Home finally and blog candy pic.

As promised here is the pic of my blog candy I am offering until Monday. It contains over 20 sheets of 12X12 spring/Easter themed pattern papers,lots of buttons, flowers, stickers, ribbons, brads, journal papers along with 2 liquid Pearls, Gem butterfly, foam flourish stamp, Chipboard book and shapes, Rubons and more.....

and don't forget the original Easter stamp set that started the whole giveaway. All you have to do to be in the draw for all these goodies is leave a comment on any post from 21 April until Monday 1 April. If you are a follower you will also get another entry or become a follower for the second. Each comment will also get you another entry. Don't worry if you have already left one or more comments you are already entered.

On another note it it is good to be home. Seeing the family or at least some of them was nice but it was allot of running around. Plus the long journey over and back has really played tricks on my timing. My body does not know what time it is. Arrrgh! Hope fully in a day or 2 I will be back on track. It was good to get back to see our Furbaby Sunny! She was so happy to be home.

She always misses us when we are away. now she is curled up next to her daddy on the couch getting some loving.

When I got home there were also some packages waiting for me. My swap for the A swap for all seasons Vintage Brooch swap I am in. (I cannot open that until my partner receives hers though so you will have to check back in next week to see that.). The other package was a RAK from Lorraine at the All things Tim yahoo group. I was so surprised.

All the wonderful ephemera... Book pages, stamps, cards....I love it. Thanks so much Lorraine!

Did everyone see the Royal Wedding this morning? It was beautiful. The church is amazing and her dress was beautiful. So fitting for her.

Have you seen the challenge this week over at Try it on Tuesday? Why not pop over and check it out. there is still some time to get your project in and get entered in for a GC from The Craft Barn.

Well I am off to catch up and finish my projects that need to go out. Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping in. Angela

An Altered Tin challenge

I hope everyone had a great Easter and is enjoying some holiday time. I have been away in the states visiting with family and finally got the chance to give my wonderful new little nephew lots of hugs and smooches. Of course visiting family meant driving lots from state to state so I think I will need a holiday from my holiday. Oh well.

This weeks Challenge over at Try it on Tuesday was chosen by Pat and the challenge is to Alter a tin. I chose to alter a pencil case tin holding my graphite drawing pencils. I started with the picture on the tin as it was a beautiful B&W sketch type. I really wanted to do something around that. I used my Promarkers to colour the picture. I was really surprised how well they worked on the metal surface and how you could get different effects like watercolour and blending by overlaying the colours.
This was the finished inside. I used Prima Papers and Tim Holtz stamps here along with some tissue tape on the edges and some white sheer/satin ribbon inside.

And here is the bottom. I used Tissue tape to cover the bottom and the sides. I liked the effect of it. I had planned to do some embossing on the entire tin but being away with limited supplies I had to abandon that idea and work with what supplies I had in my travel kit.

Here is another shot of the finished tin. I added some cut out butterflies and moths on the top stamped with Tim Holtz stamps. The papers are also from the same Prima pack and the "Artist" stamp on the bottom is also from Tim Holtz. The lace I picked up at walmart in NC.

This weeks Try it on Tuesday challenge is sponsored by our good friends at the Craft Barn.

So don't forget to be eligible for this weeks sponsored prize voucher you will need to give them a mention and link them in your post.


We also have a special surprise this week ....

Our new guest Designer Freya so be sure to pop on over to the Try it on Tuesday blog and check out her bio you will be amazed. We also have allot of wonderful inspiration from the rest of the team. They really went all out this week with some gorgeous ideas for you. Now it is your turn to show us your altered tins. Just link up your post over at the TIOT blog. I cannot wait to see them

Now for a last note don't forget I am offering some blog candy to a lucky winner and you have until the end of the month to enter just by leaving a comment or becoming a follower. Check out more details on my previous post here.

Wishing you a wonderful week and a great big thank you for popping in to see me!

Angela

Too short.....and don't forget the blog candy.

We got to visit my new little nephew the other day. Here is Belle Feeding the little one. She was so afraid to hold him as she thought he did not like her because he squiggled and fussed a bit. this was the only time I could get some pics of her holding him.

Of course I spent hours snuggling him. The poor little thing has such bad Eczema that he is scratching his face constantly. He managed to cut himself just in the time I was there. I hope it goes away soon because he is too sweet to have to put up with that.

Here he is all tired out in his swing, and below on his playmat.

Now tell me he does not look like his Daddy..........Although he has his Mommy's ears(thank heavens).

I could not forget the pooches with a little loving during this visit. This is Lily. She just showed up on their doorstep one day and My Brother and SIL took her in. They think she was a breeding dog that the previous owners had no more use for.

And here is Rusty their baby of 14 years. They love to give Little Al kisses.

Oh, this I just had to share as I am always jealous when I visit my brother. Here is his oven....

Isn't it just amazing.....I love to cook so this would be a dream oven for me. My brother of course is a chef. He always makes us amazing dinners when we come to visit. As he did this time.

After The visit to my brothers it was back to dads. This was a layout I made for him a few years back. I love the quote on it and the pics are some favourites of Belle and him.

The next morning it was time to say goodbye to all and head back up to my in-laws. I always enjoy the visits with my brother and father as it is so serene down there and there is so much inspiration and beauty all around.....

Spring is always especially pretty with the flowers popping out and the morning rains on the grass.

Sigh.....After leaving there around 10 in the morning we finally arrived back at my in laws sometime after midnight......and they made us dye Easter Eggs....these are just a few.....

So How can my MIL look this well rested on Easter morning? Is it the coffee? Or did she sneak a nap while we were driving????

I wish my hair did not move while I slept. Mine looks like I put my finger in an electrical socket.....LOL.

So How was your Easter? Did you visit with Family? Do you have any fun traditions?

As you may know already I am offering an Easter/Spring blog candy . To be eligible all you have to do is keep leaving comments. There is some more information on my last post here. I will leave it open until the end of the month and don't worry it will have lots of fab stuff. I just picked up some more fun stuff the other day to add to the package. If you already left a comment on the last post then you have already received at least one entry and if you are a follower that is another. Any more comments between now and the last day of the month will also gain more entries.

Now I do have to apologise as I have not been doing as much blog hopping as I had hoped to this week since most of my time has been spent in a car, hence no Internet. I will be by soon though I promise. Tomorrow is another day of driving(some 10+ hours) and then I need to finish another project first but maybe after that or in the morning(since my timing is still off being here)

Sounds like we are getting another Thunder Storm now so I will tie this up for today.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and are enjoying the Holiday.

Thanks for stopping in and have a lovely day!

Angela

Sorry been MIA and a bit of Easter/Spring candy.

Sorry I have been a bit absent in blogland this week but we have been traveling around visiting family. Last night we arrived at Dads in NC. waking this morning it was a dull cloudy day just promising rain....
Here is a pic of the old barn with some damage to the front of the roof from the storms last weekend. I just love this old building because it has so much character and texture. I photograph it everytime we visit.

And of course there are brilliant flowers popping all over the garden. I spotted this by the back of the house.

And last but not least the infamous humming birds that grace us with their presense every day. I never tire of sitting on the front porch watchin them swoosh about. At times they are right in front of your face it is so amazing and beautiful.

Later it turned out to be a beautiful day. I was out and about collecting some of the necessities I need to bring back home with me and a few goodies too. After that we stoped for some lunch too. I am hoping to catch up on some blog reading tonight. Tomorrow we head to my brothers to see the new baby! I am so excited I cannot wait to hold him and pich those adorable little cheeks!. I have a whole box of goodies for him including the quilt I made. Oh how I wish it was already tomorrow....


Ok, now for the blog candy. I am putting together a huge pack of goodies with a Spring/Easter theme for my blog candy. I will leave it open until the end of the month and all you have to do is visit and comment to get an entry. If you are a follower or become one you wil get another. I am sorry I did not get to take a photo of all of it before heading on holiday. the only bit I did photograph was a set of stamps from Woodware I will be including in it. The rest of the candy will include tons of fab 12X12 papers, Stickers, Ribbons/Lace and whatever other fun stuff i may pick up along the way. I will post a pic when I return next week of the entire lot together but it will be a nice package trust me.

So don't forget to enter for my candy.

Now I am off to do a little maintenance on my computer and then leave a little blog love to some of the blogs I follow. I hope you have a wonderful week and thank you for stopping in for a visit.

Angela

Try it on Tuesday - A Bit of Upcycling

For this weeks challenge over at Try it on Tuesday The theme is all about Recycling! This was not too hard as I try to recycle most things although as a challenge I tried to come up with a project made mostly from recycled materials.

I started with an old box for chipboard letters and Belles used Paper towel roll. (from soaking up excess inks while working)

I covered the box with the towels in a kind of Decoupage technique. Then while that was left to dry I took some more old paper towels from another roll (aren't the colours fab!)and adhered them to the sticky part of some sticky back canvas and coated with a topcoat of sealer.

Once dry I cut out many different hear shapes and inked up the backs and edges. once this was done I stacked them all Larger on bottom small on top and punched a hole in the bottom of the stacked hearts. Next I put a brad through and spread out the petals. Lastly I scrunched and shaped them then added the pin. (sorry I did not get a picture of this last bit making the flower pin)

Next I recycled another bit from a Prima flower packaging(I love how it is already so pretty) and trimmed a bit for the backing of the pin inking the edges.

Here is a closeup of the pin(Above). For the box I coated the inside with Zig 2way glue and added black flock. To the lid I added a Diecut flower(Tim Holtz) with some stamping and doodling. The Butterfly is stamped from a Aspects of Design set from the Stamp Man and cut out. I added some wire antennnas.

Here is a closeup of the box(Above). I just love the way the textures and colors came out.

Now it's your turn to show us how you can recycle into your projects. Hop over to the Try it on Tuesday blog to see some wonderful inspirations from the rest of the team and for the full challenge rules. I cannot wait to pop on over and check out what this weeks projects will be.

Thanks for stopping in to take a peek. Hope you al have a great week!

Angela

PS, Keep an eye out for some fun Easter Blog candy this week.

Some pics from thursdays class.

I taught the last craft class before School break this past thursday at the school. We did the Birdhouse template I made. Here are the 2 youngest attendees and their birdhouses. Arent they cute. Above is Leah - year 1 and below is Thomas -Reception.

And here are some more of the birdhouses the class made.

And here is some of the class having a great time finishing them off. And still more Birdhouses....

I think they did a great job don't you?. I think this was the easiest class yet. All we had to do was print the pattern I made on card, cut out and decorate. If you are interested in a copy of the template go back one post to find out how to get one. Now I am off to visit with Family this week. Hope you have had a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by. Angela

New layout and info on easy birdhouse

Good evening all! I have been following this blog "Scrap Jacked" for a bit now and wanting to join in but just could not find the time but tonight I finally sat myself down and decided to do a layout. I have not scrapbooked in ages and all these photos are piling up. I decided to go most current and start with our trip to Paris because I saw Mandy's layout and got the perfect idea. I wanted to use a large shot in the background. (Sorry about the phot but the flash showed right in the middle, the shot below shows the castle better). At Scrap Jacked their DT gives you tons of inspirational layouts and you just scraplift one for your inspiration. They have a monthly challenge and this months challenge is sponsored by Scrap Therapy. Hop on over to their blog here to see Mandy's and the rest of the DT.

This layout is pretty simple (just how I like it). I used the photos mounted in the background like a window with the photo in the forground mounted. This photo is a style I take every trip we take to Disney. Dave and Belle walking through the park. It is a tradition with us. I used Prima papers and flowers. The flowers are coloured with Promarker. I also used some Tim Holtz Grunge board flourishes for the vine. I added the lantern(Tim Holtz) and the ribbon(my stash) along with a bit of sewing. I am not really into over the wall Disney on may pages as I prefer more like "Hidden Mickeys" Can you spot them? There is one in the vine and I added a Tinkerbell in the lantern.

Now onto the birdhouse...Remember this post a few back about the easy birdhouse I made? I had posted to let me know if anyone wanted the pattern I made for this and the directions and a few people sid they did. Well I am having a bit of trouble uploading them as they are in a PDF format so if you would like a copy please email me at scrapbookcafe2@yahoo.com and I will email you a copy. It is very easy to do, just print out on coloured card and follow the directions.

Well that is all for tonight. Now to finish up and get ready for school tomorrow and my class. Hope you have a great night and thanks for stopping in.

Angela

It's Tuesday Bloggers and you know what that means....

