Monday 31 May 2010

A Grungy LO

I've had fun over the past two days distressing,misting,embossing etc. for this LO.
Everything is Tim Holtz/Ranger except the Cosmic Shimmer Mist.
I though this style suited these photos from 1986 perfectly.

A quick update... my shoe LO was chosen as inspiration of the day yesterday and the grungy LO above has been chosen as LO of the week! Both on WeScrap.:)
I now have some b'day cards to make so my grunging has come to a stop. :(

Sunday 30 May 2010

More Challenges.


This LO was made for a challenge to use black,grey and blue as the main colours on a LO.
Cardstock - Bazzill, stamped with images from TJ designs "Journey to France"
 and Tim Holtz ATC and "French Market" using Stazon ink pads.
Patterned papers - "Scott" by Emma Rehri for Toga
Woodware circle punch for title - written using a stencil
Journalling tag cut using the Slice and "Noteworthy" cartridge.

Saturday 29 May 2010

My Sewing Machine


My sewing machine has seen the light of day after over 20 years of inactivity - surprisingly it still works!

I've been wanting to try machine stitching on paper so gave it a go on this LO. Fortunately I was going for the "shabby chic" look (well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!) as I am really out of practice at sewing in a straight line.

Cardstock is Bazzill, papers are by Cherry Arte (scraps from another LO), two fabric squares and photos from 1992 around the time of DS's 3rd b'day.

Along with the machine I found a load of unused patterns (charity bag fodder!) and lots of material left over from when I made myself two skirts (back in the early '80's), kitchen curtains from mid-80's and a shirt that I started making for OH (also in the '80's) - I don't think it will ever be finished now!

Friday 28 May 2010

What's Rockin' My World Friday

Can't believe it's Friday again - where did the week go? It doesn't help that I'm losing Weds. again because of the meds I inject on Tues. evening - the injections were supposed to  stop the nausea I was experiencing with the tablets  - oh, well...

I do have things to be thankful for..

1. The crop last Friday was great and I managed two LOs.
2. We have a long weekend.
3. I found my sewing machine and it still works! After over 20 years of not being used I was amazed! Also found the shirt I started making for OH all those years ago - don't think I'm going to finish it somehow!
4. I've been using the machine for stitching on a LO - this is typical me - don't use things for what they're intended e.g the iron is for flattening soda cans.
5. I successfully resisted the temptation to fall back into a destructive pattern of behaviour. I am getting stronger.

ATC Swap - June

Hi girls!
Time for the next swap. This month's theme has been set by Donna and it's a good one!

If you were an animal what would you be?

SusieJ - Donna
Gina - Bev
Alma - Tania
Carole - Val
Jenni - Gill
Maria - Sue-bubbles
Donna - SuzieB
Bev - FionaK
Tania - Karen
Val - Joanne
Gill - SusieJ
Sue-bubbles - Maria
SuzieB - Carole
FionaK - Jenni
Karen - Alma
Joanne - Gina

Have fun girls - any problems, addresses etc. please contact me.

Wednesday 26 May 2010

Today's Question

Does Lemon Cheesecake  count as 1 of your 5 a day?
That's what I had for dessert last night - only a small slice - honest!

Sunday 23 May 2010

The "21st Season"


Here is the first of several 21st cards that I'm going to be making in the coming few weeks. DS will be 21 in July (the last of his group of friends).
The card above is for a Man Utd supporter - hence the colours!
DS's best friend from school was 21 last month. His parents were very happy that he held his party up in Leeds where he's studying - I can't imagine why - there were only 400+ people there. DS was,unfortunately, not amongst them as he couldn't afford either the train fare or the time. He hasn't said yet what he would like to do for his b'day - I don't even know if he'll be home.

Hope you're all enjoying your Sunday.

A Successful Crop.

Had a great time on Friday evening at A Maze of Memories.
 The first LO was for a challenge on WeScrap - we had to use at least three items with polka dots.


