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

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

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

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

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

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

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