31 Days of Halloween.....Day 27

Day 27 of the 31 days challenge...I can't quite believe that I've nearly got there..lol. Today's page features this great image from SLS Lines. It's one of my favourites and I've used it on lots of different projects, so it seemed so right to include it in my Halloween book. I've always craved a top hat but just can't afford one..it doesn't help having a large head..lol..it's a family trait so I was doomed from the start. I love the photos of the steam punkers wearing their top hats.

It's a damp and cold day today here in the mountains..even the postman complained today. I've got my legs up and Milky has taken up residence on them..much to Ravens disgust. She keeps coming and trying to get Milky off..but to no avail. All the other cats are dotted around the parlour in their favourite places and are showing no interest in going outside. And I have to say, I don't blame them. I'm sat here surrounded by my afternoon projects. I am intending to have a play with my brushos and to create some backing papers. I just love the way the colours explode. I think that the black is my favourite because you really have no idea what you're going to get. For the past couple of weeks I've been looking for my spray bottle to use with the brushos..I know that it's in a box with my mica powders but the whole thing has disappeared and it was driving me crazy. Then last night I saw a spray bottle in my bedroom that was from an old air freshener..and I thought..that'll do the job. So this morning I rinsed it out and filled it with water and hey ho..I'm ready to go. No doubt now that I've done this the box of mica papers will turn up waving at me going I've been all the time..lol. Isn't that always the case.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll be getting very messy...I just love it. No doubt there will be multi coloured cats by the end of the day..they won't be able to resist helping.It's going to be a very old fashioned dinner tonight..liver and onions with potatoes and green beans. It seems just right on a day like this. It was one of my Grandfathers favourite dinners and he always requested it once a week..So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween....Day 23

Todays image is from the amazing SLS Lines and I thought that she should have a place in my 31 Days challenge. I just think that she looks so calm.I have coloured her with my promarkers and mounted the image onto some black card. Every time I make an image and have coloured it, finished it and have photographed it, I always look at it after a while and become aware of what I would have done differently. I think that next time I will use my paints and use some gems on her as well. I think that forms part of why I love digital images so much..you can always print another out and go again.

I have to say it's fairly cold here in the mountains..so much I have a blanket on my legs..plus cat of course..lol...and a shawl round my shoulders.It does seem to be coming to the point in the year when the biggest cat flap in the world will have to be closed. All that means is that I then become the gatekeeper and spend most of my time opening and shutting it. The cats always seem to wait until it's shut and then come and tap on it..lol.
I managed to get lots of painting done yesterday, so I was really pleased..but still have more to do. The hardest thing is doing the details due to all the cat bypass that keeps happening over me. If I was sat here doing nothing..they wouldn't come near..but should I get my watercolours out..there they all are.
Well the coffee is calling and I'll be back tomorrow with my next make. So until then..take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween...Day 18

Another day..another candy skull. This is my page for day 18 of the 31 days challenge. I know that I've done other skulls but I have to say..I love them. All on the news is about mindful crafting and colouring...and I have to say that personally colouring a great candy skull is my perfect way to relax. This image is another from the fabulous SLS Lines.

It's been quite a day today and it's only 4 p.m. I've been up and at them since about 7 this morning and what with cats and phone calls, I don't feel as if I've stopped since my feet hit the floor. All the cats were so pleased when the delivery man arrived with their biscuits..it didn't matter that he happened to bring the rest of the food..they hounded him until they got some. He was laughing at them all and seemed to be very taken with Jeffrey. He said he's a big un isn't he..lol. He then asked if he always looked so miserable and I said that's his I want biscuits now face..so we gave him some to prove the point.
Also this morning I had a phone call regarding the dropped kerb. I was told that the councillors at our parish council will be discussing the matter later and I said that's funny because I'd had a phone call yesterday from the council saying that I wouldn't get one..so I'll be waiting with baited breath to hear what is said. And then no doubt, I will be back on ringing round everyone again..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then I will be back with a design team make. As it is a Christmas card and not suitable for the 31 days challenge, I thought that I would blog this one first. So until after a large dose of caffeine...take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween...Day 17

I just can't believe that it's already day 17 of the 31 days challenge...the time seems to have flown. Well todays page features the this fabulous piece of artwork from the wonderful team over at SLS Lines.The paper in the background is the tune for a piece of music called Up and down the broom, which I found and I thought that it would be perfect for using at Halloween.The piece of music as far as I know is a traditional Irish tune.

