention it in a comment and I'll let you have it before then so you can go take a look.

Right my lovely visitors, it's veeeerrrrryyyyyy late and I am fairly shattered (er, that's the polite term, lol) so until next time, take care and I hope this week treats you all kindly.

Love and Hugs
Lesley Xx

Fabulous New Stamps from Chocolate Baroque.

2011-04-02T21:44:00.000+01:00

Wow, another post from me in 24 hours. That doesn't happen often, lol!

Now that the new Chocolate Baroque website has been launched myself and my lovely DT buddies can start to show you some of the cards and other projects we've had the pleasure of making with the lovely new stamps which have been released with the launch.

This is the first one from me

The background of the tag was made in a workshop I did with Glenda last year and I decided to use it with these lovely stamps. The bottom half of the tag has a slight texture from painting it with light texture paste. All the images used on this tag are from the newly released sets Doodle Birds - UA5SP0346 and Doodle Butterfly - UA5SP0347 except the word 'Dreams' which is from the Artisic Affirmations plate - UA4GW0343. The colour of the sparkle EP on the acetate butterfly and acrylic tag is a bit misleading because irl it is very nearly the same colour as the ribbon.

I've now got to grips with the new social site and have uploaded lots of pics to the gallery. It's becoming a very busy and interesting place to be so click on the button in my sidebar to go take a look and my DT buddies will be showing some of their projects over on the CB DT blog which you can also get to by clicking the relevant sidebar button.

Hope you all have something nice to look forward to for Sunday. I'll be back again soon to show more CB projects and to let you know how I get on shopping for THE OUTFIT!!!!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

2011-04-02T09:43:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone,

First of all may I apologise for my neglect of my blog in recent weeks. Many of you will know that I am in the thick of helping my daughter prepare for her wedding (only 7 weeks away now) and we are making lots of the table and venue decorations ourselves, not to mention me making all the stationery! All this plus associated trips up and down the A1 on an almost weekly basis seem to have robbed me of all my spare time not to mention quite a bit of sleep, lol!

I actually have quite a panic on at the moment because I have stupidly left it far too late to start looking for an outfit and after a whole week of tramping retailers and shopping malls and the internet I am no closer to finding anything than I was last week. The main problem is that I have allowed myself to put on a lot of weight in the last couple of years and am now into the plus sizes. Now I can find lots of gorgeous fashionable casual clothes that I would feel comfy and attractive in but formal occasion wear .................. forget it! If I can get them on I look a right old frump so if anyone can point me in the direction of a lovely soft loose-ish flowing top/jacket and wide leg trousers or anything similar that is dressy and suitable for but doesn't scream Mother of the Bride I will be eternally grateful. I have found one place on the internet (or rather my Daughter and a friend have) called Florentynadawn and I think I'm pinning my hopes on them having something ................ anything that I will feel halfway comfy in when I tramp up to Stockport on Monday. If they haven't I think I will say goodbye all now, lol! Anyway enought of that I have some long awaited and wonderful news ........................................

The brand new CHOCOLATE BAROQUE webshop is now open!!!!

The gorgeous stamps which previously went under the banner of Elusive Images and other associated Artylicious products can now be bought from here AND there are lots of fabulous new goodies to be had too. There are some beautiful new stamps some of which I and my fellow Design Team buddies started to showcase on the CB blog (link via the logo in my sidebar) a few weeks ago with lots more stunning stamps soon to be released. There is also a new section of printable and digi items which are both beautiful and useful. The store actually opened yesterday but I wasn't able to get online then to let you know but if I were you I'd hop on over there for a look around. You definitely won't be sorry!

There's also a fab new forum (that I can't find my way around yet, Ha! Ha!) which does have private group areas for the DT and for the CB Guild members but anyone can visit and have a look and join in general discussion and more importantly have a look at the fabulous artwork that is being uploaded there at a fantastic rate. None of it mine yet unfortunately as I haven't had time to find out how to do it! I'm sure you'd enjoy dropping in for a look around even if you don't join in.

Another reason I haven't posted recently is that my old computer is on it's last legs and keeps doing silly things so I've had my first laptop (which I'm typing on now) and I haven't learned to love it yet! I am quite technically challenged (ahem!) especially when it comes to the piccy side of things and I can't get on with the programme for all my photos. My lovely son put Picassa on for me but when I try to get at them for inserting a pic or attaching I just can't do it. Expert help and advise is required from my lovely IT lady I think but for now FINDING THAT DARNED ELUSIVE OUTFIT is my priority!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and hopefully it won't be too long before normal service is resumed.

Love and Hugs
Lesley Xx

Gothic Arches Diptych.

2011-03-01T22:09:00.000Z

Hi Everyone,

I hope today finds you all well and maybe feeling a little more cheerful now we have slightly more daylight each day. I must say it does me a power of good not having to switch lights on before 5 pm because I hate the short days. I'd certainly be no good for anything if I lived where they have 24 hour darkness in winter and the reverse in summer, Lol!

Anyway, today I want to share a piece I made last year using at least four sets of lovely Crafty Individuals stamps. One set in particular struck a chord with me because they are of a place called Fountains Abbey which is just about my favourite place to spend the day. If you go here and here you will find a couple of posts I did after visits there and lots of lovely photos of the place. It's a good job I didn't blog all the ones I took because I have at least 200, Ha! Ha! For my diptych I thought the Gothic Arch shape was very apt and I used lots of Distress Inks with masks, punches and dies and mixed some of my photographs with the stamped images.

This is the front cover.

and the inside pages

and finally the back cover

For the front and back covers I also used some background papers from an Artylicious pack with lots of overstamping. These will probably be available in a different format from Glenda's new company, Chocolate Baroque, which will be opening it's virtual doors very soon (watch this space or the Chocolate Baroque blog).

In case you hadn't already noticed Crafty Individuals have just started a new blog and it's already full of fabulous inspiration for using their products. I think nobody does 'small but beautiful' like the lovely Jean Hardy and have you seen April's issue of the Craft Stamper mag? Mine dropped through the letterbox this morning and Jean has the most adorable little birdhouse on the front cover. There are also lots of projects throughout the mag using CI products and (close to my own crafty heart) the free stamp is a beautiful butterfly design by Chocolate Baroque and there is a lovely two page spread showing projects using this stamp and others which I and my fellow DT teamies are working with at the moment.

Well, that's it from me tonight. As always I love to read any comments you have time to leave and really appreciate them all. Have a warm and cosy evening.

Love and hugs
Lesley Xx

Two Lovely Awards and a lot of blurb.

2011-02-23T11:58:00.000Z

Good Morning Everyone,

I managed to get an extra hour in bed this morning now I don't have a little nose pressed to mine, little arms round my neck and a plaintive voice saying "I'm hungry Mamma. You need to get my breakfast." only for it to go untouched while Izzy gets Mamma to play with the jigsaw puzzles, lol! I just read through my last post and from the number of uncorrected typos I can tell just how tired I was. I wouldn't have missed the weekend for anything though, the cuddles alone were worth it but there was other lovely stuff happening as well.

On Saturday I went up to Harrogate to spend the afternoon having a tasting session with my daughter and Kelly (the Wedding Planner who's worth her weight in gold) with the chosen caterers. My lovely SIL to be very kindly gave up his place so I could go and we were treated to the Wedding Breakfast more or less as it will be served on the day. What a fab idea this is because although in the main everything was fine and the food was lovely, there were just a couple of points that we decided needed 'tweaking' a bit, like having extra gravy available and either cream or creme fraiche available with the deserts. It also gave Jenna and Kelly the chance to double check with the caterers what they would be providing in the way of table linen, glassware, etc., etc. The lady we discussed everything with was very professional, helpful and obliging and at a later date (probably after the wedding) I will do a post which folk can read if they are interested (or avoid if weddings bore them silly, lol) and list all the various providers with links and whether I am impressed or otherwise. So far it's looking like they will all get gold stars! One link you already have is to the Wedding Stationery Designer extraordinaire, lol, 'cos that's me, together with table decorations, bunting and other bits and bobs.

When I returned home Saturday evening, Jenna and her little family followed me down the A1 and as it's half term (Jenna works as a teaching assistant) they stayed until last night. One important errand they had to do while they were here was visit a local jewellery designer (another link I will provide later) and they came back totally impressed and very excited about the designs they had seen but what is very special is that Jenna has her late paternal grandmother's very worn and fragile wedding ring and this is going to be melted down and used to make Jenna's wedding ring. I think this is such a special idea and she could go and watch the process if she wanted but as it's not going to be possible the jeweller is going to take photos of the process for her, although I might go and watch myself. Well, I think that's enough wedding blurb for now so I'll get onto the crafty stuff which I have sorely neglected of late. Either I am getting old and very slow (Hmmmm!!!) or my days are going twice as fast as they used to because I am definitely not cramming as much into a 24 hour period as I used to.

