A very quick post about ink

I am not an ink expert but saw that QVC have some inks in their clearance section and so I went a googling to find out about them (Tsukineko splendor pads)  And I came across this which has lots of info about lots of types of inks.   Hope you find it informative and not confusing.

Enjoy

Scared about the fayre

I may have mentioned that I've been offered a table at a craft fayre on 4 December.  Rather rashly I accepted said offer and now I'm panicking that I haven't got enough time to make sufficient stuff to stock the stall

I am a bit of a procrastinator and now it's only 2 weeks away.   I've hardly made anything in the past month when really I could have made lots of stuff.    I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that I know of 2 people who have done craft fairs today and one sold 4 cards and the other sold 8.   Maybe taking 10 cards will be sufficient..........

Anyway today I made a birthday card for my friend who's has a birthday tomorrow.  I used the new MCS CD "A Very Important Date" and adapted a fold from the "Everyone Needs a Hougie" book. 

Although, when I say I used the MCS CD, that's not strictly correct.   I ordered the Pick of the Day on Ideal World last week and the CD had a paper pack with it.  The front of the card is using elements from the paper pack, the insert was printed from the CD, but I haven't taken a picture of that.

And more earth shattering news - I made a cake today.  

Later folks
xxx

a knitted bit

Back in May, at Quilts UK in Malvern, I bought some slipper soles to which I was supposed to add a knitted sock to make them into slipper socks thingummys whatsits.   But I didn't do it because the pattern was very confusing.

But now I've done one as a sample for the TV.  I don't think I'm particularly spilling any secrets as there has already been a show on, featuring the soles, but there was only one sample made up.   I am of the impression there will be more samples on the next show, which I believe is due the 2nd week of November.

And here's what I came up

Showed it to son no 1 and his girlfriend and they were both well impressed.  So I might have to make her something similar for Christmas (speaking of which it's 2 months today as today is still 25 October at the time of writing), however I am still teasing them with the idea of matching knitted jumpers.

Later folks
xxx

You'll never guess what I've gone and done......

There is going to be a craft fayre in the local social club on 4 December.  I've been asked if I want a stall and I've said yes.   The table is 6ft long, and I don't know how deep but I'm guessing somewhere between 24 and 36 inches, so I'm going to have to get cracking if I want to fill it and have enough stuff as back up. 

So daily makes from now on.

New challenges

I've discovered a blog which does specific challenges for folks who like CD crafting - details can be found here    I might have to give it a go

A new addition

For those of you who follow my blog, and those who may accidently stumble across it, I have added 2 pages.  I don't know if updates on these pages will show on the "updated blogs" section for followers, and I'd hate you to miss out on anything, so this is just a little note to let you know I've added something to my Diet and Lifestyle page.

I think I will try and start adding tags again for people who may be looking for something specific.   You never know, there may be a little bit of something useful to somebody somewhere amongst my ramblings.

Later folks
x

A bit of an update

WARNING - A bit wordy, no photos

Firstly, my pal got back to me about the Christmas cards - she accepted the price I quoted, which I'm quite glad about because I certainly didn't overcharge, works at £1 per card, which won't give me a huge profit, but will cover my costs, plus a little extra for my time.  So that's good.   I will use the opportunity to use lots of my CDs and stamps and learn some new folds.  

Talking about folds - I have a Hougie board now.  It was a free gift for renewing my subscription with Crafts Beautiful.   Also included the accompanying book describing various folds, some of which I really want to try, so I might do that and be back later with a photo or 2.   Plus, one of those special clear plastic rulers with metal in one edge.

Now, there may of been a few of you around back in the earlyish days of this blog, when I struggled for a while with getting blinkies on the side bar, and adding links and all that kind of technical stuff.   I can't say I'm hugely experienced at it all now, but I was having a look the other day and decided that the description at the top no longer fitted the contents of the blog, so thought I'd change it.  Surely I could cope with editing a bit of text.  How difficult could it be.  Far more difficult than you'd think.  Maybe it's me, maybe it's the site, but it keeps telling me that my html doesn't fit and I can only have 500 characters.   Given that I only had 94 words I couldn't understand this.   But, strangely enough, as I've just typed this I have realised that 94 words is not the same as 94 characters.  How stupid do I feel right now????   Please don't answer that.   Well not unless you are going to make me feel not quite so daft.

