Brainboxes!

Hello folks, and what brainboxes some of you are! yes, the quiz answers are flooding in...I've even had an entry from as far afield as New Zealand, but, if you haven't had a go yet, there's still time to enter. Just email me with your answers by early next week...you have to be in it to win it as they say!
I'm sorry that I've been somewhat absent for the last week, but it was a mixture of no photos to share and being quietly busying myself with an assortment of things. Last Thursday I was teaching at Crafts 4 U 2 Do and in the morning the ladies made an array of tags. Here is one that we ran out of time to make! This one features Darkroom Door stamps, Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium papers (which Personal Impressions are now stocking - yippee!) Tissue Tape and a Christmas Muse token by TH. I do like the tissue tape as ribbon effect. In the afternoon we used Darkroom Door stamps to make cards and this one was David's favourite of the samples I made. The lovely paper is Christmas Emporium "Believe!" which has postcard sized retro images on the front and this beautiful blue paper on the reverse. I used Faded Jeans to ink the postage stamp and then, once I'd applied it to the paper, lightly misted it with water for that slightly blurred effect. On Saturday I was at Crabapple Crafts who were celebrating their twelfth birthday. Rosemary and Debbie were also demonstrating as well as Woodware and even Nigel got in on the act. Hello to everyone who came along and glad you enjoyed the day.
Sunday was also a busy day as I was at the Craft Shop in Congleton where a group of very keen ladies spent most of the day with me as I got very messy indeed with various inks and stamps. There were lots of homemade cakes and the kettle seemed to be on all day...I did indulge in one piece of delicious lemon cake which was my lunch as the ladies chained me to the table all day! (not really of course!)
I have added an email subscription to the sidebar near the top - if you'd like to get my posts sent to you via email (!) just add your email details and follow the simple instructions. Hopefully it will work...I'm never too sure if I have done things correctly or not!
Crafts Beautiful's current issue features a set of cards and decoration that I made using Nitwit papers and toppers - along with some inks of course! Here are a couple of pictures featuring the stocking.... ....and one of the cards - though you can see the second card in the background. The magazine includes the template for the stocking and full instructions of course. So, not a very long post tonight really! I am just about to go and call Thomas for his dinner as he has been out enjoying the weather all day. It's been incredibly warm here and, at 7.15pm in late September, we have the windows open and the fan on - and it still feels hot! Bonkers! david cooked a really delicious chicken, stuffing and baked potatoes last night, so we are going to have the same again now...he hasn't cooked a roast for a while but it was worth waiting for!
I am off up to Lancaster on Saturday for my demonstration at Card Craft and from there I travel over to Hull for Sunday's demo at crafty Creations in Cottingham. Hope to see some friendly and familar faces at Lancaster and some new ones on Sunday! Finally, a warm welcome to new followers of my blog.

Craft Quiz number 3!

At long last, here is Craft Quiz number 3! Twenty more questions and riddles to get your brain cells ticking over. I've tried to make them a mix of straightforward ones and some tricksier ones for those of you who like more of a challenge.

As previously, whoever gets the most answers right will be the winner, but, in the case of a draw, David will, with the help of Thomas, draw a winning name. Please email your answers to me at the usual address of ljm.design@ntlworld.com by midnight of Monday 3rd October. I will announce the winner on Tuesday 4th, so do remember to check back and see if you are the brain of Britain (craft wise!). If you are struggling with any of the questions, do bear in mind that all the answers can be found somewhere within the Personal Impressions website - see my left sidebar for the link. Any blog links to my quiz will be greatly appreciated!
The prizes - kindly donated by Personal Impressions, are a 12" x 12" speciality paper pad from the K & Co Handmade collection, a set of my "Wonder Filled Day" clear stamps, a Tim Holtz Idealogy Mini Mask, and one of my fairy silhouette cards. So, good luck everyone!!! (PS question one is from a suggestion by the winner of quiz number one!)

1. How many Distress ink pad colours have a reference to something you could eat or drink? NB this does NOT include the three new limited edition seasonal colours. Do think hard about this one as some are not obvious!!! 9 - my colours were: Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Walnut Stain, Tea Dye, Bundled Sage, Crushed Olive, Spun Sugar, Wild Honey and Dusty Concorde (Concorde is grape variety used in wine making) - however, I was flexible on this question, as some of you included things like Lavender and Scattered Straw.

2. Which of my new clear stamp sets might you expect to arrive though your door sometime in late December? Christmas Post

3. Which character range is Suzanne Woolcott the designer of? Gorjuss

4. Which K & Co collection sounds as though it would be at home in the Natural History museum? Flora and Fauna

5. What is the name of the well known Australian photographer and stamp designer? Rachel Greig

6. A sauna for a member of the Sex Pistols might describe this very "on trend" crafting style? Steampunk (ouch!)

7. Which new teeny stamps from Personal Impressions come in twenty designs? Tinchies

8. Which of my clear stamp sets contains a Palm trees design? Nativity - Unto us a Child is Born

9. A spooky paper stash from Tim Holtz - but what is it called? Kraft Resist Halloween Haunts

10. Which Andy Skinner stamp set might have proved especially popular with Elvis the Pelvis? Viva Las Vegas

11. Which Alcohol ink colour is, very appropriately, named after a cocktail? Peach Bellini

12. Despite the name, don't use this Martha Stewart tool on your hair!!! Fringe Scissors

13. This paper from Graphic 45 will appeal to fans of sparkly red shoes. The Magic of Oz

14. Who is the man who dressed Hollywood and was the inspiration for a range of stamps, toppers and decoupage? Travilla

15. Both the black and the white are raised and glossy - what is in these two little bottles? Enamel Accents

16. This Tim Holtz stamp set sounds like a smaller version of Devon's famous rock band! Mini Muse (ouch again!)

17. These Spellbinder dies by Donna Salazar sound like lively cogs and gears! Sprightly Sprockets

18. How many of the Dew Drop Brilliance ink pads are named after plants? NB Coffee Bean not included! 8 - Sunflower Yellow, Rocket Red, Pearl Orchid, Pearl Lavender, Pearl Olive, Pearl Poppy, Pearl Ivy, Thyme, (I would also have accepted 9 as there is also a Rocket Red Gold)

19. Which Crafter's Workshop Template could have been named after a British sitcom shown in the 1980's/90/s? Birds of a Feather, though I also accepted Butterflies which I hadn't thought of!!!

20. This My Minds Eye collection might be popular with Mary - twice over! Quite Contrary


Well, there you have it! Best of luck and email your answers to me to be in with a chance of winning the prize and, more importantly, being crowned as Quiz 3 know it all!!!

Sunday at home....mmmm....bliss!

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. I am just enjoying a quiet day at home after all the hustle and bustle of the last week. Not sure how many miles I have travelled over the last few days, but it was enough! I feel as if I've hardly seen David at all!

So here are some pictures from my trip to A Maze of Memories in Long Crendon, near Thame, owned by the lovely Christina, who picked me up from the station, took my heavy craft case off me (bliss!) and then dropped me in Thame so I could have a wander before checking into my hotel. Normally Thame is a peaceful little town, full of old buildings, characterful shops and tea rooms. However, this is how the town looked on Friday as the annual fair had been erected down the length of the main road..... .....the colours of the stands really looked vibrant against the beautiful sunny sky and the usually sedate streets. There was a lot of screaming too from the people who had ventured onto some of the more adventurous rides! I was quite glad that my hotel was just out of the town centre!
After a good night's sleep it was time to get ready for the demonstration and make n takes and time, too, to meet up with some familiar people....was it really six months since I was lat there? Apparently so, much to all our disbelief - where is this year going? Here are some of the ladies having a little look at some of my cards. And some piccies of the ladies working away on their Nativity cards, using alcohol inks...........stamps and Distress ink pads. Looking good..... ....... watch your fingers there! And here's Diane who used my favourite colour combination of purple, pink and blue! It was great to see you all again ladies, and you all make me feel so welcome. I will be sorting out another visit with Christina, so will keep you posted about when I'll be back. Thank you for all the cuppas, cold drinks, lunch and offers of the handmade cakes...I was very good, but did bring two slices home with me to share with David!
I have finally sorted out all the questions for my craft quiz number 3, so will be posting this shortly. I know that some of you found quiz 1 too hard, whilst others found quiz 2 too easy, so I have mixed up the type of questions for number three and there are a real mix of straightforward ones and some more tricksy, cryptic ones! So, do call back soon and have a go.

Hello, goodbye!

A quick "hello, goodbye" (especially to new followers and readers) as I got back late last night from Whitley Bay and am now all packed up and ready for my trip down to Thame tomorrow. I didn't take a picture last time I was there, but these are the three wonderful mosaics that greet one at the Metro station...a small station, elevated by this glorious artwork...isn't it great? Once I ventured from the relative comfort of the station, boy, was it windy! I dropped by case off at Papercuts, checked into my room and then went for my walk along the beach. I was almost knocked off my feet several times (and that takes some doing!) and, have to admit that I decided against the paddle! Mainly because I thought I might fall over and get a soaking. However, the gulls were happily bobbing about and showing off their gliding skills. After a good few hours walk I returned to the hotel, had a meal and retired to my room....where I realised that the radiators were not working and the windows had no handles with which to close them. As the "hurricane" hit the area that night, I had one of the coldest nights I can recall. I woke up feeling stiff and covered with goose bumps....bbbrrrrr!

My day at Papercuts was very busy and I met a lovely crowd of people. Here's one card that I made on the day using a mix of MS snowflake punch, Distress inks, Coredinations card and a decoupage Gorjuss topper. The snowflakes look a tadge odd here, as the card is partly open so you can't see the overlay properly. Here's a card that was one of the ones I taught on Sunday's workshop. All done with Distress inks and water with a few details added with Marvy Le Plume pens. The PIP300CWH white card is one of the secrets for creating these really full on bleached out effects. Next is the Triptych piece that was the afternoon class on Sunday. The outside..... ....... and the inside. We used Andy Skinner's stamps to make collaged paper for the interior. Here, by special request yesterday, is another card made with my Build a Snowy Scene stamp set. I made this one at Papercuts and several of the ladies asked me to pop it on here to remind them....hope you are all having a go with your new stamps! So, just a few examples of what I've been up to and I'll hope to have new pics to share with you next week when I return from A Maze of Memories in Long Crendon, near Thame. I know it will be a lovely day on Saturday, as Christina always looks after me very well and I get to see familiar, as well as new faces. Looking forward to seeing you all!
Okay, well, have a really good weekend everyone.

Keep going you fool!

A phrase that has always tickled me and seems appropriate this week! On Friday I took the train down to Norwich and it was an especially good journey. This is a good time of year to see interesting sights through the "wide screen tv" of a train window! The first notable image was of a field of ducks - not a field with a few mallards toddling about, but hundreds of ducks waddling about or sunbathing. I don't think these were domesticated, so I guess they were all on there way somewhere and decided to stop off for a rest. That was my idea anyway!
Further along I spotted another deer - a little one, all on its tod. Then a lovely view of a long stream with swans carefully watching three huge Shire horses on the banks, one craning over to take a drink. As the landscape changes, so does the wildlife, and I saw a large Buzzard wheeling around as the train ventured further south. The trees themselves change too, and the rounded tops of Chestnuts, Elms and Oaks gave way to pencil straight pines that looked as though, if one shifted slightly, they would all topple in a continuous cascade like a row of dominoes. At Ely, I thought I saw a hare, but it could well have just been a big rabbit if I'm honest! No Kingfisher as we pulled into Norwich this time, but I had been treated to some lovely sights.
I spent the afternoon walking around the city's streets, both large and small, though I must confess that it wasn't as enjoyable as usual due to the oppressively humid weather. It wasn't just me - everyone was saying how heavy limbed they felt. However, I still managed about five hours of wandering which meant I slept reasonably well despite the heat.
Next day I was at Jarrolds famous department store where I had a busy day getting very inky...which caused some humour when someone remarked how "clean" all my samples were, as I had been pointing out all my inky fingerprints on everything just before! Hello to all the ladies and, yes, a few men (!) who I met on Saturday, some for the first time. It was lovely to meet you all and I hope that you have all been having fun making those landscapes!
The day sped by and I was soon dashing down to the station for the four and a half hour journey home. It was a nice, quiet train journey and, coming back a slightly different route, I saw hundreds of Norfolk's famous piggies...all living outdoors with their own stys (styes, sties...?!) you'll be pleased to know. Made me feel guilty about my cooked breakfast at the guest house though! I spotted a Heron too, but then, of course, it was beginning to get dark, so my viewing pleasure ended with glorious views of the sun setting over water and some spectacular clouds.
I got home late and, before I knew it, it was Sunday morning and we were off to St Helens to teach a full day of workshops. Here is the well behaved table...all inking, colouring and sticking very nicely..... .....this is the self confessed "naughty" table, though they behaved quite well I have to admit! Here they were making their own decorated paper for the Triptych that we made in the afternoon. In the morning however, everyone had a go at faux bleaching using water over a Distress inked background. Nearly everyone felt a little worried about painting their own scene, but I think all of the finished results had real charm and character....Jacqui's ...........and Christine's snowmen were especially folksy and characterful.... ....they were all brilliant. I haven't got photos of my finished workshop projects yet as the camera batteries have died, but I will post these later in the week.
Here are more background papers being inked after stamping first with Andy Skinner's "Let the Festivities Begin" set. These papers formed the inside covers of the Triptychs. And here are the ladies (some, very naughtily hiding....come out from the back there please Sheila and Kath!) with their Triptychs as they looked at the end of the day. These are a work in progress, so I'd love to see any piccies of extra embellishing that any of you have done. It was a really fun filled day as you can hopefully see! More workshops are available, so check the left sidebar for details. So, after a windy day, but not exactly on a hurricane scale here, I am all packed up again and ready for my trip to Whitley Bay tomorrow. I'll be demonstrating at Papercuts in Roxburgh House...a mix of stamps, papers, punches and lots of inky techniques. Not sure that I'll be having a paddle as I did back in March when I was there for the shop opening day! You never know though...I'm pretty game for tippy toeing in even the coldest of sea, so I'll let you know!
I was about to say "have a great weekend" and then realised it's only Monday and I have a trip way up north and then one way down south before the weekend gets going! (Hence my post title!) I'll post more pictures later in the week. Take care everyone.

Quick post before my travels

Just a quickie post tonight - bags are all packed, full and heavy (no change there then!) ready for my trip to Norwich. Fortunately I'll be able to drop my case off at Jarrolds en route to my hotel, so not too far to lug it around. I always enjoy going to Norwich with it's eclectic mix of new and old, lovely atmosphere and interesting little shops. I always stay at the same little hotel, where possible, which is only a few minutes from the centre of the city whilst being really tranquil and quiet. It's straight through on the train as well...great as there are no changes to worry about, but it does make for a looong (four and a half hours) trip.
Anyway, I just wanted to answer the ladies who have been asking if I'll be going back to Weavervale Garden Centre, in Northwich, before Christmas....yes! The date will be Saturday 3rd December, so keep that day in your diaries - it's going to be fun! More details nearer the time.
Also, for those of you north of the border who have been asking when I'm coming back to Scotland (not been up there for over a year) I can now confirm that myself and Andy Skinner willbe going to The Papeterie in Aberdeen for the weekend of November 26th and 27th where we'll be demonstrating and also hosting a day of workshops. So, hope to see some of my Scottish friends there and really looking forward to it.
We still have a place left on Sunday's workshop, so let David (via my email) or Craft 4 U 2 Do, if you'd like to come along.
Right, that's me done now, and I'm off to relax for the evening, so will wish everyone a great weekend.

The five Counties

Last weekend involved quite a bit of travelling, hence today's post title. On Saturday I was at Weavervale Garden Centre in Northwich which was a very busy day as you can see from this photo that David took. Kate was rushing around finding stamps, card etc for customers and it was a very jolly day with a lot of fun amidst the creativity! I hope to back there before Christmas, so will keep you posted.
From there, David ran me to the train station in Manchester where I boarded the train for the two and a half hour trip across the country to Grimsby. It was a beautiful journey that went through the lush green hills of Derbyshire and Yorkshire...in my opinion some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain. Along the way the clouds kept changing quite dramatically from fluffy white, through mottled Mackerel skies to heavy, rain filled moodiness. As the train slowed at one point I saw three Roe deer calmly watching us pass them by...a big tick in my imaginary spotter's book!
By the time I reached Grimsby Town it was dark and I was glad that the hotel was literally round the corner from the station. I realised that I had gone, in one day, through Cheshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and, finally, Lincolnshire! Whew....no wonder I felt tired!
Next day I was at Grimsby Crafts for another very busy day. Lynn had set up three big tables for me so I was able to spread everything out - not sure how I still managed to make an untidy mess! Unfortunately I didn't take my camera, so no pics to share of the day. Thank you for all the lovely feedback ladies, I really enjoyed meeting you all. Again, I'll hopefully be back there before too long.
My journey home was fine except for the two families who seemed to think that the train was a private one just for them! They were not travelling together, but both had very unruly offspring who spent the entire time running up and down the aisles, throwing things around and shouting at the top of their, very loud, voices. Despite all the black looks from everyone else, one set of parents completely ignored the hullabaloo whilst the others spent their time shouting and swearing (very strongly) at their young children...who totally ignored them. Modern parenting eh?! Needless to say, it felt like quite a long journey home!
So, this week has been spent working on some designs as well as prepping all the kits for the workshops this coming Sunday. I have just found out this afternoon that there is now a place available on the class due to a cancellation through illness. So, if you'd like to join us on a Christmassy crafting day, just drop me an email and I'll send you the details. We'll be making snowmen themed cards in the morning and a Triptych piece in the afternoon. Poor David drew the short straw (well he offered actually!) and spent today cutting up the pieces of mountboard for the afternoon session...I could almost see the Tom & Jerry type throbbing hand by the time he'd finished!
Well, before the workshops I have a trip down to Norwich to demonstrate at Jarrolds department store. I'll be on the third floor in the art & craft department - I'm usually opposite the lifts, so you can't miss me! Hope to see some of you there.
I'll be back after the weekend with some new photos to share and a few more tales from my travels no doubt. Welcome to new followers and readers and I hope you'll enjoy popping by here rom time to time. Lastly, do check out Personal Impressions website where Richard has added some more of my projects (with instructions) and samples.

How did that happen?

I mean, it's ridiculous... it would seem that a whole week has gone by since I last posted on here, and yet I'm sure it was only about four days ago. Where are these days disappearing to, that's what I should like to know! It was last Saturday that I whizzed down to Peterborough for my date at Sir Stampalot and yet, I'm sure that should make it about Tuesday now!?! Maybe I'm a time traveller without knowing it - just a shame that time keeps speeding up instead of slowing down once in a while!

I had a straightforward journey to Peterborough and arrived around lunchtime. It took me quite a while finding my hotel as there are lots of subways, bridges and little stairways in the city, so I got a little confused! Unfortunately it wasn't a great place (somewhat grubby to say the least) and I had an unfortunate incident with a dodgy kettle which resulted in boiling water going all over my right hand. Thankfully, a silicone glove (don't ask!) filled with cold water, and a night spent with my hand wrapped in a wet towel saved the day, or rather, the hand, and, despite it being sore and very red, it didn't stop me from keeping the show on the road. And, yes, I have complained to the hotel about it. It was evidently one of those days though, as one of the wheels broke off my case as well!Next day I was at Sir Stampalot - my first visit there, but I hope not my last - watch this space! Janice and Andy were absolutely lovely and really looked after me. Hello to everyone that I met there - including new followers and readers (you know who you are!) and hope you're enjoying using the "Hob Nob Special" card!!! As you can see from the above photo, which only shows part of my table, I had loads of room to work in and to display my cards and tags etc. You can just see one tag peeking up at the top which was my version of a beautiful tag that Andy posted on his site last week...if you haven't seen it, do check out Andy's blog in my list on the left.
It's not only me that's been busy this week - David had replaced the wheels on my case, built up the stand on the other side (to keep it balanced) and fixed my scanner...all by Wednesday. I don't call him SuperDave for nothing! So, I didn't have to say a sad farewell to my little case which is affectionately known as "my Tardis" after all, and, even better, I will be able to pull it along behind me without waking everyone within a three mile radius! Its poor old wheels have been getting wonkier by the week and it was making a terrible racket...now it glides along in near silence - bliss! It's ancient, but it works for me.
I had a reasonably quiet journey home too, apart from about half an hour of sweary, lairy nonsense from some idiots between two of the stations...not hard to know that the football season has started again!!! I did get chatting to a couple of elderly chappies who were like something out of Last of the Summer Wine though. Apparently they had decided, on a whim, to go from Sheffield to Skegness the evening before. It had cost them £90 as they went by taxi! They didn't arrive until very late that night and couldn't find anywhere with vacancies. One of them has a bad leg and uses a walking stick, so they called an ambulance, he complained of awful pains in his leg and they took him to hospital, along with his mate, where they spent the night! They were like a couple of naughty children and I don't think they realised just how much trouble they could have got themselves into, let alone all the resources they doubtless wasted! I do meet some characters on these trips!
I have been finishing some drawings that I've been working on, as well as making lots of samples for my demonstrations this weekend at Weavervale Garden Centre in Northwich, Cheshire, tomorrow and at Grimsby Crafts in....mmmm...Grimsby (!) on Sunday. Because I have to get to the station straight after I pack away, tomorrow's demonstration is from 9.30am until 3.30pm. I'll be using my new Christmas stamps as well as some lovely Gorjuss ones along with new Christmas papers from My Mind's Eye Lost & Found range. This card features the stamp called "The Winters Night" as well as some of the MME papers and matching fancy brads. I also added a pleated tissue tape frill and three red gems. Great image this one, as it's more wintery than specifically Christmassy so can be used in many ways. Next is a collaged card using two of Andy Skinner's stamp sets, "Simply Angelic" and "Let the Festivities Begin". I combined these with the MS holly punch, a little inking and faux bleaching and just kept it simple. Here's a soup tin that David kept and washed out for me. I've wrapped it it in more of the MME paper and used some of the matching layered stickers and lace ribbon to finish it. Good old tissue tape came in handy here again! I've not made the inside fancy at all, as I plan to put a few twigs in it to display some other items that I've been making for tomorrow...that's if I can find the right sized twigs anyway! Hope to see some of you in Northwich or Grimsby over the weekend for some creative fun. Until next time, have a great weekend, whatever you're up to, and make the most of the sunny days that are left before Autumn starts to properly kick in.