Shabby Birthday and Pay It Forward

Here is a birthday card I made yesterday which will be part of a set. Last week whilst shopping I found two tins of eye shadows left over from the Christmas gifts section. They were greatly reduced to 25p each because the shadows were completely ruined, so I snapped them up seeing the possibilities for altering the tins. This will be a fab project at some point and the set of cards will fit inside beautifully.

Resources used -
Stamp - Crafty Secrets Bird Notes
Pink and white paper - Blue Cardigan designs 'Shakespeare'.
Martha Stewart punch.
Happy Birthday rub on.
Other papers and button from my supplies. (The button came in a huge bag that Bev and I found at the craft show at Sandown and you wouldn't believe they were only 50p a bag and included some of these gorgrous silver, pewter and gold ones - woweee what a steal eh?)


Yesterday I found that 2 of my blogging buddies are taking part in a swap. This has come from both Zoe and Angela and for taking part they will send something to me and I will do the same for the first 5 people who make a comment here on my blog post.

So if you are interested in this then the first 5 people who leave me a comment and who say they are interested will get something handmade by me sometime in 2011. I don't know what that might be but who likes handmade surprises? However to be eligible, you must repost this status, offering something handmade to five other people. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011. I will check you have done this before I send my gift out.

Have a great week everyone and thanks for stopping by.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Challenges that gave inspiration are -
Card Patters - Sketch
Stampin Sisters in Christ - Vintage
Sunday Stampers - Push the button
Stampin' Royalty - Anything with wings
Paperplay - Back to black
Fairy Fun Fridays - Happy Birthday
Simply Create - Use your punches
Craft Your Passion - 2 patterned papers
Pollycraft - Black, White + 1 other

'Love Blog' Award

I have been given and accepted this award from my blogging friend Dora at Especially for You Cards. Thankyou Dora I really appreciate this.

Here are the conditions for the 'Love Blog' award


You have been TAGGED and want to participate?

Create a post where you post the 'LOVE BLOG' image.

You should also blog the person's link that gave you the award and inform her/him that you accept the award.
You can then choose 3 - 5 favourite blogs which you also link in your post, then each blogger will inform you that they have been tagged.

I would love to give this award to all my followers, who without them I wouldn't be here, but since there are rules to follow I am going to pass this on to these people who I haven't shared awards with before but all deserve exposure because they create beautiful things.


Angela - Pages by the Sea

Pami - Pami's Crafty Creations

Sue - Little Imperfections

I hope they like the award, it is given with great respect for the work they do. The aim of this action is that we bring unknown, good blogs to light, so I would ask you not to blog fellow bloggers that already have 3,000 followers.




luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Altered Bracelet

Hi Everyone - I hope your Sunday is going well. A big hello to Shirley-Anne, 'Eatareeces', Sharon and 'Oxford6' who have joined me on this creative journey.  Blogger won't allow me to see your blog names or send a message to you, so please let me have your blog addresses so I can come visit you.

This is a second short post for today. I have had this bracelet on the make for months now and decided I must get it finished. It was a car-boot find and as soon as I saw it I could see how I could alter it.
So here it is.

This first photo shows you what the bracelet looked like during transition and you can see that the discs were empty and had holes in the middle, the top 3 discs show the changes being made.

This second and third photos show you the completed project with photos of my son Ben, my daughter-in-law Bev and grandaughters Becca, Ella and Maddison. The holes have been filled with gold sequins to keep the overall effect.

Thankyou to those who have kept me in their thoughts this week and asked how Tuesday went. The sun came out and we celebrated a wonderful woman's life. It was lovely to see family and friends together even though it was a sad occasion. I just have the internment to finalise now. I feel so blessed to have so many blogging friends who have been keeping a check on me, so thankyou again for all your support and friendship, I have really appreciated it.

I have been a bit of a bad blogger this week, but I am going to go hopping now and come and see some of you.

Have a great day and have fun.

Take care, luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

In My Thoughts

Good evening
This is just a quick post to get this card up and apologies for the quality of the photo but I have had to take it tonight.

I fancied making a shabby chic card again for a change and used these challenges for inspiration -
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Polka Dots  - the backing paper is dots as well but doesn't show up too well
The Shabby Tea Room - White and Bright
Simon Says - Bingo and I have chosen Lace (lace paper under the ribbon), flowers and ewmbossing (the frame shape at the top is from an embossing folder)
Crafty Creations - add a bird, polka dots and the colour green
My time to Craft - Spots and Dots

Sandown wasn't too bad today, I got an Ottlite lamp as my bench lamp has broken and this new one is very bright. I also managed to get the ink dusters at a really good price straight from Inkylicious themselves. If you saw them demonstrated on C&C you will know what I am talking about. I have already had a go on this card this evening and think they are going to be excellent to get some very soft effects with the distressing inks.

Have a fab Sunday to finish off the weekend.

Take care and thanks for taking a look here.

Luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Compendium of Curiosities week 28 - Colourful Layered Fragments

Hi Everyone - hope your Friday is going well and that you have some lovely things planned for the weekend. I am off to the Craft show at Sandown Park, Esher tomorrow with my daughter-in-law Bev. Will let you know if we buy anything.

Woo Hoo. This week I have had a win for my CoC Masking card and a top 3 award for Stampotique Again card. How amazing is that?

This card is for my husband for Valentine Day and I am quite pleased with the outcome. It looks better IRL.

My inspiration has come from a number of challenge themes  -
Linda's amazing CoC challenge at Studio L3 - colourful layered fragments
Love and/or Valentine which can be found at Lexi's Creations, Paper Playtime, Tuesday Throwdown, Theme Thursday,
Feelings (and/or feely) at Ink on My Fingers
Hearts at Mark's Finest Papers, Totally Papercrafts,
Distressing - Crafty Purple Frog
Forgotten stamp - Crafty Catz - this stamp has been in the drawer for ages and not seen the light of day.

Please turn to page 57 for the instructions of how to make the fragment. I have used it as a spotlight over the stamped image.

Supplies
TH paper from Seasonal Stack
Stamp - Tin Can Mail by Inkadinkadoo
Ideology fragment
TH Heart Wings die
Crafts Too dotty embossing folder
Heirloom Gold perfect pearls
Glossy accents and Crackle accents
DIs - vintage photo and walnut stain
Alcohol inks - Meadow, Denim, Butterscotch, Red Pepper, Gold
Other embellishments from my box of bits
Gold distress stickles

Take care - luv and hugs xoxox

MAWTT Challenge 82 - Flowers

Can this be another Thursday so quickly? My goodness it certainly is.

Hi Everyone, welcome to another DT card for Moving Along With The Times (MAWTT). This week the lovely Hazel is hosting and has chosen the theme of flowers coupled with this sketch (above).

Well what do you think? I really enjoyed putting this one together. Again there seems to be a mixture of distress, vintage and shabby here. It is quite a big card being 6" x  7" which was inspired by Flourishes Timeless Tuesday theme this week. The main image is from a hybrid card assortment CD I have just bought from QVC and part of a set with Prima embellishments. It was a bargain hunter price so I thought I would see what it is like. The images for the main parts of cards are quite good, but of course I haven't printed it out as it is seen.

I added glossy accents to the rose images to give some dimension and used stickles on the edges. I have also treated myself to a set of Go Create dies which are wavy line cut-outs (frames) and I used the TH Alterations Regal Flourishes Texture Fades embossing folder with Tumbled Glass and Peeled Paint DIs. Flower embellishments etc are from my boxes of bits. The sentiment I created in Word. The leaves, butterfly, embossed background and sentiment were sprayed with silver spray and sparkle.

Our sponsor this week is Crafty Emma's Store and this is the prize you could win.

It is an 8 Inch Label Clock Kit Including 1 inch Board Numbers.


The kit includes a thick white coated board clock face, thick board clock numbers to apply, all clock workings including hands, full instructions and battery. Just add your own layout for a unique and personalised clock. Pretty good eh?




Challenges to have fun with -
Simply Create - Punches (Butterfly)
Tellen's place - Ribbon
Fairytale - Flowers
Delisious Doodles - 3 colours (pink, green, blue)
2 Sisters - Flowers
Quirky Crafts - Spring Garden
Picture Perfect Creations - Embossing
Papertake Weekly - Ribbons and/or pearls
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Big card

I hope you had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend. I am off to the stitch and craft show at Esher on Saturday. Will anyone else be there? I would love to meet up with blogging friends if you are going.

Take care and thanks for stopping by to have a look.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Out of the mouths of babes and Stamper mag win

No card today just a quick catch up of news

Ella, my 4 year old grandaughter,        
"I don't know why the children have to do all the work at school Granny, instead of the adults".               Both she and Maddison, the 2 year old, stayed on saturday night for a 'sleep-over'. Oh how blessed I am with my girls.

Just before Christmas I sent off an entry to the freebies section for the December Stamper Magazine and guess what?????? I won some stamps - woo hoo. Really nice steampunk Christmas stamps from The Artisrtic Stamper. Aren't I the lucky girl? Only problem is I haven't had my next magazine as they have had printing problems. All the ones for the shops are out, but not for those who have a subscription, pain.

It's the funeral tomorrow, all arrangements have been made and errands run. Just hope it goes smoothly now.

I'll be back soon.

Take care, one and all, and thanks for stopping to read this.

Have a good week.


luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Compendium of Curiosities week 27 - Distress Misting Masks

Good evening Everyone
The lovely Linda is hosting CoC challenge 27 over at Studio L3 and you can find all the details of how to do the masking technique on P60 of the Compendium of Curiosities. I used the sketch from Simon Says Stamp (flipped 90 degrees to the right) and also included the theme of masking at Simon Says Stamp and Show and Stampotique. The colour palette of brown, blue and white at Creative Inspiration, use coffee filters at Gingersnap Creations and use lace at ABC challenge and Shelly's Images.

I am really pleased with how this turned out. This will be another page for Mum's book when I get to make it. Butterflies were her favourite flying mini beast, so this piece is dedicated to her.
Supplies Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass, Chipped Sapphire, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo
TH Flourish Mask
Tattered Angels butterfly stencil
Heidi Swapp butterfly mini mask

Papermania butterfly vinyl

TH dies - Fanciful Flight, Tattered Florals
Martha Stewart  border punch and butterfly punches
Cosmic Shimmer Mist - Aqua lagoon
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Creme de Cocoa and Coffee Shop
Dovecraft Funky Vintage paper
Shabby flower made from coffee filter papers, DIs and glitter
Lace, papers and glitter card from stash
Sakura glitter pens

Other challenges to have fun with -
Ooh La La Creations - Bling
Polly Craft - New things (I have had Fanciful Flight for a little while but it is the first time I have used in on a project)
Stampin B's - Die cut
Fairytale - Flowers
Delicious Doodles - Use 3 colours
Stampin for the weekend - New and Blue
2 sisters - Flowers
Allsorts - Teal Blue and Brown
CES - No DPs

Have fun and thankyou for stopping by to take a peek.

Luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

The Stamp Man - Challenge 14 Distress

Well here is something a little more different from me this week. I am hosting the challenge at the Stamp Man for this fortnight and the theme is 'Distress', so I have had great fun for nearly a week putting this one together (in between other things that is). I began, thinking I was going to make a card, but like many ideas things change as you go along and I ended up with a framed picture. Couldn't be more different could it?

I wanted to incorporate the "sketch" at Totally Gorjuss which is simple and elegant and  "Wings" from Sentimental Sundays and Stampin Sisters.

I have layered papers where I have embossed, stamped, inked, foiled and stickled to my hearts delight. Distressed did I hear someone say? Not me! Once I had chosen my elements to embellish, that's when I decided to make this into a framed piece and so I carried on.  I took an old frame apart, I shabbied the card inner piece and used the Vaseline paint resist technique with acrylic paint and distress inks. Again I stamped, made die cuts and flowers and cut out vintage pieces to add. I even bought a new music stamp to play with on it.

Supplies

Tim Holtz stamps - Weathered Textiles, Mini Classics, Shabby French

Paper Relics stamps - Fairy Jar
Distress inks - Victorian Velvet, Tattered Rose, Fired Brick, Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Vintage Photo, Pumice Stone, Weathered Wood, Tumbled Glass.
Alcohol Inks - Cranberry and Gold.
Embossing folders -
TH dies Elegant Flourishes and Heart Wings
USArtQuest - Mica Tiles
Gold foil
Perfect pearls - Heirloom Gold
Crackle Accents
Sakura Glitter pens
Papers - Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby stack and oddment from stash
Vintage images from downloads

Other challenges to have fun with -
Ann's Creative Nook - Hearts
Die Cut Dreams - Quote
Oooh La la Creations - Bling it on
Totally Stampalicious - Mix it up
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Something New
Crafts and Me - Paper tearing
AIF - Anything Goes
Stampinsanity - Let it all hang out

Have a wonderful weekend and hopefully some crafty/artsy time.

Luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

The Magician's Helper - Dezinaworld

Hi everyone, it's almost the weekend - yeh.

Firstly a big hello to Tonya, Marlou and Liz who have joined my creative world recently. It's lovely to see you and if I haven't visited you yet I will soon.

Those of you who read my posts fairly regularly know that I love many different styles but particularly vintage and I have been itching to play with Photoshop Elements more. I still need to do some training with it but playing helps.

I have made this using a background, frame and image that has come from the lovely June at Dezinaworld and I have had fun experimenting with light and colours to make this simple piece.

I am entering it into June's Spotlight challenge which runs weekly starting on a Thursday. You do not have to use her images and the challenge is open for any kind of art. The theme this week is 'Magic', so my framed lady is called The Magician's Helper.

Just to let my regular reader's know that Mum's funeral is next Tuesday, so I am busy making arrangements and clearing her flat with the help of all my family. How lovely it is to have such a close knit family and to have them and dear friends to fall back on. I have to say that my team mates at MAWTT have been fabulous and keep sending me messages of support and keeping a close eye on me - thankyou girls for your cards, messages, kind words, love and help through all of this. My thanks also to those of you who have been thinking of me and leaving me messages that also give me strength and a feeling that the world can be such a wonderful place where people you have never met can still make you feel cared for and loved. It really is an amazing feeling.

Lastly to finish on a brighter note - it is my first blogaverary at the end of this month and I am busy gathering together a small blog give-away. Stay tuned for more info during the next week.

I am back tomorrow with my Stamp Man post which I am hosting for the first time.

Sleep well.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox