It's a Scrappy life

Imagine....vintage style wooden box for Happy Daze

2012-01-25T00:11:00.001Z

This week for Happy Daze I have altered one of THESE little wooden boxes with Mady Scrolls Work stamp image

I started by painting the box with a light green acrylic paint and when dry painted over areas of it with crackle glaze. When the crackle was dry I painted over them roughly with white paint - I didn't want to obliterate the green just make it look shabby.

I highlighted the edges with Inka Gold in ROSE .

I stamped the image in coffee archival ink on to a piece of tissue paper and then glued it on to the lid with Claudines matte medium and then coated the whole box with it to give it a protective coat.
I added some torn pieces of TH tissue tape to the top and sides of the box.

I used Glitz stickers for the word "Imagine" inspired by the tissue tape.

I finished it off with a piece of ribbon and buttons glued on with the matte medium and tied a piece of ribbon around the box in a bow.
Scrolls Work stamps are no longer in production so if you would like any I wouldn't wait to long as when they are gone Moira won't be able to restock them.

Don't forget about this months challenge is to try or to use something new. All the details of the challenge and how to enter can be seen here.

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Polymer clay pendants for Happy Daze

2012-01-06T22:19:00.002Z

Hi everyone and Happy New Year :D
For my NEW technique this week I coloured white polymer clay using perfect pearls pigment powders.
I used white clay and manipulated it until it was nice and soft. I put my perfect pearls on a piece of clingfilm and squished the clay in to it, then neaded it in.
Polymer clay is much softer than it used to be so is much easier to get to a workable texture.

I added in some clear glitter to see how that would look baked, you can't really see it though on the front of the piece, but I rather like how the back turned out with the crinkles from the clingfilm :DIt could quite easily be made in to a reversible piece by adding detail to the back (which I have just thought of now by the way LOL ).

While the clay was still unbaked I cut it in to the shape, made my hanging holes, then pressed my butterfly stamp in to it.

I baked it according to the manufacturers instructions and left it to cool.

Once cooled I added alcohol inks, I started with greens and blues all over but didn't feel the text stood out enough, so I covered it in black soot.
I then removed the excess by wiping over the surface with a paper towel with a little bit of blending solution on leaving behind the ink in the stamped image.
I added a little bit of perfect pearls to the butterfly.
When everything was dry I coated it with layers of Lisa Pavelka resin.

I tried a couple of other pieces some succesful, others not.
This is the same blue as my main piece but I added beadazzles to it...
This piece didn't work so well as I added the resin just to the indented area first and it puddled the alcohol ink ...And these little birds turned out rather nicely.
The one on the left is just the perfect pearls, the one on the right is swiped over with black ink.

The great thing about this technique is that you only need to buy white clay and colour it any colour with your mica powders.

Whats your something new going to be this month?
Upload it to the launch post on the Happy Daze blog to be in with a chance of winning this months prize :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Edited to add - everybody seems to love that little bird mould so HERE is a link for it. Its only a little mould though probably about 2cm max accross the widest point

Goodbye 2011...

2011-12-31T20:07:00.002Z

and HELLO 2012 :D

Hope you have all had an amazing Christmas and that you are celebrating in style the arrival of the new year :D

I am having a quiet one with my pooches, until my lovely hubby gets back home from work at 11pm to see in the new year with me :D

All the best to you all,
Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

2011-12-09T20:44:00.002Z

This week I was inspired by T!ms 12 days of Christmas day 4 tag but made it in to a Santa stop here door hanger.

I started by covering my wooden door hanger with Pink Paislee Santas list patterned paper.
I inked it with and then splattered and spritzed on water to give a nice mottled grungey look.

I used Viva decor Inka Gold on the wooden edges which I found easiest to apply with a semi dry baby wipe.

Th ruffle on the bottom is made with pleated tissue tape - I put a piece of double sided tape on to the base first then pleated the tape along it.

My lace was coloured by putting distress stain on to my nonstick craft sheet, adding a little water to soften the colour and squishing the lace in to it until I was happy with the coverage.
I glued it down with Claudine's matte medium.

I ran a piece of acetate through my big shot with the TH snowflake border embossing folder and cut around the snowflakes.
I attached this with a little DST along the edge that would be hidden by my embellishments.

My snowman and snowflakes were cut from grunge board then painted with pearl acrylic paint dabber.
I coated the snowman with Rock Candy crackle glaze and left it to dry thoroughly , when dry I highlighted the cracks with distress inks.
I added the snowflakes with glossy accents and added buttons to the centres.
I tied some scraps of ribbon and fabric round his neck for a scarf and dangled some buttons strung together with jump rings from it, then attached him to the hanger with foam tape to add some dimension.

My little sign was hand written on to the back of an journalling ticket and pinned on with a memo pin

The last thing I did was smear on lashings of Rock Candy distress stickles to give it a lovely sparkly frosty feel.

Have fun,
hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Time for Tea??

2011-12-04T23:39:00.003Z

I have just uploaded this really cute Alice themed ear wire in to my Folksy shop HERE

So if you fancy something a little bit different for that special Alice fan in your life why not stop by and get them a treat :D

I have lots of other pretty ear wires in my shop and have just listed some beaded ones without earrings which including postage are only £10!!!

Dare to be different?
Go on, you know you want too :D

hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Naughty or nice???

2011-12-03T10:35:00.006Z

The challenge this month over at Happy Daze blog is all to do with Christmas. Anything you have made to give as a gift, to wrap your gift in or label your gift.

This will also tie in very nicely with Tim's 12 days of christmas tags, so if you are planning to follow Tim and do the tags this year do check out the shop for many of the must have items you will need. If you do take part in his tag challenge please share them will us by uploading via the linky at the bottom of the POST.

I made a really sweet Nughty or Nice Santa Pin made using Lisa Pavelka Resin Pink Paislee Father Christmas around the world Paper a gold bail like this one corked Vials Christmas muse tokens platinum stickles
I covered the domino in the Around the world paper, add stickles to the edges then covered it in the Lisa Pavelka resin, set for 10 minutes in your UV lamp box, add the bail to the back and there it is a lovely altered domino ready for hanging. Add various beads to a length of chain using jump rings and attach the muse token to the bottom. In the little corked vial add your naughty and nice list and hang this from a length of beaded chain. Hang them along the pin in the order shown, or mix them around it's up to you. A fab pin to brighten up your christmas.

Don't forget to hop on over to the HAPPY DAZE blog to check out the other DT's fabby creations to inspire your Christmas crafting :D

Are you taking part in Tims 12 tags of Christmas?? I had planned to, but haven't even got one done yet!!! :-O

Don't forget to visit the SHOP for all your essentials :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Edited to add - this is now on sale in my Folksy shop HERE if anybody is interested :D

Santas Christmas treat chest for Happy Daze

2011-11-25T20:10:00.000Z

Well I really need to kick start my Christmas mojo in to gear as I am so disorganised with only being back from my hols less than two weeks!!
I thought I would share this cute idea for an alternative advent calendar which could be decorated to suit all ages.

I have made mine in to a vintage shabby chic style and plan on filling it with little chocolate treats, candy canes and promise tickets - eg. make mince pies, watch a Christmas movie etc...

I used a papier mache chest and covered it with two sheets of Pink Paislee Santas list 12x12 paper.

I started by painting all the edges inside and out with green acrylic paint so that any expose areas wouldn't be left brown.
When dry I painted the edge that is trimmed with red acrylic paint and left to dry again.

I cut the papers roughly to size and then used my nail to give score the paper in to the edges of the box to give me a cutting guide. The boxes aren't exact measurement wise, so make sure your paper is cut to fit the widest points so that you can cut them back to size.I distressed my edges with an emery board and then inked with Broken China distress ink pad then glued them in to place with Glossy Accents - I like to swirl it on then spread it out with my finger so that it reaches all the edges. I like GA for sticking paper on to objects as it grabs and dries quickly.

On the inside of the lid I added a distressed hole in the paper before adhering to the box and stuck a small piece of contrasting patterned paper on to the back to add to the shabby look.

I covered it inside and out and when finished strengthened the hinged section with tissue tape which I also inked with the broken china.

I glued on a piece of vintage lace using Claudine's matte medium - now I have a little tip when using this - make sure you clean the edge of the jar before you put the lid back on. If you don't (like I hadn't) and then don't use it for a while you will have BIG problems getting the lid off!

I also used the medium to stick the charms and prima flower on, as already mentioned its a really good strong glue LOL :D

I embossed some of the pieces with TH alterations embossing folders which I distressed and inked.

My splash of colour on the project is my lovely broken china distress stickles and the distress stain I used on the Adage ticket.

I used some letter stickers I have had for ages on the front of the box and gave them a little bit of dimension with the Glossy Accents. The promise tickets would be a great idea to keep the kids occupied over the Christmas period with ideas like make paper chains, make gingerbread, write a letter to Santa etc...

If you were making it for a crafter you could make little parcels or envelopes and fill them with little embellies - ideaology trinkets would be fabby for anybody taking part in T!ms 12 tags of Christmas. Moira sells fabby taster packs of these too so it needn't cost a fortune.

Or how about filling it with chocolate coins?

If you get cracking you will just have time to make it before the 1st of December :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Christmas is coming!!!!

2011-10-22T20:48:00.003+01:00

It's definitely sneaking up on us now isn't it??
If you are thinking about your Chrimbo prezzies now please come and check out my jewellery for sale at my Folksy shop Vintage Me :D

Or visit me on FACEBOOK to keep up to date with whats new

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Death bangle for Happy Daze

2011-10-21T22:47:00.000+01:00

Can't find the perfect jewellery to go with your halloween costume? or do you want something just a little bit different to everybody else's??

Then pick up some of these amazing wooden bangles from Moira at just £3.55 for a set of three!!! :D

They have a lovely smooth surface so are very easy to colour.
I coloured mine by rubbing on Viva decor inka gold and polishing it up.

I then stamped white tissue paper with images from these fabby Pink Paislee Phantom stamps .

I glued them on with Claudine Hellmuth matte medium being careful not to get any on the front of the image as I wanted to tint the images with distress Spiced Marmalade ink pad.

I lightly spritzed patches of the bangle with Cosmic shimmer mist - just a little warning though, the pigment is very strong in these and stains very easily.....I have very purple hands right now!!!

I glued on some little patches of grey lace with the matte medium then when dry smeared on some distress stickles in Spiced Marmalade and Chipped Sapphire.

When everything was dry I sponged on more matte medium to seal everything in place.

You could make bangles to match all your outfits with these very affordable bangles :D
Now for some close ups....

Hugs'n'spooky snogs,
Julie xx

Hocus Pocus earwire for HappyDaze

2011-10-07T22:34:00.000+01:00

hi everyone, this week I am sharing a cute little piece of jewellery for Halloween or just for anybody with a secret dark side ;-)

It features the brand spanking new Pink Paislee Phantom clear stamps :D

They are super cool and not strictly for Halloween with the cute little cameos and bird cage.
I stamped them on to shrink plastic using a black promarker as I found archival ink too wet, particularly with clear stamps.

I added lots of beads, chains and a cute little vial coloured with red alcohol ink.

These are my latest addiction and if you want to know more about how to create your own visit Amelia Lunes Etsy shop HERE to purchase a tutorial.

Here's a few more pics for you with a little bit more detail :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Been a little bit busy....

2011-09-18T23:01:00.007+01:00

....due to a reclassification of "handmade" on Folksy!!

Quite a few of the items are now not deemed to be handmade so rather than deleting the items and losing my fees I have made some new bits and pieces and altered the listings.

I have moved the "naughty" items over to a new shop HERE on DaWanda to give that a try if anybody would like to pay me a visit :D

And just in case you don't want to visit there but are on facebook I have a new page HERE, so please come and "like" me :D

Wanna see what I have been up to???
here ya go :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Dreamy butterfly tin for Happy Daze

2011-09-09T17:16:00.003+01:00

Well, I was already to share a cute altered domino necklace with you this week until I checked the blog and spotted that Moira and Carol had already beaten me to jewellery pieces!!! LOL

But never mind, it spurred me on to finish this sweet little tin instead :D

It started life as one of these plain little silver coloured hinged lid tins.

I covered the lid with Tim Holtz tissue tape in a random pattern to create a collaged effect. I used alcohol inks sponged on to the tape to colour it, then used a fine brush to add colour to the butterfly.

When it was completely dry I gave it a couple of coats of Lisa Pavelka resin - this is the stage that it has sat on my table for for about a month, not the resins fault as it was cured, I just couldn't decide where it was going next!!!

So I set it in front of me last night and stared it out for a while.

Then I had a look in my cupboard, then stared some more!

Then it hit me like a lightening bolt and I reached for my jewellery making boxes and hunted out the perfect metal leaf charms and lush lucite flower beads (I'm not sure what lucite is but they do look like plastic to me haha :D)

I added some pearls, buttons , lace and some teeny alphas and bobs your uncle - one sweet little tin that would be great to give a tiny gift in or just as a gift on its own .