So, that said, I will go back and edit it shortly and see if it works

Back - well who'd have thought it - if you can count properly it all works so much better. 

Another thing I want to do is to set up a separate blog/page/link whatever for various categories, so one for my photography stuff, one for baking, crafts/cards, with descriptions and processes and stuff.  Maybe even one for book reviews, but that might be taking things a little bit far.    Let's take baby steps to start.

And talking about babies - a polkadoodle baby from Sundae of Seasons CD coloured with flexmarkers

And if you were paying attention you will notice that I have I lied about no photos.

Later folks

xxx

monday again tomorrow

Well, what have I done with myself this week.  Other than having some x-rays and being referred to the rheumatologst, not a great deal really.   I dd go to my pal's house this afternoon and we sat in the garden at 5.00pm on the 2nd October in our sunfrocks drinking tea from her grandmother's china tea service and eating carrot and walnut muffins.   And very nice it was too.

My Clarity stamps parcel arrived yesterday, so I've had a little play.  This is my first attempt at Zentangling and it was surprisingly fun to do.

I've also had a bit of play with my promarkers (did I mention I have them all now) - hope I can persuade my brother to complete my flexmarker collection for Christmas.   Thinking about it, the new fine tips for the promarkers would probably be great for zentangling - I'll have to give it a go.

Anyway, back to the colouring - Did Humphrey

Inspired by Linda Hill I used the pale shades of the flexmarkers to do the spotty background.  Think it looks ok.    I'll make them both up into cards sometime in the next couple of days.

Talking about cards - my friend asked me if she could buy some of my cards off me for Christmas.  I asked her if she wanted them all the same, or a selection.  And she said "a selection".  So I asked "how many do you want?"   "About 30" she said.  So I've given her a price and I haven't heard from her since - lol.   But then she's probably got a life to live at weekends.

Anyway

Later folks
xxx

and another 2

Yes, like it says, here's another 2

And I'd like to enter the easel card into the MSE challenge which is "Easel Cards"

Later folks

xxx

I made some cards

This failure to blog frequently is becoming a bit of a habit, although in the past month I have been successful both in retaining my job post restructure, and completion (and obtaining) my NVQ level 3 in Customer Services - so perhaps I will be able to have a bit more creative time. 

But yesterday I made 7 cards, some a little better than the others - I'll leave you to guess which ones I think are better and which ones I'm not so happy with.

Tatty Teddy (From Me to you CD)

Crafter's Companion original Snowman CD

My Craft Studio Setting the Scene CD

Crafter's Companion Original Snowman CD

My Craft Studio Winter Wishes CD

In the Classroom with Barbara Gray (Lesson 2 - Create and Craft)

In the Classroom with Barbara (Create and Craft CD)

The observant among you will have noticed there are 8 cards.  The final one was made after Barbara Gray demostrated it on the TV

I may post again during the week, but don't hold your breath - you'll turn a very unbecoming shade of blue, and might expire

Later folks

xxx

Another Elephant competition

Those lovely folks over at Crafters Companion are having another giveaway event.  This time to celebrate the launch of Humphrey's Christmas Range.   The link should be over there >>>>>>>>   Hope it works

cutest lil puddy cat

Found a virtual cat on the MTSCAL blog.  He's so cute I just had to add him to my side bar - hover your cursor around and about and he will miaow, purr, and other adorable stuff.

homework

Another quick post with a picture
This the card I made as "homework" for "In the classroom with Barbara" on Create and Craft.  The Barbara in question is Barbara Gray

That's it

Bedtime now

oh such wickedness

I have only gone and ordered 27 promarkers and a wallet to store them in.   But in my defence I had £22 in my paypal account, and ordered the first 15 from Joanna Sheen.  At £1.69 per pen that's £25.35.   So £3.35 for 15 pens.   So  not so wicked after all.

But then I found this in my list of blogs, so of course had to go and have a look.   And that's when I ordered another 12 pens which had a free fine tip with each one.   And seeing that I have official Letraset wallets for all my promarkers so far, I had to get another one to contain my new selection.   So spent another £25.73. 

If you look at the RRP of £2.20 per pen that's £59.40 plus 4 packs of fine tips (3 per pack) at £1.99 per pack which is an additional £7.96, and the wallet at £10.71 gives a total price of £78.07.   And I paid, in total, £29.08.

Which is a bargain in anybody's book.  

