ATC's from Ossie!

That would be from Oswaldtwistle and not from the dark man of rock Ossie Osborne!! HOL

...although who knows?...maybe he makes ATC's in his spare time!! Even more HOL

Anyway...I have been very remiss in not posting a picture of these fabulicious ATC's that I swapped at the workshop held by Lindsay Mason at The Dawn Bibby Design Studio.

Brown Beauty - She
Friendship - Joanne
The Giggles - Heather
Friends - Gez
Nature - Chris

Here is a picture of 5 happy people at the workshop who spookily also happened to have taken part in Heathers Chunky Grungy book swap :)

Joanne - Sioux (possibly the first and last time you will see my photo here!) - She - Gez - Heather

And here is Lindsay of course who is displaying the smaller of the matchbox shrines she made....which I have still not managed to find time to complete as yet!
..Hangs head in shame! :(

Lindsay was also in the grungy book swap but could not be in the group photo as she was the one taking the picture with my camera! Thanks Lindsay :) Thanks for a great class too...I learnt a lot and have now got a new very, very, very favourite technique of image transfer onto sticky back canvas :) :)

It was truly a day to remember for so many reasons...a lot of which I cannot put into words but here goes :)

....meeting lovely people who I have connected with through the power of the net for the first time

...Amazing!

....taking my first workshop...well two actually as there was a morning session making a mirror and the afternoon one making matchbox shrines

...Amazing!

...receiving my first Chunky Book

...Amazing!

...my first time eating lunch in a motor home - thanks for the hospitality Joanne ;)

...Amazing!

...time flying by faster than a speeding bullet

...Amazing!

...being absolutely pooped out for 2 days afterwards

...Amazing!

Sharing a crafting morning shopping, having coffee and cake - and realising time had flown by yet again

...Amazing!

Thanks for a wonderful time...it's been a bleak period recently for me

...some days it still is...suddenly togetherness vanished after 33 years of marriage!

...but it was refreshing to feel normal again....although some of you might question that looking at my photo!!! HOL

xoxo Sioux

Purple and Green - SCD

Whoops!.....I said to myself.....or words to that effect! LOL

Purple! and green?....That's Carol's colour choice for us this week at SCD ;)

.....well it is a challenge!.......my previous attempts with purple have not been good so was not expecting much of myself......however I am pretty pleased with how this ATC turned out although the colours don't seem to be showing up well as the outer line of dots are defo purple and the inner dots are defo green!

Stippled background with DI's shabby shutters and peeled paint

....stamped the Paperarsty winged thing in Adirondack eggplant and added some aubergine glitter to accent the wings
(again the colours are off as this looks more like black on my screen !)

....stamped the T!m swirl in DI dusty concord

...stamped the Paperartsy sentiment in Adirondack wild plum

...added Adirondack dimensional acrylic dots in eggplant and pesto.

Go on.......challenge yourself this week!

Make anything you like for SCD as long as you use the colour combo purple and green :)

Thanks for looking and happy stamping

xoxo Sioux

New Links!

I'm playing about with my side bar links!

I'm a bit fed up with having to go to the dashboard to see the blogs I follow and then have to go to my favourites folder in IE to see other blogs that do not have the follow link or all the other interesting bloggy places that are not on blogger at all........if you get my drift....that I want to see the updates on.

There is probably a different way to achieve this but it's the route I'm taking so if you find that you had a link on my side bar and it vanishes.....I still love you :)....I'm in the middle of making sure all that used to be there is transfered!!!

Let me know if you think I've missed you off!

xoxo Sioux

Thank You CAS! For The Artistic Stamper

Some of the eagle eyed amongst you may have already noticed my name went live on The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog last week........but today?
HEY! It's official and I can now feel part of the team as I get to show you my first piece :)

I know it's not like me.....you know how very messy I can get don't you?!

But I thought this divine Gibson Girl from The Artistic Stamper deserved to shine on her own :) so this "clean and simple" card evolved.

