Altered Necklaces

Toot, toot, blowing my own trumpet, I know, but I'm so thrilled to say that I have won first prize in the Stampman Fortnightly Challenge! I posted it yesterday and thought it had another week to run before it closed then today I heard that I'd won. I'm so thrilled as it's the first challenge I've ever won as I've not long started to enter them. I only just limboed under the finishing tape for this one too. My luck has certainly changed as I won 2nd prize blog candy earlier in the week so I'll make sure I do the Lotto tomorrow.  

I made myself two necklaces to co-ordinate with some shirts I have. I couldn't find the purple or wine colours that I wanted anywhere, except for a fortune, so decided to make my own.

The beads above are wood and were, I think, varnished as they accepted alcohol inks very well when I painted them. I then stamped Chinese script on black Stazon quite randomly and heated to seal. Then I applied small dabs of Glossy accents to stick on the flakes of gold leaf.

 

This necklace was made from 3 cheapo bracelets made of plastic beads, shells and metal discs. I threaded

Them into a necklace then once again I painted the beads with alcohol inks to get the shades I needed.

What a shame I never took before pics of both!

I have never had a problem with AI colour coming off  onto garments but I cannot guarantee they won't on some materials so always check if you ever try this out.

Sadly, one of the members on a group I'm on has had a bereavement and this is the simple card I made to let her know we are thinking of her.

Thanks for calling by.... Have a great weekend! I hope the sun shines wherever you are.

Music Soothes the Soul!

This is my entry for the Stampman Fortnightly Challenge and I think it's obvious that the theme, this time, is Music!

I sponged Distress Inks over sequin waste for the background, then stamped subtle musical notes over, in Distress Inks. I then stamped a couple of darker swirls of music, top left and bottom right to balance the images. I double mounted musical images and quotes onto gold and brown card as I wanted an antiqued effect rather than the starkness of black and white music.

I think I acquired the stamps from Stamp Club when I used to subscribe to a monthly box but I've had them so long that I'm not sure.

Here's the front of the card which is a mounted stamped collage.

Thanks for visiting!

WOYWW 66

Good Morning WOYWWers!!
Yeah!! Just heard that I won 2nd prize in Lizzybobs blogcandy! I'm so pleased as it's yet another sign that my luck is changing. Thanks so much Liz who is also a WOYWWer!
It's seems like only yesterday that last I exposed my desk for WOYWW and here we are again. I promise that I DID tidy up again before I made yet another new mess. My tidy looked the same as last week, so won't show that, but my mess is a bit different!

I managed to get round to visit most desks last week even if it was really late for some and thanks to all who visited mine and left some great comments, all welcome and lots of fun.

1st a note for Elizabeth to see if she can spy something special to interest her??!

I've added accent beads into the lettering of my WOYWW easel to jazz it up a bit. Feeling a bit dotty today, hence the choice of coffee mug. My tea and coffee tastes so much better when I have carefully chosen my mug!

I went out and bought some of the paint brush storage gizmos from the Works shop (recommended by a WOYWWer, sorry can't remember who? but thanks!), a bargain at the reduced price of 99p, so I reorganised all my pen and brush pots as a result. 

I also realised that they will hold Promarkers very nicely and when not in use I can store them on their side (as you can see in the pic) to stop the ink going to one end. Thanks to Sid who gave me a kindly, timely, warning about storing them vertically! 

Yes! You'll spy chockies... it's empty now, but the tube may well alter very nicely in the future and it will remind me to buy more of the same, scrummy, die for, Bendicks Bitter Choc orange chocs which were part of a yummy gift from my friend Lynne. 

My WIP is for the Stampman's fortnightly challenge and the theme is music. I'll finish and post it tomorrow.

It's a ritual, each time we go to Vicky Stampers, to visit the local charity shop at lunch time. I bought this metal sign for 99p for my craft room........NO COMMENTS, well alright go on, go on, go on! but everyone else was sooo envious they didn't spot it first!!! You've got to be fast or you're last!!

I was so tired on Saturday when I got home from Vicky Stampers but I tried to put away all my craft bag contents from the workshop. Navigating this cupboard defeated me, and after trying to replace some of my scrapbook papers, the boxes were so heavy so, I gave up and left the mess on the floor. 

WHY NOT!? It's my mess and I like it! Well I don't really like it but I CAN do what I want with it!

