Hooked on Craft Challenge DT Card

It's time for a new challenge over at Hooked on Craft Challenges folks! Sooooooo, without further ado-and with many fingers crossed that Blogger's scheduling is working! lol-I will just get on with it :)

This fortnights challenge is....Things With Wings....and I had so much fun with this one!

Karen has loads of cute stamps with 'things with wings' on them but I just couldn't resist the butterfly sets! There are large and small to choose from...but you know me, I just couldn't choose, so used loads of different ones lol :)

See how they shimmer and shine!!!?

I wanted the butterflies to look like they were 'fluttering'

 over the paper, so they were all coloured with Promarkers and cut out, then covered in Glossy Accents and sprinkled with Glamour Dust-gotta have the sparkle on the butterflies don't ya? This technique means that when the paper/card stock dries, the Glossy Accents 'plasticises' it, making it pliable so you can mold it and it keeps it's shape. So the wings were shaped and I coiled little springs out of fine lilac wire and attached them with silicone.

I used a white dotty embossed 8x8 card blank,  Back to Basics paper, Coredinations cardstock-what else? lol, pretty lilac Hunkydory glitter card, lime green die cut doily, white satin ribbon, some lilac fibres, beautiful 2 inch sheer glitter organza ribbon, lilac die cut banner and sentiment stamp all from my stash.

The butterfly stamps, stunning oriental lilies, lilac stick on gems and the gorgeous handmade butterfly pin are all from Hooked on Craft

What are you waiting for ladies? Get crafting! Lol.

It would be really good to see you all in this challenge.

*hugs* Sal x

Azura has arrived!

I really should be asleep but hey ho...not happening right now, I so know that I'm not going to be bright and breezy for work in the morning, lol, oh yes, I do have a meeting first thing-not to mention the decorators coming in to fix up a community room, for a group of adults with learning disabilities who are going to be recording their own radio shows. How cool is that?!

 I thought I'd share a little something with you :)

As part of their birthday celebrations The Ribbon Girl were giving away the sweetest little fairy, made by the super talented Gail, in a competition to name her! Well I took one look at the cute little thing and decided that she should be called Azura-it means sky jewel, in fairy speak! Didn't know that I could speak Fairy did you, huh?

Well, the loverly Mary and Andrea picked me! Yay and double yay!

Yesterday she fluttered into my craft room-carrying some uber gorgeous Ribbon Girl goodies no less-and has made herself perfectly at home on my desk! She's been hovering there ever since, inspiring me to create glittery, flittery gorgeousness!

Want to meet her? Yes? Well here she is!

Isn't she just B-E-A-utiful?!

Gail is such a clever lady and I'm soooooo very lucky to have won this little beauty :)

Still not sleepy, so I'm going to have abash at making something for their new challenge-USE RIBBON! lol, you know me, just lurve the ribbon! The prize for this one, is some seriously gorgeous bling-has to be worth a go ladies, doesn't it? :)

Night, night folks hope you all sleep soundly and have happy dreams!

Thank you for popping over, I really appreciate your comments.

*hugs* Sal x



Advice needed and a hoooooge winge-My Craft Studio

Having never been huge on computer crafting-nothing wrong with it, just not for me-I am however, pretty much addicted to that 'Crafting Channel', you know the one where they craft all day long? Never bought anything from them,t ried once and it sold out but was still on the website-put me off a wee bit methinks, lol, just like to have it on in the background when I'm at my desk, having a coffee, well any time really! hehehe

Well, while they were demo'ing the MCS, Encyclopedia of Papercraft, Templates and Folds DVD/CD collection, I got it into my head that I could use this one. Not the artwork but the templates could really be handy. Soooooo, you know me, looked on the bay of e and got them, hmmmmmm. Breaking strain of a Kitkat me!

My thinking was, print off and laminate the templates, or just print them onto acetate and pass the disks on to someone who would use them for the whole package-I'm nice like that me lol!

Well they've come, put them on the poooter and guess what? They won't blooming run!

Talk about frustrating. I've installed, uninstalled ans reinstalled the professional version 3 times, then had a brainwave-I only want the templates-sooooo, have installed, uninstalled and reinstalled the standard version twice! Still won't run, although at least I'm getting a message up now-registration request not allowed-haven't requested one of them!

