With just 4 to go...

...I wonder what colour will be next.

I'm sure there is lots of speculation going on.

On Saturday, I picked up another two of the colours from this year's new releases of the Tim Holtz Distress products from Ranger.

"Blueprint sketch" was the release for July...

 ...and is a beautiful blue. I have had a bit of a play with my marker but not tried adding water or anything else to see how it 'shades' when used like a watercolour.
"Hickory Smoke" was the release for June...

...and as far as I have gotten with this is to update my product list in my planner/notebook. It is a lovely grey - what I would call a 'proper grey' - not the browny colour that is created by Pumice stone.

I now have the markers, reinkers and ink pads for each colour for the first 7 months. I do have a couple of stains, paints and sprays but not for all the colours as I don't tend to use those products as much.

The August release was "Ground espresso", a lovely dark brown that I will be looking forward to adding to my collection.

So what do you think the colour for September will be?

I would still like to see an addition to the mauve/purple shades and I know that Andy at Pinnacle Crafts is still hoping for a solid while (rather than the wash of Picket fence).

Well, only a week to go and we will know what the next release will be.........................................

Tags as...

...toppers.

I've noticed that a lot of folk use tags/tag shapes as toppers on their cards and they can look very effective.

As I have been playing with some of my Magnolia stamps recently, I thought I'd have a play with one of the Tilda images that I had coloured with my Copics...

...I'm not sure what make the die was (it could have been a freebie from a magazine) but I liked the shape. With the addition of some flowers and some punched fronds...

...you don't need much more to create a card.

Another Christmas card to add to the slowly growing pile.........................................

Have you ever...

...wanted to create a themed scrapbook but couldn't find appropriate PPs?

Frustrating isn't it.

Have you ever thought of looking at the large square wall calendars that are available...

...at just under 12x12 they could be just what you want.

If you visit places like The Works, 99p Stores or Poundland at this time of the year there are usually lots of different topics/themes to be found.

Beach huts (sorry about the poor photo above - the thumbnail didn't expand very clearly) could be the perfect solution for backgrounds to your snaps from a UK beach holiday.

Today I picked up a couple of calendars from The Works (one was £2 the other £3). One contains 12 images of ancient maps and the other contains 12 seasonal images. That is 24 pages for £5 which works out to less than 21p per sheet.

The maps will be perfect backgrounds for some travel and holiday photos, whilst the seasonal ones will be great for a number of photos that I have.

Some of the pages from these calendars would also make great prints for the wall so those may well find their way into some clear record protectors for hanging on the wall.

There are so many different types of themed calendars to be found that you are bound to find something that you like and if scrapbooking isn't your thing...why not use the images in your art journals.

Calendars can be useful for other things too - I often cut the images from the long calendars and use them in my card making. A calendar does not have to be just for ticking off the days or recording events not to be missed - it can make a wonderful base for your crafting...........................................

What happened...

...to Summer?

It has been feeling decidedly like Autumn for the last week or two with an odd day of sun and heat thrown in but now it is edging more towards Winter.

It is chilly of a morning, the sky is overcast and boy have we had some rain this week.

With the Bank Holiday weekend coming up the weather men have been telling us that it will be a good weekend weather-wise...not sure I believe them as their track record isn't too great.

Let me just think of the heat and lovely blues skies that started the month of August...

...because it isn't feeling too wonderful at the moment...........................................................................

A little tatty fairy...

...that I coloured a while back.

I love this LOTV fairy...

...she is so sweet and I adore her tatty, patched dress.
I had a rummage through my stock of flowers and CS and found some bits that went well with the colours I had used to colour the image with...

...I also found some felt butterflies (possibly Papermania) and was really pleased how this all came together.............................................................

I was having a...

...bit of a sort out.

Just like my paper stash, my knitting stash is pretty sizable too

I was trying to sort out some of the different yarns I have by packing them by type & colour when I came across this...

