Its a bugs life- Tuesday Taggers

This was inspired by a gorgeous piece by this lady. from last year. A stunning piece! Anyway the theme for Tuesday Taggers is Bugs so how easy it was to add a gorgeous butterfly and a bee charm to this altered egg box.

This is a gift for a friend who loves cadburys creme eggs - we went out together for the day last Friday and was telling me how much she loved them. So this will be in the post this morning as a little Easter gift for her and her partner.

Firstly I coloured the lid with pumpkin promarker. then used My minds eye papers, ribbon and lace from stash, glass patties pretties from Kirsty Wiseman - papermania flowers which I have coloured with promarkers and the ticket stamp from Hero Arts. The gorgeous butterfly is a Crafty Individuals one which is available from our brilliant sponsor this week the craft barn one lucky winner from "A bugs life" will have £15 to spend at The Craft Barn .Just remember to add the link in your post!

Sorry this last picture is so blurred but you couldnt see the bee on any of the other ones and I couldnt get a decent pic at all!

Hop on over to Tuesday Taggers - my team mates have gone bug bonkers which quite frankly is rather brilliant!

have a brilliant day!

Janet x

New home wall hanger

Here is the wall hanger I did last weekend - safe to show it now! It used to be a plaque with a saying on it - you know the kind you see in the cheapy shops. Well I gessoed it then used paint dabbers for the sky, grass and sunshine. Overstamped with library green archival ink and blonde moments little bit of this background stamp. The houses are from a stampin up wheel - onto papermania V&A papers (love them the colours are fab!). Windows and doors coloured with promarkers then added to the hanger. Home sweet home is a dimension fourth stamp. Finished off with ribbons and a key dangling at the side. This is for my Docrafts Buddy Mandy - I hope she likes it x She is just moving home to where she says shes going to retire LOL.
Im entering this into the Allsorts challenge which is to alter something
Hope the weekend is turning out to be fab for you x Janet

Fruits of my labour!

So you would like to see the projects I did at the weekend. In truth it was not a lot - on Friday and Saturday I coughed my way through the time- I gessoed and painted a small plaque - cant show you that as its a gift. I gessoed and painted a large letter N for a project for The Stampman - not finished so cant share that! and made 3 cards - 2 of which have already gone so here is all I can share!

This card is for the lovely Marie whose birthday it was yesterday. On the retreat Emma had shared with us how to two step stamping using a thingumjig oh sorry no a stamp-a-ma-jig a stampin up tool. I now think this will be my very best tool (after my cropodile, fiskars trimmer and pokey tool of course). It works sooooo well . Perfect placement of the image every time!

So I stamped a cake using adirondack and archival inks to match the papermania V&A papers. Stampin up border punch, ribbon and card stock from stash. So thats it my weekend labours. I have to say my fellow retreaters were much more productive - 2 altered mirrors, an altered chest, 50 save the date cards, lots of scrapbook layouts, lots of cards, 2 exploding boxes and altered notebooks.

The altered note books were the warm up project everyone decorated their own notebook so they then had a place to write down hints and tips they had learned or any info they wanted to remember. This went down really well. It was also a place to swap contact details and add info from the mini demos/ workshops.

So there you have it - sorry its not more pics - I was really not very well at all and so not with it - I promise to be more on the ball at the next retreat!

Janet

Retreat pictures

Grab yourself a cuppa - this is a long one! One of our retreat attendees has sent me these pics - I will point her out on them.

This is the lovely Avril (left) Marie and Lyn. Avril and Lyn are team mates from Tuesday Taggers - the first time we have met up. Marie comes to my craft group and is quite a new crafter but she is learning fast!

This is the lovely Sandra - quietly beavering away here. Fabulous to meet a fellow docrafter!

This is another TT team mate - Emma (left) and My Mum who loved the tippy-up chair she found to sit in - all disabilities catered for at this venue perfect!

This is Vicky, Margaret and Yvonne - all newbies to the retreat experience but really loved the time away doing their own thing!

Old Buddies here from the left Bee, Kate, Michelle and me looking distinctly not well. Bee and Kate were people I met on the first retreat I went on 3 years ago. They both host the Claxby retreat which was held twice last year and is booked for 3 times this year - email me for details as one is happening 16th-18th April in Claxby, Lincolnshire. A very cheap weekend away with fab company and wonderful food!

This is Jean and Marie - Both have been unwell in recent months and the retreat has been a welcome break from some nasty treatments. Both such positive souls. Jean makes card for Martin House Hospice shops a really worthy cause!

