aaaaaaarghh!!

Oh it is driving me mad tonight . this is the 3rd time of trying to post and if it doesn't work I am giving up. Mind you how will you know?? lol There will just be a blank empty space. I don't know whats up with the Internet tonight, Is the world and his wife on it? Do they not have better things to do?? lol

Today was the first day of preview and it went really well. i only had one or two of the workshops not quite finished!! Big achievement. Pat on back!!! If you couldn't make it don't forget there is always tomorrow. We are open 10 - 5pm for you to view, chat ,make a cup of tea, do a bit of dusting!! OK only kidding on the last one ,but I wont stop you if you insist.If you've never been to the studio before it is an ideal time to come. Check out the latest workshops and get 10% off your shopping as well.

I have decided that one day this week I am not going in. Yes that's right I am going to call in sick lol!!! I am going to stay home and play. Nothing for work , purely just for me. I need to be free with my paints and journals with no interuption. Its a necessity to recharge my flagging creative batteries. A bit like filling your tank with petrol.!!Ill stock up on the frankfurters and double cream ( tho obviously not together) turn the phone off and play. I,ll update you with the results as they happen. lol.

Ive got a masterclass on alcohol inks to write this week for Simply cards and papercrafts. Ha ha late as usual deadline was last Friday. I think they now tell me the wrong deadline to fool me. And talking of magazines I have just finished designing the cover stamp for the valentine issue of Craft Stamper. Ooh i bet you cant guess the theme!!lol. Looking forward to getting my hands on it to make the samples.

Right one last go with pictures and if they don't appear I am giving up lol. See you .

comment winner

Really sorry this is so late. I had so many plans today and then things got in the way - what was it now - oh yes LIFE!!!! lol. Anyway thankyou to all of you for your lovely comments you left. We entered them all in a hat and The Goddess picked one out, and the winner is chrisgq

Thanks again Dyan - just starting out on the Altered Art journey and your instructions on you blog (and those in

Craft Stamper) are easy to follow and very effective - KTF - Chris Granelli (nelli)
October 13, 2008 11:09 AM

If you can let me know your address Nelli I will get the goodies posted out to you on Monday. Enjoy

Been playing with dyes and pearls today making lots of backgrounds for the workshops and I was also using some scrummy stamps from Stamptivity. They are not on the website yet as they only landed last night. The cards are for one of the workshops. !. I.m really pleased with them its just a shame you cant see the pearly shimmer on the blog. Maybe this will be my next tutorial . Ill try to get one in by at least mid week (fingers crossed).

Someone in the comments was wondering if Ranger makes us stick to a format when we do tutorials. The answer to that is no. This is the way I have always worked and probably always will. As an educator it is important to me that you can understand what is happening every step of the way, as though I am stood right next to you guiding you through. You cant recreate it if you cant follow!!! Its hilarious doing it though, cos I keep forgetting to take the photos and I have to backtrack all the time. Really need to get on with the videos as well. Which do you think you would prefer?

Remembered to do shoe watch today but only got scruffy little ballet pumps on, Will try much harder over the weekend - I promise lol!!!

comment winner

Will the link work???

Hi. Only time for a quick post tonight. I have finally done the workshop schedule, dates and all. Oh yes with 2 days to spare - a personal best I think. I shall be expecting an award certificate through the post anyday now!! It is jam packed with something for everything. it should go up on the website on saturday complete with photos so you can check it out.

We will be drawing the winner of the tutorial comment tomorrow so check out the blog to see if its you. Goodies from Blonde Moments,7gypsies and Paper Artsy could be winging their way to your craftroom over the weekend. Ill do another tutorial next week once I get the preview days over with. If there is any thing you would like to see leave me a comment and I will do my best to help.

Have got plans for new kits but again struggling for time, I wonder if Santa will lend me his elves for a few weeks. Wouldnt that be ace, or the Umpa Lumpas from Willie Wonka.!! Can you imagine coming in to the studio and seeing lots of little blue people. Maybe I could spray Ben and Ems with stream Adirondack colourwash by Ranger. Bit too tall though , I think you might notice lol. Plus they would probably hand their notice in. Well it was just a thought.