....Well....actually.....it may be simple but it is still a bit on the grungy side!!! HOL

Curious? Then just hop on over to The Creative Team Blog for all the details.

Thanks for looking and happy stamping
xoxo Sioux

Joanne's Candy Surprise

If you have read Lindsay Mason's blog recently you will know that I scared the $#;!% out of everyone on the workshop when I let out a very loud scream

......they must have all thought I had stuck my finger in hot UTEE! HOL

The real reason was this fab ATC from Joanne and you have to see it as I did

...first....Joanne passed it to me with the back on view

....so I read it

.....then I turned it over

.....then I screamed with delight!

....well you know I do like Richard!!!

This was soooooooo perfect...the numbers....the eye peeking at the edge...the music notes...the dictionary fragment...the gorgeous wing charm
.....and of course RA leaping out at me!!

....Is it any wonder I screamed?!!!

Thanks so much for making this for me Joanne I will truly treasure this......and the day forever :)

xoxo Sioux

Thrilling News!

Some of the eagle eyed amongst you may have already noticed my name went live over here

last week :)

I can't tell you how thrilled I was

......well actually I can as I'm doing it now aren't I? ;).....

when Jennie (The Boss) and Hels (Creative Co-Ordinator) asked me to join The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog :)

I am in awe that I will be creating alongside Hels......she who does amazing things with frames and what's that paint she uses?...Ah yes Trad Tan! LOL

Jennie...she who creates amazing stamps and does things with unusual stuff in a Melt Pot! LOL

Nicky a.k.a. Minxy......she who does amazing things with?...Well just about anything! LOL

Tina.....she who is the amazing cute queen over there! LOL

As it's the first of the month the new challenge is up and it's "Layers"....so we will all have to have a go at that 'cos if you use Artistic Stamper stamps on your entry you are in the draw twice for the fabby prize on offer!

I start the journey officially with my first post on 4th October and I hope you can pop along then to see what I've been up to!

In the mean time check back often as there is new art work posted all the time!

Until then.....keeeeeeeeep stamping!

(Whoops.......sorry...I just can't wait for Strictly to start tonight!!)

xoxo Sioux

P.S. If you have arrived expecting to see my Something Completely Different DT piece you can see it here.

Shades of Autumn - SCD

A new month and a new month of themes at SCD  and we are having colour combo's as our inspiration so that you can make whatever you like! :) Sounds good to me ;)

The lovely Gez has chosen the colour palette this week at SCD and it's Shades of Autumn incorporating oranges, golds and browns.

I decided to make an ATC.

Stamped the T!m man (I do like a man who looks smart!) in Archival and coloured with copic markers

....masked him and stippled the background with spiced marmalade and brushed corduroy

...stamped the Paperartsy numbers in a second stamped wild honey

...cut slits at the side of the mans arms and inserted the wings (Paperartsy) that had been stamped in Stazon onto some gold Cava wrapper

....got to try to make some inroads into the stash I've built up!! HOL

...word fragment Paperartsy and the edges tattered and inked with walnut stain.

So.....what takes your fancy this week?.....a card?....an ATC?....a tag?

Does not matter what you make for the SCD challenge this week as long as you follow the chosen colour palette :)...Simples!

Thanks for looking and happy stamping :)

xoxo Sioux

P.S. Come back a bit later today and I'll be sharing my thrilling news! :) :)

Birdie Birthday

Thought I'd share a card I made with my SCD bird arch today :)

I'm still trying to catch up with lots of things since being away for a week with fabulous friends up north!

I'm still here...honest ;)

It's very like this other card I made

.......I just love that T!m corner scroll (DI spun sugar) that helps to ground the art work :) and I'm afraid you will probably see it lots more.....sorry!

Explanation of stamping on arch can be seen here.