Pop on over to Happy Daze to see most of the products I used on this project.

Check back tomorrow and I will show you the cute necklace you can see on here along with a few others :D

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie xx

2011-09-02T21:04:00.003+01:00

I have just finished this necklace and listed it on Folksy HERE - if you are interested don't dally because I might change my mind and keep it LOL :D

Hugs'n'snogs.
Julie xx

Edited to add OMG its sold already!!!

well I tried!!!!

2011-08-28T21:45:00.005+01:00

I spent Saturday at a local craft fair trying to sell my jewellery and a few altered items, it didn't go that well LOL
I just made the price of my table with 50p to spare!!!
But how cute does my table look - even with a wonky table cloth!!!
Well I don't plan on being beaten as I did have a lot of interest in my items so have started listing my pieces in my folksy shop HERE :D

So stop by and treat yourself or let your pals know where I am :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Pretty Lucite rings

2011-08-20T14:45:00.006+01:00

I have been getting ready for a craft show I will be having a stall at next weekend and found some fabby little sieve rings in my local craft shop.
I already had the flower beads so thought why not put the two together :D
I love them so much though I'm not sure I can part with them LOL :D

I also made some cute little scrabble tile rings - you could defo have some fun with these :D - my niece suggested LOVE - HATE LOL :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

P.S. I have added some to my folksy shop HERE

From Paris with love....

2011-08-19T22:16:00.007+01:00

I begged Moira at the trade show in February to buy these cute little bags and it took some convincing let me tell you LOL :D

I have been meaning to do something with it for ages but it has been playing hide and seek with me for a while, but I finally caught it :D

I used Claudine Hellmuth studio paints watered down in a mini mister to colour the bag to start with as it was very white!!

I stamped Artistic Outpost Paris Exposition stamps and Glitz stamp on to tissue paper with Archival ink and tore around the images before gluing them down with Claudines multi matte medium.

I built up the colour with different colours of the watered down paint drying in between each colour. The amazing thing about these paints is they are waterproof when dry.
I applied some of the archival ink with a sponge to distress the edges a bit then gave it two generous coats of the matte medium.

When dry I added distress stickles randomly with my finger then when dry glued on the lace with the matte medium (its not completely dry in the pic sorry!!!)

I added a Zazi flower and madrigal flower which I only had in white, so I spritzed it with the pink paint :D

I'm really pleased with the finished bag and will definitely be using it :D

Moira has some fab offers on the site at the moment so head on over to grab yours :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Beach hut basking for Happy Daze

2011-08-05T23:00:00.003+01:00

The current challenge at Happy Daze is "oh I do like to be beside the seaside..." and what do you find beside the seaside??? Colourful beach huts so I decided to get a little bit creative with one of these cute mini birdhouses, Artistic Outpost "Beyond the sea" stamps and some Tim Holtz ideaology :D

I removed the dowel perch and then cut pieces of lightly striped pattern paper, stamped them with coffee archival ink and distressed them with a combo of Frayed Burlap and Fired Brick distress ink pads.

I glued a TH metal corner to the top of the house and the glued the paper in place with a little bit of glossy accents covering the holes, its fabby for glueing paper to this kind of project as it dries quickly.

I made the door by taking a lollipop stick that came with some rub-ons and cut it to the height I wanted with my TH scissors I then cut the three pieces length ways to make it look like old wood.
I coloured them with TH Broken China distress stain and when dry glued them to a smaller piece of paper.
When dry I glued them to the front of the house and coloured the base of the bird house with wild honey distress stain.
I didn't have any sand so I added some distress embossing powders (unmelted) inside my bottle before tying it to the house with garden twine.
To complete the project I added more seaside themed charms and Timmy embellies :D

The houses are so cute and could be used for so much more than just a cute birdhouse - I'm thinking little new home gifts, gingerbread houses, or something cute and Alice themed :D

Here's a few more pics of my ickle beach house :D

If you want to be in with a chance of winning a £15 voucher with free P&P in our August "Oh I do like to be beside the Seaside" challenge you can enter in one of 3 ways:

Blog your entry and use the Linky widget in the Blog post HERE
Load to the Happy Daze Facebook Page
Sent a pic by email to info@happy-daze.net

Closing date is midnight 31 August.

Thanks for looking,
Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Happy Daze Dangly things challenge

2011-07-16T12:01:00.001+01:00

This is my piece for the current dangly things challenge, if you want to be in with a chance of winning a £15 voucher with free P&P visit the blog post HERE

I used the fabby Lisa Pavelka resin to create my piece which is sooooooo clever!!!
It sets in 20 minutes with a UV light so makes it perfect for layered projects like this one.
If I had used normal two part resin it would have taken me days to make this piece and would have stunk the whole house out - this is odour free :D

Visit Lisa's website HERE to see some amazing video demoes on how to use her brilliant product.

I used a clear acrylic shape as a base (I think TH fragments would work well too which I must try) and added Prima Reflections rub-ons on each layer to create a 3D effect and beadazzles and glitter to the layer on the back.

I used a connector similar to this one set in the resin at the back of the piece above as a bail and a proper bail like this one on the example below.

You can add in extra embellies before you set the resin like I have done above without glue and they set solid.
The little flower over hanging the edge was supported with a little blob of plasticine while it was cured.

Moira has a fabby selection of jewellery finding and charms HERE if you want to create your own little wearable masterpieces

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Check it out.............

2011-06-23T23:10:00.002+01:00

A little bit of digi blog candy going on at the very cool Octopode Factory blog HERE to celebrate the launch of the new Friday Challenge blog HERE :D

Hugs'ngentle snogs (coz I'm still not recovered!!)
J xx

Apologies...............

2011-06-19T17:21:00.003+01:00

.............for my absence :-(

Firstly I went to see Take That on the 7th of June and just couldn't even think about crafting after that..............I was just still too excited LOL :D
I will share some pics with you at some point I promise!!!

Then secondly I went for an op on my throat earlier this week and it has wiped me out :-(
I have never felt pain like this and can't wait for it to go away again!!
I have had my tonsils removed, the sides at the back of my mouth trimmed and an dangley-bit-ectomy (the uvula I think its called!!!)

I have loads of projects in my head but don't have the patience or energy to even start them right now.

Hopefully things will start to settle down soon so that I can at least stay awake long enough to play :D

Hugs'n'air kisses this week - to delicate for snogs sorry!!!
Julie xx

Dolly Mixture

2011-06-05T16:13:00.006+01:00

Moira's current Happy Daze facebook challenge is "Dollies" and here's my take on it :D

The base is a Russian doll money box I picked up in a local bargain store and have been planning on altering for some time - this is the smallest of a set of three.

The main image is a Scrolls Work stamp (which I love!!!) stamped and embossed on to tissue paper.
The doll was gessoed and then painted with acrylic paint then randomly stamped with two scroll type stamps from the Artistic Outpost Birds of a feather plate.

When everything was dry I glued on the stamped image with a glue stick then coated everything with multi matte medium.
I also glued on my embellies with this including the cute shrink plastic heart from a crafty individuals stamp :D
when everything was dry I gave it a quick spritz with cosmic shimmer mist.
Pop on over to the HAPPY DAZE facebook page for details on how you could win a £15 voucher for the shop :D

I am also going to add this to the Crafty Individuals blog challenge - Vintage with a heart.

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Moiras got a new pad.............

2011-06-04T20:26:00.003+01:00

and its not an inkpad!!!!
Go and visit her gorjuss new blog HERE and see her stunning work, AND a change of some amazing blog candy!!!

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Drum roll please.....................

2011-05-29T11:13:00.005+01:00

.............dededededededededededededee......LOL you get the idea huh????

I'm so happy :D
I entered my White rabbit house using the fabby Indigo Blu stamps I bought at PS in to the Altered Alice challenge and got an honourable mention :D

I have also spotted THESE fabulous hand made flowers with instructions over on the lets get Shabby blog so I'm sending my hubby out later for some crepe paper :D

If my attempts turn out well I will share them LOL :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Live your life be free

2011-05-23T19:24:00.006+01:00

Moiras current Happy Daze facebook challenge is called In flight andyou have until midnight on Sunday the 29th of May to upload your work to the facebook page or e-mail your pics here - info@happy-daze.net.
use at least one product which can be purchased from the Happy Daze shop and maximum of 3 entries per person. As usual one winner will be drawn at random to win a £15 Gift Voucher to spend in the shop

I used these fabby GLITZ STAMPS to create Nellie's daring escape from her life at the fairground :D
I also used TH distress stain, Cosmic shimmer mist, Black Archival ink, Versamark ink and clear embossing powder on a canvas board.

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Just testing

2011-05-22T16:02:00.000+01:00

that this links to my twitter page :D

Happy Stampers at Port Sunlight

2011-05-22T11:24:00.017+01:00

Well who would believe it was just over a week ago!!
I didn't get many pics of Moira's fabby stall as I knew she had already taken lots and lots and has them featured on the BLOG, but here are a few I can share with you from the day :D

Jo Capper Sandon hard at work demoing

Happy Daze DT 3d examples
I had a fab time looking round the show at the amazing stalls and fell in love instantly with the brand spanking new IndigoBlu stamps when Moira pointed them out to me :D I NEED them all LOL :D but didn't get any piccys sorry - it was too hot to hand around in that room!!!

We also all fell in love with these wire mesh ribbon flowers, bows and covered beads - what a fabby idea huh :D
The lovely lady at RIBBON BOX allowed me to take a quick pic of her too :D

- unlike some of the other stall holders who had a hissy fit when I tried to take photos of the examples on display - in case they were copied - er hello??? isn't that the point of examples and DT work??? I totally get them being upset if they are being entered in to comps but did find it quite funny that I was treated like paparazzi LOL :D

Crafty Individuals had some fabby examples on show And Paddy was busy demoing Pardo clay

All in all it was a great day, meeting lots of peeps I have known online for some time and also meeting lots of new people, and feeling like a child in a sweetie shop with all the stamps around me :D
And the scones were to die for - nom nom nom.............LOL :D

Hope you find something to inspire you here :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Help Daisy and Tom Please!!!!

2011-05-20T12:17:00.000+01:00

Kirsty Wiseman is organising a massive raffle. She says 'This is a raffle so huge, that by the time I have collated all the prizes, you need never buy a single craft item ever again, well....barely! Tell your friends, tell your family, raid the kids money box.......please, please find it in your hearts (and paypal accounts) to help raise money for Daisy Dog.

The story.....A facebook friend of mine, Janey Pye (cool name, right?), wrote about an incident relating to her Jack Russell dog, Daisy, on the 17th May 2011 but today, 18th May 2011 she received the devastating news that she either find £1600 for vet bills or have her dog destroyed. I mean, you just can't comprehend anything like that, can you? In the cold light of day, being given that kind of alternative is gut wrenching. The fact that Janey has no pet insurance is of no consequence to me or indeed many of my friends, the positive in me see's to it that I and whoever else who is attached to Janey must do all they can to help her. I know its not something we all can afford but some of us go through our daily lives praying nothing happens to our pet to warrant such a huge expense.

So to help Daisy (and Janey, and Tom - Daisy's big brother... who suffers with aspergers and would simply not exist without his beloved pet, Daisy) I wanted to rally around every craft person and store I knew to donate prizes for a very grand raffle. Janey never asked me to do this and when I raised the question on my facebook page this afternoon towards my friends, many of them their offered support immediately. Nobody questioned it and so the aquarian in me set sail. Their support gave me the push, so I am grateful to them muchly.

The Prizes....So far we have the following pledges (with a potential 65 shops, manufacturers, crafters pledging more)

A Craft Robo - anonymous donation
£35 stampin up voucher from Rachel Booth
A handmade bag from Darcy Wilkinson
A private commissioned drawing of your pet/child 12x14 worth $50 by Jay Korbijn
A MME 12x12 pack, stamps, and embellishments from Dies to Die for
A selection of stamps from Personal Impressions
A £25 voucher from Hobby Craft
A donation from Studio Calico
£50 worth of product from Clever Cuts
A selection of craft supplies from Brenda Pinnick
A selection of stamps from THE Donna Downey - I know, right?
£40 worth of stash from Mei Flowers
£36 worth of stamping product from Artistic Stamper
£50 word of Crafting CD's from me
A handmade cushion from Jaki Morrison worth £20
100ml bottle of DKNY perfume from anonymous donator
£30 worth of product from Marion Emberson of Sugar and Spice Crafts
£106 worth of product from Tonic Studios
A photoshoot for the south of the country from Paula Pascual (worth £100)
A photoshoot for the north of the country from Kirsty Wiseman (worth £100)
A ton of digi product from Vicki Parker (worth £40)
A generous prize from Letraset (prob Promarkers and Aquamarkers.... im working on them!)
A specially commissioned Canvas by Dyan Reaveley at Art from the Heart worth £75
Ive twisted someones arm for a donation from QVC
Im working on Create and Craft
5 x digi stamps from Just Inklined

There will be MORE AND MORE prizes added.....this was what I could only obtain in an hour on 17th May 2011

Go to Kirsty's website and buy a ticket now. Only £2 xx

How Curious????

