Sunshine Crafter

Time Changer

2011-12-07T15:00:00.005Z

TIO 107 - Time Changer (Victoriana, Steampunk, Hugo?)

Now, I know I have been notable by my blogging absence for the past couple of weeks, but I just can't seem to shake off this dratter cold and cough that I seem to have been plagued with for the past 4 or 5 weeks. It is really dragging me down. I don't feel like doing anything, least of all dragging mself out in the cold to get to my craft room. Anyways, I felt I really should get this last tag for 2011 done.

So on to my tag. I have painted the tag with pearl paint dabber then, once dry, I coloured it with worn lipstick distress ink and backed it on a slightly larger black tag. The clock faces in the background are a Hero Arts stamp and have been stamped in black archival, second generation inking. Over this I have added TH clogs, cut from black TH coredinations then sanded back a bit. The saying and the victorian man are from sets by Creative Expressions. Lastly, I have added black gross grain ribbon from my stash.

Short and sweet, pity really, I could have sooo gone to town on this theme. Never mind, perhaps I will have shaken off my cold by the New Year. Hopefully, you will all come back refreshed after the Christmas rush is over and you have had a chance to re-charge your batteries, raring to go with our next round of challenges.

Do pop over the the TIO blog and check out the entries by my uber-talented design team buddies, then suitably inspired, give it a go. We love to check out your entries. Just join in, have fun and please remember to use at least one real stamp in your creations.

Bye for now.

Wanda x

Asian

2011-11-16T12:00:00.001Z

TIO #105 - Chinatown (Asian Theme)

Wow, don't the weeks just fly by. I have done absolutely nothing in readiness for Christmas, apart from the toppers for half a dozen cards. I am a bit of a bah humbug abour it all anyway. It will be my son's birthday on Friday, and it would have been my eldest daughter's birthday on Monday 14th, so I like to get these birthdays out of the way then I just go full throttle in my preparations for the BIG day. Anyway, I digress.

On to this weeks' challenge over on Dragon's Dream tag it on. The theme this week is set by Silvia (Barnie), and the film title she has chosen is "Chinatown" (an Asian theme). I decided to use a plate of stamps by The Stamp Man Non Sequitur - Samurai, for my main image. This is a fairly new set for me. The grasses are from another plate by The Stamp Man - Summer in the Orient. The blossom is a Clarity Stamp.

I have decided to keep it fairly mono in colour, so have inked the tag with Adirondack Butterscotch, having first stamped a screen stamp from the same stamp plate with versa mark, then the inked was brayered over.I know, it is hard (if not impossble) to see the resist stamping! The background images are also inked with butterscotch.

I tried stamping the sitting lady with a new glue ink from Indigo Blue then applying gold leaf, but it just didn't show up very well against the background, so I stamped her again on another tag, using black versafine, cut her out then mounted her over the original image. If you look very closely you can possibly see some of the gold leaf peeping through around the edges. I stamped her again on a piece of patterned paper, cut out the robes and paper pieced. I then coloured in the flowers on her robe with a green polycolour pencil. I also added a bit of colour to her face, neck and arms.

Lastly, I added an oriental coin, dragonfly brad and ribbons from my stash. Oh, and I mounted the tag onto a slightly larger black tag.

So there you have it. Fairly clean and simple this week.

I do hope you will check out the other samples over on the TIO blog, feel inspired then decide to join in with us dreaming "Asian".

I love checking out your work and I try to get round to each and every one of you.

Please feel free to leave a comment. I love reading them all.

Bye for now.

Wanda xx

Letters to Juliet

2011-11-09T12:00:00.000Z

TIO #104 - Letters to Juliet

The theme, in the series of film titles, is set this week by my fellow design team buddy, AJ. She has chosen for her film "Letters to Juliet". A lovely romantic choice. Plenty of inspiration in the title, don't you think?

I decided to use a plate of stamps from Rubber Stamp Concept entitled "Venezia" (a lovely set), plus a lady from Sirius Hobby and script from Stamp Camp.

I decided to use my new winter distress inks on this one, so the colours are Iced Spruce, Evergreen Bough and Festive Berries, plus old paper and spun sugar. I have also used vintage sepia archival, on the small tag, and stazon cotton white on the black tag.

I inked the main tag with iced spruce with evergreen bough anf festive berries around the edges. I stamped the script on the main tag using iced spruce then stamped over it in evergreen bough with the balcony and gondola.

I inked the small tag with spun sugar then around the edges with festive berries. Then I stamped the lady using vintage sepia. I attached the scroll, a TH pen nib and a vellum rose (made with a spellbinders spiral blossom one die and festive berries ink).

I made a little vellum scroll, inking it with old paper and stamping on it with vintage sepia, then tied it up with narriw red ribbon.

Lastly, I attached the three tags together with the same narrow red ribbon as used around the vellum scroll.

And I think that is it!

We had a terrific response to last weeks' TIO challenge. You all seemed to love steampunk. So hows about a bit of romance this week for a complete change? How does that grab you?

We hope you will pop over to the TIO blog for a bit more inspiration then that you decide to join us with your version of "Letters to Juliet". Please join in, have fun and remember to use at least one real stamp in your creations.

Now I had better get back to the kitchen. Jacket potatoes are in the oven but I still need to prepare steak, onions, mushrooms and vegetables!

Please feel free to leave a comment (about my creation, not the steak, etc). I love to read all your comments and I will try and get to all your blogs and check out your work.

Bye for now.

Wanda xx

TIO #103 - Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000Z

Steampunk!

It is my turn to set the theme over on Dragons Dream tag it on challenge. This round we are chosing film titles and I have decided upon "Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium" as my film title, with the emphasis on steampunk. Do you remember the film? So full of steampunk and old fashioned toys. I loved it!

Do you ever struggle with something, then suddenly get that "lightbulb" moment? Well, this range4of stamps from Creative Expressions (a wonderful set of 3 plates) has a light bulb then a saying that I thought just fits in with that lightbulb moment, so decided I must use it on my tag this week.

So my stamps are all from Creative Expressions, some stamped straight onto the tag and some stamped onto separate card, cut out and mounted, either flat or 3D. My tag has been embossed with a TH Sizzix folder, and inked with faded jeans distress stain, with a litttle black soot to give the raised design definition.

I have used scattered straw and antique linen as well on some elements. I have glazed the light bulb and clock face.

So that is my tag, short and sweet. Pop on over to the TIO challenge and check out the work of my fabulous design team buddies, then give it a go. Just have fun and remember to use at least one real stamp in your creations.

Bye for now. Love your comments, please keep them coming, and I will try my best to check out all your wonderful entries.

Wanda xx

TIO #102 - Planes Trains and Automobiles

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000+01:00

TIO # 102 - Planes Trains and Automobiles

First of all let me start by apologising for my log of posts this past week. I haven't managed to get round to anyone's entries for last week's TIO challenge. I have been feeling decidedly unwell all week. I thought I was shaking it off at the end of last week but not so. I have been fit for nothing. So please accept my apologies for being so remiss.

Luckily, I started this week's tag last week so only had to finish it off today.

Helen has set the theme this week, and her film choice is Planes Trains and Automobiles. She wants us to dream travel.

My stamps are from a set by Tanda Stamps. The main focal images have been stamped onto seperate card, inked with black versafine and detail black ep then cut and mounted 3D. My tag has been inked with a selection of blue distress inks and some background images from the same Tanda set have been stamped in the same blues.

I have added a few TH travel adage tickets to complete my travel theme. Ribbon is cream vintage, inked with blue distress stain and overstamped in blue.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look. Take a look at the fab samples by my design team buddies then please join us dreaming "travel". Above all, have fun and just remember to use at least one real stamp in your creations. I will do my best to get around all your blogs and check out your entries.

Bye for now.

Wanda xx

TIO #101 - Angels and Daemons

2011-10-19T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO # 101 - Angels and Daemons

For our next round of challenges we have chosen film titles as our theme. Elizabeth starts the round with her choice which is "Angels and Daemons".

I am full of cold and not feeling up to par at the moment so not feeling very inspirational, so I just opted for Angels.

My stamps are all from Crafty Individuals, apart from the script which is from Stamp Camp. I have inked my tag with broken china and dusty concorde distress inks. I have overstamped with the same inks.

My main image is stamped onto another piece of card and I have cut round the flourish on the left hand side. I have lightly coloured the image with copic pens, added gems to the centre of the flowers, and added a gentle dusting of crystal glitter to the wings.

I have coloured the ribbon flowers with broken china distress stain, added an angel charm and lace, ribbon and strands, all from my stash.

So there you have it, short and sweet. Do pop over and check out the entries by my design team buddies. I'm sure you will find a few daemons there!

Do join in and show us what you can do. Above all, have fun and remember to use at least one real stamp in your creation. We love to pop onto your blogs and check out your artwork.

Bye for now.

Thanks for your comments.

Wanda xx

TIO#100 - Ticket to Ride

2011-10-12T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO #100 - Ticket to Ride

Wow, what a fabulous response we had to last week's challenge over on Dragon's Dream tag it on challenge. We were blown away by your fabulous tags. Obviously a popular theme.

The theme for this week's challenge is set by our leader Frankie, and she has chosen "Ticket to Ride", by the Beatles, as her song choice.

I decided to use a new stamp plate by IndigoBlu, Grand Tour III, for my main image, a hot air balloon. I got this plate and a crackle background for renewing my subscription to Craft Stamper while I was at Happy Stampers North West at Port Sunlight last Saturday.

I think the victorian gentleman is from a plate by Creative Expressions (I forgot to check). The tickets are from Crafty Individuals (smaller ticket) and Dimension Fourth (larger ticket).

I inked my tag with mustard seed and wild honey distress stains, then overstamped with the crackle background, using mustard seed and wild honey distress inks. On the right is a torn piece of tag, coloured with the same distress stains then put through a TH texture fades embossing folder, then I coloured with raised bits with vintage photo distress ink. The images have all been stamped with vintage photo distress ink.

The balloon and victorian gentleman have been 3D'd onto the tag for added dimension.

The tickets have been stapled together onto the tag. American seam binding has been coloured with wild honey distress stain.

That's it! Short and sweet, although it took a fair while to make as I kept changing my mind!

I hope this week's theme gets your creative juices flowing again. Pop over to the TIO blog and check out the entries by my fabulously talented design team buddies, then join in and have fun. Just remember to use at least one real stamp in your creations. I look forward to checking out all your fabulous entries.

Please feel free to leave a comment. I love to read them.

Bye for now, Wanda xx

TIO #99 - Whole of the Moon

2011-10-05T06:00:00.002+01:00

TIO#99 - Whole of the Moon

The challenge this week on Dragon's Dream tag it on challenge is set by my team mate, Helen. Her song choice is "Whole of the Moon" by the Waterboys. It is a long time since I last heard that one!

It was easy for me to decide how to meet this challenge, having watched the wonderful Barbara Gray of Clarity Stamp at the weekend on Create and Craft. I had to record the morning shows as I was working and then watched them later in the day. while kI was watching I had a little play, as you do, as I new it would come in handy for this weeks TIO challenge. So thank you very much Barbara. I just love trees and can't resist a tree stamp, so this one had to jump into my basket the minute I saw it.

So, my stamp is the lovely split tree by Clarity Stamp. I first masked off the moon and set to work with my brayer and torn copy paper, using first sail boat blue and then denim adirondack dye inks. I then stamped the trees using black soot distress ink, adding a little shadow around the base of the main tree.

The snow was added using a Zig painty twin, using the white tip. I then drew a squiggly line around the masked area of the image using a millenium black fine line pen.

I added the "dream" ticket froma set by Creative Expressions. Made with white card inked with antique linen distress stain and edged with vintage photo, then stamped in archival black.

The chipboard bird is by Crafty Individuals. I painted it black, applied crackle, then a top coat of white, then decided I dididn't like it like that, so I added another coat of while and sprinkled glamour dust over it - much better (imho).

I mounted the artwork on a deep blue tag that had been stamped with the top of the tree using stazon opaque cotton white.

Lastly, the American seam binding was coloured with broken china distress stain (I haven't got denim yet) then over-stamped with the tree in black ink. I also added a piece of old gold ribbon to balance with the ticket.

I added a gem eye to the bird, then added another to the tag for balance.

So thank you very much Barbara for giving me this weeks tag. I just tweaked it about a bit.

Please do pop over to the TIO blog and take a look at the fantastic work produced by my team buddies. You can't fail to be inspired to have a go. Just remember to use at least one real stamp in your creations.

Bye for now. Thanks for dropping by, and please feel free to leave a comment. I love reading them, and I will try and pop on over to every one of your blogs to check out your entries and, of course, to leave a comment for you.

Wanda xx

TIO # 98 - These Boots are Made for Walking

2011-09-28T06:00:00.001+01:00

A fabulous set of entries last week to Dragon's Dream TIO challenge, so thanks folks!

Now on to this weeks challenge, which is set by Silvia. She has chosen a song my Nancy Sinatra "These Boots are Made for Walking". Now you can use boots, shoes, flip flops, slippers.... In fact, any type of footwear you please. Just have fun in your dreaming and please ensure you use at least one real stamp in your creation.

Now on to my entry. As you can see I decided to take the song title quite literally and opted for boots. Not having an actual boot stamp in my collection I have resorted to clip art to get me out of this slight pickle.

