February Page and some Journaling

Hi Everyone, 

How are you doing? I have had a busy old month to myself so no blogging for me .....but hope to rectify that in FEB. I have had time to visit the many blogs but just not managed to do any myself. 

Today I am showing my completed Jan Page for Kate Cranes challenge of doing a little bit of journaling everyday the deets are here : http://thekathrynwheel.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-bring-it-on.html. I had a great time filling it in but have to confess:

 That i made the page for february at the same time as making Jan's. I just could'nt stop when i started!! As you can see i have already taken the liberty of filling in 2nd Feb. A special day in our house as my beautiful twin girls will be 5 and growing up so quickly. The quote is from a clarity stamp that i thought was apt for this month. The girl is a magnolia stamp and the frog from Dylusions as are the inks and paints.

 A little closer

 And closer still......i just love this stamp it makes me smile everytime i use it or see it.

 Last month i said i was going to a beginners class for art journaling at Art from the Heart well unfortunately it had to be cancelled it has been rescheduled for this month so uber excited about that this month not long now.

In the meantime I was looking at my blank pages of my journal this month and for some strange reason i got the urge to draw a face .......I have never in my life drawn a face (well maybe at school but that was cough cough years ago !!) or had the slightest inclination to ever do so but hey that's what happened and i have to tell you i enjoyed every last minute of it . I know it won't win any prizes for depth and colouring but i liked the way it came out.....so have been drawing some more.......and my little girl has been colouring them in for me as she wants to help mummy in my special book.......will post the out come next week they are funny!!!

 And here are is another page that came out with ......I wanted to try and use pan pastels not sure what i am doing with these or not sure how you layer them yet but I like playing with them. I like that there is no drying time . I think i will have to look on U tube for some help.  The stamps are from Dylusions.....

 And finally a page in progress using pan pastels again......I liked this tag that i made last year and did not want to see it end up in the bin so decided it needed to be added to my journal.  By the time i get to art from the Heart i will have no pages left to work on!!!! buy another i hear you say ......well i have 5 on the go at the moment!!!! Its really addictive...

Anyway sorry to go on and on but just wanted to post a few things .....thanks for stopping by the next post wont be so long I promise.......Off now to make some birthday cake ......and then to look at all the completed pages for Jan and the new ones for Feb .........take care Mandy x

P.s Thanks for joining my site you are too kind....... i will try and blog more than this month x

January Page

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year to you all i hope 2012 brings you all that you wish for.

I have taken a break from the challenges for a couple of weeks to concentrate on my family during the festive period. What a great time we had. I hope you did too.

Today I am entering into the 366 day challenge of Callender Journaling , details can be found here: http://thekathrynwheel.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-bring-it-on.html. The idea is it gets you doing a little bit of journaling every day....so here's to a new start.

I just have to mention though that this page may look familiar to you, it's because i was copying all the instructions from a Kate Crane's article from the Craft Stamper magazine, obviously there are a few differences as i did not have all the equipment and same stamps as her so the credit goes to this creative lady. Feb is different and is all my own .....what can i say i had so much fun making Jan that i went ahead and made Feb as well!!!!

Journaling is something new for me I have not been doing it for very long only since the beginning of  December.I love it  .....You can only make so many cards and tags and in the end most of them get chucked in a box, so this is a great way to experiment and you get to get things of your chest to boot which can't be a bad thing ....I am Scottish and i do love a good rant!!!!! I have booked up to go on art journaling for beginners at Art from the Heart so looking forward to that, it starts in Jan so can't wait. well i think i have went on enough for one post thanks for looking catch up with you again soon  Mandy x

Tims 12 tags of Christmas Day 6

Hi Everyone 

Well today it is Day 6 of 12 Tags of Christmas:

 http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-6.html

I never had any sticky back metal tape so used your run of the mill Kitchen foil with Humungo tape onto smooth card. I never had any of the paints really to speak of so used Claudine Hellmouth paints. And you have guessed it i never had the same embossing folder so i used the only Christmas one that i have ......I think this has been my least favorite technique since starting but managed to get the tag done so that was a bonus. Not sure i like the effect......due to the fact i probably have not done it right!!!........

 Yes i know i never had the adornments either so stars is the key ....when i don't have anything i resort to stars !!

At work tomorrow so will probably catch up with you on Friday unless by some miracle i manage to get the tags done on time.

On a plus note Donkey done now so at least they are now out of the way!!! Can't wait for the play it will be awesome i think...

thanks for stopping by catch up with you tomorrow (fingers crossed ) take care Mandy x

Tims 12 tags of Christmas Day 5

Hi Everyone 

Thanks for stopping by here is Day 5 of Tims 12 Tags

:http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-5.html

Where did the day go today?!!! 

As you can see i never had any of tims reflection stamps so i tried his ghosting technique using my Artistic Stamper Stars background stamp.  I have never tried this technique before so was amazed how it came out .....don't they stars look bright . I did not have a Hambly studios  to go to so i decided to use one of the Alteration boxes and cut that up.....that was my starting point for the tag .....Then i pretty much followed what tim did added a bit of tinsel with some gems and a badly tied bow !!!!

In between doing all that the sheep costume is now done pillow case with 3 holes covered with two bags of cotton wool balls !! Black long sleeved top and black leggings underneath with some white slipper socks !! now then Any ideas for a donkey ......Sometimes it great to have twins sometimes its not!!!!

Catch you all tomorrow take care Mandy x

No Red or Green

Hi Everyone 

Thanks for stopping by here is my entry into the Stamotique Designers Challenge.

For this one it is a create a Christmas card but do not use red or green and use a  Stampotique stamp...I used some Blue DI's to cover the background and a Christmas tree bordered it with mistletoe and added some buttons ......it turned out not to bad I think .... 

 Tis the star for top of Christmas tree I think ......

Well best get some housework done as been mincing around all morning making Tims tags and and this card ......Hope you like it catch up with you soon take care Mandy x

Tims 12 tags of Christmas Day 4

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for stopping by well i am back for Tim's Tag Day 4 :http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-4.html

Today proved quite a challenge as still going along with just using what is in my stash and not purchasing anything and let me just say I never had anything really what he used!! The Snowman is a mask traced round on grunge paper and cut out by hand...... as is the snowflake...... as is the snowflake border ......here it is....

closer......

As the mask was a lot smaller than the die must have been i used a smaller tag.....but using smaller snowman brought different troubles....i could not use the numbers to cut a hole in his belly as the die would have cut him in half!!!!! So out with cutting numbers from the chip block alphabet set using lost and found paper stash and then covering them with glossy accents........were there is a will there is a way......I never had half of the distress stains that Tim used either so used stormy sky instead .....hope you like it as i am still loving the challenge of creating without purchase ....i am sure it will get more difficult to do as the days go on .........thanks for looking catch up with you tomorrow .....going to upload Stampotique Designer challenge now  have a great day take care Mandy x

Tims 12 tags of Christmas Day 3

Hi Everyone,

thanks for stopping by......

How are you doing today ? So its Day 3 of 12 Tags of Christmas link is here: http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-3.html 

I have still managed to carry on with the challenge without having to visit a shop for re-supplies. I have made up my mind that I am going to carry on every day with just the supplies i have. 

For one i did not have any felt ......but just used my Big and Juicy Mountain Meadow which turned out Ok i think, I then went over the top with gathered twigs DI ....I did have the embossing folder though so embossed the image.

For the foliage i used tattered leaves die cut up and then added a few stones. I also did'nt have twine however i did have some bakers twine lying around. I did the double technique thing and its fab saves a lot of time so thank you for that Mr Holtz (Top Tip i feel)

 So here it is Hope you like it will catch up with you again tomorrow sometime when we see what the next installment will be .....can't wait Bye for now take Care Mandy x