Simple cards for a change..

Today I went to my friend Lindas and for a change I decided to make some simple cards like the stampin up style (if you require any stampin up goodies be sure to check out Lindas blog as she is a demonstrator and can get them for you). Sometimes I like to challenge myself not to get messy and do something which is completely different from my normal grungy style...these 10 cards that I made today will be ideal to give to my parents who like simple rather than grunge! I think I might make a little box next to keep them in...so what have you done recently that is different?

little findings box (FAMM equinox & artistic mum group)

I havent done a project for the Artistic Mum group for a while so decided to alter a little drawer that I found in my stash. I wanted this findings box to reflect me so there are references to lots of thing that I love: the moon, birds that I watch in my garden, chinese symbols reminding me of yoga & kickboxing and the need to focus, guitar plecks as my husband plays guitar, chickens as I like visiting farms and of course lots of vintage & rust. The challenge this month at Fibre Arts & Mixed Media is equinox so be sure to check out all the other entries...

Autumn is on its way..

the virginia creeper at the back of my garden
love this plant as it covers the whole of my back
fence during the autumn

I have always loved Autumn with all its beautiful colours. I have been feeling cold so decided to make some warm orange cards this morning. I have used a prima brown paper shopping bag to stamp on and lots of layers and distress inks. All stamps used available from Scrollswork. I have got a nice chicken curry cooking in the slow cooker so the house smells lovely...off to have some mousakka and a nice cup of tea for lunch....is it starting to get chilly where you live? I am also delighted that I have now got 71 followers on my facebook page..so thanks everyone and dont forget to comment..

Dreams of the countryside fabric landscape

If I had pots of money I would love to live in an old rambling farmhouse in Cheshire near to Beeston Castle with its beautiful scenery...well you have to dream dont you! I also like buying country life magazines now and again as its full of old rustic charm farms and an almost idyllic view of country life..I know from my mum who used to live in Wales that its hard work living in the countryside. For now I can make landscapes inspired by my visits to the Cheshire countryside. I have painted the background with fabric paints, then used lots of variegated machine stitching for the mountains and fields. Amongst the raggedy poppies I have sewed lots and lots of french knots..my latest favourite stitch. Now I have to search my shed for a suitable frame to hang in my kitchen...my shed is full of stash and I think it needs a good sort out but not in this heavy rain!

Rusty moon (alter it monthly rust)

I have had a load of polymer clay in a box for ages and havent played with it..so today I was determined to make something with it! I luckily picked up a pasta machine at a charity shop and its ideal for making the clay very thin. I have used lots of background stamps on the different clay pieces and painted over them with paint and mica powders..particularly like the crackle stamp as it looks like bark. Found my box of rusty washers & screws so have glued all together with good old Bostik. The alter it monthly challenge is rust so be sure to check out the other entries.



I also made another piece which has some wire added to it ..I used distress inks as well as paint on the clay on this one. All stamps from Scrollswork

Playing around with fabric paints...ongoing project

Yesterday I went to my friend Pats with Linda (check out their blogs to the right to see their fab pictures). We had a great time playing around with fabric paints and I learnt how to do french knots..so here is a photo my fabric piece..its still a work in progress. I will post a photo of when its finished as it needs loads more layers and stitching before I am happy with it..but sometimes its nice to show you a project at the beginning. I went to the Hope St festival today with my youngest and there was an open day at the Liverpool Philharmonic so my son had a great time playing the tuba, trumpet, violin, cello and clarinet. His trumpet playing was amazing...he must take after my family as my mum plays the trumpet and my welsh grandad used to be a conductor...hope you all had a good Sunday.

Apple of your eye....

I have been busy making a scrapbook all this week and finally finished and posted it today. Fridays for me usually mean catching up on the housework and washing all the weeks clothes. After school my son brought Roary the lion home and we have to write about his adventures. So this afternoon my youngest helped me to make some delicious apple pies. We were given the apples by a friend and they made some lovely pies ...so thanks Rita if your reading this. I planted an apple tree in the Spring and didnt think I would get any apples on it for a couple of years but have noticed that 3 apples are growing on it..so one each for my sons! I have got some lovely sunflowers in my garden but my tomatoes havent grown yet and are just a pile of leaves! Have a good weekend everyone....

UK Stampers Header competition

Over at UK Stampers they are having a header competition so thought I would have a go at designing one. The background is one of my recent stamped and painted ones and I have added some invoke letter stamps and little girl scrollswork stamps. UK Stampers is a great place to chat on our daily thread, swap art and find out whats new in the stamping world...its open to non-UK residents too so why not check it out by clicking here.

Recycling: Stamping on brown paper

Whenever I go to my friend Lindas house she always gives me things that I might like to alter. On a recent visit she gave me a load of brown wrapping paper. This makes a lovely surface for stamping on and looks very vintage with brown inks and curled edges..its one of my fav stamping surfaces rather than stark white paper. Here are a few christmas cards in green and brown tones..all of these beautiful stamps are from Scrollswork.

Carin, my blog friend is having a blog giveaway..be sure to check out all the goodies here...

chester rhinos

wild rhino near the roman gardens



walking along the walls with view of Wales in the distance

we had a lovely day out today and visited chester..we walked the whole length of the city walls and saw lots of rhinos all painted in a variety of colours...today was the last day that they are on view before being autioned off for charity. It was such a lovely warm day and we had a great time feeding the ducks and swans. I really liked looking at the old sandstone roman walls with all their textures and rusty colours. I am hoping to create something rusty for the alter it monthly challenge this week so it was good inspiration. My sons made some pot pourri "tussi mussi" full of rose, lavender and dried rosemary and climbed to the top of several towers. I had forgotten what a lovely place chester is but as I sat by the river dee today I remembered rowing a boat with my dad as a child and nearly colliding with one of the steamboats! hope you have had a good weekend..do share what you have been up to!

Halloween cards (theme thursday autumn)

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I got out some orange paint today and made these autumnal backgrounds...of course Autumn includes Halloween. My family like Halloween as its the start of a busy birthdays month then of course its Christmas not long after. I dislike trick or treat though as I think its just an excuse for people to cause trouble...we treat Halloween as a time to meet the neighbours and share sweets and of course have a bit of fun decorating the house with pumpkins...it will soon be here as the nights draw in....be sure to check out the other cards relating to Autumn over at Theme Thursday. All stamps used are available from Scrollswork.

Needlefelted recipe book cover

with a cover it looks a lot better than the boring blue plastic!



I bought this useful index card holder from Asda for £1. I have been doing a lot of baking lately and wanted to make a book full of my fav tried and tested recipes. I made this needlefelted cover from a vintage blanket that I bought at the Woolfest in the summer. It is great to needlefelt into and is lovely to hold. Its got a plastic see through cover as I am a very messy cook but it looks better without this for the photo. Now to think what other projects I can do with the blanket.

I want to make a chicken doorstop (not a triangle one)..does anyone know where I can download a free pattern?

My Little Angel (Inspiration Ave simplicity challenge)

Feeling very tired today as my little angel was up in the middle of the night so have had no sleep. So when I saw todays challenge over at Inspiration Avenue I decided to make a very simple, clean card with a lovely angel stamp from Scrollswork. Think I will have an early night tonight and he can go to bed with a torch in case he gets scared again...oh the joys of being a mum!

Published..my dream comes true at last! Somerset Apprentice Vol. 2

I have always dreamt that one day I would be published and now I am over the moon as I have been published for the very first time in Stampington's Somerset Apprentice Vol. 2. My article is on pages 130 onwards and is about how to alter the cover of a canvas book. Here is a photo of the book but you can see more in the magazine...so here is the link on where to buy it. I am so pleased that I have been published in this fantastic art magazine and want to say a big thankyou to Jana the editor for her friendly advice and also to Lisa Fulmer from C&T publishing.

grunge xmas cards..no red n green here yet!

I recently got these stamps from Scrollswork and made some different christmas cards with them today. I stamped the images on brown paper then layered some floral papers with distress inks and fnished off with a black ribbon. All stamps from Scrollswork.

Blackberry Jam and The Hive

We have been picking loads of blackberries recently and have had them with pancakes and jelly so far. I really wanted to have a go at making jam with them as I have never made jam before....As you can see from the photo we have already ate half a jar as it is so delicious especially spread on some boller which I am also making a lot these days...

Here is a recipe if you have got a slow cooker....ideal for busy mums as you only have to stir it a couple of times whilst its cooking...

blackberry & apple jam recipe for the slow cooker
(makes about 3 jars)

2lb apples peeled, cored and chopped
1lb granulated sugar
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
8oz blackberries

Put all the ingredients in the slow cooker as listed, cover and cook on high for 5 hours stirring once or twice. At the end it should be thick and pulpy. Sterilize 3 jam jars, put the jam in and place a greasproof paper disc over then put the lids on. Store in the fridge....you have to eat it within 2 months..which is not a problem as you will probably eat it all within a week!!!

I have just discovered another fabulous crafting community called The Hive on the net courtesy of my friend Lisa..she has a needlefelting group on there..check it out by clicking the link as its full of creativity and inspiration!

Back to school ( Wed stamper school days)

My sons were back at school today..hooray! Its been a great summer but they were ready to go back and I was glad of the time to myself today. I made this fabric postcard tonight and it features lots of my painted fabrics and a crafty individuals schoolboy image stamped on material with some old school buttons. Check out the other entries at Wednesday stampers challenge.