My tag is made from a page from the TH Vintage shabby paper stack, over which I have repeatedly stamped a flourish by Rhonna Fahrer in broken china DI. The wording is a Papermania stamp set and the exclamation from a SeeDee's set.

The clip art boots have been cut out and then glamour dust has been added to the flourishes and tops of the boots. Sadly, the sparkle doesn't show up very well here.

A TH mini rosette has been added with black ribbon behind and glamour dust in the centre.

The feather, horse charm, tassle and ribbon are all from my stash.

And there you have it! Short and sweet!

Now come on, show us how you are inspired by the song title. Pop over to the TIO blog and check out the work of my fabulous design team buddies, then have a go. We love popping over to your blogs to take a look.

Thanks for stopping by. Please feel free to leave a comment. I love reading them.

Wanda xx

Friendly Plastic Weekend - Episode Two!

2011-09-28T00:26:00.000+01:00

I thought I would show you some examples of work created by the lovely Liz Welch that I photographed over the weekend.

These are just a small sample of the beautiful masks that were on display. Don't they look fabulous set against the ancient stonework of the castle?

The handles and lacework are all made from friendly plastic!

And this one too!

I just love the tassel cap pictured above!

Well, that's it for now. I took lots more photos but will save them for another episode!

Bye for now. Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda xx

Friendly Plastic Weekend with the lovely Liz Welch

2011-09-27T19:00:00.000+01:00

I have just had the good fortune to spend a weekend at Caernarfon Castle in the company of a delightful group of ladies being inspired by the very talented Liz Welch, ably assisted by the lovely Adrienne. Friendly Plastic is so versatile and can be made to look like metal, knitting, in fact anything, in the capable hands of Liz.

The weekend just flew by we were all having so much fun. Adrienne provided a wonderful buffet lunch on both days and flew up and down the steps endlessly keeping the kettle and crock pots topped up with water.

Some fabulous work was created by the ladies in attendance, inspired by all the lovely examples Liz had brought along.

Here is a look at my work from the weekend. I am just itching to do some more, which is in my plans for tomorrow, so watch this space.

This is a piece I stamped into with a clay squisher stamp.

This piece was created using the "knitting technique" demonstrated by Liz.

Another piece using the knitting technique.

The two above are samples of the ooze technique

This heart is made using a shape cutter and the ooze technique

Another heart, this time with black lace embedded into it.

And finally, a picture of all the pieces I created over the weekend.

I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and can't wait for the next one!

We also had a bit of drama at the castle on Sunday afternoon, but that will have to wait until my next post as galley duties call. Pop back tomorrow and there will be more piccies, including some of the drama!

Bye for now.

Wanda xx

TIO #97 - Mother

2011-09-21T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO # 97 - Mother

The theme this week on Dragon's Dream TIO challenge is "Mother", by Pink Floyd and is set for us by AJ who would also like to see some embroidery in our creations. Now, before I start I have to admit my embroidery is actually faux embroidery. I haven't done any embroidery for soooo long and left it too late to be able to take the time to practice!

I started by spraying some linen fabric with cherry blossom glimmer mist and desert moon endless sky moonglow glitz spritz. Then I overstamped with a swirly leaf stamp, I think it might be from imagination crafts but I haven't kept the packaging so can't be sure. I adhered the fabric to a tag and put an eyelet through. I stamped the words "mother" and "love" using black stazon at the top and borrom of the tag. Then, for the ingenious bit - I added my embroidery - with a teal blue stazon inkpad and some Anna Griffin stamps I bought absolutely ages ago! You see, where there is a will, there is a way. I cut the bottom of the tag around the scalloped edge, then added the lace. My tag is edged with timber brown stazon.

I searched through all my stamps for a suitable image, but drew a blank. So then I resorted to going through atc's that had been swapped when I was in the swap on the JS forum, and found this little beauty. She reminds me so much of my grandmother at that age. There was no name on the back of the atc so I can't give credit, nor do I know where the image is from.

I added some little flowers from my stash, together with a TH flourish and zig zag ribbon from my stash. And there you go, Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt, as the saying goes, done!

I must say I found this challenge quite - a challenging! Pop on over and check out the entries from my fabulously talented design team buddies, then show us how this theme inspires you. Above all, have fun and remember to use at least one real stamp in your creations.

Please feel free to leave a comment. I so enjoy reading them.

Bye for now, Wanda xx

Fashion

2011-09-14T06:00:00.003+01:00

TIO #96 - Dedicated Follower of Fashion"

I don't know why I have a figure "1" just below my picture and I can't get rid of it. Grrrr!!!

We had a fabulous response to last week's TIO challenge, and really enjoyed checking out your entries and having a good old nosey on your blogs. You are such a creative lot! I seems you all really like the colour red, in all its shades. We were really blown away by your entries. Thank you all for sharing your talent with us.

This week is is my turn to set the challenge and for my song title I have chosen "Dedicated Follower of Fashion". I think it was by the Kinks? I know, really showing my age here. The song has been going round in my head for ages, driving me mad! It is not even a favourite of mine. Yikes!

For my entry this week I have started by covering a tag with paper from a TH vintage shabby pad, then I grunged it up with distress inks in pink and blue (sorry, can't remember which ones), I also threw sone PaperArtsy Fresco paints on there, then overstamped with little elements fashion stamps from Crafty Individuals. I edged the tag with Brilliance Silver and Cosmic Shimmer Silver ep.

The words are from a stamp plate by The Stamp Man, stamped onto some more of the paper and edged with sepia archival. The dress form is from another stamp plate which I stamped and embossed in silver and then cut out. Then I covered it with a coloured wet wipe, some netting, narrow ribbon and a flower and gem. Oh, and a litttle heart necklace.

The two fashion conscious ladies are from a new stamp plate by Crafty Individuals (I love their stamps), coloured with prisma pencils. The lady in blue is stuck directly onto the tag, and the lady in pink is 3d mounted. The flowers are cut from paper from the same pad and, once rolled, edged with silver rub n buff. I took an idea from the fabulous Frankie and rolled some blue wire to place under the roses. The lace was coloured with spun sugar distress stain as was the ribbon for the little bow at the top.

The bird in flight is also from Crafty Individuals, coloured with pink and blue fresco paints, then overstamped with sepia archival. The flourish is a TH die, coloured with the same fresco paints.

Please pop over to the TIO challenge blog and check out the samples by my uber talented design team buddies. Then let us see what you can do with this weeks theme. Above all, have fun and remember to use at least one real stamp in your creations.

Thanks for dropping by. Please feel free to loave a comment. I love reading them.

Bye for now, Wanda xx

Red Red Wine

2011-09-07T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO #95 - Red Red Wine

This is the challenge this week set by my teamie, Helen. I immediately thought of a set of stamps by Creative Expressions, well two sets actually - French Vintage and Vintage Labels, for my tag.

I coloured my tag with antique linen distress stain on a damp tag so the colour remained really light. I then stamped the script from the set in antique linen distress ink, then the other stamps using barn door and fired brick distress inks. The leaves have been stamped with black archival on dark green card.

I distressed the edges of the tag and the label then coloured with fired brick. The flower is made from copy paper that had been underneath flowers when I had been spraying them. I just added a bit of fired brick and script using the same ink.

I have tipped the edges of the leaves and flowers with distress stickles. The wine glasses have been covered with glossy accents, and the wine botttle has been sprayed with crafters companion glossy spray.

So that is my entry. So pop over to the TIO challenge blog and check out all the other fab samples, then pop back in a day or so and check out the entries. We get some fabulous entries, so diverse! The main thing is, just have fun, and remember to use at least one real stamp in your creation. I look forward to checking out your entries.

Please feel free to leave a comment. I so enjoy reading them. Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda xx

Inspired by Peacocks

2011-09-05T23:09:00.001+01:00

The CD Sunday challenge this week "Inspired by Peacocks". So I thought what better than Peacock Summer Party CD by Glenda Waterworth of Chocolate Baroque, who are this week sponsoring the challenge. I am very neglectful of my CD collection as I tend to just reach for stamps and ink when I am crafting, so I welcomed the opportunity to make use of these lovely CDs. I printed the bp on 160 gsm text and graphics and the peacocks on satin finish photo paper. I cut one peacock our using an oval nestie and then cut around the other so I could decoupage it over the oval. The oval has been inked around the edges using broken china DI as has my A5 base card. I have used glitter glue on the "eyes" in the peacock feathers. The border has been cut using an EK Success punch, then spotty ribbon from my stash added. The two curly corners have been cut using a die I have had for ages, and once in a while I remember it again and it gets another airing. So that's it! A short post as it really was quite quick and easy to put together.

Thanks for stopping by, and please feel free to leave a comment.

Wanda xx

Embossing

2011-09-02T21:09:00.002+01:00

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 168 - Let's Emboss It!

Ok, I have taken another photo this morning and replaced it. It was driving me mad! I don't know why I posted it last night at all. Think I was tired and not thinking straight?

The challenge this week set by Rainbow Lady is to do some embossing. I had a play this afternoon with a Creative Expressions embossing folder, some Wow embossing powder in a lovely shade of blue and a Papermania backing paper, and this is what I came up with.

Once I had embossing the white card, I then gentle shaded the raised parts with blue DI, then set about cutting out all the little squares in the trellis. I laid that over the bp. Then I cut out a frame using nesties, and laid that over the top, first sandwiching some spotty blue ribbon across the panel. I added a little blue bow to one side.

I then stamped and embossed two large irises and one small iris and coloured them with prismacolour pencils before cutting them out. The second large one I only wanted the three top petals for layering. I stuck the flowers down using glue gel.

So there you have it.

Better get going. I hadn't noticed the time, and we haven't eaten yet - yikes!!! What am I like.

Bye for now. Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda xx

Faux postage

2011-08-31T13:12:00.003+01:00

The challenge this week on Rainbow Lady's challenge, well last Thursday acrually, is Faux postage. I actually created this yesterday but forgot to post until just now! Yikes!!! Anyway, here it is

My base is a piece of grungeboard painted with black acrylic paint dabber, then covered with TH paper leaving a small border all round. Then I had loads of fun making all the mini postcards and stamps, using a wide variety of stamps. Sorry, I didn't make a note of all the stamps I used, but you get the idea. Most have been coloured with distress stains and coloured pencils. I then punched two holes in the top and added ribbon to hang. I searched high and low for metal chain I know I have somewhere but had to give up in the end. I bet it will turn up today!

I am entering my wall hanging into the Try It On Tuesday Challenge which is to alter something.

Bye for now. Thanks for looking.

Wanda xx

TIO #94 - Bed of Roses - a little light metal

2011-08-31T06:00:00.000+01:00

TIO # 94 - Bed of Roses, a little light metal

The next round of challenges over on the TIO challenge is Song Titles. Each design team member has to come up with a song title then we all have to create a tag around that theme. Cool Huh? The round is being kicked off by Elizabeth and she has chosen Bed of Roses by Bon Jovi, and is asking for a little light metal. I think this will be a popular theme. At least it is with me! It will have to go some to beat the record number of fabulous entries we had last week for Frankie's theme. some fabulous entries there were too.

Added to all this excitement, we have still more. Sadly, two of our design team, Zoe and Janet, have had to drop out owing to other commitments, so we have not one, not two, but THREE new design team members. You will have to pop over to the TIO challenge to see who they are, but it promises to provide you with some fabulous and very diverse samples to whet your whistles. So go on, pop over and take a look.You will be sorry if you don't. Then join in and show us what you can create. Just remember to use at least one real stamp in your creations.

Now back to my tag -

To start, I sprayed my tag with a light spritzing of water, then I coloured it with antique linen distress stain, blotting with a sponge to give texture. When the tag was dry, I coloured around the edges with distress ink in the same colour. I then set to work with my stamps. The stamps I used were TH Papillon and Mini Muse, Clarity Birds in Flight, and Artylicious Keys and Locks stamp plate.

The inks I used for my stamping were antique linen and chipped sapphire distress inks and archival coffee. Some of my stamping is second or third generation stamping.

I cut my flower layers from gold metal, by Woodware, using PaperArtsy dies. I then set about making my flower using a fabulous tutorial by the very talented Leandra Frannich. Her tutorial can be found on her PaperArtsy blog. Thanks Leandra, I so enjoyed giving it a go.

I followed her instructions, colouring my metal with a pitch black paint dabber, which I rubber off very gently, then I used alcohol inks in stream and purple twilight. The leaves were coloured in the same way but using clover alcohol inks instead. The TH flourish was coloured in the same way.

I then added my metal elements to my tag and, voila! So that's my entry this week.

Here is a hanging I made a little while ago, but it seems to fit in with the theme. Well, it does have a lot of metal!

All the metal elements were cut using a selection of dies from TH and PaperArtsy. They were cut from copper metal and coloured with alcohol inks. The three sections of the hanging were coloured using Eco acrylic paint in blue, then I overstamped. Sorry, I can't mention to stamps I used as I didn't make a note at the time.

The hinge at the top was cut from grungeboard. Strong stuff!

That's it from me for now. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. Now go on, give it a go. Surely we have given you enough inspiration to get those creative juices flowing.

I love to read your comments and thanks for taking to time to leave one.

