Mishaps In The Making

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T08:13:00.003Z

Hi all :)

Just a quick blog to wish everyone a very Happy New Year, i hope you all had a merry and safe christmas and a good New Year?

Well i've set a couple of resoloutions, pretty much the same as last year but i need to stick to them this year though. :) This year i want to progress with my guitar playing so thats something i will be working on. I'll be starting my own music blog too...don't worry, i won't hurt your ears, it's more a record of my progression.

On the crafty side, i need to reassess my crafty area, as i've had to give my old one up for the kids. I'm sure with a little organizing i can sort something out.

So to all my friends and followers around the world, i wish you all the best to you and your families, have a great 2012 and i promise to be a bit more active than i have recently.

Lastly, i was saying to some friends the other day about how time goes by so fast.....here are my two young daughters doing their first music videos on YouTube. They have been learning the guitar for a couple of months now....it only seems like yesterday that they were running around the forest looking for fairies!!!

Here is my eldest singing and playing guitar...

Heres my youngest playing guitar....she's only been learning a month...

Not bad for beginners eh? They've got a few more videos if you want to hear them, just click on the button above the screen where it says how many vids they've got.

Take care,

Calv.

Lorna's Kindle Kovers

2011-11-28T11:31:00.008Z

They say in life, there are no such thing as strangers, only friends you haven't met yet...and this i'm glad to say has come true recently. I went to an acoustic night at a local Art Cafe, three artists playing thier music in a cozy and amazing setting. One of the artists was a singer/songwriter called Jim Chorley, a lovely guy with great music to share.

Then i discover that his partner Lorna is super arty crafty (in fact they both teach art at a school), and has a blog crammed with gorgeous makes. Her textile creations are just lovely and i couldn't help thinking of a few friends when i saw these great Kindle Kovers...

How cool are they?!!!

You can see more of these on Lorna's blog, and she also has an Etsy shop here where you can get them.

Jim and Lorna are the loveliest of people, so take a trip over thier blogs and have a browse. It's not often that you get people that have thier priorities in the right order, but when your life revolves around art, music and love.....you just know things will be good for a long time! :)

So a big thank you to Jim and Lorna, it's people like yourselves that make the world a brighter place. :)

Long time no see!

2011-11-20T23:47:00.010Z

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Hello dear friends! No i haven't been abducted by aliens, and no you're not seeing things with my banjo fund pot there lol, all will be explained in good time.
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So how have you all been? Behaving and still turning out fantastic crafty makes i hope? Well i've had a bit of a lull in the crafty activities latley, mainly because i have lost my beloved craft area! As some of you may know, one end of my daughers double bedroom was the craft area, but other things have taken over and it's been replaced. Sigh.
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So what have we been up to? Well to say things have turned slightly musical in our lives is a bit of an understatement. I'm starting back with my guitar learning and am getting on pretty well. As a secret bluegrass music lover, i'm also looking to get myself something i've always wanted....a 5 string banjo!!! That is what my fund pot is for at the top. So far it's not going too well, but i'll get there....this is what i'll be getting....
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Before anyone says it, yes i will be sat in my rocking chair wearing dungarees and scaring the tourists with a rendition of duelling banjos! :)

As well as that, i bought myself a Ukuelele...but it's not just me that got one....
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Yes our Maddy is a dab hand at one now too! Maddy's always been musical though so she's got a head start on me, she can hold a tune on a violin and is learning the guitar with great results.
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At least my efforts are appreciated by Maddy's daughters dog, little Mojo...

So are we good i hear you say? Well i'd like to say that the pic below is our new album cover...

However it was just a pic from a day in the rehearsal studio we had up in Leeds. Lots of fun, and it really perked up my girls interest in music.....which means that the new gear like mic stands and amps for the bedroom has taken the place of the craft table!

Maddy has been busy with her daughter Georgette too, she is doing really well with her music, she's performing at a lot of live gigs, on radio and is through to the Open Mic Uk area regional finals, if she gets through she could be performing at the O2 arena. So it's been all go here and very tunefull whilst it happens too. :)

I hope to get back to crafting again soon.....as soon as i can find a place to do it! I hope you are all well, i'll take a trip round everyones blogs over the next few days and catch up.

Take care all,

Calv.

Post-it note holder.

2011-06-23T17:17:00.006+01:00

Hi all, hope you are keeping well and crafting loads?

Today i finished off a little project i have been working on, just a simple post-it note holder, but i wanted to test out a couple of new stamps. I made this for my lovely neighbours, they are two of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet, and i knew they would appreciate this make. The Wheel of the Year on the front shows the eight pagan festivals throught the year...i distress inked it, put a layer of UTEE on it and edged it with gold embossing powder...

I handstitched all the way around it with metalic multicoloured thread, always looks nice against a darker paper background. My neighbours love nature so i added a couple of brass leaf charms on small lengths of chain, and the antique brass srapbooking corner charms added to the nature theme with thier daisy design...

Inside, very basic, but i added another new stamp of mine.....The Green Man....

This is a beautiful stamp, very detailed compared to some of the Green Man stamps around, i got this one from the U.S....ordinarily he would be green of course, but as this was on a dark background i though i'd leave it plain....besides, unlike my girlfriend Maddy, i colour like a drunk chimp, so best leave it be i think...

Popped another leaf charm and chain through the spine....

The whole of the edge of the holder is lined in gold embossing, looks real nice against a dark background. In case you've not made these before, the holder is just a piece of cardstock covered each side with your chosen patterened paper.

I enjoyed making this, not only because it got me out of my crafty dry spell, but i know it is going to a good home where crafty skills are appreciated.

I'm also going to enter these into a challenge, Divas by design "Anything but a card" challenge...thank you to the Divas by Design ladies for the challenge. :)

Till next time...:)

Calv.

Guest designer for Papertake Weekly.

2011-06-14T12:09:00.007+01:00

Hi all :)

I haven't made anything too crafty for a while, so i was chuffed to bits when Dawny from Papertake Weekly Challenge asked me to be a guest designer for this weeks Dads and Lads challenge.

I've never been a great one for matching colours and papers, so i just did what i liked, i like to think it turned out ok. I used the Mikey download image from the lovely Karen over at Charmed Cards and Crafts and then kept it simple with some chain and a few layers of paper and card ripped and edged with distress ink pads.....and you'd hardly notice where i got carried away with the Cropadile! :)

Hope you like it, thanks again to Dawny for inviting me to take part in this, it was a pleasure. :) Why not pop over to the blog and see the great makes that her design team have made, and even take part in the challenges yourself? By the way, i did see that Rotty got his snout in the picture too....i thought for a minute he'd been up to mischief, glad to know he hasn't .

By the way, for anyone new to my blog, i don't just talk about bees, trips to hospital and delinquant clay rats, i have on occasion been known to make cards and other papercraft items, proof being here, here and here! :)

Thanks again...

Calv.

My bees are hatching!

2011-06-08T16:40:00.005+01:00

As most of you have already read here on my blog, i've been playing host to some solitary bees for the winter, they moved in, made cocoons.....they were even on time with the rent!

Well today i went out and saw that some have hatched and tunneled out of thier nests....

How cool is that?!!! There are about 4 0r 5 in each hole, i'm not sure if they've all emerged yet, i won't disturb them though to look.

So tonight i'll raise a cuppa to them and wish them all the best on thier new journey. It's nice knowing i did my little bit to keep a few more bees around.

I took a video too, a bried one of one of the babies emerging after hatching....heres a link to the Youtube video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwyz_9CmJNU

Thanks for looking.....i promise the next post will be about crafting. :)

Calv.

Look what i just bought!

2011-06-03T12:41:00.005+01:00

I've been after this for ages, it's been sat in my local antique shop for a while and every time i've passed it i've stared at it like a kid staring at an ice cream! There are so many things i wanted it for, some crafty ideas. maybe some kind of storage, but most of all i envisaged it as a nice addition to my garden.

The lovely lady who owns the shop gave it too me with a big discount, which was much welcome as it was the price that had put me off getting it for ages.

I thought i might put it in part of the garden where it could be used either as a hanging basket for trailing plants, or maybe something for the birds. I love the way the top comes off so i can access it easily for sorting out or cleaning. I think this will look even more lovely when it's weathered a bit.

What do you think?

Calv.

12 x 12 storage and magazine rack.

2011-05-26T17:02:00.003+01:00

Hi all, really quick post to show the easiest 12 x 12 project there is.....a wooden pallet rack that can take 12 x 12's and magazines, or indeed anything you crafty lot hoard these days. (Yes i know what a craft room gets like!).

So we have our humble wooden pallet....doesn't matter if some of it is beat up like this one, you're only using an end of it...

Cut off an end that is two slats thick, you can do three if you want but it's a little too deep to get the paper out....

Either leave it like that and give it a sand, or give it a little wavy effect with a jigsaw, i also carved a few notches around the edge and used a hole saw too as i like the way the colours show through from the papers and mags....like i say though, give it all a sand otherwise you WILL get splinters off of these rough pallets...

Once thats done, give it a lick of paint, and hey presto.....one quick and easy storage idea...

I fogot to say, i have'nt done it here, but don't forget to put some sort of base on the bottom, otherwise your papers will fall through....i didn't bother here as i wanted to blog it quick.

Of course you can fancy this up as much as you want, stamp on it, paint on it, do whatever you want. If it's too rough a project too have in your craft room, maybe use it in the garden or shed.

Just an idea.

Hope it gives you some ideas.....take care,

Calv.

Wooden pallet potting bench

2011-05-23T11:10:00.008+01:00

Hi all, hope you are all well...

Yesterday i decided to alter something, ok it's not really a crafty project but it kept me out of mischief for a couple of hours. I've often read about projects made from old wooden pallets, there are many ideas out there on the web if you search for them.

So after my local hardware shop advertised free pallets, i picked up a couple and set about making a new addition to my garden....a potting bench. The project took just one pallet...

I then cut it lengthways, i made the top a little wider than the base...there were a couple of spare slats from another pallet so i used these as the supports either side and a couple more to slot into the gaps on the bench surface...

So thats the basic shape....i may put a middle shelf in there at some point but this is ok for now. I felt my garden was lacking in colour though, so i found an old pot of pale lilac paint in the shed...only did one coat as if it gets worn quickly it will add to a nice rustic effect...

I was eager to test it out, so after adding a couple of hooks underneath to hold garden tools, here is the finished bench...

Not bad for a quick little storage project for the garden. I'm just getting into gardening and it will be a great place for me to plant seeds and deal with plants. Yes i'm aware that it probably won't stay that colour long, but it's for potting plants, not for the catwalk...a little dirt here and there will be a nice addition i think.

Talking of storage, whilst i was chopping this pallet up, i looked at the holes between the main wooden supports and thought to myself, "They would make a good magazine rack". So if you look at the bottom shelf above, imagine that on it's own, turned on it's side so it's standing up, if you cut the pallet about 2 slats wide and put a base on it, it could hold magazines easily.

Maddy took one look at it, and said, "I wonder if it could take 12 x 12 papers?". Lets find out....

Would you look at that! The spaces are just over 13 inches wide, so your papers fit in there lovely. Again, picture this turned on it's side and a base put on it, you could store tons of papers here. I'll do a better tutorial for a 12 x 12 paper storage from a used pallet another day.

Thanks for looking, hope you enjoyed it. I'm now off to casualty to get my ankle x-rayed....whilst making this yesterday i twisted my ankle badly and it's black and blue and like a balloon!

Take care all...

Calv.

Better late than never...

2011-05-02T17:41:00.007+01:00

I'm always late when it comes to planting stuff in the garden, my gardening year usualy starts around August time....i'll decide to do something with my flower beds and thats as far as the plan goes.

This year is not much different, however i have made progress with a patch i want to use for veggies. I'm so fed up with the price of basic vegetables, especialy salad leaves, so i'm getting into the whole growing lark. It will be major trial and error for me, but i have read up on a few tips from books and websites, plus i have a few people close to me who know what they are doing if i go drasticaly wrong.

So after sifting through what seems like a weeks worth of roots and stones, i now have a few small beds prepared ready for stuff to be planted. I already have strawberrys and tomatos growing nicely in the jute hanging planters on the fence and in the hanging baskets. I'm trying some upside down growning this year....

As usual the bees were taking great interest, and i had my first new resident of my new solitary beehive (yes another one...i made this one myself), so he was packing his nest nice and tight with mud and leaves ready for his babies....

We now have a sunflower competition going on, me and my girls, and Maddy and her girls (and Maddy's mum all have a sunflower seed in a pot, even the dogs have one. :) I will be keeping a close eye on the growing to make sure it's fair...i'll keep you informed of thier progress.

As for my kids helping me.....my youngest spent ages working her little fingers to the bone and produced some quality work to be proud of...

Ah well, they do say that gardening is all about love and care don't they?

Any hints and tips most welcome as i am very much a novice gardener.....also if you have any tips on how to slap blogger so it works properly for me....i'd be most gratefull.

Thanks for stopping buy....hopefully i'll have something crafty to show next time.

My bee hive update...

2011-04-26T22:59:00.005+01:00

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Hi all, just popped in to give you a quick update on my solitary beehive that i've mentioned here before. As you may well remember, i bought the above hive and waited patiently for it's first residents....it didn't take long before i had some interest...
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This was last year, the idea is that they make individual nests in there for thier eggs. So for the past few months they've been busy coming to and fro, and this is what they've produced....
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How cool is that?.
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Each hole is full of this packaging....it is tiny bits of leaf that have been bitten off by the bee, then stuffed into the hole, then they have made little tube type things for thier eggs to go in. So what you are seeing here is about 5 bee eggs in each hole, each one carefully wrapped in leaf and pollen. Then the bee stuffs the end with leaves to keep it well protected..
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My kids were fascinated by this, as was i too. This is what i liked about this kind of solitary hive, you can take the sections off to learn about how the bees store thier eggs. So eventualy these eggs will hatch and the new bees will emerge and the cycle will start again.
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You can make these yourself, or just drill loads of holes in a log like i've just done today, it's just somewhere nice for the bees to find shelter for thier young. If the worlds bee population dissapeared we'd be in serious trouble...so i reckon this is a worthy project for the kids to folow in the garden.
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See ya soon. :)

My first ever painting.

2011-03-06T23:58:00.003Z

Hi everyone, tonight is a first for me, i painted a picture for the first time in my life, and it actualy looks half decent!

For those who don't know me, whilst i can usualy knock up an ok looking craft project, when it comes to painting, i have always been useless. In fact, if i may quote the famous Blackadder for a second, when it comes to painting "I have all the artistic talent of a cluster of colourblind hedgehogs....in a bag!". I have never been any good with paint, so have avoided it any every oppurtunity.

Enter Maddy....yes Maddy spent the evening with me and my kids, showing us how to paint with acrylics on canvas. This is particulary funny because Maddy has never painted before either, so she made it up as she went along. The results were very pleasing for a first effort and it has certainly given me the enthusiasm to do some more. They were not copied from any picture or anything, just made up as we went along.

So the above painting is mine....here is my youngest daughters....she's 12 years old....enjoys art but is very self critical and like i say, has not painted like this before. If you are wondering what the "tyre tracks" are doing leading into the lake, i have no idea......they were intentional, she has a strange sense of imagination...

Below is my 13 year old daughters first painting....she has never really been one for art, thinks she is rubbish at it and steers clear of art if she can. We always encourage her and with perserveranace she can accomplish bits she is proud of...takes some doing though....so she is chuffed to bits with this.