It's looking a little grey here in the mountains today. It was raining heavens hard this morning and all the cats were sat in the parlour sulking but it seems to have stopped now and most have left the building. But looking at the clouds, it won't be long until they're all back. The reason that most of them are sulking though is the fact that they havefinished the cat biscuits...every single one of them. Now it's not as if they haven't got wet food..they have plenty..but the fact that they won't have any biscuits until delivery tomorrow, has sent them all into a tail spin. But I am putting my foot down..besides all their wet food..I think that 12kg of biscuits a fortnight is quite enough. And I wouldn't mind but that's with extras and scraps as well..lol
I've just had a phonecall from the council about getting a dropped kerb. It seems that yet again I'm going to be involved in a pass it along moment.It seems that Highways is not responsible, despite the fact that other departments say it's down to them. So it seems as if I will go round and round until I'm back to Highways again. And so it will continue. From what was said it seems that grants are available with another department even though it is highways who will have to do the work. I think I'm about to check out the law as I have been given to believe that every pavement by law should have a dropped kerb but we don't have a single dropped kerb in the village. I'm waiting to hear from a local councillor about the law and then I suppose I'll be speaking to all the same people again..lol. The gentleman that called me today was involved with the problems with my path flooding due to the state that a pavement was left and it only took him 10 years plus to sort that out.. I'm beginning to feel as if I know him very well..lol
Well the coffee is definitely calling now and then I'll be waiting for a visitor. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween....Day 10

For today's make in the 31 Days Challenge, I have done another candy skull. I have to admit to having such a love for them and love the way that changing the colours can give you a totally different look. This skull is one of the 4 that appear at SLS Lines. You may very well be seeing the others as well this month..lol. To colour this skull I used my glaze pens. They are something that I haven't used for ages as I always seemed to have problems with them. But I have cured the problem. I was sorting out a draw and found my glaze pens and then I transferred them to their own pot and placed them all in it upside down. And now I don't have a problem with the flow. It took me a minutes thought and hey presto something that had sat in a draw for a couple of years actually became useful. When I had used them in the past I just couldn't get them to flow and it used to drive me crazy..but keeping them upside down it makes them ready to use. A small thing but it's made me so happy. Isn't it always the small things that make the difference.

I have been looking at the other blogs involved in the 31 days challenge and wow..I've felt quite inadequate..lol. There are some breath taking creations and hopefully sometime this month BT will let me comment on them. So much inspiration is out there by some uber talented crafters..it does honestly take my breath away. As I'm writing this Simon is sat at my left elbow..he is fascinated by the computer and seems to love watching the letters appearing on the screen. I have to say that he is looking particularly Halloween ready. He has cobwebs hanging from his whiskers..something tells me that he has been under the bath again..lol. A builder broke the side panel on the bath and I'm still waiting for a new one. I am certainly not going under there..the size of the cobwebs that he is bringing out is enough to put me off. All my black cats have the odd white hair here and there..all except Simon..he is dense black with no white hairs. He can't seem to make up his mind what colour his eyes are though..sometimes you look and they're green and sometimes yellow. But he's still a young boy..so who knows.
All the other cats are outside. The postman said that rain is on it's way..so no doubt there will a rush of wet furry bodies heading home when it arrives. Gannie is out with his new best friend Ollie and they can often be seen wandering along the roofs of the cottages. Don't ask me why they chose to do it but the whole row has commented on the boys. They remind me of teenage boys out on the village..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be time to do some work. My new chest of drawers has arrived and is waiting to become the new cat feeding station. Well that is the top..the bottom will be holding crafting paper..I always need more storage. There will probably be some serious sorting going on later. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween...Day 3

Todays design is one that you will see a variety of during the 31 days of Halloween. For those of you that know me, will know how much I adore these candy skulls. They decorate the sign for my cottage, adorn the walls of my parlour and even make an appearance in my bathroom. So it was inevitable that I will include some in my 31 days challenge. I coloured this one with my promarkers. All the projects that I have made for the 31 days I am putting them altogether into a book..so at the end of the challenge I will have a memory of this my first 31 day challenge. This candy skull is from the fabulous SLS Lines.

