Taking Control...

Hi everyone and welcome, including to my newest followers and those who have made the jump to Bloglovin'. Oh yes, you can see from the new icons (and the random post earlier today) that I've taken the plunge and got it set up before the 'apocalyptic ending' of Google Reader on 1st July.

Actually, much like the forecasted 'Millennium meltdown', I suspect it will be more of a whimper, but as it is fairly straightforward to let Bloglovin' do all the work and transfer the existing list of blogs you follow to its new homepage it seemed sensible to go that route. You also have to 'claim' your blog - somewhat bizarre, but I think that's a FB hangover - hence the random post. Working out how best to use the new dashboard is going to take a while, and I've found commenting on blogs which aren't linked is difficult without reverting to Blogger. It'll all come out in the wash though, I'm sure. Would I recommend it? Well it's probably best to set it up now rather than have to sort it all out manually. Now down to business...

Oh yes, Father's Day will soon be upon us in the UK so I've made two of these cards, and they include something of another major triumph this week. See the filmstrip and the tickets? Woo hoo! These are Sizzix Strip Dies (from Linda's very special discount at The Funkie Junkie Boutique recently) and I have found a plate sandwich which lets them work through my Grand Calibur!!! Result. Now I can join the party and use a wider range of fantastic dies.

You'll undoubtedly recognise the stamps used (various sets from Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous) but how about the papers? My friend (and soon to be TV superstar) Rosie dared me to use CS from;

the TH French Industrial range (the photography advertising card);

and the DCWV Timeless Type Stack (the background, polaroid frame and black typeface edges).

Don't they co-ordinate well? And see, I haven't just stroked them:)

Filling that Polaroid frame was a challenge. I tried using the Distress Stains on the gentleman and masking him to blend and spritz the background but the water reacted with both, so layering a fussy cut man seemed the best option. I love the DI Aged Mahogany/Pumice Stone combo too.

I remembered a trick learned a while ago - using Pan Pastels as a smudged border to areas you want to highlight - and added some brown onto the centre of the background. Oooh yes, and a couple of TH rub-ons made their way on to this too. They are coming in rather useful.

This is being entered into the following challenges;

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team challenge - Makes for Men

Pan Pastel UK challenge - Anything Goes

On a happy note, I was thrilled to have been picked as winner of  the Vintage Udfordring wedding challenge with my fan. It is such a joy to be recognised by others for something that takes so much time, energy and effort to create, especially when you see the other entries. OK, time to love you and leave you. There are a 'shed load' of posts/comments that need catching up on, but a long work day today and a course tomorrow will put paid to that happening immediately. So I apologise if you don't hear from me until the weekend. It will happen (as will my first shot at using that glass bead gel medium - oh boy does it work!)

In the meantime take care of yourselves, hugs Jenny xxx