Review of 2011

Hello All,

I am just sharing with you my fav makes from 2011. Worryingly my fav makes are from the beginning of the year ... I think my creativity must have left me over the recent months, so I hope it comes back for 2012, but with baby on the way I am not sure how much time I will have to dedicate to my hobby ..... hopefully I will not loose it altogether.....

anyhoo ..... here are my top 8 makes!!



This was a book I made using scrap card ... masked a load of Leanne Ellis images together, coloured with copics, and then went over with twinkling H2o's


I Love this set, all made with Simply Sassy images ... I especially love the key ring, I thought it would make a good new home kit .... as the book is an address book, and has pockets for the cards and stamps
Again I love this little simply sassy set ... I do love the little geeky girls with the glasses


Another Gift set using Leanne Ellis designs ..... how I would love to see more of her designs in rubber stamps ... this is my first serious attempt at a necklace



I used a template from a polkadoodles cd to create this one, added my own papers and the fabby magnolia image .... I love the sparkly shoes.


I Love masking, this is one of my fav masked creations of the year Love all these sassy sweeties together!!



I think its the rich colours that I love about this .... I do love this Krafting Kimmie image ... and would love a red dress just like that!!


This is soft and sweet ... using a Sheena Douglas image .... fairly simple but there is something I really love about it!

Thank you for looking, I also want to thank you all for the comments, encouragement and inspiration you have all given over the last year ..... look forward to seeing all your creations in 2012

http://www.kelliewinnell.com.au/?p=8406

My Journal

Hello All

Another Journal page from me today ... I have finally been brave enough to start in my 8"x8" journal, up until now, all I did was gesso up yet another page every time I got my art journaling stuff out...

A completely different approach to journaling for me ..... so far I have learnt to do backgrounds and to gradually build up a page, wanting to expand my knowledge and technique, I have spent the past day or so watching tutorials on youtube to see what I could learn ...... this page has no background and I have not used any stamps, pictures or stickers ..... Just all my own doodling, and I have painted everything in using acrylic paints.

Its amazing how nervous I was about doing this, Its amazing to think that I took higher art, at school, yet I have no confidence in my own artistic ability, I think this is part of why I enjoy the process of Art Journaling so much! ..... Anyhoo I am just waffling now, so...

Once again Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

And We Will Always Love Art

Hello All,

An Art Journal page from me today, ..... Its a while since I have done any crafting, I have loads of cards I need to make so when I am feeling well enough I should really be getting on with them .... I am still fitting through the hatch to my loft LOL ... not sure How long for, and when I got up there I just felt like playing, and this was the result.

The background I did a while ago, using water colour paint .... I think I have used a few kanban stamps in the background too. The heart is a Kanban die cut, which I have coloured to match ... I am getting braver with the whole art journaling thing now, so most of the lettering is my own handwriting ... The " ART " has been done using stickers, as are the little flower details.

The Story behind it is ... I baby sit for a friend every Sunday, and her little girl who is now 9 and I do some sort of crafting, we have done card making, made books, painting, cross stitch, anything you can think of we have tried together .... when I had my miscarriage in April, she made me a little book, and all through the book there was secret messages of " I Love You" ..... then on the final page of the book, in big lettering she wrote " And We Will Always Love Art! " which really made me smile, and I have quoted many times since, so I just HAD to do a page about it !! ....... she is so delighted that we are having a girl (if the scans are to be trusted, I am hearing of lots of stories where they have not been accurate!) as and I quote ..... "We can put its hair in bunches and teach it art" ......

As always thanks for looking, and for listening to my ramblings.
Hugs Juls

Corsets and Roses

Hello All,

Its a wintry snowy day here in Scotland, I am just pleased that the airport is open as my sister is flying in today, as a surprise for my parents wedding anniversary. The airport was closed on Thursday so we were watching the snow come yesterday rather anxiously wondering what to expect!

This is a card I finished last night. I have stamped onto sticky back canvas with a "Stampendous" stamp, and I must have been feeling a tad crazy because I then hand sewed all the beads on, and did a little stitching with metallic threads ... and finally added a little netting. and I have used the base of the "tim holtz - dress form" to create a manikin.

All the papers are Melissa Francis ..... I know its a tiny detail, ... but the little adverts I have cut out and put at the bottom right of the card, are for dress making classes, I am sure that no one would notice, but I know that detail is there and it makes me happy ( you know small things please small minds!!! LOL) ..... to create the little reels of thread I have used "Lorali stamps" and then twisted some thread round them.

