Sunday 23 December 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hello and Welcome lovely visitors,

This is just a very quick post to wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and to say I hope you all have a lovely holiday period doing whatever you enjoy the most, whether that be big family parties or quiet times relaxing or maybe going out for a nice country walk if our blooming weather permits or a mixture of it all.  To any of you lovely people who have been caught up in the awful floods I hope you are somewhere warm and dry and things get back to normal for you as quickly as possible.

We have a day with our DD and her family on Christmas Day.  I can't wait to see the littlies with their presents and then a quiet day to ourselves on Boxing Day.  No doubt OH will be watching sport and I plan on a day in my craftroom (not had one of those for ages).......... Bliss!  I'll even try for a blog post with the very few Christmas cards I managed to make this year, lol!

Have a lovely time everyone.

Big Christmassy Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Saturday 8 December 2012

Whoohoo!!!! I have something to blog and it fits a challenge!

Hello lovely visitors,

Well, are you all ready for Christmas?  Actually, never mind ready, have you made all your cards?  You have!  Er........ well, you're 100% better than me because I've only made TWO and confess I've had to resort to (whisper) buying mine this year.  I'm not going to beat myself up about it though because I really have had a lot on my plate this year and if it wasn't my time flying out the window it was my mojo, lol!  Never mind, it'll soon be a brand new year and I am determined to believe 2013 will be better, as far as crafting is concerned anyway.

However,  today I have got a make to show you.  It was my lovely buddy (and wonderful crafter), Judith's birthday at the end of last week and I struggled all week to make her a card and I'm sorry to say, I had to send her an apologetic message saying it was going to be late.  Late!  It nearly didn't get made at all but I was determined so I stuck at it until I got something I was relatively happy with and Judith finally got her card yesterday. 






 Unfortunately, I really struggled to capture the true colours of this card on my photos.  On here it looks a tad too blue and as I used Tumbled Glass and Broken China Distress Inks, you'll know it should look more turquoise(y).

I started out with a 21cm square card base and stamped an Artemio wildflower image at random with Versamark ink, heat embossed with clear embossing powder and then blended the two Distress Inks mentioned together with Vintage Photo.  When I had the effect I wanted I covered the card with paper kitchen towel and ironed over the top to remove the embossing.





I then took a large tag, spritzed it with water and then put some Tumbled Glass and Picket Fence Distress Stain on my craft mat, spritzed that with water and swiped my tag through it.  I repeated this several times, drying with my heat gun between each layer and finally flicking some water from my fingers and blotting it off to create the bleached effect here and there.  I then stamped images from PaperArtsy and Indigoblu using Distress Inks and Coffee Archival, spritzed with Gold Glimmer Mist and then edged with Vintage Photo DI.  I used a mask at the top of the tag and applied Golden Texture Paste coloured with a little Broken China DI through the mask.  I left it to cure overnight and then touched it with Viva Inca Gold to highlight the texture.



(this photo shows the nearest to true colours)




I stamped the lovely Stampendous bird image onto ivory card and added the word Dream which is a Chocolate Baroque stamp.  I coloured with DIs and added a little Derwent Coloursoft pencil before cutting out with a Nestie label and lightly blended DI's around the edge before removing the die.  I took some Prima flowers and touched them lightly with DI's and spritzed with Gold GM's.  I also die cut the leafy sprays with a Marianne die from some fibrous handmade paper.   I arranged all the elements onto the card before adhering them.  Oooh, nearly forgot the cute little wooden bird.  He came from The Stamp Connection and I tapped him with the Versamark inkpad before sprinkling him with Judi-Kins Rustique Bent Nail embossing powder (from my lovely candy win the other week).




I'm so glad I persevered because in the end I was quite pleased with this card and Judith said she liked it too.  Not only that, I realised that it fits with Hels Sheridan's Sunday Stampers Challenge 234 this week where the theme is tags!  I hardly ever enter challenges because I forget to look if my project fits any themes, lol, so I'm really pleased that finally I have an entry for Hels' Challenge which I've wanted to join in with for an absolute age.

Well I hope you're all set for a good weekend.  I'm finally putting our tree up tomorrow, something else that is a week late being done, ;D.  Stay warm and cosy everyone.  I'm dreading the temperatures we are supposed to have in store for us next week, Brrrr!  Till next time ..............

Hugs
Lesley  Xx



Thursday 6 December 2012

Snazzys DT project #2 ........ or half of it at least!

Hello again lovely visitors and thanks for stopping by.

This is a teensy sneak peek of my final project for Snazzys this year.  Please pop over to the DT Blog to see the project in full and the how to and leave me a little comment if you have time :o).  The reference to 'half the project' is also explained in the DT blog post, lol!







One thing I haven't said in the DT blog post is that I saw something similar in a local rather posh garden centre shop a few weeks ago.  I was amazed that they were asking £3.99 and all theirs had on it was a vintage style scene printed onto a rectangle of paper with a thin glitter edging!  Still, I'm glad I saw them because it gave me the idea for my project and I'm really pleased with it.  I will definitely be making more in the future.

I'll be back again over the weekend as, believe it or not, I have something I made which was not made for the DT.  Hope you can come back then.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Monday 3 December 2012

My Last Week on the Snazzys DT Blog for 2012

Good Morning lovely visitors,

My, has this year flown by and soon Santa will be using his magic tricks to gain access to our homes (after all there are lots of houses without chimneys these days, lol) and hopefully we'll all have been good enough to be left something nice.  Well, I know I have, how about you ;D!

