Just Bex Challenges 15 & 16

Challenge 15 is 'All stitched up'. The embellishment for this card is made using felt, chiffon and a soldering iron, then it was machine embroidered.

Challenge 16 is 'Turquoise & Pink' - easy, peasy for me as these are my favourite colours. I used Carol Ann Studios Patchwork Flowers CD and some buttons from my button box.

Visit to Graphicus

I set off to Barnard Castle at about 9am and reached the Graphicus Store around 11am, the traffic wasn't bad, it's just a long way from where I live to Barnard Castle! I was greeted with coffee and biscuits and a very warm welcome, especially as it was my birthday and I had travelled so far.

These pics are from the display of work inside the store and there were some really stunning pieces.

Here is Glenda Waterworth demonstrating the new Elusive Images Christmas stamps that are launched in September. I had to buy one of the stamp sheets as they are based on Christmas baubles but the bauble part has been influenced by a particular artist like Mackintosh or Klimt and the bauble top comes as a separate stamp, so you can use them for other kinds of stamping. You see the pendant round Glenda's neck... that is stamped onto stampbord & embossed, she uses a Cropodile (now on my Christmas list) to make the hole and set the eyelet. That one she is making below right is using the Mackintosh rose stamp.

Not to forget Lynn who was also busy demonstrating the 'Bind-it-all' which I am sure is a spell of some kind from Harry Potter! However, it turns out to be a clever gadget for making notebooks.

Here is Lynn's lovely notebook. And here is Lynn.

This is the full stash I bought at the store, about half was in the sale and the other half, I just had to have! Well it was my birthday after all. Hope to be showing off some creations with my new stuff soon.

Something weird has happened to this post, there seems to be a huge space at the bottom that I can't get rid of. I knew there was some kind of spell in that bind-it-all!

Her Space: My Space

Wet
Covered or saturated with water. Find 'wet' in your space today.

This is the Pacific, which is pretty wet. Picture taken at Cambria in June 07 - can I go back there now please!

Altered Notebook

Here is my altered notebook. I embossed the Elusive Images background stamp and paisley stamp from the Indian Theme Plate with holographic embossing powder then painted over it with Twinkling H20s. Mounted the Paisley pattern on silver mirri board and pink pearlised card and stuck on some jewels to make a tag. Made a little Notes plate with scraps of the stamped and pearlised card and then tied some ribbons and fibres onto the rings. Whew - took me most of the afternoon yesterday (off and on). The hardest part was trying to get a reasonable photo as it was reflecting like mad.

Fridge Magnet

I made this magnet as part of my OH's birthday card. It's stampbord and I got the cactus stamp in Cambria, California. You will see from the 'window' photo that my OH likes cacti! I, on the other hand think they are just dust collectors and I hate dusting.

Her Space: My Space

Can
A container for food or liquid. Show us 'can' in your space today.

My neighbour shows vegetables in village shows, so I am fortunate at this time of year to get bags of veg left at my door. The 'Can' is my pressure cooker and I just threw everything in and made soup. More about the soup on my cooking blog http://farmersgirl.blogspot.com

I think it sums up Summer 2007 - hot soup in August!

Challenges and Dares

This is my card for the Just Bex Forum 'Button-It' challenge. The stamp is All Night Media and the papers and tag are from Carol Ann Studios

This is my Waves card from the DCM Little Extra, free papers from Papercraft Essentials, Raffia from The Works.

I'm going to have a go at altering a notebook this weekend, I'm planning on using my Elusive Images India stamps. I have also decided to get back to my sketch book and do some experimenting, so there may not be so many challenges completed as I feel that they are taking over my crafting and I'm not getting enough time to think about techniques I want to use and the style I want to develop. Will post my experiments if they are any good.

There is one craft shop in the town where I work and it is really expensive, so I mostly shop online. Sometimes though there are bargains to be had and today I popped into The Works and picked up two storage boxes and a pack of craft raffia, they were £1.49 a piece.

This is my photo for Her Space: My Space which was to include a window. The photo was taken from the window at the top of the stairs (back of the house) and those cacti belong to my OH, it was about 5.30pm so the light isn't very good.

DCM Photo Finish

At last I might just have a good enough connection to upload this DCM Dare, computers have been playing up all week.

"This weeks Dare is set by Tracie (Bondgirl) and is titled Photo Finish....
This week I want you to make a card for any occasion but it must include a photograph somewhere! The photo subject can be people, items, locations, flowers, absolutely anything so get snapping. Dont forget to check copyright if you are using someone elses photographs in your art work"

I used the free papers that came with Crafts Beautiful (I'm getting my money's worth out of that magazine), the photo is of the River Tule in California where we went on holiday this year and the quote is by AA Milne from Winnie the Pooh.

Artipix Card from Crafts Beautiful Magazine

Made this card from the CD I got with Crafts Beautiful September issue. The bakcing paper and Artipix are by Chris Warner of Papercraft World, I also used a couple of papers from Pink Petticoat for matting & layering and added a little sparkle with my Sakura glitter pen.

Just Bex Challenges

Here is my Touchy Feely card for Just Bex August Challenge 7. I cut the felt hat by hand and raided my textile stash for the feather, ribbon and fancy thread, the papers I bought at a Craft Fair about three years ago and I love them so much that i use them very sparingly, however they seemed just right for this challenge.

I've also done Challenge 5, Sugar and Spice using some papers I got from a free CD with Papercraft Essentials about a year ago. The Challenge was 'anything edible'.

Just Bex Tantalising Tangerine and DCM Little Extra

Finally my card for the Just Bex Forum Challenge No. 4 Tantalising Tangerine and also the DCM Little Extra Dare recipe: It's one of our recipes this time, all you need to do is include all the ingredients on your card - remember, you can always add more things if you want to.


Here are your ingredients for this week:
3 arrows
3 circles
1 square

My arrows are the three corners on the square. It's called Sweet because the round things come from some pot pourri and have a lovely smell, so does the cinnamon.

Card coming soon!

It's been a busy week, what with DS2 getting ready to move out, teaching an evening class on Tuesday nights and travelling 120 mile round trip for a meeting yesterday - I managed to make a card last night and I scanned it before leaving for work this morning, but I'm not happy with how it came out. So I think I'll photograph it tonight and then post it.

Decided to take the plunge and take part in a beading class on UK Crafts Forum, I'm going to make a pair of earrings. Will post those when I've finished.

Looking forward to the weekend when I'm off out for the day with two friends for a girly day out.

I've been tagged!

Kate has tagged me with the Global Bumper card society tag. This is my first tag and it means I have to send a card to someone and tag five other people. I'm sending the New Home card to my DS2 who is moving out this week (very odd feeling) to go and live in the big city, he is very musical, hence the notes coming from the house.
I'm tagging Rachel, Rachel, Andrea, Mandy and Dollydimps .

Apologies if you don't do tags, please just ignore this.

Crafting Cat

This is James the cat ensuring that he is the only activity worthy of attention! I was doing some needlefelting and had my self-heal craft mat on my lap so I didn't stab myself in the thigh, there were books on the sofa beside me but James ignores everything and climbs right up on the mat and sits down - there is no way it was comfortable, but he wasn't giving up.

3 Squares Template Challenge

Here is my card for the 3 squares challenge. This is my first attempt at stamping on acetate and I'm not entirely happy with it. I used Stazon Vibrant Violet and the stamp is from Crafty Individuals.

It's about Time

Here's my card for the DCM dare on the theme of Time. .
Hi there, It's me, Kathy, here to dare you this week;
OK, Absolutely anything goes this week as long as it's on the theme of TIME.
"It's About Time"
So you can use clocks, calendars, quotes, sayings, pictures, nursery rhymes, or altered art-type stuff, whatever takes your fancy - just take some time out to play and have some fun; remember, time flies when you're having fun!

I wanted to use my new Tanda stamp Advertisement plate, which I got as a second for only £4.50 and there was only a little bubble on the back which had no effect on the stamps whatsoever. The coins are from 1920's, 30's and 40's.

DCM Dare

I've been working on my DCM dare and one for Bex's Forum, but not quite finished yet and as my sister-in-law is visiting wont get done until later tomorrow. I'm thrilled to have been tagged by Kate, so even more crafting to do. Will be back soon, just as well I am on holiday on Monday, looks like the housework will have to wait!

Serial Crafter - New name

I've decided to rename my blog 'Serial Crafter'. I had thought I might use it for my felt-making business but it seems to have taken on a life of its own and I have got hooked on those dares. My OH is making me a standard web page for Original Felt Designs, so I will have something when I close my e-shop.

DCM Dare - I'm sorry

DCM midweek challenge "Tuesday is "Little Extra" day and this week it's a theme challenge for you and a chance to make sure you're got the right card ready to send when needed


We want you to say "Sorry"!
So, we're looking for things like
Belated Birthday cards, "Sorry to hear you're unwell", Sympathy/Condolence cards, "Sorry you're leaving" or maybe Sorry, but we can't come to your wedding/party/etc
We all need this sort of card every now and then, so here's a chance to be able to Say Sorry in Style"

Here is my card. The papers are all Pink Petticoat with some letter stickers and a few gems.