Crimbo card No1.. first to show of many lol

I can't quite believe that i've missed out on the last 5 or so Compendium of Curiosities challenges..
Well that changes today.. I'm getting back to feeling like me again and to prove it here is my offering of this weeks Double Distress Pg40 {see book for details}

I used broken china and faded jeans, with a smidge of brushed corduroy for my grunge, the snowflakes are a cuttlebug folder. I dont have the Timmy one YET!!

I punched out a couple of snowflakes and covered them with diamond dust, don't they look pretty.
The dotty paper, snowman and sentiment are all Timmy stash, and the base card was stenciled using the snowflake waste from the punch outs.
This also fits in with Something Completely Different's 'Snow' prompt, Lots To Do's 'Embossing' prompt and The Stamp Man's 'Anything by Tim Xmas theme' challenges.
It's so nice to be inky again, i can't tell you how much i was feeling like i would never craft again!
But here i am, hopefully normal service should resume shortly.
I've had a good few inky days so lots more crimbo cards to come!
♥ HUGZ ♥

A Desk, A Challenge, A piece of Art!

Right i don't want to alarm anyone but have you seen what day it is... Surely it can't be time to rummage in other peoples rooms already!!!

My desk hasn't changed too much from last week, a few things have been created between then and now.

 Some of which can be seen in the pic, {the rest in the posts below this one}

 Including my entry for this weeks Compendium of Curiosities challenge

 'Grungepaper flowers' pg 65

I didn't want to just stick my grunge flowers onto a card so decided to give it a bit of life. 

Plus i know Linda now expects nothing less than fabulous so i didn't want to disappoint lol!

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Lots To Do challenge has a 'Butterflies &/or Insects' theme so i ran with that and this ickle spirit art doll was created...

She is Strength * She is Brightness 

She is a reminder to always stay strong, even when things seem bleak

& to see a bright side to life even in the darkest of times.

She has been created using not only the grungepaper flower head with friendly plastic face, but a peg for a body, and some metal & card for her butterfly wings, oh and a lot of patients lol

I plan to attach some form of hanging fixture so she can sit on wall somewhere.

.....

Right i must crack on, i have a ton of swaps i need to make a start on.. I hope to get round a few more desks this week, if i don't make it to you it's nothing personal honest, i just suffer with bad wrists so spending a long time gripping the mouse can be a real pain.. literally, but i'll do my best.

Have a creative day
♥ HUGZ ♥

Got my beady eye on you!

Just lately i have had alot of time for my beads and charms, so much so i started to get achy hands from gripping the pliers lol 

So when i saw this weeks 'Buttons or Beads' challenge over at Lots To Do I figured it be the perfect time to share a piece or 2!

This was a commissioned bracelet for a girls 13th birthday. I was so thrilled when i heard that she loved it and was showing it off to all her friends, can't get a better feelin than that.

And this is just a snippet of several others that were created.. Beads a plenty me thinks!
Huummmm maybe i'll add some buttons to the next one!
♥ HUGZ ♥

2 posts in one day!!!

It's practically unheard of for me but I have been happily playing with paper and ink all afternoon so decided I would join in a couple of challenges, the following piece fits both the Lots To Do 'Ribbon/Lace' theme and the Alter It Monthly 'Musical' theme.

The base is mountboard, with 2 grungeboard hearts placed on top and then the whole thing covered in gel medium, draped with a slightly damp old music sheet {a few spritz from your mini mister should do the trick}, work the paper in around the hearts to define them taking care not to tare, use a smidge of gel medium on top to seal. Let the whole thing dry, and once hard then its time to ink. 

I used barn door or was it fire brick.. anyways.. round the edge of the base, avoiding the hearts, and coloured the hearts themselves with a creamy brown chalk ink. I edged the heart and the whole piece with a gold marker. Stapled some frilly cream lace to the bottom, creating a thought ribbon from the left over bit i had and adding a heart brad to finish it. I then i found a fab quote which i typed out on my label maker and added to complete the little hanging piece.
♥ HUGZ ♥

Quad Challenge!

Hay blogland, I'm still here.. just not had much free time, and the time i have had i've spent faffing doing the boring stuff like washing and sorting etc.. 