Anyway, this also means it is my last week of projects for Snazzys DT for 2012 and here's a little sneak peek at my first offering.



EDIT: I forgot to say that the element I used from my lovely box of goodies from Stamping Suzz is the embossing powder you can see in the background here.  It's a Judikins one called Rustique Bent Nail which is a mixture of black and gold and it leaves a slightly rough texture similar to Distress EP.  I hadn't seen it before but it's lovely.  There's another colour from the same range in the box which I can't wait to try too. 


The Design Team have had some fabulous products supplied by our lovely Bosses, Val and Don, to work with over the past year and this month is no exception so I'd like to take this opportunity to say my own personal thank you.  Please pop over to the DT Blog to see the rest of my project if you have a minute or two.

Till next time, have a good week.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Tuesday 27 November 2012

WOWEEEEEE!!!!! Do I have news for you .........


Hi Lovely Visitors,

No crafting makes to show today but .............. I have two fabulous things I wanted to share so I'm giving them their own post.

First of all, a couple of weeks ago I was the lucky winner of some fabulous blog candy which was very generously given by a lovely lady over in the US as part of her Thanksgiving celebrations.  How much of a coincidence was it that the biiiiiiig parcel arrived safely on Thanksgiving Day.  Look at all these beautiful goodies.


I've already incorporated one of the lovely embossing powders onto my next project for Snazzys which I'll be posting next Monday.  There are some beautiful stamps including one gorgeous 'Cover a Page' stamp which I've had my eye on and the Alterations embossing folders which I've been hankering after for a while and many lovely surprises.  And the generous lady who sent me all this gorgeous stuff is ..............Stamping Suzz.  If you don't know her blog already you are missing a treat as Sue is extremely talented and her blog is full of wonderful inspiration so do click on the link and give her a visit.  Take a cuppa with you though because you're sure to be there a while, lol!  THANK YOU FROM ME SUE!

AND NOW ............................

I HAVE SOME MORE FANTABULOUS NEWS .......... but this time it's from my lovely bosses and the equally smashing Gillian, DT co-ordinator extraordinaire, at SNAZZYS!

 

JUST LOOK WHO'S COMING TO STAY, PLAY AND TEACH AT SNAZZYS NEXT YEAR!
None other than the unique and extremely talented ANNA DABROWSKA, aka FINNABAIR!
HERE is a direct link to the relevant post on the Snazzy DT Blog and THIS is a link to Anna's wonderful blog.  Her work is absolutely amazing so go check them out and don't delay getting your name on the list for when the full details are available in the New Year.  Places are bound to sell out fast! 

I'm off to drool over Anna's blog again.  I'll be back in the wee small hours of Monday morning with my first project using the latest Snazzys DT packHope you can drop by then.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx 

Friday 9 November 2012

Finally........A Couple of Quick Christmas Cards

Morning All,

Finally I have made some Christmas cards and about time too!  Actually, I wanted to get these done last week to post on the Snazzys DT Blog but didn't make it in time so I decided to get them done and show them here whilst we are still promoting this lovely Country Cottage Collection papers, stamps and embellishments.  I really like this collection mainly because the colours are the gorgeous traditional reds and greens which are my favourites for Christmas.  The papers are also really good quality and take inks beautifully.  These cards were quite quick to make and used up some of the leftovers from making my Christmas Organiser.






This first one uses a square of the Red Snowflakes design and I overstamped with a snowflake from the stamp collection using Wow Vanilla White EP with some Clear Rock Candy glitter mixed in.  I really like this effect as it adds a subtle sparkle (unfortunately couldn't capture it on here) and also gives the EP a rough texture similar to Distress EPs.  I then softly inked round the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink, wrapped with satin ribbon and mounted onto a square of ivory pearlescent card which had been dry embossed with a snowflake embossing folder before mounting onto the 6" x 6" base card.





I then cut two of the mini Rosette Snowflakes with my new Tim Holtz/Sizzix die from the Sentiments design paper, inked them slightly with Aged Mahogany DI before swiping with a bit of Flitterglu and sprinkling them with Clear Rock Candy glittter and finally adding the brads from the embellishment pack. I do wish I could have caught the pretty sparkle on this card. This one really does look so pretty in artificial light!


This second card uses the reverse of Red Snowflakes on the top half and the reverse of Sentiments at the  bottom separated by a die cut border in ivory pearlescent card and shiny green ribbon. 




 I cut the poinsettia with another new acquisition, ;D, the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Tattered Poinsettia (think I need the little one now, lol), using more of the ivory pearlescent card and some co-ordinating green card, inking round all the edges with Black Soot DI and adding a brad from the embellishment pack to hold it together.  Finally I stamped and embossed the Merry Christmas from the stamp set using the Wow Vanilla White EP.

Do pop over to the Snazzy DT blog if you have time where the inspiration from the rest of my DT buddies continues unabated for a couple more weeks yet.  There's bound to be some beautiful projects to get you in the mood for Christmas .......... can't wait to see what they come up with myself too!