I am so excited to be a part of this challenge and over the next couple of weeks will be sharing my own memories of Halloween. I will of course be visiting all the other blogs who are participating as soon as BT lets me. I have been looking but am desperate to comment but BT and my internet connection are so pathetic it took me 4 hours yesterday just to blog. I would like to thank everyone who has commented in the last couple of days..I am on my way to your blogs...just keep your fingers crossed that BT play fair..lol.
Now for my memories of Halloween. When I was a little girl my Grandmother was a great believer in Halloween and would always celebrate the day. Back in those days, Halloween as it is now didn't exist to most people but it did in our house. My Grandmother always called it All Hallows and always had a gathering of friends. It was a time to get together and remember all those who had gone before and to celebrate the lives that we had. I remember all the days baking to get ready for the night. There were no pumpkins to carve but we carved out swedes to hold a candle. Late at night there was always a bonfire to be sat round and music being played..a time to sing the old songs. Somehow those nights were always special and the veil between those past and us was somehow lifted. It all felt so special and so right..so natural. I can remember that a lot of my friends never had anything like we did and I suppose that they thought that we were all a little wierd. But my Grandmother didn't care. She had grown up with the magical night of All Hallows and wanted to ensure that I could experience the closeness and memories of that special night. I suppose this was where my love of Halloween began and I was able to share it with Henry for the too short time he was with us.
Well the coffee is calling and then I will be off to try and comment some of the fabulous blogs that are out there sharing the love of all things Halloween. The cats are all outside enjoying the sunny day here in the mountains. We are all for a noisy couple of days, as Twinkle has begun calling...all I can say is that I'm glad she is the only one to do it..she makes enough noise on her own..lol. The object of her fancy this time seems to be Simon..bless him he has no idea what is going on...he just walks round with a hunted look on his face..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

SLS Lines...A little more inspiration

Today's creation is a design team make for the wonderful team over at SLS Lines. I had bought myself a notebook to keep a track of my bills..a never ending task I have to say..lol. But  when I bought the notebook, I thought to myself that I could decorate it in such a way that it would make me smile every time I looked at it. So I did. I first covered the front with some black card and stencilled some red bubbles onto it. I added some chipboard letters to spell out bills..just in case I should forget the purpose of it.lol. I added some glitter string to the left hand side..because everything needs a little sparkle. I then finally added the amazing piece of art work from SLS..the voodoo king. I coloured the artwork with my promarkers, cut it out and then glued it onto the front. The last thing that I've got to do is to add some adhesive acetate to the front to give it a wipe clean surface..else in my case the artwork will become covered with paw prints..lol.

The sun is trying very hard to shine in between rain showers here in the mountains today. Jeffrey has just arrived in and landed on my lap..with a huge thump I have to say. He is such a big boy. All the others bar Raven are outside chasing leaves by the look of it. Raven has claimed a cushion right by the food table...that way she's not missing a thing.
I've had some very exciting post today. I had two design team parcels delivered and goodness me..the fun I'm going to have.I will be sharing the products with you very soon. I think that I'm most excited about the set of Brushos that has arrived. I have watched them being used on the television and was hoping to get some in the future when I could afford some. Well now I have a set and am aiming to have a play at the weekend..but only if I get my other work completed. This is going to be my diecutting weekend in readiness for Christmas crafting. I'm aiming to fill my boxes with poinsettias,leaves and snowflakes..ready for the season of serious crafting..lol. I would sooner spent 2 days die cutting and have it all ready rather than having to keep stopping and die cutting bit by bit.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'm going to read the instructions for the Brushos. I've decided that we are having chicken,potatoes,vegetables and mushroom sauce for dinner tonight, with sweet and sour tomorrow. I like to be organised in my head for the next few days..thoughts have to squeeze in there around poinsettias and holly leaves,,lol. I'll let you know how it all goes. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

