There seems to be a glitch...

...over on UKS.

So while they are trying to restore normal programming (LOL) I'll show you what I have just finished.

The class called 'Oxford Street' was a chance to play with Glimmer mists and to create a piece of art for the wall.

I couldn't get a 16x16 canvas so I bought an A4 one instead - it has done the job.
I converted a photo to sepia, tore the edges and inked it well. The canvas received a number of sprayings of Glimmer mist until I achieved a colour combination I was pleased with and once dry everything was attched with Glossy Accents as I wasn't sure if normal adhesives would stick to all that mica (fingers got well stuck with GA too and I'm trying very hard to get it off LOL).
I had the bright idea of making all my own embellies for this so there are a couple of paper roses...NO!!! don't start doing your Marie Osmond impersonations...a selection of ribbon buds and some punched flowers in two sizes cut from some antiqued paper and then inked.
A touch of bling added and there we have it...all ready to hang on the wall................

Saturday's early morning...

...kick-off LOL

Although the first class today was billed as a beginners class it was actually fun to do and got the day off to an easy start.

Although I have lived in other houses, this is the first 'character' property that I have owned and I love it and it's history.

The main LO shows a pic of my house taken from a local book - "A Pictorial View of Stanford" - and apart from the in-fill of buildings around it, the house looks pretty much the same.

The idea behind the class was to include hidden pics and/or journalling - not sure that this pic clearly shows that there is a flap under the main photo.

Not the best of photos (got some glare on the corner) but the pics under the flap are outside shots of the house as it is now.

The house is not as old as you might at first think - it was built the year the Titanic sank (LOL) and so will not be 100 years old until the year the Olympics come to the UK in 2012. However, until after 1915 it was the only property along this side of the road (there are pics showing views of the area from the top of the church tower at the end of our road) and the only neighbours were two small cottages across the road and a haystack.

I love my house and wonder why it has taken me so long to actually scrap some of the pics................

Up and running...

...the Cybercrop has begun.

Managed to get all Friday's classes/challenges done. Here are the pics...
The Angel - handcut frames.
Regent Street - Shopping theme and use of a sketch.
Bow Street - paint and getting mucky LOL
Vine Street - bit of hand doodling (used my Copics)

Some really great classes & challenges so far but not sure how much I'll get done in total as the old neck is starting to complain about being sat at the desk for too long. Will have to see how things go..............

Happy St George's Day...

...to one and all.



The sun is shining and I hope it stays a lovely day so that the English can celebrate their Saint's day.

Last year I spent the afternoon & evening with a group of friends sitting by the riverside in London's docklands enjoying a meal and a bevy or two. The sun was beautiful and we sat out in t-shirts listening to an Oompah Band (yes I know...not very English but I don't think a Brass band playing the 'Floral Dance' would have created the same fun atmosphere LOL). We had great fun trying to guess what tunes were being played in the 'Oompah' style.

This year the same group had decided to do something similar but go further into the City this time - I won't be joining them. This year, St George's Day sees the start of the latest cybercrop on UK Scrappers so I'll be celebrating along with my fellow crafters (I'm sure I'll still be able to raise a glass or two LOL).

So as I watch the sun and beautiful blue sky through the study window, I wish you all a very happy St George's Day........................

UKS CC nearly here...

...just two sleeps to go LOL

The weekend saw the start of the daily fun challenges but today we got to the nitty-gritty..."Tidy your work area".

So upon getting in from work I got stuck in and this is the before & after...

To be honest, I haven't really touched the desk since the last CC. Most of my crafting gets done on my lap, sat on the sofa in the lounge. The desk tends to be a bit of a dumping ground for post and other stuff related to the PC.
Have to say. I'm pretty proud of myself - I can actually see the desk now and I have space to work LOL

Wonder if I can keep it this tidy until the start of the CC - one can but try............

Tim Holtz...

...Andy style.

Today was the day that my friend Lucy & I had been waiting for...a chance to play with lots of Tim Holtz products and to learn some techniques associated with his style. As neither of us 'do' messy, we went prepared with pinnys and gloves LOL

It was a fab day both weatherwise and playwise
We completed three projects and played too, trying out different effects and finishes
My LO isn't as grungy as perhaps 'Sir Tim' would do but this was more in keeping with my style and colour preference. The distressing ink pads used were Brushed corderoy, tea dye, and...oops can't remember but it was a yellowy browny colour LOL. Had a play with Tim's rubber stamps - love the sentiment ones but think it will be a while before I can justify the cost of acquiring some. A bit of border punching going on and the cameo thingie has been attacked with distress stickles.
This card was made from one of the pieces of embossed foil that I had inked by dabbing alcohol inks in caramel and espresso over the script embossing. Another Martha Stewart punch border and I added a bit of ribbon when I got home.
Andy showed us how the blending solution actually removes the colour from coloured foil. So one bit of blue foil embossed with a cuttlebug folder and then highlighted by removing some of the colour - and this is what I ended up with.
Now this has to be my fav piece of the day. A board card covered with TH Shabby Chic PPs from his vintage paper stack. A 2" grunge paper rose coloured with alcohol inks and highlighted with a matching distress stickles. A sentiment stamp with a domed glass element stuck over one of the words to finish it off.