We had a rather expensive day yesterday :0(.  Firstly my OH needed a new pair of glasses unexpectedly as he'd only had his other since February!!!! We followed that up with a visit to our local Comet store to find a new phone.  We've been struggling with our other one for yonks but I kept putting off getting a new one ............ toooo lazy to go look, lol!  Of course, while we were there and I was concentrating on the phone comparisons Hubby drifted over to the TVs as men tend to do.  Result?  We came out with a 40" TV (plenty big enough for our cosy lounge) as well a the phone package!  Still, that saves me thinking up an Anniversary present ;-) .................... it is our 40th Wedding Anniversary on the 18th November and boy is it scary how fast those 40 years have gone.

Right I'm off to run some errands.  Wish I could stay home and craft but needs must.  I hope you all have a lovely weekend with plenty of R&R.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Thursday 1 November 2012

Christmas Project #2 for the Snazzys DT Blog.

Hi Everyone,

I'm back again with a sneaky peek of my 2nd project for this week over on the Snazzys DT Blog.  This month we have been asked to showcase some gorgeous papers in my favourite traditional reds and greens together with a matching set of stamps and lovely brads and die cut elements.......The Christmas Cottage Collection by Theresa Collins.  The more I've used this collection the more I love it!

Here's my sneaky peek






Please pop over to the DT blog and have a look at the whole project and I'd love you to leave a comment.

I'll be back again fairly soon ....... if I get a bit of playtime, lol!  Mind you with less than 8 weeks until Christmas I really ought to be making Christmas cards!!!!!  Okay then, who's already got theirs done ;D

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Monday 29 October 2012

It's Christmas Time over at Snazzys!

Good Morning Everyone,

It's my turn to post over on the Snazzys DT Blog and this month we have some lovely Christmassy goodies to play with.  Although it takes me a little while to get into the swing of Christmas makes I do love them once I get going as I love almost everything about Christmas.  I could do without the heavy handed commercialism ........ and the cooking which I totally hate, lol ............ but cards, decorations and twinkly lights make me feel really cheerful and best of all most people do seem more inclined to be nice to one another so I'll put up with the not so nice bits ;D.

Anyway, here is a sneaky peek of my first project this week.  As always, I do hope you have time to pop over to the DT Blog for a nosy and hopefully to leave me a little comment.  Remember, by leaving an extra comment HERE you can be in with a chance of winning some of the lovely items the DT have been using this month in the Snazzys monthly draw.

(sorry it's a bit blurry but it didn't like being cropped.......... don't think I would either ;D)


I'll be back later in the week with another Christmas project using these lovely papers, stamps and embellies.  Till then have a lovely week everyone and don't let the earlier dark nights get you down ...... that's a bit of pep talk for myself 'cos I hate 'em, lol!

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Sunday 14 October 2012

A rare occurance ...... playtime!

Hi lovely visitors,

I hope you've all had the lovely autumnal weather we've had here in the Midlands today.  The wind was a bit 'fresh' but lots of sunshine which  made the golden trees look gorgeous.  A week ago only a few of the trees around here were starting to turn and yet today there were loads as well as lots of leaves on the ground.  I wish I'd taken my camera out with me. 

My Hubby and I decided to try a new carvery restaurant (well new to us anyway, lol) and for anyone who lives nearby I would certainly recommend it.  The carvery was pretty good but the starters and desserts were to die for ;0)  For anyone who lives in North Notts this is the web link  www.blackburn-house.co.uk.  It's a converted 107 yr old pumping station and Grade II listed so has lots of history too.

I've actually had a brilliant weekend altogether because yesterday I went to the new Big Stamping and Scrapbooking Show at Kettering Conference Centre with two of my crafting buddies, Jo and Judith.  Our other partner in crime, Elaine couldn't be with us and we did miss her but it was still a great show.  As you would expect very like the Ally Pally show but obviously without the atmosphere of Alexandra Palace.  The Conference Centre was really nice though and very light and spacious with lots of room between stands nice reasonably priced food and a lovely area to eat it in or just to sit for a chat and a drink and best of all it was easily do-able there and back in one day.  Ally Pally is lovely but I always feel the distance warrants an overnight stay which makes it expensive.  There were a few of the usual exhibitors missing but there are so many shows on this month it's not surprising but I was a happy bunny because most of my favourites were there.  My lovely 'Bosses', ;D, Don and Val from Snazzys were there and also two of my Snazzy team mates, Gillian and Hels were both demoing on the Creative Expressions stand.  I also got to watch the fabulously talented Leandra (Mrs PaperArtsy) producing wonderful little pieces of art.  I could have stood there all day! Two other lovely and very talented ladies I got to watch and chat to were Sue Wilson (on the Rubbernecker stand) and Claire Charvil (on the Ali-Craft stand).  All in all a day in my crafting heaven!  Er, I didn't tell you I spent loads of dosh did I!  Good job it's only the second show I've been to this year, lol!  I do hope this show takes off as people get to know about it as there was such a good mix of exhibitors and it's nice to have a show of this calibre for us Midland Crafters.

Anyway, in my last post I showed you two background pieces of card I'd made playing with my new Metallic Distress Stains and I actually got a bit more playtime before going to the show and turned the tag background into this .........(this pic shows the truest colours)






Sorry the pics aren't too great but I took them in a hurry before taking the tag with me to give to Snazzys at the show.  The background was made by putting pools of two Distress Stain colours and the Gold Distress Stain onto my craftsheet and then spritzing with water before swiping my tag through the puddles.  I did this several times, drying with the heat gun between layers, until I was happy.  I also flicked some spots of water onto the surface and then dabbed off with paper towel.