Later folks

x

today

After I gave my colleague the butterfly car card, her friend asked me if I could make a card for her parent's 60th wedding anniversary.  She wants the card for tomorrow so i didn't have a great deal of time to think about it.  

When I came home from work tonight I discovered a parcel containing goodies I almost forgot I had ordered.  These were Joanna Sheen silhouette stamps which were mispriced on Create and Craft about a fortnight ago.   So I ordered all 6 packs which were supposed to be £9.99 each, but were, in fact £4.49 each.   And included in this little collection were a couple of stamps which could be suitable for the card I needed to make.   Including the Happy Anniversary text stamp.

And here 'tis

It would have been portrait, but I misinked so had to cover it up.

Bedtime now

xxx

Good morning world

I should really be in the shower, or eating breakfast and getting ready for work, but I'm not.  Instead I'm sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea and easing into the working week.

So whilst I'm sat sitting, I will show you the card I made yesterday.  A colleague asked me to make a card for her husband's 65th birthday.  She is taking him away for his birthday and hiring a Morgan sports car for the day.  So she wanted a card with a car on it.   But she's also dotty about butterflies so said he would expect any card from her to have butterflies on.

So my commision was - a male 65th birthday card with a butterfly and car on .

And this is the result

hopefully it will be acceptable.    The car is drawn by Sylvie Ashton and I got it from Stitchy Bear Designs.   I will put the links in later.    Sylvie has a blog called Creative Mind of Sylvie and she is generous enough to give many of her designs away, sometimes for a limited time before they go on sale.   - The car was coloured with the wonderful new letraset flexmarkers and the butterfly is form an old Kanban kit.

I would like to enter this card in the MSE Moving Challenge.

Later folks
x

Sheena Douglass Candy

just a quickie to let you bloggerliscous folks know that the extremely talented Sheena Douglass is launching her Christmas range paint fusion stamps along with another DVD as Pick of the Week on Create and craft on Friday 12 August    And to celebrate she's giving stuff away.  Go look.   Where should I look you may ask.   Here - that's where.   Have you been to look.  No?   Why not?    Yes?  Well done.  If you follow her instructions you will be in with a chance to win the goodies.  I would wish you good luck but I am not that nice xxxxxxx


Later folks

xxx

colouring

I should be fast asleep, but I'm not.  I'm a bit stressed of late, and feel that I would be so much better if I had a fella to hold me and tell me everything's gonna be ok.  But I don't, so what's a girl to do, but buy herself new crayons.   And the crayons of choice in this particular instance are the new letraset flexmarkers.   I have to admit, I wanted them more for the 24 extra colours I got, rather than the brush tip, but oh my golly gosh, how fabulous is that brush tip.  Very fabulous, that's what.  At an RRP of approx £3.00/pen they are not the cheapest pens in the world, but I think they are worth every penny.

And here they are

I decided that I would try and colour my new Humphrey stamps (of which I have the complete range) only using flexmarkers - I do have about 60 promarker pens but did not use them for this.    I would have been more happy with the results I think if I'd used a wider range of colours, but I accomplished the task I set out to complete.

I only used normal copier paper for this first "play" and the photos could be clearer but on the whole I'm pleased with the results. 

Maybe I'll colour in the first set of 6 as well soon

Later folks

xxx

New goodies

Just a very quick post to say my new flexmarkers have arrived, along with some new Humphrey stamps and a Polkadoodles CD.   There is a website names on the flexmarker leaflet so for those who are still wondering about them you might find some info here

Be back later with some piccies x

crayons - an overview of alcohol pens

There are so many crafty crayons on the market that it's hard to know what to go for.  Some people are very fortunate and get to use or sample all them all, but the majority of us are not that fortunate.  

In terms of alcohol based pens, up until relatively recently they were within the domain of graphic designers and the like, but they were discovered by the crafting community and the world fell into 2 broad camps - copics and promarkers.   As promarkers (manufactured by Letraset) were slightly cheaper, and more widely available when I stumbled across them this is the camp I joined.

And now there are some more.   
Last week Crafter's Companion launched Spectrum Noir - designed by crafters, specifically for crafters.   They look good, and to be perfectly honest, are probably more than adequate for most crafters' needs.  They are much more reasonably priced at £6.99 for 6 and no duplication between packs.   What's more they are refillable, which I have not seen in any pen other than the top of the range Tria pens from Letraset. (but having just done a bit more searching have discovered that copics are refillable too)

And Letraset have now introduced Flexmarkers   This is a range of 72 pens, using the same ink as in Promarkers but with a brush delivery system on the non-chisel end.   51 of the 72 colours are not available in the promarker range.   Ideal World/Create and Craft has the world exclusive launch on Tuesday 2 August 2011 at 2100 GMT.

