Fresh Herbs

I love to grow my own and so my daughter Emily sent me a kit for growing some kitchen herbs for my birthday in May last year. It was a delightful picket fence box, which holds three pots for growing individual herbs. It has a little shed at the end to hold tiny tools. The photo in my layout shows the herbs some months later.

I created this layout in response to the Dusty Attic Blog - June Mood Board challenge.

I created my background with two sheets of Bazzill cardstock - the base is cream and has been trimmed all around with a Martha Stewart punch around the page punch set. The top layer started out white! I trimmed this down to fit inside my cream border and set about creating a background using stencils (Tim Holtz and PaperArtsy -JOFY) and Distress Paint (Picket Fence, Antique Linen and Walnut Stain). Then I added colour with Distress Inks (Shabby Shutters and Bundled Sage). After this was all dry I spritzed a little Dylusions Ink (Black Marble and White Linen). I stitched round the edges of the finished cardstock before sticking to the larger piece.













Behind the tear in my cardstock is a small piece of 'Raspberries' paper from Maja Designs Coffee in the Arbour collection, these colours blend well with the colours I chose from the mood board and my inks and paints, and a tiny hint of the red.

My choice of Dusty Attic embelishments for this page was Chicken Wire 12" x 12", Flutterbies #3 and Flower Buds, all from Papermaze. The butterflies were painted with a little Picket Fence Distress Paint, then some red ink lightly dusted on the the butterfly wings followed by a fine layer of glitter. Some beads of glossy accents were added to the seed heads of the flower buds.

I tucked two halves of a small doily under the photo. My date is Prima number stickers on a scrap of white Bazzill surrounded by a metal label plate from Tim Holtz.

My lettering is Making Memories Simply Fabulous, velvet alphabet stickers in peapod for 'HERBS', and Doodlebug Designs Inc. Fancy Fonts letter stickers in black cherry for 'FRESH'.

I enjoyed making this layout, and creating my own background for a change rather than using patterned papers.

Take a look at the Dusty Attic blog to see beautiful creations from other entries as well as the amazing design team work.

Thanks for looking
Lynn x

Experimenting with Paint and Ink

I have had a play with some distress ink and paint together with some stencils,stamps and embellishments.

colours look stronger IRL

I used:
Distress Paints
Distress Inks
Tim Holtz Tag Stencils
TCW Stencil
Kaisercraft Stamps
Charm
Ribbon
Tag

I used the Distress Paint in two colours (Chipped Sapphipre and Picket Fence) through the Wildflower and Burlap stencils. Then I inked over the tag in three colours (Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade and Salty Ocean) of Distress Ink. Next I inked through the TCW stencil with distress ink (Gathered Twigs). On top of this I added stamped images using Kaisercraft stamps and Archival ink.

The ribbon was pale blue and dyed with Distress Inks, I added a charm with a small amount of thread to the ribbon. I inked around the whole tag with distress inks in Gathered Twigs and Black Soot.

Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Dual Celebration

Today is Father's day but it is also my brother Robert's birthday.

We are all getting together later to celebrate.

I made Dad a card and Robert a mini canvas card.

I used the same two set of stamps from JOFY for both these cards,

I also used:
Acrylic paints
Archival ink pad
Acetate
Stickles
page from an old book
mini canvas with easel
Black marker pen
3D foam pads

Happy birthday Robert and Happy Father's day Dad

Thanks for looking
Lynn x

Spray Stain from Distress Stains - Tutorial

Ever thought it would be good to be able to spray with your stains? Especially when you only need a small amount of spray stain.

That's what I have been doing using tiny spray bottles and some careful decanting of a few milliliters of Distress Stain as I needed each colour.

What you need:
* Some small spray bottles - the sort you use for travelling.
   I purchased some which hold just 5ml which is plenty.
* Printed charts of the Distress Stain colours downloaded from the Ranger.
* Rubber golves (optional)
* Kitchen roll and / or baby wipes
* Wipe clean surface
* Clear sticky tape
* White self-adhesive spot labels
* Scissors
* Small shape punch
* Small plastic beads

Choose the colour stain you want to be able to spray.

Select the appropriate colours, from the colour chart and using the window on the under-side of the punch make sure you punch out the colour needed including all the wording.

 Using clear tape sitck the punched shape to the tiny spray bottle.

To enable you to identify the colour from the top of the bottle. Add a self -adhesive spot sticker to the top of the lid of the spray bottle. Use white where possible to give a clear indication of the shade of the stain.

Give the bottle a good shake, remove the lid and dab colour onto the label.

 Using some old scissors gently prize the stopper from the stain - just lift it slightly - not all the way otherwise the stain may splash and make a mess where it's not wanted...

 ... then gently remove the stopper all the way from the bottle with your gloved hand. Set aside on some kitchen paper

Now with the two bottles close together, slowly pour a few mililitres of stain into the new bottle to about 1cm from the top...

... leaving room for the tube as this will displace some of the stain. (Pop in a small plastic bead here for the pigment stains.)

Replace the spray mechanism and the lid onto the spray bottle

Replace the stopper and lid onto the stain bottle.

Now you have a stain and a spray stain.

Here are a selection of those I have already made up to use.

Have fun!

Thanks for looking
Lynn x

Happy Birthday Simon

It was Simon's birthday during the week and so I am a little late showing this card.
I made the card to hold his gift voucher.

The stamps JOFY sailing boat and Stampin' Up greeting
Acrylic paints
Archival Ink pad
Bazzill Cardstock

Hope you had a good birthday Simon. See you later today.

Thanks for looking
Lynn x

Counting Sheep (2)

... Continuing on with our trip to London on 29th May to follow the Trails and find the Shaun in the City Sculptures.

