midnight crafter

Acetate Tips Anyone?

2012-01-31T23:04:00.000Z

We've given paper the boot for the week over at The Craft Barn and there's a week full of ideas for using and stamping on Metal and Acetate!

I realised this morning that this post hadn't posted so had to pop back here to sort it out - what is happening to blogger at the moment?

I (should have) kicked off the week with some useful tips for stamping on acetate and a step by step on how to make this unusual card

Arn't those stamps (and yes the clouds are a stamp) amazing!

Have a gander at The Craft Barn Blog to see how I made the card and how you can get your hands on those lovely stamps. There's free P&P on all orders at The Craft Barn till Thursday so if you're tempted you can save yourself a pound (or three!)

See Ya's

x Michelle

Tuesday? Again?

2012-01-31T17:10:00.001Z

It is and I'm late posting again, was up to silly oclock fighting with blogger again last night so gave up and went to bed!

It's an 'Alter It' week at Try it on Tuesday, and, according to the challenge list on the DT website, we have to incorporate TEXTURE! Why did I start of inking a card then?????

Suddenly dawned on me at 11pm that I should be altering derrrrr

This week we're sponsored by

with a whopping £15 prize!

Anyway did make a start on altering a kids canvas that Liam was given many moons ago

Lovely isn't it?

Here's what it became at 1.00 this morning!

Better do you think?

A lick of paint, a printed sentiment, and some texture paste later and it was ready to add the tanda bird etc.

Try it on Tuesday have a DT Call running too so hop over and have a look at what,s happening over there. Be lovely to see you! Wish we could get together for a cuppa instead of being virtual! Wouldn't that be good?

Bye for Now

x Michelle

Just Checking to see if I have got a Temperature!

2012-01-29T14:12:00.000Z

Are you impressed???? Janet and I are a month in advance with the samples for our workshops at Samuel Taylor's, Embsay so we thought we's give you a little preview of what we will be making at the

workshop on March 3rd.

We are following on from the brushing ink and stamping techniques that we are teaching in the February session using the same techniques in a different way.....

I love this technique, it's so simple but really effective, cant wait to see everyone at the March workshop tickled pink when they go home with the cards and exploding box they will make in class!

Unfortunately the February workshop is full so if you want to book for march, you'd best hurry over to Samuel Taylors to book

There's more info about the day here

Hope to see you there

x Michelle & Janet

Going Greyscale!

2012-01-26T22:59:00.003Z

Just a quick post today to show you what we'll be making at our next Stamping club

On Friday 26th January

We are going monochrome and although that doesn't necessarily mean black and white, those are the colours we are gong to be using.

First to make this card using the gorgeous house mouse stamps (an easy introduction to greyscale colouring)

Then to follow, an easel card with yet another Magnolia !

Hope you can come and join us

Click here for more info

x Michelle

Have you seen the Cover a Card Stamps?

2012-01-25T09:00:00.001Z

The Craft Barn have some fabulous stamps which I have not seen anywhere else, huge stamps designed to cover a 6 x 6 card in one go. This week they are being featured on The Craft Barn Blog.

Here's one of my samples

The how to is over on The Craft Barn Blog along with a few other samples showing different ways of using the stamps. I absolutely LOVE them!

Back to the grindstone - working on some fab projects at the mo!

x Michelle

Introducing a new Crafter

2012-01-22T22:48:00.000Z

Hi y'all

My son Liam has asked me to teach him how to make cards so he could raise money for other people with Down's Syndrome. I spent a day with him and his support worker showing them the ropes here is his first card.

He has posted others on his and his wife's new blog The Crafty Couple. He'd be thrilled if you would pop over and say hi.

x Michelle

Oh I'm 'cited!!

2012-01-20T09:00:00.001Z

It's my turn to show and tell at The Craft Barn today and I'm really cited because today Isabelle has posted one of my favorite projects this year, one I really enjoyed making. I had the idea many moons ago (probably from a book I have on making hand made books) and have been waiting for the right stamps to come along. Lo and behold..........they have

I know, there's hardly a stamp on the cover but wait till you see the stamps I've used inside, they're stunners..........but...........to see them you'll have to pop over to The Craft Barn Blog to have a look. There's a tutorial on how to make this little............oops nearly gave the game away!

I hope you do go have a peek at the inside, I'd love to know what you think

x Michelle

Try it on Tuesday, Posted on Tuesday - Just! And a DT Call

2012-01-17T21:07:00.000Z

I'm a tad late with my post today, had to dash down to my son's house to save the day, he's been locked out of his house so I set off this morning with my power tools and merrily started drilling out the lock so I could fit a new one. I hadn't been drilling more than a few minutes when a helpful man popped over and wouldn't go away till he had drill in hand and had drilled through the keyhole (the wrong place to drill) and broken three drill bits in the process, which then took me over an hour to pick out of the lock.

When I eventually did get rid of him I had to get in through a window so I could drill the lock on the inside (in the right place) pop the door off it's hinges and get the door open, so a job which should have taken an hour took nearly all day!

Is that a good enough excuse for being late, I wonder?

Anyway here is my offering for this weeks challenge at Try it on Tuesday

So do you believe in Fairies?

Here's a close up showing a little more detail! The ornate fence is a new stamp from Kanban which if I'd have looked at it properly I wouldn't have bought as there is only half the gate in the set! What's that all about? Half a gate is really no good to anyone and this is the only way to use the stamp without the other half! The horse and carriage is a Dimension Fourth stamp that I bought years ago and have only just inked up. Bit disappointed with that too as the carriage is lovely but let down by a less than realistic horse! I do love the tapestry stamps though which I've used for the flowers growing up the fence and of course the Lavinia fairies - well what can you say? Love Lavinia every time I use a stamp!

We've another bit of news today too, Try it on Tuesday are having a DT Call and are looking for crafters to join the team so we'd be grateful if you could broadcast the call for us on your blog and if your interested in this or indeed the challenge, hop on to TioT blog for more.

Hope your week's started well

x Michelle

Lovin' Ink Stamping Club - a wee peek!

2012-01-15T20:56:00.001Z

I have G U I L T stamped in Stazon right across my forehead!

And this is why

Have a look at The Lovin' Ink Blog and all will become clear!

x Michelle

Roses are Red

2012-01-15T04:07:00.001Z

Well they are on this card I made for The Stampman Challenge. The theme for this week is to use red so I did red roses over the fabulous stamp from an old Stampman plate called love letters.

The team have come up with some fab samples again so do go over and say hi!

Have a good weekend
x Michelle

Using A Colour Wheel - What??????

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000Z

When Izzy suggested this as one of the themes at The Craft Barn, I instantly felt downhearted! Bet you recognise this story........

Picture the scene, art class in secondary school, thin sheets of paper and poster paints, the smell of clay, foisty water and damp paper towel, and the report at the end of the year - Michelle tries very hard to produce what is asked of her! Translation - She cannot do art to save her life!

That was the last time I even looked at a colour chart! Do you get the association?

So downheartedly, knowing I was crap at art I set to with my friendly plastic to prove the art master wrong!

Here's a wee peek at what I gone and dun

Want to know how that relates to the colour wheel? To do that and to have a look at a couple of other bits I made have a look at todays post on The Craft Barn Blog. The DT have had a blast all week showing samples they've made using sound artistic principles!

Bye for now

x Michelle

It's Tio Tuesday!!!!!!!

2012-01-10T14:36:00.000Z

It's Tag week at Try it on Tuesday, and today we offer a great deal of resistance, but mine is only in the way of embossing powder as you can see

A really easy resist technique just stamp, clear emboss then ink! How simple is that?

And just in case you were wondering, here's the rest of it

The little carrier is decorated with basic grey papers and a kadoodle image and contains a wee pressie for a special someone. It's a bit wacky I know but it's for a n even wackier person........

Have a fun week everyone be lovely to visit your blog if you fancy playing along with us at TioT this week

x Michelle

And the News today is read by ..........

2012-01-06T23:18:00.002Z

My awesome Crafting Buddy, Janet (as I have just pinched it off her blog!!!!!)

Michelle and I formed Lovin' Ink almost 2 years ago. Our overall aim was to get out "there" encouraging folks to experiment and play with their crafting tools and products and get the most out of them.

Our plan for the first year was to get our retreats working well. We love coming together with folks who love to craft and spending a whole weekend at play is what we love to do so we wanted to share and make new friends. The retreats have been really successful - the do it yourself ones as well as the workshop based ones. Our workshop based retreats are full of experimentation with a theme which we have loved putting together.

The March retreat is now full and provisional bookings are being made for the September retreat.

So phase one - box ticked.

Next was to run a few workshops and a regular stamping club to encourage folks to experiment and play with their stamps. Both Michelle and I have a passion for stamps of all kinds and both have our favourite and very different tastes in brands and what we like to do with them.

We even have different tastes in inks we like to stamp with mostly because our early crafting experiences have been so vastly different but it still does not stop us sharing what we love most and that's crafting in all its forms.

In 2010 we were approached by the local day services to provide a card making class for adults with learning disabilities. Despite many hurdles we managed to do this and have so enjoyed seeing those adults gain pleasure and confidence from their achievements. Our dream for this group was for it to be in the community alongside other crafters and in July 2011 this also became a reality. Now our adults travel to our stamping club and join in the projects alongside our regular stampers. Their delight and pride in their achievements is wonderful to see and our ladies who come along to this group so enjoy seeing and being part of their crafting journey.

So fortnightly stamping and the day services group have joined together and are now a regular group of 14 people crafting once a fortnight.

Another box ticked.

Michelle and I have been so proud to pull these things together and have a planned next stage for 2012 which is :-

Once a month workshops at Samuel Taylors at Embsay Mills

and also at The Craft range at Hapton, Burnley .

Both these shops have very much played a part in our love of craft and to be asked to join their team of tutors is a great honour.

All the classes will be based around a love of stamping, moving from one stage to the next for both the new and experienced crafter. The classes at each venue will be different although similar as they are based around each shops stock which is very very different in style.

Each session will build on skills, encouraging experimentation and even mistakes so participants can learn to work around those happy accidents and enjoy the whole experience as well as make gorgeous cards and a small gift. The classes will be progressive aimed at building confidence in your knowledge of products but can also be a stand alone experience.

To aid learning and provide recap when you are at home you will be given a technique book to bring along to each session - you will build your own reference tool, with this book, for use in the class and out of it - a great way to record what you like and have enjoyed and make step by step instructions for it.

Our first session at each shop will be a craft clinic

Bring along things you are unsure how to use, bought but cant remember why or just come along and ask us questions. You will see us playing all day!

The session at Samuel Taylors in Embsay is Saturday 7th January 10-4

The session at Craft Range, Hapton, Burnley is January 21st 10-4

Samples for the first workshops will be at each of these venues on the day to view.

All bookings will be taken through each individual shop and a list of workshops will be available there too as well as our Lovin Ink blog.

So you can see why I have been very excited and also why I have not been around very much - lots of plans to arrange and samples been made.

Hope you can join us for inky fun!

Janet x

All My Own Work!

2012-01-03T09:00:00.001Z

Hi there, it's Tuesday again and time for the first of this years challenges at Try it on Tuesday and in celebration od a year of artistic development we thought we'd ask you to use some of those amazing skills you've developed over the year and create a card without using any designer paper, images or stickers and have a go at something which is All Your Own Work

Here's my ideas

These cards look so classy but are wonderfully simple to make and designed specially for the first of
Lovin Ink's new venture this year.

Janet and I have been asked to host a series of workshops at two of the Largest craft retailers 'up north' where we will be introducing classes for both beginners and practiced crafters, starting with some very simple skills and building a range of techniques to enable participants to make some wonderful cards and gifts.

Pop over to Lovin Ink and have a look at what we are doing and where!

In the meantime why dont you have a go at the challenge at Try it on Tuesday and be in for a chance of winning this great prize

Bye for now

x Michelle

The Craft Barn - Ink yourself Silly

2012-01-02T21:35:00.000Z

A great start to the New Year today with a new weeks inspiration at The Craft Barn.

We've started with an easy project to encourage beginners into the realms of card making and it just so happens that my project is the first up.

Here's my very easy project and a great card for the new year

and here's one I made with the leftovers!

There's a step by step over at The Craft Barn Blog and throughout the week there'll be loads more inky ideas so do pop over and say hi

x Michelle

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T12:00:00.001Z

A new month in a new year and it's time for The Stampman's ATC Swap which has the theme recycled. This is the first crafting I've done since Christmas and I thoroughly enjoyed having a play.

I was given this stamp many moons ago and was thrilled to see it in the specials at The Stampman, it gave me the perfect excuse to use it. I actually stamped the image when I got the stamp and it's been waiting in my stamped images drawer for me to use as I made a hash of stamping it on the edges, so that as well as the wooden shape and the string is my recycling done for the day.

Janets got a few more samples over at The Stampman ATC Swap Blog so do pop over and have a gander, and if you fancy doing the swap the instructions are there too.

So all that's left is for me to wish you all you would wish for yourself in 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

x Michelle

The Stampman Challenge

2011-12-30T12:00:00.000Z

Jill and Ian have been asking the DT to sort out their favorite design for the best of 2011 challenge. I always struggle with this sort of challenge as I am never totally happy with anything I make, the mistakes always glare at me!

Instead of looking for my best of I decided to look for one I enjoyed making and this card was certainly amongst the most enjoyable.

the idea for it was born in the summer when I was out in the garden late one night with the bats and the moths fluttering around me. It was a bright night with a lovely moon and so very peaceful. I'm looking forward to more of those sort of nights next year.

Why don't you look out your fave piece of the year and post it on The Stampman Challenge Blog. be great to see you there

x Michelle

Trimmed up at Last!!

2011-12-21T23:03:00.000Z

Well I've finally got some decorating done so I thought I'd show you my living room....

Here's the tree. As you can see I don't like fussy trimmings and we havn't got all the pressies under there yet!

Here's the fireplace all ready to light with our stockings hung - all so very hopeful!

Here's the view out of the window, I'm hoping that Santa lands on our roof!

And now a quick pic of the whole room........... well not quite!

How many stamps, Embossing folders, die cuts can you spot? I started making this last year but became disheartened when it was turned down for publication in Craft Stamper but I've gotten over my fragile ego and really enjoyed finishing it off particularly as it is a present for a special someone...........

Merry Christmas everyone - now I'm off to put the real trimmings up!

x Michelle

It's Christmas!!!

2011-12-21T00:57:00.001Z

Oh the joy of being totally silly! And here's the result. After much laughter, puzzled frowns, overworked grey matter (no not acrylic paint) and even more laughter.......

HERE IT IS!

THE CHRISTMAS NUMBER 1!

A scheme thought up in the middle of the night on one of our Craft Retreats and now

brought to you by Lovin Ink!!

Merry Christmas

x Michelle

Anything goes at Try it on Tuesday

2011-12-20T03:20:00.001Z

The last Tuesday before Christmas and an easy challenge for you at Try it on Tuesday cos you'll no doubt be busy with last minute jobs!

One of my last
Minute jobs was to finish a couple of pressies off. I had a go at altering a tin a couple of weeks ago and wasn't at all happy with it so here's version 2

Much happier with these. I know 2 great guys who will just love getting reindeer poop for Christmas

Hope you find time to join us
X Michelle

Tagtastic!

2011-12-13T17:30:00.000Z

I've spent a few happy hours this week making Christmas tags to go with the brown paper wrapping I've stamped to wrap my pressies in this year and as Try it on Tuesday are having a tag week this week I guess the timing's just right!

Very simple but then they have to be cos I've quite a few to make. Just a manilla tag stamped with an Inkadinkado snowflake flourish, a paper rose sprayed with starburst stains and holly leaves cut on the robot crop!

Really easy!

Hope you've time to play along this week, you just gotta have a few tags you've made knocking around!

Hope you're having a good week

x Michelle

Art Journaling with those Amazing Artists at The Craft Barn

2011-12-09T09:00:00.001Z

Oops I'm late again and that's a shame cos it's a brilliant week at The Craft Barn this week. We've allgot the journaling bug (mostly because Isabelle said we had to) but some of the newbie journalers amongst the DT have come up with some truly inspirational pages.

As usual there is a new page and a tutorial every day and I should have kicked off the week with my page. Here it is a little late but better late than never.

I just am blown away with the Impression Obsession stamps and the new La Blanch stamps I've used to do this page and if you want a step by step of this and the other wonderful works of the DT do go and have a look at The Craft Barn Blog

See you there!

x Michelle

The Big Guy's at TioT

2011-12-06T15:10:00.000Z

Happy St Nicholas' Day!

And appropriately enough that's the theme for this weeks challenge at Try it on Tuesday. I really struggled with this one and you'll be shocked when you realise why........ I have only two stamps with Father Christmas on!!

I couldn't believe it! Most of my stamps have a religious theme or are quite classical so I had to pick one of the two stamps I had and that is not good!! Gonna have to look for more in the sale after Christmas I think. I bet I'm the only crafter in the world who fails at crafting Santa's!!!!!

Anyway, here's my card

I must say I do like this stamp and always seem to do Santa in full colour and the rest in greyscale, really makes him pop!

We are sponsored this week by our fabulous sponsors

And I'm certain YOU will have one or two cards knocking about that fit the bill so do join us

Have a good St. Nicholas' Day

x Michelle

Baked Beans - Good for your Heart........

2011-11-29T09:00:00.001Z

Or maybe not!!!

Try it on Tuesday have a new challenge this week which was supposed to be to alter a bean tin

I made this

Ok Ok I know it's not a bean tin but it is a tin!

Anyway those lovely people over at TioT have let me 'adapt' the challenge to just tin

Phew - skin of my teeth there!!

Still you wouldn't believe how good Baked Bean Cans can look!

Don't believe me?

have a look at the Try it on Tuesday Challenge

if you need a little incentive how about a £15 gift voucher from our fabulous sponsors

Off to look for baked bean tins now!

x Michelle

Gifts Galore at The Craft Barn

2011-11-28T23:42:00.000Z

A little late posting this today but I've a good excuse - been away at our annual Christmas Craft Retreat for a weekend packed with crafting.

Having just finished the Calender Challenge, those Wise Owls at The Craft Barn have set us the challenge of making gifts this week. I decided to make a pressie for my little nephews and nieces and what better gift for a cold winters day than a warm (ish) cup of snowman soup.

There are loads of different versions of this on the net but if you want a step by step for this one go look on The Craft Barn Blog. There's a whole host of wonderful gift ideas there for the whole of this week so it's worth a visit.

See you there!

x Michelle

Week 12 of The Calender Challenge

2011-11-25T09:00:00.001Z

Wow! That's come round all too quickly!!! 12 weeks of making a calender page each week and now we are on the last week!

This weeks challenge at The Craft Barn is to make a calender page using sparkly bits but as you know I havn't been in from the start on this one so I've been making a To do Today box which I'm going to use to remind me of the challenges I've to design for each week.

Here's the sparkly index page I made for my box, and I love this technique so much I thought I'd make two!

Love the sparkly embossing powder with my favourite technique. Want to to know what that is?

Check out The Craft Barn Blog for a tutorial!

So here's a recap on all the index cards

Tim Holtzesque!

Andy Skinnerish!

et a la Katzelkraft!

And here they are all tucked in their box waiting for me to work out what I need to do for next week!

I've really enjoyed making the bits for this challenge, it's great to be able to get your teeth into something meaty! Hope you'll pop over to The Craft Barn and let me know what you think!

Right That's it! I'm packed and ready to drive off into the sunset to our Christmas Craft Retreat in Claxby where I'll spend the weekend in my pyjamas, making Christmas Pressies, finishing off with Christmas dinner with the most wonderful friends in the world!

Oooo I nearly forgot

Dont forget to check this out too

and this

See you when I get back

x Michelle

Try it on Tuesday - Honey I shrank the Plastic!

2011-11-22T14:31:00.000Z

Todays challenge at Try it on Tuesday is to use Shrink Plastic, so that's just what I did Cut, Shrank and decorated some Black Shrink Plastic.......

First Cut the plastic with a Die

Then Stamp a background pattern with Gold Stazon and punch a hole.

And Shrink, making sure you flatten with an acrylic block whilst still warm!

Rub the edges of the piece with black Rub n Buff. Shrink the bigger shapes and use these and some gems to decorate. Stick them together with Glossy Accents. Add some ear wires and Voila!

I made a pendant with the leftover bits!

Simples!

There's even more amazing inspiration over at TioT so hop over there and have a peek! You'll be well impressed!

I'm well into this tutorial lark! and the ladies at the last Lovin' Ink Class wanted a tutorial for making the Tea Cup Candles so I did one for the Lovin' Ink Blog. Have a look here, you'll be stunned at the simplicity of making your own candles!

Tara

x Michelle

The Stampman Challenge, Tim's Tags

2011-11-18T12:00:00.001Z

The Stampman's challenge us this week to use one of Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas to inspire our work so, after a good look through all 48 of them, was taken with the technique of using Alcohol Inks to make a plaid background. You cant see much of it now that I've completed the card but have enjoyed making it.

