Hello Everyone

Hi to you blogging buddies out there.

Just to let my friends know I am back and raring to get creating and making again and to catch up on all the news and gossip.

Welcome to my new followers, I seem to have increased the number by about 8, some of you I know through other DTs but unfortunately the settings on some of your blogs don't let me see if you have a blog too and if this is the case I have sent you a message of welcome through Blogger.

I have had the most fabulous week in Cyprus and the wedding I went to was just amazing. It was a fabulously warm day, the skies were blue and the afternoon drinks and canapes were at the hotel in a small amphitheatre beside the sea.  We were on a balcony overlooking the sea and small bay for the meal and evening disco. Everything was just perfect.

Ken and I took a camera each, but these are just a taste from one of them. The last one shows my friend Margaret (mother of the groom) and I at the end of the evening. I think I must have been more tired than her.

I hope that all of you have had a good week.

Take care.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

MAWTT Challenge 94 - Chocolate

Hi Everyone

Today our fabulous Laurie is hosting the challenge at MAWTT and she has chosen the theme of Chocolate so I couldn't resist making a VINTAGE CHOCOLATE BAR. Well I have the photos to prove it isn't that old really and the choc is still good to be eaten - of course.

 The above photo became this...........

......... and this became ........... (scroll down to see)

We were given images from Stitchy Bear Stamps and I chose this ornate egg to work with. I coloured it up in Photoshop Elements then used it to make my own backing paper (the spotty design I layered it on is from Far Far Away). I edged it with DI and misted it with 2 different glimmer mists to get a more distressed look. I made my own round sentiment (which was a freebie last week) and printed off a larger coloured egg to embellish the top.


So here's my real chocolate contribution to the challenge this week. Great one Laurie, thanks for the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your week.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Freebie Great Day sentiment

Hi All

How did you get on with the other sentiment? If it worked for you, you might like this one too. Again I am giving it to you in both a jpeg and png file format. I have used an old typewriter font so that you can get more of a vintage effect.

Have fun.

png file

jpeg file

I like to layer the png file over a digital paper to get different effects. This one has been overlayed onto a freebie paper from Far Far Hill.

This second one uses a freebie digital paper from Shabby Miss Jenn.

Enjoy.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

The Stamp Man Challenge # 17 - Embossing

Yay another Stamp Man challenge and for the next 2 weeks we are asking you to show us some embossing. This challenge is being hosted by the newest member of the Stamp Man team, Neil from Neelz Expressionz. If you haven't yet found Neil's blog do go over and take a look at his fabulous work and inspiration. You won't be sorry.

For my DT piece I have used heat emboss, dry embossing and had my very first play with UTEE. I have created a little wall hanging.

Recipe
Ingredients
Wooden oval back from an old photo frame
Claudine Hellmuth Gesso
Embossing ink and black embossing powder
One of my own photographs
TH stamps - artful flight and shabby french
Cuttlebug text embossing folder
Sandpaper
Stazon inks - black and timber brown
Handmade paper roses
Utte and melt pot

Instructions
Two coats of gesso on the oval and edge with black embossing powder.
Cut photo to desired shape, stamp images and sentiment and run through embossing folder, sand the top layer.
Make roses (TH style) and dip in hot UTEE.
Add wire to hang.

Please see the May edition of the Craft Stamper magazine for Jean Franks Beck article on Picture Perfect which gave me the inspiration to use a photograph in this piece.

Don't forget you can win a £10.00 voucher for the Stamp Man shop if you enter and are chosen as the winner so I look forward to seeing you in the challenge list.

I hope you have had a good week and have will have a great weekend to come. This is a scheduled post as I am in Cyprus still, so I will let you know how it's been when I get back.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

MAWTT Challenge 93 - Sketch

Well dear blogging friends, as you read this I will be in Cyprus, hopefully chilling and sunning myself before attending a wedding tomorrow. So this is a scheduled post.

Our very dear and talented Hazel is hostess at MAWTT this week and she is challenging us to use a pretty neat sketch. Do go over and see how the DT have interpreted this, there are some beautiful creations. I have made mine to fit this DT piece and also to enter into the Gingersnap Creations colour challenge to use copper, ginger or rust.

Materials used -
Papermania Birdsong paper pack (thank you Laurie I love these designs)
Paper Artsy birdcage stamp and die
Gold metallic paper and copper alcohol ink.
Diamond stickles
TH - Stampers Anonymous stamp - dotted plume (just bought it at the NEC)
Marianne Creatables leaf dies
Ribbons, paper flowers, distress embossing powder, DIs, gems.

Our sponsor this week is Crafty Emma's Store. Now you have seen the details go take a look at the amazing cards made by the rest of the Design Team at MAWTT.

I will be back next week, hopefully with some pics as well.

Hope you are having a great week wherever you are in the world.

Take care and be happy.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Freebie Easter sentiment

Hi bloggers

This is a simple freebie sentiment I am offering today which has been made in Photoshop Elements. There is a jpeg file and a png file so you should be able to open it in whatever photographic programme you use and re-size it. I made this one to fit a 50mm punch.

jpeg file

png file

I would welcome your comments as to how this worked for you and in what programme. This is completely new for me, but I will have another for you in a few days.

Enjoy.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Grungy Monday No:1

Hi All - my second post for today but again, Happy Mother's Day to all Mum's in the UK. I hope you are being treated to some fun, time off and love from your nearest and dearest.

Now onto business and how exciting, Grungy Monday has it's big PREMIER this week and oh boy I know this is gonna be one challenge blog I won't want to miss.  A huge thankyou to our fabulous hostess Linda Ledbetter at Studio L3 for continuing the amazing Tim trail of techniques and inspiration. What a wonderful way to have fun, experiment and learn new tricks and ideas. I have also taken inspiration from the Gingersnap Creations, Once in a Blue Moon challenge where you can re-visit any of their previous challenges, and I chose 'Wings'.

This week our trail takes us to the 12 Tags of Christmas, 2008, Tag No:10.

This is my take on it.

Recipe

Mask the background and spray with glimmer mist and ink all over with DI.

Stamp the dress form (on seperate card) with embossing ink and emboss with black powder.

Paint over the dress form - I used twinkling H20's.

Cut letter shapes from stamping, die-cuts etc - mine were PC generated.

Tear strip of text or music paper for the side and ink it - I used a downloaded dress pattern.

Die cut wings and add to dress form - I used gold metallic card and added alcohol inks.

Dye ribbon to match the background and tie round the middle of the dress form.

Die cut thread spool, add thread and buttons as an embellishment. Attach with a snap fastener.

Ingredients -

Glimmer Mist - peacock green.

Twinkling H20 - orange peel

DIs - broken china, antique linen, walnut stain, black soot.

AIs - stream, ginger

TH die - sewing room

TH stamp - haberdashery

Mask - 'a special touch of' but no name given for the design

thread, buttons, snap and ribbon

Hope you are having a fabulous weekend and thanks for stopping by,

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Challenges to have fun with -
Grungy Monday - Tims tags Xmas 08 No 10
Gingersnap Creations - Once in a Blue Moon - Wings
Stampin' Royalty - Heat embossing

The Stamp Man Blog Candy

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

This is just to point fellow bloggers in the direction of the Stamp Man blog where there is a fabulous blog candy - ALL TIM's STUFF.

Point your mouse over the blog name here The Stamp Man and good luck.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

LIIU challenge 12 - Easter

Good day everyone

Here is my project for LIIU where the theme is Easter.

I had fun making this little open box (which I found on Splitcoast Stampers) and I made a card to go with it. Notice the circular sentiment? I am now beginning to make my own in Photoshop Elements and will be happy to email this to you if you drop me a link via my email (see side bar).

Supplies used -
200 gm white card
Costco card
DIs scattered straw, frayed burlap, pumice stone, fired brick
Black Stazon
Stamps - B Line Designs - French Correspondence, TH - Artful Flight, Butterfly originally in a set from QVC.
Crafters Workshop template - Mini Birds
Nestabilities die cuts and frame
Beads, ribbon and thread
Glitter and clear embossing powder

The sponsor this fortnight is Scrappit at   http://www.scrappit.com.au/homepage/w1/i2/

Contact - Paula Williams – sales@scrappit.com.au

The fabulous prize is a $ 20 voucher to the store.

Scrappit provide all scrapbooking and card making supplies from all the top brands at the best prices. They have a friendly customer service and if you can't find a product you need they will do a special order and get it in for you.


 Do pop over to the rest of the DT to see their fabulous creations, so much to inspire you. Don't forget we now feature a stamper every fortnight and this could be you. This is a brand new addition to the challenge blog - see HERE if you missed the announcement.

Have a great week ahead.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

The Stamp Man ATC April Swap - Birds

Good morning Friends.

Here is my ATC for the Stamp Man ATC swap with a theme of birds.

I seem to be very grungy at the moment and this is a very simple design. Inked background and stencilled bird house design. Stamped very lightly with music score and glimmer misted. Put through embossing folder and inked the branch up. Stamped the bird, cut out, inked over again and covered with distress stickles. Edged with normal stickles, made some flowers and added the title and done. I have used my light tent again to photograph this but I must read the instructions as I am not too happy with the quality of the photo.

Materials used -
Dream Weaver stencil
DIs - bundled sage, peeled paint, forest moss, dried marigold, antique linen, vintage photo and walnut stain.
Stazon - timber brown
Glimmer Mist - creme de cocoa
TH embossing folder - tree
TH bird stamp - shabby french collection
D Stickles - rock candy
Stickles - diamond

These posts are scheduled as I am at work but I hope to see you later.

Take care.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox