Tuesday Taggers

Should have uploaded this blog yesterday so I could enter the Challenge over on  Tuesday Taggers.  Still not to worry.

I'd never done a challenge with them before but following on from the lovely Zoe's blog I came across it and thought of entering something. Then I forgot to link it and when I did remember the entry time had closed.  Here is a quick peek at a tree ornament using Trionimoes. These are like Dominoes but triangular in shape and perfect for making these.  I have some I made with ladies on them and jewels dangling so I have popped them on here too.

This is the Christmas one dangling

A closeup of one of the faces

And another Christmas one

The Other Ones

All are rubber stamped and coloured with Sharpies and/or with Caran D'Ache water crayons and then glazed to protect them.   These last three have been sitting in a poly bag in with the Christmas Decs all year and have not broken so it just shows how sturdy they are.  All I used to hold them together was Glossy Accents.

Final M&T

I don't think we will get chance to do more than the three Make & Takes I had planned but I will have some more in my bag just in case.  Sorry, for those not following, I am talking about the Vicky Stampers Christmas Party next Saturday (hope I can make it - it has just started snowing here).

There is also a Christmas Hat making event on.  This was an original idea from Paul which Jo took and extended into what it is now.  Basically we all have had to pick a theme for our hat and we are now in groups of four.  Each persons hat will go around to everyone in the group for them to add something to it.  What they will look like in the end is nobody's guess!  Should be fun.  Hopefully I will be able to upload some of the photos next week.

As well as that we have the annual present giving - we each buy something not more than £5, wrap it up and we all get given a gift.  Anyway, this is the final M&T I have prepared.

A small atc holder from one sheet of paper (12" x 12"):

Two samples closed

One open with the ATC's

Hope they all get to make each of them - even if only to get the idea of how to do it.

Another M&T

Still not up to crafting but hate just lying about so lap top comes in awfully handy.  Here's another of my Make & Takes - this one is a teabag holder which you could give someone as a "Get Well" gift at any time of the year.    Or you could always put in one of those little bags of spices for making Mulled Wine and send it along with a bottle of Red as a little gift to someone.

The inside is just like this

Bet you don't really need instructions after next Saturday for this one - it is so easy you can figure it out yourself (but I will put them up). Rightio, will go and schedule the instructions in a short while.

My Mr "B"

For the past three years we have had a pair of Blackbirds living in the Holly Bush (or is it a tree at about 30') that borders our front garden.  We can always distinguish Mr B, as we call him, because he has a grey feather sticking out from his wing.


We hadn't seen him much over the past couple of months so imagine our delight when we spotted him two weeks ago.  I had read that they live 2 - 3 years (although Cath tells me (and I believe her above the RSPB) they can live for about 9 years) so imagined we had lost him.


Blackbirds are mainly ground feeders but when I looked out of the kitchen window the other day who was feeding but my Mr B.  Not a particularly good photo, taken through the kitchen window, but one which I will treasure along with a couple of others taken last year.

See his grey feather (looks almost white in the sun)

Here he is sharing with a Blue Tit

If you go to http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/blackbird.htm you can actually listen to a blackbird singing.   The website also features a poem by William Henley - the first verse says it all for me.

The nightingale has a lyre of gold,
The lark's is a clarion call,
And the blackbird plays but a boxwood flute,
But I love him best of all.

Then of course there is the nursery rhyme Sing a Song of Sixpence, and the theme of  the poem Adlestrop by Edward Thomas:

And for that minute a blackbird sang

Close by, and round him, mistier, 

Farther and farther, all the birds

of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire

and I cannot miss out the Beatles track

Blackbird singing in the dead of night,

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life,

You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Rightio, off to look through my window and see if the Tits are nesting in the two new boxes Chas put up for me earlier this week.

A Make & Take for the Club

Not having much joy on the health front - antibiotics caused a reaction so got them changed and same thing again.  Could it be the steroids?  Waiting for the surgery to open to speak to the doctor.  I need sleep!

Anyway, that is by way of excusing myself from not posting because I am not crafting.  And not wanting to disappoint my wonderful readers I decided to upload one of the M&T's I have prepared for Vicky Stampers. It is a corner bookmark and is so quick and easy and I am presenting it to them as a nice home made gift if you are buying someone a book for Christmas.  Guess one of these will be inside the book I have bought for my DIL.  Sorry readers but you will have to wait until next Saturday for the instructions.

