Thursday's workshop ...

... with Clair.  Wasn't sure when I saw the photo of what we were going to be making but loved the finished result in real life *grin*  A new Stampin' Up stamp set for this year.  Not sure what it's called and not one I'd normally have looked at but it's made a great card and will be ideal for a man .... in my case, 2 men who are both fish freaks *bigger grin*

I coloured the fish with Prismacolors pencils and Zest-It then used glossy accents on the eyes and some of the open bubbles but it's not obvious in the photos.  I also used a Spectrum Noir clear sparkle pen on the fish to give them a bit of a shimmer.  Strangely I prefer the Spectrum Noir sparkle pen to Wink of Stella.  It has a little more sparkle but I like both.

Same day as the workshop and postie brought me a little gift .... Superman Sergei limited edition toy.  Back in March I bought new car insurance via Compare the Market.  I didn't realise I could claim my toy (either Batman or Superman) as well as the cinema tickets.  Anyway, long story short, they reminded me to claim, I claimed, they declined, I protested, I've got!  He is sooo cute *ROFL

Busy week ahead by the look of things .....

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Workshop day ...

with Clair today.  A lovely card made with a napkin image.  Love it ....

The workshop was followed with a visit to the Cancer Centre with the hubby this afternoon.  Turned out to be a waste of time.  The consultant needed a blood test to have been done.  Pity nobody had bothered to tell us as it could have been done a couple of days ago so the results would have been with him for the consult.  We have the bloods envelope for next months appointment ...

More projects from the House Party ....

Cally's projects ... calendars from HunkyDory kits.  Loved these.  Just need the calendar tabs to add to them *wink*

 Kim's project ... lacy flowers.  Sewing *grin*

 Christmas decoupage kits.  Kits bought at the Great British Craft Festival but never made.  Won't be buying any more.  Rubbish quality *sad*

 An Art Impressions stamp .... Bloomer lady, shake your booty stamp set ...

 ... the butt wobbles *wink* Coloured with Prismacolors and let them self blend rather than using Zest-it.

That's the last of the projects from the House Party.  Not so many as previous years but fun to do *grin*

Busy day again tomorrow *wink*

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A couple of ...

... weeks since the last missive and not much has changed.  OH is still in the hospice and he's still in pain. He's had a partial MRI.  Only partial because he couldn't keep still long enough to have the whole spine done.  I don't know, but I'm thinking that they never scanned the bit that would give any clue as to what's going on. I got called away from a workshop as the hospice had nobody free to go with him for the MRI so I went.  I was 'nurse' for the duration, having been given his drugs to dish out. He tells me they're looking at taking him to the pain clinic now.  We'll see.

He's quite funny at the moment.  I've never seen him drunk or really, even tipsy, in the 30+ years we've been together but whatever drugs they've got him on at the moment gives the impression he's permanently in a happy place *ROFL!*  Not only is he having oral drug therapy he also carries a syringe driver around with him (sitting on his lap in the pic) and then there's occasionally 'extra' intravenously.  It can be very difficult getting any sense out of him at times and trying to understand anything he's saying is pretty hard work.  He's speaking quite clearly - just doesn't make any sense - *lol*

He had his birthday a couple of days ago.  We never have a birthday cake but, as he wasn't home, I bought him one.  Apparently they made him one at the hospice as well, although I never got to see it as it had disappeared by the time I got there *lol*

This past weekend I went to see my nephew in his first lead role.  He's a student at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts doing a degree course.  It's his final year so it's all shows and showcases for agents and the like. He's been lucky enough to have already been signed to an agent so he can do open auditions for work.  If he gets work before the course ends, his finals will be assessed from wherever he is, whatever he's doing, otherwise it will be done in college.  Saturday matinee was virtually a full house and the show got an excellent response from the audience.  Apparently the best up to then.

I'm getting confused as to what I need to catch up on and what's been done.  I'm not organised enough to have made a list, checked it twice and then checked things off as done.  Perhaps I need to do that now before I go too far - but first ... 

The workshop I got called away from to escort OH to his MRI was for a shaker card.  I got as far as cutting the first matt and no further.  I asked Clair to stamp the image for me then I cut and ran, thinking I'd be able to finish it at home except ..... I had none of the things Clair used to make card.  I'd decided I wanted to make it for OH's birthday card so I improvised with what I had.  You can see the original card here - and a video on how it was put together here.  This is my version ....

I used Prismacolors, Zest-It (as my blending fluid) and blending stumps to colour LoTV's James with Heart.  The embossing folder was a new one from Crafter's Companion - Sunbeam and the white matt was edged with a Martha Stewart frame punch.  First time of using and I need to practise, or use it in a full light, not half light and then, perhaps, I can see how things are lining up - *lol!*  I used the punch outs in the shaker bit (coloured with Sharpies) and yes, that is a peel off Happy Birthday - stuck to the stripey paper under the acetate - so shoot me!

That's about it for this time.  Off to visit OH and think about making that list *lol*

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The last ...

... 3 cards from Clair's all day workshop in July.