...it is one of the ruffle scarves that I have made lots of but for some reason, this one was tucked in a bag...not quite finished. Why I didn't finish it I shall never know - it only took about 15 minutes to complete.

I now have another scarf to add to my collection ready for Christmas gifts..................................

Gosh it's a long time...

...since this little Miss saw some ink.

Do you have phases?

I certainly do and it is a very long time since most of my Magnolia stamps were inked up and used.

As I needed a birthday card for a friends birthday, I decided to go with this...

...the stamp is actually called "Tilda with wedding gifts" but I thought it was perfect for a birthday.
I went with a brown & peach colour scheme...

...luckily, the card was hand delivered so the pretty peach roses didn't cause any problems for postage.

It was also lucky that this was one of a number of items that I had photographed and save to the PC before I "Windows 10'd" - still can't get the PC to pick-up any data from the CD or memory card drives..............................................................................

Pens, Pens...

...and MORE pens.

As regular visitors will know, I have a "thing" for pens.

Many folk would call it an addiction - 'My name's Toni and I'm a pen addict' - but it isn't as if I just collect them...I do use them. Although I will admit that some get used more than others.

Here is a collection that doesn't see the light of day that often...

...it consists of my Flexmarkers and Promarkers. The problem here is probably the storage. I bought a DJ's media case from Maplins (the electrical people) when they had them on offer. I had seen this idea used by a few folk in cyberspace and thought it would be the perfect solution to the Letraset wallet situation that simply wasn't working for me. The media case is great - it holds both sets of pens safely & securely and it is easy to see all the colours at a glance - but it is bulky. It has quite a large 'footprint' so takes up a lot of space on the desk when working and because of the lid it isn't ideal for uneven surfaces such as the sofa as the lid has a habit of slamming shut (a few bruised fingers soon put paid to that as a location for using this). The other problem with this case is that it gets buried under piles of stash and then it becomes too much of a chore to dig them out so I reach for a different set of pens.

The Spectrum Noirs live in their purpose made stacking storage and my original set sit on the desk by the PC so they are always 'to hand' for a quick bit of colouring. The newer set are a permanent occupant of my crop tote so that I always have a set of pens with me.

My Distress markers live in the tubs that they came in, except for the contents of the smaller tub - the 12 colours that came in there...festive berries, iced spruce, mowed lawn etc...were placed in a Letraset folder for safety so that I could use the smaller tub and I've obviously put them away for safe keeping. However, that has meant this year's new colours have had a place to live LOL The tubs are quite handy for carrying the pens as they are quite compact and will fit easily into a bag along with some bits for colouring - great if you want to take your colouring out & about with you.

My Copics live in their wallets. The complete set of Copic Ciao pens fits into 2 and a half wallets which means there is some space for holding a few spares of the colours I use the most...

...and it is surprising how compact the 3 wallets are for transporting about.

 

Storage of my pens has proved to be the reason why some pens get used more than others. If I can't easily get to my pens, they don't get used. If the storage isn't portable, the pens don't get used.

 

I've been looking at some of the newer pens that have hit the market and I think I've finally learnt from experience and one of my considerations as to whether these pens will find a home with me is - how will I store them?

 

The new pens from the Tonic Novo range look fab because of their shape (I still think these would be good for when the old arfa-ritis is playing up) but I'm not sure how I would be able to store them so that they are easily usable. Trimcraft have a range of pens out too but I've only seen ads in magazines so I'm not sure what would be the best storage for these. The Chameleon pens are quite long because of the 'mixing chamber' so this would probably affect how they can be stored (unless the complete set was bought in one go so that they are in their ready made storage box).

 

One thing I do know is that I can't work with everything chucked in a plastic container - my pens have to be in colour order and easily accessible (I know my distress markers are in their tubs but I can see the colours at a glance - so no problem).

 

So if you have pens that are not getting used - is it because you don't 'get on' with them or is the storage causing you problems?