Managed that with Blue Awning papers by K&CO , ribbons from stash, Prima flowers and some bling. Photo is of me and DS at the wedding of our shared nanny Teresa and Richard. I've almost used up  my stash of these papers - they really are lovely.

The second is a fun LO using a sketch by Allison Cope (also for a WeScrap challenge) about my love of shoes.
This was made using Cherry Arte "Princess" papers and rub ons. Buttons and ribbon from stash.

Pat and I both managed two LOs and it was a lovely group of people to crop with ... even though we were distracted by the wafting smells of baking croissants...there's a bakery on the site too...no free samples though.:(
 
I still have the mini challenge kit to use...hopefully today!

Friday 21 May 2010

What's Rocking My World Friday

Found this great idea on Janet's blog.
I too have lots to be grateful for so have decided to join in.

1. The sun is shining, it's warm and I'm going cropping tonight.
2. I have conquered the i*****g mountain (for now!).
3. Max had a clean bill of health at the vet's and she was very impressed with his teeth (thanks to Dentastix).
4. Managed to contact DS - briefly - he was REVISING! Wow!
5. I have managed to have our Council Tax Band revised - dating back to 1993 - with minimum effort. Thanks to the firm of solicitors who contacted me (and whose services I didn't use - they wanted 25% of any rebate). I did it all myself using the internet and phone.
6. I shall be spending the evening with friends - one very good one in particular, who has supported me through some troubled times these last few months.

Thursday 20 May 2010

Where has the last week gone?


Was blog hopping this morning and realised that not only had I not posted for a week but I hadn't even taken a photo of the LO I did at AMOM last Thursday evening.
The photo is of OH and his sister in 1956.
Cardstock is Bazzill, patterned paper is Basic Grey "Max and Whiskers", embellies are K&CO. Finished off with doodling round the edge in gold gel pen.

I did start another LO - a mosaic of spring flowers but I got the squares of my very last photo  jumbled up and it's worse than doing a jigsaw trying to sort them - think I'll put it to one side so I can start s'thing else!

Had a quiet week - saving my energy for tomorrow evening when Pat and I are going to the special monthly crop at A Maze of Memories. Have sorted out the makings of one LO (photo,papers, embellies etc.) but need to do a photo shoot for another that's buzzing in my head. Hope to do that after the vet this p.m. Max is fine just going for his yearly check up and booster injections - should be fun (not!).

I'll also have to get the i**n out. I've been swapping my clothes over. The winter ones have now replaced the summer in my vac bags - don't take up any where near as much room but boy are my summer clothes creased. I've tried hanging them for a couple of days but have had to bow to the inevitable - I'm going to have to i**n them. Sorry Sue-bubbles I know I'm letting the side down!lol

I've not had much joy contacting DS this week either. Wanted to check how the exams are going. Didn't want him to think we aren't interested but also didn't want to be too pushy. Oh well...I'll try again tonight.

Thursday 13 May 2010

May ATCs


Here they are my May ATCs!
Guess which one went to Maria, my official swap partner!

Have a busyish day today - have already been to Waitrose for salad stuff - I know it's not that warm but I wanted an easy meal to leave for OH as I'm going out.
 Pat and I are off up to A Maze of Memories for the evening.
 So.. I have a chicken to cook (for the salad - it was going to be a full roast dinner), a dog to walk, photos to sort and print, papers to find..and all before 16:30 when our T20 team start their match against Sri Lanka. I should get to see at least one innings before I go out - will Sky+ the rest to watch later.
Hope you're all having a good day!

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Today's LO

More photos from 1998 .
The sketch is by Ally on WeScrap, the papers, embellies  and alpha are Little Yellow Bicycle "Zinnia" from a kit at A Maze of Memories, the edge was punched using a Martha Stewart punch. Ribbon from stash.

We finally have a government! Common sense has prevailed.
I just hope the "lovey dovey" stage of the coalition lasts long enough for them to get the country back on track.


Good luck for tomorrow to the England T20 cricket team against Sri Lanka in the semi-final.  I'll be watching.

Sunday 9 May 2010

We Was Robbed!

