T Stands For………the spend!!!!

Oh Yes!! I blame hubby of course!! The Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick was flooded so badly in the storm of December 2015 that it has only recently opened after being refurbished. Hubby suggested we go and have a look - I had put him off once as I just knew I would want to buy new colouring pencils…at least. Having been sensible last month with my spending money I felt that Friday was the right time!!!
Unfortunately I was so excited to find so many bargains that I forgot to take any photo of the front but you can see it here with one of the old for comparison.
I can show what I bought though..

I already have tin of twelve Inktense blocks but whenever I have seen any tins containing more the price has been waaay too much - not here!!! I was able to test the Graphitint pencils and the metallic ones and just couldn't leave them there! The Graphik line painters are fabulous - I have coloured ones but these are neutrals and I have a plan for using them! Not sure why I fell for the blender pencils and I have still to try them!
I wasn't the only one to come out with goodies either - hubby bought us both fineliner pens and he also bought a practice book for his lettering and a small colouring book set! 
Of course this meant that when I visited Rowantree Crafts the next day I had to be  more frugal…

 ..but I was running out of my favourite glue….and I couldn't resist the Woodware Stamps.
While in Keswick we had our lunch at Lake Road Inn..and it's here that I will join Bluebeard and Elizabeth for Tea Stands For Tuesday.

…it was a bit wet and chilly and our choices were more on the comfort food side than healthy eating…

…Beer Battered fish and chips for me…and mushy peas of course!
Hubby had Chicken pie, mashed potato and roasted vegetables.
This was his 'can I start now' look…

…which changed to this once I said "OK, Done!"
While we were eating I spotted this across the road..

By the time we left the skies were changing- again!

We went home via St John In The Vale - we had seen big queues going the other way on our journey here and we knew we liked the scenery this way!

You may have noticed the Post Box by the giraffe in one of the photos above, which is a traditional British shape, but this one was built into a wall. There were only a few houses in this area so how great to have a post box nearby!

That's it from me this week, I don't think I quite got around to visiting everyone and I do apologise, the wet weather reduced me to using my phone for around an hour and a half for the whole weekend as the reception was virtually zero! Hopefully where are going tomorrow will have wi-fi!!!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Still tagging along

Yes, it's another of those 'Use Your Scraps' tags for Tag Tuesday!

I used one of my own carved stamps on the background.
The scraps were from one of my little bags - I have had the paintbrushes image for ages! I added some dried paint blobs from some of my bottles!
The little scrap with the time on was from a receipt and just happens to be around the time I completed this tag!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Just tagging along

I have been trying to have a bit of a clear out of 'stuff', not craft related things - they are all useful of course!
 Mainly it has been sorting through old bits of paper work and my wardrobe so far, and lots of shredding and carrying bags down to the charity shop!

It hasn't left much time for crafting BUT I can still carry on with the sort out - this time with my scraps for Tag Tuesday's theme - 'Use your Scraps'.
This tag was made with a little magazine image I have had for a while of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Those of you that know me must also know that I have loved her story for several years! I have already visited several places with connections to her and this year hope to continue in France.

The tag is from one of my gelli print experiments! A bit of random paint-dipped die cut trellis along with scraps (and a bit of under paper) that were in one on my bags! The green fabric and tassels were from a scarf that was destined for the charity shop. I added some random stamped dots and some lace cut from another piece and left on my desk!

Thanks for looking, Chris

A Cool Book!

When I saw Brian's Evolving book on the Paper Artsy blog I knew straight away that this was the kind of book I needed!
I wanted something I could add to and something where I could remove pages easily too - I sometimes like to sketch while I am out and there isn't always room for a sketchbook. It also means that I could use papers for collage and add them too.

I hadn't really thought about it until recently but right from being at school when we had a choice of mint green, orange or turquoise dresses I have always loved blue and all shades of green so I didn't have to wear an orange one!

I started with blobs of PA Fresco paints on what used to be a little cardboard package which I cut in half and neatened up a bit. I spread the paint with an old loyalty card and when it had dried added some stamping with some of Seth Apter's stamps and some of Lin Brown' stamps.

 The front and back covers - outsides

  The front and back covers - insides

At this point the light was beginning to fail so no more photos until I had finished. 
I used Brian's idea of using PA Minis stamps at first but as I was using some scraps of under paper which already had other stamping on I just kept picking out parts of the sets I already had out and added some Lynne Perella ones too.
I finally ended up with something I was happy with and added some papers.

The front cover - as you can see I added other scraps too - including part of a scarf the was originally intended for the charity shop.

The back cover - I added a scrap from an Infusions experiment and some green gauze. The whole book is tied together with a frayed strip from the scarf.

 The inside - front

The inside - back (I told you the light was going!)
Now I am looking forward to using it.

I would like to enter the challenge at Paper Artsy -Challenge 11 - 'Books'

I would also like to enter at Country View Challenges where the theme is Blues and Greens

Thanks for looking, Chris

In My Garden…..

…..in fact in all the DT's gardens at Try It On Tuesday - they are all beautiful, so please do take a look and be inspired to take part in our latest challenge - 'In My Garden'
I have made a little heart shaped tag book.

For my front cover I used a mop up paper towel and added a little frame that I painted with copper paint. I found some flowers that suited my cover and then added some threads(you may notice that they are slightly different from the example on TIOT - I wasn't entirely happy with those)I rubbed some ink over some fancy card I have and cut them out with a TH die. I added some gold paint around the edges.
As you can see our caravan garden has lots of other colours in it.

1.Part of a napkin stamped with a Paper Artsy Lin Brown quote  
2. A piece of a rescued currency exchange document that hubby was throwing away. I added some Distress Oxides, a Lavinia stamp and an umbel I bought at Paris Scrap

3. Painted with Nougat Fresco paint and used Paper Artsy Scrapcosy's flower stencil along with a TH random dots. I added garden creatures - some stamped and embossed, some from an old peel off sheet!
4. Covered with a paper I am not keen on so painted over it, added some text stamping, spatters of pink paint and a word cut from a Lin Brown quote. The flower is by Azoline - -a Carabelle studio stamp

5.Transferred some ink from a mop up paper towel. Stamped Paper Artsy's Kim Dellow stems and added Stickles

6. Used Distress Oxide inks, text stamp and stamped Butterfly using copper acrylic paint. Added gold paint around the edges

7. Paper Artsy Fresco paints, Sarah Naumann's bird on a branch and some random stamping with Crafty Individual trees around the edge.
8. Used a piece of Gelli printed paper (second print) TH wildflower dies and wrote out a quote!

9. Yellow PA Fresco paint and a bit of green through a stencil. Stamped the Carabelle Studio Robin stamp and coloured him in with Polychromos crayons. Computer generated words.

The challenge runs for two weeks so you have until 28th August. We would love to see what's 'In Your Garden'! 

Thanks for looking, Chris

T Stands for….taking an unexpected walk

We both had dental appointments last week and by the time we came out it was almost lunchtime. We had intended popping to the supermarket for a few supplies and going home but we both had the idea of going to Dunham Massey for our lunch! It's not so surprising really as we go very close by on our way from the Dentist to the supermarket!

The young stags were just inside the entrance gate

This light coloured one looked beautiful.

 The geese and ducks were sunning themselves

The Coot was pecking around in the grass.
We were heading for the gardens, when we arrived there was a performance taking place - the 'circus' has arrived. This is part of a school holiday trail around the gardens and is showing part of the   history of Dunham Massey - the 7th Earl married a circus performer!

We walked up the path to the Rose Garden

The little stream looks bit overgrown!

As we are about half way round I will stop here and join Bluebeard and Elizabeth for T Stands For Tuesday.

 Before we started our walk we went to the cafe which is in the entrance block that opened a couple of years ago.

Hubby was patient while I took a photo of our salad sandwiches (ham for him, cheese for me)crisps(potato chips)to share and our water.

Now, I could take you back to finish our walk but I will do that another day. 

I thought you might like to see where we went after church on Sunday.
I have wanted to go to Stockport Vintage Market ever since I saw it on Lynn Holland's blog - Here's One I made Earlier Today. Lynne is the Queen of Vintage and she and hubby always look fantastic!(go and take a look!)
I didn't take many photos as I was too busy looking at everything and hubby was happy to see lots of Vintage classic vehicles.

There was live entertainment too

The Mayor kindly stayed a little longer so I could take her photo!

 I spotted these lovely ladies in their fabulous vintage outfits in the distance and they kindly posed for this shot for me as we were leaving!

Thank You Ladies - I wish I had asked your names! Hope you like this!! 

I think we may go again sometime - although I doubt we will dress up!

I'll be back with my TIOT post in a few hours - the theme is close to my heart!! 

Thanked for looking, Chris