Clarity Challenge #29 - Anything Goes!

Had a little flash of inspiration when this month's challenge over at Clarity Towers was announced and I worked on a similar heart yesterday so decided to move WAY out of my comfort zone and embrace brighter & more vibrant colours.

HATE them so will be heading back to the tones I much prefer but, waste-not-want-not & I thought I may as well enter it anyway.

I knew I wanted to use one of my favourite quotes from Clarity and the lovely Chinese Lanterns stencil - all the colour was applied using Brushos  

 but otherwise just bits'n'bobs from my, er, bits'n'bobs box!

Getting it wrong

This is one of those projects that, no matter how much I tweaked it, I couldn't get it anywhere near close to what I wanted.  Nobody who has seen it really liked it despite their polite comments ... and some not so polite as I'd rather they be honest and not say they like it when they don't.  Gave it as a present but will have to chalk it up to the learning curve and either not go down this route again EVER or try again and hope to Do Better next time.

My eldest nephew turned 30 last week and his girlfriend is celebrating her 21st today so I thought I'd make them "matching but different" canvasses ... not my best idea as my canvasses are not to everyone's taste and I think I should stick to regular gifts like socks or chocolates in future.

The Roman numerals represent their ages but that's as themed as they got ... oh on nephews canvas is a tiny garden rake and three little feet as he is a podiatrist who likes to do gardening ... at least there were three feet but now there seems to be only two - one must have fallen off when I tipped off the millions and millions of micro-beads that missed the glue into the rubbish bin!

This little canvas I made for my friend's birthday and the photo' is of her daughters.  

Not often - if ever - I say this but I was ok with how this one turned out.

The colours are much more vibrant than they show up here and I had a mini-breakdown when the top left hand edge turned out way, way too pink but after living with it for a while I came to even like that bit!

Wednesday again ... WOYWW 315

Haven't really got time to blog today so this will be short and sweet whilst my Gesso is drying!  

Desk as left it last night except for the pot of Gesso and freshly painted mini-canvas all ready to spritz and splatter and mist and sprinkle with colour ... the scary part I find where I still have to take a deep breath before taking that first squirt!

Box on the right is all ready and waiting to be sent off with a canvas in it ... hesitating to actually get it in the post as all sorts of negativity and worry flood my tiny wee brain ... 'twas a commissioned piece you see so all the "what if's" come into play ... it WILL be in the post today though so I shall have to practise Calming Thoughts until I hear back that it is ok.  SOoooo stressful.

Well, that Gesso looks dry to me so off to spritz and squirt ...

as you do on a Wednesday morning.

Happy WOYWW'ing fellow bloggers - and if you want to know what it is all about or take a peep into the wonderful world of us crafty bloggers then head to The Stamping Ground where all is made very clear.

Clearly Overwhelmed

One last post for today ... simply got to get this one down in the history books.

Won't repeat the info., given in a previous post but was SOMEHOW chosen as a Top Five for the Clocks challenge at Clarity ... was somewhat overwhelmed and so, so grateful for this as, whilst it was not a sad piece of work to produce, it totally represents the last nine years of my life and I could not have done anything differently with this project.  

Getting Top Five kinda, sorta brings me full circle ... can't quite explain what I mean but to put your entire heart and soul into a project and then have it recognised - well, it just blew me away.

Thank you Clarity Challenge Team!

Caravan Crafting

A first for me -  well, have knitted, crocheted or cross-stitched in the caravan for years and years of course but never thrown in my tote-bag-on-wheels-with-its-matching-tabletop-tote-bag-thingy before but needs must!

Heading off for the ALRC National Land Rover Rally (which our club, the MROC was hosting this year) but with a trip to the WOYWW crop down in Burbage and then up to attend the Finnabair workshops in Harrogate meant I needed to take stuff with me.

Proved useful as hubby was off helping prepare the site for the rally ... over 400 caravans can't just turn up without a little preparation you know ... so he erected signs and roped off this area and that area and generally ran around like a headless chicken and I sat all calm and collected, in my caravan, crafting.  Bliss!

So, roughly in chronological order ...  you take along whatever you fancy to work on to the crop so decided on a canvas.  A very new concept for me but am loving it ... have yet to really be pleased with any of my results but am not admitting defeat yet and Will Persevere!

