New Beginnings

My blogging history is pretty poor isn't it LOL.  Work has been overwhelming over the last few years and my artistic contributions have been hit and miss to say the least.

Soooo, I have taken the plunge and built a website about me and my work and it has it's own blog.  I have moved in there and would like to invite anyone that still follows my blog to pop on over and join me.

My new website is www.di-oliver.com

There will be a mixture of art, humour, gardening and anything else I can think of to waffle on about so I hope to see you there.

Stampendous Blog Hop

Good morning everyone.

Here at Tando HQ we are absolutely chuffed to be partnering Stampendous for a week long Blog hop.  we have so far had smallish hops each day this week but today is the biggy ;)  There is so much inspiration you'll be lost for words.

Details of the prize packages are at the end of the post as are all of the links in case you get lost along the way.

You can find a really good selection of Stampendous products in the Tando shop:

Andy Skinner Rubber Stamps

Nathalie Kalbach Rubber Stamps

Embossing Enamels

Fragments

Frantage Kits
Spoonful of Kits
Stamp n Bond
Embossing Powder Techniques Book

 To find other UK stockists of their products take a look at Woodware here and for Europe take a look at  Pink Your Life.  If you follow the trail and leave a comment on every post you are entered for a prize draw!  There are THREE PRIZE PACKAGES!!!  

You have arrived here from Katy Leitch

and the next link in the hop is Alison Heikkila

Here is my project for the hop.  This is a new cubby hole storage that is literally just off the press, it will be available from Monday in the shop.

I have painted the unit with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics with Gesso and Tinting base and then I have used the gorgeous Aged Marine Embossing enamel along the edges of the shelves.

I then stamped with the fabulous Nathalie Kalbach URBAN rubber stamp, I love this image, I just had to use it.

I also used the Tando Long Flourish stencil for the detail on the shelves.

These are the amazing prize packages up for grabs :o  Just leave a comment on the blogs as you visit them, please let us know where you are from too ;) 

Here is the list of participants.  You go to the Stampendous Blog first.  If you get lost just pop back to this post for directions .  Don't forget to leave a comment as you go!

Stampendous
Dee

Kristine

Karen

Kaz

Wendy

Carol

Jamie

Irit

Louise

Lisa

Laura

Dana

Janelle

Gez

Katy

Di

Alison

Tenia

Lea

Tando Creative Blog

Crikey....a blog post LOL

After a few months of of stress with re-locating and getting organised I have finally managed to sit down and create something.  

I wanted to do put up some wall art in my new craft room and when I had a good sort out I came across lots of the Gothic Arch layered frames lying around.  I think I had taken them to demo at some point and these were the ones that weren't used.

Anyway, I set about decorating some of them to hang on the wall.  I have used Paperartsy paints and some of Jofy's stamps that are just gorgeous.

I created my own backgrounds with paint and stamps and just had a thoroughly good time :)

4 Horse Carousel

I spent a Sunday afternoon designing this and all day today decorating it LOL, I'm really pleased with it.  It's given me lots of ideas for more 3D stuff.....but we'll see.

June Class at The Craft Barn

Oooo, I think I'm actually getting ahead of myself LOL. Here are some piccies of my June class at The Craft Barn on Saturday 9th June.

If you fancy having a go at this Alice in Wonderland Top Hat then why not pop over and book HERE.

May Class at The Craft Barn

Here is a piccie of the project I will be doing for the May Class at the Craft Barn. I'm using the plaque and lettering from our Home Sweet Home plaque and our Village Scenelit.

It will make a lovely key holder....or anything else you wish to hang from it of course LOL.

If you want to book a place pop along to the class list HERE. I'll look forward to seeing you.

Christmas is finally here...........

Well it's been a busy year to say the least and I have finally got a little bit of time off to recharge the batteries.

I've had some ups and downs over the year, made some new friends and realised others are not quite as nice as they try to appear but in the whole scheme of things, I have nothing to complain about.

I make a New Year resolution every year to update my blog more regularly and every year I fail....but....I will be doing more crafting in 2012 so with that will be more blog posts.....maybe I might just manage to keep the blogging more frequent next year.

I used to love wrapping presents and would spend hours doing it but, as time is off the essence these days, I no longer manage to spend the time I did.  I made an exception for mum though and I'm looking forward to spending some time with her on Boxing Day.....here is her basket of presents that I'm taking up there, all wrapped in Vintage style.....just like mum hee hee!

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and I wish you all the best for 2012 xxxx

Tando Creative Challenges...week 2

This month the theme is Winter Festivals.

I used the reverse side of a canvas and covered the inner areas with Modroc, the bottom part has been been packed up to give a different shape and texture.

Embossing enamel....lots of.... has been used and then I finished off with some Mini Houses and the reindeer and sleigh.

There's a prize up for grabs every month and you don't even have to use Tando chippie.....if you do though, you get double to chance to win :o)

A new online class.........

.........starting soon, over at Tando Creative.......HERE.

You could make this supercute little Christmas decoration :o)

Christmas Wreath Class

I'm delighted to be teaching regularly over at The Craft Barn. 

I'm doing the Christmas Village Class at the end of this month and in December I will be doing this Christmas Wreath Class.

If you're local to The Craft Barn and fancy having a go you can book a place HERE.

Hearts of Plaid at Bubbly Scrumptious

Over at Bubbly Scrumptious the October challenge is Hearts of Plaid.   There is a fab inspirational board so I thought I would give it a go....I so rarely enter into challenges but I had a day to myself today..no work for a change ha ha!!

 

Anyhoo, my Home hanging is, of course, made up of mostly Tando stuff, I've used the Octagonal printer trays along with a cupcake, flowers, birds, hearts, letters and mini houses.

Thanks for dropping by.

Tando October Challenge........

Over at the Tando Creative Challenge blog for October the theme is SPOOKTASTIC.

I chose to make a Halloween styled wreath with as many spooky Tando products as I could.  The ring is made from corregated cardboard and I stuck on a variety of chippie bits.  I glued the cobwebs across the centre and mounted the alphas across it.