All change & a National disgrace

Hello, yes, this is still my blog...I decided it was time for a change of background and, after trying lots of different ones, plumped for this one - well, it's got purple in it and some blingy bits too, so I couldn't resist!
The other change is to the blog candy - I've added some extra bits and a new picture to show what is included. Don't forget to leave a comment if you haven't already done so - make sure you leave it on the actual candy post though, or you won't be included in the random number generator. Hope you like the extras - the card is made using Martha Stewart paints and stencils and is in the this month's Crafts Beautiful magazine.
Hello to everyone who came to see me at Card Crafts in Lancaster yesterday - it was a really busy day and a lot of fun too. Hope you all enjoy the stamps and the Glue n Seal of course. Welcome to new blog followers too. Hello to Sally and hope you feel better soon. I'll do a step by step tutorial on the Stazon spray cleaner and alcohol ink technique for you as soon as time allows me to.
Today has been spent doing horrible jobs that start with H and end with K - yuck! We've also been in the garden, in the glorious sunshine - shifting more gravel and I've been transplanting seedlings and planting bulbs and Geraniums. My Sweet Peas have done quite well - 70 seeds sown and 52 have grown which is a decent percentage I think.
I only saw this morning that two horses were killed again in this year's Grand National yesterday. Even though they have supposedly made safety improvements since last year it was still an appalling scenario with only fifteen horses completing the course out of a starting number of forty. Those that did get to the end were being whipped to wring every last drop of energy out of them.
The usual things were said of course, including the fact that a lot of the horses carried on running when they had lost their riders. Well, obviously, they're herd animals and are trained to race...interesting that most had the wit to run around the fences rather than over them though. A few jockeys were injured too, but, let's face it, they make the decision to take part in the race unlike the horses.
I think it's time the event was consigned to history. If it wasn't such a money spinner would the horses be expected to jump those nightmare fences at risk of terrible injury and death at every turn? I don't think so. What do you think?
Okay, I'll sign off for now and will sign in again before my trip to Sir Stampalot in Peterborough on Friday.

A little UK blog Candy

Hello folks, I have a little Candy on offer tonight, courtesy of Personal Impressions. I was mistakenly sent two sets of the London Sights stamps by Jill Taylor and, rather than me returning one, I was given the okay to pop them on here along with three sheets of PI's Vintage Union Jack 12" x 12" paper. Update! I've just amended the candy as it looked a bit stingy! So, it is now the stamp set, 3 sheets of the PI Vintage Union Jack paper, 3 x sheets of A4 Artisan 300 gsm card from PI, 2 x London Photostrips and 1 x London Wordstrips from Darkroom Door, 2 x metal London charms and one of my cards that is featured in this month's (May) issue of Crafts Beautiful. That seems a little better to me!So, if you'd like a chance to grab them, just leave a comment on this post by Monday 23rd April. I'll pick a random winner on that date after 7pm.

The new 300 gsm white card that many of you have been asking me about is now back in stock - hoorah! Our original card became unavailable and I have been testing lots of possible replacements for quite a while now. Finally, one passed my tests! It's very easy to spot in this bright, colourful packaging, and available from Personal Impressions stockists...if your nearest store doesn't have it, just ask them to order it for you. It's perfect for using with Distress ink techniques including my favourite faux bleaching. This is the one included in the candy. I've no pictures of my latest creations to share as I've been working on magazine projects as well as working with new Darkroom Door stamps for another project that I have to keep under wraps for the moment.
Tomorrow I'll be in Card Craft, Lancaster which I'm looking forward to as there is always a really fun crowd there. I'll be using my new stamps, including the Off the Wall collection, Build a Scene range and alphabets.
If you're coming along please ignore the scratches & grazes, not down to Tara this time, but the result of gardening! I look like I've been through a thorn bush and I more or less have!
Don't forget to leave a comment to go in the draw for the Candy!

Lancaster calling

Evening folks, apologies for the lack of posts this week which is due in part to Virgin Media problems so that the broadband kept dissappearing up the spout, and in part that I suddenly got asked to do some unexpected work that threw my schedule out - not much new there then! So, apologies if I have been remiss in getting back to any emails etc. I'm hoping to catch up with them tonight.

My new stamps will be hitting the stores any day now if they are not in already - I am just waiting to receive all my new sets and will then post some piccies here. My ATC designs will be out next week.

Anyway, today I have spent most of my time working on this Configurations Printer's Tray. It's larger than the boxes, though shallower. I've used all sorts in this one, including new Idealogy items that arrived this week. Also the new Grungeblocks that you can see with "2011" on them. Hard to see the effect here, but they give a more "blocky" look with the thicker Grungeboard. I've also used some images from the new Crowded Attic stash. I will be adding some more items but it's pretty full already! I'll have this tray, along with more Shadow boxes, at my day at Jarrold's department store on Wednesday. Meanwhile, tomorrow will see me back at Card Craft in Lancaster where I'll be demonstrating inky fingers....I mean inky techniques (!) as well as stamping and spritzing etc. General messiness and loveliness really! Hope to see you there.

All that's left to say is that you have until tomorrow midnight to email your quiz answers over to me, so don't miss out on the chance to win a prize and, I think, judging from your messages, more importantly, the honour of being the brainiest entrant! Lol! I promise the next one will be a little easier and I'll post those much awaited answers to this one (especially number 14 apparently!) on Sunday evening.

Talking of Sunday, David and I will be at Topaz where I'll be teaching workshops of cardmaking in the morning and a mini grungeboard album in the afternoon.

Oh yes, do also check my sister's blog to join in her swap and Andy's blog to enter his great competition. All these lovely prizes and swaps....great stuff!

So, have a great weekend everyone and I will put you out of your misery, re quiz questions, on Sunday night!!!

Post weekend post!

Hello folks, and welcome to any new followers or readers. Wasn't it a lovely weekend? My idea of perfect weather...sunny and warm with a cooling breeze. Hope those of you who are mums, or who have mums, had a lovely day yesterday. I was over at mum and dad's and we had a lovely trip to a little village called Scorton where we had lunch and a bit of a wander with window shopping and an ice cream cone each thrown in.

On Saturday I was at A for Art in Chesterfield where I had another lovely day. I was really well looked after and everyone who came along was so friendly that the day just flew by. I still have purple fingers after using Colourwash dyes which is my own fault for preferring not to wear any gloves and liking to handle ribbons that I've just sprayed with inks! Here's me with the lovely A for Art ladies - I wasn't wiping my inky hands onto their shoulders...honestly!

And this image proved to be one of the most popular of the day. It is a really evocative stamp from the Darkroom Door set called Wilderness 2. The scene puts me in mind of one of my favourite artists called Atkinson Grimshaw. I did several examples of how this stamp could be used to show how versatile it could be - will post some pictures of those next time. I used Colourwash dyes for this one, onto PI's infamous 300gsm card. I sprayed a mix of purple, blue and stream before spritzing with water and pressing a second piece of card on top to get two for the price of one! A little water brushed onto strategic areas gives the look of moon, stars and some light on the pathway. I used one of the new MS deep edge PATP sets (just the edger this time). This one is the double loop. The phrase is from the same stamp set. I'll be up in Lancaster at Card Craft (Millenium Heights) on Saturday, so if you'd like to see some of the techniques using Rangers spritzes and sprays I'll hope to see you there. On Sunday I'll be at Topaz to teach workshops - card making in the morning and a mini grungeboard album in the afternoon. Bound to be fun!

Meanwhile, why not join in my sister's Heather's ATC swap? Hope the link works, as I didn't know how to do this until Heather told me! Fingers crossed! The theme for the swap is "in the pink" and is a fun combination of vintage men and the colour pink! All is explained on Heather's blog and, not only is there the fun of the swap, but the fascinating Cabinet card that she has made is up for grabs...it's gorgeous - well worth joining in for a chance to win it.

Don't forget to email your quiz answers to me by this coming Saturday, as I'll be revealing the answers (hoorah, I hear some of you cry!) and the name of the brainbox winner on Sunday! You may or may not be pleased to know that I am already half way through setting the next one, though it will be a little different from the current one to give those of you who are being made ill by my cryptic clues a chance!

Finally, my new stamps will be hitting the shops any day now, but I will keep you updated on that and let you know when they are officially "out there"!