 

Perhaps a different method of storage will have you reaching for your pens more often. Speaking of which - I wonder where that Letraset wallet with the Diestrss markers could possibly be.............................................................. 



Thursday already...

...and I still can't save any of my photos to my PC.

So I'm trying to...

...but it is getting frustrating.
I was sorting through some photo files that were already on the PC and I found this cutie...

...she is one of Krista Smith's "Saturated Canary" images and I had coloured her with a very limited range of colours.

I think I'll print off a few more of this one and see how she looks in a variety of different colour combos.

In the meantime, I'll try not to bash the PC too much in my frustration.....................................

Ummmmmmmmm...

...perhaps I spoke too soon.

I'm getting to grips with Windows 10.

I've found where all my photos/documents are.

I sorted out a new 'slideshow' for my desktop.

I can access my blog and go to the blogs of others.

I CAN'T get my photos to download from the memory card (grrrrrr).

Everything is telling me that my drive is working perfectly but it is not picking-up the contents of the memory card.

Ho-hum.

Perhaps I need to have another read through the "trouble-shooting" part of the system............................................................

Windows 10 has arrived...

...and I actually managed to download it without mishap.

Not bad for an IT numpty like me.

It's downloaded, it's up and running and I've managed to find my documents, pictures and games (LOL) but am still trying to navigate to some of the basics - but I'm getting there.

I have to say that it was a bit strange having a big "Hi Toni...welcome" appear on the screen the first time I started it up but I think I'm getting used to that.

I suppose, if you have a Smartphone or a Tablet type device you are already familiar with the 'touchscreen' style boxes (it might be more fun if I had a touchscreen - **chuckle**) but I have a desktop PC and a fairly basic Nokia phone...I don't NEED some whizzy thing that I keep glued to my hand or ear...I have what I need - A PHONE and my PC does what I require it to do...even if sometimes I dream of those big PC screen that you can touch and swipe like they do on NCIS:LA.

So I'm up and running with the new Windows.

Word of advice - if you are a bit like me and not overly 'techy', don't schedule your 'free' Windows upgrade for late in the day like I did.

Sitting here trying to find out where things were and how stuff worked resulted in me not getting to bed until 3.30am Thursday morning - not good on a 'work day'........................................................

T.G.I.Friday...

...because That Was The Week That Was.

Yes I know...both of these were titles of TV shows but they kinda wrap-up how this week has made me feel.

I can not wait for the weekend.

Before lunchtime had even arrived on Monday, it felt like I had never been away (apart from the couple of hundred emails that needed sorting and catching up on).

Our building is having IT issues which seem to hit in pockets throughout the building - guess what, yep, we were slap-bang in one of those pockets this week...not great when you have a load of deadlines to meet.

FRUSTRATING!!!

Even our IT engineers have been tearing their hair out over the slow response times and the issues that seem to be plaguing us at the moment.

Oh, and as far as the weather is concerned...Mother Nature has something wrong with her timing - anyone would thing it was late Autumn. Dull overcast skies, thunder storms and the leaves are already falling at a rate of knots

Let's hope things improve next week...............................................................

The Eastwood Crop...

...for August was held at In2Crafting in Wickford.

There wasn't anything that I particularly wanted to do on the scrapbooking front so I took along my pens and a good selection of images to colour.

With it being holiday time, there were only eight of us but it was a lovely day of crafting in the company of like-minded folk.

I have already shown you this Bugaboo image...

 ...and I mentioned that I wanted to try her in some different colour combos.
I think this one has probably turned out to be my favourite...

 ...I love the icy blues and think that this will make a super topper for a Christmas card or even a cover image for a Christmas Planner.
This version used reds & greys...

 ...and again, I'm loving the Christmas 'feel' of the image.
As I have a number of friends who like mauves/purples, I had to try that combo...

...and with just a touch of pink, I think she has turned out rather well.