Finally I used the "Tim Holtz - weathered clock" die on glitter card, and the paper roses are done with a "sizzix - spiral roses die" then I have just added a few embellies to finish it off. .... oh also everything has been inked using "distress ink - spun sugar" and antique linen.

In all honesty, I am not completely sure of the overall effect, but I thought I would show it anyway, after all I am here to live and learn.

This is my entry for:

Craft your passion - Anything Goes & Glitter
Papertake weekly - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Totally Papercrafts - Anything but Christmas
Fashionable Stamping - Dressmaking/corsets/Accessories

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Once More ... for the Queen of Hearts!!

Hello All,

I am totally addicted to my new "MCS- An Important Date" cd and the fabby "Saturated Canary - Queen Of hearts" - This is another card combining the 2.

Firstly I put the S.C image on the Queen of hearts playing card from the Cd ... I printed out a 2nd playing card so I could add dimension.... I then placed a few more playing cards behind to create a little deck of cards, I have cut round the edges of the cards with a craft knife and curled the edges, to make is a little more realistic .... Then with NSR images I have put in the card symbols in the background and the rose tree ..... All this I have coloured using my prisma pencils, as the image is quite small so I needed my pencils to try and get the detail. Finally I separately printed out the little roses and tin of paint, coloured, and added with 3d foam to raise a little. Then to finish off I have done some hand stitching and added a bit of bling.

This is my entry for:

Simon Says: - Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge - Anything Goes
I did it - Flowers


Once again Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Steampunk Snow White

Hello All,

This card is a little different style for me, I am loving the whole steampunk look but as yet I have not given it a try, so this is me trying to play and experiment with a new style.

One thing I have enjoyed about this card is that it is a whole hybrid of various types of crafting.

Firstly I did some cd crafting I played about with the " A Very Important Date" cd from MCS - All the layered papers was an image that was already put together, I added in the clock and the books from the cd. That fabulous image is one that I have had for ages, It was a free image from the fabulous Princess Elemmiriel However when I purchased it I only had whisper pens, and I would use a water brush to colour, so I really struggled with digital images, especially one as detailed as this, so it has been left in a folder on my computer, now I have copics and Prisma's I thought it was about time that she was used. The image was on a creamy background, so I put in on the layered papers and blended the edges so it looked part of the paperstack, and then it was coloured using my prisma pencils.

I have also gone a bit mad with the traditional stamping to, the background card has been distressed using "Tim Holtz" antique Linen .... I then over stamped with a "Hero Arts" script stamp, and with the "Memento - coffee bean" Ink I have stamped the cogs using a "Kanban" stamp.

I then stamped over my focal image with a "Inkadinkado" swirl stamp, and heat embossed in Gold. For the flower I have again stamped using the "Memento - Coffee Bean" and a "Kanban" stamp and I have used a brad in the centre of the clock to hold it together.

Finally as it was a snow white theme I also wanted an apple embellishment, as the only apple image I had was a "Krafting Kimmie" one, It wasn't really the right look, that I was wanting so I stamped over it with the "Kanban" cogg stamp and heat embossed with gold - so I now have a clockwork apple! (I have heard of a clock work orange, so I am sure an apple works too)

Finally I added some " Anita's Glaze" to her broach, just to add a little more texture.

I am happy with the way its turned out, I think its ok for a first attempt, however I realise I have a lot to learn about creating this whole look, So I would be happy to receive any constructive criticism, and tips on how I could improve.

This is my entry for:

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Elements Of Time
Crafty Card Makers - Heat Embossing
ABC - E is for Embossing
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Krafting Kimmie - Heat or Dry embossing (a Krafting Kimmie stamp has been used for the apple)

Once again thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Queen Of Hearts

Hi All,

Well, I fell for the " A very Important Date" cd from "MCS" the other week. I do own some crafting cd's but I am not the biggest cd crafter. However when I saw this I had to have it!!! I own so many "Alice" themed stamps and digi images I saw so many possibilities of using them more fully, and being able to create interesting themes e.c.t ...... Also a lot of the backgrounds and images would be fab for the whole steampunk look, which I Love, and I have bought stamps e.c.t but not yet had a play!

