Thursday, August 29, 2013

Paddling ......

Hi there ...

Thanks so much for your well wishes ... my shoulder is still troubling me but creating helps to take my mind away from it.... until I try to reach for something Lol!
 I'm amazed at how many of you suffer the same thing ... getting older can be painful!

My brother is a wonderful photographer - he takes lots of shots of his grandchildren ... Sophia and Ross ... Cousins who adore each other even though they don't get to see each other that much ...



I loved this shot and made a wall hanging for this weeks 


You know I never throw anything away ... and I keep boxes - lots of them!  I had a card box which was 20 x 27cms and I thought the lid would be great to use as the base for my wall hanging because it has a lip on so it could be hung easily ...  I sprayed it in silver and then reinforced the inside with another piece of card


I had fun making this piece ... playing with lots of different things - starting by printing a grey digital paper onto canvas paper


I tore pieces from left over piece of DP and adhered them with Gesso and used white acrylic paint randomly over the papers before mixing it with some red to get the right shade of bright pink ...


I found a stencil in one of my cupboards that I must have bought years ago for something? A rose ... so using Molding paste I stencilled it onto the paper and when dry I added some of the mixed acrylic paint ... I also used Molding paste on the left hand side and pressed my brick embossing folder into it ... Ok it isn't very clear but it did give some texture ...
I also used bubble wrap with the pink paint and dabbed white paint over that and sprayed glimmer mist randomly


The photo was mounted on a piece of cardstock that I stamped first with white ink and then used my fingers to rub some of the ink around the edge of the card and tucked some muslin behind after stamping a verse onto the paper


Tattered Rose glimmer mist was also sprayed over my large flower which I made using 2 different flowers and distress inks were used on the shells  - I sprayed the chipboard wings and the word 'Family' with silver spray paint before adhering them and finally added some rhinestones and 2 pearls for the 2 little angels in the photo
The whole page was then glued to a piece of silver CS and that was glued in turn to the box lid!

I'm really enjoying experimenting in mixed media ... and Mona and Sue's creations are always so inspiring ... hop over to the blog and take a look!

Till soon ... stay safe

~ Ros ~








Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Papercraft Star Challenge

Hello!

It's wednesday already ... the weeks are flying by aren't they

Today is another photo inspiration challenge at 


Such an interesting photo ... woodgrain, velvet, bling, crown, colours, tassels

What will you go with?

Here's what I came I did


This is a card and notebook for a lady who is in the same local history class as my husband - she was kind enough to send me a lovely scarf that she made herself - It's beautiful! But quite big so I need to find a way of photographing it to show you sometime


I've used some pretty digital paper with the crown on - a freebie from the talented Astrid ... and some paper from a pad sent to me by Jan ... which has that deep pinky red colour from the photo


The cover for the notebook is printed onto canvas paper which gives it a totally different look ... Like fabric in a way but with a tougher wipe clean coating


Our team at Papercraft Star always try to give you different ways of interpreting the inspiration photos because like us - you all have very different styles ... Head on over to the blog and check out what my lovely team mates have created this week and hopefully you will be inspired to share your interpretation ...

Have a beautiful day 

~ Ros ~




Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Cottage Roses and Gingham

Good morning!

I hope you're having a good start to your week ... I'm struggling with what I think is a trapped nerve in my shoulder ... I've had it off and on for over a month - It's painful and difficult to sleep and I have restricted movement in my arm ... Unfortunately it's my right arm too and I'm right handed ... 
Still I'm sure it will ease ... 

Today at City Crafter we have a new challenge - set for us by the lovely Charlene ...



Char is asking that we create a project using Roses and Gingham


If I'm being honest ... I really don't like my card this week  ... Maybe I should have gone with different colours ... 


I loved the inspiration photo too ... 
So I'm sure you guys can do a lot better than I did ... 


... And I made a mistake last week when I said it was sweet Sue Lelli's last week with us ... My lovely friend is still with us this week as Guest Designer ... 
"So sorry Sue" ... Put it all down to what we call a Senior Moment!
Please hop over to the blog and check out Sue's wonderful work this week along with the fabulous examples from the rest of the team - I hope you'll be inspired to join us

I'll be back tomorrow - Till than have a beautiful day 
and thanks so much for stopping by

~ Ros ~


Sunday, August 25, 2013

Strong ...

Happy Sunday to you ...



It's a new photo prompt at
Today our lovely Kirsty has chosen the prompt which is 
Strong

I thought this was a terrific prompt ... It conjures up so many things and at first I was going to go with some photos I took this week of little black ants burrowing out of the mortar between the flags ... Boy those insects are really strong! They can carry up to 20 times their own weight

But then along came my "little man" a stray cat we've opened our hearts to ... He was looking a little battered and bruised this day - and tired from sleeping rough I guess and the fights that ensue when other tom cats pick on him ... Of course we feed him and offer him a place to sleep which he occasionally accepts ... as he did in this shot


Looking at him"Strong" came into my mind ... I've nursed many sick and ailing cats, dogs, birds - even mice and frogs - thanks to my son - not with any special lotions or potions but with food, shelter and lots of love - It never ceases to amaze me how strong and enduring they are ...


It always distresses me when people think it's ok not to neuter a cat - one un-spayed female cat will be responsible for 20,000 offspring in 5 years given that an average litter is 4 kittens and within 6 months each kitten can go on to have their own litter ... As for the tom cat ... he will always be in combat ... battered and bruised - not a good life ... even if you are not a cat person.

Ok ... enough preaching ... here are some shots of those amazing pesky ants!





I don't mind these so much ... It's the flying ones I really don't like

I'm off to take a look at the blog to see what my fellow team mates have in store for us this week ... why don't you join me and link up your photos this week ... I'd love to see what your interpretations are for Strong ...

Have a lovely day

~ Ros ~

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Three French Hens And A Table

Hello there!


Well I don't know about you but my friday very hectic .... But before I get into that ... Would you like to see a couple of things I've been working on?

As far as card making goes ... my mojo has run off somewhere so I've been turning my hand back to home decor - Ever since my sweet friend Anitra mention Water Slide paper to me (hadn't a clue what it was) I've been desperate to try it ... Getting stuff like that is not easy here in the UK but fortunately I found some on the internet along with the necessary Krylon lacquer ...

I saw a cute little table at the flea market and the guy let me have it for £2 Perfect!! Ok, it needed a good clean and I forgot to take a photo before hand ... so eager was I to get going ... But several coats of paint and a good few hours later ... this is the result


... And I'm thrilled with it - even though I did botch a little of the decal


This little table folds each side so it is only about 3" wide .. so cute!


Well I couldn't stop there ... I have just finished another table which I will post another time but I also wanted to show you how I transformed my little hen house egg holder ... Again I'm sorry I forgot to photograph it before ... Just trust me that I've had this about 14 years and it was looking shabby 


Ta da!! The digital images are from Etsy (the hens) and The Graphics Fairy (postmarks)


The thing I love is the roof ... ever since the lovely and uber talented Mona Pendleton posted her gorgeous creations using a Tim Holtz embossing folder and some Ranger foil sheets I fell hook line and sinker and ordered them


I love the effect!


If you're thinking of giving water slide paper a go ... head on over to The Polka Dot Closet and take look at some of the wonderful things Carol makes ... This lady is amazing!

So my day - I was expecting a friend around lunch time which was fine as we were expecting people to come and clean the gutters in the morning (when DH would be here).

The gutter people didn't arrive so DH took himself out for the day ... then my friend arrived whilst I was painting and so did the guys to do the gutters!
My friend and 6 other people are each making a fabric letter to spell out a pretty WELCOME banner for the cancer clinic at our city hospital ... my friend (an artist in her own right) does not sew and needed my help ...
In the course of trying to adorn her letter "L" the phone rang countless times, the doorbell rang countless times ... and the workmen kept interrupting for something ... Then my Aunt got into difficulty with her online shopping orders ... my SIL wanted to chat ... and so it went until about 8pm. I was so glad to get to bed last night - my head was spinning!

I'm hoping for a more peaceful weekend ... the football season has started and DH will be off to the match later this morning ...

Have yourselves a lovely weekend ...

Thanks for looking in on me 

Till soon

~ Ros ~





Thursday, August 22, 2013

How Did I Do That ...

Hello ... Thanks for looking in
So I promised you yesterday that I would tell you how I made my paint splat background on the card I posted yesterday for Papercraft Star

This is the background before I added the cut out lattice effect


It was all done using Adobe PSE on my iMac and if I can do  - it believe me anyone can do it!

So rather than write a long boring post ... for those of you who would like to know how to do this and make your own backgrounds ... 
Hop over to 


where I have done a step by step video tutorial and please let me know what you think ... was it helpful?
Be kind ... I'm a little shy about doing these things! 

Till soon

~ Ros ~






Wednesday, August 21, 2013

You Colour My World

Hi there! 
You colour my world ... did you know that? 

The Papercraft Star Inspiration photo is just full of colour this week


Doesn't it look delicious? 
You can go with the colours or the fruit ... perhaps the shapes that you see in there

I love the colours and I also love the chevron and lattice shapes and this is my card


I had it in my head to do paint splats ... using the colours in the photo ... unfortunately I don't have a stamp remotely like paint splats ... nor do I have all those colour inks


So I used Adobe PSE to make my background and cut the lattice shape using my Cameo
The sentiment is also computer generated


A few buttons just finish this off ...

My talented team mates have some lovely interpretations of this photo challenge if you are looking for more inspiration ... please hop over to the blog to take a look and I hope you will feel inspired to join us this week ...

If you are interested in knowing how I made this background or any other backgrounds using PSE ... Please come back tomorrow and I'll have a full tutorial for you

Thanks for your visit 
Till soon

~ Ros ~




Tuesday, August 20, 2013

City Crafter 1-2-3

Hello and Good Morning!

I'm hosting this week at City Crafter and the challenge I've set for you is called 

1-2-3


I want to see your creations using
1 Stamp
2 papers
3 embellishments

Just to clarify ... You can of course also use Card stock and we will count buttons, pearls, sequins and the like as 1 item

Ok ... that's simple enough don't you think ...


I used 1 stamp from Waltzingmouse
2 Papers ... MME and First Edition
3 embellishments ... A flower, a doily and a pair of Die cut clock hands


The lovely Sue Lelli has been Guesting with us this month and this is her last week ... 
"Thanks Sue! ... we've loved having you here"


... And if you'd like a chance at Guest Designing with us just link up your entry this week 

Don't forget to visit the blog and check out all the creations from our team ...

Thanks so much for your visit - I'll be back tomorrow ... 
Have a beautiful day

~ Ros ~



Sunday, August 18, 2013

Our Beautiful World

Good morning!
I hope you are well ...

Today's prompt at Our Beautiful World blog has been picked for us by sweet Milagros
The prompt is "Birthday"

Birthdays makes me think of Wishes ...


Prettily wrapped Gifts


and beautiful Bouquets ...


I confess I found this prompt quite difficult ... bearing in mind that the object is to share something from my part of the world ... No newborn animals or birds to show you ... the flowers are fading ... and my birthday is in January
So I pulled a few things from my archives to share

 January ...  In the Zodiac chart this makes me a Capricorn ... The Goat


... And in my part of the world January is cold ... often on my birthday my garden is covered in snow ...


A snowy evening in my road


If not snow ... it's cold and frosty and crisp under foot


... and evening comes in all too quickly



 What's it like in your part of the world? What does "Birthday" mean to you?
We'd love if you could share with us at Our Beautiful World ...

I'm off to the blog to see what my friends around the world have posted ... But just before I go


Yep ... This is my "Birth" Day ... Obviously not taken by me!!
My Mum looks tired, my Dad is all dressed up for the occasion and my big brother ... well he doesn't look at all impressed does he ...

Have a beautiful Sunday

~ Ros ~










Friday, August 16, 2013

It's Those Jars Again ...

Hello!

I'm back home and already missing the charm of Lincoln and seeing my Aunt's sweet face each morning ... I tell you I could quite easily stay there ... I've just got to figure out how to get my craft room down there ...

Before I left I got Featured Artist award at A Mixed Media Challenge  for my altered tin and today I noticed that I got a Top3 Award at Lessology  for my postcard album altered box lid 
Thank You Ladies!! I'm delighted!

I told you that I had been using the lovely digital jars images from Iralamija and here's another card I made a few weeks ago using one of the images - this was for some friends of mine who celebrated their anniversary just over a week ago


I love that peeled paint paper from Fancy Pants ... and you already know how much I love the Ombre effect (Pink Petticoat) on my cards ...


Again I used acetate for the jar ... backed onto some pretty green dot paper ... what you can't really see is that I used my trusty Bostick glue to adhere the acetate to the paper and it leaves a mark like water in the jar ...


I love these shades of green and I know my friends do too so I hope they liked this card

I hope you've had a wonderful week and have a beautiful weekend

Till soon

~ Ros ~