Over the past few weeks I have very kindly been given two awards from two very talented blog buddies which I am only just managing to blog about. I am really chuffed to receive awards like these from people I admire and whose blogs I love to visit. The first award is from Suzi B whose blog I discovered a while ago through our mutual membership of the Graphicus Guild (soon to be given a new name). Thank you very much Sue, I'm really honoured that you thought of me. This award is to bring attention to worthy blogs with smaller numbers of followers i.e. less than 3,000. Well, most if not all the blogs I follow have less than that and they are all extremely worthy so as usual I find it impossible to pick the necessary five.

Sue's lovely blog is called The Making Room, please give her a visit and see the wonderful things she has been making recently.

My second award comes from another blogger who is a member of the Graphicus Guild but I think I found Lynne's gorgeous blog (Creative Lynks) whilst blog hopping before I realised we were fellow GG'ers. I have a beautiful card which Lynne sent to me quite a while ago now which is carefully looked after in my box of treasured creations from other crafters. Isn't this gorgeous! This card was responsible for me buying the Cuttlebug folder and die set for the lovely embossed butterfly.

This is the award from Lynne.

Thank you very much Lynne I am really thrilled you included me on your list. As always I cannot comply with the rules properly because I see so many fabulous blogs and so much talent out there in blogland I find it impossible to choose and always feel bad about any I leave out. However, this award originated from the Digi's with Attitude Challenge Blog so do give them a visit.

I don't know about everyone else but I get so much pleasure and inspiration from visiting other blogs. Every page seems to contain something that makes me go 'Ooooh, that's lovely!' or 'How did they do that?', 'I must have a go at that', so thank you again Lynne and Sue for including me in your award lists. Love to you both.

And now, I must get back to the wonderful world of housework (sorry for the bad language, lol). After 3+ days of a houseful and not even a hoovering the place is disgusting! I'm almost glad it's a miserable day 'cos I'm sure it would look a lot worse in the sunshine, Ha! Ha!

Have a lovely day and I'll catch you again soon.

Lots of love and hugs
Lesley Xx

Much Awaited News!

2011-02-22T23:59:00.001Z

Good Morning All, (it's just past midnight, lol!)

I'm sorry I've not been around much recently. Many reasons for this but I won't bore you with the details but suffice to say at the moment I have one of those 'stop the world I want to get off for a rest' feelings, lol! Helping our daughter plan her wedding and making the invites and table decorations, etc., is taking up a lot of my time but I wouldn't miss it for anything really.

Anyway, the main reason for this particular post of to announce Glenda Waterworth's new company name. It is ............... tada da da dada ........................... CHOCOLATE BAROQUE!!!!! There is a little while to go before the website is up and running (mainly due to technical delays) but it is only a matter of days now. However, if you click on the name or click on the gorgeous new button in my sidebar you will be gently transported to the new Design Team blog when I and my teamies have been posting examples of our work for this month. They feature the first sets of stamps which will be released under the CHOCOLATE BAROQUE banner and they are really lovely not to mention very useful. They are four set of mini stamps, some of which are completely new but others are miniatures of previously issued stamps and they work perfectly to create backgrounds for the main size images. If you visit the new DT blog (that's if you haven't already) and scroll down through the new artwork until you get to Glenda's post, you will find out how you may be able to win a set of these lovely stamps. Glenda has also very kindly added a freebie download to the blog and if we reach 200 followers she will add another one, so hop over and see what we have been up to. There's also a tiny peek at a few more new sets that will be issued over the coming weeks.

Here's a little sneak peek of the card I posted on the DT blog last Friday when the new name was officially launched.

I hope to be back tomorrow with a couple of awards that I have been thrilled to receive over the past couple of weeks. Till then ...........................................

Night, night and love to all.
Lesley Xx

Portrait of a Lady

2011-02-01T00:34:00.000Z

Well, I hope you are all keeping warm just now. I've been perished nearly all day and taking the dog for a walk was not pleasant. There wasn't much of a wind but the windchill was awful. I really could have done with a ski mask, Lol! I can't imagine how daft I would have looked though.

Anyway, as I've not been making anything I can show you this past week or so I thought I'd share a card I made for the Elusive Images DT last year. I used stamps from an A5 set called Portrait of a Lady together with a bird and branch and the Let Your Heart Sing set and the words from Sing Your Song set.

I also used some Artylicious papers for the punched border, flower and the lady's dress which I stamped, embossed and cut out. For the bird and branch and words I inked up the stamps with Cats Eye chalk inks choosing specific colours for specific parts of the images.

I'll probably share a few more of last year's DT makes till I can get Jenna's wedding stuff done but I'm having fun with it all now. I'm also working on new DT designs so I'm pretty busy in the wings at the moment.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that tomorrow is a tad warmer although my OH said that wet, windy but milder weather is on the way. I can do without the wet and windy bit, Lol! Stay warm and well everyone and thanks for visiting.

Warm hugs
Lesley Xx

WOW, WOW, and thrice WOW!!!!

2011-01-29T00:44:00.000Z

You just have to take a look at this fantastic prize on offer over at Lovin' Ink of which the very talented Michelle is one half. I love Michelle's blog and have been a follower of hers for quite a while and since the webshop opened I have become a follower there too. As well as some lovely bits and pieces of rather interesting stash there's also fab inspiration too.

as well as this lovely candy there is also this fabulous prize on offer.

a Brilliant Super Spectacular

Giveaway Prize

2 Free places on the

Lovin' Ink Craft Retreat on the 26th - 28th March 2011

at Bolton Abbey, North Yorks

Hop on over to either Lovin' Ink or Michelle's blog to find out what you have to do to be in with a chance of winning. I sure have my fingers and toes crossed .............. for myself that is, Lol!

Hugs

Lesley Xx

Want a little bit of fun? Then PAY IT FORWARD!

2011-01-27T19:12:00.003Z

WOW! Nothing for nearly a month and then 2 posts in 1 day! No makes in this one though. However .............. I've picked up this cute image from my lovely friend and CSQ buddy Judith. I've signed up for her 'Pay it Forward' so now it's my turn to do just that.

I promise I will send something handmade (no idea what yet but I hope someone will want them, lol) to the first five people to comment on this post. If you decide to enter you have to 'Pay it Forward' and post this offer of something handmade to the first five people to comment on your own blog post.

The rules are to send something handmade by you to five people before the end of 2011. That should be enough time even for me, lol, as I don't think I'll have a lot of time until after Jenna's wedding.

Eeek! I shall feel a right wally if nobody wants my stuff, Ha! Ha!

Love and Hugs
Lesley Xx

BACK TO .................................

2011-01-27T13:49:00.001Z

......................... Christmas!!!! and the blooming temperature thinks it still is 'cos it's perishing cold, lol. On my last post (ages ago I know) I mentioned that I was still waiting for one of my buddies to receive the Christmas card I had sent to her and which I had also sent to my 3 lovely CSQ friends. Well, unfortunately it looks like it has been swallowed by our Royal Mail's big black hole so I'm going to post the picture now albeit really belatedly. At least Sue will be able to see what she should have received. You never know it could turn up in years to come as these things have occasionally been known to do, Lol!

All the stamps I used on the above card, except for the greeting, are Elusive Images, some from this year and the snowy cottage scene in the background from a previous year. The greeting is a Clarity Stamp.

I am sorry I've been awol again but I have been quite busy on the crafting front just not with things I can show yet. Some has been DT stuff but a lot has been Wedding things for our daughter, Jenna, which I can't show yet either, mainly because everything is still in bits, lol!

Jenna and Tony have decided on an informal theme for the wedding of an English Summer Garden Party so there are to be no formal flower arrangements on the tables. Instead we have collected some really pretty jugs, vases and even teapots to hold cottage garden type bunches of flowers. We've also been collecting different sized jars which I'm going to decorate with ribbons and paper lace borders and these will have tealights in and the place name cards won't be cards at all but I'll show you all the different things nearer the wedding which is towards the end of May. Coming up with designs that Jenna liked proved to be a bit stressful because she changed her mind a few times (easy to do when it's your Mum you're getting to do the making), lol, but to be fair I also found it a bit difficult to get my head around what she wanted. Everything she tried to describe sounded such a mish mash to me I thought it was going to look totally unco-ordinated. The lightbulb lit up when we went to a Vintage Wedding Fayre at a hotel in Harrogate and she started pointing things out to me .......... then I finally GOT IT!!!!! ..... and I think it's going to look lovely .......... if I can do her ideas justice, ahem! I'm now knee deep in pretty little rosettes (thank goodness for Mr Holtz and his rosette die) and before too long bunting will be on the agenda too. We are hiring quite a few metres of bunting but the wedding venue is quite a large room and has a very high ceiling so we are going to supplement the bunting with some of our own. I'll let you know how I'm getting on with things as I progress but this is a pic of some of the things I'm using.