Maybe I should buy Andy a book as well and then he can have this one.  He is into music so it would be appropriate.

Hope you tune in next Saturday - I will schedule the instructions for then.

Should be 77 by My Reckoning

Providing I got it right last week we should be on the 77th WOYWW with the lovely Ms Dunnit over on The Stamping Ground.

Well, it's 3 am and I am sat up because I am cough, cough, cough - not only am I not getting any sleep but neither is Chas.  I really am a mess - got some antibiotics and some steroids from the doc (and she is sending me for an x-ray - scared) but there is no way I can go at the moment, I really do feel ill.

Anyway, enough whinging, sorry!  On my desk today is "nothing". Well, nothing of note that I have made.

Am in the midst of making a birthday card for a friend which is the pink bit in the centre.  Yes, I am using one of those images again (someone asked who it was by - it was one of Dana's (D'Analen) but it is now available from www.aboutartaccents.com) and on the left you can see some stamped images of the face - well those went wrong. Obviously the wrong card - they left green scribbles on the faces, just would not blend at all.

The papers on the left are some yummy ones Dot split with me and which I am intending to use to make an Asian book of some description. At the moment it is just a thought in my head - may in two years time it will materialise.

Not so the pack of papers on the right, bought for me by my friend Alison where one is being used at the moment for the pink card I am trying to make.  Some gorgeous papers in this pack - in fact I can recommend parting with your pennies on both of these.

The little trees?  They are some laser cuts I bought at CHA a couple of years ago and forgot about.  Now they will make a table decoration or something when they are painted - watch this space!

This is a peek inside the cupboard to the right of where I sit.  Think it is self explanatory that it contains quite a bit of "stuff".  Now to put my Asian papers away and be a bit tidy and then I think I might sit in my comfy chair and see if I can nod off for a bit whilst sat up.

Just for Jo

My friend Jo asked me a couple of days ago to enter the TIO Challenge and make an Asian Tag so I decided to do something quite different and make an Anesama Ningyoo which means "Elder Sister Doll" in Japanese.  It is ages since I made one of these, probably going back to my Girl Guiding days if truth be known.  The dolls were made by the older sisters/women for the young ones in the lower social classes so that they could be a part of the higher classes, if only in play.  Originally wood and cloth was used but this was replaced by paper so that the youngsters would have more clothes for their dolls.  I wish I still had the one I made from twigs and cloth at one of my themed camps.  Perhaps that is a cue to make another. 


Here is my paper one, complete with tag for the Challenge.

I don't know much about "colour meanings" in Japanese culture but I do know that colours mean certain things to the Chinese so I was conscious of what colours I used.  Red, Black and Gold were banned colours for the Challenge so I went with Yellow for her kimono which is considered the most beautiful colour in China.  As long as I did not make her a hat from Green (green hats are associated with infidelity) I was fine to use the colour as it signifies health, prosperity and harmony.  I had the perfect paper to make her obi from but it was gold so I had to choose green tissue - it worked!


Horror of Horrors - there was no stamping involved so I quickly remedied that with my tag and then attached my Anesama Ningyoo with some wire so that she can be removed and played with.  It is a shame to have the back decorated and not be able to see it.  


So here it is - my entry and a doll for someone to play with - now to think who to send it to.....

Bleaching

Over on Lots to Do the Challenge this week is to share a favourite technique.  I love bleaching.  Sometimes not easy to do as not all card bleaches sucessfully but I always try out in a corner of the cardstock before I begin stamping to see if it will work.  

Here's a couple of cards (same image, same cardstock - just a different base card) from my Christmas Stash which I am entering into the LTD challenge.

I wouldn't say it is my favourite technique as I love so many of them so who knows, I might even upload another later in the week.  Just conscious that I have not been keeping up with LTD challenges and I love doing them.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

One For The Boys

Can't go out because of this sore throat so have been sitting in my craft room making some Christmas Cards over the past couple of days and have made loads.  Nothing special, just images mounted up on cardstock - quick and easy cards is the order of the day this time.

I can't really upload them in case someone gets one that has been on my blog but I can upload this one as it is strictly for the boys.  Not sure which "male" is going to get it but I hope that whoever does it gives them a chuckle.

I remember Glo making this card years ago and it made me buy the stamp.  I have used it a lot and am sure if you look back 12 months ago there will be at least an ATC using it.  Not sure but think the company was called Rubadubadoo.