Thanks for looking and happy stamping!

xoxo Sioux

Arches Birds - SCD

This week it's Laura who has set the theme for our arches and she chose "Birds"

Well we all love birds right?
...Here is mine

Stamped the bird (Crafty Individuals) in Archival sepia and masked it (I wanted to keep the creamy colour of the base card showing through the flowery bits!)

...inked the base card with DI's worn lipstick and shabby shutters

...stamped the T!m clock on a piece of inked up card and cut out and tattered round the edge

...stamped the T!m line of birds in Archival black
...Is it me? But that middle bird looks like it's had far too much Cava!!! HOL
...stamped the T!m wordy/postcardy bit in Archival crimson
...stamped the T!m tattoo border in Archival coffee and the swirls in DI tea dye
...word fragments Studio G..........mmmm! Love those :)
...Sing letters Papermania
...felt it needed something to finish it off so added Glossy Accents to the bird and pearls to the side........I'm going to make a plug here 'cos those pearls are really lovely....nice finish and gorgeous colours.....by Prima and I bought them at The Artistic Stamper
...tattered the edge and inked with walnut stain and tea dye

...So come on and play along this week and create an arch for SCD

Thanks for looking and happy stamping

xoxo Sioux

Arches Stars - SCD

Hiya SCD'ers....this week it's me who chose the theme "Stars"

I love to look at the stars...I'm ever hopeful that one day I'll be beamed up!! LOL

I stamped the freebie CS ticket stamp in Archival coffee and aged a bit with DI mahogany and faded jeans then masked it
....stamped the starry sky (Non Sequitur) in Versacolour indigo and coloured the background a bit with DI scattered straw/wild honey and shabby shutters
...stamped the grassy bits in peeled paint/shabby shutters and pumice stone
....stamped Alice (Cherry Pie) in Archival black and coloured with DI tea dye/aged mahogany/worn lipstick/wild honey and shabby shutters and then cut out
...added some star jewels....some glitter glue to other stars...gold pearls and word fragments
..tattered the edge a bit and used DI walnut stain/tea dye to age

Why not share your star themed arches with us this week at SCD

...we are all dying to see them :)

Thanks for looking and happy stamping

xoxo Sioux

WOYWW - In the Garden

It seems that not only am I not content with cluttering up my dining table

...my chest of drawers

...my serving table

...my floor in the bedroom

...and the work surface in my craft cupboard

...but I also did some crafting on my outside table this weekend!!!

Just had to do it as the weather was glorious and I don't want to miss a bit of it 'cos the winter months are a bit of an unknown as to where my mood will take me perhaps!
Although the knowledge I'm going to the T!m Artsycrafts event in February will no doubt sustain me LOL

The glass contents is of course Cava...what else! LOL

....the ATC's waiting for the glue to dry there have a Cava theme to take to swop at the weekend along with a few others

....did not want to give too much away ;)

....hope to see you if you are on the same workshop with Lindsay Mason at the Dawn Bibby Design Studio....can't wait :)

xoxo Sioux

P.S. I'm saying sorry right now because I know I will not get round to many people this week!
...In fact I have been a bit lax in that department for a good few days now
....got to concentrate on making those ATC's and getting myself organised for my trip
...I just do not know where the hours disappear too!!!
So thanks if you leave me a comment :)
I will be trying to at least read them even if I don't reply to you!

If you don't know what the heck I'm showing you my table for hop over to WOYWW to see Julia and the rest of the table voyeur's! LOL

Ruby Blue - And Wobbly All Over!

I've not played for a while at The Sunday Stamper but spookily I was working on this ATC and it fitted the theme :)

And yes I could have danced all night last night as those T!m tickets have been ordered and Laura and I will be going to the ball workshop!!! Oh happy day :)
I've actually spoken to Artsycrafts 'cos the order process kept saying error's and although I got a confirm e-mail I was concerned that I had not found a place to write the names like it said!!
I would have felt awful if something was wrong when I had the task to book for someone else as well!!!
That's the wobbly bit if you didn't guess!! LOL
Anyways.........all is well and really confirmed!!!!!!!

