Grunge Bracelet

Yesterday my friend, Jo, and her lovely husband, Dave, came over for the day.  We were originally going to visit the famous Bury Market but it was a shocking day so Jo brought some of her crafting projects to do and we disappeared into my craft room.

Jo had made some Grungeboard bracelets way back and I had never done one so I set to and with her guidance produced this

Now all I need is some new Grungeboard and I can make lots of them for my friends.

Variation

Made a birthday card for a friend the other day and used the techniques Tim Holtz had used on one of his Christmas Tags (number 5 I think).  This was one of my favourite tags so I just had to try it out again but in a non-Christmas way.

I used plain circle Fragments over clock images.  First of all I coloured my tag with Broken China, Faded
Jeans and Weathered Wood Distress Inks.  Then I stamped the flourish with a Gold Dabber and swiped Black Archival Ink over a script stamp.  (I echoed the flourish on the actual card, again just swiping rather than tapping ink on the stamp).

Next I inked some cream cardstock with Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy and Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and stamped three clock faces with Archival Black.  The clock faces were then put behind Fragments with Glossy Accents and stuck on the tag.  The words were produced with my Dymo and I stuck some Gold German Scrap on the top and bottom.  A piece of black ribbon was attached to the tag and the card was assembled.

Hope she likes it.

The Stampman Awards Event

Having taken part in the Blog Candy Hop with The Stampman I then decided to look at my favourite project of the year.  Not easy!

I think I have enjoyed my Journalling most of all even though I have not done any of late (but then my trip to America, flu and Christmas took care of that) but on looking back at what I have done I found it difficult to choose which page was my favourite.

I love the San Francisco one on the 25th August and the one with the opening door the day before.  Then there was the Paris one on the 22nd July and the first one I did with Sarah on the 19th.  Each one brought different feelings but I decided to re-post my Alice one.  This was an entry for a Blade Rubber competition.  A last minute thing because Susie mentioned at the time that she only had two entries.  The theme was "Where I spent my Summer Holidays" so Llandudno sprang to mind with Happy Valley and all the Alice carvings.  I did a page of "Alice" images - I so love Alice in Wonderland images - finding the writing in a circular motion took ages - probably several attempts if I remember rightly.

Anyway, it came in second place, beaten by one vote at the end.  Sadly I could not contact my friends to drum up support as I was away in America at the time but then that would have been cheating afterall.

Here it is:

A lot of work but a favourite page of mine.  Haven't got a clue how to add the award to my sidebar so here it is

Banner Uploaded

Forgot to upload my Banner which I made over the past few weeks on the RSS Challenge.  Made another pennant to make it five in total.  I was a bit stuck as to what to put on it without the guidance of Isa for a list of ingredients and then decided I would use this "Peace" image as that would be my most wished for thing of all.

It looked a bit bland so I searched through my stamps for something to give it more colour and found the dove - perfect - the bird used to symbolise Peace.

Circle and Scallop Circle cut out with my Nestabilities, both images embossed in gold, tiny stars on the bottom and it was ready.  I had managed to get some cord in the Ginger colour so that was just right for my banner and I began attaching them to it.  Then I made some gold bows to go between (think it took me as long to make those fiddly little bows as it did to do the last pennant).

Anyway, here it is, over one of the doorways.

Not perfect spacing between each but I did not have time to try to get it just right - next year it will be - and who knows - maybe more pennants.

Happy Christmas Everyone

It is Christmas morning and I have been up four hours - I can't believe this - I have not opened a single present yet.

Been outside sorting food out for the birds and then decided to begin the mammoth task of clearing the drive in front of our house so that the people in the bungalow next to ours have some access for their family who are coming to visit them today.  I think Paul (neighbour) was quite touched and so he got a spade and started helping - I've now left the men to it.

Anyway, thank you to all who take the time to read my blog, special thanks to those who leave a comment - it is very much appreciated.  May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and I hope you are all surrounded by family or friends.