Finally, for this post, something not so happy. Immediately after the New Year, my Hubby and I had to attend a funeral so I had to make a sympathy card. I fell back on my favourite technique of last year which I had used for my quick Christmas cards. I said it was a useful technique you could use for absolutely any occasion by changing the colours and the stamps used and it is.

The stamp I used is a Lavinia one and the Distress Inks were Milled Lavendar, Dusty Concord and I think Stormy Sky.

Well, that's it for me today. Hope you like my makes and I'll do my best not to take so long to my next post.
I really appreciate your visits and especially if you have time to leave a comment. Stay well everyone.

Love and hugs
Lesley Xx

PS Don't forget you can click the pictures for a larger image and then you can see the subtle sparkle on the Christmas card.

Now Izzy's THREE!

2011-01-03T21:03:00.001Z

.............. years old that is! A few days before Christmas it was our granddaughter Isabella's birthday and it's a measure of how out of sorts I was that I almost forgot to make her birthday card! I think it was all that blooming snow throughout December that really made me want to hibernate. Actually, I think my brain did, Lol!

Anyway, I remembered just in time but then couldn't find the Dimension Fourth Alphabet stamps I wanted to use. I spent a good 2 hours searching through all my loads of stamps at least 6 times with no luck at all and I was so mad at myself because I thought I had lost them. In the end I had to come up with a different idea and it ended up being well into the early hours of the morning when the card finally got finished. However, when I went to my daughter's (Isabella's Mummy) with said card and pressie the next day, I mentioned the much searched for stamps and guess what ??????? I loaned them to Jenna several months ago!!!!! Grrrr, I wasted all that time because I have such a terrible memory. Still at least I haven't lost my stamps and this was my finished card.

I apologise for the poor photo but it was quite early in the morning and the light was very dreary. I didn't have time to set up how I normally take my photos either which would have helped. The papers I used were all from a DCWV stack called The Linen Closet and they are all absolutely gorgeous. Many of them are highlighted with glitter and have beautiful designs all in this colourway. As you can see there is only one tiny bit of stamping for the sentiment. I had just received my brilliant Tim Holtz/Sizzix rosette die so had to put that to good use didn't I. I used a Martha Stuart lacy ribbon punch, a Sizzix leaf flourish and Sizzix 'Hugs' die. I don't think I got the balance quite right when positioning the rosettes but it was about 2.30 in the morning and I was too tired to see straight I think. That's my excuse anyway, Lol!

Well, Hubby's back to work tomorrow and I start my normal child minding duties with my other little granddaughter Alexa. It's her 3rd birthday in March so I'd best not forget that too and leave her card until the last minute. Rushing takes all the fun out of it. I hope you've all had a really good New Year weekend and I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for a happy, healthy and peaceful 2011. I'd also like to thank you all for your visits and the lovely comments you left me over the past year. I really do appreciate every last one of them.

Love and Hugs

Lesley Xx

A little bit of Christmas and A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-12-30T13:17:00.001Z

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a really wonderful Christmas spent doing anything that makes you happy, be it a quiet day just mooching around with your beloved or full on manic with your family, especially if that includes little ones as ours does. Christmas Day saw my Hubby and I dashing off up the A1 to our daughter's for dinner and back down again that evening as we had my Mum here for Boxing Day lunch. Then Jenna and her family came down the A1 to spend Monday and Tuesday with us and naturally when they are here, Jamie and his family spend mosgt of their time here as well (they only live 5 minutes away) so for 2 days our little bungalow was bursting at the seams, Lol!

This is Izzy after opening one of her presents from her Mamma and 'Bamps' (me and Hubby). That expression was priceless!

Here Izzy and Alexa are cuddled up under Mamma's special blanket watching Finding Nemo for about the three hundredth time, Lol! You wouldn't believe Alexa is 3 months younger than Izzy would you?

And here they both are singing nursery rhymes with the 'babies Annabelle', just like they do at nursery.

I've had a couple of days when I should really have been setting the house to rights again but instead I've just mooched about really and now I have to get a crack on because we have our oldest friends coming for a meal tomorrow night. We've spent New Year's Eve together for over 20 years now, taking it in turns to host and they used to be very noisy, lively affairs when the kids were all younger but as they got into their late teens things quieted down somewhat. Mind you for several years at least one parent had to stay sober because there was usually a phone call from one or other of the four offspring saying their taxi hadn't turned up and could we do the honours! I'm glad those days are over although staying sober now is not a problem as I can't
drink alcohol any more. Sod's Law again isn't it, Lol!

I thought it was about time I shared a few makes with you although they have been a bit thin on the ground recently. I thought all but my closest buddies were not going to get handmade cards this year but because of the lovely quick technique of Joanne Wardle's which my CSQ buddies and I have just used for our latest project, I used it to make quite a bundle of Christmas cards right at the last minute. I almost forgot to take any pics but here are three different variations on the theme.

I do have another special card I made for my three CSQ buddies but I also made if for a blog buddy in America and I don't think she's received it yet. I was a bit late posting for America to say the least and then there were several problems with our mail because of the snow bringing everything to a halt (and confining me to the house, Lol!). Even Judith and Jo only received their cards yesterday and Jo only lives 40 minutes away! As soon as I know the last card has been received I will post some pics because it was one I was quite pleased with.

Well, 2011 is almost upon us and for a number of reasons I personally won't be sorry to see the back of 2010 and I know many others feel the same so I'll take this opportunity to say many, many thanks to all of you who visit my little bit of web space and leave me such lovely, encouraging comments. I can truly say I have met some really wonderful people, both in reality and in the virtual world, since I started my blog and for that I am really grateful. I want to wish you all the very best that life can bring to you for 2011, but most of all may it bring you peace and contentment.

Lots of love to you all and many warm virtual hugs
Lesley Xx

A Bit of Sparkle and Shine

2010-12-06T22:42:00.002Z

Hi Everyone,

I hope you're managing to keep warm and safe in this horrible freezing weather. We and our neighbours have spent the weekend shovelling snow and chopping out ice to try and make our cul-de-sac accessible so that those of us who have to go to work could get out this morning. I'm not one of those thank goodness but my Hubby is. With great trepidation I took the dog to the park for the first time in a week today and came back having made my mind up that for once I'm going to be making a strong complaint with the high ups on our local council. Apart from the main bus routes, hardly any roads and no pavements at all have seen a snowplough or a handful of grit! The 5 inch thick ice is lethal to try and walk on and having injured a tendon slipping on ice at the beginning of the year I was petrified of doing a repeat performance. Okay, sorry about the little rant but now I've got that off my chest I'll get down to more important matters like crafting, Lol!

My first make today uses one of the latest Crafty Individuals stamps which combines two of my favourite types of image - trees and swirls! The card is made using simple stamping and matting and layering with just a couple of swirls cut with a Marianne Creatable die.

I stamped the main image and the single swallow on the background using Coffee Archival ink and just added Sakura Sparkle pen to the swirls and the swallows on the main image.

This next card uses an image from the Elusive Images Damask Reindeer set (UA4SP0263). I stamped the image with Onyx Black Versafine and then colours with Copics. I added some ultrafine glitter which was very difficult to show on the photo and then layered it onto a piece of green mirri card run through my Big Shot in a Tim Holtz/Sizzix embossing folder.

It's very rare I use mirri card or glitter but the mirri does show off embossing really well.

This final card (3 in one post!!!!!!) was one I made recently for the Elusive Images Design Team using their lovely new stamp set called Family Christmas. I kept almost to a monochrome colour theme using black, white and gold.

I stamped a holly sprig with Versamark and clear embossed on the black card layer and then stamped the main image using Onyx Black Versafine and touched in certain areas with a very fine paintbrush and Ecoline Gold. That waterbased ink is absolutely gorgeous and looks like real molten gold in the bottle. I was really pleased with the classy look of this card (even though I say so myself, Lol) so I decided to make it again this weekend as my Christmas card for my Mum.