Speaking of Ranger, Tims teaching in a store this weekend ( they won a fab Ranger on the road competition) and he has posted his samples on his blog. You really need to take a look over there. /http://www.timholtz.typepad.com/ . If that link works I will have astounded myself. Anyway go see what you think. Dont you wish he was over here teaching. I have taken classes with him and I have to say he is one of the most lovely patient teachers there is. And no I dont have to say that because of my Ranger links , If I thought he was rubbish I would tell ( you know me. ha ha . speak first think later) I just dont know where he find the time to travel and teach as much as he does. I struggle to fit things in over here never mind flying every other week. He does have a secret weapon though. His personal assistant - the gorgeous Mario. I keep trying to entice him to work for me but I havent yet managed it. Just thought - maybe its the fear I,ll spray him blue and give him a silly outfit to wear!!! lol.

ok i.m going to check out the art journal flickr group that I ,m in. Dont i sound like I know what I am talking about lol??? I couldnt work out how to join and the group all thought I,d dropped out. Cant wait for the journals to start arriving and I,ll post them on here as they do.

See you tomorrow for the draw xx

Christmas Preview Weekend (ish)

Yes I am nearly finished with the samples Phew!! The preview is this Sat and Sun coming 19th and 20th October. I have a large childrens birthday party in the studio on Sun so the preview will be 2 - 5pm on Sun and 10 - 5pm on the Mon. All ( ok almost all) the samples will be on display for you to peruse at your leisure! When you book and pay for workshops on either of those 2 days you will get 10 % off the price. This also applies to telephone bookings and online orders. If you are booking online the 10 % discount may not show at the checkout. Dont panic it will be applied automatically when your card is charged. Visitors to the studio will also receive a 10% discount off goods bought on either of those 2 days. Please note this discount is only available to those who visit in person. Seeing the projects up close is a great way of deciding which ones to do, Ben and I will be here to answer your queries and talk you through them.

There we go thats the important bit out of the way. Finished the tin for the Paper Artsy tag class and Ben says I am allowed to give you a proper view of it ( blimey and he doesnt have a temperature!!!)

Well I amazed myself last night . The broadband at home was finally activated and I managed to set it up all by myself. Yes Moi even connecting the router and enabling the wireless. Oh I am such a technological wizz these days arent I?? This means that I should be able to update the blog whenever, wherever. whoo hoo

Lots of people have commented on the absence of shoe watch . This is because I have been wearing my Uggs every day. Sorry but they are soooooo easy to slip on lol.

For a great picture go onto the Sartorialist blog. This little girl is absolutely hilarious, so adorable dont you think. This is one of my favourite blogs and I look on it every day. It has nothing at all to do with crafts but I find it so inspiring.,

Talking of inspiring, I love the work of Kelly Rae Roberts, the backgrounds of her paintings are absolutely breathtaking. I ordered her latest book ages ago and had forgotten until it turned up out of the blue today. I have only had time for a quick flick through and it is driving me mad because it is sat at the side of me winking and enticing me to look. But I know if I do I wont be able to put it down. If you fancy treating yourself to some inspiration in the way of step by steps, prompts and quotes and plenty of eye candy then I would highly recommend you take a look at this. When the kids classes are finished and all of the days business sorted I will be home and in the bath with this book clutched in my little hand. Cant wait.

Car trouble!

Well the tutorial seems to have gone down a storm, with lots of lovely comments. I am going to keep it open a bit longer and then we will have a draw for the winner. A few people have left enquiries for me to answer. It would probably be easier if you emailed me direct then I can give you more in depth answers. Its artfromtheheartuk@yahoo.co.uk or dyan.reaveley@yahoo.com. And yes it is me who answers you direct now!!! Before I had to write it and get Ben to decipher it, which always took ages , so hopefully you will receive an answer much quicker. lol.

