Black & White

Over at JFF this week the colour theme of the month continues this time it is "Black & White". Mmmm nice one I thought but actually it took me a couple of days to decide what to do. Maybe it was because we are in the middle of decorating, I am chief tea and sustenance maker a role I took very seriously LOL. For the challenge I made a small canvas called "Masquerade". I love my judi masks stamp set and I thought this mask was perfect for a Black and White theme. I painted the canvas with acrylic and once dry stamped the diamond shapes onto it. I stamped the mask onto black card with brilliance white ink, I then covered it in glossy accents. After adding some embellishments and sticky swirls it was done. I enjoyed this one  XX. Oh well back to tea and sustenance for the Diamond. Thanks for looking Hugs All XX

White on White

Over at JFF it is a new month and a new set of challenges Sam has chosen the theme of "White on White" I must say the DT have produced some amazing work for this theme. White looks so clean and crisp. Anyway after some scratching of the head I settled on a chip board bird and cage, I painted it all in white acrylic paint. Then I painted over with a pearl dabber for a white metallic look on the cage. The bird I painted over in a shimmer paint and added some sticky swirls and a pearl eye. I made the paper rose out of fairly thick white paper. Over the whole lot I painted glue and seal assembled and dabbed about some frosted lace stickles and finished off with lace and white roses. Have a great weekend whatever you do Hugs Sandra XX

Fabric & Fiber

Well I have just discovered how many times I have said "After the wedding" ho hum I have a list as long as my arm of things I have been putting off LOL no excuse now for not working through the list.
BUT first I did the challenge for JFF which is use Fabric and Fiber.  Now I have a love of fabric and lace particularly love  incorporating into my makes, I have sewn a piece of pink silk to a card and in the spirit of JFF right out of my comfort zone and inspired by Von, I have attempted to use fiber to make the flowers (Mmmm I must try harder) not sure I did right. I inked a stamp and popped the fiber onto it then placed vellum over the top and ironed it, I thought it might melt more than it did. More playing I think. I used zigzag braid for the stems and stamped the leaves and butterfly onto the fabric added apiece of lace for effect. Hope it isn't to cute. Please read on to see the fabric collage I also made and for those who asked me I have popped up a wedding photo. Thanks for taking time to look. Hugs Sandra XX 

I made a fabric collage and card for my Aunt who is 70 on the 1st of August (Happy Birthday Auntie Netta) The picture on the collage is her as a child. I have used antique lace and fabric bits onto Hessian.

I have snuck in a photo of the wedding as one or two asked for it. As you can see it was a fantastic and we were and are very proud.

Corrugated Heart

This little corrugated heart hanging was made for the  JFF weekly challenge which is using corrugated as a significant part of the piece. I chose a collaged heart hanging which I cut out of a piece of old package I had kept. I dabbed acrylic pant randomly using antique white and a gold. I then rubbed DI bundled sage over it and around the edges. I also used some Tin Holtz tape on it. Then stamped my little bird onto text paper which I inked and cut him out I outlined the bird with glitter pens to lift him and gave him his embossed crown. I used glue and seal to stick my bird and sentiment I think it it gives a lovely glossy finish. As it is a collage and I love buttons I edged the heart with them. Added the little key and my beaded dangly bit which has a little native American fetish bear at the end. hope you like it. Enjoy your  weekend Hugs XX 

Plastic Garden

Over at JFF this week they have set a particularly tricky challenge "Acrylic / Plastic" set by Zoe and Ang C those DT gals like to keep us on our toes :-) I must admit to being a bit stumped even thought about passing with this one but I hate to be left out. Eventually I used a beer mat which I inked with summer sky and bamboo and a bit of worn lipstick. I then backed stamped  with chateau gray and a crackle look stamp also the trees. Istill wasn't quite sure where this was going but like a good JFF trooper I soldiered on and decided to stamp and emboss the same tree looked good but what next ???. Took me most of the afternoon to ponder and shrink plastic popped into my head whilst sipping a glass of red wine. So I stamped butterflies, birds and carnival masks and a bird in a cage (that ended up  looking like a guitar LOL) onto shrink plastic coloured them and shrunk em. I ended up with my plastic garden. Quite pleased really I managed anything. Thanks for the challenge I enjoyed it but must get back to the 60 Order of Service. Take care all. Hugs XX.