So todays tag is is a monster challenge piece combining 4 of the babies into one.. not wanting to miss out and all.. It includes  

Sunday Stamper ' Believe and/or Journey'

Compendium of Curiosities 'Multi-Medium Collage'

Theme Thursday 'Vintage and Tags'

Lots To do 'Shapes' {and last weeks too which was 'Stitching'}

I shaped my tag using one of my alterations 'on the edge' dies, Inked the base with victorian velvet and bundled sage, then i rubbed some vintage photo on my craft sheet and spritzed with a gold perfect pearl water mix , i used this to ink my dotty background stamp and stamp onto my tag. I also embossed some dots using my cuttlebug. I stamped some stitches either side of the embossing and embellished with a selection of paper roses and lace, I covered a maya road mini butterfly shape following timmys instructions from the book page 66, stamped the word believe, and edged the whole tag with gold to finish it off.

***

Oh a quick update for those wondering... 'Project craftroom' still isn't quite complete and i don't wanna reveal all till its all looking prim and proper, I finally have the last cupboard being delivered next wed so here's hoping i can join in with woyww {which i have missed for a couple of weeks now} and show you all my new and wonderful space.

Right thats all for now, Happy Creating.

♥ HUGZ ♥

The I.M Challenge

I was chatting via instant message to my friend Alison over the weekend and she said she was lackin in inspiration so we decided to challenge each other to make a card..
There were 3 challenges that she picked to incorperate which were
Gingersnap Chestnut theme Challenge – 'Heat'
Lots to do – 'People and/or places'
Paperbag Studios – 'Flowers'
And here is what i created...

As you can see it's not my usual style but i kinda like it, just wishing i had used a coloured card as i'm not loving the white, but i guess i can always give it a bit of an inking.
You can check out the card Alison made HERE
***
I'd like to say thank's to Alison, She is always an inspiration to me, and can always get me crafting. We often chat via MSN {or SKYPE} as a live in the middle of nowhere with only 1 'Crafty' friend living nearby..
Instant messenging is like having her in the room and i really enjoy having someone to craft with. So thanks hun...

Don't forget.. there is still time to join in my candy.. and just for those that dont like s'prizes here's a sneeky peek of 1 of the prizes

Happy Crafting

♥ HUGZ ♥

Home is Where the Heart Is...

Just a quickie today.. before all the chaos of decorating i started a little piece, and today before everything has to be packed away i decided to finish it and also join in with a few of my favorite challenges
Alter It Monthly 'Home Sweet Home'
Lots To Do 'Crowns or Hats'
Sunday Stamper 'Rhinestones'

This was Inspired.. ok practically copied from his Lordship Tim, courtesy of the tutorial on his blog the other day. Not sure if i will just add something to hang it by, or make it into something bigger.. I guess i'll decide that another time.
Right I'm actually sneaking away from the decorating today to go strawberry picking and then for a nice roast din dins at Tony's parents house... They also have some crates to lend me to box up the rest of me stash. o i best be off.. Don't forget to enter my candy.. you wont be disappointed if you like 'Shabby Chic' is all I'm saying!
♥ HUGZ ♥

Lots To Do!!!

And i'm not just talking about The challenge .. which this week is 'Quotations'  so i've done a vintage style tag which also fits in with this weeks 'Vintage' theme over at ChallengeUpYourLife

No i'm talking lots of things i need to do.. like tags for swaps.. journal swap pages... bunting for swaps.. 3 late presents.. some possible workshop samples to name a few things... so i guess i shouldn't really be here telling you this and should getting my butt in gear and getting on with it... only one problem.. the mojo is flagging a bit and i just seem to be getting nowhere fast!!

But enough of my wafflin.. Enjoy your day, Hope it's a crafty one x

♥ HUGZ ♥

Watch the Birdy!

Lots To Do have a Birdy/Wings theme this week
which is handy as it allows me to share this card

I used only forest moss and bundled sage distress inks along wth tuxedo black memento ink,
 the stamps are paper artsy and tim holtz..
It just shows you dont need alot of supplies to create cool looking cards.
♥ HUGZ ♥

Alice...

 is a bit of a Sunday Stamper... And she has Lots to Do... 
Happy Easter Peeps, Hope everyone is having a lovely bank holiday break.. {i'm working unfortunatly}

{click to enlarge}
As you may have already guessed this is my entry for both of the above challenges. SS having a 'Lace' theme and LTD being 'Black & White'
I decided while looking through some boxes that i had far too many jigsaw pieces and it was about time i altered one... I started by cutting a rectangle hole and then painting the piece with a couple of coats of gesso and snow dabber, once dry, i made up and attached a little shadow box type thingy behind the hole i had cut to house a little bottle that i salvaged from an old air freshener, i filled this with some beads and topped it with wire and cloth.

