About Me

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Hi, I'm Pam and thank you for visiting my blog. I have been making cards for over 10 years and am an independent demonstrator for Creative Expressions. I am lucky enough to teach on cruise ships and also get the chance to demo at The Big Stamping and Scrapbooking Show at Alexander Palace. I run workshops for a local craft shop and if anyone would like details of the them please e-mail me at stephen.smith870@ntlworld.com I love to scrapbook but my all time favourite thing is to get messy with ink!

Thursday 30 May 2013

Sir Tim

It's been way too long since I got out my Tim Holtz stamps to play (I mean work) with!

After my purple yesterday I thought I'd get messy with the inks and this is what I came up with.
For this card I've used the Classics 2 and Classics 7 stamp sets from the Mighty Mr Holtz.

First, I swiped Ripe Persimmon and Peeled Paint Distress Stains over a piece of Coconut White card.  I spritzed it quite heavily with water to make the colours blend then heat dried it.
I used the large collage image from set 7 for the background and did 2nd generation stamping using Black Archival Ink.
As it was stamped over Distress Stains, I was able to select areas from the stamped image to lift the colour away to give highlights.  It's a sort of bleaching effect without the smelly bleach!  It really is important to use the right cardstock for playing with water otherwise you get "pilling" which can mess up the finished project.  Coconut White is ideal for this, you can throw quite a bit of water at it without any problems.

Next, I stamped the chequerboard effect stamp around the edges to give it a frame, then the Column stamp from Set 2 as the main image.

In the background I've also stamped the words in Set 2 using Peeled Paint Distress Ink.

The edges of the card have been roughed up with a pair of scissors then distressed with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.  A bit of matting and layering and there you have it....hope you like it.
Everything used today has come from Creative Expressions and Creative Studios.

Now for todays travel photo!
Another view of the River Cam showing the punts.  I must admit, we cheated and hired a man who knew what he was doing when we booked the punt!  I had visions of one of us going overboard....it would have made a great photo (hee hee!) but it would have been a long soggy drive home!!

Many thanks for visiting, the forecast for the weekend is looking good, so here's to long crafty summer's days!
Until next time......

Wednesday 29 May 2013

WOYWW

Good Morning and a very Happy 4th WOYWW birthday to one and all.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and wasn't it wonderful to see the sun shining even if it was only for a couple of days!

Today's view of the desk isn't really of the desk, more like next to the desk.  I've been having a clear out of bits of paper, card and old rubber stamps that haven't seen the light of day since Noah was a boy.  Unfortunately, they're all too good to throw away so I have decided that my friend Jo is going to be the lucky? recipient of this lot!!  That's what friends are for, isn't it???
Jo, if you're reading this, please DO NOT leave the country or move house without giving me a forwarding address!  I keep on tripping over the bags every time I try to walk around the table.  You'd think they'd be big enough to see!!

Now for today's card.  The wonderful, yet slightly naughty, Sam Poole set her design team a challenge this week.  Make a purple card using the Enchanted Tree stamp set.
Well, I can't resist a challenge so here's my offering.

I've done a full step by step (with piccies) on the Creative Studios blog.  The stamps are gorgeous and really versatile.  Sam is an amazing designer and I just hope I've done her stamps proud.  The other DT members are posting their takes on the stamp set this week and all with a purple theme so stop by and have a look.

Now on to the travel photo of the day!
Another photo taken of the River Cam from the punt at the weekend.  It was just so tranquil and the weather couldn't have been kinder.

Don't forget the blog candy...it's still up for grabs.

Until next time, have a very good crafty day and thank you for visiting.

Monday 27 May 2013

Aunt's Birthday

Sorry I haven't been around for a couple of days but my aunt celebrated her 75th and the family de-camped to Cambridge to celebrate.  We all met up for lunch at The Orchard in Grantchester then spent a merry afternoon on a punt going up and down the River Cam.

