Tag card, ATC & more Irish oddities

I've been playing around making this card but I'm trying to do it from memory. A few years ago my friend Linda sent me a similar one and I have been trying to remember how it was made. Linda's was much better than mine so I think I'll have to keep playing to improve it, but you can get the idea from the photograph. I do like the shaded coloured swirls which were stamped with a Kaleidacolor ink pad, Caribbean Sea.

I'm also ahead of myself, for a change, as I have made my ATC for the June workshop of Vicky Stampers, and the theme is... "Childhood". I'm looking forward to it as we will have Liz Welch as tutor giving us her expert knowledge on Friendly Plastic.

When I was looking for the "Elephant in Ireland" photo a few days ago I also found these following pictures (and lots more) which reminded me of other Irish Oddities during that holiday. 

We drove from Dingle round the Sneem Peninsular and stopped off for a cuppa when we spotted a giant teapot sign on the roadside. There were ducks and chickens in the garden and when we went into the "cafe" we thought we had wandered into someone's living room by mistake. We HAD wandered into someone's living room but it wasn't a mistake... it WAS the cafe! We were about to tippy toe out when we received a lovely welcome from the friendly owner of the place who told us to sit down and make ourselves comfortable. There was a Robin flying round our heads, occasionally settling on the computer or the TV. That's it, not an ornament, looking so perky on the TV in the pic. We wondered if, oddly, it was a tamed pet one but, when I mentioned it, the lady saw it and panicked so I had to do a rescue job by throwing my silk scarf over the Robin  to catch it to get it out safely, in time to stop her swatting it!

There was no water to be seen or found anywhere near this road sign!!!

Phone box and The Pub in Clonakilty, or I should say one of the MANY pubs!

Cead Mile Failte

A hundred thousand welcomes, which is just what everyone gets in Ireland!

Garden Bunting & Camper Van

I had this idea to make bunting, especially for the garden, to use as decorations for BBQs and other social gatherings. It has to be waterproof, to cope with the unreliable English weather, so I made it from clear plastic table covering fabric, which is quite cheap to buy, and stamped it with Ranger Dabbers. I used stamps without too much detail as the acrylic paint in Dabbers really clogs the grooves, so always have a bowl of water ready to wash them frequently. Once it dries it's ON and is so difficult to remove. It looks very effective especially on bushes or trees that aren't in flower. I suppose you could spell out greetings or names too for special occasions.

Oops, I missed the birthday of my DD1's partner so made him a special card and, as he loves camper vans, this fitted the bill perfectly. I love the quotes on it, which are on a travel plate by Club Stamp.

Knots, Jewels, Toulouse Lautrec and Picasso

I went mad and got knotting all my short ends of Mizuhiki cords and in an evening whilst watching the talking wallpaper (TV) I made over 40 friendship knots. It's an ideal time filler on car trips and I've even made them on flights with ready cut cords. So easy when you know how!! I'm getting prepared in advance for a Japanese exhibition later in the year as I will need hundreds!

I also decided to make some fairly quick, simple Asian cards (still using those backgrounds from last Saturday!!) but by adding a Mizuhiki knot it makes them that bit special and individual.

Yeh!!! and woo hoo! Some great news to share... I have won a day course making Silver Clay jewellery. I entered the competition at the Aintree Show as I've always wanted to try this craft and I'm so lucky to have won. 

It is with Tracey Spurgin at her Craftworx studios and, in a day, we will make 3 pieces of jewellery. ( Not the ones shown, I might add)

This is some of the gorgeous stuff on her website. I did silversmithing for some time but working with the clay seems easier and less hazardous. 

Take a peek at some of the gorgeous pieces on Tracey's Craftworx website

I found out today that there are so many exciting, "must see", exhibitions in the city this Summer. Amongst others a Toulouse Lautrec exhibition, "High Kicks & Low Life" starts this Friday at the Walker Art Gallery which includes his iconic print of "La Goulue" at the Moulin Rouge. Next month at the Tate of the North is a "can't miss" major Picasso exhibition, "Peace & Freedom". Both worth a day trip if you are near enough to Liverpool.

KCUK 9 Today & an Irish Oddity

Happy Birthday to all my friends at KCUK and thanks to Cath our list Mom, and the moderators who give so much time to help make it the best group ever. Everyone is so caring and sharing and it is such a talented group.

Here's a couple of cards in celebration. Well I'm Gemini and I do things in twos! Still using my stash of backgrounds.... hope I'm not getting too boring with them. It shows how handy it is to have some ready as it then means that the messy part is all done and dusted and it is thus easier to make a card quite quickly.

