New stamps on the way

Sorry it's been so long since my last post but almost everything that I've been working on I'm not able to share just yet. Frustrating! However, I now have the date for when some of my new stamp designs will be making their debut on QVC. So, if you'd like to check them out, tune in on Tuesday 7th February at 5pm - the show is Cards for Men, although my stamps are pretty unisex really! I've been busy making samples with the stamps, so will share photos of them once they've been on. Let me know what you think!

On Thursday I was at Crafty Company in Fleetwood where I had a lovely busy day. Of course, I forgot my camera so have no photos of the day to share. Typical! I was using Tim Holtz and Darkroom Door stamps as well as my fairies and combining them with Perfect Pearl Mists and lots of Ranger inks.
Everyone liked this card that I made on the day (don't always finish any cards during demonstrations as it's all about techniques really) using an image from Art de Fleur vol 2 from Darkroom Door - stamped onto gloss card and coloured with water based pens. I rolled in the edges and used a glue stick to secure some Pewter Shimmer embossing powder. I like the way you get stray bits of powder on the image with this technique.
I used some TH Tissue paper to cover a piece of card and coloured it with some Distress ink (Walnut Stain) buffing off the excess. The card it is matted onto is one of the Best Creations glitter range which I coloured using alcohol inks smoothed over the surface. This card has a polished surface so the inks work very well and, once rubbed over with tissue, the glittered pattern still shows through.
I coloured some Seam Binding ribbon using Perfect Pearl Mists, wetting the ribbon and spritzing with the Mists then heating to set and repeating until the colours were how I wanted them. Once I'd tied that around I simply cut a 6"x6" card blank from Tim's Christmas Kraft Resist stash (I used the Postcard sheet). A little Distress ink smudged around the edges completed the look. Thanks to everyone who came along on Thursday, and to Sandra and Keiron for looking after me and all the customers with hot drinks and sandwiches. We needed them too - it was a nippy day in Fleetwood!
My diary is now filling up with dates throughout the year so I will start adding them to my list on the left. I'll fill in the blanks as and when they get booked, so do check back to see if I'll be anywhere in your area.
Right now I'm working on more drawings and getting things organised for Stitches (the trade show) in a few weeks. It's always tremendously manic and very hard work but also a lot of fun and something that I really look forward to. I do always doubt that everything will be done in time, but, somehow, it always is!
This next card is not a new one but I wanted to add more than one photo! I've used alcohol inks on Best Creations glitter card again - this time with a butterfly theme. The little cutie is called Bluebirds Proposal (GJK012) and it's a rubber cling stamp from Gorjuss (through Personal Impressions). I coloured her with Promarkers and used an EK Success Butterfly Layering punch (EK54-90006) with simple pink card to create the accents. Wonder what she's thinking? Well, just a quick post this evening to show I'm still here! Don't forget to tune in to see the new stamps but I'll post details of them as soon as I'm allowed. Keep warm everyone.

Crafts Beautiful project

Hello everyone. Thought I'd write a quick post this evening whilst David is watching a drama that I missed the start of. I've had quite a productive day, getting some specific stamp designs finished and posted off, doing some last minute grocery shopping planning a new magazine project and cooking dinner. After the long break that I've had, it did feel like a day of good results!
Whilst I was out I saw that the February issue of Crafts Beautiful is in the shops now, so I can share pictures of my Steampunk project that's in there. I used the Steampunk stamp set from Darkroom Door (DDRSO68) which has some great images - good value too as there are twenty stamps on the sheet....at least twenty....I keep losing count!
I created two cards and a shadow box and also used the Donna Salazar Sprightly Sprockets Spellbinders set (SBS5-048) mixed in with TH metal sprockets and Timepieces. I had great fun making this set. If you'd like the list of materials and instructions do grab a copy of Crafts Beautiful magazine. Here's a close up of the shadow box at a better angle to show the dimensional effect. If you're a Steampunk fan, Andy Skinner has posted a video of a short animated film with a Steampunk feel. Worth taking a look...and checking out Andy's creations too, of course!
As it's Monday I just have time to add a link to Crafting Buddies which is run by my friend Joanne. It began as somewhere to post about our pets who "join in" with crafting, but has now become somewhere to show any of our animal friends.
This picture is of a Seagull who I met in Aberdeen station when I was waiting for my train home a few weeks ago. He was very bold and very sure that I would have something tasty in my bag! Of course, he picked the right person and I was able to offer hime some biccies from the hotel! If it wasn't for his rather dashing pink feet and yellow beak I don't think you'd be able to see him at all! After me telling you that Tara was not happy at all about living with Thomas, it turns out that she just wanted him to make an honest kitty of her......

......mmmm, slight lie there. She is as grumpy as ever and I think her pose is more one of "we are not amused" than a blushing bride! Definitely not "I do", more like "in your dreams"!

One of the supermarkets here was selling chocolate eggs before Christmas and, today, I see that most of the shops have now got a range of them in. Am I the only one who finds this cynical and manipulative. No wonder we feel as though time goes by more quickly now when we are rushed from one point in the year to the next with no time to take stock (sorry about the unintentional pun!) in between.
Okay, that's all for tonight. I am just going to check that those links work and then relax for a bit before bed time. Hardly slept last night, so I am hoping to do better tonight. Tomorrow I'll be working on card samples and a new project, so hope for another productive day! Sleep well everyone!
PS the links did NOT work, so am hoping I have now done them correctly!

So Kind !

Thank you, ladies, for being so kind, your good wishes mean such a lot and give me inspiration to create ! Lindsay xxxxxxxx

"HAPPY" New Year

I thought, after all the sadness of the last few weeks, that I would add a cheerful post to redress the balance. Here are a few pictures from the last couple of weeks....
We have seen some beautiful sunsets from our new home. This one was particularly gorgeous, though my camera hasn't picked up the colours, or details too well. It was a very cold dusk and I was waiting to see the Starlings massing together for their nightly roost. This sight kept me from feeling too frozen until the birds appeared. I'd have shared the pics of the flocks too, but my camera isn't really quick enough to catch them! Wonderful sights and sounds right outside the door have made for some memorable moments this Christmas though. Thomas was not too impressed when I bedecked him in these reindeer bobblers on Christmas morning! However, he soon cheered up once I'd taken them off him and he took a look at the stocking that Heather had sent to him and Tara from Mia! My typing is being interspersed by the loud sounds of Thomas snoring in the chair next to me, mouth open and dribbling (him, not me!) and Tara aka "Princess Tippy Grumpy Toes" is now staring at him in disgust from the windowsill. Think she may attack him any time now. She had a slightly more sedate headgear on Christmas day.... .....what a grump though!
We had a very quiet Christmas, mainly because I was in the kitchen for most of the day cooking the dinner....a bit of pressure when you are catering for a (once professional) chef! However, it was delicious and my roast potatoes were, apparently, the star of the show, which was a relief as I'd been sure they wouldn't turn out properly. David cooks most of the time, so I wanted to make a really special meal for him.
Here's a picture of the annual identical gift that Heather and I sent each other! We almost always copy each other with one thing. Obviously we both liked this magnetic fridge notepad regaled in rich colours and gems - there were several designs to choose from but we both bought the same one! Heather also gave us the DVD of Les Miserables (the 25th Anniversary concert...I didn't know that the show itself isn't available on DVD) which we have still got to look forward to. I've never seen the show, so this will be a treat. We also have the final part of the Harry Potter series of films to watch - maybe we'll watch all of them in succession in one sitting....or maybe not!
The wind was howling last night, keeping us awake and blowing down one of the gates. I walked into the village today and got somewhat windswept to say the least! I've never been a scarf person really, but have been wearing several over the last few weeks. I think today's regalia was David's favourite..... ....as only my eyes were to be seen! Hope you can tell that I was smiling though. The marks on my hands are from the terrible twins who keep transferring their annoyance with each other onto me. My paws are quite small really, but this photo makes them look like "strangler's hands"!
Well, I am getting back into the swing of things now and will be posting details of upcoming events, demos etc as and when I get the dates. I'll be at Crafty Company, Fleetwood on Thursday 19th January, so if you are in the area I'd love to see you. Meanwhile, I'm starting work on new designs that I'll let you know more about as soon as I'm able. Some will be available very soon!
Once again, wishing everyone a year to remember, for all the right reasons.

Email update

Just a quick post to let you know my new email address which I have updated in my "about me" section above. It's ljm.design1@virginmedia.com - something else for me to try and remember!