That was yesterday.  The day before I got into a bit of a panic as I hadn't got a suitable card made ready for her!  Now you would think that I would have a stash to choose from (which I have) but I wanted something that was personal to her.  Anyway, I came up with the card here.
This is so different from my usual style that I really had to stop myself from getting out the Distress Inks!

The reason for the Flower Fairy is that when my aunt's mother was a child she sat as a model for Cicely Mary Barker as she was a neighbour.  My aunt has had a love of all things Flower Fairy since she found out about the connection to her mother.

I stamped the image with Momento Ink as it was coloured in with Copic pens.  I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed colouring!!  The lace is from Creative Expressions and the flowers were stamped and cut out from the same paper as I used for the matting and layering.

And now for a confession.....At the last minute I decided to stamp Zinnia (the name of the fairy) and caught the bottom edge of the stamp...aaargh!!!  I certainly didn't want to start again so I drew a line over the caught edge and added a few xxx's.  You know and I know but to my aunt it's part of the design!!!

We had a fab day yesterday and the weather was glorious so to finish with, here is a travel photo from nearer to home than I usually feature!
A view of the River Cam taken from the punt.

The auction on Friday was great fun.  I didn't find anything I was looking for but still bought some stuff!  I love pottery and glassware so bought some Studio pottery and some gorgeous vases.  There were also 2 enormous seaside prints (framed) that I got for £12 for the two.  Well, I couldn't leave them there at that price!!!  Now I've just got to find a wall for them!!!

Anyway, that's all for today.  Don't forget the blog candy draw and hopefully I'll be back tomorrow but we have a visitor staying for a couple of days but I'll do my best.

Hope you all have a great Bank Holiday and lots of craft fun.

Friday 24 May 2013

Tags!

Another very quick post this morning as we're off to an auction.  There's a lot of musical instruments in the auction so we have to go and have a look (and maybe buy something!).

I'll be looking to see if there are any cheap frames, mirrors or boxes, in fact anything that I could alter!!  We have to get there quite early as we missed the viewing day yesterday so need to have a good poke around before the auction starts.

Now on to the crafty stuff.  I haven't had much in the way of mojo for the past few days....think it's taken itself off to sunnier climes.  Hopefully it'll return when the sun starts shining here!  When I get like that I often just sit and make tags and that's what happened yesterday.
The first one is a mixed media tag.  I've just used a really cheap tag from a stationers and covered it with Perfect Medium then clear UTEE.  Once that had been heated, I re-inked and put some black embossing powder on.  I re-heated it and while it was still warm, added some Cosmic Shimmer Mica Flakes, Micro Beads and a little bit of glitter.  The flower was made with a Spellbinder Blossoms die.  I covered the piece of card I was cutting out with double sided adhesive (the Creative Expressions one works best for this), cut out the flower in the Grand Calibur, removed the backing sheet and covered the flower with gilding flakes before rolling it into shape.

The second tag was really quick.  After covering a tag with Distress Ink, I inked up a mask with Perfect Medium and embossed it with the Grand Calibur.  When that was done, I removed the mask and covered the tag with clear embossing powder and heated.  It looks a bit like animal skin.

Tag three was made by inking all over the tag with Wild Honey Distress Ink then masking off an area and inking through the mask with Rusty Hinge Ink.  I used an anti static bag before inking up the train (it's from a set by Sam Poole at Creative Studios) with black archival and setting it with clear embossing powder.  The oval was cut using a Spellbinder die and the label on it is another Sam Poole stamp.  They've been inked the same way and I've used some Black Soot to distress them.

I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet but hopefully inspiration will strike!

Now to todays travel photo!
This one is just a bit of fun!  It was taken in Parantins which is a town on the Amazon river.  It's my lovely better half (so he would say!) being eaten by a rather large snake!

Anyway, that's all for today.  Don't forget the blog candy.  Hope you all have a very happy crafty day and thanks for taking time to stop by.


Wednesday 22 May 2013

WOYWW

Good Morning All.  I can't believe that it's Wednesday already....where did this last week go!