Something reminded DH and I yesterday about one of our best holidays, which was in Ireland's West and South coasts, a couple of years ago. I don't think we laughed so much on any holiday before that one as so many odd things happened. DH said, "Remember the elephant?" so I just had to find this photograph as this was a perfect example of an Irish oddity. We were driving back, along the coast near Dingle, after having a meal out, and YES! we had also had a drink or two. As we passed a field I said to DH there's an elephant loose in that field... "OH yes, of course!! he said, "this is Dingle, they are native to here you know!" I made him drive back a way to see it for himself and the elephant WAS just loose lumbering around and there were also camels!!! You can just see Jumbo on the left disappearing behind the bushes, couldn't get a better pic, but note how low the hedge is to the front and it was there looking over when I first spotted it!. It really could have just walked off and there was nobody around to guard them. We presumed that there was a circus somewhere... .but then again it WAS Ireland!

Folds and Flowers

Still using up some of my demoing stash of backgrounds and made this card for KCUKs May sketch challenge. Nice to take part even if it's not a style I usually make and although I had to work to a set layout the challenge to me was to make the card a bit different and to use up some of my stash of decorated card!!

I made this card for Beryl from Wales, a lovely lady I met at the Port Sunny show on Saturday. 

I love this versatile fold which is so useful as a card insert.

The cover using card stencils sponged with Distress Ink

A couple of old ideas of how I've previously used the fold .......

It can be made in small scale to create hanging decorations by sticking a few folds together.

Or large to make unusual album pages

Here is a photo of how to construct them......quite simple !!

Peace & Love

I've started, today, making some cards from the stash of backgrounds I produced whilst demoing on Saturday. You'll recognise some from my previous post. They seem to have a colour theme running through but are all very different in style.

I made some other cards yesterday but forgot to photograph them before I posted them off. Doh!

I was given a couple of old Somerset Studio Magazines by my friend Cath (Ta ever so!) and I spotted a card after the style of Andy Warhol, so thought I'd make one with the same influence. I really enjoyed playing around balancing so many different colours and will have another go at this idea. The gold mount doesn't show well on the photo and it does set it off well. I used the new Distress Inks colours for all the faces and stamped the images with Black Stazon Ink.

Next an easel card, which I love to make as they are so quick and easy yet they are structured. I used my new Nestabilities in the Cuttlebug which I recently bought from a friend. The card is a bit pretty for me but some of my friends love this style and it's nice to send a card they will enjoy rather than my quirky grungy stuff!

I'm looking for an old sailor to send this one to... looks like he's travelled far!

Still a few cards more but I'll save those, until they reach their destination, incase the intended recipients peek here!

Happy 9th anniversary to my DD2 and her husband in Germany for 12th May

It was a wonderful day that only seems like a year or so ago. I wish them continuing happiness now that they have their precious baby and send lots of love. 

There was Wisteria exquisitely swathed round the door where they married and it only opened into bloom, perfectly on time, just a day or two before the wedding. It reminds me of that special day whenever I see it here.

Distressed at Port Sunlight

I really enjoyed my day at Port Sunlight Stamping Festival yesterday and met so many lovely people during my day demonstrating Distress Ink techniques for stampattack. It's a great show with around 40 stands, especially for stampers, but sadly some of the American stands did not exhibit, but plan be there in October. We missed seeing Mary Kaye of Stamp Camp and Linda of Lost Coast Designs. Hope Linda is well  again soon. 

Thanks to all who stopped by! Of all the ways I showed to use Distress Inks the most popular was the wood and weathered paint effects which I was asked to do over and over again. I've a great stash now with which I can make some cards!

Time flew and it was almost 2pm before I realised that I had missed the meet up with my friends from KCUK yahoo group. Most of them managed to pop by the stand and I received some fab ATCs. Thanks to Lynne, Margaret Rose, Cath and Dot. Really missed Neet and Jayne and Alison CB, amongst others.

I was so busy that I only managed to buy these teen weeny birdhouses from Jenny at  the Stamp Connection. Can't wait to alter them. 

Caz and Me on Stampattack Stand

Demonstrations by members of Happy Stampers North West Group who organise the show.

Here's Linda watching Karen

Lots of Paperartsy Stamps

The Stamp Connection where I bought those tiny bird houses

Port Sunlight Village, where the show is held, is so pretty and well worth a visit. It was purpose built starting in 1899, by Lord Leverhulme the soap manufacturer, who wanted his factory workers to have a good standard of living. It is a garden village with all the houses set around greens and now they are all grade II listed.

Note the writing on the garage door of the local village pub "The Bridge Inn"

Will England Conquer Africa? (In the World Cup, of course!)

Port Sunlight Show

Just a quickie!
We are off to the Port Sunlight Stamping Show tomorrow. We were there today setting up the Stampattack stand and we're all set for a busy day tomorrow. It's great fun and a lovely atmosphere..... my favourite show. We know so many people who attend and have a meet up at 1pm with the members KCUK group who are there.
If anyone is going to be there who reads this blog then please come and say "Hello" to Caz and me on the stampattack stand in the far room and get some sweeties and an ATC! Lots of stamp plates and goodies and we'll both be demonstrating some fun ink techniques.