It's nothing like the tag or indeed like any of Tim's work, but I like that it is different!

To make it I used

Alcohol Inks

Tim Holtz Stamps - CMS096 - Mini Holidays 2

Tim Holtz Stamps - CMS052 Reindeer Flight

Stampendous Detail Silver Embossing Powder (DP101)

Versafine - Onyx Black

I also thought I would show you what we are doing at Stamping Club in Skipton tomorrow.

Janet and I have been making tea cup candles for Christmas presents and this is on I have just finished. The tea cups are odd ones from various charity shops. They make a lovely candle don't you think?

Got to go and make a box for it now ready for the workshop.

Byeee!

x Michelle

Andy Skinner's at The Craft Barn

2011-11-17T09:00:00.000Z

Well not literally, it's Andy Skinner week though, and throughout the week there have been different calender pages demo'd using his marvelous stamps.

I've made another index card for the To Do Today Box with a step by step to go with it but I bet you can guess by now how it's done.....

So pop over to The Craft Barn anyway and go have a look at the wonderful ways of using these wonderful Stamps!

x Michelle

Wish you were Here - at TioT!

2011-11-15T09:00:00.001Z

A great theme at Try it on Tuesday this week though I wonder whether it's appropriate for this time of year but as I've been paddling in the sea in the dark in South Shields tonight - maybe it is!

I really didn't feel like making a card or anything, having just driven back from my son's graduation after completing his drug and alcohol rehab. I have been in a room full of people who might be considered the lowest in society and have been moved by the love and support they have shown for Richard.

I've always known that the most sensitive and caring of people develop addictive behaviors of many sorts (including crafting) as a way of coping with a sometimes painful existence, but tonight I have been moved to tears not only because I have my boy back, but because the people I have been with tonight have been thrown into a life which very few of us would wish to survive and they are still there, fighting to improve themselves and helping each other along the way. It's so very humbling!

So this is my version of Wish You Were Here, Hope I've not been too heavy, I certainly don't feel it. Besides which, paddling in the sea, in the dark is such an uplifting experience! lol!

Much Love

x Michelle

The next part of my To Do Box at The Craft Barn

2011-11-10T19:47:00.001Z

Part 2 of the instructions for making the To Do Today box have been posted today on The Craft Barn Blog with the step by step showing how to make the index cards to go in the box. A fantastic theme too this week with everything being made using Tim Holtz Products.

I just LOVE this elephant !

So, if you want to know how to make this chipboard Index card

and the box to put it in

Do go and have a peep at The Craft Barn Blog

Love to all

x Michelle

TioT Tag Week - Dare I say it? Peeloffs!

2011-11-08T22:46:00.000Z

Yep you read right, The challenge this week at Try it on Tuesday is to use PEELOFFS to make a tag.

We thought there just had to be a cool way to use up all those sticky backed bits we bought way back when, to make something interesting.

Hope I managed it!

I used the flower peeloff as a stencil and brushed TH Distress ink black soot and Spiced Marmalade over it to create the background.

I coloured the butterfly peeloff with black Promarker before sticking it to some print paper and cutting it out.

A touch of Spiced Marmalade on the wings finished it off ready to mount on the tag.

A bit of shrivelled ribbon and wire finished the tag off and I enjoyed making it so much I thought I'd make a card to go with it

Do have a look at the TioT challenge, there are some wonderful examples of Peeloff Art!

Have a good week!

x Michelle

The Stampman Challenge.

2011-11-04T12:00:00.002Z

I really am back to it now with three challenges in a week, but just lovin playing again, especially with this card.

The challenge at The StampMan this week is to use collage or a collage background on your card and as I've got plenty of scrap paper to use, it is a perfect challenge for me!

This was so easy too!

All I did was collect together scraps of paper which complimented each other and stamped the poinsettia image from The Stampman's 15 - Winter Wonderland stamp set onto some of the plain paper. and collaged it all together to fit the card blank. I cut some of the poinsettias out to layer onto the image, inked up the torn edges, added a bit of glitter and with a wave of a glue stick it was ready

I know it could or maybe should have been more involved to qualify as collage but I think it'll do

Hope you fancy having a go, and look out for the 20% off everything offer to celebrate the launch of the new website

x Michelle

Back at The Craft Barn!

2011-11-03T23:22:00.000Z

Yippee, I'm really back now, it's my turn to show you what we are doing over at The Craft Barn this week. Whilst I've been 'resting', for the last few weeks, the DT have been buzzing away making the most amazing calenders. It's too late for me to catch up on the 12 pages now but I did make a little challenge calender box for me to pop in what I need to make for the DT work and challenges I want to do.

Bet you didn't know you could make chipboard die cuts with spellbinders!

The step by step on how to make the chipboard die cuts, and my weekly Challenge reminder are on

The Craft Barn Blog today so do have a look and let me know what you think!

Hope you're having a great week

x Michelle

Unusual things at TioT!!!!!

2011-11-01T09:00:00.000Z

These Tuesdays roll round with alarming speed, no sooner have I finished one DT effort then it's time for another but I've enjoyed this one. We had to make a card with an unusual shape - so I made a rectangular one !

With a difference!

It's a tri fold card with each page larger than the one before

And a stnd at the back of the card to support it.

At the Lovin' Ink Stampin Club we've started making pressies for Christmas and last week we made some gorgeous smelling rose petal soaps in a little glass and cards to go with them, I had stamped images and masterboard paper left from the project so used them to make this card.

All made using a retired two step stamp set from Stampin up which I've used so many times

Love it!

Mmmmmmm they smell beautiful!

Hope you fancy having a go this week as there is a fab prize from

So don't be shy, try a new shape and join us!

x Michelle

Crafty Calenders at The Craft Barn

2011-10-31T17:30:00.000Z

I don't know if you've noticed but I've been having a rest from DT for a while and gradually been getting back into the swing of it. Whilst I've been 'resting' lol The Craft Barn have been running an amazing 12 week calender challenge, where every week the DT have designed a calender page based around a particular theme. If you havn't seen it do go and have a look, there have been some fantastic ideas there.

This week is week 9 and the theme for the week is Die Cutting and Isa has made a little something with a video which tells you how to make it. Here's a little peep......

Doesn't it look lush? Every day there will be a different calender with step by steps here and there to show you how they are made so hop over now and be sure not to miss the inspiration!

x Michelle

Fabric Fun at Try it on Tuesday!

2011-10-25T09:00:00.001+01:00

Hello again, It's Tuesday again and I'm back with a little Angel I made for Try it on Tuesday this week. It's an Alter It challenge with the theme of the challenge being FABRIC

I started off with this and gave it a quick lick of white paint..................

Then added my fabric, a gathered ribbon..................

Stamped a Butterfly with white stazon on acetate and coloured the back of it with an adhesive pen.......

Sprinkled the wings with glitter................

Stuck the wings and a halo on with silicone adhesive.............

Decorated with some bling.........

and Bobby's your Angel!

I so enjoyed this frivolous little play, something that has no practical use whatsoever but it does make me smile!

Such a small pleasure but that's what life's about - and crafting too!

Hope you fancy having a go at the Challenge

It's sponsored as always by our Fabulous Sponsors

So do hop over to Try it on Tuesday to see what you might win!

x Michelle

Eventide Falls at The Stampman

2011-10-21T12:00:00.001+01:00

Hi Again

Wow I'm on a roll now, catching up on all the Dt work I've been missing and getting the creative juices flowing well (touch wood) loved making this one for The Stampman Challenge this week

I used

03 - Botanical

Cluster of 3 Dragonflies (Unmounted)

Oriental Love Letters - Plate 40 - Non-Sequitur

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Chipped Sapphire

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Faded Jeans

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Black Soot

Versamark Watermark Pad

Versafine - Onyx Black

Silver & Kaleidoscope embossing powders

It was great to play with embossing powders again, crafting has been so focused on inking, I havn't used them for quite a while.

I started off embossing the moon in silver (then masking) and the moths in kaleidoscope powder, inking with the TH Distress inks. A few quick dragonfly stamps and stars in versafine, with a little stickles had the background finished, then a couple more moths stamped with stazon on acetate and the jobs a good un!

Quite a quick card really - for me!!

Hope you have a great weekend and find time to come over to The Stampman to have a play with us!

x Michelle

Flying High!

2011-10-18T09:00:00.001+01:00

It's Try it on Tuesday day again, no sooner have I got one challenge sorted, the next one comes round, this on with the anything goes theme of

Taking to the Skies

I've been away in South Shields this weekend, visiting my oldest son and spent the weekend on the beach in the sunshine. It was wonderful to watch the cormorants, shags and seagulls swooping over the sea, so peaceful in fact, that I snook back to the sea after dinner and spent a most wonderful hour alone just sitting on the sand watching the waves and the setting sun.

Oh how soothing for the soul!

When I got back to the caravan I finished off an ATC which I started quite a a while ago but wanted to capture the mood of the evening with it

What do you think? Has it worked?

The sea is the result of my first foray into using napkins to provide some of the artwork and is actually an upside down image of snow, and the birds are a combination of crafty individuals and TH stamps with the bottom three decoupaged to give a little depth.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out and it will always be a reminder of a special weekend spent with my firstborn after years of having to keep him at a distance because of his addiction. I may not have many more of these moments with him as he is now extremely ill with life threatening complications from Crohn's disease, but this is one weekend I will treasure.

I hope you all find a way to feel the peace I have enjoyed this weekend, watching the sea birds Take to the Skies.

Gentle Wishes

x Michelle

Come out to play with Molly!

2011-10-12T09:00:00.001+01:00

I guess strictly speaking that should be come out to play with Clare as it's Clare's stamps from Molly bloom I've been playing with.

And it has been such fun! Janet and I have been playing with these giant baubles ready for a Lovin' Ink Workshop on Sunday 13th November. The workshop is only £20 and includes lunch so if you fancy playing too there are more details on the workshop page on the top bar.

We've got a mini workshop too, in The Lovin' Ink Stamping Club on Friday 21st Oct, making pressies ready for Christmas

Do come and join us!

x Michelle

Peace and Tranquility abounds with Try it on Tuesday - Not!

2011-10-11T09:00:00.001+01:00

No, the DT have been cursing me this week as I was the one who chose the theme. And for a purpose too! My house has been invaded this week by the plumber, the tiler and the electrician as they batter my worn out bathroom into a lovely new wet room..........so I really need some peace and tranqility,

and here's where I find it

Living in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, I need only to step out of the door to experience the joy that the countryside offers, each breath of cool fresh air as I walk by the river Wharfe calms and soothes my soul so very much, even when it's like this, as it has been today. There's a strength and energy which is so invigorating!