Wanda xx

TIO#93 - "Travel - Make a Getaway"

2011-08-24T06:00:00.001+01:00

I can't believe how quickly this month has flown by. Here we are nearing the end of August. Just one more challenge then that's August put to bed.

I wasn't too sure which stamps to use for this challenge, set by our leader, Frankie, then decided upon a set called Vanezia by Ruber Stamp Concepts. It is the first time I have used this set. I think it will be getting quick a few airings! We are blown away by the talent and creativity we are seeing in your entries to the TIO challenge. You keep coming up trumps week after week. Anyhooo, back to my design team entry.

TIO #93 = "Travel - Make a Getaway"

The tag was coloured with Eco paints, using Sheena's crackle technique. I then swiped over it with broken china distress stain. Once this was dry I set to work with my stamps, Rubber stamp Concepts - Venezia, Creative Expressions - Tickets, and Crafty Individuals C1-307, and stazon inks in smokey grey and black.

I also stamped onto acetate with one of the images from the Venezia set and then adhered guilding flakes, Autumn Rose, on the reverse. I also stamped the work "Venezia" in the same way. Both were adhered to my tag.

I then stapled two tickets onto the tag. and two moulds made with ultra-tick EP and bronze and rose ep. Finally, I added ribbons from my stash along with a little bronze key, also from my stash.

I'm sure if you pop over to the TIO challenge blog you will be suitably inspired by the varied samples by my talented fellow design team buddies. Go on, give it a go, you know you want to. Frankie is speaking of making a sampler from this weeks entries. You might just be in it.

Thanks for stopping by. I love to read your comments.

Wanda xx

Child's Play

2011-08-17T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO#92 - Child's Play

Another week has flown by since the last TIO challenge. This week the challenge is set by Janet and she has chosen "Child's Play" as her theme. My problem was deciding which stamp to use. Having finally made that decision I set to work with a stamp by Sheena from her Little Bit Sketchy range. He is such a cute, cuddly little boy!

I coloured the tag with distress stains - broken china, peeled paint and wild honey. I only have five or six of these at the moment but NEED more! I stamped the child using black archival, and the birds, from Clarity Stamp with grey archival. The sentiment was also stamped using black archival. I then stamped the child again on a seperate piece of card and coloured in with prisma pencils, and paper pieced over the image on the tag.

Finally, I added ribbons from my stash, a narrow yellow ribbon and a polka dot pale blue organza.

Do pop over to Dragon's Dream TIO challenge, using the link above, and check out the fabulous entries by my fellow design team buddies. They really are amazing. Then let us see what you can come up with. I bet you have one or three child type stamps in your stash. Have fun and just remember to use at least one real stamp in your creation.

Bye for now.

Wanda xx

TIO # 91 - It's a Horses Life

2011-08-10T06:00:00.002+01:00

TIO #91 - It's a Horses Life

This week over on the TIO challenge, the theme is "It's a Horses Life" and it is set by my fellow design team buddy, Zoe.

I was able to use a set of stamps I bought a couple of weeks ago at a Craft Fair in Wrexham, from Stamp Addicts, Gypsy Caravan No 2, and Rural Scenery.

My background was created by swiping distress stains, broken china, spun sugar, peeled paint and wild honey across the tag, then dabbing with a wet wipe. I then edged with distress inks - tumbled glass and vintage photo.

I stamped the images in the rear with distress inks, shabby shutters and peeled paint. the main images have been stamped with sepia and black archival.

I have added a bit of shading to the main images with polycolour pencils.

Right, that's it. Short and sweet!

Below is another I made first. using the same tools but landscape this time. I decided it was a bit too busy so chose the one above as my design team entry.

Bye for now. Thanks for dropping by. I always look forward to reading your comments.

Wanda xx

Family Outing

2011-08-05T13:00:00.000+01:00

We went out for a meal to an Italian restaurant in Prestatyn last weekend to celebrate by daughter's birthday. Here she is pictured above, with my grandson, Jamie.

The picture above shows little Louis, my daughter's youngest, Sophie, Jamie's girlfiend, and Ellisha, by daughter's middle child. Not sure what Louis is doing there?

The picture above shows my son, Alex, in the foreground, and my son-in-law, Pete sitting next to him. They look content after their meals, don't they?

Louis, concentrating very hard on something.

Jamie, in thoughtful mode.

Louis, ready for mischief.

It was a lovely meal. We will certainly be going there again. Louis was as good as gold, considering he is only three. I took a picture of my OH but, as he was sitting right next to me, it looks as though he is about to eat me so I decided to leave it out!

By for now.

Wanda xx

Haute Couture

2011-08-04T13:00:00.000+01:00

I made this card for my daughter's birthday recently. It is very similar to one I made some time ago, same colour scheme, but this time I have added flowers, made with a new to me Marianne die. I am finding it really relaxing making flowers.

The image has been coloured with copic markers. The backing is made using swiss dots embossing folder, with broken china distress ink gently rubbed across. I have also inked the mat with my main image in the same way.

A few pearl gems, ribbon from my stash, and voila - a card!

Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda xx

Nature's Bounty

2011-08-03T06:00:00.008+01:00

TIO#90 - Nature's Bounty

The theme this week on Dragon's Dream tag it on challenge is set by me, and I have opted for "Nature's Bounty". It struck me that we are surrounded with all nature has to offer at the moment, from fruit to vegetables, and I noticed whilst walking to the post box the other day, that the blackberries are nearly ready for picking. There is an abundance of locally grown produce available at the moment. So I thought it would be an apt theme.

We are really impressed with all the fabulous entries we have the pleasure of checking out each week on your blogs. So thank you so much for dreaming along with us.

Now, on to my entry. As you can see I have opted for blackberries, from a Joanna Sheen stamp plate, and fungi from a Graphicus (now Chocolate Baroque) stamp plate. The sentiment is from a Sheena stamp plate.

I have stamped the berries and foliage using Whispers Markers, and the remainded with sepia archival. I have coloured my tag using broken china and scatered straw distress inks, and gone around the edges with vintage photo DI. I have coloured the images using aqua markers, which I have scribbled onto my craft sheet then spritzed with water so the colour is not too intense.

The fungi has been stamped on a separate tag, cut out and 3D mounted to give some dimension.

Lastly, I have plaited some twine and threaded this through the top of the tag. I would have preferred to use rafia but can't, for the life of me, find it. Isn't that always the way with these little used products?

I hope you will feel inspired by the design team entries to give it a go and show us your interpretation of "Nature's Bounty". Just remember, you must use at least one real stamp in your entry.

Bye for now. Thanks for stopping by. I love and appreciate your comments.

Wanda xx

Gossamer Felting

2011-08-02T13:19:00.000+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I atttended a super workshop at Stitch It in Llandudno with my friend, Elizabeth. I made the gossamer scarf, shown below. Firstly, we learnt about all the products that are available for felting. We then had the daunting task of deciding on our colour schemes. Now, to anyone who knows me, it will come as no surprise to learn that I am the queen of indecision. However, on this occasion, I found the decision making process relatively easy. I opted for pale blue with a smattering of pink. Not my usual colour choice, but I decided I wanted to do something different.

The day just flew by. Once we had laid our main colour of merino felt tops out onto the clear plastic sheet, three layers with a bit of cross-hatching, we then laid down our chosen quantity of contrast colour in various types of silk wools, giving our work as much texture as we wished.

The next step was to spray the peice liberally with soapy water, then lay another piece of clear plastic on top. Then the work began, firstly with pre-felting to start the binding process, then the felting, then we washed and rinsed our scarves.

Definately something I will be doing again. I have since watched a u-tube video where the lady demonstrating used bubble wrap instead of clear plastic, and rolled the work up, firstly from one end and then from the other, rolling the work about 100 times from each direction.

Bye for now. Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda xx

TIO#89 - Pressing Matters

2011-07-27T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO #89 - Pressing Matters

My, how the weeks are flying by over on the Dragon's Dream TIO challenge blog. The number of fabulous entries seems to be increasing week by week. This week the challenge is set for us my the very talented Helen and her theme is "Pressing Matters". She is looking for embossing of any kind, and, of course the use of at least one real stamp.

For my entry this week I have used stamps from TH Papillon and Mini Muse stamp sets. I have coloured my tag using Spun Sugar and Tumbled Glass distress inks, edging my pieces with Broken China and Victorian Velvet DI's. I have stamped and embossed the Papillon text using Magenta Twinkle WOW embossing powder. The embossed section to the right uses the Butterfly Vine embossing folder. My butterflies are also from the Papillon stamp plate and have been embossed using the same ep. The sentiment on the small tag is from the Mini Muse stamp plate and has been embossed using Magenta Twinkle WOW ep, over a spun sugat DI base.

The flowers have been made using new to me dies, I think they are Marianne, from TH Vintage Shabby papers.

The ribbons and gems on the butterfly bodies are from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by. I always love to read your comments and to check out your entries. Pop on over the the TIO blog and check all the fabulous design team entries for inspiration then let us see your take on this weeks theme.

Bye for now.

Wanda xx

TIO#88 - Look to the Skies

2011-07-20T06:00:00.036+01:00

TIO#88 - Look to the Skies

The challenge this week, over on Dragon's Dream TIO challenge, is set by Elizabeth who has decided we should all "Look to the Skies". Well, this conjures up all sorts of images in my head. I thought about planes, birds, kites, but then settled on balloons. They look so serene and peaceful, don't they? Hardly a sound is made as they pass over. I would just love to go up in one, but wimp that I am, kI have never dared! So I decided to make them the focal point of my dream.

Firstly, I stamped and masked off my three balloons (Clarity Stamps), then I spritzed my tag with a mixture of Cosmic Shimmer Mist in Mango Blaze, Sticky Fingers mist in Frost, and Moonglow Glitz Spritz in Dessert Moon Endless Sky.

I then inked around the edges of my tag with Shabby Shutters, Mustard Seed and Tumbled Glass distress inks. Next was the rest of the stamping, some script (Stamp Camp)secondary stamping in a couple of places in Archival sepia, then the trees (Clarity Stamps)at the base in Olympic green archival, with some secondary stamping for depth. The birds (Clarity Stamps) are stamped in black archival secondary stamping. The clouds, also secondary stamping are by A Stamp in the Hand.

I then distressed the edges using a TH distresser then ran around the edges with black archival.

The strands, disc with "F" on it, and TH "Journey" tag are all from my stash.

Do pop over and check out the samples from my super talented design team buddies, and check out their blogs. You are sure to be filled with inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by. I love to read your comments.

Wanda xx

Picking Flowers

2011-07-14T22:30:00.000+01:00

Here is a card I made today for my grand daughter's birthday, which is tomorrow. I had intended to go with pink and blue, but somehow I ended up with green and lemon! Now how did that happen? Image coloured with copic markers. Not sure where the backing paper came from. The flower centres were made using dies then these were mounted onto flowers from my stash. The sentiment is stamped in black and cut out using a nestie. Ribbon from my stash.

Sorry it is such a short post. OH has just made me a hot chocolate!

Bye for now.

Wanda xx

TIO#87 - Project Tim Holtz

2011-07-13T06:00:00.001+01:00

The challenge this week on Dragon's Dream tag it on challenge blog is Project Tim Holtz, set by our leader Frankie. I have purchased a couple of the mini series of TH stamps recently so decided, of course, that I would use those.

I decided to opt for the TH dabber resist technique, so I fished out the only white I had which is, in actual fact, pearls, and repeat stamped the flourish from one of the said sets. I left this to dry then, as I don't have any of the stains - yet, I used a glimmer mist in Cherry Blossom and a cosmic shimmer mist in Ocean Sunlight on my tag. I then edged it with tattered rose and broken china distress inks. I stamped a couple of images using the same inks, then over-stamped in black stazon. I stamped umbrella man in black versacolour then embossed in black. I then mounted him on the wire so he is high wire walking. I distressed the edges using the TH paper distresser, then edged in black stazon.

The vintage seam binding has been coloured using the same distress inks, then stamped in black stazon using the harlequin design. I added the ribbon then finaly I added the ball chain with the token which says "believe".

I hope you approve of my take on a TH project. Must go the steamer has just pinged!

Please do pop over to the TIO challenge blog and check out the fabulous entries by my design team buddies. They really do produce some amazing work. Then give it a go - show us what you can come up with. We love to see your entries and we try to comment on each one. Just remember to use at least one real stamp in your creation.

Bye for now. Thanks for dropping by. I love to read your comments.

Wanda xx

Age of Chivalry

2011-07-06T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO #86 - Age of Chivalry

The theme this week over on Dragon's Dream TIO challenge is "Age of Chivalry" and is set for us by Janet.

I have used a stamp set by Tanda stamps for all of my images. The knight is stamped onto metal using black stazon, then cut out, andf 3D mounted onto my tag. I have used DI's in pumice stone, putty and black soot for my background and have stamped my images with the same DI's and black stazon where I wanted more emphasis.

The fleur de lis and crown have been cut using TH dies and a nestie for the larger fleur de lis. I have then run the die cuts through my cuttlebug using a script embossing folder. Sanded the raised script then brushed over very lightly with black soot DI.

Finally, I have made the rossette, using a mould and ultra thick EP, to which I have added bronze and gold EP. I have brushed over the raised areas very lightly with old gold rub and buff, kbut have to admit this isn;t showing very well in the photo. I thought the rossette could signify the war of the roses. Not sure if I have the right era in history though (not my strong point!)

