Life is short. Break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that makes you smile. We're not quantified; there's no chart of desire. When the roaring flames of your heart have burned down to embers, may you find that you have married your best friend. [Steven Tyler]

Monday, August 16, 2010

It was a Spookylicious Christmas!

Well, you would have had to have been there for the title of this post to make any sense at all and if you were there, then you'll know exactly what I'm referring to.

Friday the 13th - yes Black Friday was the first of our Open Days at Graphicus and the day we chose to launch the most fantastic collection of Elusive Images Halloween stamp sheets. I am totally biased I'm afraid and totally hooked on these stamps and have lots of projects planned for them which I'll share as we get nearer to All Hallows Eve. As soon as I got my sticky mitts on the new stamps I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them....... a Spooklylicious Gothic Arch book for starters!
Front Cover (Copper Leaf on Acetate)
The back cover


I used a very delicate lace border stamp from another EI stamp sheet (Damask Squares) and embossed it with a twinkling black embossing powder to make a wrought iron fence in front of the haunted house.
Mischievous Cats..... love them!



Not all of the stamps I used are new, last years Halloween stamps are in there too together with others from EI.The whole book opens in one long string but I didn't have anywhere I could lay it out and get a photograph of it. I tried putting it on the carpet but Diesel thought it was for him and tried to lay down on it. I think he wanted to squish those cats!

I definitely knew it was Friday the 13th. Just before leaving for work I lost my glasses, couldn't find them anywhere and I need them for driving. I eventually found them hanging off the ironing board where I left them the night before and went to load up the car with all my demo gear. The weather was horrid, lashing rain, dark clouds, blustery wind (very typical of the 31st of October actually). I opened my drivers door to put a crate in the back and the wind took the door back into a concrete capped pillar on the drive resulting in a very nice (arghhhhh) dint.

It was a fun day though with lots of new faces at the event and lots of friendly familiar ones too, despite the atrocious weather!

Saturday was officially the launch of the Christmas stamps and they are so beautiful. There's such a lot you can do with them when you study each element and think outside the box. I'll be posting pics of the Christmas samples I made, but it will have to wait a while as I left them all at work and didn't photograph them... so I'll save them for later.

We had the brilliant Jean Hardy with us on Saturday, she does such fabulous work and I only wish I could have snook away to watch her demos. That's the only problem with demonstrating, you miss out on what everyone else is doing. Fortunately, Glenda was set up right next to me so I kept poking my nose in to see what she was doing. She had some fab demos and her samples were so festive. It made me want to get going on my own Christmas cards there and then. She also had some printed page samples of her free Artylicious downloads which are available on her blog. If you love beautiful papers go take a look... this one is my absolute favorite and I'm going to go snag it for myself. Glenda had printed it onto 12 x 12 pearlescent card and all I can say is WOW!

It was a brilliant two days and lovely to see so many people join us, many of whom had driven for several hours to be there not to mention the train journeys too. I am so looking forward to the next ones.... get your planners out now and make a note - 'be at Graphicus on Friday the 15th and Saturday 16th October, 2010'. We have Joanna Sheen joining us on the Saturday but more about that nearer the time.

The weather may have been gruesome on Friday but it did improve over the weekend and today I was out in the garden doing a bit of tidying (more like pottering) and had to run in to get my camera. The Buddleia bush was alive with Butterflies, most of them were Cabbage White's but there was one which was so rich in colour and it was huge compared to the others. By the time I got the camera and got back outside Diesel had disturbed them all, he was trying to chase the Bumble Bees, but the one I wanted to photograph was still fluttering around and it eventually settled on the guttering. I think it was waiting for Diesel to disappear so it could get back to work but it gave me a great opportunity to get some pictures, just wish I'd had a long lens camera.


Well, that's all from me at the moment. Before I go however, I would like to say a big thank you for all your kind thoughts and lovely comments on my previous two posts about Geoff. I really appreciate your comments on all my posts but these were extra special to Stuart and I. Geoff's funeral was beautiful. He had asked that no one wore black, he didn't want flowers and he wanted it to be a happy event. We did our best but it was hard to be happy. It was a wonderful turn out, so many friends and so many beautiful words. Thank you for yours!

15 comments:

Phree said...

Your book is gorgeous Lynn, love all the detail in each page. Beautiful shots of the butterfly, a Peacock butterfly I beleive. I saw my first ever peacock last summer on our buddlia, we had 2 infact. Sadly not seen any this year, I am blaming the harsh winter.

InkyArtitude said...

Thanks for that Phree, I hadn't a clue what type of Butterfly it was, just knew it was very beautiful.

Debbie said...

Hi Lynn. I love the book. Every page has such detail on it. You are so clever. I was thinking of doing something similar for our hall way this year. Although my children are grown up now, I still get the broom sticks at the front door as we have a lot of little ones living near us. Last year I was the homemade cookie lady.
I'm pleased your friend had a good send off, it's always hard. Thanks for posting.
Debbie M

craftimamma said...

Yes, thanks from me too Phree because I had one in my garden a couple of years ago and managed a couple of pics. Always wondered what it was as it was stunning to look at.

And stunning is what your book is. So much detail and interest throughout and totally Spookylicious!!!

I had a fab time last Saturday. It's the first time I've managed to watch every demonstrator and it was great. See you Friday.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Jo said...

I really missed the open days this time round. I so wish I'd been there. This is the first I've seen of these new Halloween stamps and I really like them. Your book is gorgeous and I think I have to have one for myself. If I make a start now I might just manage to finish it by October!

veronica said...

Agree with Phree, your book is absolutely gorgeous, and I love the colours. Am going to have to add the hous stamp onto the wants list, and the cats as well. You all had a ball at the open day, just wish I lived nearer

Unknown said...

I am so pleased you've put your book on here in detail. Its absolutely FABULOUS in real life. Thats waht made me buy ALL of the Halloween stamps including last years!

Saturday was FAB as Lesley said. I'm not really sure what I saw or who I talked to, but I think I had a good time LOL!!!

Love

Jill
x

judith@poppy cottage said...

Thank you for posting the pictures of your fabulous book Lynn. I saw it on Saturday, and it was stunning! I had a fantastic day, the first time I have made it to an open day, and it was great to see all the demos. These new stamps are fabulous, and thanks for the explanations on here of how you completed your pages, Judith xx

Val said...

This is just fab Lynn - so much detail and colour. Just love it.

Valxx

Helen said...

Love the book Lynn - I'm a sucker for Hallowe'en stamps too!
Helen

erasercarver said...

I can vouch for the book being even more stunning in real life! Just amazing.

Paper Paradise said...

Hiya Lynn, finally caught up with you again via your amazing blog. You are one talented person, just wish I lived closer!!!!!!! Love the gothic arch book. The Halloween theme suits it so well and the stamps are just yummy!!!!! Hope all is well for everyone up there, really hope to bump into you again one day..... x

Cath Wilson said...

Fabulous colour combos and some great artwork but I'd expect no less. Glad I've found you again - been looking for a while - your art always inspires me. Cath x

Alexandra said...

Gorgeous Gothic arch book, the shape goes perfectly with those stamps. Clever idea Lynn.
Pretty butterfly too.
Alexandra x

Sarah said...

Such a fabulous book, every page is a delight to look at!