Monday 29 December 2008

Hommage To Dawn...



One of our fellow demonstrators Dawn set the crafting marathon off with a version of a stationery box she had made just before Christmas. Well here is our version, using the new Harlequin Rose stamps from Elusive Images. I'm going to put a set of stationery items inside but as yet the stamps are not released so we will have to wait and see.
Thanks for Looking - more tomorrow

Saturday 27 December 2008

Im so excited!

Why? well today is the official start to my 'me time crafting space' My friend Siggy is as I speak travelling from Kent and we are aiming for a crafting marathon. I even ventured into my hiding hole where I keep my secret stash of specialness and have brought out some gorgeous papers and stamps. Perhaps I need to attend a paper stroking clinic!!Hopefully we will be able to upload some of our creations.
I also wanted to say thankyou to all who have blog read, blog commented and blog encouraged over the past few months since I started, and to those ladies who have attended workshops thank you for your continued enthusiasm. Here's to a New Year with the prospect of even more exciting goodies.

Monday 8 December 2008

The Faerie and the Unicorn



If you're still looking for the unicorn she's on the front of the boxed card guarding the entrance. The stamps are from Elusive Images and the castle was cut from the paper dolls cricut cartridge and layered up and them glimmer misted.
I keep promising myself that tomorrow I will make the family christmas cards but like tomorrow they never quite appear!!! It's a good job we're still in the season of Advent - a time of preparation - there's plenty to do
Happy Advent

Thursday 4 December 2008

Snowy Play Days


Well what a day - I was woken up at 4.30pm by a snoring husband who was so obviously enjoying his sleep that he insisted on sharing it with the whole house. Unable to go back to sleep I sat and watched the snow fall - it was so peaceful until the dog decided it wanted to play snowball fights at 6.30am !!
That was it I had gone passed a set of stamps and a cricut machine. It had to be done, I could watch the snow and play. Here is something I put together for Graphicus Open Day tomorrow (a sneeky peek)I used Joys of The Season cricut cartridge
Looking forward to seeing you there

Sunday 23 November 2008

Advent Cricut




Just for fun I created this advent calendar as part of a cricut workshop I did earlier this month. I used the Christmas Cheer cartridge and Design Studio to plan the calendar. We had lots of fun putting them together - really all that was missing were the mince pies and tinsel as we had a musical rendition of Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer at the swarm meeting

Have Fun

Tuesday 11 November 2008

Blog Challenge


Just to let you know I've organised a Christmas Themed Round Robin over on the Elusive Images blog if you're interested in joining in the fun just leave a comment in the box by Fri 21 Nov.
I have a cuttlebug playday tomorrow and have been busy putting some samples and techniques together. There's just so many possibilities with that little machine. Looking forward to seeing you there ladies.


Saturday 1 November 2008

Winter's Here

Let it never be said that living in a northern weather hemisphere is boring. This week I have driven through hailstones the size of golf balls in Carlisle, a flooded road in Penrith, gossamer mists in Newcastle, a snow storm in Kendal and the most colourful sun drenched forest at Hamsterley, with frosty leaves crunching under foot.
Then I made this card for a class this weekend. It is an Elusive Images Stamp and has loads of Christmas potential. I'm not normally a glitter diva but Christmas is an exception. Whatever the weather, have fun





Wednesday 22 October 2008

Rummage and Create




Here are a couple of projects I did using up those scraps of card and papers. It can be a really fun idea to see what you can make with all those bits you keep. I like to sort mine into colour theme boxes and then rummage and create.
The bind-it-all box is made from Paper Adventures Papers and ribbons supplied by Bramwells. The card die cut is from the Cricut New Arrivals cartridge.

Monday 20 October 2008

I just love this plate of stamps



I have to say the more you play with these stamps the more your brain teases you with that 'what if I just....' moment.
I have been busy with the cricut and have done a few projects which I will be able to upload shortly.
Next week I'm going to try and start my own Christmas Cards - my problem is that I have so many lovely stamps I will want them all out at the same time.
Happy Stamping

Sunday 19 October 2008

David Attenborough here I come...

We have all watched in awe as David Attenborough and his crew film fantastic footage of birds, insects and animals about their business when everyone else is asleep.
As some of you know we have a mad cairn terrorist, who regularly enjoys such antics as trampolining, cat stalking and greeting the postman every morning.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, 2.15am actually, the dog woke us up barking like mad - a very rare occurance as she likes her beauty sleep as well - Mike went downstairs and opened the door. The dog ran out before Mike could catch her and she disappeared down the road at 100 miles an hour. Someone had very kindly opened our gates and pulled the composter over. The fuming husband came back upstairs and got dressed in his running gear. I thought it's a bit early for a run, but no I was told that the dog had gone walkabout. Up, dressed and torch in hands we set out on a dog hunt. I went hunting up the dog field and Mike went on his bike down the river and along the railway lines. Believe me it's spooky at 2.30am, hedgehogs snuffle, owls hoot, mice, voles, rats they're all out there. Using mobile phones as radio mikes I got a message to say that he had site of her - 4 miles away near an old prisoner war camp but the dog was still running. However, his torch battery had gone flat - he was returning to get another torch.
To cut a long morning's entertainment short we found the dog, whimpering 6 miles away, the cows had got her cornered and the chase was over. Like all normal people we returned home, walking the dog, hand in hand at 5.30 am had coffee and went to bed.

You couldn't write a story like this if you tried!

Sunday 12 October 2008

There's Blog Candy In Them There Hills There Is

Pop over to the elusive images design team blog and post a comment - there's some amazing blog candy to be had

Thursday 9 October 2008

A Five Legged Unicorn


Just finished a couple of samples for Elusive Images and have had such a laugh. I made a gatefold card with unicorns on the front and thought something was amiss. Anyway when I looked at it again three hours later I realised I had decoupaged the unicorn with five legs. You're allowed to laugh I did and still am.
This landscape Angel sample was made from the ATC size stampboard which is a lovely size to work on. It was painted first with tinkabella inks, sanded back. The images were stamped with Ranger Archival Black, allowed to dry and then etched.Finally spritz with your favourite glimmer mists.The card base is gold mirri card, hence the holy glow.

Monday 6 October 2008

When only Pooh will do...

Ever had one of those days when your mojo goes on holiday? My tip to restore the soul is to sit down and read Whinnie the Pooh.
Quote of the Day ""When late morning rolls around and you're feeling a bit out of sorts, don't worry; you're probably just a little eleven o'clockish."

Saturday 4 October 2008

Just Playing


Here's a card made from the new Christmas Stamps available from Elusive Images. The star was made from 4 stampboard tiles painted with tinkabella inks and overstamped with one of the gorgeous tree images. I will try and post a couple more cards this week. I've got a day off and I'm treating myself to a trip to a bead fair....
Happy Stamping

Wednesday 1 October 2008

Feels like Autumn is on it's way


I just love this time of the year when you go out walking the dog and you see so many inspiring colour combinations in the trees and those gorgeous fields after the crops have been cut. It makes you want to play with different colour pallettes. This week I've been playing with those yummy Tattered Angel Glimmer Mists and some tissue paper which came out of a lovely surprise perfume box present from my DH. I had some plain candles and decided they needed a simple make over. The stamps are from Elusive Images Paris in the Spring collection. It seemed a pity to use them but that is part of my commitment to myself to use my stash and not save it, stroke it, smell it or leave it on a shelf for too long!! A mantra that is working....

Have fun - I did

Friday 26 September 2008

When you just have to laugh

Yesterday was a day of mixed emotions - I was so excited as I drove to the garage and pick up my new car , after having said my very fond farewells to Lola, a beautiful black luna Beetle which my DH bought me as a wedding anniversary present. The new car - yet to be christened - is a sexy salsa red Beetle. Go for a test drive, you'll be hooked.
Anyway, I was demonstrating at York and had packed the car with 'stuff' and arrived with loads of time to set up etc etc. I had just opened my bag, put my hand in when a large tube of glitter glue exploded in my hand. The glue shot up in the air, splattered the demo table and when I looked I realised that I was wearing most of a whole pot of glitter glue. The two blokes waiting outside for their wives to come out of the craft shop were too polite not to laugh. After I had spread it everywhere, whilst trying to clean up, one of the blokes came over and said, " Do you do that to attract all your customers? My wife has to spend all night with glitter to look like that!"
I'm just so pleased I didn't have to take the new car back to the garage to be cleaned or report any mishaps to DH!!!

Take Care

Beetle Juice

Monday 22 September 2008

A bit of Fun !!









Every family has one (I hope) or life could become very dull! My mum, auntie and I went shopping the other day and left the shop with several of these silly hats. My excuse is that I'm a Brownie Guider and my Brownies have come to expect such behaviour from me - I'm not sure other shoppers found it so amusing. Go on have a laugh, we did and felt sssooooo much better!

Thursday 11 September 2008

Cuttle and Create








A few ladies have requested images of some cards I made last weekend at the Graphicus Open Weekend. I hope the cards you're looking for are here. The stamps I used are supplied by Inkadinkado and are available at http://www.graphicus.co.uk/, as are the cuttlebug embossing folders and dies.


Also I have uploaded some cricut create samples but I'm delighted to say that I have been given two free housework days by the Clan and have decided to play with Design Studio. Saying that I do have a gorgeous set of stamps sitting on my desk that have got my name written all over them. Watch this space.

Friday 5 September 2008

It's Raining.... It's Pouring.....


......but inside Graphicus the sun is shining. Thank you to all the lovely people I met today. I just love watching people's faces as they walk out of the door, peering into their shopping bags, looking at all their lovely stash. I always spread my stash out on the floor and smell and stroke the papers - my dog thinks I'm mad and the kids know that I'm mad. Today I just could not resist some beautiful prima flowers, a delicious Maya Road hand bag and some ribbons. It's my daughter's birthday next week so I shall see what I can secretly create for her. I shall put some sample cuttlebug cards on here for those ladies that wanted photos next week.
By the way this is how I found Marmalade and Sparkle when I got home tonight. The vet has been quite rude about Sparkle when he has had to go for a check up. The truth is when we got him we thought he was a she.... say no more

Thursday 4 September 2008

and the award goes to......

with the delight of receiving an award comes the responsibility of passing it on. I've thought long and hard and looked at the criteria for A [Wild] WYLDE Woman!

Purpose of the Award: To send love and acknowledgement to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy. There are only two rules:1. You can give it to one or one hundred or any number in between - it’s up to you. Make sure you link to their site in your post.2. Link back to this blog site (http://tammyvitale.typepad.com/) so I can go visit all these wonderful women.

I would like to pass this award onto Helen Chiltern, whose work I have admired up close when helping to mount artwork over at Graphicus. Helen has also had projects published in Crafty Stamper, and Helen has recently joined the blogging sisterhood and her artwork can be viewed at http://helenchilton.blogspot.com/ . Congratulations Helen xXx

Tuesday 2 September 2008

Back to Black


These clear stamps from Inkadinkado starved off the black theme in mind from yesterday. Although I have to say finding any lovely soft black ribbon is almost impossible. Also tried a little test using Stazon and Ranger Archival Dye ink and on this occasion the Ranger ink gave a better finish in my opinion. The gem stones are from Hero Arts and I just love the colour range they have. I just got my hands on some olive green gem stones and when I saw the colour my mind was racing back to the fabulous Peacock Summer Party CD (http://www.graphicus.co.uk/ to purchase) and a particular paper on that so watch this space.

Yesterday my daughter started a self portrait for a competition. The rules are that it has to be a self portrait in the style of an artist you admire. True admiration for her as she sat down to compose. Sometimes wish I had that child like approach to life. She chose Van Gogh and as part of our chat I asked her why she liked his style. Her reply certainly put me in my place - 'can you not see the way he fills in flat spaces with pattern and he doesn't really paint he just draws in colour' An art critic in the making. Hopefully I'll ask her permission to show the finished portrait.






I've not forgotten....

I've not forgotten about you all but this week my time has been employed purchasing school uniform and if anyone has a daugher they will appreciate the difficulties in purchasing a pair of school trousers. Apparently the 'in thing' is to wear the afore mentioned item long, so long that they trail on the ground, then you spend all day walking on them so they take on a shabby chic look. By the end of your first day at school they look exactly like the ones your mother threw in the bin on the last day of school. The lesson I've learnt this week is to choose which battles you want to fight and I think this is one I have definitely waived a white flag at.

To compensate for the madness I have been working on some samples with some new stamps, but they are been kept under wraps until after their launch. I have also been playing with some different ideas using rubber stamps and a cuttlebug. Ideas are progressing and again I hope to be demonstrating this at the Graphicus open weekend, along with the new Cricut Create. Hope to see you all there.

I'm now bracing myself for a morning shoe shopping. The only rule is they have to be black..... Perhaps that could be my theme for a card today. Let's see what happens
Annette

Tuesday 26 August 2008

AAAARRRGHHH - Have you ever......







Have you ever got up early in the morning, crept downstairs trying dilligently not to wake the sleeping beauties up. You don't turn on the light, because you don't want to be blinded and then you are thrown into a state of hysteria as you realise you are treading in slime and find an invasion of elongated slugs taking over your kitchen floor ..... well that's what happened to me this morning. Everyone then awoke !! only the dog decided that going back to sleep would be a good idea. Anyway, thought I'd upload a couple of recent samples that winged their way over to Elusive Images.

Sunday 24 August 2008

An Award

A [Wild] WYLDE Woman!

Purpose of the Award: To send love and acknowledgement to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy.


After returning home from a break I used to look forward to opening my post but this year I couldn't wait to get back and open my emails etc. To my delight I found out that I had ben given this award by one fabulous diva who I can also confirm will be published on the front cover of October's Craft Stamper magazine. Pop over to her blog for some true inspiration. Thank You Lynne! http://inkyartitude.blogspot.com/





There are only two rules:1. You can give it to one or one hundred or any number in between - it’s up to you. Make sure you link to their site in your post.
2. Link back to this blog site (http://tammyvitale.typepad.com/) so I can go visit all these wonderful women.






Like Lynne I had to go and spend some time looking at some of the links and have found some pretty amazing women out there. Now I shall have to think hard as to who to pass the award onto. The thinking cap is on as there are so many possibilities

Wednesday 30 July 2008

New Christmas Stamps from Graphicus





I've been honoured to have been playing with these stamps for a little while now and how fantastic are they. I have yet to feel that I've made a boo boo with them. Glenda over at http://www.graphicus.co.uk/ has done an amazing job - you can pop over there and add them to your stash, 100% stamping satisfaction