The Crafty Robin

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #192 Mardi Gras

2012-02-16T12:02:00.002Z

The challenge over at Rainbow Lady's this week is all about Mardi Gras, where we would like you to share your projects with us. I've used some of Debbie Moores papers to make my card this week, might add a little colour on to the Lady's dress as its a little pale, and maybe just a few more little pearls lol. Hope you enjoy and pop over vis the link on my sidebar to join in. Elizabeth x

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #191 Have a Heart!!

2012-02-09T09:00:00.000Z

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge we are including "Hearts" on our projects, well it is Valentines day next week after all! I've been playing with barn door and black soot distress inks, along with Sir Tim's stamps, a couple of Kanban stamps and a Marianne die. Looks very Moulin Rouge in colour to me, all this physio has gone to my legs lol. Please pop over to share your creations with us just click on the link on my sidebar to take you straight there. Elizabeth xxx

TIO #109 The Time Traveller's Wife

2012-02-08T16:48:00.000Z

I'm here better late than never, sorry Frankie. That will teach me to check that my camera battery is charged!!! Anyway here's my DT piece for DragonsDream TIO this week. Helen has chosen the book "The Time Traveller's Wife", another one I've not read, and me a book worm lol. Have been playing with mica powders, spritzing and stamping over them (another little addiction of mine, still could have worse ones lol). My tag started with this sentiment out of a HOTP ephemera book, I love butterflies and they are a sybol of new begginings, something we all need from time to time. The butterfly stamps are by Artemio and the clock face by Sir Tim. Hope you join in the challenge, just remember to use at least one real stamp on your tag.By the way the challenge is running on a fortnightly basis whilst everyone is so busy, so it gives you extra time to join in. Elizabeth xx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #190 Wear Red Day!!

2012-02-02T09:02:00.013Z

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog we are celebrating "Wear Red Day"!
This little cutie is one of the Kanban stamps, coloured in using promarkers, then a little inking around the edge with barn door distress ink to finish. The red spotty flowers were cut using a crealies die, and the smaller white ones were ready mades. Pop over via the link on my sidebar to join in this weeks challenge with us, and check out the rest of the design teams fab creations!

Liebster Blog

2012-02-01T11:52:00.000Z

I had such a lovely surprise from Janet at Fairy Thoughts blog this morning, I am one of the five people she has nominated for the Liebster blog award. I am so touched that Janet thought of me, as she is such a brilliant, inspirational crafter herself, check out her blog by clicking on the Liebster logo on the sidebar, it's sooooooo worth a look! Thank you again Janet xxx

I am passing this award on to five other bloggers. Please stop by and visit them.
The Rules:
1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

2. Reveal your five picks for the award and let them know.

3. Post the award on your blog.

4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogshare-other bloggers.

5. Finally and the best rule of all..........have fun and spread the love!
Here are my choices - so hard to make!!!!

stampingbyh.blogspot.com/

timeoutcrafting.blogspot.com/

redmossramblings.blogspot.com/

sunshinecrafter.blogspot.com/

thornsartplace.blogspot.com/

Another one

2012-01-31T19:18:00.000Z

Am back in cute mode again as well lol, think I'm trying to keep my mind off physio in the morning lol. xxx

Flutterbies

2012-01-31T19:10:00.000Z

Though I'd share a few of the new cards I've made for the Market, as I haven't done for a while. The butterfly stamp is one of my new ones from Imagination Crafts. I thought I'd have a play with pastel colours for a change with my promarkers, as I always seem to do loud bright stuff lol. Will add a few more over the next few days. xx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #189 Burns Night

2012-01-26T09:02:00.013Z

This week at Rainbow Lady's Challenge we are celebrating "Burns Night" and are asking you to share your Scottish creations with us.
As you have probably guessed by now, I have a thing about tags lol, slight addiction! I've been playing with distress inks, a Clarity tree and shrubery stamp, and also the stag from Lavina which I love. The BP is a left over piece from a HOTP kit from many years ago, it just never seems to run out lol. Please pop over and join in this weeks challenge via the link on my sidebar..

DragonsDream #108 The Beach

2012-01-25T13:00:00.020Z

Welcome back to the DragonsDream Challenge where we have had a short rest to re-charge the creative batteries. This week it's my turn to start the dream, where else, but "The Beach". Besides being the book I'm reading at the moment, I so need a holiday!!! I inked up my tag in a mixture of distress ink, adding sunshine and sea using a scrap piece of paper as a guide. The palm tree is an old Rubber Stampede stamp which was made to go on their rocking handle, remember those? The seagull is from Clarity and the seashells are from Crafty Individuals. We hope you join in with this weeks dream, just click on the link on my sidebar to take you there, and please remember to include at least one stamped image on your tag!!! Elizabeth xxx

HUGE APOLOGIES

2012-01-19T14:38:00.000Z

I am so sorry folks but I still cannot comment here on blogger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I've probably managed to get on to 5/6 blogs at the most. It's so frustrating as I am visiting you, but just can't leave you a comment. The only way I can read my own comments is through Dashboard. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate them. Many Thanks Elizabeth

2012-01-19T09:02:00.018Z

This week at Rainbow Lady's Challenge we are celebrating Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dragon. It's a proper inky one from me this week with distress stains, inks and a fab dragon stamp from Lavina. OK so technically my dragon is Welsh lol...... If you were born in 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 or 2000 then the dragon is your sign. You should be full of vitality and enthusiasm, and a popular individual! Please pop over to join in this weeks challenge via the link on my sidebar, where we would love you to share your projects with us. Elizabeth x

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #187 The Many Faces of Women

2012-01-12T09:02:00.020Z

This week at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog the theme is "The Many Faces of Women". How could I resist this image, surely a dream we have all had at some time or another lol.
Both the retro image, and the pink and black spotty paper are from the Vintage Download site. A fantastic place for loads of great stuff!
I used a Martha Stewart punch around the edge, and then mounted the whole thing on to Kanban card.
Please pop over via the link on my sidebar and share your creations with us, Elizabeth x

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #186 Travel in Time to 2012!

2012-01-05T12:46:00.000Z

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to Rainbow Lady's first challenge of the year, travel in time to 2012!!
I chose a digi image of a steampunk penny farthing, and added some cogs from a Kanban set of stamps around the edge. I then inked around the edge with black soot distress ink, and matted on to silver and black card, simples!!! I will pop a link on my sidebar to the site where I found this image as it's a great place!! Please pop over and join in this weeks challenge, just click on the logo on my sidebar to take you there!!

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #185 Your Choice!!

2011-12-29T09:31:00.000Z

I can't believe we are on Rainbow Lady's last challenge of the year, how fast has that gone? This week it is an open choice of whatever you fancy. I thought I'd share some of the bag charms that I've been making over tha last few weeks. I love these big chunky hand made glass beads, they are so gorgeous. Might even make one for myself lol. Please pop over and join in with whatever you feel like creating, just click on the link on my sidebar. Happy New Year Love Elizabeth xxx

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T18:03:00.000Z

Just wanted to say a very quick Merry Christmas to all of my blogging friends. I hope you are all ready for the big day? Everything is peeled, chopped and prepared here at Robinson Villas, so am about to settle down with a glass of something sparkly and my old scruffy pup, Oscar. Can't believe he is 17!! Love and Hugs all round Elizabeth xxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #184 White Christmas

2011-12-22T12:01:00.000Z

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge the theme is "White Christmas". This time last year we were well and truely snowed in, and Mr Robinson had his annual event for the third year in a row!!!!!!!!!!!! All the presents are wrapped, and my food shop will fit in between work and physio tomorrow. Phew.....
My card this week is very simply a piece of Polkadoodles paper trimmed, and then added on to a white card, along with some embossed snowflakes and gems.
I hope you pop over and join in our challenge this week just click on the link on my sidebar. Merry Christmas everyone. Elizabeth

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #183 Angels

2011-12-15T09:02:00.009Z

This week at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog our inspiration is Angels. I chose to make a tag this week using some very gorgeous stamps from Curious by Design. They are coloured using a mixure of distress inks and polycolour pencils. I decided not to over fuss this week and just added a Marianne corner to finish it off. I hope you pop over and join us in the challenge this week, just click on the link on my sidebar. Elizabeth x

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #182 Tree's and Baubles

2011-12-08T13:30:00.000Z

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge the theme for your projects, is Tree's and Baubles. Everything I've used this week is from my Anna Griffin stash, with a few gems and a little ribbon added to finish off the card.
Hope you join in with this weeks challenge just click on the link on my sidebar to take you there!