It can be quite daunting when you first start to colour a new image as you are never sure how it will turn out but if you enjoy colouring, I would really recommend that you try different colour combinations on a single image just so that you can see how different you can make it look just by changing the colour. The other good thing about colouring your own images is that you can make them suit the recipient.

An image/card made in the person's favourite colour shows that you have given the making thought & consideration and therefore makes it all the more special............................................

I previously mentoned...

...my little book of Calm Colouring.

It is such a dinky little book and the images within it are for my 'playtime'...

 ...rather than what I would call 'serious colouring'.
These are images that I can lose myself in and just play around with colours.
All these images were coloured using Edding 1200 pens...

 ...and this one was completed using the red/orange/yellow pens.
Despite my tin of Edding pens only consisting of 10 colours...

 ...I was very happy with the effect that I managed with this image. The lotus type flowers were very easy - just a few pink brushstrokes and the rest was left white.
I love images of poppies and I like to play around with colour combos because poppies do come in colours other than red...

 ...the first flower was completed using red & pink (the Edding pink is quite mauve in shade). I then decided to have a go at a variety of bright colours...

...limiting each flower to just two pen colours...

...and the finished result was a lovely splash of colour.
This last image was pretty much like doodling...

...I just worked through the stripes on the balls with my colours in a particular order - starting with yellow on some and reversing the order and starting with green on others.

It is actually quite interesting playing around with a very limited range of colours and I'm enjoying the challenges this brings to my colouring.....................................................................

Colouring whilst...

...enjoying the sunshine.

Some of the images I sat and coloured whilst sitting at my 'desk' up on "One Tree Hill" were from Bugaboo Stamps...

 ...they are all digi images so they are great for printing out in a variety of sizes.
This image was printed at approx. A6 size...

 ...and coloured with a mix of Copics and Distress Markers.
My little teddy with his slipped halo was coloured completely in Distress Markers...

 ...and the markers give you an idea of the size of the image.
This little mouse stirring her cocoa was also coloured using Distress Markers...

...but this time I used a water-brush to blend some of the colours and I used 'Picket Fence' to create the polka-dot effect on the cup. This image was printed quite a bit smaller as there were 9 images on the sheet of A4.

I love the way the polka-dots came out but I wasn't very happy with the colouring on the face of the mouse - I made it a little too wet and then had some of the print lines starting to bleed. I will know for next time..................................................................

So much nicer...

...than being stuck in an office.

Today it is back to work.

Back to the commute, the hassle and being stuck in an office that is surrounded by construction work.

I would so much rather be back here...

 ...this was my 'desk' for most of Friday and it was wonderful. It was like being in a secret woodland dell - even though the road was only a short distance away. This is part of a picnic area in Langdon Hills Country Park at a location called "One Tree Hill". I think the area has outgrown its name as there are certainly rather more trees than just 'one'.
The imagination could really take over if you let it...

 ...you could easily be in the grounds of Hogwarts and a snake from Slytherin is slithering by. There are a number of carvings dotted around the park & woodland and all have been created from fallen trees/branches.
Isn't this a much nicer view than looking out at a building site...

...so lovely and green. Or look at this beautiful sky...

 ...with a scattering of clouds rolling lazily by...and Nature provides its own filters...

 ...so that the sun is not too harsh. Trees surround you...

 ...which ever way you look. The building on the left...

 ...contains public toilets and there are information boards/maps telling you about the park. The structure straight ahead is made from completely reclaimed materials and the roof is planted with woodland grasses and flowers. Another beautiful tree...

 ...gracing the landscape and look what can be found beneath...

 ...a monk taking a snooze after taking a break on his journey to ??? ...

 ...this figure is another sculpture that has been created from naturally available materials (fallen trees/branches) but the artist has given the piece some colouring using stain/wax that will hopefully help to protect it...

 ...and means that this man of the cloth can continue his doze in peace for many a year to come.
The monk was just a short distance from my 'desk'...