Here is our snowman - note there is another large snowball beside him (and there is one behind) so I am hoping to build another one (or two) before the snow melts.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Displayed my Tags

This is what I have done with my tags.

I put them on a long piece of gold ribbon and have now got them as door hangers on my craft room.  Seems the most appropriate place to have them.  As we have a bungalow they are quite easily seen when you walk from the dining room to the hallway.  Perhaps I should find last year's tags and put them on the bedroom door which is next to this one.

Still had more snow overnight, looks like a good inch has fallen.  Yesterday morning I took this photograph from the door, it is the same scene as before but just look at that sun.  Sorry about the red dot - I don't know how to use Photoshop to get rid of it.  Got an idea of how to but no time for it as I must build a snowman today.

If You Can

Just a quickie.  Was going through my bloglist and went to A Place to Bark - the video reduced me to tears and I just had to make another donation.  If you are an animal lover please visit Bernie Berlin's "A Place to Bark" (see my sidebar) and look at what she is achieving.

The Other Six

Got up early this morning as my hip was aching and besides which I must do a dust and polish around the house - spent far too much time crafting (LOL) and we need to go out and get the turkey!  On the bus I might add, not able to get the car out yet.

Tag 7

This was my seventh tag.  A different Father Christmas but still Tim's masking technique.  The white flourishes don't show up much but they are there.  Was stuck for what wording to put on until I remembered this "Joy" stamp - it just fits.

Tag 8

This was my favourite of all Tim's tags when I saw them.  I don't know why but I love this lamp post stamp.  Might need to get Tim's though as I do like it.  Loved doing his technique with the vellum.  The key was one I found in the drawer, not sure what it is for but I felt it was the right choice as I didn't have the one he used.  Again I think I need those keys.

Tag 9

Now at the risk of upsetting the creator I must say I was not that thrilled with this tag.  That is until I did it.  I love it and it is one of my faves.  Because of lack of supplies it got left until the last.  I really must get some of that film strip Tim used.

For my film strip I used black cardstock and punched down the side, measured the photographs and punched down the other side.  I think it worked out pretty well.  The main photograph I cut out a deckle edge because I remember old photographs having edges like that, shows my age!  Put on tiny photo corners (took me ages to make them so small) and made my own words up to fit on the tag.  The flower is a German Scrap again but I coloured it in with my Alcohol Inks this time.  Finally the letters "S" and "C" were stamped and embossed and then I put Page Pebbles over the top.

Tag 10

I thoroughly enjoyed making this one as I love using my paper stump on metal sheeting.  As you can see I did go over mine with a Black Dabber because I liked the antique look and felt it fit in better with the other tags.

Tag 11

This has now become one of my favourite tags.  I just love the fresh green colours.  Had to improvise with the reindeer and used the one that my friend Mary gave me when I was in America in November.  I don't have one of those brad making tools so I found some letter brads and I think they work quite well.  I like the contrast of black against this green so I stamped the words and embossed them on a strip of cardstock and put that on at the top.

Tag 12

Here is my final tag.  What a mess I made of my fingers when I was doing the roses.  I still have green down the sides of my thumb nail.  Was so glad I was not doing any baking that day (or the next one).  They were not supposed to be greenish but I quite liked them when they were done.

Well, that is it!  My 12 tags for Christmas.  What an enjoyable journey I had making them.  The one "plus" of all this snow.  All that is left is for me to display them.  Perhaps I will take a photograph and upload it tomorrow as I am sure I won't have much time to do anything else for my blog.  On the other hand I could write up my list of WANTS (or are they NEEDS) ready for my next trip to America!

Is it really Christmas Eve tomorrow?

Snowbound - Tee Hee - Crafting

Why am I laughing when I haven't been out of the house in days?  The fact that we have had so much snow and the roads are dreadful surrounding our home has meant that we could not go out without risking sliding all over the road - so what else could I do but craft?  Apart from going just through the door to feed the birds and make sure they had fresh water each morning all I have done is make tags.  Tim's tags to be exact.