It hurt no one and stayed there till today and now it's all tidy and back in place.

Sometimes you've just got to realise that  mess isn't harming anyone so just leave it till you feel up to it.

If you are confused and amazed at all this interest in mess, and wonder what on earth is WOYWW, then pop on over to Julia's blog, Stamping Ground and you too can join the fun and develop an obsession for visually rummaging through lots of creative desks each week.

Now I'm off for a nosey!

Boots,Tags and ATCs

These are the tags and ATCs that I made to pop into the pockets of the hanging in my last post.

There are also quite a few new ideas I added for how the hanging can be themed. My friend Jayne is making a tutorial video of it over the next few days, as so many people have asked her how to make it, so it will be on Utube. I'll post the link when it's live.

Just found another odd photo from our Irish holiday. These boots, planted with flowers, were a sign for the cobblers in Dingle. Love them and what a great idea!

I've just received this lovely gift thanks to my lovely friends Jean & Alan in Perth, Australia and the wonders of Interflora. It is to cheer us up after all that's happened here of late. All's well now, but it will be lovely to enjoy the basket of goodies.... and the wine is Australian! Thanks so much Jean & Alan for your thoughtfulness! We'll raise a glass to you!

Pocket hanging

This is the hanging we made yesterday at Victoria Stampers workshop. A great relaxing day, as always, and good fun. The idea was an original one of mine which our tutor, my good friend Lynne, took and developed so well. She found lots of new ideas for it and even made an advent calendar from it with chockies (I'll think about making one of those nearer the D month!) 

These are my two original samples

I decorated my own card but printed scrapbook papers work well and are so quick to use.

It is a very useful pocket hanging which organises all those little cards, coupons, photos, notes etc., that you collect, and can never find when you want them. I added a pen and a post it note pad to mine, yesterday, and tiny pegs hold postage stamps.

 It can be made large or small and is a good vehicle for displaying ATCs or tags. 

It also makes a lovely quick and easy gift, a useful birthday card!........ add a tag with a greeting! 

This one is 8 x8 inches but some yesterday made their's 12 x 12 inch. 

My friend Caz was sitting next to me and made a fabulous  12 x12 one full of vintage tags and lots of steam punk hanging tags. Far nicer than mine here. You can see it on her blog .....http://carolcsstuff.blogspot.com

Addendum: since I first posted this project, and we did the workshop on Saturday, other ideas have come up for it's use.Thanks for some of these to my friend Ann B

 It can be themed for gifts, eg.,

 a floral one containing packets of seeds, 

 for a handyman/woman containing a small screwdriver, fuses, fusewire, pen, post its, tape measure, sandpaper etc.

It could be filled with a sewing kit.

A children's hanger could hold pencils, rubbers, mini toys, lollipops etc.,

A baby themed one with a voucher, tiny socks, bib, small flat packet of wipes etc.,

Filled with specialty tea bags and small packets of biscuits, it would make a nice gift,

For someone on hospital, small tissues, wet wipes, soap, postage stamps and thank you cards, sweets, etc.,

 Or for a chocoholic... filled with small specialty bars of chocolate,

Another Nun on the Run photo I just had to share.......

This guy was a hoot, scooting around at the Southport show, and played this mobile grand piano whilst dressed as a nun. Someone told me that he entered for the recent series of "Britain's Got Talent"......and got buzzed very quickly !!! 

I loved the candelabra on the piano and his yellow tights.

Thanks for popping by and hope you had a good weekend.

Step Cards, the Sun, the Moon & the Stars

Well!...you can't ask for more than the Sun, the Moon and the Stars!
Welcome and thanks to Teresa and Ciara who have recently added their names to my followers.

These are the finished cards that were WIP on my table on Wednesday. I don't think I've yet finished playing round with this fold as I want to try out different sizes. 

My friend Neet has instructions on her Hickdorums Blog in her tutorials section and there's a small slimline one and a larger one. 

Here, in mine, I've reduced the size of the steps in proportion to the card section.

This background is effective just spritzed with Glimmer Mists. 

The star stamp is from Heindesign and the sun and moon stamps are from Topaz crafts.

 This one below is for a friend's birthday but she won't see it here as she doesn't blog.