Well, I'm ashamed to say that my desk hasn't got any less messy than the last visit!  In my defence, I am in the middle of sorting out kits for the next workshop in July.  I know that's ages away but it's nearly the start of the festival season when I can go away and be an ageing hippy!

On the desk are some Cosmic Shimmer Misters, a set of Nautical stamps and my trusty Teacup as well as the start of the packs, masks and sample card.

I'm on the Creative Studios DT blog today with a step by step for the door hanger I've put on here.  I've used the Wise Owl set of stamps designed by Sam Poole.  If you'd like to know how I made it, please click on the link on the right.

And finally, my travel photo for today!  This is in the Amazon where we were lucky enough to visit in January when we were teaching on a cruise.  It's a place called Alto do Chao and is a beach resort right on the shore of the Amazon river!

Well, that's all for today.  Many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments for me,  I do appreciate it.  Until next time......

Tuesday 21 May 2013

Enchanted Trees

Good Morning All.
Sorry I didn't make it yesterday but I woke up feeling really rough and achy...almost like 'flu but today I'm fine again.  Go figure!


Anyway, enough of that and on to a card I made using one of the fab new stamp sets from Sam Poole at Creative Studios.

I started by stamping the new A6 Tree Bark stamp onto some Kraft card with Coffee Archival Ink.  The large tree was also stamped with Coffee Archival but this time onto cream card and heat embossed.  The message was stamped the same way.

On the background, I've rubbed 3 colours of gilding wax.  I can't remember all the names but I know one was Deep Red and the others were a gold and a copper!  That'll teach me to write these things down!  I've used the small tree to make a border around the edge of the background and I've randomly stamped the words "Enchanted Souls".

I added gilding wax over the tree and message.  I've edged the background, main image and message with Black Soot Distress Ink the gone around the very edge with a black Copic pen.

To finish the card, I've used a strip of Kraft card which I've distressed and tied some twine around it.  There's also a Dazzler on it just to give it a bit of bling!

It's a shame that a photo doesn't do justice to the wonderful effects that you get with gilding wax.

All of the products I've used are from Creative Studios.  To visit, just click on the link to Sam Poole on the right of this page.

Just a quick travel photo this morning.

We were lucky enough to be working on a 6 week cruise to the Amazon and Caribbean in January this year and on board, teaching scrapbooking was my good friend Michelle (also known as the Art Tart!).

We had a fantastic time (as did the passengers) and this photo was taken in a small village on the banks of the Amazon.  The children dress up in costume and bring their pets to show everyone whenever a cruise ship shows up there.  The little girl is holding her pet sloth.

Well, that's all until tomorrow so until then, have a great crafty day!
 

Sunday 19 May 2013

Thank You

Good Morning Everyone and a very happy, relaxing Sunday to you all.

Firstly, a very big Thank You to everyone who came to the workshop yesterday.  It was a bit manic at times...we really do need a bigger room...but great fun.  Hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.  The next one is July 6th and I'll have another 4 projects ready to play with!

Now onto todays card.  This one is a white on white card.  I wanted to make something a bit more elegant than my usual inky offerings as it's to give to friends that have invited us to lunch today.

First, I pierced around the edge of a square of plain white card with my piercing ruler.  Sue Wilson gave me a great tip for doing this.  Hold the ruler in place at both ends with the stick pins...then you've got them ready for the finished card as well!

I ran a smaller square of card through the Grand Calibur with the Moroccan Mask and taped a strip of ribbon around it before matting and layering.  The topper was made using a "To Die For" stamp, labels 23.  I inked the stamp up with Perfect Medium and heat embossed with Cosmic Shimmer True White embossing powder. The stamps match the Spellbinder dies perfectly so after stamping I placed the die over the image and cut it out. 
I had a "Thank You" message stamp in my stash (very old and I don't even know where it came from!) that was just the right size and font for what I wanted.  I used the inner from the die cut to stamp the message on which was then heat embossed with clear powder.
Once the message was glued into place, I added the die cut topper with 3d foam pads.  A bow, some stick pins, a dazzler and some pearls and the card is finished.  Hope you like it...hope the friends it's for like it too!  Apart from the message stamp, everything else used was from Creative Expressions.