Details of any of the Elusive Images stamps can be found by clicking on the Design Team logo in my sidebar and the Crafty Individuals stamps and the swirl die (which is from a set) and any of the inks used are also available at Graphicus.

As always, thank you for your visit and any comments you have time to leave so that I know you have stopped by and I can visit you back. I've had a lovely time this past few days catching up with all the lovely creations my blogging friends have been posting recently.

Warm hugs to you all,
Lesley Xx

PS I keep forgetting to remind everyone that the photos are clickable if you wish to see a closeup.

Aaargh!!! ..........Where has the last month gone?!@!

2010-12-02T00:14:00.000Z

Hello Everyone,

Er, long time - no see, so to speak! I am really sorry it's been so long since my last post but unfortunately, many things have contributed to this situation, none of them nasty but just family commitments getting in the way a bit plus the only things I seem to have had time to create have had to be kept under wraps for a while.

Anyway, I now have some of my makes for the Elusive Images DT that I can share with you so hopefully I'll be able to post them over the next week or so.

Amongst my lovely DT goodies for November were some of the Crafty Individuals chipboard shapes so I decided to make this Christmassy tag. The little fence which was one of the shapes was attached with a folded piece of card which formed a 'hinge' and this enables the tag to be freestanding. I covered the tree shape with Artylicious paper from the Seasons Greetings cd and used various stamps from the Elusive Images Christmas range to stamp the embossed resist background, the leaping reindeer and the sentiment.

This next creation was made to showcase a newly released set of Elusive Images stamps called Earth Spirit, designed by the lovely Carrie who is a talented member of the Graphicus team. I stamped the woodnymph image onto metal using Stazon and then after embossing it I used alcohol inks on cotton buds to colour it. I also used a tree image from the Essence of Nature stamp plate to stamp on the corners of the background paper (another Artylicious paper from the Simple Elegance pack). The leaves were cut with a Shapeability die and touched with Perfect Pearls mica powders.

If you want more details of any of the Elusive Images stamps, etc., click on the DT logo in my sidebar.

In my absence, I hope all you lovely people have been keeping well and doing lots of crafting. I've been trying to keep up with the wonderful blogs I follow but have been a bit lax on that side too. I will try harder because I hate missing any of the lovely inspiration my blogging friends create. However, I do know once this blasted white stuff disappears I will be dashing up and down the A1 again! I hope the travelling situation is much improved for the end of next week as I have to go to look after my granddaughter in Harrogate on Friday and a lovely workshop with Glenda at Graphicus on Saturday. I will be soooooo disappointed if I have to miss either of those days.

For today I'll leave you with a couple of photos of my back garden (yard to my American visitors) taken at 8 am today.

and this is poor little Snoopy wondering where on earth he can go for his morning toilet as the snow is deeper than he is tall.

I've since dug him a 'ditch' from the back door out onto the garden but he's still not quite sure what he's supposed to do poor thing, Lol!

I'll hopefully be back with some more shares over the weekend. In the meantime, take care in this atrocious weather everyone and try to stay warm and snuggly.

Lots of warm hugs
Lesley Xx

PS If you haven't already noticed I managed to finish and post my project for this month for the Craft Stamping Quartet for which the inspiration was an article by Joanne Wardle (October issue) and my buddies shouldn't be too far behind. Here's a taster but if you want a closer look the link is in my sidebar.

Elusive Images Elegant Ladies

2010-10-22T01:26:00.000+01:00

Last month for our Elusive Images Design Team submissions we were sent some beautiful stamp sets which each featured an elegant lady dressed in a gorgeous gown and these stamps were supported by lots of wonderful chandaliers, candelabra, fancy corners and others. There are three A5 sets in all and as well as being beautiful, there are some really useful and versatile stamps on each plate. We are all agreed on the Design Team that many of them would make beautiful Wedding Stationery or cards for the Bride, her Mother or the Bridesmaids.

For one of my submissions I decided to make something a little different from a card by decorating a little (6" x 6") wooden frame I picked up for £1.

I used stamps from all three of the lady sets together with stamps from Fancy Mandalas UA4SP0172 AND Diamante Delights UA4SP0192 to make the Grungepaper flower and leaves and Artistic Affirmations (another fab new set) UA4GW0343 for the word (which could also be a name). I thought the bottom of the chandelier stamp I used at the top of the frame looked like a lovely beaded curtain edging. I used various colouring mediums, including Studio Semi Gloss Paint, Ranger Dabbers, Viva Precious Metal Paint, Ranger Crackle Paint and last but not least Distress Inks.

The frame itself had glass in the aperture but I took it out and replaced it with a painted and stamped chipboard square.

I really enjoyed myself making this little frame and the stamps worked so well.

If you would like to see all three sets of stamps and our three 'divas' in all their glory, click on the Elusive Images DT logo in my sidebar which will take you to the DT blog. The stamps are all on display together with details on how you could perhaps WIN them so it's well worth popping over there. You will also find links to my DT buddies where you can have a look at the beautiful creations they have made with these new stamps.

Thanks for dropping by today and have a lovely weekend everyone. I'm off to my Daughter's today to have more Wedding Discussions. Blimey, things didn't seem half as complicated to organise when my Hubby and I got married nearly 38 years ago, Lol!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

A Tag .............. made for fun and a friend..........plus something a bit special!

2010-10-21T11:06:00.000+01:00

Last week I had to post something to my friend Elaine so I made a tag to put in the envelope.

I didn't start out to use Autumn colours again but somehow ended up there. Never mind, I love them and I know Elaine does too. The stamps I used were PaperArtsy Hot Picks that I bought at the Artisan Show (fab show) at the beginning of the month. I really enjoyed making this tag just for the fun of it and especially as it was for a lovely friend who I sadly don't get to see very often.

I used mainly Distress Inks for both the blending and stamping and was amazed at how long they took to dry. As I wanted to use Versamark and Gold EP for my final stamped images I took the precaution of spending quite a while drying the tag with my heat gun and then left it for at least another 30 minutes before applying the EP but ............................ it still stuck to the DI's! I brushed as much off as possible with a fine paintbrush but I think next time I'll leave it overnight, Lol!

And now ............................ I have something to share which I think is quite special., proud Mum or what, Lol! My Son, Jamie hasn't had time to post anything on his own blog for quite a while (new job taken over) and last week he 'invaded' my craft room to make a card for his wife's birthday. The card itself is really simple using a lovely Hampton Arts rose image (which has special meaning as I used it on their wedding stationery) and a Ranger Coffee Archival inkpad. The sentiment is from the Elusive Images Birthday Words plate but what I think is so special is the rose cut out that Jamie drew himself and cut out by hand from some pearlescent paper I gave him. There is one overlaid on the front and another on the inside of the card and I am still in awe everytime I look at them. They are so beautifully cut out and so intricate they look laser cut. See what you think...............

and the inside ................

and that's not all .....................

This is a photo of an ordinary office sticky label which in turn is a printout of a photo of a quite large canvas. Does any of that make sense?!? But the amazing thing to me is that Jamie drew the image, cut out the stencil with a scalpel, placed it over the canvas (which I haven't seen yet) and then I think he used spray paints through the stencil to achieve the finished image. It's mostly black with just touches of blue and yellow along the bottom and you can just see a hint of blue for his eyes. I still can't get over how perfect the cutting out is!
Am I proud or what!

Have a lovely day all!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

My Lovely DIL loves Fairies!

2010-10-19T11:36:00.001+01:00

Hi Everyone,

I do hope you get some of the lovely sunshine I can see through my window today although I suspect it's not very warm outside. I shall find out shortly when I take the Snoopster for a walk.

Well, I sure made up for posting 2 days in a row didn't I? Not a peep for nearly 2 weeks now but it's mainly because I have been making Design Team stuff which, of course, I can't show. I did make a card for my lovely Daughter in Law last week though so I am sharing it today. She loves fairies so I used Lavinia stamps to make her card. They are what I call 'Fairies for Grown-Ups', Lol! I love those silhouette stamps, have quite a few, rarely get time to use them - sound familiar anyone?

I used a Big and Juicy Waterfall inkpad to brayer the background colour. I'm definitely a novice at brayering but I hope to improve my skills at a workshop with Lesley Wharton at Graphicus that I'm going to very shortly. To add a bit of texture I picked up a bit of ink on a piece of textured sponge and dappled it very lightly onto the bottom of the image taking it over the edge and continuing onto the bottom of the card and I also echoed the hanging vine on the top of the base card too. I added a little bit of Stickles in Patina on the fairy's wings and to the fairy dust she is sprinkling in the water.