The back ground was sponged with 3 shades of chalk inks, then I used the edge of an eraser along a ruler to rub out random lines. It is a really effective technique that was shown to me by my friend Caz of stampattack some time ago and I think she may have found it via Technique Junkies. It doesn't show up very well on the photo so I may do it another time. The stamps are yet again some of my favourites from  CraftyIndividuals.

I must get my act together and pack my bag for Victoria Stampers Workshop tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it as it is always a great, fun, creative day with such a wonderful group of people who travel far and wide from all over North England and I always end up with something good to post!

WOYWW 65

Had a happy day yesterday as all the money that was spirited from our bank, via a scam, has safely been put back, the sun shone, and now I'm looking forward to some better luck to come. DH is doing really well since his emergency holiday on the Costa del NHS and was well enough to rescue me from darkness by installing a new fluorescent light fitting in my craft room. However before he'd start I had to clear some space on the table for his tools. Soooooooo...........tada!.........

Don't blink because you'll miss it... that's my work table cleared. I haven't had so much space to work on for ages and didn't know there are so many strawberries on that table cover!

I awarded myself a cuppa in my lovely star mug and a couple of bickies before I perused the wonderful sight and started crafting. As usual it didn't take long to get messy but I'm still not as bad as usual. I know, I've said it before but, there's my crowned letter L still waiting to be finished. At the RHS back, that mini chest has found it's own use as it proved to be so handy for storing spare stamped images. Then there is a new acquisition waiting to be altered ( I know... how many more can I get in that pipeline?).... 3 wooden mini albums in a display stand. Another great bargain find by my lovely friend Jayne.

Well this is the state of things now after I've almost finished a couple of step cards. 

If you are wondering what this is all about then pop over to the blog of our inspiration and instigator of WOYWW, Julia at Stamping Ground and share our wonderful Wednesday obsession of spying on the desks of so many willingly crazy crafters.

Last week I managed to visit every one for the first time as it was excellent therapy to keep my mind off all the problems life was chucking my way of late whilst DH was in hospital. Hope you read my sincere thanks in my previous post for all the love and support we received last week. I feel that the nightmare has ended now but it helped to get me through.

Sorry I couldn't manage to leave a comment on some WOYWWer's blogs I visited but some just wouldn't let me!! 

Right stand by your desks... I'm off to snoop!

Ruby Wedding Tag Card

We're getting back to near normal here as DH is home from hospital and feeling good, I'm pleased to report. He'll be monitored for some time but that's a good thing. He was overwhelmed at the number of get well comments left on my blog last week and has asked me to send you all his special thanks for your wishes and support to us.

I must say that I nearly cracked up on Friday, when, in the evening DH checked his bank account only to find that all our funds had been transferred to someone else's far off bank (no it wasn't me on a spending spree whilst he was in hospital)... it was a scam and it seems that DH's card had been cloned somewhere. We cancelled our cards, with great difficulty getting someone at the bank to help, but we are wiped out on the account with over a further couple of thousand pounds overdrawn. It is sooooo scary. The bank will, hopefully, pay back the money but can't do it until tomorrow due to the Bank Holiday. We wait with trepidation...

Just take care out there, but then again, we always take care and it's happened to us 3 times. Twice with Visa who were quicker to react but this is the first time with our current bank account. We do have special protection and keep our cards safe but what more can we do?

Back to crafting and hopefully I'll soon get my mojo back.

I made this card for some special friends as it is their Ruby Wedding next week. I wan't feeling up to doing anything, but had to, in fact wanted to, so I returned to an old favourite... the Flag/Tag book which is so easy to make and I didn't have to think too much.

She loves sewing and they both love gardening so I added a few details to link in with their interests.

I added two CraftyIndividuals little girl stamps for their grandees.

I'm really not mushy but I do love this quote.....

I added pockets for extra tags in the front and back of the card so I can write a personal message on the back and pop in details of their gift.

The front of the card

The swirl is my favourite one from Stampattack

Hope you've had a good time on this Bank Holiday, thanks for stopping by and I hope you've picked up some ideas.

Just thought I'd leave you with a chuckle at a photo I took of these "Nuns" waiting to parade in a carnival and the one on the left is having a quick fag!!! They looked hilarious.

WOYWW 64 & "G" for Geisha

I must thank everyone who sent such kind messages last week, whilst I was in Brighton helping my family whilst my DD1's other half was in and out of hospital. Things went from bad to worse, and I was torn in all directions, as I had to rush back up North to my DH who was whizzed into the hospital A&E. What a nightmare, but things are getting better all round. He had pneumonia and a clot on his lung, linked to his recent hip replacement operation but with all the good care and treatment he is getting he should be home next weekend.

