5.6.2009

Do you ever think you don't have a distinctive style? I certainly don't think I have, despite people telling me otherwise! I find I like too many styles that I try and emulate ~ I love clean, crisp and lots of white space yet I also love fussy, shabby and overdetailed. I love bright, happy, zesty colours yet also feel drawn to soft, pastel, tranquil colours. Know what I mean?!

So I found THIS challenge very interesting...especially as to me Betsy has a most distinctive style ~ and another that I love ;-)

The idea is to find a selection of photographs from around the net that inspire you to create and perhaps define your style ...

So ... I've shown this picture before but they're sitting next to me on the computer desk and the smell draws my attention to them every day :)


I know we're in the throws of late spring/early summer and all my sown seeds are about to burst open but autumn is still my favourite season. Crisp mornings, crunchy leaves underfoot, ohhhh hot chocolate and the truely wonderful colours ...


I'd love to decorate my house like this ... unashamedly pretty and completely impractical!! Well impractical with a big black furred dog and a little dog with muddy feet!


And if you've read my blog for a while you'll know about my addiction to the World of Warcraft. Yep, still addicted ;) I've always been a fan of fantasy art ... of a mystical world of mischievous elves and pixies, of witches and wizards in pointy hats, of talking trees and wild roaming gypsies and mice that drink tea out of tiny china cups (!)


I bet you're wondering where this lot's going!! So Phil's been saying lately that instead of going to Ikea and having some generic picture on the wall that could be in any house whose occupants have been to that strange Swedish store with oddly named furniture (!) he'd like more things that I've made. Note to self ~ in future, buy the frame and then make a picture to fit it, not the other way round!!

3.6.2009

No, Dook doesn't have a strange lump growing out of his bum ... that's Meg in her favouritest spot. Actually I think if she could get under Dook that would be her favouritest place.


It's hard to believe that skinny little thing is now the part time Dyson that hoovers our floors in the hope of finding something edible (or non-edible, she's really not that fussy!!)


Look at her titties now!! She has to sit side sadle these days just to accomodate them (am I the only one saying I hear that sister?)


Hands off my dinner!!!
Anyhoo ....

During my blogging absence, I did actually make some stuff ...

2.6.2009

Five years ago today I betrothed my heart to this handsome man ...


Or should that be hunka hunka burnin' love hmm?


Today he's in Glasgow on business but arranged to have these delivered ...



I really wish you had smelly vision ;)

31.5.2009

THE BIG DAY!!

Today is the live launch day of the brand new challenge blog Winter Wonderland!! All the super talented ladies involved are oh so excited as we try and save you some of the inevitable stress that comes with Christmas and all its planning ;-) Each Sunday a new theme will be posted and we invite ALL types of crafters to show us their skills ~ the whole idea being to make the run up to Christmas easier for YOU!! So we'd love you to head on over, make whatever takes your fancy that ties in with the theme and leave us a comment so that we may all be inspired by your fantastic creations :-)

Our first theme is "Oh Christmas Tree" and, you know, I never thought it possible to feel so festive in May!!! But I got kinda carried away with this theme lol ....



There's a fabulous givaway for our first week too, kindly donated by DT member Teri, just take part in our challenge to be in with a chance to win these goodies :-)

25.5.2009

So did anyone do anything else but gardening over this Bank Holiday weekend? Sometimes I feel like that's ALL I've done since early March ... sewing seeds, potting on, planting out, nurturing, feeding, watering, cutting back, pruning (oh and don't even get me started on the million tiny little pots that now all have to be cleaned!)

Looking forward to the day we can kick back and enjoy the fruits (literally!) of our labour ~ there's just nothing quite like homegrown food. We've gone back to some old favourites this year with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, potatoes, 4 lettuce varieties and French beans. And then there's all the bedding plants ...


Discovered a new challenge a couple of days ago ... well new to me anyway ;) And what a stunning blog, I can't believe I've not been there before! This very talented lady sets a colour challenge each week and uses a gorgeous photo she's taken to provide some inspiration



Thanks to anyone who stops by :)

19.5.2009

Well I guess my absence deserves some explanation ... basically I just needed a break from blogging and "crafting to order" ... nothing really more melodramatic than that lol!! But I'm back, refreshed, revitalised and very excited about a new blog my 'ole Tag You're It partner Anne has started along with a host of other talented ladies who've been working very hard behind the scenes coming up with themes, challenges and samples.

The idea behind Winter Wonderland is to take some of the pressure out of the manic Christmas rush by making a stock of supplies that can be used when the festive season is upon us and we're up to our ears in tinsel, wrapping paper and roast potatoes ;-)

Every Sunday from 31st May a new challenge will be set and we'd love it if as many people as possible played along and hopefully make things a little easier for themselves come Christmas time! The themes are exactly that - themes - and with them you can make whatever you fancy ... cards, tags, scrapbook pages, decorations and so on.

If you want to find out a bit more or take part in the challenges once it goes live on Sunday 31st May, head over to Winter Wonderland ;-)

And hopefully to pique your interest that little bit more, these are some teaser photos of a few samples I've made for the first challenge:

3.11.2008

Card Positioning Systems challenge blog is sponsored this week by Starving Artistamps. If you've not come across CPS before you're in for a treat ... so many talented designers and so much inspiration. Each week they give you a different sketch to work with and this is #89 ...


And this is my interpretation of that sketch ...


INGREDIENTS:
Stamps ~ all Starving Artistamps (butterfly, botanical text and small dots)
PP ~ Basic Grey 'Huckleberry'; Daisy Bucket Garden Gate 'Poppy Petals'; Making Memories 'Audrey Scallop Ledger'
Ink ~ Versamagic 'Red Brick' and 'Aegean Blue'; Versamark
Embossing Powder ~ Cosmic Shimmer 'Lapiz Sapphire Lustre'
Rub On ~ Kelly Panacci 'Everyday Sentiments'
Extras ~ silk flower, beads and ribbon from stash

Starving Artistamps would also like to extend a special offer to all CPS readers this week:

Save 20% on all new website orders for Starving Artistamps and DoodleFactory rubber stamps.

Enter this code in the discount box in the shopping cart and click recalculate.

CPSROCKS

You should see the discount applied immediately. If not contact Tracey before finalizing your order: strvingartistmp@aol.com

The discount will apply to all Starving Artistamps and DoodleFactory stamps (mounted, unmounted, sets, sheets and individual images). Offer is valid from Now until November 7th 2008.