All the stamps I used are from Lavinia except for the sentiment at the top which was made up from a very useful set of words and phrases from Elusive Images called Celebrations (there are 3 A6 plates in the range) and the grass around the fairy which is from Elusive Images Wild Meadow plate.

Thanks to all who visit and especially if you find time to leave a comment. I hope to post a tag I made for a friend in a couple of days time. Till then, hope your days are filled with as much sunshine as possible.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

PS Ooooh, nearly forgot. Have you visited our Craft Stamping Quartet blog recently. My buddy Jo has posted the most gorgeous creation (the inspiration for which came from an Isabelle Norris project) and I'll be posting my own effort possibly later today. I have to admit that I almost chickened out after Jo posted her's because I feel mine is rather lacklustre to say the least but then I decided it was only fair to show things I'm not happy with as well as things I am.

Play Date Cafe and Elusive Images

2010-10-07T09:08:00.002+01:00

Hello again everyone, Wow, me posting two days in a row!!!! That doesn't happen very often, in fact this is probably the first time, Lol!

The reason is the Play Date Cafe Challenge this week is being sponsored by Elusive Images and I and a few of my Team mates have decided to play along. Each week PDCC give a colour theme to be used and this is the one we had to work to.

Glenda Waterworth (owner of EI) is the guest designer over on the PDCC blog so I'm off over there in a mo to see what she and their very talented Design Team have created for us. This is the card I made using their colour story for this week and if you would like to know the details of how and what I used and also see what my friends have created, click here to go to the Elusive Images blog where you will find all the relevant links.

and a close up of the main detail.

The EI stamps I used are from a couple of years ago and I still love them but if you want to join in with the PDCC this week there are some of the latest stamps up for grabs so why not have a go.

It was double pleasurable for me to join in with this challenge because I have a lovely blog buddy over on the PDCC Design Team. Suzanne is such a talented lady and is the source of a huge amount of inspiration as well as being a lovely friend into the bargain. You certainly wouldn't be disappointed by paying her blog a visit. Say Hi from me while you're there!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

A Card for my 'Baby' and WOYWW

2010-10-06T11:23:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone and Happy WOYWW even if the weather is trying to make you miserable as it is here!

Well, life's been a bit manic around here the last couple of weeks with ordinary life (Wedding discussions and organisation???) getting in the way of blogging so I'm pretty chuffed that I'm managing to join in WOYWW again today. If any one hasn't a clue what I'm waffling on about go to the wonderful Julia's blog where all will be revealed.

This is my desk as of about 8 am this morning and it's not too bad if a tad boring. That's because I tipped a whole jar of water up last night so had to have a tidy up to get rid of all the soggy bits and dry everything else. Luckily there were no works in progress on there at the time and my lovely Craft Stamper mags weren't there then either otherwise you would all have heard the screams and bad language (like Oh sh.................oot!). I was studying that particular Isobelle Norris article last night because it's the inspiration chosen by my buddy Judith for our current Craft Stamping Quartet project. From the bits there can you guess what I'm hoping my theme is going to be? Last Friday I went to the Artisan show (brilliant show for stampers and beaders) at Leamington Spa and there are a couple of things on my desk that I haven't found a home for yet. There's also a pile of PaperArtsy and Crafty Individuals stamps on the worktop behind me but I forgot to take a pic of those. There's a couple of acetate pieces I found whilst mopping up and a piece of kitchen roll covered in Glimmer Mists that was in the bottom of my spray booth after a misting session. I liked the colours on it so I stuck it to a piece of card for use somehow in the future. Amazing what you find when you really have to get to the bottom of all those pieces that are just hanging about. I suspect they'll 'hang about' for quite a while longer too, Lol!

As the desk is a mite boring I thought I'd show you my collection of dies and embossing folders and the like.

On top you can see the Paper Artsy dies I bought last Friday. Not so long ago all my dies and folders fitted easily into this box but then my Nesty collection started to grow ............. and grow and then Sir Tim Holtz decided to get together with Sizzix and now ................ I have dies stashed in the box my iron came in

and piled up on the windowsill

I think I need a much bigger box and of course, I'm being sorely tempted by the new lot of dies that have just come out, Aaaarrrgh!!!!

Wow, this is turning into a long post so if you are still with me thankyou because I want to share a card before I go get some dreaded chores done. It was my 'baby's' birthday at the weekend. She was thirty (God that makes me feel ancient) and a while ago after rewatching Dirty Dancing for the 'nth time I said I ought to stop calling her Baby but she said she liked it as it made her feel special and safe so 'Baby' it still is, Lol! Here's the card.

and a close up of the tag. I love that TH quote!

Well if you stuck with my waffle to the end you deserve a medal, Lol!

Have a lovely day everyone and guess what, the sun has come out and I have blue skies! Lovely! Shame I have to go and clean the bathroom though, yuck!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

A Lovely Award

2010-10-04T20:06:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone,

I'm afraid I haven't any makes to share with you at the moment unfortunately. I do have a card to show in the next day or so when I've had time to download the photos. However, I wanted to do this post tonight because I've been given an award from a young lady whose work I admire very much. Her name is Rachel and her blog is Critchley Creations. She an extremely talented girl and the creations on her blog are lovely so please pay her a visit. You won't be disappointed!

Rachel thanks very much for this award. I really appreciate it, Sweetie!

I know I'm supposed to pass this on to 15 other lovely bloggers but how can I choose. I love all the blogs I visit and never fail to be awed at the wonderful creations I see so if you visit me please take this award for your own blog with my love and thanks for sharing the lovely things you make.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

For a Very Special Friend

2010-09-24T12:18:00.000+01:00

Good Morning Everyone,

I'm determined to be positive about today even though the weather is downright horrible!!! I'm hoping it dries up just a little bit as I have to go down the road to let my friend's two dogs out at lunchtime. Lucky lady, she's off to Bermuda to spend a week with her daughter who works out there and leaving her OH and the dogs to fend for themselves, Lol!

Anyway, I have a card I want to share with you (actually my other makes are all DT stuff so I can't share them much as I'd like to) which I made a couple of weeks ago for one of my Very Special Friends from the Craft Stamping Quartet. It was a joy to make a card for Elaine, as it always is with these ladies because they and their friendship mean such a lot to me.

Unfortunately, I didn't make a note of the colours I used but for a change, I used Adirondacks mainly because I know they are Elaine's favourites and suffice to say, I used as many autumnal colours as I had in my collection (it turned out I had quite a few, Lol). I started off by blending the colours over my cardstock starting with the lightest colour first and then before adding the darker shades I placed a Tattered Angles Glimmer Screen onto my work. There are a couple of different tree ones and I moved them around the card as I gradually built up the colour. I then stamped the lovely delicate script stamp from the Elusive Images Antiquities (the same stamp is on a different DL sized plate too) plate all over, stamping off first onto scrap paper. Next came the tree stamps from Tattered Angels and I'm pretty sure I used Adirondack Espresso for those. I used the same colour background inks on a tag and then stamped a Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz quote from the Urban Chic set. I think I used a branch stamp from the same set round the edge of the tag.

I used a leaf stamp I've had for ages to stamp out lots of leaves inking the stamp with a couple of different colours and then watercoloured them using the Adirondacks. When they were dry I cut them all out and gave them a thin layer of decoupage varnish (Wow, definitely needed a well ventilated are for that!), shaped them gently with my fingers and used dimensional glue to position them on the card. The birthday sentiment is also from an Elusive Images set of birthday words.

Thoroughly enjoyed playing with this one especially as I knew it would be appreciated.

Before I shoot off to get some of those pesky chores out of the way, I must apologise again for being so far behind with blog visits. For some reason, life seems to be getting in the way of crafting and it's associated pleasures at the moment but I'm hoping things settle down soon.

Hope the weather isn't too miserable where you are and that you all have a lovely weekend.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

It's a .........................................

2010-09-17T16:12:00.000+01:00

TRICK!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry crafters, I'm afraid I don't have any candy for you either this time. You should be whittling us down now until there will only be the candy givers left. If you haven't left a comment on ALL the Elusive Images DT members blogs you still have chance to find the ones that are left in the next hour or so.

As a little consolation here is sneaky pic of another of my Design Team projects for the Halloween Stamps. I used a slightly unusual method of cutting my base card using a Nestablity Label 1. I can't claim credit for this technique but if you go here to my DT buddy Ikki's blog, that's where I found the 'how to'. She's one clever lady with a Cuttlebug and dies and has a beautiful blog with lots of lovely tips and tutorials.

