New Position!

Today I was offered the position of Senior Sales at my workplace. I was happy to accept and will start the position on the 1st of May. However, I have already booked the 1st & 2nd off work to go to Colour Your World, and Monday is a Bank holiday. So I'll officially start on Tuesday. Thanks to everyone for their support over the last few weeks as I pondered the decision to apply for this job. I'm both excited and nervous as I venture forward.

This may however mean less time for crafting, but will endeavour to still do as much as possible and post on here when I can.

Antique Angel ATC

Antique Angel ATC, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

Set of 3 ATCs for UKstampers swap with the theme of "Tag". Done using Isa's paint dabbers and alcohol inks technique. Used Rangers Gold paint dabber and Steam and gold alcohol inks and stamped over with a Crafty Individual stamp. Background done using Ranger distress inks Shabby Shutter, Antique Linen and Tattered Rose stamped over with Basic Grey Two Scoops Swirlie stamp and covered in Perfect Pearls. The background was then lightly sprayed with TigerLilly Glimmer Mist. The paper strip was stamped with Sassafras Ribbonrie stamps. Then ribbon and a metal charm was added.

Yellow Bush of Happiness

Yellow Bush, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

I've had some very sad news today from back home in Canada. So I've been on the phone with several members of my family today. It's very hard to be so far away from them when I feel they need me the most. However it's nice to be able to stay in contact with them over the phone, with e-mail and even this blog! While I was talking with my Dad he asked me about his favourite bush outside our house. He really likes this yellow bush, as he can tell when he comes over which is our house but the bright yellow flowers in the front garden. So after talking with him I grabbed my camera and took a few photos of the bush for him. When he saw them on Flick it really made him cheer up, so I'm now calling the busy the "Yellow Bush of Happiness"! Now I am showing it all to you so you too can have a little bit of happiness today.

With all that is going on today I am reminded of a song we sing in church. Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman. It talks about Blessing God not just when we are in the good time and happy, but also when the darkness come and time of suffering. Blessed be your Glorious Name!

ISMAKI Challenge #16

LionHope ISMAKI 16, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

Sketch

I've been struggling to make a birthday card for a male friend, and this is finally what I've come up with. I decided to use the ISMAKI challenge sketch # 16. The optional challenge was to use 4 different matching patterned papers. So I used Basic Grey Sublime paper pack for this card and backed it onto a piece of Stampin' Up card stock. The corner was stamped with one of my favourite set of stamps at the moment, Basic Grey Two Scoops Swirlie stamps. I added a computer printed image coloured with watercolour pencils and a Crafty Individual stamp coloured with Ranger Distress Ink Mustard Seed and Dried Marigold. The card was finished with ribbon and buttons. I hope my friend will like it, to make up for it being very over due.

Now I've got to start thinking about another male birthday coming up soon. Why is it so hard to think of ideas for male cards?

All Day Crop

Yesterday I went to the Doodling Daisy's All Day crop in Maidstone. It was from 10am to 10pm in the evening. A very long day, but it was very productive. I managed to get 6 layouts done (less some journaling), plus a Jacob's Ladder mini book for my friend. I've been wanting to make this mini book since before Christmas, as it was suppose to by my friends present. Then I thought I'd make it for her birthday, and now that has passed as well. So it was very over due. Not only was the day productive, but it was fun to get together with my friends, and to meet some new ones. They are planning to do one every month. I'm not sure I'll be able to go every month, but I certainly am looking forward to going again. As part of the crop, we also got a luscious kit. The kit came with some cute Piggy Tales papers, Chipboard letters, card stock and lots and lots of wonderful ribbon. I did the "Cousins" layout in the slide show above using the kit, and I'm sure there is enough left over to make another layout as well. Most of the other layouts I did I use some of the great papers I got at Ally Pally last week. I'm really enjoying using my stash. I just want to thank Debbie and Justine for all there efforts on putting on such a great crop!

Tag Your It #2 - Polka Dots

Just finished off this little "mini" Tag for "Tag You It" #2 challenge to use Polka Dots. I wanted to try this new technique that I saw on Isa's blog of using Ranger metal Paint Dabbers with alcohol inks and perfect pearls. I cut a mini tag of card using my CuttleBug and the Red Tag Sale die. Then used Isa's technique on that and stamped Sassafras Ribbonrie stamp along the side and Basic Grey Swirlie stamps on the corners. I then cut out a small square and covered it with Ranger Dried Marigold and Tattered Rose Distress Inks. Using a different Sassafras Ribbonrie stamp with polka dots, I stamped the square with Perfect Pearl medium and used metal shade of gold and platinum Perfect Pearls to bring out the polka dots. I then used a free stamp from Craft Stampers to add the flowers and coloured them in with alcohol inks and a water brush. I attempted to add fibers to the tag through the original hole, but it tore so I had to staple the fibers to the tag with a coloured staple. I finished off the tag by adding a metal flower charm. As this tag is so small, I'm trying to decided if I should turn it into an ATC, or I might use is as an embellishment on a scrapbook layout.

CPS # 60

I enjoyed last weeks CPS # 60 challenge of making a Hybrid card, and I deiced that I would make another Hybrid for this weeks sketch as well. For the digital part of this card I used Shabby Princess new Promise collection, which is a free download. In Adobe Photoshop, I added SP Swirlie stamp to the Swirlie Girl paper and reduced the size to fit on an A6 card. Then I cropped and resized the Poppy paper to fit at the top of the card. I printed out the images on satin gloss paper and cut out the Swirlie created with the digital stamp. The hedgehog image is one of my new Penny Black stamps that I got at Ally Pally over the weekend. I coloured in the image using Twinkle H2Os and watercolour pencils. The card was then assembled using ribbon, paper flowers and a brad. The "Believe" was stamped using a Scrappy Cat Stamp Effects stamp. Thanks for looking!

ISMAKI #14 Challenge

Sketch

Child's birthday card done for ISMAKI #14 sketch challenge. Made using HOTP vintage papers, card stock, Magnolia stamp, Banana Frog Greenwich Park stamps, watercolour pens, Twinkling H2Os, ribbon and buttons.

Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show

Today, even though I haven't been feeling well, I managed to make my annual trip to the "Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show" that is on at Alexandra Palace in London this weekend. I really enjoyed looking at all the great new products that are available to this craft and also meeting up with fellow crafter's. I met up with some of my internet friends from UKScrappers and also ran into an acquaintance of my husband, who I also dragged along. As you can tell from the above photo, I've stocked up on lots of nice stash, which I'm am enjoying stroking. I also got this great ATC from Shimelle on the Banana Frog stand. I really liked the little bird on it, so decided to purchase the set of Greenwich Park stamps. How delighted was I when I got them home to find that they also had a wonderful hedgehog stamp in the set that I didn't notice at the time. Some of the other goodies I got today were, NEW Sassafras papers and stamps, NEW My Minds Eye papers, NEW Wild Asparagus's papers, Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie kit and matching ribbons, Blue Hill Crate Paper kite's, Paper Arty's NEW squiggle stamps, Penny Black Hedgehog stamps, Tim Holtz paint dabbers, distress ink, crackle paint, alcohol inks, Glimmer mist, Ribbons, buttons, charms and a FREE book! I can't wait to start to use some of these products, so keep an eye out here to see the results.

Tag Your It & CPS Hybrid

Today I've had a real progression of Art day. I started by just playing around with a new technique that I saw on UKsrappers. I found a thread that linked to this YouTube video, and using this technique I made this tag using Ranger Broken China Distress Ink brayered onto Birds and Swirls folder before running through the CuttleBug.

Then I found another challenge blog for altered tags that has just stared called "Tag Your It" and it's first challenge is called "Shades of Blue". So I used my embossed tag as the base and added a stamped image done with Crafty Individual stamp, attached different colours of blue ribbons and ric rak with coloured staples to the side and a metal flower inked stained blue with alcohol inks.

Once I completed the Tag, I decided to use it for another challenge as well. This time the CPS #58 sketch and challenge to make a Hybrid card. A Hybrid card means that you used both your usual paper craft supplies as well as downloaded digital elements that are printed off and used together. To make my Hybrid card I used free digital downloads of Shabby Princess Moody Blue background paper and ribbon and Jessica Sparage Echoes of Asia Flowers. Then added my paper element of the "Shades of Blue" Tag.

Think Monday - Middle Ages ATC

Wow, two post in one day! I must be getting better. I've done this "King of Fools" Artist Trading Card for this weeks "Think Monday Think ATC" Challenge. It also is for Leonie's Recycled ATC challenge. Sorry the photo doesn't really do it justice, you really can't see all the texture and depth this ATC has. It was done using a scrap piece of corrugated cardboard from some packaging primed with Gesso and then painted with acrylic paints. Background is also a left over piece of painted baby wipe from another ATC. Image was printed from the computer and distressed with sandpaper, crushed and inked with Ranger Age Mahogany Distress Ink. The crown and text were also printed from the computer and attached. The whole ATC was then lightly sprayed with Memories Mist Merlot. The crown and edges were accented with a gold metallic ink pen.

Raod Trip Layout

I managed to do some scrapbooking this weekend in the midst of being sick and making cards. This layout of photos is from a road trip to Florida we took as a family when I was young. I'm the one with the big cheese grin. Sorry for the line down the middle, as it's scanned in two half and merged together. Done using Stamping Up card stock, Stamping Up Brocade paper, Basic Grey Mellow Auomne paper, lace coloured with Ranger's Shabby Shutters Distress Ink and threaded with ribbon, Journaling Tag, fibers, mixed flowers and Bo Bunny Brads. The title was cut using a CraftRobo with Candice font on Stamping Up Brocade paper on the reverse side. Thanks for looking.

Wednesday Stamper Challenge

Birthday card for a friend completed for Wednesday Stampers Challenge to use "Trees" and following CPS #58 weekly sketch. This is the only stamp I have that has trees on it, so i hope it counts. Done using Bazzill card stock, We R Memory Keepers paper scraps, Art-Kure stamp and water colour pens, raffeta, mulberry paper and buttons.

I also finished another card I've been working on this week that used up the rest of my ProvoCraft Retro paper I used on my ISMAKI challenge this week. I also used a Magnolia stamp, Basic Grey Two Scoops Swirlie stamps, water colour pencils, Twinkling H2Os, Prima textured flower with brad, buttons and ribbon.

ISMAKI Challenge # 13

sketch

Card done for this weeks ISMAKI challenge. Went a bit out of my comfort zone with this card and used bright colours and pink! Done using Stamping Up card stock, ProvoCraft Retro paper slab, Tim Holtz stamps, Basic Grey Two Scoops Swirlie stamps, Ranger Distress Ink Worn Lipstick and Spiced Marmalade, prima blooms, buttons and a brad.