That's it for now. A cup of tea calls. Do pop over to the TIO challenge block and check out the entries by my super talented design team buddies. Then let's see what you can come up with. We love popping over to your blogs.

Bye for now. I love reading your comments so do let me know what you think of my entry. And I know my fellow design team love to receive your comments too. Even more, we love looking sat your entries.

Wanda

TIO#85 - Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Sea

2011-06-29T06:00:00.002+01:00

I have had such a busy week that I haven't posted anything on my blog since the last TIO challenge last week. Working, baby sitting, boring housey stuff, etc. etc. I have nearly finished a card for a swap so will post that in a day or three, once I think it has arrived with the recipient. Other than that, I have a busy time ahead for the next few weeks so will do the best I can. I'm sure many of you are in the same boat, what with school holidays, annual holidays, etc.

TIO#85 - Of I Do Like To Be Beside The Sea

This week the theme over on Dragon's Dream TIO challenge is set by Zoe, and she is asking us to come up with a tag to suit the theme "Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Sea". Well, I got all excited and pulled out some seaside moulds I bought not long ago and my air drying clay and set to work. I have been dying to use them. As you can see from my tag, I made a selection of shells, a seahorse and a star fish.

Now I can hear you all thinking, this tag is under the sea rather than beside the sea. Quite right! It's just what I decided to do. I suppose you could be sitting by the seaside thinking of all the creatures beneath the surface of the ocean. So I decided to go with it. Hope I haven't confused you?

The stamps I have used are from Crafty Individuals and Artylicious by Chocolate Baroque. The sugar craft moulds used to make the seashells, etc. are from a local store. I used air drying clay which I left to set overnight, then coloured with a combination of acrylic paints and mica powders.

My fish have been coloured with H20's. I have shaded my tag with a selection of blue and green distress inks, and then I have sprayed lightly with Cosmic Shimmer Mists in Meadow Lush and Ocean Sunlight. I added the bubbles with frosted lace stickles. The fish charm and strands are from my stash. The weeds have been stamped using distress inks and the sentiment with black archival.

Thanks for stopping by. I love to read your comments. Please pop over to the TIO challenge and take a look at all the entries by my very talented design team colleagues, and then give it a go. We are encouraged by the growing interest in the TIO challenge. We love to see your entries and try to comment on every single one.

Bye for now.
Wanda xx

TIO #84 - Let's Face It

2011-06-22T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO #84 - Let's Face It

The challenge this week on Dragon's Dream TIO challenge is set my me, and I am asking you to dream "Let's Face It" I am fascinated by faces. I think you can read so much of a person's character in their face, don't you? The number of entries over on the TIO challenge seems to be increasing week by week and we are so encouraged by this and very grateful for your support. We love popping over to your blogs to have a bit of a nosey!

So here is my entry to set the challenge off to a start:

Stamps used: Main image by Judikins, Dream word from the Art Nouveau plate by Creative Expressions, Visage word is part of a freebee with Craft Stamper from a plate by the Stamp Man.

The swirl is, of course, by TH. The face at the bottom is as a result of one of my new toys - a Karantha mould. I used UTEE, then brushed over it with old gold rub and buff. The cream lace, narrow ribbon and strands are from my stash.

DI's used: Spun Sugar, Tattered Rose and Vintage Photo.

Thanks for dropping by. I am so encouraged by your comments, and I love popping over to your blogs to check out your entries.

Bye for now.

Wanda xx

Thingamijig

2011-06-18T22:27:00.000+01:00

Here is the Father's Day card I made for my son to give to his dad tomorrow. I think it will make him laugh. My son thinks it's cool! So there you have it, on good authority.

Lots of antique linen DI, black Eco paint, old gold rub and buff, typed sentiments and an Eco steampunk stamp plate and, of course, TH cogs, backed up by an embossing folder. Oh, and acetate on the dial. Oh, then I made another one just like it for my step-father. Not sure what he will make of it though.

Sorry it's short and sweet but I'm off to bed now.

Wanda xx

Thanks for dropping by.

TIO #83 - Numbers Game

2011-06-15T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO #83 - Numbers Game.

The weeks just seem to be flying past. This week the lovely and talented Helen sets the theme over on Dragon's Drream TIO challenge. I started out with something very predictable, then decided to do something completely different, which I eventually decided should be by sample for my design team entry. However, I thought I might just as well let you see the other two pieces here. I say two when in actual fact, they arre the same other than the change in colours.

So, without further ado, here is my design team entry, followed by the other two I had made first:

The first tag uses a lovely TH dress pattern embossing folder which was part of a parcel sent to me by my friend, and fellow design team member, Janet. It just had to have an airing! I stamped the inside of the folder with a texture stamp, which is part of a sewing set by Creative Expressions, using spiced marmalade DI. I then embossed so the raised areas are free of the stamping. I then wiped over the raised areas with the same inkpad, then around the edges of the piece with vintage photo DI. The dressmakers dummy is from the same stamp plate and the two numbers are from the games set by Creative Expressions. The numbers have been stamped in archival sepia, then I have added diamond glaze over the top. The half flower is from my stash, as are the lace and ribbon. The ribbon through the top of the tag I have stamped with a tape measure stamp from the sewing plate, then smooshed it in DI on my messy mat.

The second and third tags use the games stamp plate by Creative Expressions and are virtually the same apert from the colours of the DI's I have used. Don't ask me which colours I used as I can;t remember off-hand! Again, I have stamped the ribbons through the top of the tags, on one with symbols from the games plate, and the other with the tape measure from the sewing plate. Both tags had first been stamped with a hessian stamp from the sewing plate.

Do check out the fabulous entries by my fellow design team friends over on Dragon's Dream TIO challenge. And then let us see what you can create for this theme.

Thanks for dropping by. I love to read your comments. And please leave a link back to your blog so I come and have a nosey!

Wanda xx

Walk on the Wild Side!

2011-06-14T13:33:00.000+01:00

I just had to show you some pictures I took this morning at the top of the field that forms part of my back garden. Some top soil was dumped there last year and, obviously, it contained a wealth of wild flower seeds. I had been destined to be strimmed but other more pressing tasks just got in the way, and thank goodness for that. I think it is just beautiful. And I so nearly missed it. Those poppies don't last for long. I was just coming out of my craft room and I looked up and there it was before me. Now I know I walk in and out of the craft room just about every day but I just haven't looked up - until today.

Isn't the pink mulit layered poppy lovely? So glad I didn't miss this spectacle,, right in my back garden.

Bye for now. Shopping calls.

Wanda xx

Winged Things

2011-06-08T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO Challenge #82 - Winged Things

The challenge this week over on the TIO blog is set by my team mate, Elizabeth, and the theme she has chosen is "Winged Things". I immediately remembered a flurry of butterflies stamp from Inkadinkado that I have been dying to christien, so out it came.

I painted my tag with black eco acrylic paint then stamped and embossed a swirl ising clear EP, around the left side and bottom of the tag. I then painted over the entire tag with lavender eco acrylic paint, the clear emobssing resisted this second coat of paint. This is actually a TH technique and t has also been featured in Technique Junkies some time ago. I then stamped the butterfly flurry and embossed with silver sparkle WOW EP. The letter "F" is from a chipboard set I have had for ages. It actually had a coloured coating but I over-painted it with black. Then that was dry I rubbed silver rub and buff all over it to give the effect of metal. The large butterfly has been cut using a marianne die from grunger paper which has been coloured with milled lavender DI, then icicle stickles has been rubbed all over, then black gems have been stuck down the body. The chain and clasp are TH and the little dragonfly is a recent purchase whilst at Port Sunlight last month.

I had such a lovely, messy time making this tag. If you haven't already done so, why don't you join us over on the TIO challenge and show us your interpretation of the theme "Winged Things".

Thanks for dropping by. Your comments are appreciated.

Wanda xx

Time Piece

2011-06-01T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO #81 - Time Piece

The challenge this week over on Dragon's Dream TIO challenge is Time Piece and the theme is set my our leader, Frankie. I immediately remembered a set of stamps I bought a long time ago from Graphicus (now Chocolate Baroque) and decided I wanted to fit a single rose with the sentiment from the same stamp sheet into my design.

I started by stamping a script all over the time embossing folder using vintage photo DI. Then I put the tag through my the cuttlebug so the script appears as if behind the embossed image (I'm really into this technique at the moment). I them lightly brushed over the raised design with an embossing pad then brushed copper mica pigment to catch only the embossed raised design. I lightly strayed cheap hari spray over to fix the mica. I attached a little clock face to the centre of the embossed clockface. Then I stamped out the single rose and coloured it in using inktense pencils and sansador. This I cut out and I stamped, coloured and cut out just the centre of the rose to 3D mount for added dimension. Finally, I stamped out the sentiment using vintage photo DI, cut it out, and went around the edges with the same DI pad. I stamped out the word "time" in black archival, coloured it lightly with the same inktense pencil as the rose and added glossy accents to it before adhering it over the same word in the sentiment.

As a final touch, I added the ribbon from my stash.

Please check out the fab entries by my fellow teamies on the TIO challenge blog, then let us see what you can create. We always love seeing your creations.

Bye for now. Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are always very welcome.

Wanda xx

Little Bag Workshop

2011-05-29T20:58:00.000+01:00

This little bag is the fruits of my labours at at workshop I attended at Stitch It in Llandudno on Saturday with Elizabeth, a fellow blogger and fellow design team member on Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge, and Jean. We had a fantastic time. I had the devils own job deciding which fabrics to use but in the end, with Jean's help, I settled on the fabrics you can see in my little bag, and I thank Jean for her help. I am more than happy with the choice.

Now I have had my sewing machine since Christmas 2004 when OH bought it as my main Christmas present. However, after reading the instructions and then having a little play I put it away in disgust as I couldn't get on with the automatic needle threader. I have wanted to get going with a bit of sewing and had recently bought my fabrics planning to start a bit of patchwork so this workshop was the perfect opportunity to get me kick started with my "new" machine. Now, I did have a little plactice but, just to be sure, I took the instruction book with me (I was the only attendee needing instructions for their machine - not instilling much confidence in the instructor). Just as well I had the book as I had to change bobbin thread almost immediately. Yikes - what a start!

However, once I had got over my sheer terror of using the machine, I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and will be attending more in the future. No major mishaps during the day unlike poor Elizabeth who stitched her base to the wrong end of the bag! Mind you, wiith Jean's help it was soon unpicked and stitched to the base. She ended up with a lovely creation in blue. Now if you had asked me what colours she would chose I could safely have opted for blue! Jean made a very sophisticated black and white bag with little red hearts, using a lovely contrast in fabrics.

The day just flew by and was a complete change to paper crafts. My bag is still destined to have some embellishments added, such as beads at the ends of the ribbons (although I may change my drawstring to cord) and something in the centre of each heart, though I haven't decided what yet. Anyway, it is complete and I am itching to make another couple at least.

Bye for now. Thanks for dropping by. And do feel free to leave a comment. I always love reading them.

Wanda xx

Dragon's Dream TIO challenge #80 - Fishes

2011-05-25T06:00:00.002+01:00

Dragons Dream TIO challenge #80 - "Fishes"

My friend, and fellow design team member on the TIO challenge, Janet has just gone home today after spending just over a week here with me in North Wales. We had a craft-packed time, with a trip to HSNW at Port Sunlight a week last Saturday, then a Sheena Douglass Paint Fusion workshop at Port Sunlight last Saturday. In between we managed to pack in a few trips into Llandudno to the craft shops and a sugar craft shop and a trip to Abakhan for wools to indulge our new found passion for needle felting. Added to this was a little actual crafting and a meal or three out. I know I had a fabulous time and I hope she did too.

Now, however, I need to get back to the matter in hand - this weeks challenge over on Dragon's Dream TIO challenge, which is "Fishes". This weeks theme has been set my Janet.

I cut my tag out using the TH large tag die. My background is brayered using the waterfall big and juicy inkpad after the brayer had been inked then run over crumpled paper to give the illusion of ripples in the water. My stamps are from a set from Graphicus. I have stamped the fish and seaweed directly onto the tag, then stamped them again onto a seperate cheet of card. These have been coloured using promarkers, then cut out and mounted over the same images stamped on the tag.

I have added some suitably coloured strands of wool from my stash and a couple of fishy charms, also from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by, and, if you haven't already done so, why not take a look on the TIO challenge blog at all the other fabulous design team samples for a bit of inspiration, then put in an entry yourself. We would all love to see what you can come up with.

As always, your comments are gratefully received.

Bye for now.

Wanda xxx

All the Write Postage

2011-05-18T06:00:00.001+01:00

TIO #79 - All the Write Postage

Not had much time for posting these past few days. The time has just flown by. My good friend, and fellow design team member, Janet, has come to stay for just over a week. We went to HSNW at Port Sunlight for the day on Saturday. It is always a fabulous show. My feet (and back) were exhausted by the end of the day though! A lovely meal out on Sunday, a day at Abakhan today (with lunch), then a bit of crafting. We plan a day in Llandudno, another meal out on Wednesday evening, and on Saturday we will be fusioneering with Sheena at Port Sunlight.

Anyway, enough chat. On to my tag for this weeks challenge. Zoe is hosting this week so please do pop over to the TIO challenge blog and check out the fabulous offerings by my fellow design team members.

It was great fun going through my stamp collection to find suitable stamps for this challenge. Remember ink bottles, and quill pens? No, me neither! I do, however, remember going into the Post Office and watching mail etc. being stamped by the assistant, and twice daily deliveries and collections several times a day. I still have my stamp collection from back then - somewhere! Everything in the post office seemed to be made of wood then, didn't it?

Now on to my interpretation of the theme. My stamps are by Hampton Art - Dragonfly Collage, Paper Artsy, Dimension Fourth - post mark, and Joanna Sheen grab bag - ink bottle and quill. Some of my background stamping is secondary stamping. The Air Mail and Postcard have been stamped on seperate card, cut out and mounted using 3D glue for a bit of dimension. The twine, from my stash was much paler but I smooshed it through the same DI on my messy mat and sprayed with the water mister to age it.

Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are always greatly appreciated.

Wanda xxx

TIO #78 - Texturise It!

2011-05-11T06:00:00.001+01:00

Dragon's Dream TIO challenge #78

For my first tag I have painted a crackle effect using Eco paints in pure copper and clamshell over, with a coat of pva glue between layers. I then stamped the flora using creative expressions meadow flora and british wild flowers theme plates. In the background, over the crackle effect, I have stamped a script in one or two places using adirondack butterscotch dye ink although this is very hard to see in a picture. Next I added some copper mica powder to texture paste and used the mini cosmic swirl mask by crafters workshop to achieve the swirls down the left hand side of the tag. The piece of torn paper started life as yellow, to which I added scattered straw DI, over stamped with the script stamp, then put it through a paper rippler.

The bird is a chipboard shape I purchased recently from I know not where. I coloured it with vintage photo DI, then golden green sparkle cosmic shimmer EP. It wasn't glittery enough for my liking, so I went over it with frosted lace stickles.

The rosette is made from a TH die (the large one unfortunately as I am still waiting for the smaller one to be delivered). It is made from a scrap of green scrapbook paper over stamped with that script stamp. Finally the gem was added from my stash as were the strands.

Now on to my second tag:

Firstly, I inked the tag with spun sugar and broken china DI. This was overstamped with that script stamp (stamp camp) in a couple of areas using broken china DI. Then in a couple of other areas I inked through sequin waste using the same ink pad. I then inked up a foliage background stamp with broken china and stamped this onto the negative side of a crackle embossing folder then ran my tag through the cuttlebug. I inked the raised pattern with vintage photo DI and brushed copper mica powder over the wet ink on the raised pattern.

The bird was cut from grunge paper, using another TH die. I applied texture paste to which I had added pitch black DI, which made it a sort of grey colour. I allowed it to "go off" a little then I inked a flourish stamp with pitch black DI and pressed that gently into the paste on the bird. The feather, strands and cord with beads at the ends were added from my stash.

As I am sure you will appreciate, I had a lot of messy fun creating these two tags!

The flourish was cut from metal using a TH die. This was then coloured with alcohol inks in stream, pitch black, caramel and slate. Grunge paper was used to cut the scrollwork border using another TH die. This was coloured with broken china DI, then distress crackle in clear was added over the top. I then applied pitch black DI to age it a bit and, hopefully, make it look a bit more like aged metal.

Well, that's it for now. Do pop over to the TIO challenge blog and check out all the other design team entries, then HAVE A GO! You can have so much fun with texture. Imagine the possibilities.

Bye for now and, thanks for dropping by. I love reading all your comments.

Wanda xxx

White on White

2011-05-10T18:23:00.000+01:00

Less Is More challenge #14 - White on White

This is the first time I have entered this challenge although I have been looking in for quite a long time.

My card is A5 white linen card. On the bottom I have added a panel of the same card that has been put through a swiss dots embossing folder. Then I have scored two lines above that. The flower, foliage and butterflies are all cut from vellum using various dies. I have edged the wings of the butterflies in irridescent ep and the petals of the flower with ice lace stickles. No sentiment as yet as I am not sure how the card will be used. That's it, short and sweet.

Thanks for dropping by.
Wanda xxx

Lady in Red

2011-05-06T19:46:00.000+01:00

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 151 - Lady in Red

The challenge over on Rainbow Lady's challenge blog this week is another song title "The Lady in Red". Love that song!

I am trying very hard to post on my blog more frequently, not necessarily every day, but more often than I did. I just don't know where my days go, but before I know it, it is the evening again! I actually made this card this morning (see, I started out well enough today, but don't know what happened to the afternoon, I came back for lunch then got engrossed in a bit of needle felting and knitting, as you do).

Anyway, I digress. My card uses a stamp from a plate by Creative Expressions. I stamped onto white card, coloured the flesh and hair with copics, then paper-pieced the dress, hat and shoes using paper from a christmas pack I bought years ago (I forgot to check who it was by). The image was cut out using a nestie, then a faux nestie, using the same size die for the black card backing the image. I have edged the image with black soot DI. This is mounted using 3D foam onto my backing, which uses a paper from my precious Graphicus guild paper pack (I decided I had been stroking it quite long enough and it was high time I started using it).

The border uses a MS ribbon punch, threaded with red gross grain polka dot ribbon. The same ribbon has been used for the bow.

It's just a pity I didn't make it back into my craft room this afternoon as I had intended. Never mind, tomorrow is another day!

Thanks for stopping by. As always I love to read your comments. And I promise not to accidentally delete yours this time Helen!

Wanda xxx

Travels in Europe

2011-05-04T19:45:00.001+01:00

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 150 - Take a Town, City or Country Break

The challenge this week over on Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog is to Take a Town, City or Country Break. I love mini city breaks, so thought I would opt for this set of stamps from Crafty Individuals. I have tinted my little squares with blue stream DI, then gone around the edges with vintage photo DI. I have over stamped the images with sepia archival ink. My backing paper is from Joanna Sheen, the Da Vinci pad - I just love this pad of papers. Finally, I have tinted the edges of my 6" square base card with blue stream DI. My bp and each of the squares and the city names across the bottom are all mounted onto bronze cardstock, a very useful purchase from a craft shop in Llandudno.

I'm afraid one of the squares looks a bit squiffy. The battery on my camera had died so I had to scan the card and the silicone wasn't quite dry!

As my back is still playing up I didn't want to spend too much time bending over my craft desk, so out of necessity this is a quick card but nonetheless I rather like it. Hope you do too.

Thanks for dropping by. I love to read your comments.

Wanda xxx

T

TIO #77 - Colour my World Purple

2011-05-04T12:00:00.002+01:00

TIO #77 "Colour My World Purple"

Well here we are again. Where do the weeks go? They just seem to fly by. Is that a sign of age? No, don't answer that!

The theme this week over at Dragon's TIO Challenge is "Colour my World Purple". The challenge is to use purple with maybe one additional colour. My design team buddy, Helen, is hosting the challenge this week. Her work is fabulous.

I decided to stick mainly to shades of purple.

I wanted to use this particular stamp plate as it is one I have had for quite a while and it hasn't seen the light of day yet. I thought it would work quite well with purple, so off I went for a session for inky, messy fun - my favourite type of crafting.

I smooshed three different shades of purple adirondack dye ink onto my craft sheet, spritzed it with a pearl mica spray, then smooshed my tag around in it until I had the background I wanted. I then gently swiped a purple inkpad across the tag diagonally to give the effect of rain. I then lightly stippled a pink dye adirondack ink pad in a couple of places just to give a bit of relief.Then I started stamping some of the small stamps from the photographic plate from Creative Expressions, mostly second stamping. I like the rain drops on the plate so that was next, slightly darker shade of purple dye ink. Then I added the splodge from the Art plate by Creative Expressions in one or two places.

Next was the two sentiments in my darkest shade of purple. Finally, I stamped the man with the umbrella set against the rain using stazon imperial purple quickly followed with clear embossing powder, just to make him stand out from the background.

Finally, I grunged the edges, swiped the imperial purple stazon around the edges, then dipped into clear EP and heated. Lastly, I added the strands from my stash. They were slightly multi-coloured so I smooshed them in the inks on the craft mat so they would tie in.

Such good fun.

If you use the link above it will take you to the TIO challenge blog and you can check out the inspiration from my fellow design team buddies, then have a go! Go on, you know you want to.

Thanks for dropping by. Your comments are greatly appreciated.
Bye for now,
Wanda xxx

Grungy Messy Fun!

2011-04-27T20:00:00.000+01:00

I decided to have a play with some new stamps and dies from Paper Artsy this afternoon. Out came the grunge paper which seemed a must for the flower dies (next time I plan to try metal). Next I selected some distress inks and glimmer mists. Then I set to!

Firstly, I inked the base card (6" x 6") using a couple of colour dusters and crushed olive and tattered rose DIs. Then I over stamped some text (a very useful stamp from Stamp Camp) at the top left and bottom right. I then stamped the images from a new Paper Artsy plate in black versafine ink.

I cut out the flowers and leaves from grungepaper, then set about applying some colour with DIs in crushed olive and peeled paint for the leaves, and tattered rose, victorian velvet and worn lipstick for the flowers. Then I used glimmer mist in cherry blossom on the flowers and sticky fingers liquid lustre in christmas gree on the leaves. Once they were dried I over stamped using the paper artsy stamps and black stazon. I put one flower on top of the other then added a black button (with black thread tied in a knot) from my stash, and fixed the whole lot to my base card using glue gel.

And what a lovely, messy time I had!

Must dash, spag bol is on the hob and now needs my attention.

Thanks for stopping by. I love to read your comments.

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
Simon Says - Show Some Buttons!

Wanda xxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #149 "Sweet Treats for Easter"

2011-04-27T18:56:00.000+01:00

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #149 - Sweet Treats for Easter"
I am coming in just under the wire with this one! I just don't know where my week has gone. I was determined to start joining in again.

Anyway, onto the card. I have used the Messy Rabbit CD for my main image and backing paper, printed onto text & graphics 160gsm. I have edged the main image with a lavender brilliance ink pad.

The yellow ribbon is from my stash. I have decoupaged parts of the main image, including the little buzzy bee, then I have used irridescent glitter to highlight the curly trail behind the bee. Lastly, I have used glossy accents to highlight the decoration on the eggs.

A quick card and explanation but it made me use a CD and that can't be bad!

Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are always greatly appreciated.

Wanda xxx

Dragon's Dream TIO #76 - Something with a Pocket

2011-04-27T12:20:00.000+01:00

With a butterfly?

Or without a butterfly?

TIO #76 - Something with a Pocket
My sample for my second week on the design team for Frankie's fantastic challenge blog. Elizabeth set the challenge this week for "Something with a Pocket". I knew straight away what she would be doing. As it just so happens I attended a super weekend retreat with her at Paddy's recently, and we were doing needle felting, which we all fell in love with. And as part of our pieces there, we were making a pocket with needle felting! So I decided instead to use a nestie for my pocket.

I couldn't decide whether the butterfly was out of place or not. It probably is, isn't it?

Anyway, my tag is made using a piece of double sided backing paper. For the life of me I can't remember where it is from though. I used a stamp plate by the talented Sam Poole who designs for Creative Expressions. It is the Art plate and has some fantastic splodges and drips on it. I used a few DI's for the paint colours. I inked up the art definition words from the same plate with old paper DI and stamped it all over the background. I then inked around the edges with old paper, then just at the very edges with vintage photo DIs. I added faux stitching around the tag, which I decided belatedly decided should be in the shape of an apron, and also around the pocket. Then I put paint brushes, courtesy of the same stamp plate, into the pocket. I inked the red ribbon with DI, aged mahagony, to try and make it tie in and added it as the ties on the apron. At the last minute I decided to add a little glittered butterfly, or should I? So I photographed it both with and without to see what you think.

Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are always greatly appreciated. And do pop over and check out the fabulous entries from my fellow design team members.

Bye for now.
Wanda xxx

Pictures of my Garden

2011-04-22T15:53:00.000+01:00

As I can't do much in the way of crafting at the moment as I have injured my back, I though I would show you a few views of my back garden. The main reason for taking pictures in the first place is the magnolia is in bloom as we have never had so many flowers on it before. So the picture below shows the magnolia with our little summer house in the background.

The second photo is a closer look at the summer house. In need of a lick of paint I think! The third photo is a view od one corner of the garden with the garage at the rear.

I'm feeling really frustrated at the moment as I just can't get comfortable to do anything. If I sit for too long I seize up, so I can't sit and read a book. I do hope it improves soon.

I have been making slow progress with my wall hanging, but I will get there in the end. I have been practising using my sewing machine - a Christmas present in 2004 that has hardly seen the light of day so far. Anyway, I am impressed with what it can do, and I haven't even tried changing the feet yet. Think I will try a bit more needle felting just now.

Bye for now. I will try and get a crafty post done soon.

Wanda

TIO #75 - Birds

2011-04-20T14:00:00.002+01:00

TIO # 75 - Birds

The theme this week over on Dragon's Dream TIO challenge is "birds, as you will" and I am delighted to be on the "Dream Team" for Frankie along with some very talented crafters. So make sure you check out their blogs.

I have started with a cream blank tag over which I have placed a crafters workshop mask through which I have stippled mustard seed DI. I have them put the tag through my trusty cuttlebug with a creative expressions embossing folder. I have then lightly brushed over the raised design with tumbled glass DI then applied a pale blue mica powder while the ink was still wet. I don't know if you can catch the shimmer, but it looks lovely irl.