Background - Stampin' Up stamping wheel (retired)

Lily of the Valley stamp coloured with Prismacolor pencils.

Stampin' Up stamp with matching embossing folder.  Stampin' Up sentiment

All designs by Clair .... http://www.clairmatthews.com/


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... and now some ...

... CRAFTING!  I know, 'bout time!  There's not been much a) because of holiday/vacation and b) 'cos I've not been doing any *hehe*  Simples really.  Anyway, on Friday last - 3rd June - Cally and I made our way to the Glitterpot for a workshop with Alexandra Kamann.  Alex is a new tutor to the Glitterpot, well, new-ish, and completely new to me and Cally. We will be doing more classes with her. Lovely lady and beautiful cards. So impressed with both. She will be a real credit to the Glitterpot.

There were 2 workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon and we stayed for both.  The morning workshop was called Ladies and Gentleman and the idea was to show us how easy it was to make a card for both a female and male, using the same stamp and just making a few basic changes.  I loved these cards and I loved the stamp which, along with a couple of others in the range, found their way into my shopping basket - *LOL*  Both cards were a small A6 in size.  The stamp used was from the new Papermania range of Me to You, called It's Me

Female card - Image stamped in brown versafine and coloured with Derwent Coloursoft (would be Prismacolor if I did this at home), blended with Sansodor (I'd use Zest-It) - shades of brown, pink and black.   The image was then cut out using Spellbinders Labels Eighteen which was drawn around onto pink cardstock and cut out to make the mat.  Designer paper and a touch of white satin ribbon coloured with a pink copic. Sentiment from Personal Impressions, Double Sayings by Paula Pascual. The rose was made from a roughly hand-cut wavy edged circle, cut in a spiral and wound up. The leaves were also hand-cut. Simple, but very effective card and I love it!

Male card - pretty much the same except the image was stamped in grey Versafine and coloured with shades of grey, pale blue, black and pink for his nose.  The satin ribbon was changed for twill tape and the rose for a button with twine.  Same Spellbinder's Labels Eighteen die and matt, just mounted onto browns and greys to tone with bear instead of the pinks for the female card.  I decided on a landscape card rather than the portrait one that Alex had as a sample.  My button was bigger and carried my image better that way.  I've not put a sentiment on this card yet as I've not decided who the recipient is going to be :0)

Click on any image to enlarge.

Dad day yesterday and - shock, horror - no major crises!  Quite a pleasant visit.  Gave him a haircut, wrote up his shopping list, had a chat and tried to explain he's going to be a great-great-grandad.  He had a silly grin on his face but he had difficulty understanding.  Still, I've time to work on that one.  Heard from holiday company about our holiday in September ... the private transfers have been arranged.  Can't use the normal coach 'cos Paul can't get on it so it costs us more to go private - fault of being a wheelchair user.  No choice but we have to stand the extra cost, although they gave a small reduction on the cost of the holiday.  Pence in comparison to what we've got to pay but guess any reduction is better than none.  It always costs us loads more (as it probably does most wheelchair users) to have a holiday because the most accessible places cost more and so does the transport!

I managed to get my shoebox packs finished so there's another card I've made .... my sample.  I may show that before the House Party but then again ..... you might just have to wait - *LOL*

Today - a treat.  I bought a couple of Groupon vouchers nearly 3 months ago and they're due to run out soon so, this afternoon I've got a facial and this evening we're going out for a meal.  It'll probably snow, hail, thunder, lightening and possibly a bit of sunshine.  Can't remember when we last went out for a meal on our own and it was years ago we last went to this particular restaurant.  It was good then.  Wonder what it's like now ... La Brasserie

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Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge #3

OK, so this is getting on the side of boring! I really must make, or at least post, something other than Kenny K challenges *LOL*. It's not as though I haven't done anything else but just not photographed it. Anyway, this is likely to be the last for a little while as it's the last one I've got ready coloured up.

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz challenge this week was another sketch - by Donna this time - and once again I've used some of the DCWV DP that I bought at Doncaster last weekend. Image was coloured about 3 weeks or so ago. For some reason my camera has decided to photograph purple/mauve as a shade of blue - which it's not at all. The mauves/purples all have a much pnkier tone to them than the photo shows and the jeans are a definite dark blue and nothing like the colour in shown here. Oh well, have to use imagination 'cos photographed it around 50 times now and still can't get the colour right and I'm fed up! Made a change this time - coloured with my Prismacolors and Zest It. Just love this medium but did go round with a grey Promarker to make image 'pop' as our US friends would say .... *grin* Made her jump 'out of the box' using oval nesties and sponged a pale lilac ink whilst plain nestie still in situ.

Ingredients:

White hammered card blank (got loads of blanks I've decided to use up ...)

DCWV Mat Stack - Neutrals ... again

DCWV DP - Posies Glitter print, Petite purple roses

Silver mirri card

Oval nesties, scalloped and plain and corner punches

Inks (for sponging) and gems from stash

Flowers - Papermania Fabric Flowers, silk Purples/lilacs

Kenny K image - Uptown Angel, coloured with Prismacolors blended with Zest It.

Enjoy!!

