Oriflame - My journey begins...again!

Life has certainly had it's ups and downs recently. Hospitals, a sewage flooded downstairs toilet, chronic pain, tribunals etc....etc.....but it's the negative thing that life throw at us that make the positive things in our lives so much more precious to us! Hubby's 50th, Amelia's Prom, Jack's College Gallery evening......all things that are now deeply etched in my memories.


As Amelia's Prom was looming, I attempted to apply some make up on her but with her sensory issues and sensitivity, it was a rather challenging task. As soon as I went anywhere near her with make up from my general stash, her eyes would stream and she would get very stressed out and uncomfortable.

I was a Consultant/Manager for Oriflame many. many moons ago and loved their products then, so I decided to order a few items to try out on Amelia....and whoops, a few jumped in for me too! I did a little trial run as soon as the order arrived and not a soggy eye in sight! Whoop whoop.

I was also highly impressed that her Prom make up lasted the evening and looked as fresh at the end of the evening as it did when we dropped her off!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the products and I feel quite excited and motivate about some much need me time, some pampering and perhaps even getting back some of my own identity...it's been a long time since I had one of my own. LOL

 

You can see the current offers HERE!!!!!

and join in with my Journey HERE!!!!!!

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx

My attempt at Fairy Wings!!!

Last night I decided that as I still had my Copics out, I would give the fairy wings chapter a try! Not sure how I feel about the way they have turned out...nothing like what they looked like in the Kit and Clowder class! lol

I have almost finished this class now, just the background to do.....I am eager to move on and try out the new Bonus class! It is really out of my comfort zone but looking forward to trying out some new images and techniques!

Bye for now,

Adele

xXx

Jumanji, Kit and Clowder and Copics!

We promised Amelia that she could watch Jumanji (AGAIN) so I made some time for me to relax with the May Markers Class from Kit and Clowder but just getting all the colours out for the dress alone was quite a task!

EEK! I don't think I have ever used so many different colours on just one individual section before and it did look quite daunting, I will confess! BUT as with all of the classes over at Kit and Clowder, Alyce breaks it all down, section by section. Although I am not 100% happy with the outcome, this was my first time trying a rainbow coloured effect so overall, yes, I am ok with my results.

Looking forward to my next practice session.

love

Adele

 xXx

Tea tray/Drinks trolley revamp!

I bought an old tea trolley a year or so ago...perhaps even longer! I have actually been using it to store my chalk paints on out  in the garage but just before Christmas it got moved out into the conservatory and used as a drinks trolley! I have been wanting to revamp it ever since I got it but it still in the corner of the room in it's natural state!

My latest plan for it was to cover the top level with bottle tops and seal with resin but with it is taking forever to collect enough bottle tops! Obviously I need to drink more alcohol! lol

Getting there though!

love 

Adele

xXx

Trying to play catch up....So what next?

Well, my to do list has very much taken a nose dive this past week as all my time has been spent at the hospital with Chris. Life is still far from our "norm" as Chris is really struggling to walk, or even put weight, on his leg.

I am trying hard to make a little time for some creativity as it would be so easy to just let the running of the house take over completely.

Earlier I decided to do another chapter of my Kit and Clowder marker Class. I opted for what I perceived to be an "easier" chapter...well at least something I was more familiar with...colouring hair!
I am not sure of the colour combo I used but it's all practice.

I was going to move on to another chapter of the class...but Bruce had other ideas!

So rather than play with my Copic markers, I continued with a few of the little sewing projects I had left abandoned around the house last Saturday before our mad dash to A&E.

Now for some years now, we have been promising ourselves that we are going to claim back the kiddies playhouse at the top of the garden. Chris had a bar in his mind, my idea was more of a country tea room but we are trying to meet half way. We moved our old sofas up from the conservatory, I did a quick, makeshift paint job and tarted up a few bits and bobs.

We still have a lot to do: long term I would love it to be insulated and clad and have electricity up there but in the short term I have several arty farty ideas to try out. Last weekend I made two cushion covers for the sofa but have loads more to do and today I finished the hem on the cover I made to convert our old storage boxes into a table! (We still need to store some toys and garden stuff!)

Looking forward to spending many a relaxing time up there with Chris...drinking tea...or perhaps a tipple or two.

Bye for now!

Adele

xXx

Hectic Half Term.......

.....and not in a good way!

