Greensleeves

Jasmin and Max/Birthday card

2011-04-22T09:30:00.002+01:00

Only one year after I posted the last creation I finally made something. Not too complicated, as Eddie kept calling to me from his playpen "Mama, mama".
As it was Jo's birthday, I thought she might find it amusing if I pair her very own Jasmin girl with a partner. I drew him quickly with a Gelcolor black pen. The padded flowers come from a Mother's day kit I found reduced to 25p in Sainsburys, and thought they might come useful. Brads are from the Papermania V&A Hanoverian collection.

I am still alive...

2010-10-25T11:17:00.003+01:00

But crafting is impossible right now, so my blog hasn't been updated for many months.
But I have a perfect excuse - my baby Eddie who is turning 3 months today. Between him and Sasha who also needs all my love and attention, I just don't have a spare minute to touch my beautiful papers and stamps.

She sells seashells...

2010-04-24T11:42:00.003+01:00

For some reason this seashell stamp from Anita's reminded me of some exotic headdress, and that's exactly what I did with it. It is a (very distant) homage to Mersad Berber whom I admire immensely (I guess I need to win a lottery to be able to afford one of his works,lol). I am sure Monsieur Berber wouldn't recognise it as a homage, but then he spends days on each work, and I had about 20 minutes, what with Sasha demanding to change his DVDs and me getting more and more uncomfortable sitting at the table, that's the best I could do.
It is a birthday card for a friend who is an inspiration in every sense of this word.
Don't know if it counts as a girlie card for the Stampotique challenge, but when I was a kid, I always drew ladies in medieval dresses.

Stitch in time/Caardvarks Lace challenge

2010-03-23T10:27:00.003Z

This is a birthday card for a lovely forum friend, who is talented in anything she puts her mind to: papercrafts, knitting, sewing.
Stamps: Sugar Nellie (main image) and Tim Holtz (background stamp). I stitched the thread on the stamped image plus lace, and attached all the tiny buttons.

Thumbelina/Spring Has Sprung at Stampotique

2010-03-11T17:51:00.003Z

Too dark today to take a better picture, perhaps tomorrow will be brighter and sunnier. Here's my lil Thumbelina sleeping in her cradle among tulips.
The tulips as well as all the papers, flowers and ribbons are from Papermania range.
(I don't have any Stampotique stamps) The little snuggly girl is my own drawing.

Plant Kindness/Simon Says Girlie Challenge

2010-03-09T16:03:00.002Z

I wanted to thank a friend for a fab gift I got in the mail last week, which left me all warm and fuzzy and emotional.
For the flower girl I used the free stamp that came with the previous issue of Craft Stamper, imo the most beautiful stamp they produced (unlike the little horror that comes with the current issue, tut tut, it's so poorly drawn, even my 8-year-old niece can do much better) as well as one of Prima flowers. Petals are TT stamps.

La cage aux folles/Caardvarks Photo Inspiration challenge

2010-03-08T19:20:00.002Z

Caardvarks is running another Photo inspiration challenge, with cages and birds.
So here is my birdie in a golden cage. The main stamped image is by Kodomo.
The big button on the side is a fab bargain from the charity shop, I found these three huge buttons for 25p altogether, and they are perfect for stamping or altering.

Stop adding your junk links to my card, you know who I mean

2010-02-22T12:53:00.006Z

This is a birthday card for a forum friend. Almost all the papers are taken from the big book of wallpaper samples that I picked up from the outside of the home interior design shop, a great freebie album with luxurious papers. Then there the ribbon with patterned leaves, which I think came from a box of Belgian chocolates. A tiny egg is printed on a curtain sample, another freebie from the interior design shop. And the twigs are the remains of some boxed Prima flowers. Gosh and golly, I should really pat myself on the head for being a recycling pro, lol.

Autism Mothers - The Final Cut

2010-01-18T18:04:00.001Z

Standing together, we will win.

Blue Willow/Photo Inspiration Challenge

2010-01-15T18:06:00.002Z

Basic Grey Challenges blog is running a Photo Inspiration challenge. As the photo reminded me of dainty porcelain sets and 5 o'clock tea, I thought my new Kodomo Blue Willow stamps would fit perfectly. Papers used: Basic Grey and Papermania, plus the old samples of wallpaper (I love its crackle effect, it makes my Blue Willow porcelain look more antique). Buttons are also Basic Grey, with Blue Willow designs stamped on them to look like porcelain plates. Plus I've added the remains of the antique ribbon.

Carol's birthday card

2010-01-11T17:19:00.003Z

Now that the card has finally arrived to Carol, I might blog it. I used yet another vintage image.