I've used 3 of the fabby new Mabel Lucie Attwell Alice stamps available exclusively from The Artistic Stamper
who will be at next weekends

bssbs @ Ally Pally stand 49

I also used a section of my diamonds stamp for the background.
It was looking a bit bland untill i stamped 2 of the images onto photo paper and cut them out and mounted them and a few extra tags about the piece and now.. well its fit for a wonderland !!
I am getting really excited about Ally Pally now... And am looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting some new ones too. So if you happen to see me, do stop and say Hello, i'd love to meet you x
♥ HUGZ ♥

Spring time fun!

I'm a little behind again this month and realised i needed to get some cards made up quick smart.. I had a look around and found Lots to Do and Soartful both have a spring time challenge so that was the inspiration for this card.

I made up a batch of inky splodgy backgrounds using my craft sheet, distress inks and a mini mister.
I stamped Jigsaw pieces on one of the inky backgrounds and cut them out, and the Dragonfly was stamped in black onto an inky background and then stamped again onto parchment paper, blinged with stickles, then this was placed over the first image to add dimention.

Im not very good at quick/minimal cards, to me this still looks like it needs more but i do like it.. Do you? 

I'll be back tomorrow with another card and my workspace confession!
♥ HUGZ ♥

Busy Busy Busy!!!

OK you got me, i'm not super busy like that title claims... but i am entering the

Lots To Do challenge with this weeks theme which is 'Distressed'

I can't believe its saturday already, All i can say is,"wow the adults were right", the older you get the more time flys by, talking of flying that leads you nicely to my entry...

I sliced into a canvas and wrapped the cut pieces round the frame to create a shadow box type thingy, I backed it with my 'distressed' piece of cardboard.

The frame itself i coated with distress crackle paint and then splodged on some distress ink to darken the colour, it didn't really crackle like i'd hoped but it did leave a cool textured finish which was good enough for me.

I punched out a bunch of circles in white card and proceeded to ink and stamp em using Timmy products, these once dry were stuck inside bottletops and filled with UTEE adding a sprinkle of micro beads while the UTEE was still hot.

I created a little birdy scene inside the frame, making a cage from wire and cutting the bird from an old book page.

The white mass behind him is actually UTEE, which i poured direct from melting pot to TSS big daddy mould , i then dusted it with a smidge of perfect pearls.

I printed the wording on my comp as couldn't find any sayings i liked so i made up my own.

Finished with some twigs from my garden and a few musical notes and you have the finished artical.

***

I've no actual plans today for me which means a spot of crafting me thinks lol... was hoping to get an email with good news but i don't think its coming to me.. never mind.. am sure someones weekend will be made special, the lucky buggers... sorry don't mind me lol... i'm waffling to myslef here...

So do you have Lots to do today?...

Have a fab weekend peeps x

♥ HUGZ ♥

Lots To Do !!!

WOW, there goes another week.. and so much for it being a holiday! I've have Lots to Do myself... but i managed to squeeze in making this ickle piece for this weeks 'Canvas' challenge!

As you can see i've gone for the shabby chic look, just having a play around really, the pretty lace at the bottom is actually from the arm of a top that i just cut a strip from!
This also fits in with
Sophisticat Challenges - Embossing {i embossed the white swirl on the sheet music and also the text is embossed}
The Secret Crafter - Stitching {i've gathered and stitched the lace at the bottom}
Crazy 4 Challenges - It's all about Texture
Creative Inspirations -Monocrome

Yesterday i had the bestest day at a friends house playing with my melt pot, a craft sheet and lots of Timmy stamps... trust me there is no better way to spend a day.. other than with Tim himself of course but i know that ain't never gonna happen!  Oh just a little note though.. never try and melt fine embossing powder in your pot, it just does the strangest thing.. or at least it did in mine.. it melted but only slightly and then was like a stiff honey that i had to spatular out.. i didn't waste it though and i'll have photographic evidence up when its finished lol.. well waste not want not.. i also saved the canvas board i smeared it on from my mates bin.. hay just doing my bit for the enviroment lol

Don't forget to come back on monday to find out the winner of the lovely Laaaaaaady stamps :)
♥ HUGZ ♥

Shabby Chic....

....and oh so pretty!

Morning peeps, The birds are tweeting and the sun is out and i'm not working woo hoo.

Perfect excuse to have a play and enter this weeks Lots To Do challenge

This week they want you to 'Use a Machine'

After being totally inspired by some of the wonderful blogs i visited on the OWOH Magic carpet i fell in love with all the gorgeous shabby chic fabric samplers i had seen and just had to try it out for myself.