When the card is opened out it looks like this.

Well, that's it from me for the first Elusive Images Design Team blog hop but keep an eye on us by clicking on the EI DT button in my sidebar. You never know when the chance to win more fabulous Elusive Images goodies is going to arise and of course, you still have to find the candy givers this time yet! Many thanks for visiting and leaving all your lovely comments and especially thankyou to all the lovely people who joined my band of followers throughout the week. I'm away visiting my daughter over the weekend to spend some time discussing Wedding Plans (note the capitals, Lol!) but will do my best to visit all of you during next week.

Have a lovely weekend everyone and good luck finding the TREATS!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Is it TRICK or is it TREAT?????

2010-09-16T22:42:00.001+01:00

Hi Blog Hoppers and all Crafty People,

Just a quick share of one of the cards I made with the fabulous fun Elusive Images Halloween stamps.

I coloured the scarecrow and corn stooks with Derwent Coloursoft pencils and then went over them with a Versamark pen and heat embossed with clear EP. Once it had cooled, I blended Distress Inks in Stormy Sky, Weathered Wood and a little Chipped Sapphire for the sky and Pumice Stone and I think, Frayed Burlap for the field.

I stamped the Trick or Treat and embossed with clear EP and then blended the same two Distress Inks that I'd used for the field. I then punched a leafy 'ribbon' from a sheet of Artylicious designer paper from the Echoes of Italy pack using a Martha Stewart border punch and I also stamped and embossed the pumpkins onto the same paper. I added colour depth using my Coloursoft pencils again and then cut them all out. The smoke tendrils were a bit tricky as I'm not the best at cutting out with a craft knife but I'm improving especially since I started using a glass worktop protector I found in the reduced section at TKMaxx. It makes it much easier to control the knife. I then shaped the pumpkins gently with my fingers before arranging them in a heap and attaching them with dimensional glue (e.g. silicone or Pinflair).

Finally, I used a Nestie labels 1 set of dies to matt and layer the images and from the same double sided (one side pale orange and the other darker) card I again used my MS border punch to get all the teeny leaves. I touched the edges of each one with Vintage Photo Distress Ink on a piece of Cut n Dry and stuck them on with the dimensional glue. I really enjoyed all the fiddly little bits to making this card.

Now then, are you sure you have visited all the other Elusive Images Design Team members??? You have until tomorrow early evening to leave a comment on them all because there's no way of knowing which of us is TRICKING or which of us is going to be TREATING at the end of the day. If you click on the EI DT logo to the left in my sidebar you will go straight to the DT blog where all the links to the other members are listed and you should also leave a comment on the DT blog too as there might be a TREAT for someone there too. Happy hunting!

Hugs

Lesley Xx

PS I keep forgetting to say that if you haven't already noticed, you can click on the photos to get the enlarged image and a better look at the details.

The Spooky Mood Continues into WOYWW - 15 September 2010.

2010-09-15T11:45:00.000+01:00

Hi to All you lovely Visitors,

Crikey it's only 11.20 am and I'm starting my WOYWW blog post, Haha! That beats last week by a long way doesn't it and so far this morning Mr Blogger seems to be behaving (sshhhhh don't let him hear me) and is responding to commands without delay or messing about so hopefully I will be able to visit some more lovely blogs from the list on Julia's blog. I have big apologies to make to the people on last weeks list, especially the ones who managed to visit me because I just couldn't get into comments (except for a tiny few which took me forever) for over a week and it's been driving me bonkers. Anyway, enough waffle, on with my proper post.

This is the state of my desk at the moment.

Centre stage is the card I made last night (close up below) as an extra for the Elusive Images DT blog hop. If you scroll down to my previous post you will see what I'm talking about and might want to take a hop round the fun makes my DT buddies have come up with beginning with the Elusive Images DT Blog which has all the links. There's some stamp candy hidden in them thar blogs but you won't know where until the draw takes place on Friday. You have till then to leave comments on each blog to be in with a chance of winning some of the spooky stamps.

All those lovely Adirondack inkpads were used on a project I thoroughly enjoyed making because it was for a special friend but she hasn't received it yet so it will have to wait until the weekend before I can show that one.

The final pic I want to share with you is of the contents of the cello bag on the extreme right of the desk photo. When I went to the Graphicus Crafter's Paradise Retreat a couple of weekends ago I hadn't had time to make any ATCs to swap but several of the lovely crafters there were kind enough to give me RAKs and they are beautiful. Here they are and thank you to the kind ladies who gave them to me. I shall treasure them as another reminder of a fabulous weekend shared with lovely people.

Well, that's it from me on this somewhat grey, slightly drizzly Wednesday (kind of matches my All Souls Day card, Lol). If you want to join in the WOYWW fun pop over to Julia's blog to see what's happening this week. As always I treasure any comments you have time to leave and I'm soooo keeping my fingers crossed I can do some commenting myself tonigh.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

It's a SPOOKYLICIOUS Blog Hop - Climb on your virtual broomstick!

2010-09-13T14:02:00.001+01:00

Happy Monday Morning All,

First of all I have to issue an apology to all the blogs I visit for not leaving comments over the past week or so. I've been having terrible trouble with Mr Blogger and in some cases had to give up on leaving comments altogether. I hardly dare say it but things seem to be somewhat improved since yesterday but of course, I am waaaayyyy behind now so please bear with me while I catch up. I do hate not being able to leave comments when I visit my fave blogs and all those lovely WOYWWers to say how much I love all the fab inspiration I see in blogland. XXX

Anyway, let's get down to the Spooky business of the day, Lol!

Today, Monday 13th September sees the start of the Elusive Images Halloween Blog Hop. My brilliantly talented DT buddies and myself have been busy working with some fabulous Halloween Stamps and I've had such a lot of fun.. I've had a great time playing with these stamps and I know my teamies have too judging by the fab projects they have come up with. They are the perfect opportunity to play with colours you perhaps wouldn't normally use, acidy greens, bright oranges and gothicky purples, not to mention BLACK. My daughter is wanting to 'borrow' mine to make invitations to her birthday party which is going to have a Halloween theme.

Now, if you would like to have a chance of winning some of these brilliant fun stamps you need to hop around ALL the DT members' blogs and don't forget the Elusive Images Design Team blog too. Don't miss anyone out as there are two blogs that have the candy on offer but you won't know which ones until the winners are announced on Friday 17th September. If you click on the Elusive Images DT logo button in my sidebar you will fly on your virtual broomstick to the blog where you will find links to all the DT members and at some point today, more details of the hop and all the stamps. Don't forget to leave a comment on each blog as you go so that those of us with the candy (am I one?!? ............. perhaps!?!) can enter you into the draw which will be by Random.org, put a link on your own blog to spread the word and join the EI followers. Obviously I would love you to join my lovely band of followers but I don't make it a condition on my own blog.

Here is the card I made for this blog hop.

Ingredients
Elusive Images Halloween Candle Stamp plate - UDLSP0338
A4 ivory textured cardstock folded in half to make A5 portrait card base
Black card
Green Pearl card
Smooth White card
Ranger Archival or Memories black inkpad
Adirondack Citrus Inkpad
Pumice Stone and Milled Lavender Distress Inks
Clear Embossing powder
Stamp n Stuff Twilight Embossing Powder
Nestabilities bats dies
Nestabilities deckle edged rectangles
Derwent Coloursoft Pencils and blending pencil
Ribbon

Method
Layer the black card and then the green card onto the card base using double sided tape (DST).
Stamp the Candlestick and Pumpkin image onto the bottom right corner of the white cardstock in black and clear emboss.
Stamp the chandelier in black just to right of centre at the top of the white cardstock and emboss with the Twilight EP and then carefully position the cobweb and stamp in black onto the chandelier.
Colour the candlestick and pumpkin and then blend the Pumice Stone and Milled Lavender DIs over the cardstock avoiding the candlestick and pumpkin
On a small piece of white card stamp the All Hallows Eve using Adirondack Citrus and clear emboss then blend the DIs. Cut out with the 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm deckle edged rectangle die and adhere in position using 3D foam pads.
Cut two of the Shapeability bats from black card, curve the wings a little and adhere where desired with a little 3 dimensional glue (I used Pinflair).
Cut 3 lengths of ribbon and attach to the back of the stamped image with DST slightly overlapping each other.
Bring the ribbon to the front and and tie them together with narrow ribbon to make it look like a tied back curtain and again, using very small pieces of DST, attach the ribbon down the side and across the bottom.
Finally, position this top layer and attach with DST.

