Q & L Challenge - Faith

We have reached our final challenge on The Craft Barn's Quotes and Lyrics Challenge that has run all year and I am very proud of myself for keeping up with it all!  I have yet to complete my book that I am making but that is first on my list for after Christmas!  Our words this time are Faith and/or Harmony and I chose Faith for my altered beer mat.  I had a stamp in mind when I chose the quote and then realised I had already used it for another mat so luckily had another stamp I could use instead! (Crafty Individuals one).  The quote is by Rabindranath Tagore.

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thank you for visiting my blog each fortnight.  I am looking forward to seeing what the new challenge is going to be in January!

Gruffies & Guests Ch#12 - Anything Goes with the Option of Blue and Silver

I have just made the halfway reminder post for Gruffies & Guests Anything Goes with the option of Blue and Silver challenge.  For my DT work I made an ATC using scraps of paper and some HM stickers.

Q & L Challenge - Risk

We are up to the penultimate themes for The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge which has been running all year.  Our words this time are Risk and/or Heart.  I chose to use Risk for my altered beer mat. The quote is by Plutarch.  I am making a book for all my beer mats which is coming along slowly and probably won't be finished now before Christmas, but will be one of my first jobs afterwards!

Q & L Challenge - Journey

Our two new words on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Journey and/or Friendship.  I chose to use Journey for my altered beer mat, but was a bit miffed when I got my Tim Holtz stamps out to use for this and found that yet another set of acrylic stamps had disintegrated - a bit of wheel fell off this one.  I won't be buying any more acrylic stamps I've decided, I've lost count of the stamps that I have had to throw away because they fall to pieces - and I do clean and store them properly!  This quote is by Drake.

Gruffies & Guests Ch#11 - Anything Goes with the Option of Christmas

I have just posted the halfway reminder on Gruffies & Guests for the current challenge, which is Anything Goes with the Option of Christmas.  For my DT work I made a Christmas card using one of my cute House Mouse stamps that I have had for ages and comes out every year!

We are sponsored this time by Scribble and Scrap Crafts with a great prize of a £10 voucher, so pop on over and take part!

I am also entering this card for Papertake Weekly's challenge - 2 or 4 legs

Q & L Challenge - Moon

The next two words on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Moon and/or Sensation.  I went for Moon in the end having looked at lots of Sensation quotes but not being able to find one that would fit on my beer mat!  The quote I have used is by Jean Ingelow who was a poet in the 1800's. Luckily I was able to come up with something suitable from my little stamp collection!

Q & L Challenge - Nowhere

We are nearing the end of this year long challenge from The Craft Barn, Quotes & Lyrics,  and our two new words this time are Nowhere and/or Hug.  I chose to use Nowhere for my altered beer mat although it took me a while to find a quote short enough to fit!  I eventually settled on this one by Henry A. Kissinger and I think that the Paper Artsy image of the man I have used looks just like he doesn't know where he is going!  Therefore it fits my quote perfectly!

Gruffies & Guests Ch #10 - Anything Goes with the Option of Halloween/Halloween Colours

I have just posted the halfway reminder over on Gruffies & Guests for the current challenge, Anything Goes with the Option of Halloween/Halloween Colours.  For my DT work I made an ATC with my lovely little pumpkin stamp I bought years ago and get out every year, and some Tapestry stamps, and a HM sticker.

We are sponsored this time by Dis Digi Stamps and you could win a $10 voucher if you take part so pop over and have a go!

Q & L Challenge - Destiny

Our two new words for The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge, which is the 20th one - I can't believe where the year has gone! - are Destiny and/or Gift.  I chose Destiny for my altered beer mat and found a quote quite quickly for this one, thinking I had several star stamps in my collection to choose from. Half an hour of searching later I eventually found some tiny ones I could use - I was certain I had others in my modest collection!  This quote is by William Shakespeare.

Q & L Challenge - Patience

Our two words this time on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Patience and/or Better.  I went for Patience for my altered beer mat, but it took a while to find one that I thought I would have an appropriate stamp for!  I got there in the end!  My chosen quote is by Leo Tolstoy.

Gruffies & Guests Ch# 9 - Anything Goes With the Option of Fall

I have just posted the halfway reminder on Gruffies & Guests for our current challenge, which is Anything Goes with the Option of Fall.  For this challenge we can use any Gruffie, House Mouse or Happy Hopper images.  Due to technical faults! I am unable to print off any images so stamped this ATC using a cute HM stamp and a lovely leaf stamp which I watercoloured with Distress Inks.

We are sponsored for this challenge by Bearly Mine Designs and you could win a £10 voucher if you take part, so pop on over to the blog.

I am also entering my ATC for the Ruby's Rainbow's (one of my old teams!) challenge, Anything Goes.

Q & L Challenge - Childhood

Our two words this time on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge, are Childhood and/or Easier (I thought it said Easter when I first read it!).  I chose to use Childhood this time for my altered beer mat and it gave me the opportunity to use this lovely stamp for my chosen quote, which is by Andy Goldsworthy.  I've used this stamp many times for Christmas cards.

Q & L Challenge - Grace

Our next two words on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Peaceful and/or Grace.  I struggled a bit with these two as I found very few quotes short enough to fit on my beer mat that I liked but eventually I went with Grace and the quote is by Kari Barth who is possibly a psychologist when I Googled her!  If you look closely at the stamped image which is by Queens Dresser Drawers, the children are laughing!

As always, I haven't looked at any other work before I did mine so may have used the same quote!

12 Tags of 2014 - August

I've missed a couple of months of these but decided to have a go at August's 12 Tags of 2014 by Tim Holtz.  As usual I didn't have many of the components he used but enjoyed using what I do have to make my tag, such as Technique Tuesday, Paper Artsy and Tim Holtz stamps.

This is Tim's version!

Gruffies & Guests Ch# 8 - Anything Goes with the Option of Boys

I've just posted the halfway reminder on Gruffies & Guests for the current challenge, which is Anything Goes with the Option of Boys.  For this challenge we are sponsored by Petal Lu where you could win a lucky dip prize of £10 of flowers from the online store, so pop on over and take part for a chance to win!

For my DT work I used one of my Gruffie stamps to make a card for my Dad, coloured in with Promarkers.

Q & L Challenge - Thing

Our next two words for The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Family and/or Thing.  I chose Thing for my altered beer mat.  I couldn't decide what stamp to use for this one and then decided that children are the future so went with one of my Crafty Individuals stamps!

I have finally made a start on making my book for all these beer mats.  The pages are made from recycled cereal boxes.  I've tried to keep it fairly simple or I won't ever get up to date!

Q & L Challenge - Mind

Gosh it's already heading for halfway through the next challenge, where does the time go!  Our two new words on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Ignorance and/or Mind.  I went for Mind for my altered beer mat and dug out my Invoke stamps which seemed appropriate for my chosen quote by Albert Einstein.  I really must get on with my book - but will have to wait for the weather to cool down as it is so hot in my craft room and really too uncomfortable to spend long in there!  Well that's my excuse for now!

Q & L Challenge - Imagination

Our two new words on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Imagination and/or Logic. I am late getting mine done this time but am just in with a couple of days to spare!  I chose to use Imagination for my altered beer mat, and my quote is by Albert Einstein.  I thought this chap looked like he might have used some imagination for his outfit!  As always, I haven't looked at any DT or participants work yet so may have used the same quote as someone else.

Gruffies & Guests Ch # 7 - Anything Goes with the option of Summer

I've just made the halfway reminder post for Gruffies & Guests.  We are on Challenge 7 now and this time the theme is Anything Goes with the option of Summer.  I couldn't decide what to make for this one so ended up stamping one of my HM stamps and watercolouring it in with Distress Inks and it can be a topper for future use!

We are sponsored this time by Scribble & Scrap and you could win a £15 voucher if you take part.

Q & L Challenge - Path

Our two new words on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Path and/or Horizon.  I chose to use Path for my altered beer mat and yet again found just the right stamp in my collection to use.  Not sure what I will do one week when I have nothing suitable!  The quote is by Anatole France and the stamp is an unknown brand.

Q & L Challenge - Vintage

Our two new words on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Vintage and/or Proud.  I went for Vintage for my altered beer mat and have been able to use yet another stamp for the first time that I have had for years!  The quote is by Tony Visconti.

Sorry no finished pages to show this week although I have made a start on my book - life is getting in the way at the moment!

Gruffies & Guests Ch# 6 - Anything Goes with the option of Patchwork

I've just posted the halfway reminder on Gruffies & Guests for the current challenge, Anything Goes with the option of Patchwork.  I printed off some bp from one of the House Mouse CD's that had patchwork on then almost covered it up with my embellishing so had to rearrange things a bit!

The prize this month is a class at The Creative Classroom, so pop over the the blog for more info and to take part!

Q & L Challenge - Mountain

Our new words for the next 2 weeks on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Mountain and/or Mistake.  I went for Mountain for my altered beer mat, and thought this lovely Crafty Individuals lady looked very patient and diligent so was ideal for my chosen quote, which is by William Penn.

I really must get on with putting my book together and hopefully I will be able to show you some pages next time!

