tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335865352024-03-07T08:12:03.569+00:00Inky ArtitudeInkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-82196488872621296382011-10-08T11:19:00.000+01:002011-10-08T11:19:31.155+01:00And the Halloween Lables Go To:Just a quickie this morning as there's lots on the agenda for today......<br />
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Last night I used the Random Number Generator to select a comment left on the Halloween Giveaway post to determine who will get the selection of Halloween Labels, Tag and some other bits and bobs. The number that came up was 1 and the first comment was left by <a href="http://claggybitz.blogspot.com/">Judith</a>.<br />
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Well done Judith, there will be a package on its way to you on Monday!<br />
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Thank you to everyone else who left comments, it's lovely to hear from you and very much appreciated, as always.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/67/FCC0CE408156C69975EE2D462C294A1B.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-5946349230720181622011-09-29T22:34:00.002+01:002011-09-29T22:50:11.112+01:00Tim Holtz Tags and a Halloween GiveawayWell, the photoshop course I mentioned in my last post is underway and suddenly things that have eluded me finally appear so logical, I guess you could say 'the penny has dropped'. I'm sure that I'll find something else to stumble upon, but for now everything seems to be working and making sense. <br />
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I'm enjoying learning something new and being creative and not only with photographs but also in the studio where I've been playing with some new Tim Holtz stamps (new to my collection that is). I couldn't resist his <a href="http://www.stampersanonymous.com/cat-index.html">Haunted Mansion</a> set for Halloween art and last night I made this:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are so many wonderful little things in the shops at the moment (specially for Halloween) that can be adapted for use in your artwork. A visit to the Pound shop got me these interlocking skeleton hands that I've attached to the bottom of the tag and the black spider is from a bag of spiders that's so big I'll never use them all. It's such good fun finding stuff to craft with from places you don't expect to find such things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've predominantly used Tim Holtz stamps and the Butterfly/Moth combo is from Paper Artsy. I utilised a wooden stirrer (courtesy of Costa Coffee) painted with a black Ranger Paint Dabber as a baton to attach the tag and and chain hanger. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnZHFzAiLiP6zRXERZ_woKesHrW4Jh1YfZ66Y7MsORC6HbG5HoBgFX2PU6ScBUSLRFV35RP0Cfk9LzrGm6w6oxA-JNgWLqZBmPx3KxLJOUDevj59DnSDRGIg9GIfWLJ27nDEvqQ/s1600/B0000956-V2-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnZHFzAiLiP6zRXERZ_woKesHrW4Jh1YfZ66Y7MsORC6HbG5HoBgFX2PU6ScBUSLRFV35RP0Cfk9LzrGm6w6oxA-JNgWLqZBmPx3KxLJOUDevj59DnSDRGIg9GIfWLJ27nDEvqQ/s320/B0000956-V2-blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The 'Embalming Juice' background is actually a self adhesive bottle sticker I found in another store. The packet contains eight different bottle stickers and there's one with 'Ye Olde Spider Venom 1896' which I think is my favourite. I've inked and stamped over the top to blend it in. I made the tag to fit the width of the sticker as they are just too nice to start cropping bits off!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfsFSsYmz2kthvayDXO_suytl_z2GmZsUrPd_jycVVCYnnWh0xd3CCkJumBDEA9QAmalSIrQX401Rc_3ByPsH-9NUEHIm8HUPYuim4HKtwg0-Stm-fOmyp70J-M9HqtTWhhELRQ/s1600/B0000957-V2-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfsFSsYmz2kthvayDXO_suytl_z2GmZsUrPd_jycVVCYnnWh0xd3CCkJumBDEA9QAmalSIrQX401Rc_3ByPsH-9NUEHIm8HUPYuim4HKtwg0-Stm-fOmyp70J-M9HqtTWhhELRQ/s320/B0000957-V2-blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Finally, I added little gems to the eyes of the Skeleton, Owl and Spider, a red heart gem to the skeleton's rib cage and another little gem to the 'boney hands'.<br />
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Keep your eyes open for other fabulous finds while you're out and about shopping. I've found all sorts of things this year that will be making an appearance in the things I make.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Another stamp set that I've been hankering after for a while is <a href="http://www.stampersanonymous.com/cat-index.html">Haberdashery</a>. With my love of sewing and fabrics I know I'll make really good use of this one. And here's my first tag made with the set:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMCUT_d4fteSez6u5ocPZTUkRU46_hBoJ12My4txPJOuJKyzfbaBX61feBM_IyB39JJ3zgdUIs-PQYr7qi8OVF1IIsCOqzF8YwMma-s0JP18AzAPYQWoUTdl2pLHTky_VEPNS3A/s1600/B0000911-v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMCUT_d4fteSez6u5ocPZTUkRU46_hBoJ12My4txPJOuJKyzfbaBX61feBM_IyB39JJ3zgdUIs-PQYr7qi8OVF1IIsCOqzF8YwMma-s0JP18AzAPYQWoUTdl2pLHTky_VEPNS3A/s400/B0000911-v2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
The final tag is made from a compilation of stamps and features images from <a href="http://www.craftyindividuals.co.uk/cgi-bin/shop_products.cgi?460">Crafty Individuals</a> and <a href="http://www.inkylicious.co.uk/inkylicious-vintage-script-clear-polymer-stamps/prod_595.html">Inkylicious</a>. Again, I've used the wooden baton to attach a chain hanger.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBZUu5PxJDOgAD9GMnTfn7JFUo7gJEGap_ZDCrP9Fapr2Nn6-NJuxNXQRzyREn2Jk5AwjtiIuC8jySFHOSe9I0crpU8GoxUfHBfoX95yTsKCuv66hAVoqqw9TfFYaRLWET6PDbw/s1600/B0000914+v2+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBZUu5PxJDOgAD9GMnTfn7JFUo7gJEGap_ZDCrP9Fapr2Nn6-NJuxNXQRzyREn2Jk5AwjtiIuC8jySFHOSe9I0crpU8GoxUfHBfoX95yTsKCuv66hAVoqqw9TfFYaRLWET6PDbw/s400/B0000914+v2+blog.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
And finally, when I bought the bottle stickers I couldn't just buy one packet could I? I mean, I have to have one to use and one to cherish as we do. Now, there weren't many of these in the shop and it's the first time I've ever come across them so I bought an <u>extra packet</u>! <b>I'm going to give the extra packet away together with some of the creepy spiders and the Halloween Tag to someone who leaves a comment on this post before 1800 hours BST on Thursday 06th of October. The draw will be carried out randomly and I'll post the name of the winner on my blog after the draw</b> <b>has taken place.</b><br />
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So if you're into Halloween and would like these things you know what you have to do, good luck to all.<br />
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Happy Crafting.......<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/67/FCC0CE408156C69975EE2D462C294A1B.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-30797055465498495392011-09-24T00:41:00.001+01:002011-09-24T00:47:16.458+01:00Playing with Photoshop ElementsJust a very quick post this evening as I've spent the last few hours playing around with photographs and Photoshop Elements, just brushing up on resizing, adding text, digital brushes, frames and a couple of other things I wanted to get to grips with. It took me a while to figure out how create a frame around the edge of my photograph but perseverance payed off, I even managed to alter the opacity. I quite surprised myself with how much I've remembered, specially as I haven't done much in PSE over the past year.<br />
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Why am I playing with Photoshop? Well, I thought I'd better re-acquaint myself with the basics as I've signed up for a Photoshop course which starts this weekend. The lovely <a href="http://www.erasercarver.co.uk/">Carrie Anne</a> sent me the details and I couldn't resist. And talking of Carrie, she has some really fantastic <a href="http://erasercarver.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/this-that-and-the-other/">downloads</a> that she's giving away entirely FREE on her blog! All you have to do is to sign up to her <a href="http://pressfordesign.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3f42e54e46f8d096164623cf7&id=a684ce7b51">Newsletter</a> and she'll send you the downloads. They are brilliant to use in your artwork and they are all authentic images from Carrie's personal collection of ephemera.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiLTBq9gyYjRAjJrWikNqwrWbnkimmNawGzEFVEMC4QiUFnUlKIzrjgyFHudzz8nCbl_JWoNq4YZ5xNMM8mc1luRKLApOOUfwHkw3mYR-9KvR2kEHRyA9421M0Vu6m4p4KUgpbw/s1600/IMG_5845-V3-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiLTBq9gyYjRAjJrWikNqwrWbnkimmNawGzEFVEMC4QiUFnUlKIzrjgyFHudzz8nCbl_JWoNq4YZ5xNMM8mc1luRKLApOOUfwHkw3mYR-9KvR2kEHRyA9421M0Vu6m4p4KUgpbw/s400/IMG_5845-V3-blog.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
This is a little album I made some time ago using a Tim Holtz Sizzix dye to make the covers and pages. I was really pleased with how it turned out and I embellished the front with Prima flowers, stamps, adhesive gems and punched-out butterflies. Now all I have to do is fill it up.... with something!<br />
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I've been creating some new tags over the last week, I just have to get some photographs taken and then I'll show you what I've been playing with. If the sun shines tomorrow I'll get the camera out! <br />
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Enjoy the weekend...... Happy Crafting!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/67/FCC0CE408156C69975EE2D462C294A1B.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-6023395035694929372011-08-10T02:11:00.000+01:002011-08-10T02:11:13.819+01:00Pfaffing About with Friends!I have been considering buying a new sewing machine for some time now and was horrified at the prices when I first started looking around. My last machine which is still going strong was a considered purchase sometime between fifteen and twenty years ago. It has never let me down and is a double ended machine with great heavy duty sewing at one end and an over locker that trims away excess fabric at the other end. Apart from a regular service and the odd tension quandary it remains an absolute work horse and I wouldn't swap it for anything. But my artwork has been taking me in very different directions of late and I now want a machine that is compatible with my computer so that I can design and convert my artistic ideas into a computerised embroidery design and the machine, once set away, will do it.<br />
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So I've been trekking around the countryside looking at all manner and makes of machines and finally I managed to narrow it down to two a few weeks ago but couldn't make up my mind which of the two to take the plunge with. Both excellent machines and both within the same price range, can you believe you can almost buy a small car for what some of these machines cost?<br />
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In the end I dragged my DH with me for a final look at the very first one I had earmarked and with a sharp intake of breath I ordered one of these:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyShuP3sJcnIJdgxozRdPj-Hmdf5PEI-4yDwnws6UnSZYZJcHAH2OL3V50AB_nsbIwPeJRl38wqKOkIhDCRoTRr5VKDA0t9k8iTrCg4JdvTsiIaQepP-X-EgR2I9tZEcBv-z1bqQ/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyShuP3sJcnIJdgxozRdPj-Hmdf5PEI-4yDwnws6UnSZYZJcHAH2OL3V50AB_nsbIwPeJRl38wqKOkIhDCRoTRr5VKDA0t9k8iTrCg4JdvTsiIaQepP-X-EgR2I9tZEcBv-z1bqQ/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I decided on the Pfaff for two reasons, as well as being a tremendous computerised embroidery machine it is renowned for its first class sewing capabilities and IDT (Integrated Duel Transportation or Walking Foot technology) which will handle the finest through to the bulkiest of fabrics perfectly.<br />
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I don't know how many of you reading this dip in and out of Create and Craft TV these days but sewing seems to be making such a huge come back, whenever I flick over to see what they're up too there seems to be another sewing machine under review. It is lovely to see the craft growing in popularity again (along with knitting) and I'm sure that C&C TV will help in its growth but I was horrified when I first started looking for a new machine to find how few Sewing Machine Shops have survived. I wanted to give my business to a 'shop' and not purchase on-line as I know how important it is to support our bricks and mortar stores. Use them or loose them is the old adage and it is so true! I still had to wait for the machine to be delivered to the shop, that's the other thing I found.... they don't seem to keep stocks in store but considering the price I can understand that. I just had to control my urge to get stuck in and start creating until I got the call to say it had arrived in stock.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG_pguwIvzv4nGF49pVPddF1EEoqdBTdDXdaYMiOExNDBKO0nBGX7KccBIb94w52hzk1NDVweHt3l6YMBeLA3wFwk1bJF7IayD9BaXwFZFaoWeGBJQUxS9AVuwPBPMqb9xqUIxA/s1600/DSC_0283+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG_pguwIvzv4nGF49pVPddF1EEoqdBTdDXdaYMiOExNDBKO0nBGX7KccBIb94w52hzk1NDVweHt3l6YMBeLA3wFwk1bJF7IayD9BaXwFZFaoWeGBJQUxS9AVuwPBPMqb9xqUIxA/s400/DSC_0283+blog.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I am one very happy bunny now that I have my new best friend and I'm working my way through all of it's features, feet and computerised technology. It came with a trolley bag for transporting it around (I've been given a fantastic opportunity to teach with it so its important that I can get it from A to B relatively easily and safely) and they threw in the thread exchanger and some other things too.... I love a good haggle.<br />
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Here we are all set up and ready to make a start, can you believe it takes up almost the full length of this table.... now I really will have to move my upstairs studio into a much larger room or I won't have space to put up the Christmas tree up in the lounge when the time comes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9Q6zo1mB3sHacOAA0JF-MKf5oYFIeQAyNKKMdnsrFE-MMszLmXFzZwcS0_A0MVUPtSucZwUopjOZZmgnNMRqzWJStjsuiFWwN1SCuQWJo1v9A945NahGwVqd4eariFkiFSEQoA/s1600/DSC_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9Q6zo1mB3sHacOAA0JF-MKf5oYFIeQAyNKKMdnsrFE-MMszLmXFzZwcS0_A0MVUPtSucZwUopjOZZmgnNMRqzWJStjsuiFWwN1SCuQWJo1v9A945NahGwVqd4eariFkiFSEQoA/s400/DSC_0309.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
This is a selection of just some of the pre-set stitches it can do, it was the very first thing I stitched. I don't have any photos of the embroidery designs..... yet! What is really cool is that I can use any True Font to write a phrase, name, place name, or whatever else takes my fancy, on my PC and connect to the machine, press the button and it will stitch it for me. How cool is that? I am amazed at how much sewing machines have advanced since I bought my last one.<br />
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Now, talking of 'Friends'............ those of you who know me through visiting Graphicus when they were in business, will probably also know <a href="http://claggybitz.blogspot.com/">Judith</a> who used to be our Office Manager. In addition to her clerical roll in the company Judith was also a brilliant Polymer Clay and Jewellery artist and she often taught classes in both subjects and demonstrated her craft at open days. Well, I am delighted to tell you that Judith has started her own business called <a href="http://www.weddingsofclay.co.uk%20/">Weddings of Clay</a>. She fashions the most incredible, unique cake and keepsake toppers made from Polymer Clay and will work to a brief to capture every conceivable detail possible to make the piece totally unique to the recipient. Although Weddings are her forte she also does fabulous figurines for just about every other occasion known to man (woman and child too). Please take a couple of minutes to visit her <a href="http://www.weddingsofclay.co.uk/default.html">website</a> and leave her a <a href="http://www.weddingsofclay.co.uk/Weddings-of-Clay-Guest-Book.html">comment</a> to let her know you've been and please, please, please - pass the word if you know of anyone who is looking for something extraordinary for a special individual, or occasion.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YQPCqvqS86N4LMiiNZff2-8yXNBUHLCJHoGZTndmtWQVEBWXIDICDAqRy6KnVlFiyDA9NBD2yawAKBKfzDVgrapenSM47PWS-8qElxYaAWyk3Qv1b_8l1dm_fWYuYP_ruAVT5A/s1600/IMG_6550+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YQPCqvqS86N4LMiiNZff2-8yXNBUHLCJHoGZTndmtWQVEBWXIDICDAqRy6KnVlFiyDA9NBD2yawAKBKfzDVgrapenSM47PWS-8qElxYaAWyk3Qv1b_8l1dm_fWYuYP_ruAVT5A/s320/IMG_6550+blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i>Can you spot my very special little someone in the above photo? No? Let's look a little closer.....</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq5g-u3nYL5jW00FZMpI2UzZqg57R0H37nTEE8i4d7gJ1ARQtMK58Fx4R2imCTG-urZYW2Mvfux4f02qaOesG72gL-lz1zSOEt7rzNnHviw6TJaC-TOypuRFGtAo1yK-fPBdn-w/s1600/IMG_6553+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq5g-u3nYL5jW00FZMpI2UzZqg57R0H37nTEE8i4d7gJ1ARQtMK58Fx4R2imCTG-urZYW2Mvfux4f02qaOesG72gL-lz1zSOEt7rzNnHviw6TJaC-TOypuRFGtAo1yK-fPBdn-w/s320/IMG_6553+blog.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><i>Here's my Journalling Bear that Judith created for my birthday earlier in the year. His name is Jasper and he lives on my desk and he reminds me to drag out my journals and create whenever I look at him. He's sooooooo cute!</i><br />
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While I'm on the subject of friends, if you know Judith you will almost certainly know Denise (she was our Book Keeper and manned the tills at open days)..... and she got MARRIED today Hurrah, well yesterday or Tuesday to be precise (I've just realised its the early hours of Wednesday now). We knew it was on the cards but we didn't know exactly when it would happen. I got a text from her just after they'd tied the knot. The reason I'm mentioning this other than to keep you up to date with everyone, is in relation to Judith's new business. You see, Judith has also made Denise and John's wedding cake topper. Take a look at the <a href="http://www.weddingsofclay.co.uk/Wedding-Topper-Gallery.html">Wedding Gallery</a> and see if you can work out which one is theirs (a little clue.... they have a cute cat and both Denise and John have motorbikes)!<br />
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Seeing as I've mentioned my journalling, I will leave you with a couple of pages from one of my journals (above) and a page from my sketch book (below). <br />
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</div>Until next time....... Happy Crafting to you all!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/67/FCC0CE408156C69975EE2D462C294A1B.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-48636539145732655742011-07-20T23:52:00.001+01:002011-07-21T00:00:16.664+01:00Tags and StampsAs you know from previous posts, most of my time over the last few months has been devoted to looking after Diesel while his broken leg healed and although he was only in plaster and then bandages for about eight weeks following his operation I have had to have eyes in the back of my head to keep him out of mischief and prevent any further damage. Then the rehab, getting him out and about walking to build up the muscles and strengthen the tendons and the occasional swim to build stamina (I wasn't aware that needed building - he never stops). All in all it hasn't allowed for any concentrated bouts of crafting so I've been dabbling here and there.<br />
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When the weather has been nice enough for him to be outside in the garden I've taken my lap top out and worked from the patio table planning and designing new and exciting things and keeping my eyes on him at the same time.<br />
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Now that Diesel can be left more to his own devices again it's freed me up to do more of what I want to do when I want to do it and I have been creating in many different ways, with fabrics featuring heavily in my pieces but I'll share more of that in the future.<br />
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What I have enjoyed has been going back and revisiting my huge collection of beautiful wood mounted art stamps that I have been collecting since 1981. When I first found rubber stamping I was in Tampa, Florida and I started to bring stamps and stamping supplies home with me after every visit to the USA, believing that my new found passion might last a few years at the most before I found something else to replace it with. How wrong can you be?<br />
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We now have access to all sorts of rubber, acrylic, clear and foam stamps in the UK but I still love the feel of a quality wood mounted rubber stamp and those stamps that I bought thirty years ago are still as good today as they were the day I got them. So, I thought today I would show you a few art tags that feature some of my 'old' faithfuls. I've mixed them up with newer acrylic stamps, images from paper napkins and hand drawn border lines.<br />
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The main image here is by Acey Deucy, it's called 'Sweetbriar' and this is one of my all time favourites. I've layered a small tag onto a large tag and used the background stamp by Anna Griffin to unify the two tags.The hi-lighting on the face has been created by working on a white tag and leaving an area un-inked where I've stamped Sweetbriar's face, it gives quite an ethereal feel to the focal point.<br />
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A mix of acrylic and unmounted rubber stamps here featuring Classic Icons by TPC Studio, 7 Gypsies and Lost Coast's Chess Pieces stamped over torn musical score which has been aged with Ranger's Distress Inks. I've used a white gel pen to edge the tag and add some hi-lights. The butterfly is from a paper napkin.<br />
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The same Anna Griffin image as used in the first tag has been stamped in a very pale ink to create the background then over stamped with a sweet collection of floral and dotty wood mounted stamps from Elusive Images. The main image is called 'The Calligraphy Robe' by Stampington and I've added a butterfly and flower stem taken from a paper napkin applied with <a href="http://direct.hobbycraft.co.uk/shop/decopatch">DecoPatch</a> Glue/Varnish which you can now find at branches of HobbyCraft. Check out DecoPatch's tissue papers, they are Divine!<br />
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On this tag I started by stamping the background with a clear Prima alphabet collage stamp then added torn and aged musical score down one side. Lost Coast's 'Chess Piece' and 7 Gypsies 'Travel' clear stamps simply stamped with Archival Black ink. Finally, the face of the chess piece has been covered with Glossy Accents and some more paper napkin butterflies added.<br />
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The final tag has been completely covered with a musical score then aged with Distress inks. Sweetbriar, the chequered floor by Lost Coast and a little swirl have been stamped over the top and the tag is completed with a butterfly cut from a napkin and a white gel pen border.<br />
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I finished all of the tags by attaching a metal eyelet to the reinforcement hole and linked them all together with a silver book ring.<br />
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Happy Crafting!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/67/FCC0CE408156C69975EE2D462C294A1B.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-18127247130946678642011-07-19T12:27:00.003+01:002011-07-19T12:35:07.504+01:00Diesel's Dog Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaJk2NFTBnpiOVmmOCdxV3pGSOBOqSBiPxBd7ENi4HU0-GUP7mAdhtTwhyphenhyphenpEgXKKGARW9a4388xfV6YZlKsSZbAGQdEb_EqskZ4OjyGM6zS5nzv_eaZUsEz6HqQWclIz-RTqLqw/s1600/DSC_0045+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaJk2NFTBnpiOVmmOCdxV3pGSOBOqSBiPxBd7ENi4HU0-GUP7mAdhtTwhyphenhyphenpEgXKKGARW9a4388xfV6YZlKsSZbAGQdEb_EqskZ4OjyGM6zS5nzv_eaZUsEz6HqQWclIz-RTqLqw/s320/DSC_0045+blog.JPG" width="202" /></a></div><br />
Hello to all my Mum's bloggy friends.... Diesel here! I've been watching my Mum while she works on her lap top and I recon I can hack this blogging thing she does (occasionally). I'm very intelligent being a German Shepherd, my breed is consistently in the top three breeds of dog for intelligence you know so doing a bit of blogging should be a breeze. Ahhummm, let's get started before I get booted off of here so she can go surfing... I don't get that, she doesn't go to the beach to do it more's the pity, I love going to the beach.<br />
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I wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you who sent me good wishes and enquired about me when I broke my leg, you are all so lovely I'd like to send you a big lick in return.<br />
It's been a long haul for me and my Mum, she's had to keep a very close eye on me and restrict my movements for ten weeks. That's not an easy thing to do because I love to run around and play and protect my family from people passing the house, especially those who have dogs with them... I don't like strange dogs on or near my property. I don't mind the nice little Staffy who lives next door, I never bark at her and occasionally I get to play with one of her toys if it comes over the fence.<br />
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Anyway, I digress.... while I had the pot on my leg I got sick with something else and my nose went all dry and crusty, then my lips began to go flakey and peel off and I was finding it hard to breath at night so Mum took me back to see Uncle Derrick (my nice vet who calls me some very funny names) and he told Mum that I have a nasty thing called <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">PEMPHIGUS FOLIACEUS</span></span></b>, </span></span><br />
not nice at all. <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Apparently my anti bodies are fighting each other. It is a known immune condition in German Shepherds and </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">anywhere the outer skin joins the inner skin is prone to attack so the eyes, ears, lips, nose, groin and nail beds can be affected. But I got some steroid tablets to take and hopefully it will get it under control and I won't have to stand still while Mum plasters the greasy stuff she calls Vaseline all over my nose.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">My pot is off now and I have to have lots and lots of short walks (yipee) and I can go further and further as we progress. I'm allowed off my lead in the garden but not when we go in the big field as I might get a bit too over enthusiastic again as I love to chase the balls and run really fast and jump up really high to catch them. I can go swimming at the therapy pool too so things are getting much better and I don't have to go back to the vet's until August which is a shame really as they all know me so well now and make a big fuss of me. Even Uncle Derrick who calls me 'Whally' says I'm a nice 'Whally' and I never growl at him.... ever!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">So that's where I'm at at the moment. I'm not liking all this wet weather we're getting here in the North East as I love to be out in the garden playing and chasing the birds and other critters who try to share my garden but at least while it's wet I can play on this lap top thingy. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">I shall say goodbye now and maybe I'll be able to come back again and let you know what I've been up to if Mum doesn't get angry with me for getting mud all over the little black buttons! I'm going to go and stare at her now until she gets the message that it's time to go walkies in the field.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Bye Bye to all my Bloggy Friends.... until the next time.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Love, hugs and licks......</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Diesel x</span></span></span>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-58797936138181871902011-04-04T23:59:00.000+01:002011-04-04T23:59:50.693+01:00Take a Break!Yes, I am speaking literally on both counts as you will see if you stick with me and read on..........<br />
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First of all, I have taken quite a break from blogging as a result of several major occurrences that have been very much controlling my life over the last few months but the most recent event, in a perverse sort of way, has initiated my return to the blogasphere today.<br />
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I haven't been doing too much crafting either, at least not in the way I used to. I've been concentrating very much on art journalling, drawing, painting and designing, returning very much to the disciplines I used to love so much following my years studying Art and I'm loving it. You'll have to hold on for a little while to see some of the things I've been doing, there's a brand new collaborative blog on the horizon and when we're ready to share I'll put a link to it in the sidebar on here. <br />
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So, what has forced my hand and got me back here now you may ask?<br />
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Well it's the second of the breaks I mentioned........................ as you can see here:<br />
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Our poor 'little' man is in the wars. Yep, Diesel has broken his leg and it has to be a complicated fracture of course.<br />
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I underwent surgery at the beginning of March and was ready to start with some gentle exercise to begin building up my stamina again and with the improvement in the weather over the last couple of few weeks what better way than to get out and about walking with Diesel. We've been taking it gently and last Tuesday it was so lovely and warm that we deviated from our walking routine and went for a romp in the field behind our house.<br />
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Diesel will do anything for a ball, he likes the type attached to a short rope as they can be thrown further and he gets a really good fast run. We take two and I throw one which he retrieves and as he returns it to me I throw the next one in another direction, he drops the first one as he goes past me and chases the second one and so it goes on. To cut a long story short, he'd had a good run and I decided just a couple more throws then I'd put him back on his lead and we'd return home. He was still booling along at a rapid rate of knots when he sighted where the next ball had landed and without dropping any speed he turned and grabbed for the ball, his left front leg went down under him in the turn and the rest of his weight followed and he yelled out but he picked himself up together with the ball and came limping back. I checked him over, couldn't feel anything too obvious so we slowly walked home.<br />
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He rested but it was clear that things weren't improving, his limp was more pronounced and the leg was very swollen so I rang his vet and made an appointment to go in that evening. They checked him over and gave him some anti-inflammatory tablets and pain killers.... exactly the same pain killers that I take for my knee. We were told that he was to have nothing to eat after 8pm and we were to take him back at 8.30 Wednesday morning for a general anaesthetic and a full set of X-rays.<br />
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We went to collect him Wednesday evening and Rob discussed the results of the films with us, it clearly showed a complicated fracture just where the long bone attaches to what we'd call the wrist joint. Apparently, this type of break is hardly ever seen in pet dogs and occurs more in racing dogs.... well, what a surprise! Diesel's leg was in a pot with a lovely pale purple dressing with blue spots, very fetching. The prognosis: they will repeat the anaesthetic and X-rays in five days time and if there's an improvement and the bones are growing together they will re-pot it and let it heal. If there's no improvement or the bones have got further apart then it will mean an operation to pin the joint together and we were told to prepare ourselves as in most cases this type of fracture requires surgery.<br />
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We also had a little plastic boot to put over the pot to protect it from moisture as the nice weather had now turned showery. You can see his other leg has a small shaved area where they inserted the drip to keep his organs supported during the anaesthetic, recommended for dogs over the age of eight. We left with strict instructions that he was to be kept quiet and have restricted movement until his return the following Monday (today).<br />
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Keeping Diesel quiet and still is a total impossibility and I stand more of a chance of winning the Euro Lottery than I ever do of restricting his movement. I slept downstairs with him in case he needed help in the night. Every time he tried to lay down the cast got in the way and he got stuck but eventually he settled. I heard my husbands alarm clock go off at 0545 in the morning and before I could make a grab for Diesel, to my horror, he was off up the stairs to get him up!<br />
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So lesson learned, we blocked the stairs with a fold up table so he couldn't do it again and Thursday night I stayed down with him just to be on the safe side. The alarm goes off on Friday morning and what does he do? Yep.... he jumped the table complete with pot, landed half way up the stairs and was off again. Result.... one broken pot right where the fracture is! Back we went to the vets.<br />
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He went in again today as planned and the news isn't good I'm afraid. There's no improvement (why am I not surprised?) So he will be going in for an operation on Wednesday to have the fracture pinned. He won't have to have another pot, it will be well bandaged and supported for approximately four weeks and all in all, recuperation will be ten weeks during which time he is to be kept quiet and have restricted movement.... arghhhhhhhh can you hear me screaming? Funny moment from today: Rob tells us Diesel is the only dog they've known to not only break the pot but to completely snap the strong plastic cradle that they use as a splint inside the bandages.... that's my Boy!<br />
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He was still feeling sleepy when we got home so after he'd been fed he laid down and had a snooze (thank goodness). The nurses decided on a nice turquoise pot with blue stars this time. They were going to put a white one on with pink hearts! <br />
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You can see how bleary eyed he is here and he's still trying to fight it. This lad never gives in!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"If only I can keep my eyes open I might be able to get her to play ball"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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There, I'm awake Mum let's play..... pleeease!<br />
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I'll keep you up to date with how he gets on this week and I'll have some arty things to share next time too.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/67/FCC0CE408156C69975EE2D462C294A1B.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-1807433046404196192010-12-03T00:31:00.000+00:002010-12-03T00:31:43.685+00:00Let It Snow............let it snow, let it snow! And yes, it just keeps on coming.<br />
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I looked outside as soon as the alarm went off this morning and guess what? Yep, it was blowing a blizzard. We had completely cleared the car of snow the night before and there was another three to four inches of fresh snow piled on top and all the footprints were again, covered over and an unblemished carpet of white lay waiting for us.<br />
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When I pulled the car off the drive and headed off in the direction of work I was only the second vehicle out of the close and the roads were treacherous, even the main roads were in a bad condition so I thought I'd give the back lane a miss and head straight for the A66 which is the main dual carriageway for travelling east to west. That was little better than one large ice rink with snow laying on both carriageways!<br />
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To cut a very long story short, I'd got half way to work before I spoke to Glenda and she told me that they were staying closed for the day and to turn around and go home. It was so difficult finding somewhere to pull over to answer my phone which had rang several times, that I eventually pulled off the road and into a pub car park in the village of High Coniscliffe. Big mistake..... huge! I got stuck, couldn't go forward, couldn't go back!<br />
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All in all it was one hell of a morning. I'd got stuck in a car park until a farmer came to my rescue, caught up in a free for all of spinning cars and a van on the A66 (I can't believe that not one of them hit me but they did hit each other, three in front of me and two directly behind) I managed to stop when the van in front hit two cars sending them off the road while he ended up side on across both lanes. In my rear view mirror I watched the two cars behind me, they couldn't stop. I braced waiting for the impact as they slid into each other and I was right in the middle of it all with an Angel on my shoulder! Not a scratch on me or my car. How lucky was that? Fortunately, no one was injured, just bits of car bumpers and trims strewn around the road. Finally, on the homeward stretch I ended up in a snow drift at the side of the road stuck again. You really couldn't see where the road side ended and the verge began. Two gentlemen came to my rescue and pushed my car sideways into the middle of the road so that I could pull away and I eventually made it home without any further mis-haps.<br />
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Things are progressing slowly at home, I've got some more paintwork glossed tonight and have had to position all manner of objects around and in front of the wet paint to stop Diesel from ending up with Zebra stripes and my paintwork from growing a thick black coat... so far, so good.<br />
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It has snowed on and off for most of the day. I've just had a look outside and yay!..... it's not snowing at the moment. So fingers are crossed for a successful journey in the morning.<br />
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My artwork for today features Christmas Cards......<br />
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Both of these cards have been made with stamped acetate panels which have had Abalone gold leaf and Copper leaf applied to the back of the acetate before layering it onto Mirri card.<br />
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I love working with Tim Holtz's Christmas stamps, they have a lovely vintage feel to them. Have you seen what he's doing with his <a href="http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/">12 Days of Christmas</a> Tags this year? Don't miss out on all the tips and techniques he's sharing!<br />
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All the other stamps shown here are from Elusive Images and you can find the full range of EI stamps at <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/356/elusive-images.htm">Graphicus</a>.<br />
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I'm going to really have to get my finger out if I'm to have enough hand made cards ready in time to send this year. I hate to say it but I do have some bought cards on standby should all else fail!<br />
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To all of you who are knee deep in making your Christmas Cards and hand made gifts...... have fun and Happy Crafting!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s320/lynn(2).png" /></a></div>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-62514403957026514862010-12-01T21:34:00.011+00:002010-12-02T00:38:19.373+00:00'Tis the SeasonCan you believe that it's December already and the countdown to Christmas is well and truly underway in our house.<br /><br />We are currently having the annual fight with the pre-lit Christmas tree.... well, it wouldn't be the same without the week long battle to get all 1200 bulbs working would it?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3xeZw60D-oZ7ZQD5uBuzVSj9DoD04XVw_fP0aYAQCQImhesDfmDPG4rDbFyu3U0GNJ537jy_4Yy5Yizeo09VFSKGx51m92FMOaATY0jbyjqK6uRHEt7do6cDZiMx7lgi_RmDHw/s1600/IMG_4616_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3xeZw60D-oZ7ZQD5uBuzVSj9DoD04XVw_fP0aYAQCQImhesDfmDPG4rDbFyu3U0GNJ537jy_4Yy5Yizeo09VFSKGx51m92FMOaATY0jbyjqK6uRHEt7do6cDZiMx7lgi_RmDHw/s320/IMG_4616_2.JPG" border="0" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>The lounge was all freshly decorated and cleaned last week and was looking pretty tidy until the trees (yes, there's three of them for the downstairs) and all the boxes of decorations were hauled down from the loft....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PbUaLx04duC2FCri212BVf8LFCkjuPfWCk2LQEQj4jd8yf8_jwA8ftm3Zhm8kuN6GG_YwtWLwTWtlHNBu__oh8n69S8x3nHMfm6nix5WYCsnceNnrS5xhDvHnngUb2JKXehLRA/s1600/IMG_6247+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PbUaLx04duC2FCri212BVf8LFCkjuPfWCk2LQEQj4jd8yf8_jwA8ftm3Zhm8kuN6GG_YwtWLwTWtlHNBu__oh8n69S8x3nHMfm6nix5WYCsnceNnrS5xhDvHnngUb2JKXehLRA/s400/IMG_6247+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545864009122018530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHZKpIjqCulzP3uGMwo-uJbul-X4h9tyqyTIU5T_KtmWHueuZTlfDCp6leXAW_ATBQO9rQjAY6NLkYgk42E9A4mud9i8HUr2PHAJPoatqbiB-9l0L4tqCjoTs124dVibrTSUNUA/s1600/IMG_6248+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHZKpIjqCulzP3uGMwo-uJbul-X4h9tyqyTIU5T_KtmWHueuZTlfDCp6leXAW_ATBQO9rQjAY6NLkYgk42E9A4mud9i8HUr2PHAJPoatqbiB-9l0L4tqCjoTs124dVibrTSUNUA/s400/IMG_6248+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545864018029911218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdWZO3muArIgp5QMVzYj0PSU9Zv8toe5gFVRt1UoQuWrEG_ChJqM1msIY93OUzNaxDHDuY6YOW8J3s1JcU0J6sdT5gWy-p56O7pZTtImMVPt3X2Z5ZJDYOUbiiBPx8p9hrtb7wA/s1600/IMG_6246+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdWZO3muArIgp5QMVzYj0PSU9Zv8toe5gFVRt1UoQuWrEG_ChJqM1msIY93OUzNaxDHDuY6YOW8J3s1JcU0J6sdT5gWy-p56O7pZTtImMVPt3X2Z5ZJDYOUbiiBPx8p9hrtb7wA/s400/IMG_6246+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545864013509528418" border="0" /></a><br />......and we ended up with this mess! On the table, under the table, in carrier bags, boxes and plastic sacks piled up all over the floor of the dining room. Well, there's one good thing achieved by all this - the loft is pretty empty. LOL<br /><br />We started to assemble the main tree for the lounge last weekend and found that half the lights on the second layer up were out. I removed every bulb that was off and tested it.... five times (and that's a lot of bulbs) only to find it was a wiring problem. To cut a long story short, we've found a way around it and the tree is now assembled and ready to start the dressing stage.<br /><br />The weather here in the North East is causing havoc. I can remember winters when I was little where the snow was so deep that it came over the top of my wellies and I always ended up with painful, itchy Chilblains. But over the years, the winter weather has changed some and we don't seem to get the depth of snow we used too... until now. I went out to clean the snow off the bird table today to put out some food for our feathered visitors and this is what I found......<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kn4qn0ZO7KmyxPttJhWdKTUcNQWxNNcljtq_etm75nZmd1KoNDDc9l7iTQqAB8OJ8vhDrIkzEumaJ1c8ojCMr-7VJTIX1yVf34IyQespmUmXR4O2RXtZt0ZSz36Za0fDkWwJpg/s1600/IMG_6269.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kn4qn0ZO7KmyxPttJhWdKTUcNQWxNNcljtq_etm75nZmd1KoNDDc9l7iTQqAB8OJ8vhDrIkzEumaJ1c8ojCMr-7VJTIX1yVf34IyQespmUmXR4O2RXtZt0ZSz36Za0fDkWwJpg/s400/IMG_6269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545865857006581858" border="0" /></a><br />It was cleaned off on Monday to put their food out and this is what's fallen since then. I just had to get a ruler and stick it in the snow to see how deep it was. I say was because that was earlier today and we've had even more since then with it forecast to continue overnight and throughout tomorrow.<br /><br />OK that's enough for now about decorating and the snow, I will be updating my progress with the Christmas preparations as the days go on and taking daily photographs of whatever I'm up to for my '31 Days of Christmas' journal that I'm doing again this year. More about that in another post.<br /><br />I'm really sad that the weather has caused the <a href="http://graphicus.co.uk/pages/default.aspx">Graphicus Open Days</a> planned for Friday and Saturday this week to be cancelled. I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to seeing everyone and to the fun and festivities we had planned, not to mention playing with some of the fantastic new products that have arrived from the USA this week. However, we are not going to be completely defeated by this white fluffy stuff that makes staying vertical almost impossible and driving, well.... the less said about that, the better. We still intend to have some fun on Friday and there will be some very special offers, great products and some interactive fun to be had if you keep an eye on the <a href="http://graphicus.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/online-christmas-party/">Graphicus blog</a> and on <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/graphicus">Twitter</a> on the day. My lips are sealed but I can tell you this, you won't want to miss out!<br /><br />I'm going to leave you with some of my Christmas tags and artwork and will be back soon with the next installment of Lynn's December Life.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3ZKtD1zFu9s-BHK0XVQ81_rRDq1Q7oHR7BSIK6jLCS5mWisjRpDxvyTGmhg5hvj-LeldH6z2OMF5TnRuQIsR9ueYJrq7EHYKiobE2l3eNDz7BGxcAJLGSIf_WWY-7esEBa78LA/s1600/IMG_6212+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3ZKtD1zFu9s-BHK0XVQ81_rRDq1Q7oHR7BSIK6jLCS5mWisjRpDxvyTGmhg5hvj-LeldH6z2OMF5TnRuQIsR9ueYJrq7EHYKiobE2l3eNDz7BGxcAJLGSIf_WWY-7esEBa78LA/s400/IMG_6212+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545868474369418402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2DSlFs8CjAtU02eJnezA8PJhD777yTBKQMmI6Ck7vLm3SSDmnJ_Z8ORpdxUpyPw4M6VP8U0NCg8cCwJMNJKuvrNluCgJxMUEbmVHDCLBrTMaTxP0cTBIboH3j5mZdvVEVr1KqQ/s1600/IMG_6210+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2DSlFs8CjAtU02eJnezA8PJhD777yTBKQMmI6Ck7vLm3SSDmnJ_Z8ORpdxUpyPw4M6VP8U0NCg8cCwJMNJKuvrNluCgJxMUEbmVHDCLBrTMaTxP0cTBIboH3j5mZdvVEVr1KqQ/s400/IMG_6210+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545868471716641682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9ExiFIq2ZvIyEf7UT7DiZ0J6lkUbrCYMWCqEFbFEAtytqjsKw8ujFK8iG10dDP393N6v9lOpA6zw3IBgdPAHmM393Ii_dL2wqrbEAXrWyuAc0wypjjk8gK74Ibj6CTTbUfx9kg/s1600/IMG_6216+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9ExiFIq2ZvIyEf7UT7DiZ0J6lkUbrCYMWCqEFbFEAtytqjsKw8ujFK8iG10dDP393N6v9lOpA6zw3IBgdPAHmM393Ii_dL2wqrbEAXrWyuAc0wypjjk8gK74Ibj6CTTbUfx9kg/s400/IMG_6216+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545868808978140402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1h1_EaAAEUFg25y8wSntvK6NZqWRGbMT-B_k1r8nyAy-i33IWeHTMXO4CdLJOsQSYd8IF82-dR0A06crla0leklwC4MTtpVUiD_1O0ZFO94DXjuoTCDbVagOaE56PTSc76o_Sw/s1600/IMG_6214+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1h1_EaAAEUFg25y8wSntvK6NZqWRGbMT-B_k1r8nyAy-i33IWeHTMXO4CdLJOsQSYd8IF82-dR0A06crla0leklwC4MTtpVUiD_1O0ZFO94DXjuoTCDbVagOaE56PTSc76o_Sw/s400/IMG_6214+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545868804570934674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k-DqBZDSp0oS9LYHqZoVvmNTtWld8giLZFhByiCQtYFOhS89gsfdfBHZ7DtYnlKmwaLFl-14Wd7kE_I4T_QzZ7ksVmfhIFKgKqyY1iTGwsNT7wyMXoAI9Qw3DPzgNpkHXaRmSQ/s1600/IMG_6219+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k-DqBZDSp0oS9LYHqZoVvmNTtWld8giLZFhByiCQtYFOhS89gsfdfBHZ7DtYnlKmwaLFl-14Wd7kE_I4T_QzZ7ksVmfhIFKgKqyY1iTGwsNT7wyMXoAI9Qw3DPzgNpkHXaRmSQ/s400/IMG_6219+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545869181439143586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteFkfeHUQh0qSpzZiN-GqQZsw8xvF6519WujOVfHGKsYXSBi8jvKeC_ZAx5ToUKHKOkRzwE6QngNAWY2PExJx6xQlF3k-DfZ9UB7O-FVVkw0wVIqh3puqA3fnV9b9lF_1cHXM8g/s1600/IMG_6221+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteFkfeHUQh0qSpzZiN-GqQZsw8xvF6519WujOVfHGKsYXSBi8jvKeC_ZAx5ToUKHKOkRzwE6QngNAWY2PExJx6xQlF3k-DfZ9UB7O-FVVkw0wVIqh3puqA3fnV9b9lF_1cHXM8g/s400/IMG_6221+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545869179889562866" border="0" /></a><br />This selection of tags were made during my Vintage Christmas Tag workshop a couple of weeks ago. We had a really good time getting inky and glittery and we could have carried on playing long past the scheduled finishing time. In fact, the ladies who came to play were encouraging me to leave them overnight in the studio at Graphicus so that they could continue to play and make more tags. I actually believe that they may have been serious!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrO2wwUs8OtQAJUKbEFmPt08ApckhZGbGAhA2z-u6GMIV9ePSMsNN5Vw1utaQo_nbginCbB8yfNDvp_0slGgCSwYG5jpMxAIYAaXIG1-hzbqR5PW0OS7P-XpJ1Ivgu3LQZtflLg/s1600/IMG_6171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrO2wwUs8OtQAJUKbEFmPt08ApckhZGbGAhA2z-u6GMIV9ePSMsNN5Vw1utaQo_nbginCbB8yfNDvp_0slGgCSwYG5jpMxAIYAaXIG1-hzbqR5PW0OS7P-XpJ1Ivgu3LQZtflLg/s400/IMG_6171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545871437697523490" border="0" /></a><br />If you have any questions about the techniques or products used in the tag artwork, leave a comment here on the blog and I'll do my best to answer your queries.<br /><br />Happy Christmas Crafting!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s320/lynn(2).png" border="0" /></a></div>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-31558864971829838622010-11-25T22:22:00.005+00:002010-11-26T07:14:38.890+00:00Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful...........<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5gZb0jX3yqUknknYBlZQIdkYSh_97q1BCDHRDYvlqd-JnQKnJYQm43Wx7MNV3TsrFEjGR87dpbpwRYJzo8dspE8atxIazUolR5VSNWO0K53kCyNwWftmYe75aqQ5bHEGO6yaYg/s1600/IMG_4631_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5gZb0jX3yqUknknYBlZQIdkYSh_97q1BCDHRDYvlqd-JnQKnJYQm43Wx7MNV3TsrFEjGR87dpbpwRYJzo8dspE8atxIazUolR5VSNWO0K53kCyNwWftmYe75aqQ5bHEGO6yaYg/s400/IMG_4631_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543647748111437586" border="0" /></a>Any of you who have been visiting my blog for the last couple of years will know that we are fast approaching my favourite time of the year.... yes, Christmas is just around the corner! I love making our home a warm and inviting place in which to welcome our guests, all the hard work (yes, I even enjoy that too) which goes into getting the house ready to put up the decorations and then sitting back and enjoying everything associated with the festive season.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyz-vZ2CvF3jDD9BWQ4EjxJcgDINtulM-_HhVYgo_9FzPWqvPDf4p2KpniKHQUIyaB_4YB_ForhN20vdi7vTPe41_g33MwRPIRu_DMbiq-wt0F5Z_NbIflCmTJdhBnul7uXZNTw/s1600/IMG_4958.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyz-vZ2CvF3jDD9BWQ4EjxJcgDINtulM-_HhVYgo_9FzPWqvPDf4p2KpniKHQUIyaB_4YB_ForhN20vdi7vTPe41_g33MwRPIRu_DMbiq-wt0F5Z_NbIflCmTJdhBnul7uXZNTw/s400/IMG_4958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543647729418095410" border="0" /></a>Christmassy mugs full of steaming hot chocolate, the smell of fresh baking emanating from the kitchen and dried fruits soaking in alcohol for the Christmas cake and pudding, making a wreath of fresh winter greenery to hang on the front door, lighting fragranced candles throughout the house as soon as the light of day starts to fade..... there are so many family traditions and little pleasures that make this time of the year such a delight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXYK3MYXZcscUiV2UBjrf-elAm_YDwhzR3r6L2WDda0fVEz8TfCHM9O5zwV_LbKEHp1pwGdsFXOSMDO48hn72prI-z6qVoYnLFLIjWxwEM7vDnULKB2fAmPuex6PDTH4thcGywQ/s1600/IMG_5015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXYK3MYXZcscUiV2UBjrf-elAm_YDwhzR3r6L2WDda0fVEz8TfCHM9O5zwV_LbKEHp1pwGdsFXOSMDO48hn72prI-z6qVoYnLFLIjWxwEM7vDnULKB2fAmPuex6PDTH4thcGywQ/s400/IMG_5015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543647720111286882" border="0" /></a>The weather is also adding to the feeling that Christmas is almost here. We had our first snowfall last night and it took me two hours and twenty minutes to get to work this morning! Mmm, I suppose there is a down side to this time of the year. The ridiculous thing is that the worst of the weather is across Teesside and around Darlington. Barnard Castle is just about clear and has only a light dusting of snow and all the roads are clear, crazy or what? I've just put our German Shepherd dog Diesel out for his last garden visit of the evening and it's snowing hard again.... I love it really, just not when I have that 60 mile round trip drive to do.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0mocP6BFkjsq5BGoBQXX7JXnGiYHVElEyM2j61sVt0azUzi86iYrg0xT1wiaoPtnIxyufkRvquD1qc0966AEqWA7Fi71a72l1Utpa_9JkTuRyiE9EPtC2pLBG60z_-atUjgdYw/s1600/IMG_5010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0mocP6BFkjsq5BGoBQXX7JXnGiYHVElEyM2j61sVt0azUzi86iYrg0xT1wiaoPtnIxyufkRvquD1qc0966AEqWA7Fi71a72l1Utpa_9JkTuRyiE9EPtC2pLBG60z_-atUjgdYw/s400/IMG_5010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543647652235594002" border="0" /></a>Tomorrow we will be making a start on assembling the big tree that goes in the lounge. It's a pre-lit tree and it takes some time to check everything through as it goes together and then the best part of a week to get it all decorated and finished ready to switch on in December. I am going to record our progress here on the blog. I don't know how much time I will have for any crafting but whatever I do make, I will share here. I certainly have some big intentions for hand made gifts to give to special friends and I'm going to make every effort to get them done this year. I usually end up running out of time and dashing to the shops at the last minute but I mean for this year to be different.<br /><br />I hope you love Christmas as much as I do otherwise you're going to have to give my blog a miss for some time. Don't stay away for too long though, I will miss you and as they say in TV speak, normal service will be resumed in January.<br /><br />We also have a busy time coming up at work next week getting ready for our <a href="http://graphicus.co.uk/pages/default.aspx">Graphicus</a> Christmas Open Days on the 03rd and 04th of December. There's another tree to put up and decorate, deliveries of exciting crafting goodies arriving from the USA that all have to be booked in and got ready for the event, demo's to be prepared.... oooo I can't wait. I do hope you are going to be able to join us on at least one of the days, we really are looking forward to letting our hair down and having some fun at this very special event. I'll try to let you in on more of the goings on next week as the preparations get into full swing.<br /><br />Now it's time to close the lid on my lap top and climb into bed, only problem is..... I'm so excited about everything, how on earth am I going to sleep???????<br /><br />Happy Christmassy Crafting to all and to all a Good Night!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s320/lynn(2).png" border="0" /></a></div>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-74157233845056504122010-11-17T10:27:00.002+00:002010-11-17T10:31:05.565+00:00Great Savings at GraphicusFor all you crafting junkies out there, do you know there's some fantastic savings to be made over on the <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/pages/default.aspx">Graphicus</a> web site? A beat the VAT increase sale started in the early hours of this morning and there's a huge selection of crafting goodies at discounted prices. This is not overstocked or clearance products but hot products that may well be on your Christmas List for Santa this year. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQn_7-KcC1wAtqCD02IRtbeCWxschyO-n_u1usXpUCulqsr2pwpBstqHco4klrEa3oGmS6J8BQOmuvDN-CrrmWChHA4X0cAubLMtjNQWsYyY1uteslddraxi3G9phWDG6-Kw0Tg/s1600/IMG_2790.jpg+v+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQn_7-KcC1wAtqCD02IRtbeCWxschyO-n_u1usXpUCulqsr2pwpBstqHco4klrEa3oGmS6J8BQOmuvDN-CrrmWChHA4X0cAubLMtjNQWsYyY1uteslddraxi3G9phWDG6-Kw0Tg/s1600/IMG_2790.jpg+v+2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>For example, if you love Tim's grungy style and want a great reference book for all his techniques, how to use Ranger products and loads of inspirational samples in full colour then you must own his Compendium of Curiosities. This wonderful book has a SRP of £24.99, has a previous purchase price of £19.99 and is on sale for only £14.99 plus you earn stash points to spend on other items too, savings on top of savings!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.timholtz.com/images/book1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Compendium of Curiosities by Tim Holtz" border="0" by="" distressables?="" height="192" holtz?="" name="book3" src="http://www.timholtz.com/images/book1.png" tim="" width="200" /></a></div>But BE WARNED: once it's gone, it's GONE! The product may well come back in stock in future but it will be restocked at the original pre-sale price or more if there has been a price increase in the mean time. So this is a great opportunity to get stocked up and save yourself some money or drop some really big hints to your nearest and dearest about how they can save money and delight you on Christmas Day.<br />
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I have my list at hand and now, I really must go shopping.... gotta get my sticky mitts on some of that great Tim Holtz stuff, some Copic sets and a host of other must haves too! Bet my other half doesn't know he's shopping for my Christmas pressies today (te he)! <br />
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Have fun with your crafty shopping and I hope you bag yourself some bargains!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s320/lynn(2).png" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-58337581874970182582010-10-26T19:50:00.000+01:002010-10-26T19:49:16.914+01:00Artwork Show and TellIn my last post I had intended to upload some of the art work that I had on display at the last Graphicus Open Days but Blogger was being bloody minded and turned all my photos on their sides... arghhh. Several people asked about future workshops with these items and I do intend to include similar techniques and projects in next years timetable.<br /><br />I'm going to have another go and see if the problem has been resolved as I have quite a back log of art work building up.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Several hours later......</span><br />Well, the problem still exists but I've discovered that by going back to Blogger's old editor I can avoid the frustration of the turning images but it means I have to work in HTML and put up with the photos loading in an odd order all at the top of the post and broken links when I move the images around but at least I have images!<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboxUdVJ7usVmExnfTz3c1fMiXFKnEtwwSnNyTjOVlxLUsyA-NNkYCI87-zT-s3SYytZKYNeSNIXT2B2Z_6c2zn1V2407UBSJv8UPWNqk7lgf5lRLXcBQlUqmuU-hZ6dw09Z-PTA/s400/IMG_5816+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532393050522026786" border="0" />This is a deep edged canvas which has been collaged, painted, stencilled, painted some more then I've worked <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/24/g035755/golden-gel-mediums-light-molding-paste.html">Golden's Light Molding Paste</a> through stencils to give it lots of texture and depth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfui4CgFFrur7U-UeRQvVSZO8xxWoK4wMhMaMI5CsBIqYjsdxeLYqE-fL1GvxmnPbkZ4YJgouIDTZF4Px3m5r_I-jfu3dEJgGPpkM61PBG49jLEESJgy_sR_LbfZRieXVfsvqNrg/s1600/IMG_5817+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfui4CgFFrur7U-UeRQvVSZO8xxWoK4wMhMaMI5CsBIqYjsdxeLYqE-fL1GvxmnPbkZ4YJgouIDTZF4Px3m5r_I-jfu3dEJgGPpkM61PBG49jLEESJgy_sR_LbfZRieXVfsvqNrg/s400/IMG_5817+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532395153308781282" border="0" /></a>The molding paste is one of my favorite mediums, it gives wonderful results when painted over with <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/productlist.aspx?dep=6">Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paints</a> which just adds to the interest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKo3HVi7b0BQ2ZtX1LndODGCNlWmiD4ULtlDcBlT4Agc7W-7kIZFQ1GmkGvR57_aKCeW75WTBWbijZwviLWweicacRmE2bq3Ab2aBKgtaqv0Vf7xcA9-5ZK8YTh3SVxYtDgVjiA/s1600/IMG_5818+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKo3HVi7b0BQ2ZtX1LndODGCNlWmiD4ULtlDcBlT4Agc7W-7kIZFQ1GmkGvR57_aKCeW75WTBWbijZwviLWweicacRmE2bq3Ab2aBKgtaqv0Vf7xcA9-5ZK8YTh3SVxYtDgVjiA/s400/IMG_5818+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532395162264771314" border="0" /></a>Then comes some additional embelishments in the form of a brass escutcheon, a handpainted flower with a metal centre, some feathers and a feather butterfly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjeXUo4XWQ9sLNA-chdjZTuWfHyOrVBK-tAr-8E39L1GdmReFDErdfggmMxnG5xPmT_0TC1Q7gOD1wtvJptbOCZlEMe5KU8QB-c2MP5nyoXE12_Kfyq_LSLvujfvsG4rqZlYloA/s1600/IMG_5820+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjeXUo4XWQ9sLNA-chdjZTuWfHyOrVBK-tAr-8E39L1GdmReFDErdfggmMxnG5xPmT_0TC1Q7gOD1wtvJptbOCZlEMe5KU8QB-c2MP5nyoXE12_Kfyq_LSLvujfvsG4rqZlYloA/s400/IMG_5820+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532395170273013618" border="0" /></a>This is an image transfer onto <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/29/chhsa24903/claudine-hellmuth-studio-sticky-canvas---12x12.html">Claudine Hellmuth's Sticky Backed Canvas</a>. It is a brilliant technique and is totally foolproof, unlike many of the other image transfer techniques.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUeaSTaUERe3XIa2k3nYWDdU358L79aktA5u9q7iIzgdFx8tfB7x1sThg0jqdN4mU0e320UVgcciGMcWkYxmhTq4nlWl0jru01ccGObvFvToNUibQk088cvYYPNSe2Qf66m6i2g/s1600/IMG_5822+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUeaSTaUERe3XIa2k3nYWDdU358L79aktA5u9q7iIzgdFx8tfB7x1sThg0jqdN4mU0e320UVgcciGMcWkYxmhTq4nlWl0jru01ccGObvFvToNUibQk088cvYYPNSe2Qf66m6i2g/s400/IMG_5822+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532398272759715586" border="0" /></a>I finished the canvas by adding just a touch of <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/productlist.aspx?dep=23">Gold Metal Leaf</a> to the edges, a decorative border of cut dictionary paper around all four sides, some decorative upholstery nails and a hanging wire roughly shaped like a handle to which I tied ribbons.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-weight: bold;">If you'd like to try working on canvas with some of these techniques, I have a work shop programmed for Thursday 18th November 2010 called 'On the Outside Looking In' and there are still some places available (well, there were when I looked last Friday before I started my week off). This is a fab workshop and we'll be using two canvas's hinged together and featuring a window to create amazing dimension and an interesting focal point.</span><br /><br />The other pieces I have to show you today are the waxed collage boards. I watched Suze Weinberg demonstrate this technique at a trade show earlier this year and instantly fell in love with the idea of creating art from next to nothing.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKIBvWBgLdZ-pKwhLyC1tk8xyyO3wf_rTw2dHG2WqT2ETy1FDF3Lfq4iZal3KzzupJxOJgIGTtVUsAyk6N1unlCvIW-XcuMSTw0j87ICFXqUgU3AwSOXDZuzbszgN0foM96Pfhw/s400/IMG_5684+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532403774054476162" border="0" />It uses the <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/productlist.aspx?dep=266">Melt Pot</a> and wax pellets, together with printed images and rubber stamps to build up and create texture in the wax.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6yBkC1zf1LZUcjC3vcPDpZ1qvEG8ISjFbHXXs5aHBYLGwRBt8iuCVmXrQ1TEcIcvQmFmj4H_paSN2oL1U9eyCzV6D55svniyAznRMBLV9SqkbNnUYs6YCwlyejzSy2bnDcA7-Q/s1600/IMG_5686+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6yBkC1zf1LZUcjC3vcPDpZ1qvEG8ISjFbHXXs5aHBYLGwRBt8iuCVmXrQ1TEcIcvQmFmj4H_paSN2oL1U9eyCzV6D55svniyAznRMBLV9SqkbNnUYs6YCwlyejzSy2bnDcA7-Q/s400/IMG_5686+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532403776438396818" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/productlist.aspx?dep=103">Bedazzles</a> and <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/productlist.aspx">Stickles</a> are used for accents and the wax is polished with <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/productlist.aspx?man=60">Perfect Pearls</a> which give the most stunning depth of colour and luminosity.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJSSYuCPwe0Cj0bW2-lqc1KovOm-_WK22T_bWjUFddk5Gi4V3F5G1Tv5ayjmAdkFcJ4vtLgnLvN9n1Xn-CIzfspiOtcqll4xPOT2naCL8wjtSoNS8o46NAxiyLRf_R-LqRVYYDQ/s1600/IMG_5687+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJSSYuCPwe0Cj0bW2-lqc1KovOm-_WK22T_bWjUFddk5Gi4V3F5G1Tv5ayjmAdkFcJ4vtLgnLvN9n1Xn-CIzfspiOtcqll4xPOT2naCL8wjtSoNS8o46NAxiyLRf_R-LqRVYYDQ/s400/IMG_5687+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532403785859150642" border="0" /></a>I really love working with hot wax, it is so relaxing and makes a great 'chill-out' therapy when you need some down time. I keep saying that crafting should be available on the National Health system, are you listening Mr Prime Minister? It could save a fortune in medical costs and therapy and you meet such lovely, like minded people who are all too ready to share in your obsession.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI0xJFL8gOmYwFDW_CG6kzUlwS3THYZ_LdHyzJNHPo2h403ogjGUdfgbHqnLV_2zV8tCyaI5QkG8n2upN49Raox0NQE07BOvLd9CePD9mMyVr46ymjof5gnV6PZy9fQ_kOYLb7w/s1600/IMG_5694+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI0xJFL8gOmYwFDW_CG6kzUlwS3THYZ_LdHyzJNHPo2h403ogjGUdfgbHqnLV_2zV8tCyaI5QkG8n2upN49Raox0NQE07BOvLd9CePD9mMyVr46ymjof5gnV6PZy9fQ_kOYLb7w/s400/IMG_5694+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532419519483500658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_peM5-k1KbMecGhYs4HF7fPCi5CD4LJF9OkqQ-tam1EaPgcJyg40ZgeJ0X6V96Hm_XyDCaKGssUA88EiAoYou1t-FAjBmLIgUzPXjPgYHVMBK4euT1P_Isdx3jF8sDy_KDJUDA/s1600/IMG_5688+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_peM5-k1KbMecGhYs4HF7fPCi5CD4LJF9OkqQ-tam1EaPgcJyg40ZgeJ0X6V96Hm_XyDCaKGssUA88EiAoYou1t-FAjBmLIgUzPXjPgYHVMBK4euT1P_Isdx3jF8sDy_KDJUDA/s400/IMG_5688+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532420050060601010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mlYHIX5Rylp_cBynRpa6h9HfYQJKlZ6zLVsORXNMxjvuVlIeOjFSf50AHtbj5V2txADe7vm6Xnuqer_tsSzieiOvUNcKBBmLUeupiQU0ld9NOw0J0qCTYfvriWX50n8zXPfnsQ/s1600/IMG_5691+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mlYHIX5Rylp_cBynRpa6h9HfYQJKlZ6zLVsORXNMxjvuVlIeOjFSf50AHtbj5V2txADe7vm6Xnuqer_tsSzieiOvUNcKBBmLUeupiQU0ld9NOw0J0qCTYfvriWX50n8zXPfnsQ/s400/IMG_5691+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532420045584972002" border="0" /></a>Well, the old Blogger Editor has worked, despite taking an inordinate amount of time I've finally got some of the photos up. There's a lot more waiting in the wings and I'll be back soon with the next update.<br /><br />Until then, take care all and enjoy your crafting!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s320/lynn(2).png" border="0" /></a></div>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-57418442421583682692010-10-20T22:29:00.000+01:002010-10-20T22:29:29.619+01:00Workshops at GraphicusYes, I've been more than a little quiet on my blog of late. Life is hectic and there never seems to be enough hours in the day to fit everything in (not that I'm complaining, it makes life interesting). One of the things that's been occupying my down time has been planning my Autumn/Winter workshops at Graphicus. <br />
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There's a fantastic line up this time but some sessions are already sold out. You can link to my workshops through the 'What's On' category in the side bar on the right. There are also lots of other exciting workshops to choose from which are being taught by fabulous tutors such as Glenda, Judith, Lesley and Annette. Have a look <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/pages/workshops.aspx">here</a> for the full programme. <br />
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We have a great time on workshop days with a fantastic camaraderie amongst our students. Many of them now know each other well from previous sessions and events at Graphicus but that said, they make new students ever so welcome and right at home from the onset. So if you're reading this and would like to come along, take the plunge now. Not only will you learn a lot in a fun environment but you stand to make some wonderful new friends with like minded interests.<br />
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We had our Autumn Open Days at Graphicus last weekend and as usual, we had a thoroughly enjoyable time meeting new customers, catching up with our wonderful regulars, playing with fab products and sharing lots of product information and 'how to' tips (and they call this work)? I will get some photos up of some of the things I made whilst demo'ing but it will have to wait until tomorrow. I just tried photographing the samples and the lighting is dreadful tonight. Hopefully, we'll see the sun tomorrow and I'll be able to capture some reasonable images to show you.<br />
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Some of the artwork I had on display around my demo area was from previous workshops taught in the Summer (why does that word 'Summer' seem so dim and distant?) and drew lots of questions and interest. I promised I would put up pictures of the items and teach them again next year, so here they are........ or here they are NOT!!! Blogger is playing silly beggars and loading them all the wrong way round. I noticed when I signed in tonight that they have an outage scheduled for later this evening to work on the photo upload facility, so with a bit of luck (my fingers, toes and legs are all crossed) they'll get it sorted and I'll try again tomorrow.<br />
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On a final note, Diesel has been for his annual EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) health check earlier this week which he passed with flying colours. German Shepherds are prone to it and Diesel was diagnosed with it about four years ago. Derick, our vet, was absolutely delighted with his progress and seemed amazed that we are managing his conditions so well. Apparently, it is more difficult to keep it stable as they get older and talking of age, he was eight on Sunday..... Happy Birthday Diesel! He did get lots of cuddles on the day and a new ball to drive us insane with.<br />
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I'll try to upload those photos tomorrow, so until then..... play nicely and<br />
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Happy Crafting!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s320/lynn(2).png" /></a></div>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-77645675626655969482010-09-13T23:56:00.003+01:002010-09-14T13:27:35.650+01:00Spookin' TimeWell, I survived the Paradise Weekend Retreat! It's amazing to think that just over a week ago it was in full swing and what a weekend it was. It was fast and furious and came and went in what now seems like a complete blur. I will be posting some photos on the blog soon but I didn't get nearly as many as I had planned to. <br />
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Straight after the event it was back to work and with Halloween just around the corner you can guess what I've been spending my time doing? Yes, I am having so much fun with these new Elusive Images Halloween stamps and they complement last year's 'Twilight Zone' stamp sheet so well that I just pick'n'mix them all up together!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwfWlczFu4rPPWBetTurpTdGbnJJn_Nx2HAB77vGgeklGi21wmBj_7bNp7wqJFNn2JyZMVETA0VYBwUJElMZHgtu3a2PWUTkUswrK7YQkeiaQzdavKgdvmY6YRvtF0orvGGQi1Q/s1600/UA5SP0336+Witching+Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwfWlczFu4rPPWBetTurpTdGbnJJn_Nx2HAB77vGgeklGi21wmBj_7bNp7wqJFNn2JyZMVETA0VYBwUJElMZHgtu3a2PWUTkUswrK7YQkeiaQzdavKgdvmY6YRvtF0orvGGQi1Q/s200/UA5SP0336+Witching+Time.jpg" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBDWxMXtymqjHBdkLLroVDy-y9llqVAsYaav4JzVadzS_b49nfy5wSj3RIjvqN7_oFHu-RJzQesp5tg0xhtlPkmoosTe7ZvhyosPKhBrwOGhlx2SRjQfqh-dxNE4DJ37W-8fuWA/s1600/UA5SP0337+Spookylicious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBDWxMXtymqjHBdkLLroVDy-y9llqVAsYaav4JzVadzS_b49nfy5wSj3RIjvqN7_oFHu-RJzQesp5tg0xhtlPkmoosTe7ZvhyosPKhBrwOGhlx2SRjQfqh-dxNE4DJ37W-8fuWA/s200/UA5SP0337+Spookylicious.jpg" width="142" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeRI1YajZrYQWki1kIue9AxXxguZXDVCKRlPU2yGOrGBhJGAJfgAH9iU_OTsfif2jz-tMDnlKFkD4BkVcED_HFDPJn_aknlQdEKQwJfGdMANKd2VBtdIdH1rlO1glT4Hv0UPKeQ/s320/UDLSP0306+Twilight+Zone.jpg" /></div><br />
They are incredibly inspirational and I have lots of things already in progress for 'The Night of Spooks', from little gifts for callers at the door through to journal pages holding childhood memories of the costumes my brother and I dressed up in - always homemade of course (there was no such thing as Supermarket Fancy Dress departments in those days) and all the antics we got up to on All Hallows Eve, never too naughty as Mum was always close at hand! <br />
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I'm really getting into it this year and have also designed a couple of costumes... just in case we get invited to some Spooktacular Affair but if not, then I'll just have to wear them to work.<br />
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This months Tagtastic Technique in the <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/105/guild/graphicus-guild-membership.html">Graphicus Guild</a> newsletter also has a Halloween theme, although I'm not going to show it in its entirety on my blog, but here are a few sneaky peaks of what you can expect.....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-L8hlZLSZ96Py7UXCURiqh3pnE_Vray0raZ6PU3HvPOZTfMKg_zOm1r3ie7kWJloid4eZNO064DPzYX92mJG8Y2CvDmzzYg3eyIy0kD_bDO26mh5yy__cl_6Aalm5EtN65w7sQQ/s1600/IMG_6050+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-L8hlZLSZ96Py7UXCURiqh3pnE_Vray0raZ6PU3HvPOZTfMKg_zOm1r3ie7kWJloid4eZNO064DPzYX92mJG8Y2CvDmzzYg3eyIy0kD_bDO26mh5yy__cl_6Aalm5EtN65w7sQQ/s320/IMG_6050+blog.JPG" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GRJib73MVZg78m9yBNE1hryz4fVL8mK4Ujys3zU6mTYfU2VePhUwEOeEmNdQCaDLdoQGqOPwXdKTuhBXF3E9O-7zjB_rpc2HwLMAFZiQ4s57NHIIrOhEFpiIORyIlBjZdX191Q/s1600/IMG_6055+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GRJib73MVZg78m9yBNE1hryz4fVL8mK4Ujys3zU6mTYfU2VePhUwEOeEmNdQCaDLdoQGqOPwXdKTuhBXF3E9O-7zjB_rpc2HwLMAFZiQ4s57NHIIrOhEFpiIORyIlBjZdX191Q/s320/IMG_6055+blog.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DtNPkCU26Q5oh2j0ipRkcXU_3E7wV3wIR_OiIOI2MPcOjPENN1dAvv4-4aRsGWvqOGJgBvnmNdn-cJwxPp63rB-l87woDidEPz6KreWLWMvG8R0s19b3G-xUcWxL9WFJ_JkO3g/s1600/IMG_6058blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DtNPkCU26Q5oh2j0ipRkcXU_3E7wV3wIR_OiIOI2MPcOjPENN1dAvv4-4aRsGWvqOGJgBvnmNdn-cJwxPp63rB-l87woDidEPz6KreWLWMvG8R0s19b3G-xUcWxL9WFJ_JkO3g/s320/IMG_6058blog.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmH04I2KDLhYVSa_fysBaF-M0mx-NcnOAUYhdQt-vnlkEQPcplwsh8GXkaZNDoNO8-npIIwExNNStN0o3Ff9IXHRAqfiH5ufFj33sDJd_-XxjIDXI_oobyTaRVaL2AykSgupB6Q/s1600/IMG_6062blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmH04I2KDLhYVSa_fysBaF-M0mx-NcnOAUYhdQt-vnlkEQPcplwsh8GXkaZNDoNO8-npIIwExNNStN0o3Ff9IXHRAqfiH5ufFj33sDJd_-XxjIDXI_oobyTaRVaL2AykSgupB6Q/s320/IMG_6062blog.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWZ-HhfLvjQ7V0_9sbLXZgx5xE1LPkc2tsTVoLJe16EGhQR1uIk_rIwHxn1rJErJ43CO_CPhyphenhyphenBVKM2XFE26ksZhfetBpKXzovAtMQI447p7Oie2GmPDqghFFI9Ym4KUzx5pBSTg/s1600/IMG_6065blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWZ-HhfLvjQ7V0_9sbLXZgx5xE1LPkc2tsTVoLJe16EGhQR1uIk_rIwHxn1rJErJ43CO_CPhyphenhyphenBVKM2XFE26ksZhfetBpKXzovAtMQI447p7Oie2GmPDqghFFI9Ym4KUzx5pBSTg/s320/IMG_6065blog.JPG" /></a></div><br />
....and if you want to see more and find out how to make it, your copy of the September newsletter should be with you very soon. If you're reading this and you are not a member then click <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/105/guild/graphicus-guild-membership.html">here</a> for all the info on how to join.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"> ----------------------------------------</div><br />
I intend my blog to be a happy place featuring mainly my art work with interjections of life as it happens. It is also my diary and a record of memorable events and as such, occasionally those events will be sad ones.<br />
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However, there have been a few too many sad events of late and it is with a heavy heart that last Friday, I attended the funeral of my very dear friend Patti who died in the most tragic of circumstances on the 01st of September. It was the happiest and saddest event I have ever witnessed.<br />
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Patti and I have been friends for thirty nine years. We met whilst working on the ground at Teesside Airport in offices right next door to each other, then we joined British Midland and went through our cabin crew training course together...creating havoc as some may well remember! We flew together on many an occasion and boy, do I have some hilarious memories of some of those flights!<br />
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Later, Patti's husband Paul was a groomsman at our wedding and so the friendship continued. Throughout all the years I knew Patti there was always a four legged furry friend somewhere close to hand, she loved her pets and was a dedicated horsewoman throughout her life, be it with her own horses or those of her children. So it was fitting that when we emerged from the Chapel this is what we saw....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Cx2LEC-mD_cWP9eSP-3BIXR_QQE2Akn15FGhu5Nmv03pUzoPTppYH52XYUG5o4JHpG5OhjiSA-dqQKfws8OWXuluwzcWueHnUP-UjCI-sF1NdAAct2JDFIsHWoI3zWtjBeKEeg/s1600/IMG_6071+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Cx2LEC-mD_cWP9eSP-3BIXR_QQE2Akn15FGhu5Nmv03pUzoPTppYH52XYUG5o4JHpG5OhjiSA-dqQKfws8OWXuluwzcWueHnUP-UjCI-sF1NdAAct2JDFIsHWoI3zWtjBeKEeg/s320/IMG_6071+blog.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2G4FS6Q2YvxubWiRvriETJsB1XlPltUZAUgyFl0Qq1R8Sgn3snYePsBioTJwmJBc59cMKCfNTYRPpo4RCRwaoKNGuSah8X0RreY_3oRfzMLPk-ymt1Q9v-PLpG9pGPZhTMV-GQ/s1600/IMG_6068+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2G4FS6Q2YvxubWiRvriETJsB1XlPltUZAUgyFl0Qq1R8Sgn3snYePsBioTJwmJBc59cMKCfNTYRPpo4RCRwaoKNGuSah8X0RreY_3oRfzMLPk-ymt1Q9v-PLpG9pGPZhTMV-GQ/s320/IMG_6068+blog.JPG" /></a></div><br />
She would have loved this sight. <br />
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I have so many truly wonderful memories of Patti and the times we spent together laughing that I am going to work on an art journal containing my memories of her, where it will take me I don't know but I'm sure looking forward to taking this last flight with her.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"> ------------------------</div><br />
I'll be back soon with some more crafty stuff. I'm putting the finishing touches to the Graphicus Autumn/Winter Workshop Programme this week so hopefully, I'll have lots of new workshop dates to share with you all.<br />
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Until then, enjoy your crafting.... and laugh often!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s320/lynn(2).png" /></a></div>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-21558351042744910752010-08-16T20:53:00.000+01:002010-08-16T20:53:49.332+01:00It 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.<br />
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Friday the 13th - yes Black Friday was the first of our Open Days at <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/">Graphicus</a> 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!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cKA5GyhnPJ5O2bQfty-YJMxd1VMsW0_FrkvUxMTnNzVcHI7iqkgam9SJH8AYFsE7_VkygWXJyNqA_pyDVgi6obrKcQxyxAYy1E8WBwfPIAufDpQGFwGXzLOksbAvRrHDxlE0WQ/s1600/IMG_5902+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cKA5GyhnPJ5O2bQfty-YJMxd1VMsW0_FrkvUxMTnNzVcHI7iqkgam9SJH8AYFsE7_VkygWXJyNqA_pyDVgi6obrKcQxyxAYy1E8WBwfPIAufDpQGFwGXzLOksbAvRrHDxlE0WQ/s320/IMG_5902+blog.JPG" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front Cover (Copper Leaf on Acetate)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3jbcWY4v_FyavPAxeuWTgvM0nzZCA7AA5cr7Kx_d9HJdUO7vnV2SN3F51BOwS2yiEGSYrvR23VYrHu2p1tKkFVg-UficjDvUUEn30fhD570xNqTwKm2FXRVRU4q9u5ZbXjLq4Q/s1600/IMG_5903+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3jbcWY4v_FyavPAxeuWTgvM0nzZCA7AA5cr7Kx_d9HJdUO7vnV2SN3F51BOwS2yiEGSYrvR23VYrHu2p1tKkFVg-UficjDvUUEn30fhD570xNqTwKm2FXRVRU4q9u5ZbXjLq4Q/s320/IMG_5903+blog.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQ2CG6V68FHXlh88wxhT7HqqkSdVSPg0FO0ZPDJMNWC_uzgIqnXIonQXYRXC9S9yLpBjxeU20pH6HaTUljggYhRpu5QD5Y1TM19ec7Gei6p4evemXvJJwGacNLQeCHoCoIia8kQ/s1600/IMG_5904+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQ2CG6V68FHXlh88wxhT7HqqkSdVSPg0FO0ZPDJMNWC_uzgIqnXIonQXYRXC9S9yLpBjxeU20pH6HaTUljggYhRpu5QD5Y1TM19ec7Gei6p4evemXvJJwGacNLQeCHoCoIia8kQ/s320/IMG_5904+blog.JPG" width="194" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboak5ArNtUlSG9agzdz5ZPVG3Fgce_Xgcjxl89B54wFsbraT6cDHLq4rRKs6B8he8GV-8uLcQgXvIDExcaDjFJMOJuGpTbdBKFXbeAsTDj0Pq9vlgqNLnu5UZVvR6a-Qa36vXxA/s1600/IMG_5914+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboak5ArNtUlSG9agzdz5ZPVG3Fgce_Xgcjxl89B54wFsbraT6cDHLq4rRKs6B8he8GV-8uLcQgXvIDExcaDjFJMOJuGpTbdBKFXbeAsTDj0Pq9vlgqNLnu5UZVvR6a-Qa36vXxA/s320/IMG_5914+blog.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back cover</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlp_N0BJh0s1FGToll0CqyWRbVINBaAOwAYEPAZhtBQ3OTu4x9t7phDwdGtc88-xY0v-ctP9PPs1GhGU192IQ2ORGAiYnEeILQSAdjL0pXlOozGwCyhV87TIfBzqrjQJfhJ9KiLQ/s1600/IMG_5906+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlp_N0BJh0s1FGToll0CqyWRbVINBaAOwAYEPAZhtBQ3OTu4x9t7phDwdGtc88-xY0v-ctP9PPs1GhGU192IQ2ORGAiYnEeILQSAdjL0pXlOozGwCyhV87TIfBzqrjQJfhJ9KiLQ/s320/IMG_5906+blog.JPG" width="195" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDFJBSFaMk1yGjLuN2UyDBJ1RGrb48kohRKds4TK7RuKrJNcl18rKqXH6fcsm4DIWJNk5IuJ10f9D3Jgmvzu2mf-iw3X11gMkFDN8yW2IvhFaGhCC1bXGMZ5bRPLPCSGvkCvDLw/s1600/IMG_5907+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDFJBSFaMk1yGjLuN2UyDBJ1RGrb48kohRKds4TK7RuKrJNcl18rKqXH6fcsm4DIWJNk5IuJ10f9D3Jgmvzu2mf-iw3X11gMkFDN8yW2IvhFaGhCC1bXGMZ5bRPLPCSGvkCvDLw/s320/IMG_5907+blog.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zIrLAHOiKKgI37mKtgk_4g8jTydszoK2HUZkkQ9WdAi-u0uzx5myQQDp-GyWHQ5rtacQm3bCX-sLkATPZvTUp0pHgaDMnQK0YSBKk36FhzfE5mHoBOdmiYPsqQlgQ_jWYCwHEw/s1600/IMG_5908+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zIrLAHOiKKgI37mKtgk_4g8jTydszoK2HUZkkQ9WdAi-u0uzx5myQQDp-GyWHQ5rtacQm3bCX-sLkATPZvTUp0pHgaDMnQK0YSBKk36FhzfE5mHoBOdmiYPsqQlgQ_jWYCwHEw/s320/IMG_5908+blog.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-JHRlbq-G1pi-QksDvJpUxDOCCdLc4xqrskV47jen3CUKZkgjrb1b7QFZcYZFLgg1CkXHQovbproKkeBQTssNg5W5YRYtV0jZLDFfaW2sctbc7LDsexSlh2W7qLE_SySmT0scw/s1600/IMG_5909+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-JHRlbq-G1pi-QksDvJpUxDOCCdLc4xqrskV47jen3CUKZkgjrb1b7QFZcYZFLgg1CkXHQovbproKkeBQTssNg5W5YRYtV0jZLDFfaW2sctbc7LDsexSlh2W7qLE_SySmT0scw/s320/IMG_5909+blog.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHX-MonFUiRQHf8XGX1RlNn05FgcpXxXSYVLrbfdVSpnWDyiEEKkcCVa45cy3G2Gsc2xetTCRXmm4WEhZH1hyphenhypheno1Zn0OBuQQVVvakhowH5eplYdCBXnYs6jwfVxOwKXrilB3ON8A/s1600/IMG_5910+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHX-MonFUiRQHf8XGX1RlNn05FgcpXxXSYVLrbfdVSpnWDyiEEKkcCVa45cy3G2Gsc2xetTCRXmm4WEhZH1hyphenhypheno1Zn0OBuQQVVvakhowH5eplYdCBXnYs6jwfVxOwKXrilB3ON8A/s320/IMG_5910+blog.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA5YiNCcqchJxp6lik6gi35uWFgT9Dr1Aq_b6L3ab1k9UaeUeQd05kS2HeQzOBJ5QVAg95N1vYRjMIxsB3ZX5PYReKMrgq0E7bfvifVsW3-jvK14l1_jznEBacFc9wLdlKQr5vg/s1600/IMG_5910+blog+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA5YiNCcqchJxp6lik6gi35uWFgT9Dr1Aq_b6L3ab1k9UaeUeQd05kS2HeQzOBJ5QVAg95N1vYRjMIxsB3ZX5PYReKMrgq0E7bfvifVsW3-jvK14l1_jznEBacFc9wLdlKQr5vg/s320/IMG_5910+blog+2.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvPbxJzfIzam2IgDPqO3JhAgykq5Vjcv6Z34plyE6fmoMYDV_E0EXojwURCYA9DrIY24HPMnNlVt9CYUZYRGbHtU7Lw2j7FWur0deXl9wMcuebptU9iauno641v0GgD2t9LSqSg/s1600/IMG_5911+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW6OvZJ62bgWheK4yE1dD4t3NhVdk65V0ZbZIyyPYjZPaLB38nten5v1bb_sOsn8hmTAddOnaXtjoN3Io7dC-3iaY2lb3lddji06HHP3TGEpItz3cqlfwDUOhyphenhyphenlrVGMx46OPAhQ/s320/IMG_5915+blog.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY3UugDppfhyPHWq-PZSPDW-3f4b6rJYkVgf02i-yrbWFghzgrHvAmqrYR2VIAYfwG5IaLJ3CqukQSXmfTS9hUYtB6jVhjSTiy5VhnRPWMCCfZlM_nHeH9ih2R1Z17rj-QZUpQw/s1600/IMG_5917+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY3UugDppfhyPHWq-PZSPDW-3f4b6rJYkVgf02i-yrbWFghzgrHvAmqrYR2VIAYfwG5IaLJ3CqukQSXmfTS9hUYtB6jVhjSTiy5VhnRPWMCCfZlM_nHeH9ih2R1Z17rj-QZUpQw/s320/IMG_5917+blog.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFELQj9eVKLc4P_OKfVU3GyFZv3t1flFdyihxlOgC_ADwuo_590RGplN3Gj1cksUMmOXt5_bhcRetDQwlzfHABVKKTYhVU2iItSYI6EzJJGOiSPh5hMFz2bHuYQRSVKpKA926tGg/s1600/IMG_5919+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFELQj9eVKLc4P_OKfVU3GyFZv3t1flFdyihxlOgC_ADwuo_590RGplN3Gj1cksUMmOXt5_bhcRetDQwlzfHABVKKTYhVU2iItSYI6EzJJGOiSPh5hMFz2bHuYQRSVKpKA926tGg/s320/IMG_5919+blog.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used a very delicate lace border stamp from another EI stamp sheet (<a href="http://www.elusiveimages.com/product/371/ua4sp0173/damask-squares-unmounted-stamp-sheet---a4.html">Damask Squares</a>) and embossed it with a twinkling black embossing powder to make a wrought iron fence in front of the haunted house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewn5KWan7uFL7q6SnrlCFEMPia2zzbENo1UInSB6PNJfz24a185KUOQjxrjIrcDZL0lTL8sVWRZS_G95-Ix2SxbS3W3nPq3pVsDbHUd2GxFW56sW1ret6jyM6Z1S0OIN10LBaaw/s1600/IMG_5913+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewn5KWan7uFL7q6SnrlCFEMPia2zzbENo1UInSB6PNJfz24a185KUOQjxrjIrcDZL0lTL8sVWRZS_G95-Ix2SxbS3W3nPq3pVsDbHUd2GxFW56sW1ret6jyM6Z1S0OIN10LBaaw/s320/IMG_5913+blog.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mischievous Cats..... love them!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>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!<br />
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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.<br />
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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!<br />
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Saturday was officially the launch of the <a href="http://elusiveimagesdesignteam.blogspot.com/2010/08/christmas-stamps-released.html">Christmas</a> 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.<br />
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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 <a href="http://artylicious.wordpress.com/2010/08/14/but-wait-theres-more/">Artylicious downloads</a> which are available on her <a href="http://artylicious.wordpress.com/">blog</a>. If you love beautiful papers go take a look... <a href="http://artylicious.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/life-is-good/">this one</a> 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! <br />
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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 - <i><b><span style="color: #990000;">'be at Graphicus on Friday the 15th and Saturday 16th October, 2010'. </span></b></i><span style="color: black;">We have Joanna Sheen joining us on the Saturday but more about that nearer the time.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">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.</span><br />
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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!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s320/lynn(2).png" /></a></div>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-17804936712336537442010-07-30T19:22:00.000+01:002010-07-30T19:22:29.194+01:00Goodbye Dear Friend<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #996600;"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">May the road rise to meet you. </span><br style="color: #783f04;" /><span style="color: #783f04;">May the wind be always at your back. </span><br style="color: #783f04;" /><span style="color: #783f04;">May the sun shine warm upon your face. </span><br style="color: #783f04;" /><span style="color: #783f04;">May the rains fall soft upon your fields </span><br style="color: #783f04;" /><span style="color: #783f04;">and until we meet again, </span><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span></b></span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #996600;"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand.</span></b></span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #996600;"><b><span style="color: #783f04;"></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-small;">Irish Blessing </span></b></span></i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BnzJs54Zzeikdm3-sLWo-yti0YM6smPkyzcssespyABR4idx6c55S3clfVjl9_YPGeuaJIw1Tc2GFwQmB1QbUX1cRQDoTB1Il2ogkinoQv60VAlaMYDMxoLQjIAZOnpByfUVnQ/s1600/IMG_5629+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BnzJs54Zzeikdm3-sLWo-yti0YM6smPkyzcssespyABR4idx6c55S3clfVjl9_YPGeuaJIw1Tc2GFwQmB1QbUX1cRQDoTB1Il2ogkinoQv60VAlaMYDMxoLQjIAZOnpByfUVnQ/s320/IMG_5629+blog.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Geoff quietly passed away yesterday morning at 05.35 am. Stuart has lost his very dear friend and his 'model railway' partner in crime. This gentle, sweet man will be deeply and sadly missed.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s320/lynn(2).png" /></a></div>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-89917993925458811382010-07-28T23:49:00.000+01:002010-07-28T23:49:24.888+01:00Shopping, Birthdays and BooksLife is incredibly busy at the moment, both at home and on the work front.<br />
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At home we have friends who need friends at the moment. My husband has two exceptionally good friends who mean everything to him, one he owes his life too, the other is fighting for his life being in the final stage of lung cancer. It's hard to see such a lovely man loosing his battle, it's also hard to believe that only five months ago he was fit and healthy.<br />
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And don't they say 'it never rains but it pours'? On Monday we were told that my husbands oldest sister had been diagnosed with breast cancer and Parkinson's Disease and she's in hospital at the moment. We don't know any more at this time as they are now doing more tests so we're keeping fingers and toes crossed that Joyce will have a good outcome.<br />
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At work we're really busy with a mountain of things going on and events in the planning and preparation stage. I taught a Bind It All workshop today and have another on Saturday which I'm really looking forward to... it's a canvas journal containing both canvas pages and watercolour paper. We're going to get lovely and painty and very creative - I'll try really hard to get some pictures of every ones creations that I can share with you all.<br />
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<a href="http://artylicious.wordpress.com/">Glenda's</a> brand new CD ROM '<a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/70/aycd011012/artylicious-essence-of-nature-cd-rom-twin-pack.html">Essence of Nature</a>' arrived in the building today and they were promptly re-packed and despatched to everyone who had placed advanced orders. This one's a beauty with gorgeous colours, inspirational designs and some lovely arty elements designed by <a href="http://thepaperengineer.blogspot.com/">Lesley</a>. The class today got to work with some papers from the CD and the colour combinations they put together were fantastic.Thank you for a lovely day ladies, the art work you brought for me to see was totally stunning! Thank you for sharing.<br />
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Since my last post I have acquired a few new things as a result of a visit to York and another trip out to the Metro Centre. I'm sure those of you who have visited <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/pages/default.aspx">Graphicus</a> on our <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/pages/cms/145/opendays.html">Open Days</a> will have realised that I have quite a penchant for wire mannequins. Well, my collection has grown by four..... I have two that are designed to hang from the top of a door, a free standing one and a little beauty that <a href="http://ladycatfern.blogspot.com/2010/06/mannequins.html">Jill</a> found for me to alter.<br />
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Here's one of the door hanging variety, I bought two (different designs) because one will be perfect for displaying some of my larger, articulated tag art and the other one will hang inside my studio for me to hang up my pinny's.<br />
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This one has a centre hook at the waist and several more hooks around the hem line. It looks a bit grey in this photo but it's ivory really.<br />
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I'm really pleased with this one.... it was another TK Maxx find..... love that shop! I also got a fab cream wire book stand that is perfect for displaying art canvases.<br />
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Another brill find that I must share with you is this....<br />
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I found this at my local Pound Store and yes.... it was £1.00. Brilliant for degunking my scissors and that little scraper is now in my tool kit as it is ideal for spreading texture paste and other such mediums.<br />
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My visit to the Metro Centre yielded this.... an amazing 'glittered' lap top skin. I actually bought two, the other is black and silver and features roses, a skull combined with a butterfly and sumptuous scroll work. So ME! I couldn't decide which one to put on first. It's getting a bit much when my lap top has a fashion wardrobe better than mine.<br />
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It was my Sister In Law Susan's 60th birthday a couple of weeks ago and she loves butterflies, so guess what her card featured?<br />
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These butterflies have been stamped onto acetate with StazOn and gilded with Abalone Metal Leaf. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbmx9Mz-Ln6_OsIveVJOKCT1EoaG5C32Egge4PLRs0GOYXJo75m-OJx01603W-EFn2y6wL1i5xPH4HW3BMb6VhvXTlo_0aO0LhmTjJ0SHrfhssIZdYKh8Hcmn0Lx8neQkDBAYxw/s1600/IMG_5830+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbmx9Mz-Ln6_OsIveVJOKCT1EoaG5C32Egge4PLRs0GOYXJo75m-OJx01603W-EFn2y6wL1i5xPH4HW3BMb6VhvXTlo_0aO0LhmTjJ0SHrfhssIZdYKh8Hcmn0Lx8neQkDBAYxw/s320/IMG_5830+blog.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I used a Tim Holtz Sizzix Die for the mount which is covered with Artylicious paper then stamped and embossed the beautiful corners with a glittering white embossing powder (all stamps by <a href="http://www.elusiveimages.com/pages/default.aspx">Elusive Images</a>). I also made a matching box to house the card and she loved it (thank goodness).<br />
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And finally for this evening, I'll leave you with a little taster of a Piano Hinge Skewer Book that I taught on a recent workshop at Graphicus.<br />
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It's now getting seriously late and I'm always ready for some sleep after teaching for the day so I'll show you some more pictures of this and another one I've made, next time. For now......<br />
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Have fun, Happy Crafting .......create Beauty!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsdRyx-6yWssmd0p63WK6GJHSa_Lh5afQ25qNcBRo-d2NnfhyjOijxenn9G3YqGi76WygHl2WLTxXr6k-j7b20raWJUvigiGSWkCyE1QZ0ZQFFUJMMP4pTOdlK-i3fo9z3TYetw/s320/lynn(2).png" /></a></div>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-13369904963799997812010-06-26T00:52:00.002+01:002010-06-26T20:04:29.470+01:00Articulated Tags and Wagging TailsGosh, where did the week go?<br />
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I had all good intentions of finishing up my next lot of tags and getting them uploaded to the blog earlier in the week. Tuesday night, all was going well and I got the other option of the caged bird tag finished and got all set up to take the photographs..... camera battery flat, so it had to go on charge overnight. Memo to self: buy a back-up battery. I use a Canon IXUS 800 IS, it's a brilliant camera but has one downfall - there's no battery meter. One minute it's fine, the next minute there's a flashing red camera icon on the screen and then it closes itself up and goes to sleep. Fortunately, a full charge lasts quite some time but a spare battery is a necessity.<br />
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Wednesday evening, I made a quick get away from work and hot tailed it from Barny to Darlington to catch the kennels on my way home. Diesel was out of food and I had to pick up his next 15K bag before they closed or he would be going without <u>his</u> tea and demanding mine! While I was there I just had to give my new best friend a cuddle, let me introduce you to 'Reno'......<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQe-lYcjovLqjScForvBg-sl_T56z5BOS3k7zWq6nFfxmRl5G0GCnlrXVT_4f8pk7tXSRS90fo_2FB-m_2rEJ0-PA4gqrk5NKnfcqnEX1red3gS_UdO37BcqEotMOhSy4IyxEcQ/s1600/IMG_5757++blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQe-lYcjovLqjScForvBg-sl_T56z5BOS3k7zWq6nFfxmRl5G0GCnlrXVT_4f8pk7tXSRS90fo_2FB-m_2rEJ0-PA4gqrk5NKnfcqnEX1red3gS_UdO37BcqEotMOhSy4IyxEcQ/s400/IMG_5757++blog.JPG" width="328" /></a></div><br />
Isn't he just totally adorable? I first got to know him when he was just eight weeks old and he's now nineteen weeks, very calm, very obedient and a real sweetie. His personality reminds me very much of Diesel's with not a nasty thought in his head. I make no apologies for the following:<br />
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"Just look at my big teeth, I've got some new ones you know, Pllleeease have a look"?<br />
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"Don't you think I'm a good boy? I can sit here being very composed, when really all I want to do is this"..........<br />
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Needless to say, I really wanted to take him home with me but Andy (his Dad who owns the kennels) wouldn't let me!<br />
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OK, drooling time over - until the next time!<br />
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When I eventually got home I managed to get another tag finished up and got the photographs done too. I've used the 'BIG' tags again from <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/pages/default.aspx">Graphicus</a>, they're 21.5cm x 10.5cm (81/2" x 41/8"). If you <strike>want</strike> 'need' <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/47/jtagmix/assorted-tags--tag-envelopes.html">these tags</a> don't hang around, as far as I know they are a one-off and we won't be getting them back in stock. Trust me, if you love creating art on tags - you definitely need these!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthag_2V1R9TJS5f8mGq5e0X1rVBh-ny0HEP4MI46VsUgBjY0z74L0MzjcpGfbcFBMhKVSfhjEU23jpNNRWoJsJAu2vc01GQ9eMIa9cftoq9M1D2Jv5CM-lyqhf5sY4blYhxKm0Q/s1600/IMG_5722+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthag_2V1R9TJS5f8mGq5e0X1rVBh-ny0HEP4MI46VsUgBjY0z74L0MzjcpGfbcFBMhKVSfhjEU23jpNNRWoJsJAu2vc01GQ9eMIa9cftoq9M1D2Jv5CM-lyqhf5sY4blYhxKm0Q/s320/IMG_5722+blog.JPG" width="186" /></a></div>This is the alternative Caged Bird tag with a beaded trim around the base of the cage. The letters are <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/33/timmmg/tim-holtz-mixed-minis-grungeboard.html">Grungeboard Mini's</a> again and I coloured them with a <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/400/cop2107542/copic-sketch-e29-burnt-umber.html">Copic Sketch</a> marker then coated them with Glossy Accents. The flower is from my own stash (it's a Prima that I brought back from a trip to Las Vegas a few years back - see, I do use my stash.... eventually)!<br />
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The next one is a fully articulated tag that I made in the workshop last Friday. The top section is joined to the mid section by a working hinge.<br />
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There's another of those fab <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/383/tim656638/tim-holtz-bigz-die---heart-wings.html">Tim Holtz Bigz</a> dies, this one has several elements to it. You get a solid heart, an open decorative heart, wings and a crown.... I've cut them from plain Grungeboard.<br />
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This is another one I started as a demo piece during Friday's workshop. It's another image transfer onto Claudine Hellmuth's Sticky Backed Canvas with handmade paper flowers. You can see that it's not quite finished..... there's nothing on the hanging banner for a start....<br />
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.... and those flowers look pretty plain to me - too plain! So I got to work and finished it off and here's how it looks now.........<br />
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I've added Stickles to the stamped flowers in the background in rust and orange, attached a brass hanger at the top and there's those Grungeboard Mini's again on the banner. I originally coloured the letters and the laurel leaves with Distress Inks but I didn't feel that the colour was strong enough so I used the Copic's to beef them up.... I'm really liking Copic's on Grungeboard!<br />
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Finally, I worked on the flowers and glitzed them up with some glass glitter, a touch of yellow Stickles around the pearl flower centres and a decorative brass corner was added to the image transfer. <br />
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Well, that's all for now - the weekend is here again and I'm off to York in the morning so I must get to bed. Whatever you're planning for the weekend, have fun and of course.....<br />
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Happy Crafting!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSR4_jm86WteI31S4o_vhcCCBu3eqjLizC1iVGrFS5DHczLqLxPd1B1v5X0kW67sPaK2yeO9ty71NIJ6lGlVn605cWkiVG8gyq4zrNtazBAxqeWG6Tzg5YhhyphenhyphenVf-Bcy1qwDAoYA/s1600/lynn(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSR4_jm86WteI31S4o_vhcCCBu3eqjLizC1iVGrFS5DHczLqLxPd1B1v5X0kW67sPaK2yeO9ty71NIJ6lGlVn605cWkiVG8gyq4zrNtazBAxqeWG6Tzg5YhhyphenhyphenVf-Bcy1qwDAoYA/s320/lynn(2).png" /></a></div>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-68701710276379788382010-06-21T14:31:00.001+01:002010-06-23T01:06:32.957+01:00Vacation OverAs some of you may know or may have found out when you tried to visit here, my blog was being intermittently 'hi-jacked' and it has taken quite some time to work out how it was being done. It has been a case of removing items one by one to see what the outcome would be.<br />
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I must admit, I was so fed up of it at one point that I really lost the will to blog. I set up a blog on Typepad but really didn't want to have to start from scratch again which is what I would have had to do, as transferring all my stuff without finding out what was causing the problem may have meant that the problem moved with me! <br />
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After months of investigating I finally identified the offending widget and removed it, so hopefully, everything should behave itself now and you should no longer find yourself being transferred to the 'I Meetz You' site! It's certainly had a lot of testing every day and at different times of the day and night so we'll see how things go (fingers are firmly crossed). While I was messing around I decided to have a change of scenery and freshen things up a bit so things look a little different too.<br />
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I have a huge amount to catch up on, all the time I've been away from blogging I've been cataloging events and taking photo's so I'll be dipping in and out of the last six months in an effort to catch up some.<br />
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I'm going to make a start with some photos from an event last Friday, it was my 'Articulated Tag' workshop at Graphicus. The ladies who attended were lovely and they turned out some fabulous tags of their own but, as usual the day just flew by and we didn't get the last one completed so I promised to put the sample tags on here so they could catch up in their own time. Here's Part One:-<br />
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I've used the large #10 tags from <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/3/jtagmix/assorted-tags--tag-envelopes.html">Graphicus</a>. They are a fabulous size and great for showcasing larger stamps, Tim Holtz die cuts and beautiful embellishments. We found these tags at CHA when we went to the trade show in Los Angeles back in January and I can't tell you how excited I was at the thought of having these beauties to work on. I was like a cat on a hot <strike>tim</strike> tin roof waiting for them to arrive from the USA.<br />
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The focal point of this tag is the image transfer onto Claudine Hellmuth <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/29/chhsa24903/claudine-hellmuth-studio-sticky-canvas---12x12.html">Sticky Backed Canvas</a> which has been triple embossed to give a glass-like finish. It's been embellished with the Tim Holtz Bigz Die - <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/383/tim656640/tim-holtz-bigz-die---tattered-florals.html">Tattered Florals </a>which I've cut from Grungeboard that was first covered with a page from a dictionary and inked with Distress Inks after it was die cut, together with a lovely antiqued <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/11/tim92718/tim-holtz-keyholes.html">Key Hole</a>. The pearly rose on top of the bird cage was made with the <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/266/swmampot/suze-weinbergs-melt-art-melt-pot.html">Melt Pot</a> and <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/266/swuteepear/suze-weinbergs-utee-4oz-pearl.html">Pearl UTEE</a>. I made a mold from <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/266/suz16380/suze-weinbergs-mold-n-pour.html">Mold-n-Pour</a> using a button to create the impression.... I was really pleased with the result I got and of course, I can make it in a variety of colours too!<br />
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This tag features the <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/productlist.aspx?dep=383">Tim Holts Bigz Die</a>, it's called <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/383/tim656634/tim-holtz-bigz-die---caged-bird.html">Caged Bird</a> and I've cut it from plain <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/product/40/timbgplai/tim-holtz-basics-grungeboard---plain.html">Grungeboard</a>. The tag also features Fragments, Grungeboard Mini's, Film Strip Ribbon and a Philosophy Tag.<br />
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I've been working on another version of this tag this evening, with a beaded trim on the base of the bird cage. It's drying at the moment as I've coated the letters with Glossy Accents, I'll get it photographed tomorrow and onto the blog tomorrow evening with some more articulated tags from the workshop for you to see.<br />
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For now..... Happy Crafting!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/318/839D8734DA9BC89B9A1CA9D381550027.png" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-72656937637073872382009-11-21T13:25:00.005+00:002009-11-21T21:10:34.426+00:00Forty Fantastic Women, Four Classroom Assistants, Three Tutors, Two Tons of Wet Wipes and a Partridge In a Pear Tree! [Edited to include a very important omition].Okay, so the bit about the Partridge isn't quite true, but it could've been.<br />
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This time last week the Graphicus Paradise Weekend Retreat had kicked off. It had been an incredulous journey preparing for the event and none of us quite knew what to expect other than a whole heap of hard work both in the run up to the event and then throughout the weekend.<br />
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It all started way back in the summer (did we have one of those?) Glenda and I visited several possible venues between Barndard Castle and Darlington looking for somewhere that was pleasing on the eye with good natural light, comfortable and capable of accommodating forty very enthusiastic crafters both in a classroom environment and with overnight accommodation for those whose needed it. We eventually chose the Blackwell Grange Hotel on the outskirts of Darlington.<br />
<a href="http://www.forestdale.com/blackwell-grange-hotel.htm"></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #741b47;">The Blackwell Grange Hotel</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #741b47;"> </span> </i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Several months of planning ensued which eventually culminated in weeks of intense planning and workshop development, product sourcing and ordering, kit making, packing lists, dozens of boxes and crates of equipment, stock and everything else that is required to occupy forty avid crafters for the best part of three days.<br />
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</div><div style="color: #741b47; text-align: center;"><i>The Official Event Name Strap</i><br />
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</div>Can you believe that we chose Friday the 13th of November to plunge headfirst into our very first Retreat? No, I couldn't either! But I have to say, it went swimmingly and we didn't forget a thing, we ran out of wet wipes, but we didn't actually forget anything. I think we should run a competition to guess how many wipes we went through from Friday to Sunday afternoon.... you'd be horrified to know the answer!<br />
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We had planned to advertise the event in a couple of craft magazines but as soon as the word got out - it was full.<br />
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Ladies travelled from the highlands of Scotland, from the far south of England, across the Solent from the Isle of White and every point east and west of the mainland and in between. And at 1600 hours on Friday it all kicked off and we were straight into the first session.<br />
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Friday and Saturday night we worked until ten o'clock and these wonderful women kept going the whole time and were back in the classroom to start 'fresh as Daisy's' each morning at nine. They were totally awesome! If any of you are reading this I have to say a huge thank you to you all for your unwavering contributions.... you made the event a huge success!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #741b47;">Jean and Malcolm Setting Up their Workshop</i><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Glenda and I taught most of the weekend and our guest tutor Jean Hardy from Crafty Individuals taught an amazing workshop on Sunday morning until lunch time. Jean was ably assisted by her business partner Malcolm and their products were such a huge success that Malcolm had to make a trip to bring more stock so that nobody was disappointed and missed out on the opportunity to shop.<br />
<blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaSrAy3JVShaWATV1Fq4GZxb-wKj29syYzhWlKLqkARUsjBmiKSwmSy96_eUL3z_CCtjkBctrdr_bH9h673t7V0WJxZJjyuXuMobBgvRvm8c2g-V4KYHctzx40bYZToo60ZFS1Q/s1600/IMG_4545blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaSrAy3JVShaWATV1Fq4GZxb-wKj29syYzhWlKLqkARUsjBmiKSwmSy96_eUL3z_CCtjkBctrdr_bH9h673t7V0WJxZJjyuXuMobBgvRvm8c2g-V4KYHctzx40bYZToo60ZFS1Q/s400/IMG_4545blog.JPG" /></a><br />
</div></blockquote>There are four other people who worked tirelessly, morning to night, to ensure that everyone was happy......<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p6mO9F9ALdmPyrttZeiSPQtPlpE3qolZb0oMFMn_amUeDah8TXDIq9OyX-D3RYhLa3EuWnXUKoCdUb-yL3ZffUl3oy8UTmFDE9XjH_a9-i0K8CNuLlCQqVqu246Kyasdl01BHg/s1600/IMG_4541blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p6mO9F9ALdmPyrttZeiSPQtPlpE3qolZb0oMFMn_amUeDah8TXDIq9OyX-D3RYhLa3EuWnXUKoCdUb-yL3ZffUl3oy8UTmFDE9XjH_a9-i0K8CNuLlCQqVqu246Kyasdl01BHg/s320/IMG_4541blog.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #741b47;">Kath, Lesley and Annette</i><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>These fabulous ladies were totally incredible, not only did they look after all of our crafting guests so well but they were there every step of the way to help Glenda and I behind the scenes with whatever needed doing, before, during and after the Retreat. Kath, Lesley and Annette - YOU ARE STARS of the brightest magnitude!<br />
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There is one person missing from this photograph and that's David (Lesley's husband) who did a fabulous job of running backwards and forwards washing and refilling water pots all weekend, operating the Bind It All and saving our bacon by dashing to the nearest supermarket when the wet wipes started to run dangerously low. He wields a mean tin of chocolates too!<br />
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David and Adrian (Glenda's wonderful husband) lifted and shifted us in and out of the hotel and this was tactically a massive manoeuvre as the hotel's trolley was out of action the whole weekend so everything had to be carried and ran some considerable distance. They also did a fabulous job as the Official Event Photographers recording all the action at the presentation when the Retreat came to an end on Sunday afternoon, you've never seen two photographers in charge of quite to many cameras. Well done Guys... you ROCK!<br />
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</div><div style="color: #741b47; text-align: center;"><i>At Close of Play Sunday 15th November<br />
</i><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Well, it's all over and I can't believe that it all came and went so quickly. Never mind, it's all to do again in April 2010 so we'd better get cracking, there's already a register of names that far exceeds the forty places available. April's Retreat is a repeat of this one but we have a brand new programme of events to develop for 2010's Autumn/Winter event. Yay!<br />
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I will leave you with some photos of the happenings of the weekend of the 13th - 15th November 2009:-<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just a snippet of photos but if you want to see more look <a href="http://artylicious.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/wow-what-an-amazing-weekend/">HERE</a> and <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/GlendaWaterworth/ParadiseWeekendRetreatNov09#">HERE</a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Crafting to All! (And to the ladies who were there and are now back home.... get down and dirty) Yeh Baby!<br />
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<u style="color: #783f04;">Edit</u><span style="color: #783f04;">:</span> What a total numpty I am and I feel awful. I was so excited reliving the events of last weekend that I totally forgot a very important thank you and that goes to everyone back at the office, the team that people rarely get to actually see in action and without whom none of what we do would be possible.<br />
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It was great to have some of our lovely ladies join us for dinner on the Friday evening, it would have been even nicer if we'd had time to do a bit more socialising before the late session got underway.<br />
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I can't tell you how hard they worked to help us pull it all together, Judith who took all the admin, hotel accommodation and communication on board and got it 100% right and Carrie who's PC skills and knowledge of our new Digital Printing Press was invaluable. The night before the event Carrie was there until the late hours printing and cutting masses of stuff in the guillotine to go into the kits. They were incredible. Val and Vickie did a superb job of cutting all the stamps out used at the Retreat..... that was one hell of a lot of cutting (and it was done at the very last minute as we nearly forgot all about the stamps, can you believe that)? Denise and Emma kept Graphicus and Elusive Images running while we were all immersed in the preparation, no mean feat I can tell you and everyone mucked in to get us all packed up and out of the door. A HUGE Thank You guys - you're the best!<br />
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I have one more tribute to pay but I'm going to leave that to a post of it's own.... to follow soon.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/318/839D8734DA9BC89B9A1CA9D381550027.png" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: medium none;" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-62710156185403385822009-10-17T23:14:00.006+01:002009-10-18T00:14:07.512+01:00Happy Birthday DieselMy blog post today is dedicated entirely to this young man...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWeztn7CEoxg8KFU7rrajsrEgHD8407mdBCt9rY8uMDMkmeqpcBmK5G9JzMB91YsRbxTayqmNGfZXW5u4XBX8yvDAmpqXGvSivvtsB7J2OkJmKdVIbv5Poc0E8yuLytdwdRFxrg/s1600-h/diesel+7th+Birthday+Blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 372px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWeztn7CEoxg8KFU7rrajsrEgHD8407mdBCt9rY8uMDMkmeqpcBmK5G9JzMB91YsRbxTayqmNGfZXW5u4XBX8yvDAmpqXGvSivvtsB7J2OkJmKdVIbv5Poc0E8yuLytdwdRFxrg/s400/diesel+7th+Birthday+Blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393700210080017122" border="0" /></a>Yes, today has been Diesel's 7th Birthday! I can't believe the years have passed so quickly but fortunately, it's true what they say about German Shepherds.... they never grow up. To prove it, here are some pics of Diesel doing precisely what Diesel does best - PLAYING! They are 'action' shots so please forgive the blurs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OqEH18NxpBhhye9hZeybhEX1L78omubGivlGENPIJDSwoxRxZoqBnmY1V_PErkycalme9sOiB1MJg15teuU3EHfXqtsxqnh9s8PtN-6hraUp-uEyp5XoucpMLk-aDRdE50o8OQ/s1600-h/IMG_0699+7th+Birthday+Blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OqEH18NxpBhhye9hZeybhEX1L78omubGivlGENPIJDSwoxRxZoqBnmY1V_PErkycalme9sOiB1MJg15teuU3EHfXqtsxqnh9s8PtN-6hraUp-uEyp5XoucpMLk-aDRdE50o8OQ/s400/IMG_0699+7th+Birthday+Blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393701365802834258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxX6hMkylN1PgmkKWYYOnZl6PiIhZqluEIPvnf7kiCMGaqby7wC32qQGUMxMfOmQDc6YHQDCL7brMBbk9t6k6YGIQyLoq2YDOskL2TZ4zKk1ApTg7J7McgM2r7Xlm9ac3N5wdWg/s1600-h/IMG_0700+7th+Birthday+Blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 372px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxX6hMkylN1PgmkKWYYOnZl6PiIhZqluEIPvnf7kiCMGaqby7wC32qQGUMxMfOmQDc6YHQDCL7brMBbk9t6k6YGIQyLoq2YDOskL2TZ4zKk1ApTg7J7McgM2r7Xlm9ac3N5wdWg/s400/IMG_0700+7th+Birthday+Blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393701361959489202" border="0" /></a>Diesel is a real play boy, he's into all the extreme sports you'd expect of a super cool guy.... here he is taking a dip!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVQx2P6jdJ5jH07ndLfrtzB9FTarrMIZ_uoQkTIrzpLyDRsemX5RDoPXBDkKemWQG-GcTRKsAvQ-w84c3xDZ5urXL9kop4G_cxJsXn__ops8RJxDEK2itE_jqOJZc9hoCHKsqNg/s1600-h/KIF_0192+7th++Birthday+Blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVQx2P6jdJ5jH07ndLfrtzB9FTarrMIZ_uoQkTIrzpLyDRsemX5RDoPXBDkKemWQG-GcTRKsAvQ-w84c3xDZ5urXL9kop4G_cxJsXn__ops8RJxDEK2itE_jqOJZc9hoCHKsqNg/s400/KIF_0192+7th++Birthday+Blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393702839129645682" border="0" /></a>.....and still trying to play ball! We take him to the hydro therapy pool on a regular basis. GSD's are prone to problems with hip dysplasia and although he has an excellent hip score, we don't want to take any chances. Swimming is a great way to keep him fit and as long as he has a toy to retrieve he's quite happy, although if you take your eye off him for just one minute he turns around and swims with the current instead of against it... this dog's not daft by any means.<br /><br />You should see him now, he's flat out on his blanket fast asleep. This little man's had a busy day.<br /><br />Happy Birthday Diesel!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/318/839D8734DA9BC89B9A1CA9D381550027.png" style="border: medium none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-33798035001800124612009-10-12T22:35:00.004+01:002009-10-13T00:21:37.035+01:00Busy, Busy, Busy..........No, I haven't been on an extended holiday, nor have I ventured to the Moon... or Mars! I have simply been incredibly busy. Mainly with planning workshops, prepping workshops, planning and prepping for the fantastic up-coming Graphicus Retreat, Christmas (although that's not had much of a look in so far), working of course and what seems like a million other things. I'm afraid something has had to go and one of the things that has been totally neglected among others, is my poor old Blog.<br /><br />I have been doing arty things but so few of them can be shared at the moment as they are either for Workshops, the Retreat or Magazine features. I'm still having fun though and one of the best things I've done for a long time took place over the weekend on Saturday and Sunday.<br /><br /><a href="http://artylicious.wordpress.com/">Glenda</a> and <a href="http://thepaperengineer.blogspot.com/">Lesley</a> taught a Photoshop Weekend at a fabulous Training Centre in Middlesbrough. I have been wanting to learn more about Photoshop for such a long time, I dabble but end up totally frustrated when I can't make it do what I want it to do. So, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to finally get to grips with it. Oh Boy, what a fantastic two days. Most of the ladies attending had travelled for hours, some from the opposite end of the country... they were all fab and threw themselves into it with gusto! It was quite intense and I went home totally brain boggled at the end of each day with so many new things bouncing around in my head. Sorry, although it was all about photo's I didn't get to take any during the workshop, much too busy.<br /><br />I really didn't think I'd managed to retain very much at all but I took lots of notes - all I have to do was decipher them. Not quite sure what language I was writing in but the Egyptians would have been proud of me. I switched my lap top on late last night meaning to write up a magazine article as the deadline for submission was today and found the mouse hovering over a certain photo manipulation icon on the desk top. Well, that was it - I just had to click on it didn't I? I amazed myself at how much I had managed to retain and had a really great time playing er, practicing. I WAS practicing really Glenda! I do hope that everyone else on the course got as much out of it as I did and if you've ever wanted to get past the fear factor and start working with Photoshop, look out for any future workshop Glenda might run.... I can highly recommend it!<br /><br />Ok, onto some painty 'arty' stuff. I've been doing quite a bit of painting of late. Most of which has been for Workshops, but one in particular featuring GrungePaper was just so much fun that I'm going to share some, ok... lots of photo's. Now don't go assessing my photoshop abilities will you? I've just grabbed these straight from my photo organiser 'untouched'. The stamps used are Wendy Vecchi's Studio 490 and Elusive Images.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzruHLicRC3MZcjspsONBRYI4xt-xaoE42HPDd1c5Vsuncul6Sk9yzwwnQ4XzlUChj26vQf257Oksvf1TR-5CdXJfjbNtr8eJORQ4qPizNLbuSuz-MXWc8Qgtv6PRhd4Q5ZEDWWg/s1600-h/IMG_4477+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzruHLicRC3MZcjspsONBRYI4xt-xaoE42HPDd1c5Vsuncul6Sk9yzwwnQ4XzlUChj26vQf257Oksvf1TR-5CdXJfjbNtr8eJORQ4qPizNLbuSuz-MXWc8Qgtv6PRhd4Q5ZEDWWg/s400/IMG_4477+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391844344532210402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8rDijcKIypRFNp82MP5Dg0NJDIgqBKUUi73P_aZjveMUNHAoZdNUraPiaFwoERjTKRy1DM6VU_2jcqX0Rl1aD04kWOpSQqY3wAOks74B3k7C5m99rM62COAn3-6G9vnmA_-W3Q/s1600-h/IMG_4466+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8rDijcKIypRFNp82MP5Dg0NJDIgqBKUUi73P_aZjveMUNHAoZdNUraPiaFwoERjTKRy1DM6VU_2jcqX0Rl1aD04kWOpSQqY3wAOks74B3k7C5m99rM62COAn3-6G9vnmA_-W3Q/s400/IMG_4466+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391844348136111394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0oiffUWJiqEFmyMdRTQTCtHwO7OX9XxKx8CEAoOue4ECrvpza8jY1HZBG1JRr4uTsI2hNYbXr6UO6PWkHiU6HhSj1IPyHWgVPtc26XO4agRrcWDG7qa24Nl0IJ2FpMWG3tOeVg/s1600-h/IMG_4464+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0oiffUWJiqEFmyMdRTQTCtHwO7OX9XxKx8CEAoOue4ECrvpza8jY1HZBG1JRr4uTsI2hNYbXr6UO6PWkHiU6HhSj1IPyHWgVPtc26XO4agRrcWDG7qa24Nl0IJ2FpMWG3tOeVg/s400/IMG_4464+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391844356436512690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EWXCh0YmdPp8Mjxafe9HIGhXHEVkhmN67CGzedGu0wKJjUZMhaPWq_qive8KaYJgwBXxzTJ6K6JJRhWi9wCoKaKwGiK2sWuQwruYjYoe0uYyxOleoMlKLJfka8d_qzUrLrVJ_Q/s1600-h/IMG_4467+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EWXCh0YmdPp8Mjxafe9HIGhXHEVkhmN67CGzedGu0wKJjUZMhaPWq_qive8KaYJgwBXxzTJ6K6JJRhWi9wCoKaKwGiK2sWuQwruYjYoe0uYyxOleoMlKLJfka8d_qzUrLrVJ_Q/s400/IMG_4467+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391844362396271234" border="0" /></a>Time is of the essence again and I don't have enough of it to write up all the details of the products used and what I've done with them so I'm afraid I'm going to tease you a little now. Those of you who are members of the Graphicus Guild will be able to read more about this project and other canvases in this months Guild Newsletter. If you're not a member but would like to know more ring <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/contact.asp">Judith</a> at Graphicus or go <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/prodpage.asp?ProdID=2273">here</a> to join the Guild and get in on the action each month.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8pwkAlDaOXK0pQntdVLEQgFwciQOETRZ1CbewDb38ve2mJczCrkYYi8w5KdXstB9yvXhyEzl9M_w5BNQGF4GKyny451oRfUyRAMsY5721n_x9oxb383K8bJRYzFkW6WxBRf60w/s1600-h/IMG_4460+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8pwkAlDaOXK0pQntdVLEQgFwciQOETRZ1CbewDb38ve2mJczCrkYYi8w5KdXstB9yvXhyEzl9M_w5BNQGF4GKyny451oRfUyRAMsY5721n_x9oxb383K8bJRYzFkW6WxBRf60w/s400/IMG_4460+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391847344486005874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFr5GEdK7KrcTzU-2O3ZfEeLdssJZf1E6smYwmBQHc9Kz1wdj1MsvEAvSktCIHutLkF5tNgIb4YTHwbsgyJYY0DR2i0aDrML3NjY1d-yk-oKWrK-bKeobpcajr_6hPAXx92nXPQ/s1600-h/IMG_4469+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFr5GEdK7KrcTzU-2O3ZfEeLdssJZf1E6smYwmBQHc9Kz1wdj1MsvEAvSktCIHutLkF5tNgIb4YTHwbsgyJYY0DR2i0aDrML3NjY1d-yk-oKWrK-bKeobpcajr_6hPAXx92nXPQ/s400/IMG_4469+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391847346877076146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDvaRlfNzlrZBz9fekdoK943Nd1SN2nMajOaUX2tAul9x9oaY4wUQTRvP1ihYWrzUFrnesWICQA5-CF0mbjngK7CrHVynUKYCSYrf9d4EOr5BrJtNDqV6hcwEHOYeqK1cZhRugA/s1600-h/IMG_4470+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDvaRlfNzlrZBz9fekdoK943Nd1SN2nMajOaUX2tAul9x9oaY4wUQTRvP1ihYWrzUFrnesWICQA5-CF0mbjngK7CrHVynUKYCSYrf9d4EOr5BrJtNDqV6hcwEHOYeqK1cZhRugA/s400/IMG_4470+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391847357140140754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Tnj__pBl1EM5mTQ5nuO649CBmstZ0vRHFxp0ug3q9WkntsPbxfE5SZWtpsBOsgj3qmcMpvOJRRwWEDVHNppgtC4vNHpYfeaXIi5W3rTCw6ocHVxLWg9tKEFWRTxXZtt0U1DsFw/s1600-h/IMG_4473+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Tnj__pBl1EM5mTQ5nuO649CBmstZ0vRHFxp0ug3q9WkntsPbxfE5SZWtpsBOsgj3qmcMpvOJRRwWEDVHNppgtC4vNHpYfeaXIi5W3rTCw6ocHVxLWg9tKEFWRTxXZtt0U1DsFw/s400/IMG_4473+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391847358884250146" border="0" /></a>I spent months trying different ways of making GrungePaper Roses but wasn't totally happy with the results I was getting, some were a bit 'flat' and not what I wanted at all. I would like to say a big thank you to Kat who was kind and generous in sharing information which most certainly helped me to perfect the technique. Kat has a lovely <a href="http://www.kattoys.blogspot.com/">blog</a> so do take a look if you have a moment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkb6Lr-cSWoZqaNdksQqQhr2HuJ9XkGhaCXIeRjRNTIy2mMqGTG2fHGlhhaTYQSroYPTOOaYv3dFGvR3z426tJPQz9mvlvMk2R5gbiEnrJ-H7z-W0QIEYeGy_enhqFPsFxvauxQ/s1600-h/IMG_4472+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkb6Lr-cSWoZqaNdksQqQhr2HuJ9XkGhaCXIeRjRNTIy2mMqGTG2fHGlhhaTYQSroYPTOOaYv3dFGvR3z426tJPQz9mvlvMk2R5gbiEnrJ-H7z-W0QIEYeGy_enhqFPsFxvauxQ/s400/IMG_4472+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391850210677311010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMYnrDyJPzn81BdQMd2K4uag9ojPjoo-hbkZby1FQmlsalrywq0JAJ1E644_uClGBoMi1_iegLpFLlXk-b6Ds7tsUYhOYwQLzDMy_78mPI9l7zRWOE6f0w8_wFkO8Xa9h1SJXfg/s1600-h/IMG_4474+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMYnrDyJPzn81BdQMd2K4uag9ojPjoo-hbkZby1FQmlsalrywq0JAJ1E644_uClGBoMi1_iegLpFLlXk-b6Ds7tsUYhOYwQLzDMy_78mPI9l7zRWOE6f0w8_wFkO8Xa9h1SJXfg/s400/IMG_4474+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391850216217781890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hMjQCgbkWJulOF0esMKi8HRXfG5lOozFW4hv7GpzzVHWvWiDkzvWuagelsYiZj9QOtAk5ksu9yqOrEjT6N24lDpkI7wHJ0hsEQKnuaJ0UiCnYKjek4UgXAZh8dLs7ri65B8Jig/s1600-h/IMG_4488+blog.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hMjQCgbkWJulOF0esMKi8HRXfG5lOozFW4hv7GpzzVHWvWiDkzvWuagelsYiZj9QOtAk5ksu9yqOrEjT6N24lDpkI7wHJ0hsEQKnuaJ0UiCnYKjek4UgXAZh8dLs7ri65B8Jig/s400/IMG_4488+blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391850225845207682" border="0" /></a>I have seen some of the finished canvases produced by the ladies who attended. They continued working on them after the workshop until they had them just as they wanted them and they look absolutely spectacular..... their canvases were much bigger than mine too!<br /><br />Well, I'm out of that four letter word (time.... ) again! I have some more art work to share but it will have to keep until later. There's another workshop to start prepping for Thursday and I'll try to find time to take some pictures to show you of all the wonderful pieces the ladies create on the Mail Art workshop.<br /><br />For now.... Happy Crafting!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/318/839D8734DA9BC89B9A1CA9D381550027.png" style="border: medium none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-11751561750800880532009-07-09T22:00:00.002+01:002009-07-09T22:16:41.703+01:00What a Blast!Friday 03rd and Saturday 04th July saw us all having a whale of a time at our Graphicus Open Day events, during which we celebrated the '04th of July' in honour of all of our American suppliers. Let's face it, a large proportion of the fabulous crafting goodies available here in the UK originate from the USA and any excuse for a huge crafting 'knees-up' is a good one!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQn_7-KcC1wAtqCD02IRtbeCWxschyO-n_u1usXpUCulqsr2pwpBstqHco4klrEa3oGmS6J8BQOmuvDN-CrrmWChHA4X0cAubLMtjNQWsYyY1uteslddraxi3G9phWDG6-Kw0Tg/s1600-h/IMG_2790.jpg+v+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356231663541508802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQn_7-KcC1wAtqCD02IRtbeCWxschyO-n_u1usXpUCulqsr2pwpBstqHco4klrEa3oGmS6J8BQOmuvDN-CrrmWChHA4X0cAubLMtjNQWsYyY1uteslddraxi3G9phWDG6-Kw0Tg/s400/IMG_2790.jpg+v+2.jpg" /></a>I must admit, on Wednesday 01st of July I was having serious doubts about the event going ahead. At one point I imagined Graphicus floating away down the bank and into the town of Barnard Castle after torrential rain fell all day, accompanied by the most awful electrical storms complete with clashes of thunder that shook the building to its very core. We lost all of our electrics, computers, phones... everything! Our regular Wednesday Crop was taking place during all of this and the Cricut machines kept stopping in mid cut every time the electrics went off and eventually we lost the electrics completely for the rest of the evening with just the emergency lights at strategic points throughout the building giving a limited amount of light. But the girls were brilliant, they just carried on cropping and enjoying themselves while we continued stocking the shop and setting up the demo areas.<br /><br />Thursday brought a new day and beautiful sunshine. At one point I was outside, up a ladder hanging all of the bunting and thinking 'phew - it's hot' (or words to that effect) and decided to open my car windows to help keep the temperature down inside for the drive home. I had to put the keys in to get power to the windows and the temperature guage was giving an outside reading of 34 degrees! What a difference twenty four hours can bring.<br /><br />Friday was unbelieveable... it was so hectic from the doors opening at ten until we closed at five. What a fantastic turnout and that was even with the two Andy's battling it out for a place in the mens final at Wimbledon! Saturday was busy but without the crush of the previous day, just a nice steady flow throughout with several of our Graphicus Guild members meeting up at the event, some for the first time. It was great to see everyone having such a good time enjoying each others company and watching the demo's.<br /><br /><p>We had visitors from far and wide... from Devon in the South West, the Midlands, Scotland and I do believe we even had visitors from distant shores, together with all of our local customers who support us so well. It really was a blast. Everyone was lovely, friendly and extremely generous in helping us to raise funds for Graphicus's chosen charity: P.S.P. (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy). It was great to catch up with everyone and share in the fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZb_PVLzsj9KYWzPRF_JrGENsc40XmSHDEsHHmPL4IVDzz8mBJ2P5_eQmzb3xPVVw8upAYbUV8ZdaRPxrwJpGhM0_HWy33gHOKH7WYmKUkIhyphenhyphenuX31lAslGzO2riQAiuNMGOdcMA/s1600-h/IMG_4075.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356213103917077010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZb_PVLzsj9KYWzPRF_JrGENsc40XmSHDEsHHmPL4IVDzz8mBJ2P5_eQmzb3xPVVw8upAYbUV8ZdaRPxrwJpGhM0_HWy33gHOKH7WYmKUkIhyphenhyphenuX31lAslGzO2riQAiuNMGOdcMA/s400/IMG_4075.JPG" /></a>This lovely lady is Issy, one of our customers who travelled from Stirling in Scotland to support the event and got into the theme of things sporting a fantastic top paying homage to the USA!</p>David (Lesley's husband and resident Chef) was once again working his magic in the kitchen serving up hot food with an American flavour. As the weather was so beautiful on Friday, many people ate alfresco under the sun shades.... not the only thing going on out there, let me tell you!<br /><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6L_x_Q-SS9EIkN2np6PuNGbZtWgPww5KchyUFpElhFl6GwLk9MksnCpTWwhIFnofTo73XETyo4eKnGWNrvsm0nnEoAhaohyG-rbsrBxWFq12ERskU39iKAmdcFwG84crYV7jqbA/s1600-h/IMG_4074.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356203814779869282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6L_x_Q-SS9EIkN2np6PuNGbZtWgPww5KchyUFpElhFl6GwLk9MksnCpTWwhIFnofTo73XETyo4eKnGWNrvsm0nnEoAhaohyG-rbsrBxWFq12ERskU39iKAmdcFwG84crYV7jqbA/s400/IMG_4074.JPG" /></a> We even had some alfresco shopping going on on when the bargain bins ended up outside under the sunshade... nice one Ladies - I hope you found some great stamps in there!<br /><br /><p>On the Demo front we had Glenda showing off wonderful new stamps and doing amaizing things with Copic Markers (brand new and just put on the shelves on Thursday) together with lots of other lovely arty products. Lesley was having great fun getting inky with the Speedball Brayers, Big and Juicy ink pads, glossy card, and lots of fab stamp designs from Clarity Stamps. All of the things Lesley used were new in and just about everything sold out but they will be back in stock <u>very</u> soon. Judith was showing the versitility of the Melt Pot, UTEE, wire and beads and made some totally stunning jewellery with a centre core of Dew Drops... sooooooo cool! (Look out for Judith's Melt Pot Workshops coming soon). Annette was our Machine Specialist, being our resident expert on the Cricut, Expression, Create and the Slice and was just to the right of my demo table and those machines were smokin I can tell you. </p><p>Then there was me! I got to play with some fab new stuff... how about Heidi Swapp's Mega Masks, Invisibles and Distress Inks. Mix in awesome stamps from Elusive Images, Tim Holtz, Wendy Vecchi and 7 Gypsies, Perfect Pearls, lots of lovely 'trinkets' from the Ideaology line, Dew Drops, Prima Flowers, Tags, Tattered Angels Glimmer Glass Albums and whatever else anyone wanted to see. Ooo - seventh heaven! I have to admit, I'm somewhat addicted to those Mega Masks together with the Invisibles and Distress Inks, they are quite incredible and such fun to use. </p><p>The event would never have been the success it was without the invaluable assistance and very hard work of the front line crew. Denise, Emma and Victoria manned the tills, restocked the shelves, answered phones and looked after our guests. If there was an award for being a good sport it would have to go to Denise who turned out dressed (very daringly) as Daisy Dukes, complete with a long blonde wig which must have been terribly hot! In fact, all of the staff dressed in accordance with the theme of the event but Denise and Victoria were VERY daring. Adrian looked dashing and quite distinguished dressed all in black with a suave silver grey stetson hat, silver adorned belt and yes.... heeled cowboy boots! He manned the presses to manufacture more stamps when stocks ran low and very kindly offered a chauffeur service for a special lady who would not have been able to join us without his assistance. Val did a sterling job of manufacturing all of the stamps with which to stock the shop and David did a brilliant job providing the hospitality and keeping the demonstrators fed and well watered even though he was run off his feet in the 'chuck wagon'.</p><p>I have only one regret from the two days...... not having time to walk the floor with my camera! I didn't get any photos of the shinnanigans I'm afraid although, I did see Judith with a camera in her hand at one point, so look out! It may be worth checking Judith's blog to see what appears.</p><p>I did get some photos (post event) of a few of the pieces I made whilst demonstrating: </p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 331px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356230174977169330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9Rdki-focp_TeM4nzC_l2Bn_mLPFux1lb7eW_i97c0TtY6cf66Uh5uocG_DF35A8ZFxJSE0n_DM3ZmQEQbIx-WNJoPb5E7veuoGio2CMrU9qlElc2lqsWmxQmAbgWRX5liSJ9A/s400/IMG_4089.JPG" /></p><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2N241OiDdXrgDEUycXRfzMJHyz0v1w1Eo5hVYSYs5DNTZ9vdKW25FQ29yw7z7VNe1E3wxdAYIXMIifuthFBDTSNc6FX8XDMwNJ_uI8ZQR7nY5DPZCKXb6pHNPwoCWE-RPUGIJg/s1600-h/IMG_4090.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 367px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356230190997319138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2N241OiDdXrgDEUycXRfzMJHyz0v1w1Eo5hVYSYs5DNTZ9vdKW25FQ29yw7z7VNe1E3wxdAYIXMIifuthFBDTSNc6FX8XDMwNJ_uI8ZQR7nY5DPZCKXb6pHNPwoCWE-RPUGIJg/s400/IMG_4090.JPG" /></a><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356230203664373170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJ2R_d5GGi0Uk8Y4PXkCh46fBRNPTxpHUhAoeNZtXs3cM5igN9lQxAcBJG0QCCim6UosMuhyphenhyphenIEt8RmZGSrx2-81yrOd250ISMzc40h5zTrVHJawpYWs9LIsVt8wtu0kkiBO8HTQ/s400/IMG_4092.JPG" />Heidi Swapp Invisibles, Hearts Mega Mask and Flower Mask, together with Distress Inks in Worn Lipstick and Tea Dye applied with the Inkssentials Cut 'n' Dry Foam Applicator. I just need the right photograph of Diesel to finish this off now.......<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn8TGwbbPGmuKObwRbBWQAgzC6DfYME3Iv8c-qJH3DGIS9O5-oz0LY8spa2jzT5bEWtECQ66PX9_7ozIx65HDOSscSnYTwnbHMFQLi8-kPTxC76NF3C2g1ejILcLvVZJp_IFrzQ/s1600-h/IMG_4131.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 341px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356234008197500626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn8TGwbbPGmuKObwRbBWQAgzC6DfYME3Iv8c-qJH3DGIS9O5-oz0LY8spa2jzT5bEWtECQ66PX9_7ozIx65HDOSscSnYTwnbHMFQLi8-kPTxC76NF3C2g1ejILcLvVZJp_IFrzQ/s400/IMG_4131.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWJgIgJ2ZQLh91bDq7C4aIESVfJ8_E7Hq0RfyrSGSeHuueBGWUtFFKhHg2P3HKQeuTO2Yk1-8ozsccKC9hK7OzPOoRDDgvB1SpQ9yHyEy4yb7HahLq6JZL4J138HzpiGe-zvBFg/s1600-h/IMG_4095.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 337px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 336px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356234009535205730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWJgIgJ2ZQLh91bDq7C4aIESVfJ8_E7Hq0RfyrSGSeHuueBGWUtFFKhHg2P3HKQeuTO2Yk1-8ozsccKC9hK7OzPOoRDDgvB1SpQ9yHyEy4yb7HahLq6JZL4J138HzpiGe-zvBFg/s400/IMG_4095.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>Heidi Swapp Circles Mega Mask on coloured paper and inked with Peeled Paint and Tea Dye Distress Inks. Collaged images (Elusive Images and Clarity Stamps) stamped with Black VersaFine Ink.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3quO-FcTJNV-aS5X7VoPiFpjMjC35K5rnAzAc34M1OxHs3Xk6TLW8STexhCjF-ni_w9ClxBlLv1bH_MSymEl7NlCwwJM90uG9-2RLGuUKzN-SOGChkDXFwXrOwbc_IgiNOfujHg/s1600-h/IMG_4123.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356234014768293250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3quO-FcTJNV-aS5X7VoPiFpjMjC35K5rnAzAc34M1OxHs3Xk6TLW8STexhCjF-ni_w9ClxBlLv1bH_MSymEl7NlCwwJM90uG9-2RLGuUKzN-SOGChkDXFwXrOwbc_IgiNOfujHg/s400/IMG_4123.JPG" /></a> Rangers Adirondack Alcohol Inks - NEW colours from the Lights and Brights range together with Pearl Mixative, Blending Solution and Tim Holtz Stamps.<br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfOFLYNZbAdNDYW_ny59FdGSe1OPJVFFQkq5ehR_EFE9uS52IfJ54zR7t7Q7D83NSfNOZuxhWEViqyUQc9wE-Mdzp6qcgbcDTlqEmdXkYejuNj2hVir3zE7F5R-ab-cJq1xm74Q/s1600-h/IMG_4127.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356235176320491538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfOFLYNZbAdNDYW_ny59FdGSe1OPJVFFQkq5ehR_EFE9uS52IfJ54zR7t7Q7D83NSfNOZuxhWEViqyUQc9wE-Mdzp6qcgbcDTlqEmdXkYejuNj2hVir3zE7F5R-ab-cJq1xm74Q/s400/IMG_4127.JPG" /></a> Distress Inks, stamps from Elusive Images, Tim Holtz and 7 Gypsies. Embellished with Glossy Accents, Ideaology Trinkets and Dew Drops.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EQfjQhpPBWKm1sHJ7HDmA28GRwWkwSVSswwOA_flkNefPygnnzVXUgiXh6_9HudtLblfSTywDvFw7GjxUdJLZW75HsdWa3eNpikMNjFkASe7YRTqOABicp3jFWo9NpqnDv0ktw/s1600-h/IMG_4128.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356235171687241634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EQfjQhpPBWKm1sHJ7HDmA28GRwWkwSVSswwOA_flkNefPygnnzVXUgiXh6_9HudtLblfSTywDvFw7GjxUdJLZW75HsdWa3eNpikMNjFkASe7YRTqOABicp3jFWo9NpqnDv0ktw/s400/IMG_4128.JPG" /></a> Distress Inks, Elusive Images Stamps, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Prima Flowers and Dew Drops.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9jipFiw6sKyIR-lBHB8xmIt2Ktyut_juPYdDjuwol75pxRObeQYkaQzRI3EW0b7HloOwUfDiaqDzjBpLFUE376oWaXwg45p8jk_po4VHEJXgVSsDoT8E8EpXq_lsRbCWwpS7dQ/s1600-h/IMG_4129.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356235165989222818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9jipFiw6sKyIR-lBHB8xmIt2Ktyut_juPYdDjuwol75pxRObeQYkaQzRI3EW0b7HloOwUfDiaqDzjBpLFUE376oWaXwg45p8jk_po4VHEJXgVSsDoT8E8EpXq_lsRbCWwpS7dQ/s400/IMG_4129.JPG" /></a> Distress Inks, Elusive Images Stamps, and Dew Drop Embellishments, Water Colour effect achieved by spritzing the inked stamp with a Mini Mister containing water, before stamping.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7K6CFy90Xrfqwpd9nQ9z371zzhfpDuECs36qrhqNE71Vvu2SarlntMQBAJVinJ2EdoD24f06HVN65mWUK92pNEseCELx8tmHXp3B0IxsBjrWeCN8rt62UEpKByvwFZRHG_-KhQ/s1600-h/IMG_4130.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356235161202807970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7K6CFy90Xrfqwpd9nQ9z371zzhfpDuECs36qrhqNE71Vvu2SarlntMQBAJVinJ2EdoD24f06HVN65mWUK92pNEseCELx8tmHXp3B0IxsBjrWeCN8rt62UEpKByvwFZRHG_-KhQ/s400/IMG_4130.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6hYeh2fT-je_mDwJk_ER9nRQVXKuZj_xiQdnCGs9y3jh79IdzCIUar2sTzsh00ncikQWjwnB2IotXCVyEicyJU5c_O9gkhdJuRgI-2aJHkX9GKL1VcFrhhL3yYYpgdzCTxoF8Q/s1600-h/IMG_4115.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 211px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356236625123334418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6hYeh2fT-je_mDwJk_ER9nRQVXKuZj_xiQdnCGs9y3jh79IdzCIUar2sTzsh00ncikQWjwnB2IotXCVyEicyJU5c_O9gkhdJuRgI-2aJHkX9GKL1VcFrhhL3yYYpgdzCTxoF8Q/s400/IMG_4115.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiTuiwW_Sguy5ac48WvaIZlFwegjDRIm85exROcfkyAsLJ6UcDndnsLKE6mpMPSB9421wji0D0nIvyIIgqAuFGh7DuHDMe9qv1cKrkX8TTcDwUXhgM6xzbVgIV9s1HpdqBfI4Nw/s1600-h/IMG_4116.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 198px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356236617212928242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiTuiwW_Sguy5ac48WvaIZlFwegjDRIm85exROcfkyAsLJ6UcDndnsLKE6mpMPSB9421wji0D0nIvyIIgqAuFGh7DuHDMe9qv1cKrkX8TTcDwUXhgM6xzbVgIV9s1HpdqBfI4Nw/s400/IMG_4116.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7r09kw8k4auSyuWinezC76TIWgbOjouuj4U4_QQFncNOPAE9m770EOfOtJ0OsgaxhK0nlaqpB7Ua8OCCmFoohRLVTGnXyN5eMQOl0c3Y47tkGT83cmKq6UNd8Xik7IqJooPHog/s1600-h/IMG_4117.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 273px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356236610284348866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7r09kw8k4auSyuWinezC76TIWgbOjouuj4U4_QQFncNOPAE9m770EOfOtJ0OsgaxhK0nlaqpB7Ua8OCCmFoohRLVTGnXyN5eMQOl0c3Y47tkGT83cmKq6UNd8Xik7IqJooPHog/s400/IMG_4117.JPG" /></a> </div><div></div><div>I know I shouldn't be wishing the months away, heaven knows - they go fast enough as it is but I am so looking forward to the next event days in September. Better get my thinking cap on now and start coming up with ideas for demos and samples!</div><div></div><div></div><div>Have fun all and Happy Crafting!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/318/839D8734DA9BC89B9A1CA9D381550027.png" /></a> </div></div></div>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-46260150083386962522009-06-28T14:18:00.002+01:002009-06-28T14:21:54.417+01:00A Little Light Entertainment!I'm really busy this weekend... as many of you probably already know, there are two fab event days happening next Friday (03rd) and Saturday (o4th) of July at <a href="http://www.graphicus.co.uk/">Graphicus </a>and I am up to my eyes getting stuff ready (that's not a complaint by the way - I'm really having some fun getting very inky and very painty) and working out what I'm going to be demonstrating. But unfortunately, I can't share anything just at the moment - it's under wraps until Friday.<br /><br />Recently, I have found myself returning to my roots and picking up the pencils and pens... I have started drawing again! It's strange how, after such a long time out of it I've almost had to start from scratch to get anywhere near the quality I used to be able to achieve, but it's coming back - slowly.<br /><br />What started it all? Well, I had a bit of a turf out and found some old charcoal and ink fashion drawings I'd done many, many years ago and some of my old journals and really liked what I had been doing. I then looked at all the blank journals I've collected over the years (can't help it, I have an addiction to beautiful books) just sitting on one of the book shelves in my studio and I knew that the time was right to get back into the groove.<br /><br />I want to share something with you that I found while whizzing around the Internet looking at art supplies and yes, more journals. I howled at this.... it scratched my itch on two levels. One: my love of drawing and Two: we used to have a smooth haired Dachshund when I was little and I can just see her doing this!<br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AXtPXq2oJJ4&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AXtPXq2oJJ4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />I hope that made you chuckle as much as it did me!<br /><br />Well, time to get back to getting even more inky. I might just post a real sneaky peek of some of the things I'm up to later... If not tonight, tomorrow maybe!<br /><br />Enjoy your Sunday and Happy Crafting!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/318/839D8734DA9BC89B9A1CA9D381550027.png" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33586535.post-9558139888918371272009-06-19T00:12:00.009+01:002009-06-19T00:47:17.844+01:00Blog Candy Alert!<a href="http://elusiveimagesdesignteam.blogspot.com/2009/06/coming-soon-very-soon.html"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 170px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 170px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348812337195370514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBgh4VX9CRIr9AOSItOIgU5-bhrsLN0fpZrvXw5FYsM8EvqQQOs0dkgfjRT4S4wG5EQsdknVMRRnynvgDJVFsFTt9f3cWGKm0Pt7X_7VBp_rSJ5bzJzg0DYi5ajmITPJH6RH9qA/s400/EI+Blog+Candy.gif" /></a>There are brand new Elusive Images stamps on the way..... they will be released next week and there's a different type of giveaway happening over on the <a href="http://elusiveimagesdesignteam.blogspot.com/">Elusive Images</a> blog.<br /><br />You might want to hot foot it over <a href="http://elusiveimagesdesignteam.blogspot.com/">there</a> to check it out! Remember: You've gotta be in it to win it!<br /><br />Good Luck All and Happy Crafting!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/318/839D8734DA9BC89B9A1CA9D381550027.png" /></a>InkyArtitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13886174191111771096noreply@blogger.com2