The TH paper stacks are lovely, double sided, beautiful quality and I've got one LOL (I've also placed an order for the Retro version).

A super-duper day, and I'd love to do it all over again................

Look what I got...

...from the lovely Leigh



I understand that I have to list 7 crafty things that I have done and then pass the award on to some other crafty folk, so here we go...

1 - Despite being a real nunce with PCs I created this blog and have kept it going.
2 - I made my niece's wedding stationery.
3 - I introduced my niece to various crafts but most recently scrapbooking - and she is doing a fab job.
4 - I taught the ladies at my local crop how to make mini-albums.
5 - I have taken part in 4 CCs and will soon be doing my 5th.
6 - I have recently attended some classes to try some different craft techniques.
7 - I recently completed my first paid commission - a wedding card.

Now I think I will pass this on to Annette, Kristy, Paula, Winnie, Eleni and ffroggie.

First completed challenge...

...for the cybercrop.

Queenie Tree (Teresa) our Thimble leader for the coming CC set us a weekend challenge if we wanted to undertake it...create our very own workbox/treasure chest to store all the little goodies that get created in the run-up to and during the CC.

Well here is mine..........
It started from very humble beginnings - an empty washing tablet box.
The box was covered with sunbleached effect planking PP, some peel-off hinges were dulled down with ink, 7 gypsy drawer handles fixed to either end and some blooms.
The inside was lined with velvet paper to give it a plush feel (not the best of pics). Unfortunately, the velvet paper didn't stick very easily so I had to use my red-line DST...surprising how much it used - note to self: GET A LOAD MORE BEFORE THE CC!!!
The top was decorated with a Prima spray and some flowers punched from the velvet paper and silver cardstock.
Looking at it now you would not think it was a grotty washing tablet box about to head for the bin LOL

I'm pretty pleased with the finished item - just need to get a couple of velcro fasteners to attach to the lid and then it will be complete.............

Blog Candy...

...on a site I've found for digital images.



I love my Copic & Promarker pens but sometimes don't have the right image to colour-in. Today I found this freebie website which not only has lots of images and coloured examples but they are also giving away some blog candy. The site is Digital Doodling why not hop over and have a look...............

Happy Easter...

...Hot cross buns and choccy eggs to you all LOL

...don't worry, there are plenty to go around.
I also thought I should dress appropriately for the cybercrop over on UKS - so for today I have an Easter Greetings thimble c",)


Enjoy your Easter activities - whatever the weather.....................

23/24/25 April...

...I'll be playing Monopoly.

Well...........that's the theme of the next CC on UKS LOL

This time round I'm in team Thimble -
- not a piece of equipment I'm comfortable with...I think my Needlecraft teacher gave up all hope of me ever using one LOL

Sew...oops I mean So, it is countdown to the CC...wonder what we'll be getting up to in the pre-crop fun?????????????????????????

Do come and play too.............

Still not finished, but...

...here's a peak and a look at something else.

I still haven't finished the lovely envelope book that Margaret had us doing at the last Artbase crop - I wanted to put some "Tim" roses on the front but just haven't managed to get around to it...bad me. However, I thought I would give you a quick look at the cover to be going on with....
Something I have finished is a 6x6 pocket album based on an idea that Emma (Artbase) did as a 'make-n-take' at CHA.

The pages are all made from sheets of 12x12 PP (light CS quality) and folded to create pages with pockets for tags, hidden journalling and other bits-n-pieces.

The sheets of 12x12 are folded 3" down from the top and 3" up from the bottom which means you have an opening across the middle of the page which needs to be sealed. On the cover this was done with a strip of pearl card decorated with a strip of Martha Stewart Daisy border. On the inside pages this was achieved by a bit of matting. I have decorated the mats & tags with another MS punch set - the loopy round-the-page set.
Then a little bit of decorating and there you go.

A quick and easy little album made from 3 sheets of PP and some co-ordinating CS, a bit of ribbon, a few paper flowers, brads and some bling. Hope you like.............