I did also use a chandelier stamp from a Graphicus Guild themeplate. Keep your eyes peeled on the Elusive Images DT blog for details of some fab new themeplates which include some lovely chandeliers amongst other things.

Well, I'm off to do some dreaded h.........k! Happy Hopping everyone and hope you all have a good week.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Elusive Images Blog Hop - Beginning Monday (edit) 13th September!

2010-09-11T13:15:00.002+01:00

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope your Saturday morning weather has been as nice where you are as it is here - lovely blue sky, fluffy white clouds and lots of sunshine.

This is just a very quick post to let you know that on Monday the Elusive Images Design Team are starting a blog hop. Your starting point will be the Elusive Images DT blog (click on the logo in my sidebar) so don't forget to pop over there and then hop round to see all the lovely projects that my DT buddies and myself have created.

Here is a little taster of my offering!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend whatever you are doing and see you on Monday.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

NB Sorry everyone, my brain was not firing on all cylinders this morning obviously because Monday is the 13th not the 15th DOH!!!!!

WOYWW - 8 September ............... drat, missed it !!!!!!!

2010-09-09T00:24:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone,

If I'm quick I might just make this post while it's still Wednesday.

I was on a fabulous Graphicus Crafters' Paradise Retreat last weekend and you can see some of my incomplete projects on my desk. I only managed to complete one of the six brilliant projects during the Retreat but I will be completing them at home. They are too good to leave unfinished.

This was my only finished piece and I love it.



And this one is almost complete. It just needs a few finishing touches.

Oh well, it looks like I'm a few minutes late but I hope you'll let me off. I've been trying to do this post nearly all day but life sure do get in the way sometimes even at this time of night, Lol!

If you want to check out the rest of the WOYWWers click here to go to Julia's blog where all will be revealed.

Nite all,

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Fabulous Friday Frames

2010-08-22T21:46:00.001+01:00

Happy Sunday Evening Everyone,

I'm being a bit naughty at the moment because I really should be getting on with some Design Team projects. However, although I'm itching to get cracking with the latest pack of Elusive Images stamps and papers I just couldn't settle until I'd finished the lovely project I started on Friday. I went up to Graphicus for another brilliant workshop with Lynn Robinson-Hunter. You already know that I always enjoy them but this one was tip-top! We made a triple hanging piece of artwork, with the top and bottom ones being shallow 4" x 4" frames and the centre one a 4" x 4" piece of greyboard. One of the beauties of this workshop was that Lynn gave us the basic materials and a few ready diecut embellishments, told us about the materials and mediums we could use with advice on the 'how to' and off we went. Lynn gave us lots of tips and any assistance we needed throughout the day but we each put our own ideas and designs into decorating the base pieces. I shared the workshop with 7 lovely ladies most of whom I already knew from the Graphicus Guild and they were all fab company and we shared many laughs throughout the day. As always on this type of workshop, it's quite surprising to see how 8 people given the same basic things to work with plus a selection of stamps, inks and paints can each come up with something totally different at the end.

As usual, I had nowhere near finished my project but knew exactly where I was going with it by the end of the workshop so last night I just had to finish it before I could concentrate on my Design Team projects. Right, here we go with the photos (quite a few I'm afraid).

Because it's such a loooonnnngggg piece of artwork at over 16" it's difficult to photograph the details showing it all at once so here comes the breakdown. First of all, I chose a Lumiere metallic paint to cover my frames and when this was dry, I covered it with Ranger Crackle Paint.

We were given the Sizzix die cut flower in Grungepaper to make our rose and I decided to use a Wendy Vecchi background stamp on mine. I also used a WV leaf stamp and quote and an Elusive Images butterfly stamp. I used Distress Inks to colour all my Grungepaper pieces.

The greyboard was used for the centre panel and we placed a die cut heart onto the panel and then covered it with a page from an old dictionery, We used a Golden Matte Gel as adhesive and then to paint over the top of the newsprint, finally inking the piece with Distress Inks. I used Elusive Images stamps again for the flower, inking both sides with contrasting DIs and added some blobs of Glossy Accents in the middle with micro beads sprinkled on. I used Rub n Buff to colour the key.

The bottom frame was done in the same way as the top one using different embellishments. I also used some Old Gold Rub n Buff over the Crackle Paint on both the frames but I'm afraid it doesn't show in the photos.

Finally the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Caged Bird - I love this die!!! I painted my little bird with Lumiere paints and applied Viva Ferro to the cage.

I had so much fun making this and sharing the day with a lovely group. I just have to find somewhere suitable to hang it now.

I hope you've all had a really good weekend and had the same gorgeous weather that we've had here in Nottinghamshire to set you up for the week ahead.

As always, thankyou for visiting my blog and leaving a comment if you have time. I always appreciate and read every one as well as visiting you back.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

PS Just a little note to let you know that I have posted my latest Craft Stamping Quartet project today over on my shared blog if you'd like to have a look. Here's a taster

Jo's Birthday Card

2010-08-16T17:26:00.001+01:00

About a week ago it was my lovely buddy Jo's birthday. As she is also a crafting buddy and one quarter of our Craft Stamping Quartet this card needed to be special.

Sometime ago Jo had admired a couple of cards I made using masking and blended Distress Inks together with overstamping so I decided to use this technique for her card. I chose to use the Heidi Swapp hibiscus masks because I know they are one of Jo's favourite flowers. Over the masked circle area I lightly overstamped with a beautiful script stamp from Elusive Images Antiquities plate. I'd had this for ages and never realised how lovely and fine it is.

The moths/butterflies were stamped onto acetate and heat embossed, cut out and attached just by their bodies which I decorated with sticky backed pearls. These came from the EI Butterfly Poppy Collage plate and I love them stamped on acetate because they are so delicate. The sentiment is from another EI plate called Birthday Words. The only thing I used which wasn't from Graphicus was the hanging vine stamp which is a Lavinia stamp.

I've shown you two shots of the full card because I did this card the night before I had to post it (talk about by the skin of my teeth) so I took the pics in a hurry the early next morning before dashing to the post office. Now I can't make up my mind which is the better shot so I've included both, Lol!

Thank you for visiting and commenting if you have time. Have a good week everyone.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

A Little Bit of This and ................. A Little Bit of That!

2010-08-13T15:32:00.001+01:00

Hello Everyone,

Well, I've had a lovely 3.5 days with my daughter and granddaughter and I'm absolutely pooped, Lol! Little Izzy at 2 years 8 months is a proper livewire and just doesn't stop. She's also a total chatterbox and talks away ten to the dozen from waking up. Still, there's nothing better than her waking you up by patting your face saying 'Want a Mamma cuddle' and then wrapping her arms round your neck and say 'I love you Mamma!' ................ immediately followed by ' You need to get up and get my breakfast Mamma', Lol! Here she is straight afterwards grinning like a cheshire cat whilst she sits on Mamma's worktop waiting for her cornflakes.

This is a photo of my other little granddaughter Alexa which I meant to share a couple of weeks ago when she still had her pot on her foot/leg. As you can see she loved showing it off because it had some of her Daddy's artwork on.

Would you believe that huge pot was for a tiny broken bone in her foot?

The next thing I want to share is another of my Elusive Images DT application makes. This one had a brief of using their signature colours of Teal and Brown and I decided to try something using one of my favourite techniques of masking with some stamping over the top.

I love blending the colours to get a soft effect over the masks and then finish off with some stamping. I used Heidi Swapp masks, first the circle with the butterflies over the top and then I removed the circle, put the butterflies back and finished the blending, If I remember correctly I used Adirondack Espresso and Broken China Distress Inks. For the overstamping in the corner I think I used Versafine inks.

To finish the card and balance the design I stamped a butterfly from the Elusive Images Patchwork Butterfly plate, cut it out and coloured the image with Distress Inks. I then shaped the wings a little with my fingers and attached it to the card with just the body flat to the surface and the wings with a little silicone glue to support the shaping.

I'm off up to Graphicus, home of Elusive Images, in Barnard Castle for one of their fab Open Days tomorrow. Lots of lovely crafting goodies to buy and wonderful demos to watch. Glenda is doing special 'back to basics' demos for those new stampers who might be a bit daunted by the more advanced techniques. She is an excellent teacher as are the other demonstrators and no question is ever too trivial for them to answer so don't be put off if you are new to this creative hobby. We all had to learn once and this is the way to do it. I still learn something new every time I go.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend too and hope the weather improves upon today. I have to say it's been pretty miserable here all morning but with our weather it could well be glorious tomorrow, Lol! As always, I love to read your comments if you have time to leave one as well as return the visit.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Perfumed Peacock Lady.