TIO#107 Time Traveller

2011-12-07T20:52:00.001Z

This week over at Dragons Dream TIO sees our last challenge of this year, we are all sooooooo in need of a rest lol, and to recharge our creative batteries ready for 2012!!
This last choice of film has been chosen by Frankie, the head Dragon herself so please join in and remember to use at least one real stamp!

My offering this week is of course the very dapper "Jasper" from Kanban. He was stamped out on to white card stock, and coloured in using promarkers, cut out and added on to a piece of black Kanban card which had been stamped with the cogs and clocks from the "Jasper" set and then embossed with brass sparkle Wow powder. The corners were cut out using a Marianne die from scrap card. Please pop over to join in this the last challenge of 2011, just click on the logo on my sidebar for a direct link. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Elizabeth xxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #181 Christmas Carols

2011-12-02T13:43:00.000Z

Well another week and another challenge over at Rainbow Lady's, where we have chosen "Christmas Carols" as our theme. What a task picking just one!!!! This is such a nice stamp of Sheena's that I had to go along with "Joy to the World" as it fitted perfectly! The images are coloured using promarkers with a little fine glitter, ok well a lot of fine glitter lol. The edges are tinted with tumbled glass distress ink, and then it was mounted on to a scrap piece of HOTP paper. I'm not sure where the village stamp came from as it was in a swap. Hope you pop over and share some of your creations with us, just click on the link on my sidebar to take you there. Elizabeth x

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #180 Something for the Boys!

2011-11-24T12:00:00.017Z

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge we would like you to create something for the boys! As we all know, they are the hardest to make cards for. So we would like you to keep them in mind, and create cards, tags, in fact whatever you fancy making!
My card was made from Debbie Moores Stamping Inspirations magazine. Issue 1 is just crammed with boys toys, and just perfect for this weeks challenge. Hope you enjoy this weeks theme, just click on the link on my sidebar to join in. Elizabeth xxx

Dragons Dream TIO #106 The Da Vinci Code

2011-11-23T15:00:00.002Z

This week over at dragons Dream TIO Lyn has chosen the film "The Da Vinci Code" to inspire us. I love Leonardo and have serveral books about the great man, but not so many stamps lol!!! I so wanted to do a tag with horses on, but all of mine were far too pretty by Leonardo's standards. So I settled for the Pre Raphaelites theme plate from Non Sequitur, as it has a mixture of buildings and people that fitted the bill. The "Art" meaning is from Stampcamp, another Port Sunlight find. I had a play with pastels to create the background, blending the colours with my fingers, and then heat setting, so I could stamp over the top. I hope you join in our challenge this week, just click on the link on my sidebar to take you there for even more inspiration from my fab team mates. Please remember to include at least one real stamp on your tags! Elizabeth xxx

Thanksgiving at Rainbow Lady's Challenge!

2011-11-17T09:19:00.002Z

This week at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog we are celebrating Thanksgiving. I love this stamp from Imagination Crafts and it fits the subject perfectly. The edges are inked in a mix of chipped sapphire, peeled paint and black soot distress inks. I typed out the wording and then die cut it to match the picture, inking around the edges to finish it off.
I hope you pop over and join in this weeks challenge, it's sure to be a popular one! Just click on the logo on my sidebar for a direct link to share your creations. Elizabeth x

TIO #105

2011-11-16T12:00:00.026Z

Over at Dragons Dream TIO this week my team mate Silvia has chosen the film "Chinatown" and would like everyone to dream along with us in oriental style.
Have got to confess to having a mojo (less) problem this week, my inky brain seems to be elsewhere lol.
I've used fired brick to ink up my tag, along with black soot to distress the edge. I also used black soot to stamp the Cranes, before adding some white pastel chalk pencil. The Bamboo was heat embossing using the brass sparkle Wow powder, which I know I've said it before, but it's just gorgeous! All of the stamps are from NonSequitur. Hope you feel inspired to join in the challenge this week, just click on the logo on my sidebar for a direct link, and please don't forget to use at least one real stamp! Off to Llandudno now for coffee, cake and gossip!!!! Elizabeth xxx

TIO #104 Letters to Juliet

2011-11-09T12:00:00.028Z

This week over at Dragons Dream TIO challenge it's AJ's choice of film with "Letters to Juliet" and me being the old romantic that I am, was instantly transported to Italy, with love letters, romance and roses. No hope for me I know, lol but one day I will get to Italy!
My tag base is TH cardstock and overstamped with a Venician scene from Stampcamp, coloured in with promarkers for a little more shade. The edge of the tag has been inked around using black soot distress ink. The letters are out of an old HOTP ephemera book on travel, and aged with distress inks to blend in. The smaller of the flowers are TH ones with colour added using promarkers, and the larger rose is the new Spellbinder Spiral Blossom One die, it's gorgeous!!!!! No doubt it will be appearing on everything I do over the next few weeks lol. Hope you enjoy this weeks challenge and pop over via the link on my sidebar to join in. Elizabeth x

TIO #103 Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium

2011-11-02T06:00:00.017Z

This week over at Dragons Dream TIO Wanda has chosen the film "Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium" as our theme. Have to confess to never having heard of this one, so am following the instructions of steampunk! I embossed the base tag with the cogs folder, and then painted it with a gold paint dabber. The stamps I've used are from The Artistic Stamper and were free when I renewed my Craft Stamper subscription earlier this year at Port Sunlight. They are stamped out using brushed corduroy and dusty concord, then a little blending with a wet paintbrush. Please pop over via the link on my sidebar to join in. Elizabeth

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #176 Spooks and Witches

2011-10-27T07:00:00.021+01:00

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog we are being sponsored by Caroline, who has put some gorgeous Christmas digi images up for grabs, so thinking caps on guys!
This isn't what I had in mind for this challenge at all. I'd planned on buying the Witch, and the Cat stamp from Lavinia Stamps when I was at Port Sunlight, but alas I was distracted, and lost my train of thought!!!! LOL. The stamps are Graphicus and coloured in with a mixture of Promarkers and distress inks, then mounted on to some HOTP backing papers which are yonks old. Hope you enjoy this weeks challenge, just click on the link on my sidebar to join in. Elizabeth xxx

TIO #102 Planes, Trains and Automobiles

2011-10-26T06:00:00.019+01:00

Well here we go this week with round two of our films challenge here at Dragons Dream TIO. This week Helen has chosen the theme of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" so lots of scope there folks! My first thoughts were of steampunk and that lovely era of man and machine, then for some unknown reason I came back down to earth thinking about Magnum PI, think it was the K and Co BP that triggered that one off lol. Aywayz, the ephemera is all from a HOTP book about travel, the BP is K&Co, the distress ink and the ticket stamp are Sir Tim, and last but not least the flower stamp was a freebie with Craft Stamper last year (I think). O yes and a couple of leaves chopped out with a Crealies die. Please pop over and join in the challenge this week, just click on the link on my sidebar to get there! Love Elizabeth xxxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #175 Silver!!

2011-10-20T09:47:00.000+01:00

Happy Silver Anniversary Cynthia and Geoff xxx
This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog we are asking you to use a silver coloured theme, in celebration of Cynthia and Geoff's Silver Wedding! I was drawn like a little magpie to this gorgeous girlie (and silver) cardstock from Kanban. I love the holographic perfume bottles and butterflies on it. I added the silver and black mannequin, along with a silver basque, black bow and feather to make a skirt.I hope you pop over to our challenge this week and join in, just click on the link on my side bar. Elizabeth xxx

TIO #101 The Good, The Bad and the Ugly!!!!

2011-10-19T06:00:00.035+01:00

Over at Dragons Dream TIO for the next few weeks we are dreaming of Films. It's my turn to take to the screen first with "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly". I thought this one would give lots of scope for all sorts, Angels, Demons whatever you decifer the title to mean. My tag this week is made from TH cardstock with added stormy sky and black soot distress inks. The bad ugly guy at the bottom, along with the saying and ink rings are all by TH, and stamped out in black soot. I stamped out the TH wings for my little Angel (Moi) lol, in versamark and then heat embossed with Wow silver sparkle powder, then cut them out and added then to the tag. The flowers and leaves are all die cut using Crealies, inked around the edges and then shaped a little. The chubby little angel was born the year this film hit the big screen, lol, work that one out yourself!! Hope you enjoy this weeks challenge and pop on over to join in via the link on my sidebar. Please don't forget to include at least one real stamp on your tag. Elizabeth xxx ummmm also entering this in to Hels Sunday Stamper as it has leaves on!