2011-05-19T21:39:00.004+01:00

How amazing are my new Indigo Blu stamps :D I got them at their launch at Port Sunlight last week and fell in lurve!! Only problem is I want the whole range of stamps LOL :D

Ok so how to :D

I started by covering my cute little house in a piece of text from my Alice book .

I stamped over the whole thing with my crackle stamp in coffee archival ink and left to dry.

Next I stamped the ruler along the edge in black ink, masked the edges and coloured with wild honey distress stain - two swooshes and it was done :D

I coloured the rest of it with barn door distress ink pad and added a clock and an ink blot stamp in black archival ink.

I stamped the white rabbit on to a separate piece of paper and coloured with promarkers and stuck it to my house with Claudine's matte medium.

I masked the rabbit off and sprayed the watch with gold cosmic shimmer mist but found this dulled the stamped image too much. I decided to stamp the watch section again on to acetate and when dry cut out and glued over the original stamped image with a little glossy accents.

I added the tiny type letters and glossy accented them and left to dry overnight so I wasn't tempted to stick my fingers in to check if it was dry LOL :D

I added walnut stain distress stickles randomly to add a little subtle sparkle around the edges carefull applied with my splodgey finger :D

Alice was stamped onto white shrink plastic with coffee archival ink and coloured lightly with pencils - the colour intensifies so much when it shrinks so if you are too heavy handed it looks awful.

I left a tab at the top of Alice when I cut her out and punched a hole so that she could dangle in the bottle.

Once shrunk with my heatgun I added little eye hooks to the cork of the Tim Holtz bottle and attached Alice with a jump ring .

I threw in a teeny key then put the cork in and wrapped the neck of the bottle with bakers twine and added a hand written tag.

To attach it to the house I drilled a little hole and threaded a piece of wire through then wrapped this around the eyelet in the cork.

I also made little holes at the top of the house to add more wire to hang the piece up.

I am going to enter this in to the Altered Alice challenge this month fotr the theme of time :D

Hope you like it :D

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie xx

Yeryyy welcome back blogland :D

2011-05-13T21:11:00.002+01:00

I missed you :D

Well I have a BIG weekend for two reasons this weekend :D

Tomorrow I will be meeting Moira and the girls at the Happy Stampers North west show at Port Sunlight - so excited to meet lots of peeps in real life that I have known via the world wide web for so long :D .............
then I am gooing to see my lovely friends in Ormskirk who have just recently had another baby so snuggles for me too ...........
then I will be trecking home back to Cumbria to try and get some sleep before I head off to Carlisle to the Radio 1 Big Weekend with my niece ..............yeyyyyyyyyy :D

I am so lucky to have got tickets as I don't know many peeps who have!!! and mylovelyniece gets to go because hubby didn't want to go :-S he must be mad LOL
then back to work on Monday LOL

If you are visiting the stamp show in Port Sunlight please come and say hello to us at stand 26:D
Hugs'n'snogs everyone,

Julie xx

Happy stampers ammendment

2011-05-09T19:13:00.003+01:00

Hi everyone,
I have just had a e-mail from Moira to say there is a slight change of plan................... we are now on stand 26 :D

See you there :D

Julie xx

Are you a Happy Stamper....

2011-05-08T23:38:00.003+01:00

..........in the North West???
I am :D and I will be there supporting Moira and the other Happy Daze team members next Saturday at Port Sunlight :D

I have been trying to do samples this weekend but Ollie has had a few other plans - TUT!
I WILL get them finished and on their way if it kills me LOL

If you have a ticket make sure your bring plenty of cash, because it is cash only and visit Moira and the rest of us at stand 32b where Jo Capper-Sandon and Joanne Wardle will be demoing :D

Hop on over to the Happy Daze blog for a sneaky peek of some of the work you will be able to see - in real life!!!!

Am I excited???? hell yeah LOL
and to top it all I have tickets for Radio 1's big weekend in Carlisle on Sunday :D I'm gonna be a tired peep next week LOL :D

hugs'n'snogs,
Julie

P.S. have you visited the Happy Daze facebook page this week??? the current challenge is black and white, and you still have another week to enter :D anybody fancy puppy sitting so I can get on with everything???? LOL xxxx

Compact and beautiful

2011-05-05T21:01:00.006+01:00

Heres another pair of compacts to share with you and I have to say I think these are my faves :D
How pretty and vintage are they :D
I used Prima and Graphic 45 papers to alter these compacts.

Want to know how to??? I have blogged these over on Bubbly Scrumptious so head on over HERE for the deets :D
While your there don't forget to take a look at the other design teams gorgeous work :D

heres a closer look for you :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Mirror, mirror in my hand........

2011-04-30T12:13:00.008+01:00

I found some cool little compact mirrors this week so have been very busy altering them - in between walking the dogs and watching the Royal Wedding :D

Comgratulation to William and kate on their beautiful wedding and WOW at that dress!!!
I Love, Love, Loved it :D Ok,back to the mirrors :D

I will have more to share with you soon hopefully as I am planning on selling these when I get round to booking my craft fair :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Mad hatter shrine

2011-04-28T20:51:00.003+01:00

Well this started life as a plain wooden shrine frame which I coloured with Tim Holtz broken china distress stain - ooooohhh these babies are so cool :D the colour is so intense and it works lovely on raw wood like this :D

Now you might be thinking the dabber top is a little bit big to fit around the detailed areas?well your right! so all I did was squeeze some of the stain on to my non-stick craft mat and painted it on with a paint brush :D

When it was completely dry I glued on the pieces of my Alice book I wanted to use with Claudines matte mediumand inked lighlty with the stain.

I added stamped Alice images with black archival ink randomly all over the frame, then highlighted the edges with viva decor inka gold.

Now for a bit of alchemy - my metal charms were all silver so I brushed on more inka gold to change the colour, which I also did with my resin keyhole :D

The Mad hatter image was coloured with promarkers and distress ink pads.

I added a key on a screw in eyelet then added some distress stickles.

All the embellies were stuck on the matte medium - its amazing as a glue as nothing budges!! Ihad my reservations when Ifirst tried it as its so light it doesn't feel like it will do anything but its just so strong!!

The embellies I added to my i-pod cover are still rock solid and it gets plenty of abuse in my bag LOL :D

Are you all ready for the royal wedding??

I'm really looking forward to seeing the event and most of all can't wait to see the dress :D

Hugs'n'regal snogs,

Julie xx

its crystal clear.........

2011-04-27T20:25:00.006+01:00

......how much I enjoy making jewellery with a difference :D
A while ago I bought a chandelier from that well known auction site with the intention of taking it apart to use the crystals - I finally got a round-to-it :D and I finally found the round-to-it to blog the results so far LOL :D now I just need one to photograph the rest and share them with you :D

watch this space for more jewellery soon :D
hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Made of wood............a bangle :D

2011-04-26T22:40:00.009+01:00

Well there isn't long left to enter the Happy Daze facebook challenge which is currently "made with wood"

I used one of THESE fabby bangles as my wooden base :D

I coloured it first of all with inka gold in Platinum.
I stamped my butterflies on to fibre paper with archival ink, ripped the edges away to the size needed to cover the bangle leaving frayed edges, then stuck on to the bangle with a glue stick.
When dry I coloured it with promarkers and then brushed on more of the inka gold.
When dry and buffed I glued on the lace and buttons with Claudine Hellmuths matte medium andcoated the rest of the bangle - this is amazing as it just doesn't budge when dry and selals the stamped images.
When totally dry I highlighted areas again with the inka gold.

I am also going to add this to the Simon says stamp and show challenge this week which is to show some buttons .............. buttons??? did someone say buttons :D
no challenge for me this week really LOL :D

hugs'n'snogs,

Julie xx

Happy Easter!!!!

2011-04-24T08:51:00.005+01:00

Happy Easter to you all :D
I had such a giggle trying to find a cute vintage image on google to share with you :D
You should try it - I seriously don't know what they were thinking!!!!

Have you visited the Happy Daze blog this weekend???
Well hop on over HERE for an Eggs-tra special easter treat from Moira , calorie free and all you have to do is comment on Gillians beautiful Timmyesque box (which I have serious craft envy over LOL) for a chance to win a £25 voucher from the shop!!!!

Also have you entered the current Facebook challenge???
Ok, neither have I yet but I have had issues with my laptop - my cable had lots of teeny tiny bite marks along it and for some reason stopped working.................. I wonder who that might have been???? LOL

Anywhoooo - don't forget to visit the Happy Daze facebook page and check out the details for another chance to win a £15 voucher.

The current theme is - Made with wood

Now Moira has got an amazing selection of wooden alterable items for sale in the SHOP and while you are there check out all the fabby NEW ITEMS that have arrived - I wouldn't hand around too long though, because those beauties will fly out I'm sure :D

Have a good weekend everyone :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Whats for tea...........Fried Marbles???

2011-04-18T18:00:00.006+01:00

LOL perhaps not unless you want a trip to the dentist :D

I saw mentioned on the net somewhere last week fried marbles - I had to investigate because it just sounded so flippin odd!!

So how about turning these humble glass marbles in to these lovely crackled beauties??
Now they don't look fab on these pics but they really catch the light with the sun on them :D

I followed the instructions HERE after I fell in love with the beautiful sun catcher :D

The marbles I used where cheap really bashed ones I found on ebay when I just had to have a go :D

I think I will be buying more soon and fancy trying glass pebbles next :D

Hugs'n'sparkly snogs,
Julie xx

P.S> thanks Carol for reminding me it was LINDAS BLOG where I spotted the marbles :D

as mad as a hatter..............

2011-04-09T13:02:00.006+01:00

dontcha just love wearable art???

Why not treat yourself to a cutie patootie TOP HAT to alter complete with clips to attach to your hair:D

And if you aren't inspired by my creation pop on over to the HAPPY DAZE BL OG where Moira, Jo and Carol have also created some incredibly natty head gear :D

I used dip it resin and wire to create my hearts then wired them all together to make a spray, then used wire wrapped around the hat to attach them.

I stamped an Alice image and added it to a metal frame then coated it with glossy accents and stuck it to a bow on the front of my hat.

Next I added feathers, clock hands and a few charms with an Alice theme to the wire work.

Pity we missed ladys day at Aintree yesterday :-( the luck best dressed lady won a fabby holiday to St. Lucia!!!

Oh well, maybe next year LOL :D
heres a few more pics for you to see in more detail :D
Hugs'n'mad snogs,
Julie xx

Pink Parisian chic

2011-04-07T23:03:00.001+01:00

I got this gorgeous wooden house from Caroline a couple of week ago an unfortunately (I think LOL) they have sold out at the moment :( Such a pity because I really want some more now LOL :D

I started by painting the whole think with white gesso and leaving it to dry thoroughly.

I gave it two coats of pink acrylic paint using a foam brush to get in to all the little tight corners.

I cut random pieces of patterned paper to the size of the apertures, distressed the edges then inked with black soot distress ink.

I stamped my images using black archival ink then stuck the pieces of paper in to the apertures with a small amount of glossy accents.

My pretty pin up girl was stamped three times on to white cardstock and decoupaged with silicone glue. I highlighted the hair, lips, dress and shoes with promarkers to give the effect of a tinted photo.

My lock and key were coloured with inka gold - the key was originally a bronze colour and didn't fit with my theme.

All the elements were stuck down with Claudine Hellmuths matte medium.

Have fun if you manage to grab a cute little house to alter :D

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie xx

Dragonfly duet altered pocket watch :D

2011-04-02T21:40:00.006+01:00

Well, this turned in to quite a labour of love - in other words a chore!!! LOL :D

I treated myself to some resin a while ago and I was a little bit scared of it!!!
I made some little embellies to start with but it wasn't right and I started this project and couldn't get it to dry :(
I realised I wasn't getting the mix right!!

Luckily you can layer up resin and can't see where its layered so I finally got the mix right today to finish off this piece :D

I used my dichroic technique with croco to start with.
I coated my piece of lace with matte medium on both sides because resin soaks in to the fibres and it would become invisible with the resin - the same happens to paper!!

I stuck my embellies down with glossy accents then layered in the resin.

I finished it off by colouring the embellies with inka gold and adding a little bit of distress stickles on the resin to hide my pokeyisitdryyet finger prints :D

I'm so disappointed that you can't see the depth in the photo :( and blogger won't let me add anymore for some reason :(

yeyyyy I can now :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

2011-03-30T23:52:00.003+01:00

My Mum loves reading so what better present to make her than a pretty bookmark :D

The metal blank was bouught at my local craft shop but can be found for not a lot of money on the internet.

To embellish it I used pieces of broken jewellery, a few charms, my signature piece - buttons :D and of course some Tim Holtz fragments.

I didn't really understand what fragments were when I first saw them on the internet but they are such a cool little piece of kit when you get playing with them and you get loads!!! :D

I used a couple of pieces from the charm set and adhered them to some double sided paper with glossy accents by coating one side of the fragment, placing on the area I wanted to feature on the paper, and wiggling a little bit to move the glossy accents until it was evenly coated.

