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