Tags and Gifts

Rain, rain, today so I stayed home and played but couldn't get anything right except these two tags. I made them for the KCUK group May challenge and, being my usual Gemini indecisive self, I couldn't choose which to enter so I put both in for it. The Asian tag is stamped with my new wood mounted Geisha stamp which was a gift from my friend Jayne. Thanks so much Jayne. I love it and may do it better justice another time! Both tags have Distress Ink backgrounds.

I was lucky enough on Saturday to receive another gift, which my friend Caz brought home from her trip to the recent show in Zeist, Holland. Our friend Christine sent it with Caz and I am so thrilled to receive it. Christine is a lovely "Lancashire Lass" who now lives in Germany and we see her in Haagen at Stempelmekka and she also comes back to England occasionally. Because I couldn't get to the Zeist show she made me this lovely book in a box. So well made, with fab embellishments, and  I especially love the index tabs on the pages. A useful treasure I might one day use instead of just having it on show! HUGE THANKS Christine, I really appreciate it and look forward to seeing you again soon.

House Box and the Dream

Today after visiting IKEA yet again for more acrylic hearts (computer says 67, shelf says NIL, Doh!) we took an uphill stagger in the rain......... see below for pics of where we ventured but first some crafting......

This little house box is the project we made at Victoria Stampers workshop on Saturday, run by our group member, the one and only fab Paul! It was such a great day, so relaxing, good fun and lots of nattering but, thanks to Paul, we did manage to get some crafting done.

I used printed scrapbook papers to cover the box then grunged it up with gesso and stamped swirls. I collaged the roof before treating it in the same way.

Inside the box is a concertina book and mine ended up filled with bird images so I can use it as a sample at next week's show and they are all UMs from stampattack , mostly my designs. I contemplated adding a door and windows but I thought that whoever gets to live there can just lift the lid!!

I decorated both sides of the book with stamped images and added ribbons, embellishments and lovely spotted quail feathers.

The book covers have a ribbon tie attached

The Dream...........

We took a detour on the way home from Ikea to visit the Dream in St Helens. We have seen this fairly new sculpture, standing so high in the distance, as we pass on the M62 motorway  (apparently so will 35 million other cars each year) and have always wanted to see it up close. We first had step into a foot deep pit at the gate, created I think to stop motorbike access, then trekked up a rough uphill track, in the rain, for fifteen minutes to get to the  point of my first photo. Very disability UNFRIENDLY especially after watching a family struggle to get their elderly father out and back into his wheelchair after lifting it over the pit. I wondered if it was worth it?

Then we saw the reality of the Dream and she is beautiful, serene and calm, in her position over a disused coal mine. The artist, Jaume Plensa, from Spain, created her with her eyes closed to appear forward thinking and to symbolise looking inward, as homage to the miner's dream of light whilst they were underground. You can see me there under her chin (sheltering from the rain!) and she towers over my five foot nothing, whilst the depth of the foundations are about four times the height of the statue. Quite a site and a sight and now I'll pass by on the motorway knowing I've touched her and her beauty touched me!

I love the artist's comment that in our dream space anything is possible... so hold on to your dreams.

(It worked for Fluffy!)

She wears pink feathers!

I needed a couple of general birthday cards for friends so I made these before I went out yesterday. I used two of my favourite "women" images, stamped in black on white card, then layered over with acetate which had been coloured with alcohol inks. Went a bit mad with the feathers but they make the cards OTT glam!

Afterwards I went into town as I was lucky to be an invited guest for the opening of our new bigger TKMAXX store. We already had one but, with the regeneration of the city centre, they decided to expand and move to the well loved, historic, George Henry Lee department store, which they have revamped beautifully, so now we have quality bargains galore on three floors.

 This pic, showing a quarter of the ground floor, is for my two DDs who love TKMAXX, but live so far from here so couldn't be there yesterday. Heh heh! Great that Mum gets the treats!

We had bubbly on arrival and delicious canapes and the most yummy cupcakes (see one of the towers in the left hand corner) which were decorated so beautifully. I had one with a chocky shoe on top and took one home for DH with sprinklings of the tiniest hearts. Aren't I romantic? Aaaahh! 
There were jugglers, stilt walkers, music by a local radio station, and guests (that's me) were pampered with an "Angel" relaxation massage and a manicure. With a bit of retail therapy it was a lovely experience which I was glad to be invited to, thanks to DD2's friend Gill.
I asked the manager if he could manage to repeat the event once a month!!!
I'm looking forward now to going to Vicky Stampers tomorrow for a workshop when, our lovely member and friend, Paul will be our tutor. He is teaching us to make an arty house with a concertina book inside so it should be fun. Must pack up my kit and make my template from his email.........Now I wonder if I'll find all I need!!!!