A little bit of Christmas and A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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

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?!@!

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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 .........................................

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?????

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.

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!

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!

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 !!!!!!!

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