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I am so proud of the kids paintings, they've done a few paintings at school before, but they were typical kids stuff. This is thier first try at something a bit harder.

Not bad first attempts considering all we used was some paintbrushes that i had in my shed which i use for painting my skirting boards with!

A big thank you again to Maddy for being patient enough to get us through these paintings, lets just say it was a bit challenging at times.

Hope you like them. :)

Welcome home Rotty!!!

2011-02-13T00:09:00.013Z

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Aha! Look what the cat dragged in!
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Hi everyone. Well as some of you may remember, Rotty Rat has been up to all sorts of adventure over the past few months. He threw a tantrum because Calvin Mouse had a house nd he didn't, so in the end he left home. Needless to say, he's been in trouble as usual. Last week i had a letter from the police saying he had to come home. He was charged with stealing cupcakes from Calvin Mouse, and he is seriously on my naughty list!
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"So then Mr.....how are you doing? Long time no see?"
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"Oh, yeah...hi there boss...the police just dropped me off...said i had to come straight home."
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"Home Rotty? Are you saying you want to come back here after all the trouble you've caused? Look at you, you've got to wear an electronic tag for a week due to your naughtyness!" I am seriously not impressed Mr!!!"
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"Ah yeah but...i can explain boss....you see it's a funny story....."

"Sorry Rotty..i don't want to hear it! You've brought embarrassment to my doorstep, i don't appreciate getting letters from the police through my letterbox! What have you got to say for yourself?"

Yes i'd hang your head in shame you little scallywag! So you are expecting me to house a criminal? Really Rotty, i thought you knew me better than that."

"But boss, you need me to guard your stash from that thieving little Calvin Mouse. You know what he's like, he's got those evil eyes, and don't get me started on his ears!"

"Sorry Rotty, i've made up my mind...you can't stay here any more."

"But boss....i....sniff....sniff....i need a cuppa and a decent bed....sniff.....my tummy hurts."

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"Look Rotty, grab your stuff, i might know of a place round the back where you can stay for while."

"Really boss? Does it have a bed...coz i need a good sleep....police cells are no laughing matter you know?"

"Yes Rotty, i hear it has a bed....come on Mr....this way..."

"So where is it then boss? Maybe i'll ask at this house here. Bit posh around these parts isn't it...look at the size of that place!"

"Go and ask them then Rotty, you never know, they might even know of somewhere you can stay?.

"Hey look at that boss...that has has a plaque on the upper floor with initals like mine....how cool is that? Wonder who lives there?"

"Umm boss....i don't understand....i knocked and nobodys in, but thats not all....have you seen this door?"

"Whats the matter Rotty?"

"The door plaque boss....look at the name on it..."

"That is strange Rotty....maybe you should take a look inside?"

"Ok boss....will do....you watch my back...."

"Why do i need to watch your back Rotty?"

"Well just incase the police turn up.....don't want to be caught raiding someones house again, that would be all i need."

"Rotty you doughnut...who's name is on the door? It would be difficult getting arrested for entering....YOUR OWN HOUSE!!!"

"WHAT?!!!! Say that again? This is my house? My very own house? You mean to say you actualy made me one in the end? I can't believe it!!!"

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"I sure did Rotty. Not that you deserve any treats after what you've put me through, but i did promise you a house a while back didn't i?"

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"Go on then, go have a look at some of your things. It still needs some things to make it more cozy, but i think you'd like it. I wanted it to have that old feel to it, just like the places you like to frequent."

"Your very own flatscreen telly...i know you like your TV....made you some nice curtains too, and your very own furniture."

"Wow boss!!! This is amazing!!! Look....i got my own log fire too!"

"Certainly have Rotty, just what you need on a cold night. Already stocked up with logs and coal too...even made you a little stoker for the fire, and of course a broomstick to sweep up the mess."

Oh my boss...is that what i think it is above the fireplace?!!!"

"Yes Rotty....your very own piece of rat artwork by Banksy!" Just a print of course, it's hard getting him to do personal commissions."

"Of course...i'll be the envy of the sewers with that!

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"I also made you a coffee table Rotty, and a little something on it to help you get back on your feet again."

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"Oh boss, i don't know what to say....it just doesn't get better than this when you are a sewer rat like myself!!! This sofa is great too...very comfy indeed!"
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"Yes it is, and you have Maddy to thank for that sofa, she was kind enough to donate it to you."

"Really? That was nice of her....Calvin Mouse didn't touch it did he? You'll have to disinfect it if he did you know?"

"No it's nice and clean Rotty....now then, you might want to take a look upstairs..."

"NO WAY!!!! I have my own bedroom!!!!! WOOHOOOOOO!!!"

"Yes indeed Rotty.....just look at those most excellent duvet and pillow sets that our lovely friend Nicki from Switzerland made you! Aren't they fantastic? You've also got another TV so you can watch telly in bed...and dartboard too, can't be a boys bedroom without a dartboard!"

"THANK YOU NICKI...i love them!!! xxx ....and you are so right boss... if you notice, Calvin Mouse hasn't got a dartboard in his room....so i'm seriously starting to have my doubts about him! I HAVE TWO BEDS!!!!!"

"Yes Rotty, just incase you have any friends over to stay".

"Oh boss this is way too cool, you wait till i tell the other rats in the sewer, they'll all want to come and stay!"

I'm sure they will, oh you found your teddy. Actualy Maddy made that little horse, i thought you might like it for a bit of company in your new bed."

"Thank you so much boss....i really like my new house....might change a bit of the decor here and there but you can't get everything right can you?"

"I guess not Rotty. Now look, you have to take good care of this house ok? I don't mind having it in my craft room so you're a bit warmer, but no wild parties ok and make sure that fire is out when you go to bed! Deal?"
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"It's a deal boss....a rats promise even and you can't get better than that. By the way, i did notice that you didn't make my laboratory and gym that i asked for, but i'll let you off as you did such a good job. All in good time eh boss?"

"Lol yes ok Rotty...i'll say goodnight now and leave you to your new place."

"Night boss."

Well folks....thats that! Rotty has his house, and i think he's quite happy don't you? I hope he has as much fun in it as i had making it. It took a little while as it's my first attempt at anything like this, but i like to think it was worth it...don't you?
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I wonder how he's getting on....lets have one last peek before we go eh?....

Big tough Rotty Rat eh....look at him cuddling that teddy lol.

Night all.....see you soon, i'll explain a few things about the build of this house in my next blog post. Thanks for popping in to take a look. :)

Quick dry brushing tutorial.

2011-02-11T09:52:00.011Z

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Hi everyone. :)
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How do you like this stone box i found? Just kidding, i am making something and needed to do a bit of dry brushing on it to get a slate effect, so i thought i'd take a few pics along the way to show you how easy it is.
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Many of you will already know how to do this, and i'm sure you can do a better job as there are some most excellent tutorials out there. These are great for giving a stone effect to anything, especialy scenery or houses built for kids. No reason why you can't use it on cards though.
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Firstly, i bought one of those cardboad boxes (are they cardboard? Papier mache maybe? i dunno).
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Now we need to give it a base coat of black matt paint. I just used some old black acrylic paint, you can also get a really nice matt black spray base coat from places like Games Workshop or other scenery or modeling shops.
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Now for the dry brushing. You'll need a stencilling brush. They come in many sizes, so depending on what size your project is depends on how big a brush you'll need.
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Get yourself some tissue paper, and get a blob of white acrylic paint. Now dip your paint brush in the while, but just a tiny bit, you'll see why in a second...
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Now you need to take all the paint off again. Sounds stupid i know, but you only want a hint of the white to dust over the contours of the black. So take the paint off by brusshing it clean over the tissue. Keep going until you think there is literaly nothing left on the brush.
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It should be virtualy clean...
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Now to dry brush. Holding the brush so it is upright and the flat bottom of the bristles are on the project, i just flick it around lightly over the black paint. Very lightly, you are after just hitting the raised surfaces of the black paint so you are only dusting the surface.
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Eventualy you'll see a white powdery hint coming to the black paint which gives you a stone or slate effect. You'll know if you still have too much paint on your brush, it will leave whiter marks on your black surface. If you really mess it up, just recoat with black and start again.
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Easiest technique ever. Like i say, this one was done really quick, so you can get a better effect if you take your time and really clean that brush off well. You can see a few places where i had too much paint on, it's too white.
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This would be a great thing to do with your kids on a weekend, get one of those chipboard houses from any of the craft shops, and try some dry brushing. You can also add other colours to give different effects, on Rotty's house that i'm doing, i drybrushed with brown on top of this to give a tile effect.
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A big thank you goes out to Maddy, as she showed me this technique many years ago.
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Thanks for looking and i hope it comes in handy. :)

A letter from the police!

2011-02-04T01:03:00.007Z

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Hi everyone.....this is quite an embarrassing day for me......i've had a letter from the police!
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It would appear that a certain little man....or should i say rat.....has finaly got his comeuppance after being caught with stolen cupcakes. Guilty as charged it seems.....i'll let you read the letter yourselves....click on the image if you want it bigger.....
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I can't believe it! Oh well, i'll have to get the place ready for him i guess, i'm sure he'll be glad to get back home, he's been away for quite a while if you remember.
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Who knows, i may even have a big surprise waiting for him when he gets back...not that the sack of mischief deserves it!
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Thanks for stopping by, stay tuned for Rotty's return....and a much awaited present. :)

Handmade bookmark.

2011-01-08T15:43:00.004Z

Hi all. :)

Ok, first make back after a long break, i thought i'd better make it simple. No not like me thank you. :)

My usual tactic when deciding what to make goes something like this...

1. Think that i have to make something amazing.

2. Think it has to be something big and complicated.

3. Then i get stressed to bits with the whole cuffudle (yes thats a word down our way) of ideas in my head that i don't even make a start.

So Maddy told me to just keep it simple...they do say that behind every good man is a woman rolling her eyes, so i thought i'd listen to her this time. :)

A basic card piece covered with some 12 x 12 paper i had from The Far East selection (DCWV). I have used a stamp from a old writing stamp set i have, due to the textured paper, the image didn't come out too well but not to worry.

I dotted some holes along the side with a dart, yes a dart as i've lost my pokey tool, then sewed along the sides and middle with a double strand of metallic embroidery thread.

The different colours give quite a cool effect don't you think? Oh yeah, i used a little gold embossing powder on the edges...

I was going to add some tassles at the top, but instead i used some old chain i had left. Added a button to it and it works great for some weight drooping over the pages when the books closed.

Had to test it in use of course....

So thats is, a nice way to slide back into the blog again. I do a fair bit of reading so another bookmark is always welcome. Thanks for looking. :)

Happy New Year everyone!!!

2011-01-02T17:02:00.008Z

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Happy New Year everyone!!!
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Firstly, i hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year. I hope Santa brought you everything you asked for, and that most of you who were probably on the naughty list got at least a little something. :)
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I must apologize for my absence from the blog over the past few months, many excuses, but i wonlt bore you with them. Luckily Maddy has kept me informed with all the crafty goings on so i know what you've all been up to. (Yes even that!) :)
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We had a great deal of snow and ice here, we weren't as bad as most places in the UK, but it did make for a few lovely pictures.....heres one from my village....
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Rotty is nowhere to be seen at the moment, there are a few rumours circulating the sewers regarding his whereabouts.....none of them great i'm afraid. One said that he was staying at Maddy's house, another was that he'd left there and was involved in the "catering business" down in the underground sewers of London again.....something that worries me slightly after reading this article recently...
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Hmmm i know....concerning eh?
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Rotty's house is nearing some kind of completion, the paint job on the exterior didn't quite go to plan so i will be working on that in my spare time. So don't fret....Rotty will get his house soon!
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Other than that, i look forward to getting back into the swing of things with the crafting and getting around all your blogs. I hope you are all well and are enjoying your crafting, wishing you all a great 2011.
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Oh yeah, i have a couple of resoloutions, some of the normal ones, some a bit different, but the main one is to keep in touch with friends more often. I love writing, and there is nothing better than a handwritten letter through the door......one without text talk too! So if you get a letter with a wax seal on the back...it may just be from me. :)
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Oh yes, one final thing.....i would like to give a big shout out to the numerous spammers that have graced my blog whilst i've been away. I always enjoy reading my friends and followers comments, but nothing gets me all warm and fuzzy like a whole host of random spam posts linking people to sex sites and the likes.
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So to any spammers out there, one day i hope we'll meet.....i promise i'll give you a personal up-close tutorial on another use for a pokey tool!!!

Happy Birthday Maddy!!!

2010-09-26T20:05:00.002+01:00

Just a quick shout out to my gorgeous Maddy who celebrates her birthday today. :)
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If you get a sec, pop over to her blog here and wish her a happy birthday....she'd keep it quiet if she had her way but we can't have that now can we? :)

Ah, i see she has already mentioned it lol.....oh well.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDY!!!

Calv.

What a nice crafty suprise!

2010-07-13T10:24:00.005+01:00

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Who doesn't love receiving post through the letterbox that isn't a bill? Well today i had the nicest of surprises when i opened a letter to find a beautiful handmade card from the children at Kids Company. Some of you may remember i knitted some scarves for the kids last winter, and this was a lovely thank you from them. :)
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They'd obviously put a lot of work into the card, a gorgeous seascape theme to it and lots of little details that outshine my cards lol. I love this spray they've used on the gold card, it would also look good in a snow scene...
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The little sailing boat is just great! Almost makes you think you are there under that blue sunny sky with the big white clouds...
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On the back of the card it says, "Dear Calvin, thank you so very much for knitting warm wears for our children, you made them very happy last winter."
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Makes all those years of me getting stressed whilst trying to learn to knit worthwhile doesn't it?
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So a huge thank you to the children at Kids Company (and of course the staff too) for sending this, it really has made my day. :)
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For anyone else that is interested in making or sending donations or items for the kids, my friend Nicki's website explains it all in great detail.
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Bye for now...

Peeks around the door...

2010-06-28T20:55:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone. :)

I thought it was high time i showed my ugly mug around here, i've had one of my longer than average breaks from crafty life but as usual i am feeling the tug of blog land again.

Not that i have much in the way of makes to show, but i have a couple of pics you might like....first one being Maddy above being throttled! I did try myself but she punches harder than me so the job was left to the Ghost Walk tour guide Dan who entertained us on a lovely trip to York recently.

It's been pretty quiet round here otherwise, Rotty's house is being painted at the moment, i messed up the initial colour, so i'm now re-doing it. Don't worry, it will be done this century!!! Not that he's fussed though, last i heard he was putting on a proper cake belly at Calvin Mouse's house.

I do have a couple of new visitors here....

Yes i have a few frogs now in the garden pond thanks to my kids. They rescued a load of tadpoles from a dried up ditch in the forest, so back to the pond they came and are thriving now.

Curious little things they are too....no sooner had i got the camera out.....

Also the Bee & Bee is filling up nicely, theres about twelve in there now....here's the newest arrival arriving back home after a night on the honey!

So now you're all asleep i'll say goodbye for now, and pop off to look around your blogs. I apologise for not being around, sometimes real life events get in the way....as they say, "Excuses are like backsides....everyone's got one!" :)

Take care all, i hope you are all ok and i look forward to catching up with everyone.

See ya...

Calv.

Blog candy shout out.

2010-05-01T10:27:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone. :)

Been a bit busy lately, hence the lack of makes here, however i just wanted to give a heads up for a great blog candy that Karen is doing over at Crafty Goings On.