Dance with me (birthday card for Deb)

2010-01-11T10:20:00.002Z

I found this lovely vintage photo on ebay and just had to buy it. Stamp used is Tim Holtz frame. A few sparkles are added, golden mesh ribbon and lace to the skirts, plus an earring turned into a charm, and hey presto, a birthday card is done. :)

Павел Бабаков Выйду на улицу

2010-01-08T10:51:00.001Z

Dance to keep warm! :)

Snowman and his family

2009-12-22T17:51:00.005Z

Christmas quickies

2009-12-22T17:43:00.005Z

As if I didn't know what date Christmas is, it approached surprisingly fast, and so I had to produce a batch of very quick cards. Even those felt like a conveyor belt.
Here are my quickies made with Stampington (Night town) and Tanda Stamps (tree/Christmas plate) stamps.
As I was also tempted to buy some new Snowman papers for Sasha's buddies' cards (and in the end they all got Mr Men & Little Miss cards), I felt that poor Snowman feels lonely and needs a loving family, so I added a wife and two kids next to him.

Birthday card

2009-12-13T18:18:00.005Z

I just fell in love with this chubby face (and hope it wasn't too cold in the studio, lol). Makes me wonder what happened to this child, what was his/her life.
Each photo tells a story, but some of them are stories lost in time.
BTW, I've been recycling again: this printed butterfly with beads was a part of textile tag from a River Island blouse (or was it trousers? not sure. But I knew I'd use it one day.)

Glitzy Something challenge/Flowergirl purse

2009-12-05T15:48:00.004Z

Stamp Something is running a Glitzy challenge. As any girl, I love a bit of sparkle, lol.
I did a similar purse some time in June but this time I changed the colours and added blitzy-glitzy sparkle bits to flowers. I painted stamped images with acrylic paints. The purse itself was a Boots freebie.

Dance the night away/Animal Antics

2009-11-19T09:49:00.004Z

Blog-jumping, I found a blog called Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog, and as this week's challenge is Animal Antics, I thought my dancing cats would do just fine.
It is a birthday card for a fun-loving girl.
The cats come from Simply Cards magazine, they printed two pages of cats for anyone to copy, trace etc, and they remind me of cats my little brother likes to draw (though his are more quirky). I photocopied them on thick paper and coloured with watercolours. The lovely button is from Snowman series, and so is the background paper.
"Happiness is" stamp is Paper Artsy.

Discovering oneself/Out of the Hat Scrapping challenge

2009-07-25T18:21:00.003+01:00

July challenge from Out of the Hat was to:
1. Use haberdashery on your page (flower buttons here)
2. Monochromatic type layout (sort of, I think I slightly digressed from monochromatic, lol)
3. Use felt on your layout (flowers again).
You can open the gate to read: What is a pure undiluted pleasure? Riding a horse.
Sasha is ecstatic in a company of horses and ponies. If he could talk, he would speak in verse at such moments. He is discovering the world, discovering himself.

Dream (Wednesday Stamper)

2009-07-16T16:01:00.002+01:00

A girl is daydreaming on a swing. I used my niece's photo for the sketch, so it is not a portrait, just a girl... I used to do just that, daydreaming on a swing or in a hammock, for hours, "doing nothing in particular and thinking of nothing in particular".
Stamps used: Technique Tuesday/Sweet dreams & Little Yellow Bicycle/Nature.

Josephine the Pirate (PaperPlay fashion challenge)

2009-07-13T15:48:00.005+01:00

I know, I know, I lost the plot, lol. I was playing with Josephine (from Innovative Stamp Creations plate), dressing her up as a pirate this time. I always wanted to have a tricorne hat, but alas, never had a chance to wear one. So this is my fashion statement for PaperPlay fashion challenge.
A very dated fashion, you can say. To make this hat a bit more girlie I added some sparkle and fluffy feathers. While I was buying these bits today in a little sewing shop, I saw these pearls on a wire, not sure what they were meant to be but I just had to have them. :)
Just realised that Mixed Media Monday is running a Play challenge this week, since I had fun playing, dressing up Josephine, I'll "do a Joanne" (who's the queen of combined challenges :), and add this to MMM challenge as well.

Pink, brown and flowers/Forever Friends challenge

2009-07-09T19:52:00.002+01:00

Two of Sasha's classmates have birthdays in July. This card is for a girl whom Sasha allows to take him by hand and drag around the playground. He is usually very sensitive about his private space, so I am happy to see him playing with other kids.

Snow Queen

2009-07-09T16:41:00.006+01:00

OK,I am growing senile. I looked up the name of this chipboard before taking photos, but now totally forgot what it is. Perhaps gingko biloba is in order, or some decent sleep, lol
Anyway, here is my Snow Queen, i.e. Josephine (Innovative Stamp creations/Friendship plate) in a winter outfit.
P.S. Stamp Something is running a Christmas in July challenge.

Tower Block Musical

2009-07-05T19:34:00.001+01:00

A new piece from Antnhec to enjoy.

When I see an elephant fly

2009-07-03T14:07:00.003+01:00

I was singing this to myself when I sketched a little elephant stamp for Craft Stamper.
You can see it in the latest issue of CS. Sadly it wasn't a winner. Oh well, you can't will them all, can you?
I dedicate it to Sasha who loves elephants in all sizes and shapes. We have a whole library on elephants: all Elmer the patchwork elephant books, many versions of Dumbo, photo books etc, as well as a procession of elephant figurines. :)

Charmed

2009-06-29T15:50:00.002+01:00

I loved the little wise owl from the last issue of Craft Stamper and thought she was begging to be turned into a charm. :) Here she is, stamped and baked in FIMO, coloured with Stazon and acrylics. The dangling thing is a Sainsbury's earring (yet another one, I've been tempted to buy another pair for crafting).

And the winner is...

2009-06-26T17:10:00.001+01:00

drumroll please... Kaz!
Thanks to Sasha who wasn't sure why I asked him to pick just one piece of paper from his hat.
Many thanks to all participants!

Spirit (Stamp something challenge)

2009-06-25T17:25:00.004+01:00

Stamp Something is running a colour challenge this week. They want you to "just add" some colour! Please create a project using only black, white, and ONE colour!!!
I have chosen brown and its shades.
I have found this lovely photo in an antique shop when we recently went to Lechlade to look for an antique desk for my husband. This young girl looks very spirited and feisty. There is no name on it, but I called her Mabel. :)
For the challenge card I used 3 different stamps: two from Tim Holtz collection (for the background in black and brown) and a little Spirit stamp (company??). I also dipped a piece of lace in coffee to make it look older than it is. Brads are BG Archaic. The little charm is actually an earring from Sainsbury's. As a magpie I was attracted to its shiny stone, even if I don't wear earrings, but I knew they'd come useful one day. :)

Girlie giveaway-II (c/d 25/06)

2009-06-16T16:18:00.005+01:00

For no other reason but the sunny day and me enjoying my new hair colour which I would call Venetian red. With hair "ablaze" as if painted by Titian, I'm ready for any impossible mission! :)
Isn't it funny how a hair colour can boost your mood?! Now that I'm in my early 40s, I am confident about the way I look. It doesn't mean I don't want longer legs and Daniel Craig following me with admiring eyes, but then who wouldn't? :)
So, here's what you can get: Riche Creme Elixir de Beaute/Beauty elixir with 30 precious oils, Maybelline pure blush mineral in topaz rose, Basic Grey Aura acrylic stamps, one Inka scroll (unmounted), Lindt Excellence Chilli (dark and smooth and with a hidden fire) and five cheerful flower buttons.
Anyone can enter, you don't have to post a link on your blog or be my follower, just wish me a good day.
I will enter all names in the draw on the 25th of June.
Good luck!

Daydreamer purse

2009-06-15T11:30:00.007+01:00

I had this little cosmetics purse for a while, it was a Boots no.7 freebie, and I knew that I'd do something with it eventually. Now it's a birthday gift, not sure yet what will go inside. I'd like to sneak in some choocies but I know she's trying to be on a diet, so I don't want to sabotage that.
The girl and butterflies are stamped with Stazon and painted with acrylics. This is the stamp which I call Jo's stamp (Innovative Stamp Creations/Friendship). :)
I'm submitting it to the Caardvarks 3-D challenge, as they said it could be "altered anything", so I guess it certainly comes under this category of "Altered anything", lol.

P.S. The stamp is by Innovative Stamp Creations (Thanks, Jo!)
And what's the next best thing after chocolate? A chocolate facial mask. :) So this one goes in among other goodies for a birthday girl.

Van Gogh contest

2009-06-13T10:24:00.002+01:00

When I read about the Van Gogh contest on Starving artistamps blog, I looked at my stamp collection and thought who could benefit from an Impressionist setting? So here is Sasha running along the sparkling sea. I used watercolour and acrylic over the stamped image, and added Archaic designer brads, which remind me of pieces of polished glass you find on the beach.

Simple Thank you!

2009-05-21T18:06:00.003+01:00

Love new Regency papers from Papermania, so delicate. The little bird is stamped and painted with watercolour.

A Way of Describing Autism

2009-05-20T13:42:00.001+01:00

A poetic way of describing autism.

Constant heart: the story of my great grandparents, Alexandra and Timofei

2009-05-15T14:58:00.005+01:00

Today I will tell you the story of Alexandra and Timofei, my great grandparents. For the LO I have chosen an old wedding photo (a photocopy) taken in Kursk, Russia in 1917. The red angel is taken from Marc Chagall's "Wedding", one of my most favourite paintings.
Red crowns are references to the Russian church wedding ceremony, when crowns are held above the heads of the wedded couple.
There is a pocket behind the panel with the photo, and it reads like this:
"Kursk, 1917. They called each other Shurochka and Timosha. Soon the Revolution will shatter their fragile world, and the lightening of the Red Terror will devastate millions of lives. They were in love, and they married. During the terrible waves of repressions and executions of 1937 Timofei was arrested and taken away in the black car. He was forced out of the car and shot dead for being rude to the KGB officer. Nobody bothered to tell Alexandra. She thought he was exiled to GULAG.
As many GULAG convicts had no right of correspondence, the absence of letters meant nothing. And there was always hope that one day your true love would be back... You counted days, years and hoped... You never gave up, a constant heart.
When Stalin died in 1953, and those who survived the camps returned home, Timofei's friends told Alexandra about his death.
Can you imagine waiting for more than 16 years to find out that your husband has been dead all this time?!
She never remarried."

Materials used: Stampington newsletter lace download on Basic Grey Boxer paper, antique ribbon, an old pearly buckle (got it for 5p at a charity shop!) and other bits and bobs.

Aquarium

2009-05-14T16:28:00.004+01:00

You are not allowed to use a camera with a flash in London Aquarium, so as not to ruin the fishes' eyes. When I saw Sasha moving along the big window, mesmerised by the sharks and rays, I took a photo, and I like the effect of a dark silhouette on the blue background.
Text on the shark says: "My boy is lost in this enchanted world. Past flickering fishes, his soul is pulled into the silent world of the underwater, where you don't need to talk."
A bit of recycling here: a net from washing tablets, lol, and the jellyfish is made of my old bra (lacy part). Did I just say that?!

P.S. As I've just found that WS theme this week is Under the Sea, and I did use two stamps of seashells, I am adding my entry to the weekly challenge.

My chocolate loves me...

2009-05-07T10:08:00.006+01:00

as in "I love my chocolate, my chocolate loves me", lol.
Here is a birthday gift for a friend, who also recently got engaged, hence all the kissing couples.
Stamp on the top: The Stampsmith (From Russia with love plate).
Images are from Curious by Design. Papers: Daisy D's and Basic Grey.

Born Free ATC in Craft Stamper

2009-05-01T20:07:00.002+01:00

Sewing, sewing, sewn

2009-04-22T08:47:00.003+01:00

When I saw a feature in Craft Stamper about stamping and embroidering stamped images, I thought: I can do it. Off I went to the little sewing shop in town, chose a shiny blue silk thread and started on my project. I should have known better, it took me ages to finish a simple teddy bear. :)

And the winner is....

2009-04-08T19:51:00.003+01:00

drumroll please... Riane (Kernowcards) from the Netherlands. I used the randomiser, and Riane's a winner. Congratulations!
Thank you, everyone, for participating and making it so enjoyable for me. I wish I could give a gift to each and every one of you!

St Basil's card

2009-04-08T19:39:00.006+01:00

Do you remember as a kid colouring in pictures with so much zeal that even your tongue was sticking out from diligence. Well, I guess I was like that colouring in this Elusive Images stamped picture.:)Took me a bit longer than I expected. I'll try to do a better picture tomorrow, as there is no daylight anymore. I used watercolours and golden acrylics. Added a photo taken in the daylight, but then the gold is not so obvious, so left the previous shot with the flas as well.
I made this card as a Thank you card for someone who's very interested in Russia and its history, but thought it was appropriate to enter in a Charmed Crafts/Crafty Goings On blog colouring in competition to win a fab set of copics.
My forum friend Lynn was looking for a Russian Church stamp for me, and found this one only to discover that it was discontinued. So, Lynn, bless her, has contacted the stamping company and they made this stamp specially for me. I am so touched. I think it is a superb stamp.

A little giveaway

2009-04-01T10:36:00.004+01:00

Just because... not for any particular reason, maybe because the sun is shining and the birds are singing in the garden, and I am feeling fine cause I slept through the night without being interrupted 20,000 times, lol
Here's what you can get: Riche Creme Beauty elixir with 30 precious oils (I love it! you need just a tiny bit, it absorbs beautifully, and you feel like Cleopatra after her milk bath), No 7 cleansing body polish (25 ml), No 7 stay perfect clear nail colour, 3 stamps from PA Mini, Bootiful stampz and Inka (sorry, no idea about their names), and CHOCOLATE, how can one live without chocolate: one G&B organic milk choccie and one Lindt excellence chilli choccie.
Anyone can enter, even if you don't live in the UK, I'll be happy to post anywhere.
I will choose a winner using randomiser on the 8th of April at 5pm UK time.
Good luck!
P.S. just wanted to add that by being interrupted in the night I don't mean I am married to a sex maniac, but only that my little guy rarely sleeps through the night.:)

Think, think, think...

2009-03-31T14:42:00.002+01:00

Stamps used: Paperbag studios and TT

Princess cupcakes

2009-03-30T18:12:00.003+01:00

What's the occasion? Just trying Dr Oetker edible paints. Must say, they are not as easy as my usual 3-d paints, and certainly the colour choices are very limited.
But Sasha was looking with great interest at my "painting".

Happy birthday, Sasha!

2009-03-17T15:17:00.001Z

I can't believe you are seven today. My precious boy.

Winged Pierrot

2009-03-16T16:10:00.003Z

Goodness gracious, I did a thing with wings, lol.
Basic Grey challenges site is running a challenge "All Round".
Materials used: Basic Grey Archaic paper and flourish stamp, acetate, brads, eyelets.
It was very tricky to take a photo, so I'm putting up two images to give a better idea what it looks like.

Alice in green (Wed Stamper Green challenge)

2009-03-13T12:55:00.004Z

The colours are honestly much greener in real life than in the photo, lol.
Materials used: The Stampsmith stamp (Playing cards: French plate), Basic Grey papers, crystals and buttons, image is by Lewis Carroll.

You old fossil! (Basic Grey pocket challenge)

2009-03-06T10:49:00.006Z

My lil bro's birthday is approaching fast. Happy birthday, Stepan!
Both my brother and son were born on St Patrick's day, so we consider ourselves half-Irish by proxy, lol.

Here's my card with a pocket and a tag for BG pocket challenge.
I love BG papers, so versatile, just my cuppa tea.
Materials used: Basic Grey Archaic papers and stamps, Boxer brads and buttons.

Ode to Jo

2009-02-23T16:13:00.003Z

Life takes precedence over crafting, and 2009 has been a trial so far.
I was inspired by Jo's recycling article in Stamp Crafter, and as she kindly sent me the stamps she used for her feature, I had no excuse not to make some cards, especially that some of my forum friends were having birthdays.
In my mind I call this stamp from Innovative Stamp Creations "Jo's stamp". :)
Jo is not only one of the most talented paper artists that I know, but also a great Mum and a wise woman. Whenever I feel down or stressed, she always finds words of comfort.
Following in Jo's footsteps, I have done some recycling as well. For the Aloha (Love)card I stamped the flower on bits of glossy magazines and scraps of patterned paper and cut them out. The lovely shells are bits left over from a bracelet bought in a charity shop.
The other card is decorated with a mesh ribbon, salvaged from a bouquet of flowers.
Thank you, Jo, for the stamps and inspiration!

Meet Stepashka

2008-12-29T15:32:00.002Z

As I passed Teddy Bears of Witney shop earlier today, I spotted this cutie in the window on sale for £20 (reduced from £75). He looked so mischievous and cheeky - you can't help smiling looking at him. On the way back home the temptation was too much, I felt that I had to adopt him.

If you love chocolate...

2008-12-26T09:36:00.005Z

You end up with empty boxes, lol. And they ask to be decorated. So, here's yet another of my altered chocolate boxes with spun sugar inside.

Find you passion

2008-12-26T09:31:00.002Z

When I saw this image, I loved this girl with an attitude, and thought it was perfect for a birthday card for my forum friend.

We wish you a cuddly Christmas!

2008-12-25T18:57:00.002Z

Rejoice, rejoice!

2008-12-25T18:51:00.002Z

For this Christmas I designed an angel image, and Tanda Stamps have efficienlty turned it into a stamp. I wanted my cards to be simple and easy to make, playing with different patterned papers, golden acrylic and inks.
This Angel comes from Ust'-Borovaya, and it's a spectacular wooden carved sculpture, one of my favourite sculptures on display in Perm art gallery. I love its glorious trumpet, it seems to be singing: Rejoice!

Russian journey chocolate box and ATC

2008-12-04T19:35:00.005Z

I received a set of stamps as a gift from lovely Audrey, whom I never met in real life but would have really loved to hug for her kindness, as I absolutely adore these Russian-themed stamps. To thank her and also wish her a happy birthday I decorated a box of chocolates (Italian, I'm afraid).
The ATC is for the architecture swap.

Recent birthday cards

2008-12-04T19:33:00.002Z

Salem witch/Wednesday Stamper

2008-10-15T10:56:00.003+01:00

Wednesday Stamper are asking for Goth-themed submissions this week, so here is my little witch from Salem. I made it a while ago, and I remember Sasha was particularly vexed by her lace apron and tried to rip it off, bless him. The stamped gate is by Inka. The witch is painted with acrylics.

An Angel flew over Witney

2008-10-11T17:39:00.005+01:00

Yesterday I looked out of the window and saw this Angel-cloud. And I asked it to watch over us.

More Jolly-ness

2008-07-31T09:48:00.004+01:00

The card at the bottom was made using golden leaf on a tag, with the embossing powder,and a card from the chocolate box Amelie.:)

Christmas in July (DT)

2008-07-31T09:43:00.006+01:00

I was surprised to receive Christmas stamps in my latest DT. I also had to use a metal leaf,a pack of tags and some sticky acetate which proper name escapes me.
So, another case of Ready, Steady, Cook. I didn't find it easy, especially with this heat, and holidays.

Favourite song/Arty Girlz challenge

2008-07-02T10:48:00.002+01:00

It's not a new work, I did it a couple of years ago in fact, but this is about one of my favourite songs by Leonard Cohen.

And where, where, where is my Gypsy wife tonight
I've heard all the wild reports, they can't be right
But whose head is this she's dancing with on the threshing floor
whose darkness deepens in her arms a little more
And where, where is my Gypsy wife tonight?
Where, where is my Gypsy wife tonight?
Ah the silver knives are flashing in the tired old cafe
A ghost climbs on the table in a bridal negligee
She says, "My body is the light, my body is the way"
I raise my arm against it all and I catch the bride's bouquet
And where, where is my Gypsy wife tonight?...
Too early for the rainbow, too early for the dove
These are the final days, this is the darkness, this is the flood
And there is no man or woman who can't be touched
But you who come between them will be judged
And where, where is my Gypsy wife tonight

Serenissima/MMM Places challenge

2008-06-26T19:41:00.004+01:00

A friend sent me a wonderful surprise package recently, when she knew I was feeling blue. As a thank you gift I have bought some lovely sugar sticks for coffee in our local coffee shop (white and brown) and decorated an empty chocolate box with images of Venice (Curious by design). As those sticks look a bit decadent in my mind, I thought they would go nicely with the opulence of Venice.

Fairy jam jar

2008-06-26T14:45:00.003+01:00

Sasha's school has a fete, and they asked for donations of jam jars filled with sweets. So here is my fairy jar. A pity I couldn't fill it with pretty Jelly Beans, as we could only use wrapped sweets. I added a Candy Tuft fairy image.

YouAngel

2008-06-25T15:19:00.001+01:00

Another philosophical piece from Antnhec. Most beautiful. Every word acquires new freshness and depth of meaning. You can always find poetry in your life.

You rock/Nature challenge

2008-06-24T14:34:00.002+01:00

Arty Girlz are running another great challenge - Nature.
I made this Dino card earlier today as part of a Teen challenge, but thought it fits the Nature one as well, lol. Love these Dino stamps from BG. Letters are by Love Elsie.

A very pink card for Olive

2008-06-23T10:07:00.003+01:00

My friend Jay's granddaughter Olive is turning one. What a girl!
Here is a card I made for her, hope she likes pink. The quote is from one of my most favourite poems by Milne.
When I was One I had just begun.
When I was Two I was nearly new.
When I was Three I was hardly me.
When I was Four I was not much more
When I was Five I was just alive
But now I am six I'm as clever as clever
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.
A.A.Milne

Two sites are runnig pink challenges this week - Arty Girlz and Caardvarks, must be a popular colour, lol.

Memory of Venice/Dovecraft challenge

2008-06-18T16:59:00.002+01:00

Dovecraft challenge was to use 3 Dovecraft products. I looked frantically in my stash, and managed to find 3 as required: paper, brads and a chipboard piece.
The stamped border and a feather and an image of Venice are from Curious by Design.
Harlequin is a face mould painted in acrylics.

One Day

2008-06-12T13:44:00.004+01:00

This photo was taken last August in Italy. For this LO I used TT stamps and chipboard, painted with TH distress/crackle paint.
The message reads: "I know you love me - I see it in your eyes, the way you hug and kiss me. Your smile melts my heart. Words are a constant battle for you - they come and go, they don't want to obey... and the only word you repeat like a mantra is "mama". I hope - I pray - one day you will be able to say "Mama, I love you". And I love you more than anyone else in the whole wide world"

Venezia

2008-06-08T08:58:00.004+01:00

A birthday card for a forum friend.
BTW, this is a metal embellishment with a net on the ribbon, not a peel off. :)

Living today

2008-05-14T18:21:00.006+01:00

This is a recent photo of Sasha with me looking out in our garden. The word Today makes me think that it actually represents who we are, we are living today, one day at a time.
The message says: "Being who he is, Sasha doesn't understand the concept of time. Yesterday and tomorrow don't mean much to him. He is not anticipating Christmas, summer holidays, he's not looking forward to his birthday. A new day comes - and he enjoys it while it lasts. Perhaps it's a gift - not looking back in the past or expecting something better to come tomorrow".
For this LO I used two fab oversize buttons, which I stamped and inked. The long pointy hand on the clock is a find in our new home (it is an old house). The frame is JustJohanna stamp. The clock is a B line stamp.
Photo is taken by Federico.

A happy traditionally built mermaid

2008-05-11T17:16:00.003+01:00

Why are all the mermaids on rubber stamps looking so skinny? I believe they come in all shapes and sizes. And as my favourite heroine Mma Ramotswe calls herself a traditionally built lady, so my mermaid is also traditionally built. She is painted with 3d paints, with the added fish and shell beads.

If you live to be 100

2008-05-05T15:57:00.002+01:00

"If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you" (A A Milne) Isn't it a great quote?
This card has been made with my favourite stamp.

Happily ever after (Black and white challenge on Caardvarks)

2008-05-01T16:30:00.002+01:00

Caardvarks challenge is to use black and white scheme, plus one more colour (red in my case).
Stamp used : Inka

Nine coaches are waiting for you (Stamp Addicts DT)

2008-04-28T14:27:00.006+01:00

These were my favourite stamps from the latest assignement: a horse and a coach. I have already shown a coach and a pumpkin card earlier this month. Here are the rest of the horsey-coach creations. Most of them are coloured in with acrylics and Le Plume pens.

Rapunzel's Tower (Stamp Addicts DT)

2008-04-28T14:22:00.003+01:00

This is quite a big stamp. Since it's called Rapunzel's Tower, I thought it would be logical to add some golden locks going down. Then I was stumped for the message. What should I write? Escape?! Rescue me?! or don't pull my hair, or I will be bald?
(sorry for the bad joke). In the end I went for the safe word "love", after all it is a love story. lol
And I liked the idea of using it for a new home card.

Fairy tales (Stamp Addicts DT)

2008-04-28T14:18:00.003+01:00

All the girlie stuff - magic hats and crowns and sparkle. I have painted my queenie with watercolours and acrylic, and embossed two crowns for her.

Life is a Cabaret, old chum

2008-04-21T10:35:00.003+01:00

This is a birthday card for Jo. The main image has been painted and cut out. The curtain took me a while to master, lol.

No use permitting
some prophet of doom
To wipe every smile away.
Come hear the music play.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret!

More Earth Day challenges

2008-04-20T17:16:00.003+01:00

This card is a combo of two challenges: reuse waste and stamp on a photo.
For the main stamped image I used a Rubbadubbadoo stamp/Beach block, and highlighted it with a powder blue acrylic. I also managed to paint over a fat Italian lady in the corner. Nothing wrong with fat ladies, lol, just she wasn't suitable for my card.
Reused items are: a ribbon from the Swedish crackers, and a link from a broken belt, that again I painted with acrylics.
Words stamped are all TT (Pieces of the Puzzle and Gift from the sea).

Earth Day/Eat Fresh challenge

2008-04-20T14:43:00.002+01:00

For my "Have a magical day" card I used a new Judikins stamp (coach). The coach immediately brought memories of Cinderella's story, hence my handmade pumpkin.

Earth Day/Newspaper challenge/Dream and believe

2008-04-19T16:24:00.004+01:00

The challenge is to use newspapers as crafts materials. I folded a little boat and slightly painted it over with acrylics. The newspaper background has also been painted.
My idea was that a little boat, floating in the puddle, is dreaming of adventures and being a pirate's galleon.
And that you should always have dreams, small or big, and maybe, one day, they will come true.
Stamps used: Clearly Defined Pirate treasure and TT Pieces of the Puzzle.

Not much

2008-04-16T13:21:00.002+01:00

Feeling rather listless lately, and hence the lack of anything creative.

Purple Challenge on Caardvarks

2008-04-01T09:03:00.001+01:00

Yet another purple challenge, this time on Caardvarks site.
Stamps used: Inka and Technique Tuesday.

Catching up on birthdays

2008-03-28T11:10:00.003Z

One more off my birthday cards' list, two more to finish. I used yesterday's ATC, just painted two snowdrops in the corner. Snow, snowdrops, spring...

Purple/Wed Stamper

2008-03-28T11:06:00.001Z

It surely brought memories of my childhood, when I was colouring in the pictures with watercolours. :)

Spirit of Spring/TMTA Textures

2008-03-27T10:56:00.003Z

While walking in our garden, I found this small piece of birch bark hanging off the tree, so I gently peeled it off, and decided to make an ATC with it. I stamped the border with The Stampsmith stamp. The main image - the Romanov family in the early spring, digging in the snow, is also from The Stampsmith plate (From Russia with love).

A bunch of birthday cards

2008-03-21T15:08:00.003Z

This week I had to make several birthday cards. The top one is for my forum friend Joanne, and it is a homage to Joanne. I hope she found it amusing. I used an Inka stamp.
The one in the middle is for my dearest friend David, who's in his 80s, and is like a father to me. He's been very poorly recently, but he's a fighter, and is my hero.
The last card is for a forum friend Paula, another talented crafter.

Relax/Wed Stamper In the Garden

2008-03-18T15:13:00.003Z

I am taking part in a sketch challenge/swap, and thought that MM reading in the garden fits well into this week's Wednesday Stamper.
Stamp used: Stampsmith.

Birthday book page

2008-03-12T12:07:00.002Z

I've been invited to take part in a birthday book project. I had to make a page, anything I like, but within a colour palette. Lilac and blue are the colours I seem to work a lot with recently. I used a BG patterned paper for my main background, and painted it over with powder blue and lilac acrylics. The main image is by Stampsmith.
Stars are BG chipboard, painted with silver acrylic. There's a bit of an empty space on the side for binding.

What you do for the sake of friendship

2008-03-06T18:17:00.002Z

My dearest friend Anne is 81. The other day, over lunch at Fleece, celebrating my birthday, she asked me to make a birthday card for her friend. "Maybe flowers... And a Happy birthday message" So far so good. "And could you add her name Joy on the card?" OK. "And her age - 82" (No! I'm tearing my hair mentally, lol) So here it is, as been requested. Adding name and 82 made me wince. But what won't you do for the sake of friendship. :)

Easter card

2008-03-02T12:58:00.005Z

Easter celebrations always bring to my mind Faberge eggs, and for my card I used Stampsmith stamp (From Russia with love plate), golden mesh ribbon, carved glass leaves and Tulip paint.

Wish upon a star

2008-03-02T10:01:00.002Z

Stars is this week's Wednesday Stamper theme.
And Caardvarks micro challenge is Say No to Patterned paper, which is almost a sacrilege to me, as patterned paper and I are the best friends. :)
So, I decided to combine the two challenges.
The main image is by Stampsmith. Swirl - PM. Alphabet - Clearly Defined.

40 today

2008-02-28T18:05:00.004Z

Not something I was looking forward to. But I feel like the most popular girl in the class today, I got so many cards and phone calls and email greetings. I am so deeply touched that people remember and think of me. Thank you all! You made my day!
My special thanks to my niece who drew this wonderful hedgehog playing a violin. She's 6 years old.
She also wrote a very sweet message inside, bless her. Isn't it fabulous?

recent what to call it?

2008-02-20T15:04:00.004Z

artwork? too pompous... creations? again, a bit too loud... something I made in between running after Sasha who's on the stairs to the attic again, serving him chocolate muffins and changing his DVDs and videos and computer games etc etc:)
A birthday card and four more or less same-ish ATCs for an ATC swap titled Poetry. I have chosen yet again Francois Villon's poem "Ballade des Dames du Temps Jadis ("Ballad of the Ladies of Times Past") .

More DT cards

2008-02-18T16:14:00.006Z

I had to produce this batch at a rather short notice, and we also moved home just two weeks ago, so life is pretty hectic here.

Ready Steady Design

2008-02-18T16:04:00.009Z

This is a selection of my Design Team work for Stamp Addicts, using the latest stamps from Judikins and PrintWorks range - JK Poppy Mosaic (that I found most inspiring), PW Life is in Bloom, PW New Curls, JK Happy Flowers, JK Solid Vases cube (another excellent stamp that reminded me of ancient Greek vases) and a PW Life blossom quote stamp.
It is a bit like Ready Steady Cook programme, you can use only a limited amount of stamps that you get and some other stamps by the same companies. I also got two lovely Stazon inks in lilac and fuchsia pink, hence my choice of palette for many cards, JK glass beads (I never tried them before).

trolley dance

2008-02-16T20:13:00.001Z

yet another charming piece from Antnhec. Great to see people throwing away their inhibitions and enjoying the freedom.

Who are you? (Scraplift challenge)

2008-01-27T14:44:00.000Z

The SM magazine runs the Scraplifting challenge in every issue, so here's my attempt.
This photo was taken when Sasha was about two years old. Here he's looking at the goat's sculpture in the Museum garden. It makes me smile, as Sasha's expression here borders on squeamish bewilderment, like who the heck are you.

There was a boy/ Kings at Wed Stamper

2008-01-18T17:04:00.000Z

This piece is for Fede, we both love the Nature Boy song. Also as we are moving in a week, I don't think I'll have time to do anything sensible for Valentine's Day.
The difficulty will be to hide it until the day, and with all the packing will I find it once we move? :)
Stamps used: Paperartsy, Stampsmith (king) and Clearly Defined Alphabet.
The fool is an antique Tarot card image.

There was a boy
A very strange, enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far
Very far, over land and sea
A little shy and sad of eye
But very wise was he

And then one day,
One magic day he passed my way
While we spoke of many things
Fools and Kings
This he said to me

The greatest thing you'll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return.

(Nature boy by Eden Ahbez)

Magic Tree/LotusPaperie Tallest tree challenge

2008-01-17T18:22:00.000Z

Sasha is a nature boy. He might hug and kiss a tree in the park like a dear friend.
And I believe he can see things that we don't see.

Small steps (OLW Steps challenge)

2008-01-11T15:17:00.000Z

I love this photo of Sasha, and had this LO in mind for a long time, but finally the OLW challenge pushed me to start and finish it.
The message says:
"Some people call you a special needs child, but for me you're my very special boy.
You constantly move forward - one small step at a time.
You fully embrace life - disability or not.
I'm so proud of you!"
The chipboard frame is Technique Tuesday, painted with acrylics.
Stamps used: Technique Tuesday, Clearly Defined and PaperArtsy.
The fab tag is KF, I think. I just had to get one, didn't I? lol

Timeless (Caardvarks template challenge)

2008-01-09T15:05:00.000Z

This is the first card of the new year, made with The Stampsmith/From Russia with Love stamp and the fab carved stone leaves that I got for Christmas. These leaves reminded me of the marvellous carved stone vases you can see in the Hermitage in St Petersburg.