I stamped various images with Distress Inks from different sets of Tim Holtz stamps most notably the skull from Halloween Blueprints and then shadow stamped this image with the Gold Metallic Distress Stain.  The last bit of stamping was the random flourish stamped in Black Archival Ink.





I die cut three of the Alterations/Sizzix tattered pine cones and made them into roses dabbing the edges with the gold Distress Stain and filling the centres with black Stickles.  I then cut several of the pine leaves on the same die and dabbed these with the gold also before arranging all these on the tag.  I changed the colour of a silver skull charm using peel off pens and added a touch of the gold Distress Stain and added this to the tag together with a little spider sticker from the Carta Bella All Hallow's Eve collection.  Everything I used to make this tag, except the pine cone die,  can be purchased from the lovely Snazzys shop.

Well, that's it from me today.  I hope you didn't mind my chat at the beginning of the post but for anyone living fairly close to me I thought the restaurant and the Kettering show might be of interest.  I hope to be back later this week if I get chance to play with some of my new goodies.  Till then have a lovely week everyone and take care.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Monday 8 October 2012

A Special Someone's Birthday Card

Last week saw the 32nd birthday of our lovely Daughter, Jenna.........my, how time flies!  This is one of those occasions when I wish I had scanned some of our old photos onto the computer but ....... they are still in boxes up in the loft and haven't seen the light of day for ages.  Hmmm, wonder if I can get OH interested in that task when he retires next year.  All efforts to get him interested in a hobby have failed miserably so far ;D.

Anyway, today I have the card I made for Jenna to share with you.






I started with my favourite 21 cm x 21 cm card base and blended a very light background of Pan Pastels  (from Snazzys).  I then used a lovely mask I bought at least a couple of years ago from Chocolate Baroque when it was still Graphicus (Elusive Images stamps) and blended Bundled Sage Distress Ink through the mask which I moved around at random till I had covered the background.





You can just see some of the masking here in the background.

I followed this with stamping the beautiful corner scroll from Indigo Blu using a Versamark inkpad and dabbed Pan Pastels over the stamped image before gently dusting away the excess from the surface.

I stamped the quote from a Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous set and then cut it out and layered it using Nestabilities before mounting onto my card with 3D foam pads. The leaves are die cut using the Alterations Tattered Florals Garland die and the spiral flower are handcut from co-ordinating scraps of papers from my rather large box of said scraps (I am soooooo baaaaaddd for not getting more of them used up).





Once I had spiralled the flowers I inked the edges with Distress Inks and then used a Zig broad nibbed two way glue pen to to add glue to the edges before dipping them into Glamour Dust fine glitter.  I arranged the flowers and leaves on my card before sticking them down and finally added a couple of little bird charms.





I didn't get to see Jenna until yesterday when OH and I went up to Harrogate to take her and her family out for a meal.  It was a little frantic as we have Izzy at 4.5 yrs and little Charlie at 10 months.  They were very good but Charlie is an early walker and having become totally confident on his feet 3 weeks ago does not like sitting down for  more than two minutes.  No wonder Jenna says she feels as though her bum never meets a chair, lol!  It's easy for me to laugh though.

I have one last photo for you today because on Saturday postie delivered my lovely Metallic Distress Stains from Snazzys and I managed a little play yesterday morning.  The sun was shining very brightly so  I took these to show the fabulous shine of the gold one.









The first one is on matte coated cardstock and the second one is on a Ranger manilla tag.  Now need to turn them into something, lol!

Have a good week friends.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Friday 28 September 2012

DT project #2 for Snazzys September products.

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick post (honestly) to let you know I managed to get a second project done for Snazzys this week.  It was looking a bit touch and go for the last few days.................. family stuff and all that!  Anyway, here's a sneak peek at what I made and you can see it in it's entirety here on the Snazzy DT blog.  Do hope you have time to pop across to see the whole thing.


That's it from me for now but just to say I hope everyone has a lovely weekend whatever you are doing.  I'm looking forward to a fairly quiet one as the last few weekends have been very busy with family stuff.  Lovely but a quiet one is nice once in a while, lol!  I hope the weather picks up a bit especially for any poor folks who are mopping up after floods.

Till next time,

Hugs
Lesley  Xx




Monday 24 September 2012

Snazzys Spooky DT month!

Hello and welcome lovely visitors.  It's good of you to drop by and I do hope that wherever you are the weather is not treating you as badly as the forecasters have predicted.  As I am preparing this post late on Sunday evening it is lashing down with rain here in the Midlands and looks set to continue for the next 24 hours at least :(.  At least we don't have to worry about flooding as we are in an elevated position but I do feel so sorry for anyone who's going to have those concerns going to bed tonight.

Anyway, it's my turn to post on the Snazzy DT blog this week and my teamies and I have been sent some awesome goodies to play with (when are they not awesome, lol).  Val and Don (the Bosses) do stock the most brilliant products ever and more and more of them are being added to the Snazzy Online Shop each week.  However, if you don't see what you want online, they are only a quick phonecall away.

This month we had a set of the new Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Halloween Blueprint stamps and also a set of the Carta Bella All Hallow's Eve papers and stickers to work with and here are a couple of sneak peeks of my first project.  I hope you have time to drop by the Snazzy DT blog to see the whole thing (and leave a little comment if you can  ;D).







Hopefully, I'll be back later this week with another Snazzy DT project for you, next time concentrating on the Carta Bella papers.  Until then I hope you all have a good week and don't get too waterlogged.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

PS  I DO NOT LIKE THIS NEW BLOGGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The scheduled bit didn't work for a start! 

Thursday 13 September 2012

YAY! It's not a DT piece or an Alphatag!

Hi Lovely Visitors,

Thank you for dropping by and I'm really pleased that for once I have something to show you other than a DT piece or an alphatag, lol!

This week has seen the birthday of one of my very special crafting friends.  Oooh, this crafting/blogging lark has such a lot to answer for and in my opinion, all of it good!  The friend I'm talking about is Elaine, one quarter of the Craft Stamping Quartet (our poor neglected little blog ;( ) and also one of my ex Chocolate Baroque DT buddies.  As lots of you will know, because we live such a distance apart we rarely manage a get together but it's all down to the wonderful technology most of us have that I feel she has been in my life a lot longer than she really has.  She's a very special lady so I was glad I managed to make time for her card.  A bought one just wouldn't have been good enough, lol!


I apologise for this first photo being at a slightly odd angle but it was the one which most closely showed the true background colour.  I started with a 21 cm square base card and then cut the same size square from a sheet of beautiful Mariposa paper (DCWV).  Cutting into papers from this gorgeous collection is soooooo difficult ;D!  I then blended Bundled Sage Distress Ink over an individual Heidi Swapp butterfly mask moving it around randomly and a Tim Holtz swirl mask and then inked all round the edges with the same Distress Ink.  I followed this with randomly stamping script over the page, again using Bundled Sage DI.  I then attached this to the front of the basecard.


I then created the arrangement of embellishments for the top right corner.  I used my new Spellbinders Venetian Motifs dies to cut the decorative circle and the flourishes from white card which I then coloured with Broken China DI and the fancy motif which I used as leaves which I coloured with Bundled Sage DI.  The sentiment stamped in the circle is from a Kaisercraft clear stamp set called appropriately 'Friendship Sentiments', lol!  The roses were left over from one of my Snazzy DT pieces using EDIT : Graphic 45 Olde  Curiosity Shoppe (sorry to earlier visitors this morning as I forgot to add this after I'd double checked ;D) papers, the blue butterflies were cut out from the left over piece of Mariposa paper and the metal butterfly was from a dismantled necklace.  I used my round nosed pliers to shape the metal butterfly.

Somehow I felt the card wasn't quite 'balanced' so I put the pretty and very delicate Memory Box die cut (
a gift from another dear CSQ buddy, Judith) on the top left corner to finish it off. 


I finished the card off with an all over misting of Dew Drop Glimmer Mist.  The inspiration for this card came from the work of the very talented Anna Dabrowska, aka Finnabair (check out her fab blog).  I can't wait to have another go at something similar but adding more random bits and bobs and more mica sprays as Anna does.  I daren't try it on Elaine's card as I didn't have time to do another one if it went wrong, lol!

I hope you enjoyed looking at something other than DT work or another alphatag and speaking of alphatags ......... I failed miserably for August :(.  This time it wasn't because I couldn't think of a subject/theme for the letters Q and R but purely that I ran out of time.  I did get Q finished so I am going to do R as well and keep them for myself so that I will still have the full alphabet and I'll show them as soon as I can.

Thank you for dropping by and I hope you're having some of the glorious Autumn weather we've been having this week.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx










Monday 20 August 2012

Steampunk Style the Snazzys DT way!

Hello Everyone,

I hope by the time you read this scheduled post the sun is shining as brightly as it is at this moment!  Yesterday the forecast said it was going to rain most of  today here but I woke up to lovely sunshine and the forecast now says it should stay dry until this evening ........ lovely stuff ........ as long as it doesn't get too hot.  I'm never happy with the weather am I, lol!

Anyway,  it's time to reveal my project for Snazzys this month using the quirky Steampunkery stamp set from Chocolate Baroque and thereby also reveal the winner of my little prize of metal stuff.


So Paula was spot on with her guess of an altered book.  I might have known you would recognise a book in whatever form Paula, lol!  Well done my friend!  Please email  your address to me at lesleye38@hotmail.co.uk  and I will get your goodies posted out to you later in the week.

Don't forget to pop over to the Snazzys DT Blog to see the rest of my altered book and all the details and let me know what you think.  It was certainly a fun project to do.

I have another busy couple of weeks coming up with my lovely family before school starts back.  I bet there are a few more of you doing the same thing?  Have fun and I'll be back as soon as I can!

Big Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Thursday 16 August 2012

A Sneaky Snazzys Steampunk Snippet .... Can you guess?

Hello Everyone,

I'm having fun this week playing with some quirky stamps from my Snazzys DT pack as it's my turn to post my project(s) next week.  As Gillian, our lovely DT co-ordinator has been unable to post one of her fab creations this week she's set up a Steampunk Challenge HERE (or scroll down to my last post for details) plus a random giveaway for simply leaving a comment so I decided it was about time I had a little giveaway on my blog too. Although you have several weeks to leave a comment for the random prize draw, you only have until Sunday to enter the challenge.  I do hope you'll join in the steampunk fun!

You have until midnight next Sunday the 19th August to leave me a comment on this post telling me what you think my project might be from the small section shown in this pic and the person who makes the closest guess will win some steampunk style embellishments. I've had a dig through my lovely stash and put together a few  Snazzys' Steampunk Supplies, some Ideology word bands and mini pins and a few random embellies.


I'd also really appreciate it if you would give the Snazzys DT blog a visit and join our growing band of followers if you haven't already.  Why not have a go at the challenge too and be in with the chance of another win!

See you again at one minute past midnight on Monday the 20th August over on the DT blog when my project will be revealed and I will announce the winner of my giveaway Monday evening.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Monday 13 August 2012

Snazzys Steampunk Challenge

Due to unforseen circumstances Gillian  one of the DT member from the Snazzys blog, won't be able to blog this week, so instead we have a challenge to get you in a steampunk mood ... we want to see your Steampunk Inspired projects. One lucky winner chosen by the DT will win a set of Steampunkery Stamps from Chocolate Baroque.
The challenge is open from now until midday next Sunday and also one lucky person who leaves a comment on the first post over at the Snazzys DT Blog will also win a prize. Gillian will draw the random comment winner via Mr Random.Org at the end of the month.

Last week I had to do the preparation for a new central heating system to be installed by the council at my mum's bungalow.  Bare in mind my mum has Alzheimers and has gone from being fastidious about her housework to doing nothing except hoard so it took my brother and I one and a half days to make everything accessible for the workmen.  It's nowhere near as bad as those programmes about hoarders on TV but it did give me a nightmare that we were being filmed, lol!  Mum gets really upset if she sees us throwing anything away ....... like about 1500 plastic carrier bags ........... 'cos she might need them!!!  So, we sneaked as much as possible into the bins and our cars to dispose of in secret because we know from experience Mum won't even notice what's gone.  The workmen installed the heating in one day (Friday) and whilst they didn't do too bad a job with regards to mess (there was enough there already) it's sure ruined the decorating and we are told there will be a 'man with a paintbrush' contacting us!   Hmmm, bet they're not going to do anything about the ugly pipes which now run all over the place or the wallpaper hanging off the walls where the new radiators are much smaller than the old ones!  Saturday saw my brother and I back at the bungalow to begin the big clean up.  We were there a total of 21 hours between us and we still have to blitz all the clutter and clothes in the bedroom or rather, I do because my brothers feel uncomfortable with that task.  The outcome of all that work is that although we have the satisfaction of knowing that we've made things a lot easier for ourselves to keep clean and tidy, I've ended up with a really painful back :-(   I'm hoping that the exercises the physiotherapist gave me years ago will help because I am seriously allergic to anti inflammatory drugs. 

Anyway, all that work left me with little time and even less energy (I was totally kn.......d) so my make for the Snazzys DT challenge became 'clean and simple' by necessity.  I apologise for the photo quality but it was late(ish) last night when I made it and took the photo and it was already dark.  In real life the colours are more vibrant.  Do hop over and see the other DT inspiration, leave a possible winning comment and perhaps, think about making an entry to the challenge.



I'm off to hobble round and take the dog for a walk for half an hour and then back to Mum's for a bit more sorting.  I know one thing, as soon as I've finished Mum's, my own cupboards and wardrobes are having the blitz treatment!  If it hasn't been used or worn within the past 2 years it's going ............. except for my craft stash or course.............. well, what do you expect, lol!

Have a lovely week everyone.

Hugs
Lesley  XX

Saturday 28 July 2012

Alphatag time again!

Hello Everyone,

Well my blog posts don't seem to be getting any more frequent yet do they.  It's so frustrating because I haven't had Alexa here this past week so I expected to be raring to go with my crafting once I got my chores out of the way but ..................... no such luck!  Basically, I think my mojo has gone into hibernation from lack of use, lol, and I almost gave up on my alphatags for the Chocolate Baroque swap this month.  I had quite a few ideas for subjects to fit the letters O and P but just couldn't get them off the ground.  Luckily, lovely Margaret who organises the swap and keeps us all in order gave us a few days longer to get them done as I wasn't the only one struggling and after several nights of faffing about I eventually got something fit to send off.

O is for Oriental, Offset, Oval






I used a piece of Chocolate Baroque design paper from one of their packs and stamped and gold embossed an Oriental style honeysuckle randomly over the tag.  I stamped another CB Oriental  image onto white card and coloured it with something I've not used in an absolute age - my Sakura sparkle pens.  I'd forgotten how lovely the hint of sparkle is.  I die cut it with a Nestability oval, inked the edges with Distress Ink and then cut a scalloped oval in co-ordinating card for matting.  The final touch was something else I've had in my stash almost since I started crafting - the little brocade flowers!  These were a QVC purchase which I never got round to using (like several others in my cupboards :( ).



P is for Pink, Purple, Paisley and Plastic


This one also uses CB Design paper but it was from the lovely paper pack we used to get with our Guild membership.  I used a piece to cut the tag, blended Dusty Concord Distress Ink around the edges and then overstamped a paisley image using the same ink, stamping twice from each inking.  I stamped the paisley mandala several times onto two different shades of purple pearlescent card and two different CB papers and finally once onto white card.  I used Graphite Brilliance ink and clear embossed before cutting them out and layering them, using the white card one for the very top flower and leaves which I coloured with Sakura sparkle pens once again and attached with 3D foam pads. 


