Almost there....

I have been working for ages and ages to complete a botanical mini book with pockets for loads and loads of tags (I think there are almost 40 two sided tags in all). Well I am on the last few now, here are 3 of my last favourites. I used a cool new technique (probably won't even show). I covered the tags in Gesso, then used 3 different colours of acrylic paints and then Colorbox chalk inks with a make-up sponge. On the photos it does not look all that different from just using Distress Inks, but in real life the chalk inks over the gesso give a really cool translucent effect.

It's not too late yet to enter my give-away. Just scroll down two posts and you will see it:o)

Olde Curiosity Street

Today is my turn for showing a project at Snazzys. This month we are featuring Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper collection and stamps.
If you go over to the blog there, there is even a chance to win an 8 x 8 pack of these great papers, just by leaving a comment on the first post this month.

Oh and if you want to be in with a chance to win a Crafty Secrets CD, please leave a comment on the post below here.

A freebie and a Give away

First of all, sorry to be a day late with my freebies, but at the moment it suits me better to have them up on Saturday. 

First up is a give-away, as I have not done one of those for ages! Some of you may have noticed from my side bar that I have been designing some papers for Crafty Secrets, who have just published a third CD, "Designing with Vintage Typography". 

The kind owner Sandy, sent me 5 CDs. Well obviously I only need one, so that means I have 4 of them to give away . To be in with a chance all you need to do is become a follower if you aren't one already and leave a comment on this post. I will draw winners by next Saturday, August 4, with the help of random org and will announce the winners with next week's freebies. I will ship anywhere in the world.

Now for the freebies of this week. There is a set of labels. I have just revamped my craft room a bit and wanted to label all my little drawers, so I designed a set of pretty labels and thought some of you might find them useful too.

 Here they are as singles, just if you want to resize them or use them in a different way.

I'll leave you with a little picture of the labels on some of my little drawers:) Have a good weekend everyone!

THIS GIVE-AWAY IS NOW CLOSED! WINNERS ANNOUNCED SATURDAY AUGUST 4
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR LOVELY COMMENTS!!

Good for one pair of shoes

Hi every one, here is a little project for the Artistic Stamper design team. They have just brought out some new stamps if you are interested, though my project uses an older one.

To read the wee story around this project and see how I made it, please go to The Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog.

The freebie for this week will exceptionally come on Saturday, so if you want to see what it is, come back tomorrow as there will be a give away too!

Spellbinder project for July

Hi everyone
I am happily back from a great holiday in France and have been busy working on DT team projects. Here is a quick view of two projects that are up on the Spellbinders blog today.
I'd love it if you leave me a comment there.
Thank you :o) Just click here

Last post from France

Tomorrow is our last day here, time just seems to fly when you are having fun.... We had a gloriously hot day yesterday and to day it was pleasant, though there were a few little showers.
Here are the last of the tags I will be making here as tomorrow I'll need to start packing all my bits and pieces. I'm also showing one more journal page in progress.

Start of journal page

All of these need finishing off at home still, but at least the basics are done. Still about 15 more to go........

When the rain hit France

So in the last few days we have had quite a bit of rain here in France too, no escaping it this year it seems. Ah well, plenty of time to create. I know some of you have been laughing at the amount of stuff I took along, but hey ho, as the rain was pelting down on our gite, at least I did not get bored.

Some of you know I am working on a nature inspired mini with enough pockets and spaces for about 35 tags. Well here are just a few more (I am not showing them all as some need more finishing off at home with embellishments etc).

Here is also another journal page in progress:

Well, the sun is just about starting to break through again. Hope it's bright and sunny where you are and happy Sunday everyone!

The Artistic Stamper July project

Today it is my turn to post a project for the Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog
Here is a little sneak peak. To see the full project and how I made it, please visit the blog

WOYWW 163 My desk in France

Hello everyone and happy Wednesday. I thought it would be fun to show my little holiday desk in France and join in the WOYWW fun while I am at it. I have not been part of that for quite a few weeks, just too busy and I don't like to show my little space when I don't have the time to visit yours, but now I do and so here it is, my little space in the spare room in our holiday Gite:

Quite a bit of clutter for just a two week holiday, but if I can't play with my inks and paints I go all fidgetty so along came three boxes full of stuff. Oh and here is what I am working on:

A small journal and some pages in a nature inspired mini book.
After my last post several of you were wondering where in France I am, well it's in Burgundy on the edge of a nature reserve, it's totally gorgeous and beautiful!!
Oh and if you are wondering what all this desk stuff is about, just go here and all will be explained.

Waving Hi From France

I am having the most glorious time in France and sometimes the sun even peeps out...As we have wifi here I can even blog.

Here is a photo of the lovely little Gite we are staying in and below are some photos of a journal page I have been working on

Off on holiday and a freebee

This morning I am off for a two week holiday to France. Call me crazy but I have packed two big boxes and a back pack full of art and craft stuff. After all you can't go for walks, visit quaint little towns, eat amazing meals and read novels all of the time can you now....? Apparently the little gite we have rented has got Wifi, so I will be able to come and visit some of my favourite blogs, and who know, maybe I'll post some stuff myself too.
I leave you will a little collage sheet. I have printed it myself on tissue paper again (on how to do that, see post below) and plan to use it in a journal while away,. who knows.... The little images are from Magic Moonlight and the background was made with digital stamps I created from various ephemera, mostly from the Graphics Fairy Many thanks to both!!

The first three tags and a couple of freebies

I managed to finish the first three tags for the nature themed mini book (see post below this one, here)

In each case I decorated both sides. I am also posting two collage sheets with botanical images which I have collected over the years, many are from the Graphics Fairy. I print these on tissue paper by attaching them to a transparency sheet and then use the images to decorate the tags. Feel free to use them if you want to give this technique a try.

Sticky back canvas on board, texture paste, gesso, acrylic paints, glimmer mist. Images K and Co

7 Gypsies paper, stamping and image from collage sheet below

Prima Romantique paper, old bookpage, ribbon, die cut and butterfly from K and Co

Paper from stash (no idea where it came from) stamping and again butterfly from K and Co.

Stamping on inked background with images from sheet below

Stamping on inked background. Gold round edges

Stamps are mainly from Darkroom Door and Tim Holtz

Make sure to use your best printer setting to get good strong colours!

Nature inspired mini WIP

This is a work in progress on a nature inspired mini that I am making for a commission. The basic design is a 6 x 8" "Stack the Deck with Pockets", as developed by Laura Dennison from Following the Paper Trail. I love this type of binding as it is sturdy and leaves lots of room for embellishment. This particular one has 6 main double sided pages and 4 smaller pages with fold outs. Each page also has at least 2 pockets. All in all there will be enough space for about 35 tags or cards. So far I have just done the basic book. The next task will be to create the tags and cards to fit into the pockets. I used a variety of papers from different collections, Prima, Graphics 45 and 7 Gypsies. I altered them with Distress Inks to make them blend and fit together.

Here are some of the pages. Stupidly I forgot to take pictures before putting the book together, so it was quite hard to photograph and some of the photos are a bit wonky.....