Well, I had better get on as I have some Asian things on the boil. Won't be able to upload all of them when they are completed as at least one is for a birthday card (and I know she looks at my blog).  So many things on my "to do" list and so little time to get it all done in.  Should I do Asian or my Advent Calendar?

A "C" Card

Over on Lots to Do the challenge is "Friendship" and I thought about this little image I have had for a while but rarely use.  It did not set off intending to be a Christmas card but after I had finished it and added a bit of glitter here and there (halo and wings) I thought I could use it as one.

I used my Promarkers to colour in the image and then matched up with some scrapbook papers (I know, I should do that first and then choose the pens to colour with).  Added some Stickles in gold for the halos and Diamond for the wings.

Might do another one or two like this as I think I could get away with it - what do you think?

Back to the batch making of those "C" cards - must get some done and as I have been up since 4 am (yes A.M.) with my tickly cough I have been on a roll.  Getting a bit jaded now though!

WOYWW 76

Up late this morning - I am full of a stonking cold again!  I am so fed up - just got over that last bout and here the little gremlin is again.  Hope this time it does not turn into anything nasty.

As a result I have just realised it is Wednesday and so a quick peek at my desk reveals a pile of images I have found lurking in my craft room which I am going to turn into "C" cards.

Nothing to show you today as I uploaded what I had made yesterday and since then I have not had time to make anything.  Now to see where I am in the list of all those lovely people showing what is on their workdesks via The Stamping Ground.

Just a gentle reminder that in my SIDEBAR there is a fab dvd of LISA PAVELKA'S going as CANDY and only 6 people have posted for it.

Dot's On Her Way

Said "Au Revoir" to 'The Perfect House Guest' at lunchtime so Dot is now on her way to the north east, and probably, a rest.

Tried to get the blue card finished before she left but it was not to be so after my visit to Biomechanics I came home and got it done. These are two of the cards I made with the images Dot taught me to colour in with felt tip pens.  The paper I have used is from a pack that she bought and shared with me.  Gorgeous papers which I was going to save to use in a book some time, but which I could not resist using - maybe I will have to buy some more.

This is a middle step card but you cannot really see it from the angle of the photograph.  I decided to offset the image.

I just love this piece of paper - probably my most favourite; although I don't know as they are all so lovely.  Her tunic is actually a pale pink but it does not show in the scan.  Not sure I can part with this one.

Clay, Clay and More Clay

Today was the workshop where lots of lovely ladies made beads.  Unfortunately the clay I had asked for wasn't there so I had to use some that I hadn't even seen before - Pardo by Viva.  Will have to play some more with it and then make an informed decision and review of it.  We were also limited with colours in the clay so the Skinner Blend did not always turn out as it would have had we used the Premo Pearl clays.  Still, the ladies made some lovely beads.

Helen chose orange and blue as her colour scheme and here she is cutting her Skinner Blend into strips (yes, I let them use my Tissue Blades - fingers were crossed that we had no accidents - those babes are sharp) and she made a really nice job of her beading.  Unfortunately she had to leave early as there was something on at her child's school.

Despite having to leave early Helen and Sarah were able to make the focal beads in the workshop and can complete the remainder at home.  Wonder if they will finish them off?

This is Freema, rolling another bead - she made quite a few - as you can see Freema went with blue!  Now those who know Freema will find that comes as no surprise.

Here's Dot, the lady who is staying with us for the week.  Dot and Freema were on a roll - making loads of beads.  In fact Dot amazed Paddy at how many beads she got out of her clay.

These are Denise's beads - ready to string.  Once Denise started putting them together she was quite pleased with the result.  Hope she makes some more when she gets some more clay.

Wendy actually got hers more or less finished (ie complete with clasps) as you will see in a later photograph.

Here's Henny, holding hers up in the polythene bag ready to take them home.

Rita's beads in a box - and Rita looking at what Dot was doing (well, at least I think that is what she is doing)

Paddy went looking for some spacer beads for the ladies to use between their clay ones and here she is with Denise - is that advice you are giving Paddy?  Not sure Denise is believing all you say.  LOL

Linda decided to make some bits and pieces to use on a piece of fabric so she did her own thing during the day.

As promised here are Wendy's beads.  Who would believe the clay she used began life as Obsidian and Pale Blue.  I loved the Steel Grey hue, that came from the Skinner Blend, mottled with the Pale Blue.

The last picture shows Dots beads complete with clasp.  I hope she is going to wear them tomorrow when she goes to our Christmas Card workshop at Padgate.