SE imag-e-nationer's Christmas meet #1

5th December, Southwater, Horsham.
Great fun had by all. A challenge with a twist, some projects and an SU make and take ... brilliant!

Challenge was set ... The card could be any subject. It had to be monochromatic (having, or appearing to have, only one colour) with a toning topper. At least 2 backing papers needed and a few embellies (for example ... flowers/snowflakes or similar but relating to topper & backing papers and following the monochromatic line). There was to be an extra, surprise, element added on the day ... so it was a Challenge with a Twist! The surprise element was a card map/sketch/layout to follow.

I'd decided to use one of the stamped images I'd coloured a while back (The Greeting Farm, Dressy Anya stamp set) and to make the card 'zingy'. It's probably more zingy than in photo but light not good for photography at the moment. DP is Doodlebug and image was cut 'out of the box' style with a circle nestie to fit the Nellie Snellen Multiframe Die used behind that. Sentiment was Craftwork Cards and flower a Floral Doodle. Green metallic card used in the matting is from the kids craft section in Tesco. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out.

The SU make and take was a gift card/money holder. I loved this and, as it was an SU make and take, all the materials, stamps and finishing touches were SU. Of course I had to purchase the stamp set - Sparkly & Bright - especially seeing card samples made with it as well. Soo cute!

UPDATE: There's a tutorial for the gift card holder on this blog here.

Enjoy!!

Kay Webb Workshop - Clearly .... Christmas

Lovely relaxed day at The Glitterpot on Wednesday doing a workshop with Kay Webb. 4.5 cards made. The 0.5 because it's not finished and isn't likely to be - *lol*!! It was a card started, using scraps, to fill up the time as we finished the planned ones very early ... that's how easy peasy they were. Not happy with what I did with it before I ran out of time so will leave it. It may get finished eventually - *LOL*

Morning cards ...
Stamps: Gillian Roberts - Nativity 2 (I coloured this at home with my Prismacolors) and Gillian Roberts - Snowman (coloured in class with watercolour pencils). Various greeting stamps.
Other embellishment: A variety of backing papers & card, matting and layering, Bazzill Bling, nestibilities, Cuttlebug folder and Cuttlebug, crystal gems, ribbon, snowflake brad.

Afternoon cards ...
Stamps: Penny Black Majestic and Hero Arts Winter Pine (watercoloured trunk and chalked leaves), selection of greeting stamps
Other embellishment: Nail Heads, Stickles, glitter, double sided adhesive sheet, red crystal gems, ribbon, holographic peeloff star, variety of backing card and papers, versamark and white embossing powder, versafine, snowflake punch, glitter card.

Enjoy!!

Colouring Workshop - again!

They say the Lord likes a trier so He must luurrve me and Greta 'cos we're very - sorry, that should be 'really' - trying ... LOLOL!! The number of times we've (oops!) I've had instruction in colouring you'd have thought we'd got it by now! I think I have got the pencil colouring, be it Prisma Colors or the UK equivilant, Coloursoft, but it didn't stop me doing another class at The Craft Barn yesterday, hoping to pick up a few more tips that I could work on. Unfortunately my watercolouring is still bad (that's probably an understatement), despite doing another class on that as well.


The morning class wasn't what we expected at all but it was thoroughly enjoyable because it was different! We learnt how to lay down a flat wash, a graduated wash and how to make a sunset background. Now, they could all be very useful but then they're more slap it on and watch it develop. We learnt how to deepen the colours with layers (not extra paint/ink added as I thought - lol!) and we had a go at colouring a traced, stamped image which was interesting although mine was a bit of a disaster however, not as much as the poppy which we won't talk about - LOL!


The afternoon was using Coloursoft pencils and Sansodor. I was hoping to pick up a few more tips on using these but the original tutor couldn't do the class so a substitute was bought in, in the shape of Stamping Caz - lol!! The first thing she did was admit that she had only used these pencils 3 times before but she gave a good demo for those that had never used them so needed to learn from scratch or have basic tips on how to proceed. I enjoyed the class, even if I didn't pick up anything extra on their use. We made a double slider card and a standard DL card using a couple of the Craft Barn's Kadoodle stamps (designed by Sandra Dry who should have been our tutor for this workshop) and a variety of DP. I finished the projects at home and went a bit overboard with my 'distressing'. It's very distressed - LOL! That's the fault of doing it under a side light instead of proper light. Mind you, I don't think it looks too bad ... ????

I did learn a couple of things from this class though. I don't like Coloursoft as much as Prisma Color. They are softer, both in the lead and in the colours and neither do I particularly like the effect of colouring round the edge and dragging the colour in - which can be done providing a very silky, smooth card is used. The slightest texture on the card and forget it! In that instance, colour the whole image lightly with a very pale colour (even if it's white) and build on top of that. I think I've got used to working on 'rough' card and colouring the whole image and now, what I was originally trying to achieve, no longer appeals. I've developed my own style and I've realised that I'm happy with it but I'm still open to trying and adapting anything else along the way. Just wish I could get a handle on watercolouring - lol!

Enjoy!!