...so I could have chatted to him if I had felt the need LOL.

How can any stuffy office space compare to these beautiful surroundings?

I sat here for several hours enjoying some peaceful colouring and reading a book. I had taken my lunch with me and it was a delight to just sit and soak up the fresh air & sunshine.

I was very lucky with the weather during my week off work so I was able to spend a lot of time sitting outdoors. I wonder when I can fit in another break - where's the diary?..............................

Last Wednesday...

...I took Mum shopping at Lakeside (West Thurrock).

Neither of us had been into the shopping centre for a number of years. Normally, the only time I head over to West Thurrock is if I want to visit the Range. However, we were on a mission - Hallmark Cards now stock Village Candles as well as Yankee Candles and my Sister said the Village candles were currently reduced by a considerable amount (unfortunately, the Village candles were only in the sale until the previous Sunday).

Although the candles were not AS reduced as when my Sister visited, we still managed to come away with some bargains and a lovely selection of 'smells'.

We also went into Waterstone's and Mum was very happy to come away with a good selection of audio books. I picked up the most recent Barbara Erskine book and a handbag sized colouring book.

It is called the little book of Calm Colouring and measures just 4.5insx5.5ins.

This is the title page of the book which I have coloured...

...using Edding 1200 water-based ink pens. A colleague bought these for me as part of my Christmas present and I hadn't used them.

The pens are designed for sketching & writing as they only have a 1mm nib but I found them to be perfectly okay for the images in this little book.

Although there are only 10 colours in the tin and they don't really blend unless you add water, I was quite pleased with the effect I was able to create giving these leaves an Autumn look.

The tin & the book fit easily into a handbag so I'll be able to carry these about and have them handy when the odd spare moment presents itself....................................................................

Do you have a lot...

...of Christmas cards to make?

I do.

Every year I promise that I will be more organised and get a few done every month - every year December arrives and I realise I have loads that I still need to make.

Hunkydory have brought out a lovely stack of Christmas images called "The Little Book of Christmas". There are 144 pages , 48 designs which can be used as toppers or you can cut them up and use them as decoupage. The great thing is, you can use these images and make your cards as simple or as fussy as you like - perfect for making some quick last minute cards.

Here are a couple that I made...

 ...both use a 6x6 card blank and a deckle-edged black CS matt...

...and some red gingham ribbon.

These have been kept fairly simple so they will be ideal for posting - not too bulky so should keep the postage costs down.

The stack has a good variety of images so you will be able to cover all eventualities - cute, traditional, religious, contemporary. There is also a good mix of colours so you can go with your traditional Red/Green combo or try out blues, pinks and beiges.

The size is great for a variety of card sizes. I trimmed these down a little to fit on the matt on a 6x6 card but you could easily matt & layer the images for use on larger card blanks.

I will continue to colour a selection of images to make up into cards but it is nice to know that I have these to add into the equation.........................................................................

Digi images...

...from a number of sources.

I have lots of digi images and they come from a variety of companies. This collection of images that I coloured today are an example...

...there is a Polkadoodles image, one from Bugaboo and a couple from KennyK.
This KennyK image was a newsletter freebie for August...

 ...I think she is such fun and decided to have a play with a couple of different colour combos...

 ...in both I've used colours that will work well with the G45 papers in the Rare Oddities collection.
This was another of my winnings from Bugaboo...

 ...she is called Strength Fairy and for some reason she made me think of the pop singer 'Pink' - hence the colour choice.
A while back, Polksdoodles did some digi images of their design team...

...this one was Kath Stewart and her golden bundle of furriness, Buddy.

All the images were coloured using Copics.

Did anyone see the Tonic pens that were on Create & Craft the other day?

I would love to have a play with them as they are a rather unusual shape and I was wondering if they would be any better for when the old arfa-ritis plays up. I mean, there's only 36 of them so not too many to add to my existing collection of pens LOL...............................................