When dry I cut around the shape and sanded the edges.

To finish them I stamped them with Prima mini stamps with archival ink in plum - these are amazing stamps for small projects as there are so many small images to choose from.

Everything was linked together with jump rings - which Tim also does - how fabby would one look with some of the baubles mixed with fragments and keys??

Or perhaps you could do a cute easter gift instead of eggs - stamped shrink plastic charms would look so cute :D

Or how about putting photos of your loved ones on the fragments to create a lovely keepsake.

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie

My distressing is now organised :D

2011-03-20T23:00:00.000Z

Well as I mentioned on Saturday I bought the teabag box from Moira to organise my blending foam - well look how the decorated box has turned out :D

Here's how to.........

Start by painting it with white gesso, then paint it with white acrylic paint.

When dry I add on some TH tissue tape to strengthen the hinged lid and to add decoration.

Rip a piece of patterned paper - I used a piece from a book of sheet music.

Stamp background stamps randomly in acrylic paint - I used a Ranger paint dabber in pearl then colour with distress inks. When dry rub the stamped images with a very slightly damp cloth to remove the ink and reveal the image.

Next coat with a crackle medium -mine was from a local craft shop.When dry paint with a top coat of your choice.
Rub in distress ink with a piece of cut and dry foam to age the colour and highlight the cracks.
Paint on a thin coat of Claudine Hellmuths multi matte medium - the distress ink will lift but settles in the cracks of the paint.
Glue on a chipboard shape to the lid and cover with scrunched up tissue paper stuck down with the matte medium. When dry I highlighted it with distress ink.
Add on more tissue tape - I randomly added it to corners and on the back of the lid to give the impression the box had been repaired, then inked with vintage photo DI to age it.

For the top I chose a selection of random elements I have collected and started playing around with how I like them placed.

The girl is stamped on to a piece of vellum and stuck down by the objects around her and the optical lens.The piece of canvas was created with the faux batik technique I used HERE.

When you are happy with your arrangement glue the items down with the matte medium - because it dries clear it doesn't matter how messy you are - but you won't be able to ink again as it will resist.
Smear on some Distress stickles to highlight areas as much or as little as you like - I love its subtle aged shimmer.
Once I was happy with the top I started stamping around the sides and using TH distress embossing powders on some of the images to add a little bit of texture.
Again I added embellishments - mainly buttons, some mosaic pieces, a couple of tags from clothes (got to love River Islands mini masterpieces :D), lace and a scrap of the Batiked canvas I had cut off.

Then its time for the inside :D
It was already painted white and I crackled the inside of the lid at the same time as the rest of the box.
The sections were just spritzed with a combo of Cosmic Shimmer mists and edged with the tissue tape - this doesn't stick too well so needs coating with the matte medium to hold it down.

I decorated mine to house my blending foam on the cards I shared with you On Saturday but you could yours for anything you want!!
The cards I have cut are 6.5x6.5 Cm's so if its smaller than that it should fit :D

What about your ideaology bits and pieces?? some of those are quite hard to store in traditional boxes.

Or if you have a lot of small stamps you could index them - or even store them in there - the Prima minis would just and no more fit if you cut the strip of gems off and trim the bottom.

Or index your ideas that you just never seem to get around to trying, but then can't remember what you wanted to do when you find time??

Or make a memory box?

You could cut cards to fit and store ribbons or lace.

If your a scrapbooker or card maker you could print or draw design sketches you want to use at a later date.

They aren't quite tall enough for stickles or alcohol inks but the lid could easily be removed if you wanted open top storage.

You want one now don't you LOL :D

This was created for HAPPY DAZE and SCROLLS WORK STAMPS and nearly all of the items used are available from Moira.

Moira's next Facebook challenge is starts today and the theme is "in a Vintage style...." so hopefully this project will inspire you to dig out all those fabby embellies we all like to hoard and stick them on a project :D
Or perhaps you have some amazing stamps???
Moira stocks the fabulous Scrolls Work stamps and they have many stunning vintage images :D

It doesn't have to be a big project like this one, it can be a card or even a tag but make sure you upload to the Facebook page HERE for the chance of winning a £15 voucher :D

Hugs'n'snogs
Julie xx

Distress blending foam organisation???

2011-03-19T11:43:00.009Z

Ok, so I was getting frustrated with my foam pads chucked in a a zip lock bag, which I had to -
A. rummage through to find the piece I wanted
B. find the bag from its hiding place in the first place!!!

A thread was started over on UK scrappers a while ago and I absolutely fell in love with this idea by lebosiNifty huh???

Well I decided I had to copy it because it was such a fab idea but decided to take it a step further - being me hahaha:D

So when I got this fabby teabag box from Moira at Happy Daze the light bulb moment happened :DI cut pieces of white cardstock to fit inside the sections but smaller than necessary as I wanted to laminate them.
Distressed the edges with my tool- which in hindsight I wish I had left until after I had inked them LOL.

I inked one side completely plain but showing different depths of the ink colour.

The other side I decided to show different techniques using the blending inks so started by using the ones from Tim's book Compendium of Curiosities.
When I had finished each one I wrote on the front the name of the ink pad, the technique with page number and materials used.

I didn't want them to get all inky when they are in the storage box so wanted to laminate them -only trouble is I don't have a laminater!!!

So I found a huge roll of clear packing tape my hubby had brought home and encased them in that - using an old giftcard to burnish it thoroughly :D
I cut away the excess tape then stuck on a piece of hook velcro to hold the foam pad.

The stamps are both Scrolls Work - #2551 sequin waste and #2543 leafy flourish.

Its a Genius idea isn't it, so huge thanks to lebosi - aka Isobel, for the inspiration :D

I am mid way through the storage box so don't forget to come back and see how it turns out :D

Hugs'n'inky snogs,
Julie xx

Ollie's first walkies :D

2011-03-18T20:46:00.008Z

Well guess who we went to visit today???
Yup.............Ollie :D

How cute is my wee man :D

"I can't say cheese I'm only a pup!!"

"Hmmm looks interesting but tastes YUK!"

"Is it time to go home now???"

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Ollie LO :D

2011-03-17T20:41:00.006Z

Evening everyone :D

I have another LO for you this week of my gorgeous Pupster who is now named Ollie :D

I bought him and Rolo tags with their names on this week ready for him coming to live with us, which inspired this weeks layout :D

I started by printing the photo on to canvas paper - downside to this is it doesn't photograph well as it has a glossy surface.

I ripped a hole in the Cosmo Cricket paper and used a distress tool around the edges of the frame and around the outside edge of the paper.

Next I used Crushed Olive and Wild Honey distress inkpads and covered the whole paper Tim-style blending the colours together as I went.

I then spritzed with Cosmic Shimmer mist and diluted Spiced Marmalade re-inker.

I tore random holes in the paper and distressed these too and backed with a cute paper which looks like balls bouncing (Rolo is obsessed with balls do Ollie won't get much of a look in with any I don't think LOL).

Inspired by the paper I used a circle of chipboard, painted it a deep red and added the stripe to look like the balls on the paper. I also took a smaller circle, punched a hole and covered with silver inka gold. when dry and buffed I wrote his name and the date with a fine tip pen - because its a hard nib it looks like an etched tag :D (I planned it really LOL)

I used the cut off strip from the paper and an embellie from a co-ordinating strip and layered them up in the corner.

I then randomly stamped it with a Scrolls Work stamp #2547 mesh, and Olive archival ink.

It turned out quite a cheap and cheerful layout not using any proper embellies but I love its grungey simplicity:D

Hugs'n'snogs.

Julie xx

Introducing Ollie :D

2011-03-13T11:02:00.004Z

...........our cutie patootie pupster :D

He is a show cocker spaniel and is about 9 weeks old, and we collect him in 4 weeks time :D

Watching him run around with his mum and sister yesterday I think we might be in for some fun for a while with him and Rolo LOL :D

I can't wait :D

Hugs'n'sniffy puppy snogs,
Julie xx

Got to share this link......

2011-03-12T16:11:00.002Z

I know we all love our crafts and hobbies but do our other halves enjoy them and appreciate our genius???

I'm not sure about that but I could never get my hubby to do this and let me put it on the net!!!

Go and check out the poor other sad victims of etsy crafters HERE and feel their pain LOL :D

Awwww man..........too cruel peeps LOL

Hugs'n'chuckling snogs,
J xx

Steampunk genius............

2011-03-12T13:17:00.013Z

.....using Scrolls Work stamps :D
Well it was time for something a little bit different and here it is :D
I bought some fabby blank russian doll money boxes at a local bargain shop and decided to steampunk this one up :D

I think he is way cool :DI painted the money box with acrylic paint then spritzed with cosmic shimmer.
I stamped the cog images on to masking tape and inked with distress inks.
When dry I tore sections and randonly applied them to the money box.

The larger images were stamped on to fibre paper then glued on with glossy accents.
I layered up the images until I was happy with it and highlighted areas with a gold pen.
I used Glossy accents to create raised glass like highlights to parts of the images
I stamped the light bulbs on to white shrink plastic remembering to punch a hole before shrinking. I then threaded them on to some brown wire and twisted until I made a thought cloud.

I attached it by threading it through the coin slot and taking it out through the hole in the bottom several times.
I added chains with glossy accents and joined it up with the wire
I think he is soooo fun :D

I used the followng stamps, most of which are available from Happy Daze in the uk.

#9013 Goggles
#4079 Jules Verne
#9109 Dictaphone
#9100 Sprocket
#9102 Cog
#9101 Gear
#9104 Guage
#9105 lightbulb
#4077 George

Most of these are also available on a plate direct from Scrolls Work HERE

And as a little bonus you can save 15% until 12/3/11 :D

I forgot to share these with you last week!!!
I bought some resin to play with and already had some cake decorating silicone moulds - you did see the little wren on my shades of blue project for Moiras bi-weekly Facebook challenge HERE but this is how they started :D

and home made facets :D although if I had thought I wouldn't have bought this mould, I would have made my own with mould and pour and the many gems I already have LOL.......oh well - I might have different shapes I can play with :D

Thats it for now - I'm hopefully going to see the pup with no name later so will share pics with you when I can :D

Hugs'n'squishy snogs,
Julie xx

2011-03-10T22:56:00.003Z

Well what a cutie patootie surprise my hubby gave me this week :D

We have been looking for a little cocker spaniel to keep Rolo company for a while with no luck.............then my hubby, on the pretence my Mum wanted to see me, took me to see this little sweetie :D

Apologies for the quality of the pics, but its very hard to capture anything good on a phone camera of a squiggly jiggly 8 week old black puppy LOL :D

Well for the LO I used Cosmo Crickwt through out.

I distressed the edges of the largest piece of paper and inked with TH wild honey ink pad.

I then used a TH mask and spritzed with a combo of cosmic shimmer mist and diluted distress ink in a mini mister.

I tore a piece of paper from the same range and inked with Crushed olive distress ink pad, stuck to the base and added my photo.

I then used the negative part of the mask over the photo and spritzed again.

I gave it a blast with my heatgun to dry the inks off, then folded back the bottom corner, stapled and added a piece of contrasting paper behind to re-form the corner of the LO.

I used TH alpha masks to create the title and randomly outlined with a fine tip black marker pen.

The question mark was hand cut from the patterned paper and stuck on with foam pads to create some layered depth.

I thought it would be fun to add the names that had been suggested or we were considering because of the fun we are having trying to decide.

That's the fun part of scrapbooking - preserving the memories of things you will undoubtedly forget :D

So what is my new furbaby's name???

I really love Ollie, but having trouble convincing the other half LOL

Lastly I have to share this pic with you because my other furbaby, Rolo, was just too funny on the way home this afternoon :D

Hugs'ncutie snogs,

Julie xx

2011-03-08T20:06:00.001Z

Did you know Happy Daze has a Facebook page? We have been busy making it a fun place to visit and it has these great features:

Fortnightly Challenge - Every two weeks we will set a theme for our wonderful customers to upload a piece of work made on that theme using one or more products stocked in the shop. At the end of the month we will select one entry at random - love that word - at random, to win a £15 Voucher to spend in the shop. The first theme is "Shades of Blue" and the closing date is midnight on Sunday 19^th March. Make anything you like and load it to the Wall, we will copy it to the right album for you.
We really do want to see lots of work by our customers so please share any artwork you create using Happy daze products. Just post directly onto the wall and we'll move it to the appropriate folder. Its lovely to see what our customers have created.
Discussion - a forum style section for anyone to start a discussion on crafting related subjects - techniques, Happy Daze products, queries, gossip whatever
Swaps - anyone can call a swap, just start a new thread in the discussion forum, whoever calls the swap manages the swap.
Stock updates - we'll pop info on the Facebook about new stock and stock updates so you can stay up to date with new lines.
Photos - we will be uploading work by the Design team
Blog posts automatically load to our Facebook page

Do pop along and "like" HAPPY DAZE and then you will see all the updates

Moira has some fabby new lines in stock already and more are appearing rapidly.