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #174 Falling Leaves

2011-10-13T11:46:00.019+01:00

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog we are asking you to add falling leaves to your creations. I've used a Graphicus tree stamp coloured in with promarkers, and then sprayed with gold spray and sparkle. All of the leaves are cut from scraps of card with a Joy die, the only new piece of card is the black Kanban base card! Hope you pop over and join in our challenge this week, we look forward to seeing your cards, tags etc all adorned with fallen leaves! Elizabeth x

TIO #100 Ticket to Ride

2011-10-12T06:00:00.018+01:00

This week over at Dragons Dream TIO Challenge Frankie has chosen the song "Ticket to Ride" by The Beatles. My tag is cut from a sheet of TH Vintage Shabby papers with TH tickets stamped around the bottom in weathered wood distress ink. The Horse is from Dimension Fourth and coloured in using promarkers. The admit one tickets are also TH and stamped out in faded jeans. I hope you like our challenge this week and pop over via the link on my sidebar to join in. Please remember to use at least one real stamp on your tag and have fun! Elizabeth xxx

Llansanan

2011-10-06T20:03:00.000+01:00

We,ll have to hold my hands up, my blog is my crafty space, none of my personal stuff but, at after attending the Llansanan meeting of the WI this week. I have to say their Male Voice Choir is amazing (they were practicing in the room next door)!!!!! Way to go chaps, fantastic! Send me an invite and I will bring a cake! What else can I say!! xx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #173 In the Misty Moonlight

2011-10-06T07:10:00.002+01:00

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog we are being sponsored by Joanna Sheen, who as always has put up a great prize for grabs!
The challenge this week is "In the Misty Moonlight" as or in our case here in North Wales, the wet mooonlight lol. The image I've used is from Sweatpea Stamps she is called "Soft Goth Night". I coloured her in using promarkers, and then inked around the edge of the tag with stormy sky distress ink. Hope you join in this weeks challenge, just pop over via the link on my sidebar. Elizabeth xxx

TIO#99 The Whole of the Moon!

2011-10-05T06:00:00.002+01:00

This week over at DragonsDream TIO Lyn is heading up the team, with her song choice of "I saw the Whole of the Moon". I love that song and I have to confess that this tag is not what I had planned, it's just after the day I've had .............. I will say no more!!!! Maybe a Red Dragon would be more appropriate LOL.
Anywayz, I've used an Elusive Images stamp and coloured it in using pro markers. After letting dry out for a while I then added dusty concord and black soot distress inks around the edges to get rid of any white cardstock, may have to tweek this a little as I feel a dollop of glossy accents coming on LOL. Pop on over to join us this week via the link on my sidebar to share your creations!! Hugs Elizabeth xxxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #172 Autumn Flowers

2011-09-29T06:00:00.001+01:00

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog we are being sponsored by Glitter Babe digi images, who have put up a fab prize for grabs!!
I chose the "Nature 1" set of digi images as I love both the flowers and the sentiment. I printed them off on to a piece of Graphicus patterned paper, and trimmed the side with the flower on, down to A5. The sentiment was cut out witha die and added on along with some ribbon. Very simple card to make!! Have to confess it took longer to print off the images than to make the card, LOL. Thankfully my printer has now been overhauled, and is in perfect (yer right) working order. Pop on over and join in the challenge via the link on my sidebar, and good luck. Elizabeth x

TIO #98 These boots were made for walking - Nancy Sinatra

2011-09-28T06:00:00.016+01:00

This week over at the DragonsDream TIO it's Silvia's choice of song with Nancy Sinatra's "These boots were made for walking". Have got to confess this one got me, I don't own a stamp with boots on at all, how have I managed that???? LOL. Inked up my tag with a mixture of faded jeans, black soot and dusty concord. I created the boots by inking over a peel off!!! The swirl stamp is a HOTP one I've had for many years, and the saying has no name on it, and I can't remeber where it came from! Hope you pop over to join in this weeks challenge, just click on the link on my sidebar. Elizabeth x

TIO #97 Pink Flloyd - Embroidery

2011-09-21T06:00:00.021+01:00

This week at DragonsDream TIO Challenge it's AJ's choice of song, with Pink Flloyd and some embroidery along with your stamps somewhere on your tag. I used K&Co paper for the background and inked around the edge with black soot distress ink. The faux stitches are a HOTP stamp and the tailors dummy and phrase were both cut out with cricut, from the home decor and more cartridge. The felt flower is one left over from making felted corsages, I decided to use long stitches for the centre, and add in some bugle beads for a little sparkle, not sure they show up though? Hope you enjoy the challenge this week and pop over via the link on my sidebar. Elizabeth xxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #170 Christmas Sweet Treats

2011-09-15T06:00:00.024+01:00

This week over Rainbow Lady's Challenge our theme is Christmas Sweet Treats. We are being sponsored by Whimsy Stamps who have put up some fab blog candy for grabs!!!
The hard choice I had to make was which one of there scrummy Christmas treats to chose from! I finally went for the cupcake, and orginally planned to do pink, but being a traditional kind of girl at heart, how could I not do red and green? I used a selection of promarkers to colour in my little cake, and then added some extra holly from a little Nitwit stamp free with Simply Homemade magazine. Thought it went well, and made a lovely border. The paper is DCWV and of course I had to have a little sparkle in the icing from Art Institute glitter! Hope you enjoy, and pop over to join in this week's challenge, the link is on my sidebar, good luck. Elizabeth x

TIO #96 Dedicated Follower of Fashion!

2011-09-14T06:00:00.081+01:00

This week it's Wanda's choice of song to dream along to over at the DragonsDream TIO, with "A Dedicated Follower of Fashion". Now I've been shopping on many occasions with that Lady, and she can shop!!!! (Love you Wanda xxx). All of the stamps that I've used on this weeks tag are from Kanban. I love the Coco Chanel saying at the top, and knew it had to be on there some where!. I stamped the dress form out on to some K&Co paper, and cut out the dress, inked around the edges, and overlayed on top of the black image on the tag. The pink card stock was inked up using tattered rose, black soot and worn lipstick distress inks. The finishing touches just had to be a classy black bow and a string of pearls, LOL. Hope you enjoy and pop on over to the DragonsDream TIO Challenge to join in. The link is on my sidebar. Love Elizabeth x

Dragons Web Birdcage Tag Swap

2011-09-14T06:00:00.080+01:00

As you know the very talented Frankie over at Dragons Web held a Birdcage Tag Swap. We had a couple of weeks to create our tags and the get them in the post last Wednesday. The birdcage above is the one I made for Julia Dunnit over at WOYWW. I decided not to include any birds, but to use butterflies instead die cut from vellum. The bird cage was cut out from board and painted with acrylic paint, before adding sepia glossy accents on to it. The clock face was a free download of the internet, and also given the sepia glossy accents treatment, after a little black soot distressing around the edges. The TH flowers were cut out in shrink plastic, and over stamped with a Joanna Sheen Honeysuckle stamp. The were then shrunk, and yep you guessed it sepia glossy accents!! I finished my bird cage off with a key and a bell, wrapping the narrow ribbon up around the cage bars to make a loop at the top to hang it up with. Then I decided to add a touch of gold promarker around the edge of the clock face to fish it off.
As we all sent our swaps to different people, I received a beautiful work of art from Sam aka Hettiecraft. Sam has made me a gorgeous tag, with mica birdcages and birds flying around on a beautiful inky background (sorry Sam my piccie doesn't do it justice). all embellished with a golden shrunk plastic birdcage and my initial dangling from a chain and ribbon. Thank you again Sam it's gorgeous, and is on display in my workroom!

Count me in for the next one Frankie xxx

TIO #95 Red Red Wine!

