Better Late Than Never

This is a phrase i seemed to have used alot recently for different reasons and tonight is no exception.

I had completely forgot that it's the last day of June and i still hadn't done my challenge card for The Artistic Stampers blog ..

This month the theme was Animals

And seeing as i have just recently got a stunning poppy cat stamp from Jennie i decided to use that.

This has to be the quickest card i have ever made as it took about 10 minutes, if that, I stamped poppy onto some white card and cut her out, (i did try stamping directly onto the paper but the pattern showed through) I then cut 2 rectangles out of 6"x 6" scrap papers, and dry embossed a fine line around the edges, to create a frame effect. Layered it all up, & mounted poppy in one corner & added a verse above her, and I'm done. Very simple i know, but sometimes they're the best sort.. especially when your in a hurry lol.

xxx Hugz xxx

Oh i nearly forgot..

I got another AWARD today

from my good friend Hels

Thank you so much babes

Update... i got the award again today 02/07 from one of my lovely SBS sisters, Thank you Ifat.

Now the rules.....

You know what...stuff the rules, I'm just gonna nominate a few peeps that have inspired me lately (some names aren't here as i know they have already received this award from Hels xx)

... so here goes...

Claire - Jewel - Kate - Jo - Katy

Now all you gotta do is enjoy your awards girls

But if you do wanna follow the rules see Hels blog...lol

xxx Hugz xxx

I HEART YOU

The Sunday Stamper's Challenge this week has the theme "HEARTS"

Which is great as it gave me another chance to have a play with Hel's new stamps (available from HERE real soon i promise)

I didn't start out to make the piece i did, but as i was piecing it together i had a light bulb moment and the hanger was born.

I stamped several hearts on to various scraps of basic grey paper (used up from the last card i made and blogged, so in theory i could enter this in the OCC too) using fire brick distress ink and heat embossed with the fire brick distress embossing powder. I cut each heart out.

Next I cut a giant heart out of mountboard, and then cut the inside out so i was left with a big heart frame, i placed the hearts around the frame covering the board using silicone so i had leeway to move each piece till it sat how i wanted it.

And here it is...

For the little center swinger i just used one of the hearts, and 2 petals from the flower stamp which i placed behind to look like wings.

To finish i attached the swinger using coloured wire and also added a wire handle so the whole piece could be hung up.

xxx Hugz xxx

The Midnight Challange

Or as my mate called it... Dusk Till Dawn!!!

Last night i spend a few hours video chatting to a friend, as we're both crafters we decided to try and actually make something while nattering lol, i had come across a fab blog owned by a lady called Jacqueline who had been sweet enough to take the time to pop a comment on one of my posts,( i am really grateful to each and everyone of you that does this and thank you all xxx) and in return i was doing the same when i came across a gorgeous card which really caught my eye.

I get really fed up with the same old boring layout of cards so this i thought was perfect for our challenge... (thank you for the inspiration Jacqueline and i hope you don't mind i pinched your layout idea xx)

We also decided that to make it even more of a challenge that we would find a Challenge blog that inspired us further to get creating... and when we happened upon The OCC Basic Grey Challenge this week we thought YES that's the one.

As vain as this sounds, i love this card.

As alot of crafters know it's hard to use, let alone cut up your nicest papers but the finished card made it all worth it for me... (just means i will have to buy some more papers to stroke lol)

Anyway i think i have waffled enough...

Here is my effort

After copying the basic layout of Jacquelines card using 2 contrasting colours of textured cardstock, i set to adding different basic gray papers (all of which were from the BLUSH collection) to each section. The monkey i stamped out 3 times and layered just to give him a little dimension, he was coloured using my trusted copic's. I used a basic gray flourish and journling stamp, and a verse stamp which reads "The only way to have a friend is to be one". Finished with a few prima flowers layered up and a couple of poxy stickers. Ah voila.

xxx Hugz xxx

Friday Sketchers

This week i took part in the

Friday Sketchers blog challange,

This week it's Sketch #8

See example ---->

I would of posted yesterday but when i had finished the card... i hated it, and decided to sleep on it to decide what to do.
This morning I looked at it with fresh eyes, and after a few tweeks and alterations i am now very happy and willing to share my effort for the challenge lol

Now i don't usually do cute... i know everyone seems to have gone Tilda mad, which is fine, but not for me, but when i saw the range by Rachel Ann Miller i couldn't resist buying just a couple. This is the first card i have made using my new stamps and i feel it may be a tad hard now not to purchase just a few more of these little cuties lol..