I then cut a piece of acetate the same size as my tag and stamped a selection of penny black and lavinia stamps over it. Finally, using my new paper artsy stamps and dies, I stamped and cut out the cage and bird onto grunge paper and coloured them with the same DIs. The sentiment is also from paper artsy. Lastly, I have added a blue feather and ribbon, ricrac and fibres from my stash.

Thanks for stopping bye. As always, I appreciate your comments. Please do check out the inspiration from my fellow Dream Team friends and then post your entry over on the Dragon's Dream TIO challenge blog.

Wanda. xxx

TIO #74 A Tag by any other Shape

2011-04-18T21:28:00.000+01:00

TIO #74 - A Tag by any other Shape

A little late this week I know, but I have been away for the weekend crafting with Paddy. And what a fantastic weekend it was. Two action packed days, learning new techniques. I have now fallen in love with needle felting. It is a bit like peanuts, you just can't stop once you have started. My creation isn't quite finished. I wanted to do a bit more work on it at home. I finished my felting for a pocket today. Next is to embellish the wall hanging. Hopefully, it will be on here in a few days. We did fabric painting, including a lovely resist technique, metal work, bead making using polymer clay (really like that too), a little bit of embroidery, applique if you so desired, or fabic decoupage, and of course, felting. I'm really pleased with how my creation is taking shape.

Anyway, back to this weeks tag. A little rushed as I felt I must get it done today, rather than leaving it until tomorrow morning. You never know what might get in the way.

I have used a nestie shape for my tag. I left it in the die while I inked it up with wild honey DI. I then stamped over with text using the same DI. I then stamped the buttefly by Elusive Images, and the quote, using black archival ink. I then stamped the butterfly again onto another piece of card, and coloured this one with copic markers. I added a little crystal glitter to the "eyes" in the wings. It was difficult to stop the glitter from sticking to the coloured areas, so don't look too closely!

Bye for now. Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome.

Wanda.

TIO challenge no 74 - Tag it on the side with paint & paper

2011-04-03T19:54:00.000+01:00

Dragon's Dream TIO challenge #74 TIO on the Side with Paint and Paper A chance to get messy and inky with this challenge - lovely. I didn't know where this one was going when I started. I just decided to do the crackle technique with my Eco acrylic paints as a start. Then I decided to use the big flower I made ages ago with gold tissue paper, and rose made by swirling ribbon around (the ribbon waas wrapped around a box of chocolates). Added a swirl courtesy of a Sir Tim die, a sentiment from a stamp plate from Graphicus (now Chocolate Baroque), a glass centred brad from my stash, and lastly, the ribbons to finish, a recent purchase from the NEC. Great fun to make. Please feel free to leave a comment. Bye for now. Wanda

A Little Night Music

2011-04-03T18:37:00.000+01:00

Challenge 146 - A Night at the Movies

This is the challenge this week over at Rainbow Lady's challenge blog. This stamp from a set my The Stamp Man immediately came to mind, as did the film title. So I set to with stamps, inkpads and brayer, and a background stamps, to put my idea onto card, so to speak. The sentiment is from the same sheet of stamps from The Stamp Man, I can't remember where the harlequin background stamp is from. It is one I have had for ages. The inks are adirondak dye ink pads. The border was made using a MS punch and the ribbon is from my stash. The backing paper is from Graphicus (now Chocolate Baroque). Sorry the picture is a bit squiffy!

Bye for now. Comments always welcome.

Wanda

Knowledge

2011-03-29T18:47:00.000+01:00

Here is card for a man I created this morning, no particular challenge in mind for this one. The main image is from Fashion Boutique CD by Joanna Sheen, as is the newsprint backing paper. The brown behind that is a scrap from my stash. My main image is mounted on a nestie. The sentiment stamp is on a block I bought from Stamp Addicts (useful stamp this). The twine is also from my stash (it was much paler but I darkened it with vintage photo DI. The card candy is also from my stash. Thanks for dropping by. I am trying to be a better blogger so I hope you will feel the need to drop by more often now. Bye for now. Wanda. xxx

Tie a Yellow Ribbon

2011-03-28T18:35:00.000+01:00

Rainbows Lady's Challenge #145 - Tie a Yellow Ribbon

What am I like? No posts for ages then two in one day. The card above is my entry to Rainbow Lady's challenge this week, where the theme is "Tie a Yellow Ribbon". I forgot to check, but I think the main image is from a stamp sheet by Creative Expressions. The main panel has been cut with a nestie, as has the panel immediately behind the main image. the larger panel has been embossed with a big dots folder, the I have lightly gone over it, and the the edges of the two other panels with DI, the palest blue. My main image has been coloured with copic markers. The yellow ribbon is from my stash.

Thanks for dropping by. Your comments are, as always, greatly appreciated.

Bye for now.

Wanda. xxx

Haute Couture

2011-03-28T11:53:00.000+01:00

TIO #73 - Haute Couture

The challenge over on Dragon's Dream challenge blog this week is Haute Couture. I was determined to get back to challenges after a long absence. But life just got in the way!

Anyway, here is my entry. Sorry, it's been so long, I forgot to crop it! The stamps are from a sewing plate by Creative Expressions. The flowers I made using Marianne dies, leaves created using a punch, pearls and beaded twine from my stash.

Bye for now. Comments always welcome.

Wanda. xxx

All Loved Up

2011-02-15T15:27:00.001Z

It's all About Love

This is the theme for the challenge 139 over on Rainbow Lady's challenge this week. The hearts and "love" have been cut using my cricut, cartridges "Beyond Birthdays" and "Wedding". Two very useful cartridges to have. The backing paper is by My Minds Eye. The white card at the top has been embossed using the cuttlebug and dots folder. The ribbon and gems are from my stash.

Now on to my next challenge entry. (get me, two in one day!)

Swirls & Pearls

Challenge 139 over on The CD Sunday challenge is swirls and pearls. It is a while since I have taken part in this challenge, or any challenge for that matter, but I am trying to turn over a new leaf and spend a bit more time in my craft room now that christmas and holiday are out of the way.

The main image used here is from Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique CD (I just love the images and backing papers). My backing paper is from My Minds Eye, I forget the range. The swirls are courtesy of Sizzix and TH. The pearls are from my stash, as is the ribbon. Oh, and I have used a MS border punch and ribbon from my stash (a bargain from Abakhan, a whole reel for £2.50 in a sale there).

Thanks for dropping by and taking a look.

Bye for now.

Wanda

Time to Tag

2011-02-13T17:42:00.000Z

Dragon's Dream TIO #67 - Time to Tag

I've been a naughty blogger, as I haven't posted for ages. So many things have happened since I was last here, including a lovely holiday cruising the around The Canaries and Madeira. Anyway, I'm back now and trying to be a better blogger!

Enough of that, here is my entry for the challenge over on Dragon's Dream TIO this week.

I actually bought the stamps and little clock faces some months ago from The Stamp Man so that I could alter a frame and make it into a clock. Needless to say, I haven't done that yet either!

I have used wild honey DI and one of Sheena's WOW powders from the newest Spring range and a chipboard letter "T" and some strands of wool from my stash.

It has been lovely to be back tagging again! Keep em coming Frankie!

Bye for now. And thanks for dropping by.

Wanda

Has He Been Yet?

2010-11-10T23:18:00.001Z

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #125 - Make a Picture

Talk about last minute! I was determined to give this one a go, but left it so late that it had to be a christmas card, as that is what I have been making these past two days. Not quite in the spirit of the thing, I know, as all I have done is add santa with his sleigh and reindeers, a moon and a star, and coloured it in. But I just ran out of time!

The roof top, santa and his reindeer and the star are all from Sheena Douglass. The greeting is from Clarity. I have coloured the rooftops with copic markers, and the sky with distress inks in various shades of blue using colour dusters, having first masked the moon. The embossing powders are all from Sheena's new WOW range. Lastly, I have used a new Martha Steward punch for the icicles.

Thanks for stopping by. All comments gratefully received.

Wanda

Lavinia Stamps

2010-10-28T19:47:00.001+01:00

I had a bit of a play yesterday with the vine and flower stamps from Lavinia Stamps and various Adirondack Dye ink pads. As the two cards are virtually the same I thought I may as well post both at the same time. Finished off with a couple of bits of coordinating ribbon and a few gems.

Nothing else to say about them really. Good fun to make though.

Thanks for looking. comments always welcome.

Wanda

Tag It On Challenge #57 - As You Like It

2010-10-28T10:12:00.000+01:00

TIO Challenge #57 - As You Like It - Sponsored by Crafty Individuals

Wasn't sure what theme to use for this one, but as I had recently bought some new dies I decided I would use them and a bit of metal, which is actually the inside of a tomato puree tube!)

I cut out the shapes them applied alcohol inks to them to age and distress. The hanger and plaques have all been coloured with Eco paints. The hanger was painted black then I painted copper over the black and stippled it with a plastic bag until I had the look I wanted. The plaques have been painted using the crackle effect and Eco paints. I then overstamped with a selection of stamps before applying the metal pieces. I fixed it all together with jump rings as I am hopeless with chain link and such like.

Thanks for looking and I welcome your comments.

Bye for now, Wanda

Crafters Companion SWALK Blog Hop

2010-10-22T20:46:00.000+01:00

Crafters Companion 5th Birthday SWALK Blog Hop
The pick of the week this week on Create and Craft is the latest edition to the SWALK range. Set 2 promises to be just as good, if not better, than set 1. I didn't think I would want it - but I do!

Cute Christmas

2010-10-15T11:25:00.001+01:00

Bah Humbug Challenge 39 - Cute

I made this card for the Bah Humbug challenge but forgot to post it! I really thought I had. Oh well, never mind, another one for my stash of christmas cards.
Needless to say, the stamp is messy rabbit, from Joanna Sheen. The row of pines is from Clarity, I forget where the script tree is from, the sentiment is from Dimension Fourth. The border has been punched using an EK Success punch, and the snowflake has been made using a nestie die. Gem and ribbon are from my stash.
Thanks for dropping by.
Wanda

The Eyes Have It

2010-10-15T11:13:00.000+01:00

I made this card for our daughter's 30th birthday which is today. She was really pleased with it. Like me she loves faces and eyes.

The stamp is from a plate from the Stamp Man - one of my many purchases at HSNW at Port Sunlight last weekend. The blue paper started life as qhite copy paper, sprayed with a glimmer mist, then scrunches up and opened out to dry. One the first attempt I learned that you need to punch the border before spraying, etc! The flowers, ribbon and gems are from my stash. The leaves were made using a MS punch.

Thanks for stopping by.

France

2010-10-12T20:13:00.000+01:00

Rainbow Ladys Challenge 122 - Around the World

Hiya Folks,

Such a long time since I last entered a challenge - or anything, for that matter. I have been really busy for the past few weeks completely re-arranging my home. Still, it's all sorted now and I have just enjoyed a fabulous week with my good friend, Janet, who came to stay for the week. We went to HSNW at Port Sunlight on Saturday and I bought far too many new stamps (not!).

The washing machine has been on overdrive today catching up on all the washing I didn't do over the past week.

It was really good fun yesterday to work in my new craftroom with Janet and get a couple of challenges done. So without further ado, here is my entry for Rainbows latest challenge "Around the World". I have chosen France for my fat book page, pictured above. The background has been stippled with distress inks, then my main image and one word stamped with black versafine. The other images have been stamped with the same distress inks used for the stippling.

So that's it for now folks. I will try and get the other one posted tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by. All comments welcome.

Wanda

Emboss It!

2010-09-13T18:51:00.000+01:00

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge #54 - Emboss It

I'm a bit earlier this week with my entry. The background is embossed using the script plate and my trusty cuttlebug. Then I have brushed over the embossing with a brilliance inkpad. The main image is a paper artsy stamp I have had for simply ages - in fact it is one of the first stamps I ever bought, from my local craft shop, before I became aware of internet shopping for my crafting supplies! The image is adorned with a couple of feathers from my stash and raised with sticky fixers. The whole is finished off with yarn and ribbon from my stash.
Thanks for stopping by. I welcome your comments - good or not so good!
Wanda

Oriental in Two Colours

2010-09-08T20:00:00.000+01:00

Dragons Dream TIO#53 - Oriental in Two Colours
Again, I've only just made it with this one. I really must get my act in order. My offering today is made using a plate from the Stamp Man, and distress inks in two colours, shabby shutters and voctorian velvet. I have then lightly coloured the image using pink and green polycolour pencils.
Thanks for dropping by.
Wanda

New Craft Room

2010-09-01T22:35:00.001+01:00

I finally moved into my new craft room on Sunday, and spent the next two days just getting it sorted out. I don't know how all that stuff fitted into there! It really is so much bettet than trying to craft in the dining room. I still have a few things to sort out. I need to buy a tv for in there, and the broadband connection doesn't work in there either. I think it will needed to be hard-wired or something.

We also need to get doors made to go between my craft room and Rob's model room, which incidentally, is bigger than my craft room! I tried my hardest to get him to swap but no joy there. I do have the nicest view, and I will be further away from our son whose flat adjoins the model room. I will be able to use the side door from the model room as a short-cut to the house.

