Hobby Roo

September 2010

2010-09-12T05:20:00.000-07:00

Well im back! Been a long time i know, but ive had commitments that have stopped me crafting for the past 2 years.

Many things have changed in my life! Ive been on a roller coaster of a ride. So many ups and downs. i guess we all have them from time to time eh?

Now im showing and breeding my english bulldogs and i now have French bulldogs. One is doing very well in the show ring for me. I have his two daughters that will hit the show ring this month with their first championship show in Derby.

Sadly this feb i lost my gorgeous Daisy May Duke. That was the biggest kick in the gut. Ive not only lost my best friend, ive also lost my little girl. Even now 7 months on i still cant except she has gone. But i do believe its Daisy that is sperring me on to get this blog up and running again, and she is the one wanting me to return to something i love. Art is in my blood. So a big Thank You to Daisy May Duke !!

My first project for this year will be a memory book for Daisy May Duke. I have many ideas for this book. Putting them together will be very difficult as just saying her name or looking at her photos reduces me to tears. But i have the support of family and friends. Once it is done i know i will be able to start moving on. She will be my inspiration throughout this journey that i have to continue in life.

If there are any themes, ideas or links you would like to share with me to take these first few steps backing to crafting then please say so. I shall also be doing a number of ATCs again!

Thanks to Jaqi for her lovely messages on Facebook. They means so much to me x

NOT FOR TRADE. SAMPLES ONLY

2008-06-04T07:10:00.000-07:00

While the broadband has been off today i decided to make a few tags and some atcs as samples for Karen. All the stamps used here are in her shop for sale. Lucky for me i get to use them first to have a head start in producing the samples. Think you will agree Karen does have one of the very best selections on the internet. I know these are samples but i can produce any you would like from this section? Have a great day and please keep fingers crossed i stay connected :).

NOT FOR TRADE......SORRY!

2008-06-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

I know ive been quiet for the past week but ive had my eldest daughter and her boyfriend over. Had to do a lot of catch up and shopping with my girl :). Also ive been baby sitting Arnie again. Have to take him back to the vets on Tuesday as he is limping on the leg he has operated on twice now. I can hear a click when he walks so i happen to think the plate has moved. Looks like another operation will be had on that poor knee. It will be the 3rd time if it does happen. I'm not happy about it at all.

Also ive been caring for Poppy my other bulldog. She went away to be mated and i have to make sure she is kept quiet and that she don't get into fights with the others. If she does she will absorb the pups. Bulldogs are the hardest breed to get pregnant, hence the reason why they cost thousands each to buy. So im being dogs body and nurse maid,lol.

I have managed to make some samples for Karen with all the new stamps she sent me. Got loads and loads to play with but not enough time to do them all justice.

Karen has some of the most amazing brands of stamps in her shop and they really are a joy to work for. All of the above samples are not for trade. Sorry about that, but if you see one or two that you like and would like me to create it for you as i swap i will happily do that. Just tell me what you like and i will get it in the post.

While playing i thought id make a tag with the Zetty stamps. God i love them so very much. Im working on the next batch. Never be put off by them as you can really create amazing pieces of art with them all.

Have a wonderful sunday?

Tina

The Queens Dresser Draws

2008-05-19T03:25:00.000-07:00

Ive been mega lucky to be the owner of 20 plus of these stamps. They are very collage and artistic, but so very easy to use. Since they were simple they needed very little added to them. Ive used the Big N Juciy ink pads for backgrounds. Ive either sponged the colours or used my speedroller to apply the inks. Then ive used a stamp from Scrapz from Paperbag Studios elements range. Its just lines but if you add embossing powder to the image you can make the stamp look like a distressed frame. Ive done that on afew of the atcs for effect. The eye stamp is from Scrapz as are the phrase stamps. I know thye are quick but i hope you agree very effective?

Arnie is getting better day by day. He is alike an old man hobbling about to walk, but he is walking which is amazing as he did have both legs done again. He will have his stitches looked at on friday. Some area's of the cuts have healed nicely, but he has some parts that have not, so the stiches to them will stay in longer.

Thank you everyone who has asked about him. Means a lot to me.

Hugs

Tina

2008-05-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

Im so very lucky indeed as i know have 9 sheets of the Paperbag Studios stamps from http://www.scrapz.co.uk/catalog/index.php All that range Karen sells are stunning and so very easy to use. You can stamp them as a single image or layer them. How simple is that? Also ive added 2 atcs using stamps from Karen The Queens dresser draws. The stamps i got were Titanic, a ticket and barbed wire. Thank you hun, they are gorgeous, and im enjoying them so very much indeed. Ive added cut outs from a collage sheet i have. Think they are quiet fitting. Ive got a parcel arriving of even more stamps from Karen. They are now up on her shop and i can tell you to get there fast as they will sell very fast. They are so very artsy and suitable for atcs, cards, altered art and tags. Cant wait to get my collection and start playing. Also while you have time please pop over to Karens blog http://bloggingourartout.blogspot.com/ and have a go at her challenge. The charms you could win are gorgeous. Just what every girl needs in her stash. The challenge is super easy as well. Anyway, enjoy my atcs and please tell me what you think? Im a bit fuzzed as im baby sitting the old boy again. Scroll down and you will see the update on my baby :( . Hugs to you all especially my best buddy Karen, :)

2008-05-15T00:07:00.001-07:00

Thank you for all the messages and the emails. I thought id update you while i have 5 minutes to spare.

Arnie damaged his second crusher ligament in his what was then his good knee. So on Wednesday he was x-rayed and they found his spine to be perfect but the crusher damaged. Then they x-rayed his knee of the crusher ligament he had done nearly 4 weeks ago. Well, that showed the bone to have moved.

So on Wednesday at 11am he underwent 6 hours of repair surgery. They had to re-open his first leg that went wrong and place the bone back, then they started on the new knee. I was a nervous wreck all day.