2010-08-06T00:07:00.000+01:00

As promised yesterday, I'm back today to show you another of my cards for the Elusive Images Design Team application. I particularly wanted to use a set of stamps which was only released just before our applications had to be in but they were something a bit different for me so presented a bit of a challenge as to what to do with them. I do hope you like the end result.

I decided to create what could perhaps be part of a lady's dressing room with the table holding my lady's perfume bottles and a mirror and with shelves either side on the 'wall'.

To keep everything in proportion, I wanted the perfume bottles smaller so I stamped and coloured them onto shrink plastic and was really pleased when they shrank to the perfect size.

I stamped one of the bottles onto card and deliberately cut the stopper off when I cut it out so that I could use it as a vase on the floor and I took a peacock feather stamp from one of the peacock sets and cut the image out to place in the vase. I attached some of the images with foam pads to give some added dimension. The partial quote in the mirror is from another Elusive Images set of stamps. One of the things I like about EI stamps is their ability to mix from one set to another. I used 'wallpaper' from my Graphicus Guild pack (but it's also on the Artylicious Peacock Summer Party cds).

I had used an 8" x 8" card base but folded the front back before fixing the actual front of the card. I then needed a lady for the dressing room and the perfect one is to be found on another of the EI Peacock range of stamp sets. I coloured her in tones to match the lovely Artylicious paper and layered her onto matching card before fixing her on the inside of the card.

I hope you like this card and as always, thankyou for visiting. Please leave a comment if you have time as I really appreciate them and love to visit everyone back.

WOYWW - #61

2010-08-04T11:08:00.001+01:00

Sorry I've let the side down for the last three Wednesdays but I've either been mega busy or away. I've been to 3 workshops at Graphicus up in Teesdale for a start and had a really great time (I'll show the works in progress some other time) especially the one I shared with my Daughter and blogging buddy, Judith.

Anyway, without further ado, this is my desk as of 9.00 am today.

Now that doesn't look too bad does it? A tad boring I'm afraid as everything I'm working on at the moment can't be revealed for another couple of weeks. There's a piece of Artylicious paper left over from the face down card and there's a set of the new Elusive Images cottage stamps that were released this month. I'm going to be working with those later today.

Now this pic of the whole work area looks a whole lot messier and I have, in fact, tidied up quite a bit since last night. I can't work if I have loads of stuff left on the desk from previous projects and it had got to the point where I just had to get rid of some of the leftover bits. Again, there's not much of what I'm working on that can be shown yet but you can just see some new stamps peeking out from under the black craft mat on the righthand side and also a corner of my CSQ project for this month which is using Linda Elbourne's fab project from the August issue of Craft Stamper for inspiration. There's also a mag at the top of the desk which I keep glancing at to try and get into Christmas mode, Lol!

Well, if any of my visitors don't know yet what WOYWW is all about, click on this link to hop on over to Julia's blog where she can tell you all about it far better than I and you can also get to go visit some wonderful, inspirational blogs from there too.

I'll be back tomorrow with some pics of another of my submissions for a place on the Elusive Images DT and I still can't believe I made it even though the 'hard' work has started ;o).

Have a really good day all and thanks for visiting!

Hugs

Lesley Xx

Yipee, My Photos are Back ........(er, I'd get a cuppa if I were you, Lol)

2010-08-02T11:34:00.001+01:00

'Morning Everyone,

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend and not had it blighted by the weather which I know has been a bit mixed. I had a great weekend because on Saturday I went to another workshop at Graphicus with the wonderful Lynn making a fab Fabric Journal. It was something quite different for me and I had a lovely day getting inky and painty. It's a project that will be ongoing for quite sometime but the best thing about the day was I got to share it with my lovely Daughter, Jenna. I introduced her to journalling a few months ago so thought this particular workshop would be a nice treat for her as she works very hard and doesn't get much leisure time. She thoroughly enjoyed her day and little break from being a Mum and said the only thing wrong was that it went too fast but she was amazed at how relaxing the day was. Another special bit of the day for me was being able to introduce Jenna to one of my very special Craft Stamping Quartet friends, Judith, who was also on the workshop with us along with 4 other lovely ladies.

Now, the best thing about this Monday morning is that I can once again post photos to my blog. Actually, I never lost the ability to post them, it was just me being a blogging numpty who didn't notice a setting had changed. So, I can now share pics of one of the cards I submitted with my DT application to Elusive Images. If you click on the button in my sidebar you will go straight to the EI DT blog.

I made a pocket on the inside of the card with a matching tag. The techniques I used are some of my favourites - blending Distress Inks, overstamping onto Artylicious dp and making paper roses, again using Artylicious dp and spritzing them with gold mica spray. I'll let you all into a secret now - the piece of torn dp on the tag was the result of a boob! I was stamping onto the dp to make the triangle for the inner pocket and had almost finished it. I then went and stamped the very last text image UPSIDE DOWN!!!!

The stamps are all from the Elusive Images Paris themeplates except for one which is one of my favourite stamps to use on backgrounds and is a beautiful script stamp from Elusive Images Eccentric Edwardian themeplate. I finished the card off with some lace from my stash, some gorgeous dark grey pearls for the centre of the roses and some Tim Holtz Ideology.

This next card is completely different from the one above and was made for my lovely friend Jo (another CSQ buddy) and her husband for their 25th Wedding Anniversary last week

This card has no stamping at all as I relied solely on Cuttlebug embossing folders, two sets of Nellie Snellen flower punches and an L-Em leaf spray punch. Oh yes, and peeloffs for the sentiment and the number 25 on the little tag.

I also made a matching box.

I used pearl card for the base and the box with pearl paper, embossed foiled paper and vellum to make the flowers and thin black card for the leaves.

Although these two cards are very different I thoroughly enjoyed making them both and was pleased with them when finished. Hope you like them too.

Have a good Monday everyone and I'll hopefully get to do a WOYWW post again this week so speak to you then.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

New Artylicious CD - Essence of Nature

2010-07-29T14:15:00.004+01:00

Hi Everyone, I was hoping to start showing you the projects I made when I applied for the Elusive Images Design Team recently but Mr Blogger has decided to give me grief and I'm really disappointed that I can't upload any photos at the moment.

Instead, I thought I'd just tell you about the fabulous new CD Glenda Waterworth has just released called Essence of Nature. I picked my copy up yesterday from Graphicus as I was there on a another brilliant workshop with Lynn (Inky Artitude). Although I had seen snippets from the CD a few months ago, when I put it in my computer this morning it was the first time I had seen it all. OMG! the designs on there are absolutely stunning with the most beautiful colours. I'll admit to being a real fan of Glenda's work and I thought she would never be able to come up with anything better than the last one but, boy was I wrong.

For anyone who doesn't stamp, you could make a card for any person, for any occasion without anything more than this cd (and your computer of course), adhesive, card, paper and basic tools but if you do like to get inky you can combine these papers with your stamps too. The possibilities are endless and there are lots of very useful, not to mention beautiful, additional elements on CD2 which will co-ordinate with your papers from CD1. Honestly the Graphicus Guild Members are all leaving comments on our chat group as they get chance to pop their CD into their computers and so far they are all knocked out by it.

Anyway, Glenda has just posted a great competition on her blog involving this CD so why don't you pop over there and see what it's about.

Speak to you all again as soon as I can get my photos on here.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Oh, Wow and Double Wow!!!!

2010-07-26T23:35:00.004+01:00

Have I got some fab news or what?!?!? I can now tell you all something I've been having great difficulty in keeping to myself for the past week or so. If you look at my sidebar you will see I am very proudly displaying a beautiful new logo and I can tell everyone I have been chosen as one of the new members of the Elusive Images Design Team. This is one of the reasons I haven't posted much over the past couple of weeks because a lot of what I've been working on I can't show you yet but I am soooooo excited and proud and not a little daunted by the prospect of working with some extremely talented people.

I have long admired Glenda Waterworth, the owner of Elusive Images and Graphicus and it was seeing the magic she worked with her beautiful stamps about 4 years ago that got me hooked on rubber stamping in the first place. There are several other long term DT members who are right at the top of my list of favourite designers/crafters. As well as myself there are 6 other new members to whom I would like to offer my congratulations and say it's great to be working alongside you girls and HAPPY STAMPING to you all!!!

Hugs to you all
Lesley Xx

PS When I figure out how to do it I will add a list of DT member's names with links to their blogs.