2011-09-07T06:00:00.027+01:00

This week over at Frankie's Dragons Dream TIO Challenge, Helen is inspiring us to dream along to "Red Red Wine". Your tags this week must be predominately red!!! Aside from the obvious (I love a glass of the red stuff) I found myself dreaming of Paris and the fuss, frills and feathers of the CanCan Dancers! The BP is one from my HOTP Christmas stash LOL. The stamps are a mixture of Sir Tims and Artemio, and stamped out in black soot, the feather, charm and lace are from my stash bag! I hope you come over and share your dreams with us this week, just click on the link on my sidebar and you will find the challenge waiting for you. Elizabeth x

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #168 Lets Emboss it!

2011-09-01T08:00:00.017+01:00

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge we are being sponsored by Joanna Sheen, who as always has put up a fab prize for grabs! We would like you to show some embossing on your project this week, I chose to have a play with UTEE. I chose this frame as it has a nice wide, flat surface to emboss on to. I sanded and then painted it with acrylic paint. I then added two layers of my chosen colour of Cosmic Shimmer UTEE directly on to the frame with versamark ink. I had already melted a mixture of clear UTEE, gold and copper embossing powders and left them to set on a heat proof mat. I melted a section of the frame and added chunks of the pre heated embossing powder, melting it in to the frame as I worked around the edge. The finish is very organic and has a beautiful sheen to it. Hope you like, please pop on over to join in this weeks challenge via the link on my sidebar. Elizabeth x

TIO #94 Bed of Roses - Bon Jovi & Metal

2011-08-31T06:00:00.010+01:00

One of my most loved songs of all time has to be "Bed of Roses" by Bon Jovi, it's such a beautiful love song, and I'm a soppy old Hector at heart!
Inspired by Frankie's metal flowers I decided to have a go at making some of my own, the perfect match for my song choice. The base stamp of a rose is a sale bargain from The Stampman, coloured in with promarkers. I then inked up the tag in a mixture of peeled paint, shabby shutters and black soot distress inks. The sentiment is from PSX and stamped out in black soot. My roses are made from the Tattered Flower die, and coloured using red pepper alcohol ink. The prima leaves were left over from another project. I hope my choice of song will inspire you to dream with us this week. Elizabeth xxx If anyone doesn't know the song, scroll down to the bottom of my blog and check out my playlist.

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #167 Faux Postage

2011-08-25T08:00:00.041+01:00

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog we are being sponsored by Glenda Waterworth at Chocolate Baroque. I've been a big fan of Glendas work for many years so to sent some of her gorgeous stamps and digi's to play with was fantastic!!
All of the paper's that I've used are from a paper pack I had from Glenda a couple of years ago, the colours are just beautiful. I downloaded the faux stamps sheet and printed it out on to 160gsm text and graphic paper, then very carefully cut out the centre of the stamps. I trimmed around the outer edge with a wavey line trimmer to make it look perforated. The bird and branches were already on the paper, and I thought they lent themselves perfectly to the "Mail Art" stamp set that Glenda had sent me. I added a selection of different stamps using memento tuxedo black ink, making sure they would be visible through the faux postage stamps. I then added the postage frame over the top of the bird paper. To finish off I cut out some flowers using a crealies die in some scrap pieces of the backing paper, and added a gorgeous piece of black lace as a border. Hope you pop over and join us this week as Glenda has very kindly put up some fab blog candy for grabs!!! Elizabeth xxx

TIO #89 Travel - Time to make a quick get away!

2011-08-24T06:00:00.034+01:00

This week over at DragonsDream TIO Frankie is encouraging us to dream about travel and getting away from it all, I wish!!! I've had a very busy summer with lots of extra Country Markets, Artisan Crafts Events and Agricultural shows (yep you read that right lol). I have a weekend break planned for my Birthday in Caernarfon, where I'll be spending the two days at the Castle, on a friendly plastic course with the fantastic Liz Welch. My dream this week evolved from playing with some Tattered Angels misters in a mix of many colours. I added some more colour with milled lavender and faded jeans distress inks, than embossed the dragonflies with a moonglow embossing powder in hyacinth blue/jade. The picture is from a HOTP book of travel collage. Hope you like and pop over via the link of my sidebar to join in this weeks challenge. Elizabeth x
I forgot to add this on this morning, it's an old luggage label that I found in the loft with an address for a hotel in Colwyn Bay. Who knew Thomas Cook had been around so long LOL

Kanban

2011-08-23T18:54:00.002+01:00

http://allpinkgirl.blogspot.com/ Kanban are launching tonight at 9pm on Create and Craft along with Wendie. Pop over to Dawn Wheeler's blog for a chance to win some Kanban blog candy and have a sneaky peek at some of her gorgeous DT cards.

Little Boxes

2011-08-22T15:54:00.000+01:00

Bought a set of 5 of these little boxes a few weeks ago to alter, though I'd do a couple as gift boxes to go on the stall. They are painted with acrylic paint, crackled and then sprayed with a layer of iredescent glitter, spray and sparkle. The flowers and ribbons are from my stash box.

New Flowers

2011-08-21T16:28:00.000+01:00

Have been having a play about with a pattern I found on the internet for a fabric corsage. Thought I'd make a few of them in different fabrics to pop on the Artisans Craft stall on Tuesday. They are very easy to make once you get the knack, sore fingers again though I realy must find a thimble lol. Hope you like. Elizabeth x

TIO #92 Childs Play

2011-08-17T06:00:00.001+01:00

This week over at DragonsDream TIO the very talented Janet is leading us the with the theme of "Childs Play". Sadly for us DT members it's Janet's last week on the team due to other commitments, we will miss her lots!!!!!
I've inked up my tag this week in honor of two friends, who have had bad falls, and are both beautiful shades of purple and green at the moment!! Dusty Concorde, Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint were the distress inks I've used. along with Black Soot to stamp out the art Journey child and Stamp Camp sentiment. The felt flowers were cut out with Sir Tim's Tatty Flowers die, and the one at the top is needle felted as a corsage, the others are just one layered.
I hope you enjoy this weeks challenge and pop on over to join us via the link on my sidebar. I promise to try and stay awake after all the fairs I'm doing this week to hop over to your blogs for a peep! Love Elizabeth x

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #165

2011-08-11T13:13:00.000+01:00

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge we are being sponsored by Chi Chi Memories who have some fab digi images up for grabs!

They sent us DT girls a few images to play with, a tough choice which to choose, so decided on two of them this time. The little boy who is ready for bed and the window. Thought it would be fun to have him looking out instead of in, so had fun drawing bricks with my promarkers! The images are also coloured in with promarkers, and the text stamp is an old one from PSX.

TIO #91 A Horses Life

2011-08-10T08:28:00.000+01:00

This week over at DragonsDream TIO we are being encouraged to dream about horses, and with Zoe in the saddle to lead us it should be a fun challenge!!! (sorry how could I resist?)
I have played with a mixture of brushed corduroy,worn lipstick, victorian velvet, dried marigold, scattered straw and black soot distress inks. My tag has ended up looking very "Tootie Fruitie LOL, remember those?). I used three Clarity stamps along with brushed corduroy, as I wanted to keep a muted feel to the tag. The small stamp is by PSX and stamped put in black soot. Hope you enjoy this weeks challenge and pop on over via the link on my sidebar to join in. Elizabeth

TIO #90 Natures Bounty.

2011-08-03T06:00:00.001+01:00

This week over at DragonsDream TIO it's Wanda's turn to lead the challenge and encourage us to dream about "Natures Bounty". I knew exactly which stamps I wanted to use for this week, and kept everything crossed that both Wanda and Janet didn't use the same stamps, as we had all bought them last year at the Stamp Addicts Retreat LOL.
The stamps are by a company called A Stamp in the Hand and stamped out in a mix of bundled sage and shabby shutters distress ink, with a little extra colour added with Lyra Polycolour pencils. The background is antique linen with a little black soot around the edges! Click on the link on my sidebar and have a look at the fab tags created by the design team, and join in !!! Love Elizabeth xxx

Blooming Roses!!

2011-08-01T19:25:00.000+01:00

Well here we go again just got a moment to show you the corsages that I've been making for the Country Market. This is a small selection from todays batch (which I hope will see me through the 2 markets this week lol). all are die cut from Sir Tim's Tatty Flower, the felt ones are then needle felted with various shades of wool and felted together. The leather ones are just sewn together, hence my very sore fingers!!!! Here's a couple of piccies to show the building up stage.