Bulldogs dont take kindly to be putting out for so long. They can and do die. Its just too much for them and their hearts to take. Ive never prayed as hard as i did then. I just hoped it would be a simple op, but when i spoke to the assisting vet Michael that evening he said Arnie had both legs done and would be staying over night.

We collected him yesterday after we had a carpet laid. Yes we have beautiful wooden floors but Arnie has lost balance on them and slipped. So for 9 weeks we have to have the carpet down to help him walk better. He has to stay in the living room and i can open the side door to allow him out into the stable block for a wee and some fresh air.

I guess you are wondering how the hell he walks with 2 legs done? Well i thought the same since last time he hopped on 3. That bothered me, but believe it or not he can walk all all 4 legs. Ryk the vet told me that they cope better with both legs done than they do with one.

I tool some photos for you of Arnie so you can see the large scar and the smaller one. The smaller one is the repair to the bone.

Last night he didnt sleep well at all and wee'd on the carpet, but that cant be helped. Today is a new day and as the days goes by he will leg better. Least on the plus side he will never ever get crusher ligament damage. He now has 2 plates in the knee's.

I will try and do some atcs today while i leave him with Hubby. It will give me a break. I need a break.

Hugs

Tina

2008-05-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry that ive not blogged for a while. Its been so hot here on the south coast with temperatures every day of 24 degrees plus. I cant work in that heat so ive been doing other things. Also my poor Arnie is back in the vets. As you may remember he had a knee op over three weeks ago. Well last night he saw our cat and made a chase for it. Only three strides and he was down. So we made him a bed in the living room and he stayed there all night. he could barely walk today. The vet thinks he has twisted his spine as he has a tremour in his good leg. Hence the reason not to stand or walk. He has been dosed up with very strong pain killers and is sleeping over. The vet will x-ray his knees and spine tomorrow. If he needs operationing on they will have him there. So i wont be blogging for a while longer as i have to be nurse to him when he gets home along with the other animals. Bye bye for now xxxx

Happy Birthday To you Karen

2008-05-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Karen. May all your wishes and dreams come true. Luv ya loads Bestist buddy ever XxXxX

UPDATE

2008-05-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry, but the new atcs ive loaded today are all samples for Karen@Scrapz. I try and do at least 20 a month for her, and as these are for her new range of rubber i cant trade them. I can however make you an atc like any one of the samples. Just email me and i will be happy to trade with you.
I have a rather busy weekend ahead of me, but im planning to do a few atcs.
Tina
xx

2008-05-02T04:30:00.000-07:00

Ive been so lucky to have the chance to play with another three plates of the Paperbag Studios stamps. You get a large sheet that is cramed full of the most beautiful images. The new plates i have used are Joy, Addison, and Dreamer. I already had Laugh, Believe and Florish from Karen so some of the elements from all the sheets were added to the atcs. I also added some of my own stamps to add extra elements.

The Paperbag Studios rubber stamps are simply the best to use for image quality. Ive never ever printed off a bag image. You cant go wrong with these stamps at all. In fact im sure you will love them as much as i do. Have a look here as karen has some in stock, but be quick as they sell fast. http://scrapz.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=110_111_276&osCsid=aa3af8552daed45ed4d2dd78133c24bc

Ive done all manor of techniques with the atcs just to show you how easy or complex they can be. Instead of gold and silver embossing powder i have added gold and silver Adirondrack paint daubers. Karen sells them as well. They sponge on and give a wonderful effect. Ive also used sequin waste as a stencil with the versamark ink pads pressed through and emboseed in clear. The ink pads are Vivid, Ancient Page, Stazon, and Adirondrack. Most of which karen sells.

Hope you enjoy them all. I will be over the next few days getting together photos of all the atcs i have up for trading. Please keep a look out for them and shout if you would like any of them. I love to trade.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone?

Hugs Tina

All Traded Now!

2008-04-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry i have been quiet for a few days but i have been busy looking after Arnie. The girls keep beating him up so i have to be with him all the time. I cant go to the loo without making sure he is locked away from them or a fight will kick off :). The fun of having doggies, but i love them.
Anyway, i have some stunning new stamps by Cherry Pie Art Stamps. Karen sent me the first batch to have a play with. The next will arrive soon. Ive done a few atcs with them today but im limited as i have to make sure Arnie is protected. The stamps are gorgeous and the results you get are limitless. I love them so very much.
I also bought 2 sheets of stamps by the american company called Zettiology. One set was of legs and arms all stripey, and the other set were trees, burdies and branches. Ive had a play with those as well. Im sure you can pick out the ones ive made.
Anyway, enjoy the atcs and if they are not on their way to karen then you can ask for them, but i have a sneeky feeling she is going to take the samples i have done especially for her Blog.
Have a lovely weekend all of you.
Hugs
Tina
xx

2008-04-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

Traded are the following:
Every Life has A story
Its been Awhile But...
Journey Of the heart
The crow
My Best Friend
If you cant laugh at yourself make fun of other people
I dont feel like an adult
Film strip of trees
Confessions of a lady ( Yesterdays)
The man with the number 8 in the frame.

Over the past few days of intensive care Arnie has improved in leaps and bounds. His leg is swollen with fluid, and his stapled scar looks infected. But his state of mind is great. He follows me to the kitchen and he walks to the stable block to take water. I had him in the paddock this morning with Daisy as she is a quiet bulldog and good for him. The younger girls are too springy for him. Yes i know what you are thinking but believe me my bulldogs can out run boxer dogs and labradors as i keep them all super fit. Anyhow, we all want to thank you for your lovely messages. You all touched our hearts and we thank you so very much for that.

As ive been looking after Arnie plus all my other animals i did managed to get some play time. Ive made a number of atcs with all the new goodies ive had. Now 98% of the goods can be bought from http://www.scrapz.co.uk/ . If you see an atc and are not sure what i have used then please ask Karen or myself. We are here to help and we both want you to use our atcs for inspiration. Hope you like all you see? Karen has to have first pick as these really are samples for her blog but if she dont want them all i will announce what is up for grabs.