Well the football season is over for another year and we only came second. Had Didier Drogba's offside goal against us been disallowed we would have won by one point instead of Chelsea. Oh, well ... I suppose we can't win every year.
I shall now be watching cricket... until the World Cup starts next month!

I have pottered this weekend: my May ATCs are made and in the post (no picture until they've been received) and I've finished a LO for a challenge on WeScrap.
This one was an "I Spy.." challenge. We had to use a larger than normal photo, use either misting or painting, have a quote on the LO and some metal.
I used Cosmic Shimmer Mist in Golden Fish and Heidi Swapp butterfly masks, plain cardstock,ribbon from stash,We R Memory Keepers gromlets, staples, butterfly brads by Toga (France),paper butterflies punched with  a Martha Stewart double punch and sprinkled with Glamour Dust, Making Memories alpha stickers and a quote by Nietzsche.
The photo is of OH and I taking off on our hot air balloon flight. It was wonderful.

Saturday 8 May 2010

A perfect day for crafting!

In other words it's wet and cold and I'm not venturing out unless absolutely necessary.
Have just finished a special project which will be on here at a later date.
Going to make lunch and then do my ATCs for May.
Also have a LO to finish, some cricket to watch (no premiership until tomorrow) ,a good book to finish..oh, and a dog to walk.

Am very annoyed with the General Election result... I voted Green as a protest (wish they had a "None of the Above" box to tick). As expected the Tory won - he's not a patch on our last two MPs (Michael Heseltine and Boris Johnson).
Just wish Gordon Brown would give in gracefully and resign  .. if only to be spared the sight and sound of Peter Hain and Harriet Harman trying to justify his continued presence in Downing Street.
We voted for change!

Sorry if I've offended anyone but I do feel strongly about this. I was worried that DS wouldn't be able to vote as he hadn't applied for a postal vote. How was I to know he was registered in Bristol and had actually voted before we did!
Rant over!

Back later with hopefully some good news from Spain (F1 Qualifying) and some crafting to share

Monday 3 May 2010

Third (and final) NSD LO.




This one is again for two Challenges: "Just Quote Me" (we were challenged to find a quote and use one word from it as our title) and "Recycle" (speaks for itself!).
Bazzill cardstock
Paper from stash
Prima flowers
Acetate from stash
Basic Grey brad
Title and quote printed on very thin blue paper that was a protective sheet in a parcel.
The bazzill was decorated with Cosmic Shimmer mist using a Tattered Angel mask - the mask was from the "Winter Trees" set but I thought it looked like seaweed.

The butterflies are for the final challenge (all challenges are on WeScrap) - a how to tutorial on making epoxy embellies using chipboard, scraps of paper, punches and Glossy Accents. I used a double Martha Stewart punch.

And the winner is.......

#3 - MARIA!

Well done Maria!

I'll send your goodies with your May ATC (as you're my partner this month). Hope that's OK?

Sunday 2 May 2010

NSD Challenge LOs



#1 is actually two challenges combined.
The first was to do a LO about "Mothers" and the second was a 20min LO tutorial. I've actually layered this wrongly so may try it again with a diff. photo (as Christina knows - I don't follow instructions well!lol)
All the elements are from the Basic Grey "Junebug" collection.
#2 is for the "Been in my stash forever..." challenge.
We were challenged to use three things that we'd had for ages but never used.My three things were ..the Cosmo Cricket "Cogsmo" papers and die cuts, the Foof -a-La buttons that I had kept unopened in their packaging because they looked pretty and the Tim Holtz masks. Still a bit heavy handed with the Shimmer mist but I'm improving! Photo is DS in Falmouth mid 90's.

Saturday 1 May 2010

A Fabulous Day!!



Here it is - my altered mirror.
Diane, Jan and I have just spent the day at A Maze of Memories having fun and chatting.
We've played with UTEE, sticky backed canvas and fragments.
We've painted,stamped, melted and distressed.
Thanks to Christina for holding this all day workshop  - inspired by her Ranger on the Road workshop with Tim, Suze and Claudine.