See what I mean?

I've made the tag using Scene it Stamps from Hobby Art as they remind me so much of the area I live in.

Have a look over on the TioT blog to see what the rest of the team find peaceful!

Wishing you a week full of peace and tranquility!

Much Love

Michelle

Got my finger out at last!

2011-10-07T12:00:00.001+01:00

And sorted out a design for The Stampman Challenge which this time is based on CIRCLES as the theme.

I was hopping around in blogland recently and came across the Hero Arts Blog Challenge which also involves circles, and as The Stampman has a fabulous range of Hero Art Stamps, that was the decision made! I could create a design from the Hero Arts sketch, enter it into their challenge AND advertise The Stampmans stock too.

Arn't I a smarty pants?????

It's a very simple card with circles cut using the woodware punches with a small flower from the Hero Arts Blossom Art Set. The flowers were stamped onto patterned paper with versafine and embossed with clear embossing powder then inked with Adirondak inks to bring out the design. This is a great way to use the negative flower stamps from the range, particularly some of the flower scene stamps.

I got so carried away with the stamp set that before I knew it I had made another card by creating a masterboard and stamping a large flower from the set

'Twas fun getting stuck in again and being absorbed for so long (this was finished at about 3am) Note to self - I don't HAVE to use all the scraps straight away. That makes for a very long night!

Why don't you head over to The Stampman Shop and have a gander at the smashin stamps they have on offer there, you could enter both challenges, and there are great prizes to be had too.

Don't stay up too late though - not good for the concentration!

x Michelle

Can't wait for Lovin' Ink Stamp Club tomorrow

2011-10-06T13:41:00.000+01:00

Cos this is what we're doing

We will be using the absolutely beautiful photo stamps from The Stampsmith. Janet and I fell in love with these stamps over a year ago and have been waiting for an opportunity to use them and this week's class is just the occasion! Double click on the photos to see the stunning detail of the stamps. I'm sooooo excited, our ladies are going to be blown away!

If you fancy having a go get the club details from the top bar and give us a bell. The more the merrier!

See ya

x Michelle

Sooo Slow, I'm snail like!

2011-10-03T22:08:00.005+01:00

Remember a few weeks ago Try it on Tuesday had the challenge Wonderful World? I didnt get round to finishing my sample for the challenge cos I bit off more than I could chew! The project just kept growing and growing and I just ran out of time!

See what I mean?

I started off thinking about a card and it suddenly became a diorama! The Background is made from a combination of Chocolate Baroques Nature Table and Autumn Hedgerow and the wee wren is of course one of Jayne Netley Mayhew's birds. That wonderful sentiment stamp is from Rambling 2 set from The Stamp Man - love it!
All coloured wth pro markers the berries and the conkers were given a coating of glossy accents to make them stand out.

I loved every minute of creating this, it got the creative juices flowing from the myre I've been in! - now who shall i show it to??
I think I'll show Hels on her challenge blog this week as her theme is Mojoless and I've certainly been that!

I spent so much time on this I just had to enter it into more challenges so found this fab challenge at Crafty Catz who wanted to see Things with Wings

This week the team at Try it on Tuesday want us to go

Minimal

so here's this week's sample - early for a change!

and this weeks challenge is sponsored by

One Stop Cards and Crafts

Hope you like

I havn't entered a challenge in so many months so thought I'd enter this into the Truly Scrumptious Challenge too!

x Michelle

The Stampman in the Orient!

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

It's time for the ATC Swap again at The Stampman. I havn't been a very good DT member lately as I've taken some time out to sort out my family. Almost done that for the time being so I thought I'd break myself in gently with The Stampman Swap which this month has the theme - Oriental

I love Oriental images so made quite a few

This one is quite simple stamped with versafine Onyx Black ink, onto red card and then the highlights were painted with bleach in a waterbrush.

A great technique isn't it?

This is stamped with stamps from the Habico Chinese Flowers & Symbols set which ave been masked then the background coloured with adirondak inks using a shaving brush.

Habico Chinese Flowers & Symbols
This ATC has been made in the same way but using a finger dabber to position the ink a little more accurately

Habico Chinese Flowers & Symbols

Non-Seq. 52C Oriental Collage Elements & Dragonflies
Both these ATC's have been inspired by the colours of the traditional Willow Pattern plates for which I've used Denim adirondak inks and water brushed the colour using more water for a paler colour and a stronger ink / dryer brush for the shadows. The top ATC is stamped on card and the lower one on canvas.

Non-Seq. 40C Oriental Love Letters
I didn't like this image at all on the stamp set but I like a challenge and this stamp fitted an ATC perfectly so I set myself the challenge and I'm glad I did - Love it now!
What do you think?

Do go have a look at the other ATC samples on the blog challenge and if you fancy going oriental have a look in the Oriental Dept at The Stampman online shop - there are some real bargains to be had!

See you there!
x Michelle

Catching Up!

2011-09-30T23:06:00.000+01:00

Thought I'd show you a few of the bits and bobs I've been doing and not got to post recently. I've been so totally focused on getting the support I need for Liam that I just havn't had the energy to do much more let alone get them on blogger so last night when I couldn't sleep I set about finishing all the projects I'd started.

I started this card at stamping club a few weeks ago. After demonstrating the stamping with felt tips technique the lovely Helen went off and made a card very similar to this one which I just had to have a go at. Just stamped the Chocolate Baroque Poppy Head after colouring and spraying then brought the colour into the image with a water brush. It's a lovely card, thanks for the idea Helen!

These three are cards I prepared as samples for stamping club last friday but I wasn't well enough to go so Janet had to wing it and do an impromptu lesson. Thanks Clarky - you're a star.

I particularly like the Santa card where I've used the moon part of the stamp to create the spotlight in colour and the rest in grey scale. Will use that idea again!

Right I'm off to play with Stampsmith Stamps for next Fridays Stamping Club.

Bye x

What was your favorite childhood read?

2011-09-27T10:49:00.000+01:00

Try it on Tuesday have another great challenge this week, it's an alter it week with a theme of childhood books. My Dad used to read to us every night even when I reached my teens (I have three younger brothers so had a good excuse) He'd read Wind in the Willows, The Water Babies, Winnie the Pooh, Five go books etc etc and I loved every word of them and the excuse to cuddle up with my dad and my bro's and listen to the magic of the books unfold.

Today of course Kids get as much out of film as we used to from books so thought I'd combine the two in a little pressy for the newest edition to our family Zachary, who's less than a week old

Cant wait to smell him! lol

Here's the little canvas I altered for him

Hope you fancy having a go at the alter it challenge, as always it's sponsored by

Who have offered a fantastic £15 prize so don't be shy, lets see what books set your imagination flying when you were kids

Have Fun

x Michelle

What a weekend!

2011-09-18T22:51:00.001+01:00

I'm sprawled out on my sofa thoroughly knackered but very happy. I'm just home from the most
wonderful weekend crafting at the Lovin' Ink craft retreat hosted by Janet and myself in Beamsley, North Yorkshire.

We had a few newbies with us this weekend and it was lovely to see how quickly they became part of the gang and settled in to the barmy banter that is the best bit of the retreat!

Janet and I feel so privileged to be able
To spend our weekends having fun with such lovely, very special people.

Thanks everyone for making our weekend such a joy to host!

X Michelle

Fab friends at lovin' ink craft retreat

2011-09-13T12:44:00.001+01:00

The first night's over, everyone's tucked up in bed and I've just been round the tables having a peek at all the fabulous projects that are on the go.

Kate' s busy scrapbooking

Georgy, Janet, Joanne and Emma are busy gassing!

Looks like some serious crafting going on here lol!

Yvonne and Liz look as though they're planning something

And the lovely Linda - well what can you say?

A few of our fab friends
We're so lucky!
Night x

TioT in Monochrome

2011-09-06T17:53:00.000+01:00

Ok so I know monochrome doesn't necessarily mean black and white - I just decided to make (retrieve it from photo's of cards made way back when!!!!!) this one. I love this card as it uses my all time favorite papers and stamps. The papers are from - do you know I can't remember what the stack is called. Dont you hate it when that happens, I can see the pad in my memory but cant get the name. HELP I think I've had a senior moment! The stamps are Prima, at least I've remembered that!

Hope you remember to play along as we have a great sponsor this week

Wishing you all a peaceful week

x Michelle

Is Art in your Heart?

2011-09-03T10:00:00.004+01:00

Welcome to a very exciting blog hop in Celebration of 10 years of Art from the Heart!

Lots of exciting things happening at Art from the Heart next weekend where the big birthday bash is happening. Want to know more then do click here (link to Dys blog)

So in Celebration we are having 5 birthday blog hops.

You should have reached my blog from here and are on the Tim Holtz hop

here is my project, a tea light lamp a la Tim!

Bet you can work out what I used!

Before you move on - you will need to collect a letter from me which is F

This is part of an anagram of a Tim Holtz product

Once you get back to Dys blog please email your answer to Ben.

So after leaving me a comment you need to move on to

Karen

Have fun hopping!

x Michelle

Try it on Tuesday - Nearly on Wednesday!

2011-08-30T19:54:00.000+01:00

Bit late with this today, plenty of excuses but I bet you've heard them all before so I'll just say sorry guys, and get on with it.

It's an alter it week at Try it on Tuesday this week and for a little extra incentive we've got an amazing £15 voucher to be won from

SO this week you lovely crafters are invited to have a go at altering anything you like so with this in mind I thought I'd alter a ball!!!!! How??

Just like this

I know, I know and you're right I did say a ball and this is a box!!

But have a peep inside.........

I know I know it's still a box with a ball in it but take a closer look.........

I've Stamped on it - a little quote which is so very appropriate. It says

'I do so love Cricket ........It's so very English!

I knew I'd find a use for the poundland cricket balls which Janet laughed at me for buying!

Do you like? Hope so

Enough to join in the Fun at Try it on Tuesday? Hope So!

See you there.........

x Michelle

New Journaling Blog!

2011-08-23T21:28:00.000+01:00

Well you probably know I've been having a rough time lately, My son Liam has Down's Syndrome, and is struggling to live independently and Al, my husband is very ill with heart problems which are untreatable. On top of that my eldest son is a recovering heroin addict and alcoholic and is terminally ill from complications due to Crohn's Disease - not related to his past addictions at all, my brother has narcolepsy and cataplexy and I look after my lovely elderly dad who lives next door. You might think this is me having a good old moan but that's far from the truth. In amongst all this trauma I continue to search for those beautiful moments that make life worth living, of which there are many. As part of my search I've returned to a journey I started many years ago, an exploration of self. What makes me feel the way I do, think the thoughts I think and behave this way.