I had wanted to do the 12 tags of Christmas on Tim Holtz' blog but never got around to it because of other preparations for Christmas so here are the first six.  Because I had not got all the "ingredients" he had used I have had to make substitutions (first of all the tags themselves), I have lots of his Ideology range but found I did not have some of the things he used.  More spending!

Tag 1

Had to substitute an Angel for the snowman so the words also became different.  Copied his techniques but just substituted stamps, and I think the grungeboard flourish is different to the one he used.

Tag 2

Again the stamps are different as is the flower at the bottom.  I had to use a piece of German Scrap for my flower.  I did use the correct Distress Embossing Powder but it does not show up a great deal - love the corners, especially now they have been sanded.  I'll do that sanding trick again.

Tag 3

Diffferent stamps again, but the technique and the Ideology pieces are the same as TH used.  I want his Christmas Trees though - I thought that stamp was magic.  Don't look too closely at my tartan background, it's a bit wobbly but I loved doing it and will be using it again and again.

Tag 4

I only had those frames left in this shape so I put this little Caroller inside and put him in Everton colours because that is the team my son supports.  I used a Paperartsy stamp for the background because I really like it but I think I want the one Tim used now.  This looked a bit plain so I put the bow and bell on to fill it up a little bit.

Tag 5

This was one of my favourite tags (before I started - things have changed with almost every tag I have done) and, again, only the stamps are different to the ones he used.  I did baubles like this on my banner for the Ready Steady Stamp Challenge.

Tag 6

This one started off as a problem.  I didn't have a car.  Apart from one on the ATC stamp, so I used that and cut it out.  It was a bit small to be cutting windows out but as Tim said, grungeboard is great for things like that as it does not tear.

Used one of his tree stamps (cut down somewhat) but didn't have the fluffy stuff (going to cost me a fortune with all the things I now need (want) when I go to America) so I used Liquid Applique and put Stickles Icicles over - it looks good!  I did have one of those wooden numbers but it was far too big against the car - used a postmark from Paperartsy.

So there are my first six tags.  Will upload the next six tomorrow as this post is going to get awfully long if I put all twelve up.  I have an idea what I am going to do with all my tags - have you done anything with yours?

Enabling - Blog Candy Giveaways

There are some great Blog Candy giveaways out there for Christmas - try this one and see what you could win, but hurry it closes on the 21st.

What about visiting the Artistic Stamper and trying for her candy - or have you done the 12 tags - if so you can try for other prizes with Jennie.

Or do you fancy winning this little pile of goodies from Lacey?  You have until 4th January for this one.

And if you are a fan of those Martha Stewart punches why not visit Lisa

and try for these before Christmas Eve

Happy blurfing!

Three Posts in One Day - Ridiculous or What?

Was up early this morning (did you guess?) so decided to enter the Play Date Cafe challenge.  Why am I still making Christmas cards - ah well, this will be a start for next year - a good intention!  Only trouble is it is a bit too big for my box so no doubt it will be put somewhere and forgotten.

As you can see, the colours this week are Blue, Gold and Cream.  For some reason I used a Pale Blue and now wish I had used a more Royal Blue - but what the heck!

Here is my card:

Another of TH's stamps and another of my favourite Father Christmas images.  I stamped and embossed him in Gold, mounted him on some Pale Blue cardstock and then on Gold Mirror card which had been through the Cuttlebug with the Snowflake Folder.  Finally mounted on Cream card and Merry Christmas (TH again) stamped in Dark Blue, cut out and mounted on Gold.

Winter

View from the front of our house looking down the drive this morning

Just after posting I went to make a cuppa and noticed the bird table covered in snow.  Well, I couldn't leave it like that could I?  In my sandals I went out and reached over clearing a patch big enough to put some seed down.  Before a couple of minutes had gone my favourite blackbird (the one with the grey feather sticking from his wing) was on there eating away.  Sadly I did not get a photograph of him.

I had to try to get photographs from inside the house and was not at all successful.  They are not good, but here are a couple.

Cheeky Mr Robin - kept the other birds away but this blue tit is so brave (look to the right of the photograph)

A little blue tit makes it at last

It was difficult with the blue tits as they landed and took off almost straight away.  Didn't get a photograph of the chaffinches either.

I need a better camera!

It Snowed

Yesterday we went to - wait for it - another Christmas Market.  Where?

This is a photograph Paul sent me which he took - you can see the snow falling

(I have removed my photograph of the Wheel as Paul's is so much better)

Quite close to home - Manchester - not really a holiday but I am putting this blog under that category because it does not fit anywhere else.  Met my friend Paul and did the markets.  My how it has grown!  If you go to the Manchester City Council website you can see a list of all of them, all within easy walking distance of one another.

We started off in St Ann's Square with Paul having a hot chocolate (a mug of hot milk with a "stirrer" which had a humongous blob of chocolate on the end of it which melted as he stirred) and then proceeded to a Gluhwein stall where I had to partake of a mug.

What did I buy?  Various German sausages (bargain bag of them for £10), three Cheese Truckles, Italian Nougat (chocolate and pistachio), Sweet Garlic and Ginger and some chocolates.  Notice, all foody things!

We ended up having a cup of coffee by the Big Wheel and it started to snow.  It was lovely sitting there in the warmth looking at the wheel all lit up with the snow falling gently in the dark sky behind.

After 'oohing' and 'aahing' over the gorgeous papers in Paperchase we walked up to Piccadilly (making a stop to look in Hotel Chocolat) where they have a huge toboggan run and a "tent thingy" where you can bounce up and down on one of those wired harnesses.  No, we did not partake in either.

Paul took some more photographs with his camera and has promised to send them on to me so watch this space.  A great afternoon out with one of my favourite men - thanks Paul for showing us YOUR Manchester and for your delightful company.

Another of Paul's photographs

I loved this modern tree just by Piccadilly Gardens

ASIDE:  Craft Stamper have a blog giveaway of Sharpies markers - to be in with a chance follow the lilnk.

Final Banner - Or is It?

Now done my fourth and last challenge on Ready Steady Stamp for the banners but am toying with the idea of doing a fifth one.  Got to think of some elements to include which have not been used before.

These are the ingredients to be used this time.

I was a bit stuck with the Music Score but on searching through my stash I found some gorgeous paper which was more or less in the colours I had been using so that was a relief.

I already knew which Santa stamp I was gong to use as I love this Stampfrancisco image so I stamped and embossed him cutting the edges off to make a circle.  First of all I edged him with a Gold Dabber (not bright enough), went over this with a Gold Krylon (still not happy) and finally mounted on gold mirror card (using my Spellbinders circles).  Happy.

My torn paper was a simple piece of computer paper, 'scrumpled' up with Adirondack Rust, Terra Cotta and Ginger (each added after drying one off and then 're-scrumpling') and finally Encore Gold.  It was then ironed, torn and added.  The background looked a bit plain in comparison to my previous banners and so I stamped some raindrops on the background, masking out the music score.

I only had two stick on pearls so one went on Santa's hat and another on my sentiment which was one I had stamped in America at my friend Mary's.  My banner was complete, all elements added, but there was something else I had to do.  I added some German Scrap to the top as I felt when the four were put together the "Joy" one looked out of place.

So now I have to put them together in a "string" but first of all I think I will make it an odd number and do at least one more.  Watch this space!

Boxing Clever

I should not really be doing Challenges at the moment as there is so much to do around the house but I can't resist.  Even if it means getting up early in the morning I have this compulsion to enter two challenges each week if at all possible.  I'd never cope with lots of them but I do admire people who do.

This is my entry for the Lots to Do Challenge organised by Hilda.  The subject was "boxes" - now, I have a weakness for boxes, buying them, making them and decorating them - so I just had to hold off icing the Christmas cakes and decorate a box which I had made a while ago (with Chezzie at Vicky Stampers).  It's made from 8 x 8 paper - like the Bargello ones I did once at Stamp Camp - now did I put instructions on my blog at the time?

This is the top of the box

This is the front edge - I decided to call it "box" - keep it simple!

This is another side - as it will hold all manner of things I've made little notices for the sides

Another side

and the final one - tried to think of words for "things" - think this is a northern word

As you will see I have put my Cuttlebug and the Spellbinders dies to good use and used some of my favourite ones - namely clocks, locks and keys.  Whilst doing this I thought "hmm, wonder if they will ever make a die with lots of cogs and gears" - I could really use one of those for this type of thing.

If any of you have enough spare money for a Cuttlebug, Oyster Stamps have a good deal on at the moment.  The Cuttlebug plus the red rubber designed by them (worth £6.50) for embossing, a free 5 piece embossing/diecut "Celebration Stamps" set and free post and packing.  All for £58.  Can't be bad.

More Blog Candy - The Stampman

Hurry on over to The Stampman, there is some more delicious blog candy to be given away.

Made It - with Time to Spare

What with all the prep for Christmas, the cards I had to make etc I didn't think I would get my banner done in time for the Challenge over on Ready Steady Stamp.  I just had to do it, especially with it being a follow on from the last two challenges and, I guess, there are more people like me finding it a struggle to fit it in as there aren't many takers this time.

Hey, Ho, I got up early this morning and did it.  Whether I will stick stars on like I have done on the previous two I don't yet know as stars don't really go with holly which is my dry embossed background.  Maybe I would have been better doing baubles with my Elusive Images stamp but I do like the Fragments that Tim Holtz uses and I have been addicted to putting paper or cardstock behind them since I did the Distressed Palooza with him a couple of years ago.

Lucky for me I found some narrow gold cord to hang my baubles with and I managed to tie a smallish bow with some organza ribbon.  I put some German Scrap on the top as it looked quite plain and that seemed to help fill it out a bit.

Where Have I Been?

Not had any time for blogging - been busy finishing off my Christmas cards and now, thankfully, most of them are in the post.  Just a couple more to do and then that bit is over.

Yesterday we decided to put our tree up and today we decorated it.  Might not suit everyone but it has been our tree for the past few years - inspired by trees I saw at Newbold Garden Centre.  Mind you, if I had lots of money I would love a different tree every year, done in a theme like the ones at Bents Garden Centre.

This trumpet and the Treble Clef are amongst my favourite decorations

The spiky decoration is our newest addition

Can you see these two little Angels - had them a while but I love them - they are so cheeky

Our topper is a bunch of eucalyptus leaves

One year, when I have the time I might put our traditional tree, complete with wooden decorations, Danish Style, in the hallway.  Am sure, if I do, my daughter in law will compare the house to "Albert Square" in Eastenders.

Bah Humbug!

A Tag and a Link (Oh, and a Trip)

The Stampman is giving away one of these sets - to win simply visit the blog and follow the instructions.

Not much time today as I need to write my Christmas cards and I have to go and do some last minute shopping.  Would you believe I went shopping yesterday and didn't get a single thing I wanted?

Went out for OUR "Annual Christmas Chinese Buffet - the Pensioners Trip" - with Jeannie and Mo.  We always start off in The Range and despite getting there at just gone 11 am it was 2.25 pm when we left.  We had only done the craft and kiddies section!  A great day out, lots of laughs, full tums and aching backs we returned to our house and drank coffee.  Too full for anything else to eat - but I think someone had a mince pie!

Jeannie (left) and Mo in the Chinese Buffet

The three of us when we got back to our house just before they left

I realised Chas could take a photograph of the three of us - explains why they have their coats on

Anyway, here is a tag I finished off from Saturday's session with Diane.  Love this colour combo which was Pine Needles and Broken China (Distress Inks).  When I saw all of Diane's TH stamps I realised I need to get buying.  Oh dear!