My efforts were a little more reserved though, as i'm not totally comfortable with fabric working yet, so figured i'd start slow and i used a canvas as my base.

If you've not guessed by now, the 'machine' i used was my Sewing Machine, this is also something i'm not quite comfortable using lol but the piece came out ok in the end.

I used a small collection of fabrics and a lrg lace doillie, I frayed the edges on one piece of fabric and that gave me the loose fibres that created the birds nest.

I used the beautiful 'Lotus' stamp from Stampington & Company onto some glossy cardstock.

I used my machine to sew several of the layers together, and to also give a nice finishing detail.

 I stamped several outline hearts from the Roses are Red plate by The Artistic Stamper onto some old book pages and cut out and distressed um a bit with vintage photo then it was just a case of adding a few buttons and feathers and voila. Jobs a goodun.

Definatly not my usual style but i kinda like it and can see more being attempted!

This piece also fits in with a few other challenges

• The Corrosive Challenges-  'Sew it up'
• One Stitch at a Time - 'Use Stitching'
• Sophisticats - 'Stitching'

Thanks for dropping by, I'm off now to lose myself in ink, Ta Ra

♥ HUGZ ♥

UTEE Spi-cam

First let me start by saying "shame on me", I've not been the best of blogger's this past couple of weeks, don't know where the time is going, and usual every day life tends to get in the way as well, maybe I'll do better in march!!!

So today I've made a little time to share with you a UTEE piece i did that just happens to fit in with this weeks challenge over on Lots To Do

Which is to "Alter It".. and I'd say my piece has well and truly been altered!

I was playing the other day with melt pot and remembered some months ago i dismantled an old broken web cam i had just lying around {waste not want not}

So decided to assemble a couple of the pieces and set them together in a rectangle mould with some clear UTEE..

Once it was all set i used some sticky backed foil

to edge & back it and add the lens to the top.

I added a Tim Holtz clasp pin to the back

so i can either wear it as a brooch or necklace.

Short but sweet post i know, but better than nothing at all!

Thanks for dropping by.

xx Hugz xx

My very first Art Doll

Wow, where did the week go.

I cant believe its the Big Art Adventure and Lots To Do Challenges again.

BAA's theme this time is

BOTTLECAPS

and LTD's theme is

KEYS

And here i proudly present my very first Art Doll

Miss Domi Lockheart
...

...

As you can see she is made up of Bottle tops, a Tin, Dominoes and Keys.

I'm not going to explain excatly how i made her as it would take forever.

But if you want to know anything, feel free to leave me a comment and i'll reply when i get a chance.
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My favourite view is of her is her insides, as it reveals her Heart

..

...

I also just realised that i can enter this as another piece for

the Object D'Art Challenge as this time round it's TIN.

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Thanks for stopping by

Visit again soon

xx Hugz xx

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Challenge Double

I had 2 challenges that i had to complete and decided it would be fun to combine them both into one project.

The latest performance on Object D'Art is

A TIN

and Lot's To Do's theme this time round is
NEWSPAPER.
.
After trying different pages of an old newspaper, i finally decided on the games page.

.

.

I cut out sections of the main games like the crossword and sudoku and applied them to the tin using copydex {this was really sticky and i managed to get it all over my fingers, but it was the nearest thing to hand that had a brush already in it, yes I'm lazy, i know, so i would probably recommend if your gonna try this to use another form of glue} anyway as i was saying..

Once i had got an all over coat of papers i added a couple of the words from the same page.

Next i removed the lid so i could ink the tin.

I used Pitch Black and Pearl alcohol inks to cover all the sides but didn't touch the inside or bottom.

I stamped the words "Game On" onto the plastic window in the centre using black stazon, then edged it using my Inkssentials white pen.

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To finish i used some wax linen thread to edge just around the window and lid & base edges and gave the whole thing {minus the window} a thin coat of Matt accents to protect. And popped a couple of Prima flowers and some ribbon to add texture.

.

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Now all i need to do is make a book or something to go inside.. but thats for another day.

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Thanks for stopping by, visit again soon.

xx Hugz xx

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TIME for my first challenge of 2009

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Over on Lots To Do the first challenge of the year is

TIME

Seeing as it has been a while, i decided to do a mini 4x4 canvas in my fave style...

"Ah La TIM"

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...

I coloured the canvas with distress inks, then splurged some crackle paint on, a few random letters, bit of tape measure and a clock embellishment, oh and my trusty label maker and i was done.

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xx Hugz xx

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