I thought one or two of you might want to join in along the way so here's a link to my new blog

Journal Journeys

x Michelle

Wild things with Try it on Tuesday

2011-08-23T09:00:00.000+01:00

Hi all you lovely crafters, I have missed you soooooo much. Apologies for my absence but still in the midst of many family crisis all visiting at the same time so my time and energy are stretched beyond measure. Did find time to sort out a wild card wall hanging for Try it on Tuesday this week though! Click on the pic to enlarge it, there's some wonderful detail on these stamps!

A great project it was too. I started it at a craft club session run by Janet AKA Clarky J quite a while ago and completed it recently but it's perfect for this weeks challenge don't you think.

The welly is from Craftwork Cards. the seed packets are decorated with a downloaded image, the flowers are papermania build a flower stamps and the birds are Joanna Sheen, all coloured with distress inks.

The plant labels are the cheap white plastic ones which have been painted with Viva Terra paint. Definitely gonna paint a few more things with that - it looks and feels just like terra cotta pot.

I really enjoyed making this one, hope it inspires you to have a go too

x Michelle

Product of the week at The Craft Barn - Crafty Individuals

2011-08-04T14:37:00.000+01:00

This will have to be a real quick post this week as I'm mowed under with all the flack kicked out by the post below. Thanks so much everyone, things are beginning to go our way! Lets try to keep the pressure on by emailing anyone in your address book who might spend a few moments writing an email on Liam's behalf!

On to today then

Here's a card which is so appropriate for the days weather. Rain rain and more rain all day! There are plenty of Mallards near us though a short walk from our house and it's great to watch them on the river!

Do hop over to the craft barn and have a look see what's happening over there. Chris Dark has some wonderful samples too and a step by step!

Enjoy

x Michelle

AN IMPORTANT REQUEST FOR HELP!

2011-08-02T14:05:00.000+01:00

AN IMPORTANT REQUEST FOR HELP! This is a photo of my lovely son Liam on his wedding day. Doesn't he look proud? Unfortunately his dream of living happily with his wife has been shattered because Social Services have not done their job properly. Because they both have Down's Syndrome, Social Services should have carried out reviews when he got engaged in November 2009 then again when they got married in Sept 2010. It is now almost a year since Liam and Fizz got married and the review still has not been carried out. This means that Liam only has care workers helping him 3 days a week. The rest of the week he has no one to support him.

He has recently bought chicken and left it on the side for two days because his fridge was full, then under cooked it ready to eat and more seriously has been hospitalized needing emergency surgery because he and his wife didn't recognize the dangers of leaving three abscess untreated. He got septicemia and needed IV antibiotics!

Social Services now say that the only way to ensure his safety is to remove him from his wife and his home because the recent review they carried out indicated he should be able to manage with less support than he currently has.

Can you imagine what his happy face will look like if this is allowed to continue.

It would make Liam So HAPPY if you would HELP!

How?

Put this post as your blog or facebook status for as long as you can asking all your friends to help, and spare a few minutes of your time sending an email to the Director of Adult Services who is responsible for Liam's Heartache.

Make the subject - Liam Adams

and leave a brief note - maybe 'This situation is unacceptable'. The objective is just to have him inundated with email about this so he recognises that it needs immediate action and cannot wait until they carry out yet another review!

His email address is Derek.Law@northyorks.gov.uk. you could also copy in his boss Richard.Flinton@northyorks.gov.uk.

Cummon Guys, lets see if we can make this go global!

Thanks so Much

x Michelle

On the Beach - TioT

2011-08-02T11:18:00.000+01:00

A great theme this week at Try it on Tuesday - all things beach and with the 2 mile queue of traffic heading for Scarborough at the weekend, it must be something that a few of us are thinking of!

Here's my card

The background is Inked Distress ink overstamped with the best crackle stamp in the world! It's an old stamp from Rubber Stampede but definately a favorite!

The image is of course that great set from Chocolate Baroque, another I've used so many times. It's coloured with Prisma colours and sansodor then inked with Distress inks. The sansodor resists the ink around the image giving a bit of a halo which is pretty neat don't you think?

And here's the inside of the card.

Hope you find time to join in this week, It was wonderful visiting all the altered entries last week. So good when you have a go at the more difficult challenges!

Just a quick apology for being such a bad blogger lately. I really do appreciate the support of all the wonderful people who visit my blog. I treasure these virtual friendships, so much so, it goes against the grain when I struggle to return the favor.

Hope whatever life throws at you this week, it's coloured with love

x Michelle

Try it on Tuesday - Present your Presents!

2011-07-26T09:00:00.000+01:00

That amazing team at TioT have been at it again, this week with another alter it challenge. This time we can alter anything but it must be a present for someone. Now that's a bit tricky cos the person who will receive this will be reading my blog so I'll have to be careful not to let the cat out of the bag!

The hangy gate thing was (dare I tell you?) a poundland special with a twee little flower on it and all I've done is remove the original flower and replaced it with a far more classy variety, in the shape of the papermania build a flower carnations. The blue tit is of course a Joanna Sheen one which I have put together using shaped decoupage to give it a rounded decoupaged effect. It looks more realistic than ordinary decoupage don't you think? All have been watercoloured using TH Distress inks - must try harder is all I can say about that but I'm reasonably satisfied!

Do come and join us with this challenge, it's great when a few of you pluck up the courage to alter something. Makes what we do worthwhile, and of course a little tempter this week is the £15 prize from our alter it week sponsor

Have fun Y'all

x Michelle

Me Tutu's getting tight!!!!

2011-07-21T20:36:00.000+01:00

Wishing well time at The Craft Barn again this week with a most Excellent Tim themed week! Now this is going to be a very short post cos I'm researching at the moment to find ammunition to fire at Social Services to get the funding Liam needs to maintain his newly married life safely and in happiness! Yes he was married last September and we finally have a review!

So here's the picture

and here's the link for you to find out what it is and how it's made. The Craft Barn have the most amazing tutorials running all week, using Tim Holtz products in a million ways you've never imagined. Grab a cuppa before you do though, you'll be there a long time!

Do summon up those positive vibes for me tomorrow when I display my wrath at those within Social Services who have the power to make or brake two young lives!

And why is me tutu getting tight - well what do you do when you're stressed????? Mines Chocolate! lol

x Michelle

Steampunked Tuesday!

2011-07-19T13:41:00.000+01:00

It Try it on Tuesday again today and this week one of our (not so) lovely teamies have chose the theme Steampunk. Now I absolutely love to look at this art form but when I try to make something in this style I always fail miserably. I've looked up definitions, researched different steampunk art forms and still the concept evades me so I've made up my own way of defining the concept so I can visualise something I can produce.

So here's how I see steampunk - As an amalgamation of images from pre and post industrialisation of the victorian era. Maybe it's the representation of the subconcious fears of the unenlightened population, towards the interaction of the advances of technology on the natural world!

Still confused? So am I!! lol

The whole point of TioT though is to take a deep breath and give it a go, doesn't matter if its pants - just try it!

So this is my effort! I dont think it looks anything like steam punk but I enjoyed making it so thats all that matters really

Hope you're brave enough to give it a go

Go on - Take a deep breath and get stuck in

x Michelle

Have a look at this!!!!

2011-07-14T10:32:00.000+01:00

They are the most amazing beads made by our lovely Isa over at The Craft Barn. She's done a great tutorial too which has been posted today - you just gotta see it!!

Here's a heads up on a massive 50% off sale on at the shop too starting tonight just so you can get in there fast.

x Michelle

Tagging Along with Try it on Tuesday

2011-07-12T21:42:00.000+01:00

Hi All, Hows tricks?

Hope your weeks got off to a good start. Mine has, just got back from a wonderful weekend in Claxby on a craft retreat with a group of THE most SPECIAL people. Laughed my socks off all weekend and did some crafting too. I did start a project for this weeks TioT but couldn't get it done in time so I'll save that for another day.

Today the challenge is to make a TAG with the theme The Birds and The Bees. As my sample didn't go according to plan (or rather my family didn't) I thought I'd show you this tag which I made a while back

I brushed the background, stamped the Crafty individuals trees in green, drew a few ripples in the water with a glitter gel pen and added the bead danglies to make the background.

Then Stamped and embossed the bee eater bird and painted it with glimmer paint to get the sheen. The flower is one of the flowers in the Lovin Ink mixed flower pack which I coloured and shaped into an orchid sort of shape.

Hope you like and that you'll join us for Tag Week at TioT.

I think a lot of folk don't make tags because they dont know what to do with them. I put all mine on the wall of my craft room and always make a card to go with the tag, so when I wrap a pressie for someone, I have a matching card and tag to put on the parcel.

It's also the first day of a new Wish granted at The Craft Barn Wishing Well,

KarenB, from Australia, said...

I'm hopeless with alcohol inks so I'd love some simple and effective ideas about how to use them. Any kind of 'wet' techniques really - paint, masking, misting - tips, techniques and sample projects.

Well Andy Skinner has kicked off the week with a fantastic new technique using Alcohol Inks and Water!

Intrigued? You should be!

It's a great technique and well worth the click of a button to take you there

Have a great Week, see u L8er x

Craft Barn Product of the Week - Katzelcraft

2011-07-07T09:00:00.001+01:00

If you've been over to The Craft Barn Blog today you will have seen the fantastic project Isa has produced using the Product of the Week - Katzelcraft Stamps.

I love these stamps, they are unusual and quirky which suits me fine and some are particularly suited to making cards for men. Having loadsa fellas in my family that's really appreciated. Here's a couple of ideas

More wonderful Katzelcraft work on the blog for the whole week, with a challenge on Friday and the new feature, Clean and Simple, on Saturday.

Enjoy!
x Michelle

Flower Power at Try it on Tuesday

2011-07-05T15:45:00.000+01:00

My awesome Pal Janet has had a strand running on her Facebook Wall about what makes a good friend today, something we've both been talking about lately. We have met so many lovely friends through crafting, and on Saturday went to Art From the Heart to meet a new one, Craftymomma aka Lesley. We had the most fabulous day and were lucky enough to see more special friends who were there doing one of Di's amazing workshops

Even before Janet started her thread (ah thats what I should have said not strand! I knew it was cotton related! lol) I made this for her as a thankyou for listening to me moan and complain over the last few weeks. If any of you are fortunate enough to meet Janet on your travels make friends with her immediately, and if you are already a friend, treasure her, she's pure gold!!! Here's the card then

I think the card will have to be shared though, with all the wonderful friends I have met through blogging. Your comments brighten my day and they really do pick me up when I am down!