Also I just fell in love with this "Saturated Canary Image" Although I love Alice themed stamps I have always gone for the mad hatter images, or Alice ones .... I know that the queen of hearts was the baddy, so all the portraits of her as ugly and evil are accurate, but when I am sending a card to someone I just don't fancy giving someone a card with an evil character on it ... I am just not quite sure what that says! This image however is just adorable!!! She is Sassy, beautiful and cute ..... also I could see loads of uses for outwith the "Alice Theme" so I just had to have her.

The background scene is printed from the "MCS" cd. I also printed out the card symbols separately, coloured with copics and placed across the card. I have also coloured the "Saturated Canary image with copics, and have raised her a little using 3d foam, and have blinged up the hearts using some stickles, ..... In my head the little tab embellishment at the top of the card is a bookmark, holding the page in a book .... It works in my head, but I am not sure if it just looks a little random!!

This is my entry for:

Simon Says - Anything Goes
Saturated Canary - Anything Goes
Totally Gorjuss - Sparkle
Dream Valley - Sparkle
One Stitch at a Time - Seeing Red

Winter Kraft

Hello All,

Well it turned out my 3 days of no sickness was just 3 days I should be grateful for, since then its pretty much been the same story! .... It was fun going to a class at the hospital about health and fitness during pregnancy, and how we should all be getting plenty of exercise - funny they did not have an answer to the question what kind of exercises can I do from my bed, as I am sick when I move!!!

Anyway ..... I have managed to get some colouring done, so I am afraid it more Kraft cards from me today. I have used some Fabby Sugar Nellie stamps and coloured with Prismas, the white snowflakes have been stamped using a WRMK stamp and a brilliance inkpad!

I had an ok day yesterday, so I printed out some stuff from some cd roms ... hopefully I will be well enough to craft with it later.

This is my entry for:

Cute and Girly - Let it snow
Kaboodle - bundle up for winter
Cupcake - colour on Kraft
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes - Winter Wonderland

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Encouragement

Hello All,

Thank you for all your well wishes .... i didnt make it 4 days in a row without bieng sick, as I had a bit of an episode last night, but in all honesty I dont care, I can deal with the occaional sickness as long as I feel I am getting a bit of a life going on in between.

This is another card from my little crafting session on Tue night. Again I was using those Lush Melissa Francis Papers. I have followed the Mojo Monday sketch. The sentiment is an Anna Griffin one ... which I think is beautiful! It is not that I had planned to use it, its just that of all my sentiment stamps it fit the little bit of paper that I had already cut! I have used Tim Holtz tattered rose die and a little flower puch to create the leaves.

This is my entry for:

Mojo Monday - sketch
Dream Valley - stitching

Shock ... horror..... A card!!!!!

Hello All,

...... yes shock horror I actually have a card for you today!! I am so excited I have actually managed to go 3 days without being sick, that is def a record!! I am hoping things will improve and I will at least manage to enjoy the last 3 months of my pregnancy.

So I managed to play in my new craft attack, its a great space but I am a little exposed to the elements, I had to have a little heater, 2 blankets over me and a hot water bottle, but apart from that it was great! .... I am a little concerned though as to if you think the temperatures will effect my craft products ... for example will my pens and inks freeze up, and then cook in summer? I would hate to damage the stock I have collected, it would take an awful of of money to replace!

It has been so long since I have made a card I wasn't sure where to start and what to do ... I think I have lost any ability I may have had, so I am not thrilled with the offering I have today but at least its a start!

The gorgeous images are "Sugar Nellie" ..... these are really old ones, among the first ones that I collected, and believe me I have collected a LOT!! ..... I coloured with copics but was not to successful, the colours were a bit bright to go go with the "Melissa Francis" papers I had chosen. So I knocked back the colours a little by painting over it with gesso, in the hop that it just added to the snowy look ..... I then stippled some gesso in various sections of the card, and then covered that over with a little stickles.

this is my entry for

CLP challenge - Sketch
Cupcake - two's company
My Time to Craft - take 2 (2 images)
Oldie but a goodie - Let it snow
C.R.A.F.T - cute
Dutch Dare - Punches and dies
If the Shoe fits - try something new (using gesso on a card)
Stamptacular - punch it

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

My New Craft Attic

Hello All,

I am afraid this is rather a picture heavy post. I finally have managed to finish organizing my new craft space ..... unfortunately my sickness has severely hampered my progress, but it feels great to finally have it done ..... its not fancy with all the specially designed storage (something I hope I may get when we eventually move house) However I still really love it, I think it is kind of quirky, my Hubby has built it all using old sets of drawers, off cuts of kitchen work top, and various odds and ends of wood that he has saved over the years.




My Desk .... and newly purchased ottilite ... which I felt was essential as I have no daylight at all .... The little carousel is also a new purchase, very handy for all those essentials .... I have to say I feel a wee bit bad about that one, I spent the same on that, than I did on the baby's cot which I bought 2nd hand on gum tree!!



I have a little shelf handy for inks e.c.t ... I also asked hubby to put in a cork board, I have seen a few crafters with this in their room ... I cant wait to fill it up with inspirational things.




I now have all my tools to hand next to my desk, rather than in a cupboard, I am hoping this will mean that I will put them all to better use as it will be more accessible!


When sorting out an entire craft room you realise just how much stuff you have ........ I have so many stamps, One of the sets of drawers is full of wooden stamps ... I have a box full of unmounted stamps, another box with just sugar nellie stamps, 3 Anna Griffin folders full of acrylic stamps, a cd storage unit with even more unmounted stamps, and the top section of my storage caddy is also full of stamps!! ...... I had thought of counting them all so that I could confess all, but I am not sure if I actually want to know!!!





How thoughtful is my hubby, he designed this ribbon storage for me .... I didnt even ask him to, he just thought it would be useful !!! Awhhhhh!!!



Its hard to believe that at one point in time my entire craft collection fitted in that pink and brown papermania caddy.

Now the bottom section holds my paper collection, and the top half yet more stamps!!

Well that's the end of the tour, I am hoping over time to pretty it up a little, but I am very please with it, at first I hated the thought of moving into the loft! I think hubby has done a fabby job of building it all for me and I look forward to using it. Now we just need to turn the old craft room into a nursery!!

I am going to join WOYWW this week.

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Merry Mice

Hello All,

Yes I am actually making an appearance again!! Sorry about this, I keep hoping that I will feel better soon, but I am still coping with severe sickness ... so much fun I am sure it will be worth it all in March!!

This is a card I did last month sometime when I was practicing with my new Prisma pencils. I have used a fabby "sugar nellie stamp" I have had the stamp for a while but this was the first time I used it...... I stamped the grape part of the stamp round the edges to create a bit of a frame ... I am not sure if it looks right.

I would like to enter this into:

Anything goes - Real or Faux stitching
MAWT - Food and drink
Charizma Cards - Cutsey
Crafty Catz - anything goes
Paper Sundaes - Rectangle

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Lola

Hello All,

I am back from my hols, I managed to get down there, but had to take medication to stop me from being sick... once I got there I spent the whole time lying on the sofa! and I wasn't well enough to sit and colour, however I did complete my cross stitch, this used to be my main hobby before I discovered papercrafting, I dont do it as much now but I still always have one on the go! ...... I want to do one for baby, but after trawling the Internet I love anything really girly, or something like Cars, so I have decided to wait until I know what it is before starting one, knowing me it will be about 10 before I have it completed!!!!! ...... this one is meant to have beading on it to, but I have lost the packet of beads so I will have to wait until a later date! She is "Marilyn Robertson - Lola"

I actually had a good day yesterday, so we started moving my craft stuff into the loft, by that I mean I managed to get in the loft without being sick, and I sat on a chair wrapped in a blanket whilst my poor hubby came up and down the loft with endless boxes and then I pointed out where I wanted them put ..... Its actually looking really good, I love the quirky feel to it, I think its quite "Artsy!" I have just ordered a Ottlite, so I have decent lighting for colouring, as that will be the main problem working in the loft.

I am still playing catch up with you all (the story of my life!!) but I should get round to see you soon.

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

On Holiday

Hello All,

Just a quick post from me. I am on holiday at the mo, we have actually broken the journey and we are currently at my in laws in perthshire. We head down to Kirby Longsdale tomorrow. I am not sure if the cottage we have hired has wi fi, so I may have to catch up with you all when I get back.

I am not sure if I will get out and about when I get there, as I still have severe motion sickness. The doc has given me tablets to cope with the journey, although I am trying to do it without them.