Todays travel photos!  I fell in love with Hvar in Croatia so thought I'd bring you a couple more shots from there.


This is a view from the castle.  I always try to find nice marinas wherever we go as we have a friend with a yacht and keep hinting that he would like to sail to these places and possibly take us with him as crew!  I can make a good cup of tea, even is rough seas!!
And this one was the main promenade by the seafront.

This week on Create and Craft the very talented Julia Watts will be demoing the "To Die For" stamps so do tune in.

Hope you all have a great day and many thanks for stopping by.



Friday 17 May 2013

Quick and Simple

Good Morning All.  Thought I'd keep it quick and simple this morning as I've much to do (but not about nothing!!)

I've got to sort out all the tools for the workshop tomorrow and double check that the packs have all the necessary goodies to make the projects.

I'm also half way though putting another card together.  I walked away from it yesterday as I wasn't sure where it was going.  Sometimes it's best to go back to these things the next day!

Anyway, here is todays offering.

I stamped the background using Dusty Concord Distress Ink and used a stamp from Enchanted Trees by Creative Studios.

I stamped the small tree from the set 3 times using Broken China, Faded Jeans and Dusty Concord.  Once the trees were stamped, I used the same background stamp to go around the trees.  The message is from the same set of stamps and has been inked with Black Archival and heat embossed with clear powder.  Just a bit of simple matting and layering to finish.  All of the products used are from Creative Studios and to check them out, click on the link to Sam Poole on the right.  While you're there, take a look at the Design Team page.  We newbies to the DT are busy putting projects on there which will hopefully give you some ideas.

Now for todays travel photos!  I'm thinking of making this a permanent feature!  These were taken on the island of Burano in Venice.  The tower really is leaning that far over!

I loved the houses, the colours in the sunshine were glorious, makes me wish that I could paint but photos will have to do I'm afraid!

So, that's all for today.  I might not get a chance to post tomorrow as it's an early start for the workshop.  If I don't get to do it, I'll be back on Sunday. 

Hope you all have a happy crafting day and thanks for visiting.

Thursday 16 May 2013

The Finished Project

Good Morning All.  Many thanks to everyone who visited yesterday and for all your wonderful comments.

Well, here is my first Design Team piece for Creative Studios.  I was pleased with how it came out (especially as I didn't have a clue where I was going with it!).
Sometimes these things just fall into place!
I have fallen in love with my Melt Pot all over again and can't think why it ended up on a shelf neglected for so many years.  I also had a pot of beeswax that I bought 5 years ago and until this year was unopened!
You never know when these things will come in handy!!
Anyway, back to the project......
The stamps I've used are from 2 stamp sets by the very talented designer Sam Poole at Creative Studios.  They are Timeless Journey and Steampunk Dreams.  I've put the full step by step on the Creative Studio blog.
To find it, click the link to Sam Poole on the right of this page.  When you get there, click onto Design Team at the top of the page and all the DT projects will be there.  I posted mine yesterday.
It also gave me a chance to play with the Ranger Vintaj Patina paints to distress the metal embellishments.  I should really have taken a photo of what they looked like before.  Let's just say they were a bit brassy looking!

Now onto todays travel feature!  This is a photo of the statue to Christ the King taken in Lisbon.  It was made to look like the one in Rio but is quite a bit smaller.  It still looks impressive when you're up close to it.  It stands on the opposite side of the River Tagus to the main city and can be seen for miles.  The weather was pretty good as well!!

That's nearly all for today, thank you for visiting and hope you like the project.  Thank you also to the new blog followers...we'll soon be at the target for the candy draw! And the Saturday workshop has now sold out. There will be another one in July, date to be confirmed.  Until tomorrow, happy crafting!

Wednesday 15 May 2013

WOYWW

Good Morning and Happy WOYWW! 

If you're not sure what this is all about, go to my link on the right and have a look.  For curious bodies like myself, it's a great way of having a little look-see at other people's desks and what they're up to!