If you are on facebook have a look on Janet's Wall or maybe leave a comment here

What do you think makes a good friend??

Ooooops nearly forgot! ......... and if you fancy having a go at the flower power challenge, maybe you could make a card to let a friend know how much they mean to you.

Wishing you all special moments in time with special people

x Michelle

A really quick Post!

2011-07-01T00:36:00.000+01:00

It's been a frantic week already and I'm late posting my sample for The Craft Barn product of the week. Already mentioned that this week is Tando week and here's the little house I made for my sample

A cutie isn't it?

Neil has more samples over on The Craft Barn Blog and as always his work is stunning and well worth a minutes detour!

See you there

x Michelle

Alter it with Try it on Tuesday

2011-06-28T11:37:00.002+01:00

Hi you lovely Peeps

Well the sun is shining and I'm ready to go and sow a few more carrots etc in my garden but before I do I'd better show you whats on the menu over at Try it on Tuesday ( Think it's tuesday today but I'm never too sure)

It's alter it week this week and the DT have been busy altering boxes and what a variety there is too!

The weather forcast is not supposed to be brilliant for the rest of the week after the glorious sunshine we have had so maybe altering a box is just the pick me up you need.

Here's mine

I started this off as a demo at one of Lovin Inks workshops a few weeks ago but hadn't decorated it so thought I'd fiinish it for the TioT challenge.

It's gesso'd, painted with emulsion, tissued with stamped tissue and old pattern pieces, stamped with TH stamps then decorated with a TH die cuts and a few shrink plastic buttons. Reall I just kept messing till I liked the way it looked!

The Craft Barn are offering a £15 prize this week too so do find time to have a play, it's soooo good for the soul!

We've been playing over at The Craft Barn too, in anticipation of a visit from Di of Tando Creative.

Tando products will be featured all week as Product of the Week and there are some amazing samples and tutorials from the DT. Do hop over and say hi.

Here's a little peek at todays tutorial

It makes a smashing little ............................ well you'll just have to go see for yourself!

Have fun this week and enjoy the sunshine

x Michelle

Settling down with my new Craft Stamper

2011-06-25T11:08:00.001+01:00

No not me -Pidge

She's an avid fan

And loves to read it with her cup of tea in a morning!

What do you do with YOUR Grungepaper?

2011-06-22T13:28:00.000+01:00

Here's what I do with mine!

I used the old watch strap as a template to cut out the grungepaper strap, painted it with cosmic shimmer paint then stamped with stayzon. Simples!

Grungepaper is the product of the week over at The Craft Barn this week so Neil started off the week with an amazing Medieval book tutorial, today it's Isa who's put together another tute on how to make a ring out of this

and tomorrow ....................................... well why don't you hop over there to go see for yourself.

Inspiration abounds HERE!

Off to pick Liam and Fizz up from Leeds now

x Michelle

Flutterbye The Stampman

2011-06-17T12:00:00.000+01:00

Stampman Challenge day today and the lovely Angela wants us to use Butterflies and Dragonflies in our creations. Now if I was clever I would have combined this challenge sample with the one for Try it on Tuesday but as always I'm not quite quick enough to do that.

This is a card I made a few weeks ago at a craft group led by the lovely Elaine who was showing us how to do these cards (can't remember what they're called and it's too late to go find out!)

Really enjoyed making this one and the new Framies Stamps at The Stampman are perfect for this card shape (See, I knew I should have gone and looked up the name!)

Wasn't I clever saving this card for the challenge from last month - - - don't you believe it! It's one I'd forgotten about until I got up into my craft room last night, and realized I had a card to make for today's challenge.

I soooooo wish I could be more organised!

Flutter by The Stampman Challenge Blog to have a peek at all the inspiration there, and maybe join in too!

x Michelle

Hitchcock at The Craft Barn!!

2011-06-16T11:10:00.000+01:00

What's the most scary film you've ever seen?

Poltergeist, Alien, Psycho???

The first scary film I ever saw, and the most terrifying was Alfred Hitchcocks, The Birds. I sat glued to the TV unable to stop watching but terrified. I think perhaps because Hitchcock is a master at making the everyday disturbingly strange.

It was with this in mind that I started the project for The Craft Barn Wishing Well

Anne from Brittany said...
"I would also love to see some examples of the different embossing pastes,

especially black, with stencils as I am stuck in a creative rut!"

So without hesitation, here's a little peek at what I made

Does it grab the feeling do you think?

Having started playing with Dreamweaver pastes I couldn't stop experimenting to see how I could use it in different ways

This one I particularly enjoyed. I love the way the dreamweaver paste has taken the colour of the TH distress inks, Looks like crazed porcelaine. There's a tutorial on The Craft Barn Blog followed throughoout the week with more amazing samples and tutorials from the rest of the DT, so if, like Anne, you're at a loss as to how to use your dreamweaver pastes, there's a mine of inspiration to be had at a click of a mouse!

Hope you enjoy the ideas

x Michelle

Try it on Tuesday - Butterfly Tags

2011-06-14T09:00:00.001+01:00

We've had so little butterfly weather recently, we thought we'd introduce a few of our own by making it the theme of this weeks challenge at Try it on Tuesday. I've cheated a little this week as I've used tags I created for the mini workshops running at The Stampman this weekend.

These are recycled coca cola tins which I've chopped about and altered to make these tags. I now have a row of coke cans drying on top of my radiator ready for the workshop so if you fancy having a go the workshop details are below.

There's some awesome inspiration from the DT again this week so do go have a look and come out to play!

Mini Workshops at The Open Day

June 18th 10am - 5pmLovin' Ink will be running a series of three mini workshops at The Stampman on the next open daythe first will be making a card and scrapling for the men in your life

In the second we will be making tags from coke cans

And the third will entail layered stamping to produce this elegant oriental hanging

Each workshop will cost £5.00 and will run for approx 1 1/2 hours

Please bring basic tools, paper trimmer, pencil, double sided tape, glue stick, scissors, craft knife.

If you're interested in joining us we still have a couple of places left, but be quick and book with

Lovin' Ink

as they are filling up fast!

x Michelle

A new adventure at The Craft Barn

2011-06-13T23:46:00.000+01:00

I've had a busy weekend this week, chasing allover Yorkshire ferrying Fizz and Liam to various parties and discos then on sunday, a party for Liam, (his 24th birthday) We had a lovely weekend but boy was I tired!

Of course I then totally forgot the launch of a new feature on

The Craft Barn blog, Simply Saturdays.

With the trend towards clean and simple card making, Izzy thought it would be good if she challenged the DT to create a clean and simple card every week.

Have you any idea how unsimple clean and simple is!!!! If you have you'll love the inspiration. Here's a little taster

Following on from the misters product of the week, I spent a few hours thinking about how to use the products to make a C&S card and a few minutes making them!!!

Think I'm hooked though, I LOVE making these cards and in actual fact these are the sort of cards I'm drawn to but when you love inky fingers.....................................

x Michelle

More Misting at The Craft Barn

2011-06-09T11:25:00.000+01:00

Craft Barn - Product of the Week

It's my turn today to have a go at misting and here are a couple of cards I made using Smooch Misters

Love the vibrant background on this one

The flower stencil makes a very pretty background

If you want to know how these are made do pop over to The Craft Barn and have a look.

Neil has some wonderful samples showing today too all with instructions so you can have a go yourself.

See you there

You up for Weird and Wonderful?

2011-06-07T21:54:00.000+01:00

This is my idea of weird and it's my DT sample for this weeks Try it on Tuesday challenge.

Our weirdly wonderful teamie Georgina challenged us to go weird today and this is the strangest stamp I have. It's a Kaboodle stamp which I got in a DT pack from The Craft Barn and as it's Liam's 24th Birthday this week, I thought it would make a perfect party invitation for his party at the weekend. The Basic Grey papers are just right for it don't you think?

The Craft Barn have something new on this week too. A new feature called product of the week. Every week they will pick a product for we 'Fairies' to spotlight, with a few samples and maybe a tutorial or two. It's been great fun putting the samples together so do go have a peek at the first of them today, especially if you want some ideas for using your spray misters!

Here's a little peek to tickle your fancy from that oh so talented crafter Isa

So there you go - weird and wonderful at Try it on Tuesday, sponsored with a £10 gift voucher by

One stop Cards and Crafts

and

Spray Misters at The Craft Barn all week

Is this heaven??????

x Michelle

Mens Stuff at The Stampman

2011-06-03T18:47:00.000+01:00

A new challenge today with the DT being asked to make samples of cards for men. The Stampman have some great stamps for creating mens cards with and I have so many men in my life these cards will never go amiss. There's the milkman, the postman, the butcher...................... oops sorry, getting carried away now!

There's my OH, my 4 brothers, my 2 sons and my dad so I'm used to having to make for men : (

Here's what I came up with

I used

Aspects of Design 10 - Mens

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads Brushed Corduroy, Faded Jeans

Brilliance Pad - Graphite Black

Clear embossing powder

The box contains a Tyre pressure gauge and a tread measure. Janet and I are hoping to put this together as a kit in the Lovin' Ink Shop later in the week so do pop over and have a look.

If you are stuck for ideas for The Stampman Challenge, take a look at the samples on the Challenge Blog

They're awesome!

Have a lovely weekend

x Michelle

Want to know how to make this?

2011-06-02T09:00:00.000+01:00

Isn't it THE most beautiful thing? Made by our very own fairy Chris Dark!

It's was the first day of a new wish fulfilled over at The Craft Barn so do make sure you pop over for the next couple of days to check out all the different ways we fairies have of using acetate.

I've done a tutorial too showing you how to make these wee things

But you'll be STUNNED when you see what Neil and Isa have made! I can't wait to try out their tutorial.

Intrigued??

Then make sure you go here next

Hope the sun's shining on you

x Michelle

ATC Swap Theme - Trees

2011-06-01T12:00:00.001+01:00

Janet has set the new ATC theme over at The Stampman which will run for the whole of June so you've plenty of time if you fancy having a go at art in miniature! This month the theme is Trees - a wonderful theme, especially now as the trees are in such fine fettle after the April rain (I'm scheduling this amongst the gales and rain we had at the end of april, hoping ferverently it is going to improve so the trees are in fine fettle after the april rain)

I often go out Geocashing with my OH and leave these country type ATC's as the cash which are left to be found for other walkers. Great fun and nice to think of the little pieces of art being taken and hopefully appreciated by strangers.