Sore fingers crossed - Elizabeth xxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #164

2011-07-28T08:00:00.024+01:00

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge we are being sponsored by Caroline, who has some fab blog candy up for grabs. Us girls on the DT were lucky enough to get hold of a selection of Digi Flowers to have a play with. How could I resist these gorgeous turquoise and brown ones, and combined with a gorgeous stamp from Crafty Individuals, papers from K&Co and some leftover leaves from a Crealies Die, along with a very big dose of brushed corduroy distress ink, another one destined for the Country Market me thinks lol. Please pop over via the link on my sidebar to join in the challenge and have a chance to win a fab prize!! Elizabeth x

TIO 89 Pressing Matters!

2011-07-27T06:00:00.003+01:00

This week over at the DragonsDream TIO Challenge we are being led by Helen with Pressing Matters!! So it's embossing tools out!! I used a creative expressions brick wall folder to create my tag with cream card, then inked it up with rusty hinge, barn door and brushed corduroy.
The stamp is one of my favourite's which you've probably seen a few times before lol. It's by Chapel Road and coloured with the same distress inks as the wall. Had to add a few sprigs of fern, my garden is full of the stuff at the moment, one of the problems of backing on to woodland lol. Hope you pop over and join us, just click on the link on my sidebar to enter the challenge. Elizabeth xxx

Gossamer Silk Scarf

2011-07-24T13:04:00.000+01:00

I had a great day out on Friday, Wanda and I booked ourselves in for a day learning to make a gossamer silk scarf at Stitch It in Llandudno. Ive got to say that as a crafting day out, it was one of the cleanest I've done lol. We started off by learning about all of the different types of silk, and silk waste that were available, and how they would look in a finished item. Then the fun began choosing what colour scheme we would use. I for once worked outside of my comfort zone and chose pink!!!! Not a snippet of blue anywhere in sight!! After a full day of tweaking, adding more bits and re arranging fibres, pre felting and finally felting, the scarfs were finished. Not sure how well they would sell at the Country Market, but if I don't try I won't know, and they can always be used as Christmas pressies lol. Will make a blue one next.............

TIO #88 Look to the Skies!

2011-07-20T06:00:00.002+01:00

This week over at DragonsDream TIO it's my turn to start the dream, so where better than the sky!! After all each and everyone of us looks the sky through different eyes!! We all see something different, whether it's a Plane, Balloon, Stars, Birds or the Moon!! The choice is yours to dream along with!

I inked up my base tag with a mix of scattered straw, wild honey, brushed corduroy and black soot distress inks. Then stamped out the Artemio compass stamp in brushed corduroy. The Artemio plane was stamped out in black soot, and then colour was added with chalk pencils. The text stamps are from PSX and stamped out again in black soot. The tag was finished with a few metallic studs, a brad and some ribbon. hope you enjoy this weeks challenge and pop over via the link on my sidebar to join in. Love Elizabeth x

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #161 A Stitch in Time

2011-07-14T14:04:00.000+01:00

This week over at Rainbow lady's Challenge blog the theme is "A Stitch in Time" as always we have a fab sponsor and some great candy up for grabs!!!
My backing paper has been printed out from an Artylicious cd rom, have to admit I can't remember which one lol. I decided use the BP in stripes rather than one whole piece, and overstamped with a HOTP stitcing stamp to make it look like the paper strips had been sewn on. I ran a piece of pink card through the swiss dots embossing folder, and trimmed the edge with a wavey trimmer blade. The ChiChi Memories image has been coloured in using promarkers and some art institute glitter added for sparkle!! The card was then finished off with a few prima flowers with gems added! Hope you join in the challenge this week, just click on the link on my sidebar to take you there. Happy Crafting Elizabeth x

TIO #86 Tim Holltz!!!

2011-07-13T06:00:00.003+01:00

This week Frankie is inspiring us to dream "Sir Tim"!

Not a hard dream to inspire as I think we all have a mini stash of inks, stamps and dies from the great man himself lol.
The base of my tag has been inked up in a mixture of antique linen, brushed corduroy, scattered straw and black soot. The images were then stamped with black soot on to the tag and also the bird on the branch.
The cage was cut out in bronze stardream card, and the bird, along with a scrap of lace was added to the bottom of it to hide the holes. Both the key and the heart have been attached with raffia, and the leaf appeared from nowhere lol! The rusty tin behind the tag is where I store my TH dies, it just seemed appropriate! Pop on over to the DragonsDream TIO Challenge blog (link on my sidebar) and check out the fantastic work of the other DT members, and join in the challenge!! Elizabeth xxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 160 In the Country

2011-07-07T14:31:00.000+01:00

Gosh another week has flown around again and it's Thursday! This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog we are being sponsored by Joanna Sheen, who yet again is spoiling you with gift vouchers up for grabs! Our theme is is this week "In the Country" so please pop along and join in via the link on my sidebar and join in!
I decided to use a topper from Joanna's Messy Rabbit CD Rom, as these cute little faces were hard to resist, peeping over, with a lovely countryside scene in the background. I used a Martha Stewart punch around the page for the border and matted it on to a sheet of Joanna's gingham paper, which has lived in my stash forever, lol. The sentiment is a ready made one from craftwork cards and just perfect for these little bunnies! Elizabeth xxx

TIO# 85 The age of Chivalry!!!

2011-07-06T06:00:00.022+01:00

Phew this week was a challenge for me lol, but then again that's the whole point!! over at the TIO we are dreaming about "The age of Chivalry" only in my dreams!!!!
As I'm still waiting for my Knight in shining armour I had to settle for a dragon LOL (sorry no pun intended LOL).
The background of my tag had been inked up in a mixture of dusty concorde, milled lavender, worn lipstick and black soot. I created a mask with a 1" circle punch and inked around with an inkasentials tool. I then used a dragon stamp from lavinia and some text from the stamp camp. Phew skin of the teeth with this one lol. I sooooo need my Knight in shining armour! Please pop over and join in our challenge this week by clicking on the logo on my sidebar. love Elizabeth xxxx

IOM!!

2011-07-02T21:30:00.000+01:00

Quick photo sorry it's not very clear, but yep those lumps and bumps beyond the windfarm, are the Isle of Mann!! Much clearer with the naked eye, can almost hear the roar of the engines lol! Time for aftersun and a large vino xxx

Artisan Craft Fair

2011-07-02T16:23:00.000+01:00

Phew it's a scorcher here today with beautiful clear blue skies. Have finished my last batch of cards ready to take to the Fair on Tuesday. It's come round so quickly and I was having a little panic that I'd not got enough stuff ready to take with me. Just got to finish pricing up my jewellery and I'm done. Lets hope this good weather holds out for the next eight weeks as our stall will be el fresco in Rhos on Sea!!

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 159 The 4th July!

2011-06-30T10:21:00.000+01:00

Over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog this week we are celebrating the 4th July!! All we ask is that you include the colours red, white and blue in your creation. I decided to use a Magnolia stamp and promarkers to colour her dress her in patriotic colours. Along with a Sue Dreamer sticker and some paper flowers around the frame. Hope you enjoy this weeks challenge, as always we have some fab prizes up for grabs so pop on over via the link on my sidebar to join in. Happy 4th July. Love Elizabeth xxx

TIO #85 Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

2011-06-29T07:56:00.002+01:00

Having a small war with blogger again this morning grrrr..... It posted my tag when I didn't want it to, then didn't post when it was scheduled for! Rant over.
This week we are dreaming about the seaside over at DragonsDream TIO Challenge. I can't tell you how hard it was for me not to do seahorses lol. I created my background with pastels for a change. I love these metallic ones, they have a fab shine to them in real life. The stamps I've used are a mix of Crafty Individuals and Rubbadubberdoo, stamped out with stazon. It's a shame our little pier doen't look like this one, lets hope the regeneration scheme includes it in their plans!! Elizabeth x

Sparkly Stuff!!

2011-06-27T15:14:00.000+01:00

This is a small selection of what I've been up to over this last weekend. I haven't made any jewelry for ages, I'd forgotten how much fun it was. I've never made any to sell before, just stuff for myself or as gifts for friends, so I'd welcome any input on prices etc? Everything is made from moulded glass, crystal or Swaroski and has a lovely weight to it.

Love Elizabeth x

TIO# 84 Let's Face It!