Hugs'n'snogs

Look whos coming to live with us.....

2011-03-08T00:01:00.003Z

:D
Omg what a cutie patootie my hubby surprised me with this evening :D

In 5 weeks time this gorgeous little furbaby will be mine, all mine :D unless he is naughty then he will be all Pauls LOL

So I need help??
Whats his name?
I like proper names and am considering Barney at the mo............hubby likes Jasper .................what do you guys think??

Hugs'n'snuggly snogs,
Julie xx

Edited to add - he's a show cocker spaniel :D

I guess that's why they call it the blues...........

2011-03-06T18:53:00.004Z

Moira has started a bi-weekly challenge over on the Happy Daze FACEBOOK PAGE and the first theme is called Shades of Blue.

This is my interpretation using Memory glass and my new resin embellies :D
How cute is my little birdie and the feather???
I bought the cake decorating moulds from ebay but its also fun to make your own with Ranger pour and mould :D

I started by stamping a Prima mini stamp in versamark on to frosted memory glass and embossed with detail clear embossing powder.
I the coloured a piece of clear memory glass with a selection of blue alcohol inks dabbed on randomly.

I stamped a piece of card with Birds of a Feather by Artistic Outpost in black ink, then coloured with vintage photo distress ink around the edges.

I sandwiched it all together and sealed it with aluminium memory foil.

My resin shapes were coloured with the alcohol inks and glued in with glossy accents and highlighted with inka gold in Cobalt blue., which I then applied with a brush to the memory foil.

I finished off with a few splodges of Distress stickles in faded jeans.

So as Elton says ......I guess that's why they call it the blues ............
:D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie

Configure your sewing room...........

2011-03-06T12:04:00.011Z

I finally got my first project with T!ms configurations completed :D

I bought THIS ONE from Moira and believe it or not this is just 4 of the little boxes from it glued together with ULTIMATE GLUE and a piece of scrap chipboard stuck on the back to even out the surface :D.

The whole box is covered in vintage pattern pieces glued on with GL OSSY ACCENTS and the left over pieces were stuck in to the inside of the boxes :D

I used DISTRESS INKS in Victorian Velvet and Broken china sponged on all over.
The little spools are HERE and are also glued on with the the ultimate glue.
I would thread round them and coated them with Claudines MATTE MEDIUM to seal them in place.

The fabric pieces are Claudines STICKY BACKED CANVAS and I used the batik technique described HERE to create the panel stamped with Tims stamp.I stamped Paperbag studios STITCHED AND TIED randomly all over the box including the front edges.

I added all of my little bits and pieces that I had collected together and glued them down with the matte medium - its fabby for sticking down embellies because you can't see it if you are messy like me when it dries :D I actually bought a gorgeous pin cushion to go in but it was too big unfortunately, so I made my own by sewing round the edge of a circle of fabric gathering it up and stuffing with cotton wool. Then with my huge needle I segmented it with stitches around the outside to create that pumpkiness effect :D

It looked a bit clean for me LOL so I gave it a spritz all over with COSMIC SHIMMER MIST in Twilight black to grunge it up a little bit and add a gorgeous sparkle :D

I really can't wait to get stuck in to the main box but I'm still collecting bits to go in it :D

Hugs'n' snogs,
Julie xx

look out altering peeps.............

2011-03-04T23:41:00.003Z

there are some amazing new items that have just arrived at HAPPY DAZE ready for you to make your mark on!!!

I NEED this!!!!

I'm so excited to see these in stock after helping Moira choose them at Stitches :D

Now then, please don't order everything before I get there!!!!

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Home Sweet Home

2011-03-03T21:40:00.004Z

This week over on Bubbly Scrumptious I created a cute little canvas in the style of Claudine Hellmuth with this fabby set of chippies from Tando :D

The canvas is just a cheap one I bought in a local shop, which I sponged blue and green acrylic piant on to give me my back ground.

Next I covered the chippies with Claudines sticky backed canvas and cut round them carefully with a craft knife - not a quick or easy job, but worthwhile :D I left the edges a bit rageddy as I like the worn look

I didn't attempt to cover the fence or the gates as they were just a bit too fiddly to cut around, so painted them with my white pearl acrylic dabber.

I used a mix of acrylic paints and Claudines paints tocolour the shapes and left them to dry.

I set them out on the canvas and when I was happy with the composition glued them down with matte medium. I added small pieces of chipboard behind the overlapped shapes to add some dimension.

When everything was dry I used a black marker pen to add faux stitching and detail.

I wrote on some small pieces of canvas, stuck them down and added faux stitching.

The cloud was a left over from my i-pod cover from my previous post using the transfer technique.

I finished it by sticking down buttons and lace with the matte medium.

Claudines products are fantatsic to work with and so versatile.

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie

How about a little sneaky peek tonight???

2011-03-01T20:15:00.006Z

Yes its more from Stitches but its so exciting :D
Moira, Carol and myself were so excited when we came to this stand and found lots and lots of prettiness :D

Does this picture help??? Let me tell you, we started off unsure of having enough for the minimum order, but poor Moira ended up having to add to it when we found more pretties :D

There was smoke coming off that credit card I can tell you LOL :D
Now I know the lovely items have landed in Sheffield, so its time to stalk the SHOP, BLOG, FACEBOOK and now TWITTER to see when they appear in the shop!!!

I don't think they will be there long so keep your eyes peeled for some lush embellies to adorn your projects, whether its cards, scrapbooks or altered art.

Hugs'n'sparkley snogs,
Julie xx

Should I be mean???

2011-02-28T22:17:00.009Z

..........and not show you any more pics???

Oh go on then LOL :D
so what do you want to see??? more pics of Selfridges??
Me??
T!m????

Oh I see what you want now!!! humph!What??? were you expecting a pic of T!m himself???? I was too busy watching him work sorry :-(

Oh but wait............... whats this????

Its T!m!!!!
:D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Repurposing anyone???

2011-02-27T10:38:00.015Z

How fabby are Janettes creations on THIS POST????
I'm loving the house keys :D

I am having issues with my next videos from Stitches as they are too long for youtube - so if anybody has any suggestions let me know because I really want to share them with you all :-(
Oh well - here are some pics from Stitches to keep you happy for now :D

And thats just the Sizzix booth!!!!! more to follow ........maybe a few pics of T!m and his new products if anybody wants to see them???

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Batik Bridie canvas fun :D

2011-02-23T23:56:00.001Z

Don't you just love finding new ways to use products you already have??

I do anyway :D

I saw Tim Holtz demo this technique at the weekend and was desperate to have a go :D

I cut a piece of Claudine's sticky backed canvas to the rough size I wanted, peeled the backing off and stuck it to my non stick craft mat.

I then took a very small amount of Claudine's multi matte medium and spread it on to another piece of the craft mat.

I coated my chosen stamp in the medium by swizzing it around on the mat until i hadan even coat,then stamped on to the canvas

Make sure you clean your stamp immediately as the medium won't come off your stamp once dry!!!

I gave the canvas a quick blast with my heatgun to make sure it was dry,then started inking with my distress inks.

Once you have the effect you want take a slightly damp cloth and wipe over the stamped image and the ink will be removed from the medium. As its a matte finish you can't see it on the canvas and it looks like batik fabric.

I painted a piece of chipboard with Tim Holtz Crackle paint, blasted with my heat gun then highlighted the cracks with more distress ink.

I then stamped over it with black archival inks and added a quite on an extra inked piece of canvas

When dry I added distress stickles and spritzed with cosmic shimmer mist .

For the hanger I took a piece of american seam binding and coloured it with my distress ink by squishing the ink on my non-stick mat, spritzing with water, then rubbing the binding in the ink, crumpling up, an d drying with my heat gun.

I punched holes with my cropadile,threaded the binding through and tied it in a knot behind the chipboard.

Add some distress stickles and a few metal charms coloured with alcohol inks and your done:D

How fun is that???

Now of you go to play :D

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie xx

Stitches part one!!!

2011-02-22T23:32:00.004Z

Well I was so lucky to accompany Moira from Happy Daze to Stitches at the NEC Birmingham this week and would like to say a HUGE thank you for the invite :D
It was a fab weekend, not only did I get to see Moira and Carol again but I also got to ooooohhhh and ahhhhh over Tim's amazing creations :D

Now before we went Moira asked me what I thought about the new distress stains and I had to say.............not much really!!! LOL

well how wrong was I????
They are not just distress ink pads or re-inkers re packaged they are a whole new entity of their own!!!
They are very intense colours - way more than inkpad - it would take you forever to build up that intensity!!!

well here's the first of three videos I have for you.............apologies for the poor photography .......I'm a very short crafter not a camera man after all LOL :D

Did you spot Carols amazing spoon ring??? and Moiras gorjuss sparkley nails??? good job you can't see my yukky nails!!! LOL

I love the amazing technique for the faux batik!!! and Carol is lucky enough to own that tag so if we ask her nicely she might just take us a fabby close up shot!!

Stay tuned for the next one coming soon - I promise :D

Hugs'n'inspired snogs,
Julie xx

Sooooooo, a needle pulling thread.............

2011-02-17T22:46:00.003Z

Sooooo what do you think hgappened tomy i-pod this week??

Well if music is the food of love play on and I love anything with a sewing theme so I used Tims stamp :D

I started with a plain white plastic cover I bought off e-bay for my precious i-pod and gave it a coat of white gesso to prime it

Next I coloured it with beige acrylic paint and left it to dry.

I stamped the Tim Holtz stamp with archival ink and tinted parts of the image with promarkers.

I added some distress inks with a sponge and dried off with my heat gun. I knew they would lift with anything I coated them with as they are water based and don't dry properly on acrylic paint, so I dabbed on Claudines matte medium with a sponge, building up layers as it dried.

Next I used Claudines sticky canvas and used the same transfer technique with patterened paper as I did last week .

I glued this down and sections of vintage lace with the matte medium and left it to dry.

I added extra stamped stitches then grunged up the edges with the black archival ink

The embellies are stuck down with a combo of the matte medium and glossy accents.

When everything was nice and dry and sealed with the matte medium I added distress stickles.

I'm hoping to see the amazing, most wonderful, and uber talented Tim at the weekend and hope to share this project wsith him :D

Why not customise your gadgets? just find a cheap cover on ebay and go wild :D

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie xx

2011-02-10T22:04:00.006Z

I have had this Maya road chippie for a while and it suddenly hit me when I was looking at my Claudine Hellmuth sticky canvas what I should do with it :D

This is a little wall or door hanger made specially for my little niece Jess :D

I started by drawing around the chipboard on to the sticky backed canvas and cut out so that it was slightly bigger than the chipboard shape.

I placed the sticky side down on the patterned side of the paper I had chosen ( K&co Cut and paste) then burnished with the back of a spoon. I gently scored the paper, dunked in a dish of water and rubbed away the paper to reveal the pattern adhered to the canvas.

When all the paper was removed I enveloped it in a towel and ironed it dry.

I then stuck it on to the chippie with glossy accents - my fave glue as its really strong and dries fast :D

I coated it with Claudines multi matte medium when dry as this hides any little pieces of paper you might have missed when you removed it and makes it look neater. You can fray the edges if you like but I would do it before you seal it with the medium

I inked the edges with a chalk inkpad then used Viva Decor stamps using the same ink pads.

My letters were coated in versamark the dipped and heated in cosmic shimmer utee - what a gorgeous shimmer it gives YUM!!

Please excuse the still wet glue on the pic!!!

But how nice is the texture on the canvas - this has to be one of my fave techniques :D

I added a transferred canvas butterfly with some perfect pearls, Prima flowers, gems and buttons.

The T-shirt chippie was meant to be in a mini book so had a hole punched on one side, so I added another hole and a ribbon to create a hanger.

Most of the ingredients are available from Caroline at BUBBLY FUNK :D

Well, I got a lovely suprise today :D

I spotted a gorgeous bag and fell in love with it on my last trip to Carlisle bu Disaster Designs but my hubby wouldn't byme it LOL

Well the lovely girls I work with gave me a belated birthday prezzie today - we were meant to be going out for a meal (which is when they planned to give me it) but I was ill, so today I received this....

Thank you Kerry,Kell and Lou :D

You have made me a very happy peep.............its defo coming to Birmingham with me next week :D

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie xx

Check me out...........

2011-02-06T20:49:00.004Z

....... :D
I'm on the Tando BLOG today :D
Woop woop :D

My next bit of news is Scrolls Work Stamps is holding another comp over on their FACEBOOK PAGE :D
pop one over and tell them I sent you :D then repost to your friends and ask them to do the same :D
The person with the most referrals by Friday 11/2/11 will win a $50 grab bag of stamps :D

Also a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Jacque who is expecting her second child :D Huge hugs to Jacque and her family who are really excited about the fantastic news :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Lush Leafy necklaces

2011-02-03T19:32:00.008Z

Hi everyone,

apologies for it being jewellery again from me but when I received these lovely leaf Tando chippies from Caroline at Bubbly Funk I just had to do it :D

I was inspired by a necklace I received as a Christmas prezzie which has a lovely sparkly feather hanging sideways with a little dangley section at one end, so thought I would try and recreate it my way with..................UTEE :D

I painted the small chipboard leaves with Jenni Bowlin brown sugar acrylic paint.