Anyway this image is from the Aspects of Design, Rambling 2 plate and the tree looks maybe a little early springish? Now don't look at it and say it's Autumn - that's much too far away to contemplate

There are some very inventive ATC's on the challenge this month so do spare a minute and go have a gander

Happy Days

x Michelle

Altered Dreams with Try it on Tuesday

2011-05-31T00:04:00.000+01:00

The lovely Georgina gave me a wooden 'dream' alterable a while ago and when she chose this as the theme for the alter it week I knew I just had to use it. Having painted, stamped and generally battered it about a bit I decided to mount it on a bit of garden lawn edging which Janet laughed at me for buying some weeks ago.

The flowers are coke cans, cut with the tattered floral die, run through in a few cuttlebug folders and then painted with paint dabbers before being rubbed down with emery paper. After jumping on these a few times and battering them around a bit (can you tell I've been a little stressed lately?) they were ready to go on the plaque. And there you have it! I'm going to hang this in my garden. I've been doing a bit more gardening lately, having suddenly renewed my love of it.

Thought I'd show you a little corner...

There arn't many flowers in the garden but I love all the shades of green and red especially in this light

And here's another little corner

Complete with Pij who's now flying jubilantly all over the place. He takes off for an hour or so at a time then comes back to the garden for something to eat. If Alan goes out, bird hops straight onto his shoulders. And how's about this for intelligence? If we shut the window on him. he flies round the house till he finds a window or door open! compared with the cat who goes to the door and if it's raining goes to another door to see if it's raining too, I think this demonstrates advanced reasoning!!!!

Well more advanced than mine has been this week anyway!

Make sure you pop over to see us at TioT and if you fancy altering dreams there's a fabulous

£15 prize sponsored from

The Craft Barn.

Have a great week

x Michelle

Try it on Tuesday - Scraplings

2011-05-24T09:00:00.000+01:00

Now this is a first for me and strictly speaking a second! The DT were asked to do scrapling samples for the challenge at Try it on Tuesday this week, the first time I have ever produced one but after making the first I had a hunt through my bit boxes to find more offcuts to make another. It was lovely to use up the bits and really pleasing to work on such a small canvas. I can see I'll be making more of these!

The flower stamps are the Stampin Up, Just believe set which have been stamped and embossed in black as a resist, then I've just coloured the background with Distress inks. The little dangly bits are plastic tags which are in The Stampman sale, stamped with little sentiments from a Hero Arts mini stamp set (also in the sale). I've a few of these stamps and they are great for adding sentiments that don't overpower a design.

Hope you find time to go have a peek and maybe a play over at try it on tuesday this week. Give these little gems a try and I bet you get hooked!!

I hope your week is better than the weather

x Michelle

A great big WOW at The Stamp Man

2011-05-20T12:00:00.001+01:00

Another challenge day today at The Stamp Man, where Jill challenged us to make something using this great little grid. All you have to do is

take any three ingredients in a line, horizontally, vertically or diagonally and use them to make us a fabulous creation.

Blue	Embossing powder	Stitches (real or faux)
Torn/ripped	Ribbon	Red
Die cut	Homemade background (no patterned paper)	Sparkle and bling

Guess which I chose

Stamps - AOD Framie 5 LARGE Ornate

Creative Expressions - Vintage Sewing

Tim Holtz stamps - Slight Alterations

Sizzix Bigz Die Sewing Room

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads

There's a special event at The Stamp Man

NEXT OPEN DAY

This Saturday, 21st May, 10am - 4pm

Make and Takes, bargains galore!!!

We've got nice new things in stock at the shop, including lots of Tim's new bits and pieces!!

Also, we have new special offers, there are lots of buy one get one free bargains, including some of the 50% bargains, so there are mega discounts to be grabbed on lots of things!!!

Janet and I are doing the Make and Take so if you fancy having a go making these cards with the new Stamp Man Stamps do come to join us

Looking forward to seeing some of our crafty friends and to popping over to your blogs to see your challenge entries

x Michelle

I do love being a fairy!

2011-05-20T09:00:00.001+01:00

Did you see Isa and Christine's tutorial over at The Craft Barn yesterday? Two more ideas for using gesso that you really need to see. Isa shows how to heat gesso to make the most fantastic flowers and Christine's tutorial demonstrates how to use gesso as a resist with wonderful results.

I've finished off today with different ways to use gesso as a base coat, texture and to give different ink effects.
Here's a wee peek using one of the techniques.

This finishes off the gesso tutorials and now it's time for you to have a go and maybe join in the new challenge.

We've got a bit of a celebration going on too at The Craft Barn, having gained 500 followers. In appreciation Sandy has put together this amazing Craft Barn Candy so make sure you do pop over and have a look.

See ya soon

x Michelle

Paris Fashion!

2011-05-19T21:44:00.003+01:00

Oh I know! I shouldn't be jealous but when has he ever let me sleep on his head?

Or stand on it for that matter!

Couldn't resist showing you this!
X Michelle

A new Wish at The Craft Barn

2011-05-18T09:00:00.001+01:00

Nearly my turn to be a fairy again, with another wish granted over the next few days and some great tutorials, on different ways to use gesso.

Want to know what this becomes?

Pop over to The Craft Barn and follow the tutorials posted this week

Hope to see ya there

x Michelle

Try it on Tuesday - the 70's

2011-05-17T14:45:00.000+01:00

Our lovely Janet said "anything that reminds you of the 70's and you can make anything you want" Now I seemed to have missed the 70's altogether as I couldn't remember anything about them, to be precise I can remember things but cant relate them to any particular date, it's a problem I have with sequencing my life, I've loads of stop image pictures which don't relate to anything much at all. But then I remembered that my brother was born 11 years after me and as I was born in 1960 he must have been born in 1971 and I could remember doing things with him when he was little, one of which was watching the clangers!

My other brother - who we found through friends reunited was also born that year and I've just forgotten his birthday so I thought this was just the card to send to him! The background card blank was made with TH distress inks and Starburst Stains and the moon was made on a circle of card, liberally coated with gesso and heated till it bubbled then painted with paint daubers. It's a great texture for a moon don't you think?

Hope you have more memories of the 70's to inspire you than I have so you can have a go with this weeks challenge. Do have a look at the DT work, it's interesting to see what they make of the theme and what connects them with that era!

Hope you week's got off to a good start

Here's wishing you happy days

x Michelle

Oh just before I finish I've had a couple of suggestions for one liners for the pic of Alan and the Pij below.

Someone said that pij was having a tweet

and then it was decided he was on twitter!

Can you come up with any little amusements - lets see how silly they can get!

x M

My OH with his new bird!!!!!!!

2011-05-17T00:16:00.004+01:00

Now I knew pigeons were intelligent birds but our pij has taken to watching
The computer while Alan plays around
listening to classical music and Jazz fusion.

If you remember not too long ago we were tube feeding him hoping he'd survive! Now he's fully fledged, weened onto seed and following us all over the house, leaving little messages as he goes!

Now where were those plans for the dove cote?

AWOL!

2011-05-13T23:30:00.001+01:00

I've been AWOL for a few days, in the caravan with my eldest son before he goes to rehab for a few months, just chillin and walking the dog. On one walk I was enjoying the evening sun filtering through the leaves on the trees and wondering how I could capture the wonderful shapes on paper with my meager drawing skills.... When I hit on the idea of using them as a stencil. So here's a journal page I've completed. Sorry the photo is on it's side, can't work out how to rotate it on my phone.
Hope you all have a great weekend
X Michelle

Sent from my iPhone

Try it on Tuesday - One for the Boys!

2011-05-10T01:30:00.000+01:00

It's tag week at Try it on Tuesday so this week the DT have been dreaming up tags that will appeal to the Men. Now every time this theme comes up I head for my lovely artistic nudes, not that the men in my life think of women in this way, I'm lucky that they all respect women as people and don't stereo type us at all, then if you'd have known my mum you'd realise the consequences if they did err in this direction!!

Still, I use it as an excuse to use the vintage nude stamps in my collection so if there are any fellas looking, please don't feel I'm commenting on your attitudes, I'm not stereo typing you either!!!!!!

So here's an ARTISTIC tag! lol

and for the lucky winner of the challenge Lovin' Ink are offering a little treat this week

This collection of alterable buttons, ribbons and pins

Hope you find time to join in this week and if not hope you enjoy all you do!

x Michelle

Stampman Poppy Challenge

2011-05-06T12:00:00.000+01:00

Hi again

Two posts in one day - must be doing better! This week at The Stampman, Janet has asked us all to raise funds for the British Legion by making poppy cards, so Mr. Mrs Stampman kindly let us use the challenge as the focus for the fundraiser. So all you have to do is make a card with a poppy on it and if you want to help raise funds, send it to us at The Stampman. If not just post as usual on the challenge blog.

Here's one of the cards I made

And to make it I used

HA - CG141 Engraved Flower

Distress Re-inker Fired Brick

Distress Re-inker Barn Door

Distress Re-inker Aged Mahogany

Nestie: Labels 08

There's a great prize on offer and some amazing inspiration from the team, Do have a look and say hi!

x Michelle

Fairy Fairy quite Contrary!

2011-05-06T01:23:00.000+01:00

I know, I know, I've got my nursery rhymes mixed up but it has been a confused sort of a week and somehow or other I lost a day around Tuesday I think!

Ne'er mind a wave of my wand and all will be well.......I wish!!
Thats a wish I can't make happen but here's a wish I can!

Earlier in the week Isa kicked of the new wishing well tutorial at The Craft Barn with a fantastic video showing us how to use melted wax to create the most beautiful artwork and now it's my turn to finish off the week showing a couple of other ideas for using wax and here's how it turned out.

It started life as a glass plate for a church candle but with a little fairy glitter, (and a bit of help from the stock room at The Craft Barn it became this little gem. If (like me) you need to justify the purchase of a melt pot, do pop over to the Wishing Well for a tutorial showing you how to make the beautiful wax flowers and embellishments.

See you there!

x Michelle

ATC Swap Theme - Friendship

2011-05-04T17:23:00.000+01:00

It's a lovely theme today for the new ATC Swap at The Stampman and one that's made me think about how I would define a friend. Until becoming a crafter there were few people who I would class as a real friend, whether that's because I didn't venture out much or because I had just not met the right people, I don't know, but having met so many lovely people through crafting I can now say that I have many special friends and some very special ones too! Crafting seems to attract the sort of people who I love to spend my time with, the ones who you can not see for ages and they don't think badly of you for it, the ones who can forgive you your off days and accept your failings, who support you and accept support these things define a friendship worth having and all of a sudden I find I have many people around me I am proud and privileged to call friend. So here's a little something for all my friends virtual and real given with oodles of love to you all.

