Tattered and torn!

As you know I love to use up my scraps - this time I have used quite tiny scraps(except one!)to make a tag.
It started like this

I had odd bits left over of….sandwich bag, music paper, tissue, baking paper, tea bag, prima paper, corrugated card, dictionary paper, some fibre paper and the piece in the middle which came wrapped around some ribbon. Some of the papers had been stamped already. 
So what happened then..

I stamped the blackbird on a branch from Lindsay Mason's 'Arabella' and coloured the beak with a Spiced Marmalade distress marker.

I made a tattered flower using more paper bag and baking paper and fixed it together with a screwhead brad that I coloured with alcohol ink.

The little die cut flower at the bottom is my new favourite - Memory Box Prim Poppy, I had to cut it with some stronger paper and peel it of - it is so delicate - I love it! A little bit of Brushed Corduroy around the edges, a stamped word using one of those little boxes of letters and I'm done!

I would like to enter this in:- 

Hels' Sunday Stamper Challenge - "Brown"

The Artistic Stamper Challenge - "Tags"

and 

http://timholtz.com/tattered-floral-challenge/ 

Thanks for looking, Chris

Chill Time!

It's been great to be away! A few weeks ago I was having a moan about not having enough hours in the day and not having time to myself - all I needed to do was get away! We have had great days out and great days in and had time to do everything we wanted to do! Hubby has started to practice his calligraphy and I've had time to play! We have dentist's appointments, a grandson's play to watch and a meet up with my brother over the next week as well as one or two other commitments but this has been so lovely!
So - what have I done? Some journal pages, a pile of cards, some tags and all at the same time as keeping an eye on the birds at the feeders - we have enjoyed watching two long tailed tits especially - such delicate colours!

Made this page using one of Lindsay Mason's 'Doo Lally Pip' stamps - Hopeful Harriet Feelin Good!

A couple of the freebie cards that came with my Birthday book with a few additions!! I don't know what I will use them for so haven't added sentiments yet!
I'm away to  my bed now, just pleased that the internet connection has been kind to me! It  has stopped me blogging or commenting several times this week, just as the phone calls I have made have been cut short too!
Thanks for looking, Chris

Two Hoots and a box

I've been having connection problems so although I've had time to play I haven't been able to blog or comment on any one's blog either! Hopefully things are back to normal again!
One thing I have been doing is playing with my new Lindsay Mason stamps! I had a tag already embossed with a TH folder so the rest was easy! My new Creative Expressions Tulip Silhouette mask was used at the bottom of the tag to add some greenery. The owl was stamped twice on to book paper and cut out and I curled the wings round a little, 'Two Hoots' also stamped onto book paper and edged with Frayed Burlap DI and I had a lovely little tag!

 All I needed was ribbon and some handmade fibre paper to go along the bottom.
I'm entering this in Hels' Sunday Stamper Challenge - Something New
The box in my post title is a lovely shadow box my son made me for Mothers Day - it represents the scene from my window with the artistic licence of the woodpecker on the tree - he comes to help himself to the nuts in the feeder usually!

It has four layers and it's made me very happy and proud - especially as he is a single parent and must have struggled to find time to make this!
Thanks for looking, hope to be back soon, Chris

Pretty Late!!

Before I show anything at all I would like to welcome my new followers and say "Thank You" for signing up!
So, I'm here to get in before it's too late for last weeks Sunday Stamper challenge!Hels chose the theme 'something pretty' and I've had these here cards that came in a Birthday book (from Wilkinsons) that I'm going to alter - but that's another time!
I knew I would use the cards but it was only when I saw this challenge that the idea really came to light. At the moment I only have two complete but I'm quite pleased with them

The Dancing Ladies are CI346"Dancing until 1 o'clock" stamp with the background cut off. I coloured them with some of the few promarkers I have up here(Oh yes! We are away again!)
I finally found some little round doilies at Kitten and the Goat in Kendal which I think fit nicely here!
Oh! The cards - they are a right mixed bunch but I have plans for most of them!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Oh! and I will remember to link this to Hels' blog!!!

WOYWW 196

I've been having another re-arrangement of my stash this week after a trip to Dunelm Mill ended up with not just the sheet we went for but some new clear drawers! They fit nicely under my table and will replace my tall set so that we can put a folding bed in their place.

             

As you can see there are two empty drawers in the small set and four full drawers in the tall set -err a lot of throwing out to be done methinks!!
Now….the reason for me telling you all this is because the time has come to show What's On My Work Desk(number 196 that is)and all because the Queen of desks actually encourages snooping on this day(Wednesday)so..here we are Mrs Dunnit(Check out Julia's blog at the Stamping Ground - you won't be disappointed - especially if you join in by following the link)
Not much crafting been done on my desk this week - I have a few journal pages that I've been working on(but not on my desk)

The two knight stamps are still there - untouched, there's a tag I started(and two more waiting with a blank card!)To the right a pile of postcards from various places - but not pictures of places - just nice ones that caught my eye - might make a little book with some of them! There's a pile of pretty ribbon that I bought at the Manchester craft show that are going to be used for something for my granddaughter. Oh!the ironing jug? Rita came and did my ironing while I went to see a weird and wonderful exhibition of Raqib Shaw's work at the Manchester Art Gallery(and had lunch out with my youngest son)
Okay, stop shouting at me - I'll tell you - the stamps waiting to be opened and used are some of Lindsay Mason's new Doo Lally Pip range. I went to see Lindsay demonstrate them at High Legh at the weekend - I still want need more! They are all brilliant….look!

My granddaughter chose two and I chose the other two - I did have some photos to show but they are on my phone and seemed to be taking an age to transfer so I gave up - if you want to see her and Lindsay look here. You will also get to see some of Lindsay's fabulous samples.

Right!, off to continue with that sorting - we are hoping to get away this week! I'll try and visit you when I can! Chris

Research - Ha! Ha!

I had this unfinished page for ages and didn't have a clue where it was going - then I found this quote in a book I picked up in book shop!(Didn't buy the book but remembered the quote)

  As you can see - it had washi tape over parts of it but it just didn't look right. A lot of this page has been painted out but I'm quite happy with it now - after all, it's research right?
Thanks for looking, Chris

365/12 calendar journal March

Hurray! At last the 1st of March - Spring is only weeks away! After such a grey winter the sun does seem to lift everything - including spirits-although it's having difficulty pushing through the clouds today
Of course it's also time for a new calendar page if you are part of Kate's 'show…and sometimes tell' over at The Kathryn Wheel blog
Here is March, already to fill in

I used Dylusions spray inks over spotty and flower masks, dabbed it(I got some lovely mop ups) and then smeared white acrylic paint over the top to take it back a bit more! The stamps are Lavinia and a little part of a Sheena A Little Bit Sketchy stamp. I made the squares by dabbing inks onto my mat and spritzing before dragging the paper through it.
Here is my completed February page

Here's hoping that March brings me more time to spend in my craft room! Thanks for looking, Chris