SLS Lines....A Little Inspiration

Here I am again..with added caffeine..lol. This canvas is a design team make for the wonderful SLS Lines.I chose to work with this wonderful image of the fox shamen...quite appropriate after my previous blog.On SLS we all choose to do an inspiration post and this was my choice. It all began with a memory of walking down a lane when I was little. The trees formed a canopy over my head and the sunshine twinkled through the leaves. It was with this thought in mind that I painted the background of this canvas. I wanted to give the impression of the glow from the forest..so I painted the canvas with my H2Os, using a golden colour in the middle and a green around the edges. I also stencilled leaves over the top using my distress inks. The image itself, I coloured with a mixture of copics and promarkers. As you can see, I love to mix the use of my colouring mediums to get the effect that I want.I finally added the 'beads' which were made using my liquid pearls.

As I've been writing this post, my mind has drifted to how I choose what image to work with. I am always looking for different images that use foxes, owls and of course cats. Those animals seem to be my beginning thought. As I glance round the parlour I can see lots of owls and skulls and witches. In my bedroom...it's angels and rabbits..lol. Isn't it strange what we decide to collect. I think that my collections may well be stranger than most.
The cats are still enjoying the sunshine and haven't been back in yet. I have no doubt that come dinner time they will all appear ...all telling me how hungry they are..lol.I'm watching the triathlon on the tv as I'm writing this..I can't believe how they manage it..I can feel worn out just watching it..lol. A friend of mine has a daughter who has just began competing in triathlons..I can remember her as a baby..and now she is becoming an amazing athlete ..who knows..I my be watching her in a few years time.
Well the coffee is calling again and then I will have to do some more on a project that I'm working on.So until next time..take care and happy crafting. 

Left of Center...........New Challenge

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge is just about to begin and will run for the next week. The theme for this weeks challenge is 'Altered Image'. As always you have the choice of going LOC. For all details of that, please check the rules on the LOC blog.

 For this weeks challenge we are so lucky to have been sponsored by the fabulous SLS Lines. As most of you know, I am also lucky enough to be on the SLS design team..so I had an extra hard time deciding what image to use and what to do with it,

I finally decided to work with one of my all time favourite designs..the candy skull. Now my first problem was just how to alter it. Well as you know I've been playing with the concept of papercutting..so I decided to take my blade to the skull and decide what I could cut away. I had to be careful to leave a little white edge, so that the image would stay together. I then had a play with my H20s on a piece of watercolour card and created a dripping mica effect using purples and greens. I also coloured what remained of the skull with purple and green promarkers. Then I glued the skull to the backing paper and then trimmed round it and finally added it to a black backing card.
I hope that you will pop over to the LOC blog and take a look at all the fabulous creations made by the rest of the team.
Here I am and I can't believe that it's a bank holiday weekend. The weather here is lovely..dry, not too hot and I have been deserted by my cats. I had some visitors from Ireland last night and they couldn't believe that there wasn't a cat to be seen in the parlour. I was laughing that they only ran in to eat and then left. Usually when my friends arrive there is a cat every where they look..but not last night. I had prepared all my work to do over this holiday weekend and I have to say that I painted until my eyes hurt. And then I had to stop and give in and go to bed..lol.I'm aiming to do some stamping later but just have 3 images to finish off.
I was so lucky last week..I couldn't believe the kindness of a lady that came. I was downstairs in the kitchen making dinner and she walked in the door , saying you do stamping don't you and of course I said yes. Well she disappeared and returned with a whole load of stamps and magazines. It was like Christmas. She wouldn't take anything for them..she said that she just wanted them to be used. I spent the next day sorting them all out and putting them away. And that was easy now I have sorted all my craft stuff..with the cupboard and the sideboard. It did take me all day though..once I started sorting I couldn't stop..lol. I even sorted all my embellishments..and I can tell you that took ages. There were jewels everywhere..but now they're all in one box. Gannie didn't like the fact that I had put some away on the shelf into what he thinks is his corner..he came in last night and proceeded to kick a load of stuff out of 'his 'corner. I couldn't believe it when a tray of my paints came hurtling out of the shelves...lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll be back down to some work. When I was sorting I managed to find some new scissors and I came to the conclusion that despite everything..I am a scissor hoarder. I was so glad to find the new ones though because I do have a tendency to bend my scissors and then wonder why I can't cut a straight line...lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