2011-06-22T06:00:00.055+01:00

Our dream this week over at the DragonsDream Challenge blog is "Let's Face It" led by the very creative Wanda. I decided that my dream would be pastel and pretty this week, not like me at all lol!
I made these paper roses back in March and yes Frankie, they are the same one's that I showed to you at the NEC lol, finally they have a home! I used a crealies die to cut out three of two different sized flowers in some Anna griffin paper. I then layered them up with a brad through the centre, and gave them a spritz with water. Then starting with the middle flower I scrunched it up towards the centre, and worked my way through all six layers like that. The flower was then left to dry out. They background is inked up with a mix of spun sugar, victorian velvet, milled lavender, dusty concorde and black soot. The Pre-Raphaelite Lady's face is from a theme plate by Non Sequitur (another Stampman bargain from Port Sunlight lol), stamped out with black soot, and coloured in using Lyra Polycolour pencils. I used an Anna Griffin flourish stamp in black soot, and again with a versamark pad, and brass sparkle embossing powder. Once the roses were dry I gave them a spray with the gold spray and sparkle, not only does this make them sparkle, but it also holds the flower in shape. I did have a piece of black ribbon to go through the top of my tag, but some how lol, it's disappeared. I know how can I loose things on this "o so tidy desk". Hope you enjoy our challenge this week and pop on over to join us, just click on the DragonsDream logo on my sidebar for a direct link. Love Elizabeth x

Sue's Scrap Bag!!

2011-06-19T14:15:00.003+01:00

I've been saying that I will make a new shopping bag for ages now, so at long last have got around to it!! I was given a gorgeous bag of left over bits of ribbon and trims from a friend of mine who makes the most amazing cloaks and bags. They are all so very different and made mostly from recycled and vintage fabrics. If you are out and about at any of the vintage Fashion Fairs, look out for her "Just Sue" her stall is well worth a look!!
When I found the feathery ribbon waste in my goody bag, it just screamed out to be turned in to seaweed!! The Graphicus seahorses were stamped out in stazon ink, on to some batik fabric then appliqued on to the bag. I can't make my mind up whether or not to embroider on them? I added some dotty lines with silver and blue pebeo fabric paints, then stitched on some iridescent sequins and seed beads. As the iron was out any way (LOL) I wondered what the graphicus shells would look like done in fantasy film, with fibres sandwiched in between. not too sure about them, but they can always come off!

I know I soooo predictable with Seahorses, but how could I resist! Love Elizabeth xxx ps if you are wondering about the old pink towel on the desk, it's where the water comes in when it rains!!!!

Rainbow lady's Challenge 157 I am Sailing!!!

2011-06-16T15:19:00.000+01:00

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge our theme is "We are Sailing" we have some fab stamps and acrylic block up for graps, courtersey of very generous sponsor's "Time to Sow".
I thought for a change that I'd share something a little different, and couldn't resist this rowing pirate dog! He's made up of some 3d decoupage, that when Harry was having his "I'm growing up clear out" gave to me LOL. He was a little tricky to glue together but well worth it, as he's great fun. When the handle (keebab stick) is turned, he row's LOL. Click on the link on my sidebar to pop over and join in the Challenge this week, and good luck. Elizabeth x

TIO #83 Numbers Game!

2011-06-15T06:00:00.021+01:00

This week over at the TIO Challenge Helen has asked us to dream in numbers. I decided this would be a good excuse to play with some new stamps from Crafty Individuals, it's a great stamp plate with a tall ship and navigational tables/charts, so perfect for this challenge as it's crammed full of numbers!!!
My base tag is inked with a mixture of bundled sage, pine needles and crushed olive distress inks. I then used the black soot ink pad to stamp the charts out, and added highlights with a white chalk pencil. The charms and the brass corner have been on my desk for ages, so can't remember where they were from (senior moment). And the ribbon is a piece of wired twin with small bows running along it, using it on everything at the moment LOL. Hope you pop over and join us in this weeks challenge, it was great to see so many of your fab entries last week. Just click on the logo on my sidebar for a direct link. Love Elizabeth x

TIO #82 Winged Things!

2011-06-08T06:00:00.013+01:00

Well this week it's back to me to start the dream over at the TIO Challenge. Firstly thank you all for the fantastic dreams you shared with us last week. I hope that my team mates and I can inspire you to dream along with us again with our theme this week,Winged Things!!!
My dream was inspired by a charm I bought of a Dragonfly from IndigoBlu, at Port Sunlight a few weeks ago. I used glossy accents then carefully added copper thunder gilding flakes to his wings, and also to attach gem's to his body. I think he will have to end up on a necklace though LOL.
My base tag was inked up with a mixture of dried marigold and scattered straw distress inks.
The stamps are a mixture of Artemio and Aspects of Design, stamped out with versamark and a mixture of cosmic shimmer mica powders dusted over, not played with those for a while, I'd forgotten how gorgeous they were! I finished off my tag by adding some sari ribbon, must have my sparkly head on this week. Hope you enjoy dreaming along with us this week, and pop over to my teamies blogs to see what they've been up to! Check out the link on my sidebar to join in.
Love Elizabeth xxx

Elements II Paddy's Stamping Place

2011-06-05T15:58:00.002+01:00

Thought it was about time that I shared my efforts from Paddy's Elements II back in April. Yep don't pass out Paddy, I've actually got it finished LOL!! We had a fantastic weekend with good weather, great people and some incredible crafting! After we'd all got over the shock of a white piece of cotton (yikes), we chose stamps, stencils, and fabric paints to create our wall hanging with. We started with a resist technique, coloured our fabric and then over stamped it - great fun! We chose a section of the fabric to be framed, and the rest was destined for the wall hanging. It was great to learn how to quilt, and it has re awakened my interest in sewing again, thank you Becca for being patient LOL. Made an altered frame to house our fabric, by embossing metal sheets through the cuttlebug, then adding paint and embossing powder for interest. We also made beads and the housing for the tassel from polymer clay mixed with silver leaf and mica powder. By now you can probably get a picture of the colour of my nails LOL. And saving the best till last, my new little addiction, needle felting with the fantastic Sylvia Wood, who's son I was at school with, small world hey?. I am now saving for the embellisher machine!!!!!!! The remaining beads (all with holes in LOL) are about to be made in to a bracelet, but I thought I'd better share everything else with you before Paddy comes over the border to slap my legs LOL. It was a great weekend, and one I would definitely recommend for learning great techniques and making new friends!

Here it is hanging in my porch!

A closer view of the tassel and the polymer beads we made, along with the cone.

The frame with embossed metal and my beautiful french knots LOL, if only you knew how long it took me to rememeber how to do them, thank goodness for Becca and Lynn!

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 155 Sunrise/Sunset

2011-06-02T10:00:00.021+01:00

Here's my DT card for Rainbow Lady's Challenge this week, Sunrise/Sunset sponsored this week by Joanna Sheen. The image is one I bought from Stamp Camp at Port Sunlight a couple of years ago. Stamped out in memento ink and simply coloured in with promarkers, then mounted on a gorgeous piece of Crafty Individuals paper! Simples!!! Click on Rainbow Lady's logo on the sidebar to pop over and join us, and have a chance to win gift vouchers for Joanna's shop!! Elizabeth x

TIO #81 Timepieces

2011-06-01T06:00:00.028+01:00

This week Frankie is leading the TIO Challenge, dreaming of Timepieces. I decided to Christen the new stamp plate I got when I re-newed my Craft Stamper subscription, at Port Sunlight. She is a curvey girl stood infront of a pocket watch, by Artistic Stamper. I'd seen the stamp before, so I was delighted when I realised it was the freebie at the show!! I inked my tag in a mixture of milled lavender, dusty concorde, bundled sage and black soot distress inks. I stamped the lady out in black soot, then made sure the tag was dry enough to add colour on to with promarkers, and a white chalk pencil (fab bit of kit!). I then over stamped some Tim Holtz clocks around the edge in dusty concorde and bundled sage, to create a border. To finish off I added glossy accents to the clock face, and distress stickles in victorian velvet, and crushed olive. Hope you like the tag and come over to join in the challenge at DragonsDream, just click the logo on the sidebar. Elizabeth x

Workbag!