Have a lovely sunday evening?

Hugs

Tina

My poor boy

2008-04-17T23:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry ive not loaded up any atcs but ive been busy caring for my bulldog Arnie. On wednesday he underwent a 4.5hour op on his leg. He has completly damaged all the ligaments in his knee. Our wonderful vet who specialises in bulldogs explained he had a footballers injury that required a metal plate in the knee instead of a knee replacement joint. That can cause arthritis later on. Anyway he came home yesterday morning. What a pickle he is in. My other bulldogs sat the living room door for 2 hours to gain visitors rights to their buddy. Poppy who is Arnie's football partner became very depressed refusing food so the vet said to allow the pack to see him. Poppy went into Arnie, had a sniff of the leg and then layed near him. She refused to leave his side. Poor Arnie cant go for a walk so we have to walk him in the stable yard alone. Well, Poppy came running in looking for him from her walk. She just wont play while she is out without him now.

Last night Hubby slept with him down stairs to keep an eye on him. He didn't sleep at all. So i guess he was in pain from it all. I feel like death warmed up so god knows what he feels like. The moral of this story is..... its all well and good having a super fit bulldogs who are very good examples of the breed, but remember to get them insured well as you too could be facing a £4977.66p vet bill. Thank god we have all of our insured with petplan. They have saved our butt more times than we can remember over the years with our lot.

Have a great day? Hopefully i can get some more atcs done.

NOW ALL TRADED

2008-04-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Tonight i decided to have a little play of the stamps i got today. And what fun that was. I love the new stamps.

The first lot are by Paper Artsy plates. They really are beautiful and so easy to use. The second set are by Paperbag Studios.

Dont think they will be for trade as i know my buddie Karen will no doubt bag them,lol! Im calling them samples and i hope you like them or get some inspiration from them. Karen sells all the stamps used.

Tina

2008-04-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

NOW ALL TRADED

Yesterday and early this morning i managed to finish off this batch of ATCs. They are mostly Paper Artsy and the plates can be bought from http://www.scrapz.co.uk/catalog/index.php so go and have a look. The flower looking girl is a Lost Coasts design and she was a tad too big for the ACT so i cut her up and put her back together again.The 3 wise Gentlemen is a Crafty Individuals stamp that Scrapz sell as well. This morning i took delivery of a hugh parcel of goodies from scraps. Im floors as im spoilt for choise as to what to use first. Ive got 2 full sheets of The paperbag studios, 3 sets of the Paper Artsy and a sprinkling of the lovely Lost Coasts Designs. Ive been to Once Upon A Stamp and bought 3 half sheets of the Invoke stamps they sell. Two of the sets are out of stock till the end of the month, but the backgrounds one i wanted is in stock and he is posting it today. Ive also treated myself to the new stamps my Paper Artsy called Bricks and Mortar. There is a set of 4 so i thought id get them as they look cool, and last but not least ive bought myself a jam making kit off ebay,lol! Yep, we have over 5 acres of land and loads of fruit tree's, so instead of it rotting and going to waste ive decided to make jams and chutneys. Hubby will supply the veggies from the garden for the chutney. Have a great day and if you want any of the atcs on my blog then please shout as im getting over run with them,lol.

2008-04-12T03:34:00.000-07:00

Last night i had a play with a unmounted rubber stamp i bought from ebay. Its of a pair of ladies eyes. Now the stamp isnt that big so you have the option of leaving it as a collage stamp or do as i have done and use the eyes as the main feature of the atc. Ive embossed using sequin waste and a mesh rubber stamp ive had for year by PSX. Just used clear embossing powder on versamark. Over the top ive added colour. The inks used to colour are the Adirondacks that scrapz might sell. Just email karen and she will let you know.

The last one is of brothers. Notice the elder boy with his crewcut? Now i wonder why? He isnt old enough to be at sea,lol! Maybe the dreaded nit nurse sent his mum a letter home,lol! Anyway, i happen to think he looks like a lost soul who is on a journey of some kind.

These are all for trade so just email me ok?

Tina

NICE & EASY

2008-04-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

Ive had a little play and managed to come up with 5 atcs that i believe are nice & easy. The lady in the black dress is my great grandmother Ellen Louisa Seabrook. She was 21 in this photo and had been married for 2 years with a 6 month old baby. Notice her waist? Well after having albert it has gone up 2 inches to 19 inches. She was a much desired and admired young lady as she had a waist of 17 inches. Infact when i go back to the village where all my family were born and bred for generations you still hear the story of her tiny waist. The older generation who remember her have told me she was not only a sofly spoken lady but her beauty was the envy of many women for miles and the fight of many a young man trying to win her affections ( As they call it). Many have told me i take after her for my small frame and eyes,lol. Wish i had the waist though,lol! Oh to be a true size 0 would be great instead of a size 8 jeans,lol.

The other ATCs are using the Paperbag studios that are sold at Scrapz.

have a lovely evening.

Tina

NOW ALL TRADED.

2008-04-10T04:24:00.000-07:00

NOW ALL TRADED

Yesterday i got a lovely pressie from Karen@scrapz of a paper Artsy Plate that i have had on my wish list for a few months now. I was chuffed to get this pressie i just had to have a play of it today. Ive made 3 ATCs in autumn colours which i find pleasing to the eye. I always find orange, red and yellow so easy to use.

Ive made the ATCs simple as a few people have contacted me saying my atcs are a bit too hard or advanced to do, so these ones are easier. I enjoyed making them, but i prefer a challenge. The next ones i do will be of a challenge as i intend them to be easy but effective. Im not keen on using too much collage items but i know people new to ATCs find this easier to cope with. So the next lot will be based on collage and sheets ive bought off the internet.

Have a great day?

Hugs

Tina

ALERT. PLEASE READ.