Heres the lady with the camera- in front of it - the gorgeous Cazro - tucking into lunch at The Paper extravaganza on the Saturday.

and her room mates Sandra and Yvonne hope they didnt spend all their money LOL

This is the view on Saturday from one of the craft room windows - it was a damp and drizzly day!

Evidence that we crafters are a right messy bunch!

Brilliant Pictures Cazro thanks for sharing x

Happy Wednesday Crafters x Janet

Tuesday Taggers - Alter it!

This weeks challenge was chosen by the lovely Blackdragon. Dont be fooled by the name - she is the most gentle person I have ever met! Anyway she loves to alter so thats the theme.
It was our first craft retreat, this weekend, of 2010. 17 ladies stayed overnight with 2 day visitors too for some fab crafty fun. I've got another dratted cold so coughed and spluttered through the weekend with very little MoJo.
So here is my altered piece - very simple indeed. A kenco rappor coffee jar covered with layers of papermania papers - these are from the Christmas range but I love the deep rich colours and think they are perfect all year round. Ive added some lace and ribbon from stash and now have the perfect jar to put homemade cookies in!

As usual my Tuesday Taggers team mates have produced some stunning stuff - so hop on over to take a peek.

Hopefully I will share some pictures of the retreat later in the week.

Have fun!

Janet

Hi All

Well I am back from our first ever Craft retreat and it went brilliantly - Hmmm except I was full of cold all weekend!
17 of us stayed overnight with 2 day visitors at the wonderful Beamsley project just outside Skipton. Fully equipped for disabled people it was a perfect venue for relaxing and crafting.
We went to the Great Northern Papercraft Extravaganza on Saturday which sadly was not as good as previous times. It was crowded and some people were frankly really rude - pushing and shoving - which spoilt the whole thing for me.
I couldnt get into The Stampman but did manage to wave at the lovely Jill. Nor could I get into Clarity stamps so didnt even try. I actually only bought from Art From The Heart which really I can do any time.
So I bought 3 lots of UTEE to play with my melt pot. 3 paint dabbers salmon, mountain rose and red pepper, the gorgeous box feet from Tim Holtz and some mould and pour to make my own melt pot moulds.
To be honest after half an hour I had had enough! Did meet up with fabulous people - especially Clare from Horners Corner and my God Mother - Auntie Anne minus her teeth - wow that was scary lol!
Anyway back to the weekend. The rest of the time ws spent crafting and chatting, sharing techniques and ideas and getting to know folks a bit better.
here are some of the folks with blogs
Blackdragon
Avril
Michelle
Bee
Emma
Georgina
In fact Michelle held a blogging class on saturday night so this list may expand!
We had a wonderful weekend and will definately do it again - I will keep you all informed of the dates!
Hopefully I will have pictures to share during the week so keep popping back to have a peep!
have a brilliant Monday!
Janet

Those with a nervous disposition please do not read!

Oh dear did that get your attention? You may want to look away now! I have made a bookatrix creation - arrrggghh first peel offs and now this the cold has clearly sent me loopy lol!

Not strictly true - I got this board in a swap yonks ago when docrafts allowed swaps to go on. I could never quite get the right look so it went to the back of the shelf and stayed there all dusty and lost. That is until last week when Katy from The Craft Stamper pointed out this creation from Vicky.
I was awestruck by the beautiful thing she had created - not a bit like the ones I had seen before - all vintagy and grungy and quite frankly down right perfect! I couldnt get my printer to print a decent image from the site so I went on my own way using Vicky's idea for inspiration.
This is a commission for my boss whose Mum is 80 - must clarify this as my Mum reads my blogs and I dont want her to think I think she is 80!
Ive used stampin up card stock chocolate chip and pumpkin pie for the first 2 layers then some basic grey ambrosia. As Vicky did I have used perfect pearls to high light the edges using a swirly stamp and some perfect medium. Roses I've made before like many tutorials on the net - the leaves are from the papermania build a rose set with distress stickles liberally smeared. The gorgeous lace is from my stash - Mum- I cut round some chipboard letters to make and then added papermania gems. Butterfly stamped onto ambrosia paper twice and layered to be dimensional.
So if you are still with me and not in a dead faint what do you think? Dont think I will use it often but love this way to use it - so thanks for the tip off Katy and thanks for the inspiration Vicky :0)

Tuesday Taggers

Oh Wow! This weeks challenge was picked by the fabulous Avril and is Masquerade balls/jesters/clowns. How far out of my comfort zone was this?? a seriously long way! Another teamie, Bee, gave me this mask last summer - she had bought it when on holiday. It was plain white ceramic and I have looked at it every so often wondering what on earth to do with it! Well Avrils challenge got me going. First I gave it a couple of coats of gesso before painting half burgundy with sojonias paint and the other half gold with a different make (this one took 3 coats!) then with an unsteady join I aded a peel off down the centre - yes you read correctly a peel off!