Finally I stamped the mandala again onto clear shrink plastic, coloured with pencils, cut out and shrank it.  I attached the shrink plastic embellishment with Glossy Accents and the main mandala with 3D foam pads.


I wasn't too sure if I was happy with my P tag when I parcelled them up but now I'm revisiting it after a few days (and the frustration levels have subsided, lol) I think I quite like it.  Needless to say, the important thing is if the recipient likes it so fingers crossed.

Well I don't know if I'll get any crafting done next week as I have my DD and her two children coming to stay from tomorrow for 3 days (I'm looking forward to lots of hugs and cuddles, lol) and I will have Alexa everyday next week (more cuddles) then next weekend OH and I are off on a little jaunt to my Goddaughter's wedding.   I'll try to be back again with something this side of Christmas ............. speaking of which..........  EEEEEKKKK!!!!!

Have a lovely weekend all.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Saturday 21 July 2012

A really quick post ............ honestly!

Hi Lovely Visitors,

I've just posted over on the Snazzys DT blog if you have time to pop over and take a look.  I was hoping to get another project finished this week but I've really struggled this last few nights to concentrate on anything.  I think I might have a 'summer' cold (don't laugh....... I know you're thinking 'What summer',lol).  My throat is so sore and everything is such an effort.  I'm hoping my body clock lets me have a lie in tomorrow but knowing me I'll be up at my usual time.  Anyway, here's a sneak peek of my Snazzy project using Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe papers.


Don't forget Snazzys online shop is now open although there are still lots of items not yet loaded onto the system but there are more and more available to order that way every day.  Or, you could always give them a ring if you prefer.

I hope you all get some of the promised sunshine this weekend.  It would sure make a difference to the horrid weather we've had today,

Take care all and big hugs
Lesley  Xx

Monday 16 July 2012

Fabulous Goodies from Snazzys

Hello Everyone,

I do hope the sun is shining on us again when I get up in the morning.  We've actually had a nice weekend apart from a few heavy but very quick showers yesterday ............... and not before time.

I'd like to say Hello and Welcome to my new followers and I am so sorry my blog posts have been very few and far between at the moment but I promise to try and do better soon, lol!

This week is my turn to post on the Snazzys DT Blog and here is a sneak peek at my first project using this month's DT goodies.


I hope you have time to hop over to the DT Blog to see the whole project and maybe leave a little comment and if you like the fab goodies we have been working with this month then leave a comment HERE too and you will be entered into the random draw, the winner of which will be announced after Hels' week of projects.

We also have the brilliant news that the Snazzys online shop is now open for business.  At the moment only a fraction of the gorgeous stash that Snazzys stock are on view but Val is adding more on virtually a daily basis so regular visits will reveal more and more.  Oh dear, I think I'm going to have to be really strict with myself as they sell soooooo many of my favourite crafting goodies.

I have to get a crack on with my Chocolate Baroque Alphatags for July now.  I am waaaaayyyyyy behind with them this month.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Alphatag Swap ............. it's getting harder, lol!

Hi Everyone,

Well it's time for our June Chocolate Baroque Alphatag Swaps and this month we have three letters, L, M & N.  I have to say it's getting harder now to find stamps from my CB arsenal to match up with themes for the letters........ or maybe it's subjects to match the letters that I'm having trouble with, lol, because the little lists of ideas in my book get shorter for each letter now, lol!  Anyway, here we go with my offerings for this month.

L is for Lemon & Lime/Lovebirds





 I covered the whole tag with the nearest ink I had to Lime Green and then blended Black Soot Distress Ink round the edges.  I stamped the pretty scroll corners with Versafine Onyx Black and heat embossed with clear EP and then stamped the little love birds. 


I blended Lemonade Distress Ink over white card before stamping the fancy heart with Onyx Black Versafine and cut it out.  I shaped it a little with my fingers and adhered it to the tag with Pinflair Glue. I stamped the words 'Love Birds' onto a piece of the lemonade coloured card with Versamark and clear embossed before rubbing black ink over it and then buffing to reveal the words again.  I cut the words out and adhered them to the centre of the heart with 3D foam pads.

M is for Music/Masks




My apologies for this photo as it seems to have turned out a bit blurred.  The actual elements on the tag are more defined but anyway, here's the how to.  I blended Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet and Pumice Stone Distress Inks over the tag.  I then used a Tando Creative music mask in some areas and added more Victorian Velvet ink.  I followed this with stamping the music score randomly over the tag using Pumice Stone DI. 






Using Onyx Black Versafine ink I stamped the main image onto the tag and again onto cream card and then the uppermost flowers yet again.  I coloured all the images with Coloursoft pencils, cut the ones out of the cream card and decoupaged them onto the tag with Pinflair glue.





I die cut the music symbols from black card, using a Crealies die and then triple embossed with clear EP, adhered them to the tag and added the trim.

N is for Night/Night Owls




This is the first of my tags that I've designed in landscape format and first of all I created the hills using a torn paper mask and a punched circle for the moon.  I used a combination of Distress Inks - Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord, Black Soot and Iced Spruce.