I added holes to three of the leaves with a hand drill and smoothed it off with a nail file.

When dry spritzed them with Cosmic Shimmer mist in Golden Mint and left it to dry.

I then wrapped around artist wire creating a loop at the small end and leaving a nice long piece at the other end so I could use it as a handle for dipping in the utee.

I inked a Viva decor swirl stamp with versamark ink and put to one side

I heated some clear utee in my meltpot - you could do this with e foil tray if you wanted but heat from below so that your utee doesn't blow everywhere. When completely melted I added a little bit of Cosmic Shimmer utee in Tropic Pearl and Lapis Jade and swirled together with the end of a brush.

I dipped the chipboard shapes in until completely covered then removed and placed on an acrylic block, while hot I pressed in the swirls stamp to create some texture.

When cooled I created another loop on the end of the leaf and would the excess around the centre of the leaf randomly as I had done earlier (now encased in the utee)

I trimmed the edges of the utee with small sharp scissors and a craft knife until I was happy with the shape then smeared on some Distress Stickles in bundled sage and antique bronze.

I then slid it on to a neckwire I bought in my local craft shop and added more wire to hold it in place, added a few trimmings and some dangley beads :D
The second necklace was exactly the same except I drilled a hole in one end and threaded wire through to create my loop.

I love the texture of the stamped utee and the added sparkle of the cosmic shimmer utee :D

Hope they inspire you to have a go with utee - its so much fun :D

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie xx

Its HERE!!!!!

2011-01-30T19:22:00.007Z

CHA that is :D

Apologies,I lost my way with the senak peeks I'm afraid - it was my birthday so I got a little bit ditracted by prezzies and a delish New York style baked cheesecake that my lovely hubby had delivered for me :D
nom nom nom :D and even better .............hubby didn't like it so it was ALL MINE :D

Anywho, CHA is underway in LA and I have spotted a few cracking items already ......

Loving the Hambly washi tapes check out the rest of their new items ontheir BLOG

Love these Graphic 45 stamps

and check out Rangers booth on their BLOG no prizes for guessing this is Tims display LOL
Oh I can't wait to see new items in real life and touch them at Stitches in just 3 weeks time!!!
The man himself will be there, but I have promised Moira faithfully I will do more than stand gawping while he demos this time LOL :D

I'm a little bit sad that Claudine and Suze won't be there this year though :(

I'm hoping to bump in to Caroline from Bubbly Funk but if you are going please say hi if you pass me :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Steampunk style grungeboard choker

2011-01-26T22:52:00.001Z

Well what a busy week last week was, but I nearly got this choker finished for you LOL :D

I haven't added the findings yet as I'm waiting for some ribbon to arrive.

I started with a strip of plain GRUNGEBOARD and painted on slighlty watered down VIVA DECOR INKA GOLD in graphite - I mix it on the lid with a water brush until its a nice creamy consistancy and paint on a few layers.

When its dry buff with a soft cloth or tissue.

Next I stamped my ScrollsWork gears stamps inversamark ink randomly all over the grunge and embossed with Tim Holtz DISTRESS EMBOSSING POWDER.You have to be patient with the distress powder and wait until it cools or it will all brush off.

I repeated the same on a grungeboard disc - when I heated it it curled on the edges turning it in to a dish shape, so I took advantage and added melted clear utee to make a pendant and added some watchparts and a metal flower.

I punched holes in the choker section to add the chains and rings which the ribbon will be attatched to, and added some flowers made using my DICHROIC TECHNIQUE, prima say it in studs centres and a metal dragonfly.

I love this grungey but pretty look and the mix of textures and metals.

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie xx

CHA SP update 6...........

2011-01-13T20:56:00.001Z

Oooooooooooo well I shared a little pic from Websters pages but go and see for yourself...... LADIES & GENTS and YACHT CLUB.............. I'm in love with the Ladies and Gents!!

Sparkling spring from PRIMA and some lush flowers again, love the petticoat flowers.

Wendy Vecchi has more fabby stamps on show and from her Facebook post it looks like there is going to be something pretty exciting coming tomorrow!!!

GRAPHIC 45 has some lush metal embellies!!

Ooooooo what will tomorrow bring folks????

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

P.S. T!ms just added his 4th sneak HERE ;-)

CHA SP update 5...........

2011-01-12T21:27:00.007Z

OMG Graphic 45 have teamed up with Hampton arts...............SO...............STAMPS!!!
I wonder if they will release stamps for their past collections??? I hope so!!!

**edited to add I asked the question on facebook and here is my reply............

We (Graphic 45) & Hampton have partnered together to make stamps for our following collections: Communique, Fashionista, Le Romantique, Christmas Past (wood), and Steampunk Debutante. Look for these stamps at your LSS that sell Hampton Art Stamps.

T!m has evenmore dies!!! loving the words!!!

Claudine has something up her sleeve but isn't giving anything away yet!!!

Maya Road are also being a bit shy but have posted this photoAND check out their facebook page for the most amazing opportunity......your work could be on display at CHA and you could also win a goody bag!!!!

Oooo and looky at the image Websters Pages have added to their facebook page!!!And HERE is the new Glitz catalogue!!! Love them all!!!

I am loving this seasons new releases..........are you??
What are you craving???

hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

CHA SP update 4...........

2011-01-11T18:46:00.004Z

Now we are rolling!!! LOL

Websters Pages have released a sneak of their COUNTRY ESTATE

Tim snook on late last night and added fabby pics of his

Say hello to My Minds Eye STELLA ROSE and LUSH

The next set of stamps from WENDY VECCHI

A good look at Graphic 45 CURTAIN CALL -------------Yummy!!!!

Studio Calico COUNTRYSIDE
and lots more on HERE including Teresa Collins

And last but defo not least .....................PRIMA has done it again!!!

and thats just a teeny selection!!!

lots and lots to drool over today :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx
P.S check out T!ms blog again for todays update :D

CHA SP update 3...........

2011-01-10T18:57:00.003Z

The first of PRIMAS new papers and check out those Dechire flowers .............I'm in love!!!

a closer look at Graphic 45s LE CIRQUE

and the first of Wendy Vecchis new STAMPS

Oooooo and a drum roll please ............ 7 Gypsies

Have you found anything nice???

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

CHA SP update 2...........

2011-01-09T16:01:00.005Z

Ooooooooooooooooooo lookie lookie - Graphic 45
Le Cirque
Curtain Call Best CreationInc Travel Line scrapbook papers

Can't wait to see the Graphic 45 lines in all of their glory :D
Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

CHA SP (sneak peeks :D ) update 1...........

2011-01-09T12:04:00.003Z

Scrapbookers check out HERE for some new products

Have to say I'm only loving GCD studios Funhouse and Antiquities 1&2 so far!!!
I do love Prima too but i don't actually think thats the new releases as they start previewing from tomorrow!!! - edited to add I take that back LOL, they are new and yummy :D

What do you all think??

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Wow - check these out.........

2011-01-08T13:21:00.011Z

A few of my friends have posted some pretty amazing pieces over the last few days and I just want to point you in their direction to share their wonderfullnes!!

I have to admit I am now suffering ECE - Extreme Crafting Envy!!!

Minxy - aka Nicky Cresswell created this little beauty for the Artistic Stamper creative team
A gorgeous altered bottle by Gillian Simson for Happy Daze
A beutiful pendant from yesterdays birthday girl Carol Fox for Crafty Individuals
And look at Moiras fantastic transformed frame for Happy Daze

A stunning minibook from Sarah for Bubbly Scrumptious

And check out Jennifer Ingles Fairy Child bottle for Scrolls Work stamps - who would have believed that started life as a salt pot!!! I love the paper piecing on this one :D

Also congrats to Netty for becoming part of the Gingersnap Creations DT :D

Hugs'n'inspired snogs,
Julie xx

Ooooo so excited now.....

2011-01-08T11:49:00.003Z

Ok, so last night I mentioned the CHA buzz on here and on UK Scrappers and look what my clever friend Leanie found..........

HERE
HERE
HERE
HERE
HERE

I am so loving the sewing theme!!! I NEED that sizzix die and the texture fades are lush!!!

Oh, and if you don't follow Websters Pages blog go and have a looksie HERE at their lovely new release - I love the Petite berry bouquet and the spring market trim!!!
AND STAMPS!!!! yum yum :D

Hugs'n'textured snogs,
Julie xx

Its nearly that time of year again.............

2011-01-07T18:33:00.003Z

............that the crafting world gets REALLY exciting :D
CHA time!!!!
I'll be keeping my eye out for sneaky peeks and will be posting them as I find and can't wait!!!

Prima are starting their sneaks from Monday and I LURRRVVVE their stuff as you know :D
Tim has a little sneak on his blog which teases us with stamps and new sizzix dies.

So I wonder what my hard earned wages will disappear on this year LOL

Oh and Happy Birthday to T!m xxx

Hugs'n'excited snogs,
Julie xx

Grungey little Scrolls Work Angel

2011-01-05T22:38:00.006Z

This week for my Bubbly Scrumptious piece I decided to create a cute little grungey frame using some of the Tim Holtz techniques I have learned this year, part of which are from the 12 tags of Christmas.

I started by sticking a scalloped frame to a square frame, both of chipboard.

Next I randomly stuck tissue tape collage style over the frame used an embossing tool to shape the tape around the scallops.

I then inked the whole thing with Meadow and Willow alcohol ink which I had applied with a piece of felt as Tim did HERE.

I stamped my Scrolls Work stamp - Althya on to a light coloured piece of Prima patterned paper in Crimson archival ink using a brayer to apply the ink to the stamp - I wanted it to look distressed so didn't ink it thoroughly.

I coloured the image with Rusty Hinge and Bundled sage distress ink.

Once dry I glued the stamped image to the frame

I added some frayed burlap distress stickles to the frame and the stamped image.

Next I inked my chipboard swirl with Walnut stain distress ink and coated it with Rusty Hinge distress embossing powder. When cool I brushed away the excess and inked the exposed patches and edges with the walnut stain ink and glued it to my frame.

I then made two tissue tape flowers following Tim's video tutorial

I glued them on , spritzed them and added some vintage buttons with a nice blob of the distress stickles delicately smeared on.

Doesn't she look cute?

I have added this to Studio L3's Compendium of Curiosities week 26 challenge where there is a fabby prize up for grabs :D

And also to the Simon says stamp and show blog whos challenge this week is to showyour newest stamp :D

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie xx

Configure this........

2011-01-02T11:05:00.007Z

So Santa didn't see my list :( either that or I was too naughty last year ..............never LOL :D
I have pointed it out to my hubby for my Birthday this month though ;-)

He did bring me some pretty cool presents though my main being a Flip ..............whats a Flip???............ well until Christmas morning I had no idea either LOL
But its this.....

If you click the picture it will take you to the site and show you what it does :D My lovely hubby thought it would be great for me to take to shows and record demos to share with you , and if I'm feeling really brave I could shoot my own tutorials!!! Imagine that LOL :
Watch this space, you never know LOL :D

We were meant to be going to meet a little dog that is being rehomed today but the person who is letting her go emailed my hubby yesterday to say that she had already gone, even though we had arranged to travel there with our dog and meet her .......don't get me started!!!!
She has gone to a family member, which I find a little bit awkward as it will totally confuse her if she sees her previous owner :(
Oh well, it wasn't meant to be and I hope she is happy in her new home :D

Well I ordered a little treat for me anyway from Moira @HappyDaze which arrived on New Years eve :D
I haven't had chance to play yet, but low and behold hasn't Tim added two new videos to his blog all about configurations :D

So, what am I going to do with my boxes???
I'm not sure yet but Imight just use some of the techniques I learnt with the 12 tags of Christmas :D

I have some more tissue tape on order and some other bits I found in a sales, I have saved my champagne corks from New Year, and I have lots of other vintage bits and pieces which might just make an appearance in there :D
I have some lovely printers blocks somewhere, so will have to dig them out :D

Check out Lindas gorgeous Christmas one HERE

So what are your projects this year?
I'm not one for doing a year long project - I like things that are done quickly .........I'm far too impatient LOL

I'm being a good girl though and trying to sort through my stash and tidy/organise a bit better.I'm clearing out a lot of things from my cardmaker days that will never get used and rehoming them to my niece who has a Rainbow group :D

Yesterday I set about storing my stamps properly and adding the images to my index file, which judging by the amount of new additions, I haven't done for a long time LOL!!!

speaking of stamps how fabby are THESE!!! defo going on my wish list :D

When I'm done I'm going to start playing :D
wish me luck!!!

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Too good not to make a big deal of..........

2011-01-01T15:13:00.004Z

Happy First Anniversary Scrolls Work stamps :D

And to celebrate look whatJacque is offering!!!