Anway, I am really pleased with it. It looks fairly tidy at the moment, and Rob hopes I will keep it like that. Fat chance!

Sorry for the staggered way the photos appear. I tried to get them in two rows but no joy. I did think about taking a video or the room but thought I might have problems uploading it onto here as I have never done that before. Anway, it gives you a chance to take a look - before I mess ot all up!

Bye for now.

Wanda

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge 52 - Face

2010-08-31T22:05:00.000+01:00

Dragons Dream TIO Challenge No 52 - Face

It's been a few weeks since I last had a chance to enter this challenge, and this is just a quick one.
Anyway, here is my entry. I've only just made it in time. Better late than never, eh?
Thanks for looking.
Wanda

Doe and foel

2010-08-25T16:09:00.000+01:00

I'm a naughty blogger as I have been absent for a couple of weeks. I'm posting a card here that I made about a week ago for a swap but thought I would share it with you all now that the recipient will have received it.

The stamps used are mainly Clarity but there may be one or two from Lavinia as well. The backing paper is from the new CD from Graphicus "Essence of Nature". The leaves have been cut using a nestie set of dies then coloured with Big and Juicy foliage inkpad. The card has been finished with a few gems from my stash.

I actually had such fin making this that I made another with a slight variation on the layout.

My new craft room is really taking shape. The furniture is in, the floor is laid, the blinds are up. I'm just waiting for the joiner (who is coming back, hopefully tomorrow) to cut some shelving so I can have a couple of shelves to store my unmounted stamps. I hope to start moving in there at the weekend. I can't wait. It will be so nice to have enough space with power sockets where I need them and a seperate messy play area so I can keep my desks relatively clean. I just hope everyting fits in there. There is a lovely view down the field from my desk too. Oh, I need to go out and buy a tv for in there. I think I will just have freeview, rather than incur the cost of multi-room. If I need to watch anything on sky I will just have to pop back up to the house.

I will try and post again a little sooner next time.

Thanks for dropping by.

Wanda

Get Well Cards

2010-08-02T17:43:00.001+01:00

Last one for today. I needed to make three Get Well cards over the weekend and decided, for easy, to make them all virtually the same. I used my new Artylicious Essence of Nature CD for the backing papers, a TH sizzix bird and cage came out for another airing, and a circular nestie and some narrow ribbon completed the picture, apart from making each of the cages a bit different using DI inks, which I then overstamped the the same distress inks and a the corner of a TH swirl stamp. Ribbon from my stash. I have added gems as eyes for the birds. The third card is a birthday cards for my collection.

Right, that's me done for today. Dinner is almost ready. I will try and be a good blogger and post a little more often! Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are always welcome.

Bye for now.

Wanda

New Craft Room

2010-08-02T17:27:00.000+01:00

I thought I would share with you a few images of my new craft room which is almost ready for occupation. The walls are painted, the floor is down, the kitcchen unit is constructed, as are the paper storage units. I'm just waiting for the desks, filing cabinets and chair, and also for the blinds and, of course, the tv, which will be mounted on the wall, then I can move in there. Well actually, I will move in without the desks and filing cabinets as I can make do with the old ones for a couple of weeks. The only draw back, is that the floor hasn't been laid in OH's model room which adjoins my craft room, so there will be dust. I daresay the joiner can do his cutting outside - weather permitting, or a temporary curtain can be put up where the door between the two rooms will be. The walls are painted in lilac, the floor is oak and the blinds will be winter white

Anyway, here are a few pics for your delectation! The next time I post pics I will be in there!

Bye for now.

Wanda

Paper Roses

2010-08-02T17:14:00.000+01:00

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge #49 "Paper Roses"

It's been a few weeks since I last entered this challenge, I just seem to have been busy with things other than crafting or I was feeling decidedly unwell and not in the mood for crafting. Anyway, when I saw the theme for this one I had to give it a go!

I had to check out the tutorial by Lynne Forsythe after checking out the blog by JoZart and then I was away.

I used a new set of stamps from Creative Expressions and designed by Rubbernecker "Beautiful Ladies for my main image. I actually made the flowers last night following Lynne's tutorial and left them to dry. Then I used a Cosmic Shimmer Lapis Black Auroro EP to stamp my main image, then coloured it in using a foliage big n juicy inkpad. I added a bit of stickles glitter glue in a sort of yellow colour to the flowers in the image. Added a bit of cream lace from my stash and then added the flowers plus another flower and some foliage made using MS punches. The red ribbon threaded through the top is also from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by, and as usual, your comments are appreciated.

Wanda

Flights of Fancy

2010-07-23T02:00:00.000+01:00

This is my card for my swap partner for July over on the Creating Rainbows forum. The theme is Flights of Fancy. I have delayed posting it here to ensure she receives it first!

The background was created by putting Big and Juicy Ink from the hydrangea inkpad onto my craft sheet and spritzing with water, then smooshing the cardstock in it. I then inked up the edges using the same ink[pad. The foliage has been stamped using the same inkpad plus a couple of adirondack inkpads. Then I stamped the butterflies with black archival ink. The stamps used are from two plates from Creative Expressions - Meadow Flora and British Wild Flowers. The bird and cage are cut from a Tim Holtz Sizzix die. I have distressed the cage using Croco silver crackling paint. I have stamped a swilr on the bird and its wing using a flourish from a Spring plate from Elusive Images. I have added a gem for the birds eye. I have then cut a couple of corners using a Cuttlebug die. Lastly, I have added the word "FLY" which I have tried to age a bit using alcohol inks. I'm not sure which alcohol inks I used in the end as I kept playing around until I was reasonably happy with the result.

Would you believe this card has taken me 3 days to finish! I kept leaving it and then coming back to it again. Finally, today (last Monday) I decided it was now or never, it had to be completed! So here it is. I'm really struggling to find my mojo at the moment, not helped by the fact that I have a stinking cold and a nose like a tap!

I'm giving this card 2 full days to reach its recipient before posting on here.

Thanks for looking. All comments welcome.

Wanda

Metallic Mode

2010-07-02T23:26:00.000+01:00

TIO Challenge 45 - 3D Metallic Mode
The challenge this week over on Dragon's TIO Challenge blog is 3D Metallic Mode. I was waiting for an opportunity to use my new(ish) sizzix bird and cage dies, so I cut them out in black card, then painted the cage with Croco crackle paint in silver. Once it had dried I distressed it a bit with black soot DI. The bird was also cut in black card. I have overstamped a swirl on the bird using silver Brilliance ink. The tag has been coloured with various distress inks using colour dusters. Then I stamped a selection of stamps, some in the same shades of DI I had used to colour the tag, and some with black soot. I then coloured the edges of the tag with black soot DI. The stamps I have used have come from all over the place, some are from the Julia Andruss steampunk plate, one is a Tim Holtz stamp. I have then sponged Ferro silver paint on some areas of the tag. I have distressed two cogs, cut from silver mirri card, then applied black stazon to age. The cogs have been added to the tag so that they overhang the edges of the tag and I have cut the surplus away. You can't see the cogs very well in the image, but they are at the centre top and bottom left. I have then added the cage and bird, then the key hanging on a ribbon just out of reach of the cage, and a butterfly in a pendant hanging from a chain. Lastly, I have added black lace to the bottom of the tag.

It has been so much fun and relaxing making this tag. Tags and fat book pages are my favourite crafting things to make at the moment.

Right, off to bed said zebedee! Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda

Acetate and Alcohol

2010-06-09T19:23:00.001+01:00

Dragons Dream TIO Challenge - Acetate and Alcohol

I'm guest designer this week for Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge. The theme I have chosen is acetate and alcohol. I hope you will pop on over and take a look and, of course, submit an entry. This is the first time I have been guest designer anywhere, so please support me. It wouldn't do to have no entries the week I am guesting now would it!!!!!

Now, how I made the tag. Firstly, I put a gold mirri tag through a birds and swirls embossing folder, and set that aside. I covered the reverse of the acetate with alcohol inks, then stamped a swirl using black archival ink on the same side as the alcohol inks. Then I rubbed over the stamped image with a piece of kitchen roll - this removed the ink, leaving a negative image. I turned the acetate over and stamped and gold embossed the same swirl with gold EP. I atttached the acetate to the tag with a little dab of pinflair glue in the four corners and covered these with faux brads, made from gold mirri card. I cut the butterfly using a cuttlebug die, passed the butterfly through the bug again in a script embossing folder. I distressed the edges of the butterfly with walnut stain DI. I then rubbed stickles irridescent glitter glue over the wings, then put a row of gems down the body. The flower was made by sticking a piece of patterned paper to grunge paper. When the glue was dry I cut out the flowers using the TH flowers sizzix die set. I rubbed the same glitter glue into the petals. When this was dry I moulded the petals then stuck the flower together, using pinflair glue gel, then put a large gem brad in the centre. The flower was attached to the tag using glue gel and a piece of ribbon from my stash was stuck down under the flower. The butterfly was also attached to the tag with glue gel. Finally, the wool strands were added to the top of the tag with a gold brad.

Thanks for dropping by. Your comments would be most welcome.

Now, come on, over to you! Create your tag with the same theme and post it up on Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge blog.

Wanda

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge 41 - Steampunk

2010-06-06T22:49:00.000+01:00

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge No 41 - Steampunk

I had to have a look on the internet to get an understanding of what steampunk actually is before I could attempt this weeks' challenge. Fascinating subject.

I've used a mixture of stamps for this one. The girl's face is from Tin Can Alley for Inkadinkado, the flying clock is also from Inkadinkado, the crown is from Elusive Images, the mask is from Hampton Art, the stamps in the background are from Hobby Art, Hampton Art, and Judikins. I have used DI's to colour the background and the cogs, which have been cut from mirri card and then sanded. The embellishments are from my stash.

I've had a lot of fun making this one.

Thanks for dropping by.
Wanda

Silhouettes

2010-06-03T11:47:00.000+01:00

Silhouettes

This is my entry for this week's Bah Humbog Challenge. Talk about last minute!
No time to write anything about it as just about to go out with daughter and grandson.

Thanks for stopping by

Wanda

Openings

2010-06-03T09:20:00.001+01:00

Openings

Here is my entry for this challenge. I thought I would support my good friend, Frankie, who is guest designer this week. The main stamps used are from Lavinia stamps, the tree, birds and grasses are from Clarity stamps. I have stamped my images using black archival ink and have coloured the background using various distress inks. I have used a crackle stamps with pumice stone DI to give the image some depth.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda

Home Sweet Home

2010-06-03T09:00:00.000+01:00

Home Sweet Home

A little late, but I didn't want to post too soon as I have sent this card to a friend who has just moved house, so I may be too late for the challenge, but I thought I would enter anyway.

Just a quick note about the card. The central image is from a stamp set by graphicus, the birds are a Clarity stamp, the swirl is by Stampers Anonymous. My backing paper is a sheet I have had for absolutely ages, from when I felt sure I wanted to do some scrapbooking - I never have! The sentiment is a useful little stamp from Docrafts Whispers. The lace I picked up a few weeks ago in a little local haberdashery shop.

Thanks for stopping by.

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge 40 - Surprise

2010-05-27T16:29:00.000+01:00

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge - No 40 - Surprise

The theme this week is "Surprise" - use any stamp(s) you have out on your desk. Well, I have only just today taken delivery of two new stamp plates and I had a flourish out on my desk from a previous project, so the theme was easy peasy for me this week.

I started by colouring a cream tag with DI, firstly in scattered straw, then around the edges with crushed olive, using my new colour dusters, from Inkylicious. Once I was satisfied with this I stamped the flourish, from a spring set by Graphicus, using the same two DIs. After this I stamped the sentiment from my new stamp plate twice using peeled paint DI. I then stamped the main image usinf black archival ink. I coloured in my image using Prisma pencils. I added clear gems down the front of the dress and embellised the string of pearls with white opal pearlidoodles. The ribbon is from my stash.

I'm really impressed with these two new stamp plates. They are from Creative Expressions. The image I used is from the Elegant Ladies plate. The other plate is Party Ladies.

I'm not too happy with the way the pearls turned out with the pearlidoodles. It was very hard to get tiny dots. I think, in reflection, I may have been better off using a quickie glue pen and white glitter. Hey ho, suppose I'll just have to make another one!

Any views on how I could have done the string of pearls better?

Thanks for dropping by.

Wanda

Rainbow Lady's challenge 104 - Journey with a Ticket

2010-05-22T22:37:00.000+01:00

TIO Challenge #39 - Journey with a Ticket

The challenge this week on Dragon's Dream TIO challenge #39 is "Journey with a Ticket". This collage stamp from Clarity Stamps immediately sprung to mind. I have also used a little ticket stamp that came with Craft Stamper a while ago.

