MIXED BAG!

Where shall I start? We went away last weekend, so relaxing! Took a couple of journals and my new needle felting kit (more later) and also did loads of gardening. Everything seemed to have died off... until we cleared the weeds and cut the hedge back(this can be done for us but because I have unearthed four(yes four!) Hydrangeas in the hedge over the past 2 years I prefer to do it myself and just leave the tops to be cut)Seeds are coming up and we have bought some new plants and I think this year could be the best year yet. 

Mr and Mrs Duck came to help, Mr Duck liked paddling where we watered and Mrs Duck helped herself to a drink from the drip tray under a pot.

This pot is outside our bedroom window, where this lovely stump sits, surrounded  by weeds and I like to keep it fairly wild around there for the insects and birds.

Behind it is this view....and a little to the right...this

Lighting is different as first was early morning and last was evening.

We were lucky to see this tender scene over the road one evening.

So,what did I do with my needle felting?

and then added beads when I got home.

Oops! yes it is the same piece!

I also did this

I had a picture in my small journal that I put in ages ago when I first wanted to have a go at needle felting.

Not quite, but I'm happy enough with it.

We both felt very relaxed when we came back..then I had to go for my dreaded retinopathy screening. If ever you have had one you know what I mean when I say that the eye drops feel like a thousand needles have been shoved in your eyes. 

Still, two days later we went off to the Cubby Hole in Crewe for Sarah's Art of Moodling exhibition preview. That girl is so talented, such a range of artwork! See her pictures here,(includes a pic of my hubby who was persuaded to "have a go" at a communal piece)

So how to top that? Well, my son's ex-partner has gone 'mobile' so I had my hair cut at home and she brought my grandson over. He loves to craft and I just happened to have finally got my hands on some of Lindsay Mason's new stamps - 'I dreamed of castles' and 'Hoist the flags' so I gave him paper, stamps, ink and crayons and away he went...

He found he could make the castle bigger by adding to it with the smaller stamps - how clever! Here he is adding some trees that I got from Circa designs bargain box at Port Sunlight.His stamping technique is really coming on - not a single smudge!(obviously hasn't inherited the pearshaped way he!he!)

Finally (phew!)my other two grandchildren came yesterday and both had a go at needle felting and guess what - silly Gran forgot to take photos. Will have to see if I can get a photo next week.

Well, if you are still here, thanks for looking. I look forward to any comments you care to make and will be back soon with more of what I'm doing today.

Chris

RUNNING LATE - AGAIN!

It's been a busy week...well not really, but hubby has been off and we have been away for a while, then out and about when we got back!(more of that in my next post)


My May pages complete

and a rejigged June - I wasn't happy with my first lot of journal spots(bit insipid) so used a piece of paper from a pack I got at a bargain price in LIDL.

Did most of this while away, inspired(LOL) by the amount of weeds that have appeared in the garden at our caravan. Doodled most and then added some Artemio stamps(which I also used on the replaced spots along with a stamp that I bought ages ago and know not where from!)
If you want to know more about the 365/2011 journal look at the kathrynwheel to find out more.


Be back soon with pics of what I've been up to!
Thanks for looking, Chris

New Toy!

At last I found the time to nip up to Paddy's Stamping Place in Prestwich(btw she has a stock clearance sale on at the moment) Ages ago I asked her for a needle felting kit and although I knew she had got it I had no time to go up there. On Wednesday I thought I'd better go before she put it in the sale! Sooo yesterday, as well as being a good girl(stretching it there, he he!)and doing some housework(sorry guys had to do it!!)I had a play!

I actually started this at Paddy's way back in February as part of my Burnt Offerings but it didn't look good at all. I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out - if you squint it looks a bit like a stormy scene!

Then I had a go at a seascape - not sure about this either but until I look at it in a few weeks this is how its staying for now.

 The back looks interesting too!

It is so relaxing just sitting with the little brush and the needle!  I nipped into Manchester today and found myself in Abakan(don't know how - it's quite a tidy step from the bus terminus!!)

Bought a bag of felt bits for £2 and these-

I'm hoping I can blend a few colours together with the little teasle brush and I got  a tube of clear beads. I've made myself a little box up to take away so should be really chilled :)

Off to get myself a drink before bedtime!

Thanks for looking, have lovely weekend,

Chris

A TRIO

This title just about sums up this post. I tried yesterday, and tried, tried and tried again but whatever I did blogger just wouldn't even recognise me. Couldn't post, couldn't comment, when I eventually got to sign in still couldn't do anything - same again this morning UNTIL....lightbulb moment - try another browser YAY!!!

So here is what I wanted to say yesterday! I did eventually get away at the weekend, only overnight with hubby, and it did rain some of the time but I feel refreshed! Of course seeing a view like this from my door helped!

 A lot better than my usual chimney pot views at home!

So, feeling much better I set to with a new stamp to make what?

A Sympathy card!!!

  Just stamped and embossed, bit of ribbon and Craftwork cards sentiment.  Then a 'Thinking of you' card.

Stamped onto patterned green paper from a magazine, layered onto Crafty Individuals paper punched with MS punch, ricrac and Craftwork cards sentiment.

Mmmmm, bit depressing considering my good mood, soooo...

stamped and embossed onto Crafty Individuals paper, coloured with Tombow pen then mounted onto more free paper, flowers punched from more Crafty Individuals paper and this looks a lot cheerier and will be used as a notecard to a friend!

The stamp is by Paperbag Studios that I bought from Happy Daze here
It arrived less than 24 hours after I ordered it!
Off now to make a special card for a friend!
Thanks for looking,
Chris

UNCOMFORTABLE!

I love messing about with inks, paint, glue, cutting bits and pieces out for my journals, but the other day I went off to Sale and was persuaded by Nichola to make something using recycled materials. Looking at the array of selection of materials I began to get worriedLOL! (wish I'd taken a piccie). We looked at a few photographs of landscapes then Nichola told us to get on with it. Well...a roof tile, thick gloopy PVA, Polyfilla,sandpaper, slate, tissue paper, broken pots, stones, string, crushed china, an old road atlas and a lot of mess and I came up with this.

took this by laying it on the floor and standing over it

and this on my table

I am sort of pleased with myself for persevering, but know that this just isn't my thing! I can sit with ink on my hands happily, but kept going to wash my hands - what a wuss!! The others made really great pictures, especially Tina. It was an experience, but not one I'll be repeating soon!!(no offence Nichola)

I should have been away for a couple of days, but number 1 son rang on Thursday morning to say he was still poorly. This left me with time to look for something to cheer me up(any excuse)and a little package arrived today, so I'm looking forward to playing! 

Have a great weekend,

Chris

HAPPY DAYS AND HAPPY DAZE

I'm off for a couple of days away with my eldest son, so hopefully happy days! Another real happy day was Saturday at Port Sunlight Stamper Show, where, YIPPEE!, Happy Daze had a stand - with piles of Stampotique stamps and walls(small walls) of Paperbag Studios stamps dislayed. Not only that..... THE Jo Capper-Sandon was demoing - Happy Days or what? Of course I bought as much as I dared - the big bill last week still to be paid! I also did something I don't normally do at Port Sunlight....I nipped across the road, but only to see lovely Lindsay Mason, who, as usual, was creating masterpieces, using her stamps and drawing. I've had a go at drawing a fence but still a lot of practice required!
Since then I've been doing a bit of journaling and made a couple of quick cards for birthdays this week.

 This for my nephew, using a magnolia stamp and my favourite Garden stamp by Galerie Vernissage for Inkadinkado, coloured with Promarkers, I used a Woodware punch to make a border.

This card was made by  using Faded Jeans And Weathered Wood Distress Stains onto white card , Penny Black flower stamp coloured with Promarkers, Hobby Art butterfly coloured with Sakura pens, matted onto white then Crafty Individuals paper.
Both really quick and thin enough to go through the post!
Well,time I was off! Back soon with something that took me right out of my comfort zone!
Thanks for looking, Chris.

MY TREASURES

A while ago I attended Sylvia Woods Burnt Offerings workshop, I made a little book with one of the pieces I made. 

I wasn't sure what to do with it,let it sit for a while but then decided to turn it into a 'Gran's brag book'
To match the burnt look I printed the photos out in sepia, having first given them 'interesting' borders using Print Shop.

I stamped some of the pages using my favourite Kaisercraft background stamps.
I look forward to taking this with me whenever I go away.
Have a lovely day, Chris.