Use a digi at Crafts & Me

Evening all!  Yay we have some sunshine!!  Yes really we do!  Got my naughty Nan down tomorrow for a few days so it will be nice being able to get out for an amble, looking at tatton park and the japanese gardens as she likes that kinda thing.  Had thought about taking her to my 2nd home Gullivers but don't think she's be able to go on much lol!

Anyway its a new challenge over at Crafts and Me and this week we want to see your digi stamps! You dont have to use a crafts and me image but we do love to see them!  There is a fab prize courtesy of Letraset up for grabs so have a go!

I'm still in Halloween mode so this time have gone for VIXIE by Hannah Lynn coloured with promarkers of course!  The hair is done with orchid, purple, aubergine and black.  I also got a bit brave and added some swipes of green and purple on the skin tones (which hannah does but I like things just so lol!)

Papers are from bearly mine with a doily I distressed with versamagic ink (Hint of pesto)  Finshed with some folded black organza, orange paper rose and large pearls

I'd like to enter into....

Fab n Funky - Pearls

Papertake Weekly - Anything goes

Tuesday Alchemy - Bingo

Craft your passion - anything goes

The ribbon girls - BINGO

A Halloween Card

Evening all!  I'm finally getting a break from the kids lol!  Been ringing round like a loon looking for my 92 year old Nan today as her carer had been and got no answer.  Nan isn't one for just flitting off as she pleases so caused a bit of worry trying to track her down and making sure she wasnt inside fallen or something, turns out she'd gone the hairdresser and didnt know how to get in touch with her carer to say she was going out.  So after a ticking off from me she told me she's got lovely new hair lol!  Still its thrown a few things to light such as none of us have a key as she got a new door fitted a couple of weeks ago so that needs to be rectified and more communication between the carers, nan and family ie if she doesnt know how to get in touch with someone to ring us as THEY will ring us looking for her!

So alls well phew!


How you all coping with the kids off?  I'm one week in and getting edgy, been out 5 times out of 7 so doing alright and got stuff on over the weekend then into next week so only a bit longer then its off on holidays yay!

Yes I know its in the middle of summer but today I want to show you one of the gorgeous new images by Hannah Lynn which is called Kara and she's a Mermaid Witch, or maybe a mermaid going out in fancy dress as a witch, who knows thats up to your imagination!  People are already starting to slog on with their christmas cards so this one is a Halloween card which will be upon us in the blink of an eye so get stocked up and ready in good time.

Thought I'd also show you today a bit of the colouring process.  Everyone does things their own little way and this is mine.  When I get a new image I like to start with my lightest colours first so that the image is more to life and I can start identifying highlights and shadows.  If you start wth the lightest and make a mistake its a lot easier to fix and go over than if you start with your shadows as many do.

On this first pic I've just picked out my lightest colours I'll be using and left a bit of the white which will be the highlights so you can see straight away which bits a shadow will fall on

The next stage I do is adding some of my darker shadows in and the mid colour.  I often use just 3 colours such as a light-mid-dark so pretty much like the letraset blending sets.  In this pic I've added some cinnamon around the face and hairline and some aubergine on the purple bits and you can see the skin tones taking shape across the belly with the shadow and highlights.

You can see now how it all comes together in the end, the bold dark lines are blended in giving a subtle frame rather than a thick streak of dark.  Give it a go and just practice one or two night a week concentrating on skin one night and hair another and just play around with the colours (make a note of the ones you like!)

Papers are digi by Bearly Mine (From the designer extreme 3 cd) which are all distressed with scissors and I've added a deep green button onto the black organza bow with some orange punched leaves distressed with brown ink and distressed round the edge of Kara with olive green.

I'd lke to enter into....

Pan Pastel UK - Buttons & Bows
Simply CReate Too - Anything goes
Papercrafting JOurney - Anything goes
Craftroom Challenge - Buttons & Bows

Anything Goes at Crafts & Me

Evening all!  So did you all enjoy the Olympics opening ceremony?  Didn't like the first bit but then History in school had the same effect on me in school - Zzzzzzzz!  It got SO much better with Mike Oldfield, I absolutely love Tubular Bells, I actually got married to that any moons ago but we won't go there haha!  Loved the Floyd ending with the torch, on Floyd's Pulse tour their disco ball actually opened up into a flower to the Eclipse track too so it was definately inspired :))  I think they should have just left it there, Macca, oh dear!

Anyway I'm running mega late again, kids broke up on thursday and have had a lot of things to deal with this past couple of weeks - Ethan *Shakes head in despair*


Right-o onto the challenge this week at Crafts & Me and its everyones favourite ANYTHING GOES!  The girls have made superb samples again so please do pop over to have a peek!

For this I used one of Hannah Lynn's digis called Janessa with the gorgeous Crafts & Me digi papers in the background.  I've coloured with promarkers and added some glitter on the moon and wings.  The butterflies down the side are a die cut with distress ink and the others are punches, sentiment I got off my buddy Rina .  I do hope you can join in!  You dont have to use a Crafts and Me image but we'd love to see them!

I'd like to enter this into....


Simon says stamp - Anything goes
Pan Pastel UK - Magical and Mystical
Platypus creek digtals - Things with wings
Deep Ocean challenge - Fantasy world
Made especially for you - Easel cards

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Thought I'd also show you some of the teacher gifts I made from Ethan.  He picked out the images and colours and I did the rest :)

First up is Teen Fairy Mia by Mo Manning coloured in promarkers and has a glittered and distressed die cut across the centre.

Would like to enter into...

Emerald Fairies - Flourishes/swirls
Southern Girls - Angels or Fantasy

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This one is Daisy Chain by Teddy Bo done in lilac and pink with a distress ink doily, curly pink-gold ribbon and a pink butterfly.

I'd like to enter into....

Forever Friends - Anything goes plus show and old card (LOL!)

Here's an old Tatty Teddy card from waaaay back in about 2004 hahaha!

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And last but not least is Sweet Blossom by Sylvia Zet at Wee Stamps coloured in yellows and pink with a light distressed edge, distressed doily and on the inside panel too

I'd like to enter this into.....

Cute Card Thursday - Distressing

They all open up like this and have little boxes of scented candles in :)

Stitching at Crafts & Me

Afternoon!  Oh I'm having great fun today!  Molly is having her party at the weekend and its the first big party we've had for the kids so its precision planning for me haha!  Today the bubble gun turned up - oh joy!  It blows bubbles and has lights and music so I've been having a good old play and the kids arent even here *smiles*  Not much to get now well I dont think but I do keep remembering other stuff like it would be useful if they had plates eh!  Have to write all this stuff down or I'll forget and the kids would end up on haribo and rice krispie cakes!


 I have another one to share this week, must be on a roll!!  I think I also have a thing for pink and lavender at the moment too!  Its challenge time at Crafts and Me and Coops is hosting her 1st challenge this week and she has chosen Stitching Real or Faux.

I've used the pretty Dahlia image which is a digi by Hannah Lynn available from Crafts & Me HERE coloured with promarkers and I've spreayed the card with iridescent gold glimmer mist.  Papers are from Bearly Mine from a set with butterflies and dragonflies in (Spring Flight) so though it would match superb to the image and I also managed to find a dragonfly charm and added that on a chain with silver beads and a silver heart.
Sentiment I got off Rina and flowers are from hobbycraft.

I'd like to enter into....

Fashionista challenge - winged things
Corrosive - Sentimentally yours
Great Impressions - Stay in the lines colouring
Sentimental Sundays - Pink/Stamp/Charm (BINGO)


Thanks for stopping by!

2 Pwitty Cards

Good Evening strangers!  Not been here for a while have I?!  I shall explain a bit further down but I wanted to share these 2 pretties with you this evening

This one is a new Hannah Lynn image from Crafts & Me called  Sadie's Dragon which is clearly proving very popular with the Crafts & Me DT as lots of us have done her!   I coloured with promarkers using a pink and lavender theme which gives her a much softer look.  I adore the little dragon she has, wish I had one!

I'd lke to enter her into.....

Secret Crafter - Pastel Colours
Crafty Catz - Spots
Paperplay - Happy Birthday
Card & Scrap - Wings
Anything goes challenge - polka dot & birthday

Next up is Amanda which I've been itching to do for a couple of weeks but have had a lot going on so only just got round to having a play!  I again used the pink and lavender theme but used bolder papers which are the fab Crafts & Me range HERE.  I use these quite a lot as I'm not really an embellishment kinda person and find the papers really fill the card so you don't need an awful lot on.  Here I've just used a bird die cut a friend gave me, a border die cut and 3 tiny nailhead gems.  I think you'll be seeing more of her as she's lovely to colour especially if you're wanting to blend your colours as the hair is made for that.

I'd like to enter her into....

Cardmadfairy - Summertime

Totally Papercrafts - Here comes summer

Papercrafting Journey - Summer

OOZAK - Bright colours

Crafty Sentiments - Summertime

Papertake - Anything goes

Tuesday throwdown - Summertime

Well where have I been?  Well regular readers will know I've been waiting for an assessment for Aspergers and the hoops you jump through to get there so it finally came around and I travelled up to a specialist clinic in Sheffield last week.  They even had an encaustic art picture on the wall which I had to go have a looksie at lol!

So long story short I now have not only confirmed Aspergers but ADHD too which explains a LOT to me!  That was a bit of a surprise but now I've familiarised myself with the symptoms things are starting to make a lot of sense to me now.
I've just taken some time out for reflection and a step back to view the bigger picture of life and slowed the pace a little.  I never considered ADHD as lets face it I'm not exactly running half marathons however the symptoms in adults tend to manifest in more mental activity, taking too much on, starting new stuff and getting bored once the challenging bits are over.  As a kid I was the classic ADHD in that I was always on the go, running, climbing etc but I'm certainly not like that now lol!
I've suddenly become very aware of my mannerisms such as the fact I fiddle all the time, I even make keyrings that I wrote "Designed by a fidget for fidgets" and its just something I've always done.
I' m also very easily distracted then forget what it was I'm supposed to be doing so Ive always written lists down of what I'm supposed to do and what deadline I have.

On the aspergers side its the attention to detail and one of my major ones is the dislike of being touched.  Crafters who've known me from cross stitching days will remember the Non-Touchy Hugs they used to send me as they knew I didnt like it lol!  It really is something that makes me incredibly uncomfortable as do queues, crowds and inconsistent noise - I can cope with the neighbours playing loud music as its consistent noise but DIY I wouldnt as it unpredictable - not that they do mind, they are good neighbours I'm the loud one!


Anyways off for a mooch x

Free Promarker demo day at Strikes (High Legh Garden Centre) 9th June

Evening all!  Sorry for bit of absence but I've been soooo busy!  I've been studying the finer points of personalisation after having some direction from a friend so I'm raring to go, just need someone to give me a job!!!  Not easy trying to get back into work after a 5 year break but I have 10 years experience before that so surely that must count for *something*

Also between that I volunteered to do some face painting in aid of the Shannon Bradshaw Trust which provides help and support for poorly children and their families.  Having only really painted my own and my kids faces before I've been practicing like a demon for the last 2 weeks so hopefully can pull it together for the event tomorrow (2nd June) which is from 12pm at The Saracens Head in Warburton near Lymm so if you're in the area pop along as theres lots of entertainment on for the kids.


And finally I am doing a FREE PROMARKER DEMO DAY at Strikes in Knutsford aka High Legh Garden Centre.  If you're fairly local you will have found this place and found what a great place for crafty stuff it is.  I'll be available from 10-4 on Saturday 9th June to pop in any time and ask any burning questions or have a go at improving your skills.

Here's some of the samples I'll have with me as I'll be doing the new Gorjuss Girls range and Crafters Companion stamps amongst others.


This one will show you how you can improve on a design with a bit of practice....

This is basic colouring, one colour for skin, dress and hair and how somebody new would likely start out.



This one is adding more skin tone and some pleats which is only a short step from above pic

This one is adding a lot more detail on the hair and dress and suitable for those who've mastered the basic skills and want to take that next step

And one of the crafters companion stamps which will be made into a card, I'll also be using this in the demos too to show you grass, clouds and getting the shine on that pot ;)

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I also made a card yay!  Ths image is by A day for Daisies and is called Pearls in my hair.  I saw it on Rina's blog a few weeks back and bought it and I showed the coloured image on the promarker paradise group on facebook a couple of weeks back and I think a couple bought it, she's lovely :)

I'd like to enter this into.....

A day for Daisies - Pinwheel inspiration

Card Making Mamas - Punches

Crafty Ann's - Butterflies & Flowers

Crafty Creations - Circles

Divas by design - ANything goes

I love promarkers - use a digi

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And finally some of my face painting efforts haha!  Well cant say I dont try, I'm not a natural painter but I enjoy it and its for a good cause :)

PS I hate new blogger, it keeps turning my pics around!!!



Passion for Promarkers MEGA challenge

There is a very special challenge this week over at Passion for Promarkers as its their 3rd Anniversary!  As it's a special challenge we have a really easy theme for you of "birthdays", although please note we are only accepting a maximum of 3 entries per person for this one challenge only.   To be eligible for our prize draw you must use your Letraset products (i.e. pro, flex, tria or aqua markers) and of course follow the theme.  As always we have some fantastic prizes up for grabs and our sponsors have been very generous as they always are. Here we go.....

Letraset are offering 3 lucky winners 1 pack of Limited Edition “Summer” promarkers.

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Joanna Sheen are offering 1 prize of a £10.00 voucher to spend in her online store.

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Crafty Emma’s store is offering one lucky winner a £10.00 voucher to spend in her online store.

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Polka Doodles are offering 2 lucky winners a copy of her mini CD collection “Pretty Sweet”.

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Bugaboo are offering once lucky winner 7 digi images of their choice.

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Pink Gem designs are offering one lucky winner their digi set called “Ewe make me smile”.

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DigiStamp Boutique are offering 6 digi images to one lucky winner.

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Bearly Mine Designs are offering one lucky winner 2 digi sets of their choice.