I have not taken all my crafting stuff, I always find that I take loads of stuff, and then make 2 cards when I am on hols, and at the mo I am struggling to make cards anyway. so this time I have taken some stamped images, my copics and prismas, and I will do some colouring, so I will be all ready to go when I get back!!

big hugs to all
Juls

Kraft and Krafting Kimmie

Hi All,

As you can see I am still playing with my Prismas & Kraft .... I did these ones last night, I have used some " Krafting Kimmie" images both the cards again have been edged using my little kanban stamp, and the first card the castle in the background is "Paper Artsy"

I would like to enter these into:

Simon Says - Anything Goes
CES - Totally gorjuss, pretty girls

I was so excited yesterday as I went the whole day without being sick, and there is a baby fayre on in Inverness today, I wanted to look, especially at the prams, there is a shocking lack of choice here in Inverness, and although we plan to get one second hand or look on line for the best deal, I still wanted to have a look at some and get a feel for if I liked them or not. However as yet I have not managed out my bed without being sick, so it is looking unlikely!! I'm gutted and feeling very sorry for myself. My blending solution has just arrived so hopefully next time I am able to get out of bed I can have a play with that, and my craft stamper magazine has just arrived so that will keep me amused for a while.

Anyway once again thanks for looking, and putting up with my waffle
Hugs Juls

Still Practicing ...

Hello All,

Well I am still playing and practicing with my Prisma's .... One of the main reasons I decided to invest in some is I always found myself oooing and ahhhhing over cards that had been coloured directly onto Kraft, I love the effect .... These are my first attempts I still have a lot of practicing to do, but I am enjoying just playing.

I have used 2 sugar nellie stamps, an Elizabeth bell one and one from Krista Smith .... both the cards have been edged using a little kanban stamp.

I would like to enter these cards into the following challenges:

Simon Says - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Clean and Simple
Crafts for Eternity - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Soooooo Excited

Hello All,

I woke up this morning and got a text from my auntie, one of her friends had bought a grand caliber, and has decided that it is not really for her, and so wants to sell it, anyway to cut a long story short, I got 1st refusal so I got the machine and all the plates for £70! I am so so excited I have wanted one for ages, and I didn't think it would be a possibility for a while as we have prams and cots e.c.t to buy. Hubby said I could get it as it was such a good deal!! whooooo hooooo!!!!!

On Tuesday I was confined to my bed, again unable to move due to sickness, I watched endless tutorials on youtube for colouring with prismacolor pencils ..... after that I was itching to get started, however one thing I did learn was that you needed a decent pencil sharpener, so before I wrecked all my pencils with the really naff one that I have I decided to order the prismacolor one. Some of my friends popped into see me today and were here when my pencil sharpener arrived, They thought it was hilarious, and I received comments like "only you could get excited about a pencil sharpener!!" ........ so I sat and sharpened all my pencils - they are a new purchase so only a couple of them had been sharpened, then I was just desperate to have a play!!

My blending solution has not yet arrived ( thanks girls for giving me the tip about cuddly buddly) however there was loads of tutorials on blending using the pencils only ..... So the card above is my attempt! I still need a lot of practice but I am fairly happy with the results. The image is a digi from "Saturated Canary - Peggy Sue" The Paris image is " The Montage collection - Santa Rose" and the little butterfly is " Marij Rahder - Suzy 2 " and the papers are "echo park paper"

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Simon Says - Anything Goes
Penny's Papercraft - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me - Flowers
Charisma Cards - Love
Fussy and Fancy - Try a new technique (coloring with Prismacolor pencils)

Thanks for Looking
Hugs Juls

Knight In Shining Armor

Hello All,

Another simple card from me today ..... This is me playing with my new prisma pencils ( a last treat before the baby comes, and we have to spend all our money on it instead, I got some pencils and hubby got an i pod ) I am still practicing with them, unfortunately as yet I have not got any blending solution, so I am having to do my best without .... I cant seem to source any locally, the art shop hadn't even heard of it !!!!!!! and tried to give me a promarker blending pen, honestly!!! So I will have to have a look online. The image is " Krafting Kimmie"

This is my entry for:

Truley scrumptious - C&S
Allsorts - keep it simple

I also want to thank everyone for their help re the malware warning, I had to remove a blog from my bloglist, for the person who's blog it is I am really sorry, its nothing personal! I have been informed this morning that its working, so yay!!!

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

malware warning

Hello All,

I have heard from a few bloggers that they are unable to get on my blog, and they are receiving a "Malware Warning" ..... As far as I am able to check, my computer in free of viruses. I know this has happened to a number of bloggers, so I was wondering if anyone knew if there was anything I can do in order to remove this warning

..... As far as I know Looking at pictures of cards, and a descriptions of paper is not dodgy content!!