Had to rush hubby Chris to A&E last Saturday and he was only discharged from hospital on Thursday so it's been a very unsettled and hectic week.

This afternoon I promised myself some "me time" and have snuggled up to Chris, did some crafting therapy and decided to re-watch Game of Thrones again..from season 1! In it for the long run as he has been signed off sick for 2 weeks!

I seem to have lost all of my creativity but did manage to complete the Skin Chapter from this month's Kit and Clowder marker Class.

Not happy with the blending on the skin but it is only practice. 

Might even have enough time for some more crafty therapy while dinner is cooking!

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx

Copic Class vs Housework!!!!

Well it's not exactly a fair contest is it! LOL

I have been rather absent from crafting, instead I have been painting the inside of the Playhouse/Summer House, sewing linings into curtains, tidying up and decluttering (or at least trying to!) applying window film to the conservatory windows....you name it, it's probably been on my to do list for several years!

This morning I rather unsuccessfully dyed the last batch of loose sofa covers to put on the sofas in the Summer House. They aren't the look I was going for but at least the faded areas aren't so extreme and they are all fresh and clean. I then dismantled the grids on the extractor fan and cleaned them all up and then started tackling the grill section of the range cooker...that was enough. What better excuse did I need to relax for a while than the launch of the latest Kit and Clowder Marker Class!!!! Oh my, what a gorgeous image to work with than the Molly Harrison's Fairy on Moon.

I just could not resist and downloaded the class and printed it out straight away! Loads of freebies and incentives on the Kit and Clowder Facebook page but to be honest, I didn't need much in the way of encouragement!

Just completed Chapter 1 - The Moon!
What a fun technique using the colourless blender Copic marker! I am a bit unsure about the white expanse in the highlighted area of the moon but hopefully once the rest of the image is complete it will all come together!

NOW! Do I attack some paperwork, clean a window, weed a bit more of the drive......

or move on to Chapter 2?

Decisions, decisions!

love 

Adele

xXx

Craft withdrawal symptoms!

Had a few busy days and not made much time for any creativity. So after a quick run around this morning, a few emails and a flying visit to my mum and dad, I decided that I deserved a bit of craft time.

Slowly but surely I am making (some sort of) progress on the Squeak Shake from Di's Digi Stamps. Now this is the image used for the pencil class over at Kit and Clowder but I am attempting to colour it in with my Copics using the techniques I have learnt from the Marker Class this month!!

EEK, it's scary but exciting, putting new techniques into practice....but I must focus on that word PRACTICE! Yes I mucked up the colours of the chocolate on my first attempt, went too heavy handed with my white pencil on the strawberry....and as for the cup/glass/mug...well I am not even going to bother commenting on how I feel about it! LOL

BUT, am I still loving the process....A BIT, FAT, HUGE YES!!!!!!

Copic Colours Used

For the cream - E000, E51 &E21

For the strawberry - YR31, RV29,R27, R22 & R32

For the mug - W5, W3 & W1

Ooooo....what bit shall I colour next????

Adele

xXx

Di's Digi Stamps, Kit and Clowder and Copics!!!!

After being on such a high from my previous colouring class, I decided to used the information and techniques from Cupcake/Marker Class....and apply them to the Squeak Shake image that jumped into my basket while me back was turned!

WELL, it didn't start very well. I was aiming for a really dark, rich chocolate sauce but ended up with a "sticky"mess and the combination of Earth Colour Copics was just not working. I scribbled on it and threw it to one side.

I had been on such a high after colouring up the Cupcake Class and there was no way I was going to let it defeat me!

I went back to the drawing board and this time, I aimed at more of a milk chocolate or caramel sauce! LOL

I have noticed that when I am working "alone" rather than following a Class Video, I do tend to rush. I suppose it's almost hard wired into me being conscious of the time/being self indulgent vs. Relaxation and enjoying my creative time. I think it's a good thing to be aware of.

There are quite a few elements on this image that will put me out of my comfort zone but I am able to apply techniques from the Cupcake Class to help soften the blow. The icing, the mice, the strawberry.....it's all a learning curve to enjoy.

Copic Colours used for sauce:

E57, E35, E33 and E53

Adele

xXx

Copic (Marker) Class almost complete!

I have been lucky enough to have some time to myself and really made the most of the opportunity to colour and relax! I was just so eager to work on the April Class from Kit and Clowder and the image/s from Di's Digi Stamps are just too cute for words!

