We're 'Oh So Cute' at TIOT

Oh yes we are! Our new theme at Try it On Tuesday is 'Oh So Cute!' and we have all done our very best to be as cute as we can! Please do take a look here at the Design Team's examples of just how cute we can be!

I wanted to use one of my favourite cute images (it's one of a few from The Artistic Stamper)a Mabel Lucie Attwell image that reminds me of the books my Mum used to read to me.

I coloured it in with Distress inks. The background is using one of the first sets of stamps by Aall and Create designed by Abs(Autour de Mwa)and is one of the few sets that remain close by my desk as it's still a favourite for filling in gaps!

The TIOT theme runs for the usual two weeks and we do hope you will join us!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Not so heavy metal

 Hi everyone. I have finally found time to finish a journal page - I still have several in a half-ish finished states.

This one uses several Aall and Create Stencils as a background.

I used some of my gorgeous Stamperia papers - it's no use just stroking them is it? I partially cut out the butterfly so it overlapped onto the  dummy.

The background stamp of a dress pattern are by Tracy Evans

The sewing related stamps are by Bipasha for Aall and Create and I heat embossed them with some Wow powders.

When I spotted the word on the papers it made me think that maybe the young lady ( a TH photo booth pic) had gone from sewing clothes for herself to having her own successful design business so I added some of my Tim Holtz words from a new stamp set - Tiny Text.

I'm joining in at Art Journal Journey and Valerie's 'Heavy Metal' theme. 

I hope to be back fairly soon!

Thanks for looking, Chris

T stands for the tag, vaccinations..and more

Hi everyone! I wrote half of my post yesterday but the internet failed and I couldn't save it so here I go again!

At least it gave me time to make a tag for Tag Tuesday - Black, White and one other colour - Valerie' choice..and I've got in early this time.

I used some packaging from some breadsticks we have just finished and an Aall and Create die cut and image by Janet Klein.

We have both had our Covid jabs. Mine was last Thursday and then on Friday hubby received his invitation so he has been this morning. If only we had known that they would be so close together I wouldn't have made my appointment...but we did get out both days!!

The centre was well organised, two blocks of waiting areas and recovery areas and there were little booths to sit in while the jab was administered.

As for after effects, I had pain in my arm at the site of the jab and above and below it for about 24 hours. I took a couple of paracetomol before bedtime and slept quite well! Hubby seems to have got a cold from somewhere but they said it was OK to have the jab, at the moment he is sneezing more than he is concerned about his arm, which he says is not very painful.

On Thursday we took a flask and some biscuits with us and went to find a pleasant view...which was in a little carpark near a walk we would like to take some time.

I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T Stands For Tuesday over at The Altered Book Lover blog

We didn't get out of the car as there were quite a few folk around.

We also took little walk in the afternoon as I needed to send off my Crafty Individual samples. We walked back through the back roads to the river.

It was sunny and quite warm and the birds were singing everywhere.

Is someone ready for Valentines day?

It was lovely to see this crocus in bloom by a wall

We were quite shocked to see that the river had risen this far - the trees on the island had debris from the river almost up the the tips of the branches

It was still quite high

The play park was very busy!

Today after hubby had his jab we went back to the little car park - it was much earlier..and quieter..so we had a little wander up the path and back. It has turned really cold (although I sure some of you would disagree)1 degree centigrade!

I spotted these decaying branches - aren't they beautiful?

This was next to where we parked last time.

We definitely want to walk here when it's safe to do so.

So after all this excitement it's coffee time!

Stay safe! 

Thanks for looking, Chris

Gold(ish) page and calendar journal

Hi everyone! I've been busy getting my Crafty Individuals samples sent off and ...having my Covid Vaccination.

I've also been doing another Wanderlust spread with hubby, we finished it this afternoon, too late to photograph!

I made this journal page in two stages to allow paint to dry. I bought some new Dina Wakley stencils the other week so could hardly wait to give them a try when they finally arrived!

I put Distress ink on the page and spritzed it, then used gold paint through the 'Gusts' stencil. One it was dry I added piece of Media collage paper and then used the 'Funky Silhouettes' stencil and mask to make the other two figures.

I added some gold paint marks, and some graphite pencil marks  and a DW tissue quote. 

I'm joining in with Valerie's theme 'Heavy Metal' theme at Art Journal Journey

My calendar journal this month is bright and cheerful.

I added distress ink over the page and gave it a sunny centre.

I coloured and cut quite a lot of Aall and Create Janet Klein figures! I wanted a bird feeder so stamped and cut down the bird cage and drew in some nuts!

Here's January's pages all filled in if you would like to see them.

On Thursday I had my vaccination and the very next day hubby received his invitation so he is booked in for next Tuesday. I'll tell you more on Tuesday for TSFT day

Thanks for looking, Chris   

T Stands for.....The Treats and a second look!

Hi everyone!  I had every intention of writing this post this morning...and then....there was a familiar little knock at the door just as we were going to get our lunch!

It was my youngest son and on the doorstep were some flowers and a bag of treats from Marks and Spencers (for those not in the UK  - M and S is a big chain of stores that sell most things from food to clothes to furnishings) I now have two tins of my favourite mixed salted nuts, my favourite cheeses (Cornish Cruncher and Blacksticks Blue) some Marmite based treats (Marmite is a savoury spread) of cheese, pastry twists and buns and some lovely Sourdough bread.

Of course my first reaction was to burst into tears...but not for long! It was so good to see him and have a distanced and cold chat. I forgot to take photos but did remember to take one of the flowers before I put them in a vase! I'll show those when I can take a daylight pic - the day has been very grey and dark by 3.30 today having had daylight until about 4.45 yesterday!

I have stayed in Florence for my Second Look on the 2nd where I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth.  My other Florence post for TIOT is before this one.

This post is from March 2015

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A few photos

Ah yes! Just a few!!!! We had the most fantastic time - flew to Rome, caught a train to Florence, stayed in a lovely little hotel quite close to the station, saw some fantastic art, great buildings, ate some delicious food and packed quite a lot into the three days we had there! 
This was our view from the bedroom window

I think this view while we were eating at the Uffizi made the food taste better!

We were told this church -S Miniato al Monte was the best in Florence - I have to agree - it was near to Piazalle Michaelangelo across the river with a lot of steps to climb.

We also had this great view......

although this is the one that most people enjoy too

We ate out in some unusual settings - the pizza was great but the decor was amazing

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You can see our bottle of water on it's side - hubby had gone back to the service counter to fetch glasses. 

Of course I'm joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for Stands for Tuesday!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Falling in Love at TIOT

Hi everyone, we getting in the mood for love...yes even with COVID around! Our new theme at Try It On Tuesday is 'Falling in Love' and the Design Team are in a romantic frame of mind!

My couple are spending some time in Florence, Italy, a beautiful place to spend with the one you love. They knew that they loved each other, but here with the crumbling buildings, the pretty balconies and the warm sun they are falling in love all over again!

I used some paper by 13arts and Stamperia, added a stencilled Donna Downey heart and some words!

I'm now remembering a holiday we had a while back with a few days each in Rome and Florence. I can dream that I might go there again...one day! 

As usual the TIOT challenge runs for two weeks and we'd love to see your romantic side with whatever you would like to make as long as it follows our theme and guidelines.

Thanks for looking, Chris  

Heavy Metal???

So, where am I? Well if you are here at 6.00am UK time I am in bed - this is a scheduled post!

I am also enjoying a first entry for Valerie's 'Heavy Metal' theme at Art Journal Journey because...I'm back in Paris with one of the most spectacular and iconic metal structures...the Eiffel Tower!

I 'found' my Twinkling H2os tucked away with some other bits and pieces and decided that I would use them as a background - I spritzed them with water to get a mottled effect and then added ink through some sequin waste and stencils I also added some stamps using some Crafty Individuals stamps. The Eiffel Tower is also a Crafty Individuals stamp and here I confess to a stamping accident caused by a dirty acrylic block - the stamp fell off and mis-stamped so I got some paper and re-stamped it (with a clean block!) and tore it out! I coloured it with some gold water colour paint.

I used a Paper Artsy stamp set by Alison Bomber (of Words and Pictures blog) and one from the set that use often but can't remember whose it is!

I mentioned yesterday that we may not get to Paris in April but if we do I shall still delight in the fact that the Eiffel Tower can be seen from so many places and I love it when we look down a road and the tower is framed by the buildings on either side.

We are being patient, we know that one day we will be able to travel safely again, meanwhile we are keeping busy!

I hope that you can find time to join us at Art Journal Journey - there's plenty of scope again! 

Thanks for looking, Chris