Mine, as usual, looks like a bomb has hit it!  To be fair I'm assembling bits for a project for the Creative Studios Design Team.  It's being posted on the Creative Studio blog tomorrow complete with "Step by Step" photos but I will also post a picture of the finished piece on here.  For the step by step, please visit Sam Poole (the link is on the right).

A card that I did manage to finish was this one.  I'm quite pleased with it as it's not my normal colour scheme (trying to get out of my comfort zone).  The stamps are the "Wise Owl" set from Creative Studios and I've used Barn Door and Wild Honey Distress Inks.  The background was make using the Falling Leaves A6 stamp again from Creative Studios.

And finally, another photo from my travels.  This time I thought I'd post one from Venice again.  It has to be one of my favourite cities in the world.  I wouldn't want to go there in "high season" though...it's also one of the busiest with tourists!
You can just see the Bridge of Sighs in the background.  This was taken from the ship as we sailed in at 6.30 in the morning.
 
Hope you all have a happy crafting day and many thanks for dropping by and leaving all your comments.
P.S.  Don't forget about the blog candy...as soon as I hit 300 followers I'll be making the draw.

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Sympathy Card

Morning All.  I'm pleased to say that yesterday was a bit more productive mojo wise and I actually managed to finish a card!
I think that the cold must be getting better!

I didn't know where I was going with this one until it was nearly finished then it suddenly struck me, this would be a good "sympathy" card.  I think that the words "Be Strong" are so apt.  If I was sending it for that reason I would mask off the other words (and Grow).

I started with some Kraft card that I stamped using one of Sam Poole's new A6 stamps, Falling Leaves with Coffee Archival Ink.
The image of the Tree and the word stamp are from another set by Sam and these were also stamped with the same colour ink.  I used cardstock from Creative Expressions for the matting and layering.  The Champagne Silky Crush Ribbon and Dazzler are also from CE.

The workshop I'm teaching on Saturday is nearly full....just one space left, so today I'll be packing all the tools and checking I've got everything in the packs that we'll need.  Looking forward to seeing all the "usual suspects" or "repeat offenders" as I like to think of them!!

And finally, another photo from my travels.  This time it's Lisbon.  A beautiful city and I've chosen a piccie of a tram!  They just sum up the place and are everywhere.  Definitely one of the best ways of getting around and they are so cheap to use.  Take note our transport systems...I said "They are so cheap to use!!!"

Well, that's all for today.  Take care of yourselves and enjoy your crafting.  Many thanks for stopping by.
 

Monday 13 May 2013

Ever Had One of those Days

Have you ever had one of those days where you start out with so many ideas then when you make a start they just don't work out?  Welcome to my world yesterday!!

I merrily headed down to the studio and after 2 hours I admitted defeat and came back for a large dose of caffeine.
Ah well, maybe today will be more productive.  I've got a "Thank-You" card to make ready for the weekend (lunch with friends) and a 75th birthday card for my Aunt to put together before May 26th.  Maybe that will focus my mind.

I did manage to play for a while and just had fun splatting ink around using the Distress Stains.  I used Ripe Persimmon, Peacock and Squeezed Lemonade.  The flower is made from leaves stamped from Sam's Creative Studio Owl set.  They've been cut out and then the stem was doodled (as was the frame).  Doodling was about the only thing I felt capable of...I think it's the cold I've caught....feeling very sorry for myself!!!  Anyway, the card's a bit of fun and I'd forgotten how satisfying doodling can be so there was an upside to it all! 


Now on to todays travel photos.....I love the masks in Venice and thought that these 2 were stunning.  Had to take them through a shop window.....they really don't like you taking photos in the shops of the masks....spoilsports!!!!

Hope you all have a great day doing what makes you happy.  Thank you for visiting.
 

Sunday 12 May 2013

Hearts!