2011-05-29T17:36:00.000+01:00

Had a great day out yesterday with the girls at one of our local craft shops, she does lot's of different courses there from basic sewing to fantastic altered art projects!!! We chose to do the workbag class as we all liked the look of the little drawsting bag with pockets on the outside, and so very practical for us crafters LOL. Jean made a gorgeous black and white gingham bag, with bright pink hearts appliqued on the pockets. Wanda went for sandy colours with chocolate brown hearts, very lovely, and me well, blue and green obviously! After several mishaps, ok, I sewed the base of the bag in at the top ups...........LOL, Jean very patiently un-picked it for me and gave me a quick lesson, she is such a wizz on a sewing machine! I don't think it turned out too bad, well I'm proud of my little self anyway . May have to have another go on a bigger version, jean's number is programmed in the phone ready LOL. Elizabeth xxx Nearly forgot we also made a scissor holder and pin cushion to match!

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 154 - Some Enchanted Evening

2011-05-26T14:00:00.034+01:00

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge we are being sponsored by Crafty Ann's Digi Stamps, and I have to say making a choice was not an easy one! Child in a candy shop springs to mind...... Decided (eventually) and chose the Peacock, which I coloured in using Inktense pencils, as their vibrant colours are great for the feathers. I created an inky background with a mix of tumbled glass, stormy sky and black soot distress inks, after having masked off a moon. I stamped out some of the Clarity tree's around the edge, then matted on to a dark blue piece of card. The words form the song have been going around my head all week, so they had to be on there, LOL So they were typed out, and printed off on to a paler blue piece of card, then everything else was added along side. Hope you enjoy the challenge and join in with us this week. Just click on Rainbow lady's Challenge logo on my sidebar for a direct link. Elizabeth xxx

TIO #80 Fishes

2011-05-25T06:00:00.049+01:00

This week it's Janet's turn to start the dream over at the DragonsDream TIO Challenge, with Fishes!! I bought the fish skeleton from IndigoBlu at Port Sunlight a couple of weeks ago, with this challenge in mind, but couldn't decide whether to use him or not. So snook him in the picture anyway!! I started with a cream base tag, and inked it up with a mixture of tumbled glass, stormy sky and brushed corduroy distress inks. For the seabed I spit a Mica tile and made layers of gilding flakes, ink and cosmic shimmer UTEE, then heated. I managed to add this to the tag with a blob of glue hidden behind the flakes. The chipboard letters are coloured in with a mixture of onyx satin, tuscan satin and bronze brocade Silkies. I also then used the same blend of Silkies to stamp out the Lavinia fish. Hope you enjoy the challenge this week, pop over to join us by clicking on the DragonsDream logo on my sidebar. Elizabeth xxx

Back to Port Sunlight and Paint Fusion!

2011-05-23T12:05:00.000+01:00

Had two great weekends up at Port Sunlight the first being the Happy Stampers show, which was great catching up with everyone, increasing my the stash, and as always it was packed out!! The second being Sheena's Paint Fusion Workshop, a fab day of real mucky pup crafting ! I won't give too much away but, we did three projects, learnt loads of tecniques, and ate loads of cake, hum very unusual for one of Sheena's workshops lol!!!!! Russ was on hand to look after the shop and brew up for us, good lad, whilst Sheena filled us full of loads of hints, tips and of course gossip - my lips are sealed!!! Just one piccie to share, then I don't spoil anyones surprise if they are going on the next workshop, so here it is, my blackberry mirror, and yep I can now paint leaves and blackberries in my sleep LOL Elizabeth xxx

Play Date Cafe Challenge 82

2011-05-20T19:56:00.000+01:00

After a very long and busy week, it's time to sit chill, and catch up with blogland (If it's still working LOL). How could I resist this weeks challenge at the Play Date Cafe with such gorgeous colours!! So with a pile a fab new stamps to mount after last weeks Happy Stampers Show at Port Sunlight, I made a start with the Crafty Individuals stamps. The Chickens are stamped out in Rich Cocoa Memento ink, and coloured using Promarkers. The backing paper is an old one of K&Co's, distressed around the edge with brushed corduroy, and the sentiment is from an Easter set LOL. Off to Port Sunlight again in the morning for Sheena's Paint Fusion class, should be fun, and very messy!! Have a great weekend Elizabeth x

Rainbow lady's Challenge 153 - With A Flourish!

2011-05-19T14:01:00.004+01:00

Sorry for being AWOL last week, think my mojo left me for a while, but am ok now, I think LOL. This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge we are sponsored by Steph, who yet again has provided some fantastic blog candy, up for grabs so thinking caps on gang!
The Wedding cards fly off the stall on a Friday morning, so have taken the opportunity to do a little re-stocking.
My flourishes are cut out from a cuttlebug die, with extra flowers and gems added, for some sparkle! The dress stamp is by Inkadinkadoo, I just think it is so elegant. It was coloured in using Promarkers, and then matted on to matching card , and the corners were cut out using one of Nellies dies.

TIO #79 All the write postage!!!!!

2011-05-18T06:00:00.025+01:00

This week it's Zoe's turn to start the dream "All the write postage" at DragonsDream TIO Challenge. I've inked up my background in a mixture of distress inks including, bundled sage, brushed corduroy, dried marigold, wild honey and black soot. All of the stamps I've used this week are from different sets by Tim Holtz. Couldn't resist adding the pen nibs, although they will be taken off and popped back in their box. They are from a collection that belonged to my Grandpa, he learned to write with them and so did I!! Check out the DragonsDream link on my sidebar and come on over to join the challenge!

TIO #78 Texture!

2011-05-11T06:00:00.028+01:00

This week over at Dragons Dream we are dreaming in "Texture" lead by the very creative Wanda. I decided that I needed a good dose of messy crafting this week after all of the pastel stuff I've been playing with over tha last few weeks, LOL. So my dream began with stencil paste through the mini harlequin Crafters Workshop template. I added some black glitter whilst the paste was still just wet enough to hold it, then once dry I inked around the tag with black soot distress ink. I love this Tango stamp by Blue Moon, it was stamped out in memento and then coloured in with a selection of promarkers, then inked around with black soot to distress the edges. To add yet more texture, I added a selection of beads around the bottom for a little extra drama. Hope you come over and dream with us this week, just click on the Dragons Dream logo on the sidebar for a link to the challenge. Elizabeth xxx

Rainbow lady's Challenge 151 - Lady in Red

2011-05-05T14:01:00.027+01:00

This week over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge we are sponsored by Joanna Sheene, who yet again has provided us with a wad of gift vouchers for one lucky person to win!!!!
This for me was a very quick card as it's made from one of the gorgeous Kanban toppers along with a co-ordinating sentiment, to which I've added a few red gemstones, some pre made red roses and a few die cut leaves, cut out from left over card. Quick and easy but very effective!! Well I think so anyway LOL. Follow the link on my sidebar to come and join in the challenge, and good luck! Elizabeth xxx

TIO #77 Colouring my World!!

2011-05-04T12:02:00.036+01:00

This week it's Helen's turn to start the ball rolling over at the Dragons Dream TIO, with the theme being the Colour my World. Helen has chosen the colour purple, with the choice of one accent colour, and as always at least one real stamp!!
I started off by inking my tag up with milled lavender,dusty concord and black soot around the edges. Then I used the black soot again to stamp out the TH sentiment, and also the Chapel Road Dragonflies. I then added some highlights with a white chalk pencil to the wings, then also a touch of glitter for some sparkle!! The tag was then finished off by adding black ribbon, and a flourish cut out on cricut. There is a direct link to the Tio Challenge by clicking on the DragonsDream logo on the sidebar, so please pop along and join in the dream! Elizabeth x

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww

2011-05-03T22:19:00.002+01:00

Ok I like to think I can deal with most things (except frogs) but ants in the kitchen on the worktop, nope.............. Yuck may have murdered a small army!!!!! Going to bed itching LOL xxx Hope Oscar's not brought any up with him, else he's in the dog house more than he is already, after helping himself to a full packet of Dentasticks!!!!!!! May be up earlier than usual! LOL, but still on the prom by 6-30am if anyone wants to join me for 4 1/2 miles?. xxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 150 Take a Town or Country Break

2011-04-28T14:09:00.002+01:00

It's a fat book page on offering from me this week for Rainbow Lady's challenge - Take a Town of Country Break, where this week we are sponsored by Sharon Duncan. The Paris stamp is one of Clarity's and stamped out using stormy sky distress ink, which was also added around the edge of the image. The Dragonfly, and parts of the Fobwatch and Postmarks were given a hint of colour with promarkers, then certain area's were picked out with a versamark pen, and embossed with Sheena's Neutral Ultra Shimmer for a little sparkle. Then the whole lot was matted on to a piece of 4" x 4" paper from one of Sharon's cd's with not an embossing folder in sight.
Off to read instructions for new camera now, got lot's to share with you be warned LOL Elizabeth xxx

TIO #76 Something with a Pocket!!!