Talking of Ben he walked in this morning with a bunch of my favourite flowers - white lillies. I know they are traditionally funeral flowers but I love them. I think there is nothing nicer than coming into the studio and being greeted by their smell. I did ask what he wanted but he said he just saw them and thought of me!!! Aaah.

Been finishing off the Paper Artsy tags for the workshop, just need to get the tin finished tomorrow.

I am a bit behind because me and the Goddess had car trouble yesterday. I had just posted the blog and we shot to the bank and Post Office. I reversed out from the parking space onto the main road when - nothing-zilch-kaput!!!! There we are stuck in the middle of 3 lanes of traffic at rush hour. Did anyone stop to help? Did they heck. Wehad to wait 15 mins for a space to become free and Ems had to push the car in. We were laughing hilariously at this point. Anyway one call to the AA, One lovely AA man (Martin we love you) One tow to the garage, One lovely garage man staying open late (Simon we want to marry you)and before you know it its 8.30. Got the car back today with new throttle sensor(whatever that is!!) and 5 hours behind schedule. Nothing new about that!!! lol

Right need to get this posted , finish my night class, do the supermarket and sort out the housework. Ok ok I was lying about the house work. Tomorrow I ll let you know all the details of the preview weekend. See you then

Tag tutorial

HI everyone, I have spent the morning making tags for my Paper Artsy christmas class and thought I would throw in a little tutorial. Please leave a comment and I will pick one at random for a prize. The prize will be a selection of Paper Artsy and 7gypsies goodies. Enjoy yourself playing and I will try to do more later in the week



These are the materials I have used.



Creative Imaginations tag book - Gerri
Ranger Adirondack inks - bottle, clover, watermelon, cranberry
Ranger Archival Ink - library green
Paper Artsy stamps - Noel plates 2 + 6, mini 39
Blonde moments stamps - Just plain xmas
Tim Holtz ideaology hitch fasteners
7gypies gem brads, red label holders,red round photo turns
7gypsies Hudson Valley papers
Ranger glossy accents, Holly stickles, cut n dry foam
B/M water spritzer
Small circle punch

step1
take a creative imaginations small tag book and cut into separate tags.


Step2
using a piece of cut n dry foam apply clover Adirondack ink to the middle of one edge and the top and bottom of the other edge. Apply ink gently in a circular motion to eliminate harsh edges.



Step3
Apply bottle Adirondack ink to the remaining areas in the same style.



step4
Take the watermelon Adirondack ink over the top of the bottle ink.



step5
Flick water over tag + leave to settle for approx 10 seconds



Step6
Dab with kitchen roll to remove ink



Step7
This leaves a nice scrummy variegated background



Step8
Ink pine cone stamp (Paper Artsy Noel plate 2)with bottle Adirondack ink and stamp down the right side and bottom of tag


Step9
tear a strip of 7gypsies paper. Ink the edges with clover ink and add to tag, covering the hole.





Step10
Ink a piece of card with watermelon and cranberry Adirondack inks as before. Flick with water and dab with kitchen roll.

Step11
Ink bauble stamp (Paper Artsy Noel plate 6) with library green archival inks onto the red background. ( you need to use archival as we are going to be adding glossy accents later and dont want the image to run)



Step12
cutout image and mount onto green shimmer card.


step 13
make a hole in the tag whereyou would like the bauble to hang and attach it with a hitch fastener so that it swings freely



Step 14
sand edges of tag and ink with bottle Adirondack inks



Step15
ink background stamp (Paper Artsy Mini 39) with library green ink and stamp onto remaining red inked card.



Step16
punch 3 circles out, ink edges and stick onto 3 7gypies photo turns.



Step17
add to tag with 7gypsies gem brads



step18
cover back of tag with 7gypsies papers. Sand and ink edges with bottle Adirondack ink. Ink B?M pick stamp with clover and stamp around edges of tag



Step19
cut a square of the red stamped card big enough to fit into a 7gypsies red label holder and attach to top of front of tag.



Step 20

add glossy accents to bauble and the 3 photo turns



Step21
add holly stickles to pine cones and let dry.




enjoy and dont forget to post a comment!!