I was so taken with this I decided to use them again (yes peel offs again) around the eyes. I coloured some stones using alchol inks then added those too.

The flowers were some double sided peel offs (yes again - nervous laugh lol) which I added glitter to, more gems then round the outline with promarkers.

I have to say I'm rather taken with it even with the peel offs - thank goodness I didnt get rid of the whole lot to the BHF last month!

Over on Tuesday Taggers the whole team has excelled once again - hop on over to see the stunning variety.

I'm off to craft at the local craft shop and taking my chest infection with me - yes the damn cold has decided to linger on so I'm stuffing down antibiotics to try and get shut of it for the weekend.

Happy Tuesday Bloggers x

Exciting news!

This is a clue!
Hop on over to my other blog to find out why Im so excited !

Did you guess from Midnight Crafters post?

That she was getting married on Thursday? Congratulations to 2 very special people Alan and Michelle! Here is the card i made for the occasion.Ive been sitting on the secret for a couple of weeks as she didnt want any fuss - Tough my dear we had already got a birthday party lined up with your crafty chums for Friday the 12th! So how many brides do you know who had their hen party the day after their wedding?

Here is the saucy pudd the chinese restaurant served up for her - Recipe

1 Large battered banana

1 tomato cut in half placed carefully at the base.

1 generous sprinkling of seaweed!

1 strategically placed cherry

surrounded in a thick sticky sauce!

Oh my how we laughed then roared and laughed some more. What a fun night.

And here is the birthday card made for a special friend - butterflies have surrounded her the last couple of months so had to make an appearance here. Image Crafty Individuals, Friend stamp - no idea!, stampin up orange card, Martha Stewart doily edge punch, black stones - no idea flower papermania and velvet 50 from Doodlebug.

Now the work begins! Next weekend is our very first craft retreat organised by Michelle and I. I am going over lists, consulting with the chef, re writing my lists and planning my baking schedule. I love to bake but eat it if I do so its a great opportunity to make things for folk and not scoff the lot! Our tickets arrived for the show on Saturday as we decend on mass to the Northern Papercraft Extravaganza. Im nervous, excited but most of all thrilled to be spending the wekend with crafty folk - there really is no buzz better than this! So once we have done this weekend then watch out for the next which will be a jam packed time with workshops of the crafty gift variety.

Hope your weekend is going great!

Janet x

Happy Birthday Midnight Crafter!

Today is a very special birthday for my Pal Michelle AKA Midnight Crafter for today she is officially Fabulous at Fifty! If you have the time hop on over to her blog and wish her Happy Birthday it will make her day!

Tuesday Taggers

Never made a St Patricks day project before so this is a first for me! the tags are diecut from a sissex tag die. Stamped all over with tiny clover leaves from a dovecraft mini set. the sentiment is from the same set. The flowers and gems are from a lovely Rak I received from Melody from Something completely different blog challenge and the arrow is from some bits and pieces from my friend Bee and dee from my birthday last year. The ink Ive used is adirondack ctrus and the ribbon is from papermania. Small and simple this week!

Hop on over to tuesday taggers for the rest of my teamies work and check out the Guest Designer this week of Craft Stamper fame!

Hope you are all fine. I've got a stinking cold and have been really off it since last week. My back hurts with coughing and I have never known my eyes water without me crying before but I am just streaming! I am determined to get some christmas crafting in today as I have been slacking so I'm not letting it stop me!

Janet x

Birthday card

For my friend Barbara - safe to show it as I know it has now been received - hope you have had lovely birthday Bee x
Papers by papermania - card embossed with swiss dots folder, ribbon from stash, kraft card from stampin up. Image is by Crafty Individuals who just happen to be sponsoring Tuesday Taggers this week too - have a look at Pats blog . to see the actual prize its definately a biggy I wish i could enter this week!

Have a great Sunday x

Craft Club pictures as promised

Here are the ladies works of art - the first is Elaine who is also my very good buddy xx

This is Sandra - first time at the class and I throw inks and blending at her - hasn't she done well?

And Sheila - are those colours not just yummy! Again Sheilas first time too and it looks brilliant!

This is one of our very own Glitter girls - no glitter on this project but who knows what bling it will acquire once it gets home! This is Averils - fab colours again x

and this is Glitter girl number 2 who has emailed me her pic. Love the pearls you have added Josie xx

As always Michelle has to be different - how gorgeous is this? More like Debbies original design with a super butterfly shape too - Thanks for sharing your cropodile, corner chomper and stamps my dear x

Now this stunner comes from Mary - Not a confident crafter but wow look at her gorgeous results - a stunning colour combo with antique linen, milled lavendar and dusty concord distress inks. Gorgeous Mary x

On to Marys daughter Kerry this time using antique linen, old paper and tea dye - those distress inks are gorgeous. good luck for later in the Month kerry - wil be thinking of you xx

Another newbie - Sue, look at the fabulous blending you would think shes been doing it forever! These colours are salmon, mountain rose and red pepper.

This is the gorgeous Glynis' masterpiece - bolder colour choices cant remember them all but know cranberry is one of them - a different effect from the subtle colours but stunning non-the-less.

Wow are they not amazing??? Thanks to Debbie for the inspiration and to the fab ladies at the class for being brave enough to get inky - especially the new ones i know I threw you in at the deep end but you swam like pros :0)

Janet x

Graphicus

Yes we got there! Wowzers is all I can say really! It was full to the brim of all my favourite goodies and some real crafty bargains for you bargain hunters1

Look at all this stock a crafters paradise - its not what to buy more of what to leave behind LOL

Here is the lovely Glenda who indulged us taking a photo - Poor lady probably wondered who these mad Yorkshire women were LOL.

The staff were sooo friendly I could not believe how helpful everyone is. There is no cafe but a fab kitchen round the back where someone will make you a drink for a small donation to a charity (cant remember the name but was similar to Parkinsons disease) How kind is that?

So will def be back for their open day in April if I can beg a lift off my pal Michelle :0)

Will post pics tomorrow of craft class - it went sooo well wait till you see their fabulous creations!

Janet

Mini Eagle and cupcakes!

Okay I admit this isnt an eagle at all! Its a small gift for a friend I am visiting today with buddy Michelle and we are also going to visit Graphicus - Wow never been there before - Im taking the camera so i can share. However back to the eagle......
Most people who know me now realise Im more than a bit deaf and can make up a conversation in my own head about what you have said simply from the little snippets I think Ive heard! This was one occasion.
Michelle and Emma were having a converstaion about what I thought was a mini eagle - I asked what did they mean - " you know you've got one too" said Michelle - I racked my brains "no I have No mini Eagles at all!" Not eagles Michelle said EASELS! LMAO I cant live it down now - so Emma brought some mini eagles for me last weekend and Ive decorated one up for Georgina who Im visiting today - Yes its the butterfly beauties again and adirondack inks.
The glossy accents looks a bit glarey in the pic but its not so in your face in real life!
We have a few birthdays at craft club over next week or two - Debbie is 25, Michelle is 50 and Bee well I wont say but its not a biggy LOL! So made these cupcakes with love to celebrate tonight - they are a fab bunch of ladies - always game for a laugh and a challenge even if they dont want to be too adventurous they soon come round to play and surprise themselves - although Josie I do believe we need to do some stitching soon!! (Josie hates the paper stitching i love so much - she does it under protest but is always happy with what she has made :0) )
Have a great Thursday x
Janet

Craft club on Thursday Night

Here's a preveiw of what we are making in my craft class tomorrow night - now you can see why these stamps were at hand for my last post LOL.

This is inspired by a project in Craft Stamper last January by the very talented Debbie Dolphin. Debbie had cut her own chipboard butterfly to make the notes board but since I would have to do that for 12 people I have adapted my version to something more manageable.

These are Mountboard pieces about 51/2 x 4 1/2 which have been inked with Tattered rose, worn lipstick and brushed corderoy distress inks. The stamps are Butterfly Beauties by stampendous, rings and ribbon from stash - notes is stamped with a studio g set and clip by Tim Holtz.
The ladies who come can buy the kit or do their own thing using my stamps but their own inks. Its an easy going session - I dont profess to be a tutor but I do like getting folks together to craft. If you are interested in the session we run on the first Thursday of every month - it costs £2-50 for the session which includes rent and refreshments then the kit for this session is £1 - usually I tell them what to bring so we use up our own copious stash instead of buying more! next session in April is decorating a chipboard Wellie!

Ive just realised I need to chomp the corners on the notes bit as all the mountboard corners have been chomped with my Mums corner chomper - another thing I so neeeed lol.

Im a bit nervous at posting this - firstly as Ive scheduled it as Im actually at work now and secondly cos I know Debbie is going to see it! arrgghhhh the pressure LOL.

Anyway hope its worked and it is really wednesday and you are having a brilliant day :0)