Morning one and all...hope the weather is going to be a bit better today.  I definitely work better when the sun is shining.  On a miserable day I just want to go back to bed and hide under the duvet!
Anyway, to start the day with something a bit brighter, I thought I'd show you this card.  It's another one from a past workshop I taught but I still like it.  The colours aren't my usual ones and it's nowhere near as distressed as I usually go!
I've used some of the Studio 490 stamps for this one.  The stamps are a gorgeous quality and pre-mounted. 
I stamped the hearts twice onto white card using Crimson Archival Ink and once onto red card with Perfect Medium then heat embossed it with Cosmic Shimmer True White.
The background is a piece of white card that I ran through the Grand Calibur with the Baroque embossing folder then picked up some of the embossed detail with Shabby Shutter Distress Ink.  The seam binding ribbon was also coloured with the same ink.  That's what I love about the seam binding...you can colour it so easily and have ribbon to match every project.
The message is from the same set of stamps and has been stamped with the Crimson ink but heat embossed using CS Clear.  To finish I just edged it with the Shabby Shutters.  A bit of matting and layering with the top heart stuck on with 3d foam pads et voila!!  A really quick and easy card.  Hope you like it.  All of the products used are available from Creative Expressions.

Another piccie from my travels.  We visited the island of Burano in Venice and I saw these beautiful Murano glass pendants all in a bowl.  They looked so stunning all mixed together with the sunlight reflecting off them that I couldn't resist taking a photo.  My wonderful OH was on a different tour that day (we were both working as tour escorts) and when we met up he had bought me a gorgeous Murano Glass bracelet as a surprise.  He earned MANY brownie points that day!!!

Well, that's it for today.  Back down to the studio where the Creative Studios DT project is coming together (finally!)
Hope you have a great day whatever you're doing and thanks for visiting.

Saturday 11 May 2013

Apologies!

Firstly, I must apologise for my absence yesterday.I had an MRI scan on my knee and the day just got away from me.  Nothing serious, I think I might have torn a ligament and the cartiledge (again!)
I didn't have an accident , didn't fall, not a footballing injury, just turned over in bed and my knee didn't follow!

Anyway, onto cheerier matters.  I thought I'd put this card on here today.  It's one I made a while back for a class I was teaching but I still like it. 
I used Sam Poole's Vintage Sewing stamps (from Creative Studios).  It is such a useful set and I must admit to using it a lot....think the class might be thinking I have an obsession (and I can't even sew)!
I cut some squares of paper to make a patchwork background, glued them into place then stamped over them using Faded Jeans Distress Ink which I also used to distress the edges.
The main images were stamped using Dusty Concord Ink, cut to size and again the edges were distressed. To make the dressform, I heated up some UTEE (a mix of clear and Arctic Blue), poured it onto my craft sheet then after inking up the stamp, pressed the stamp into the UTEE.  Once it had cooled, the stamp just lifted off.  It is important to ink the stamp up first with this technique to protect it.  Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue worked really well to stick it into place.

And now for another travel photo!  This one is of a fishing boat in Malta.  I love the bright colours that they paint the boats.  Even if the sky is a bit overcast, it still looks cheerful.

Well, that's it for today.  Must get on after yesterday's total wash out!  I'm working on a project for Sam's design team blog which I'm due to post on Thursday and I'm not sure which way I'm going with it at the moment!  Watch this space!!  Happy Crafting and thanks for visiting.



Thursday 9 May 2013

Happy Thursday

Good morning all, hope you're all well.

Here's another card I made for the Ally Pally demos but I ran out of time to show it.

I made the card using Coconut White cardstock which has to be the best I've ever found.  It takes ink beautifully and you can throw water at it without any of the bobbling that can happen.

I die cut one of the Sue Wilson Spellbinder dies from the Lattice set to frame the message.  The message was stamped using black Archival ink onto a die cut oval.  The butterfly is also a Spellbinder die.  So, to put the card together, here's the "recipe!"