Here's my usual messy mix and you can spy my geisha page in progress and under my scissors are all the embellishments for my letter L which I had to leave so it is much as I left it when I rushed off down South. 

Must mention after reading Chrissie's solution to storing her JCB of the adhesive world... the ATG gun. I drilled holes in the handles of mine and added hanging cords. I dreaded cracking them but the plastic drilled no problem on both.

I really missed getting round to visiting all the WOYWWers last week as the computer I borrowed in Brighton was so slow and dodgy that I only managed to spy on a couple of you. 

Take a peek at the blog of the Queen of the Crafting Desks, the inspiration of we mad minions who dare to bare our souls via our craft desks, every Wednesday, drum roll................ that is.... tad dah!..... Julia at Stamping Ground!!!  

I sent scans of my MAD HOUSE sign to quite a few people recently, just for fun as there were so many comments about it, so if anyone else wants one just let me know. 

It's the first time I've managed any crafting for a fortnight, and I have missed it so much, but today I found some "ME" time and it was really therapeutic. I made this easel card as an entry for the Stampman fortnightly challenge. The image is one of my Asian designs which I did for Stampattack and the Geisha is great if you like to colour, especially this one which is the bigger size. The top and the borders are cut with my new Tim Holtz die.

The Geishas also come in ATC size so I used that to make G for Geisha as my next page of the KCUK alphabet swap. Maybe I should add a G somewhere on it?

Well I'm off now to catch up and peek at your's so thanks if you pop by mine!

WOYWW Beside the Seaside

Well I'm still marooned here in Brighton helping my DD1 by looking after my two lovely grandees, 6 months and 3 years, whilst she looks after her DH who has been in and out of hospital. Every cloud has a silver lining and whilst I'm shattered, I've been the lucky one here as I really have managed to spend quality time with ALL my grandees and family but my DH has been left looking after his little self up North.
My DD2  has been staying in nearby Lewes, visiting from Germany with her DH and my gorgeous 1 year old grandee, so we spent a sunny yesterday at the beach... fish and chips, carousel, sun and sand (well pebbles.. it is Brighton) just one or two key members of the family conspicuously absent and well missed!
WOYWW is nothing..zilch.. nada, nowt... infact .no work desk to show but I must thank everyone who sent good wishes over last week and I hope to get back to you ASAP when I return.
This computer leaves a lot to be desired and it has taken me ages to type this so have fun and I  will be spying but I'm sorry that I won't be able to comment this week. Hope I get my own back next week!!!

F is for Fantastic, Fluffy, Feathered Fan!

 

I made this one for fun as my F page for the KCUK alphabet swap as I had this pic ready in the file. 

I'm sending it from Brighton where I  came hotfoot by train today to help out my DD1 and family.  DD1's partner is ill and has been in hospital so things are a bit difficult. DD2 and family are here from Germany, staying near by, but can't help out as  they have their own babe to care for. I don't know when I'll be back home again but family comes first. Mind you I've had to leave my  DH at home fending for himself, post op and not yet 100% but getting there.
The freezer is well stocked with home cooked meals and he is now, at last, allowed to start to drive again. It's a shame I can't split myself in two! At least the bonus is that I will see all my family including my 3 grandees all together... all bar DH!! Aaaahh!

I'll post a couple of messages whilst I'm here but sadly no time for crafting and nothing with which to craft. 

UBoat534 visit

On Tuesday our friends Neet (of the fab Hickydorums Blog) & Chas drove over an hour from their home to take us out. A real treat and the first day out for DH since his operation! We were so well blessed with sunshine and my friend in Switzerland recently told me a lovely old German saying... "Wenn Engel reisen, lach der Himmel" (When angels travel, heaven is smiling) and it was true for our day out!

I chose to visit the UBoat story, which is next to Birkenhead Ferry terminal, as I thought it would interest the guys but we ALL enjoyed it!.

We were overwhelmed with all the interesting artifacts and personal possessions of the UBoat crew. It was really poignant and such an experience.  Here's a toy dog made in the sub which never reached the intended child. Playing cards, chequers, music and a gramophone record.
Can you just imagine playing 78 rpm records, on a wind up gramophone, so many fathoms below the ocean? 