Chapter 5 - The Cherries

Chapter 6 - The Strawberries

 

(Spot the pink blob on the mouse ear? EEK)

Chapter 7 - The Mice

(I added a bit more depth of colour to the little mouse ear to cover up the blob I made!)

I still have the last Chapter to do which goes through the process of adding a bit of background colour.

Not sure how I am going to use these Class Practice images. I feel reluctant to put them on a card and give away.....they are truly becoming such a part of a learning journey that I may even scrapbook and document them.

Bye for now!

Adele

xXx

April Class Launch at Kit and Clowder

Despite the fact that I was loving working on the mini class, LOTV Workbench Image...I decided to put it on the back burner for another day....I just could not resist starting to colour the fab new Class launched yesterday at Kit and Clowder. I started downloading the Video and printed off the gorgeous image from Di's Digi Stamps straight away.

Last night I completed Chapter 1 - The Bow!

Then this morning Chapter 2 - The Icing!

and Chapter 3 - The cake!

AND Chapter 4 - The Wrapper!!!

Squeeeeeeeal! Enjoying these SO very much. By no means perfect, made a few errors along the way but that is all part of the learning process.

Copic Colours Used

Bow and Icing - R81, R83, R85 & RV000
Cake - E57, E35,E33 & E51
Wrapper - BG23, BG15, BG09 & G00

Better stop and have some lunch now! LOL

Adele

xXx

Kit and Clowder Classes, Prismacolor Progress

Yes, I am feeling pleased enough with the results of this "Mini" Class over at Kit and Clowder to call it PROGRESS!!!!! I have truly LOVED doing this class and I feel me confidence and progress using Prismacolors Pencils is shocking!

I feel that in the few Chapters of this Class I have learnt so much and I still have all the background chapters to do....AND repeat the class using my Copic Markers!

I have decided to leave this image for now as I think I'd like to complete this gorgeous LOTV Image to the same stage and compare the two different mediums before moving on the the backgrounds. The background is really something out of my comfort zone, and as a cardmaker, it is not really something I have ever really done. BUT that what makes the Kit and Clowder Classes so fantastic, they stretch your comfort zone and inspire confidence to try new things that you can then incorporate into the rest of your crafting.

RIGHT!!! Gonna run around any tidy up a bit, get the kettle on because the April Kit and Clowder Classes are being launched LIVE ON FACEBOOK!!!!!Midday BST!!!! Come over and share the excitement!

EEEKKKK!!!

Adele

xXx

Kit and Clowder, Mini Class, LOTV Workbench, Chapter 4

Oh my goodness...LOVING this class.

Just completed Chapter 4, Hat and Boots. I have also got out my Derwent Blender pencil and gone over all the areas I had already coloured in an attempt to flatten the tooth of the paper and even up the appearance. ( I did this under my magnified light!) Not sure if it looks any better.

Colours used for hat and boots:

PC943 Burnt Ochre

PC942 Yellow Ochre

PC1012 Jasmine

PC914 Cream

Derwent Blender.

I really cannot recommend these classes enough.

Now, can I sneak in another Chapter this evening? LOL

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx

Prismacolors, Practice, Kit & Clowder & LOTV

What a lovely combination for a SUNNY Saturday afternoon.

Tomorrow is the launch of the next Class over at Kit and Clowder so I wanted to make time for myself to sit down and work on the LOTV Mini Class, Workbench Image. Prismacolors are well out of my comfort zone but I may even go as far as saying that I am actually enjoying my creative time rather than feeling down about my lack of perfection!

I decided to use oranges instead of the reds used in Class, as I didn't like the combination of red tones in my stash. I think orange and blue works well together...I hope it does anyway.

It was so scary reaching the point of drawing on the blue checks! But I went along with the class and quite pleased with the results.

I think I need to continue to practice with my Prismacolors as my close up pictures do show quite a bit of "tooth" left visible on my colouring although to the naked eye it doesn't look as bad!

I used;
PC943 Burnt Ochre
PC1032 Pumpkin orange
PC918 orange
PC1025 Periwinkle
PC1102 Blue Lake
PC1061 Cool Grey 30%
PC?? White

Someone else is having a nice, relaxing Saturday too!

Time for a cuppa and perhaps even a cake and I might even manage the next Chapter if I am lucky!

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx