I'm back!!

I have had an unplanned blogging break! Why is it that life is going along so steadily one minute then the next it seems to be trauma after trauma?? What with the recent accident involving Zaid I thought that was enough to be dealing with, BUT on no, life has other ideas - my mother in law was rushed into hospital with a suspected heart attack at the weekend. After running some tests it was not a heart attack but severe unstable angina. She has had to go through an angiogram and angioplasty this week. Thankfully she is back home now so I can get back to crafting!!!

Anyway this week over on Simon Says Stamp and Show their theme is for you to create something "inspired by Wendy Vecchi". Daunting? YES, have you seen her stuff?? I am not the proud owner of any Wendy Vecchi stamps (yet) so had to make do with what I had! Most of the stuff I used is Tim Holtz (stamps, distress inks, grunge paper, embossing powder). The really genuinely rusty key is one which my kids found whilst digging in some mud, they came running in shouting "Mum we found a rusty key for your crafting" LOL, they are well trained. The watch parts are a mixture of some I bought off ebay and some from a local flea market, this is definitely a something old and something new project which fits in with The Artistic Stampers challenge.



This weeks Gingersnap Creations challenge is to go 3-dimensional and this is certainly that! I really enjoyed making this even though I have been wandering around all week with rainbow fingers and having to hide them when at work LOL.

I am also entering into the following challenge:

Little Red Wagon who want to see an altered item.

Steampunk Journal

Hi all

A couple of weeks ago I attended a Steampunk journalling workshop over at Paddy's quirky and amazing stamping place in Prestwich. The workshop was taught by the amazing Sarah Anderson and I totally had a FAB inky and messy full day of crafting!

We altered a book each, mine started it's life off as an algebra book, we cut out the page - that was hard for me to do, not physically but since being a kid my parents drummed into me to respect books and here I was being egged on by Sarah to cut out the pages!! Good job my Dad couldn't see me LOL!













I have still got a lot of the inside pages to complete but the main work is now done, will share more when it is finished. The book started off as air force blue and I stained it with Walnut stain and loads of distress inks. The large butterfly was using a stamp and distress inks, the lace butterfly was also coloured in the same way. The spine was watercolour card and embossed using the Cuttlebug Clockworks folder. The metal findings were from Paddy's stash and some of my own bits and bobs.

Simon Says Stamp and Show are running their first challenge and the theme is "things with wings" so I am entering into that challenge. Also Gingersnap Creations theme this week is to use paint - there are loads of different paints on this altered book LOL - more of it was on my hands though haha!!

I am also entering this into the challenge on The Artistic Stamper whose August challenge is something old (book) and something new (courage to cut the heary out a book, the cog die and ruler embossing folder)

The Playdate Cafe - Italian Style

Hi all

Like a numpty I atarted making this the other day and completely forgot to finish it or post it, duh, I put it down to the sleep deprivation of looking after Zaid and then getting up for work LOL!

There is another stunning inspirational photo over on the Playdate Cafe this week using a gorgeous colour palette to follow.

Check this out, wouldn't it be just wonderful to meander through the streets of Tuscany??



Here is my take on the colour scheme:



The theme this week on Tuesday Taggers is "Sunshine" so I am also entering this into this weeks challenge, this was actually the prompt that made me remember to post this card!

I have used wild honey, rusty hinge and fired brick distress inks on the tag, stamps are Count my Blessings by Personal Impression stamped with Versamark and clear embossed. The flowers are from Prima (except the red one which I can't remember) and I bought them from Creative Craft World

Tomorrow is the first day of Ramadhan so I will be fasting for about 30 days, of course we are able to eat in the evening and early morning! My kids are getting mega excited as at the end of Ramadhan we have a massive celebration with loads of pressies for the kids and we decorate the house - very much like Christmas but without the turkey or booze LOL!