Having completed THE BITZER'S 5km trail, we set off for SHIRLEY'S TRAIL which was considered easier and covered 3km. This trail was through the oldest part of the city visiting some arts and heritage landmarks. The last sheep on the previous trail was near to the last sheep on the next one so we decided to do Shirley's Trail in reverse.

The first sheep on this round up was 'COUNTING SHEEP' (31), inside the Silk Street entrance to The Barbican Centre. The designer is Gerald Scarfe and the sponsor is Amazon Prime Instant Video. 

Counting Sheep

'THE GUARDIAN' (30), was nearby at Guildhall, Aldermanbury. This shaun was designed by Vivi Cuevas and sponsored by TLT.

The Guardian

'WOOLLY WIGGLE' (29) and 'FINE AND GANDY' (28) were both located at One New Change. The map advised they were at the lower level and the passage respectively. We couldn't find them so put the APP on to find they had both been moved up onto the roof terrace. This gave us amazing views of the city, especially St. Paul's Cathedral.

'WOOLY WIGGLE' (29) was designed by Zandra Rhodes and sponsored by One New Change.

Woolly Wiggle

'FINE AND GANDY' (28) was designed by David Gandy and sponsored by One New Change.

Fine & Dandy

There were many sheep in the range of St. Paul's Cathedral, and the sun came out as we sat in Festival Gardens. Here we found 'A CAPITAL VIEW' (27). The sponsor is Friend's Life.

A Capital View

On to the next garden by St. Paul's - The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Gardens, where 'THE CHELSEA PEN-SHAUN-ER (26) is based. This Shaun was designed in honour of the Chelsea Pensioners and sponsored by Shaun in the City. 

Chelsea Pen-shaun-er

We had to toss up what to do next as we could see we would need to walk past two sheep at some point to get to another three. So we went first to 'SHEEP SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION' (21) located at Peter's Hill. Designed by Gavin Strange and sponsored by Visit Bristol.

Sheep Shape & Bristol Fashion

Very close was 'OUT OF THIS WORLD' (22) situated at The City of London Information Centre. Designed by Josh and Aimee Williams and sponsored by Visit the City.

Out of this World

The Information Centre also had a smaller sheep on the counter - LARRY the LAMB.

Larry the Lamb

Then onto St. Paul's Cathedral Churchyard to find 'BAA-ROQUE' (23). Designed by Sadie Butler and sponsered by Burges Salmon LLP. 

Baa-roque

At nearby Temple Bar we found 'LITERARY LAMB' (24), designed by P J Cook ans sponsored by Portland Brown Ltd.

Literary Lamb

Paternoster Square is home to 'HAMISH' (25). This was designed by Ros Franklin and sponsored by Walker's Shortbread Ltd.

From Hamish we back tracked past the information Centre and walked across the Millennium Bridge. This foot bridge across The Thames links St. Paul's Cathedral with the Tate Modern,

Millennium Bridge from the South

As we approached the south bank we could see two Shauns, on on either side of the bridge. We were expecting to see 'BR-EWE-NEL' (19) to the right, but the APP had informed us that 'TO SHEEP PERCHANCE TO DREAM' (20) had been removed due to damage. We had been given the code already as it was not possible to find. However there was a very blue sheep in front of The Globe where the original had been.

View from Millennium Bridge

First we went along to look at 'BR-EWE-NEL' (19), outside the Tate Modern, Bankside. He was both designed and sponsored by Brunel University.

Br-ewe-nel

Then we went to The Globe to see what the blue sheep was all about. A plain blue Shaun was in place of the damaged 'TO SHEEP PERCHANCE TO DREAM' (20). This was designed by One Red Shoe and sponsored by UK2.net. This rounded up the 13 sheep in 'SHIRLEY'S TRAIL'.

To Sheep Perchance to Dream

By now the rain was falling again and we needed a rest and something to eat before Catherine caught the train from Waterloo for Richmond. At Waterloo we just had time to take in another Shaun, this time from 'TIMMY'S TRAIL'. This was another 3km trail marked 'easy'. 

At The London Eye we found 'EWE-NION-JACK' (12), Sponsored by Big Bus London and designed by Laura Cramer.

Ewe-nion-Jack

I set off on my own along The Queen's Walk for a while as by now it was rush hour and I decided to wait and get the train home later. Shame Catherine missed the Pink bus!

Once I found the British Film Institute, on Belvedere Road, I went up to the reception and found 'FRIDA BAA-HLO' (13). this was designed by Ruth Broadway and sponsored by Target Media.

Frida Baa-hlo

I then went back over the river via Waterloo Bridge to the Victoria Embankment, and right beside Somerset House, on the River Terrace was 'PINKY PLUM' (14). Designed by Roksanda Ilinic and sponsored by Coutts.

Pinky Plum

The sun was out and it was a lovely evening, I strolled on through Covent Garden, even though the shauns had been moved from there, and on to St. Martin's Courtyard in Slingsby Place. This Shaun 'FLASH' (17) was designed by Chris Haughton and sponsored by Stage Electrics. Photo from St. Martins Courtyard.

Flash

The final Shaun of the day was in Earlham Street - 'PARADISE BUNCH' (18), designed and sponsored by Cath Kidston. Photo from Flickr.

Paradise Bunch

That completed Timmy's Trail, It was time to come home, The only ones I didn't get to find were the 11 on Shaun's Trail and the Farmer's Lost Sheep who were scattered at Paddington, Canary Wharf and St. James' Park. However 34 out of 50 is not bad for one day! Would like to see them all when they come to Covent Garden in September, or maybe venture to Bristol, to find another 70 lost sheep.
Plenty of photos for the Scrapbooking - watch this space!

Thanks for looking

Lynn x