Click the picture to get more info and happy Shopping everyone :D

hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Happy New Year to you all..........

2010-12-30T20:20:00.004Z

Wishing you all the very best in the forthcoming year.
May it bring you health, wealth and happiness ...........or lots of craft goodies :D

Do you all have lovely plans for bringing in the New Year?
me and my lovely hubby are going out for something to eat, which we kinda left to the last minute to organise LOL :D

Anyhooooo hope you all have a fabby night whatever you are planning and see you all next year :D

And a little treat for you all - head over to Scrolls Work stamps who are celebrating their first anniversary with a 35% off sale - wowser!!!!

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

decorate your decorations..........

2010-12-29T21:19:00.004Z

Are your Christmas decorations looking tired? don't match your decor or you just fancy a change??

Well get yourself some INKA GOLD from Bubbly Funk and give them a new look before you put them away this year. Give them a new lease of life and create an orginal look for your home.

Inspired by my TH tags of Christmas I bought some cheap silver coloured baubles and applied the inka gold with a dry baby wipe. When dry I buffed and then gave them a second coat.

When evenly coated and lovely and shiney I added embellies - you could use anything - crystals, stickers, flowers rub-ons etc....

They look stunning in real life and look much more expensive than they did originally.

Why not have a scoot around the sales and see if you can find some bargains then transform them in to a lovely co-ordinated set for next year :D

And if you do them now you will avoid that pre Christmas panic next year :D

Hugs'n'snogs,

Julie xx

2010 favourites award ceremony starts here ...........NOW!!!

2010-12-27T11:03:00.004Z

I got to thinking about my crafting year and what teh highlights have been - fave products I have discovered , events, etc...........

So for anybody who is interested this is my top ten of my 2010 crafting journey :D

At Ten...........
discovering utee and all the things you can do with it thanks to Suze Weinberg :D
I have enjoyed experimenting and even the singed fingers when I just 'forget' how hot it is again LOL

At Nine...........
rediscovering my love of stamps thanks to the girlies over at Zuzus and Moiras amazing selection of stamps (which seem to be sneaking in to my home LOL :D )

At Eight...........
Meeting Claudine and falling in love with Sticky backed canvas!!!
Such a cool product if you haven't got around to using it yet!! Check out my post HERE :D
My fave technique has to be the image transfer which works fabby with scrapbook papers :D

At Seven............
Rebekah asking me to design aproject for her Birthday blog hop and having so much fun with everyone :D
HERES my project if anybody wants to see it

At Six.....................
Discovering altered art thanks to Moira, Ginger, Zuzu and Gillian!!!
The car boots and charity shops are my new fave haunts and I love finding unusual things to alter like my alarm clock, pocket watch and bottle - check out my ALTERED ART BLOG TAB to see them and other projects :D

At Five...........
taking part in the Tims 12 tags of Christmas for the first time ever, and learning some fabby new techniques along the way.
CLICK THIS BLOG TAB if you would like to share my journey

At Four...........
Being asked to be a guest designer at the PINK BOOBY 5 CROP and getting to teach and meet lots of amazing crafters.
I had so much fun and can't wait until next year :D
I even had fun when I was thrown in at the deep end to take over Cals class - thanks guys LOL
Lots of money was raised and lots of money spent with worthy causes supported :D (scuse the pun LOL)

At Three...........
Being part of three amazing design teams!!!

Happy Daze
Bubbly Scrumptious
Scrolls Works stamps

All of the teams are amazingly talented and I get the chance to work with fabby new products.
I feel so honoured to be part of them all and would like to say a HUGE thank you for making me part of them :D

At Two............
Meeting Tim Holtz, the lord of all that is grungey and distressed!!!
Huge thanks to Moira for inviting me to Stitches in February :D I had a bit of a trial getting there but it was so worth it!!!
I got to meet lots of fellow crafters in real life, flesh and blood, the works LOL :D
But I also met Tim!!!
I don't think Moira realised what a profound affect it would have on my crafting (and my bank balance to be honest LOL) !!!

I never really 'got' the whole Tim Holtz craziness until I watched him demo - poor Moira couldn't drag me away LOL

So heres the BLOG POSTS which cover the visit to snowy Birmingham and the NEC.

And in First place..........
Creating my own technique :D
I was in love with Viva Decor Croco from the moment I tried it and couldn't help experimenting to see what it could do :D
I was amazed and in love when I realised I could make a piece of chipboard look like dichroic glass :D
I searched the internet for any techniques and couldn't find anything that uses the same technique as mine :D
SO HERE IT IS if you aren't bored of seeing it already LOL :D
and a few projects I have made using it HERE :D

So what have you all been up to in 2010???
Why not share your top ten with us all :D

I wonder what 2011 will bring to my crafting life????

Hugs'n'festive Boxing Day+1 snogs,
Julie xx

TH12TOC - day eight - do-over :D

2010-12-13T23:51:00.005Z

Ok, as mentioned I want to re-do the tags that aren't in the same vein of my usual style so this is the start of my do-overs LOL

Here's my original day eight

I'm gutted I didn't keep the little detailed areas - but they were a pain to place LOL :D

Who would believe it was the same tag???
It just shows how all the techniques can be adapted to your personal style :D

Oh and you will be pleased to know that I feel much better today and heading back to work tomorrow :D
YEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY:D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

2010-12-13T23:20:00.004Z

....are you following and playing along??
Check out his blog HERE daily for fabby inspiration and new techniques :D

If you decide to play along visit ARTYJEN and share your tags with others who are joining in with the chance to win a prize from Jennie at The Artistic Stamper - the winner will be chosen at random and the more you enter the more chances you have of winning :D

*****This post will hopefully remain at the top for now so please see below for the latest post*****

TH12TOC - day twelve :D

2010-12-12T16:55:00.006Z

Its the final day and I feel so sad that this is the last tag :(

T!ms tag today features his movers and shapers sizzix dies, which I have been looking at for a while, but wasn't sure how to use.
If your the same check out his post today as the video tutorials are excellent and really put it all in to place for me ..............my wish list is now groaning under the weight LOL

Well, today was hard work!!!
Guess what.............no dies LOL but you already knew that :D

So I happened upon some grungeboard sheets I had forgotten I had bought when I was tidying last night so I decided to hand cut the bauble :D
I drew myself a template and then drew it on to the grungeboard, the cut it out with a combo of my craft knife and my tonic scissors - was pretty pleasedwith myself at this point :D
So I decided to stick with my muted colour tones and cut a tag from a piece of Websters pages paper. and inked it in bundled sage and broken china DI.
I addedbuttons to the bottom and lace down the side and added distress stickles in bundled sage and rock candy.

So back to the bauble!!!
It started as a disaster, continued as a disaster for a few attempts but I recovered it in the end:D

I inked it with the broken china ink and edged it with walnut stain and added the crackle as per T!ms instructions - I used the grainy textured side by accident when I cut out my bauble and it looked horrible and didn't crackle properly.

So what to do?

I covered it with my trusty pearl paint dabber and dried it, sanded it back a bit and tried inking with the DI - of course you couldn't see them so I dried it off and got my alcohol inks out - they work lovely on grungeboard when it has been painted with a metallic acrylic - pearl works fabby as its nice and white which is why I bought it after seeing T!m demo in Feb :D

So I dabbed on Willow and stonewash ink and added more crackle glaze. when dry I highlighted with a bit more ink and some rock candy stickles.
I didn't like how it was looking so I decided to back my cut out word with paper and glossy accents the whole thing - disaster!!!
It looked awful!!

Next step - back to the craft knife and I cut all the GA and paper away from the word and sharpened up the edges. It took awhile and my finger is now sore from pressing down but it looks much better :D
I stuck it on to my tag and added a sticker with a little crystal headed pin, and added fibres to finish off.

I really love how some of my tags work together but a bit disappointed that I didn't do them all in the same colour tones.
So when I get chance Iam going to re-do some of them so I have a matching set :D

Well thats it for this year :(

Its the first time I have played and still can't believe that this time last year I only owned three distress inks and had no idea how to use them LOL :D

Wait until I see T!im again in Feb, and see how much it costs me next year LOL

So whats on my wish list???

More sizzix dies and embossing folders including movers and shapers and base plates
A tint attacher - wanted one for ages :D
An I-top brad maker and the bits to go with it (T!m used one on last years tag)
Lots more stamps,
Facets
More tissue tape
The remaining DI I haven't got yet
The distress stickles I haven't got yet either

I could go on forever LOL

If anybody happens to bump in to Santa please remind him I have been a good girl this year (as always ;-D )

Thank you to everyone for your kind words regarding my tags and for your concerns over my health - I'm still not well, and have a feeling I may be back at the docs tomorrow for more antibiotics :(

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

TH12TOC - day eleven ....

2010-12-11T17:23:00.009Z

I can't believe there is only one day left!!!!
Well todays tag involved making your own stamps from TH alterations sizzix dies.
I don't have any of the on the edge dies and already have stamps of the ones I have LOL
I didn't want to use my Snowman die again as it was just going to look too samey as yesterdays.

So I remembered about my Christmas set of Fancy Pants stamps which hardly ever get used appart from the occassional snowflake!!!

So I stamped on to a piece of Websters pages paper with a snowflake border and versamark ink and embossed with clear fine detail embossing powder.
I then inked over it with bundled sage and broken china DI, distressed my edges and inked them lightly with walnut stain.

I had to handcut a tree out of a piece of chipboard, then inked it with my bundled sage.
I used my pearl paint dabber to create a snow effect on it then gave it a quick spritz with white mica mist.
I used a piece of twine from a clothing tag I had saved and tied it around the base of the tree.

When I placed my tree on my tag I realised that it was a bit small and looked lost on my tag so I added the word stamp (again from the FP set) in olive archival ink and added buttons with glossy accents.

I added some fibres and a tag I had already made with my dichroic glass technique, then pinned on a snowflake charm.

I kinda like it and it goes really well with the other websters page tag I made :D

So I decided to link this to the Simon says stamp and show blog challenge this week which is .............show a holiday greeting :D and what a cute greeting it is :D

So what will T!m, Lord of the Tags have in store for us tomorrow???
I have a feeling it might be a alcohol ink technique as we haven't used them much so far............whats your guess???

Wow, its nearly over :(
Hope you all stay in touch :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

TH12TOC - day ten ....

2010-12-10T15:48:00.005Z

Day ten already :-O where did those days go???
ahhhh they were snot filled yukky days, which T!m helped me get through :D
I feel so much better since half way through this tag I answered the door in my PJ's and dressing gown (yes it was 3pm but I'm ill!!) to be told by the delivery man "Julie, you look awful!" ..........LOL , how to make a gal feel good eh???

Shhhhh but don't tell four but this is my new fave LOL :D
I have the die woohoo, I have the embossing folder double woohoo :D I had the spare packaging - its my day :D
This was the easiest so far helped by the fact that all I had to sub was the stamp, brads and a scarf :D

are you all still enjoying?? I tell you, its the only thing getting me up in the morning and keeping me sane :D

Well after my posting yesterday about my issues witht he rosette die I ahd a few comments that it seemed a common problem!

So I contacted sizzix to see if it was a fault that had already been reported or not and got this response......

Thank you for your email. We haven't come across and faulty Rosette dies so far so I would just like to give you some tips on using your die first of all.

Of course if you still find that after following these tips that your die is still not working correctly then please get back in touch as we can then issue a returns form for you.

The Rosette die is a Sizzlit die therefore should only be used with paper or very thin card.

Any material other than this may put too much pressure on the die which may then cause your problem.

Another tip is to go against the grain of the card as this will mean that the crease lines are stronger and less likely to tear. An easy way to do this is to turn the paper on a slight angle when feeding it through the machine.

By folding the crease line away from the groove will also keep the strength within the crease fold.

I will try this and let you know guys, but can you let meknow how you get on too and any solutions you come up with :D
I thought about adding an extra piece of paper in the sandwich so it doesn't cut as deep - but we will see how it goes...

Right off to add a link to ArtyJen who is hopefully enjoying her birthday trip, and the artistic stamper :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

TH12TOC - day nine ....

2010-12-09T18:58:00.003Z

Well how pleased was I when I checked T!ms blog this morning and discovered that his tag today featured the rosette die that I made the decision to buy this week LOL
Believe it or not it only arrived yesterday morning :D if anybodyis after one they are still available at Country View crafts at a fab price and free P+P!!! Excellent service too - I only ordered it on Monday night!!!

How amused was I when I couldn't find the cutting mats I have to go with the extended dies???? NOT!!! I have hte base plate but where are the mats? who knows!!!
I ended up using my normal bigz die one and the little ones that go in the sidekick LOL - bit tricky but it worked!!

Now that rosette isn't as easy as it looks - I think mine was cut too deep on the folds as it snapped :$
Soooo repeat of the big shot performance and I managed the secon time LOL

I used different paper though - it was TH from teh seasonal pad but the one in blues an reds.

My tag was randomly stamped with various stamps and then coloured with broken china and whitamica spray - it looked too blue so I did a second wash of frayed burlap and the white mica.

