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

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

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

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

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