The main card is 8x8.  I cut a smaller piece (6x6) and ran it through the Grand Calibur with a mask in place.  The edges were inked with Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  The Lattice die was also inked with the Spun Sugar.  After stamping the message I glued it into place then added the Lattice die using 3d foam pads.  I matted and layered the embossed card onto a slightly larger piece of pink Bazzil card which I also used to die cut some Spellbinder Flourishes with.
After cutting the butterfly I applied some glitter and flake glue and covered it in silver gilding flakes.  To finish it, I added a bow with a dazzler in the centre and a couple of stickpins.  There are some faux pearls in 2 of the corners made from the Cosmic Shimmer coloured glues.  Hope you like it.
 And just to finish...a little bit of silliness!  I was wandering around La Coruna in Spain and came across this Comedy Plaza.  It was fab!  The carvings on the pavements were wonderful, I've only added a photo of Fred and Barney but there were loads of them.  It's great when you stumble across things like this....really makes you smile!

Wednesday 8 May 2013

WOYWW

 Morning All!  I'm back after the cruise and got home to find a package of loveliness to play with.
An enormous thank you to Sam Poole (who is extremely talented) for sending me these fab goodies to play with.  Anywho, this is what's on my desk today. 

So what did I do with it all....well, I managed to make 1 wall hanging as I had 3 weeks worth of washing to catch up with.  I had to have a little play, couldn't resist!  Here's the finished project.
The first thing I did was to cover the background with some K&Co paper which I distressed with Peeled Paint.  The arch frame was painted with Mulch Eco-Green Acrylic Paint.  I picked up some Olive paint on a piece of Cut 'n Dry and dabbed it on.  When it was dry I stamped the Woodgrain background stamp onto it with Coffee Archival Ink.
I've also stamped some of the leaves onto the background and painted them with the Peeled Paint Distress Ink.
The next step was marking where the arch would go so that I could stamp the message in the right place.
I stamped the owl onto a piece of patterned paper (K&Co again) with Archival ink, then overpainted it with Distress Inks.  I stamped it again onto Coconut White card, painted it and cut some of it out to decoupage with.
The leaves were also stamped onto white card, cut out and painted.
The colours of Distress Inks used were: Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Vintage Photo and Rusty Hinge.

It was great fun to make and now that the washing and drying are finished...yippee!!!...I can get down to some serious playing.  I hope to have lots more finished pieces to show you over the next few days.  All of the items used are available from Creative Studios...check online and visit Sam's blog as well as the other design team members.

Just to finish off with, another picture of the sail in to Venice .  It has to be one of the most spectacular sail ins in the world as you have to sail past St. Mark's Square to get to the cruise ship berths.  I have to say that I was pretty pleased with my photographic efforts as well!!!

Many thanks for visiting and I hope to get around as many desks as possible this week.  I do appreciate all of the comments that you leave.  Until next time....happy crafting.

Tuesday 7 May 2013

I'm Back!!


Hi All....I'm finally back from my travels so normal service will be resumed as from today!

Firstly, I had some fantastic news while I was away and the logo next to this is a clue.

I applied to join the enormously talented Sam Poole's design team just before I went away and much to my amazement was chosen.  There was a lot of jumping up and down and cheering going on in a small cafĂ© in Corfu when I finally got some Wi-Fi and found out....there were also a few funny looks from the locals!  Even better, when I got back yesterday, there was a package from Sam with some fantastic new stamps to play with.  I'm straight off to the studio as soon as I've posted this to start playing with them.  Hope to have some piccies to show you tomorrow but in the meantime, check out Sam's website and have a look at them.


As I don't have any projects to show you today I thought I'd show a photo of 1 of the ports we stopped at.  This is Hvar in Croatia.  It was stunning and is best avoided every August when Paris Hilton and loads of other "celebs" invade it complete with paparazzi.  There is also very loud techno music pumping out 24 hours a day but the rest of the year it is a beautiful, peaceful fishing town.

We sailed into Venice at 6am and the light was fantastic.  There was a classical quartet playing on the deck of the ship as we made our way along, going past all the famous landmarks.  Champagne and smoked salmon were on offer as well.  What a way to get to Venice!
Anyway, enough of my wafflings....off to do some "work" with my new toys.   I'll be back tomorrow...happy crafting.