I have stamped the collage stamp onto a manilla tag and then also onto a piece of manilla cardstock. I have also stamped the ticket stamp onto the manilla cardstock using black archival ink. I have overstamped both the tag and the manilla cardstock with a crackle background stamp from Stamp Camp using antique linen DI. Then I have coloured the edges of the tag using old paper and brushed corduroy distress ink. I have cut out several features of the collage stamp from the manilla cardstock. I have covered the fobwatch with Anita's 3D clear gloss and allowed this to dry. I have mounted the cut out elements and the ticket using silicone gel. The old gold satin ribbonin the top of the tag is from my stash. Finally, I have mounted my tag onto black cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 103 - Ocean Shades of Blue and Green

2010-05-19T17:39:00.000+01:00

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 103 - Ocean Shades of Blue and Green

Here is my entry for this weeks challenge. Only just made it! I have used a mixture of stamps for this one. An underwater plate from Graphicus and the fish and trailing plant are from Clarity. The background for the main image has been created using alcohol inks and shaving foam. I have stamped the images using Big and Juicy Waterfall. The letter "F" is a metal letter coloured using alcohol inks.

I have a confession to make here - I have made an upside down card! I will have to mat and layer the front of this card onto another. Doh!

Thanks for dropping by. Bye for now.

Wanda

Key to my Heart

2010-05-19T16:17:00.001+01:00

I haven't posted anything new for a few days as I have been busy with boring, housy things, so I thought I would post this card I made on Monday. This is the card I presented to my OH yesterday for our anniversary. I don't think it fits ant challenges but thought I would show it anyway.

The stamps used are from Graphicus. Two different plates are used - the flourish in the background comes from the butterfly flourish plate, and the key and lock from another plate. I have stamped the flourish on the background using antique linen DI, then edged the card firstly with antique linen DI then with rusty hinge DI. The pendant is a fairly new nestie fleur de lys die. I stamped the key and lock using sepia archival ink. Dried them with a heat gun, cut them both out, then used firstly antique linen DI and then rusty hinge DI to colourise the cream cardstock I had used. The key and lock are mounted using silicone.

Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are welcomed.
Wanda

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge 38 Along the Riverbank

2010-05-13T16:02:00.000+01:00

TIO Challenge 38 - Along the River

The challenge this week is set by guest designer, Janet. I thought I would have a bit of fun with it and I have used some stamps I haven't had an opportunity to use before, even though I bought them last June whilst at the Stamp Addicts retreat. The frogs and lily pad are by Heather, a make I haven't come across before. The foliage, etc, are from Lavinia stamps and Clarity. I have used a few blue and green adirondak inkpads for my background and to stamp the foliage. I have coloured the frogs and lilypad with sakura souffle pens. Unfortunately, the flower on the lilypad doesn't show up very well. The tag is mounted onto black kand then onto pale green card. The threads and fibres are from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda

Rainbow Lady's challenge 102 - Own Choice

2010-05-12T22:09:00.000+01:00

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 102 for May 6th was Own Choice

Well, I just about made it - I think! Talk About being last minute. The new challenge will be out tomorrow. Not being able to get onto the Rainbow's forum this week has really thrown me out of kilter. Anyway, better late than never, eh.

I have stamped the flourish, from graphicus, onto silk artboard, then brayered over with soothing sunset big and juicy. Then I have stamped the same flourish using the same big and juicy inkpad, then finally in black archival. I have mounted it onto black then lilac card. I have lightly brayered the white base card with the same big and juicy inkpad. I have added black grossgrain ribbon from my stash and a flower cut from paper brayered with the same big and juicy inkpad using my new flowers nesties.

I really feel this card needs something else, maybe a sentiment, but I will look at it again tomorrow. Any ideas?

Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda

Blogaversary Candy over on Dragon;s Dream TIO Challenge

2010-05-09T22:49:00.000+01:00

Dragon's DreamTIO Challenge Blogaversary Candy

Go checkout out the blog candy on offer all this month on Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge Blogspot. I should have posted this at the beginning of May really, but better late than never, eh! I've only just realised I needed to link to it. Slow or what! The challenges are really good fun, and just up my street in terms of techniques.

Wanda

Under Lock & Key

2010-05-09T22:22:00.000+01:00

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge 37 - Under Lock & Key

I had a lovely time At Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight yesterday. It was lovely to meet so many of my crafting friends. We kept bumping into one another as we went around the stands and had a chance to compare purchases. I was tired this morning though after all the walking. And I had to help out in the cattery this morning so didn't get a chance to play with my new stuff until this evening. I thought I would get my entry done for the TIO challenge before getting too engrossed with cutting and mounting stamps!

My tag this time is made using stamps from graphicus. I have been waiting for a chance to use this set. My tag has been coloured with distress inks in victorian velvet, milled lavender, and dustry concord. I have over stamped with the text from the same plate using milled lavender, then second stamped the lock using dustry concord. My key and lock have been stamped onto grungepaper using black archival ink and then coloured with black soot DI. I have added some purple gems to the fob of the key. The strands of wool are from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda

Baby Love

2010-05-05T17:24:00.000+01:00

CD Sunday Challenge
This week's challenge is "Baby Talk". I used Joanna Sheen's Baby love CD for this image and backing paper. The border is made using a MS punch as are the flowers and leaves. Bow and gems adorning gthe centres of the flowers are from my craft stash. It's ages since I had to make a baby card so this one will come in handy too! Sorry it's short and sweet but domestic goddess duties call - yuk!
Bye for now. Thanks for stopping by.
Wanda

My apologies, for an error I made when I posted this yesterday. The image is indeed from the very talented Joanna Sheen but it comes from the Precious Petals collection and not from Baby Love as stated. Once again, my apologies for misleading you. I hope you haven't been searching the Baby Love collection in vain! Mind you, you will have had fun looking though all the lovely images!
Wanda

New Craft Room

2010-05-05T17:11:00.001+01:00

Well here it is in all its glory. My new craft room. I can really see it now. I'm up to the stage of choosing paint colours and layout. Since I took these pictures the electrician has been in and done a bit more on the sockets and light fittings. The floor still needs to be laid and the joiner needs to fit skirting boards and door frames. I then need to chose blinds. Hopefully, I will be in it by the beginning of June. Can't wait! (I wonder if all my craft stash will fit in there?) OH has a lovely BIG model room next door but he's said no to me having that one - pity.

Wanda

Snowflakes

2010-05-03T11:46:00.000+01:00

Bah Humbug Challenge #16 is entitled "snowflakes"

Here is my card for that challenge. I'm determined not to have that last minute rush just before Christmas!

Anyway, back to this card. The backing paper is from the Seasons Greetings CD1 from Graphicus. I have distressed the edges using stormy sky DI and stamped a little star stamp from Denami in the same ink randomly. I have matted this onto dark blue card, then added a polka dot ribbon in pale blue. I have cut the snowflakes using a cuttlebug die and added crystal stickles to them, then added a star shaped gem to the centres (not too sure about the gems?). The flourishes in the corners are cut with another cuttlebug die.

As always, when I am making my cards for this challenge, I made two pretty much the same - adds to the stack!

I then spent most of the evening trying to cut out two welded reindeer and a shadow on my cricut using my gypsy. It cut the welded reindeer ok but just kept freezing just after it had started cutting the shadow. Frustrating to say the least. I went onto the cricut website and found a section devoted to the gypsy with a section for technical issues. I found someone else who had just the same problem. I tried everything they suggested but to no avail, so finally gave up and went to bed at 1.30 am!!! Needless to say, I'm feeling tired this morning. Anyway, I am going to get back to it and see if I can get any further with solving the problem today.

Oh well, back to the grind! Bye for now.
Wanda

Distress It!

2010-05-01T22:04:00.000+01:00

Here is my entry for the TIO Challenge #36 over on Dragon's Dream. Check out the blogaversary candy celebrating the first anniversary of the blog.

I covered both sides of a piece of grunge paper with scrapbook paper. I'n not sure where I got it from, but it is double sided, so both sides of my tag co-ordinated beautifully. I put the whole tag through a new cuttlebug folder, called victoria, then brushed corduroy DI over the raised parts of the pattern to make it pop. Then I used the same distress ink around all the sides of the tag, followed by black soot DI just on the edges. Then I roughed up the edges of the tag, then applied black soot DI again, then dipped into black EP and heated.

I didn't have a large black eyelet, so I coloured one using a black copic pen. It worked a treat although I had to let one coat dry then apply a second. I have put black strands and an old gold ribbon through the eyelet.

I made the flower using various scraps of patterned paper, which I cut out with the blossom nestie dies, then distressed the edges using corduroy DI. Then I sprayed the layers with mango blaze glimmer mist, allowed to dry, then curled the petals, having first cut into them to allow more dimension. I then glued the layers of the flower together and finished off with a black button.

Finally, I cut two flourishes from the Home Accents cartridge on my cricut from black card, stuck them to the tag with glue gel then finished by adhering the flower.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda

Pretty in Pink!

2010-04-28T17:01:00.001+01:00

Here is my entry for challenge 15 over at Bah Humbug "Pretty in Pink". Last one part the post I daresay. I actually made the card whilst staying up in Scotland with Janet, so please forgive me for being vague about the origins of the materials I used. I must say I found this one really challenging!
I think the stamp is from Kanban. I have stamped the main image with versa mark and black detail EP. Then I have highlighted the branches with a green marker and then used cystal stickles. This has been cut with an oval nestie. The edges have been distressed with a pink inkpad, the matt has been distressed with a slightly darker ink from Stampin Up. The background has been cut using a big nestie, and I have used the same tree with second degree stamping in black, with the same branches of the same tree stamped in pink to create swirls. I have edged this mat by dragging the SU pink inkpad around the edges. Card is finished with a pink grossgrain ribbon and flowers and leaves using Martha Steward punches. The flowers have been finished with crystal stickles applied with my finger and a pink gem. The backing paper is grey ribbed.
Thank for looking
Wanda

Dragon's Dream Tag It On Challenge "Emboss It"

2010-04-25T19:09:00.000+01:00

And here is my entry for Dragon's Tag It On Challenge. The tag has been embossed using the Cuttlebug Ornamental Iron folder. I then rubbed all over it with black soot DI, then distressed the raised pattern with a sanding block. The border and sole embellishment have been cut using the same cuttlebug combi folder, as has the small tag. The image on the small tag comes from a Stamp Man oriental plate and is stamed with black stazon ink. The tags are finished with dark brown ribbon.
Thanks for dropping by.
Wanda

Rainbow Lady's Challenge - April Showers

2010-04-25T19:01:00.000+01:00

Here is my entry, using a digi image of unknown source. I have coloured the image using H20's - a product I haven't used for some time. I have decoupated the umbrella in the foreground. Backing paper is, again, from an unknown source, but probably a Joanna Sheen CD, edged with brilliance pearlescent sky blue. The border is the same backing paper with a pink ribbon over. The card is finished with three gems and a sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda

Embossed Christmas Tree

2010-04-05T20:47:00.000+01:00

Bah Humbug Challenge 12 - Embossing
This is my entry for this weeks challenge over at Bah Humbug.

The backing paper is from the Artylicious Seasons Greetings CD, matted onto silver mirri card. The tree has been cut out using a nestie, then embossed using the christmas tree embossing folder. I have then rubbed over it gently with a Versa Magic Sea Breeze ink pad. This has been layered onto another piece of white card that has been embossed with the swiss dots embossing folder. Again, I have rubbed over this with the same Sea Breeze ink pad. Then it has been matted onto silver mirri card. The snowflake has been cut using a nestie with pale blue glitter card. The ribbons are from my stash. The card has been finished with a peel-off greeting.

Thanks for stopping by. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Wanda

Through the Window

2010-04-03T19:10:00.000+01:00

Challenge 97 over on Rainbow Lady's challenge blog is "Through the Window", so I thought I would give it a go. The background behind the window has been brayered using big n juicy soothing sunset. This has been overstamped using black archival ink with a stamp from Clarity. The window is a peel-off which I have put through the zyron and layered onto acetate then layed over the image. The background paper is from the My Minds Eye Spring collection, layered onto black card, then I have cut the border using an EK Success border punch. Over this I have layered a gold ribbon. The ornate corners are cut in black using a cuttlebug die. The gems at the top are from my stash.

Right, I'm off to check out other challenges! Thanks for looking.

Wanda

Eastern Promise

2010-02-20T16:55:00.001Z

Here is today's offering. Most of the stamps are from a new set by Graphicus, called Eastern Promise, the greeting is from a new Sheena Douglas set of meadow flowerss. The backing paper has been brayered using a big n juicy Hydrangea inkpad, ribbon is from my stash.

I don't know if I will manage any more finished cards today, I really should get into the kitchen!

Bye for now.
Wanda

Little Boy Blue

2010-02-19T20:10:00.001Z

This one is my final offering for the day and it is for 2 challenges, Cute Card Thursday "Metal Mania", and Papertake Weekly Challenge "Check this Out".

The image is by Whiff checked backing paper is by Dovecraft.

The blue brads on the image and on the panel across the centre are my metal, and the backing paper is checked.

Right, that's it for today. I'm ready to eat!

Bye for now.

Wanda

Fairy Glen

2010-02-19T17:36:00.001Z

Here is my second offering of the day - and my entry for Rainbow Lady's challenge number 91 "Recipe".
The Fairy stamp is from Personal Impressions. The background stamps are a mix of Sheena Douglas and Lavinia Stamps. I have brayered the backgrounds using Big N Juicy Soothing Sunset, and stamped the meadow plants using Dried Marigold Distress ink, Adirondack Red Pepper, and Purple Twilight. The fairy is stamped with black versafine. The black dotty ribbon is from my stash and the photo corners I picked up when at Rosemary Merry's shop last Monday.

This is nearly a record for me - two cards in one afternoon!