As usual Karen has put together a lovely bundle of goodies for you, including the new Tim Holtz book which i can thoroughly recommend for beginners and experienced crafters alike.

So pop on over to Karen's and try your luck! Thanks Karen. :)

Hopefully i'll be back soon with something nice to share with you, the weathers just too nice to miss out on with the kids at the moment though. Need to get my night time crafty head on maybe? :)

Take care all.

A double suprise for the absent Rotty!

2010-04-03T23:07:00.003+01:00

Trust Rotty to do a dissapearing act just when he gets some goodies through the letterbox!

Yes bloggers whilst Rotty is off on his travels to lands unknown, i had two fantastic presents arrive today. First was a huge box of Easter eggs from Maddy's daughter Sophia. Now Sophia never does anything by half, so i had a wonderfull suprise when i opened the box to find an egg for me AND Rotty!!!

I have to say my half didn't last long, well i had to make sure it didn't melt....you know how it is? Do not panic though, i have kept Rotty's half for whenever he decides to return from his travels. A big thank you to Sophia for the eggs, we all loved opening them and of course, making them dissapear! :)

Meanwhile over at the house build, i spent the afternoon making him a couple of beds for his room, one for him, and one for any friends he has sleeping over....they are a bit covered in glue and still need a little fancying up, but you get the idea...

The only thing i have to sort out for him is bed linen. Being a hardened rat from the rough end of the sewer, he wouldn't be seen dead in the kind of girly stuff Calvin Mouse sleeps in (pink satin nightie, hair curlers etc), so i wondered what i could get for Rotty? I needed something that showed off his tough exterior, coupled with his love of adventure and travel?

Now i did say i had a couple of suprises through the post today, my good friend Nicki from Switzerland who is an absoloute diamond with a needle and thread, send a little gift for Rotty...

How cool is THAT!!! A gift just doesn't get more fitting than that! Two sets of miniature duvets and matching pillows. Camofladge one side, and a gorgeous map of the world fabric on the other.

I made the beds to fit the duvets...i can just see Rotty and a mate snuggled up under these with thier torches, planning their next mission against Calvin "big girls blouse" Mouse!

So the biggest thank you going out to Nicki in far off Switzerland for these, you are total star and i know that when Rotty gets his furry little backside back here, he will fall in love with them for sure!

Have a great Easter everyone, eat lots of chocloate and don't forget to tell Rotty he has some here if you see him.....where on earth can he have gotten to?

Rotty's in the news!

2010-03-31T00:30:00.008+01:00

Would you believe it folks! Rotty appears to have hit the local rodent headlines again, this time with his silly antics....by that i mean walking out in a huff! He's almost as big a drama queen as Calvin Mouse!!!

I did try and tell him i was making him a house, but he is so stubborn, i wonder where he'll end up with his so-called "streetwise survival skills?

"Ah look who we have here....Rotty....what are you up to?....are you telling me you've only got as far as my rubbish bag in the garden?"

"Yeah well it's better than false promises of houses...and the foods not too bad either!"

"Rotty my old mate, why don't you come on in, i'll show you how i'm getting on with your house."

"Likely story, actually i only stopped here for a quick nap, then i have to get some things together and i'm off!"

"Oh really Rotty, and where might that be eh? Next door's garden bin? Quite the adventurer aren't we Captain Scott!"

"Very funny, i have somewhere in mind, don't you worry about that".

Hmmm i don't like the sound of this, i'd better follw him....

" Rotty what are you doing here at the train station? These are dangerous places you know."

"I told you, i'm off to stay somewhere, i have contacts up north."

"Oh really Rotty, you have friends nationwide now do you?"

"Yep, well kind of....now if you don't mind i have to catch a train..."

"Oh Rotty, i really wish you wouldn't go, you have to be carefull on trains, there are lots of big people around that might step on you....see that police lady just missed you!"

"It's ok, i gave her the slip...ah here's my train now....byeeeeee!"

Well folks, that looks like he's really gone this time, i just wish i knew what he was up to, that train goes half the way up the country....who on earth would take in a stray rat?
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Rats it!...I'm off!!!

2010-03-19T23:22:00.006Z

Hi folks, tonight i wanted to show you a couple of new additions to Calv's residence.....well the garden anyway. My new birdhouse, which i bought.....and my new beehive which i made.

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I love the birds coming into the garden, so do the kids, so i thought i'd treat them to a nice box i'd seen on the net, they are going to love this little beauty...

Some of you may remember that last year i bought a solitary beehive for my garden. It's for the bees that live on their own so you don't end up with a huge nest and swarms. Anyway i wanted to get another one, then when i looked at my other one i did what any crafter would do and said, "I could make one of those!"

So i did...

The individual bees make tiny nests inside the holes, it just gives them somewhere to stay. What with all the decline of bees going on in the world, i thought it would be a nice gesture. The hive is not finished yet, i want to decorate it a bit more, but i'll show you when it's done.

Uh Oh! Look what the cat dragged in.....and he doesn't look too happy! "Hi Rotty, hows things?"

"UNBELIEVABLE!!! What the heck do you call these then?"

"What? The bird house and the bee hive? Yes they are pretty fantastic aren't they? What do you think of them Rotty?"
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"I'll tell you exactly what i think boss! I think you have gone too far this time! You buy a house for those flippin flappin things, all they do is flap about and eat things...and i'm sure they purposely aim for me sometimes yanno!"

"But Rotty, i can explain."

"Then theres the bee hive!!! You must have spent ages making that, when all they do is sting me on the backside all the time!!! Then theres Rotty here who has waited what seems like a lifetime for a certain house that i was promised!!!"

"Oh come on now Rotty me old mate, it takes a little while to make a house good enough for the likes of you".

"Yeah yeah, i've heard it before boss..well thats it.....I'm OFF!!!

"Rotty don't be silly mate, let's talk about this, i have started the house i promise."

"Boss, it's too late for words and idle promises, i've seen your handy work, let's just say i'm not entirely convinced you've even thought of my comfort lately have you? I'd have probably ended up in a cardboard box like all the other rats!"
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"But Rotty....where will you go.....it's a big wide world out there".

"Bye boss....I'm a sewer rat remember, streetwise and tough as old boots, you just think about who is going to look after your stash now!"
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Oh well folks, that's him gone..for now. Yet another over reaction from the drama queen that is Rotty, i'm sure he'll be back when he gets too hungry. If he had shut up for five minutes and let me get a word in, i might have given him a peek at a certain "residence in progress"...

I'm sure when his little toes get cold, i'll have something here to warm him up again some day soon :)
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Thanks for stopping by, and if you see a struggling rat down your way starving and pretending to be streetwise....give him some food please. :)

Stunned once again!

2010-03-18T11:46:00.005Z

Just a quick post to say you have to pop over to Maddy's blog and check out her new creation...Cupcake Cottage!!!

Above is just a glimpse of what she's made, there is so much more to see, and what's inside the box will surely make you smile. :)

Just to add, when Maddy makes something like this, she often mentions that she's been locked away in her craft room for hours, sometimes days..finally emerging like some kind of cave woman. Well for those who doubt this, she's just said to me, "I need to go and have a wash, get dressed....and what day is it?"!!!

Honestly, it's like some bedraggled hermit type figure of a woman, crawling outside, blinded by daylight...with fimo and paper bits all over her!

Great job once again Maddy xxx

A rare sight...a card from me!

2010-03-15T20:35:00.004Z

Yes folks, shock horror it's a card from me!

I say that like it's an infrequent thing because it is compared to most of you, although they end up ok, the proccess is rather a stressfull one for me lol. Nothing matches in my eyes, i haven't a clue what to make....so i'm kind of a "throw it on and eventualy something will come together" kind of guy.

Maddy's always a good influence for me, so thats what got me going on this one. To help me with the layout i followed this weeks Sketch Saturday challenge, always a big help for someone like me.

I enjoyed this sketch, easy enough not to be daunted, but enough room to jazz the card up as you wish...i used a Maya Road key stamp set for the main image...

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I did some hand stitching around the oval, very time consuming but one of my fave additions to a card. I also gave the oval a very thin dusting of Distress Crackle Paint, it gave it the finest, almost invisible crackle effect...

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I punched some small holes along the edge of the card and laced the sides with ribbon...

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I added a custom made stamp that the lovely Nikki made me over at Dewdrop Craftz. ( For the record, i just got permission off of Maddy to call Nikki lovely...no black eyes for Calv tonight!)
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A bit of lace and a tassle....you can't go wrong with those two can you?
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So thats my yearly card making session over! I need a bath and a cuppa! :)

Thanks for stopping by, see you soon.

Easter elegance.

2010-03-12T17:46:00.007Z

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Yes i know it's a little early, but i finished Maddy's Easter prezzy today and couldn't wait to blog it. Click on the pics for a better look.
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This lovely little egg trinket box started off as a delapilated mess on a charity shop shelf. It was bare apart from some of the beads going around it, it was scuffed, scratched and had the remains of a terrible paint job on it..... So i bought it with an Easter project in mind.
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I've used Distress Crackle Paint on the egg itself, i mean eggs do crack now and again don't they? Painted with a thin coat, the crackles are lovely and fine. I also added a few little things to fancy it up a bit.
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First i punched a simple heart out, distressed it a little and hand stitched around the edge.
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A few fabric flowers and more beading dotted around the place...doesn't that crackle paint look great close up?
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The little butterflies are lazer cut, and with a coat of antique cotton paint and a stamped text pattern on them, they really come to life on the project. I was able to enter this into the Charisma Cardz Challenges this week as they are ofter something with Beautiful Butterflies.
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This pendant/charm was a great find, it originaly came as part of a belt, but in true Calv style i wrecked the belt and used the only bit that was left intact! I can also enter it in the Creative Inspirations "charms" challenge this week.
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I know what you are thinking though, yes Calv that's fine but what about the choccy!!! Have i ever let you down yet? :)
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Filled with mini easter eggs, Maddy has the choice of white, plain and dark choccy to indulge herself in.
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What would this kind of project be without some reference to Alice in Wonderland? It gave me a chance to compliment the box with something nice, whilst using one of my fave stamps, an Alice in Wonderland quote...
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This handmade scroll was made on patterned paper, wrapped around a couple of dowelling rods i chopped up this afternoon. Painted again with crackle paint and finished off with tiny brass knobs.
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A dainty button and some ribbon later.....and Mr Carroll would have been proud of me! :)
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I love these butterflies...
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A close up of the wonderfull quote...
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So there you have it, one Easter prezzy for my partner in crime. :) Hopefully Maddy will forgive me for spoiling the suprise, she'll just have to wait for the choccy now.....i'm sure i'll take good care of it. :)
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Thanks for looking everyone.....and Happy early Easter!!!
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My "effort" with Fimo.

2010-03-10T20:17:00.005Z

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Well folks, here is a perfect example of why the saying, "Leave it to the experts" was invented. I would like to introduce you to my rabbit "Smudge"....you'll find out later why i gave him that name.
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Yes it's my attempt at Maddy's great Fimo Easter rabbit tutorial. The tutorial was great, even a guy like me who has the clay modelling skills of a drunk chimp....who had it's arms in a sling....could follow it with ease. I would like to add that as Maddy lives 250 miles away from me at the moment, she did not help me with this....she was cooking dinner during the whole process!
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What amazes me when i watch Maddy do her thing with Fimo, is how she keeps it so clean!? I'll let you into a little secret folks, Maddy's craft room is never going to be the kind that you'll see in these books about organised scrap rooms.
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She has the stash, she certainly has the talent, but unlike the ones that look so clinical and as though nobody ever crafts in it like in the mags, Maddy's craft room usualy looks like 50 burglars have been in.....with all their mates!!! :) It is well used and looks like it too. So how on earth she manages to keep her Fimo spotlessly clean i do not know!
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I dropped mine on the floor about ten times, accidentally dug my nails into his teeth, which by the way are rabbits teeth and not a walrus.....but i did really enjoy making this little fella.
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So a big thank you to Maddy for sharing this tutorial, i'll be passing it on to my girls....then when they look less than impressed with dads efforts they can ring Maddy and get expert advice! :)
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If i could pass on my tips that i've learnt during this project it would be....
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1. Don't drop white fimo on a carpet and expect it to come back clean.
2. Licking your finger and trying to rub off dirty marks just makes it worse.
3. Remember to use oven gloves when removing the plate from the oven. Ouch!
4. Don't put the plate straight into the fridge to cool down, it burns the plastic on your shelf.
5. Don't attempt to use Fimo at the same time as eating a chicken curry, prawn crackers and sesame seed on fried toast....it kind of counteracts all the times Maddy instructed you to wash your hands!
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Thank you to my friend Oliver who owns my local craft shop Emerald Crafts, your Fimo was put to good use as you can see! :)
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Thanks for looking....now go try one yourselves!!! :)

Fancy a wabbit for Easter?

2010-03-06T18:10:00.007Z

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How great is this little fella?!!!
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I'm always blown away by my partner in crime Maddy's Fimo creations, this time she has made this fantastic Easter rabbit out of Fimo, and look at the great box that it comes in!
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His name is Herbert, and on Monday he is going to be free to win on blog candy at Maddy's blog. You can get the box that he comes in too.
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Now if you're like me and have the Fimo skills of a drunk badger, you'll be thankfull that Maddy has done a tutorial on how to make your very own simpler version of an Easter rabbit. Here is what you could make if you go and see the tutorial that's on Maddy's blog now....
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For anyone who has never done one of Maddy's tutorials before, i'd totaly recommend it. Not because i'll be a battered hubby if i don't.....but because the tutorials are so easy to follow even a monkey like me can do it! :)
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Also, if you do get stuck or need any help along the way, why not pop a question in Maddy's chat box at the side of her blog, she'll hopefully get back to you asap.
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Thanks for looking.

Fiskars 18 piece scissor set.

2010-03-02T11:14:00.008Z

Hi everyone :)

Today i wanted to show you my new set of Fiskars paper scissors that i bought from Create and Craft the other day. I know most of you will have some of these scissors in your craft room, but maybe you are like me and have only ever bought the rubbish ones in the past, you know the ones that break in five minutes or don't cut properly.

I've paid as much as £3 for a single pair of poor quality scissors in the past, yet these were a total bargain at £14.99 for 18 pairs, that includes the great perspex storage stand.

So straight on with the scissors, here's a few pics to show you the edges that you get...

May i just say what great quality these scissors are, they cut cleanly, the plastic handles do not feel like they are going to snap any minute. At under a pound each, this is a great addition to the craft room.

The stand is solid and has a hinged lid that closes, ideal for keeping your scissors clean and dust free.

When i bought these, i had my kids in mind, they will love these different edges and what with all the projects they are doing at school at the moment, they will be able to create so many different effects.

Then again, whilst having a play with these this morning, i can see they will be great for someone like me who has limited edge punches and tools like Nestabilities. Also, with the various wonderful colours that they come in, what craft room wouldn't be brightened up with a set of these sitting on the table?

Thanks for looking. :)

Edit: I know this is probably obvious to you ladies out there, maybe most of you guys too, but i will have to point out something with the scissors. I was a bit miffed because the mini scallop scissors didn't give me a typical bumpy scallop edge, so Maddy pointed out that if i turn the scissors around....you get a different edge!

So as Sarah C rightly pointed out, i actualy get 36 pairs for my money! :)

Typical women....always right!!!

The mystery of the missing muffin!

2010-03-01T12:14:00.003Z

Hi everyone :)

A little late in posting about Valentines Day, but theres a reason for that.

This year was a little different on Valentines Day, as Maddy asked me not to get anything for her because i send her goodies so often anyway. I wasn't too happy about this but said as long as she didn't get me anything either i'd go along with it.

So that was the plan, until a certain mischievous monkey said she has posted me "just a little something"! She assured me it wasn't much, it had cost less than a pound, so i waited paitently for this mystery gift to arrive.

Well a week passed and nothing, a week and a half and still nothing, so Maddy was by now planning revenge on the postal service! She explained that she had bought me a Valentines muffin as she knows how much i love chocolate muffins with icing on. She has made a lovely box for it, not too girly just simple enough to house a nice prezzy for a guy.

So the postman he brought nuffin....not even my tasty muffin! (i should've been a poet) Anyway on Friday i returned to the house to find the above box in the post...

I love opening gifts from Maddy, always something to look at and be inspired by....

I was like a kid waiting for the sweet shop to open...then low and behold, there inside was a gorgeous muffin!

The box had survived the 2 week postal journy with just a few bangs here and there, but the muffin was in perfect condition! (Apart from my fingerprint at the bottom)

I have to admit, i was starting to have doubts as to whether or not Maddy had eaten it herself, but she was true to her word and this was a pleasure to receive.

I am now off to find my friend Net who is an expert cake maker, i need advice if this will be ok to eat after two weeks! :)

Thanks Maddy xxx

See you soon! :)

Knitty Nora strikes again!

2010-01-31T22:09:00.006Z

This time it's for charity though.
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You may remember me talking in the past about my lovely friend Nicki from Switzerland, she makes cushions, quilts and anything else for a childrens charity here in the UK called Kid's Company. Well being the angel she is, Nicki has been on another mission alongside her other great work, and that is to "Wrap up a kiddie", or keep a kiddie warm this winter.
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Many of the young kids that this charity helps, have little or no warm clothing, so they are after people who can knit or sew items for the kids......enter one new male knitter!!! :)
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Although i am not as fast at knitting as many here, i now have a first batch to go out to Kids Company...
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I've done 5 of the larger scarves that will be fine for the older ones there, and today i made two smaller ones for the toddlers. I will be getting these sent off tomorrow, and will start on some more this week, especially the scarves for the little ones.
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I've really enjoyed making these, knowing they will be going to kids. I hate seeing my kids cold, any kids not wrapped up in fact, so these were a pleasure to make. Good practice for me too.
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If anyone out there is interested in helping out with this, here is Nicki's website that tells you all about what she does, on there you will also find the wrap a kiddie page.
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Thanks to Nicki for her ongoing inspiration, apparently there is 24 hours in a day, but i swear a certain person upstairs must have given Nicki many more in order for her to do all she does!

Like my new white Bind It All?

2010-01-26T22:26:00.002Z

Well not quite new......some of you may remember me moaning like a goodun about the "pinky" nature of my new BIA a while back.

I stored it in the window of my craft room for the summer, and the sunlight has faded the colour just about completely off! It's kind of an off white.

I'm thinking about inking it, but might just keep it as it is......it's better than girly pink anyway :)

Cool eh?

A recycled mirror, fit for two princesses.

2010-01-23T20:09:00.005Z

Yes that's my hand getting in on the action! :)

Here is a really quick project i did for my girls bedroom, took just one night of drying paint, and a few minutes of adding some pretty bits to jazz it up....oh and of course a saying fit for the moment....

This is actually the second time this mirror has been recycled. First time, a few years ago, Maddy's daughter, Sophia rescued this cane mirror from the local rubbish dump. It was bare and battered so she gave it a makeover with cans of spray paint and then covered it in fairy lights and paper ball lampshades. She gave it to my girls, who loved it had it in their room for a few years.

However, like most stuff in a kids bedroom, it had seen better days, so recently i sanded it down to the cane again, stuck a coat or primer on it then a couple of coats of white matt emulsion paint on it. I just love how the cane looks now it's painted, simple, yet effective.

Add a few blooms and ribbon here and there for extra femininity, and hey presto....

Probably the quickest thing I've altered ever, not much too it really, but it will see them through a another couple of years of doing their hair and slapping on make up!

Thanks for looking. :)

A creepy inking session!

2010-01-19T17:42:00.008Z

Yes i know, slightly odd i know. :)

It's been a while since i used my beloved alcohol inks on anything, so i decided to finish a project i started a couple of months ago. An alcohol inked skull.

My inspiration, although much more attractive to look at than my mess here, was a piece of art by the artist Damien Hirst. "Cornucopia" as the art is entitled, is a group of skulls painted in many colours with gloss paint on plastic skulls...here's the exhibition piece at the British Museum...

I loved the way he took a normaly morbid item, and made it a pleasure to look at, so i thought i'd have a go with what i had in my craft room.

Well you are probably thinking, "how hard can it be to ink a skull?" Very hard as it happens! First i painted the skull white with white Stazon ink...lots of it! Then i needed to get layers of clear ultra thick embossing powder onto the skull evenly. For those of you wondering what i was doing with a skull in my house, it was a resin one i got from ebay.

Not as easy as it sounds, lots of dabbing with an embossing pad, until i realised the pad was not up to the job, so i painted embossing pad ink onto the skull. Now when you melt the powder with a heat gun on card, it's flat, on a skull however it runs everywhere. So i had to hold the skull with either my hahds or pliers (depending how hot it got), and gradually add the ink colours and extra layers of UTEE.

It's like coloured glass, and like all alcohol ink projects, i love the way the colours are unpredictable when you apply them. You just never get the same effect twice.

The whole thing took me probably took about a week in total, i kept going back and forth to it as it was a nightmare to do.

Damien Hirst's work is most definately an aquired taste, and a lot of his work i bit macabre, but Maddy says he has always been that way. It is a small world indeed, Maddy used to go round his house when she was younger, she was good friends with his sister. She says he had his artwork all over the place and he was really good. He seems to have done ok for himself anyway.

Whilst my effort may not fetch the many millions of pounds that Damien Hirst's go for, i like to think it will grace the shelves of my craft room for many years to come, and one day maybe make at least £2.50 at a car boot sale. :)

Thanks for looking, i hope you like the colours, it just goes to show that there is little you cannot ink!

And a couple more....

2010-01-19T16:59:00.004Z

Wow this is addictive!!!

Once i sorted out the right needles and adjusted the width slightly, i did two more scarves yesterday, so now the girls have a couple to choose from.

I have started one with different colours, it looks better than on screen, it would make a nice mans scarf maybe.

Maddy says she has become a knitting widow, she says i came up here to help her through the cold snap we've had here in the UK, but instead ive just knitted lol. I'm sure it's not like that at all, and it's not like Maddy hasn't been sat right next to me knitting away like a mad woman as well!

I think i'll have a look around the net tonight to see what other nice wool there is, i'd like to knit the girls another scarf but with something a bit more special, funkier even. Any recommendations most welcome.

Bye for now. :)

My first ever piece of knitting!!!

2010-01-17T14:41:00.002Z

Well here it is....after many attempts to get the hang of knitting, i have finally done it! For a few years now i have gone through phases of trying to master the art of knitting, just to make something for my girls really, but until now it has always got the better of me.

So this week, after much help from Maddy and her daughter Sophia, i have managed to complete a basic scarf for my youngest daughter. Using chunky wool it allowed me to get somewhere quicker with the results (thanks Sophia for that tip), and i really enjoyed it.

I need to learn to relax a bit more when i knit, i think thats why the scarf feels a bit stiff, and my needle holding technique is "interesting" to say the least, but it seems to work ok for me at the moment.

I'm looking forward to making a few more scarves for my girls, and at least now they can choose their own colours.

Thanks for looking.:)

A New Year crisis!

2009-12-28T21:47:00.008Z

Hi everyone. :)
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Well i hope you all had a lovely Christmas, and you are ready for a great New Year, i was looking forward to getting stuck back into my crafting, but i seem to have something going on in my craft room....

"Rotty what on earth is going on?!!! I was just about to do some crafting, how am i supposed to get started when you are in the way of it?"

"I'm protesting if you must know Boss, against unfair treatment!"

"How do you come to that conclusion Rotty? Have you not had a good Christmas?"

"This has nothing to do with Christmas Boss, i've been freezing my hairy little butt off because SOMEBODY" didn't finish my house!"

"Aww now come on Rotty, i have had a fair bit on you know, plus it's no easy feat building a house."

"Yeah well you would have been done by now if you hadn't banned me from the building site, so i'm taking drastic action! If you remember, Calvin is now living in luxury in his chateau!!!"

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"Ok, so how is writing nasty signs about Calvin Mouse taking drastic action?"

"Just stating a well known fact Boss, just stating a fact....that night we had a sleepover, he never cleaned his teeth you know, he told Maddy he did but i know he didn't, he just wet his toothbrush!"

"Fair enough Rotty, can't argue with that."

"So what's your big plan then, how do you think this will solve anything and when can i have my craft room back?"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY STASH?!!!

"Well it is pretty obvious that you are not taking the situation seriously, you have a comfy house and i still have to live in amongst your stash....so if i have to go without a house, you can go without your stash!!!"

"ROTTY YOU LITTLE NUMPTY!!! PUT THAT FIRE OUT THIS INSTANT!!!"

"Not a chance Boss, every protest camp has a fire going, and lets face it, theres plenty of junk around here to get it going.....mmmmm nice and toasty!"

"Ok then Rotty, i'll tell Maddy you started a fire in the craft room, you know what she's like with her health and safety.....she's killed for less than what you've just done!!!"

"Uh Oh.....don't tell Maddy Boss, i mean she's nice and all that, but i've seen what she can do with a pair of scissors!"

"Rotty it's no good trying to look cute, the hippy protests went out in the 60's and 70's, get that ribbon off your head you daft thing!"

"Ok then Boss, no more fires, but i'm having a discreet protest until i get a house ok?"

"Fair enough Rotty.....now go to bed, otherwise you'll catch a cold."

"Nah, i think i'll be alright Boss".......:)

Warning!!! To any children out there, please do not attempt to ever light a fire in your mum or dad's craft room, Rotty knows full well this is very dangerous and he will be getting a slap very soon! As most likely will i next time i see Maddy, she always tells me off for doing dangerous things! :)

Hi all....long time no see.

2009-11-05T10:05:00.004Z

Hi everyone :)

I thought it was about time i popped my head in to say hi. Apologies to anyone who has come to the blog recently and found it inactive, i've had a break for a while due to lots going on. Much needed, and much enjoyed.
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Plus i have no craft room at the moment!!! Shock horror at the thought of it!!! Actualy it's not so bad, i've had a move around in my house, giving my girls my double bedroom and i've taken their little room. Unfortunately the double bedroom doubled as a craft room, so i have to relocate my crafty things somewhat. It gives me an excuse to get rid of a lot of craft clutter though so it's not a bad thing.
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So over the past few months i've done very little craftywise. The only thing i've made for the girls...and half their school friends it seems, is these paracord bracelets.
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Very simple to make, they are made from paracord, a cord very popular with the military for all kinds of uses. It's amazingly strong, and when knotted into bracelets like this they are a handy way of having a spare few feet of cord on you. They are used for fashion, but also more practicaly by the military and survival types for emergency cord carrying. Soldiers sometimes make them for their mates as a bit of a tradition kind of thing before going on a tour.
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Attatched to a curved plastic buckle, they are great for kids and adults alike., especially the adventures or cub scouts out there. There are tutorials online all over the place, but the best one i've come across is thie guy....Stormdrane's Blog He makes some amazing stuff from paracord, well worth a look.
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The tutorial for this bracelet is also from Stormdranes Blog, but is here on Instructables too.
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Not the most crafty thing to show, but like i said, thats all i've done craftywise for a while.

I'll get back into the blogging soon, i just wanted to pop my head in to say hello. I hope everyone is keeping well and crafting hard, and i look forward to catching up with you all soon.
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Maddy says hi and sends her love too, she is not on the internet at present and is dealing with family stuff too, so hasn't been around either. Don't worry though, we have great plans for the future and they look like they could be happening sooner than expected. :)
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Take care all,
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Calv.

Veg i inked today!!!

2009-06-11T20:07:00.004+01:00

We I call them a vegetable. :)
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Good evening once again my good friends, how are we all this fine Thursday evening? Tonight i have tried inking something that although technically is not a real vegetable, i like to think of it as the veg of the forest.

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I'll give you a couple of clues....we usually see them, but can't always touch them. If you didn't get that then theres something seriously wrong! Then again, if you're waiting with baited breath for a vegetable that's been inked....theres also something not quite right don't you agree?

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Tonight i inked....some FUNGI!!!

Pretty funky eh?

Some bits inked better than others, most of the fungi reacted to the ink like mushrooms, they just soaked it up like a thirsty.....thirsty thing.

Yet close up they didn't look so bad. It did take a little while to ink the individual stems, but art does not happen in a second does it?

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I tried using Pearl mixative on the heads, but it didn't like the texture, so i got a kind of furry funky thing going on...
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So there you have it....my first attempt at fungi. It came from the grocers and is edible, so don't worry about any side effects. As for the veginkability rating for the fungi....i would say a comfortable 7 for this colourful bunch!

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*Important: Especially as kids come on the site, but for the grown ups too.....don't attempt to pick fungi if you don't know what you are picking. Accidents are my department, not you lovely people!!! :)

Sorry i haven't blogged much lately, my mojo is wayward at the mo.....personally i think that thieving little toerag Calvin Mouse has stolen it!

Talking of which, a funny pic to leave you with tonight.....we had a lovely craft day at Rachel's house the other day, a fun day with crafting, demos and i met some new friends to.....and we had some lovely cakes. Two little men were there too......so Rotty let Calvin have the last bit of shortbread....

Awww....wasn't that sweet? ;)

Take care all....

Veg i inked today!!!

2009-05-28T20:15:00.003+01:00

Good evening good people of blogland! Another Thursday evening is upon us, it's almost the weekend so what better to get you through that final couple of days that reading about the biggest waste of alcohol ink you'll ever see? :)
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I've been struggling recently with which beg to ink, i am quickly running out of options and i even thought i might have to resort to real crafting!!! So off to the grocers i went today, scouring the shelves for something that might make nice viewing. Tucked away at the back was a veg which i personaly feel should be banished from the world, a veg that tastes so horrendous that it makes me icky just thinking about it....but as i was going to ink it and not eat it, i took the plunge and went with.....the COURGETTE!!!

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As expected, it inked like it tastes.....not good! It held it's colour ok, but the green skin of the courgette made for a nasty background.
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I have to say though, the new Raspberry alcohol ink looks gorgeous in the flesh, all the new colours are nice but the raspberry is so vibrant, you just can;t help but add it to whatever you are inking.

I used a little Pearl mixtative too, it gave the inks a shimmer (hasn't come out too well inj the pics though) it left the blue with lovely pearlescent swirls in it.

So there you go, one altered courgette to satisfy your need for inky edibles! Now then, time for the veginkability rating. Not a great veg to ink, but i'd be happy to give this weeks veg a 6
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Thanks for tuning in again this week everyone, you may sit there wondering why you do this every week, but just think.....one day you'll be explaining to your kids why it's good to eat veg, and you'll say...."Did you know....i knew a man once who inked veg to make them look nice!"

Till next time, take care all. :)

I got an award!

2009-05-28T13:09:00.002+01:00

It's always nice to hear someone say nice things about your work, so i want to say a big thank you to Sandra over at "Pink Sandra" who gave me this award.

As is the tradition of awards, i have to pass it on, so here's a few great blogs i would like give a shout out to....

1. Hannah and Zoe over at Crafty Monkeys. I think it is so cool that not only kids are taking part in crafts these days, but are encouraging others to join in too. Well done girls, you are an inspiration to us grown ups! :)

2. Chris over at Blin-kin-eck. Chris is such a talented lady who makes all sorts on her blog. Her recent jewellery makes are nothing less than stunning!

3. Debbie over at Arty Crafty. As well as always making me laugh, Debbie is a dedicated Fiskateer who always has lots of different projects to show on her blog, with lots of tutorials and new things to look at.

So a big thank you again to Sandra for the award, and thanks to those I've given it to for making me smile on my journey through blogland. :)

Now then.....off to find a vegetable!

Back with a card!

2009-05-26T19:42:00.006+01:00

Hi all :)

I've had a bit of a break recently, had a few things to sort out and wanted some quality time with the girls, but i have returned with a card and a matching box.

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I figured it was high time i did some crafting, so i made Maddy a card,

then made a little box to go with it. I'm sure i can fit some choccy in it. :)

I used an Crafty Individuals inchy thingy, edged it with Vintage Photo distress ink and covered it with Crackle Accents. The glaze brought the distress ink colour out nicely.
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I made an embellishment using my seal and wax....

I also used a paper doille for part of the card. I bought a pack of 75 assorted sizes from Poundland, they are great as they already have that delicate lace effect. So i coloured it with Broken China to break up the vintage browns.
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So there you have it, one card and a mini matchbox.

Hope you like. :)

Ooh before i forget, i had some lovely news yesterday, Fabrizio, another male crafter (fantastic crafter and real nice guy) emailed me to say that my blog had been mentioned in issue 24 of "Lets Make Cards"! :) I was well chuffed as i've never been in a magazine for anything crafty before. Fabrizio was featured in the mag, and i think they mentioned a couple of other male crafters...including me!

So a big thank you to Fab for the info, i've yet to see the magazine, but i will get one for a momento to tell my grandkids about! :)

Apologies for the lack of veg.

2009-05-22T09:41:00.002+01:00

Hi all :)

I just wanted to post a quick apology for the lack of inky fruit and veg lately, i've not been that well to be honest. Then last night i was going to do an episode, but an elderly neighbour of mine had a nasty fall so i had to bandage him up and went to the hospital to keep him company for the night. Didn't get back till midnight.

So i have a decent excuse this time. I promise to sort my life out this week. :)

Talking of which, you may notice at the side there a weight loss ticker. I am very out of shape compared with what i am used to, so my goal is to lose a few pounds over the next couple of months, and get back in shape. Wish me luck! :)

I hope you are all having a good week, smiles to everyone in blogland, and i'll speak to Rotty about not keeping his blog up to date.....and mine in my absence! ;)

Take care all,

Calv.

Someone is going to be in BIG trouble i think!

2009-05-18T14:25:00.004+01:00

Hi all, looks like Rotty is all dressed up for a fun night out...."Hi Rotty, that's a cool looking mask you have on there, are you off anywhere fun?"

"Hi boss.....umm......well yes in fact i am.....it's a fancy dress party, yep that's what it is, fancy dress!"
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"Wow that sounds like fun Rotty, is that your costume then.....just a mask?"
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"Yes boss, but that's all i need, I'm going as a "rat burglar"....get it?....Instead of "cat burglar? I borrowed a bit of your ribbon, hope you don't mind?"
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"Oh very cunning Rotty, you sure were first in the que when they were giving out bright ideas weren't you?"
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"Sure was boss hehe....now i have to go....can't stop ok.....don't wait up!"
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Oh well bloggers, there he goes, off on his big night out.....bless him.....
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*A few hours later in Leeds, something is going on at Calvin Mouse's house......
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"Why on earth did Maddy make Calvin's roof so steep? It's pretty inconsiderate you know, theres me awaiting a new house, and i have to furnish it. How on earth am i supposed to pinch Calvin Mouse's furniture and get it back to mine when the roof is so steep?!!!"
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"Good job i did all that rock climbing training a while back in my boss's garden, this is hard work. I think I'll be safest going through the skylight"......
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"Ok, almost there......just a few more steps......now then, time to secretly negotiate Calvin's window......."
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Uh oh! I think Rotty has some explaining to do when he gets home don't you folks?, we all know how much of a little grass Calvin Mouse is, Maddy is sure to find out soon enough!
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Stay tuned for Rotty's roasting of a lifetime! :)

A challenge card and a birthday surprise!

2009-05-14T14:02:00.013+01:00

Hi all, :)
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Today i am officially a big boy! Yes it's my birthday today, 37 years young, feeling like i'm 87, i blame the company i keep! ;)

Firstly i wanted to show you a card i made last night for this weeks Copics Colour Challenge. Maddy set the sketch this week, and i thought i'd try a male card for a change. The plan was to try my hand at the "Extreme Punching to Distress" technique, used to great effect by the very talented Irene Tan on her blog. I think i over did it though and it needs some work before it looks like Irene's ever does lol...

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It was fun making a different effect with the Crop-a-dile though, and a bit of embossing powder splashed here and there gave it a hint of metal effect.
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The sketch this week was this....
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The image was the fantastic Mikey, and the round bit's on the sketch were just screaming out for a pair of music speakers...the card didn't turn out quite how i wanted, but i learnt a lot from my mistakes during it...
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So thanks for the challenge this week Maddy and the rest of the ladies at Copic's Colour Challenge.

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Oh look who it is....."Hi Rotty.....did you know it's a special day today?"

"Excellent! You've finished my house then yeah?"

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"Umm not quite Rotty, it's my birthday....or had you forgotten?"

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"Your birthday?!!! Me? Forget your birthday? Thats funny.....be right back!!!"

"Aww bless him, must be getting me my prezzy".
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"Right then, quick....what rubbish can i wrap up for the clumsy one? Ah i think that will do!"

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"Here you go boss......a little something for you...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

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"Aww cheers Rotty, what a little star you are! Tell you what, i'll let you unwrap it."

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"Oh joy....thanks boss.!..here we go then......DADAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

"Wow Rotty, a new inkpad!!! Hmmm....looks very much like my inkpad that should be sat in Inky Cottage?"

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"Well i don't know about that boss".

"Hmmm well i do Rotty, i think you forgot about my birthday didn't you?"

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"Well maybe, possibly.....actualy completely. Sorry boss, but Calvin Mouse said he'd remind me, so it's his fault if you think about it. Tell you what boss, you sit back and i'll show you a crafty technique you can use."

"Are you kidding me Rotty? YOU......a craft technique?"

"Yep, we used to do it when we raided peoples bathrooms, sometimes after taking a wrong turn up a toilet u-bend, we got into bother with some of the cupboard contents, and learnt a few things along the way......so watch this...."

"First get your shaving cream, doesn't matter if it's shaving foam or gel, now spray a pile on some card."
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"I'm not so sure about this Rotty...."

"Oh stop worrying boss, whats the worst that can happen? Now give it a stir until it's creamy like ice-cream"...
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"Now get some of your alcohol inks, and sprinkle a few drops of different colours in the cream..."

"Then give it all a stir....."

"Now take a tag or whatever you want to make a mess of, and place it on top of the cream, pushing it around so the card is covered in cream one side.....like this....."

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"You should now be left with this mess....."

"Rotty is this actualy leading anywhere? Our readers are busy people you know."

"Calm down boss....now get a spare bit of card and scrape the cream off.....you'll be left with the swirly ink prints on the card.....DADAAAAAAAAA!!!"

"Wow thats fantastic Rotty, it looks like a marbling effect in sweets doesn't it!"

"Sure does boss, now do your stuff with those ink pads and other rubbish you have in here, and do something with it!"

"Sure thing Rotty...here goes, a bit of distress ink, embossing powder, a few stamp images, some UTEE.......what do you think?"

"Thanks ever so much Rotty, that actualy turned out to be a great birthday prezzy my little creamy mate!! Does that mean you'll be joining Calvin Mouse for craft sessions now?"

"Boss.....know this one thing......you will see me wearing a dress before i have cosy craft sessions with that mouse!!! Happy Birthday!!!"

Well bloggers, hows that for a suprise, a crafty tip that despite being the messiest i've ever seen, could be of use one day.

Have a great day all, i'm off to prepare a party tea for me and my girls, then it's a dvd and popcorn tonight.....YAYYYYY!!! :)

An angel armed with a needle and thread!

2009-05-13T14:44:00.017+01:00

Hi all, :)

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I have a very dear friend called Nicki who lives in Switzerland who is one of the nicest, most generous and most selfless people you could wish to meet. In what little spare time she gets, she makes these gorgeous cushions for an organisation called Kids Company .
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As the site explains, "Kids Company is a charity founded by Camila Batmanghelidjh in 1996 in order to provide practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children and young people. Most of children who seek our help suffer from emotional and behavioural difficulties resulting from significant experiences of trauma and neglect. Many are ‘lone children’ living in chronic deprivation, with limited or no support from the adults in their family".
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Now Nicki has been making these cushions for a while now, and over at Crafts By Carolyn forum, members have been very generously donating materials and also any spare pennies now and again to Nicki so that she can provide these children with a special cushion each.
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Nicki makes each child (the little ones, aged 4-11 yrs) a cushion with their name on one side, and a design on the other. The reactions from the kids when they get something as special as this are so heartwarming, it would bring tears to your eyes.
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Anyway, Nicki is always being asked to make more cushions, and i thought it might be a good idea to spread the word a bit more via my blog. Nicki very much relies on kind donations to make this amount of cushions for the children.
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So if you would like to spare just a small amount so Nicki can buy materials for these, then please send a donation to Nicki via Pay Pal at this address nicki@leconcierge.ch I know Nicki would be eternally grateful, as would the kids that benefit from this. You can also donate direct to Kids Company via there website mentioned above if you would prefer.
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I used to look after kids like these, and i can promise you this much, a gift like this that has been handmade specially for them will be a rarity for them, and totally cherished more than you would ever imagine. When kids need a cuddle, these cushions are the next best thing to a real one.

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I can vouch for the comfyness of these too as Nicki very kindly made Maddy one to rest her head on when she was going through her cancer treatment, my kids also have one each and it follows them everywhere.....I've even used it a few times when they aren't here :) More of Nicki's cushions can be seen here at her Fotopic gallery.

Thank you for spending the time reading this, i hope it leads to a few more donations coming Nicki's way so she can continue this very worthwhile project.

Take care,

Calv.

Veg i inked today!!!

2009-05-07T23:02:00.005+01:00

Thursday night again folks, time to get yourself a cuppa, take the weight off of your feet and spend a few minutes of your week in the capable hands of a guy they said would never escape! :)

This week has been a bit of a difficult one for me as far as the veg inking is concerned. Believe it or not i am running low on veg that is good to ink. There are some veg that i could ink, but know from practise runs that they are rubbish, and not even worthy to be seen here.

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So today i just hoped for the best during my visit to the grocers and something little. So give a warm welcome to......the SUGAR SNAP PEA!!!

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The pictures just don't do these peas justice! They did dry out quite fast which always leads to dulling, but they did well to retain at least some colour.

Maybe not the best place to try out my new Brights alcohol inks, you can't see how totally cool these new inks are on a pea....but i cannot recommend them enough for those of you who don't have them already.
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The most common question i get from bloggers is simply "Why?". Well i like the fact that you can take something that we don't usually look twice at, and turn it into something that is worth a second look.

This one below reminds me of a big fish for some reason. :)
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Veginkability for the sugar snap peas? Well they didn't ink as well as expected. but then again I'm definitely seeing a pattern in what makes a veg good to ink. The shiny skin. This just doesn't fit the bill.....then again it did result in at least some colour.....so i think I'm going to go with a 4 this week.

I am a bit disappointed that the Brights didn't reveal themselves as well as i would have hoped, they really are the most gorgeous of colours. Next week i will endeavour to give you something much brighter to view!

Thanks for looking everyone, I'd better go and check on what Rotty is up to, you just never know with him these days!

Night all. :)

What next?

2009-05-06T19:02:00.004+01:00

I give up! Guess which little man has gone and got himself a blog?

He's just posted his first post, and found himself a bit out of his depth amongst fellow creatures by the sounds of it.....i'll let you read it yourselves here!

I need to lie down, i thought it was hard enough looking after two kids.....let alone a third!!!

First morning on the "building site"!

2009-05-06T11:00:00.012+01:00

"Hi Rotty, you are up bright and breezy!"
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"Certainly am boss, this is a major project you know, something as important as my house cannot be taken too lightly!"
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"If you say so Rotty....so whats the latest on the build?"
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"Well boss, word on the site is that you're a totally clutz and have messed up the measurements! I've gone over the drawings and it appears as usual this gossip is right, so I've amended them...otherwise i would have been living in something the size of a matchbox!!!"
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"Oh, sorry about that Rotty, but lets face it, you are only little after all."
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"Hmmm, that may well be boss, but i have big plans, and with that comes a big house! How am i to achieve world domination with a tiny house eh? EH?!!!"
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"Ok calm down my ickle Dr Evil, I'll see what we can do. How far have you got so far?"
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"Well you cut the sides of the ground floor yesterday and primed them, cheers for that, i am going to be focusing on the oak beams today"
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"Oak beams Rotty! My that sounds expensive....we may have to settle for some oak effect wood stain."
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"Ah come on boss....don't be a cheapskate, all the famous rats had oak in their houses!"
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"No they didn't Rotty, most of you came from the sewers so don't try pulling that one!"
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"So is there anything i can do today?"
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"Well boss, we do seem to be missing one of the most important things on a building site, it's from the "1875 Rat building regulations, section 2, paragraph 3b".
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"Oh my Rotty, that sounds important...whats that?"
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"Well you may have heard of it....what comes after the letter "S" in the alphabet?"
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"T" Rotty?
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"Oooh go on then boss....mines milk and two sugars.....thought you'd never ask hehehe!!!"
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"Oh very funny....here you go, one cuppa for an attempt at humour! Now on you go with your work matey!"
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Well folks, thats him quiet for the day....i hope! Stay tuned for regular updates of how his "house/lair for world domination" is going....heaven knows what he'll get up to next!!!

Meanwhile, i think i'd better go and put my legendary toddler-like Fimo skills to use and make another Rotty, this one is looking a little battered!

A high tech use for one of my makes!

2009-05-05T01:53:00.005+01:00

How cool is this?!!!

I recently had an email from a guy in Utah in the US who had seen my times tables tags on the net. He had made an iPhone application for learning times table for his children, but was in need of a nice graphic for the kids "totals page". So he kindly asked if he could use the picture of my tags. :)

I love the fact that something that i made to help my children, is being used somewhere else in the world, albeit in a very small way, to make a childs learning more attractive.

A big thank you to John for letting me have this example pic of what the application looks like, i'm just glad it came in handy! :)

One for the little ladies...girls "secrets purse" tutorial.

2009-05-02T16:27:00.000+01:00

Hi all....what do you think of my "girls secrets" purse?

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As the gents gift wallet went down so well, plus the fact that i have heard about nothing else from my two young daughters....i felt it only right to balance things out and do a tutorial for a girly make.
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I wanted to make my girls one anyway, but the inspiration for this particular theme came from a fantastic scrap booking LO i recently saw over on Toni's fantastic blog. Amongst Toni's many stunning LO's, her "Secrets" LO featuring her two daughters whispering to each other, reminded me so much of my two. Like any little girls, they love their secrets, and any little cute pockets to keep things in.

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So that's how the idea came about......now how about making one yourselves? Here is an easier tutorial than the gents wallet, giving you more time to spend on the fun decorating bits.
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Ok, firstly cut a piece of card 8 x 5 inches. *Please note these measurements will be different to the wallet, i have adjusted them slightly to make them less fiddly.

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Next, like with the gents wallet, pick two pieces of patterned paper. Here i have used the "Wings" patterned paper from the Angelique Collection by Prima.

Now cover both sides of your piece of card, remembering that one side will be the inside of the purse, and the other the outside. Place your covered card in front of you, inside looking up at you.
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Mark your purse folds with your scoring tool at the measurements shown, for a larger image, please click on the picture.

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I find this a good time to give the front some decoration. All i have done here is used some lace, eyelets, distressed an inked the edges, added some fibres, a bloom with a fabric rose, and finally the word "Secrets". As you can see, i have used a simple Velcro dot for the closure.
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Flip it over, and you are ready to do the inside. I've added a little lace again here already....
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Now you need somewhere to hide those secrets. We are going to make a simple pocket, but you can use a pre-made envelope if you wish, maybe even a pretty little organza bag or similar?

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For this pocket, cut yourself a strip of card 8 inches long. The top inch is for the pocket lid, and you can see that i have added some flaps at the side of the bottom 3 1/2 inches. The dotted lines are score lines which will be folded.
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Cut some patterned paper the same shape, and cover the card. Score the fold lines.
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Fold this pocket over in half, gluing the tabs inside to make the pocket. I have used a border punch on the flap, and some fibres and a ribbon and brad closure to pretty it up.

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Add some more decoration if you wish. My eldest loves music, so i made a simple LO involving a handmade miniature wooden recorder, and a scroll of music. Instead of this, you could think about having a few journalling pages there, or a notebook to write the secrets on.

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Just be careful of making the inside too bulky or it will not close. If you do envisage a bulky load inside, just slightly increase the distance between the the fold scorelines.
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Thats it finished! One purse fit for a princesses secrets. :)
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I hope you enjoyed it, thanks for looking and i look forward to seeing what you do with the design. :)

Thanks for looking.

Nature's crafty reminder.....and a "helpfull" rat!

2009-05-01T16:38:00.005+01:00

Now then.....after my post about the fantastic dolls houses, I've not heard about anything else from Rotty! I think someone wants me to get on with his house....
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"Hi Rotty, i was just thinking....maybe it's time we thought about a place of your own?
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"Well about time too....I've even got my own designs! I've been freezing my hairy little butt off in your ribbons, and trying to get to sleep whilst you're crafting away at night is a whole other issue in itself!"
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"Whoa there mister! You are skating on very thin ice after recent events involving Calvin Mouse's belongings, you are lucky I'm not building you a prison!"
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"Yeah well innocent until proven guilty and all that boss....now then onto more important things....my house! It has been quite apparent since i arrived here in your house, that you are pretty incompetent at most things.....not to mention clumsy.....therefore i feel it is best that i be in charge of this project".
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"Ok pay attention boss....firstly, health and safety is of utmost importance during this house build....i say that firstly so i can try out my new safety helmet, and secondly, you know how much Maddy worries about you injuring yourself.....i just think it will keep her off our backs for a while!"
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"Good point Rotty....and I'm not that clumsy anyway!"

"Yeah OK....now if you look i have the initial blueprints drawn up, but i was thinking of something a little more older looking, like the great rats used to live in during the plague and times like that.....maybe even Tudor style?"

"Rotty i am a papercrafter, not a master builder! I think you may be asking for a bit much my little matey."
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"Oh come on boss, i though you said that Tim Holtz guy always goes on about "the possibilities? Think of the possibilities involved here.....my own bachelor pad!!!Calvin Mouse has his own place, pretty well furnished too.....well it was....my requirements are basic, here's the list.....
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"Are you sure that's all Rotty.i mean you don't want much do you?!!!"

"This is no time for sarcasm boss.....i NEED those rooms just like you crafters NEED your stash every time you go shopping!"
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"Hmm well i still think you are asking for a lot Rotty, and the laboratory isn't happening, you'll end up blowing my craft room up! Maybe have a joint workshop/lab?"
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"Maybe boss, but i NEED a lounge to relax in after chasing Calvin Mouse.....i NEED a gym to keep my body this buff.....i NEED a kitchen to store the cakes i get from Calvin Mouse....i mean buy from him.....and the other rooms are standard in any house so there you go. Simple!"
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"Ok I'll see what i can do Rotty, in the meantime, you behave yourself mister, otherwise it's not happening, ok?"
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"Sure thing boss, now I'm going to borrow some of your crafty things for the house.....but of this...bit of that.....ooh a clamp, that will be handy.....bit of ribbon......
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"AHHHHH STAAAAASH AVALAAAAAAAANCHE!!!!!

"Umm....bit of help here boss eh?"
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"Oh my, and to think you're in charge of the project....looks like the blind leading the blind here!" "Oh and Rotty, one more thing.....you'll be needing a spare room in your house won't you".

"Eh? Why is that boss?"

"you know that you stay with Calvin Mouse when we go up to Maddy's.....and you have the run of his facilities.....well what about when Maddy comes down here? Looks like you'll have a little room mate from time to time!!!"

"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!? Well if he's to stay with me, i'm having a naughty corner especially for him!!!"

"Now now Rotty, all's fair in rodent love and war!"

Stay tuned bloggers.....i think this project will be a bumpy ride! :)

Finaly, it's funny how we can get crafty inspiration and tips from the most unlikely of places. This morning i was walking the kids to school, when i came across these leaves by the side of the road. First thing that sprang to mind, is something i tell the kids when they are making a rather "plain" card, i say, "If you do nothing else to it....ink the edges!"
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Inking the edges of a make can make so much difference to a piece, and i like to think this was Mother Nature's way of reminding me! :)

Take care all...

Veg i inked today!

2009-04-30T23:35:00.012+01:00

Good evening veg fans!!! :)

Welcome to another ....and rather late episode of "Veg i inked today!!!". I have to admit, tonight's veg inking was done in rather a rush, due to the fact that unlike me i have been busy completing a lovely little make.....more about that another time.

So i was left with hardly half an hour before midnight to get something inked.....or else risk letting my faithful barmy army of veggie followers down. That my friends, just wasn't an option!

Off into the depths of the fridge i delved, dodged the onions, glided over the leeks, came very close to an incident with the eggs......but eventually i found it, tonights veg to be inked......the CUCUMBER!

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Sliced for the artistic touch! :)

Although not my greatest work, i must say they inked rather nicely! The ink stayed nice and vibrant long enough to be photographed, there wasn't the usual mess i make on a Thursday night, and the colours seemed to more or less stay separate, which saves a muddy mess at the end! :)

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Some were deeper colours than others.....

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Whilst others presented themselves with a look so bright and cheerful, you could think you were looking down at the coastline waters of some far off tropical paradise. That's what i see anyway lol.

So a very quick, but pleasant veg inking for you tonight, nothing big, nothing fancy, but sometimes as they say, the best things come in small packages.

Veginkabiliy rating for the cucumber? Hmmm....tricky one, however i think a 6 would be very fitting for this colourful little gem!

The cucumber is a very juicy vegetable indeed, tons of water content, so this let the inks flow really nicely. Also, usually a green background on a veg can be a nightmare scenario for a professional fruit inker such as myself, but this was a delight!

Thankfully, Mr Holtz's alcohol inks are such amazing colours, you just canlt help but improve anything they touch. Just you wait till i get my hands on those new brights colours!!!

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Thank you everyone for tuning in once again, for what is now an early Friday morning blog post.

I hope you are all well, now that i have done my veg, i can get on and look around your blogs....i can't relax until my weekly veg is inked......you know what it's like don't you?

Thanks again and take care. :)

Mens gift wallet tutorial.

2009-04-29T01:11:00.028+01:00

How about trying one of these little fellas?
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We see many lovely gifts for women, and the blogs are awash with crafty makes full of blooms and ribbons, but rarely anything for men.
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I have had many requests to share how I made the men’s paper wallet a while ago, so here is a tutorial to help you make one yourself. It would make an ideal gift for a guy, and you can put whatever you want in them.
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For this tutorial I used thin card, as it will be covered both sides with paper. Glues used were a strong stick glue (Tombo), and UHU for the extra strength needed in some parts. All measurements are in inches. For a closer look at the written measurements on the pics, click the pick to enlarge it.
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Ok then, firstly cut a piece of thin card 8 ½ x 5 ½ .
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Then choose two pieces of patterned paper and cut both of these the same size. These will be your inside and outside of the wallet. I love using the Wassail papers for this kind of thing, they have a natural leathery look to them without having to do anything with them.
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Glue your paper to either side of the card, then lay your covered card in front of you with the inside of the wallet facing upwards.
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Next you need to make the score lines so the wallet can fold. Mark the measurents shown on the photo below, then score down the wallet at these points.
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Now fold your wallet inwards from both ends, making sure you fold all four score lines. Don’t worry if the folds tear slightly on the outside when you fold them….
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This can happen if the paper or card is quite thick. However I actually like it when this happens as you can ink it and use it as a distressed look.
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Now flip it over so the front of the wallet is facing you. If you want, now could be a good time to decorate the front. Here I’ve just inked the edges, used a few stamps, added a few eyelets here and there and finished it off with a popper closure.
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So that’s the outside cover done. Now for the inside, for the purposes of this tutorial I will call it the “inlay”.
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Take another piece of paper and cut it 7 7/8 long x 4 ¼ wide as shown in the picture below. Add a tab ½ in wide either side and at the bottom of the paper.
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Turn your wallet back over again so the inside is facing upwards. Now glue the tabs and stick the inlay onto the inside of the wallet. Remember you will have only the sides and bottom glued down. The top is open so you can put money in it.
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Tip: be aware of where you insert closures when you decorate the outside of the wallet, you’ll see here I stuck a popper button right where I wanted the inlay to go, hence the cut-out part around the closure.
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Once you’ve stuck the inlay in, go over the previously scored fold lines so they now include the inlay…..like so…..
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Next you need to cut 2 strips of paper ¾ in wide, and as long as the inlay. Then cut 5 strips of paper ¾ wide and as wide as the inlay…..like so…..
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These strips will make up the frame for the pouches for the wallet. Turn them over face down and arrange them into a frame as in the picture. Starting from the left, I have marked the measurements at where I stuck my bars on the frame.
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Now we need to make the pouches. All we do for this is glue a piece of paper, slightly smaller than the frame, at each part of the frame. As you look at the paper I have just glued, note that I have only glued along the top, bottom and left side edge. I can’t explain that any better so heres a pic…
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Now for the second piece of paper that fits across the next part of the frame….this time glue only along the top, bottom and right side edges of the paper.
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Turn your frame over, and now you see the inside of the wallet…..and theres why you didn’t glue all those edges just now…..you can stick things in it now! Please note that how you arrange your “frame” and pockets is up to you. Some of these pockets here are more for effect, but still work to a degree.
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Now theres one frame that’s empty at the moment isn’t there….this is where you cover it with plastic. I cut up some plastic packaging for this. Just do the same as you did before with the pieces of paper, glue and fit it inside the last part of the frame. As you look at the picture below, you’ll see I have glue 3 sides, top right and bottom. This allows you to insert business cards, photos etc.
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Now then….time to stick the pocket frame directly onto the inlay. However before you do this, I did a Calvism and took the pics the wrong way around, so just rotate the frame so the plastic business card end is at the left side….then stick the frame straight onto the inlay, remembering to only glue the frames bottom and sides….like so…
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I used strong UHU glue to stick the inlay and the frame into the wallet, as constant opening and closing could cause ordinary glues to come apart.
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Now for a few finishing touches, here I have drawn false stitching on with a white pen. Do this on the outside of the wallet too.
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Now fold it closed and this will fold the insides nicely…
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Check the top opens ok….
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Lets see if the closure works…..you can use whatever you like for a closure, Velcro, buttons and ribbons, eyelets and ribbons…..anything….
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So there you go…..one mens wallet! Not the quickest or easiest tutorial, and I’m sure there are others out there that are easier….but I am just showing people how I did mine. Hopefully it will inspire you to change it or do something different with it.
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Thank you for stopping by to look, if there is anything in the tutorial that is a bit confusing, please feel free to say.

Bye for now.... :)

Somethings afoot with Rotty....

2009-04-27T20:22:00.011+01:00

Hi all, well i'm pretty much settled in again after my time up at Maddy's......lets see how Rotty's getting on shall we?

If you remember, he was last seen making an early exit from Calvin Mouse's house, laden with Calvin's gadgets on the back of a quad bike....
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"Hi there mister....hows things? All unpacked and looking after Calvin Mouse's things ok?"
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"Eh? Oh yeah of course...Calvin's things...umm yep they are fine, still here, doing well....they are great in fact!"

"Great Rotty, so when do you have to give them back? Can i see how you've arranged them?"
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"Umm....well...you see...they aren't here at the moment....i'm getting them...umm....cleaned and umm....upgraded....yes thats it....upgraded!"

"Upgraded Rotty? Can they do that with TV's and stereos these days?"

"Oh yes boss, it's not like in your days yanno, a little dog and a gramaphone and all that...oh no, it's super high tech these days."

"Wow ok Rotty, well i'll still just check they are ok, there is a lot of craft stash that can fall on them here in my craft room".

"WAIT BOSS!!! Be right back!!!"

"Hmmm that sounds serious, better make sure he's ok......"
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"Rotty? What are you doing in my blending foam box?

"Ummm...nothing boss.....just putting away the pads you left out, a tidy craft room is a happy craft room and all that!"

"Ok mister....whats the deal? What on earth have you got all that money stuffed in there for?"

"Ah i can explain boss......see it's like this...."

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"ROTTY GET HERE NOW!!!"

"Now then.....last time.....where did you get the money from? Quite a little pile you have there don't you think?"

"Well boss, since the Comic Relief dance was such a success, I've been doing a few private dances on the side for some extra pennies.....yep that's what I've been doing!"

"Really Rotty....so what about today's issue of "Rat Weekly" that i found on your bed just now? Care to explain the front page?"
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"Lol oh that's nothing boss, probably just kids messing about....you know what the youth of today are like. By the way, that thumb looks nasty, have an accident did we?".

"Yes i did, i was trying to teach the kids how to use a hammer safely, and smacked my thumb with the hammer!.......anyway, back on topic... unfortunately i do know what the youth of today are like Rotty, lets see what the bloggers think eh?"

"Sorry Rotty but that looks pretty suspicious to me."

"Wait a second here boss.....ok I've had a few late nights since i got back, but like i said, i was dancing."

"Hmmm well i want to believe you Rotty, but you have to agree that your track record is not great is it? I think i might get in touch with Maddy to see what Calvin Mouse has to say about all this?"

"I seriously wouldn't do that boss, Calvin Mouse and Maddy are really busy these days, wouldn't want to interrupt them eh?"

"Well we'll see.....now what about this money?"

"Don't you worry your big ole clumsy self boss.....i'll take good care of it until someone claims it!"
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"Make sure you do young man, I'll be checking!"

Hmmm now then bloggers, that all sounds a bit suspect doesn't it? Lets see what comes of this little saga......

A secret....and some stunning creations!

2009-04-26T22:28:00.003+01:00

Hi all :) Feast your eyes on this little beauty!

No i didn't make it lol....

Tonight i am having a break from the housework (oh yes, even us male crafters do housework yanno!), and wanted to highlight a crafty blog of a different kind...but one that i am sure be of interest to many of you out there, whether you have kids or not.

We all have our little secrets don't we, those little gems that few people know about.....or maybe you're too embarrassed to let people know about lol?

Well one of mine is that i have always had a fascination for fantasy dolls houses. Not your average dolls houses mind, i mean those spectacular ones that take your breath away, and especially one with a fantasy theme to them. Maybe my girls have influenced that part of my imagination too, i don't know.

Well tonight whilst i was trying to look for inspiration for a house for Rotty, i discovered a lady called Sumaiya Mehreen. An artist with many talents to her name (henna, mixed media art, graphic design and much more), Sumaiya (profile here) it would appear also has a passion for dolls houses and miniatures. So much so, that she has a couple of blogs that are dedicated to showcasing some of the more stunning dolls houses that are out there.

Here is an example of just a few that she has showcased...

The more whimsical fairy dolls houses...

Hogwarts School!.....

and the fascinating....not just by it's looks, but the story behind it, such as this one below. Sumaiya's blog goes into much more detail about this one, but basically it's the most gorgeous....and probably most expensive dolls house you'll ever see.
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It belonged to 1930's silent movie actress Colleen Moore, who enlisted the help of hundreds of craftsmen to get this dolls house done.....the story is a great read, check out Sumaiya's blog thread here to read the full story.
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The above pics are just the tip of the iceberg, you should see the detailed interiors in these dolls houses! They are spectacular, and something i am sure any crafter would appreciate when you imagine the work that would have gone into them.

So take a look at Sumaiya's blog The Fantasy Forest, i bet you'll be wishing you could live in some of the featured houses yourself!

As for my Rotty's house, I'm not entirely sure his will be as good as the above ones, but for a rat who has recently been up to mischief at Calvin Mouse'shouse....he's lucky he doesn't find himself back in the sewer!!!

Nite all. :)

Papertake challenge card.

2009-04-25T00:33:00.009+01:00

Maddy recently introduced me to another challenge blog, Papertake Weekly Challenge.

Vowing to get over this thing i have about making cards (a very traumatic time for me and everyone around me lol), i decided to have a go at the challenge.....
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I kept it simple, with little to think about as far as colour matching was concerned...that way nothing got thrown in my craft room and Maddy was tempted to throttle me!

I enjoyed making this card, it was a nice simple sketch to work to....i even did my machine stitching pretty straight too!
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A few little blob things (i think that's the technical term for them) for decoration and a bit of lace here and there and hey presto.....one card by Calv! :)
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Thank you to the team at Papertake Weekly Challenge, i will certainly be back for more challenges in the future.

Bye for now. :)

Veg i inked today!!!

2009-04-23T23:40:00.004+01:00

Good evening all! :)
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Welcome to that time of the week when you join me for the evening, well at least a few precious minutes of the night when you shout from the roof tops....."CALV...WHAT VEG DID YOU INK TODAY?"

Ever since that glorious Thursday night, way back then when i inked that first banana out of sheer boredom, my fruit and veg inking has filled a tiny gap in your lives every week. Like it or not, you can't walk into a grocers now without thinking to yourselves, "To eat, or to ink....that is the question?"

Unfortunately, not all my inkings go to plan....and tonight i can safely say this is one of those!

Faithful veg viewers of blog land.....may i present this Thursdays mess that is....the BUTTER NUT SQUASH!!!
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What an absolute nightmare i had with this!!! Almost gave up halfway through, but persevered regardless, then i hit one obstacle after another.

One of my lamps blew whilst taking a pic.....then i burnt my ear on another lamp (don't ask).....then i got alcohol ink on my white fabric of my light tent....not least of all the butter nut squash turned out the complete opposite of what i wanted! Picture a house similar to the old woman that lived in a shoe, complete with door and windows.....well that was my plan at first.

Hmmm yes i can see you all shaking your heads saying, "That boy is a waste of a perfectly good skin!". I know, tonight i agree.

There were a few nice colour patterns that came out of it....the top part was ok, with a sea of silver mixative swirling around the blues and wild plum....

I think my fave part is the middle, filled with lots of Stream blue, it really has that marbled effect.....almost like coloured glass.....

The ink dries out quite fast on the squash, so i had to take the pics quite quick to get the full effect of any decent colours.

Luckily i had the sense to use latex gloves this week, otherwise my hands would have resembled something very inky indeed! This veg took up a fair bit of ink, it was wobbly too so a good deal is on my worktop. Thank the Lord, or Tim Holtz for the wonder of blending solution!

Veginkability rating for this? I'm going to go with a lousy 3 today! Sorry folks, i know that sounds harsh but life's like that.

So tonight, whilst not as successful as i may have liked, i go to bed knowing that i did my best under difficult conditions.

Thank you for stopping by to see me today, i hope you are all well and crafty, and next time you go shopping for vegies......think of me and smile when you pick something from the veg counter!!! :)

Meanwhile, i am off to see how Rotty is getting on with the new things Calvin Mouse lent him for his house.....hmmm i'm sure theres something fishy about that!

Night all. :)

Rotty says goodbye......as he only knows how!!!

2009-04-22T00:32:00.009+01:00

Hi all, well tomorrow Rotty and i have to leave for home after a lovely stay with Maddy and Calvin Mouse. I'd better go and see if Rotty is packing.....hmmm looks like someones made himself at home watching Calvin Mouse's TV.....

"Hi Rotty, are you packing for tomorrow?.......come on mate....no time for telly!"

"Yeah yeah ok boss, i was watching a documentary on the sewer system under London.....my old stomping ground yanno".

"Really Rotty, fascinating.....now can we get packing please?"

"Yeah ok ok, i'll just switch everything off first. You go and make a start boss and i'll be with you shortly."

"Thanks Rotty, don't be long......we have a long train journey in the morning."

"Hmmm, not a bad little set-up Calvin Mouse has got here, the latest DVD, computer, video and stereo system........hmmm i wonder......."

"Umm boss i'm all done packing.....i just wanted to say goodbye".

"Uh hang on Rotty, we are leaving in the morning? You haven't said goodbye to Maddy or Calvin Mouse yet either?"

"Ah well....umm yep....well......ahh....see it's like this.....Maddy is a bit busy, she said goodbye and said it was a pleasure to have me here....."

"Are you sure Rotty? I didn't hear her?"

"Yeah well, you know what your hearing is like.....anyway, and Calvin is REALLY busy....he said he's loved having me stay with him, but he's making more cakes so he can't be disturbed".

"Hmmm if you say so Rotty.....so whats this about you making your way home tonight then?

"Ah well theres the funny thing boss......would you believe it......many wouldn't......but Calvin was so pleased i came up here to see him......he lent me his quad bike to go home on!"

"REALLY Rotty!?"

"Really boss, i swear on Calvin's life! Anyway I'd better be going....see you tomorrow boss".

"Ok bye Rotty, take care on those roads ok.......hmmm this all sounds a little too good to be true, better take a peek outside and see if he gets off ok....."

"What the blazes!!!!!....ROTTY!!! Excuse me young man, what have you got on the back of that bike?

"Ummm.....well Calvin Mouse said i could try some of his bits out in my new house......when you get off your backside and build me it that is!"

"Less of the cheek mister! So you're trying to tell me that Calvin has let you borrow all that!?"

"Totally boss....go and ask him.......umm just ask him tomorrow if thats ok!"

"Hmmm...off you go then....i'll trust you."

"Hehe cheers boss....right then....foot down and away we gooooo!!!!.......uh oh!"

"Drat! Maddy's cat Big Puss! Come on cat, out of my way, i have people to see, things to "borrow".

"Hmmm he's not budging....hey Big Puss.....Calvin Mouse is eating your food.....i can see him!"

"Thats it....off you go! Right then, under the fat cat's legs and it's home i go.....byeeeeeeeee!!!"

A challenge piece and a sketch holder.

2009-04-19T22:17:00.008+01:00

Maddy and i shared a rare experience today, we crafted together!!!

There is always so many things going on here, we never get to play together, so today we did just that. How she got through the day with me i don't know, but she just managed to not wring my neck and all is well! :)

I say this because i decided to join her in making a card for a challenge. Now whilst my cards turn out OK in the end and i love the end results.....the making of them absolutely 100% does my head in!!! I stress about the colours, i stress about the papers.....in fact i stress so much during the process, Maddy said today, "You look suicidal when you are making a card!!!". Anyone who says card making is therapeutic, needs to make one with me!!!

So once again i apologise to you Maddy, but thank you for your tips here and there to get me through the nightmare!!! Here's what i made.....
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The card i made for two challenges, the Sketch Saturday card challenge and the Copics Colour Challenge.

For the Sketch Saturday, we were given a sketch to work to, always a big help to me. The sketch allowed me to play with some nestabilities, something i'm a bit of a newbie to.
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The Copics Colour Challenge required that we use three colours, Cardinal, Cadmium Orange and Olive. I managed to use all three in various parts of the images.
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To compliment the card, Maddy showed me how to make a notelet holder from a template. I made mine into a wallet for storing my sketches, they are such a help for me, it's a shame to get rid of them after using them.
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This was a great little project, and i didn't stress over it either....WOOHOOOO!!! :)

I tried to make it semi match the card, i used some distress ink blending on the stamped images (always a fave on mine), and added a bit of lace here and there to pretty it up a bit.
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So quite a productive day for me today. Thank you to the ladies at Sketch Saturday and the Copics Colour Challenge for their ever wonderful challenges, i like to think i learn something from them each time.

Finally, a big thank you to Maddy, who kept her calm whilst i lost mine with the card today......and kept herself off the overgrowing list of women who have buried their partners under the patio!!!

Thanks for popping in. :)

*Edited to say: I just read this out to Maddy, and she would like me to amend the bit where i said i did not stress out over the sketch holder.......she said it was at this point she thought i was going to spit my dummy out and burst into tears!!!

Oh well..... :)

Veg i inked today!!!

2009-04-16T23:41:00.006+01:00

Good evening to you all on this fine Thursday evening. :)

I am still at Maddy's, hence the lack of blog activity, however after a two weeks of veg-inactivity i buckled under the pressure and sought out another trusty vegetable for me to brighten up.
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My task was fraught with danger from the start though. My only source of veg this evening was Maddy's local corner shop, and this meant the daunting prospect of possibly forgetting Maddy's coffee amidst the excitement of choosing a vegetable!
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That just wasn't an option, Maddy loves her coffee and rumour has it, last man who neglected to remember Maddy's coffee from the shopping list was never seen again! Anyway, my trip to the shop was a disappointment and i returned home with just the contents of the fridge to save me.
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I opened the fridge door, peered inside, and there....right at the back.....peered a little veg, left over from the beef roast we had the day before....forgotten in the packet, lonely and unwanted.....so tonight i decided to give it the spotlight and ink.......a sprout!!!
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There is only so much you can do on a tiny sprout, so i went for the minimalistic approach on this little fella. Three colours....that's it, but the stream blue and the wild plum make the most gorgeous purple.

The sprout was another veg that kept it's colours well, and didn't dull like some of the others.
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The way the veins on the sprout leaves show up, makes it look to me like a little brain lol. In fact, in my world ever crafter has a brain this colourful!

Not a masterpiece by any means i know, but i just wanted to get some veg back on the blog.....they really were missing the spotlight you know!

Veginkability rating? I'm going for a 4 for the sprout. Not that high, but it was nice to ink and the colours come out nice on it, so i can't really complain about the effort put in by such a tiny chap.

Hang on....who's that i can hear muttering away?

"Ummm......hi Rotty......and may i ask what you are doing with my bottle of alcohol ink?"

"I ask myself the same question every Thursday night when i see you making a mess with them boss!"

"Excuse me Rotty. fruit and veg inking is not something for amateurs you know, it takes great skill to produce some of the masterpieces that you see here every week!"

"Yeak ok, if you say so boss.....might give it a go myself actualy, i mean it looks pretty simple.....you just unscrew the top.......give it a little squeeze.....bit here.....bit there.....another colour here......bit there.......

"DA DAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!"
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"Hmmm very impressive Rotty....you've excelled yourself, even for you!!!"

"Cheers boss......i thought it could have done with a bit more colour here and there, but overall i was quite pleased.......what do you think?"
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"I think you need a bath Rotty.......make sure you scrub your ear.....i think you got some ink on it my little inky mate!!!"
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"Sure thing boss.....see......i told you Calvin Mouse is a drama queen......anyone could do this crafting lark if they wanted!!!.......big girls blouse he is!!!"

"Goodnight Rotty :)"

Goodnight everyone, thanks for stopping by! See you next week, same time...... :)

Rotty has a fan club!!!

2009-04-14T00:15:00.003+01:00

Oh yes my friends, the day you never thought would happen has arrived.....Rotty has his own fan club!!! :)

A fantastic lady called Trine Blix (amazing crafter too by the way..check her blog out here) stunned Rotty and myself by announcing the creation of the official Rotty Rat Fan Club!!!

"Founder member" Trine has done Rotty proud with this act of support. I'm not entirely sure Rotty thought he was being well received after some of his escapades with Calvin Mouse, but now he can stand tall alongside other so-called superstar rodents, knowing in his heart that rough and tough sewer rats can indeed be loved too!

Trine has also very kindly allowed me to use this great fan club picture on mine, and anyone elses blog who wants to. Put it this way, if thousands can support a big girls blouse of a mouse just because he can make a few fimo buns.......why not treat your blog to a show of support for Rotty too! :)

Thanks Trine, you are an absolute star for doing this. Rotty is tucked up in bed at the moment, but i will get him to thank you personally soon. :)

Lastly, I'm sorry for not blogging much at the moment, still away for a few days, and will be for a few days more, but i look forward to getting back into it asap. Meanwhile i have been looking around some simply stunning crafty blogs on the net.....and lets just say i think i need to raise my standards a bit!!! :)

All in good time.....bye for now,

Calv.

A week off for the veggies i'm afraid.

2009-04-02T23:25:00.002+01:00

Hi all.....

I'm sorry to say that i am going to take a week off from the veggy inking. :)

Main reason being that i am going to Maddy's for a short break, and have accidentally packed all my inks at the bottom of my case! I bought a veg for tonight, even cleaned my craft room ready for it, but have strategically packed my crafty stuff for my trip and to unpack it would be a nightmare!

So i apologize to the veggy fans this week, i will do another inking whilst I'm at Maddy's this week. Promise i won't poison myself this time! :)

Take care all, have a great week.

Calv.

Well chuffed!!!

2009-04-01T00:16:00.003+01:00

Tonight i sit here a very happy boy indeed!

I've been accepted onto the Inspirational team! :)))

As long as I've been crafting, there has been two major contributing factors to me finding stunning blogs and pieces of work on the net. Maddy, who has always directed me towards lovely blogs that she has found, and more recently Julie's Inspirational blog.

Without a doubt, if it hadn't been for the stunning work showcased on Julie's Inspirational blog, i would never have seen half of the brilliant work and artists out there. It has also given me so much inspiration to work with in my own crafting.

So i would like to say a huge thank you to Julie, i look forward to being on the team.....and also thank you to all the fantastic bloggers that have amazed me weekly on Julie's blog.

My new papers...ideal for older kids!

2009-03-31T18:56:00.009+01:00

Hi all, :)

Every now and again i feel i should give a shout out to my local craft shop here in the heart of The New Forest. Emerald Crafts in Lyndhurst high Street is run by Oliver who is super helpful when it comes to finding what you need when it comes to paper crafts.

So many people come down to the south of England on holiday, and it's lovely to find a little gem of a shop like this when you are missing your crafty shopping. What i like about Oliver's shop, is that he knows what he is on about when it comes to crafts. I mean he knows about the products he sells which is a bonus. Yes Oliver even i was surprised when a lady came in the shop the other day asking about how to make a certain card design....and you rattled off the design including a diagram straight off the top of your head! :)

Recently the shop has expanded into another room and there is loads more stash to see and buy now.

Whilst there i came across this 6x6 paper stack. It's the "Pulse Collection" from Prima Marketing Inc.

Each pack has 48 papers, 4 sets of 12 different designs of paper.

When i opened this pack up, it just shouted two things at me...."Teenagers with attitude".....and also my ever growing daughters who often display the "teenagers with attitude" thing!

Click on the images for a better look, these papers have graffiti, colour, and just that urban street feel that separates them from some of the more "kiddy" papers that are out there.

I just love the bottom left one below......
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So that's a top recommendation for anyone wondering what to use for when scrapping for the older kids

Another purchase was a long time in coming. Every time i go in Oliver's shop, i look at these brads, always say to myself that i should get them as i want something "that little bit special" for my projects.....but never get them.
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These are absolutely gorgeous! They will compliment any nice bit of work i get round to making. I also ran out of white card the other day (my girls eventually got through a whole box of the stuff), and i was going to ask Oliver today if he could get any in, when what do you know.....he's started selling exactly what i need!

Can't ask more than that in a craft shop can you?

So once again, a big thank you to Oliver. Pop in there if you are ever down this way, you won't be disappointed.

Playing with Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powders.

2009-03-28T20:59:00.001Z

Hi all :)

A little while ago i bought a set of six of the Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powders, not a new product i know but they are new to me.

Here is a simple tag that I have made to show the powders off on different coloured distress inks.

What I love about this product, is that Ranger have addressed one of my "niggles" when it comes to the art of distressing. It doesn't have to be dull, dark and dowdy every time! "Vintage" or "distressed" makes can indeed have colour to them!

For those of you who have not used these powders before, they are used similar to ordinary embossing powders, except for when they are dried, you rub off the "release crystals" that are cleverly incorporated into the powder. This leaves a worn and textured feel.

This picture shows the crystals having been rubbed off with my fingers.
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The main thing you'll notice with these powders are that they don't turn shiney when heated, but you soon get the knack of knowing when they are done.

I think these powders are a great way of creating the "rusty metal" effect sought after by many people.

I stamped out some butterflies from a Crafty Individuals stamp set, and added them to the tag for a little depth. Nothing difficult, just a quick tag to practise my powders on.
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Thanks for stopping by. :)

Veg i inked today!!!

2009-03-26T09:55:00.013Z

Welcome bloggers to another Thursday of inky things! :)

Today was a close call with regards to the inked veg, in that it almost didn't happen for several reasons. Shock horror!!! Yes i know my little veggie fans, what would you have done without your weekly dose of verbal....I'll say inkyness....replace that word with whatever you feel fit! :)

I won't bore you with the details though, just know that about 30 minutes ago i was ready to chuck the veg in the bin and call it a day!

However i persevered, and despite a busted lamp for lighting my pics, my camera playing up and various veg playing up for me, i settled on this one....the ASPARAGUS!!!
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Whats it doing outside on that rock by your pond i hear you say? Well thanks to the mishaps with my technical equipment, i decided to have a change of location for the photo shoot. I think it looks quite nice actually, don't you?
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I had to do this inking with less colours than usual, as i ran out of about 3 bottles of my fave colour whilst trying out other fruit. Fruit that went horribly wrong i might add.

However the few colours that i did use, definitely changed the asparagus's all green appearance.
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So how about that now world famous method of judging inkability of a vegetable..the "veginkability rating"?

Well i have to say that whilst not the most colourful of subjects that i have finished, the asparagus did look good out in the sun. It kept it's colours well and didn't waste too much of my ink.....unlike the stupid mushrooms i tried earlier!!!

I think a 6 is in order for this weeks veg! I'm probably being a bit generous with a 6, but i did end up finding a nice location to photograph the veg, so that was a bonus. :)

Talking of the outdoors, guess who i bumped into whilst i was outside?

"Hi Rotty......wow that looks impressive!!! What are you doing?"

"Bit of rock climbing boss"....
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"Really? I never knew you were into that?"

"Yeah well, I'm actually getting in some practice for ....i mean....ummm...ah well...just keeping fit and all that".

"Hmmm, that sounds rather suspicious, plus ...it does look rather high for you Rotty, are you sure you're ok?

"Don't panic boss, I'm safe as houses, i have a good rope and my technique is second to none!"

"Ah Rotty, is that some of my fibres that you've pinched from the craft room?"

"Umm it could be boss, but i thought that I'd put them to good use."

"Well just go careful little fella, your arms are already looking a bit mashed".

"That's coz i took a couple of bumps whilst tackling the north face earlier....tough game this climbing yanno!

"If you say so Rotty".

Right then bloggers, i think we'll leave him to it. I've no idea what he's up to, but I'm sure he can be trusted.

Until next Thursday, keep smiling and I'll see you all later. :)

So the hard nut has a soft centre!

2009-03-24T23:27:00.013Z

Hi all.....sorry i haven't been around much, no decent excuses so i won't try and make any! :)
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I would like to say thanks to everyone who has visited again this week, it does make me smile reading your comments, especially when I'm feeling lousy! Anyway, i should be back on track this week.
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So not much to report from me....I must say though, it does seem like a certain little man has something on his mind!....
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"Hi Rotty.....you look a little perplexed there......whats up?"
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"Well boss, it's like this........i don't think I'm appreciated around here!"
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"Come again Rotty? How do you work that one out?"
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"Well....as you know I've recently returned from Calvin Mouse's house......and whilst i was there i....lets say... had my eyes opened a little bit!"
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"What on earth do you mean Rotty?"
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"Well boss.....i did a little "investigating shall we say"......"Calvin Mouse not only has his own house.......but did you know he has his own kitchen?!!!
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"Well yes Rotty, i had heard he had a little bit of a set-up there".
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"LITTLE SET UP!!! HE HAS CAKES DAGNAMMITT!!!!!
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"Whoa there Rotty, calm down little fella!"
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"That's just the tip of the iceberg....i could have just about put up with lacking a house...and a kitchen...even cakes and cups of tea......but after further investigation i found out he has his own LOUNGE!!!
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"HE HAS A TV, DVD PLAYER AND STEREO!!! A LEATHER SETTEE TOO!!!
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"Ok now Rotty, i don't understand, you're a sewer rat, hardened to the dark and dangerous world of the streets. How can you feel hard done by?"
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"For weeks now I've kept your crafty stash safe from harm.....often putting my life on the line"....
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"Uh i think you'll find you put both our lives at risk actually Rotty"....
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"Never mind the minor details......I've had to live in piles of crafty stash that most sewer rats wouldn't be seen dead near!"
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"Come on now Rotty, my stuffs not that bad?"
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"I'VE WOKEN UP WITH BLOOMS STUCK TO MY BUM FOR HEAVENS SAKE!!! Things have got to change boss"...
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"Wow Rotty, i didn't realise things were that bad?.....is that all that's on your mind?
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"Well if you must know...I'm missing the sewer".
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"Oh I'm sorry to hear that Rotty, are you not happy here then?"
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"No it's not that....i just think i could do with a bachelor pad like Calvin Mouse's...and maybe a cake too?"
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"Oh my Rotty, things must have gotten bad if you are yearning after Calvin Mouse's cakes!"
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"It's ok boss....i think it's that old onion i keep in my pocket!"
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"Come here my little mate....let me get that for you"
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"There now...lets see what i can do to help you out with your crisis eh?"
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"Cheers boss, much appreciated!".
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"Not a problem my little runny-eyed rat".
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"Uh boss....lets keep that between us eh.....i have a reputation to keep in the sewers yanno...and it was the onion!"
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"Of course Rotty....oh and by the way, you know it's not really the done thing to go sneaking around other peoples houses don't you? You didn't get into any bother whilst you were up at Calvin Mouse's did you?
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"Who me boss?!"

Veg i inked today!!!

2009-03-19T23:25:00.008Z

Hello everyone :)
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Welcome to another episode of "Veg i inked today!". Yes it's Thursday evening.....a bit late i must admit but i have good excuses.

I almost had to skip this weeks veg inking, you see i haven't been feeling that great and have had dentists and hospital trips.....so i have felt far from crafty this week. However i know Thursdays would not be the same without my waffle and a play with vegetables, so i thought I'd take my head out of the sand to ink something. :)

So after a few attempts on different veg, i managed a result on the.....POTATO!!!

If there is one thing i have found so far with veg inking, it is that the outside of a vegetable does not like to be inked! It goes dull, it dries very quick, and is just generally non-co-operative.

So peeling them first is a good way of at least getting some colour to stand out.

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You have no idea how much of a mess i got into with this potato! I got through about half a pack of babywpipes, three pairs of latex gloves.....and a lot of Isopropyl alcohol for cleaning up afterwards!

The potato is not quite as bright as I'd have liked, but it does remind me of a precious stone or rock you would find in a mine.
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Veginkability rating? I'm going to give this a middle of the road 5!

Not a bad score, but it wasn't a great veg to ink. I'm finding that veggies just don't have the shininess to their skins as fruit does. Not to fear, i will persevere and find that elusive pineapple of the veg world!

Thank you for viewing my veggies....oh and on a side note, my effort at growing veg at home is going well. My salad plants are doing well and my peas are sprouting nicely. :)

Rotty is also doing well after his Comic Relief dance last week with Calvin Mouse, yet something seems to be on his mind since he got back. He's been scurrying around the craft room all week, mumbling about all kind of nonsense. I think everything went well up at Calvin Mouse's house?

Maybe i'll ask him in a few days?

Take care everyone, and once again, i apologize for the lack of craftyness this week....I've been a poorly man and you know what we are like when that happens!!! :)

On the plus side, the nice nurse who took loads of bottles of blood from me today, well she was a fellow papercrafter, so we have something to chat about whilst she drained me!!!

Nite all.....till next week. :)

What is Rotty Rat up to?

2009-03-13T12:02:00.009Z

Hi everyone, my postman has just been and it would appear that my little mate Rotty has a special letter from someone.

"Hi Rotty, I'm glad you have cheered up from your embarrassing incident in Maddy's naughty corner.....here's a letter for you.....looks a bit cloak and dagger if you ask me!"
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"Cheers boss....i wonder who this is from?"

"I've no idea Rotty, but it looks official, you'd better open it."
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"Hmmm yeah i guess I'm up for that.....better get packing".
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"Oh boss....do you mind taking my waist measurement for me?"

"Certainly Rotty...may i ask what for?"

"I'm having something made for me".

"Ah i see......come here then little matey.....arms up!"
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"Wow Rotty....have we been tucking into my biscuits again? I think your six-pack is turning into a barrel!"

"Ok boss....leave my figure out of it will ya, unless you want me to start on yours?"

"Enough said Rotty.....there you go, all done!"

"Right then boss, I'm supposed to have a taxi coming, but it's really late.....i might have to make other arrangements if you know what i mean."
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"WHAT ON EARTH ROTTY!!! Is that one of my kids Bratz scooters?
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"Yeah sorry about that boss, well my travel arrangements were messed up so i had to hot wire this from the girls bedroom....it's not ideal but it will get me to where i need to go".

"Fair enough Rotty, nice helmet by the way, may i ask where you are going?"

"I'm off to Leeds boss.....for a rather special event...*wink wink*"

"Oh now Rotty, do be careful, you know what happened last time you had a go at Calvin Mouse".

"Don't worry boss, everything will be fine this time...theres just something i have to do."

"Ok Rotty, if you say so. By the way, won't you find it a bit embarrassing travelling the length of the country on a pink scooter?"

"Oh believe me boss.....you ain't seen nothing yet!!!"
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"Catch ya later boss, behave yourself....and if you can't behave...be careful!!!"

"Ok Rotty, have a safe journey....."

So then bloggers, that's a little intriguing to say the least, what do you think he's up to?

To find out, i think you'd better click here......i think you'll be in for a real treat! :)

Veg i inked today!!!

2009-03-12T17:03:00.008Z

Good evening everyone! :) I hope you are all well this week?

Welcome to another episode of "Veg i inked today!", that strange time of the week when we take a break for the norm and cast our eyes over the sometimes more artful side of fruit and veg!

Now usually i pick a few veggies to ink, and decide when i get home. It's hand to have a back up just in case one goes wrong. So why of why didn't i do that this week?!!! Whilst shopping this afternoon. i made the rash and over confident decision to try just one veg. Not only just one, but one that i knew i would probably have trouble with.

It was a challenge though, so i took it on....sadly i fear i should have left it in the supermarket!

Please ladies and gents, accept my apologies.....for the TOMATO!!!
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What an unsightly mess!!! I tried doing something different this week and used crackle paint. Bit of a tip for you....crackle paint does not like vegetables!!!

Bit's came off, some didn't crackle. It did give me a nice white base to ink on, which i was looking forward to as i wasn't relishing inking on a red background.

There are a few nice colours there, but nothing that jumps out at me. It was a nightmare to handle too, with paint coming off each time it was touched. Not good.

So as you can imagine, the veginkability rating for this will be poor I'm afraid. It will have to be a 2!

Sorry but that's all this little red fella deserves. I was sure that the shiny red smooth skin of this veg would be a pleasure to ink, but alas it was not to be.

As you know though, we learn by our mistakes and this week i learnt a lot.

Oh yes, whilst i remember, some people have in the past asked if it is real fruit that i ink, so here's the proof....i cut this weeks subject in half for a piccy.....in fact i think this piccy is nicer than the complete thing!

On a more positive note, i have been balancing out my fruit and veg inking habit, by learning to grow my own fruit and veg at home. I figured that it would be cheaper too, so I've started with the basics, onions, peas, carrots, potatoes, strawberries and a grape tree.

All is going well so far, I've learnt a lot thanks to the Internet and some wonderfully helpful friends. Hopefully i will succeed with growing it all, and become a little more self sufficient.

As well as all this, i have been trying to attract more wildlife into my garden. As well as birds and the usual visitors to my pond, i wanted to do my bit to save the bee. I haven't got the room or experience for a honeybee hive, so instead i bought a solitary bee hive.

What do you call a place of shelter for bees though? Well where might you stay when you go away?....A Bee & Bee of course!!!

Pretty cool eh? :)

At first Maddy was quite concerned that i was getting this for the garden, she knows me too well i guess! However i scoured the Internet for advice from beekeepers who were most helpful. It would appear that this will attract and provide a shelter for "solitary" bees that you get in the garden. So only one bee will shelter in each hole and maybe lay an egg.

Apparently it is really hard for bees to find shelter, and there are so many reports of them dieing off, so i hope that i will get some visitors to my Bee & Bee.

This particular hive is made in stackable sections, so it will be great for education the kids and also for cleaning when it's not in use.

So that's it from me this week, wish me luck with my fruit and veg growing...and that you don't see me running down the road with a swarm of bees around me! :)

Take care all.....till next week.