2011-04-27T14:01:00.007+01:00

Cor talk about big reponsibility, this week I get to start the dream!!!! Well after all of this beautiful weather, and walking along the prom every day, it made me dream about being a little girl at the seaside.I always had pockets full of shells, seaglass, driftwood and anything else I could find! I was, and still am a real little beach comber, or kleptomaniac as my friends would say LOL!! My tag has been inked up in a mixture of tumbled glass and stormy sky distress inks. The seaside stamps are from Crafty Individuals and were again stamped out with stormy sky distress ink. I wasn't happy with the text, as it wasn't dark enough so I traced over with a fineliner pen. My little pocket is my new addiction, needle felting.............. love it! I used a blended Merino wool on an Merino Pre Felt, added a couple of bit's of Sari ribbon and some fish charms to finish. I hope my dream has inspired you, and can't wait to see what you dream up this week. Don't forget please use at least one real stamp. Love Elizabeth x

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 149 Sweet treats for Easter

2011-04-21T12:02:00.001+01:00

Ups another blurry eyed piccie, sorry all will be rectified by next week!!!! This week at Rainbow Lady's challenge we are being sponsored by Artistic Stamper who have very kindly put a £15 gift voucher up for grabs!
My card this week is a bit of fun. I like the idea of the little mice that visit my pantry on the odd occasion, baking a plate of cupcakes for me LOL.
I started out with a pre made card and added BP from a HOTP paper pad that I've had forever. Both of the stamps are from LOTV, and well how could I resist these! I've used promarkers to colour in the image, and then cut it out with a nestie, along with a matt of pink cardstock. I then added some faux stitching around the pink matt, to tie it in with the BP. The friendship recipe was cut out and a pale blue promarker run around the edge. Finally I decided to add a couple of pink roses, to finish the card off. Hope you like, and if you click on Rainbow Lady's logo on my sidebar it will give you a direct link on to her challenge site. Elizabeth x

TIO 75 Birds

2011-04-20T14:00:00.026+01:00

Well by now you will know that the lovely Frankie has her new design team, and I'm very proud to say that I am one of them.
By the time you are reading this post, I should be in Llandudno camera shopping, so next weeks piccie should be a bit better!!! If I can work the camera LOL.
This week Frankie asked us to dream about birds, all the stamps that I've used are from Sir Tim and stamped out using black soot distress ink. I did overstamp the flowers again using versamark, and embossed with Sheena's clear sparkle powder, but sadly it doesn't show up very well. The background was created with a mixture of bundled sage, spun sugar and dried marigold distress inks. Thanks for popping in to take a look and if you click on the Dragon on the sidebar, you will get a direct link to the Tag It On Challenge blog. Elizabeth x

TIO 74 a tag by any other shape!

2011-04-18T18:28:00.000+01:00

Here's my offering for Frankie's TIO challenge a tag by any other shape. Well you know me and seahorses, so I just couldn't resist making a seahorse shape non-tag LOL. Both the seahorse and the seaweed, are cut out from the "lifes a beach" cricut cartridge, and then very simply inked up with a selection of distress inks. The sentiment is from one of Crafty Individuals seaside stamp sets, which are also on my desk full time at the moment. Seem to have my pastel head on this week LOL. Elizabeth x

Play Date Cafe Challenge 77

2011-04-14T17:34:00.000+01:00

Sorry I've been awol folks, I promise to do better now year end has finished. Fab colour choice this week at the Play Date Cafe Challenge, I hope my offering fit's the bill. Am still in my cute, loved up mode at the moment (very unlike me, what happened?), I'm sure a good dose of Paddy Cosgriff this weekend will sort me out again, and return me to my natural inky self LOL! The bunny stamp is one of LOTV and coloured in with promarkers. It was then cut out with a nestie and matted on to a piece of brown card, again cut out with a nestie. Finally I added those on to a piece of corrugated card stock, and then to a ready made card from my stash. Hope you like Elizabeth x

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 148 In the Springtime

2011-04-14T16:18:00.000+01:00

This week we are being sponsored by Chi Chi Memories over at Rainbow lady's Challenge Blog. They gave all the design team a great selection of spring digi images to play with, took a while to decide which ones to use! In the end I decided on the signpost and a fluttering of butterflies, all coloured in using promarkers and simply mounted on to some of the new papermania spring floral papers, simples!!!

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 147 Lilac Wine

2011-04-07T14:16:00.000+01:00

Here's my DT offering for Rainbow lady's challenge this week "Lilac Wine". Again we have another fab sponsor Joanna Sheene, with some gift vouchers up for grabs. The stamped image is from Dimention Fourth and coloured in with promarkers. It was then mounted up on to lilac card and mirri board, and finished off with a few gems, ribbon and a sentiment tag. The card is a pre shaped one that I bought, only a little cheat LOL Elizabeth xxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 146 At the movies

2011-03-31T15:15:00.000+01:00

Fingers crossed and here goes!! This is my DT card for Rainbow Lady's challenge this week, which is "a night at the movies". We are sponsored by Time to Sow this week and have yet again some great blog candy up for grabs, so please pop over and check it out.
My card is based on The fabulas Baker boys!!!!!! Sorry Northern sense of humour creeping in again LOL.
The stamp is one of LOTV and coloured in with promarkers, I added a splash of glitter to the icing sugar to make it sparkle. The frame is cut out with a Marianne die, and the bp is a piece of left over wrapping paper, the doily has been made using a Marianne designable cut and emboss die, along with a Martha Stewart punch. Wish I could get our little mice baking LOL Elizabeth xxx

Magnolia Test Run

2011-03-29T16:33:00.000+01:00

Okay though I'd have a little test run after last weeks failed attempt LOL. After a fab weekend spent mooching around the NEC looking at gorgeous things, and all day Saturday on our stall at the honey fair in Conwy, I decided that I'd earn't a rest. (excuse to play with new toys!!!). The Magnolia stamp is one of the new "Butterfly" colletion which are sooo cute!! She has been stamped out in memento ink, and coloured in using promarkers, cut out with a nestie and mounted on to a 6x6 card with HOTP backing papers as the base.

The flower and swirl are from a Marianne die set and cut out from scraps. Great to catch up with so many of you at the NEC, looking forward to seeing you soon!!! Elizabeth xxx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 145 tie a yellow ribbon

2011-03-24T15:17:00.000Z

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Rainbow Lady's Challenge 144 St Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T13:10:00.000Z

Happy St Patricks Day!!!! This week we are sponsored by Crafty notions over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog, and we have some great goodies up for grabs!!!!!
I have no idea where the BP came from that I've used, but the checked paper is HOTP. The images are both digi's from Chi Chi Memories and coloured in with promarkers. I used a Sharpie fineliner pen to add the stitches. Elizabeth x

Play Date Cafe Challenge 72

2011-03-10T19:41:00.000Z

Have been having a play with one of my new templates from Crafters Workshop. The background was created by brayering a mixture of tuscan satin, pink lace and blue brocade silkies from Imagination Crafts. I chose two of the four birdcages from the template, and then used a versamark inkpad through it. I then embossed it with silver bells wow powder, and added some blue gems. The flourishes in the corner's are Tim Holtz and embossed in the same powder. I love the way that the three colours of the silkies have merged to create a rainbow. Hope you can see the sparkle, Elizabeth x

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 143 Best Friend

2011-03-10T14:01:00.000Z

This week we are being sponsored by Chi Chi Memories over at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog, they have some fab digi images so please join in.
I couldn't resist these elephant's with the little floating hearts, think this image will get used a lot!! I printed the elephant's out on to text and graphic paper and then cut it out with a die. Added the bunting (part of a Molly Blooms set free with Simply Homemade) and used promarkers to colour the whole lot in. The text and graphic paper holds the ink, and stops and it from bleeding outside of the lines. This was then matted on to a piece of Anna Griffin spotty cardstock before putting it onto a scallop edge card. The greeting is one of Craftwork Cards with the colour changed to match, again with a promarker.