A 10 Year Celebration

Well I have to say it is getting exciting around here, I’m at work and everybody is getting in the party mood for Saturday, It is the Imag-e-nation shop’s 10th Birthday celebration and word has it that it will be a fabulous event.

I snapped up a picture from the billboard outside that I think you will not want to miss.

Don’t forget it is this Saturday from 9:30am to 4:30pm, come and make it a day to remember with birthday cake & champagne for everyone, demonstrations and special offers.

Unit 11 Phoenix Road, Crowther Industrial Est, Washington, Tyne and Wear, NE38 0AD

Smitten–Sassy Cheryl

A sweet little card made with a Sassy Cheryl’s image called Smitten, she’s a little peach.

I embossed the card using my Cuttlebug and a sizzix embossing folder and used a First Edition designer paper to compliment the image.

Coloured with Copic Markers and finished with ribbon and lace and a bit of love.

Doodling - Sketching

I’ve always been a doodler, I sit many a night and take pencil to paper, doodling away and then after the paper is full I throw it into the bin.

When I was at school I loved art, I took art O-level and would have loved to go to art college but I was offered a full time job. These were so hard to get and I was afraid that I wouldn’t get a job that I took it, I’ve always regretted not going to art college.

I thought I’d share with you a couple of my doodles. I’m no Picasso so don’t expect much.

An eye, not perfect but hey, I enjoyed doing it.

 

And then a scribble of a man, I don’t know who he is but he must have been in my brain somewhere to get to this stage.

So what is your guilty pleasure to escape the daily thoughts? what is it that you do?

The Great British Sewing Bee

Who would have thought the this would capture the heart of the nation? I watched it last night and I have to say I was glued. I loved that all of the contestants gelled together and I even watched on while Jenni helped Julie out to turn her garment the right way, I love that we have 3 men in the sewers and the passion they all have in the textiles and patterns.

Pushing the boundaries making things that are out of their comfort zone, we as crafters do that and we know how scary it is yes?

Amongst all the daily drudge of misery and woe and meaningless dribble that we watch on TV there is a ray of sunshine in this glorious program, I simply cannot wait for next Tuesday evening at 8pm on BBC2.

The Presenter Claudia Winkleman doesn't pretend to know a thing about sewing and delights in the achievements of the sewers, encouraging and praising along the way.

The Judges May Martin from the Women's Institute and Savile Row's Patrick Grant are fair but firm explaining their decisions.

Sewers

Cerina

Chinelo

Cliff

David

Heather

Jenni

Julie

Lynda

Simon

Tamara

Each from different skill levels and backgrounds and I have already got a couple of favourites.

Are you watching? if not you must, it is a feel good program and you will love it.

They are already on Facebook here

Or BBC2 website here

and you can watch it on catch up here

Blog Hop of the Month–Teens

Its blog hop time again and your chance to win one of two $5 credits for Mo's Digital Pencil too...so don't forget your comments on our DT's blogs along the way...our host this month is Kaly and her theme is Teens (Dark Colours)

You should have landed on my blog from Mina if not then start at the beginning so you don’t miss anyone.

I used Air Guitar from Mo’s Digital Pencil 

I think I ticked all the boxes for the theme, I used my Silhiuette Portrait to cut out the stars and some star designer paper I used Prisma pencils to colour the image onto kraft card.

Next up is Gretha and she will have something pretty amazing to show you.

Dont forget to leave comments on the blogs you visit for a chance of a $5 store credit

Total Wipe Out

Wow I was knocked totally off my feet with a Flu bug. Aches and pains, shivering then a temperature, sore throat, off balance, a headache that had me blind and face numbness. I felt totally wiped out. I always pick up bugs because of a low immune system, and colds are quite dangerous for me, work colleague's bring in the bugs instead of staying at home then I go down with the super bug. It’s a vicious circle that just keeps giving (to me).

So no crafting, no computer, just bed, sleep and meds.

Today was my first full day out of bed, still off balance husband had to drive me to a hospital appointment but this afternoon I sat and made a card (yay)

Goodness by Mo’s Digital Pencil 

I used kraft card and used my Prisma pencils to colour the image, it has been so long since I played with them that it took some getting used to again but I’m pleased that I did persist.

Inkspot Photography

Today was open day at Inkspot Photography, If you are near to Coxhoe Durham you need to check these out, they even do kids parties where each child gets a photoshoot and a photograph to take home and the party girl or boy gets a CD keepsake of all of the photographs. Wouldn’t that be amazing especially for all of those little wannabe models.

So we headed over to wish them luck.

Visit the studio at 27 Church Street, Coxhoe, Durham, DH6 4HE

Telephone:- Sue or Peter 07841676876

email:- enquiries@inkspot-photography.co.uk

www.inkspot-photography.co.uk

You may have noticed the photo booth props.

I cut these out from these available from Creations by AR 

The Perfect Gift

Friends of ours Peter and Sue have took the plunge and opened their own photography studio, up until now they have always been mobile, there base was always their home and the business took over their home time. I’m always in awe of those brave enough to take that step, dedication and hard work.

Their new premises is in Coxhoe, County Durham and I will be posting all about it later, you will recall Chris’s long service official photographs yes? well it was Peter and Sue who did them.

So open day is Saturday coming and as Chris and I are invited to it and I really needed to find a little gift to take along to wish them well.

I found the perfect thing. Hand crafted too.

An SLR Camera that is a box that I can fill with sweets for them.

 

It even has a lens, isn’t it cool?

The old photographs are my family.

Just look at the detail.

I hope they will like it, I’ve also been busy making some Photo Booth Props and I will show you those later.

The camera template is part of a set which can be found at SVG Cuts

Baby Love Blog Hop–New Release

  New templates from Creations by AR and you could win one of them just by following our hop today.

There are 3 new templates to delight you and I am showcasing 2 of them.

TEMPLATES TO RELEASE AND LINKS:

Baby Bundle 

The Baby Bundle includes all three sets for $12 (a saving of $3 if bought separately)

Dress Up Baby Bag

Rockin' Horse Card

Rockin' Cradle

 

My first is a for a baby boy

 

 

These are so cute to make up. Just choose your colours and you are set to go. This is the Dress Up Baby Bag, perfect for adding a little gift.

 

 

Now with the same papers make the matching Rockin` Horse card and you have the perfect gift set.

 

I loved them so much that I made them twice.

 

 

Adding faux stitching and a heart pearl at the collar.

 

 

Finishing the Rockin` Horse Card with a little bow and pearl.

 

 

All of the templates can be found below as well as a Rockin`Cradle

 

PRIZE:

Winner can choose any one of the three new sets

HOW TO QUALIFY TO WIN:

Leave comments 

• On each DT blog

• AR FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Creations-by-AR/154314751303824

Comments are accepted until Friday, February 14, 12:00 noon Eastern

One random winner will be announced on February 15 here:

AR FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Creations-by-AR/154314751303824

AR Website:  http://creationsbyar.com

====================================================

 

Blog hop order

Adela

Doris Molina 

Jak Heath (ME)

Julia Aston

Lisa Eisner 

Lisa Somerville

Lori Brown

Lyn Bernatovich

Monica Soto

Patti J Gilliam

Penny Duncan (sitting this one out)

Sue Kment 

Tina Milbourn

Spot Prize Winner–Just Inklined

We have a spot prize winner from the Just Inklined Blog hop.

 Cheryl W. said...

I love both cards, but those baby elephants are flat-out adorable!

3 February 2014 20:15

Congratulations Cheryl, an email has been sent to you.

Project finished–Shabby Chic` Tablecloth

I got my tablecloth finished ahead of time due to an amazing find, we had started to clear out the cupboard under the stairs and right at the very back was my full sized sewing machine and….. a Janome 4 thread overlocker which I had clean forgotten about yay!

 

Material is Curtain Fabric from Terry’s Fabrics 

It clean halved the time to overlock the edge of the fabric for me.

 

I threaded it up, turned it on and it worked like a dream.

Perfect stitching

You can see the hem the piece it cuts away as it sews.

All of the edges finished so now lets add the trim.

Just using pins to tack the trim in place.

Once the trim is tacked all of the way around it is ready to sew in place on the sewing machine.

All finished and added to the table, just like Grandma used to have. Perfect.

Terry’s Fabrics have a wide selection of materials and affordable prices.

I’m Silver Headed and proud

I took the plunge, I’ve being toying with the idea for some time, I loved having the highlights in my hair as it hid the natural glitter but as I am dark haired I was never really happy with the blonde, over the years I have been a red head, ginger, auburn and even plum.

So I decided to stop the battle against the natural silver glitter and embrace the fact that I am getting more and more of it and to work with it.

I have had silver highlights put in.

and the close up of the silver.

I am now officially a silver surfer.