I made a few wooden hearts too ... I do love making these.

Experimented with a different format but do not like it at all - might be the colours putting me off but am rethinking this design and will stick to my grunge-pasted efforts rather than plonking on a huge flutterby me thinks.

The first two are now stuffed in the cupboard probably never to see the light of day again ... but I might see if I can tweak them at some point.

This one I did as a gift to say thank you to one of our Land Rover friends.  Our 'fridge in the caravan decided to challenge us by not working (had just been shopping too so fifty quids worth of stuff ended up in the skip!!!) - anyway, word got around we were struggling and then appeared our friend with their cool box - and she came each morning with fresh ice packs she had frozen in her caravan for us and swapped them over ... couldn't have managed without that help! 

The husband of another Land Rover friend now caravans on his own as his wife has Alzheimers and - well, it is just desperately sad and cruel.  Jaquee was a joyous and bubbly loud lady whom was adored and is very much missed.  I chose bright and cheerful colours and asked Rob to take this to her - she no longer really remembers who any of us are but I certainly know who she is and she was one of life's special people who filled you with joy just by being with them.  

And then back to my preferred waxed and polished grunge paste in subtle muted tones ... this one made for a friend I was meeting at the Finnabair workshops and as a thank you to her for the endless questions leading up to the event.

Needed to make a "With Regret" but wanted something different so used my much loved Tim Holtz big butterfly to make a garland.

Oh yes, have also discovered Brushos ... all Maggie's (Silvercrafter) fault but I experimented and discovered you can dye your ribbon with them and I LOVED the effect so can't wait to make more of these.

Getting  a bit picture heavy so might blog the rest later ... it's a busy life being a crafter!

WOYWW 314

Well I did see the surface of the table for all of, ooooh, three minutes - ok, partial surface of the table but a clear table is not a crafty table so I actually prefer this view.

Complete and utter chaos which surprises me as I really do not like working in such a mess and goodness only knows how it happens ... but happen it does ... regularly, so just better to work with it than not work at all.

This photo' is to the right ... see even having to dry the latest grunge-pasted wooden heart on top of my glass of water as there was no room elsewhere!

Second photo' is directly in front of me ... more drying on my cup of tea this time.

And to the left .. like I said - crafting on the edge.

On the edge of a whirlwind where, amongst the chaos and carnage I can just about manage to find what I need!

Sometimes.

Hoping to blog other projects and stuff later but have had commissions to make two wooden hearts and a canvas so, er ...

DO NOT DISTURB

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

(and yes, I am most definitely taking the P out of myself here folks!!!)

Happy WOYWW'ing fellow crafty bloggers!

(Wednesday again you see and a little blog-hopping to see the wonderful workspaces of crafty friends courtesy of our amazing, beautiful, much loved host Julia over at The Stamping Ground

WOYWW 312 ... the 6th Anniversary edition!!!!

HAPPY 6TH ANNIVERSARY FELLOW WOYWW'ers!!!!!!

Ok got to admit to writing this way ahead of The Event but will be away in the caravan with no internet or phone signal when the ATC swap takes place but did so still want to join in so, with the help of my dear friend MaggieC (Silvercrafter) I am doing a scheduled blog ... never done it before so will have to Watch This Space to see if all goes to plan.

Will be sure to blog about the ATC swap just as soon as I can when I get home again but will be keeping an ATC back from the WOYWW crop to send to the person next to me in the linky list!

So, for now, HUGE congratulations to Julia over at The Stamping Ground for reaching her 6 year milestone of WOYWW'ing ... she alone is responsible for new friendships being forged far and wide and for the love, encouragement and support we crafty bloggers give to each other.

You are one of life's special people Julia ... THANK YOU!!!!!

xXx

OK, folks, it is Maggie here finishing off for Debbie.  She has given me permission to tweak this post for her and add her photos, so here goes.  I am sure you will recognise Debbie's beautiful work in these two pictures.  

She is probably going to kill me for this, but, hey, she cannot get hold of me at the moment.  You can see what a talented lady she is from these fabulous ATCs and the tags.  I would not have a clue on how to put these works of art together, but it is second nature to our Debbie.

I wish I had taken some photos on Monday of the lovely things she has made while away in the caravan - absolutely stunning, glorious colouring and design.

Right, I think I had better finish now, otherwise I will be in even more trouble.  So, it is time you went back to Julia to add your congratulations for her great achievement.

Happy 6th Birthday. 

PS Debbie, if you do manage to get into this post  and alter it, I will just change it back again. 

Clarity Challenge CLOCKS

Ok I thought I had this one sussed as soon as I saw the theme for the May Clarity Challenge only to then go into complete meltdown as I realised I was on the wrong track with my thoughts. I had confused CLOCKS with TIME ... duh!!!!!

A quick stress to the wonderful MaggieC (Silvercrafter) and she said to go with it and just get my piece done and enter ... so I have.

This is such a personal piece for me to make ... a real representation of my horrible journey through grief after losing mommy - it is an expansion on an earlier piece I did so even if I have missed the brief for this month's challenge it was one of those projects I just felt compelled to do.

 

The first panel pretty much speaks for itself ... the cogs and gears seemed to place themselves and kinda represent the tears that have flowed.  The numbers represent the date and time I lost her but they are jumbled up as I did not want an "in your face" reminder.  The little fob watch is stopped five minutes before she died .. oh, if only!

 

The second panel shows another very favourite verse that I have always loved and seemed to fit very well inbetween the other two verses.  The broken watch parts, I hope, represent the infinity and eternity mentioned in the verse.

The third panel represents the start of things getting better for me.
Our favourite TV show is "Criminal Minds" and they always say a quote at the beginning and end of each episode. I had tingles when I heard this one and kept playing it back over and over and eventually Googled it.  This quote changed my life and speaks for itself.

It most certainly was "MY MOMENT OF CLARITY" and from there on in I knew everything would, eventually, be ok.

WOYWW 310

Absolutely nothing on my desk today other than my wee little tote and it's larger partner on wheels - both stuffed full (MaggieC ... my dear friend Silvercrafter would be proud of me!!!!) and all ready to head to the crop on Saturday!!!!!

We head off in the morning in our caravan to form part of the working party setting up for the National Land Rover Rally over the Bank Holiday weekend so will only be coming to Burbage for the one day - BUT it means I will have loads of crafting stuff with me to play with whilst hubby is off erecting marquees and hammering in signs and everything else that having around 400 caravans on site entails!

So here is my rather bleak desk this bright and sunny WOYWW morning ... head over to our esteemed leaders blog at The Stamping Ground if you want a better explanation of WOYWW than I could give and maybe hop around a blog or two as us crafters all share our desks today.

In the photo' above there is also some last minute bits and bobs I found and which need to be added to the other bits and bobs I am taking for my project on Saturday.  The little pot contains PVA but that will be for use whilst away.  

In the background there are 53 birthday cards waiting to be written and their envelopes ready printed with names and addresses - another job for ATN (After The National)!

There is also a heap of stuff to bring for Saturday ... right by the door and "Not To Be Forgotten"!  If we do forget it then we are coming back for it!

There is a little space there I know but I haven't quite finished packing it yet ... going to take some of my wooden hearts to work on whilst away ... oh yes, acrylic paint and verse/sentiment stamps - must remember to throw those in too!

So for some of you ... SEE YOU ON SATURDAY!!!!!!

Happy WOYWW everyone!  xXx

Happy Birthday Clarity Crafters Nottingham!

Having PROMISED to NEVER EVER EVER (get my drift?!?!?) attend another workshop of ANY kind EVER again I was encouraged to go along with my dear friend Margaret (Silvercrafter) to a Clarity workshop and whilst I was not there from the start I now go along as often as I can and was delighted to find that 1st Birthday celebrations were upon us!  Delight was soon followed by disappointment when I found that celebrations clashed with throwing daddy on a helicopter as a birthday gift to him ... BUT we had a wonderful day yesterday and took him out to lunch afterwards so all worked out just the way they should.

Anyway, am rambling ... I do ramble I'm afraid.  

Even though I couldn't be at the workshop yesterday I made Birthday Celebration Tags for everyone and a canvas each for the lovely, lovely Sazz and equally lovely, lovely Kimmie.

LOVED making these tags ... back to my much preferred default colours and having recently discovered spray inks (all Sazz's fault!!!!) I went to town with them and these are my first efforts using spray inks ... quite a few now seem to have found their way into my cupboard ... er, so have Brushos (all Margaret's fault!!!!!) but that is a ramble for another time.

Get through tubs and tubs of the stuff but this was my first time embossing onto Grunge Paste ... LOVED IT!!!!!

Tried to pick words that sum up Clarity Crafters Nottingham for me ... 

Creativity

Inspiration

Hugs

Laughter

Support

Friendship

All equally important but the hugs, laughter and support are what have come to mean the most!

And simply have to mention dearest daddy ... this is one my favourite photo's of him from yesterday ... Top Gun Daddy waiting for his flight!

WOYWW 308

Missed the last couple of WOYWW's so determined to get here today ...can ALMOST see the wood for the trees with the "must do" crafting and I got up early to finish the last batch of my ladies cards ... I made all my male, anniversary, memory cards for the whole of the year back in January but only got as far as the end of May with all my lovely lady friends ... so this last batch of 53 will take me to the end of the year.  

Just some rather large inked, spritzed and crackle glazed butterflies to attach and I have them done - a good way for me to work with so many cards I like to make each year and it will be a HUGE relief having them ready and waiting to send off when the time arrives!  I can't believe how fast May has come upon us this year ... did we have Jan, Feb, March & April then?

From big large massive butterflies to ones that are much smaller ... a sneaky peep at my ATC's for the WOYWW crop that seems to be hurtling towards us now ... not far off but I still have SO much to do in preparation ... at least my ATC's are done and bagged and in their little box ready to pack into my craft tote!  
I kinda, sorta hoped these little butterflies would look like leather - they kinda, sorta do but not nearly as much as I'd hoped ... but, hey-ho, no time to change them and start over again.  

Am not dreadfully pleased with the ATC's but they have been made and will be swapped with love and people can always chuck them away!!!

I hope to make keepsake tags again this year and have an idea forming in my head AT LAST and hope to get on them once those large butterflies are attached to their base cards.  Time will tell if my idea with work out!!!

So where was I ... oh yes, up early to Do Sticking ... Happy WOYWW'ing fellow deskers!

LUCY GREENHILL IS AMAZING!

Ok, ok, we all know Doing Technology is not my strong point.  

So why, oh why, did I try and do a new banner for my blog?

The lovely Shaz (Silverwolf) very kindly sent me a link on how to do it.

I managed to get my head around that bit but not the actual designing of it.

Silly Debbie.

My wonderful niece-in-law - the very talented photographer 
 LUCY GREENHILL
came to my rescue (she did my old banner too!) and worked her magic and I have a super new banner across the top of my blog.

THANK YOU SO MUCH LUCY

xXx

For Henry

Ooooh got lots of lovely cuddles with Henry this morning ... simply adore the little guy and what a blessing he is to our family!

Figured a little chap would not appreciate fairies so dragged myself away from my wooden hearts and grunge paste to make a canvas for him instead.

Wish I'd made the "bubbles" into balloons instead and gone with airplanes instead of farm animals ... I mean, DUH!!! just how many farm animals do you see flying amongst the clouds.  Great Auntie Debbie sure did have a senior moment here!

Branching out

Nope ... not a tree in sight!  The branching out refers to me pushing myself totally out of my comfort zone and using different colours!  

Have blogged many times about stuff done using my much loved browns & blues ... but they are not everyone's cup of tea so I figured I needed to broaden my horizons and experiment!

Still deciding if they work or not ... they are quite bright (for me!) and, of course, in real life they don't look anything like they do on the screen - arty nephew saw them in the flesh today and he liked the colours so I shall continue to experiment !!!!

A reminder of my preferred colours though ... just to give me the tingle I lacked with the blues & purples!

Welcome Henry

Our first Great Nephew ... the gorgeous bundle that is Henry ... arrived and so I made two of these - one for his parents and one for my Lil' Sis' whom, somehow, is now a Grandmother!!!!!  Still can't quite get my head around that one!

So, first things first ... here is darling little Henry ... too cute for words!

And I made the concertina cards I like to make for new babies ... knew all along what sort of card I would be making but had to wait to find out if it needed to be pink or blue!

Welcome darling Henry ... what joy you have brought to the family and huge

CONGRATULATIONS

Charlie & Hollie  

xXx