12 Tags of 2014 - May

I don't know why I leave it right till the end of the month to get round to making these tags, but here we are again with one day to go!  This is my version of Tim's tag, as usual I don't have the elements he uses as I don't buy stash any more but I do have fun using what I already have!

And here is Tim's one!

Q & L Challenge - Passion

Our words this time for The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Passion and/or Music.  I was going to use Music but realised I had already used the stamp I had in mind on a previous beer mat, so went for Passion instead!  It was nice to be able to use this stamp as I have had it in my stash for years and this is the first time I have used it!  The quote is by Anthony J. D'Angelo.

Gruffies & Guests Ch# 5 - Anything Goes with the Option of Spring

I have just posted the halfway reminder over on Gruffies & Guests for Challenge #5 - Anything Goes with the Option of Spring.  There is a great prize to be won, which is a $10 voucher from Di's Digi Stamps, so pop on over and have a go.

For my DT work I made a card using an image and bp from one of the House Mouse CD's and some Martha Stewart punched butterflies to embellish.  I love forget-me-nots and we have plenty of them in the garden every Spring!

Q & L Challenge - Unique

Our two new words on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge this time are Unique and/or Fame.  I decided to use Unique for my altered beer mat.  It took a while to find a suitable quote though as most seemed very long and wouldn't have fit!  I found one in the end that fits and used another old favourite Crafty Individuals stamp for my image.

12 Tags of 2014 - April

I didn't manage to make my April tag for Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2014 in time, mainly because I virtually had nothing that he had used on his one!  Eventually I decided to got for it anyway and so this is my version.  I didn't feel in the mood to make paper roses so did my own thing!

Here is Tim's one.

Q & L Challenge - Knowledge

Our two words for this fortnight from The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge are Knowledge and/or Hurt.  I chose Knowledge to use for my altered beer mat, and decided to use a lovely Crafty Individuals image of an owl - seeing as they are wise! - for my image this time.   The quote I chose is by George Bernard Shaw.

I am in the process of making a book to mount these beer mats in by recycling cereal packets to make the pages and I will use book rings when I am done.

I am also entering this in the Crafty Individuals 'Nature's Beauty' challenge.

Gruffies & Guests - Ch #4 - Anything Goes with the option of Lace

I have just made the halfway reminder post on Gruffies & Guests for our current challenge, which is Anything Goes with the option of Lace.  For my DT work I have made a card using an image from a HM CD which I have to say is a lot easier than colouring in for me these days!  My eyes aren't what they used to be!  My lace is from a reel of sticky lace and I coloured the flowers with Promarkers.

There is a great prize of a £10 voucher from Bearly Mine Designs for the lucky winner, so pop on over to the blog and take part!

Q & L Challenge - Change

Our two words on The Craft Barn's Quotes & Lyrics Challenge this time are Change and/or Truth.  I decided to go for Change to make my altered beer mat, again using some old K & Co. bp I've had for ages and an old favourite stamp.  The quote I chose is by Marcus Aurelius.

12 Tags of 2014 - March

I completely forgot that I had decided to do Tim's Tags this year, and here we are almost finished with March!  I've made my version of his March tag with what I had that was the nearest to his products. Gone are the days when I used to buy stash specifically to do a challenge!  I found some Artistic Outpost stamps in my box that were ideal for this.  Unfortunately I sold my feather stamps during a declutter session, so made do with a flourish instead!

And this is Tim's version!

Q & L Challenge - Flower

Our two words this time round on The Craft Barn's Quotes and Lyrics challenge are Flower and/or Travel.  I went for Flower to use on my altered beer mat and used some very old K & Co. bp that I've had for many years.  It's really nice to be able to use up old stash on this challenge!  The quote is by Gerard De Nerval.  I am afraid it is the same quote as one of the DT used, but I never look at those or any entrants until after I have made my piece, so no copying is involved!

Gruffies & Guests Ch# 3 - Fit for Mum or Special Female.

It is halfway through the challenge on Gruffies & Guests for this month's theme, Fit for Mum, or Special Female.  I have just posted the Halfway Reminder on the blog.  The prize this month is a £15 voucher from Scribble and Scrap Shop so pop on over and enter for a chance to win.

My DT work is made using one of my rubber stamps.  The colouring isn't brilliant, the baby looks a little odd!  But I'm sure his mum loves him!

Q & L Challenge - Road

Our two new words on The Craft Barn's Q & L Challenge are Art and/or Road.  I chose to use Road for my altered beer mat.  I managed to find a quote, which is by J. R. R. Tolkien, that went with a stamp in my collection so chose that one!  And of course, it must fit on my beer mat!  Some quotes are very long!