The background was swooshed with Di aged mahogany/worn lipstick and a little faded jeans

...stamped the T!m swirl in walnut stain

...stamped the dress form (Lost Coast) on K & Co papers and layered up

...glittered the dragonfly wings on stamped acetate (freebie stamp) with different shades of blue

...word fragments (Studio G) on a swooshed background of faded jeans/broken china and walnut stain

...letter I embossed with disco black

I'm off to do that happy dance
.....possibly even an Argentine Tango!! HOL

Thanks for looking and happy stamping

xoxo Sioux

Sending out an S.O.S.

Did you have a little giggle at my post on Sunday?

It became the inspiration for this ATC

Stamped and masked the T!m lady three times then dragged DI scattered straw over to colour the background
...coloured the front lady with brushed corduroy/aged mahogany and shabby shutters
...made some vaguely looking toilet tissue pieces of paper by using an X-cut perfortator and pulling apart then stamping the Studio G letters for SOS in Di faded jeans
...Adirondack dimensional acrylic filled in the exclamation marks!
...I don't think you would want to mess with these three if they had been locking in the lavatory from Monday to Saturday!! HOL

Thanks for looking and happy stamping

xoxo Sioux

OMG! It's the best news! I hope!

At the risk of all and sundry getting there before me....Oh! Please........Please......PLEASE!

............Let me just have one ticket :) LOL

........failing that...can I perhaps pitch my tent and hope for a snippet of crafty knowledge as he passes me by on the way to the workshop!!?

You must know by now that T!m the man is going to be appearing at a special ArtsyCrafts event in Feb see here for details.

Now.......you would not want me to go over the edge and loose the plot knowing the year I've had

.........would you?

Sioux xoxo

Changes # 2

I started thinking about how things have changed since DH passed away....and thought I'd post stuff here now and again
........perhaps it might be useful interesting a good laugh for others!

Some of the stuff would make a great comedy sketch.....my DH always enjoyed a good laugh so I bet he is up there having a fine old time seeing what I've been up to!!!

One of the silly things is that I no longer lock the bathroom door and I'll tell you why!

One morning I had locked it as usual...had my shower etc and went to unlock the door but it caught a bit and for a minute I panicked and thought it was going to get stuck properly!

.....and you know the only thing that was whizzing round my head was the song

"Oh dear what can the matter be, three old ladies got locked in the lavatory!"

I mean......whatever is it? My brain works in strange ways!!! HOL

So as the song goes on

"They were there from Monday to Saturday, nobody knew they were there!"

OMG I thought.........I really could be locked in the bathroom for quite sometime before anyone knew....I know I have neighbours but my bathroom is positioned where neither one would necessarily see me trying to attract attention......I'm certainly not tall enough to wave much more than a hand through the very high window!!! Then I thought that if the worst came to the worst I could always have used my blue eyeliner pencil to write an S.O.S. on some toilet tissue to fly out of the window!!! HOL

Hope this little tale has brightened your day

xoxo Sioux

It's Only Rock & Roll

When I first made an arch I wondered what I would do with it! LOL

I vaguely thought I'd keep any arches I made in the future and bind them into a book
...still not done that!!!

....but this is what I made with my SCD arch from yesterday

It makes a great card topper I think....the base card is 14cm square
...made just in time for a brother-in-law :)

Thanks for looking and happy stamping

xoxo Sioux

Arches The 50's - SCD

It's the second week already for making arches at SCD and teamie Ang has chosen "The 50's"
......a fab prompt to base our art work around :)

I thought this chap had the look of a Teddy Boy about him.....HOL

Swooshed DI's worn lipstick/tea dye and antique linen for the backgound

...stamped the David T!m stamp in aged mahogoney and masked

...stamped the T!m bingo line in Archival black

...stamped the wording (Stamp Attack) at the side

...stamped and clear embossed the vinyl record (Stamp Attack) and cut out

...word fragments (Studio G) stamped in Adirondack stream
...I'm so pleased that Dunelm Mill opened that shop the other week 'cos I've now got some more of those Studio G alphabet stamps....yes...yes...yes!

Let's see what "The 50's" mean to you this week :)

Thanks for looking and happy stamping

xoxo Sioux

Heavy Metal - 9th (and final) Chunky Book Page!

I never thought I'd see the day!!! LOL :)

Here is the 9th and final page for the swap organised by Heather.

Although I have been very concerned about finishing the pages on time I have enjoyed making them....I just wish life had not thrown what it did at me then I could have started earlier and I might have enjoyed it even more.

...I used some of the metal tape that I made the mirror with on my 5th page to cover a chipboard square frame (I have very little left of that tape and I'm hoping it is easy to find in the DIY 'cos Pip gave it to me and there is every chance it's some sort of specialist tape they don't stock!) Alcohol inked it up with sunset orange/stonewashed and salmon

...The faux tortoiseshell stuff on the corners you may have caught a glimpse of on the suitcase from my page 8
...this is black shiny tape from the DIY not quite sure what you really use it for but if you alcohol ink it with raisin/espresso and terracotta then go over again with copper mixative with a couple of drops of blending solution you get this effect
...stamped the T!m pens onto Ten Seconds Studio metal, cut out and glued to the frame
...stamped the T!m sentiment in Adirondack stream and the umbrella man in Archival black (just could not miss him out in the T!m inspired chunky book)
..adding a little T!m flourish in Adirondack wild plum
...corners stamped with a Paperartsy dotty stamp in pumice stone
So there we have it....je suis fini!!
The pages will be in the post on Monday and off to Heather who is binding them for everyone and I can't wait to see the finished book and share all the pages that everyone else has made :)

Thanks for looking and sharing all the chunky book pages
xoxo Sioux
P.S. My big task now is to make some ATC's for when I travel up north soon....I have absolutely none that I can swap at the moment!!!

Arches Lace - SCD

Oh Dear SCD'ers!!!

If you are expecting some sweet.....vintage....loveliness lace concoction this week from me for the first week in the new month of arches I'm afraid you are going to be disappointed! LOL

My lovely teamie Dawn picked "lace" for her first chosen theme as an SCD DT member and I could not get the film title "Arsenic and Old Lace" out of my head
.......so I just had to do this so I could move on with my life!!! HOL

Hold on to your hats....

....especially if you are not a Hallowe'en fan!
I did try not to make it too spooky......

Googled image of a vintage arsenic label and printed off
.....stamped the T!m skeleton and masked to stamp the tombstone (my own)
......stamp...not tombstone you understand!! HOL
(It's actually a coffin lid but works just as well for the tombstone providing you mask the end!!)
....some DI's faded jeans/shabby shutters/dusty concord for the background
...greenery, grass and trees in a mixture of pine needles/shabby shutters/peeled paint and brushed corduroy
.....stapled the lace that I had previously distress inked (you might have caught a glimpse of it hanging in my cupboard to dry on WOYWW this week!) and coloured the staples black with a sharpie pen

Thanks for looking and happy stamping
Can't wait to see what you all make this week for SCD.....I'd get yourselves over to the rest of the team for a look 'cos you will get a loveliness fix there for sure :)
xoxo Sioux

WOYWW - I'm Floored!!

You know last week I shared the picture of my fabulously comfy bed?

...you know the one where my bedroom looked like a proper chill out zone?

Well......little did you know that just out of shot this little lot is on the floor next to my bed!!

It's sort of a work in progress re: the ongoing trying to tidy and organise my craft stuff so that I don't spend ages trying to find it.....it can be so frustrating!!

..a little swing to the left takes in the first bit of my craft cupboard

...stuff still not organised there then!!

...bit of lace aged with DI's hanging there to dry...using that on a little project soon ;)
Pay a visit to WOYWW with Julia to see other peoples much more organised spaces :)

Thanks for looking

xoxo Sioux