Any help would be much appreciated!!

Thanks
Hugs Juls

Pink Snow

Hello All,

This is a card I had on my stall the other week ... Its fairly simple, I didn't have a lot of time, I was just trying to get cards made as quickly as possible. I have used a " Sugar Nellie" stamp which I have coloured with copics .... and done some inking using " distress ink - worn lipstick" The added pink snowflakes are a "WRMK" stamp.

I would like to thank all of you for your kind comments, The Stall went well, everyone there said it was a particularly quiet day, but I didn't mind it helped me get a feel for it, as its the first time I have done anything like this, the next one I am doing is in November and that is meant to be a lot busier, I managed to pay for my table, and made a little extra so I am quite happy with that.

I Have had a rough week this week, I am going through a really sick phase at the mo, for over a week I was unable to move without being sick, I am now wearing travel wrist bands, they I have helped a little, but I can still only be on my feet for a few min before the sickness starts - never mind, I am sure it will all be worth it in the end!!! - It does mean that once again I am playing catch up!!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Creatalicious - Anything Goes
Stamp with fun - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Dies or Punches (punched snowflakes)
Anything Goes - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamping - Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes - Anything Goes

Thanks again for looking
Hugs Juls

Explanations ....

Hello All,

Here are some simple cards that I made yesterday, using my fabby new Sugar Nellie stamp ( I had a lovely trip to Elgin a couple of weeks ago and was able to fill my basket, this is the first time I have had a chance to play) ... I have used up some paper from my very MASSIVE scrap pile!! .... I wanted the images to look really soft, so instead of using my copics I have used water colour pencils, it was lovely going back to them and doing something different from what has become the norm for me now.

I would like to enter these cards into the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew - Babies
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T - children
Stamp Something - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Ribbons
Totally Paper Crafts - Cute with buttons (the 2 boys cards)
Alphabet challenge - P is for Pretty Pastels
Totally Stampalicious - Anything Goes
OSAAT - Anything Goes.

As you will have noticed I have been rather absent from blog land recently, the reason is that I am expecting again, I am now just over 14 weeks, I have had my scan and everything is going well this time. I have been really exhausted with the pregnancy, so crafting and blogging has taken a bit of a backseat!

Also with the energy that I do have we have been working on a few changed in the house, the room that for many years has been my spare room, come office, come craft room, will now be the babies room. My Hubby dragged everything down from the loft, and we put in new insulation, and had a complete clear out ... so we have had many trips down to the dump!! Hubby has now built me a little craft station up in the loft, at first I hated the idea of it but actually I love it, it has a fab rustic feel to it, he has built it out of old cupboards, kitchen worktops scrap wood, e.c.t ..... we plan to move my crafty stash up there at the weekend, when I am all settled I will take some pictures and post them here..

Also I have my first craft stall experience booked for this Saturday, which I think will be a disaster, I know these things are notoriously bad for selling, however I just thought I would give it a try and see what happens. however I booked it before I fell pregnant, thinking I would have loads of time to make lots of goodies, but any time I planned to sit down and craft I have ended up going to bed and sleeping instead .... so I don't have nearly the stock I would like. So if I make enough money to pay for my table, I will be happy with that.

I am looking forward to catching up with you all, It may take me a little time to get round to getting back into the swing of things, as I am still battling the " too much to do, and not enough time and energy" problem, but I will do my best!

Hugs to All
Juls

Guest Designer at City Crafter

Hello All,

I feel so honoured to have been asked by the girls at City Crafter The Theme this week is Do ya doodle .... I am afraid I have not come up with the most imaginative form of doodling, however the stitching detail on this card has been hand drawn..... Its a fun challenge, it would be so great If you lovely bloggy friends of mine would be able to join in !!!

I have used a Sassy Design Studio image, and I have coloured with my copics .... and I have raided my scrap paper collection to put this card together!!

I am sorry I have not been about to much recently, life has just taken over at the mo, and I have not had much time for crafting or blogging, I do hope to catch up with you soon!!

Take Care
Hugs Juls

Dance Like no one is watching !!

Hello All ...

Well I have managed to get some paint into my new journals .... This is the 6"x6" one .... I have also done a background in the mini journal, but as yet I have not touched the 8"x8" .... I am building up to that one ....