SLS LInes..............New Challenge

Here I am again with a design team make for the wonderful team over at SLS Lines. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the next month. The theme for this challenge is Men vs Women..so that gives you lots of scope.I just loved this image and thought that she looked as if she would be a strong woman. I hope that you will pop over to the blog and take a look at all the fabulous creations made by the other members of the team

I haven't been round much this week because I've been a little down and needed some space to try and find myself again. I think that we all have times when we need to get our big girl pants on and get a grip. I'm hoping that a weekend of crafting will help get me  back on track. I'm still trying to get used to my new bed. Isn't it strange how something as a new bed can throw your sleep pattern out. My old bed had sunk on one side, so I was sleeping on a kilter and now that I'm back sleeping on the straight it feels as if I'm lying on a slope.How strange is that..lol. Even though the new bed is perfectly level I feel as if I'm sleeping on a slope and about to roll off. Gannie hasn't stopped complaining about the new bed..it seems as if we are a right pair. The couch has been over taken by furry bodies and it looks as if it has a really expensive fur throw on it..lol.
Well the coffee is calling again and then it's crafting all the way. I'm hoping to lose myself in a surge of stamping..and I have to say that I'm really looking forward to it. I hope that you all have a great weekend and that wherever you are that the weather is being kind to you. I will hopefully be back later with another design team make..BT willing of course. So until then..take care and happy crafting.

SLS Lines.....Skulls for Summer

Today's makes are design team makes for the wonderful SLS Lines. These skulls are my inspiration post, which is over on the SLS Lines post. The top skull has been coloured with my promarkers and now forms part of my new cottage sign. The skull below has been papercut and then placed onto a coloured background. I can admit to have a bit of a thing for the whole collection of candy skulls that are available from SLS.

The weather is quite wild here in the mountains today. And you know what that means...I have a parlour full of cats complaining on the weather..lol. The wind is raging and the rain is on and off. It's not raining at the moment and as I glance out of the window, I can see just how green the mountains are.
It's just a short post today because I will be back later with another post for SLS. A new challenge has just begun so I want to share my design team make for that. So I'm off for a coffee and then I'll be back with some more makes. So until then..take care and happy crafting.

SLS Lines....New Challenge

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful SLS Lines. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the coming month. The theme for this months challenge is 3 or more layers. As always I have a hard time deciding what to play with and I finally decided on this wonderful sun image. As soon as I saw her I thought about my set of tarot cards and thought to myself it would make a wonderful card.I began by painting the sun herself with my H2Os..so she has a wonderful shimmer. I also created a background..a blue sky with sunflowers at the bottom. I mounted this onto another layer onto which I had put the wording and the number. I finally mounted everything onto a piece of black card. The sun herself has 2 layers where I have decoupaged her rays. Altogether there are 5 layers in this piece of work. I'm thinking of putting this onto my art cupboard door. It will help brighten a dark corner.

I hope that you will pop over to the SLS Lines blog and take a look at all the wonderful creations made by the other members of the design team. They are an amazingly  talented bunch and I always continue to be inspired by them. We all share our love of all the SLS lines images. Who can't help but to be happy with all these amazing designs to work with.
Here in the mountains today, I think that the weather is a little confused. It was so hot last night I ended up getting up at 4 a.m and in many ways I'm glad I did. I was witness to the most breath taking view of a thunder and lightening storm. The mountains were back lit by the lightening and the thunder was rolling around the valley. I have always loved to watch the lightening..when I was a little girl I would always be watching and become over awed by the power of nature. At the moment it's very hot here, despite the clouds coming down and covering the view of the mountains. We are officially back into Brigadoon. The cats must feel a difference in the weather..they have all come home and are all stretched out on the studio roof. I'm sure it's because they won't have too far to run if it starts to rain.
So tomorrow is hospital day. I've finally decided what to wear. Not that I have cupboards full of clothes..but I wanted to decided on something cool and also something that won't get in the way when I have my x-rays. I've also got to ensure that I have extra painkillers in my bag because the one thing that my leg and foot don't like is being fiddled with. I'm also hoping to go shopping while I'm out..that will be a novelty as I normally do all my shopping on line. I'll let you know how it all went of Friday.
Well the coffee is calling and then I've still got some projects to finish. I've also got to decided what to make for dinner..I'm thinking something with jacket potatoes. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