I distressed the edges and then added some Fired brick highlights - repeated this on my rosette and gave it a quick spritz :D

I didn't have the letter die and couldn't decide on letters so in the end I inked some chipboard letters with the broken china, mica misted and then glossy accented.

Added fibres, some organza and a few of my fave buttons :D
added a button and crystal on a safety pin to the fibres and some distress stickles to finish off.

I decided to dry my stickles with my heatgun and remembered while it was drying that organza melted with them - so gave that a quick blast too :D

I think this is my second fave so far :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

P.S Happy 50th Birthday Coronation Street :D

Wave to Santa

2010-12-09T14:27:00.003Z

For thsi weeks project on Bubbly Scrumptious I created a cute little Christmas decoration based on T!ms day 8 tag :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

TH12TOC - day eight ....

2010-12-08T18:36:00.005Z

Woop, wooop, woooooooppppp - I had the mask today :D
Ok I didn't have the other elements, but the mask is the essence of todays tag :D

It was all going so well..... I decided to add the little extra sections so that my sledge was more detailed and was feeling really clever with myself for thinking about brayering it down so it was completely stuck............. but I forgot the masking tape!!!
I remembered funnily enough right after I started swirling on my red ink - doh!!!! nice big corner on my tag!!! oh well,never mind I thought - I will either cover it when I ink or cut it off.

So I get my masking tape out - job done :D
finished all my stamping and come to remove it - oh oh............it ripped the top surface off part of my tag :(

Do I start again??? Ithought about it but naaaahhh.... I stuck it back down with a little bit of GA smoothed on with my finger :D

So on to the next part where you swap tha masks - no probs, all lined up nicely and I
cut a circle from eclipse tape to make a nice big moon.

When I finished my inking I removed the circle and used the piece I had cut it from to mask my inkey tag........see, I took it all in T!m ;-)
I gave it a nice bit of splodging with my paint dabber and added some rock candy stickles.

I didn't have the hardware but the tag I had cut out was smaller than T!ms anyway so I decided against trying to improvise as there isn't enough space.
I just added some more rock candy to the sky, cut out some roof tops from chipboard, did the cotton bud smoke like on day one (which I missed off LOL) and added some fibres to finish.

I really like this tag :D
and as the great man himself says ............."Enjoy the journey"

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

TH12TOC - day seven ....

2010-12-07T23:11:00.004Z

....of the improvisations LOL :D
Well when I looked at todays tag I thought - hmmm thats not so hard - ok I don't have everything but I can give it a go - I think thats teh name of the game really LOL

Ok so heres my effort for today....

Well I couldn't find my sticky canvas and I forgot to stick my petals to grungeboard, so that was a good start LOL
I made my own spray mists with DIR in barn door and fired brick to colour the petals.I gave them a quick spritz with mica spary in white and added some fired brick distress stickles.
I glued them all down then added the leaves and twiggy bits from a bought poinsetta spray.

I don't have the woodgrain texture folder but liked the idea of using the bingo one and positioning the 25 in a convenient place ;-) ....see that was a strategic move, not a happy accident LOL

I coloured the tag allover with antique lined, highlighted the numbers with walnut stain and inked the edges with barn door.
I highlighted the 25 with the red ink and stuck a frahment over it with glossy accents.

My letters have a shiney surface so I spritzed them with the left over misters and dried with my heatgun then added glossy accents.

I have to say that flower was pretty tricky - but I think it was my own fauly for not doing it properly LOL

I t wasn't my fave tag to begin with but I'm quite pleased at how it turned out :D

Well lets see what challenges tomorrow brings :D

While I was blog hopping earlier I came accross a comment of wonderful it was to work on a project that so many other were working on at the same time - I agree :D
And I also think it must be pretty wonderful to be as talented and powerful as T!m.... who hasn't got a wish list as long as their arm yet????? LOL

Hugs'n'still snotty snogs,
Julie xx

TH12TOC - day six :D

2010-12-07T20:51:00.006Z

Well this little baby caused me a few problems LOL :D
This is TimsWell I didn't have the embossing folder, die or the stamps but I did have some ntissue tape - but not the right one LOL
so heres
it turned out really dark so I decided to try reverse painting and lifted the colour off with a waterbrush. then painted in little trees with a colour lifted off a DI inkpad.
By this time there was no sign of my stamping and the snowman was very dark!!
I decided to coverhim with pearl paint dabber androck candy stickles..
I the decided to spritz with a pearl spritz - but its a bit heavier than planned LOL :D
I stapledsome lace on and my snowflake was covered in pearl paint, 3 layers of utee, rock candy stickles and a bit of bling.

Attempt two

I kept my colours a bit lighter this time but still couldn't see my stamping after I had inked the tag so I stamped over it LOL
paint dabbered the snowman again andadded dabs of it to the tag.
I attempted the swag but you can't really see it becausemy plaque is a bit larger than I thought LOL
I gave up at this point and decided I would do the technique required for Th e Compendium of Curiosities challenge on Studio L3
So I rock candied the plaque as per page 47 ;-)

So I give up T!m - well at least for now LOL

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Icy Madonna

2010-12-07T13:43:00.004Z

Thsis has to be my fave xmas Scrolls Work stamp as its just so beautiful and crisp.
If you want to get your hands on one its called Madonna & child (#8052)

I created the tile and then was stuck at first as to what I was going to mount it on to - its too heavy for a card and needed to be a piece of art.
It was at on my acrylic mounting block while I did something else and it hit me that a block was perfect.
I had a brand new block so attached it with The Ultimate glue and put some heavy items on top to make sure it stuck fast while it dried :D

Ok, so do you want to know how I made the plaque??
Heres a close up first :D
I started by stamping the image in black Stazon on to a piece of acetate a little bit larger than the image and put to one side to dry.
Next I cut a piece of chipboard (greyboard) to the same size as the stamped image.
I treated it with my faux dichroic glass technique as described HERE with platinum Viva decor croco and alcohol inks in shades of blue green and purple.

When dry and cool I covered the glazed chipboard in a thin layer of glossy accents just squiggled on, then took my acetate image and placed it over the top wiggling it gently and pressing down gently so that the glossy accents was sandwiched evenly. I then put my stamp block on top and weighted it to make sure it dried flat.

When the glue was dry I trimmed away the excess acetate with my TH tonice studios scissors, which are nice and sharp and non-stick so any wet glue just wipes off cleanly.

I sealed the edges with silver coloured Ranger memory foil tape using THIS TECHNIQUE :D

It was curling up at the corners a little which is why I weighted it when I stuck it to the block but dried perfectly :D

Wouldn't it make a lovely inexpensive gift? I love how its freestanding and quite modern looking :D
The pics really don't do the technique justice as its so sparkly and pretty in real life.

Hope you like it :D
Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie

TH12TOC - day five ....

2010-12-05T20:12:00.007Z

Well I didn't have any of todays elements except the inks so I totally improvised LOL :D
Here's T!m's....
I decided against numbers because I didn't think they worked with my Scrollswork stamp (its Holly again :D)
I inked my tag as T!m describes HERE and did the edges the same.
my chippy heart was painted with green acrylic paint then given a coat of rock candy crackle glaze. When dry I rubbed aged mahogany DI in to the cracks and highlighted the edge with my pearl paint dabber.
The twine is from a clothing tag and the little charm is coloured with Viva Decor Inka gold (you may have noticed I love Inka gold :D)

Still incredibly snotty here and gonna pay a trip to the docs tomorrow me thinks - my sinusitus is BAD!!!

Hugs'nstill snotty snogs,
Julie xx

TH12TOC - day four ....

2010-12-04T19:18:00.006Z

....and my favourite so far!!! both of T!m's tag and mine :D

Thats mine above and here is T!m'sI used Websters pages 6x6 paper pad I bought from Happy Daze, and a TH fragment instead of the facet (which suprise, suprise - I didn't have LOL!!!)

For T!ms instructions head over HERE

I agree when he says it will take a few attempts to do the effect on the facet - but the trick is keep blotting. I thought I had blotted enough but I wasn't so started it again a few times before I realised :D

I love this one so much I am entering it on the Simon says stamp and show weekly challenge :D
Have fun everyone,
Hug'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Ruffle your feathers....

2010-12-04T12:00:00.001Z

This is one of my pieces for the Scrolls Work stamps design team.
I stamped Small ruffled feathers (#4074) on to a piece of fibre paper with black archival ink and coloured in with promarkers very lightly then highlighted with sakura glitter pen.
I glued this on to a domino with a glue stick and cut round with a craft knife. I sanded the edges with an emery board then inked with black acrhival ink.
I pressed it down in my versamark ink pad then coated in utee and heated. While hot I sprinkled on more utee and heated again and repeated this until I had a nice thick glaze.
While hot I pressed in the stamp and left to cool.
When cooled I removed the stamp then heated the face area until it was smooth again.
Next I coloured a piece of grunge paper with vive decor inka gold in platinum then stamped in the black ink with Wings -2 (#2502).
I pressed this in to the versamark and coated in utee giving it two coats.
Again while hot I pressed the stamp in to the utee to create texture.
When cold I craked the glaze by getly bending then glued the wings on to the back of the domino with Crafters pick - The Ultimate glue from Happy Daze.

Next I bent a flat filigree charm gently against the bottom of the domino nad glue on. When dry I added charms and beads.

lastly I added a glue on bail ready to hang on a chain or even on a keyring or bag charm.

Hope you like it,
Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

TH12TOC - day three :D

2010-12-04T00:25:00.007Z

I really love todays tag and really happy with how it turned out :D
now heres T!msI didn't have the branch or the trim but love how my tissue tape flower turned out :D have to say it was pretty darn tricky!!!
And my tag is wayyyyyy smaller LOL :D

Still chocker with this cold and madethe huge mistake of blowing my nose on the tissue I had olbas oil on before - ouchie!!!

Oh and I forgot to mention THESE!!!
If you are struggling walking on the snow and ice believe me - these are £15 well spent :D

Hugs'n snotty snogs
Julie xx

I believe in Santa.......do you???

2010-12-03T22:24:00.003Z

This is a little shadow box that Moira from Happy Daze sent me to play with awhile ago, which has a nice smooth surface perfect for stamping and inking.
Through out I used the gorgeous Scrolls Work stamps :D

I started by dabbing on Ranger paint dabber in pearl on to the Sheet music stamp and stamped all over the outside of the box.
I then inked the whole box with Bundled Sage and Forest Moss distress ink pads and a Ranger blending tool making the edges darker.
I then randomly stamped Pinecones (#8057) in olive archival ink over the lid.
I stamped Holly (#8050) on to a piece of scrap card stock twice with the archival ink.
The first image I cut the main image away from the circle border the coloured by lifting colour from my distress inkpads with a waterbrush pen - it give a lovely water coloured effect.
When dry I added the red stickles to the berries.
I stuck here dire3ctly to the lid of my box using the ultimate glue.
Next I cut the banner sections taking more off the second one to create a decoupage effect I inked them then layered with 3d foam and stuck to the lid of my box.

I painted the inside with Viva decor Inka Gold in green lava watered down a little with my water brush.
I used a little to highlight the edges of the box too and to cover the areas I couldn't get my ink in to.

I then stamped my sheet music stamp again in the archival ink on ascrap piece of paper which I tore to the size needed to fit in the box. I inked it with antique linen distress ink and stuck to the back of the inside box.
I glued a bunch of florist holly and berries in the corner with the ultimate glue and added a little battery operated tea light behind the stamped girl.

It makes a very pretty ornament with the light flickering away :D
Hope you like it,
hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Christmas tags with Scrolls Work stamps

2010-12-03T18:57:00.005Z

Hi everyone,
I loved Tims tag so much yesterday I had to play again with my lovely Scrolls Work xmas stamps :D
So for this one I used Happy Holidays (#8oo8) Sheet Music (#7104) Bells (#8056) Lady flourish silhouette #1 (#2557)

I used the custom inkpad technique for the bells as Tim demos HERE`
The lady flourish was just inked on the swirl sections around the edges of the tag
This tag is exactly the same except I used antique linen distress ink on the background - I think I prefer this one as you can see the colours I have used to fill in the stamp better.
I again used my distress inks and picked up the colours with a waterbrush pen.

Thanks for looking,
Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

TH12TOC - day two :D

2010-12-02T13:52:00.005Z

So heres Tims second tag

and heres mine :DI used gorgeous Scrolls Work stamps that Jacque kindly sent me :D
I used Madonna and child, Sheet music and Seasons Greetings.

I don't have a lot of distress re-inkers but I really like how it turned out:D the little ponsettia flower is Prima and the joy charmis by 7gypsies.

To see how I created this visit Tims blog HERE

I didn't have any of the cut and dry felt but remembered I did have some felt that is used for prevent scratches on floors by furniture that I had picked up in Aldi :D

It has taken my mind off out crappy I am feeling with this blasted cold, which has now set off my chronic sinusitis BIG style :(

Hope you like it :D
Hugs'n'snotty snogs
Julie xx