2008-04-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

Please go and have a look at Scrapz Design Blog that Karen have just started. http://bloggingourartout.blogspot.com/ I know you will all pop over and support her on this one. Its looking good Karen. Im adding it to my blog for others to see.

Ive not made any ATCs today as ive been busy here, but i have planned to do some new backgrounds tonight while i have 5 minutes to myself. My two girls are going to friends for sleepovers tonight so that will give me some peace and quiet while hubby is on the Xbox,lol!

If anyone wants to do swaps with me then please feel free and contact me at sakazoke1963@aol.com The atcs that are up for grabs from my last two posts. They are called

Monday April 7th

I know everything and im always right ( Mona Lisa)
Queen for a day ( Mona Lisa)
Look Dream Create ( Lady eyes)
This is faith ( Blue ATC of girl)

Sunday 6th April

Raven Birds Raven Birds
A little bird told me
My attitude dont need no adjustin
Dream ( Triangle)

Have a lovely evening all of you. I know i will :)

Tina
xx

2008-04-07T11:11:00.000-07:00

Didn't do many ATCs today as i had other things needing my attention. Have the children off school till next tuesday so need to entertain them. After a couple of hours i hear " Im bored mum". How those three words are the bain of my life,lol!

I got down to the ATCs above and decided i go for the rich colours again. Me thinks i need to try more blue as ive enjoyed the ones ive made. There again id like to do more yellow but think it can look a little too garish. If i add orange it looks like autumn. So maybe the next bunch could be lilacs and purple's. Im running out of colours of the rainbow now. I could try pinks, but not sure im good with that colour.

Over at http://chriss-rollins.blogspot.com/ there is some fantastic blog candy up for grabs. You really cant miss this as its worth a go. The candy has been given by Karen @ Scrapz. Id love to have a go at winning but im on Karen's design team so it wont be fair to others. But i can assure you all these charms are really lush. Im fact ive magpied away some that karen set to me. Just too lush to use, but so beautiful to admire. I have a little charm box that i love to delve into and admire. Everytime i look i find some treasure that i have not noticed before.

Have a lovely evening.

Tina

New ATCs

2008-04-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

Ive made a few new ATCs yesterday. I had to scan them as the battery on my digital SLR was out of juice again. So they have been scanned and the scanner has made them far too bright again. I can assure you the colours are really rich. Anyway, hope you like them.

Tina

Thank you so much Sesga

2008-04-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

Id like to say a hugh thank you for a very sweet lady who i can call a friend. I have been awarded this award for blogging. You are such a wonderful and kind person for doing this for me.

Here is the link to my lovely lady Sesga http://sesgaloves1950s.blogspot.com/ Go visit her Blog? Your really would be a fool to miss this one.

here are the rules:

1, You pick 5 blogs you consider worthy For their CREATIVITY,DESIGN.INTERESTING MATERIAL ,AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE BLOGGING WORLD .
2, Each award must have name of author and a link to their blog so everyone can go to visit their blog.
3, Each award winner must display award and link to person which gave their award .(click on picture of award then save as )
4, The award winner and the one who has given the Award must show link to Artypico ,so everyone will know origin of award .http://arteypico.blogspot.com/

I need a few days to think about who i will be awarding this honour too. Ive had a very upsetting few weeks and i need time to sit down and think.

Thanks to karen @ scrapz, you have really helped me more than you ever know. I think id have been in a pickle if it wasnt for you letting me bend your ear. I wish you had a blog, then id give you this award. You are the best friend a girl could only ever wish for.

Sesga, you are one of the nicest girls ive met in a long time. This award means so much to me hun.

Hugs to all

Tina

My easter monday ATCs

2008-03-25T00:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday i had so much fun making new ATCs. I even played with my Adirondack colour washes. I have 11 of the colours but still i want more. Wish they did more colours. Yes, i know....greedy old me :) but they are a product i simply adore.

Last night i won 14 stampers anonymous stamps from a seller in the USA. The lady bought them but is giving up crafts, so she auctioned the lot for $38 plus $11.50 for international shipping. These stamps would have cost me between £7 and £12 each over here so i got a real bargain. Soon as they arrive i will be showing them off. Just hope they arrive fast. These stamps will go with the collection i already have that i bought from the Ally pally in 2002. Amazing how these images are still being sold today,lol!

So here are my new ATCs. I know, Mona is back, but i love her. She is the Lost Coasts Designs Mona Lisa that i got from Karen@scrapz. I love this stamp so very much. Such an easy image to use, but she is very addictive for me. I could use her all the time, but i know people will be borded seeing her.

The jig-saw piece is my own design as i cut it out myself. Mona was coloured using my decorating chalks and then i double embossed her with ultra fine embossing powder. I double emboss everything if it dont move,lol. The ICU 2 ATC is the eye cut from stamp by Hampton Art and is called Diffusion. The image its attached to is a rubber stamp by Hero Arts called Optical Block. And the head stamp is from Scrapz. Its a lovely image that i need to learn to get the best from. The head is coloured with Glimmer Mists from the Moulin Rouge collection.

The sun is out, and im off to play. Got so many ideas swimming around my head. Hopefully i will have another couple done by the end of the day. Hope you all had a wonderful Easter holiday?

Hugs

Tina

Happy Easter Sunday

2008-03-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Just a quick message to say Happy Easter Sunday. Hope you all had a fantastic time and didnt eat too many eggs :)

Today was a magical day for me. It snowed. Not that exciting for some i know, but for me snow is everything. I live in a part of the counrty than never see's snow. So for it to snow today and lay nice and think was a dream. I was like a little kid playing ball with the dogs and throwing snowballs at my daught her Sammie. It was so much fun out there. I took loads of photos for scrapbook pages i plan to do. Every year i buy papers and embellishments just in the hope i get to see snow and it never happens. But today was wonderful. I loved every moment of it. We all came is freezing cold and soaking wet from head to toe.

I was going to make some ACTs but they can wait. Some id 100 times better,lol!

Today Ted the rescue foal met my Duke and what a laugh that was. The went around the field chasing each other. they slipped, kicked and bucked. Now they are grazing like they have lived together all thier life. So i have 2 happy young men who will be good for one another.

See you all tomorrow with more news?

Hugs

Tina

Happy Easter Weekend.

2008-03-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Holidays to you all. Ive had a lovely lazy few days just reading an old batch of Somerset Studio Magaines ive had since 1998. How strange to look at them and see see cards then made with very artsy stamps. Those stamps are still around today and i have a lot of them in my collection. The magazines dont look dated at all. In fact they look more artistic than any of the craft magazines you see today in the shops. The UK is still years behind.

So, you see, ive made loads of ATCs. Ive gone with a collage image theme, but ive made all of my own backgrounds. Ive not cheated,lol! They are all my own creation and yet again ive come out of the comfort zone to try new things. Am i pleased with them? Well??? I wasnt at first. I hated them to begine with as i thought they looked amaturish if you know what i mean? But i tweeked about with them and in the end they gelled nicely. Im very pleased with them now. I wont let anyone see things im not happy with.

The scanner is still not to my liking and ive been fiddling with the settings but they are still a bit bright. The colours are good, rich and bold. Some have Twinkling H20s for a wash of colour as well. Most are embossed to add texture as well.

Anyway, hope you like them as much as i do this time. If you want to swap let me know as im more than happy to do so.

Hugs

Tina

My Easter Egg!

2008-03-20T14:26:00.000-07:00

Tonight when hubby got in he surprised me by giving me this hugh Thorntons Easter Egg. Never before have i had an Easter present from him, and i feel guilty as i dont have anything for him.

Anyway, this egg is so pretty i just had to take a photo of it. Well, its Easter after all :)

The crunch came when my youngest daughter dropped the bombshell she saw this egg in Thrornton's , and there was no way she would pay £60 for it. I nearly fell off my chair. All i could think off was how that lovely money could have been turned into lovely rubber for my craft studio. How can they justify charging that for a bit of chocolate and some fancy choc's around the base of it? Rip off if you ask me. Oh well, better not sound ungrateful as im not, but really.....who in their right mind would choose and egg over rubber?

The choc's are very nice, and i will get hubby and the kids to help me eat the egg. If not i will still have it by next Easter,lol! Im not a chocolate eater as i like to keep toned for the riding i do with my horses.

Anyway, next year it will be rubber even if it is egg shaped :)

Hugs

She does spoil me!

2008-03-20T04:48:00.000-07:00

Thank you Karen for the black Stazon pad. Its arrived this morning with a load more new toys. But of all my new toys the ink pad is the most wanted and the most appreciated. I love it. Ive had a play with it, and what a joy it is to get the best quality image print out. You are a life saver hun.

Some of the goodies have starting arriving from America i ordered last week, and Crafty Individuals sent me the rest of my toys. Got lots of free goodies from them as well which is always nice. I love their background paper pad and the collage sheets as well they sell.

I have made some more ACTs this morning but they are not dry and i wont upload them till i have finished them. Very pleased indeed with how they have turned out. Tomorrow i plan to do a bunch more of them. As we have a lovely long holiday weekend in front of us i plan to make the most of it.

Ive laid another 2 stables as the weather is meant to bad. This morning we had icy rain, so i went into the foaling box and laid a super thick straw bed for Duke. He is still on his own as Ted isnt ready to join him yet. If the weather turns then i shall put Ted, Price and Toby in the stables for protection. Poor Ted has no meat on his bones to keep him warm so he needs a stable.

Have a great day? Im off to play. Ive got some much new stuff i dont know where or what to start with first.

Tina

Some New Toys

2008-03-19T05:45:00.000-07:00

Today i took delivery of a load of new toys. The tins of stamps are amazing. They are all wooden backed and you get a lovely ink pad in with the stamps. In each tin there are between 11 and 16 stamps. The birds are so beautiful, and the images print out so fine and detailed. The Paris collection is just so Ohh La la! The stamps again are fine and detailed and i have so many uses for them.

The unmounted stamps are really ornate in the bird theme. I love them, and the images of ladies and children are lush. My stazon ink pad is running out of ink so its not printing off as well as it should be, but Karen at Scrapz has a re inker on order for me. Im blowed if im buying another ink pad. Nothing annoys me more than having to buy a new ink pad when you can use the re-inkers on them. So for now i have to make do as i hate any other black ink pad. I wont use them no matter what. Stazon is the best in my eyes. Right now my poor ink pad is in the fridge upside down to get the last of the ink out of it,lol. I will have to use my Black Soot Tim Holtz distressing ink pad. Lovely, but not as good as the Stazon.

Speaking of ink pads, just took delivery of three new ones. I have the grand total of 77 ink pads and im not jesting either. Some of the pads are between 0 and 7 years old. The older ones are working just as well as they did when i first bought them.

Hopefully the postie will deliver the rest of my goodies tomorrow. I know i wont get the things from america till next week, but im being good by not worry gutsing over them,lol.

Tina

Ted Has Arrived!

2008-03-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

Poor Ted arrived yesterday in a very sorry state. He was gelded in the morning ( Casterated for those who dont know), and arrived here very sore. So instead of putting him in with Duke my foal i decided to put him in my 3rd paddock where he would get plenty of good grass and peace and quiet. He is very thin but had a long shaggy fur coat that makes him look fat.

He is being fed 4 small meals a day along with this pain killers and anti bioties which he is on for a week. I have to feed little and often as he isnt used to hard feed and could get colic.

This morning he was really grumpy. A lot of that is due to his pain killers wearing off. He is now in the sun and happy talking to my two others over the hedge.

Maybe tomorrow if he is happy he will go in with Duke.

Here are some photos of him. He looks poor but that is because he is a seizure from the police on certain grounds.

Had a play with my camera

2008-03-18T05:11:00.000-07:00

Today after doing the horses i decided to have a play with my camera and the ATCs. Im not at all happy with the scans i do of them. So, as i used to be a freelance photographer i decided i could do better.

Ive made a lovely ATC using stamps from Karen at Scrapz, and the background really is detailed and textured. Using macro on my camera and opening the appature i think ive managed to capture what i want everyone to see.

Have a look and see if you agree? Can you see the embossing and the way i controlled the embossing effects? I never leave anything to chance. If i want a perfect finish then i get a perfect finish. Embossing is something i control, not something that controls me. But saying that i have been embossing for 8 years now. I should know what im doing.

Next week is my anniversery of card making. Oh how i have learnt so much from those years. More about that next week though :)

I guess i wouldnt be a design team member if i didnt have the miles behind me :). Maybe ask Karen at Scrapz and she will tell you why im a designer for her, and the wonderful items she sells.

Hugs

Tina

2008-03-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

Here are my two new ATCs i made today. I did make 3 but one of them wont stick, so ive just had to re-do the sticking. As soon as the ATC is glued hard and fast i will load it up. Tomorrow i have a very busy day as i have a new horse arriving. His name is Ted and he is victim of a cruelty case. Cant say too much as the courts have only just released him to me, but this young man needs so much TLC. Here he will live with Duke my foal and together they will learn and love, trust & respect.

Tim Holtz Wings Rubber Stamps

2008-03-17T02:40:00.000-07:00

Last week i treated myself to tonz of new rubber from Karen at scrapz. Oh boy, was i impressed with it all. I love my new stuff. But the ones that caught my attention were the Tim Holtz Wings rubber stamps. I got the very large tickets stamp that has 12 tickets on it, the Word "Dream", the little boy and the man. As the man was a little big i had to cut off the wings and reposition them.

Then i coloured both ATCs isn chalks and built up the colour as i went along. I love my chalk sets. The decorating chalks are the best money can buy as the colours are so vibrant and rich, plus they dont come off. You dont have to fix them with spray. So far i have the large set and 3 of the add on colour sets. In the past ive wasted my money on other brands of chalks but they are not up to the job. In fact i think they let your work down.

Ive had my large set of chalks for 8 years now and they are still going strong. Remember, if you want a qulaity chalk set them get these ones.

Anyway, back to my rubber. I got loads of Lost Coast design rubber stamps as well. How i love this company. they make some of the nicest images ever.

This morning i treated myself to some new stamps with birds on them. A set of 4 floral birds. Plus they had some very artsy images and got them as well. Soon as they arrive i will be playing with them as i have loads of ideas.

Enjoy the new ATCs and i hope you like the colours i have picked this time.

Tina

Paris

2008-03-16T04:21:00.000-07:00

Had a little play this morning and came up with this Paris ATC. The stamp of the lady is a Paper Artsy. The paris stamps are by Limited Edition which i bought from the usa ages ago. The dragonfly was a brass charm that i painted using the marvey metallic markers i bought from Scrapz.

The image isnt blured. In fact its very crisp and neat. Its just that the scanner and the cropping made it look that way.

Im in a purple, lilac and lavender mood still. Im gonna have a go at pinks next followed by blues.

Have a lovely sunday?

Tina

This ATC has now been swapped.

KAREN

2008-03-16T04:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been given to me. I dont have to do a hands turn. Eldest DD left home yesterday and its left me numb and shocked. Ive had a few days to get used to the idea, but still, im shocked. Karen has been there every step of the way. Offering me a shoulder to cry on, and good advice. Ive bend her ear something shocking, but never has she told me to go and pull myself together.

So yesterday i shut myself away and made her these ATCs. Its ajust a little bit of me to say Thank you hun for being there and never once pushing me away. means a lot to me.

Ive used crows or ravens or whatever these birds are meant to be,lol. And the backgrounds are my scrap paper i use to ink over. The papers are too good to chuck out. I love them as they look so pretty.

Anyway, Thank you Karen. These will be in the post tomorrow for you.

Hugs

Tina

A Pair of pears

2008-03-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

At last they are finished. Even though i say it myself, i have to admit they turned out better than i thought they would. I love the rich colours of them. Thing that i found difficult was the wording. What the heck do you put on Pear ATCs? Oh well, who care's?

They are now done and im finished for the day. Another day tomorrow and its payday for me. I can get all the wonderful goodies from Scrapz that ive had put aside. Must have14 new stamps, bottles of ink and some Tim Holtz goodies to play with. Got a busy weekend ahead of me. Hopefully the goodies will be here for me to play with. If not then i will play with all the stuff i was given by a friend.

Tina AKA Miss inky Fingers :)

Sweet pears has now been swapped.

Learning with new colours

2008-03-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

Today i decided id have a play with colours. Got to get out of the vintage look or shabby chic as i call them. So i went for burnt orange and pumpkin oranges, lilacs and lavenders, and purples.

The little fairy sitting on the art ticket was given to me by a friend. Isnt she just the cutiest ever? Might be a bit too purple for some, but i love the colours. I painted her wings with Twinkling H2os, as was her dress and shoes.

The Mona Lisa was just stamped onto semi gloss card kindly given to me by Karen of Scrapz. Great stuff that takes most mediums. I mounted Mona onto a background i made using Ranger Adirondack Tim Holtz Alcohol inks in Butterscotch, Terracotta, and rust. I added some gold mixative to it and a few drops of blending fluid. Then i embossed some artist brown dye ink that was stamped with a script stamp by Penny Black.

The fly me to the moon was a nice easy one. I was playing with inks and making background with a sheet of plain card under my work. I move the card about so got a mish mash of colours from all the inks used. I looked at the card and as a rule of thunb i normally throw it away, but decided to pick a section of the mess and cut it out. It looked so pretty i mounted it to a atc card. Then i stamped on it. Thats how it all come together for me. You would never know this was scrap that would have been cucked away.

Anyway, im working on 2 pear fruit ATCs right now. Looking really lovely as ive used the metallics mixative inks by Rangers. Wont say no more. Let me finish them and then you can judge for yourself.

Have a lovely day folks, and remember....get those fingers nice and inky :)

Hugs

Tina

All three ATCs have now been swapped.

2008-03-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

Told myself i need to learn how to do ATCs that involve the basic's like a stamp and inks. This has been one of the hardest challenges for me to do. In fact, ive failed. i just cant get my mind around that kind of ATC. I look at the finished item and it looks naked....know what i mean? I did 4 ATCs and i just did'nt like the effect so had to add the addition of an embellishment or 2 or 3 :)

In the end i felt pleased with the results. Its more me to add a few things to them. I enjoy them better. I also love the little faries and children i add to ATCs.They cheer me up with their cute little smiles.

Thank you to Karen for the support she has given me these last few days. Without her id have been a mess. You keep me going hun, even in my darkest hour.

Hugs

Tina

2008-03-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

What a morning its been with the gales. From 5am onwards the winds have blown very hard. We have had rain and snow. I kept the horses in till noon when the winds dropped, but they have come back again. Oh well, the horses are happier out there facing the elements. Stops them being bored. If the gets worse then they will have to come back in.
So here are today's ATCs that i made yesterday and finished off today. The stamps used for the crazy looking ladies is Lost Coast Designs. I bought them from Karen at scrapz. I love this range of stamps. There is so much you can do with them.
The Crow ATC is a favourite of mine. I love birds so when i saw this plate of stamps for sale i knew i just had to have them. They are by a company called Evoke and the plates name is black birds. You get loads on the plate so very good value for money.
If you like any of the ATCs then leave me a message or email me and lets see if we can trade? Im in a good mood as my DD passed her driving test today in this vile weather. if she can hold her nerve and drive well in weather like this then i have no worries.
Tina
xx

2008-03-07T06:55:00.000-08:00

Most of these ATCs are gone, but if you see something you like then please contact me. Thanks to Karen giving them a home, well not all of them, she isnt greedy like me,lol! A joke Karen and i share. But she has left a couple up for grabs.

Thanks for looking.

Tina

The Ravens and Mona Lisa are calling....

2008-03-07T06:50:00.000-08:00

I'm so in love with Raven, Crow, and bird images. Ive got a few rubber stamps with them on, so decided i needed to use them. Thing is they were not the sort of images that i have in my comfort zone. But once i started playing with them, the more i was addicted to them. I will have to be careful as they could take over. I also cant stop using my Mona Lisa rubber stamp either. I won her from Scrapz. She is one amazing stamp will a million possibilities. Im so in love with her. Anyway, have a look at my new creations. Im off to play some more.

More ATCs at long last.

2008-03-06T04:42:00.000-08:00

What a busy week I've had. Apart from crafting Ive been putting in more work on my young colt foal Duke. Sadly his mother Village Cargo died 6 weeks ago to an unknown illness. It knocked me for six losing her as she was a very special girl to me. Ive always wanted a Village prefix Dales pony, so getting her in foal was a dream for me. Poor girl had not not always been so well cared for or even loved like she should have been, but i promised her last owner that would all change and she would spend the rest of her days with me.

Cargo as i called her , was precious to me, and not a day passes that i don't think of her, miss her , or even love her. I do wish she was well and still here with me, but i don't wish her the pain she had to suffer.

Anyway, its because of her i started making the ATCs. My first ATC was in remembrance of her, and what she meant to me.

Last may she gave birth to a beautiful colt and we named him Duke. Such a stunning boy he was as well with his fawn coloured coat and the famous Dales Pony Star on his forehead. He was her pride and joy, and she was mine.

Anyway, back to the ATCs. I had the most amazing mothers day where i could do as i pleased. I got a set of 12 glimmer mists. Such beautiful colours with a glimmer of shimmer. Id not go over boad and say they get a strong effect as you dont, but if you like subtle then these babies are for you. I got the Moulin Rouge set, and the Ocean breeze set. Just perfect for me as i love colours in the sets. I didnt want the golds they do as im bored with too much of that. I wanted colour.

So i got down to ATCs that day and made a total of 12 of them. The fun i had doing what i wanted that day was measured to a memory of being a kid in a toy shop and being allowed to play till i dropped.

Then the next day i made some more. I have to do loads just in case my friends dont like my work. They always seem to have ATCs i want but i never know if what i make is going to be good enough.

Today i have made another 4 as i got some new stamps and wanted to try them out.

The other day i was the gallery winner at http://www.scrapz.co.uk/ . I couldnt not believe my luck when i got the email to say my atc of Dull Women won for the month. I got the best pressie ever from them as well, plus my ATC features on their front page for a month.

Karen the owner has been busy making the most amazing ATCs. She sent me photos of all 12 and i at once wanted them all. Yes, i know Greedy Bitch, but thats me. When i see quality like she produces then i know i have to have the best. You all know i love her ATCs. They inspire me, and they give me ideas to have a go myself.

So today i made more just in case i get the chance to swap her set of 12 with 13 of mine as i owe her a trade from last time.

Here are the first lot of ATCs, and i will load up the other 4 later.

Have a fun day, and feed the mind and soul with art.

Tina

2008-02-25T10:07:00.001-08:00

What a lovely and relaxing weekend i had. I managed to make 11 ATCs and more than half ive swapped with Karen at scrapz. I had to make them as she had the most amazing ATCs to swap and i wanted them all :) . Her work blows my mind away, and like me she has not been making them for that long. I think its about 6 weeks for the pair of us. Yes we need a pat on the back as i happen to think we have learn a lot and managed to find our own style in a short period of time. Anyway, here are the little suckers that are causing me sleepless nights. When i do sleep i dream im panning and designing ATCs. The bug has bitten in a big way,lol! The ATCs have not scanned as well as they look. The colours and textures are realy tons better in the flesh.

Never Say Never

2008-02-21T12:21:00.000-08:00

I had a lovely sheet of fairies, but this little girl on the toad stool really caught my eye. I love her with her shy expression. The sheet is from Lisa's Altered Art in the USA. Im so very much in love with her artwork.

Anyway, used some german scrap which is my new found love. Just wish i could get it in other colours. Im really liking this altered images. Think i need to go shopping to get some more,lol.

Another Dull Women

2008-02-21T12:15:00.000-08:00

Karen really wanted my last Dull women ATC but it was in a quote swap. So i promised to make her one with a twist. I did an arched shape to this one. Use cream semi gloss card that i inked up with browns and greens.,

Really like this one. Anyway, its all mailed up ready to go to karen tomorrow. Have to say i think i shall be doing a few more of this shape. They are cool.

Queen Bee

2008-02-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

This rubber stamp of the queens head came from Scrapz. As soon as i saw it i wanted to add it to the body of a honey bee i had from Hero Arts. The alter stamp is by Lost Coast. Most of it is coloured in chalks which i blended, and then i picked up highlights with Marvey Le Plumme ll pens. To her crown i added gems to give it a touch of bling, and i used a saying from the LE Ephamera pack i got from Scrapz. They are super, and just right for what i do with the ATCs.

Seek and ye shall find

2008-02-21T11:59:00.000-08:00

This came from nothing. I was just playing and starting putting it all together over the course of the day. It just needed something more, but i coudn't think what! Then i found a rub-on with the words " Seek And Ye Shall Find".

I have a box full of rub-ons that have never suited my scrapbooking pages. It the kind of box you magpie things away what could come in handy. You must know what i mean eh? I bet you have one too? My nan had a draw full of all sorts of rubbish, but she refused to throw any of it away telling me " It will come in handy one day my girl". Never did i think id magpie things away like she did,lol!

Well this ATC is going to Karen of Scrapz. Infact Karen is having 4 of my ATCs. Could'nt think of a better person to trade with. Thanks Karen, you are a star :)

Dull Women Have Immaculate Homes.

2008-02-20T11:32:00.000-08:00

The title says it all really. Im in a 1-2-1 Quotes swap with Cindy and she picked this one. No, she isnt a dull women at all. Bit like me really when it comes to immaculate homes. Who the hell in this day and age has a perfect home? A bit of dust, and the odd mug on the side never done any house harm. Im a ink and rubber fan, i dont have time for perfection. As i say, if you dont like it, ive got plenty of doors you can leave by.LOL!

Anyway Cindy, hope you enjoy this ATC as much as i did creating it. Have to say this is another rubber stamp ive had for the past 7 years. Not sure if they still make it, but it got me out of a deep hole,lol!

Look Within

2008-02-20T11:28:00.000-08:00

Just another i russled up yesterday and finished off today. Needed to add something else to the face image so stamped out a butterfly. Not sure why i did this at all. Just wanted something girlie. I think i managed it.

This ATC is going to a good friend called Inky Fingers,lol! Oh yes, another rubber and ink lover. Her Atcs are stunning as well.

Unlock My Hour

2008-02-20T11:19:00.000-08:00

I wanted to do a twist, so used the words Unlock My Hour instead of Unlock My Heart. Just wanted to be that bit different, a bit off the wall. In a way it was to get people to wonder what is behind the reason to this image.

Well, the atc now has a home and is going to karen who owns the wonderful website called Scrapz. The link is on the right hand side. Pay the shop a visit? Its full of wonderful goodies that will get your juices flowing. If Karen doesn't stock it then its not worth stocking. She offers a first class delivery service as well. Go on , give her a go!

Follow Me Art

2008-02-20T11:12:00.000-08:00

Ive had this paper arts doll rubber stamp for the past 7 years and never ever used it or another i have in the same style. So yesterday i got the stamp out and decided to use the lady head on dart board. Wanted to add i bit more colour to this one so used Tim Holtz Orange Marmalade distressing ink pad with some foam daubers. The name of this is very tongue in cheek really. I thought the head on this image looked like maid or clippy from the 1940s. Being a cockney i assumed she would say " Follow Me Art" and not " Follow My Heart" :)

Hope you like it as much as i do?

Love...Blah...Blah...Blah

2008-02-20T11:04:00.001-08:00

Had another great day of play with the ATCs. Finished off a bunch id started yesterday. This one is called Love ...Blah...Blah...Blah...
Very easy and pleasing to the eye. I thought it very grungy at first, but the more i look at it the more i like it. Anyway, its got a home with Rosie R who is another very talented ATC artist i admire. Her work is really of a high standard, and to boot she is a lovely lady.

Tuesday 19th February 2008

2008-02-19T13:59:00.000-08:00

Today was a very busy day in all for me. After finishing the horses in my PJs ( Yes that's right :) ) I keep the horses at home on my own land. So i get to dress how i please and when i please. Lazy really, but i felt like a lazy day.

The dogs went to the vet as they needed their yearly booster and Arnie the eldest bully of mine is getting a bit stiff in the back legs after resting. So he has been given a special cartlidge injection. Has to have one weekly for 4 weeks and then every month. I already have my youngest bulldog on them, and my 8 year ol Boxer dog Mads.

So once all the chores were done i settled into my craft room and put on a audio book. Drank a cup of coffee and set to working making 4 ATCs for the St Patricks Day Swap im in. Dabbled in really artsy stuff this time. Normally this would throw me out of my comfort zone, but it felt good. In fact once i started i just could'nt stop. I have to say i like these much better than what i normally do. The new me is doing out of the box and comfort zone for now. So much more fun i must add.
Its my art work from start to finish. Something i can be proud of.

The images i used were from Lisa's Altered Art USA. She is amazing at altering images. Its all her own work as well. I found her via Ebay. Once i saw her faires i knew these were images i wanted to use for the ATCs.

Im off to bed now. Its been a very busy day for me and im shattered.

Good Night