SLS Lines...An Inspiration

Today's canvas is a design team make for the wonderful team over at SLS Lines. Every month we are asked to create an inspirational post and this was mine. As you all know by now, I adore my cats..so there was always the chance that I would choose this wonderful image. The story behind this canvas is over on the SLS Lines blog..I hope that you will pop over and have a read. A new challenge is also due to begin tomorrow over at SLS..so I'll be sharing another make for that.

Is it hot enough for you? ..or like me being a woman of a certain age..are you beginning to melt..lol. I'm sat by my window hoping for a little breeze. All the cats apart from Nosey are out sunning themselves. He is back in his box on the couch. I am so excited..my new bed arrived yesterday and is currently in the kitchen, waiting to be taken upstairs. I just can't wait..a new mattress..I won't know myself. During the next week I'm going to remove the old bed and paint the bedroom. Just not in this heat. I was due to go to the hospital today but I'm going on Thursday now. With one of my conditions, I'm not supposed to go out in bright sunshine..so hopefully it will be a little less bright then. In some ways I'm not looking forward to the experience as my leg and foot hate to be fiddled with. So I'm expecting Friday to be overtaken by pain. But I shall keep my head up and take my pills and hope for the best. So lots of exciting things are happening. Half of my kitchen has the new lino down and the carpet for the non working end has also arrived. It's a dark red colour to match the walls and looks fab. I've also got new rugs for the hard traffic areas..or should that be high cat traffic areas..lol. Well the coffee is calling and then I've got some projects to finish. A breeze is blowing through the window and it's lovely. I think I may also have an iced lolly. I hope that wherever you are..that you are coping with and enjoying the heat. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

SLS Lines....New Release Day

Today's creations are design team makes for the great team over at SLS Lines. It's new release day today which means that I got to play with these wonderful new designs. The first is the rock man. As soon as I saw this I knew that I would have to work with it. I created the background using my H2o's to create a light effect. And when I saw the black oval that he is standing in..I thought it would form an O into the words..you rock. What a great card to send to someone who either plays the guitar or just loves rock music. I know so many people that this card would suit.
The next new release is this image of a flapper type dancer. To me it just cried out for the glitter. After all she is making jazz hands..lol. I created the background using my distress inks and a stencil. I coloured the image with my promarkers and added some stickles glitter glue. The really great thing about this image is that you can use whatever colour way you like and suit it to the person that you are sending the card to.

All morning, here in the mountains, the rain has lashed down and the wind has raged. At the moment the sun is trying to shine and the wind has calmed down a bit..but it's still a rather wild sort of day. All the cats are in and have all decided where to lie. Milky and Rave are both on my legs..ignoring each other..lol. Nicademus and Obie are asleep in the window. Gannie is asleep on his rug and the others are just dotted round the cottage. It seems all very peaceful at the moment but goodness only knows how long that will last. Next weekend is going to be chaos and upset all the cats. The new kitchen flooring is going down. I'm having half carpeted and the work area I'm having lino put down. What a joy it will be..but after all the upset with the cats over the parlour carpet..they will really dislike me when the kitchen is done. Personally I can't wait. I'm so excited. I think when you've waited a long time for something and it's finally going to happen..you can't quite believe it. I've also got the bedroom to change round. I have a new bed arriving and I want to decorate at the same time. I'm going to paint it dark red with gold accents. My collection of angel pictures are going to go on the ceiling and surround the bed. I'm aiming for dark and quite gothic..I will share pictures when it's finally done.
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be back to work for me. I hope that you will pop over to the SLSLines blog and take a look at all the other creations of the team. They are an inspirational group of ladies and have created some wonderful work. There is also some time left to enter the current challenge..so why not come and join in the fun. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