Off to bed now as it is another early start in the morning,  poor Dot is going to be going home for a rest - that's what she said she came here for.

I was taught how to do a Skinner Blend and make the beehive beads by the talented Alison Gallant at one of the Polymer Clay weekends.  This was one of my favourite workshops and my own necklace proved so popular that I was asked to do it.  Thanks must go to Alison, a great teacher and a lovely lady for her excellent tutoring.

Dot's Colouring Lesson

Long time ago, before Copics and Promarkers made it big, a lady lived in the North East of England who coloured in fantastic faces with Felt Tip markers.  Today I had a lesson!

I remember a few years ago Dot going to Stamp Camp (run by Cath of Katy's Corner) and on the Friday evening she showed people how to do it - by colouring Asian faces firstly in green!!!  I would have loved to have joined her session but was running my own which was stamping on Dominoes.

I have wanted to know how to do them for so very very long - and today I got my lesson.  Here is my first attempt at an Asian face:

The cardstock wasn't great but I was quite pleased with my first attempt, and so was Dot.  Hopefully we can find some better cardstock for this technique over the weekend (Asda on the way back from my workshop?).

In the meantime here is a card I have made for a friend.

Off to bed now as it is time to get some sleep before my workshop tomorrow.  Hopefully pictures uploaded Saturday evening.

Quick Post

Am off to my workshop in an hour or so but just a quick post before I go.  Think I have got almost everything ready - you know - you always remember something you have forgotten during the night when you are too tired to get out of bed and put it on one side.

Anyway, here's to the card.  It is for a friend who has a birthday coming up but as she doesn't look at my blog it doesn't matter that I upload it.

This is the front

This is inside

Not a bit like me, got carried away with those images (not a clue who they are by - they are orange rubber) but I know she likes Twinkling H2o's so I used them to colour in with.

Must go and waken my friend now, one or two bits to do although dinner is on ready for when we get back home tonight.  

WOYWW 75

Quick post today as I have lots to do - cards to make, guest bedroom to prepare and prep for tonight's evening meal plus prepare a stew or something similar for tomorrow as I will be out all day at my Clay Workshop.

My desk just has some things for tomorrow's workshop on it at the moment - a couple of cards peeking at the back that I have been making for friends' birthdays.  The blue cardstock at the side are my miserable attempts at making a card I saw at a show.  Not a clue what it is called and at the moment my attempts are failing.

Last week several people asked just how many books did I have? Well, not a clue, no time to count them but here are my book cases:

Five of those Ikea book thingies here - as you can see I need another one.  On the other side of my room there are more:

A double row of three - six in total - plus some wedged in.  

Well, that's it for this week, sorry it is so boring but I must get on with things.  If you happen upon this blog and wonder what on earth I am talking about showing you clutter pop over to The Stamping Ground where the lovely Julia encourages us all to show what is on our work desks each week.  Whilst you are there read her hilarious story (Monday's post) about the man who came into the shop

Blog Candy

Thought it about time I put some Candy up on my blog.  This time it is going to be a bit different as it is a dvd of Lisa Pavelka's.  In the Polymer Clay world I absolutely adore Lisa Pavelka having met up with her twice whilst on trips to America and experiencing her lovely manner and patience when showing people various techniques.  If my feet and back would withstand it I could stay there all day listening and watching her at work.

The dvd covers basic to complex techniques and runs for 139+ minutes.  

Amongst the Clay Basics you have:

Clays, Cutting Tools

Basic & Texturing Tools

Adhesives, Work Surfaces

Pasta Machines, Conditioning

Baking, Sanding & Polishing

Storage and Clean up

Projects are:

Treasured Tools

Faux Art Glass

Business Card Holder

Dream Purse Pen

Transformed Tins

Hinged Pillow Bead

Plus there is an interactive gallery with more than 65 photographs of sample artwork.

So how do you be in with a chance to win this dvd?

First you need to be a follower

Then you need to put a comment below this blog (please mention that you are a follower)

Finally display the dvd picture with a link back to my blog on your own blog

Had to do something quick with some polymer clay to go with it so have made this quick necklace.

Sorry about the quality of the photograph, for some reason my photos are not coming out quite as sharp as they should of late.

It is a simple leaf cut from brown clay, veined and then coloured over with Perfect Pearls before baking.  I have a clay workshop on Thursday and one on Saturday at Paddy's Stamping Place in Prestwich where I will be showing how to make one of my beaded necklaces which I have featured before on this blog so it prompted me to do some quick and easy things as fillers should it be necessary.