Aspects of Design 11 - Floral Alphabet

Distress Re-inker Dusty Concord

Distress Re-inker Peeled Paint

Distress Re-inker Spiced Marmalade

Distress Pad Brushed Corduroy

Original Distress Pad Mustard Seed

Ok now you've had chance to reach for the bucket perhaps you'll remember a few friends of your own and send them a little reminder of how much they mean to you. Maybe an ATC!!!!

In any case hope you fancy joining in the swap this week with such a lovely theme.

There's also another wish granted at the wishing well today

Whyducks says..................

"Dear Fairy at the bottom of the wishing well please could we see ways in which to use Suze Weinberg's hot wax".

Now there's a challenge!

If you want a few ideas for using hot wax too, do go see Isa's amazing tutorial over at

The Craft Barn, there is even a video!!!

Ok I'm off to colour some poppies now for the next Stampman Challenge

Bye x

Something old, Something New

2011-05-03T13:06:00.000+01:00

Tuesday again and yet another fabulous challenge from Try it on Tuesday, and so easy to achieve! All we want to see on this weeks challenge is a CARD with something older than 6 months and something newer than 6 months. This one was chosen by one of our DT, the lovely Carol, who certainly knows how to pick the challenges!

On this card, the ribbon, tag and sentiment stamp are as old as the hills but the brand spanking new things are the new stamps just released by The Stamp Man. Really young, happy images arn't they. They have been designed to work with nesties and are great for this technique where the stamped image holds the card together. If anyone knows what these cards are called do let me know, seen a few out there and love the simplicity of them.

These cards are going to feature as a make and take for the next open day at The Stampman. Do go over to their site for the details. There's going to be a big sale on and plenty of tea and coffee on the go!

The try it on Tuesday team have gone and done it again, produced some wonderful works of inspiration for you to peruse and if you give the challenge a go this week there is also a prize offered from one of our other sponsors

What more could we ask for (ok perhaps a never ending supply of chocolate, a gorgeous hunk of a man to feed it to us and a limitless purse to buy craft stuff, but lets be realistic, who would want to eat that much chocolate!)

Hope you have a great week and get chance to enjoy this lovely spring weather

Gentle thoughts flying your way

x Michelle

Altering Tins at Try it on Tuesday

2011-04-26T09:00:00.000+01:00

Yep, it's an alter it week at Try it on Tuesday and the lovely Pat set us the challenge of altering a tin. I've been meaning to alter this one for a couple of years now so decided to get on with it!

I painted round all the edges with gesso then cut mirror board to fit the flat sides which I then ran through the cuttlebug. After sticking them in place I painted the whole thing with black acrylic paint and when dry rubbed it down with emery paper. A bit of sticky tape on top to finish it off and here it is

A box for my promarkers

Not my idea unfortunately but one I nicked from a fellow teamie, Neil. Thanks Neil, it's a great technique!

For more inspiration from my fellow teamies pop over to Try it on Tuesday and have a look at their altered tins, and don't forget we have a brilliant sponsor this week

Who are offering a £15 prize.

They have a fantastic alterable section over at their shop so if you havn't got any tins knocking about, take a looksee what they have to play with!

Have a great week

x Michelle

New Challenge at The Stampman

2011-04-22T12:00:00.002+01:00

I've not been a very good Design Team Member for The Stampman, for a couple of months, failing miserably to remember to make samples and post the challenges so I'm trying to make up for it this week with the new challenge of

Resist!

Now that doesn't mean to resist the impulse to buy more stamps - wash you mouth out! more the technique of using a medium to resist ink like this

Isn't it effective? For this card all I did was to stamp the Hero Arts Bluebell silhouette stamp with versamark onto patterned paper, and then emboss with clear embossing powder and when cool inked the image over with TH Distress ink Peeled Paint and that was it. It's a really quick and easy way to produce a lovely card. This stamp is so lovely, I didn't want to detract from it with any other embellishment so mat and layered it and left it at that.

Here's a couple more samples using the same technique

This is another Hero Arts Stamp this time coloured with Fired Brick

This time I coloured the leaves with green ink and the flowers with blue.

A quick polish off with kitchen roll really makes the image pop after you have coloured it.

I didn't know there were so many ways to use resist until I saw the wonderful samples by the DT

Do go over and say hi and maybe join in with the huge following we have already over at

The Stamp Man.

See you there?

x Michelle

Friendly Plastic Play Time

2011-04-22T09:00:00.000+01:00

My turn to be fairy today at The Craft Barn but following Neil and Christine with their wonderful friendly plastic tutorials is a tall order. If you havn't seen them follow the links here for a real treat!

Hang on a mo while I readjust me tutu!!

That's better now I can show you what I've been playing with

Loved every minute of this playtime, friendly plastic looks so uninviting in the strip but follow the tutorials at the Craft Barn this week and you'll soon be hooked. This brooch took about half an hour to make and made a lovely present in a specially made box to match.

If you feel like getting friendly with plastic pop over and see what I mean - It's easy!

x Michelle

Tutes at The Barn!

2011-04-20T12:02:00.000+01:00

Want to know how this

Turns into this?

Amazing isn't it

And it's just one of the transformations achieved by Neil, our guest designer over at The Craft Barn this month. You've just got to see them! He's a very skilled crafter and has an unusual style all his own, each piece beautifully done and perfectly finished. Watch out Tim is all I can say!

You can't fail to be impressed!

x Michelle

Hello me Lovlies!

2011-04-19T00:13:00.000+01:00

Now I'm worried - really worried, I've used Tildas two posts running. I get what it is about them now, it's not the cute images I like particularly but the ability to colour them in effectively with my promarkers. Still a way to go to be anything like good a colouring them but improving I think

This week its Magnolia meets Mr. Mrs. Stampman as I search for ever different ways to use these stamps.

Magnolia is the Tilda of course and The Stampman Stamp is the fantastic lace nestie stamp from the new range designed by the lovely Jill. Have a look at their new collection here, they are brilliant and perfect for this weeks challenge at Try it on Tuesday.

The theme this week is to do a little up cycling, and whilst the stamps are most definitely new, the bangle I've used to sit her on and the chain and lace certainly are not. They are from a bag of broken jewelery which I bought at the charity shop and I think my little tilda sits beautifully on it!

I've made this for one of my lovely friends Kerry, who came to our last workshop and did a demo with the promarkers for us. Not only that but being the generous soul she is she actually gave me the stamp!

Talking of friends, I thought I'd give you an update on the friend we have staying at the moment - of the nearly feathered variety

Still as ugly but much bigger. As you can see his eyes are open and those dark patches are the feathers coming through. Every time I go in the room he starts tweeting to be fed and waddles across the cage to get to me. What is it to be a mother wood pigeon!! Really though it's a delight to see it growing so well after arriving here starved and half frozen!

There's delight a plenty over at Try it on Tuesday this week too so do pop over and have a look at the DT work and have a go at a little upcycling too if the fancy takes you.

Wonder what I can make out of baby pigeon? would it need gesso??............

x Michelle

Wonderful Workshop!

2011-04-12T17:55:00.000+01:00

It really is going to be wonderful, a combination of my two favorite things,

Chocolate and Crafting!!

The next workshop Lovin' Ink will be running will take place on Friday 15th April where we will be moulding a chocolate Easter Egg then decorating it with a tilda or two and garlands of flowers.

Here's a little preview

Still a couple of places left if you're quick - Spaces are filling up fast.

Click here to book

I could get used to these magnolia stamps!

x Michelle

Want to know what this is?

2011-04-07T16:13:00.000+01:00

Then you need to see the second Glitter Tutorial over at

The Craft Barn.

Not only does Chris show you how to make this sample but the very talented Neil gives a step by step covered in fairy dust too! (I wonder if he has a tutu) Sorry Neil - Couldn't resist!

x Michelle

I'm covered in Fairy Dust!

2011-04-06T00:55:00.000+01:00

Yep it's that time again, no sooner do I catch up with Try it on Tuesday, then Isabelle at The Craft Barn wields her amazing powers to make me get my wand out again! This time I had it to hand so magicing up a little treat for the week was a piece of cake (ha ha) I do so love being a fairy and showing you all the little tips for making (crafting) life easier and more exciting. It seems the more I know the more there is to learn though, perhaps thats why crafting has kept my attention when other hobbies havn't.

I digress! So with a quick flick of the wrist..........

glitter flies everywhere!

So The Craft Barn Fairies are at it again fulfilling a wish for the next three days with tips, tutorials and amazing samples showing you how to get the best out of your glitters! I start off with a tutorial showing you how to create this fabulous lace edging and the flowers using glitter and felts.

Make sure you call in at The Craft Barn to see the tutorials being posted for the next three days.

We also have a new guest designer Neil who has designed some wonderful samples for us this month, they are definitely a must see!

x Michelle

Try it on Tuesday - House proud!

2011-04-05T13:07:00.000+01:00

Hi all

These weeks just seem to roll on by don't they. No sooner have I sorted one sample for TioT then another is due. One day I'll catch my tail instead of chasing it constantly!

Those pesky DT at TioT have asked us to use our home decor as inspiration for a card this week, but my home is so minimal there's not much in it to inspire - until you go into my craft room!

My living room was the first room to get the minimal touch and because I don't have a fireplace I made this the focal point of the room

I fell in love with the work of this artist some years ago, it has a really organic feel to it and it compliments the collection of pebbles, fossils and twisty branches that I have dotted around the house. The feathers in the vase echo the colour scheme in the room

Both colours I love

So here's the card I created

It's not a brilliant photo but the background paper is made of anyglypta wallpaper sprayed with starburst stains and I just added a ribbon and stained feathers and a little something else which is big in our home - love!

We may be a dysfunctional family but the love we have for each other is a lovely thing to be part of so there is a little heart on there, another love is that of the natural world around us, so I've put a little of that into the card too!

Did you spot it?

We have real wildlife as part of our collection of waifs and strays at the moment as Alan and I are rearing a wood pigeon that had tumbled out of a nest near us. We are well known in the village for hedgehog rescue so whenever animals (or people for that matter!) are found in need of care they seem to find their way to our door.

Here's our visitor at the moment

Ugly little things arn't they

It seems to be doing ok on two hourly feeds of quaker oats though and has started cheeping when I go near it. Unfortunately it will be imprinted on me when it opens its eyes so will never be a truly wild bird but will have a good life in and around our garden if it survives. Fingers crossed!

So, you've seen what's in my home and we'd love to see what surrounds you in yours and see how it inspires your crafting.

Some fantabulous stuff by the DT again, they are a talented bunch!

Oh and we are really lucky to be sponsored by

See you there

x Michelle