JFF "Anything Goes"

This week over at JFF the last in the June challenge run is "Anything Goes" (I sang that LOL). Its always nice to have this theme as a challenge I love to see all the different things folks do. Anyway as I am up to my eyes with order of service, tables decorations and other wedding paraphernalia as the day looms large (3 weeks time and as it is my son I am very excited) I chose to do a small collage tag. I inked background with lilac, bamboo and forest green in a blocks, then used various colour ink to stamp with, the stamps I used are a a lovely french garden set (I forget the name). I used a white gel pen to highlight some stamped areas and then embossed a swirl over the top. The addition of a small flower which I dyed purple and lilac to finish.  

I also made a birthday card for a friend using a completely new technique to me. Pushing resit paste through a mask and allowing it to dry then inking over the top and the masked area remains ink free. I am very impressed with this. Have a lovely week everyone. Hugs XX

Challenges and Presents

Hi All, I have been AWOL for the last week but I have managed to make a bookmark for a friend as a birthday present which I have entered in the Craft room challenge
and a box for my D-I-L to be. The box is all antiqued with a blue tinge as in the box is the blue garter for her wedding day. I made the box so she can keep it as a keep sake. I used Sams's technique for image transfer and it work really well.
I also missed out on a JFF challenge, those Zentangles were just amazing I  have visited the blogs and was just amazed by the work presented. This week it is the turn of  Neet and a guest artist Marie of Dollydaydreams   a great choice and I love the theme this week Marie. Those DT entries are just fab. For my entry I have used a mini canvas and used gesso on the which to swipe DIs in scattered straw, olive green and worn lipstick as well as some inka gold. I dabbed gold paint through sequin waste and then stamped my steampunk leaf onto tissue paper I then cut this out and used glue and shine to stick to canvas. I made the cogs and used the gold dabber and rock candy crackle paint. I then rubbed in metallic rubs added brads and wire. Hope you like it. Hugs Sandra XOXO

Craft Room Challenge

I made this for a dear friend and thought it would be a great entry in the new Craft Room Challenge. Love the inspirational DT pieces a great start to this new challenge blog. Hugs all thanks for stopping by XOXO

All things Sir Tim

Over at JFF this week the theme is "All things Tim Holtz" now I love the great Sir Tim. (lord of all things altered), so this challenge really floated by boat. Nice one Sam. I chose to do ATC which I used TH distressed inked, broken china, sugar spun and milled lavender. I then painted with a shimmer and shine paint (not a TH product). I stamped the ATC with a TH background stamp and I die cut a TH swirl then embossed with a gorgeous pink. I made the grunge paper flower used DI worn lipstick and milled lavender used another TH stamp on the flowers. Added couple of leaves punched and embossed green. My "mostly" Tim Holtz ATC. Have a great weekend. XOXO. PS it is more shimmery than the photo suggests.

Eye Spy

 A little late with my entry this week, as I have been enjoying a lovely weekend away scrapping most enjoyable. I really didn't know what to do for the JFF challenge this week the Theme is Eye Spy. Luckily I spyd this lovely little sizzix owl die and just fell for him. I used a tag and DI tumbled glass, bundled sage and a bit of forest green. I then cut out a branch another little sizzix die (both die's from the same lady so: Thanks Penny). I did back stamp with trees and of course his supper. Have a great week all. XOXO PS think I am all owled out now LOL.

JFF Tea Card Challenge

Over at JFF this week the challenge is tea cards now these came from packets of tea in bygone days, which I do remember (blush). They had all sorts of different themes such as wildlife or cars and so forth all were highly collectble. I do have vague memories of collecting them. What a fantastic idea (this was Neet's idea) very different. I Had various ideas but was restrained to using what I have available. Sometimes the challenge is using what you have in your stash rather the buying something special. Any I used these lovely owls. I inked the background with memento summer blue skies and back stamped trees in London fog. I wanted the midnight foggy look so I added some bamboo at the bottom and tangerine at the top. Then a swoosh of glitter glaze. and eventually the owls. I used water colour pencils to add a bit to the owls. The whole thing is mounted on white card then orange cordinations which has been run through an embossing folder and sanded. Finished it off with string for that rustic look. Enjoy the BH whatever the weather. I dare not complain about the rain LOL. XOXO. Oh I have visited the other blogs and tried to leave comments but blogger is planning silly Bs again I am unable to leave any comments. Welcome to Florence so glad to see you as a guest. Great tea cards from the other participants. XOXO.

JFF POstcards

Hi All
The challenge at JFF this week was postcard size 4x6 it is the first time I have done this size. I decided on a theme of "something I found in my grandma's draw" that's how i got to this postcard. I chose an old forces vintage picture I have from Crafty Individuals (I love these) then I chose a paper which already had text print on and DI with bundled sage, Marigold and worn lipstick this combo gives a fab oldie worldie look. I then stamped with a TH postcard stamp and added lace which I have rubbed in DI along with the ribbon roses ( please forgive the shadow on the photo I m not a good photographer) I then added crackle accents and metallic rubs for that just found in draw look. Thanks for stopping by. XOXO
PS I will be swapping again, it is just lovely to receive other folks work so come lets have some more folks swapping! it is painless. LOL.

Scraplings & other things

I have crammed an awful lot into this weekend thankfully things I like doing. On Saturday I went to a workshop run by Carol  from crafty pieces hosted by Papermaze we made a fantastic Tim Holtz configurations box. It really was a fab day although poor Carol had a lot to contend with as I got in a muddle with my 16th and 8ths boy I can be dense sometimes, think I had a dodgy ruler LOL but it turned out well.

Today I managed to fit in gardening, cooking and crafting. Over at JFF  it is a continuation of Size Matters and this week its Scraplings ( a new one to me) it is the off cut of making a card which is typically 5.1/2 by 5.1/2 this leaves 2.1/2 by 5.1/2 a Scrapling. I inked the card in bundled sage, marigold and worn lipstick (my favorite combo) then stamped a crafty individuals flowery swirls in bamboo and some text in white acrylic paint. I then embossed a swirl I had die cut in green and added a small TH rosette with a button in the middle, garden string and a button watering can. Gardening this morning inspired my scrapling today. Enjoy your week and thanks for stopping by. XOXO.

Inchies & JFF

Its been a funny week for me lots of rushing around and hospital visits, as last Sunday the Diamond had lots of pain which turned out to be 'Kidney Stones'. So having spent Sunday at A&E with him he was admitted and eventually came home Thursday. Not quite the end of the story as he will have to go and have them zapped. Anyway we had a nice quiet weekend with lovely sunny weather, no rain to speak of as was promised by the BBC. Over at JFF it is a new month and a new theme 'Size Matters' to set us off Neet chose 'Inchies', now whilst I have seen inchies it is very new to me I did rack my brains to no avail (probably still tired LOL) I did find some inchie stamps I had bought once upon a time so started by using these. Well it turned out to be a very bright and gaudy tag LOL. Not quite sure how this happened but it did. I Used my big and juicy inks with a brayer to cover the tag then stippled through sequin waste and stamped swirls in purple then a swosh of glitter glaze (you can see where it strated to get gaudy (is that how you spell it?). The inchie stamped have been highlighted with white gel pen to lift them. To attach the inchie stamps I machined sewed and machine sewed added ruffled ribbon and hearts, flowers then a bit of bling (of course). So here it is my very in the face inchie tag. Hope it brings a smile to you if nothing else. Thanks for dropping by. XOXO

Red, White and Blue.

Sorry Sorry but I just HAD to go topical what with the royal wedding tomorrow. I just love weddings and the Princes (ever since they so stoically walked behind their mothers coffin and they are similar ages to my sons, it struck a cord with me). I have gone red, white and blue (I am also very patriotic). Over at JFF this week it is the last week of shapes and Von chose Triangles, (Von I can honestly say this has stumped me hence my offering). I draw inspiration from the royal wedding as you can see. TH  DI inks, broken china and worn lipstick, stamped with a TH background that I have divided into triangles, used a paper edging that has triangles in it and a lace edge also triangle-ish, chose a wedding vintage picture and then red, white and blue bunting. Roll on the next wedding my Son Paul to Jenni in July. Thanks for looking and enjoy the wedding tomorrow. XOXO.
PS our little community is having a street party tomorrow.
PPS Yes I will be swapping this month so count me in.

JFF Squares

Whew! what a scorcher Easter we are having, now I am not complaining I love the hot weather. My poor garden however is beginning to look a bit sorry for itself. All the spring flowers have died off so quickly, and this is one of my favorite times of the year. You know when everything is so new and fresh. On the plus side having all the windows open even at night means I get to hear all the lovely bird song. Anyway over at JFF we have a month of different shapes and this week it is squares those gals really know how to challenge us every week. I was particular wowed by the DT  inspirational pieces for squares such a variety. Well here is my square piece. a tag painted with acrylic rose pink and then dabbed thru a square mask with chilli red. Used a couple of crafty individual background papers and made small square frames for them. I also used 2 pieces of square fabric for added interest a couple of brads and an eyelet. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you eat plenty of chocolate from the Easter bunny tomorrow LOL. XOXO

A Birthday Present

My cousin Mandy is 50 today and as we are crafting buddies I wanted to make her something special. So I made this heart shaped hanging frame and birthday card. The frame is called "Live Life with a Flouish" I used chip board and cut out the heart shape frames, I painted, masked, stamped on  and distressed them. One corner on each frame has been given texture (I used a wood and nails texture technique from Sam's technique zone) I can recommend this technique it really works.
For the top frame I made a grunge flower and embossed swirl  and used corregated package painted and distressed using metalic rubs for the backing.
The centre frame I have used antique lace and silk fabric with a vintage downlaod this is machine sewed to card decorated with antique buttons
The bottom frame has DI card which has had swirls stamped on a grunge butterfly and an chipboard M that has been heat embossed and a swirl stamped into it while hot.
If you look closely I have hand written the title on to each of the frames with swirly handwriting. Also a bit of bling snuk in (I can't resist bling)
The card I made using a vintage download  machine sewed to antique lace and pretty papers, decorated with buttons and a flower also a bit of bling. Thanks for looking. XX

Happy Days and Sad Days

Its been quite a week really been to the hospital with "The Diamond" (XOXO) for a couple of days, we went full of hope, but unfortunately it was not to be, hence the sad day and realisation we have to learn to live with disability of a once very active person. HOWEVER the Happy Days return once you start to count blessings instead, we certainly have plenty and fortunately we are both very resilient. :-) So I turned my attention to some crafting and make the most of time off work. Luckily the JFF challenge is Thursday just perfect for me this week. And the challenge this week is from Von she set "Stars" now I find shapes quite difficult for some reason but today the creative juices flowed maybe it is because you should "Reach for the Stars" (the name of my piece) while you can. I inked a tag shape with DI bundled sage and Victorian velvet, I then ran it through the big shot with a star embossing folder and rubbed worn lipstick over the raised stars. I had the perfect vintage download picture which I machine sewed to silk fabric and lace along the bottom punched out larger stars and added embellishments the whole tag has also been glitter varnished but it does not show in the photo. Hope you like it, thanks for stopping by. XX

Weekend Workshops

Wow what a beautiful weekend we have had, I love the sunny weather, the birds singing, all the doors and windows open, it just feeds the spirit, just fab :-). As well as breathing in the sunny weather I was lucky enough to attend another 'Carol' from Krafty Pieces workshop it was hosted by Diane from Crafts and Candle Light. We altered a cheese box with gorgeous results and its circular so very apt for this weeks JFF challenge . I also made a tag for the JFF this week sees the start of a new months challenge and it is 'Circles' I used a tag and inked with DIs tumbled glass, bundled sage and worn lipstick and edged in walnut stain. I have been yearning to use the stamp (Tick Tock flowers) for some time and thought it suited the circle theme quite nicely so masked and stamped the tag. I painted the cogs with antique gold acrylic paint and then crackle accents. I also made a grunge flower but out of paper using the same stamps embellished a couple of the stamped cog centers with metal leaf flake to lift it and with a few beads. All very coggy really LOL. Thanks for looking and enjoy the week even if it does cool down.

A Bit of FUN

Well what a week! I came down with a horrible cold just as I was bragging (to anyone who would listen) that I had not had any Illness this winter. Oh no not me LOL. Well after going through a box or 2 of tissues and having rested and monged out for a couple of days (the Diamond bought me loads of cups of tea - Heaven), today I thought I would tackle the JFF "Anything you Fancy" theme week. A great choice challenge ladies after a challenging month which personally I have thoroughly enjoyed. So many lovely comments, Thank You for those.

I chose to use a little frame for this, which I painted pale rose acrylic and  masked using dusky rose acrylic. Once dry; I stamped the lines with purple ink. I embossed the S (for Sandra) and stamped into it hot to get the impression(I am making a special 50th birthday gift, so I needed to practice this technique) I finished off with a glimmer sprayed flower (lava Red) and a hand written shrink plastic sign for JFF. Simply but enjoyable especially as I feel rough, (Sorry just going fr the sympathy vote LOL). Have a lovely week and THANKS for stopping by. XOXO