Anyway i have rambled enough...

To the making of it...

The image was stamped using a black archival ink and then coloured with Copic's, the papers are just a few scraps i had in a box. The fabby Flower, Butterfly & Heart are all stamps designed by the Fabby Hel's and soon to be available from The Artistic Stamper, (i believe some time in July... watch this space...) I used a pink archival ink and then clear embossed the images as the paper i stamped onto was shiny. Everything was assembled as per the sketch and finished with the wording and a few gems.

I hope it's ok

xxx Hugz xxx

P.I.F ... Honouring my word

PIF, standing for Pay (or more reciently Pass) It Forward is based on the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness will do the same.

I would like to say Thank you to Ann for the PIF i recieved from her reciently, and am honouring my word to do the same xx

How it works:
If you haven't seen this in blogland before now, it's simple.
The first three people to leave a comment on the blog offering the PIF, stating their intention to join the fun, will get a gift which may be something handmade or shop brought.. it's entirly up to the blog owner.
In return, you agree to post the "Pay It Forward" message on your blog, and do the same for the first three people who comment on yours.
See simple... and fun and just a really nice "random acts of kindness" type thing to make someone's day.
So come on peeps, who's interested, remember it's only the first 3 peeps.
I do not know what that gift will be yet, and you may not get it for a week or so, but i promice you will get it, and it will be something nice.
so come on, spread the love and join in.

xxx Hugz xxx

Red Roses

Gotta Love freebie's.... Well the chance to win some anyway... visit the lovely Jennie's Blog for a chance to win some fab goodies... This original canvas artwork by Jennie along with the fab products to make your own.
But don't worry if you don't win coz you can still buy all the things she has used from her fabby shop The Artistic Stamper :O)

NEW & FABULOUS

Today saw the launch of a brand new Challenge by the lovely Hel's.

it's called

"IN MY POCKET"

The concept is to make a pocket (instructions on her blog) and the theme each week is to be hidden under the flap of the pocket.

This weeks theme is BUTTONS

It's a great idea, and having now made mine very fun too.

Inside...

(how it's made to follow as i'm too knackered now lol)

And just in case your too busy swooning at the fit bloke.. the buttons are on the shirt lol

Hope it's ok Hels and look forward to the next xx

xxx Hugz xxx

This Old House

I felt like a challenge today and 2 caught my eye so i decided to merge them.

I managed to cover both this weeks ARTY GIRLZ challenge with a "NATURE" theme and the CRAZY AMIGO's challenge which was "HOUSES".

I was lucky enough that the Fabulous Dan posted a house template not so long ago which i had saved to my comp.. thank you Dan.
I used this as my base, although i feel it is more of a shack than a house now lol

...and i guess your wondering about the nature side of it... well the whole house is made entirely out of thin wood veneer, with only the window dressing being a piece of patterned paper to look like wallpaper in the house.. er i mean shack, and a panty hose blind (well i had some left over from the GutterGirlz challenge lol)

A very simple piece but quite time

consuming as the wood kept splitting

and the roof took ages to dry in between layers

but all in all i love the finished result.

Hope it's ok for both the challenges!

xxx Hugz xxx

Sisterhood Of the Blogging Stampers # 19

Way hay It's official, i am now a member of the sisterhood.

SBS19

Hi my name is Nicky and i very much look forward to convalescing with my new sisters.

(does this mean i gotta dress like this now !!! lol)

Not really much to tell about me, other than i am happily pottering along on my Altered Journey and absolutely loving every minute of it.

I look forward to getting to know you all.

xx Big Hugz xx

I also pledge to try my best to visit each of my sisters at least once a week!