SLS Lines................New Challenge

Yet again, here I am. This creation is a design team make for the wonderful team over at SLS Lines. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the next month. The theme for this challenge is Anything But A Card. When I was thinking about what to make I came across this image of the Voodoo King. Well I didn't know much about him..so I ended up researching Baron Samedi..the king of Voodoo. I thought that it would be fun to use this image on a label..so I hunted for a bottle that would be suitable. My friend knowing I was looking for something different and he brought me a demi john and I thought it would be perfect. I began by covering the demi john with brown wrapping paper, painting it black and touching the edges with gilding wax. I then made some paper mache bones to hang from the bottle, alongside some feathers and beads.

I so enjoyed making this and it now sits on my bathroom windowsill. I have to say that the kittens think that it's a very large cat toy..lol, I don't know how long the feather decorations will last.
As I've said the new challenge will run for the next month. Please do pop over to the SLS blog and take a look at all the fabulous makes that the other members of the team have made. They are so amazingly inspirational. I hope that you will think of joining in with the challenge...I love to see all your makes.
The sun is still shining here in the mountains and the cats are all still outside. Milky is sat right by the window..just in case it starts to rain..she is determined that no one else will sit in her box..lol. I managed to do my baking..I made cherry scones and sausage rolls..so there is no guessing what my dinner is going to feature. My legs are now up and will be staying that way until bed time. I'm hoping to do some painting later, I also managed to sort all my inkpads out...I didn't realise just how many distress ones I have. So now they are all sorted into a basket and within easy reach. Since having the cupboard shelved in the parlour it has made so much difference. I have a lot of stuff put away but now have easy access when I need it and have stuff that I use most days next to my chair. It has saved me hours of sorting and searching. I have a small chest of drawers under the window but I'm hoping to get a larger one..perhaps both longer and taller..I shall have to keep my eye out..perhaps I should have a look in Ikea. That really is fatal though..I cannot just buy one thing..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be time to have dinner. I hope that you all have a lovely evening and I will be back on Wednesday with some more makes. So until then...take care and happy crafting.

SLS Lines.....The Skulls

Today's cards are design team makes for the wonderful SLS Lines. As most of you know, I adore these kind of skulls and love nothing more than colouring them. My plan with these skulls is to create a panel that will sit on the outside of my studio door..bringing a little brightness to my world outside. I don't think that my neighbours will complain seeing as they have put up a fence that is about 7 foot high. They did this because their dogs kept biting people that were coming up my path..so what did they do..they put up a 7 foot fence that runs from my gate to my front door..so now it's a bit like living in a compound. What made me laugh is that the area where the dogs were biting people..they never placed anything there. Now they have but it is only half the size of what is by my path and the dogs can still reach people when they really want to. So now when I look out of my front door I can't see anything if I'm downstairs..just a huge green fence. Their latest trick is to have added a length of string and nails, all along the top of the fence..I think that it is meant to stop my cats walking along the fence. My thought is that they should hang bells from the string as my cats just sit on the fence and twang the string..lol. I feel as if I have put up with a lot over the years ..even having a camera pointed at my front door for no good apparent  reason...so my answer is to bring a little colour into my world..lol

Both these skulls are the same image, just coloured differently. I used my promarkers. I have featured these skulls on the SLS blog, as my inspiration post. A new challenge is due to begin tomorrow at SLS..so I will be sharing my creation for that with you then. I hope that you will pop over and take a look at all the fabulous makes created by the rest of the team. I always find them a wonderful source of inspiration.
As I'm sitting here, I can see the rain coming down. Not heavy though but enough to send all the cats back in. I have 5 of them all sat around me. They're all asleep at the moment..so peace reigns..but I wonder for how long..lol
Well as always, the coffee is calling and then I need to get down to some work. I'm going to do some stamping I think. I need to photograph some work but it is too dark in the cottage today..so hopefully I can do that in the morning. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.