Essential supplies!

I have great respect for anyone who went down in these vessels.

The submarine is the only one in the world which has been raised from the sea bed and put on exhibition and it was amazing to see the inside which was exactly as it was when raised, just cleaned out. It was artistically amazing to see all the rust, verdigris, piping and valves for Neet and me ... a real "Steampunk" experience which was an added attraction to us.

 I wish I could create backgrounds like this below!

The restricted space for long periods would be so hard to bear. 

Note the welly boot!!!

How well preserved everything is after over 50 years below the sea.

One of the signs in the U Boat/

A couple of the old signs at Woodside Ferry Terminal

Two SUPERLAMBANANAS!!!

After our UBoat experience we went to Bistro Franc in Hanover Street, Liverpool, where we had an amazingly wonderful meal and, at 3 courses for £7.99, it was a bargain lunch, on offer until 4pm weekdays. I'd recommend it (other restaurants are available!!) but I would advise booking as it was full... no wonder!

If you want to see more pics of the UBoat trip pop over to SuperlambananaNeet's blog.

WOYWW 62/ Red Drawers

I was overwhelmed last week to get so many comments, funny ones, such kind ones and some where WOYWWers were so relieved to see mine they now don't feel so bad about their creative chaos. I therefore think I've found my purpose in life and it's so good to know I help others feel good about themselves!!

Thank you one and all!

If you are new to this mayhem, and read this message wondering what on earth I'm drivelling on about, then go to visit the source of our inspiration and motivation.....Julia's Stamping Ground where you'll find lots of others baring their souls...nay, desks, craft rooms, places where they create wonders to delight, all which  make a melange of residue, which is the aftermath of all that happens in our creativities, otherwise identified as WOYWW.

Here's my current state of affairs and you can see that I am in the middle of altering the letter L for the 1st birthday of one of my lovely grandees. I've made so much mess doing it and now I'll have to leave it a while to set and dry the crackle paint to full effect. I've prepared several elements in grunge card to add to it... swirls, a star, a heart, keys etc., but I'll have to wait till it is dry to see which pieces will be suitable. The colours are chosen to co-ordinate with her nursery accents. I'll post the finished article ASAP!
You'll spot my new Tim Holtz die and 4 new colours of Promarker pens.
No comment about the MAD HOUSE SIGN.. but it fell off the wall in shock when

I did, at last, move my paper bin into the perfect spot to catch waste perfectly. That's my effort this week for a big tidy, one hand and two seconds worth!

Below are my 6 red Ikea cabinets which store my paper and ribbons and other various things I can't live without knowing they are there (with Johnny Depp keeping a red beady eye on them).

My work room, originally the utility room, has 4 doors wasting space, one to the garden, one to the kitchen and one to the garage. The 4th leads to the front of our house, and is hiding behind these red cabinets, so it is ideal that the cabinets have wheels in case I ever need to have access.

Here's a peek inside a few drawers showing some of my stash of ribbons and fibres. Not too tidy but hey are reasonably sorted into colours for the ribbons but the fibres are mixed over 2 drawers.

Thanks again to all who pop by and I'll do my best to spy on as many of you as time allows. If I had a 7 day week like some people I'd be OK but my weeks morph into 3 days max... don't know how on earth it happens or who gets my other days!!! If you find any ... Give them back!!  

Concertina File

This is the fab, and really useful, project Gill showed us how to make on Saturday at Victoria Stampers workshop and she tells us that it is adapted from an Art Specially book. It was a great day, as ever, full of fun and laughs, chocolate (thanks to the birthday girl Mandy) and a good bit of serious crafting.

I made file card inserts with tabs and ribbon accents to pop in each slot.

I decorated 3, 12 x 12 inch peces of light card to use as the covers and trims. I smudged over various stencils with Distress Inks in Mustard Seed, Crushed Olive and Pine Needles.

The first pic shows the layers, first over the floral stencil and sequin waste ( shown on the card).

I then used two different sizes of sequin waste

Next I stamped a script image and a starburst over everything to link together all the elements. I had to make sure that the images were multi directional so I could use the paper on all parts of the project.

I really enjoy messing about making these backgrounds as they always come together so easily and effectively. Have a go and if you do please let us see what you produce and don't hesitate to shout if you need any more information!

Thanks go to our tutor and friend, Gill, who gave us such a good day.