That's it for now folks, got some birthday cards to do so must get on - and I have a visitor tomorrow who is staying until next Tuesday so hopefully lots of crafting done (Hi Dot) so must go and get her bedroom ready.

Peel Offs

Sometimes the humble Peel Off gets bad press from Rubber Stampers - well, today I am uploading a card I have made with ..... drum roll ..... peel offs.

If you click on it and look at it in detail you will see that the edges of the Parchment have been pricked out and the mask shape, not the moon, is pricked out also.  Think I will change the background colour as it hardly shows up on here and might look better with another colour behind, although I did try several before I settled on cream.This is for a Parchment Craft friend of mine.

Just done one card with some stamping - actually it is a stamped image I found in a box which had been done previously.  Thought it about time I used it.  Just to give it a but more interest I put Stickles on the little round bits of the flower head.  (Not a clue what to call them).

Well, that's all for the moment as I have been busy getting things ready for my workshop tomorrow.  Only some quick Make and Take sessions so will upload them next time.

Am going watching TV now as all I can hear are rockets and bangers going off and I am worrying about the cats next door as I am sure they are outside and will be frightened.

WOYWW 73 and Turning Word Verification Off

Last week I was asked by a couple of people how to take word verification off.  I wrote to them individually.  This week I decided to put the instructions on for anyone else who might want to do it.  


IT IS UP TO YOU TO MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION AS TO WHETHER IT IS FOR YOU OR NOT.  


There are two different schools of thought on this out there and if you see Ciara's comment on this post you might want to keep it on - if you are considering it please read what she has to say on the matter.  (Rooted, Permission to Mother are two blogs I read who are for it being turned off) 


If you want to do it here is how I did it:


Go to Design
then Settings
then Comments (blue tab underneath)
Scroll down - 3rd from bottom it says Show Word Verification
Click No (to turn it off)
Then go to orange button at the bottom and Save Settings

Now to my desk!  Decided to take a different view in my craft room this week.

As I am sat at my desk, which you usually see, this is the wall area to the right of me.  It is full of those little cubby holes from Ikea, each filled with different things.  In the top left corner you can just see the end of my "tick" which holds my craft dvd's and videos.  Can you see my Cinch?  Well to the right of that are some of my purchases from weekend - some Inka Gold pots and some Crafty Notions sprays.  Still got to find somewhere to keep them as the drawer with the others in is full.  

Behind my Cinch are some of my books - dare not tell you how many craft books I have - I am a craft book aholic and above them in a cubby hole are my Adirondack Color Washes, Liquid Pearls, some large ink pads, Reinkers and envelopes.  To the left of the picture the cubby holes hold micro slides and holders, Cinch binders, A6 cardstock and oversized stamps.  

This is the view below

Don't even go there with asking me what is in these drawers.  Let's just leave it that they are full of craft stuff - and the cupboard?  Bit of a jumble.  Or should that be jungle!  By the way - the two bins - one for recycling paper and cardstock and one for general rubbish.

Why am I showing you this - because the lovely Julia, over on The Stamping Ground, has got us all going.  We show our desks each week and visit others - surprising what you see.

Anyhow, Tuesday night I was busy finishing off my "Book of Wisdom" from the weekend.  If you read Monday's post you will know that I left part of it at the hotel so Leandra kindly sent me the bits I needed and I have now completed it.  Didn't get chance to download it yesterday as I had to finish my German homework off and get it sent in - class on Thursday morning.  Oh heck!  Two weeks off and I have forgotten it all.

This is it closed.  Sorry for the standard of the photograph but I did do it several times - think it was the light bouncing from the metal (even though the flash was off).

Now to show you the inside.

The papers we used are all the new Paperartsy ones - Leandra told us all the requirements they had made of the manufacturer - they wanted this paper to be special and it certainly is with all its properties.  If this looks a bit misty I must point out that I gessoed over it and then smooshed it with paint and glazes - yes, it stands a lot of crafty messing about with.  Here's a closeup of the owl

The paper in the background is actually a map and I have included a special bit of the map.  The metal flowers I slit on the edges of the petals so that I could give them some shape - doesn't really show up in the photograph but it does in real life.

Well, that's it for now - off for a snoop at some desks.  Sorry if I did not make it to yours last week - I gave up somewhere in the nineties because the weekend got in the way.  Thanks to all who left comments on my desk - I really love reading them all.