Many crafters will want them all, and there is nothing at all wrong with that, unless of course you budget will not allow it.  Which mine doesn't - so as I have approximately 60 promarkers I have decided to continue with the letraset route.

I cannot compare the various pens in use, because I have only ever used Promarkers.   I would imagine, for the average crafter they are all much of a muchness, it's just a case of getting used to them, and practising with techniques until they do what you want them to do.

I was inspired over the past week by a lot of useage of the Spectrum Noir pens, particularly on the Facebook group "I'm a crafter's companion" so have been having a bit of a play with the PMs I have, and will post some pics soon.  

And when I get the FMs - then I'll post some more.

For now

later folks
xxx

it's been a while

--- over a month in fact since I last blogged.  Please forgive me.   I am pretty sure I made mention in a previous post, or two, about the fact the organisation I work for has been consulting with "the union" on a restructure.  I'm also pretty sure I have mentioned the outcome.  Well in the past month the job descriptions have been released, and the closing date is tomorrow.   I submitted my application form on Friday, so hopefully things will get a lot less stressy now.  At least until I know the outcome.   I have already said that if I open a letter than says "We are sorry but......." then I will cry.   But I will cross that bridge if I ever gt to it.

I've done a bit of crafting and the like in th past month - but I can't remember exactly what I've done.

so here's a selection

This is a Hunky Dory storybook kit - "Twas the night before Christmas"

This is not a very crisp picture, but the card was rather lovely - it's using Clarity stamps from Barbara Gray and the brayering techniques she is so very good at.

This is using a Jayne Netley Mayhew stamp - it's the black cat, I gave this to my son as his birthday card and he said "it looks like Smokey"   which was the intention all along.   I coloured in the eyes with a pear green promarker.

This one I gave to my mother - it's a Stampavie Sarah Kay stamp. 

This one I gave to my sister - it didn't turn out as wll as I'd hoped - it is, again, using Hunky Dory products.

This is anotheer Rupert card - again from a kit - not too much imaginative creativity going on at the moment

And this is using kanban stamps.


Finally - a cake

And some flapjacks

And that's me done

Catch you later folks xxx

A leak

On Saturday evening, just before I went to bed I discovered a puddle of water in the utility room.  So I went to bed and left it there.  Sunday morning whenI got up I thought perhaps I should investigate.  The puddle was just in front of the tumble dryer so I figured the plastic container that containds the condensed water, for it is indeed a condenser dryer that I have, was the culprit.     So I pulled out the tumble dryer, pulled up all the floor tiles under it and just in front of it so that I could mop up the water and dry out the floor.   Decided, just to be, on the safe side that I should also dry out the floor under the washing machine and it's just as well I did,  for, lo and behold it was not the condenser container that was at fault.  It was the inlet connection between the mains and the washing machine.   So it was time to practise my plumbing skills.  Ok, so they extend to tightening stuff up, but it worked

Here is the after picture

And, here's a commissioned card for a friend's mum who is into rock and roll

Images are, once again from MCS Fab Glam 50s CD, with the record being printed twice onto photo card, cut out and glued together back to back, there is a brad through the middle and it does revolve.   Lady is printed onto card and coloured in with promarkers.

Hopefully I'll be back again by the weekend

later xxx

is awake.....

...... when really I should be fast asleep.  So I thought I'd make the most of my "awakeness" by posting some pics for what I've been up to over the past week or so, not so much of the talking though

So firstly - 2 knitted phone covers for the son (and his mate) of the friend that I knitted a phone cover that was similar to the one I knitted for myself (definite rambling going on here now)

And now for 2 wedding cards I made - both for the same person to choose between and she decided she wanted them both.

Th images on this on are taken from the My Craft Studio CDs - Alfie and Violet.  Violet has blonde hair, the bride to be dos not, so I printed out a NSR (no stamp required) image, coloured in the head, and stuck it on to the body.  did the same with Alfie.

The next one

This is using the Vintage Pearl card making kit from Hunky Dory - I don't tend to be a kit person, but I was sold on it purely for this card design.  It's a triple twisted circle easel card

And finally - the two members of the family who are doing what I should be

Don't they look comfy - and so they should be, they are both, as I type this, in very slightly different positions, but still sprawled over my bed

Night all
xxx

Crafter's Companion Humphrey Competition Candy

Crafter's Companion are about to launch "Humphrey" on Ideal World as the Pick of the Day on Tuesday 24th April.   Now when I first heard about Humphrey I thought about the red and white straw thingummy watsits that they used to advertise milk with.

No - not that Humphrey - this is a very cute elephant and further details can be found on their website via this link





In order to be eligible to enter I have to figure out how to post the pic they have on their blog (details in the righthand sidebar >>>>>>) to the link - I might be gone a while whilst I figure it out - if you can do it, then you too will be in a chance of winning goodies

Later folks xxx

Cupcakes

Here's my card for the Red/White/Blue with a circle challenge on MSE making cards thread.

I used the MyCraftStudio Violet CD and printed out 2 cupcakes and coloured them in with promarkers.  I tiled the cupcake and printed it out as background paper, then used my circle cutter to make it into a circle.  Used 4 blue buttons with red brads in the corners of the card.   The front cupcake is slightly elevated using silicon gel but you can't really tell in the photo.
I fancy making a coffee walnut cake now

xxx

Another busy Sunday

Fortunately I have next week off work, otherwise I would not be abl to have such a busy Sunday without suffering half the week.

I've been painting again, so whilst I'm sitting here watching Pirates of the Caribbean on the TV (can't beat a bit of Jack Sparrow) I thought I'd tell blogland all about it.

My pebeo paints arrived which meant I could have a proper go at Paint Fusion.

Pebeo paints are available from various stockists, but Sheena Douglass has put them together in sets of 5 which are sold as being suitable for paint fusion.  I have 3 of these sets now - neutrals, foliage, and simply sweet.    The paint I previously used was common old acrylic paints, in tubes, from The Works - this is much better for a beginner, but if you know what you are doing you'd get a decent result from whatever paint you used.

I, however, do not know what I'm doing so I'm very grateful I purchased the DVD telling me how to go about it all.

And this weekend I did 3 artistic creations with paint.

This is the first of the 3 - it went a bit wrong so I went a bit wild with the "Berries" stamp.   Ended up looking not too bad.

This one is the same leaves as above, but different colours - bit more successful on the leaves front

Finally - my favourite - the daisies.


Looking forward to tackling poppies, but have to do Sweet peas and the Rose set first - also got a butterfly, tulips, pansies and sunflower to be mastered over the next few weeks.

And, having been asked to do various knitting things for folks I've invested in an authentic knitting board along with a sock board.   If you've come here from MSE - I'm afraid I've let the side down - oops


Catch you later folks

xxx

Extreme crafting...

I mentioned in a recent post that I'd sent for an Extreme knitting kit.  It arrived yesterday, and I've finished it.  I suppose that's a good thing, and a bad thing.  The kit itself cost just under £40 - that included 8 balls of yarn, a feather cushion pad (41cm) and Extreme knitting needles (19mm x 500mm).  2 of the yarns were the same, and I used 7 yarns at once.   It is a concept devised by Rachel John and here's a video of her setting a world record (1000 yarns) 
Anyway, here is the knitting not long after I'd started it last night

The needles across the knitting are 3 3/4 mm. 

The finished cushion

And now a close up of the stitches

Now having done this - I decided to knit a cover for my phone, along the same lines, but using 4 yarns - 3 of the ones in the cushion cover, and one of my own - on 5 1/2 mm needles

I also did some baking today - this was  inspired by my reading of a book "Shades of Grey" by Jasper Fforde.   There is a section in it which ends "And all in the time it takes to bake a tray of scones".  I happened to mention on my FB page that I fancied making scones and my pal offered me some home made jam to go on them.   So I had to bake  - haven't made scones for years, the result was pleasantly pleasing, but I don't get the jam until tomorrow.

And finally (for the pics anyways) I got a Sheena Douglass stamp set from friend "As Scene on Screen 1" so I had a bit of a play - used water colour pencils for the first time

Another practise piece which may well make it somewhere.     And after I'd done it I discovered she has some video tutorials of lots of intersting stuff on her blog/website

It could be another week till I post again, so stay safe out there in blogland and thanks for reading


Later folks
xx