Compendium of Curiosities Challenge – Week 15

Let me start by saying I absolutely adored this weeks challenge. I truly had a great time.

As always this weeks CC2C is hosted by the amazing Linda Ledbetter. This challenge is Enamelled Metals found on page 56 of Tim’s book, compendium of curiosities II.

As is my habit now, I’ll let the pictures do the talking. Though I will blog about a couple of things I did with this tag (not Tim’s techniques, buy the book!) at a future date.

See you next week!

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge – Week 14

This weeks CC2C is Guilded Kraft Glassine found on page 39 of Tim Holtz’s compendium of curiosities II. As always, the challenge is hosted by the lovely Linda Ledbetter and this week is sponsored by the very generous folk over at The Funky Junkie Boutique

I decided to take a wee walk on the other side for this challenge, and to make something that is really different to the style I would usually take.

Both the flowers and the background piece were created using Tim’s technique. The embossed stamp image is from one of the brand new Stampers Anonymous sets, re-releasing old classics.

See you next week!

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge – Week 13

This weeks cc2c is Tim Holtz’s Spritz and Flick Technique found on page 42 of Compendium of Curiosities II. It’s also sponsored by the lovey folk over at Simon Says Stamp

Much like last week, I’ll let the pictures do the talking, though I will confess my disappointment that my stamped winged man did not photograph properly. In reality the plastic layered over the stamped image, is a fabulous 3d image. Shame I couldn’t get the camera to pick it up.

I’d also like to say how delighted I was to win last weeks challenge, over the moon doesn’t even come close. Huge thanks to the lovely Linda Ledbetter

Words aside, here’s my tag.

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge – Weeks 11 & 12

This weeks CC2C hosted by the lovely Linda Ledbetter was one that I utterly adored! So much so that I made this one, and immediately started another. The nature of this challenge though means that there isn’t much I can say about it lest I give away how to do it so I’ll stick with a million pictures and let them speak my words.

Enjoy!

What’s on MY work desk Wednesday.

So, a little birdie tells me that it’s July already. Now, there’s two reasons why that can’t possibly be true, firstly, look outside! July is a month of sun, warmth and lazy days in the garden. If you’re looking out of your window, then you must agree that it’s definitely more like a slightly warmer February or March. Secondly, July is the month of my birthday and I can promise you now that I’m definitely NOT getting any older. So you see, it’s not July. So there.

What it IS though is Wednesday, which means its time to don your nosy Parker glasses and feast your eyes over the many desks that congregate over at the lovely Julia’s Place

Here’s my desk today, taken at 5am this morning because I’m rubbish and completely forgot yesterday.

As you can see, there’s not the usual huge pile of stuff. I’ve actually got a fairly good space to work on a configurations box for cc2c.

Thank you ever so much for all the lovely messages of support, you guys are truly wonderful. See you next week.

12 Tags of 2012 – June

Well, I think it’s safe to say I’m close to the wire this month.. In fact, there’s only four hours of June left here in the UK! Still, I’ve finally found time to compete my version of Tim’s 12 Tags of 2012.

My tag uses all the same things as Tim’s but mine is very, very different! I decided to go for a pop art/comic book style with this tag, using bright colours throughout.

I started out by cutting a Manila tag using Tim’s Tag and Bookplate die. I then followed Tim’s instructions to colour the tag using Picket Fence, Wild Honey, Dried Marigold and Spiced Marmalade distress stains.

I then stamped Tim’s Retro Circles stamp with Black Archival ink and pressed it randomly across the tag, using light pressure to ensure an uneven stamp.

I inked a photograph of myself and my baby daughter, following Tim’s instructions. I used Festive Berries, Squeezed Lemonade, Peacock Feathers and Shaded Lilac Distress Inks.

I glued the photo to a piece of Ticket paper from one of Tim’s paper sets (It was a scrap so I’m not sure which it came from) I distressed the edges and then dipped them into a small puddle of Broken China Distress Stain.

I used the lightbulb Sticker from the File Tabs Idea-Ology and used a permanent marker to change the filament into a heart. I affixed it according to Tim’s instructions.

I colorised some of the remaining Idea-Ology pieces with Raspberry, Purple Twilight and Clover alcohol inks and affixed all onto the tag following Tim.

I coloured the Crinkle Ribbon with Fired Brick Distress Stain, and the flowers with Broken China and attached them as stated on Tim’s blog.

See you next time!

WOYWW time again.

I know I say this every week, but sheesh where do the weeks go? It’s time again to become a nosy Parker and to ogle all the desks you can find over at the lovely Julia’s place

I’m cheating a little this week, as I’m currently writing this on Tuesday evening. Tomorrow will be more of a what’s in your kitchen Wednesday rather than what’s on your work desk Wednesday much like today was. I’m currently in the throes of a two tier cake, covered with home made marshmallow fondant. I promise pictures next week.

Anyway, last week I had me a good moan about my bridezilla and her unreasonable demands, but I’m delighted to report that I’m all done and they’re winging their way to her as we speak. Thank you for all of the lovely comments and support, it really helped perk me up.

What’s on my work desk is pretty much the remnants of the invites, plus the usual rubbish I never seem to find time to put away.

I also made good use of my new K-mix and made these Raspberry Trifle Cupcakes, vanilla sponge filled with Raspberry compote and topped with a real vanilla custard, edible glitter and sprinkles. My husband took them into work to test drive the new recipe on his colleagues, and I’m pleased to say they were a resounding success!

The black speckles are vanilla seeds, not dirt. Haha!

I think I managed to get around all of the desks last week too, yay me!

See you next week!

Organised Chaos.. WOYWW

I’m sure that Wednesday’s are popping up every fourth day lately. Surely it cannot be a whole week between them..

Here’s my desk as of ten minutes ago. It’s not exactly tidy, but it’s a darn sight better than it was!

Currently drying (on a baking tray!) are 90+ silver hearts coated in the first coat of glossy accents. Around 50 invite envelopes in the first stage of assembly, and a myriad of other crap useful items.

I’m supposed to have all 100 invites completed by the end of the month. The new delivery date was a complete surprise to be honest, and I’m not overly impressed. Surely when you’re getting something done for free, you smile and say thank you, not I need them in two weeks but you need to change EVERYTHING from what you originally agreed to do! She’s not getting married until late October! Sigh.

In brighter news, I have goodies!

I also have a brand new K-Mix stand mixer, thanks to my hubby, so I imagine my desk shots may include cakes.. Or crumbs at least! Cake making and baking in general has always been my first love so it’s wonderful to have a good excuse to get back to it. I’m sure that’s why my cake loving husband bought me the mixer!

Finally, some amazing news! My beautiful baby girl started walking! She walked the length of our living room to reach her daddy.. On Fathers day! What an amazing gift for him!
Anyhoo, head on over to Julia’s place to see lots of creative spaces.

See you next week.

Compendium of Curiosities 2 Challenge – Week 9

This year is truly flying by, I swear I must be losing days in my sleep. Although, that would involve the baby actually letting me sleep..

It’s time again for the lovely Linda Ledbetter’s CC2C. As usual the challenge is to use one of Tim’s techniques shown in his 2nd compendium of curiosities book.

This weeks challenge is to use an Idea-ology Pocket Watch found on page 35. This weeks challenge is sponsored by the generous folks over at Simon Says Stamp

I decided to do another photo frame this week, simply because my husband loves them and I needed a gift for fathers day!

I started out by being a bit naughty and smashing the glass out of the Pocket Watch. I then filled it following Tim’s instructions.

I took some floristry wire, painted it with Silver and Pitch Black Paint Dabbers, and once dry, curled them into tight spirals. I then used hot glue to affix Idea-Ology mini Gears and game spinners. I then used hot glue to glue them into the watch.

Next, I needed to recreate the glass I has smashed out so I poured a pile of UTTE onto my craft sheet and melted it using my Heat Tool.

Once set, but still warm, I trimmed it into a tough ouch circle approximately the size of the watch and let it cool completely.

Once completely cooled, I shattered it into shards and hot glued it onto the inner edges of the watch.

I took a large scrap of paper from Tim’s Lost and Found stash (I think!) and affixed it into my frame. The frame was originally a faux gold but I painted it with Pitch Black and Silver Paint Dabbers. I then dabbed Tim’s Ransom Letters with Silver Paint Dabber and glued the words ‘Tick Tick’ onto the paper insert.

I used hot glue to glue the Watch and Key Chain into the frame.

I then glued the word ‘Boom!’ into the frame. I’m not sure exactly what I used to create these, as they were just in my stash, but I expect it was Platinum UTEE onto Grunge, with a coat of clear UTEE.

Finally I hot glued the remaining ‘glass’ shards around the frame to simulate the exploding watch.

My husband adores it, and it currently resides on his desk in his office at work.

Mess, mess, messy!

Oh yeah.. This is my desk!

It’s under there, I promise. I’ve been making 100 embossed wedding invites, complete with faux glass hearts. Also a birthday card. And this weeks cc2c. Still, my awesome hubby has bought me storage.. Lots and lots of new storage. Now if I could find time to build it all..

If you want to see desks infinitely better than mine, head on over to Julia’s place.

Finally, I must apologise to the recipients of my ATC’s. It seems, mentioning no names, someone forgot to pop them into the post as promised. So they only went into the post last Friday. I’m ever so sorry.

See you next week