Sunday Stampers #22

Sunday Stampers

Week 22 - With A Little Help From My Friends

... Here is my entry ...

This was a really easy piece to do (i chose a tag as the theme for next month Hel's Angels tag swap is friendship)

It consists of just basic stamping and masking, and then colouring in. I used a black archival ink, and once fully dry i used a selection of Copic pens to add tons of colour.

I love that such a simple technique can come out looking so much more.

xxx Hugz xxx

Arty Girlz challenge #39

While blog hopping..... as you do..... i came across the Arty Girlz Challenge blog.

I notice the weekly challenge is set on a Tuesday, and yes, it is now Saturday, but hay, inspiration struck and i couldn't resist.

This weeks prompt is ~ HINT OF PINK ~

And although mine is a tad more than a hint I'm hoping it will count lol

This is a 4" x 4" mini canvas.

I started by colouring the canvas with Broken China distress ink, next (and a first for me) i finally tried some of my Stampboard (which i have had sat longing to be used, since my visit to ally pally in April lol) , i chose 3 of the oblong pieces as they just fitted the Mona (Stampers Anonymous) stamp perfectly.

I pushed all 3 of the SB pieces together before stamping Mona with a Carnation archival ink pad, i then used my Copic pens to add to the colouring of her face and hair, and scraped away pieces in these same places to define further. To finish i also added a tiny ickle pearly bead necklace and a crown punch (which was cut from mirri card and textured using the Tim Holtz hammer thingy!)

Now that the canvas was dry i stamped a flourish (Stampers Anonymous) down one side in just a black ink, it didn't stamp very well (my own fault as still haven't got all the strength back in my hand yet lol) so i decided to improvise... Using silicone glue i stuck the 3 pieces of SB Mona down the opposite side leaving a tiny gap between each piece, and then set to work with the amending of the flourish, i used a purple sakura pen first to go over the fluffed attempt of stamping, and then highlighted most of it again with a Starry Night stickles.

I am so happy with the way the whole thing finally ended up, i didn't think i was gonna pull it off but all was right in the end.

xxx Hugz xxx

ATC Inspiration!

I came across a fab blog not too long ago called HobbyRoo.

The blog belonged to a lady called Tina and her ATC's are just Divine (not that i make them that often now) but her's really caught my imagination.

I had just recently purchased some of the stamps she had used (back in may), so with my new found inspiration, i attempted to create a couple of ATC's "Roo style" lol

I am not overly impressed with them, but having not really tried the style properly before i wasn't too disappointed with my efforts..

What do you think?

xxx Hugz xxx

OMG * OMG * OMG

I have just had the most Fantastic News.....

I have been asked if i would like to be a part of the team,

and be a Creative Designer for The Stamp Connection

OMG, i can't frickin believe it, they want little old me,
Of course i said i would have to think about it.....

.....yeah for like a millie second lol...

YES YES YES was my answer.

Thank you soooo much Jennie and Hels,

i am still in a little shock to be honest

Thats all.... thanks for letting me rant and spread my FAB news

xxx Hugz xxx

Sorry i'm a little bit excited... lol

Gutter Girlz Challange

While blog hopping today i came across a fab new site....

http://guttergirlz.blogspot.com/

I was in the mood to craft and they just happened to have their first challenge which was...

The PROMPT (theme): What makes you feel like a Woman?

The SONG (inspiration): MAN!! I Feel like a Woman! by Shania Twain

The PRODUCT (item you have to include): Panty Hose/Tights

This really captured my imagination and here is my effort

I started by splodging some gesso on a blank 4" x 4" canvas, let dry, then edged 2 corners with some vintage photo crackle paint,

while this was drying i tore a strip from a page of an old book, inked the edges with vintage photo distress ink and stuck down one side,

I wanted to make it quite a fun and sort of saucy piece (like me lol) so i drew some legs,

cut them out and, granted i haven't used alot of Panty hose,

but the legs are covered with them!
I found a couple of metal word tags, Woman and Heat, which i stuck on with red brads,

and added a shoe charm to the woman,

as every woman has a place in her heart for shoes lol.

Thinking about the song mentioned above brought the idea of lucky dice and lips

(don't ask why it just did lol)

so i added 2 tiny dice and stamped a pair of lips which i highlighted with some glossy accents,

i finished with the "Feelin Lucky" phrase typed out using my label writer.

I am extremely pleased with the way this turned out, so thanks GutterGirlz for the fab challenge, i will defo be back to join in more :O)

xxx Hugz xxx

Mixed Media Monday

Another first for me today, i decided to join in with the mixed media Monday challenge.

The theme this week is "Try Something New"
The "new" thing i "tried" was not only to alter a metal letter holder, but also having a play with my NEW Tim Holtz stamps that have been sat itching to be used for ages.

This is the holder before ------>

I removed each holder piece, luckily it came apart quite easy.
Got out my trusty alcohol inks and started splodging. I used all brown and caramel type colours and a copper mixative, as although i wanted to cover most of the original pattern, i was quite happy for a little of it to show through.

I then randomly stamped some of my new Tim stamps here and there using Black, Brown and Pink archival inks (basically coz i only have these 3 pads too use lol)

And here is the results.......

xxx Hugz xxx

Wk 21 Sunday Stamper Challenge

This week as I'm off work i was able to join in my very first Sunday stamper challenge, and well my very first blog challenge ever.
The Theme was Ebony & Ivory.

I did go a tad mad, and made, not 1, or 2, but 3 things as i love the black and white theme.

I made 2 cards...

Both of which were fairly simple in the making, I just stamped the images using the watercolour technique (where you ink up the stamp using distress ink, spritz with water, and then stamp) i used Black soot. You probably cant see it very well in the pic but the wording on the cards has a fantastic shimmer, this was achieved by stamping with versamark embossing ink, and then dusting a pearl white mica powder (available in a set from The Artistic Stamper.) over the top to reveal the verse.

And the 3rd thing i did was a Tag...

I used one of the new fab black chipboard tags from a range @ the artistic stamper, along with black chipboard wings. I stamped the swirls straight onto the tag with a white versacolour ink pad. I then stamped the lady image onto white cardstock using black soot distress ink and dusted with the blackish mica powder from the set. I then cut her out and mounted her using foam tape. I used the same swirl from before to stamp the wings, and used a white embossing powder round the edges to emphasize. Added the wings to the lady and then punched out the wording using my around the block label kit. To finish i popped some black and white ribbon through the top.

I am loving all 3 pieces and really enjoyed this challenge. Thanks to Hels, and to Jennie for setting this weeks theme.

xxx Hugz xxx

Altered Birthday Book

It was a friend's birthday reciently so i decided as it was she who inspired me to discover my altered side, i would alter her something as a gift.

I had seen an artical in the Craft Stamper mag about making old books into boxes and loved the idea so though i would give it a try.

I started with an old hardback i brought from a charity shop, followed the instructions from the May 08 CS mag (well roughly anyway) , and just added my own twist on the whole thing. (if you want instructions i have a link for a site which shows a great tutorial for something very simular, just leave your e'mail in the comments section and i will happerly forward it on.)

Little details i love (if i do say so myself lol) are the owl, which is a magnolia stamp, coloured and then covered with some crackle glaze and displayed behind an old optical lense. I used grungeboard for the hinges and name, which i painted with a silver dabber, hinges inked over with a black archival ink to age them slightly, and the letters slightly covered here and there with crackle paint and inked with dusty concord distress ink.

I added a book plate type embelishment to the spine with my friends initals in it.

And as i know my friend loves owls i kept the theme going from the front and popped a big owl inside. He was made up of several pieces of paper all mounted on top of each other but with a piece or too missed each layer to show all the different patterns. Time consuming but worth the effort.

To finish i put the same paper i had used on the front with a bar code stamped in black archival ink, and dangeled a little owl charm from a ribbon i stuck inside the spine.

I do hope Hel's liked her present, and my very first attempt at altering old books, i was quite proud of it (and almost kept it lol)

xxx Hugz xxx