All the Challengers

Hi all,
Well while I was wide awake I had little time to myself.  When I had time, I fell asleep.... can you believe it..LOL!!  Nevermind it may be late as I prepare this post but I am here now and I have decided to make things a little different.
Before I talk to you about the winner of our Almost White Challenge, I would like to show you all the entries once more.

1.Sue Pass  

2.Christine Harrop

3.Jenny Lawrence

4.Jenny Lawrence

5.Andrea Ewen

 

6.Christine Harrop

 7.Christine Hussey

8.Melanie

9.Linda Wescott

 10.Mags

11.Oksana

12.Kim

13.Regena

14.Nicola

15. Patricia

16.Linda Wescott

17.Ani

18.Helen Mitchell

19.Christine Hussey

What a collective of talent and array of ideas. 

These are all so lovely and are all truly winners;  however, one has to be chosen, so I have made a decision to let you chose the winner!  Yes that's right YOU vote naming your top three and I will do the rest. 
Just EMAIL me your TOP THREE and I will post the winner tomorrow.   I will leave the vote open until 10pm tonight, so please try and vote even if you have entered yourself, but please DO NOT vote for yourself.

My final SPECIAL SURPRISE IS:-   

If I receive more than 15 votes I will put up a 2ND prize!!

So now it's up to you, get your votes in as soon as possible and lets see if we can win a prize for a second winner too.

Before I go I have the finished Notebook to show you at last.  I do hope you like my creation, it was a bit of a fight to finish it as I was unsure what to do for the best; I didn't want anything too fussy but I wanted to make it a little special.  I think I got there in the end, see what you think.

First I used my new Memory box swirl die and then started cutting some up to make a bigger swirl.

I cut away the same piece at the bottom of two diecuts, one at an angle and one straight cut.

Then I attached them to the top diecut and glued a reversed one to the bottom (The paper arrows show their positioning).   To be able to reverse the diecut I put each one under a piece of baking parchment and rubbed over firmly with a bone folder. This flattened them so they looked alike.

This is how it looked before I started painting and attaching mica flakes etc.

I used Martha Stewart multi purpose metallic paint on the letters and then sprinkled over silver Mica Flakes for texture and glitz (the paint holds the mica really well).  I love the way they came out, I just wish the picture did them justice.

I finished off with some Spellbinders Sprockets diecuts in silver and black textured card, some keyhole brads and some stamped wings from the Creative Expressions Steampunk Dreams stamp plate.  I used the rest of the stamp on a card that I will show you in a day or two.

I'm so sorry for the extended post today, I seem to have been uploading photos for hours!  But thank you for taking the time to view them all, I truly appreciate it.  Bless you.
I hope you all have a wonderful day today.
Best wishes Linda xx  

Making a start with thanks

Good morning all
Thank you for all the lovely comments and good wishes yesterday.  It doesn't seem to be my year, but I will keep pushing on, I have to,  I have so many people supporting me! Bless you all.
Welcome to our latest followers, I hope you will enjoy your visits to my blog and if you have a blog yourself,  I will be along soon to see what you are up to. 

Have you noticed we are almost at the Big 100 followers!!  

That means a draw for Two winners soon, how exciting!!

I'm sorry but I haven't a finished project to show you.  All I have is something I will be working on for a little while, so I am going to show you bits as and when I complete them.  Also I have the pictures of the beautiful gifts sent to me by the lovely Linda W.  I have been looking at them again today, I can't stop admiring them.  I have managed to move them off the desk, well...... almost...they are in a special drawer next to where I sit, so I can take a look now and again....lol!!
First here is what I am working on.....Hardboard Notebooks using my Bind-it-all (eventually)

I used the tissue paper method to create a faux silk background for the outside of my notebook.  I managed to acquire some bronze toned tissue and used lots of Mod Podge and then let them set hard below a stack of heavy boxes to keep the chipboard flat.
Next I used some Faded Jeans and Black Soot distress inks to distress the surface.

I used some travel papers inside and coated them with Mod Podge also to give them a wipe clean surface.  Again I used some distress ink to 'edge' the sheet, but just lightly this time.

 I made a small, half size Notebook to match.
These shots show the bronze tissue before and after adding the Faded Jeans and Black soot ink.










I hope you will bear with me as I am very slow working.  I really am not up to speed yet, my mind wanders too much at the moment.  I will show you more as I progress I promise.

Now to the lovely creations I gave you a glimpse of yesterday.  Linda Wescott has been so busy!!

First the stunning Fimo pieces.  I can't wait to start using these!!

Aren't these Steampunk pieces just fabulous!

This crochet work is so beautiful and this is only a fraction of the pieces Linda sent to me.  I couldn't fit all the pieces in without making the picture look messy.....I am no window dresser, thats for sure!

Last, but by no means least, the amazing semi precious beads.  Oh, I can't wait to make something special with these...............that's if I can ever part with them.   At the moment I just keep touching them......LOL!!

Linda, you are so very talented and a most generous lady.  From the bottom of my heart I thank you, I will treasure them all always.
Well that's it for today folks.  I will try to get something completed today; as soon as my beautiful Grandson goes home to mum and dad.  I haven't had him for a little while and  have missed him loads and loads.  Now he can lift my spirits.......... he always makes me smile!!
Have a great day all, whatever you're up to.   Big hugs Linda xx