I then stamped the leafy branches with Onyx Black Versafine ink using just a small section of a much larger CB stamp and then blasted with the heat gun to ensure it was dry.  I stamped the owls on the swirly branch and heat embossed with clear EP and finally added highlights with a white pen and the little owl charm.

Well, those are my offerings for this month and I have to say I was quite chuffed with them.  I just hope the recipients like them, lol! 

As always, thank you for your much appreciated visit and any comments you are kind enough to leave.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Saturday 16 June 2012

Snazzys DT project # 2 for 'Flaming' June ..........

Hi Everyone,

Well, I have to say I've managed to get my second DT project for Snazzys this month blogged by the skin of my teeth.  It's been one of those weeks when a combination of general life getting in the way and a total loss of mojo meant I almost didn't get a second project finished.  How frustrating it is when you have gorgeous products to work with and your brain just refuses to co-operate but I got there in the end and here's a little sneak peek.


I hope you have time to pop over to the DT blog and have a look and while you're there follow the link in my post to leave a comment and be in this month's Snazzys DT random draw.

I'm hoping I've smashed the block I've had going on this week as I now need to get on with my tags for the Chocolate Baroque Alphatag Swap.  It's three letters again this month and I still have two to do, eeek!!!!

Have a lovely weekend everyone ....................... inspite of our not so 'flaming' June weather :-( and I'll be back soon.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Monday 11 June 2012

My First June Project for Snazzys DT Blog.

Good Morning Everyone,

Phew, I made this by the skin of my teeth, lol!  Life's been a bit hectic for the past few weeks and last week I was away for a few days at my lovely buddy Judith's.  She and her Hubby very kindly allowed myself and the other two members of the Craft Stamping Quartette, Jo and Elaine to invade their space for a few days so that we could have our get together and it was wonderful.  While we were together with had some crafty playtime and I'll hopefully get time to take a few pics of my projects to blog soon.   I got back from Judith's on Friday and then had a lovely little visitor in the shape of my Granddaughter Izzy, to stay with me and her Grandad for a few days.  All this meant that I was very late completing my first project for the Snazzys DT Blog this month.  Never mind,  I was quite pleased with it and here's a little taster.


 As always, I'll be so pleased if you have time to pop over to the Snazzys DT Blog and leave me a little hello and while you're there, leave a comment following the link in my post to be in the draw at the end of the month to win some beautiful stamps.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Saturday 2 June 2012

It's getting harder ............

to find themes for the Chocolate Baroque Alphatag Swap, lol!

Hello Everyone,

Just a quick post from me (instead of my usual waffle, lol) (EDIT : I should have known better than to put 'quick post' ......... I think I've managed quick about twice since I started the blog, ;o)) to show you the tags I finally managed to come up with for the letters J and K.  Nearly all of us contributing to the swap had trouble finding suitable themes to represent the letters.  I not very good at finding clever themes and usually have to stick to either a stamped image that starts with the letter or a technique that does.  Heaven knows what I'm going to do when we get to X, ;-)!

Anyway, here is my J tag.


For my J I used the word JOY from one of the Chocolate Baroque Christmas stamp sets and also used the Jacobs Coat technique on the background.  I have to say it is one of my favourite techniques but when I was having trouble thinking of a theme it was my buddy, Judith, who reminded me of it so thanks Judith.


I tried something new (although someone's probably done it before) with my Jacobs Coat technique.   I used Pan Pastels to create my pastel (no pun intended) coloured background and then stamped my favourite Chocolate Baroque script stamp from the Antiquities plate in black Archival ink before stamping my floral image in Versamark, clear embossing and finally covering the whole tag in black ink and buffing with a piece of kitchen towel.

And here is my K tag. 


For my K tag the theme was Kaleidoscope of Butterflies, Kraft card and Kraft Glassine.  I cut my tag from a sheet of Tim Holtz Kraft resist paper/card choosing an area with the lovely scrolls on and then blended the gorgeous new Spring limited edition Distress Inks over it.


 I then stamped some lovely Chocolate Baroque butterflies onto Kraft Glassine paper and used a brush to colour them with the same Distress Inks.  I gave them a quick blast with my heat gun and then attached them by their bodies to my tag.  As usual, I sent the tags off and didn't write down how I made them so some of this is guess work but I think I spritzed the tag with some Glimmer Mist ........ something like my favourite Dew Drop because it's so subtle and finally I added some teeny little gems and a pin and butterfly charm to the ribbon.

Well, that's my tags for this month and I have to say inspite of struggling with themes I am enjoying this swap and the tags I'm receiving are all gorgeous.  I will do a post, maybe at the end, and show all the ones I have in my alphabet.

I'm getting rather excited now because on Tuesday I am off to spend a few days at my lovely friend Judith's home together with my other two precious buddies, Jo and Elaine.  It is very rare that all four of us can be together and we've all had a fair few trials and tribulations since the last time so this is going to be quite special for us all (I think I'd best make sure the Kleenex are handy, lol).  We are looking forward to lovely afternoon tea and cake, lots of crafting, some craft shopping, maybe a little sightseeing but most of all lots of lovely chats and a good hug.

I hope you all have something nice planned for this weekend, even if it's only watching the Jubilee celebrations on TV.  I'll be back in just over a week's time with my next Snazzys DT project.  Hope you'll come back then.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx