Saying Goodbye To 2012

Hi Everyone,

 

I hope you all had a great Christmas. 

 

I would like to thank you all for your support in visiting my blog and for or the lovely comments you have left me, throughout 2012. 

 

I would especially like to thank the visitors from outside of the UK. The most of my visitors are at the moment, from Russia. So I would like to say a special thanks to them and I wish you could leave me a message on my comments, so I know who you are.

 

This is my first card I have made since Christmas. Today is the first day that we have no visitors, or that we are out visiting. I really enjoyed sitting at my desk and chilling out, making this card this morning. Even listening to my husband in the background, cursing, as he was changing the washer on the tap in the kitchen!! Even that did not distract me!

 

The stamp is of course from Lili Of the Valley and I used Distress Inks to colour the image with. Victorian Velvet and Frayed Burlap for her dress and Tea Dye for her wings and hair. The usual colours for her skin.

 

 

For the flowers, I coloured a scrap of white card with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink and used the Nestie Poinsettia Die but cut off the points when I took them out of the dies.

 

The Leaves and the Butterflies dies are Cheery Lyn Designs.  The background papers are from my stash.

 

I am still getting to grips with my new photo programme. Not quite perfected it yet! Practise makes perfect! From looking at these pictures, I still have a lot of practising to do!!

 

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you all have a wonderful celebration for the New Year. We are hopefully having a quiet evening, just phoning my in-laws in Australia, if we can get through.

 

Wishing you all a peaceful 2013.

 

Hugs,

 

Carol S.xx

An Old Favourite!

Hi All,

 

I am posting 2 nights running, I can't believe it!

 

Still having problems with my photo program. If I put my name on, I then can't upload the picture. Hope to solve it over the Christmas break.

 

This Santa stamp I have had for a number of years. It was on a wooden block but I always remove them and put them onto u-mount.

 

I first made the background paper, starting with a piece of white paper and coloured it with Antique Linen Distress Ink. I then used Tea Dye DI and a Kaiser Craft Script stamp  and stamped all over the paper. I then ran a gold leaf pen around the edges.

 

 

I stamped Santa with Vintage Photo onto white card and cut it out with the largest size Nestie Label 18. I left it in the die and using Dry Foam and Vintage Photo ink, I edged it around the inside of the die. I then ran a gold leaf pen around the edge.

 

I used the same size die on a piece of gold pearlescent card, drawing around the outside of the die, making a slightly larger size. I used scissors to cut it out. I used foam pads to mount the image onto the gold card.

 

The Poinsettia I cut out of some brown patterned paper and a scrap of green paper from my stash. I then edged each petal with gold acrylic paint dabber. I glued it together and added a gold gem in the middle.

 

I cut 2 strips of gold designer paper and stuck them onto the backing paper.  I then added the sentiment. After gluing the Santa in place, I added Stickles Star Dust onto the snowflakes in his beard and on the edges of the flower. Around the edges of the image I used Gold Stickles.

 

Finally I used Glossy Accents on his eyes and his glasses.

I hope you like this card as much as I do. This really is my all time favourite image of Santa.

 

Thanks for stopping by. I will post more market photos and even pics of my finished drive!!

 

Hugs,

Carol S.xx

Our Christmas Market.

Hi All,

 

I am still struggling with my new photo program. It's much more complicated than the last one.

 

These are a few pictures of our market we had earlier this month. It was not as busy as the last one but most of us did ok. I think it was a bit too late, and very short notice. We are going to start planning next years markets in January.

 

I will try to post more pictures tomorrow of a few more stalls.

 

The first picture was taken from my stall down towards the other end of the room.

 

The picture below is of my favourite jewellery stall, Chrys Tapping Jewellery. It is all handmade and each item is unique. I just love it and now have four of Chrys's creations. I will take a close up photo of my necklaces and post it, as this picture does not do it justice.

 

The picture below is of Richard and Ynes Anderson, Father and Daughter. He makes stunning wood turned items, such as bowls, vases and even miniature items. Ynes also makes miniatures. As I have had a go at that for items for my Dolls House, I know just how difficult these are to make. Her items are superb.

The picture below is my stall, a mix of painted mirrors. Clocks made from canvas that have also been painted and one I have made as a collage for a person who likes sewing. I used large press studs for the numbers. The other items are notebooks, door stops, cards and an assortment of gifts I have made.

The next picture is Phil Bird, a fantastic photographer. He actually lives opposite me with his wife Barbara. (not in the picture as she was not well)  He makes his photos into beautiful wall art and even into cards. A lot of his photos are in our towns' official calendar.

 

 

Siobhan is hiding behind her cards and Jenny, her Mum is behind their hand knitted items. I have known them for quite some time, as they used to come to some of my classes at the Craft Barn in Lingfield, where I was a Tutor and Demonstrator.  Siobhan now works there in the shop part time. Their knitted items sell very well and they still are trying to get their orders completed in time for Christmas. They are both great fun and we do meet up at quite a few markets.

 

 

We had a raffle with loads of prizes, a lot of which were won by the stall holders! They all had contributed a gift to the raffle along with many other items we had been given. We raised £35 from the raffle. I gave my Charity, Brendoncare Stildon £125 in total and a small donation to The British Heart Foundation.

 

I have finally finished all my orders tonight thank goodness.

 

Sadly I have to now spend tomorrow cleaning the house. Very boring, but it has to be done!!

 

Thanks for visiting my blog and I will even try to post some cards tomorrow as well.

Hugs,

Carol S.xx

I'm Back Again!!



Hi Everyone,

 

Thank you for still taking the time to visit my blog, even though I had not posted recently.

 

We have finally received a new CD for my photo program but now I can't use it properly. If I crop a photo and add my name I cannot then return to that photo!! I tells me it is corrupt! (Scream and stamp feet!!)

 

So frustrating getting a response from the company. In a week, they have sent me one suggestion for a fix and that didn't work.

 

Any way that's my rant for now.

 

This is a clock I have made for our market on Thursday 6th, this week! My friend Sue and myself have arranged our own market, our first, so a bit scary!! It is being held at East Grinstead Sports Club, Saint Hill Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, from 10am - 2pm. If you know the area we would love to see you.

 

We have 14 stalls all different and a lot are hand made items. Sadly some of the people we would have liked are fully booked up and like me, struggling to keep enough stock for all the markets.

 

 

 I have made loads of Christmas cards but not put them on this stupid computer program yet.

 

The poppies for this clock are Indigo Blue stamps and painted with Acrylic paint. I have also done candles and mirrors with this stamp.

 

The poppy candles go like hot cakes and even sold a couple of the mirrors too.

Well only a little post for now, as I must get back to making stock for Thursday.

 

Thanks for stopping by and I will get around to visiting all my fave blogs soon. Thursday is my last market, so hopefully I will have a bit more time to clean the house as well!!

 

Hugs,

 

Carol S.xx