I have used Kate's babywipe technique, then built it up with finger painting .... I have used watercolours again, I do have acrylic paint, but it is not semi translucent so I am not sure how well it will blend ... I have used various meshes and bottle tops for the background. ..... the ballerina is a quick cutz die, I have used some old scrap paper which I have inked with distress ink antique linen and walnut stain ..... The scrap paper at the bottom of the page has also been overstamped with a kanban music score stamp. The sentiment is a combo of stickers and stamps.

I have really enjoyed playing ..... i am loving this form of art ... Its like when i enjoyed painting when I was little when it was just a matter of sloshing it over the page and getting your fingers in there ...... and making all kinds of a mess .... rather than art at school where everything had to be within the confine of the "RULES" ..... and by the end of it I thought I was no good .... I still have a lot to learn and master but I am enjoying the process ..... you never know I may even take up drawing again ...

thanks for popping by, and having a look and putting up with all my waffle!!
Hugs Juls

I've been shopping !!!!!

Hello All,

I am back from my week with the inlaws, it was a lovely relaxing week, we didn't do much, went out for coffee, went for a little walk, e.c.t. e.c.t ....... I did do a little craft shopping, but my purchases are different from normal, normally some stamps and paper pads will have sneaked their way into my basket, this time I can tell I am definitely in an art journaling page ..... I saw these lovely sketch pads in various sizes which I thought would make great journals ... also I loved the fact they were square! ...... I got a small paintbrush for fine detail .... and some various mesh's as I thought they would be fab for paint effects ..... also I finally got a tim holtz shadow box, I have been wanting to try one for ages, but I have not got round to it, also I really don't have a clue what I am doing .... I guess I will just play and see what happens.

When I got home the Kate Crane art journaling DVD that I ordered arrived, so after I had unpacked, put a wash on e.c.t I sat down last night and watched it, its fab I have learnt so much!!! and I am desperate to get started! however I must make cards today, I have booked a table at the Strathpeffer community centre in September, its the first time I have attempted anything like this, so I am quite nervous .... but I guess first I need stock to sell !! ...... maybe I will do a little journaling this evening.

I am shockingly behind in commenting, I managed to pop in occasionally while I was away .... so it may take me a little while to catch up, but I will get round to you all eventually!

Take care
Hugs Juls

Simply Sassy Spotlight

Hello All,

I am sooooooooooo excited to have been asked to feature in the Simply Sassy spotlight!!!! In fact it all feels rather surreal! I am such a HUGE fan of Simply Sassy stamps.

I decided to make something using " Tammy" as I have had her in my collection for a while now, but as yet I have not inked her up yet ... SHOCKING!!! I have coloured her with copics, and then inked round her with "distress ink - tumbled glass" The snowflakes are "WRMK" stamps and I have stamped and embossed, using a white embossing powder..... I have used 2 types of glitter to give added sparkle and dimension to the snow.... Then I added some ribbon, some punched snowflakes and a little bling.

I made this quite a few weeks ago, looking at it again I am not too sure if I still like it, but there is not much I can do about it now .... I have a few more photo's to give you a closer look:




Finally I made a little necklace, using a Tim Holtz faceted gem, and this little blue bead that I bought when I was in Torquay in March.

I am on my hols at the mo, so I am quite behind in my commenting. I do have Internet access so I am able to pop into blogland now and again to try my best to catch up with you all ..... I am sure I will be popping into quite a few craft shops, so I am sure I will be getting lots of lovely new goodies to play with!!!

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Sassy Notes

Hello All,

A quick post from me today, as I really should be packing as I am heading off to my in laws for a week, and as yet I have not done any packing .... nor the ironing which I must do first .... also I have a couple of wedding cards to make, ready to drop off to the hairdressers tomorrow!!

This is a book I have made for myself, and I have had immense fun making it, I have used 2 of my fav Sassy images ... I have coloured with copics ... I have put some glossy accents over " Winking students" glasses, and a little on the apple, and I also sprinkled glitter into the apple ..... I have used some Safmat for the wording on my book .... not the most exciting use of safmat, but hopefully I will have more time to play when I get home ......... as you can see I have gone a tad mad with the ribbons, and created a bookmark and added a little shrinkie.

This is my entry for:

Simon Says - Anything Goes
Polkadoodles - Safmat and Letratac

As Always thanks so much for looking .... hopefully If I get a little time later this evening, I can start playing catch up in blogland.

Hugs Juls