It's time for another challenge over at Try it on Tuesday. This week is Emma's Choice as we are celebrating her Birthday! So this week Emma chose a Tag with the colour scheme is Red Black and Cream and she is sponsoring a great prize too(see bottom of post)! I have to say I did drag out some of my Stampin up stamps this week just for Emma although the ones I would have really liked to use(My beach sketches) did not go with the colour scheme(I did try) so I chose the florals. I used an old set of Stampin up florals(sorry I do not know the name) and stamped the images on cream card. I then coloured them with promarkers and covered with Distress crackle paint(Clear). Once dry I rubbed it with Old paper distress ink. the tag and black card are also stamped with he larger floral image for a faint pattern. I used Black soot and Brick distress inks. The images are then layered and ribbon/lace added. Now be sure to check out all the wonderful work from my other Team mates over at the Try it on Tuesday blog. We are looking forward to seeing all your wonderful entries and the winner this week gets a £15 voucher to spend with Emma in the current Stampin up Catalogue or Mini Catalogue. Remember to be included for this weeks prize draw you will need to include a link to our Sponsor Emma's Stampin Up Blog. Hope you have a great week and thanks for popping in! Angela

A Simple little Birdhouse in under and hour.

This is a sample for the last class I will be teaching this term at our local school for a family craft night. It is made from 2 sheets of A4 card some lace and stamps. I drew out the pattern and printed them onto 2 A4 sheets of card then cut them out, stamped on them(Tim Holtz) and adhered them together. The lace is then placed on the roof and the bird(Tim Holtz) stamped and cut out and Glued on the stand which is just a bit of card rolled and placed in the hole. Nice and simple right! It actually has to be simple enough to be completed by Parents and kids in about an hour for the class. This total house and pattern took me less than an hour to complete so it should be timed perfectly for the class since I will print the pattern out onto the coloured card for them ahead of time. If anyone is interested in the pattern and instructions I can post it later in the week. Just leave me a note. I wanted to say a huge thank you to all the people who left comments on my last post. It is so nice to receive such uplifting comments. They are really apreciated. Now I am off to do some more reading. Have a great evening . Angela

Stamp Man challenge 20 and April ATC's

The theme over at The Stamp Man Challenge Blog this fortnight is "Embossing" and it is chosen by Neil their newest Dt member. So this is my take on the Challenge. I made an ATC card. The background is done by layering UTEE 3 times then combing Obsidian Midnight Sapphire through it with the heat gun on. Finally Morning Glory Azure Teal Moonglow is sprinkled on the hot base and heated. The butterfly is cut from a napkin in my Napkin Collage kit from US Artquest and layered into the background with another layer of UTEE clear. The branches are from the Tim Holtz bird stamp, inked with brown ink and stamped into the hot UTEE creating a bit of indention. I love the way it came out especially the background. I am entering this into The Stamp Man Challenge # 20 "Embossing". Next project I have completed today are my ATC's for The Stamp Man ATC April swap. The Theme this month is "Birds". Here are mine.

The bottom one is stamped onto material and then stitched with beads, wire and thread trim. The top 2 are done using a Napkin collage kit. The one to the left is stamped then layered with the bird and the one to the left is layered then stamped.

I was able to spend the entire day at home today catching up on my projects due to our weekend plans being canceled last minute. So it was a very productive day. Now I am off to do some blog hopping. Have a great evening and thanks for stopping in. Angela

Such an inspiring day!

Today a friend came over and craft a bit with me. We had planned on playing around with my Adirondack Inks and some fabric. The results were very inspiring.....

That was just the first try. later I decided to play around on my own and create something for The Stamp Man Fortnightly challenge so this is my project.....

I absolutely love it. I used some spare satin and dyed it using My Tim Holtz Stains. I then used a used a template and water to create a slight pattern. (Better seen in a photo further down.)The handle is made from Tim holtz fabric trims coloured with the same stains lined with some wire. The flower is cut from Tim Holtz Tattered florals and Satin dyed with the lightest of the stains I used. It is then threaded together with wire and a Tim Holtz gear as the center. It is sat upon a Tim Holtz Flourish die trimmed with gold foil. the purse clasp is covered with a Tim Holtz metal charm adorned with some gems.

Above is a picture of the pattern on the purse and below is the inside lining I made of dyed satin. the purse frame is made from Tim Holtz Grungeboard.

I am entering this in the Stamp man challenge #19 " Anything Tim"

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day. Angela