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Whimsy Stamps/Michele R Designs are offering one lucky winner a prize of $15.00 worth of digi papers.

 

 

 

 

Wowzers how about that!  For this challenge I have used a gorgeous stamp that was demoed at Port Sunny by The Stampman and is Stampendous butterfly postcard.  I coloured the butterfly with promarkers twice and 3d mounted it and have used pink and grey flexmarkers to colour the postcard flicking in from the edge.  Papers are tatty teddy spring stack, sentiment is magnolia.

 

I'd like to enter into...

Joanna Sheen - Happy Birthday

One stitch at a time - anything goes

Pan Pastel UK - Pastel colours

Craft your days away - All creatures great and small

Crazy 4 challenges - Birthdays

Fairy Tales - Things with wings

 

Inspiration photo at Passion for Promarkers

Evening all!  Had a great time again at Port Sunny.  This time I was working on the shop side as Jill was demoing Fran-tage - What's that I hear you say.....weeeeeelllll........

Its kinda adding various bits to an image for some super shimmer results, Jill from The Stampman managed to do us a quick video at the end of the day so if you bought some stuff and have now forgot how to use it (as we all do!) then here ya go - Jill does Fran-tage

Also been doing lots of reading and revision, Ive already done it all but I'm going back over it again to make sure I do understand the finer points of the mental capacity act and DOLS.  I'm a visual learner rather than a textbook one, I learn very quickly by DOING something and retain it than simply reading about it so I think tommorrows reading will be on safeguarding, rock n roll me you know!


Anyway I'm late again as usual!  I just dont seem to get the time on the PC until late on by which time I've either passed out or cant see the screen so reasonably early for me tonight!  This weeks challenge at PASSION FOR PROMARKERS  is a gorgeous inpiration photo of lengths of ribbons and fibres, there is a lot of scope there to combine colours or use the fibres etc.  I went with the dominant pink in the centre as my theme which is a Tilda catching stars, I think she is one of the prettiest Tildas ever and might even get a nod from the most enthusiastic disliker ha!

There is a prize of 3 digis by Crafts & Me up for grabs and as you know there is tons of gorgeous ones to choose from!


Is anyone else having problems when uploading pics that it turns them sideways?  It is driving me insane now and I'm getting so frustrated with the new blogger, I hate it aaaaargh!!!!

Tee Hee mini rant!  Anyway yes my card, I've coloured with promarkers of course and used a Go Kreate die for the shaped card, the princess die cut is from ebay so if anyone knows the brand I'd love to know too!  I added some pink to it and glamour dust sparkles and the flowers are hobbycraft and my LCS Strikes, papers I think are papermania.

I'd like to enter into...

Off to Port Sunny

Evening all!!  Its that time of year again woo hoo!  Port Sunny in the morning :D  You'll find me on The Stampman stall with Ian and Jill who will be demonstrating the Fran-Tage technique, if you've not seen it as I havent either then pop along and come see!  Look forward to seeing all the familiar faces there again :)

Got a couple to share with you tonight.  First up is the gorgeous Lady Liberty from Crafts & Me coloured with promarkers.  She turned out lovely so I wanted to make the image the focus and keep the embellishment minumum.  I coloured her one evening a couple of weeks ago and popped her in my to do box, I usually have a few in there as I like to just colour in the evenings.  Thats now been made a whole lot easier as I just bought this fantastic tray which has a beanbag bottom and a light built in so I can pop it on my knee whilst drooling over the mentalist and continue my promarker addiction :D


I've also started adding ebay links to cards I sell as generally I wouldnt on here but have realised that 95% of my customers are actually crafters, some like to buy as example pieces as even I've done that before.  Our Molly colours me things in and says I can sell them for our holiday haha bless her!
So if you're interested the link below whats available will take you there :)

I'd like to enter into...

Crafty Catz - Happy Birthday
Glitter Geeks - Wings n things
Dutch dare - birthdays
One stitch at a time - use a digi
Creatalicious - butterflies & flowers
Deep Ocean - What a wonderful woman

Next up is a lovely little stamp by Tiddlyinks which got a few ooohs and ahhhs at the vicky stampers workshop I did last week as I took a few sample pieces along.  She was lovely to colour in too and I used all the cool greys and a teensy bit of black with a fine nib on for the hair.

I've used coredinations black magic and papers from my scrummy new stack by first edition called dreamcatcher.  I did the ribbon and flowers a bit crumply to fit in with the feel of the card  :)

I'd like to enter into...

Tiddlyinks - Mom or feminine

Fussy & Fancy - Butterflies, ribbons & punches

Crafty Ribbons - Flowers

Delightful challenges - distressing

Anyway toodle pip, going to colour in bed whilst learing at the mentalist haha! x