Please, please help dear blogging buddies, if you have any ideas can you let me know? I can't watch the DVD's any longer-'lift your craft knife so that the point goes in first', 'keep your hand steady when you're cutting a circle', 'make sure you line up your edges'-man oh man, I had to watch them all, all the way through-you know, the way you have to watch a really bad film?! They would be great for 'virgin' crafters starting from scratch though, soooo glad I didn't pay full price, I reallly wouldn't have been impressed lol x

Thanks for popping over and 'listening' to my ramblings.

*hugs* Sal x



WOYWW #114

Well, I know I'm late for the party but in no way as late as I was last week! lol

If you've in the outer reaches of the cosmos for the last 2 years and have no idea what I'm talking about...get on over to the loverly Lady Julia's blog, here and join in the snoopery, that is What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday!

So I'll keep it short peeps, I have to go pack goodies for my Candy winners :)

I've been shopping on the bay of e AGAIN! Got some cracking bargains :) feathers (tons of them) for a couple of quid, book by THE DUKE OF DISTRESS-less than a tenner, I'm so gonna give this ditrssing/grungy lark a darn good go!

In the background you can see my very first little-and I mean TINY-altered canvas in progress and see all theose promarkers? Less than £1 each!

Anyhoo, I'm off to nosey around your desks now.

Thanks for popping over to peruse my space.

*hugs* Sal x



Thank You Candy Winner................and a surprise!

It's ti...iime to announce the winner of the thank you candy folks!

How exciting!

Well, let me tell you first off that I employed the help of my daughter, Poppy, for the draw lol, I put the names in the pot and she pulled one out :)

So here goes!

Six of you loverly ladies got your comments in

So I put your names in the pot-incidentally this is where my new herb seedlings will be living from the weekend!

Poppy shuffled them around and picked one out!

AND the winner is.....drum roll please!

VON!

Woohoo well done hunni! E-mail me your snail mail and I'll get your goodies posted out to you :)

Now for the surprise hehehe, I also have a little thank you for the other five of you loverly ladies who make me smile by popping in and cheering me with your comments and support!

Soooo, if you e-mail  me your snail mails I'll get your 'runners up thank yous' out to you too!

Thank you all for your support, your comments mean soooo much!

*hugs* Sal x



Candy Draw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Super quick post

I'M DRAWING THE CANDY IN 2 HOURS FOLKS (9PM GMT) 

SO IF YOU'VE NOT PUT YOUR COMMENT ON THE CANDY POST YET, YOU HAVE ABOUT AN HOUR AND HALF LEFT

*hugs* Sal x



DT Card Hooked on Craft Challanges

Hey there peeps!

It's challenge #5 at Hooked on Craft Challenges and the theme for this fortnight is SWEET TREATS this can be anything you can eat, lol cake, sweets nom nom nom. It can be your image, papers or embellies-as long as we can see something sweet!

Here's my effort for this one. I started off wanting a bit of a 'retro' feel-hence the blue and white polka dots-then veered off with the black and red. I think it's cute!

I have to be honest, I couldn't decide which onof Karen's lush little stamps to choose-I settled on just 2 in the end lol!

Both are coloured with my fave Promarkers, with their little noses covered in Glossy Accents. This one had his milkshake glass also covered in Glossy Accents, the froth was 'blinged up' with Cosmic Shimmer diamond sparkles.

This greedy little munchkin's cherry was also topped with Glossy Accents and his cupcake frosting covered in Glamour Dust-you know I love it! The spoon is a Maya Road chipboard piece, covered with liquid pearls, in pewter and then Gloosy Accents...toppped off with one of Karen's bows.

The ingredients are as follows;

Paper - Anna Griffin

Gingham ribbon - The Ribbon Girl

Stamps - Hooked on Craft

Gems - Paper Cellar

Flowers - Hooked on Craft

Cardstock & miri - Kanban

Hope you like it my hunni's, don't forget to head on over to Hooked on Craft Challenges to get your entry in!

*hugs* Sal x

Challenge Card

First of 2 posts tonight-the next is a DT card later on!

Well I've done a bit of crafting just for me today! With the new Hougie Board-it came yesterday but I was working all day so couldn't play!

Anyhoo back to the card...it's a stepper...soooo much easier with the Hougie let me tell you!

I haven't done a Tilda in ages and had so much fun with this one!

Isn't she sweet?

As I said the stepper took very little time itself, the board is brilliant (although I don't think I'm done gripeing about the 'lady' who sold it to me!)

Okies, the deets.....

I used a 300gsm linen textured card for the base and matted and layered with some  pretty yellow glitter card with some loverly backing paper-it's from my stash and honestly can't remember what it is, sorry. The main topper is my sweet little girl, coloured with Promarkers and literally covered in Glamour Dust, layered some gingham and white die cuts (I ditressed the edges of the white one with a die based ink pad), a punched out border and finished off with some little half pearls.

The bottom stepper is finished with some larger half pearls, the middle one took a little time. It has pleated white lace, some mimosa seam binding-from The Ribbon Girl, pearl trim, yellow paper roses interspersed with some little pearls. The top 'step' is finished with some die cut swirls, which were again distressed with the ink pad, some more little pearls and a sentiment topper-yes you've guessed it, distressed with the same ink pad and a touch of Glamour Dust to the tiny flowers and a big bow made from the seam binding.

I'm entering this one into the following challenges;

Just Magnolia - Anything Goes (with the option if adding glitter)-hmmm think I have that option covered lol)

Totally Tilda Challenge Blog - Pearls, Swirls, Ribbon and Lace

Totally Papercrafts Challenge - Bling It Up!

Hope you like it my loverlies and thank you so much for taking the time to drop in!

*hugs* Sal x

ps. only 3 more days to go until I draw my CANDY folks, you've got to be in it to win it! lol



Tutorial #1.....Faux Tortoise Shell.....it's my first one on Blogger, please be gentle :)

I've been promising to do this for a while now...and since my mojo's gone AWOL (may have something to do with the fact that I have this awesome idea for a card but am still awaiting the delivery of my Hougie Board and until I get the card done I think I may be in limbo tssk) so figured I'd do it straight away...have told Vickie aka Okienurse that I would, so here you go hunni, just for you!!!

Tis the simplest of techniques but soooooo very effective lol!

 

To start off with, this technique relies on ink 'bleeding a bit', so all your materials need to be water based.

Here are the ONLY things you need for this fab effect!

 

Here I have a plain white chipboard buckle slider, it has a coated paper on it. Don't panic though, you can just cover whatever piece your doing in either PVA (craft glue) or give it a quick coat of white acrylic paint! I use Whispers water based brush markers (a mid brown and a black), only because I bought the whole blooming set about a gazillion years ago (an impulse buy because I just HAD to have them all!) and am determined to get some use out of them other than water colouring my stamped images lol! A gold gel pen, mine's a Pentel one and some Ranger Sepia Accents, I use this as I think it gives a better depth of colour but you can use Glossy or Crackle accents for a different effect, or indeed ANY water based gloss medium.....

You start with the mid brown colour...

Draw 'wiggly' lines and a few blobs, leaving about a quarter of the white showing through, then get your black pen...

Drop in some odd shaped blobs of black, still leaving some white, just really randomly...then get your gold gel pen...

Fill in most of the white areas with this, slightly overlapping onto the brown and black ink...

Please excuse the fuzzy'ish picture here folks...then cover the whole thing with your Sepia Accents...it will look like a hooooge cloudy mess at this point but don't panic, this is where the magic starts.

The water in the glaze gel starts to dissolve the water based ink...this wouldn't happen with alcohol or oil based pens! BUT it doesn't mix up completely because the gel is soooooo thick, that it dries before that could happen. Leaving you with a lovely shiny piece of faux tortoise shell.

Make sure you leave it for at least 2 hours before touching it though...or you will leave finger prints or worse in the glaze! lol

Still a wee bit fuzzy but hey, it's an extreme close up, that buckle slider is less than an inch across!

The whole process of colouring and glazing takes minutes.

Hope you found this helpful, please let me know, I have lots more tips and techniques that I would be happy to share, if you're interested!

Tutorial #2 will be Old Battered Metal Effect, with embossing powders! That's if you'd like it of course!

Anyhoooo my loverlies, thanks for seeing this post through to the end :)

*hugs* Sal x

ps, if you haven't already left a comment on my candy post...what are you waiting for peeps?! lol

WOYWW #113.....and Candy reminder :)

Yes, yes, I know I'm late again...been finishing paperwork off ready for work in the morning!

Sorry folks this is going to be a quickie as I have a DTcard  to get uploaded tonight and I haven't even taken the piccie yet! lol

For anyone who has no idea what on earth I'm panicking about regarding getting this post up please pop over to the fair lady Julia's blog here and join in the snooping fun that is known as What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday!

Okies, well what's on my workdesk today then? Well some quite exciting stuff really hehe...I think so :)

Had a delivery from the Bay of E to come home to this evening, see all those alcohol inks? Yep them, got the lot for £12 including the p&p...I'm thinking it's going to be a very inky weekend! AND those Dali, metallic acrylics...99p...well impressed (p&p on those was 2 quid so still a major bargain!) When I saw them listed I figured I'd have a crack at the auction, you see my thinking was thus...if the paints aren't any good, then I still have a fabby tin for altering...yes? As it turns out the paints are blooming, great, really high density pigment and full of mica! I have a small canvas here somewhere...hmmm.................

As you can see there is still no new Hougie Board on my desk (see previous post) and no I've not had an e-mail to say it was posted on Monday...as promised...although I've had a notification through to say that it was dispatched today at 3.30pm...so watch this space folks!

Thanks for popping in to nosey about and listen to my mad ramblings. I'm off to take some piccies now and will try to get around you all in the next few days :)

*hugs* Sal x

ps. scroll down for my little thank you giveaway/candy and leave me a comment for entry, if you haven't already!



Gently smouldering!

Hello there peeps, I'm on the verge of ranting, somehow I feel that blogging will lessen this feeling...well lets hope eh?

On Monday last week I succumed to temptation...we all do it hahaha...I've been wanting one of those Hougie Boards for months...yes I have other scoring boards but I wanted a Hougie! (as well lol). As you know they aint cheap, so I scoured the net...not for one minute thinking that I would happen across any you understand.

Then I found it, a Hougie + THE book + bonus crafters rule (yes I have one but another won't eat or drink will it?) Sooooooo, I checked out the price...£32 all in...bargain! Checked out the delivery details...3-4 working days...by the weekend, woohoo! BOUGHT IT!!!

Thursday came-no Hougie...ok, Friday came-no Hougie...don't stress yet, surely on Saturday it would be here? Please, I have a DT card that I want to use it for! Did it come? NO it didn't!

So I checked the site again, maybe they're on holiday? Nothing, so I sent a quick e-mail;

Hi, could you please tell me when the Hougie Board etc was posted, as it has not yet arrived and was due for delivery by yesterday.
Many thanks
Sally

Not stroppy, not having a go, just 'where's my Hougie please?'

So at half  9 on Saturday night I had a reply, not any reply mind you but a very strange one...well I think it is...please tell me that it's not just me;

I know Hougie Crafing items are wonderful and it would be lovely to have them posted quickly. The posting day is estimate delivery and not due by. It was suppose to be Royal Mail 2nd class, but that is totally my fault! Anyway, I really appreciate your message and will get your Board, book and Craft Rule (excellent rule, by the way) posted on Monday, Royal Mail 1st class.

Also thank you again for choosing Hougie. It really is just great.
Talk to you soon. Or actually, I will send you an email when parcel is posted.
Best Wishes

Is it me? Is that a wee bit strange? The site clearly said...delivery: 1st class post, delivery within 3-4 working days.

Well guess what? I haven't had an e-mail today, to say that it's been posted :( I'm almost too scared to e-mail again, goodness knows what reply I'm going to get! Am I expecting too much, that when I order something on a Monday I feel it should at least be posted out in the same week?

Oh my days, I'm ranting! So sorry folks...best get myself up to my craft room and chillax a little...I may post a little make later (although quite what it will look like while I'm in this mood who can say lol)

Thanks for reading my wafflings...ooh and if you haven't already entered for my candy/giveaway please scroll down :)

*hugs* Sal x